An:/ I'm really sorry for snapping like that in the previous chapter. I realize that that was really immature of me and frankly a bit rude. I just have a short fuse and that being said, I normally return threats in the most immature way possible. The whole true fan thing was indeed a low blow as was the rest of it and I'm really sorry. I guess it takes me a bit of time to realize that this isn't some sort of fight with readers. I shouldn't be rude to my readers and I'm frankly surprised that you ( pissed off reader) stuck around to read the next chapter. And I really thank you for that, you're more mature than I should have realized. You were right to your own merit.
Anyways, I will still remind everyone that I hate really rude reviews, I don't care if you say the story sucks, as long as you say it nicely I will try to improve it for you.
Sorry for the extremely slow update, it's normally not like this but I had midterms and all my teachers had been cramming all the projects and tests in this short period of ten-ish days. That and the week being exam days, lets just say I didn't have the free time anymore. But that doesn't mean I should neglect this story or anything. I can always make time for you guys :)
Responses to your cries of frustration:
I know that failing Sakura was completely outta the blue. Whoops? Regardless, it's part of my plot and I got this all planned out already. This story is still following the same timeline as the series, meaning that if an event occurs on a specific date in the series, the same event will occur in mine with a twist. Also, regarding Asuma vs. Naruto being suspicious, I had already planned out what was going to happen in this chapter, so I already figured the whole thing would be suspicious, but nothing a small jutsu can't fix, whoops too much info heehee. Next chapter maybe?
Also note, I am typing this from my phone as was the previous chapter so any blatant typo or lack of ending note for explanation is all because of my lack of patience and lack of "texting" skill. Funny because my English teacher thinks I can't write for my life and thought I was texting in her class. Nope! Just writing a mega awesome story!
HAHAHAHHAA I'm gonna make you guys wait a bit, let you squirm in your seats for the next match, AS I MAKE THIS CHAPTER A PURE OMAKE! AND THE NEXT CHAPTER TOO! NO UPDATE ON THE ACTUALLY STORY ITSELF! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Actually, I hate to put this on you because personally I hate fillers, but it needs to be done...or it's just not interesting! Beside I heard someone say once, Fillers are trash, but those who make fillers are worse than trash! A wise quote from a wise man, and I just called myself trash. Sorry! Omake for the writers block I'm suffering from...
-
"Nee, Naruto-nii, what are we gonna do!"
"Shut up, Saru, and sit down properly! I will not have you sprawled on my lap, nagging me, while I eat my ramen!"
Konohamaru snapped up straight, almost whacking the bowl straight out of Naruto's hands, earning him a bone chilling glare from the blond.
"Sorry, Naruto-nii, but really, we don't have much to do, ya know?"
"After I finish this bowl in peace we'll stop by the Hokage's office. I have some errands to run, questions to ask, important business to take care of-"
"Don't sound like you actually have a life, Naruto-nii. It's unfitting. We all know you're pretty lazy."
Naruto shot a glare at Konohamaru who shrunk back a bit. The genin lifted his hands as a show surrender, smiling meekly at the jounin. Naruto turned around before he could see a new customer barge into the ramen stand violently, successfully knocking Konohamaru over into Naruto, who unfortunately knocked his bowl of ramen accidentally. Konohamaru let out a shrill squeal as he watched Naruto collapse to the ground. Konohamaru started visibly shaking when the blonde slowly got up. Naruto's bangs hid his eyes as he dusted himself off and turned to Konohamaru, snapping his head up in fervor. Konohamaru was on the verge of pissing himself as the blonde made his way closer, icy blue eyes practically piercing his soul and through him.
"N-Naruto-nii, I swear-"
Konohamaru was cut short when Naruto reached out with lightning fast speeds at the genin's face. Konohamaru flinched but was quickly shoved to the floor as the blonde took his place. Naruto reached over to the rude customer and grabbed his shoulder, wrenching to the side, forcing the man to face him. Naruto snarled.
"You got a problem with me, huh?"
The man had grease black hair slicked back, a few stands hanging loosely down his large forehead. The unibrow scrunched towards the center in slight anger, riding atop a pair of black beady eyes. A slight sense of déjà vu of a green spandex wearing jounin struck Naruto but he let it slide. The markings on the man's face showed that he was part of the Inuzuka clan, but not the main branch. The man wore a scowl as he looked at the blonde and then bursted out laughing.
"Shouldn' I be sayin' that, huh, brat? Little kiddies like you shouldn' be goin' 'round pickin' fights wit' grown men like myself. Heh, mus' be outta yer mind..."
Naruto growled and added a bit more force to the man's shoulder who flinched but stayed silent.
"Wanna test out that little theory of yours, huh, shit face?"
"Lil' pipsqueak, I ain' afraid o' you! Go run along and be a good lil' brat. I ain' got time for this."
"Who are you calling pipqueak, you little fuck! I'll make your carcass unidentifiable after I'm through with you! Then I'll feed the rest of you to a pack of wild dogs. I bet they haven't tasted shit stains before, you'll be their first. Cowards like you aren't even worthy of dog food anyways, ask an Inuzuka."
"Why you- let's take this outside!" The man roared.
"That's the spirit!" Naruto responded with a malevolent grin.
Konohamaru gulped in fear, not for himself. No, definitely not for himself. He feared the outcome of the man, or what would be left of the man afterward. There are things that are considered signing a death wish, like stabbing yourself with a kunai, jumping into a shark infested pool with a gash on yourself, or picking a fight with a blonde haired jounin who had the temper of the Sannin, Tsunade, and the skill of an A to S ranked Shinobi. Dear Kami, that man had it bad. Konohamaru contemplated between interfering now and killing himself while trying or getting help from the Hokage, who, at this point, seemed like the only person who could possibly stop the jounin successfully.
Konohamaru's thoughts were cut off by a large crash as he jumped up from the ground and looked outside the stand. The man that Naruto had picked a fight with was now crumpled to the floor with pieces of trash littered around him from the trashcan he apparently crashed into. Naruto gave one last glare at the man before turning around and walking down the street, mumbling.
"One flick and he was out. Totally not worth my time..."
Konohamaru sweat dropped but quickly chased after his Sensei.
-
The pair made it to the Hokage's tower safely, or more like safely for the civilians. Sakura an Sasuke stood outside patiently until their Sensei and fellow teammate showed up. Sakura placed her hands on her hips and looked at the two motherly, chiding.
"You two, again! You both need to stop being so late! It's bad for a Shinobi, especially you, Naruto, you're a jounin."
Konohamaru stuck his tongue out at Naruto, earning a whack on the head from Sakura. The team proceeded to share greetings before entering the tower.
Konohamaru bursted through the doors of the Hokage's office, marching in with pride and arrogance puffed out on his chest. But it wasn't for long as Naruto swiftly made it into the office as well and gripped the Sarutobi in a headlock. Sakura and Sasuke walked in soon after. Naruto took a moment to glance up at his father, who was stuck in his seat with a bemused look.
"So, Team Naruto, what brings you here today?"
Naruto did a rough bow, still locking Konohamaru in his arms.
"Excuse my genin, he's a bit dull on manners, right, Saru? Um, mission, I hope."
Konohamaru did an imitation of a rapid nod in hopes he could get out of the rock hard hold the jounin had on him. Much to his chagrin, Naruto didn't relent even at his response, only to tighten the grip. Minato let out a hearty chuckle and opened a drawer at his desk.
"Well, I have a few missions you can take, though I have a really important one that needs to be taken care of. It's a high C-rank. I don't have any chunins at hand to take it, but I'm sure your team will do just fine..."
Konohamaru miraculously sprang out of Naruto's grip, yelling out with glee.
"ALRIGHT! What is it? Assassination? Destroying an entire army? Saving the world? Rescuing princesses? Guarding daimyos? Becoming Hokage?"
Naruto snapped out of his daze and locked Konohamaru back into a chokehold. Minato took a small blue scroll out.
"Actually, it is one of those, kind of. You will be guarding a princess for a duration if five days, not including the days it takes to escort her back to her country."
Naruto grabbed the scroll from Minato's outstretched hand and took a glance at the jounin blanched at the undercover requirements. He gave a glare towards the Hokage who only returned a shrug with an innocent look.
"Seriously?" Naruto dead panned.
"They asked for it. At least I'm gonna send a really attract-"
"No favoritism, Dad. You can't just claim I'm perfect for this job because of my genes. That's being bias."
"We'll I'm not gonna deny anything. The Namikaze gene is just too hard to resist."
Sakura agreed enthusiastically, in her head, of course. Naruto gave a lazy look at his father before turning back to his genins.
"Well, squirts, we're going on an escort mission. It's not particularly an undercover mission anymore...due to who is going on this mission..."
Naruto let out a heavy sigh, leaving Minato chuckling behind him.
"We'll be going as a...a..."
"Say it Naruto..."
"I was getting to it, father! Anyways, I, uh, will be going as myself, and you three are my bodyguards..."
The three genin paused a moment before yelling out.
"WHAT?!"
Naruto flinched back from the loud sound before looking back at them sheepishly.
"Yondaime Hokage's son and Namikaze heir, here. But hey, at least you don't have to escort the princess personally. You just gotta pretend you're watching me will I, uh, keep the princess busy. Come to think of it, you set me up, didn't you, father..."
Minato let out an awkward chuckle which Naruto responded with a glare.
"Anyways, we leave tomorrow at noon when the princess is ready to depart. Bring formal clothes and what not...Alright. See ya!"
Naruto gave a slow wave with a stupid grin plastered on his face as he watched the genin file out. As soon as the door shut close, Naruto whipped around and slammed his hands on the desk.
"Alright, tell me what this is for! I didn't sign up for any of this! Pretending to be the fiance of the freaking princess?"
Minato stifled a laughter before turning serious.
"She is quite aware its only a cover but I'm counting on this to build a treaty with the Land of pebbles. They are right off the coast of where Uzushiogakure no Sato was and your mother and I are working on a project that involves the lands. I can't have the Land of Pebbles blindly attack us. Besides, the girl is sick and tired of suitors. Help her out, will ya?"
Naruto drooped he shoulders, rolled his head back, and groaned. After a pause of silence.
"Fine, Tou-san. I'll do it. But you owe me big time."
"15 bowls."
"25"
"15"
"30"
"18"
"28"
"20"
"25"
"20"
"25"
"20"
"35"
"Dammit, fine. 25"
"25 bowls it is."
"My wallet isn't growing any fatter, ya know."
"Your loss, 25 bowls of ramen for me! Not my problem you suck at Bargains...it's a wonder how you get peace treaties right..."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"What was that? Couldn't hear you over the sound of 25 bowls of ramen..."
"Gaki..."
"Well, excuse me, Hokage-sama. I have to prepare for a ridiculous mission tomorrow. I must acquire some formal clothing, thank you very much. I'll be off now, Tootaloo"
Naruto waved and flashed out. Minato gritted his teeth and banged his head against the table.
"I also regret teaching that kid my jutsu...dammit."
-
"Urg, when is Sensei going to arrive! I feel like we've been waiting here for eons!"
"Shut it, Saru"
"Che, he probably picked a fight again over ramen."
"You got a problem with Ramen, You stupid monkey?"
"N-Nothing, N-Naruto-nii"
"Good"
Naruto reached out and placed his hands on Sakura and Konohamaru's shoulders. Each whipped around and their jaws nearly dropped. Nearly.
"What."
"The."
"HELL! NARUTO-SENSEI! WHAT ARE YOU WEARING!"
Naruto tilted his head to the side.
"Hmm?"
Naruto was dressed in a full Hakama with a large scroll attached to his back. The pants were dark blue and the Namikaze signia was etched across the back of his white top. His Inari sword was suspended from his belt. He had a dark red scarf in the place of his bib and his mask was slanted on his head.
"Oh, this? My clothes."
Sakura covered her nose to stop the bleeding. He looked so hot! But of course, Konohamaru was not buying it.
"Yeah, well why the hell are you wearing these 'Clothes' in the first place, kore?" (an:/I figured I should give him his verbal tick in this story too,)
"I'm the Namikaze Heir and the son of the Yondaime, why else?"
"Yeah but shouldn't you be in your, I don't know, jounin uniform? This ain't some vacation! This is a high level C-rank!"
"Why else would I have my sword then?"
"I don't know, decoration?"
Naruto glared at him before he got into a stance. Konohamaru blanched as he flinched back, raising his hands in front of him.
"N-Naruto?"
"Decoration, you say? I'll show you decoration!"
In a sudden flash, Naruto had drawn his sword on Konohamaru. It was over instantly as Konohamaru fell on his rear. A few strands of hair fell into his lap and Konohamaru snapped his head up, meeting the smirk of Naruto.
"I ain't the Shinobi no Inari for nothing, Saru. Keep that in mind."
"Oho- is this what my escorts are made of? The Yondaime really went out of his way! His own son on top of it. I should've really raise the stakes if it was going to be this good..."
Naruto shifted out of stance and turned to the new voice.
"Kagiri-sama, good afternoon."
"Ara, no need to be so formal. You're going to be my fiance for the time being, right, Namikaze-kun"
F-fiance? Sakura was taken back. Naruto-kun was someones fiance already? She looked at the princess, taking in the sight of a really beautiful girl. Her hair was a deep red color that was tied up in a delicate bun and her Kimono was Her thoughts were cut short when Naruto cut in.
"Just to shake off the suitors. Just for the time being. I'm only thirteen. I'd like to stay single for a while..."
Sakura's feelings were like trying to build a card castle. You'd think you'd have it but then it gets knocked down soon after. She was relieved that it was just for the time being and that it wasn't for real. But then her relief was crushed under the fact that Naruto wasn't looking into relationships...for a long time. What is this injustice! Inner Sakura cried.
"Hmm, but to think your bodyguards are little genin. It's...unsuiting."
"No, there is nothing wrong with my genins, they're just here for the ride. I'm a jounin, perfectly capable of protecting myself. They're just here for the 'mission'"
"Hmmm. Well, shall we get going then?"
Kagiri took her time as she walked past the gates with her entourage following close behind. Team 7 took their time to just watch as the mass moved out into the forest. Naruto quickly turned to the team.
"Take formation C and don't break it under any circumstances. I will but upfront with Kagiri-sama."
"Hai!"
"Disperse!"
The three genin disappeared to the sides of the caravan. Sasuke taking the rear and Sakura and Konohamaru taking the sides. There was a yell from Kagiri to fetch refreshments and a squawk from the servants in response. Naruto sighed and dusted off his pants.
"This is going to be a long trip, isn't it."
With that, the blonde flashed away.
-
The trip to the Land of Pebbles was a short and silent one. Just the way Naruto liked it. A few stops were required when Kagiri couldn't take the motion sickness or she needed to see the landscapes. Naruto would sweatdrop at the melodrama. Princesses. He could never understand them. Shinobi and Kunoichi, yes. Royalty, no.
When they entered the village, it was almost like a festival. The villagers all welcomed the caravan with vigor and celebration. The princess waved at her people with a sense of superiority yet a touch of down to earth connection. The princess really loved her people and Naruto could see it in her eyes. He was glad that Kagiri was at least a good princess, maybe not shinobi or typical civilian material, but at least she was a good leader.
First thing Naruto noticed, however, was the amount of redheads in the village. Sure his mother was a redhead, a pretty one at that. But Kushina was the only one in Konoha with ruby red hair. Here, almost everyone had the same colored hair. It must be the Uzumaki blood. The fact that Uzushiogakure is so close by, the intermingling probably happened before the clan was wiped out. Naruto's attention was caught when he heard something.
"And it's Namikaze Uzumaki san!"
"Uzumaki?"
"Yeah! He's an Uzumaki! The son of the heiress, Uzumaki Kushina!"
"Wow! He's here!"
"So cool!"
"Looks like you're famous here, too..."
Naruto looked to his side to see Kagiri smiling at him. His eyebrows rose.
"Nobody told me Uzumaki were famous here. I would've brought my mother."
"Hmm, yes. She would've been welcomed here. Where was she, by the way?"
"Mission."
"Ah, the Shinobi life. I don't really understand, but I'm not really expected to..."
"Royalty should not get their hands dirty. Leave it to us, Shinobi."
"Ah, but you forget, Namikaze-kun, you are royalty as well..."
"Our royalty and yours are different, Kagiri-hime. We aren't to be respected for our name. No, we are respected for our battlefield prowess. It's how the Uzumakis were, it's also how the Namikazes are as well."
"Hmm, though you have been brought up as a Shinobi, you talk like Royalty. This has only been brought up now. You're bodyguards receive no such tone. Why the difference in respect given?"
Naruto inwardly smirked as he watched Kagiri mindlessly wave at her people, giving them heart warming smiles. She was a keen one, wasn't she.
"I don't base respect base off of the way I say things. I treat them the way they treat me. They don't understand the political stand point of my clan names. They only know me as the Yondaime Hokage's son. Which is important in Konohagakure no Sato, but not as important as Daimyo's and their families. Besides, these three are my subordinates and students. Of course, I don't talk to them as equals because they can't lift a finger against me. Sure I respect them for their individual reasons. Sasuke for is advanced skill, Konohamaru for his creativity, and Sakura...her intelligence and inner strength. But they aren't my equals...yet."
Kagiri almost smiled at Naruto's hesitance. At first it would seem like he had nothing to say and made up something, but after his answer, it was more like trying to find the right words to use without undermining the qualities.
"Perhaps you respect them, no, her, a lot more than you think..."
"Hmm? What was that? I couldn't hear you."
"Nothing, Namikaze-kun. We'll be at the palace soon..."
"Hn."
-
In between two large cliffs, the palace laid snug in the canyon. The entire palace was hidden in the shadows, chilled air all around to the point that Naruto could see his breath as he exhaled. The palace, itself was the size of Konoha, give or take. Kagiri, Naruto, and team 7 walked down the flat stone slab path that led down an entire field of sand. Boulders were placed at different places with small pebbles around and the sand raked into swirls and lines. The slab path diverged to different buildings with two guards at the entrances along with two dragon statues behind each one. The farthest building in front was the size of the Hokage mountain with pillars of red and balconies of the darkest oak. It was breathtaking at the sheer size of the main house. There were flags with red swirls and others with small circles in a bigger circle. The entire place was eerily silent.
Konohamaru broke the silence as he reached over the path to grab sand. To his dismay and pain, his hand was repelled and made a slight sizzling noise as a faint glow of a barrier appeared, disappearing as fast as it came. Kagiri stifled a laugh with her fan.
"Seals. We thank the Uzumaki for that. Actually, this whole place was made by the Uzumakis, preserved by their seals."
Naruto stoically whacked Konohamaru while he passed him and continued to walk forward.
"The Uzumaki were quite advanced for their time. Technology completely buried forever in the depths of this palace. There's a reason why you're here, Namikaze-kun, or should I say Uzumaki now that we are at your origin."
Naruto nodded once before looking back at the buildings around him, still letting his ninja senses rule his actions. Regardless of his origins, he was not going to be caught off guard, especially now that his genin were completely awestruck at the architecture and not their surroundings. It was true that the Uzumaki were advanced for their time, but there was a reason why the Uzumaki clan was completely wiped out.
They had made this entire palace a one-way-in-one-way-out to 'protect' themselves and their secrets. And protect their secrets, they did. Now that all the known Uzumaki, except two in Konoha, were wiped out, no one could access the archives or vaults. The clan figured that if they were going to go down, they should all go down, with their secrets with them. Well now that an Uzumaki blood, regardless of purity or not, was in the premises, the treasures could in fact be broken with just a drop of his blood. One drop, and all the vaults and archives can open themselves. Well not all since he was still a mixed blood, but some of them, and 'some of them' was still a lot. This was also why Kushina was not sent here, if they had gotten their hands on her blood, all her clan's secrets, including the forbidden ones, could be revealed, sold, stolen, used, tainted.
Then the question is, why would Minato send his son? The dangers are still there, aren't they? True. But the land of Pebbles insisted that an Uzumaki be sent otherwise it would be seen as rude. Minato and Naruto were suspicious of their urgency to have an Uzumaki. Could they be after the Uzumaki secrets? Naruto was cut short when he heard Sakura whack Konohamaru across the head again.
"Baka! Shut up!"
Naruto looked back up front, with a still expressionless face that rivaled the Uchiha's. Kagiri eyed the blonde next to her as she continued to walk. Though he was slouched back, hand resting on the hilt of his blade lazily, she knew that he was ready to attack at any moment. His face void of any expression worried him. Most people would react like the genin have, wonder, awe, curiosity. She didn't see anything on the blonde's face, almost as if he wasn't really paying attention to the brilliance of the place, seeing it as another battlefield. It's going to be hard to crack this one...
-
there were no jutsus...right? ANyways, next chapter of the OMAKE! what is the real purpose of the mission! FIND OUT NEXT TIME! hopefully I'll update faster...hopefully...