Chapter Eleven

Back in Konoha

"How is her condition? Any signs of her possibly waking up soon, Sakura?" Kakashi leaned on the door frame just outside the room where the Hokage had been treated for well over a year. Though the bandages had been removed long ago and her face started to look healthier, there were no other signs of life. The medical nin, well respected doctors, whoever could help, couldn't find a way to awaken the sleeping Lady.

Biting down on her lower lip, the pink haired kunoichi gently set her teacher's hand back down on the white bed. "Nothing, not even a twitch. Her heart rate and breathing are normal, all the injuries she got from...him have healed, but just nothing. I'm worried, sensei." Glazed green eyes filled with tears met with Kakashi's as they expressed the despair hidden away deep inside. "I'm worried that she won't wake up, that she'll die just like this. And I won't know until it's too late how to bring her back. I know that the Elders are trying their best to run the village but how long can they keep it up. Soon enough the daimyos will want us to appoint a sixth hokage. When that day comes..."

Kakashi straightened up and walked over to the other side of the bed. Pulling out the small wooden stool from the corner, he sat. "We just have to keep trying. Giving up now isn't going to help anybody. Instead of dwelling on what if's think about what else you can do to help Tsunade-sama."

"I know." She whispered. "And I'll try harder."

Days flew by, turning into weeks, when all the renovations for the buildings destroyed or ruined were finished. Everything that was being redone was made more sturdy. The foundations and walls were built from thick wood and stone. Though it was thicker it helped to trap in more heat and resilient against harsh winds. Everything got repainted a white and light blue paint. The village regained some of its clean and shiny air.

And while all this happened, life carried on in the once again expanding village. Migrants continued to flow in from all lands and backgrounds, new housing developments rose from the ground, and there was an increased number of students entering the academy. No, there were no older children than age seven but families brought in youngsters willing to learn early. A sort of festival was celebrated in the streets for a whole three days when no one worked, only got together with friends and family to enjoy the happiness spreading around. Not one single person felt fear of future dangers knowing that their Uzukage and his loyal circle of shinobi were protecting them.

Naruto's POV

Once again I was forced to go through piles of paper, reading and signing. My eyes hurt, my hands were cramping up, and I think I might be stuck in the hunched over position in my chair. Suzume had opened my windows for me so that I didn't feel quite so isolated. The sounds of dozens of conversations, the barking of dogs, and laughing of children soothed my irritation. Groaning, I sat up straight and felt my back pop.

"That felt good." Satisfaction washed over me in knowing that I wouldn't have to sit like this for much longer. "Just a little more to go and I'll finally be free. Yosha!" Pumping my fist I 'tackled' my enemy of the day with speed, feeling beads of sweat form on my forehead.

"Woah, why is it so hot in here? It's not that hot outside." Nabuo fanned himself with his hand when he realized that I was the source of the unknown heat. "Calm down Naruto. The world isn't going to end if you don't finish all that stuff by today. Suzume really needs to cut you some slack. You've been cooped up in here for the last couple of days."

I shook my head from side to side. "No, I need to finish this. If I have to come back in here tomorrow to write anymore on these documents I might just go insane."

Rolling his eyes, Nabuo took the pen from my hands and held it far away from my reach. "Go out and enjoy yourself, you need a break. I'll finish the rest of this stuff." I wanted to mention the wrath of Suzume but he cut me off before I could say it. "And I will explain to Suzume the situation. So go, hang out at the ramen shop, go spar with the kids, maybe go swimming or something, but I don't want you coming back here until tomorrow at the earliest."

Knowing that fighting back would only make us both tired, I gave in. "Okay, mom. I promise to go hang out with my friends instead of working." And ducking from the pen that Nabuo threw at my head I ran out the door with a small wave of thanks. "What should I do?... Ramen, definitely start off with ramen." I can control myself this time, I know it. I'll just eat one bowl, maybe two max.

Suzume's POV

Naruto told me one time that I reminded him a little of his old friend, Kiba, who was part of a clan that teamed up with dogs. I couldn't help but agree with him on that one. My ancestors had somehow managed to gather birds into relationships just like the Inuzaka clan. Using that special trait, I whistled into the forest. There was a flapping sound when a sparrow landed on my shoulder, chirping and twisting his head around.

"Moru, I need you to scout out on the waters. Report to me anybody or anything suspicious trying to get to the island's shores." He flew off with that command in mind and I watched as his small silhouette get smaller. "Good luck." I whispered before turning back and making my way back to the village streets. A couple of kids ran past me but made sure to bow at me, showing their high respect before continuing on to wherever they needed to be. Really, they didn't have to do that. Smiling, I passed the time by buying some groceries and flowers for my front downstairs window.

A chirping noise caught my attention when I reached out to open my door. Turning around to the sound I saw Moru flying towards me. He looked frantic.

Landing again on my shoulder and and speaking into my ear, my eyes grew round. "Good job Moru. I need to tell Naruto about this information, fast." Throwing the door open and setting down my things on the table, I put my hair up into a pony tail and ran out. "Moru, find Nabuo and tell him to meet me at the central building. Tell him that it's urgent."

I passed by pedestrians heading to the central building to warn Naruto. Nearly flying up the stairs and bursting through the closed door of the kage's office, I was met with an unpleasant surprise. Sitting in his chair and doing his work was Nabuo who sat there frozen, pen halfway down to the paper, with mouth open. "I can totally explain this," was his reply. Finding no time to scold him, I took in a deep breath.

Closing my eyes, I asked him, "Where is Naruto then?"

"I...don't know." He refused to meet my eyes when I opened them, disbelief a mask over my face. "Sorry."

An annoying twitch started on the outer corner of my right eye. Putting a hand over my face, I breathed in again and counted to five. "We have to find him. He needs to be with us when we get to the southern shore. We have guests coming."

"Guests? What are you saying? No one knows about this place being inhabited except a few people."

"Yeah and one of those few people are heading our way and if we don't give them a proper welcome, things could get a little sticky between us and them. So that's why I am saying we have to find Naruto as fast as physically possible. So if you're done sitting there gaping at me like a fish, help me."

Nabuo pushed himself up. "Where are the possible places to find him? The school would be one option."

I started to brainstorm other possible locations when a light bulb went off in my head. "What time is it right now?"

"Probably around lunch...Oh! I get it! The ramen shop! Of course!" Hitting his forehead with the heel of his hand, I shook my head and grabbed him by the arm. "Ow! You're going to rip my arm off Suzume!"

"Good."

When we arrived at the shop, the store owner looked so relieved with our presence. "Thank god you two are here. Please, calm the Uzukage down before he eats the rest of my week's supply."

I motioned for Nabuo to get Naruto out of the place before we saw ourselves going into debt for ramen. When Nabuo looked at me with a frown I gave him a stern look. It worked since he stomped into the building. A couple sounds of crashes and yells followed after his entrance before it turned out being Naruto dragging a slightly roughed up Nabuo. "What is it?"

"Visitors."

Nabuo's POV

Rubbing my ribs, I glared at the back of Naruto's head. "Thanks for the new bruises, I hope you feel proud of yourself for harming the messenger. Wouldn't want you to go walking around without feeling satisfied for beating up an innocent friend." A grunt was the only thing he replied with and I pouted. "Feeling the love." I muttered under my breath as we headed down south. It was one of the few locations where the tides weren't as harsh and the number of whirlpools could be counted on one hand.

I was curious on who was actually coming to meet us. Apparently it was a friend of ours that knew how to deal with the dangers skillfully. I had a hunch on who it was but I didn't want to think the worse of it. Suzume had been so adamant on having the three of us present for the occasion since it would make the guest feel more comfortable. I didn't really care for doing something like this but being the faithful person I am, I followed. If there was nay danger coming at Naruto, I needed to be there to watch his back. Sure Suzume is strong already but I am strong too and having two strong back ups instead of one is better.

"Do you see them Nabuo?"Naruto asked me.

"No, but maybe Suzume can ask one of her bird friends to go out and speak to them."

Suzume took a quick glance at Naruto's face before whistling. A seagull came flying out from behind one of the giant rocks located on the beach. It flapped in front of our faces, kicking up some sand that made me rub my watering eyes. "Go watch them but don't get too close. If you think there's any possibility of an attack, report back to me."

Naruto stood there with arms crossed, waiting for the arrival. He told me to create a safe passing with a jutsu to allow the boat heading our way to land. Very cautiously, I did so but made sure that if anything were to go wrong, I could just withdraw and let them be destroyed and drowned. When I saw the passengers aboard I felt instantly guilty for doubting them. There stood Gaara, serious and stoic just like his brother and sister. When they landed onto the beach they jumped out and walked slowly towards u.s

"Welcome, Gaara. What brings you to the land of Whirlpools? We weren't expecting you at all." Naruto held out a hand as the two young kage shook hands. "Why don't we got talk in my office, I don't think you want to sit on the ground and discuss whatever it is." Guiding the siblings, Gaara and Naruto talked all the way there. Though Naruto was the only one laughing the Sand kage cracked a smile every now and then. I made sure to keep a close eye on Suzume as she interacted with Temari. The two still couldn't seem to get along and I had a sneaking suspicion that the first time we met them when Suzume had been a bird, she did something to anger the Sand female.

Kankuro was doing the same thing as me, keeping a close eye on the two girls walking in front of us with bad electricity sparking around the them. He and I didn't exchange any words but there weren't any ill feelings towards one another. We could probably get along real well if it weren't for the job of playing babysitters for our companion. I still couldn't figure out the reason for the sudden arrival of the three sand ninjas but it seemed to be something urgent.

Arriving at the central building with curious onlookers, I opened the doors for the party. We made our way up to the top floor and set ourselves down on the three sofas inside the office looking out through the windows onto the village and beautiful view of the ocean.

"Alright then Gaara. What's the occasion?" Naruto asked out of nowhere, no warning and making me jump at the sudden loud noise. "You said it's something really important, right?"

"Correct. I came here to warn you. The other nations have noticed odd activity happening on this island, seeing boats head out and most of them come back. They didn't know the cause of it and went to question some of those who had come back to the main land. Apparently they told of a new home available to those who needed it and of a man leading all of this."

Silence. That's all that filled the room. Not even the sounds of the outside world reached the room.

"The nation most concerned about the activity is Konoha. They think that this place has a connection to the massacre that happened last year with the Black Phoenix organization and their mysterious deaths."

Suzume and I stiffened. Those Konoha ninjas weren't wrong on their theory. We had hoped that killing topic would have died out, no pun intended. Naruto was the only one who stayed casual about what the Kazekage said. He laughed. "And how did they come up with something like that exactly? I think they need a little more evidence than some hunch to accuse us of doing such a thing. And even if we did do it," A glint sparkled in his blue eyes, "I don't see why it would concern them in any way."

Gaara couldn't help but agree. "True but it doesn't matter what we think. They're sending out ninjas to scout this place out and have a word with you about the idea. I only came here to warn you of that since we are allies... and friends."

Naruto laughed and got up to make his way towards the window. The light cast only a dark outline and shadow of him. "If they are coming to confront of us of killing the Black Phoenix and to find out some information on us, then let them." He turned around but none of us could see the expression on his face. "We will be prepared for them. We won't be afraid. Tide ninjas are strong in our own ways. Anyways, thank you for the warning, Gaara. I appreciate the heads up."

They exchanged a few more words before leaving. Suzume went along with them, guiding them back to the safety of their boat. She knew a safer but longer route for them to take that would lead them out of the whirlpools. That left Naruto and me.

"You alright with how this is turning out? About how things are going to turn out?"

He turned gave me a sad smile. "Yeah, I mean... this had to happen eventually. I just hoped..." Trailing off, I could already guess what he was going to say next from the way he turned towards the window again with that distant look. I knew him too well already.

"You just hoped that it didn't have to start off like this. Being put in the spotlight for what happened with those...bastards. But we would have had to confess osme time soon anyways. We couldn't have possibly prolonged this any longer than now."

"You're right, which creeps me out. Usually you just try to crack a joke and make me laugh when it comes to serious things like this." I shrugged. "But thanks Nabuo. I think you helped to make this a little easier for me to work with. I just have to stay strong and... hide my face!" He snapped his fingers at the idea.

Opening my mouth to object I closed it. There's no point. If this could make it just a bit easier for him to deal with then I will take what I can get. "Better pick soon because from what Kankuro told me before leaving, Konoha will make sure that they send their best here today and those whirlpools won't hold them back forever. So go pick a mask color and hope that they don't demand you take it off."

"Right."

Naruto's POV

With Suzume, Nabuo, Hitoshi, Fumio, and Makio at my side, I stood waiting for the inevitable. Why did they have to decide to do this now? Why couldn't I have been more secretive and aware of how suspicious I made us look? Groaning, I wanted so bad to back out of this and just scare them off but Nabuo shook his head when I began to turn around.

"Be brave." Suzume encouraged me.

Makio gave me a light punch on the shoulder. "You'll do great and plus, the five of us are here. We've got your back so there's no need to worry."

Hitoshi showed me the fatherly smile I have grown to like so much and a double thumbs up. Fumio held tightly to his book and pushed his glasses further up on the bridge of his nose. I knew he was trying to find some words of comfort but having him there was already enough for me to stand tall.

"Get ready you guys, Moru says that they're already waiting on the other side. All we need to do is have Nabuo open a passage for them."

Nabuo looked at me and I nodded. "Do it, I'm ready. And I won't run away this time."