Hey, all you readers. I don't really have much to say, so on with the show I guess.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
The sun shined down on a bustling, seaside city near the northeastern edge of the Land of Fire, its light reflecting off of the ocean creating a dazzling path of shimmering light across its surface as the people milled about their daily lives as a cool breeze swept in from the sea. Meanwhile in the forest that lied across a field before the small town two figures hopped through the trees moving as blurs until they burst from three tree-line, coming to a stop on a hill overlooking the town.
Naruto took a step forwards surveying the town before them. He took a deep breath through his nose, inhaling the crisp smell of the ocean, before nodding to himself with his usual grin plastered across his features. "Yep, this is the place. Now, I wonder where the Pervy Sage is. He didn't exactly give us a set place to find him."
Fuu couldn't help but smirk coyly. "He's probably moping about in a bar somewhere."
Naruto snickered as he turned his head to look back at her. "You got that right. Pretty much all he's done since he can't go perving on women anymore."
The mint haired Jinchuriki shook her head. "At least he's started getting over it. Remember the first few days? There's nothing sadder than seeing a grown man cry."
"What do I keep telling you? Biggest drama queen I've ever met."
Much as the Sannin hated every second of what he was enduring, Jiraiya was a man of his word and kept his end of their little bet months ago. He didn't even allow himself to peek at the beautiful women who passed him by. So while Naruto and Fuu reaped the rewards of writing best sellers, Jiraiya could only sulk over how he was missing out on the babes. He now spent all his free time at bars, wearing a pained expression whenever he had to turn down a girl coming on to him and trying to drink away the remaining eight months until he was free of the 'torture', sobbing and shedding large tears whenever an opportunity passed him by.
Naruto jerked his head towards the town. "Come on, let's find him. I can't wait to see his face when we show him your souvenirs."
With that the pair began a leisurely stroll to the town walking to the path and following it into the village.
The two Jinchuriki were wandering down one of the busy streets an hour later, their eyes roaming the various buildings surrounding them. Naruto saw a group of children wearing fake ANBU masks weaving through the crowd as they played ninja out of the corner of his eye, their laughter reaching his ears. It was a nice contrast to the scene of tragedy he and Fuu had just come from. While they had defeated the rogue member of the Seven Swordsman, it would be a while before the village truly recovered and they were still mourning their lost ones. It was an even harsher blow than it would be otherwise as it was a small town and everyone knew each other.
Seeing the children, his mind wandered briefly to Ranmaru and he wondered how the boy was doing. They'd ultimately left him with Sansho when she offered to take him in. He hoped that under the care of the kind old woman he would be able to make a place for himself and put some distance between him and the memory of Raiga's deeds. The villagers had decided not to hold it against a kid so young, though that was partially because they were unaware of the extent of his involvement and abilities. The boy had been pretty depressed when they left but Naruto thought this was the best course of action with all the unknowns the alternatives presented.
Naruto put his hand on Fuu's shoulder, pointing to another bar he spotted. "Hey, let's try this place." He said, receiving a nod from her.
Naruto moving the cloth draped over the door to the side and stepped inside. Sure enough sitting on a stool at the counter was their teacher, holding a cup of sake in his hand as his head hung down, his hair blocking out his face from all sides.
"Ah, there you are Pervy Sage." Naruto greeted as he walked over to the bar, gaining the man's attention.
"Oh, hey guys, what took you so long? I was starting to think you'd gotten in over your heads."
Naruto waved his concerns off. "Please, as if we'd have trouble with someone like Raiga. He was good,. but he wasn't exactly the top of the food chain with those guys."
Fuu gave the Sannin a knowing grin as she inquired, "So, what are you doing in this place? Don't you have anything better to than drink the day away."
Jiraiya's expression shifted to one of annoyance, "You know damn well that this is all I have to take my mind off of that stupid bet." He did have other things he could do in his leisure time of course; writing for example, but his mind would always wander...
"Now now, you've got no one to blame but yourself, Ero-sensei."
With a teasing smirk, Naruto shrugged and tilted his head to the side. "Relax, the time's going to fly by. I'm sure you'll be able to find some girl to pound you for trying to spy on her in no time at all."
Jiraiya shot out of his chair, slamming his palm on the counter as he glared at the two Jinchuriki. "Damn it, brat! I am not..." He sighed and sat back down, shaking his head as he closed his eyes. "You know what? No. That gag's run on for too long. Go ahead, call me a masochist all you want, you're not getting another rise out of me."
Fuu pouted. "Aw, but it's no fun if you just sit and take it."
Jiraiya gave her a deadpan expression. "Exactly." He then arched a snowy brow. "So, what took you guys so long if you Raiga didn't give you any trouble."
"Well, the fight itself was pretty much what we expected, though Raiga could do some crazy things with those swords." Naruto said before his face shifted into a downcast look. "But it was a real mess when we found the guy. Seriously. We couldn't help but stick around and help sort things out."
"Ah, I see." The Sannin nodded before gesturing to the seats beside him. "Well, don't just stand there. Go ahead, take a load off and tell me about it."
The two were soon seated and began to regale the Sannin with the tale of their short adventure in Katabami. Naruto tended to be more animated then Fuu, but the girl still added her own flare to telling the story, their tones matching the events and captivating the listener's attention. Jiraiya listened silently, nodding at the appropriate times, frowning with disgust when they reached the part about the mass grave and grinning with approval at the other points. He knew neither would exaggerate any part of their story. While Naruto was once a braggart, the events of his first serious adventure in Wave had humbled him and he now preferred to earn recognition, while Fuu's thoughts had always been that way.
Jiraiya sat back and rubbed his chin in thought when it was over. "Well, looks like you made a good call picking out Raiga's bounty. Nice job, by the way. Couldn't have done it better myself." At that age at least, the Sannin thought to himself as his students smiled. In all honesty, the pair had handled the situation better than most chunin. It was this that clenched in his mind that he'd be recommending promotion for the pair as soon as they reached Konoha.
He also knew then and there he was right. It was high time Naruto knew of his parents... now, how exactly was he going to bring it up?
"So, where're we headed to next?" Fuu questioned curiously.
Jiraiya shrugged, smirking at the two as he replied, "Oh, no where. We're going to park ourselves right here for a while."
Naruto raised a brow in confusion. "Huh? Why, anything special going down around here?"
Tilting his head and putting on a mask of obliviousness, the toad summoner said, "Oh no, we're just going to be meeting up with an old friend of yours in three weeks. Suffice it to say that if we left, we'd just have to drag ourselves right back anyway."
"Well don't just keep us waiting, Pervy Sage, who is it?" Naruto asked eagerly, wondering which of his old friends it could be.
Once upon a time, he'd likely anxiously hope that Sakura would be joining them for whatever reason, but oddly he found that he wasn't thinking about her much anymore, or at least not much more than his other friends from his home. He used to feel warm and light whenever he thought of her, like he would go to any lengths for her sake or to make her happy and like her presence could ward away any ill feelings he had (so long as she wasn't their source, as she so often was), but now... though he still felt as if she was family like Teuchi or Ayame, that was largely gone.
Leaning back and crossing his arms, regarding his pupil with a mischievous grin, Jiraiya replied, "Wow, I'm surprised. Come on, who do you know who would force us to come out here just to meet here? I'll give you a hint, you met her in a town not far from here from what I heard."
Naruto frowned and looked down in thought. Obviously not someone from Konoha or one of the Sand Siblings then. A girl who he met in a town by the sea...
It only took a few seconds before he looked up to the Sannin and snapped his fingers as recognition dawned on his features. Really, there was only one person who fit that description that Jiraiya would need to be present for.
"Oh, we're meeting with Koyuki? What're we doing, writing up a new treaty?"
Jiraiya chuckled fondly and nodded. "Got it in one, brat. You two are going to come with me and see first hand the finer points of diplomacy." He tilted his head, giving the pair a grin as he added, "I doubt we'll get as much out of it as some are hoping, but I shouldn't need to tell you that some of the council back in Konoha are practically drooling over what they might offer us."
"Whoa, hold on. Sorry to interrupt, but did you say Koyuki? As in Lady Koyuki of the Land of Spring, the world renowned leader and actress?" Fuu asked with wide, excited eyes before her expression shifted to a pout as she looked to Naruto. "... You never told me you knew Koyuki."
She was a big fan of Koyuki and her character: Princess Gale. They were the only movies, actually the only thing on a screen in general that she liked almost as much as the books she would lose herself in. Sadly, she'd missed 'Yukie Fujikaze: A True Princess', the action documentary of the revelation of her true identity and her rise to the throne, something she'd lamented for quite some time afterwards after realizing it. She typically found herself thrown out of movie theaters back in her home village for causing disruptions (even when it was those around her jeering at her and complaining about her presence) so she had to wait until they came out on video to see them, which the acclaimed film hadn't before she had left her village. She'd told him all that when they went to see the newest film together just six months ago.
She found it a little difficult to maintain her expression as she remembered how he'd disappeared a few seconds into the movie, only to return with her favorite snacks and drink, a broad smile on his face as he gave them to her, or how she'd leaned against him during the romantic scene, bringing a blush to both their faces...
No, don't think like that! You're supposed to be mad at him!
Naruto brought his hands in a placating gesture. "Hey, it's not that I forgot to tell you, it's just that... well..." He rubbed the back of his head as Fuu folded her arms over her chest, waiting for an explanation. "It's hard to explain without ruining the surprise. I've just been looking for something that would help me give you the whole story. I'll tell you all about it if I don't find it before we leave, ok?"
After a moment, the mint haired girl's expression brightened. "Ok, I believe you."
Naruto sighed with relief, glad to have evaded Fuu's ire. While she never became violent like Sakura, he still didn't like it when she was upset with him. She'd usually avert her gaze and give him the silent treatment for a few hours before pulling a joke or startling him when she felt he'd suffered enough, ending with both laughing over it.
"Anyway, come on! We've got something to show you!" Fuu chirped, rising to her feet as she looked at their sensei, who arched a brow and looked at her, interest written across his features.
"Oh yeah? What?"
In a clearing in a forest far outside the view of any prying eyes, Fuu brought her arms together before her chest, holding them inches apart, her right above her left, her hands facing each other, hovering just behind the opposite wrist. As Naruto looked on with a smirk and Jiraiya with his arms crossed, a look of curiosity on his face, Fuu took a deep breath before focusing her chakra, causing two seals to appear on her armlets just beyond the reach of her hands.
There was a poof of smoke, obscuring her torso before she swept her arms out in opposite directions, something cutting through the obscuring cloud and leaving arcs of lightning in their wake. Jiraiya's eyes widened slightly as they were revealed to be the Kiba blades.
Raising the blades above her head, an electric discharge building up around them and covering the swords in its crackling power. Fuu let out a cry as she threw the blades out before her, unleashing a massive blast of lightning that carved a path through the ground, illuminating the forest as it vanished into the trees, leaving a deep trench in the ground and burnt, devastated trees in its wake.
Jiraiya let out an impressed whistle as he observed the path of destruction created by the swords. "Wow, nice souvenirs you got there." He commented as he continued to study the damage while the two Jinchuriki grinned at each other. He then turned to the mint haired girl. "And that kid you mentioned told you that those swords could control natural lightning?"
"Yep! Can't wait to try that out!" Fuu replied, looking at one of her new swords before slashing it through the air.
"Yeah, I'll bet. I can see why the swordsman were supposed to be so dangerous if they had weapons like that in their hands. Just don't let them go to your head and try to keep them a secret. Kiri'll probably want them back. "
Fuu placed her hands on her hips, keeping the blades pointed away from her body, and bent her body forward, giving the Sannin an annoyed expression. "Who do you think you're talking to Ero-sensei? You didn't have to tell me that."
"Ok, ok, just being careful. No need to take it personally." Jiraiya waved her off before giving the pair a proud smile. "Anyway, you should take the next few days off. You've earned it."
The pair of Jinchuriki agreed, although Fuu planned to resume her training on the next day. Wielding the Kiba blades was a bit different than her water swords for obvious reasons, or any other blade for that matter. She needed to get used to their unique shape and weight before she could actually use them in a fight.
Naruto bounded into an alleyway, using the walls as a platform to jump onto the roof. His lips spread in his fox-like grin with an eager look in his eyes as he placed one foot on the roof's highest point and surveyed the village. Naruto took off in a blur of motion when he spotted what he was looking for, moving so fast he went completely unnoticed by the civilians milling about below.
The past two days had been fairly uneventful. While the town was certainly a nice place to live, especially with its ocean view, there wasn't really much to do. Naruto had spent the previous day wandering the town, watching the people and seeing what the place had to offer. There were the standard shops and entertainment value, but nothing particularly unique. No special delicacies available only in this town, no landmarks or unique attractions. The bottom line that while the village was very scenic, it was also a pretty boring place.
While he had searched in vain through the sights of the village, Fuu had begun acquainting herself with her new swords. He'd gone in search of her after an extremely opportune discover and found her in a clearing far outside the village. She was in the middle of a sparring session with a clone of herself wielding the Kiba blades, taking care not to channel her chakra through them and activate their electrical powers, while her duplicate wielded a single water sword.
It was a good way to train; they could see their battle from an outside perspective through the memories of their clones. This enabled them to analyze their forms, see any flaws or openings they had, and go about correcting them more efficiently. It had really helped as both forged their own styles, mixing the best of a few forms they learned from their sensei or scrolls he provided and using this to perfect them, or at least bring them as close to perfect as possible.
Seeing the contrast between her one and two handed styles had been interesting. Armed with one sword, Fuu's movements were more graceful. She mostly focused on deflecting her opponent's blows, flowing around them like water, and creating openings.
With two swords on the other hand, Fuu was more aggressive and fast paced, striking with quick, fluid movements that left her opponent little room to counter. At least, that's what it seemed like at first glance. She seemed to have incorporated a trick from one of his favorite taijutsu styles into her sword art, a deadly deception that could fool all but the most experienced of opponents. Her style appeared to have a few openings, but the moment one tried to exploit these flaws she'd spring her trap. Instantly, her style would shift, she'd slip her offhand sword into a reverse grip catching the opponent's blade in the process, catching her opponent's blade in the process and leaving them open, or perhaps she'd leap and spin, lashing out with the swords overhead before catching the opponent with a kick. Her style was mainly about drawing the enemy in to see an opening that wasn't there and trapping them when they fell for it.
Of course, that made seeing her fight from an outside perspective all the more critical. She needed to adapt her style for when she faced someone who wasn't fooled or who possessed a dojutsu and could read her moves well enough to see her trap. Her style shifted when facing her duplicate, who knew all about her trick, becoming more defensive, her strikes chained together in ways to create openings.
Even if it was less graceful, it was nevertheless a sight to see. For a few minutes, Naruto had found himself simply standing at the edge of the clearing, mesmerized as the mint haired kunoichi and her duplicate danced around each other in a fierce exchange of kenjutsu, her mint green hair whipping through the air at every fast turn, the subtle shift of the muscles hidden under the small layer of fat she possessed in the exposed thighs of her long, feminine legs and lithe waist. Her tan skin glistening in the light of the setting sun.
Many kunoichi wore clothing that left as little to the imagination as Fuu did. Some did it for comfort and freedom like her while others did so to take advantage of their looks and confound their male adversaries with their feminine wiles, some both, but while he'd had a healthy appreciation for such beauties he occasionally found himself staring at the mint haired girl in the past never before had he been so thoroughly captivated.
She was beautiful. He briefly wondered how he'd never realizing it before, but then he understood that he always had. The fact that he'd considered her a dear friend and his former fixation on Sakura had simply kept him from consciously thinking about it.
He'd told her he had something to show her, but she'd asked if it could wait as it was already getting late and after training all day, she needed a shower. The next day she wanted to wander the town for a bit before meeting him at a specific dock she'd noted, the blond's current destination.
Arriving at the designated spot, he found the mint haired kunoichi already there, her legs dangling over the pier as she faced the sea with a book sitting in her lap.
Fuu let out a sigh as she took in the beauty of the ocean and the way the sunlight reflected off its shimmering depths. While the town may have been a bit ordinary, she found this place the perfect setting to find inspiration for her next book. For now, however, sensing her partner's approach she closed the book and put it away before leaning back. She then flipped on her hand and into the air, twisting briefly before landing upright facing Naruto.
"About time. It's rude to keep a lady waiting, you know." Fuu said, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward, smiling as her eyes carried a teasing glint.
Seeing the opportunity for some good natured ribbing, Naruto snorted in amusement, tilting his head slightly and giving her a lopsided grin. "Yeah, but you're not really much of a lady, so I haven't done anything wrong."
Fuu's expression twisted in anger as she leaned forward a bit more. "What's that supposed to mean!? Are you saying I'm not attractive!?"
Naruto held his hands up in a placating gesture, his smirk remaining plastered on his face as he added, "Whoa, I didn't say you don't look and act like a girl. I mean you don't act like a lady." He shrugged. "I just can't imagine you being all prim and proper, you know?"
"How rude." Fuu replied, her tone shifting to a mock snooty tone, standing up straight and turning up her nose at him as she crossed her arms. "I'll have you know I'm the height of sophistication and elegance. I've always conducted myself like a quiet and decorous princess."
Naruto snickered and shook his head. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Fuu."
The mint haired girl threw him a mock glare and said, "You know, you really know how to make a girl feel good about herself. Really, you do." She let her arms fall to her sides, placing her right hand on her hip as she tilted her head, arching an eyebrow. "Joking aside, you said you wanted to show me something?"
"Ah!" Naruto smiled brilliantly. "I did! And I really think you'll like it!"
"Well, what is it?"
"Ah, ah, ah," Naruto wagged an index finger at her, "That's a surprise. You wouldn't want me to ruin a good surprise, would you?" He grinned when Fuu puffed up her cheeks in a pout. "Now follow me; we have to hurry or we're going to be late!"
"Late? Late for what?" Fuu blinked, then started as Naruto bounded off, leaping onto a nearby roof. "H-Hey! Wait! Naruto!" Setting off at a swift pace, she made to follow her fellow Jinchuriki. "Don't leave without me! Naruto! Naruto!"
Fuu blinked as she stared at the building before them.
"The theater?" She turned to look at the blond behind her, arching a brow and regarding him curiously. Naruto smirked at her, mischief shining in his ocean blue eyes. His expression clearly said 'I know something you don't know'. Strange... but it confirmed this was their destination. With a smirk of her own, she said, "You know, if you wanted to take me to the movies you didn't have to be so secretive about it. What did you want to see?"
Giving her a cheeky grin and closing one eye in a wink, Naruto replied, "Just wait and see. Trust me, you're gonna love it."
He stepped beside her, his hand finding hers as he guided her into and through the building. Fuu debated over whether she should look at the schedule and try to guess what they were going to see, but she quickly decided not to. Naruto wouldn't be acting this confident if it was something she might hate, and it was more fun if she was kept in suspense. As they were waiting in line, she felt her cheeks heat up as she realized that the blond was still holding her hand, but rather than call attention to it, something drove her to tighten her grip instead.
Naruto turned to look at her, his expression becoming curious when he noticed the pink tinge on her tan cheeks. The mint haired girl briefly looked away before facing him and giving him a smile which her fellow Jinchuriki, oblivious to the meaning of their actions, returned.
In short order they had their snacks and were making their way to the stand in front of the right hall of the building. Naruto held out their tickets to the usher standing at the entrance. The man took the tickets, checked them and then put away. He then pulled out two pairs of 3-D glasses for the blond.
They soon reached the 12th auditorium. Fuu's eyes wandered the room as Naruto led her up the stairs, having seen two available seats in the back row. She was mildly surprised to see that the place was packed. Quickly scooting themselves down the row, they were seated just as the lights went out.
Naruto smirked as the room dimmed. "We got here just in time." He whispered, careful not to disturb those around them and risk getting them thrown out. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the 3-D glasses from his pocket. One pair he gave to the white clad kunoichi. Both put them on as the standard warnings appeared on the screen, most notably one that said that the video had been edited to protect certain identities and secrets, which made Fuu blink.
Fuu became more curious to know what kind of movie she'd been brought to, but knew that she'd find out soon enough and chose not to ask. Numbers appeared on the screen, counting down. 4... 3... 2... 1...
The movie started and Fuu recognized it as a Princess Gale movie, albeit one she hadn't seen before. Odd since she hadn't heard of any new movie being released and the last one hadn't been that long ago in the first place. The film started with a beginning typical of the acclaimed series. Princess Gale was standing at the sight of a battlefield, the narrator describing how they had just faced their arch nemesis and how he'd taken control of a frozen land filled with death. In short order, after saying goodbye to her subjects, the princess and her followers gathered boarded their boats, preparing to go on a long journey to face down their foe.
Fuu thought it odd how the film was moving much faster than the series usually did. The film soon cut off, fading to black as the director himself took the role of narrator.
"This is what we'd intended to show you all, for the most part. Just another mark in one of the most acclaimed series this side of the ocean. However, I never could have imagined that on this seemingly normal shoot, I would bear witness to one of the most amazing journeys I've ever seen. A story filled with action, compassion, and sadly, death. It was a tale that even I could never have hoped to write, and I felt it would be a crime if our story went untold. And so, let me share with all of you the tale of a true princess, her intrepid helpers, and us, the lowly actors and crew that found ourselves swept up in their story."
He then appeared on the still black screen. "So let's get ready to roll! Lights! Camera! And action!"
Fuu quickly realized what it was Naruto had brought her to. Her eyes went wide with excitement and amazement. Turning to Naruto with an ecstatic smile, she said, "You brought me to see-!" She stopped and cringed in her seat along with Naruto when she was shushed by those around them. Quieter this time, she said, "You brought me to see a reshowing of 'Yukie Fujikaze: A True Princess'?"
Snickering quietly, Naruto grinned. "Yep. But believe me, the best is yet to come."
Opening her mouth to ask what he was talking about, she was cut off by a familiar voice on the screen. "All right, Let's get this show on the road!"
She looked back to the screen, her eyes wide with shock as she saw that four shinobi along with Koyuki had joined the director on the screen. While she didn't recognize three of the ninja, the boy who'd spoken caught her attention. He had spiky brown hair, matching eyes and fair skin. He wore a mostly blue tracksuit.
While his appearance had obviously been greatly modified, the boy's features and the look on his face made it clear who she was looking at.
She could only turn to stare at Naruto, gaping like a fish as he struggled not to laugh out loud at her expression.
"Why am I not surprised that's how you know Lady Koyuki?" Fuu muttered as the pair of Jinchuriki walked down the street out of the theater. She shook her head, her hand resting on her brow as they walked down the street.
The blond crossed his arms and puffed out his chest, his head held high as he gave her a wide grin. "Probably because you already know what an awesome ninja I am."
"You know, if your head gets any bigger your neck might snap," Fuu said, a smirk gracing her features as she playfully punched his shoulder.
"Ah, come on. I think after what we've been through we're allowed to brag a bit if we want."
Fuu opened her mouth to respond when she was cut off by the familiar voice of their sensei. "So where are you off to next?" The white haired man said, drawing their attention, his tone conveying amusement and no small amount of smugness. They turned to see him leaning back against a power pole, his arms crossed as he regarded the pair with a knowing smirk. "How's the date coming along my little lovebirds?"
The two Jinchuriki blinked. They looked at each other. Then blinked again.
"This isn't a date, ya damn pervert!" Naruto shouted, his face a mass of red as he pointed a finger at their sensei.
"Oh really?" Jiraiya questioned, arching a brow. His tone still infuriatingly smug. "Coulda fooled me." He shrugged, closing his eyes. "A cute little outing where the man treats the girl to a movie. What're you planning on next? Dinner?" The way the blond blinked, sputtering as he tried and failed to come up with something to counter his statements said it all. "How is this not a date?"
"Don't you have anything better to do then spy on us, Ero-sensei?" Fuu questioned, placing her hands on her hips and seeming annoyed though the pink tinge in her cheeks hinted that she was actually feeling embarrassed. Perhaps a little unsure of herself as well, the Sannin thought to himself, not that that was particularly surprising.
Naruto placed his hand on Fuu's back and led her away. "Come on, Fuu, let's leave this old perv to find some other way to get his kicks in."
The toad summoner watched the two walk off, calling after them, "You two have fun now. Enjoy the rest of your date." He laughed when both replied 'It isn't like that!' "Oh wow, you two are perfectly in sync. That's just adorable." He laughed louder as the two rushed off.
He shook his head as they vanished from view. Seriously, he was sure that anyone could see it but them, even someone with all the emotional capacity of a stump like the Aburame would see it. Then again, he couldn't really blame them.
Neither had that much experience with such things, Naruto's only previous foray in the ways of the heart being his doomed attempts to win over Sakura and that had developed from a crush. He likely felt stirrings from the moment he saw the pink haired girl, so it would be clear that what he felt wasn't just a desire to know or befriend her. Going from not knowing her to wanting to be with her would be easy to tell, but gradually developing feelings and attraction? He probably had no idea just how close he had become to his fellow Jinchuriki. How they could read each other so easily and pull one another out of a funk. How often they would give gestures of affection, something both probably craved after the lives they'd led. It was clear as day to anyone on the outside just from the way they'd look at each other. The warmth in their eyes when they looked at each other.
Fuu was even worse in this respect; she'd probably never experienced anything like this outside of her books. He wasn't surprised neither was aware of their feelings. It was amusing to watch and he wondered how long it would take them to realize it.
His thoughts wandered and his good mood quickly evaporated, causing him to let out a sigh. How was he going to tell Naruto about his parents? He had a good idea of how angry he'd be that this was kept from him, and he did not look forward to telling him, or about his own connection to him. But it was his responsibility. The boy hadn't even known he existed for 12 years. For twelve years he had shirked his duty to his late student. It was about time he own up to it.
Besides... -his eyes hardened as another thoughts occurred to him- if Naruto learned of it the Kyuubi would to. He doubted it'd be willing to share, but it might be able to clear up some of his suspicions about that day Konoha lost so much. If his worst fears of that day were right...
... Then the Akatsuki may be a far greater threat than anyone realized.
Like the calm before the storm, the world seemed to stand still in the forest outside the harbor town where the two Jinchuriki and their sensei were staying in wait of their mission to the Land of Spring. Strangely, as if sensing something was coming, something powerful that set their instincts not simply on flight, but on 'get the hell out before it's too late!', the creatures in a large portion of the forest were silent. A vast area was still even as the evening sun beat down on the trees.
Far away a single white bird had landed on a tree, chirping as it jumped from one place to another, its neck craning as it looked for prey before picking at its wings, oblivious to the clear warning signs far away from its location.
Suddenly a massive explosion tore through the silence of the forest, the earth shaking under its force sending the frightened bird and countless others flying frantically while those bound to the earth scurried away or hid in the shadows, the bolder ones scanning the land for any sign of danger.
The source of the disruption was a blue light that illuminated the surrounding area, releasing a wave of power that tore chunks of earth from the ground and ripped trees from their place. The force of the blast left nothing in its wake, pushing everything back as it continued to expand.
The light only lasted for a few seconds before it faded away, leaving behind a massive, but oddly shaped crater, being concave and almost forming a crescent. The ground was torn and fractured around the crater, the cracks spreading until they disappeared into the forest or under the debris. The trees were strewn across the ground at the outermost edge of the devastated area, broken, their leaves torn from most of their remaining branches and their roots hanging in the air.
In the other direction, in stark contrast to the destruction just a few feet away, was whole and undamaged. The ground free of cracks and the trees standing pristine in all their natural glory.
Standing near the edge of the crater on undamaged ground, observing the results of their efforts, were Naruto and Fuu. This was the culmination of weeks of hard work developing a new collaborative technique, its final test before they considered it finished and both wanted to make absolutely sure that it worked as effectively as possibly.
Naruto took a step forward, scrutinizing the damage, how it all flowed outward from their current position, before tapping his foot against the very edge, seeing if the ground would shift at all under his weight.
After a moment, he turned to Fuu and grinned, giving her a thumbs up. The mint haired Jinchuriki promptly threw her arms out and let out a cheer.
Leaning against a tree Jiraiya watched from the clearing's edge with a grin as his students congratulated themselves, quite proud of their accomplishment. They had every right to be proud too, they hadn't even needed any advice from him to help them. While they were still far away from reaching his level, he was quickly running out of new things to teach them. Soon, they would reach the stage where he simply couldn't help them progress any further, aside from providing a sparring partner and the occasional pointer.
It was quite the moment for a teacher to realize they had nothing left to teach their student. Knowing that, while they'd always be the same brats to them, they'd soon stand alongside them as equals.
Stepping away from the tree, he raised his arm and waved to the pair. "Hey!" The teens turned to face them as he gestured for them to come to him. As they approached he said, "Nice job you two. Quite the technique you have there. Do me a favor though, next time don't do a live fire test. It would've been tough explaining to Tsunade why I'm bringing you two back in pieces."
Fuu rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment while Naruto waved him off. "Relax, Pervy Sage. It's not like we didn't test it with shadow clones first. We knew it would hold at least."
"Glad to hear it. Nice to know I've managed to impart a sense of responsibility onto the two of you." Jiraiya nodded in response.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked indignantly.
"Do you really have to ask, Mr. 'I-think-it's-a-good-idea-to-use-Rasengan-in-a-sparring-match'?"
Naruto blushed in embarrassment at that, now knowing exactly how stupid he'd been on that day, while Fuu looked at him in disbelief. "You actually used Rasengan... in a sparring match? What were you thinking?"
"That was one time! And things with me and Sasuke were coming to a head back then! It's not like it would've done anything permanent." He said, though that last excuse sounded weak to him.
"Whatever you say." Jiraiya replied with a slight laugh. "Anyway, with that accomplishment, I think you've done enough work today. Let's head back and call it a day."
The trio returned to the road and began their trek back to the village. As they neared their apartment, walking in an uneven line with Naruto in the center, Jiraiya turned to the pair.
"Hey, Naruto. I've got something I want to talk to you about. Alone. Come over here for a minute, alright." Naruto arched a brow before turning to Fuu, seeing her curious expression. Seeing that, Jiraiya said, "If you want to tell Fuu afterwards, then go ahead. But I think it would be better if she heard it from you." He turned and walked away, waving for the blond to follow. Shrugging at Fuu, he followed the Sannin, who soon leapt to the top of a building, landing on its flat roof and turning as he heard Naruto land behind him.
"Alright Pervy Sage, what'd you want to talk about? And why're you being so secretive?"
Jiraiya smiled as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know Naruto... you've come a long way from the wet behind the ears brat I ran into that day at the hot springs." Naruto looked surprised when he heard "You've gotten strong, learned some lessons about life, accomplished things that would make most shinobi green with envy. But most importantly... you've matured a great deal." He looked up at the sky. "I'm sure you remember your dream way back then... to become Hokage so everyone would know you're the strongest guy around..." He let out a laugh. "But you know now what's wrong with that thought process, don't you?"
Naruto frowned at that memory. "Yeah... being a Kage isn't about being the best... That's just one of the things you need to get there. It's about protecting the village with everything you've got, even if you have to lay down your life. It means being someone everyone can look up to and put their faith in, to support the people even in the hardest of times, and doing everything you can to keep the peace and well being of the people, not matter what kind of burden it puts on you. You carry all the troubles of the village on your back, and you do it because it means everything to you. Wanting to become Hokage just to be acknowledged... it was selfish. It's still my dream and I still want to prove I'm one of the strongest guys around, but now I want to be Hokage to protect Konoha."
Jiraiya nodded, smiling at his apprentice with a clear look of pride. "That's the kind of answer I was looking for. You're not the same kid you were when we started this trip of ours. You've matured... so I think your ready to hear something you've wanted to know about for a long time now."
Naruto frowned in confusion as his mind ran through the various things his sensei could be talking about, deciding most seemed unlikely, before asking, "And what's that, Pervy Sage?"
"... The identity of your parents."
Whatever Naruto may have expected, that definitely wasn't it. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly as his mind struggled to overcome the shock and tried to process what he was hearing. Or more accurately, why this would be kept from him.
There hadn't been a day during his childhood when his parents hadn't been in the back of his mind. Who were they? What were they like? Where did they go? His heart would ache whenever he saw a child walking down the street with his parents or families enjoying their time together. He felt so envious of children who got to spend time with their families. Growing up alone, he had always felt a gnawing void in his heart where he instinctively knew his parents should be. There were nights where he would lay awake, wondering why they weren't there with him.
And sometimes... there'd be moments when he would wonder if they'd abandoned him for whatever the reason everyone seemed to hate him for, a thought that would always cause a pit to open in his stomach. Or maybe they were the cause of his suffering, something they'd done before dying leaving him to take the blame. Learning that he was a Jinchuriki relieved him of the latter fear, but it had done little to allay the former.
It took him a few before he shook himself out of it and began to shooting off rapid fire questions. "M-my parents!? Who were they!? Do you know them!? Why didn't anyone tell me before!? I-"
"Naruto." Jiraiya cut him off, raising his hand in a gesture to stop. "Slow down. I know you've been wondering about this about your whole life, but just listen. Trust me, you'll understand by the end of it."
Naruto took a moment to get himself under control before saying, "All right, Pervy Sage. Spill it."
The Sannin closed his eyes for a moment before he answered. "You're mother was named Kushina Uzumaki. It was decided that it would be better if you took on her name, even though it wasn't exactly a small one."
"So the reason I wasn't told before was because my old man was famous?" Naruto asked and Jiraiya nodded in response. Naruto then frowned. "But wait, what did you mean my mom had a big name too?"
"Well, this'll probably be a surprise to you, but the Uzumaki were actually a clan, and a pretty famous one at that."
Once more, Naruto's face became a mask of shock. He'd never taken much stock in clan names. After all, everyone was unique. Just because you came from some famous clan didn't mean you'd be smarter or stronger than anyone else. Still, it was surprising to learn that he was from a clan himself. "My family... was famous."
"Oh yeah... The Uzumaki were right up there with the Uchiha and the Senju." Jiraiya answered, looking off into the distance as he recalled the various members of the Uzumaki clan he'd met throughout the years. "Actually, they were an offshoot of the Senju clan, so the two were distantly related. They founded this little village that was close to ours called Uzushiogakure and were famous for their sealing jutsu. They were the foremost masters in the art in all the Elemental Nations, and they taught the basics of their unique style to their whole village. Only their small population kept them a minor village."
"Wow..." Was all Naruto could say before his face took on a saddened look. "So... I guess Uzushio's not around anymore, is it?" Receiving a shake of the head in response, he looked dejectedly to the ground. "... How?"
Jiraiya sighed. "Iwa and Kumo... Like I said, Uzushio's size was the only thing holding them back, but that wouldn't have lasted forever. Given the bond between our villages and founding clans, it was clear the alliance between Konoha and Uzushio would stand, especially when you consider that the First's wife was an Uzumaki." Naruto looked taken aback by that revelation. "They were afraid that together, the two would come to dominate the nations... so they decided to take... preemptive measures. They launched a united surprise attack on Uzushio, blindsided both our villages. They put up one hell of a fight; they lost almost half their combined army, but in the end, the siege was over before we could get there."
Naruto's face twisted in anger, his hands clenching at his sides at the end of that explanation. His family had been wiped out... because they could be a threat? And Kumo obviously hadn't changed that much, considering the Hyuuga incident. Jiraiya watched as his student trembled with suppressed anger for a moment before he took a deep breath, seeming to deflate as he let the air out his lungs. He wasn't just going to let it go but... there was nothing he could do about it now. And it wasn't like he was about to start a war for revenge. That would be almost as bad as what they'd done and he wasn't going to let people from Konoha die over a personal vendetta.
"So my mom... she was a refugee?"
"Nope." Jiraiya shook his head. "She was sent to us from Uzushio as part of a deal."
"Huh?" Naruto raised a brow. "What deal?"
"Eh, more on that later." Jiraiya waved the question away.
Naruto frowned at that. He had no doubt the Sannin would keep his word on that but... why would he steer the conversation away from that? Unless he thought it was something that would upset him and steer the conversation away from his parents before he could say what he wanted to. After a moment, he decided to move on. "So... wait, that means Grandma Tsunade's actually my cousin or something."
Jiraiya nodded. "A bit distant, but yeah."
"Wow..." Naruto said, amazed to find out he actually had a relative so close to him and didn't know it. He grinned and raised his fist in front of his chest in a triumphant stance. "So she is basically my granny. Ha. Now she can't say anything when I call her that." He looked back to his sensei. "Think there are any other survivors out there?"
"Oh, I'm sure there are. Most are in hiding though, so don't expect to run into them."
Naruto sighed at that. Truthfully, he'd already guessed it was unlikely, but he'd hoped that maybe his sensei had run into another Uzumaki out there somewhere. "So, what were they like? And what about my mom?"
"Well, like the Senju, the Uzumaki were a clan that valued their loved ones and peace above all else. They were very close to their cousins in Konoha and gave everything for their village. From the signs we saw, most of the clan made a last stand to let as many of their fellows escape as they could." His expression turned solemn. "Our failure to make it there in time was a moment of shame for our village. After the mourning passed, most stopped talking about them. We didn't like to remember how we failed to help them, even if we did all we could. That's why you and your friends never heard of them, which is a damn shame in itself given how close we were. Hell, you're actually wearing the sign of the village right now."
That startled Naruto. "Wait, what?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, the red spiral you see on the backs of the Konoha vest was the symbol of Uzushio." At that, Naruto craned his neck in as if to look back at the mark he knew was there. "Actually, it was a part of the Uzumaki's insignia." He said, drawing the blond's attention back to him. "Since they founded the village and it fit, the core their symbol was incorporated into that of their village. The symbol of the Uzumaki was that spiral circumscribed in a black circle with four inward points in the cardinal directions."
Naruto looked amazed as he pictured it in his mind, resolving to one day wear the seal proudly on his back. At that moment, another dream was added onto his growing list: to make everyone remember his clan's name.
"They were known for their fair skin and long red hair, as well as their amazing life force and longevity." Jiraiya continued, getting the blond's attention again. "You may have gotten your father's looks in that department, but your mom looked the part." He looked up at the sky, a smile forming on his face as he recalled fond memories of the girl. "Now there was an amazing woman, not to mention a real beauty. She was usually calm and levelheaded, but she never hesitated to speak her mind. And she was fearless, especially when protecting her friends." He said before letting out a slight chuckle. "Or at least she was when she grew up. When she was a kid she was a tomboyish loudmouth with an ego the size of the Land of Fire. She always thought she was better than the people around her and let them know it, even when she couldn't hold a candle to them." With a knowing smirk, he looked to his student. "Remind you of anyone?"
Naruto couldn't help but blush at that, rubbing the back of his head and smiling sheepishly. He remembered back when he was at the academy, he'd act like he was the strongest in his class, but he could admit to himself now that he had had no real skill at the time. All he had going for him back then was massive chakra and stamina, and a talent for unpredictable strategies. Thinking about how he used to be back then was embarrassing.
"Yeah, you definitely got your personality from her. And you're growing up just like she did." Jiraiya continued. Naruto smiled at that, wondering what it would have been like if she was still around. "Of course, unlike you she could always put her money where her mouth was, and you never had a temper like hers."
"Eh? A temper?"
Jiraiya threw his head back and laughed. "Oh yeah. She was the last person you'd want mad at you. The way her hair used to whip around like the Kyuubi's tails whenever she was really angry..." He shook his head. "I remember back when she was in the academy, everyone used to call her 'tomato' because of her round face and red hair. Pissed her off so much that one day, she just beat everyone who ever called her that to a bloody pulp. Needless to say they stopped calling her 'tomato' after that. From that day forward, she was known as 'The Red-hot Blooded Habanero'."
Naruto felt a shiver run down his spine at the story as a bead of sweat ran down the side of his head. Idly, the various times he'd been the victim of Sakura's temper ran through his mind. From that story, it sounded like his mother's temper had been even worse. "R- really? Sounds like she was pretty scary as a kid."
"Oh yeah. Of course, when she got older she got a better handle on it. Still, even if it was harder to make her mad, you'd regret it if you pulled it off." He said before wincing. "... I learned that the hard way." He muttered, but not quietly enough.
His eyes narrowing in suspicion, Naruto questioned, "What did you do, Pervy Sage?" His voice carrying a slight edge. If the old man had perved on his mother...
"Oh nothing, nothing. Don't worry about it." Jiraiya said quickly, waving his hand back and forth rapidly.
Naruto's expression didn't change. "But I will." He then let out a sigh, knowing the self-proclaimed super pervert would never tell him anymore about what he may have done back then. "So how'd she meet my dad."
"Oh they were in the same class in the academy." Jiraiya answered, relieved his student hadn't pushed any further. He had little doubt the Kyuubi Jinchuriki's anger would mirror his mother's if he heard any of those stories. "Yeah, both had the same dream: to become Hokage."
"Really?" Naruto asked, slightly surprised before a wide grin broke out across his face. "So I guess it runs in the blood, huh?" He then pumped his fist in determination, a confident expression on his face. "And that's just another reason to make it. It was their dream and they never got to see it."
"Oh, now I didn't say that." Jiraiya replied with a smirk, though inwardly he could feel the stirrings of trepidation as he grew closer and closer to the topic he knew was an explosive tag just waiting to go off.
Naruto frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, Pervy Sage?"
Jiraiya's smirk faded and he closed his eyes and sighed, gathering his courage for a moment, before giving his answer. "Naruto... your father was Minato Namikaze, also known as the Fourth Hokage."
For a short time, Naruto just stared at the man, too surprised to say anything. His thoughts were going a mile a minute, his mind completely overwhelmed. He was so full of conflicting emotions that he didn't know what to feel or how to react. He was amazed to know his hero was his father. He felt betrayed that the man had turned him into a Jinchuriki and condemned him to what had until recently been a life of loneliness. He was curious to know what was going through his head when he made that decision. It had been easier to think about it when he thought the man, his father, had chosen a random orphan, but to do this to your own son? Somewhere in the back of his mind, he realized he had more in common with Gaara then he knew though he suspected, or at least hoped, their fathers had different reasons for making their lives miserable.
And what about Jiraiya? He was his father's teacher! If it was anything like how his team had been, they'd have been like family! Why the hell had he not even heard of the man until he was 12!?
Finally he just said, "... What?"
"... You-"
"I know what you said!" Naruto snapped, his words hard but without much emotion. This had Jiraiya worried. Naruto was a hothead, and wore his emotions on his sleeve. If he was angry, you would know. This was...different; it was like all his emotions had been locked away, or maybe he was just feeling so many he was unsure of which one he should express.
Either way it spelled trouble for Jiraiya.
"Why?" Though it was spoken in that same quiet, deadened tone, it was clear the boy was feeling something. His head was tilted down, several blond bangs covering his face and shadows proceeding to hide all but his jaw and lips. His clenched fists were shaking furiously, as if he were just barely restraining himself from socking Jiraiya in the face. "Why would he seal the Kyuubi into me?"
The young Uzumaki raised his head to look into the Sannin's eyes and Jiraiya nearly flinched at the fury seen in them. No longer blue, Naruto's eyes were a dark scarlet with slits for pupils.
His voice raising in volume as his fury began to build like the maelstrom he was named after, Naruto continued giving voice to his dissent. "Did he have any idea what he was putting me through? Did he even care!?" He threw his arm out to the side in an all-encompassing gesture, before bringing his hand to his chest and balling it into a fist. "Do you know what it's like to have no one that really understands you!? To know almost everyone around you wants you dead without even knowing why!? To wish every night that your parents were there with you!? And now you tell me it was my old man who put me through all that!?"
Jiraiya was struck speechless as tears of frustration, hurt, and anger welled up in Naruto's eyes. With the shock, however, came guilt.
"How could anyone like him put their own son through this!?"
And then his gaze seemed to focus on the Sage, his eyes boring into his, teeming with all the hurt and the anger that had built up over the years. "And where the hell were you?" He asked coldly, his voice almost returning to the deadened one from earlier. Jiraiya inwardly flinched at seeing the child of the man who had been like a son to him send him such a fierce look. "You taught the Fourth. My father! Where were you when I was growing up alone?" Once more his emotions were bleeding into his tone.
Naruto took a step forward, his entire form trembling now. He was barely restraining himself from grabbing the Sannin and repeatedly slamming him against the hard, unforgiving roof. "When I was sitting alone on the streets, not wanting to go to an empty home even under the glares? Watching as families went by, wishing I could have what they did?" A lone tear spilled down his cheek as he took another step forward. His mind was in such a haze under the torrent of emotions he was feeling that he couldn't see the guilt or the pain in the Sannin's eyes.
Once more he threw his left arm out while keeping his right arm in a fist before his chest. "Or did you just leave him out to dry, like you did me for twelve years?"
"..." Jiraiya looked down in shame and after a moments pause, he answered. "We were close... And he did expect me to look out for you. To be more exact..." He took in a deep breath before looking into Naruto's eyes and saying. "... He made me your godfather."
For a brief moment shock overcame his features, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping, but it was over in a blink of an eye. His eyes hardened with rage and betrayal as his hands balled at his side, tightening so much this time that his nails dug into his palm, drawing small crimson tears that dripped out and stained the roof. There was a long moment of silence after that before he growled out, "I'm sure my old man is real proud of you, Jiraiya." Jiraiya winced at the use of his name rather than the monicker 'Pervy Sage', which was now more of a term of endearment, albeit an annoying and embarrassing one.
He never thought he'd actually want to be called that.
The blond leapt from the building and vanished into the city.
Jiraiya let out another sigh, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. That had gone about as well as he'd expected. He couldn't blame Naruto, he knew he'd been wrong. Kami knew Hiruzen had asked him to check in on him enough times. The fact that he hadn't been there was just another mistake on the long list of failures that made up his life.
After nearly a minute of stewing in his shame and wondering if his relationship with his godson would recover, he leapt from the building and walked to the apartment building he and his students were staying.
As he neared the room he shared with Naruto, Fuu opened the door to her own room, adjacent to theirs, and peered into the hallway, holding a book. "Hey, Ero-sensei." She said with a smile, though her expression shifted to one of worry when she saw the proverbial cloud of gloom around the Sage and noted Naruto's absence. "Where's Naruto?"
"He left... guess he wanted to be alone." Jiraiya replied.
"... What did you talk to him about?"
"I told him about his parents." Jiraiya answered, causing Fuu to give him a surprised look. She then quickly turned back to her room, looking out of the window and to the city. It was clear whatever he'd heard about his parents hadn't been good in some way and her heart ached for what he must be feeling. Her eyes filled with concern as she felt the need to find him, to be there for him. However, her attention was drawn back to Jiraiya when he added, "And... that I was his godfather."
Once more her face took on a look of shock as she turned to him. She'd heard from Naruto how they'd met and thus quickly realized he hadn't been there for the blond who had become the most important person to her for twelve years.
Her mind flashed to her childhood. Bearing the hatred of everyone around them while coming home to an empty house. Hearing everyone around them insult them, telling them they should just go off and die. So many nights she'd dreamed that her family were still with her... but he had family. Family that hadn't been there for him... family that had left him to wallow in despair and loneliness for twelve years.
Her expression shifted to anger as she glared at her sensei, righteous fury bubbling up inside her on Naruto's behalf. She pointed her finger at him and said, "You're lucky I'm too worried about Naruto to kick your ass right now or you'd be in for a world of hurt old man!" Fuu then left to search for Naruto while the toad summoner of the Sannin was left alone with his thoughts.
As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.