Pairing: eventual Kakanaru; some SasuNaru, some KakaTenzou
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All characters depicted in sexual situations in this post/fanfiction/fanart (including material in the comments) are fictional and are intended to be and considered to be by the author of said material of the legal age of consent in the United States state of California, regardless of what age these characters may be in the material they are derived from. Also, song is "Renegades of Funk" by Rage Against the Machine.
Notes: I did make the Whirlpool Village have the Kansai dialect; but it won't play much of a part, but I thought I would mention that it is a true dialect. Un-betaed.
The first few hours were tense; all was silent, any rustle of leaves was an alert to the team. Naruto knew the danger of keeping his chakra below normal levels, and he also knew that with his chakra levels so low The Lion would have no reason to be suspicious of him. Oh he knew well that The Lion had been watching him ever since he had laid eyes on him, but he had yet to act. Now and then he caught onyx eyes darting away again, although they were mostly hidden behind the mask. However, after long they needed a break: Sakura and Sasuke were getting winded and the border to Earth Country was looming before them.
The medic assured them quietly that once they were out of that country they wouldn't have to be as quickly paced, nor as silent. Naruto realized that the medic must be only trying to comfort them, as that was far from the truth: however now that the squad was leading them through Wind Country, it would be a different threat than constantly watching your back while walking the border between Grass and Rain. Wind Country wasn't exactly their ally. They were economically friends, but as for militia support, Wind would give them nothing and be happy about it. In fact, shinobi from Wind Country were rather foul tempered, or that was the experience Konoha had with them. Given that this would be the only threat, the squad would just have to avoid civilization for the most part, which left only one problem: facing the desert.
For all of the comforting words, Naruto thought her useless. It's better to have every shinobi realize what's going on rather than to keep them in the dark about troubles down the road. Perhaps this medic was used to remaining on Genin or Chuunin teams, so maybe she wasn't experienced in ANBU operations, but it didn't excuse the teammates that hung about catching their breath beside her. They had not spoken yet, nor told her to not speak. Naruto couldn't say anything, he had to play dumb. The Lion was watching.
Five minutes later and they were on the move again, slower this time as they approached the edge of a river. Carefully they scouted the area surrounding. The rest of the group broke from the forest they were encased in when the signal was given. A clear, green field was in front of them, on the far side of the swift river. Besides being swift it was definitely polluted, Naruto decided there must be a city upstream from them that didn't care for the river as they should. They crossed the field with speed, however it broke into sand and the desert began. They were closing on the border.
-----
From a different solar system many many galaxies away
We are the force of another creation
A new musical revelation
And we're on this musical mission to help the others listen
And groove from land to land singin' electronic chants like
Zulu nation
Revelations
Destroy our nations
-----
They traveled halfway to Konoha by nightfall. The Lion, although continuously eyeing the blond, eventually gave up his hood and cloak combination to Sakura, as she needed to keep her skin from burning too badly in the desert heat. Naruto was fine, merely concerned that his feet would be burned from the hot sand. Sakura was also suffering from this, and so when the heated sands were growing cooler they breathed a sigh of relief. The Lion allowed Sakura to keep the article of clothing; he gave no excuse, although he seemed ready to give one. No one asked.
They took a break right after dark, this time they each had a drink and sat about in a silent manner. There was still anxiety, but mostly from Sakura and Sasuke rather than the ANBU squad. Naruto stayed silent, though many were beginning to worry about his emotional health, and he knew he needed to be loud soon. Or perhaps he could blame it on being exhausted, after all drug induced sleep is not necessarily restful sleep. The group started towards Fire Country once more.
It took them a few hours to cross the rest of the sand and break through their country's borders once more. Glad to be home, Naruto suggested that they get another hour into the forest before stopping for a longer rest. While Kakashi tossed a concerned look towards him, Sakura and Sasuke both backed him up: they weren't ready for rigorous travel. The ANBU squad captain gave him a reproachful look, almost as if to chastise him for speaking out: he was not in a position to suggest anything that would affect the squad. Still, the captain looked over the Genin then decided that he was correct. No one felt it out of place that an ANBU captain agreed with him; he had juiced up his voice to make himself sound whiny though. The Lion watched him, and in turn he watched The Lion, feeling as if he had seen him somewhere before. For the next hour of traveling he attempted to figure out where it was that he had been anywhere near him.
-----
Now renegades are the people with their own philosophies
They change the course of history
Everyday people like you and me
We're the renegades we're the people
With our own philosophies
We change the course of history
Everyday people like you and me
-----
The Lion felt positive that the blue eyes that continually caught his own were those of the Hontokage—one person he would never forget—but at the same time logic told him it was not so. Danzou—no matter how mad he was—always taught him to follow logic: it was usually correct whereas emotions allowed room for mistakes to be made. He struggled to push back emotions: fear primarily as his eyes met with shocking blue ones. They reminded him so strongly of the Hontokage. The first time he met the young Kage he had been twelve and behind a mask already. He was following Danzou towards the room where he was supposed to meet his new squad members: he was a prodigy and at twelve was leading an ANBU squad. Although he was a prodigy, he was nothing but a pawn when compared to the boy he moved swiftly to avoid. The cold blue eyes had looked through him at that point, while the boy wasn't meaning it, irritation was rolling off of him in waves and affected the boy to the point where he was frozen in place. Danzou was far used to the boy by now and so just brushed off the fear he inspired without a glance towards him. Trembling slightly, he had stayed completely still and tried to appear as small as possible: something he had learned was a definite stance of submission; he remained this way until the boy had disappeared from sight. The feeling didn't wear off until a week later. But these eyes weren't exactly like the Kage's eyes; they were just the same shocking blue.
The Lion, although curious about the true identity of the Hontokage, knew better than to assume that he had other jobs than what his title signifies. Also, to what end would the Hontokage play the part of a Jinchuuriki, and much less a Genin? How would that help or affect Konoha in the least? Even though The Lion thought his eyes resembled that of a boy that once scared him more than he had ever been before, he dismissed the idea for the second time. This was why he felt that Danzou was overreacting when he made sure he was getting some social interaction: he was only quiet because it helped him to not have emotional outbursts. It was his way of focusing.
After the hour was up of jumping from tree to tree, the captain chose a small opening in the trees to touch down to the ground. He looked about then motioned to the medic to go on watch. Quietly, he explained to the Genins that they didn't have any way to make them more comfortable, they would have to do with what they had available. The Lion blinked behind his mask as the Jounin named Kakashi pulled out an orange book, intently reading it as the rest of the squad stood guard.
-----
There was a time when our music
Was something called the Bay Street beat
People would gather from all around
To get down to the big sound
You had to be a renegade in those days
To take a man to the dance floor
-----
Two hours had passed when Naruto woke himself up, assessing the situation with his eyes closed: everyone was still in their positions, he sensed their chakra signatures pulsing. He appeared to wake up to outsiders around fifteen minutes after he had woken himself. Groggily he sat up and excused himself to be able to relieve himself. As he scrambled up, The Lion stepped towards him. He said nothing but Naruto assumed that he was for added protection against any approaching enemies. Kakashi peered over his orange novel at the disappearing duo. Once they were a respectable distance away, Naruto proceeded to go about his business, all the while eyeing The Lion over his shoulder. The Lion's back was turned to him. Suddenly Naruto spoke, breaking the spell over them.
"You're a ROOT. What are you doing on an ANBU squad?" The Lion tensed then jerked his head so he looked back at Naruto. In a rough voice he addressed him.
"You're a mere Genin. How do you know of such an organization?" Naruto finished relieving himself and walked up to the shinobi now in quite a defensive posture although only doing so subconsciously. He smiled.
"I finally remembered where I saw you before. You're that kid who was following Danzou-sempai around at one point." Black eyes went wide behind the mask before he neutralized his expression. His eyes held a slightly defiant glint if you looked at him right, though. Naruto didn't seem to want to let the ROOT member get a word in though. Even if it wasn't a secret that he was the Hontokage, he didn't want to let that secret out just yet.
"I was at the Hokage Tower one day, 'cause the old man wanted to make sure that the Villagers weren't harassing me or something, 'cause I'm an orphan and stuff." This story seemed to placate the man behind the lion mask. He nodded once and spoke.
"So you're right. I was a ROOT member: ROOT has been disbanded since then." With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Naruto challenged that.
"Oh Danzou-sempai said that it was disbanded after his reprimand, but everyone knows ROOT is still in motion." The Lion shrugged it off.
"Then everyone's wrong." Naruto smirked; those ROOTs would deny it to the bitter end. But The Lion continued, "You know, Danzou would have taken you into ROOT, Uzumaki. But the Hokage would've missed the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki." Naruto's normally sparkly sapphire eyes dulled and grew dangerous. He was playing the part of the emotional Genin, perfect.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the ROOT member nearly flinched at the angered tone: it carried the resonance much the same of the—no, Uzumaki Naruto was not the Hontokage, and he would be better off if he remembered that. He responded in flat tones.
"Danzou-sama would have allowed you in the program if you had not been such a person that the Hokage would keep his eyes on." Naruto was actually surprised that this man would openly discuss this with followers of Sarutobi not far off. However, this also pointed to the fact that Danzou's followers were often very faithful to him as well as being very fearless: on a general basis at least. He frowned, but he knew now that he could at least make a contact in ROOT if he played his cards right; although it could mean giving up his secret in exchange. His eyes darted about and he motioned to the stream through the trees, just barely visible from where they were standing.
"I need to rinse my hands, if you please." He led the way expertly, leaning down and rinsing his hands in the stream before looking back up to The Lion. He stayed quiet for a moment, and then took off his fishnet shirt, silently laying it over the surface of the water, letting it sink gradually with the current. The Lion eyed him suspiciously before inquiring.
"What are you doing?" Naruto didn't even spare him a glance as he answered.
"Catching my teammates and Kakashi-Sensei some food. I'm sure they haven't eaten in a while: the travel took a lot out of Sakura. Sasuke's not much better and Kakashi's been tense the whole time." He didn't need to explain his reasoning, but he felt he should share it so his fishing wasn't dismissed with a 'we don't have time for that' or something to that effect. He caught two fish in one go, bringing them onto the bank and surprised to find The Lion's empty cloak lying out.
"I'll help, then." Naruto looked gratefully at him before returning to his fishing. After several moments of silence, he spoke again.
"My name's Namikaze Keiko, by the way, not Uzumaki Naruto." He dragged another fish onto the bank and continued as The Lion seemed to be listening. "You may not find this very believable, but I can prove it in more ways than one: I am Konoha's Hontokage."
-----
We're the renegades of funk
We're teachers of the funk
And not of empty popping
We're blessed with the force and the sight of electronics
With the bass, and the treble the horns and our vocals
'Cause every time I pop into the beat we get fresh
-----
By the time everyone was getting somewhat restless with the fact that The Lion and Uzumaki Naruto had been missing for far longer than one would take to go to the bathroom, The Lion had heard most of what he already knew of the Hontokage: Naruto, no Keiko, wasn't being very forthcoming with information. But still, a mere Genin wouldn't have been able to produce this knowledge, nor was the level of experience that The Lion could tell in each of his movements Genin level. He was concerned mostly because he was unsure as to whether the Hontokages were allowed to speak freely about themselves. Yet all of his thoughts screeched to a halt when Keiko extended his hand towards him.
"If I tell nothing of what I know from you, will you not tell anything of what you hear from me?" Typical; The Lion would have normally reasoned that this was defense; Keiko would need for him to be silent about it in front of the others. Although he could see how Keiko would have thought to seek him out, a ROOT operative, he was used to keeping secrets. He extended his own hand, taking hold of Keiko's hand and bowing over it.
"Of course, Sir." Keiko nodded, picking up the fish they had caught, letting go of The Lion's hand and turning towards camp. They trudged back, quite ready to eat then set out for Konoha again. As they entered the circle of ANBU, Keiko set down the fish and net.
"We brought food, so I hope you're hungry."