Kitsune Here! I hope everyone had a good holiday, or is having a good holiday. I basically did this chapter two or three days before Christmas, and finished it today. The next chapter is started as well. The last Naruto chapter was awesome, it made me want to write more, though I can't really use anything we learned in this story. I'm sorry to say that updates may slow down, Life is still kicking my ass around the block and I'm backlogged with a lot of things I should do. But, I will work on this story as much as I am able. Winter just sucks.
"Thanks and Thanks again" to all my readers, reviewers, favers, and C2ers. Some of you guys have awesome names, by the way. Lots of cookies to you all!
Random question of the chapter: "What's your favorite non-anime show?" Mine is...wait a second, I know I have one...*thinks about it.* Er. Bones and Criminal Minds for live action, and right now, Young Justice for animated.
_*&*&*_POV Naruto_*&*&*_
Naruto watched Kakashi's face closely as he ate his meal. He wasn't particularly fond of the flat bread, but the spicy filling was very tasty. He knew his sensei had a plan, but it was very much like the man to keep the blond in the dark for as long as possible. He guessed it had something to do with 'protecting' him. Usually he found the trait just plain annoying, but now, after talking with his father, he guessed it was also kinda nice. It was Kakashi's way of showing he really cared, after all. Well, that and giving him porno books.
He felt that maybe Sakura was right; he was doomed to become a pervert.
"So, how's your meal, Naruto?" The man calmly turned the page in his book, his meal untouched.
"Fine, Kakashi-sensei. Are you going to eat that?" The man smiled, causing Naruto to sweat-drop. I guess he's not going to fall for the old 'buy sensei food to see his face trick' still... "Didn't think so. More for me, then." He helped himself to the spicy dish as a familiar set of new faces came into the spacious cafeteria. As the group oh-so-casually made their way over to them, he hissed, "You could have warned me, you know."
Kakashi just continued to smile, placing a glass of water in front of Naruto with a light thunk, "Watch out, it's spicy."
"GEE thanks, Kakashi-sensei. Really. I mean it." He promised himself that he'd tell Hawkeye that Kakashi was the one who got him his first 'Come Come Paradise' book as revenge.
"Oh? Why, hello there!" The creepy man from earlier pretended to notice them sitting there. "Would you mind terribly if I joined you?"
Naruto almost growled at the man; he was being so transparent, it was pissing him off. "Ye-UMPH!" he turned his glare at the silver haired man who was pretending he hadn't just kicked him. "YEAH," He grumbled, "We'd just LOVE for you to join us, mister." The invitation was moot, however, as the man was already sitting.
"Why, thank you. Albert, if you could please bring me a plate? I'd like to try a little of everything, if you don't mind." All three watched as the man briskly strode up to the counter and started to talk with the staff. Naruto wasn't sure what bothered him more, the fact the man had so quickly followed orders, almost before they were given, or the fact that the other three had settled in at a distance as unobtrusive guards. He was reasonably sure that this old weird guy was the Daimyo— no, that's not what they called it… of this land. Why would he need guards in one of his own bases? "I hear you're visiting us from another country, hmm?"
"Yes, my student and I are on a journey to learn more about Alchemy, and we had heard that this nation was the place to come. You see, Alchemy is relatively unheard of back home."
"Ah, is that so? Is your interest purely academic, or practical?"
"Academic."
"Perhaps you'd like to stop by Central then. Our capital has an extensive library, and there are many state Alchemists living there." The man took his plate from the soldier and began to eat, "This is surprisingly delicious, isn't it?"
"Thanks for the suggestion, but I think we'll be fine here for a while. Mustang has been really helpful, after all."
"Yes, he's very good at what he does. But, I insist! In fact, you can be my guests!" The man smiled, "But I haven't properly introduced myself, have I? I am Fuhrer Grumman. I happen to be a very influential man in this nation. Being my guest could open doors for you, as it were."
Naruto snorted, drawing attention to himself. "Yeah, I bet you're influential. So that's what you guys call your leader here, Fuhrer? What a lame name!" He ignored Kakashi's warning glare, "Listen, jerk, there's only one door I want opened, so unless you..."
"Naruto, that's enough."
"But, Kakashi-sensei...!"
Grumman raised an eyebrow, "What door could you be talking about, I wonder?"
"The back door to the adult store in our home town," Kakashi put in smoothly, "Naruto here is a bit of a pervert, you know."
"WHAT! I'm not a perv, you're the one who reads those stupid books all the time!"
"Really?" the Fuhrer laughed before changing the topic, "So, when did you arrive? I was wondering if you had happened to see this Ra...I mean fox monster that appeared around a week ago?"
The silver haired jounin just shrugged, "Sorry, I don't know anything about it. I saw the damage, though. It looked quite impressive. From what I've heard no one was seriously hurt, right?"
"Yes, people were very lucky. It's interesting, however," The man said, smile becoming hard again, all amusement fading from his voice, "There is a rumor of the monster turning into a blond youth in an orange and black outfit." He glanced at Naruto out of the corner of his eye, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"Orange and black, huh?" Naruto felt his stomach bottom out as he laughed nervously, "Wow, someone has good taste. It's almost as cool as orange and blue, right, Kakashi-sensei?"
"So, Naruto, was it? When did you arrive again?"
"Eh, it's all been such a blur, right? It's just been so much...fun, yeah, fun!"
"Well, I don't know if I'd call being locked in a small room and interrogated by Scar and Mustang fun, but I can see how it would be a bit of a blur to you." Naruto gulped at Grumman's words. He didn't fail to notice the guards slowly drawing their weapons again, though his eyes were on the man in front of him, taking in the stone cold look. "Tell me, how come you're no longer restrained?"
"Eh...Gotta go, bye!" The blond leapt up, attempting to bolt from the room. The BAM! of the gun was defining in the small room, setting the kitchen staff screaming as a burning pain lanced his shoulder, sending him stumbling. He felt the Kyuubi suddenly rush to full alertness, crying for the death of the fools who dared to challenge HIS host as the malignant energy bubbled out of him.
"Naruto, calm down!" Kakashi ordered causing Naruto to whip his head around. Kakashi-sensei! He was right there, is he ok? He blinked in relief as he saw his teacher standing behind Grumman, a kunai at his neck. The soldiers seemed to be torn on whom to point their guns at: Kakashi was threatening their leader, but Naruto was sure he looked pretty evil at the moment, crouched on the floor the way he was.
"Tell them to put away their weapons first."
"Let go of the Fuhrer!" One of the men growled out, "And then we'll think about lowering our guns."
Kakashi smiled, totally calm, "Sorry, I think our jinchuuriki trumps your guns. Lower your weapons."
"Jinchuuriki, humm?" Grumman grinned, slightly manic, "That's interesting! What exactly is a jinchuuriki, I wonder." The man seemed to be totally unfazed by the situation. "I take it that would be the correct term for Naruto here? Tell me, boy, if this goes on, will you turn back into a giant fox?"
Naruto startled, unnerved by the man's calm reaction to everything, even as the chakra boiled around him, forming a tail as the fox took advantage of his surprise,"YES."
"I see. Well, that would be a very bad thing, don't you think? After all, we're inside." The man chuckled, "I can see why you made my subordinate so nervous, lad. Lower your guns, men." When the men hesitated he continued, "If these two wanted me dead, I'm sure I'd be dead already."
As soon as the men put away their guns, Kakashi put away the kunai and calmly walked over to Naruto. He said nothing, just raised his visible eyebrow. Naruto knew what he was asking, however. 'Do you need a hand?' He shook his head and PUSHED hard against the fox, beating it back inch by inch as the beast snarled about ungrateful curs who didn't know how to defend themselves. In moments he was back to normal, rotating his now healed shoulder and glaring at them.
"Fascinating." The Fuhrer settled back down. "Let's try this again, shall we?" he asked as he gestured for them to return to their seats. "Why exactly are you here?"
Kakashi shrugged, "Oh, for this and that. Find out about Alchemy, look for new adult books, find a way home. Take your pick; it's really all the same to me." Naruto felt his teacher's hand on his shoulder and turned to look at him, "Now if you'll excuse us, I need to see a dog about a woman." The older shinobi nodded at Grumman before calmly sauntering out of the room.
Naruto started to follow and paused. He turned towards the kitchen, where he could feel the staff's eyes on him and waved, "Sorry about that!" He called before he trotted after Kakashi.
_*&*&*_POV ROY_*&*&*_
Roy knew he was going to lose the game. He'd expected it, though. Really, his mind was only half on the game in the first place. He was too busy thinking about his old friend's request that HE personally go to Briggs and offer his assistance. He wanted to say no, but it was hard to do that when his team was the only group with any insight into what might have actually happened there. And then there are the reports of things going missing... Roy mused, Last time, it turned out to be Ed's teacher, but we called her, she's at home. So looks like the Briggs has a vermin problem. His stomach rolled when he thought about what kind of vermin it could be.
Grumman moved his bishop, taking Roy's poorly placed queen, "So what do you think, Mustang?"
"I think I'm going to lose in record time." He sighed, "I see your point, but I have a bit of a situation here as well."
"Ah yes, those two 'visitors,' if I'm not mistaken. Very interesting pair, you know." He moved his rook, "Looks like you were right. Check."
"Dammit!" Mustang quickly moved his king, "Interesting isn't the word I would use. Not even close. It's not like I can leave them here, you know. If I go, that means Hawkeye'll insist on coming. I could probably get away with leaving Armstrong in charge for a while, which would prevent some problems until the Elric brothers decided to sneak off after us with him in tow. Who would watch those two then? And don't tell me to send them on to Central. That would be a disaster!"
"Well then, the only solution is to take them all with you. Who knows, maybe these new elements might be helpful." The Fuhrer moved a pawn, "Check and mate, my friend."