Hey guys, managed to get my Word processor to work again. I talked with Microsoft techies for a while and you know how they are *insert shooting myself* Welp, it seems I am in debt to you guys, I think the tally is three of darkness falls with five of flaming leaves? Or was it four? *taps my nose* that's for me to know and you to maybe find out! Well onto the juicy stuff eh? Im going to write these chapters one after the other so I wont be making huge changes, everything will flow more I hope. So first is the Flaming Leaves, I bet you all are eager for that eh? The next chapters will go as follows:
FL
This chapter: Naruto's day off
Next three: Travel to Tazuna's house, Wave till the bridge, Bridge
DF
First: Chunin exams pt 1
Second: Chunin exams pt 2
Third: Prelims
Fourth: Finals
If you are all good readers, I might throw in an extra treat of a fifth or sixth!
Alrighty then, shall we get to it?
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"NA-" Naruto shifted groaning in pain.
"-ruto!" Naruto gripped at his chest in a tight panic, he felt as if he couldn't breath.
"NARUTO!" Naruto rose out of his bed and flipped onto the floor before his bed his body covered in sweat. His chakra bow was drawn back the arrow tip placed against his fathers head. Minato looked into his eyes seeing them full of fear, pain, and loss. What could have made his son react that way?
"Musuko, calm yourself, it's just me." Naruto's bow evaporated into a mist of chakra to be diffused into the air. Naruto finally took notice of his status and he grabbed his shirt off of the ground, but before he could turn and leave Minato grabbed Naruto's arm.
"Musuko, talk to me, what made you like this?" Naruto looked into his fathers eyes full of fear and sadness. He ripped his wrist from his father and went into his shower. Minato, crestfallen, looked towards his sons bathroom door and left the room in deep thought. Naruto got into the shower grabbing his head with both hands he growled until he roared in anger and punched the tile on the wall cracking it but spreading his life fluid across the wall. Naruto quickly cleaned his body and wiped away the blood from the wall. He looked into his own eyes in the mirror tossing the toilet paper dyed red with blood into the bin. Naruto whispered softly to himself.
"Im not okay, it's not alright, but I have to move on. You are Naruto, Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto, son of Konoha no Kiiroi SenkÅ and the Akai Chishio no Habanero. You are stronger than this, stronger than him." Naruto gripped his bloodied knuckles and gritted his teeth.
"I will find you, and I will kill you, Arnook." Naruto bandaged his hand and clothed himself with his uniform. Coming down the stairs he was greeted by Kakashi, Minato, and Mako.
"Ah! Goodmorning Naruto-kun, did you sleep well last night?" Naruto shook his head to Mako.
"No Mako-san I did not, I had a nightmare but it's over." Mako nodded and went back about her business but the look his father gave him did not escape his gaze.
"Chichi, is something wrong?" Minato put his cup down and looked Naruto square in the eyes.
"What happened up there musuko, that wasn't fear from a night mare, that was terror written across your face. What did you dream about?" Naruto winced harshly at his fathers words. He knew that he should tell him, but he couldn't not till he got his peace by eliminating that man for his crimes.
"It's nothing, I dreampt of the battle you and haha had with the Kyuubi. It must have been more horrifying than a thirteen year olds nightmare." Kakashi nodded swiftly and patted his sensei's shoulder.
"Sensei, see? Nothing to worry about, just a nightmare from a wild imagination! Don't worry, his day off today should relax him before we get started with our training and missions." Minato faked a smile and a nod to Kakashi, but he was no fool. He had seen that look before in his student, once when Obito was thought to had died, and the second when he was forced to kill Rin, his teammate. What could have happened to his son to cause this, better yet, why hide it from Minato? With Minato's history he would have been sure Naruto would have shared this information with him, so why not? Was what happened so horrible he couldn't share, or was it that he wouldn't? Minato sighed and watched Naruto stand and start to leave the house.
"Oi, Musuko, where are you going?" Naruto chuckled and looked at his father before stroking a hand through his hair showing some red in it now.
"Hair dye, if I showed my red hair then it probably wouldn't be good ne? So I should stick to my blonde dye. Anyway, I have a promise to keep so I have to find an annoying brunette and pink blur." Minato walked to the door with his son.
"How about I come with you, I need to pick up some Ink at the market place for my study, and the ink shop sells some of the finest dyes, though I don't personally think you need it." Naruto looked questioningly to his father.
"But Chichi, if people find out I'm your son and I have such a distinguishable factor, say red hair, then wouldn't I be an easier target?" Minato looked at Naruto and started laughing wildly, Naruto blushing a shade lighter than his hair crossed his arms and glared at Minato.
"Musuko, heh, Im laughing because, frankly, that was one of the funiest things I have ever heard! You re the child of the Hokage, in the Hokage's village, surrounded by hundreds of high tier Ninja, with ninja who even match or beat both of your sensei's patrolling the village constantly! You are in the safest place in the world for you right now, I know it doesn't seem it, but in this house, right now, there is a squad called ACE. They were my personal squad of trainees back in ANBU, and they each rival me, but are even stronger than me when together. Here in this house right now, tell me, why are you worried Musuko?" Naruto bit his lip but conceded and looked Minato in the eye.
"I will tell you tonight, I just have to rest before I tell you my greatest disaster." Naruto left the house and Minato stood tall. He looked to the table and six figures shimmered into existence at the other chairs. Minato looked at the men and women and raised an eyebrow.
"What do you think?" The red masked one coughed deeply and nodded with thumbs up.
"I think he will be ready for what is to come, also we have a message from the Fire Lord, his son, daughter, and one of their friends is coming to stay in Konoha till the end of the Chunin Exams in five months time. HE wishes for them to stay within your home for the time they remain." Minato nodded and waved them away, he looked to Kakashi and sighed slouching into his chair pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What am I going to do Kakashi-kun, Naruto is home, he's terrified of something I don't know if I can protect him from yet, and now the Fire Lord's children are coming? How could this possibly get w-" Mako slaps a hand across Minato's mouth.
"Please excuse me Hokage-dono, but do not curse yourself with those words, I beg of you!" Minato glared over to Kakashi who was chuckling like a mad man.
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Naruto waited outside the house for his father, when the two were outside they fell into line together and headed towards the village marketplace. The whole way girls and women alike marveled at the Hoto Musuko. Naruto just rolled his eyes to their words but it was obvious on Minato's face he was enjoying this trip with his son. HE had never gone into public places with his son because he was so busy, but now that the tax season, the holidays, and the summer had gone by the paperwork had receded to a point that he could leave a Kage Bunshin and no one would care. The two arrived at the small shop in the Marketplace, Hitoshi's Ink. Minato opened the door for his son and the two walked into the shop. The smell of ink immediately washed over Naruto's sense of smell, he heard tattoo needles buzzing, men talking about art, and the stench of chlorine. Naruto felt a tap on his shoulder and his father pointed him at the final isle in the shop.
"Over there is where he keeps the hair dye, if you are set on the blonde, then I will help you. However, I ask you to think about this before you commit to it. You are who you are, no matter what you look like, you are my and Kushina-chans Musuko." Naruto nodded and walked to the end lane and walked down it till he reached the bleach and blonde dye products. Naruto saw a mirror and he walked to it looking at the red hair, he played with it and he started to feel sad. HE looked like his father sure, but he had his mothers violet eyes, her sly grin, her hair red as a ruby. He started to feel a growing doubt, could these men protect him? Could his father hold to his words that no harm will befall him because of his lineage? Naruto closed his eyes and nodded, he put the products he picked up back and walked around the corner right into one of the most famous ninja in the world, Shimura Danzo. Danzo looked Naruto in the eye and Naruto into his. He whispered under his breath passing Naruto.
"Kushina's brat." Naruto's eyes widened as he started to turn to look at the man but two firm hands placed themselves on Naruto's shoulders.
"Danzo-san."
"Minato-sama." Naruto could feel the tension thicken almost as if coagulating blood. Naruto looked up into his fathers eyes. Minato smiled and pulled Naruto with him, though the air had been released of its tension, the feeling of that eye remained, that dark black soulless eye.
"Now, Musuko, did you find what you needed?" Naruto looked at his father surprised and he felt a hand atop his head.
"Yeah, I'm going to let the red fade back in. This hair, these eyes, this is my mothers legacy to me. I have nothing left to remember her by except those and my scar. I will wear them proudly from now on, I was a fool to hide them." Minato smiled widely and nodded, he felt some pride well up, as well as depression.
"Now, don't you have some annoying thing to find?" Naruto's eyes widened and nodded, he left the shop in a hurry.
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Ty Lee stretched her back, she was tired from her work today. Her shift with Ino and her mother had started early at seven and it was already four o' clock in the evening and no signs of ending soon. She felt drained completely as she collapsed into the chair behind her. She used her apron to wipe the sweat from her forehead, her chest rising and falling. She found her thoughts drifting to that blonde enigma she ran into the day before, unlike the other people she met, she lied to him. She couldn't read his aura, though she knew of his people, the Yu Yan. She would recognize her old friend's bodyguard anywhere, the question is why did he not remember her? She sighed frustrated; the last time they talked he had almost drawn his bow on her for saying something wrong about Azula. She smiled softly but she heard some ruckus outside, peeking out the window she saw her blonde enigma chatting with Ino outside the window. Ino motioned for her to come outside and Ty Lee obliged her.
"Hey Lee-chan, you never told me you knew Naruto! He's come all this way to honor your "agreement" I wonder what that means?" Ino blushes deeply and starts to giggle. Ty Lee looks embarrassed but Ino tells her to leave for the night. Ty Lee grabs Naruto's hand and drags him off away from the conniving Ino. Ty Lee immediately once they round the corner she makes him look her right in the eye.
"What are you doing here?!" Naruto looked confused into her eyes.
"You don't remember what we agreed on?" Ty Lee blushed a crimson remembering the incident.
"Ah, that, alright I'll go with you but we have to eat at my choice and I have to go home to change, I want you to do the same, you smell badly of ink for some reason." Naruto nodded and she pushed him, he went on his way to his home with his father and Ty Lee went to her home with her father, mother, and sisters.
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Naruto walked in the door removing his sandals he stepped onto the cold floor of his home. Immediately he was greeted with Minato's shout for him to come to his study. Naruto walking into his fathers study was greeted by a dark room with a few lamps on, his father smiled and looked up at him.
"So did you find your pink and brown annoyance?" Naruto blushed and Minato nearly dropped his brush at Naruto's next words.
"I did, I'm going to be out late I'm taking her out to eat." Minato blinked rapidly at Naruto before clearing his throat.
"Musuko, remember to be polite, courteous, and make sure to mention her eyes, make up, or her clothes, girls love that stuff." Naruto looked skeptical at Minato's words.
"Hey, don't dis the routine, it's how you were made after all." Naruto went pale and gagged, he glared at Minato who was busting a gut at his sons reaction. Minato cleared his throat finishing his laughter and he crossed his arms.
"So where are you going to take her?" Naruto scratched the top of his head.
"She said she gets to choose."
"How long do you have to get ready?"
"I don't know she never told me where she lives so I guess she will come here."
"Perfect! I get to meet her, now you have to remember to brush your teeth and to bathe, especially wash your pits, five times over if you have too. Now go! No time to waste!" Minato practically pushed Naruto out the door and closed it. Naruto sighed as he walked up the stairs and went to bathe himself once again.
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Ty Lee stumbled into her house and was greeted by her mom at the door, but she just went upstairs, bathed, and fell asleep in her towel on her bed. Several hours had passed and she woke up, she saw it was nine o' clock and she panicked! She totally just blew off the son of the Hokage! She jumped up putting on a long sleeve pink shirt and a beige skirt that went to her knees. She quickly did her make up and ran out the door braiding her hair as she went. Before she knew it she was panting heavily outside the Hokage's home, she knocked on the door three times and nervously adjusted her shirt. She heard the door slide open and there stood the man himself, Namikaze Minato.
"May I help you miss?" At that Ty Lee went into overdrive.
"ImSorryIDidntMeanToBlowNaruto-KunOffIWasWorkingAllMorningAndWhenIGotOffIWentHomeAndPassedOut!" Ty Lee bowed deeply to the man.
"I apologize, please forgive me!" Minato blinked and he chuckled and motioned for her to come into the house.
"Please join us, we thought you would never find Musuko, so we prepared a meal."
"We?" Minato nodded.
"Me, our caretaker Mako-chan, and my student Kakashi-kun. We all over see Naruto's well being here at the house. So when we heard he had a date we made sure he was ready, but when seven o' clock rolled by I didn't tell him but I could tell he was nervous, so I decided that we would make a dinner. I am just glad you came here in time." Minato and Ty Lee walked into the dining area, the reactions of the patrons were different. Mako smiled widely and gushed over the girls clothes, make up, and well, just her. Kakashi nudged Naruto whispering things about hotties, cute ones, and other adult things. Naruto blushed deep red but no matter what he tried his eyes were captivated by her. Minato cleared his throat drawing Kakashi and Mako into silence but Naruto couldn't stop staring, Minato chuckled.
"Musuko, if you don't close your mouth a fly will land in it, and if you don't blink your eyes will dry out." Naruto just looked at his father and realizing what had happened he saw the blushing Ty Lee and he only said one word.
"Beautiful." Ty Lee jumped and blushed darker at this before Minato's laughter drew him from his hypnosis.
"Musuko, you might want to let her eat before you make her any redder." Naruto snapped completely out of it and he realized what he had said and he jumped out of his socks.
"I-I-IM SORRY!" Ty Lee went from red to white and started freaking out too.
"NO NO IM SORRY I SHOULDN'T HAVE DRESSED UP SO MUCH IT WAS RUDE TO SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED LIKE THIS!" Naruto shook his ehad but the two got a bonk on the head courtesy of Mako's spoon.
"Enough you two, let's sit down and enjoy our meal." The people in the room re-seated and went to eating. Minato was the first to break the silence.
"So Ty Lee, how did you and Musuko meet?" Ty Lee blushed red again as did Naruto. Minato raised an eyebrow and Naruto sighed.
"We accidentally bumped into each other, and I apologized and asked her out for dinner and a drink some time. She accepted and I found her today to find out when but she decided today, so there we go." Naruto went back to eating and Ty Lee let out a breath of relief. Mako giggled to herself, as did Kakashi.
"I think there is something juicier to this story, what is it Na-ru-to-kun?" Narutos blush deepened and Minato waved his hand at Mako.
"Leave the two alone, now Ty Lee, I want you to feel like you were at home here, so speak freely!" Ty Lee smiled softly her eyes still on her food she made a hn sound and nodded.
"Now, do you have any questions for us?" Ty Lee finished her plate and looked at Naruto in the eyes but immediately diverted them.
"C-could I come back here again?" Minato chuckled and pointed at Naruto.
"It's not up to me, you're his date." Naruto blushed deeply and nodded.
"I-I-I want you to come back here again. I would love to see you again!" Ty Lee smiled and nodded, the tension went away and the rest of the night everyone laughed and had fun, but like all good things, it must come to an end. It was almost eleven o' clock and Ty Lee knew she had to return home.
"Musuko, you go with her and make sure she makes it home in one piece. That is your sworn duty as a man, understand?" Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Chichi, I was going to do it anyway." Naruto smiled softly and opened the door for her. Ty Lee bowed softly to the three occupants and closed her eyes.
"Thank you for letting me come here Hokage-dono, Mako-san, Kakashi-san. I look foreward to the next time!" Everyone waved her goodbye as Naruto smiled softly closing the door. Ty Lee began walking towards her house with Naruto, she talked with him about her problems, her past, and possibly her future. Naruto smiling the whole time, they arrived at her house and Naruto turned to face her.
"I had an amazing time tonight Ty Lee."
"Please Naruto-san, call me Ty-chan." Naruto nodded.
"Then call me Naruto-kun." Ty Lee smiled softly and slowly reached up and kissed his cheek. She walked inside and peaking out the door she heard him wish her a good night.
"You too Naruto-kun." She closed the door and felt the butterflies in her stomach. She went to her room silently knowing her family was asleep. When she entered her room she collapsed on her bed, she removed her make-up and got under the covers and fell asleep.
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Naruto entered his home and he started to head to his bedroom, but not before seeing Minato, mako, and Kakashi drinking. Minato motioned for Naruto to come into the room.
"Naruto, did she get home safely?" Naruto nodded.
"Now, I want you to ask her out weekly, if she says no than just ask about the next week. I can tell she will bring you love and fortune if you let her. Now, Tell us more about your dear Ty-chaaaaaaaaaan!" Mako and Kakashi laughed loudly while Naruto just took a seat and enjoyed the rest of his perfect day.
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Alrighty guys, so you had to have noticed I changed some things by now, now the next two chapters will take place from getting Tazuna's mission, to the bridge fight. The next chapter will cover till the end of the Tazuna fight and I will try to write as good as I can. Later~!