Chapter 14: Joining Ceremony
Itachi was confused. More confused then he had ever been in all of his twelve years of life, and, judging by the look on Hikari's pale face, he wasn't the only one.
"But Yume-sama," Hikari asked in confusion. "Why do we have to get married?"
Yume was serious and blank outwardly but on the inside he couldn't stop a grin of irony from passing over his mind.
'For all of their power and wisdom they really are only kids aren't they?' He thought before he tried to come up with a simple explanation for future circumstances.
"I can't really explain now but trust me this will all become much clearer a few years from now." He finally decided to say.
Itachi and Hikari were still rather confused but decided to agree with their Hokage anyhow.
"Now to begin," Yume said. "I need you both to hold out your right pinky fingers."
The two complied and did not so much as flinch as the Yondaime drew a bubble of blood with a sharpened stone he had chipped from the frame of the barred window. Following the Hokage's instructions the two young children intertwined their bloody fingers before placing them on the piece of sheet Yume was using in place of paper.
The white cloth quickly soaked up their blood but it left a relatively good impression of the two's finger prints. Once this was done Yume handed them the small toothpick like splinter he had used as a pen to write their names. Hikari took it first and dipped it into the watered down rock paste ink.
Slowly, so she could make sure it was legible, Hikari signed her new name: Uchiha Hikari.
Itachi watched as the characters began to take shape on the cloth. A slight tingling feeling rose up in his stomach. He wasn't sure what it was but he found it rather pleasant. Much like the same feeling he had felt that time when Hikari had kissed him a year ago. Once Hikari had finished Itachi quickly took the offered 'pen' and dipped it into the paste. He wasn't sure why, but he really wanted Hikari to be his wife.
Soon the contract was complete and Yume set it aside to dry before he turned to the very young newly weds. He grinned slightly, almost sarcastically. "You may now kiss the bride," he joked.
He was quite taken aback by surprise when Itachi actually did.
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The night had deepened significantly but Yume found he still could not find sleep. Instead he opted to watch the two young jounins as they slept peacefully in their now shared futon. It was rather odd really. Seeing two children as young as them not only married, but truly in love. Even if they had yet to notice it.
Yume smiled softly as he watched Itachi roll over in his sleep to wrap his right arm loosely about his wife's waist. He sighed and shook his head. He doubted that anyone had ever been married this young in the entire history of the five nations. Still, as he thought more about it, he doubted anyone had ever been so suited for each other either.
Well, aside from the two corner couples. It was more then obvious that the young quartet had already divided into two happy young couples. Yume sighed again. His son was one of those four. He chuckled. Just thinking about his son as a boyfriend and later on a husband made him feel so old.
'I really need to stop aging myself,' he thought. 'I've already lost eight years tonight alone.'
Yume found his thoughts abruptly interrupted as the thick metal door of the holding cell was swiftly swung open and four guards stood at ready, Kimimaro at the front. Not a word was spoken but everything was layed out in an instant. Yume shot a look at the sleeping jounin before he nodded stiffly and stood. The heavy door swung heavily behind him as it closed, blocking his young friends completely from view.
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Temari looked around the widely spaced training room where her new teammates stood. Having been taught all of her life that foreign nins meant enemy nins, she couldn't help but be afraid at the large number of 'enemy' children surrounding her and her younger brother. Though she was not usually what could be called a 'model big sister' Temari felt it was still her duty to protect her 'baby' brother from harm.
Kankuro scrunched up his blushing face in irritation as he tried to extract himself from his sister's arms. He had no idea what had possessed her to suddenly grab him and start hugging him but he did know that he really wanted her not to do that. All of the guys in the room were watching. The young boy's light pink face flushed deeper as he noticed the boy with white eyes smirk as the boy with the dog tried not to laugh.
"Stop it Temari!" Kankuro whispered harshly. "Everybody's looking!"
"I'm just trying to protect you," she whispered back.
"From what!" the younger boy demanded.
Temari opened her mouth to answer but she never got the chance. During the short exchange between her and her brother one of the boys, a rather large one munching on chips, had crossed the imaginary line that separated the two 'villages'. Temari gulped and resisted the temptation to back away.
"Wh-what do you want?" she asked as she lifted her chin.
The boy shrugged before he answered. "I thought you two might be hungry." He said as he handed them an unopened bag of chips.
Temari's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Slowly she reached out to accept the offering. "T-thank-you." She stuttered with a light blush.
The boy grinned. "Uh-huh!"
"Um," She said. "M-my name is Temari."
"Chouji," he said as his grin widened.
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Shikamaru blinked lazily as he watched his best friend talk to the new sand girl. He had no idea what had given the other boy the courage to go over to talk to her but he decided he didn't really care. It would be too troublesome to find out anyway.
Once Chouji had broke the ice the others began to filter over slowly beginning with the girls. At long last only Shikamaru and Neji remained unmoved before Neji shrugged and began to move over as well. Shikamaru sighed deeply as he watched Ino wave for him to come over. Shoving his hands into his pockets he complied. 'This is so troublesome…'
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Baki's face was calm. Maybe to calm, but he didn't want it to seem as if he was feeling, he shuddered, emotional because of this. He just wasn't that type of person. Though on the inside, he couldn't hide that he was feeling a slight sense of loss as he watched the four corner kids give one final wave before they left the nursery and didn't look back. It was almost bitter sweet watching them leave. They had been here for exactly one year to this day and, for all the times he made snide remarks about them being here, he almost, ok, he did already miss them. He had done his best not to get attached, but sometimes even your best isn't enough. He'd just have to learn to cope.
"Sayonara, Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan, Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun!" Gaara shouted his turquoise eyes filling with unshed tears. "I'll never forget you!"
"Sayonara! Mina-san!" Ichigo cried out as their four figures disappeared into the rising sun light. Tears made tracks down her cheeks but she wiped them away quickly, not wanting to appear weak in front of her sensei and friend. She was going to miss them but she was glad that she could stay here. She knew that Gaara needed her.
In the year the she had been here the two of them had become nearly inseparable and she had been hoping that they would be able to extend their stay. Sasuke said that wasn't possible. That they had probably stayed here too long already. Ichigo had accepted that and had begun her preparations to leave, but the four Konoha genin had insisted that she remain behind so that Gaara would still have friends. It didn't take much to convince the little Haruno girl that she should stay.
"Ne Gaara-kun," Ichigo said as she rubbed away any signs of tears. "We should probably practice if we are going to be any help in the war."
Gaara grinned and nodded as he grasped her hand in his. Baki just shook his head as the two ran off towards the court yard to resume their training.
'Such persistence…'
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The day seemed to drag on forever as the four corner kids did their best to keep a steady pace while they sprinted through the sun-baked dessert. Taking Baki's advice, they rested often to cool down and sip water knowing that they wouldn't make it very far without doing so. At the moment it was quite noticeably noon and the young quartet had taken refuge in a small oasis to rest and eat their lunches.
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura spoke up from the place where she was resting. "How much farther is the next village?"
Sasuke set down his lunch and pulled the map out of his worn leather pack. "Hm," he muttered. "It doesn't seem to be much farther. Maybe two more hours or so."
"Good!" Naruto exclaimed. "I want some ramen!"
A soft moan came from below him and he clapped a hand over his mouth. He had forgotten that the young Hyuuga heir lay sleeping on his lap. Naruto swiftly brushed his free hand across her forehead, pushing her bangs aside, and stroked her soft cheek in hopes of sending Hinata back into a peaceful slumber. Naruto grinned behind his hand as he watched his friend smile and fall deeper into sleep.
Sakura giggled softly as she looked at the two. "You really need to stop being so loud Naruto-kun."
Naruto just sent her a sheepish smile.
"We should all take a nap," Sasuke whispered. "We're pretty tired and this place is good. It has lots of shade."
Sakura nodded in agreement as she looked around at the four palm trees situated directly above them.
"Kay." Naruto said as he shifted Hinata so that he could lie down as well. "See you in a bit." He yawned.
"Sleep well," Sakura told both boys before she slid into her own slumber.
Sasuke sat still for a moment, searching the surrounding area to make sure it would be safe. Satisfied Sasuke layed down between his friends and fell asleep on the soft patch of grass they all shared.
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The shadows grew long as the sun lazily drifted across the dessert sky. Suddenly, six black streaks flew across the sand; each one hoping to reach their targets first. The one in the front of the pack grinned showing off his sharp canine teeth. Orochimaru had promised a fortune for the one that brought those brats back alive and he was going to get it.
His silvery-white hair blew away from his crazed eyes, brushing against his hatai-ate. The engraved leaf symbol had been slashed out violently. "Make sure you don't hurt them," he ordered. "Understood?"
"Hai!" five voices rang out behind him and he nodded.
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Naruto stirred restlessly in his sleep. He was normally a very deep sleeper but for some reason he found himself being drawn back towards consciousness before he felt fully rested. Irritated that he had awakened, Naruto kept his eyes shut hoping the sun would fall from the sky and take the reddish light with it. A shadow quickly descended over the blond and he jumped to his feet in alarm.
"I didn't mean it Mr. Sun!" he shouted. "Come back!"
"Still an idiot I see." A nearly inaudible voice muttered from above him.
"Eh?" Naruto asked as he shaded his eyes to look at the person creating the shadow. "Mizuki-sensei? What are you doing here?"
"I came to bring you four back," the teacher said, a kind smile on his face. "The war is over and you are free to return."
"Yay!" Naruto shouted in joy as he jumped around. He was just about to bend down and wake the others when two things suddenly sprung into his mind.
One: Hikari-nee-chan had told them not to come back with anyone but her and Itachi-nii-chan. Not even his dad. She said that if somebody came for them that couldn't take off their rings that they were probably not who the said they were or for what they said they were for. He didn't really get this but he figured if Hikari-nee-chan had said it, it must be important.
Two: Sasuke had always been a light sleeper. You couldn't sigh in your dreams without him jumping up and looking for an attack. He was even a lighter sleeper then Itachi! In fact, the only time Sasuke ever failed to wake up first was the time the corner kids went camping with team four and Tenten for Sasuke's fifth birthday. And that was only because Itachi had drugged all of the kids so that they would sleep longer. He and the others had wanted to make the corner kids a surprise anniversary party. They hadn't really counted on the fact that drugs wouldn't work on the Uzumaki boy. His fox spirit seemed to have an immunity towards them.
"Mizuki-sensei," Naruto commanded. "Take off my ring."
Mizuki sent the boy a quickly masked glare of irritation before he reached for the lavender colored ring on the younger boy's outstretched right hand. Grabbing Naruto's wrist with his left hand, Mizuki wrapped his right thumb and pointer finger around the ring. He pulled. Nothing. He jerked. Nothing. He twisted. Nothing again.
A curse flew from Mizuki's chapped lips as he threw down Naruto's hand. "What did you do to it!" He demanded.
Naruto glared up at him. "Itachi-nii and Hikari-nee did it." He told his ex-sensei. "And if you can't take it off then they didn't send you. The war isn't over," he growled. "You're a traitor."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Mizuki shouted, not loosing his glare.
Naruto wasn't intimidated. Baki-sensei could be much scarier then that. "You were going to take us to Orotomato huh?" the blond boy accused. "You didn't want us to know that you were bad so you drugged us so we wouldn't cause any problems."
Mizuki was shocked. Was this really the Hokage's idiot son? When did he become so smart?
As if guessing what the older nin was thinking Naruto shrugged. "It's all stuff that's already happened." He said. "We've been drugged before."
"I don't really care," Mizuki sneered. "You and your friends are coming with me demon lover."
"Don't talk about Kyuubi-chan like that!" the blond boy said as he jumped up and down waving his outstretched arm like a lunatic. "You're just jealous!"
"Shut up brat." Mizuki nodded to his team. "Take them Shikaito, Matsukoi, Ren." The three named answered with a stiff 'hai' before they reached out to grab the unconscious kids on the ground while he, himself, reached for Naruto.
Naruto growled and dodged the silver haired man before he dove at the Ren who had roughly dragged Hinata from the ground. He bared his now fox like fangs at the man before he sank them deeply into his arm. He let out a howl of pain.
"Takai!" He shouted at one of the free nins. "Get this brat off of me!"
Takai, a nin around twenty with mousy brown hair and twitchy eyes, said nothing as he rushed forward to aid his comrade.
Naruto quickly released the first man and turned to face the second on all fours. His eyes had turned a dull shade of orange and his pupils looked as though they had begun to form into cat-like slits. "Bring it on," he growled in a low throaty voice. "I can take all of you weaklings."
Takai hesitated, slightly wary of the kid before him. He knew all about the Uzumaki blood-limit of course, and had seen it used many a time, but he had never seen any of the spirit animal's physical attributes push out to take over the user's actual appearance. The effect was almost terrifying; even if it only came from a seven-year-old kid.
"What are you waiting for?" Mizuki demanded as he began moving forward as well. "Nakito!" He shouted at his last companion. The deathly pale man stepped forward as well, his stringy black hair sliding against his cheeks and falling into his liquid amber eyes.
"You know," a smooth, almost lazy voice came from behind. "It really shouldn't take all of you to fight one little boy."
"It's rather pathetic really," another spoke up. His smirk practically heard in his voice.
"Now, now," a girl said mockingly to the second boy. "It isn't nice to tease weaklings."
"Sorry." he said not sounding the least bit remorseful.
The would-be kidnappers spun quickly, surprised that they had yet to sense anyone come up from behind them. Their eyes widened in terror as they saw who it was that had come upon them.
"Shall we wrap this up quickly, Kakashi?" the second boy asked the first as he cracked his knuckles.
"That would be preferable, Obito," Kakashi said, his nose stuck in a bright orange book. "I'm at a rather interesting part in my book."
"Ugh," The girl said as she wrinkled up her nose. "Why do you read that garbage?"
"Don't bother, Rin," A second girl said as she glared at the silver haired man. "We'll never understand the twisted minds of perverts."
"True, Kurenai," Rin nodded. "Very true."
"Well," Kakashi said as he placed his book in his weapon pouch. "Shall we get started?"
Obito smirked and closed his eyes. When he opened them again three comas swirled swiftly around his blood red iris. "I do hope you lot make this interesting."
Kaliea: And Kakashi's team, plus Kurenai who will now be included when referring to Kakashi's team, has made an entrance. Obito's kinda different, but that will be explained later. What is their role going to be? (Grins) You'll just have to wait until I figure that out! (Sweatdrops) Anywho, review please!
Review Answers:
Susakuru: Hiya! How ya been? Hope you like this chapter!
Itachi349: I just did and I think I added you but I'm not sure. Ehe, I'm not all that great at using things like that. To complicated for my poor little brain…
Jays Arravan: They don't have to have a 'formal' wedding if they don't want one. Like I said, the Joining Contract is perfectly legal. But it hasn't been unheard of for people to have a formal ceremony after completing the contract.
Dragon Man 180: Thank you, as for your idea I'll see what I can do. I know that I want to put them in here for several reasons (Rasengan, Sakura's training, etc.) But I'll just have to see how it works out. Thanks for the idea though!
Danny-171984: As you can see from above, age doesn't really matter though as stated, no one has ever been married that young. If he had had any choice in the matter Yume wouldn't have married them but under the circumstances it was rather necessary. But to really answer your question; No, it doesn't matter. They could be married at birth and it would still be legal.
Sasuke9999: That information won't be given out until later in the story. Sorry but that's how it's gotta be.
Kaliea: Thank-you all so much for your reviews! I really love getting them (hint hint). Keep r and ring! And until next time, ja ne!