Chapter 25: Destiny Calls

Happy Belated Birthday Naruto

I apologize, however, do not expect a better rate of chapter production. I'm not going to pretend that I'll have time to write a lot. Along with this is the fact I am doing a tremendous amount of work to improve my writing so do count on better written chapters! Please review.

Here it is:

Naruto eased out an earned confidence as he stood in front of his good friend, waiting for him to make the first move. Heiri and Naruto faced each other behind Heiri's humble home. The yard was spacious, all dirt due to training. Ino and Hinata stood to the side frowning not understanding what was taking place.

Naruto and Heiri saw their discomfort and grinned at each other. It was understandable why the girls felt uneasy about the two fighting. Then again girls in generall would have a hard time figuring out all the subtleties of two friends engaged in combat. It was a bonding experience, as all guys know there are somethings about people that can only be understood after they are sweaty, bleeding, and exhausted. It is to most males a blissful state that puts us at ease.

Heiri and Naruto did not hold back. Holding back would have negated the reasons for fighting. Instead they pushed themselves and Naruto realized that this would test his disciplined resolve. This fight would require him to put his emotions out for everyone to see. Without showing your true self you are letting up the chance to be understood.

He caught Heiri's hand and slammed his fist into Heiri's gut, then sent Heiri sprawling with a kick to the side. Naruto was expressionless he couldn't bring himself to challange his training. He threw a kunai whcih Heiri caught and sent back surrounded in electricity.

Naruto ducked back and when his head came back up Heiri was in front of him. He punched at the charging Heiri but his punch was caught and a wave of electricity dropped the blonde to his knees.

"An electric clone. Smart." Complemented Naruto, who created five clones of his own. In unison the six Naruto's threw kunai and shuriken at Heiri who had attempted to aproach Naruto from behind. He set about dodging them, realizing after a shuriken sunk into his thigh that the projectiles were being guided by wind.

Heiri jumped into the air the projectiles following him. Pulling out a steel rod he whipped the weapons away and hurled the rod at Naruto. The blonde jumped back a few feet easily avoiding the spear-like weapon only to have Heiri fire a lightning bolt out of his palm into the steel rod electrocuting the ground. Naruto's clones were destroyed instantly and he only narrowly made it into the air using a wind jutsu to hold him in the air.

"Seems like you've learned some new tricks Naruto. I have too." Heiri winked before creating a clone. "The attack is modeled off your father's."

The clone appeared next to Naruto in a speed that seemed impossible and grabbed him sending hundreds of volts of electricity into the wind user.

Naruto pulled out a scroll before he hit the ground. And pushed his palm onto it exerting a huge amount of chakra. "How about a taste of your own medicine, buddy?" Naruto continued to push chakra into the scroll and his left palm and with his right he did the simplest Katon jutsu he knew.

Everything within twenty feet of Heiri lit up in flames. Hinata screamed, Ino covered her mouth, and Naruto looked annoyed.

"That is one hell of a technique Naruto. If I hadn't felt the oxygen percent in the air triple I would have been a goner." Heiri was behind Naruto with a kunai on his neck.

Naruto laughed from behind Heiri. "So you beat my clone, huh?" Heiri looked down as the clone that he had his kunai pressed against exploded in an innocent cloud of smoke. Heiri dropped his weapon. The fight was over.

Naruto's kunai was already in his weapon's pouch when his friend turned around impressed, and put an arm around Naruto. "When the hell did you and that clone switch places?"

"After I kicked you to the ground in the beggining of the fight. I have all the clones set up so elemental attacks don't destroy them. Instead they absorb the attack and use it as fuel. Creating the type of clone is more complicated, and they stop working tompararily when hit as you saw. But they're very useful in tricking the enemy into thinking the clones me. Unfortuanately people have to use ninjutsu more than taijutsu. But you're one of those people."

Naruto and Heiri laughed, but the laughter was cut short as Ino began to shout angrily. "What were you to thinking? You nearly scared Hinata and I to death!"

Hinata was nearly in tears, still traumatized by the thought of Heiri being burnt to a crisp. She hugged Heiri burying her head in his chest. Heiri chuckled softly, "Aww, don't be mad. Come on we'll all get cleaned up and then we'll go out to dinner."

The sun was setting as they went inside and it would soon be dark. Heiri showed them their rooms. Conveniently he and Hinata had one room and Naruto and Ino had another, much to the delight of Ino. The group got ready quickly and soon were on their way to dinner.

Naruto watched Ino intently for any signs that indicated Ino did in fact like him. He walked with the hands on the back of his head and his head tilted slightly away from Ino, but with his eyes fastened on Ino. Heiri chuckled turning to Naruto whispering, "You are the least subtle person I have ever seen."

Naruto couldn't help but beam at Heiri. His friend had a way with insults. "So..." Naruto said, figuring that it was a good a time as any to interrogate the lightning ninja. "Why'd you move out? I mean I know the way you feel about your family but?" He droned off hoping for an answer to better understand Heiri's predicament.

"Well... My sister and my dad have been butting heads a lot lately. My sister has already been deemed the next Raikage and she wants dad to step down soon so she can take his place. I left not wanting to be in the middle of all the hostility. A week later, dad, to cool things down sent her on an A rank mission to wander the elemental countries and hone her skills." He took a deep breath and quickly turned around making sure the girls were out of hearing distance. They were, Hinata and Ino were talking pleasently twenty or so feet behind Naruto and Heiri. "Akatsuki have tried to recruit me for their group I refused imeadiately and now I'm a marked man. They offered me a chance to attain power that would make me ten times stronger, they were lying right? There is no way I can acheive that much power is there. If I could it would be enough to stop Akatsuki."

Heiri slowed his pace. He was so unsure of what to do and he knew Naruto could not provide the answers to his many questions. Naruto did not express the shock that he felt but in his head his mind raced attempting to figure out Akatuski's plans. "Heiri maybe the power was true but it would be at the cost of something we as guardians of our villages would not be able to part with.

The two put their conversation on hold as they entered the restaurant. The meal was the longest of Naruto's life as he desperately wanted more reasons to beat the crap out of the Raikage whom he underestimated greatly. It was an akward meal to say the least. Hinata and Ino talked happily before the boys' sullen moods finally got to them. For Naruto there was no hiding it, he was pissed. Heiri was not angry he had long ago overcome the realization that his father did not like him. But he could not bare to see Hinata be hurt by his father as he was.

It was dark when they finally made it back home. And while Hinata and Ino got ready for bed Naruto and Heiri snuck out of the house. The two walked through the dark streets, Heiri leading the way and Naruto following quietly. Above them the moon occasionally peeked out from behind the clouds and checked on them keeping them on track with tentative intervention. Heiri stopped at a hill and climbed up the rocky tower to the peak overlooking the village. Naruto squated next to him waiting paciently for Heiri to speak.

The two sat in silence. 'Do I have the right to speak?' Naruto wondered, 'I haven't seen Heiri in years.' "Do you have any friends in the village. People you can count on?"

Heiri nodded, "Yeah I have a couple of people who I can count on, I want to say four people."

"They know of your situation?"

"Yeah."

"How strong are they? One of them is not a ninja, he's an old man who has a large amount of connections and is blessed with the wisdom of the Gods. Two are hosts of demons like Gaara the two tailed beast and the eight tailed beast my uncle, and sad is this is the last one is my sister you know she's strong and no matter how much I dislike her I have to admit if I begged her she'd help me."

"Do you know where she is now?"

"She's with her boy friend?"

"... SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND?!" As the mood lightened they both laughed. "I can't beleive a guy has the courage to go out with her."

Heiri grinned and pushed Naruto over from his seated position. "Don't tell me you don't know."

"Know what?" Naruto said pushing himself up his eyes twinkling in playful youth.

"She's dating Gaara."

Naruto paused and burst out laughing. "HAHa that's hilarious. No seriously who's she going out with?"

"I'm not kidding."

Shock spread through out Naruto. "The only person who has ever beaten Gaara in a fight besides us and Akatsuki is dating him?"

"Yeah they have some sort of love hate realtionship. Gaara is turned on by a person strong enough to defeat him and my sister likes strong men. They both fight for dominence of the relationship. She told me she only likes him cause he's the kazekage but I know for a fact she actually really likes him. So we're on better terms then when we were younger but we're still siblings and shes still a super agressive perfectionist with a need to kill anyone who is strong enought to oppose her."

Naruto's mind whirled. "Holy crap... If they were to get married it would make you and Gaara brothers."

Heiri smirked, "that's one of the reasons I don't mind their relationship that much."

Naruto grew very sullen... "Well I guess this a good a time as any to tell you your sisters hot." He ducked under a punch laughing fitfully. Heiri cast Naruto an evil look, but half way through smiled, ruining the attempt to guilt Naruto into apologizing.

"Where were we?" Naruto asked, trying to steer the conversation back to the important topic of Heiri's safety. Heiri sighed and looked longingly into the starry sky. "Do you think that one day we'll ever defeat the evil in this world?"

Naruto was wondering the same thing. "Not alone. But together we have a chance. He stood up and offered his friend his hand. With friends by our side, perhaps we can save this world from ourselves." Heiri grabbed Naruto's hand and was pulled to his feet. Heiri closed his eyes and tried to see the world through blindness it was dark and unforgiving, blurry, and desolate. He opened his eyes and followed his friend home. Ignoring Naruto's attempts to talk about his safety.

"Naruto I shouldn't have brought up Akatsuki. I can deal with them on my own, but I felt you had to know. Just in case something does happen." Naruto realized instantly what was said.

"There is no way in hell I would let anyone hurt you." His eyes shined fiercely for a few moments staring into his friends eyes before wandering to a cut on his arm. "Well no one besides me." They both laughed. Naruto and Heiri made their way back to the house exchanging lightbantered humor until they reached the house.

Naruto trudged up the stairs tired from the days events. He opened his door and was surprised to to see Ino lying in the bed sound a sleep. He had forgotten they had to share a room. He moved quietly around the room into the bathroom and cleaned up as quietly as he could. When he was finally finished washing up he turned out the light and crept into bed. He felt the weight of exhaustion shut his eyes and he fell asleep.

Naruto woke up in a jolt as he felt something graze his chest. A moments recognition saw that it was Ino's arm holding on to him in a firm commanding way. During the night she had crossed the foot of space that the king size bed allowed between them and pressed her soft, petit, body against his. The first morning rays allowed the gentle smile that carresed Ino's expression to be seen and the contagious satisfaction that was present in the girls langour contortion caused Naruto to smile as well and he turned towards her and kissed her gently. He pulled away a little struck by the action and how nice it was. He turned towards her and lay just looking at her, admiring her. She was beautiful. She was beautiful, and she cared for him, what more could he ask for? He pushed the hair that dangled in front of her face back so he could see her inocent face better.

He looked at her longingly for what seemed like hours until the sun had made its way up, completely visible from a lone window at the far side of the room. The blinds had been pulled back and he finally got up and moved to the window to see what it held. From the window he could see the road that led to the village's center. To the left and right of the road were steep hills decorated with thick foliage and collosal rock pillars. And as Naruto marveled at the beauty of the world Ino woke up from he long soothing sleep, her eyes wandered the room not quite sure of her surrounding, coming to rest on the handsome blonde gazing out the window, the radiant sun playing with his golden hair and working its way around him.

Ino pushed her self up and blushed at the thought that paraded happily in her mind she had shared a bed with Naruto during the night. "Good morning, Naruto." Ino said in her cutest voice. Naruto whirled around to see Ino sitting up in bed her hand behind her holding her up her left shoulder strap dangling off her shoulder. Ino had never seen such a heroic looking person, Naruto stood in front of her an all knowing grin settled on his face, light cascade from him as he stood directly in front of the sun. "Good morning, Ino."

Ino tilted her head to the side and hair fell across her face showing her ability to use her girlish charm at any moment. "Where were you last night?" She asked as he moved to the bathroom to shower. "Me and Heiri went for a walk." He answed truthfully. She sighed knowing her reali question would never be answered as the sound of water hitting the tiled shower floor could be heard. She lay back down and sighed waiting for Naruto to finish with the shower when Hinata knocked on her door and before opening it and peaking in. Realizing Naruto was in the shower she rushed into the room and sat down on the bed next to Ino. "Hey Ino," Hinata whispered, "how was it sleeping with Naruto?"

Ino blushed at her first thought wishing it was true before answering the question. "I wish I knew. He woke up before me and I was asleep before he got into bed." Ino pouted slightly, and noticed Hinata was already fully dressed.

"Well I'm sure you will be able to have some time with Naruto before you leave." The Hyuuga said confidently, reassuring her friend. Hinata left the room quickly when she heard the shower turn off.

Naruto emerged from the bathroom with a towel tightly gripping his waist. "It's all yours Ino." Naruto said as Ino got up and made her way to the bathroom shutting the door and leaving Naruto to change. Before long Naruto, Heiri, Ino, and Hinata had congregated in the kitchen and were discussing their to do lists for the day.

Naruto opened the front door and let a cool fall breeze push past him. He breethed in deeply the fresh crisp morning air and started down the road to the villages busy center with his friends following him. The group was going to visit one of Heiri's friends and then they were going to have a picnic. A chill ran down Naruto's spine as the girls laughed at something Heiri said. Naruto felt as though he was coming alive everything was available to him. He was in a state of euphoria and his friends were a drug that pushed away his stress and erased his fears. Naruto was smiling uncontrollably enjoying life.

Heiri in an uncontrollable burst of energy threw Hinata and Ino over his shoulders and sped past Naruto. "WOO!" Heiri's eyes twinkled as landed a front flip with the girls still on his back pleading with him to let them down. Heiri let them down sheepishly and was forgiven, but not before Ino smacked him over the head. The four friends stood in a rocky valley, caves scattering the landscape. "Where are we?" Ino asked, looking around at the vast area void of life. Heiri just put a finger to his lips and whistled.

Heiri looked startled as someone emerged from one of the caves. "That's not my uncle," Heiri said startled. He pulled out a kunai, "this is a trap."