Disclaimer: I do not own anything Naruto or Zelda that is mentioned in this plotline. All I own are original characters, items/weapons/jutsu/ect.
Chapter Sixteen
Night had fallen, and the night was a bit cool, and of course, their clothes were wet from the storm they braved through while fighting, literally, for their lives against the "boss" of the Wrecked Valhalla. They had built a small campfire, out of the way of the often traveled path. Although both teens were blushing, they had stripped off their wet clothes, and hung them on branches to get them to dry. Naruto had forgotten to pack the scroll containing extra clothes... so, yes, they were stuck this way. As for Hinata, her pack containing her own supplies was sealed into a scroll which Kurenai-sensei held. There was only one sleeping bag, but it was big enough for two people.
Midna wanted to sleep with Naruto, but had to sleep on the back saddle of Epona's seat. The horse itself was in a sitting position, getting rest herself. With the fire crackling merrily, the two blushing teens kept warm by sleeping together. No, nothing happened here, except Naruto kept his arms around her, but no where close to her assets, or below the waistline. And she just closed her eyes, curled up in his embrace. This was somewhat of a romantic scene... two young teenagers, possibly in love. Oh yes, such a sweet scene, if you ignore their state of dress under the covers... then again, this could be out of some romance novel (not Icha Icha of course).
If only Naruto could hold me like that, Midna thought, as the two tens somehow easily fallen asleep. She began thinking up such naughty thoughts her cheeks bloomed into a full blush, and she squirmed a bit just thinking about the actions it could lead to. The morning came, and the clothes had dried out. A simple Hinata no Hi helped make it warm. Once dressed, the fire put out, and everything packed, the trio continued on their trek back to the village. Midna sat on Naruto's shoulders, while Hinata sat in front of him, his arms around her grasping the reigns. He kept his thoughts clean, as he didn't want to get another one, not after the dream he had last night involving the girls in his life... he really needed to get more of an output in life other than his dirty manga books.
It would be a day from now they were at the boarder between Cha and Hi that Kakashi, Kurenai, Anko, Gai, Asuma, and several other ANBU had left the village to find Naruto and Hinata. Instead, upon reaching the border, they were greeted by the sight of a calm Naruto riding Epona, and Hinata was asleep, leaning against him and he held a good grip on her so she would not fall off the horse. Naruto took his short time to look at the group of ten ANBU led by Neko, his sensei, Hinata's sensei, the crazy snake woman who held a love for Dango, Puff Daddy Sarutobi, as he called Asuma due to his habit of smoking, and Super Fuzzy Eyebrows.
"Kakashi-sensei, Anko-chan, Kurenai-sensei, Gai-sensei." He looks at Asuma and smirks, "Puff Daddy."
"Stop calling me that!" The man growled, as he puffs on his lit cigarette.
Anko however was cracking up. "P-Puff Daddy? That sounds like a pimp name!"
He continued riding past them at a decent pace, and Kakashi was the first to turn around and follow.
"How did you escape, and what happened?"
Snickers from Anko are still heard.
"Went back to that port in Cha, bought an extra scroll to seal my newly acquired Mole Gauntlets from the Zu Brothers... We killed them, the creature they controlled, and escaped before the Valhalla sunk to the sea..."
Kakashi wanted to ask him about the Twilight Princess, but Naruto simply gazed down at his own shadow before returning to the scenery. Midna may be known, but not by the majority. Anko didn't even know about the chibi imp until she discovered Midna. He remembered how long it took to clear some things. At her current state, her cursed state, if he remembered correctly, the masses would think of her as some sort of demon. He stayed quiet, and returned to reading his book. So much for a rescue mission... He kept forgetting that Naruto was much like his sensei, unpredictable... Naruto certainly was the most unpredictable ninja... Speaking of Naruto, he shifted a bit so Hinata cloud lay against him in a better position. A soft smile crept up to his face, before he lets go of the reigns. Kakashi watches him as the boy took out his Ninpod, earphones, and turns it on while applying the earphones, before returning focus to the road ahead. Behind them, the others also followed while ANBU, for once, just walked at the leisure pace. No one said much.
The sun was setting, and they were about two days away if they kept up at this pace. However, this path that Naruto was taking led them to a home. The house was built out of the large tree itself, with some fences laid about the property, but not enclosing it. Sitting there on a smaller tree stump, with a couch recliner back bolted to the wood, was a young man with his hair styled as an afro, wearing blue jeans, belted boots, a white fishnet t-shirt, and a Mardi-bead necklace.
"Hey guy," says the man, when Naruto pulls the reigns, halting Epona.
"Yo," Naruto replied, as Hinata shifted a bit, and yawned cutely.
"Are we home?" she mumbles.
"No... Say, where are we, sir?"
"Oh," the guy blinked, then smiled kindly, "this is my home. My name is Kikoru. It may sound silly, but as you know, people who use lanterns to travel at night often run out of lantern fuel. I make and sell fuel."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I can create good enough fuel for people to burn in their lanterns, but my cooking when it comes to food is... well... let's just say I mostly go to villages nearby to eat out. Sandwiches, on the other hand, are basically the only thing I can make. Say guy, if you are going to continue through the forest up ahead, you should be careful. It gets very dark around this time of the day."
"Oh, but we don't have a lantern to use."
Kikoru smiled, as he reached into his storage that was a very large trunk, and pulled out one of those camping lanterns that most civilians would have. "Here. The second portion of my little home business is selling lanterns to those who don't have any. With fuel, the lantern will cost three hundred ryo." Naruto grabs his wallet, and fishes out three one hundred bills, just as Kikoru finished filling its storage tank, and accepts the cash and hands Naruto the lantern.
[Naruto obtains a Lantern. This is one of the classic-bought models of Lanterns from various stores in villages around the world.]
"Say, guy, can you also deliver this letter to my sister? She owns a Fishing Shack at some lake that is near the location of a shinobi village."
"Sure thing," Naruto replied, and accepts a letter.
"Thanks. Her name is Hena. Be careful now." Naruto smiled and gently snapped at the reigns, and Epona snorted as she trots off again, this time continuing on the path that led to the forest ahead. The Jounin and ANBU follow right behind, and Hinata, now awake, was holding the lantern.
"When are we going to be there?"
"I would guess two days or so... you did sleep half the day away. Looked rather cute."
She blushed a bit.
=0=0=
"Homicide victims rarely talk to police..."
"What?"
Kin peers over Naruto's shoulder, clad in just a pair of biker shorts, a sports bra, and the stereo system was on, listening to random songs; currently playing Itazura Na Kiss by Day After Tomorrow. Naruto himself wore a simple pair of shorts, fishnet t-shirt, and that was it. It was really hot today... in fact, it's been only two weeks since the Valhalla Incident, and this heat wave had come through the country. And at times like this when it's too damn hot to do much, and ANBU start to hate their job due to the rules of wearing their outfits, even in the coldest and hottest of weather (mask included)... Naruto would be found reading the newspaper. Beforehand, he had delivered the letter to Hena, who appeared to be only two years older than him, and had done a little fishing at her lake. If it wasn't for the heat wave, and the humidity, he would brave going fishing. Midna at times would bother him, but she too is trying to stay cool... floating in a small pool on an inflated ring with a tent roof pitched over the pool in the backyard.
"It's mentioned in the newspaper... you see I'm trying to find some odd or funny things... I do that from time to time..."
She shrugged, and found a chair to scoot next to Naruto. When Naruto looked at her, he blushed a bit at how sexy she looked. His hand went for the Wanted Ads, which he grabbed to avoid staring at her... chest... and blinked at finding something. It was one of those menus, from that new grill house that opened up in the village three days ago.
"Kin-chan, look at this."
She leans close, skin touching skin, at the menu. Naruto, with a yellow highlighter, highlights one of the choices on Open Grill. "8 oz. Dork Strip Steak..."
She sniggered a bit. "Typo..."
"Dork Strip Steak..." Naruto had a bit of a grin on his face.
"Oh, this is funny..."
"What is it, Kin-chan?"
"Look, Naruto-kun." She shows what she found, and he reads it aloud.
Disorderly person: West Block of Kumogakure no Sato. Someone reported that a duck was in a children's playground of the local civilian school, drinking beer and yelling at people. 2:17 p.m. Friday.
Naruto cracked up laughing. "A... a duck? Drinking beer and yelling at people? Must have been an animal summon."
Snickering, she managed to speak. "Is there such a summoning contract?"
Naruto smirked. "A drunken duck in the school playground..." Why do I suddenly have the urge to yell out AFLAC? Naruto thought, then mentally shrugged, "Look at this: For Sale. VERY OLD pictures of... oh my kami."
Kin looked at Naruto, then at the want ad he read... and blinked twice.
For Sale. VERY OLD pictures of Lady Tsunade, hot and sexy before she became old. 7,000 ryo.
"That guy is going to get killed... I mean, who would want this?"
Cut to Jiraiya traveling to Otafuku-Gai, with the ryo in hand.
"Naruto, don't say that... someone may want to..."
"... Yeah, you're right... oh, hey, someone made a typo in the store coupon ads."
"Eh? Gurney's Roasted Oil Salted in the Shell Peanus?" A snicker escaped her lips, and a smile formed.
"Funny, yet so wrong," Naruto cracked, as he grabs another section of the newspaper, and looks at other headlines from other villages and countries. He then sighed, "Okay, now what kind of moron would okay this?" Kin looks at what Naruto showed her. It was a headline stating that "Children's Center gets OK for Beer and Wine license". Which Children's Center and in what village, you say? Iwagakure no Sato...
Then his luck was something in the Wanted Ads. "Huh... Teuchi's trying to sell something. For Sale: Assbrella. Five ryo."
"Assbrella?"
Naruto smirked. "Yeah... funny... it's an umbrella with a giant ass on it."
Kin gained an evil grin. "Do I wish to know where the handle goes?"
Naruto laughed. He stopped when he felt Kin shift herself onto his lap, facing him. He began to blush a bit, but she leaned close and kissed him. However great the kiss was, it was a simple short kiss, as she winked and got off him, and headed to the kitchen. And Naruto, he just sat there, and groaned to himself, as his hand shot down to adjust to that growing erection he gained.
Damn teenaged hormones, he thought, with the girls that I got living with me... damn you Kami and the Goddess watching.
Somewhere in a world of its own, four young beautiful, immortal women all shared smiles.
As Naruto headed off somewhere to get rid of this problem, he never noticed on the papers someone tried to use the Mel Gibson defense in Sunnyvale City's Supreme Court of Justice last week. And if someone read this, he or she would question who Mel Gibson was. Hinata wasn't here because her team had a mission to do. Tenten gone on a mission as well with her team. Temari didn't feel much, since she was a desert dweller, and was used to the heat... she just walked around with less clothing, but enough to stay within the range of legality. So, the only ones at Naruto's apartment was Kin and Midna. And Kin was looking for Naruto; when she peeks into the room through the door was the left just a crack open, she then quickly looked away, face flushed red at what she saw.
Thankfully, when the sun had gone down to allow the stars to twinkle innocently in the skies is when the worse of the heat had significantly cooled. Still, that did not excuse the humidity. Even with cooling units installed in just about every occupied bedroom, and in the living room, the occupants who lived in the apartment wear as little clothes as possible. Damn heat wave. When the day came that pretty much all of the Rookies were in the village, sans Sasuke since he's still bed shagging with Orochimaru (that's a disturbing image), Naruto, on this comfortable day, suddenly declared that he wanted to see what Kakashi looked like under the mask he wore.
Needless to say, he got odd looks from the other teenagers.
=0=0=
Naruto, who wore his green tunic outfit, and was also armed with the sword and shield - he doesn't go anywhere with them - followed after Kakashi quietly as he minded his own business, giggling once and awhile reading his dine-cent smut. He had known that it was Jiraiya, the man who taught him the Rasengan that wrote that smut. He thought it was cheaper than twenty five cents. Sure... the story is great, but it could do without much of the smut. Although he can't lie about having read some adult manga... pervert.
Anyway, Naruto ducked behind a building as Kakashi stopped to look around, and then continued on his way. Up on the roof, Hinata and Kin followed, keeping well hidden. Kakashi suddenly vanished in a poof of smoke, and Naruto flinched, retreating away, as if he was discovered. The girls also did the same thing. They tried again the next day, this time having a team lunch. Since Kin was Sasuke's replacement she was a part of Team Seven. The one place they went to was Ichiraku Ramen.
You should really get your ear pierced.
Huh? Wouldn't I look... I dunno, odd?
Well, if you had pointy ears, you'd look odd. Trust me... you'd look good with one. I even know which one you can get.
While he was busy, certain distractions suddenly came up... and everybody missed Kakashi eating his bowl of ramen quick enough... and without removing his mask. Just how the hell is that possible? The next time they tried to unmask him; they just outright attacked him, using jutsus that could immobilize the Jounin, but not cause physical harm. What really helped was that Kakashi did not expect Naruto to use the Clawshot to snatch his smut, and while he tore at him ready to get his precious back, trips him with the Chakra Grapple. Afterward, they dog piled him, removed his mask... and were blown back by a gist of wind as Kakashi retrieved his book, and with another mask that had been under the first, smiled coyly.
"If you wanted a mask, just go to the store. They always sell in bulk." He uses the Shunshin jutsu to get away. Oh well... so much for that.
They didn't try it again on the third day of trying to unmask the man. Most had long since given up, the last being Naruto when Kakashi had toppled him again, despite having dragged in the Konohamaru Corp. into the mess of unmasking Hatake Kakashi. On this particular day, Naruto was involved in a mission. The only ones able to go were Shikamaru and Ino. And due to where they were going, bringing Epona was not a big deal. In fact, she was going to come into later use once they escaped. You see, there was this young lad who had gotten sick, and unable to see a good doctor. Their only chance would be to go to Konoha, to see Tsunade, who could help cure the child of this illness he has contracted.
The problem was that the village they snuck into was riddled with mob men, remnants of Gatou. Shikamaru was the Chunnin of the group, with Naruto and Ino being Genin still. Shikamaru thought that in order for Naruto to look like he wasn't part of their group, he had worn a regular hat, one that did not his headband plate stitched to it. The person who risked getting this mission details sent to the village was from the child's sister named Toola. Yes, an odd name, but the violet-eyed girl wishes for her brother Agito to get well again, because she loved him, as in more than plutonic. They were orphaned because their parents who tried to fight back against the invaders were killed. The village was about a three mile distance from Konohagakure to the westerly direction. Needless to say, the one person who had once been Gatou's trusted man had taken over his company and all of his riches after his death.
Naruto looked around. Even if Shikamaru though it was stupid, Naruto had gone off to find the headquarters. With the items he's got, he could make a formidable opponent, especially with his Kage Bunshin jutsu. Once the village was freed from this stronghold of Gatou's Remnants, they can then get the sick boy to Konoha.
Time to fight, Naruto thought as he pulls out several Senbon... then launches three at the three necks of imcompantent guards.
Assbrellas... does anybody even buy those things? Now, this chapter appears to be a bit of a filler... at least for me.
-- Naruto's Status --
Collection: [Men's Wallet - 23,113 Total Ryo] [Midna's Headgear] [Naruto's Ninpod] [Tsunade's Necklace] [Horse Call] [Letters - 02]
Sword: [Kubikiri Hocho] [Master Sword]
Shield: [Konoha Shield]
Costume: [Hero's Clothes]
Ninja Inventory: [Ninja Pack - Kunai x24] [Ninja Pack - Senbon x23] [Ninja Pack - Nin-ombs x17] [Toad Summon Contract]
Inventory Pack: [Relic Spinner] [Kagura] [Kaitouken] [Chakra Grapple] [Double Clawshots] [Mole Gauntlets] [Lantern]
Hidden Skills Learned: [Gokumonken] [Mikazuki no Mai] [Morigari no Kanketsusen]
Jutsu Skills Learned: Kage Bunshin, Sennen Goroshi, Kawarimi, Oroke, Harem, Shougekiha, Uzumaki Naruto Rendan, Fuuton: Rasengufuu, Ichi Ni Ko Rendan, Rasengan, Kenjutsu: Hasakikinan