Chapter Eight

"Oh stop being so mad, at least I didn't kill her!" For the last twenty minutes home Nabuo had been trying to apologize to Naruto, who in turn, ignored him. Hinata had been safely deposited at the border and was found safe by the rest of her absent team but that did not help appease Naruto's anger. "Naruto, she' perfectly fine. If she could get up that quickly from one of my punches then she can easily survive."

Giving the blue haired boy a disbelieving glance, Naruto shook his head in disapproval. "That's not the point, Nabuo. What I'm mad about is the fact that you could have so easily killed her. I may not be a member of the Leaf village but I still don't want any of them getting hurt, especially from us."

Nabuo mouthed to Suzume for her to put some sense back into their leader. She didn't want to get involved in their dispute but after being further pressured into it, sighed. "Naruto, that was necessary. She was already injured enough and by the way she refused to back down, Nabuo could have easily killed her just to put her down. So he knocked your friend out since that was the only other option besides beating her senseless. And plus, we didn't know where the other members of the team were and by immobilizing her, we could draw them out." Staring at his back, she added in something else. "It was the only thing Nabuo could do to keep all of us alive." This drew out a reaction.

"Yeah, but dumping her at the border like a dead body and hoping she didn't get attacked wasn't a part of the deal, was it?" He hissed through clenched teeth. There was no point in trying to reason with the blonde while he was like this.

The two decided to give up hope of trying to appease his anger but one last time, Nabuo chose to apologize before silence descended upon the traveling party. There were no further incidents and that made the trip home go by much slower.

"Welcome back, Naruto-sama, Suzume, Nabuo." Fumio greeted them from the entrance to the village. He carried with him a dusty brown book with letters that were poorly scrawled out on the spine and cover. "I see that the mission went… well?"

Naruto brushed past the confused man to the front doors of the main center building of the village, heading to his office for some peace and quiet. People passed him by, welcoming him back only to be returned with a robotic like hello. They too were confused at what had happened.

Fumio looked at Suzume to explain what had just happened but she only jabbed a finger in Nabuo's direction and all was understood. "I see, and then Nabuo, could you please explain why Naruto-sama's mood seems quite murderous?" When Nabuo refused to answer, Fumio only hummed. "What exactly did you do to rile him up this time? Worms in his ramen again?"

Nabuo grimaced at that example. "That was only one time, and ONLY one time. I still can't help but have nightmares about what he did to me." A shudder ran down his spine at the sheer terror of the memory. Nothing and nobody should ever mess with Naruto when it came down to the official relationship between him and ramen. Everyone knew that if ramen were a woman and it wouldn't be considered weird, he would most definitely choose to marry it.

"Then what is the dilemma?"

Knowing that Nabuo would never confess his mistake, Suzume chose to intercede on the conversation. "Our dear friend here chose to fight against an old friend of Naruto's. Things were going great at first." Fumio raised an eyebrow. "But then the situation kind of got out of hand and he ended up knocking out the friend. The bad part about the whole debacle was that Nabuo decided to have us leave the body on the border of the Fire country."

"This friend wasn't dead, correct? Because if this friend was dead when you disposed of the body, we may be facing some political strife with the Fire country. The lives that are going to be lost and the village will be destroyed. If we're lucky enough of us will be able to survive to… no, no. That wouldn't be possible. With a much larger nation attacking us, we wouldn't stand even the smallest of chances. But if we somehow managed to sabotage one of their travel paths and taking into consideration the whirlpools and tide patterns, there could be some disadvantages for them."

Suzume and Nabuo both panicked, shaking both their hands and head in an urgent no. "That's not it, Fumio! We didn't kill her! I didn't kill her! No one died, I swear! So please don't talk about getting ready to battle when we've just barely managed to get this village up and running."

"Alright, but if things were to turn to that, I know an excellent strategy that could put us a step ahead of them at the least." There was a dangerous glint in the man's eyes. Though being only in his late twenties, Fumio had a way of thinking that could rival that of some of the elders living in the village that had seen and experienced far more than him.

"We'll… keep that suggestion in mind if we need any help in the future." Suzume awkwardly answered.

Sitting down on the chair and setting his elbows down on the wooden desk, Naruto replayed the happenings of the day. The treaty discussion with Gaara, the rivalry between Suzume and Temari, and lastly, the incident concerning Hinata Hyuuga all replayed themselves in his mind. He acknowledged the steps Nabuo had taken as necessary but leaving her at the border alone without somebody watching until she was rescued didn't rest well in his heart. Who knows what could have happened to her on any other day.

Worrying so much over the subject, Naruto didn't notice Hitoshi knock and enter the room. "Naruto-sama? Am I interrupting anything important?" He stood outside the door frame with the handle still in his hand. "If you want, I can always come back at a better time."

Shaking his head, Naruto beckoned him to come forward. "No, come in. If you are here personally, it must mean there is something I need to know immediately then? Does it concern the school building project?"

"Yes, the structure has been finished and approved by the builders as being safe to allow student access. We wanted to allow you a walkthrough the halls before deciding what to do from here. Whether we announce the opening today or tomorrow is up to you to decide, Naruto-sama."

Rising from his comfortable chair, Naruto stretched out his arms before walking towards the man. "Let's get going then. I wouldn't want anybody to wait any longer than necessary. The faster we get the academy started, the better it will be for everyone." The duo walked down the long stone floored hallway with its clean white walls reflecting the light of the lamps hanging from the high ceiling.

Making their way a little further south of the river and center building stood a white painted wooden and brick building. There was a half wall surrounding the small plot with a steel gate entrance. Hitoshi walked a little faster forward to open the gate personally for Naruto earning himself a small thank you. Neither had seen the entirety of the building so this was going to be a new experience for the both of them. First entering through the steel doors, similar to those of the meeting room, the smell of the ocean engulfed the whole floor. A nice little receptionist style desk stood in the middle of the room, a single vase of flowers the only sign of this place having even been previously occupied.

Everything about the place followed the traditional theme style of the rest of the village. There were stone or wooden floors and white or light blue walls. When walking down the one main hallway from the main doors, on the right were the classrooms each marked off by a name plate that read off the year and letter name. To the right were the bathrooms, nurse's office, teachers' rooms, and the lunchroom. Hitoshi led Naruto to a random class. Sliding open the door, there were simple rows of desks and chairs. Four columns with four rows each were required in every teaching room. All of them faced a green chalk board. The view of through three large floors to ceiling windows was that of the ocean looking out towards the rest of the countries.

"So far, so good, Hitoshi, but what about the rest? It's the lower levels that have my interests piqued."

Giving a chuckle, Hitoshi walked over to behind the teacher's desk and bent down to the ground. Whispering a few words, a two by two square on the floor glowed and disappeared into thin air. What was left in its space were stone stairs leading down into darkness. "This way, if you want to see the rest but be careful. The guys blew out the lights down there so we're going to have to light everything back up." With that warning, he descended down the stairs with Naruto not too far behind. Hitoshi had managed to learn some fire jutsu during the nights practicing while the rest of his family slept. At first it had been as a way to help train his son in the future but then transformed into it being for his benefit as well.

Whispering and flashing some hand signs Hitoshi breathes out to every lantern they passed and lit the hallways with every five feet. They had reached maybe fifty feet in when the area opened up wide in front of them. Lighting the torches, Naruto's eyes grew wide. Not only had the place been finished, it had been finished to perfection. The hall had been expanded to an open space look out over the further lower "classrooms". Railings ensured the safety of anyone if they chose to take a closer look by leaning forward. Taking the stone stairs down, he whistled. "Absolutely amazing."

Hitoshi felt proud as well. Even if he had only helped the upper portion of the project, the place felt like the work of his own hands. The sparring field looked immaculate, the rocks and pebbles remained behind as a way to help in training but the ground had gone from leveled to a little bumpy. There were other areas that fit perfectly well for the subjects being used for it. Some of the places included a weapons education for knowing how to use and master things like the shuriken.

Clapping him on the shoulder, Naruto shined his childish smile at Hitoshi. "The kids will love it. And I hope your kids will like it all the more knowing their good old dad helped to create it."

"Thank you." A stray tear trailed down his aging face.

"Attention! Can I get everyone's attention please?!" A hush befell the overexcited crowd as Naruto raised his voice. Clearing his throat, he suddenly started to feel a bit embarrassed. "Okay, um, I'd just like to thank you all for gathering on such short notice. However, I have some great news to announce. Thanks to the guidance of our own Hitoshi Matsuoka and our fellow builders, our new Academy has been finished!"

Hitoshi blushed as his wife and kids hugged him tightly and the crowd praised him. He stood beaming in the presence of his family and peers, happy to have been part of something this big and beneficial to the village.

"So, without further introductions, I am happy to say that the Uzushiogakure will now be opening the doors of its official academy. Registrations will be handled by the newest teacher Maiko at the receptionist desk. Please, enter in an orderly and calm fashion. We will make sure to get to every single family by the end of the day."

Suzume laughed as Naruto was nearly swallowed up by the crowd heading into the building. "You okay? Got all your organs in the right place?" Nabuo snickered at the joke.

"Haha, very funny but since you seemed so concerned for my well being, I am fine. Just a little dizzy from being pushed around like that but nothing I won't be able to overcome soon."

"Good, because we have another thing to deal with before we can call it a day."

Trying to escape from the doom, Nabuo started to back away slowly but was caught by Naruto. Freezing, Nabuo gave his friend a pleading look and even getting down on his knees mouthing favors. Naruto rejected the deal and looked at Suzume. "Fine, the haori design and all that but don't forget, we have to come up with a color scheme and design for the rest of the Tide ninjas. And I think I know the perfect volunteer to help model that." Quickly grabbing the fleeing Nabuo, Naruto put him in a choke hold. "Nabuo said he would be happy to participate earlier today. Just couldn't seem to keep him quiet about it until now."

"I hate you." He harshly whispered but kept the smile on his face, not wanting to face a mad and disappointed Suzume. "I will get you back for this, twice as bad."

"Good luck with that threat. Remember the last time you tried to get revenge on me, the ramen fight?"

"Nevermind."

"Thought so, Nabuo."

"Whatever."

They headed off, getting ready to flaunt around in designer outfits that would be both tight and awkward. "Don't pout you two, I promise to make you both look absolutely adorable." Slinging her arms around their necks, Suzume made sure that the two couldn't escape from her before they got to her house. "Think of it as a dress up game."

"Dress up game of pain and possible death." Nabuo muttered before starting to gasp, "Okay, okay, uncle, uncle. I tap out. Let go, you're going to kill me even before I try the clothes on." This made her hold down tighter. "I…g…give."

Naruto laughed. "That's what you get for complaining all the time."

"Che, like you weren't thinking the same thing as me. It's just I am man enough to say them out loud."

"Is that a challenge?" A dangerous edge came out.

"Yeah, yeah that was."

"Enough." Suzume threw the two through the open door of her home and closed it tightly behind her, making sure to lock it. "Prepare yourselves boys; I have come up with some new outfits that will blow your little minds away."

Two hours later, Nabuo lay exhausted on the floor, sprawled out like a sea star. Naruto felt so drained of energy that just looking at the glowing Suzume made him want to choke her.

"You guys still have to make a decision, unless you want to go with my idea of pink."

Naruto darted forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. "No, that will be a fantasy of yours that stays a fantasy forever. We aren't going to be the pink ninjas of the Land of Whirlpools. That won't set in well with anyone, ally or not. We'll go with the fifth design instead and the second haori design."

"Fine." Suzume huffed, sad that the show was done and Nabuo couldn't have been any happier with the result.

Later Suzume made the haori, bringing it to Naruto's office where he sat sleeping with his head down snoring. A small pool of drool started to form at the corner of his mouth and that killed the moment of cuteness right then. Shaking her head at the irresponsibility of not going back home and sleeping in his own bed, Suzume used the haori as a blanket to cover the cold form.

"Goodnight, Naruto." She opened the door, light filtering in around her figure, casting a long shadow. "Sweet dreams."

There were frantic steps outside as the bells rang in the village. Doors slammed open and people ran out into the streets.

"Oh no! I'm late!" Koshio hopped out the front door of his home in black slacks and green shirt. His fluffy black hair ruffled at the touch of the ocean breeze drifting in. "Bye aunty, uncle!"

"Have a good day at school, Koshio! Make sure to pay attention and play nice!"

"Yes aunty!" The little boy called back before hustling it over to the school gate. When he arrived, thankfully, no one noticed his absence in line. Sneaking in, he put his things in the cubby and went to the bathroom, walking out a little later acting as if he had just gone momentarily.

Walking into the class though, Maiko stood with both hands on her fist. "It's nice of you to join us, Koshio Ozawa. We've been waiting for you to arrive and introduce yourself, so why don't you come up here and do just that."

Blushing, Koshio stood in front of the small class of seven and cleared his throat. Standing with hands behind his back, he stared at the back wall of the class. "My name is Koshio Ozawa and I am seven."

"Your goals."

"I hope to one day be just as strong as Naruto Uzumaki and Nabuo Eguchi."

Makio stood next to an empty seat at the front row of the room next to the windows and set one hand gently on the surface. "This will be your seat from now on."

"Yes ma'am."

The other kids giggled when he sat down, whispering and stealing glances at him. Koshio sighed and slumped down in the chair. This was the worst first day in the history of word first days. If the day didn't go by any faster, the poor kid was going to explode in embarrassment.

Standing at the front of the class and writing down her name on the board, Makio turned around and smiled. "Hello everybody and welcome to the first day of your first step on the road to becoming fine Tide ninjas of Uzushiogakure. My name is Makio Takeuchi and I will be your teacher for the rest of the school year. I know that we are small now but in the future, the next generation of kids sitting in those desks years from now may just be your next students that you'll be taking out on missions. So remember this, what you learn here is what will be carried on for the rest of your lives. Pay good attention and make sure to form strong bonds with one another."

"Yes ma'am!" The class answered.