Hey, guess what? I still don't own Naruto, nope nope!
Oh yeah, working on the next group of chapters, sorry for the delay.
.
Chapter Twenty-Three – Training And A Return To Wave
.
(((()
.
"Yo, brat." Anko said with a grin as she appeared behind Hinata who was looking down the road that Naruto and a dozen Great Tigers had vanished down. "You look distracted, so I think it's time to get your mind off the Gaki and get ready to do some serious… is that the Kitsune's Fang?"
Hinata followed Anko's gaze to the dagger resting along her thigh. "Not quite. Naruto-kun had it made, then he did something odd, infusing his chakra, the Kyuubi's chakra and my chakra into it. I don't know exactly how it works, but he is always aware of where it is, and thus where I am, and if I concentrate whle holding it, it tells me where he is. It also does this, come!"
The dagger vanished and reappeared in her hand.
"I can't do the reverse-summon thing Naruto-kun does with his, but this dagger lets him do it to reach me whenever he wants."
Ankos eyebrows had raised as Hinata explained the properties of her new weapon. "Damn, girl, he must have serious hots for you if he's willing to make something like that for you."
"I think he does." Hinata giggled. "Even if my snuggly and I haven't started reading the orange books together yet."
"That'll happen soon enough." Anko said, turning Hinata round and pushing her towards the training grounds. "Now come on, it's time to get you stronger. When you hit the finals, you're going to give Gaki a real fight!"
"But you're his sensei." Hinata half-protested as Anko towed her away from the gates. "Shouldn't you be working on making him stronger, not me?"
"Gaki ain't here, you are." Anko said. "Besides, he learns best going up against superior opponants, so if I make you stronger, it makes him stronger too. See?"
Hinata frowned as she tried to follow the logic.
"I… think so…"
"Good!" Anko exclaimed. "Now come on, training time and dango time's a-wasting!"
.
(((()
.
"Become a bandit, it's eeeeasy money, you said." The man groused. "Merchants using the bridge are easy pickings, you said. We'll get lots of money and retire with willing, beautiful ladies, you said."
"Shut up! It's not my fault!"
"Not your fault?!" The first man shouted. "You got us into this mess, you led us into banditry, you never told us that we could expect HAVING FUCKING GIANT TIGERS ATTACK US!"
"To be fair," Naruto said from where he was jogging beside the men who were tied up and slung over the backs of two of the greatly amused Great Tigers, "It's not like he could have predicted me."
"I don't care." The first man sulked. "It's still his fault."
"My fault?" the second man asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "You didn't have to join me, you knew the risks."
"They didn't include giant tigers as far as I knew." Came the riposte. "Ninja, yes, giant tigers… no."
"Shut up, the pair of you." Said the third prisoner. "I've had it with your complaining. Ninja-san, can you please slap them?"
"Not without risking killing them." Naruto said, scooping up a rock and cushing it in his left hand. The two bandits who hadn't seen him using his strength before gulped in fear.
"Still his fault." The first man muttered as the town came into view.
"SHUT! UP!"
The townsfolk looked up and several of them started to cheer and call out greetings as they recognised the giant cats. Naruto waved back, then grinned as he saw the statues flanking the bridge, life-sized statues of the tigers sat protectively, looking outwards. A glint of metal caught his eye and he slowed down to read the plaque set onto the side of the bridge.
The Great Tiger Bridge was built with the help of Ninja from Konohagakure and their allies, the Great Tigers.
This Bridge is dedicated to their courage, bravery and indomitable willpower.
Haruno Sakura. Genin
Hatake Kakashi. Jonin
Kagetora Haku. Chunin
Kagetora Naruto. Genin
Mitarashi Anko. Jonin
Momochi Zabuza no Kagetora. Jonin
Sai. Genin
Uchiha Sasuke. Genin
They brought the greatest gift of all to Wave.
Hope.
Naruto smiled at the inscription and looked up at the statues, recognising them.
"Heh, Kaze, this one's you, and that one is the Elder. Looking good."
'They know perfection when they see it.' Kaze preened and Naruto laughed.
"I see they got the Haku and Zabuza's names right, they must have been keeping track of what's been happening."
"We were indeed." A voice said and Naruto spun round.
"Tazuna-san! Inari!"
"We came as soon as we heard that someone was here with some Great Tigers and some prisoners." Tazuna said. "I guess these are the bandits from between here and Konoha? I was about to ask Konoha for help in getting rid of them, but since you've already done it, I think we can spring for a B-rank payment for you."
"They were C-rank at best." Naruto grinned. "And I'm not talking a guard-the-bridge-builder C-rank."
"Is Anko-san here?" Inari asked, looking round and Naruto raised one eyebrow.
"Anko-sensei, no. She's back in Konoha. I'll be happy to take a message back for her once my mission is done."
"Thanks." Inari grinned. "She's a really cool ninja, bit scary but really cool."
"So," Tazuna said as some villagers started to unload the bandits, "What mission do you have, and do you want a place to stay?"
"I'm trying to reach Uzushiogakure." Naruto said. "I'll need a boat."
"Not a problem." Tazuna said with a wide smile. "After your mission, we gained quite a few boats, and some sailors. Heck, we even put a dock at the other end of the bridge to help shift cargo. I'll put the word out and by tomorrow, you'll have your boat and a crew."
"I want to go too!" Inari said, looking up from the tiger that he was stroking. "Please?"
"If Tazuna and Tsunami say it's alright, then yes." Naruto said after a moment's thought. "However, you will do exactly what I say, and you will stay with at least one of the tigers at all times."
Inari nodded as Tazuna laughed. "Well, come on. I'm sure Tsunami will be happy to see you, and you can tell us all about how the rest of our heroes are."
.
(((()
.
"That was delicious. Thank you." Naruto said, leaning back and rubbing at his stomach. Tsunami smiled at him.
"So, I heard that Inari wants to go with you to Uzushiogakure." Tsunami said, giving her son a quelling look as he started to pipe up. "You know that the island's deserted, has been since the last Shinobi war."
"There are certain… clan items hidden there that I have to find." Naruto said. "As a descendant of one of Whirlpool's clans, I can get into the hidden vaults and claim them for the Kagetora and Konoha, with a cut for Wave for your help."
Tazuna shook his head. "Nah, keep it all for yourself, you've earned it with what you and your friends did against Gato."
"I'll pay the boat hire, at least." Naruto said and Tazuna shrugged.
"Sure thing. I don't see a problem with that."
"Hey, look!" Inari shouted, pointing out the window. Naruto rose from the chair and joined the others.
"Okay." Tazuna snorted. "I should have expected that."
Naruto grinned at the sight of the village's youngsters crowding round the tigers, stroking them and climbing all over them. Kaze looked across, gave a long, slow wink, then turned back and nuzzled the girl who was trying to stroke his head.
"They love kids." Naruto explained. "I think it's because they lost so many cubs during their time in the Forest of Death, they regard children as… almost sacred. They'll do anything to protect them."
"Alright, Inari." Tsunami said from behind them. "You can go with Naruto tomorrow."
Inari cheered and Naruto smiled down at him.
"Glad to have you aboard, kid."
"Yay!" Inari shouted. "I get to go on an adventure with Anko-sama's student!"
Naruto blinked as Tazuna and Tsunami laughed.
.
(((()
.
"Okay, kid, it's time… to… where'd you go?"
Anko frowned as she ooked at the empty (albeit rumpled) bed.
"Anko, what are you doing in my student's apartment?"
"Oh, hi, 'Nai-chan." Anko said, bending to look underneath the bed. "I was going to give her some more training in snake-style taijitsu, but she isn't here. Did you… no, you're here, so where is she?"
Kurenai frowned as Anko stepped into the bathroom, then emerged shaking her head.
"No sign of her… oh hell, she didn't go after Naruto, did she?"
Anko sprinted out of the apartment and down the stairs, then she stopped and walked back up. "False alarm, Kyouka's still here, so she must be here too. Where in Kami's name…?"
"She's here." Kurenai said quietly, her voice filled with amusement as she looked into Naruto's room. Anko peeped round the doorframe and smiled at the sight of Hinata curled up on Naruto's bed, snuggled against his pillow which she gripped tightly.
"Girl's got it bad for him, don't she?" Anko smirked. "Maybe we should just move his stuff into the apartment today and save her all these little journeys. Heck, you could move in to here once we move the stuff to keep an eye on them."
Kurenai glared at her and Anko grinned, ducking away as Kurenai lifted a threatening fist.
"So, how do you recommend waking her up?" Kurenai said and Anko smirked.
"Cinammon rolls!"
Hinata catapulted herself out of the bed, landing in a slight crouch and looking round. "Cinammon rolls? Where are they?"
Anko collapsed with laughter and Kurenai shook her head. "Dammit, Anko. Stop teasing her like that. Bad enough that you encourage her to be a pervert…"
"Only with Naruto-kun." Hinata protested, blushing when Kurenai gave her a blank look. "It's not like I'm a real pervert, it's only Naruto-kun that I… I mean that… Anko-sensei, help?"
Anko pulled herself upright. "Girl's in love. Gaki loves her. Just accept it, 'Nai-chan. So, should we move his stuff through now to save time?"
"I thought they were waiting until after the exams." Kurenai protested, trying to ignore the eager look on her student's face. "They're still kids!"
"No, we're not." Hinata said, grabbing and holding up her Hitai-ate. "Once we received these, we became adults. As Anko told me, having these means that we're old enough to drink, old enough to smoke, old enough to fight, old enough to kill and old enough to fu…"
"Okay, I got it!" Kurenai interrupted quickly. "Anko, what have you done to my little student?"
"She helped me to find myself." Hinata said. "I'm still me, just… more so. And right now, I need to get washed and dressed. If you will excuse me."
Kurenai watched Hinata walk across the hallway and into her own apartment, then she looked at Anko, who was pretending to cry.
"They grow up so fast, don't they, 'Nai-chan?"
"Oh, shut up. And you can shut up too."
"I didn't say anything!" Zabuza protested from his doorway.
.
(((()
.
"Welcome aboard, Naruto-san!" The captain of the fishing boat said as Naruto leapt aboard rather than using the gangplank which was being used by some of the tigers to board. Much to Naruto's amusement, over half the tigers had chosen to stay behind to be fussed over and petted by the villagers, meaning that Kaze, the Elder and only four of the other tigers had chosen to accompany him, and the Elder was the one carrying Inari. The young boy had been ecstatic when he found out what honour had been bestowed on him.
"Thank you for volunteering to give me transport." Naruto replied, bowing slightly as he did so. "However, I wasn't told how much I owed you for this journey. I have money with me…"
"There's no charge for one of the Heroes of the Bridge and the Friend of the Tigers." The captain grinned. "Besides, the story of this mission will keep me in free sake for years! Alright, cast off!"
Naruto looked round and grinned as he saw the Elder sat in the bow of the ship like a living figurehead, Inari lying along his neck, chin resting between the Elder's ears. Naruto walked over to them.
"Having fun, kid?"
"It's amazing!" Inari exulted. "Naruto, what's the name of this tiger? It seems wrong to just call him 'you'."
"His actual name is complicated, but you can call him Elder." Naruto said. "He's kind of the leader of all the Great Tigers, sort of a furry four-legged Hokage. And don't panic, if he objected to you being on his back, you'd be on the floor by now."
Inari stared at the Elder, then leaned forwards and wrapped his arms as far round his neck as he could manage, giving him a hug. "Thank you, Elder."
The Elder started to emit a rumbling purr and Naruto grinned and headed back to where the captain was overseeing the crew as they set the sails.
"We'll be there within a day and a half." The captain said. "Your cabins are prepared."
"Thank you."
"For you, not a problem." The captain smiled.
