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Naruto didn't bother to unpack his goods from the duffel bag. Yawning in sheer boredom, Naruto surveyed every corner of his spacious bedroom. It had its own bathroom, equipped with a Jacuzzi and a luxurious appeal that shined within the entire chamber. The bed was king-sized and the room contained an antique desk, a delicate set of coffee table and chairs and a black punching bag hung from the ceiling. He had been sitting in his quiet bedroom the entire morning, gazing at nothingness. Performing a few hand seals, the blond summoned a sabre-toothed tigress and smiled jubilantly at the feline. "Mimi-chan, how's Konan-chan?"
The sabre-toothed tigress stroked her furry cheek against her master's hand and purred softly. "Konan-sama is fine. She sent her regards to you."
"Good job. Wanna stay here for the day? I really need somebody to watch after this room for me." Naruto patted the feline's head and chuckled as his tigress nodded fervently. "Sleep on the bed if you want. I'll go check out the village. Don't get out, okay? I'm not sure what Yagura will think about a sabre-toothed tigress living in his house."
"Yagura?" Mimi blinked.
"The Yondaime Mizukage of Kirigakure. We become sworn brothers after I saved him. Heh, now I'm part of the Terumi residence. Oh, hey! Good news. I found new family! Apparently, the Terumi is a descendent of the Uzumaki clan!" Naruto beamed and Mimi licked her master's cheeks. "I always thought Nagato and I were the only remnants of our clan. I guess we have cousins now. Fate has brought me here to find Yagura and Mei-chan."
"That's great, Naruto-sama."
Naruto nuzzled his nose on the feline's snout and kissed her forehead. "Alright, I'll be going to do some patrolling. And don't get out of his room, okay? Be good."
"Understood, Naruto-sama." Mimi jumped onto her master's bed and lay down comfortably on it. "Enjoy yourself, Naruto-sama."
"I will." Sliding the window open, Naruto leaped out towards the city.
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"I say we kill him!"
"No! He is a rare breed! I say we should just lock him up in prison and send him out for battle if he is needed."
"Nah! Just kill him! I'm sure our new Mizukage will agree with our proposal! This boy is too dangerous for him to be alive!"
Kaguya Kimimaro, only six years old, was a quiet child as he sat on a bench, receiving antagonism and rebukes without retaliating against the adult's disparaging insults. His quandary wasn't the abuses he received, but the fact that his father was determined to condemn him. His mother died in the hands of an incurable disease when he was a mere infant. His father blamed the tragic death of his mother solely on Kimimaro's existence, believing the boy was the harbinger of inauspicious omen and misfortune.
When the young Kimimaro awakened his clan's latent power, the Shikotsumyaku, his father labelled him a demon incarnate.
"No! Just kill him! Look at him! He is a monster!"
"No! Just throw him into prison and make him our slave!"
"Shut up!" Naruto intruded the discussion. The members from the Kaguya clan raised their head and saw a silhouette of a man sitting at the edge of a rooftop, gazing furiously upon them. The clan's leader, who coincidentally happened to be Kimimaro's father, growled and seized a kunai. "Who are you? How dare you interrupt our ceremony, you imbecile! Leave our premises or we shall show no mercy on you!"
"Imbecile? Me?" The blond chuckled. "A group of savages trying to sentence a harmless child to death, that's something fiend would do."
"You don't understand!"
"That child is a demon!"
"He must die-"
"Silence!" Naruto bellowed with rage as the ground shook with tremors. Though Kimimaro supposedly upheld a dispassionate attitude, he couldn't help but feel a swirl of turbulent emotions squeezing his heart. For once, Kimimaro was afraid. Attenuating his fury, Naruto coughed purposely and straightened his clothes. "This child is not a demon. However, if you want a demon, I can show it to you. You people are the very example of the depravity this society is falling into. You fear what you don't understand."
Kimimaro's father gritted his teeth and roared. "We will not tolerate your insolence, especially when you're on our sacred haven! You will die!"
"What's with the ruckus?" The Mizukage's unexpected presence stupefied everybody, except a lackadaisical blond who was toying with his kunai. "What's the matter, Naruto?"
"Nothing much, Yagura. I was just taking a stroll on a bright, sunny day when I happen to come across a bunch of idiots, trying to kill a child out of senseless fear." Naruto shook his head and tossed his weapon at the ground. "Is this how your people roll in your nation?"
Yagura blinked and stared at Kimimaro. "No. Not that I'm aware of."
"Mizukage-sama, you must not listen to this madman!"
"Mizukage-sama, please chase this buffoon out of our village!"
Yagura maintained an impassive composure and muttered. "I'm afraid I can't do that. Naruto is a relative of mine and he is this village's saviour. However, I am curious though. Naruto, if you were the Mizukage, what would you do to resolve this predicament?"
Naruto chuckled. "Simple. I will adopt this boy and make him my apprentice."
The Mizukage stroked his chin as he pondered about proposal. The members of the Kaguya clan were in outrage upon registering Naruto's absurd suggestion. "This is preposterous!"
"We cannot let him do that!"
"Mizukage-sama, Kimimaro belongs to us!"
"He is our property! We can do whatever we want-"
"Quiet." Yagura spoke with a threatening tone and a dreadful silence pervaded the area. The Mizukage smiled approvingly at Naruto and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I believe your statement sounds plausible. Very well. You are permitted to adopt him and raise him up as your student. Drop by my office later to do the paperwork."
"This is madness, Mizukage-sama!"
"Madness?" The Mizukage raised a questioning brow at the child's father and deadpanned. "Kimimaru-san, I am aware that you have been harvesting children like your son as weapons for you to utilise. To you, these children are tools for war. We both know what the Kaguya plans to do. Deceit. Treachery. There are still things I haven't mentioned, Kimimaru-san. As Kirigakure's councilman, I'm sure you understand the consequences of betraying your village. Who is to say what will happen if things get leaked out to the public?"
"But Kimimaro is my son-"
"But you did not treat him as such, did you?" Naruto interjected.
Kimimaru pointed an accusing finger at the blond and yelled. "You do not have any rights talking here, boy! You're nothing! If you want Kimimaro, you must defeat me!"
"Defeat you?" Naruto smirked. "You're a brute. All you know is fighting and bloodshed. I pity you. You just don't get it at all."
"Are you afraid?"
The blond smirked. "Not really. If you really want to fight, then I shall show you how a true demon fights."
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(An hour later…)
"You didn't need to trash him that badly." Yagura sighed.
"I didn't trash him. He kept coming at me. I needed to dodge, right? But I couldn't keep dodging if he kept using all those jutsu recklessly on me. It'd destroy the city. I had to stop him." Naruto protested. "And stop him I did. I am just trying to protect myself! It's called self-defence!"
The Mizukage rolled his eyes and threw a bunch of documents on the table. "I have more important issues at hand. I think your idea is fantastic. Your government budget plan is… fabulous! Your budget is able to control the enormous expenditures our villages spend every year while maximising its accountability. In fact, it is only pragmatic for the budget to be able to manage business organizations within our nations while promising the expansion of other business deals with other countries; I think your plan is the best, compared to mine and the council's. I think this is just great. I will appoint you as my advisor. However, there are some-"
"Complications?" Naruto chuckled. "I know you have your personal advisors. However, they are geezers who are obstinate and cantankerous. Then there is the civilian council. They are composed of wealthy businessmen, mendacious landlords or retired war veterans who are only seeking personal gains. It's understandable. Still, we cannot undo what has been done; after all, it was the Shodaime Mizukage who built the civilian council. The civilian councils contribute their fair share of aid to the Mizukage by dumping cash to the office every month and they obey the law, albeit begrudgingly when it comes down to their greed."
"I am the Yondaime Mizukage!" Yagura bellowed. "My words are the law! I can just abolish the rights of the council. It is under my jurisdiction to do so."
"That's right." The blond placed his hands behind his back and paced quietly around the chamber. "However, a king can't rule over nothingness. A king must learn how to stir the hearts of his subjects. If you can persuade them to serve you wholeheartedly without resorting to violence, it will be the best solution. Besides, if you disband the civilian council, there will, without a doubt, be a bedlam. We need to prevent that, at all cost. The last thing we need is the civilian council terminating their business deals with us and starting a riot outside our doorsteps. There won't be money flow and we cannot rely entirely on ninja missions for income; the village will not survive if that happens."
"So what do you propose?" The Mizukage narrowed his eyes. "He is truly insightful."
"I'm still thinking." The blond settled himself on a seat and rested his elbows on the armrest. "The civilian council may be a nuisance but they are partially responsible for your paycheque. What we need to do is to manipulate them. The civilian council is like tofu. Squeeze it too hard and it'll rupture. Hold it too softly and it'll drop. Well, that is a problem for another day. I will get you the leverage, so stay cool about that. Right now, we have a conundrum. I'm pretty sure there will be uproars if you appoint me as an advisor."
Yagura blinked and arched a brow in confusion. "Why is that? I am the Mizukage! Do I need their permission-"
"You don't need their permission." Naruto interjected. "But they will be sceptical about me. In fact, they will be dubious about my identity. After all, I did infiltrate your village. I can't just pop out from nowhere and become your advisor without their knowledge."
"But you freed me from Madara's scheme!"
"Some secrets are best kept as secrets. We cannot let them know that Uchiha Madara is still alive."
"What about the ninja council? What are your views on them?"
Naruto stroked his chin and sighed. "They are no saints. I have read the documents you have given me. Frankly, they are no better than the civilian councils. In terms of power, they have equal rights. In terms of political status, the clan leaders do provide equilibriums to Kirigakure's economy, since they still have to pay their taxes; that makes them important figures residing within this village. However, the clan leaders desire power more than their avaricious counterparts. They have their personal properties and assets that even the Mizukage cannot touch without feasible reasons. Unlike the civilian councils, they are given privilege to attend to their own ninja missions, increasing an abundance of cash flow into their annual income."
"That's true. They can forge their own tax documents to the government if they wish." Yagura nursed his temples and shut his eyes. "I have not even thought of that. I always thought being the Mizukage would give me the respect I deserved. Turns out, it's a lot of hard work. So, tell me, how should we settle this problem? I, as the Mizukage, need to give the councils valid excuses in order for me to appoint you as my advisor. Where in the hell do I find such an excuse?"
Naruto smirked. "What's my name?"
The Mizukage furrowed his brows in annoyance. "This is chaos, Naruto! I don't have time for silly-"
"What's my name."
Yagura sighed. "Uzumaki Naruto."
"Then that settles it."
"S-Settle?"
Naruto grinned. "I'm sure the existence of the Uzumaki clan is not a secret to this village, right?"
"Yeah? What about it?"
"I am your cousin. We are blood-related." Naruto leaned against the table and whispered. "And to force them into total submission, I will have my blood tested by the hospitals and give the council my DNA report. That will certify my credibility."
"But you did attack our village!"
The blonde waved a disapproving hand at the Mizukage and scoffed. "That's simple. I came here to visit you. You mistook me as an enemy. It's that simple! They will buy it. Trust me. However, though they will accept the reason, they will still not accept me. It is not like they will accept a stranger like me with no background records whatsoever. I will earn their trust in time."
Yagura was unconvinced. "Are you sure about that? What about the debts the previous Mizukage left behind-"
"One step at a time, Yagura." Naruto folded his arms and smirked. "If you can't make me your advisor, I can't give you any advice, right? We will settle this problem before we advance to the next."
"Alright. I'll place my trust in you. Don't fail me, Naruto. I'll open an urgent meeting tonight and disclose your identity to them."
"That will do." Naruto smiled. "As for Kimimaro, he will be under my care from today onwards."
"Train him well. He is, after all, a prodigy from the Kaguya clan."
The blond nodded before he vanished into a golden spark of thunderbolt.
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Nagato opened his eyes and was surprised to see a ceiling. His abdomen ached, his legs were sore and his arms stung acutely with unbearable pain. The redhead was surprised to find the Raikage's assistant sleeping soundly on a chair beside his bed. "W-Where am I?"
Mabui awoke from Nagato's stutter and blinked in cognisance of the situation. "O-Oh, you're awake! You've been sleeping for a few days."
"So… why am I alive? I lost, didn't I?"
"No, you didn't." Darui intruded the conversation. The white haired jonin was leaning against a doorway with his arms crossed under his chest. "In fact, you have narrowly beaten the Raikage. In any given situation, you should be recognised as a threat to the village and be deposed off immediately. However, the Raikage has plans for you. He believes that you have the potential to serve this village well. You could have aimed to kill, yet you did not. The Raikage is impressed with your skills. When you have recovered, he would want to meet you."
Nagato smiled in relief. "I see that the Raikage is an honourable warrior."
Darui arched his brow. "What do you mean by that?"
"I was completely vulnerable when I was lying on this bed, yet he chose not to use underhanded tactics to kill me." The redhead smirked. "That is a man who I can respect. He has my thanks."
"Say that to him when you see him. I'm busy. I'll check on you later."
Nagato watched as the white haired jonin stepped out of his ward and couldn't resist his urge to snicker. "All according to plan."
"All according to what plan?"
The redhead broke out of his trance and stared awkwardly at Mabui. "Uh… according… to that plan?"
"Damn, did I just say out my thoughts? Now I need to find some excuses to defend myself. I'm not good at finding excuses! I suck at that… just like Naruto." Nagato bit his lips and staggered. "Uh… it is that… plan… to find my… r-ramen! Yes! Ramen! To… eat ramen! Yes, my plan is to find my… uh… ramen to eat!"
Mabui blinked in confusion. "Do you love ramen?"
"Uh… yes?"
"T-That's…"
"Damn it! I knew it! My excuses have been deciphered as a lie! She is the Raikage's assistant! She will tell the Raikage that I am a traitor and that I-"
"That's great! I love ramen too! I'll bring you some hot ramen! Wait for me!" Mabui rushed out of Nagato's ward hastily, leaving the redhead to gawk. "Huh?"
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Mei barged into her brother's office in blatant frustration and stormed to his desk. Yagura was flipping over a page from his documents and eyed his temperamental sister stoically. "What is it, Mei? And before you speak, remember your position in this office. I am the Mizukage and you're my subordinate. Now speak. I do not have all day."
"Why do you trust that guy so much?"
Yagura raised a brow. "Guy? Who is the guy you're speaking about?"
"Uzumaki Naruto! I have heard rumours about you intending to appoint him as your advisor. What the hell? I do understand that you're trying to get close to that guy in order to discover the depth of his motives but… this is just outrageous! Don't you think this is too close for starters?" Mei questioned. "I think you should reconsider making that guy your advisor! Who knows what he will do once he acquires authoritative powers! He may try to kill you! No, wait! He may try to seize your throne and enslave everybody in this village! That's right! That's what he's-"
"Mei! Mei! Calm down! You're freaking out." The Mizukage sighed. "I have already made my decision."
"Stubborn fool! You will regret this."
"He is family, is he not?" Yagura stared at his redheaded sister while toying with his pen. "He is our cousin. Why can't we open our arms and welcome him? Why do you dislike him so much, Mei?"
"It's because that guy is untrustworthy! Cousin or not, I will not watch him jeopardises our village!"
"I see." The Mizukage pulled open his drawer, rummaged it before tossing a file at his sister. "You'll be going on a mission tomorrow. A-Rank. Don't fail. Good luck."
Mei blinked, startled by her brother's tranquil demeanour. The redhead flicked a few pages from the document, skimmed over the content and was shocked. "A-Rank. Espionage mission. Infiltrate the Aritono's building located at Kusagakure. Find out the reasons behind their newly imported goods from Kirigakure. The cargos are said to contain military weapons from Kirigakure. There are no records of any negotiations with Kusagakure, however, it is reported from spies that the company, Aritono, has their personal vanguards, which make this whole fiasco suspicious."
Yagura placed his cheeks on the base of his balled fist and commented. "The company, Aritono, is founded by Aritono Owadon. Owadon was a tycoon in Kirigakure twenty years ago. He opened a tobacco business, but he left Kirigakure with unknown reasons. Now his base of operation is located at Kusagakure. Instead of importing tobacco products, he's importing weapons. Kusagakure is a developing nation. If Owadon discloses any grave secrets that may threaten our village's wellbeing to Kusagakure, we will be in deep trouble."
Mei blinked. "I am only allowed to bring a partner with me? How many enemies am I going to go against? Fifty?"
"A hundred," the Mizukage corrected.
The redhead placed a hand on her hip and frowned. "So you're trying to kill me, huh? Ao is good at what he's doing, and that's scouting. Chojuro is too young to fight against a legion of bloodthirsty killers. The swordsmen composed of a bunch of douches, except Ringo. Tell me, who is competent enough to face that kind of army, huh? Who am I going to pick?"
Yagura grinned decisively and Mei swallowed hard. Registering her brother's ulterior plot, cold sweats started to form on Mei's temples. "N-No! No way!"
"Yes way!" The Mizukage nodded.
"No! It can't be done!"
"It can be done. It will be done. It must be done."
"No!"
"Yes!" Yagura raised a hand, halting any further arguments. "Honestly, I don't really trust our cousin that much. His appearance is too sudden. I am trying to find ways to test his allegiance for days and… viola! Since you are dubious of Naruto's credibility and his allegiance, I have made my decision. Tomorrow evening, you will head out with one Uzumaki Naruto to Kusagakure. Have a nice trip!"
"I hate you! You're just a mean little bastard playing gangster in your office! I hope you suffocate yourself with pickles in your mouth, jerk!" Mei threw the files aggressively at Yagura's face and her frame dissolved into a mist of freezing vapour. The Mizukage picked up the scattered papers on the ground and shook his head, displeased by the redhead's misbehaviour. "I think she has forgotten that I'm the boss around here; nobody insults pickles in my face and gets away with it. It is the divine food from the gods above!"
Tidying the paperwork, Yagura sighed. "What a troublesome woman. I hope this trip will debilitate her prejudice against Naruto. Oh well, it's time to face the music with my esteemed councilmen."
Without bothering to use the door, Yagura vanished into light drizzles.
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Konan sat on a throne, which was once the zenith of Hanzo's achievement. The blue haired woman's beatific features remained apathetic as she waited serenely for her associates. On spur of a moment, a holographic image, depicted the silhouette of Naruto, animated into existence as he stood before Konan. "Gentoshin no Jutsu." (Magic Lantern Body Technique)
"Naruto-kun, how have you been?"
"I'm doing fine, Konan-chan. I hope you're well too."
"I miss you." Konan softened her gazes.
"I miss you too."
Another frame was projected beside Naruto and it revealed Nagato's arrival. "Gentoshin no Jutsu."
"Yosh!" Naruto beamed. "We can commence today's meeting. I will start by summarising my work. I have already come in contact with the Mizukage from Kirigakure. His name is Terumi Yagura and he hails from the Terumi clan. I have discovered that the Terumi originates from the Uzumaki clan. He has a younger sister. Her name is Terumi Mei and she is strong. She is probably standing on Konan-chan's level. I have also found out that the Mizukage is a jinchuriki. Sanbi no Kyodaigame, to be specific."
Nagato and Konan were surprised.
"I have fought the Sanbi no Kyodaigame and I've defeated him. But I must say that the Mizukage is powerful. I have used every ounce of my strength to fight him."
Nagato stroked his chin and furrowed his brows. "Did you use your Rinnegan."
"I almost went all gangsta' on him. He sure is one tough nuts when he goes crazy."
"To think that he almost pushed you to the point of using the power of your Rinnegan, he must be a scary foe." The redhead grinned. "Unlike me, you have no control whatsoever over your Rinnegan's abilities. Your Rinnegan is only reserved for powerhouses."
"I think someone is itching for a battle again, huh?" The blond smirked.
Konan deadpanned. "We're in a very important meeting, guys. Grow up."
Naruto and Nagato deflated under the blue haired woman's annoyed gaze. "What is your status, Naruto-kun? Have you overthrown the Mizukage?"
"No." The blond shook his head. "I have befriended the Mizukage and we have become sworn brothers. I am living with him and his sister in the Mizukage's palace. I will gain his utmost trust in order to continue stage B. What is your situation, Nagato?"
Standing in formality, the redhead reported with a monotonous tone, "I believe I have acquired the Raikage's trust. I have defeated him in battle. The Raikage's strength is unbelievable. If I did not possess the Swift Release, I would be dead. The Raikage's speed is… crazy. I barely survived. But after that ordeal, the Raikage wishes to meet me. I hope to gain his trust by conveying my proposal to him. Hopefully, I can proceed to stage B smoothly. What is your status, Konan?"
"Everything is fine. Nobody suspects anything as of yet. I've casted illusions on a few ninja, allowing them to see Hanzo walking around the palace. That will ease any suspicions of his death. I've also allowed other bureaucrats to talk business with Hanzo's phantom. The truth is… they are simply talking to me. I represent Hanzo and I am Hanzo. This will be enough to persuade the populous to believe that Hanzo is alive. I am already progressing to stage B. I have also done my preparations for stage C."
"Konan-chan, do not enter stage C until I tell you so." Naruto replied.
Nagato was perplexed. "Why? I believe Konan should go with her pace."
"No. Konan-chan cannot enter stage C until you have finished stage B and I have completed stage D. Until then, Konan-chan, do not enter stage C as of yet. You must wait until I give you the signal. Nagato, you will go with your own pace. Nobody is to go beyond stage E. That is the plan." Naruto concluded.
"Then the meeting is adjourned." The redhead sighed. "I will do what must be done."
Nagato's projection flickered weakly before it vanished. Naruto smiled at Konan and bid his goodbye. "I'll see you next week, Konan-chan."
The blue haired woman smiled sadly and nodded. "I'll see you soon."
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"You said you have a proposal that you wished to discuss with me? Now is the time for you to shine." The Raikage rested his feet onto his antique desk. "Talk."
"I wish to be provided a sanctuary within your village. Hell, I am willing to offer you my services and join your ranks under your command in order to serve this village." Nagato smiled, "I know you will be sceptical about my motives. I am not unaware of the history of the other leaders of the village. Konohagakure wore a façade of false pretence. They used war as their source of voluminous income and fed on business enterprises as their cash cows, pushing them to bankruptcy for the sake of guaranteeing the survival of their village."
A arched a brow. "What about the other villages?"
"Sunagakure is desperate, willing to do anything, even pillaging other countries and sacrificing thousands of lives just to steal a profit, only to realise that they're still in debt. Stupid, I must say. As for Kirigakure, rumours are that they are undergoing an imminent civil war. After their quandary, they will suffer so immensely in debt that even a feeble village like Sunagakure can crush them effortlessly. Lastly, Iwagakure is a troublesome nation with obsolete people and the Tsuchikage refuses to change his outdated perspective. Kumogakure, however, is perfect."
"Oh?" The Raikage stroked his chin. "I hope you're not bootlickin-"
"No, I don't bootlick. I only state the facts." Nagato grinned. "You have witnessed the depth of my powers. I can be a great use to you. I know you won't just hand me a proper status just like this. That's why I sincerely ask for your trust. I will pledge my allegiance to you by putting my life on the line."
The Rakage chortled joyously and applauded, "Good! That's the kind of guts I appreciate from brats like you. Very well. Mabui, give him an S-Class mission. Survive and come back, then we'll continue our discussion."
Nagato nodded. "I will deal with it diligently. Please have faith in me."
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Naruto strolled insouciantly along the riverbank; the serenity soothed his thoughts and allowed him to think. "Apparently, Yagura isn't going to trust me that easily, but I'm sure we're working on something. As for Kirigakure's debt, the village requires urgent fund and support from minor villages. I will run a research on Yukigakure later. I forgot when Koyuki-chan's uncle murdered her father, but her village will be a great spot to set up weaponry factories for Kirigakure. Right now, the rumours of Kirigakure falling into a civil war is running like wildfire. Personally, I won't want to stop those rumours. While the major villages are not paying attention, I will have this village allying itself with the Land of Noodles, the Land of Fangs and the Land of Vegetable. These villages will support-"
Naruto's ear twitched. Twirling around, Naruto spotted the infamous swordsmen standing behind him with bloodlust radiating maniacally out of their frames. The notorious organization, Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, was founded by the Mizukage and they pledged their eternal allegiance only to the mightiest ninja in their village; their superior was Yagura.
"I have heard tall tales about you, Uzumaki." Hozuki Mangetsu was the captain amongst his peers and his formidable strength was widely recognised throughout the elemental nations. As a prodigious and incredibly skilled combatant, Mangetsu was crowned as the Kenshin no Kiri, Sword God of the Mist, since he was the only preeminent swordsman whose dexterous capability granted him the privilege to wield all of the fabled swords.
Naruto smirked. "You must be Kenshin no Kiri. I have heard about you too. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting someone of your calibre?"
Munashi Jinpachi, a man who wore his beards in strands, was a distinguished member of the organization. He stepped forward and muttered sinisterly under his breath at the blond, "Rumours are circulating behind these village walls. Last night, Mizukage-sama announced you as his personal advisor. He held your strength and the competency of your leadership in high regards. We are simply curious why he would do that, especially when you've defeated him."
Suikazan Fuguki, whose size was considerably enormous compared to his comrades, folded his arms and smirked. "What is your desire? Did you manipulate Mizukage-sama to your bidding? We find it extremely abnormal for Mizukage-sama to trust a complete stranger, such as you."
Naruto grinned, "I am his cousin. We are family. That much is more than enough for me to stand by his side and help him-"
"Nonsense." Momochi Zabuza the Akuma no Kiri (Demon of the Mist) growled. "You are strong and you might even be stronger than Mizukage-sama. Do you take us as fools? With that much power in your hands, you can overthrow Mizukage-sama and become the Godaime Mizukage. Hell, you're qualified to challenge the other nations. However, you choose not to. Don't you think that is… weird?"
"So, you're into stereotypes?" Naruto wagged a finger disapprovingly at Zabuza. "I am strong, but that doesn't necessary mean I would abuse my power."
Akebino Jinin, an elderly swordsman with a topknot on his head, shook his head. "Unfortunately, this is now how the world works. The world revolves around power. The strongest of the barbarians will stand above the world and become its ruler. That is the rule of the world. We are living in that world."
The blond chuckled, much to the swordsmen's dismay.
"What's so funny?" Ameyuri Ringo, the only woman within the organization, cocked a brow suspiciously.
"I find your theory of life amusing, that's all. Now, if there's nothing else, I will take my leave-"
"You're not going to leave this place, sir." Kuriarare Kushimaru, a tall man who concealed his appearance with a white mask, barricaded Naruto's path. Naruto narrowed his eyes and stared at the swordsmen before an impish grin crept up on his lips. "I see. I see what's going. You guys want to fight me, huh?"
"That's right!" Zabuza announced boldly.
Mangetsu unfurled a scroll and quickly bit his thumb, drawing blood. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
When the captain summoned seven swords into existence, the swordsmen seized their respective blades and readied themselves in their fighting stance. Twirling a double-handed sword proficiently, Mangetsu grinned. "I am Hozuki Mangetsu, captain of the elite force, Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Hiramekarei is my weapon."
Fuguki swung Samehada and aimed it at his opponent, "I am Suikazan Fuguki, vice-captain of the organization!"
"Ringo. Ameyuri Ringo. Pleased to meet you." The swordswoman, proud master of the Raito Kiba, called out.
"This world is cruel. Admit it with your heart. I am Akebino Jinin. I will show you the cruelty of this world." Jinin wielded the Kabutowari, which was a blunt sword that had an axe connected to a giant hammer via a sturdy chain.
Kushimaru clutched Nuibari, a blade that resembled a lengthy needle, and sighed. "Kushimaru. That is all you need to know, sir."
"This is the end of you." Zabuza licked the edge of Kubikiribocho, a cleaver sword that took the shape of an oversized butcher knife, and snickered. "I am Momochi Zabuza! Your days are numbered."
"Munashi Jinpachi. This is just good busines- Ngarghh!" Before Jinpachi could finish his sentence, Naruto delivered a swift punch at his face, sending the swordsman tumbling clumsily on the ground. The other swordsmen gawked.
"Shut the hell up! Too many names! So stop telling me all your names. It's not like I'm going to remember them anyway. But…" Naruto shrugged nonchalantly and cracked his knuckles. "I guess I have few hours to spare. Let see what you got, jackasses."
"I'm a girl."
The blond blinked.
The swordsmen stared quizzically at a fuming Ringo. "I am a girl! I am not a jackass. It is impolite to address a girl as… as…"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "And I give a shit, why?"
Ringo was the first to jump at the blond.
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
The task sounded simple. Nagato was to assassinate a noble authoritarian from Konohagakure and masquerade the entire scheme as a tragic accident. However, performing it was arduous. He had to infiltrate the village, which contained ninja trained to annihilate fleets of enemies; after all, the ninja consisted mostly veterans who fought against Iwagakure and Sunagakure and survived to tell the tales. Besides, the bureaucrat he was assigned to kill lived with vanguards that guarded his compound day and night.
Nagato was only equipped with a map of Konoha, which was considered outdated, an arsenal of weapons and his skills. The redhead, cloaked in dark robes, chose to enter the village in the morning, instead of bypassing security in the evening. It was by common conception that villages heightened the quantity of their surveillance patrols in the evening. Orchestrating the role as a merchant, Nagato stood at the gateway of Konoha.
He had cast numerous layers of almost indestructible illusions over himself.
"I am Yuki Mitsao. I am a merchant from Kirigakure. This is my license." Nagato handed a genuine license, which he had stolen from a unfortunate soul, to the guards. Unable to uncover Nagato's disguise, the guards permitted the redhead to enter without much questioning.
Nagato grinned and blended into the crowd.
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Naruto grinned as Ringo relentlessly attempted to slash the blond. Sidestepping every assault fluidly, Naruto stifled a mocking snicker as Ringo's attacks became wilder and obviously predictable. Fuguki leaped into the sky and descended upon Naruto with his great sword swinging vertically at the blond. Ringo retreated and watched as her comrade crushed the blond with the immense weight of Samehada. Fuguki smirked. "Got him!"
"Not really." Naruto materialised abruptly beside his assailant and slammed a leg into his face, sending the swordsman sailing the air and hit a tree. Fuguki grunted and wiped the blood from the edge of his lips while Jinin charged forward. The blond sped through a series of hand seals and formed a mouthpiece with his fingers. "Katon: Kami Goryuka no Jutsu!" (Fire Style: Divine Great Dragon Technique)
Jinin was petrified when a colossus dragon, engulfed in scorching, purple flames, soared dangerously towards him. Mangetsu jumped towards his comrade and unsealed his blade. "Jinin, get out of here! That is no ordinary fire! Release, Hiramekarei!"
Unsheathing Hiramekarei from its binding, the captain pumped his chakra into the sword and swung the blade, which morphed into a humongous hammer, at the opposing flames. Mangetsu growled as he struggled to suppress the vehement inferno with his sword. Pouring excessive amount of chakra into his sword, Mangetsu managed to disperse the flames, but he had used every ounce of his might to destroy the offending attack. When the smoke stirred, Naruto had vanished.
The swordsmen kept a vigilant scan of their surroundings, paranoid of the blond's next attack.
Ringo eyed the sky and saw her enemy hovering above them. "He's up there!"
The swordsmen twisted their sights to the sky and grimaced. Naruto had thrown a kunai at them and formed a hand seal. "Ninpou: Kunai Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" (Ninja Art: Kunai Shadow Clone Technique)
Instantaneously, a storm of kunai rained upon the swordsmen and they growled; the magnitude of the attack was extreme to the point where the shower of projectiles had eclipsed the sun. Kushimaru shattered his façade of indifference and snarled. "We won't make it in time. That is almost unavoidable! Let's shield ourselves together with a water elemental jutsu!"
"Got it!" Mangetsu, along with his comrades, flashed through seals and they declared furiously aloud, "Suiton: Suijinheki!"
Naruto smirked malevolently as a dome of liquid enclosed around the swordsmen, protecting them from harm. The blond immediately switched to another hand seal and exclaimed, "Bakuton: Bakujoki no Jutsu!" (Explosion Release: Exploding Vapour Technique)
A cloud of dark mist gradually gathered around the barrier of water. Naruto rushed a set of complicated hand seals thoroughly and grinned. "Almost nothing can withstand this. I'll show you who the boss is in the battlefield. Bakuton: Kohai!" (Explosion Release: Devastation)
The black fog turned a fiery crimson before countless explosions erupted in a rampaging frenzy, destroying anything within its vicinity. The swordsmen vomited blood as they channelled an abundance of chakra into their liquid shield, determined to strengthen their defence at all cost. Jinpachi gritted his teeth in frustration. "Taichou, we won't make it in time! I don't know what that guy is doing but that previous attack he just pulled out forced us to waste too much chakra! We're sitting ducks!"
"I agree!" Zabuza growled. "We can't keep this wall for long. Someone needs to do something!"
Meanwhile, Naruto landed onto the ground gracefully, dusted his hands and scrutinised the thickness of the dome. "Impressive. I can't hear their arguments anymore. They're reinforcing the wall into an astounding degree. If I smash through one side of the wall, the swordsmen will repair the dents. However, they are probably standing in a separated manner. With every swordsman standing in every corner of this dome, the durability of this wall is perfectly balanced. That doesn't really mean this wall is unbreakable. To do so, one must attack this wall from all directions."
Clamping his hands shut in a prayer motion, Naruto shut his eyes and concentrated. "Yoton: Ryuseigun no Jutsu!" (Lava Release: Meteor Shower Technique)
Spontaneously, blazing meteorites fell from the sky and brutally crushed the barrier.
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Nagato discovered his victim was a contemptuous man fallen into avarice and malfeasance. The bureaucrat had committed tax evasion, slave trading, drug trafficking and treacherous crimes beyond forgiving. The scornful noble used his powers to sell secrets from his country to other nations for benefits. Nagato induced the bureaucrat in a permanent coma with genjutsu and injected electricity from his fingertips into his victim's spinal cord and brain, commanding the noble's neurons to shut down blood supply from the man's heart.
However, Nagato knew the true purpose of his mission. If Nagato provided the Hokage with the necessary documents and the beheaded corpse of the corrupted authoritarian in order to prove the atrocity the noble had committed within Konoha, he would be rewarded handsomely. It was a test from the Raikage to determine Nagato's ulterior motives.
Nagato sighed and jumped out of the window.
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"I-Is that guy a monster?" Mangetsu's breaths were laboured as he glared fiercely at Naruto. Ringo and Jinpachi were lying on the ground, unconscious. The previous assault was destructive to the point that the swordsmen were unable to bear the pressure from the impact of the meteor shower. Kushimaru darted towards Naruto and threw his blade at the blond. Unexpectedly, Naruto caught Nuibari and yanked Kushimaru to him by the thread attached at the end of the blade.
Without hesitation, Naruto delivered a fist straight into Kushimaru's face, smashing his mask in the process and pummelling the swordsman on the ground. "Now sleep. Rasengan!"
A radiant orb of swirling power manifested in Naruto's grasp and the blond slammed his attack into Kushimaru's gut, effectively knocking his opponent to oblivion. Mangetsu blanched in horror and Zabuza staggered, "D-Did you see that? One hit and Kushimaru is KO'd."
"I will now believe that Mizukage-sama has lost in the hands of that monster. I see that the world is cruel after all." Jinin mumbled. "We are way out of his league. Taichou, what is your order?"
Mangetsu bit his lower lip and pondered, "That guy is definitely a monster. Nobody can do that… If I'm not wrong, he just used the Exploding Release from Iwagakure and the Lava Release from Kirigakure. How did he know so much- W-Wait… his eyes! What's that dojutsu? I… I have seen it somewhere."
"Taichou!" Zabuza roared, "Give us the order!"
"We'll attack him together! Roll out!"
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
Mei huffed in anger as she knocked on Naruto's door. "We're leaving to Kusagakure by seven o'clock! It's already four. Get ready!"
There was no answer.
"Hello? Answer me!"
There was still no answer.
Aggravated, Mei growled. "Answer me or I'll kick this door open! I'll really do it!"
"Come in!" It was a feminine voice.
Mei's anger exacerbated. "The nerve! He brought an unruly woman into our palace? How dare him!"
The redhead let her emotions got over her head and she kicked the door off its hinges. "You stupid, lousy, no-good, piece of shit! How dare you-"
"Meow?"
Mei blinked.
There was a sabre-tooth tigress lying on the bed, staring quizzically at the redhead.
They had a staring contest before Mei shrieked aloud.
Mimi, too, screamed frightfully.
Their vociferations could be heard a few miles away, scaring the nearby birds in the process.
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"Mokuton: Hakai no Josho!" (Wood Release: Rising Destruction) Naruto punched the ground and a fissure split the ground in half before an infinite amount of spikes sprouted from the terrain. The swordsmen evaded the assaults and retreated onto the branches of the nearby trees. They were startled when wood spikes shot out from the trees and they had no choice but to evacuate to safety. Mangetsu and his remaining team members sequestered themselves behind a few rocks, not far from their enemy's location but far enough not to be detected.
Jinin panted tediously. "Taichou, we need to do something about him. Ringo, Jinpachi and Kushimaru are defeated. It won't be long before he wiped all of us out."
Fuguki nodded. "Short-combat is futile. Should we attack him from afar?"
Mangetsu sighed. "Someone must play decoy. That guy knows the Exploding Release, the Lava Release and… the Wood Release. We must be careful approaching him. We don't know how many elements that guy knows. That's why Jinin will play decoy. Zabuza and Fuguki, the both of you will use long-range attacks to cover him. I'll sneak up behind that guy. Hopefully, I can get the chance to assassinate his ass."
"Okay. It has been a while since I have this much fun. That guy is way too strong! I'm gonna enjoy every minute of this!" Zabuza stabbed Kubikiribocho into the ground and gestured Fuguki to follow him. Jinin leaped over the rocks and dashed towards Naruto.
Mangetsu sighed. "Although we're the Swordsmen of the Mist and we're supposed to be classified as a bunch of psychotic douches, I'm honestly glad that not all of us lack common sense."
The blond looked bored at his nails and said, "I don't have time to play this silly game anymore. Futon: Kuroi Kaze no Kama." (Wind Release: Black Wind Scythe)
Jinin blocked the slashes of wind with his blunt weapon, but he was unable to subdue the entirety of the attack and was blown away. When he smashed into a tree, he was stunned to see the blond standing before him with an orb of condensed energy within his grasp. "Forgive me. Rasengan!"
Mangetsu cried out for his fallen comrade as he witnessed Jinin being incapacitated swiftly in the blond's hands. Zabuza and Fuguki, who were previously firing bullets of water at Naruto, collapsed onto the ground with doppelgangers of Naruto standing beside their limp bodies. Before Mangetsu could avenge his comrades and retaliate, darkness enveloped him.
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
(A day later…)
Nagato sat on a seat, staring placidly at the Raikage who was studying the document received from the redhead. "You have done well. So, why didn't you-"
"Why didn't I submit the corpse to the Hokage to gain favours from them?" Nagato composed himself. "I promised to deal with this case accordingly. I assassinated the man and made his death an accident. I will not break my promises. Besides, it will only ruin my reputation as a reliable person. I have a reputation to keep, milord. Please have faith in me, Raikage-sama."
A grinned. "I was about to ask why didn't you slack in your mission? After all, the mission's description detailed that it would take any typical ninja to pull this assignment off in a couple of weeks."
Nagato smiled with confidence glinting from his pair of Rinnegan. "Then you, Raikage-sama, should know that I'm not your typical ninja."
"I have done my research, Uzumaki." The Raikage pulled his drawer open and picked up a file. "You have the Rinnegan, don't you?"
"Obviously."
"I always believed that the Rinnegan was a myth. Now, I guess my assumption is a mistake."
"Common misconception," the redhead corrected. "The Rikudo Sennin was a righteous man who was famed for his virtues. I hope that fact will provide you some faith in me."
The Raikage tossed a headband to Nagato and smirked. "From today onwards, you'll be a genin from Kumogakure. Do you have a problem with that?"
The redhead simply grinned. "No. Not at all. I will prove my worth to you and work my way up to your expectation, Raikage-sama."
"Good. I'll hold you to that."
"If there's nothing else, I will take my leave." Nagato stood up and walked briskly to the exit. As he approached the stairs, the redhead paused in his tracks and twirled around. Mabui stood behind Nagato with an uneasy smile curled up at her lips. "N-Nagato-san, you forgot this."
The redhead blinked and stared at the envelope in the assistant's hand. "What's this?"
"Your S-Class pay," Mabui sighed. "Raikage-sama informed me to tell you that your S-Class pay would be your first income. The stacks of cash inside this envelope are enough for you to rent an apartment and purchase a month-worth of groceries. You'd still have enough money for saving."
Nagato took the envelope and sighed. "Unfortunately, I'm new to this village. It will be nice if you can show me around. Are you free for the rest of the day? If you're not, I can sti-"
"N-No! I mean, yes. I am free. It will be my honour to show you around the village." Mabui blushed.
"Great. Shall we go now?"
"O-Okay!"
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
The whole journey was an awkward venture. Mei seemed to be emitting a murderous aura as she was awfully quiet. Naruto preferred a serene lifestyle; perhaps the silence could do him some good. "But this ambience is really unnerving. It's like she's reeking hot vengeance. We still need to discuss our mission, map out our coordinates and talk about the plans! We can't keep-"
Mei stopped in his tracks, folded her arms under her ample bosom and growled. "I will ask you a simple question, and depending on the answer you give me, I will choose whether I should dice you to pieces or chop you in half."
Naruto scoffed haughtily. "I have a feeling that if the question has two answers, I will still die horribly no matter what I choose. I choose option c."
The redhead grinned and a kunai materialised in her grasp. "Option c is to cut your throat and watch you bleed to death."
The blond averted his eyes away, unsettled by Mei's threat; his experience with his almighty surrogate mother had always given him chills, and he sensed the second coming of Tsunade from Mei. "W-What do you want?"
"Tell me." Snarling with umbrage, Mei clenched her fist menacingly at Naruto and the resonance of cracks emanating from her balled hand somewhat terrified the blond. "Why is there a damn tiger sleeping in your bedroom?"
"Well, Mimi-chan is my pet."
"You keep a tiger as your pet?"
"Sabre-tooth tigress!" Naruto chided, "Mimi-chan has been following me for years."
"I don't care if that tiger-"
"Tigress-"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Naruto shut up.
"Once we return to Kirigakure, you will kick your pet out of my house!"
"Technically, that's your brother's house-"
"SHUT UP!"
The blond scratched his temples absently and smirked, "But-"
"No but!" Mei huffed and started pointing fingers at Naruto. "Have you actually read the tenant's agreement? You might be a guest, but even guest needs to watch out for rules. This world is not a place for outlaws. If you want to keep a little, cute kitten in your room, I'm fine with that. But a big cat is a no-no!"
"M-Mei-chan-"
The redhead interjected furiously, "Don't interrupt me! I am talking here!"
"But-"
"Shut up-"
Naruto deadpanned, "There's a spider on your shoulder."
"I don't want to hear your excuse-"
"No, no." The blond smirked. "There's really a spider on your shoulder."
Mei rolled her eyes and turned her attention to her shoulder, "Nonsense. I am a ninja. Do you think if there's a… spi… spi… SPIDER!"
The redhead flicked the spider away and screamed indignantly, but she tripped on her footing and unwittingly tumbled forward. Naruto instinctively caught Mei in a smooth tempo and smiled charmingly at the redhead. Mei was confused as she fell into the blond's embrace. Twisting her neck upwards, Mei stared comically at Naruto and she gasped softly. "W-What's this feeling… those azure eyes… filled with so much warmth and compassion… j-just what is he… I…I…"
There was a long silence.
Before Mei was about to scream like a lunatic, Naruto clamped a hand on her mouth and placed a finger on his mouth. "Shh. We're in a forest! There might be enemies nearby."
The redhead pushed the blond away and swirled around, staring at her feet while hiding her flustered face.
The blond smirked. "Let's go, shall we?"
Mei wordlessly stormed away.
Naruto quelled his urge to laugh and managed a cheesy chuckle, "H-Hey! Wrong direction! It's that way!"
The blond guffawed aloud when Mei grumbled curses and marched to the other path.
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
The fearsome swordsmen of the mist, marked outrageously for their paramount prowess, lay in the hospital ward. Their ego was diminished and wounded; after being defeated by a sole opponent, the swordsmen were depressed, uncertain about their prestigious stature and strength. Without unleashing the arsenal of his unfathomable techniques, Naruto still managed to outwit the swordsmen and defeat them. Hoshigaki Kisame, apprentice to Fuguki, stood beside his mentor's bed with a solemn expression plastered on his face.
Hozuki Suigetsu, a young prodigy of the mist, sat beside his brother's bed. Kurosuki Raiga stood formally beside his bedridden mentor, Ringo. Yagura stormed abruptly into the hospital ward and the swordsmen cringed when they met their Mizukage's glare. "Can anybody, in this godforsaken place, tell me what the fuck is going on? Jinpachi, talk!"
Jinpachi swallowed hard, "Uh… er… I…"
"Enough," Yagura scowled irately at his next target, "Jinin, speak!"
"Sir, we fought… that guy…"
"Mizukage-sama," Ringo interjected. "We fought Uzumaki Naruto! We just wanted to determine his-"
"His what?" Yagura bellowed, "You want to determine his loyalty? Did I even give you the order to do that? Did I? Use your words, damn it!"
Mangetsu sighed. "We were impulsive, sir."
"Bingo!" The Mizukage pointed a finger at the general of the elite force and took a deep breath. "You were impulsive, alright. And you almost cost me a fortune to get him to help me. You seven should know better than I do that the previous Mizukage dumped a load of bullshit on me and left the village. Our village is in massive debt and my cousin is the only guy I can count on to help me rebuild this nation back to its toes! You're lucky that guy is magnanimous, you ignorant piece of shit!"
Ringo folded her arms and huffed. "I don't get how that brute turns out to be a smartass. You're implying that he is intelligent enough to recover the debt-"
"I don't know," Yagura interrupted. "But I'm sure he has his ways. Regardless, the seven of you have committed a federal crime. I will suspend your duty for a month. Reflect upon yourself in this month and don't do anything silly anymore! You're the elites of this village, for god sakes. Grow up!"
The livid Mizukage marched out of the ward, leaving the sulking swordsmen to their own device.
Suigetsu decided to break the silence and cheered, "Well, since you guys are officially off-duty for a month, let's do something fun! I call dibs on pizza!"
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
"This is the best ramen stall in town." Mabui smiled, "You said you love ramen, don't you?"
"Yes…" Nagato grinned. "Sort of."
"Would you like to go in and have a look?" The assistant fidgeted. "M-My treat!"
"Sure." The redhead chuckled. "Free dinner, wouldn't want to miss that."
The couple entered the stall and sat on a bench. The chef noticed new customers and grinned. "Hey, welcome! Oh, if it isn't Mabui-san, Raikage-sama's assistant. What brings you here? I see you brought a boyfriend here with you."
Mabui blushed and brushed her silver locks to the back of her ear. "H-He's not my boyfriend."
Nagato grinned. "She's just being kind and trying to help me. I'm new to this village."
"Oh? A foreigner? That seems to be it. It is rare to see redheads roaming around our village. Well, welcome to our village, uh…"
"Nagato. Uzumaki Nagato."
"Nagato-san! What do you like to have? We have pork ramen, miso ramen, spare-rib ramen and many more! Or would you like to try the Raikage's special?"
Mabui cheered. "I'd like the Raikage's special."
Nagato scratched his temples and smiled. "Same. I'd eat whatever Mabui-san eats."
The assistant felt her cheeks heat up uncontrollably.
"Alright then, two Raikage's specials, coming right up!"
"So… where are you from?" Mabui queried.
Nagato rested his cheek on his balled fist and sighed, "My ancestors are from Uzushiogakure, but the Land of Whirlpool was destroyed. My father was a scholar, despite the fact that he was born from the Uchiha clan. He was a pacifist, thus he refused to become a ninja. My mother was an Uzumaki. But… well, after some incidents, I became an orphan."
Mabui nodded sadly. "I'm an orphan too. I have no parents. Raikage-sama raised me up and treated me as his own daughter."
"You have my condolence." Nagato smiled sadly. "So we're both orphans. We're quite alike, aren't we?"
"Yeah… I guess." The assistant blushed. "D-Do you have any girlfriends? I-It's not like I'm curious about your love life or anything… D-Don't get any w-wrong ideas… I just…"
"Not that I can think of, no." Nagato blinked. "I'm single and career-orientated. I'm tired of travelling around the Elemental Nations. I have seen many things and learned many things from my trip. I'm tired of that kind of life. I wish to settle down, work for a country and contribute to the society."
"D-Do you plan to start a family of your own?"
"You mean marriage?" The redhead chuckled. "That's part of my plan. I think I'll find a decent, quiet girl and marry her. Perhaps one day I might scoop you up and marry you. Who knows, right? Maybe a few years later, the both of us will be standing nervously in a chapel, waiting to exchange our wedding rings. And then we have to go to honeymoon or something. I know a few villages that we can visit together. Peaceful, quiet. I'm sure you'll like it."
Mabui's cheeks were a vibrant red. "I…"
"I'm just kidding." Nagato draped a hand over the assistant's shoulder and smirked. "I have no friends in this village. You'd be my friend, right?"
Mabui nodded quietly and stared at her wet palms. "Y-Yes..."
"Fabulous!"
"I see you two have become a mushy-mushy couple, huh?" A man with shaggy white hair walked into the stall with a hand in his pocket. "Yo, Mabui!"
Nagato arched a brow. "You are…?"
"He is Darui. I'm sure the two of you have met before at the hospital. He is the Sandaime Raikage's apprentice and godson. He gains the accolade of this village as one of the strongest ninja in Kumo. But…" The assistant sighed. "He's lazy."
"I resent that!" Darui sat beside Nagato. "I'm carefree! Oh, yes, I'm Darui. Nice to meet you, strongest genin of Kumo."
The redhead smirked. "I see news travel fast."
"Yeah. You're not even qualified to be a student in the academy. A genin whose power matches the level of a kage… that's new." The white-haired jonin grinned. "How about it? Let's arrange a date and have a friendly spar, shall we?"
Nagato raised both hands in defence. "Whoa, easy there tiger, I'm a genin. You're a jonin. You're obviously trying to bully me."
Mabui giggled.
Darui chuckled. "It's worth the shot."
X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X-o~O~o-X
During the trip, Naruto was teasing Mei with innuendos and sarcastic jokes. The blond sent verbal jabs occasionally at the redhead, who either blushed or threatened to castrate him. Naruto smirked nonchalantly, but when the air was disturbed, the blond noticed a familiar presence around them. Naruto suddenly seized Mei's hand and stared at the woods. Irritated by the blond's touch, Mei growled. "Don't think you can try to molest me-"
"Shh…"
Mei's eyelid twitched vigorously. "Don't ignore me! I-"
Naruto caught a few projectiles from the bushes and growled. "Mei-chan, you go ahead. I'll stay."
"B-But-"
"Just do it. I have something to settle." Naruto ushered.
"I'm not going to leave until you tell me why!"
"Well, well, well, I can't believe this." A mysterious entity emerged from the shadows and snickered. "To think that the Rinnegan is right in front of me. Mesmerising."
Naruto growled. "It's finally time to settle this, Tobi."
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Chapter ends. It's a fairy long chapter. Sorry for the long wait. I just settled some of my hectic problems in life and bought a PS3 SLIM recently. UMVC3 all the way! Anyway, I know some of you will be pissed off because I took months to update this. I… uh… have a life, yeah? And it isn't going well lately. I do not like the word… conscription, if you know what I mean. .
At any rate, I'm CONSIDERING adding Street Fighter, King of Fighter, Tekken, Dead or Alive and Tenjou Tenge elements into this story. I mean, Kirigakure is not explored by Masashi Kishimoto. I don't know man…
I'm thinking, perhaps, Chun-Li? Or Mai Shiranui, the sex symbol and eye candy of King of Fighter (Oh, yeah!). Maybe Ayane or Kasumi from Dead or Alive. I'm not so sure about Tekken. What about Taki from Soul Calibur? Argh, decisions, decisions. It's frustration!
Current undecided pairings:
1.) NarutoXMei
2.) NarutoXKonan (Confirmed)
3.) NarutoXAnko
4.) NarutoXKurenai
5.) NarutoXYugito
6.) NarutoXChoices…
7.) Harem
Please review.