This shit up here, theses buttons?
Those are annoying. Could we not have them at the bottom, you know, where everything else is? That way they don't cut off the first paragraph. Or hey, if you want them at the top, put them above where the story starts, like on the login toolbar or something…Really bad placement team.
0o0o0o0
In the end, the mission was rather anticlimactic.
Zabuza had told Gato where to shove it. He and his team were to wait one town over from Konoha for Naruto's signal/message/go-aheads. Not like he could just approach the gates and "Nao asked me to come so let me in pretty please?" Yeah, that'd go over well.
In his anger, Gato had attempted to storm the bridge with a bunch of low class mercenaries. Two morons had first tried to kidnap Tazuna's daughter and grandson while Naruto was still in the house, sleeping off his rather exhausting night of….'training'. Naruto was not a morning person on the best of days, and being woken up after a long night of fucking by Inari's screaming and Tsunami's screeching was not his idea of coffee and cakes.
So he slit the two men's throats.
It might have been how cold his eyes had gotten, it might have been the ease and efficiency that Naruto preformed the task, it might have been his lack of regret or care or it might have been the shadowed outline of a figure behind Naruto, taller and beautiful but just a cruel; whatever it was, that moment would forever be burned into the minds of mother and son.
Tsunami quickly told Naruto that the two men had been there to capture her and possibly her son as leverage against Tazuna and his bridge. Not even hesitating, Naruto was out the door and running towards the construction site.
Inari had chosen that moment to remember last night- Kakashi had told him only a small bit of Naruto's story after they returned from training that night and he had snidely asked if their other team member had already been killed. Kakashi had told him about how Naruto was parentless, how his own village hated him how he fought against every bad hand dealt to him and how Naruto never bowed down.
It was that moment, in which Inari saw a boy who was so much like himself, run to save a person he barely knew, that Inari found his courage and strength.
He ran to the village's shopping district, a plan in mind.
In the end, the battle had been rather anticlimactic. The village people arrived complete with torches and pitchforks…to a massacre.
Upon Gato's arrival to the bridge, Kakashi didn't even hesitate to send his genin out for their first human kills.
It had been horrific and mentally damaging, Kakashi was sure. But at least this way, they could justify it by saying 'it was either me or them'.
When Naruto arrived to the bridge, he joined in with his teammates. At one point he was knocked into the setting cement, the swirl of his jacket pressed hard against the semi-wet concrete and left the impression of the Uzumaki swirl behind. The blood of the man who dared push him down baptized the imprint.
They had left Gato for last, as he had hidden himself behind the mob of mercenaries. When it was clear the game was over, he had tried to turn and run, only to run straight into the angry village mob.
They were more than happy to 'take care' of Gato. They tied him to a post on the dock of the new bridge, allowing the high tide to do its work.
The bridge was completed without any more hang-ups, the hired shinobi helping its construction along. The village celebrated long into the night with fish and sake at its completion.
O0o0o0o0o0o0
Team 7 left amongst applauds and cheers. Just as they reached the horizon and the sun flashed, the crowd imagined just for a second, that some else walked in Uzumaki Naruto's place. A tall figure of gold walked in his place, cruel in his stance.
So if you're ever in Wave, make sure to visit a once-upon-a-time-small town just past the connecting bridge. It's a large import town, full of traders and locally made wonders. Local legends surround that place built on dreams and blood. Legends of demons and angels of good and evil and the triumph of the small village that once was and the tears, pride and struggle that conquered. And if one has nothing better to do, make sure you read the plaque in the middle of the bridge.
Welcome to the Uzumaki bridge, a legacy just beginning.
A red Uzumaki swirl set in stone spins below it.
And if you're really lucky, perhaps a boy-turned-man named Inari will be there to tell you the tale of the man that Konoha hated and who was a hero when he should have been the villain…at least, in his version.
O0o0o0o0o
The walk back to Konoha was quicker. They didn't have a civilian tag-along to slow them down and they were all in high spirits. Naruto practically bounced from tree to tree, chattering excitedly.
They finally reached the gates of Konoha and while Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi were all visibly pleased to be home, some the energy left Naruto.
In Wave he was a hero here he was a burden at best.
Sighing at the return to norm, Naruto followed his team to the mission briefing room.
O0o0o0o0
It was during their mission report (that he had finally given up telling as he was constantly told to shut up by his teammates) that a child ran into the mission's briefing room. He was short, with spiky brown hair and black eyes. He wore a yellow shirt with the symbol of the leaf in red on the front and grey shorts with a blue scarf around his neck. There was some sort of helmet on his head, with a hole at the top to allow his hair to poke out.
As the boy ran into the mission room, the long scarf got caught under his foot, causing the boy to trip. Gasping in alarm, the boy cart-wheeled his arms, trying to maintain his balance, the boy bared his teeth in his efforts, showing his chipped tooth.
The mission room as a whole watched as the kid's face made contact with the hard wood floors. The boy jumped up, looking around wildly. Finally his eyes settled on Naruto, who had an eyebrow raised and a small smile on his face from the funny/cute display.
"You tripped me!" ok, maybe not so cute.
"From all the way over here? Get real!"
Huffing, the boy crossed his arms over his chest and turned his body away. Done with his pouting, he quickly turned around to face to hokage who was contentedly smoking away on his pipe.
"I challenge you, grandpa!" the boy yelled as he dramatically pointed his finger at the calmly sitting hokage.
The boy made a large, overly obvious motion to leap at the hokage only to be stopped as someone grabbed to boy by the scruff of his shirt. Gagging, the boy glared back at the man who dared folly his assassination/challenge of the hokage.
"Honorable grandson, this behavior is unbecoming! You have studies to attend to as the grandson of the hokage. You must maintain a certain image of prestige in your representation of the noble Sarutobi clan…", Naruto quickly tuned the man's ramblings out as he continued to ramble on and on.
He watched the little boy's eyes glazed over in apparent boredom as well. It wasn't long before he snapped out of it; a mischievous twinkle entered his eyes that reminded Naruto so much of himself before that change that it almost hurt. The child bared his teeth in a smile, before swiftly kicking the man between the legs. The man's speech was quickly cut off as his voice shot into a higher octave. Everyone who was watching the spectacle winced in sympathy, some giving a little moan in protest.
Crotch shots were not cool, not even in the shinobi world.
Wiggling out of the loosened grip, the boy made a run for the exit, no one making a motion to stop him. Just as he reached the door, he turned around and giving the peace sign proudly declared,
"My name is Konohamaru, future hokage! And don't you forget it!" dramatically Konohamaru threw down a smoke bomb that released far too much smoke. Coughing could be heard, as well as the pounding of feet as the boy made his escape.
There was silence in the room before Naruto couldn't hold it in anymore.
He laughed madly, clutching his stomach as tears nearly streamed down his face from the force of his laughter.
Settling down, Naruto finally turned his attention to the man who was still attempting to coax his balls to return to their original state.
The man was tall, with brown hair mostly covered by his head-band turned bandana. Dark round glasses covered his eyes and besides his square jaw line, he was pretty plain-a good thing for shinobi. The man humphed, dusting of his arms and legs as he finally stood up.
"Ebisu" the Hokage's voice was soft and commanding.
"Hai, Hokage-sama!" Ebisu turned towards his elder, saluting.
"Perhaps you should go catch up to your current ward?" while the Hokage's words where requesting, the tone was not.
"H-hai, Hokage-sama..."Ebisu's enthusiasm waivered before he ran after his charge.
Naruto blinked, before turning back to the hokage. Tilting his head to the side, the hokage nodded at the silent question.
"Team 7, good work on your successful mission. In the future, I would prefer you at least call back up with such overwhelming odds at the very least. You are dismissed; collect your pay from the payment office." Nodding in understanding, team 7 filed out of the mission room, making a brief stop at a small window on the second floor of the building, where shinobi collected their pay.
Each waited in line, giving their name to receive an envelope that contained that blood money they had worked so hard for. Naruto didn't even hesitate to count it out at the counter, making short he wasn't short-changed; letting out a nearly silent sigh in relief when it was all there, Naruto made his way out of the building after yelling out his goodbyes to his team.
Naruto turned his head up, sniffing the wind. Catching the smell of his prey, Naruto walked calmly into a darkly lit alley. There, he allowed to illusion of Uzumaki Naruto to drop and in his place Kaneko Nao blinked cold eyes at the waiting world.
0o0o0o0o0o
Konohamaru hated his name. He hated his family. He hated, hated, hated, hated, hated, hated, and hated! No one recognized him for himself! It was always 'honorable grandson' or 'the Hokage's grandson' or something like that. Never for him! So he acted out, trying to stand out and break away from the shadow he couldn't seem to escape from. Konohamaru was Konohamaru, why couldn't anyone see that?
He ran blindly through the thick forest of Konoha's training grounds. Finally breaking through the dense forest, he reached a clearing. A soda machine stood by with a simple wooden bench a short ways across from it; the area was meant for civilians, usually waiting for a shinobi to meet up with them or just to watch others train.
A man sat on the bench currently, his long hair blew in the breeze glittering gold in the sunlight. He wore a cheongsam of fine black silk, the cosmos embroidered on the edges of the dress-like attire. On his waist was a golden cord, two bells where attached at the end, tinkling as the man adjusted his sitting position. The man turned towards Konohamaru, blinking diamond eyes at the boy before turning away.
Konohamaru may have hated being only recognized as the Hokage's grandson, but he hated being dismissed even more.
Huffing, the boy was about to shout at the man, demand his attention, only to cut off as Ebisu made an appearance beside him. The tall shinobi's ire was apparent from the way his mouth pulled down disapprovingly and his hands slightly shook in anger.
Ebisu immediately began berating the boy, his lecture was never changing; Honorable grandson, blah, blah, blah, reputation, blah, blah, blah, responsibilities, blah, blah, blah, grandson of the hokage…
Maybe it was the weather, or the time, maybe it was the man who sat calmly watching it all on the bench or maybe it was how Ebisu's speech had gone from calm lecture to almost shouting; whatever it was, Konohamaru had had enough.
"SHUT UP! MY NAME IS KONOHAMARU! KONOHAMARU! NOT HONORABLE-GRANDSON! I AM A PERSON AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE ME FOR ME, NOT MY GRANDPA!" Konohamaru panted harshly after the outburst, proud that he had finally stood up for himself.
Apparently, it wasn't enough. Ebisu turned white, then red, the purple. He breathed out harshly before taking a long calming breath. He opened his mouth to deliver a no doubt scathing retort only to stop and look up. Konohamaru followed his reluctant sensei's gaze, hearing the sounds of bells before his eyes connected with cold-blue.
"Konohamaru, hmm?" the golden man asked, head tilted in curiosity.
"Y-yes", Konohamaru stuttered out, wondering why his face was red and his hands felt cold and clammy.
"You wish to stand out amongst a crowd, Konohamaru?" the man's voice was soft but deep and strong. It was powerful and captivating, entangling his audience to listen and he wove his web of words.
"H-hai…I want this most of all." Konohamaru spoke more assuredly, wiggling out from his sensei's looming presence.
The man abruptly turned around and began walking away, his hair swayed behind him a strands dance around him enticingly. The bell only sang once the man stopped, turning around to look over his shoulder at Konohamaru.
"Well? Are you coming? Don't you want to learn something…different?" the man called back enticingly.
Konohamaru didn't even hesitate to follow, his sensei still frozen in shock as his charge ran up to the golden man.
O0o0o0o0o
Konohamaru panted in exhaustion. Nao-sama (as he had taken to call the man, despite his protests) had run him ragged. The man had offered to teach Konohamaru a 'flashy but usually useless' jutsu. While it would be useless in most battles, flashy was something young shinobi were attracted too since it 'looked cool' and therefore suited Konohamaru just fine.
Making the hand signs again, he concentrated his chakra with all his will, hoping this time it would work properly. Inhaling deeply, his brows furrowed in deep concentration as he finished the last sign. Bringing up his palm up, he concentrated his energy to his hands, trying to imagine what he wanted.
Opening his eyes, he was delighted that he had finally managed to get it right! There, hovering over his hand was a sphere of light, looking into the sphere of light, a replica of the cosmos could be seen-stars twinkled in mock suspension, planets rotated, comets soared and suns flared. It was beautiful, flashy and completely useless in battle.
The jutsu which had no name and required no vocalization to use, had been created by a shinobi more interested in science then fighting; bored, the forgotten shinobi had tweaked a jutsu originally used to show the sun/moon (a way to estimate time in places without the luxury of a window) and had expanded to still show the sun and moon…just much farther away. It took a minimal amount of chakra to create, but drained rapidly if maintained too long.
"Very good, Konohamaru" Naruto's voice was gentle and encouraging. Coming up from behind the boy, he ruffled his hair.
"I have something for you, for your accomplishments." Naruto remarked, his hand going to a hidden pocket.
"You mean…a reward?" Konohamaru questioned. He was never rewarded, even when he got a 100% on one of Ebisu's tests. He had learned then, that it didn't matter if he failed or won-it wouldn't get anything either way, and so Konohamaru had stopped trying. But if this guy, Nao-sama, was going to give him a reward…he was the best!
"A friend of mine used to have them, but when he became a shinobi he didn't need them anymore. You can wear them now, and when you receive your shinobi headband, perhaps there will be someone for you to pass them down to, hmm?" Naruto smiled at the suggestion, handing Konohamaru his old pair of goggles.
Smiling in delight, Konohamaru immediately put them on, giving Naruto a toothy smile.
So…cute! Naruto mentally squealed, wanting nothing more than to hug the cute kid until he squeaked…but he withheld himself…barely.
Looking at the sky, Naruto realized it was getting late. The sun had almost set and while the streets where safe, Konoha's night time was for the darker populace and not for little boys.
"What's his name?" Konohamaru questioned, fist unconsciously bunching in Naruto's cheongsam.
Naruto hummed in question, "whose name?"
Konohamaru huffed in aggravation, thinking the question to be a stupid one. "Your friend that had the goggles!"
"Ah, forgive me. How about I tell you about him on the way home, Konohamaru? I'm sure your family is missing you."
Choosing not to correct Naruto about his family missing him (really, he saw the maids more than his own blood!) he moved his previously fisted hand into the offered palm. Naruto's hands where smooth and soft and warm. Smiling at the warm feeling that started from his tummy and went outwards (like warm coco on a cold day) Konohamaru swung their joined hands between them, tentatively listening to "Nao's" softly spoken words about his friend "Naruto", who sounded like a good playmate.
0o0o0o0o0o
Naruto finally dropped Konohamaru off at his clan's compound, promising to see him soon and perhaps introduce him to Naruto. He found it humorous to talk about himself in the third person. Sighing carelessly, he took towards to roof tops and made his way towards the Hokage's tower.
He quickly scaled the side of the tower, knocking on the Hokage's window. Naruto didn't even bother waiting for an invitation as he slipped inside the window. He made his way to the unoccupied chair, slipping into the cushioned seat.
"One day I will ward those windows to keep everyone out. There is a reason I have a door and pay a secretary to 'make appointments.'" Sarutobi mumbled around his pipe as he sorted through the massive paperwork on his desk.
"Oh? I thought you paid her because she has a huge rack." Naruto deadpanned. The hokage choked on his tongue, sputtering indigently but the light blush across his checks gave him away.
Giving a huge, playful sigh, the hokage pushed the papers he had been thumbing through aside.
"What can I do for you Naruto?"
Naruto smiled a foxy smile and the hokage felt a wave of unease rush through him.
"There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you, Hokage-sama."
You know that feeling of foreboding? Yeah, that feeling just got so much worse.
0o0o0o0o
Zabuza and his crew of misfits and taken up temporary residence two cities away from Konoha. It was a civilian city, and none recognized his face and even if they had, the local police wasn't going to fuck with a shinobi of his caliber.
He wasn't surprised when Nao calmly walked up to him only a week in, smiling like the fox that caught the rabbit.
"Pack up your things Zabuza-kun, you and your associates have been given free clearance into Konoha on the Hokage's order." Zabuza's smile was positively feral.
Leading Nao back to their hotel room, Zabuza introduced him to Haku, Meizu and Gozu. Gozu had snapped out of whatever genjutsu was placed on him shortly after they had left Wave. They still didn't know who was responsible and Gozu had no memory of what he had been 'dreaming' about.
After pleasantries had been exchanged, they packed up their belongings, cleaned up the hotel room so any Hunter-nins who passed through couldn't track them, and left the small civilian village.
It took them half a day to reach Konoha's gates.
O0o0o0o
Haku couldn't help but stare at Nao. The man had a certain quality about him that reminded Haku of a client's panther. The man had been rich and snobbish, hiring them to kill off a rising competitor in his trade. With his wealth, he had bought a wild male panther. The panther was chained to the wall, prowling back and forth with sleek muscles and gorgeous fur. A caged animal, waiting for the moment to strike the fool who had dared believed he could be tamed.
It was when they returned for payment that the man had become too cocky. Believing he had the cat under control, he had released the panther from its jeweled collar with orders to kill Zabuza and Haku. The cat didn't even hesitate to pounce on his false-owner, teeth and claws ripping into flesh and bone.
Nao was that panther; beautiful in his deadliness, loyal to only who he chose and bidding his time for the fool to take off his jeweled collar. Haku wondered, as he met Nao's diamond blue eyes, who would be the one consumed by this man's fury.
O0o0o0o0o
While Zabuza and his party of misfits had heard of Konoha and had, on occasion, passed through the area, they were not prepared for what lied inside of the massive stone walls. The village was an easy mix of civilian and shinobi peoples. While most hidden villages tried for the mix, what usually happened was that the civilians would begin to adapt more to the shinobi ways; clothing stores would have more shinobi armor then t-shirts, blacksmiths would create more kunai then nails, laundry mats would offer drop-off/late night services and restaurant kitchens would cater to the paranoid.
Konoha's civilians didn't make that change. Bridal stores didn't boast about plated bodices, weapon stores where clearly separated from hardware stores and civilians ran around without care to the shinobi flying above them. The wardrobe was also something to mention. In hidden villages, an almost unspoken uniform was present among the inhabitants. Here though, the style was all over the place and one couldn't pick out some shinobi from civilians by wardrobe alone.
It was perhaps because of this that their party was receiving such strange looks. Zabuza had no doubt that beside Nao he looked out of place but in a village like this, he looked like a wild and savage man. A few shinobi stopped, watching him with suspicion, most likely recognizing him from the bingo book. The fact that he was peacefully walking besides a fellow leaf-nin meant that he was either being brought in for a reward or for interrogation…if they only knew.
O0o0o0oo0
The hokage wearily looked at Zabuza. The man was large and compactly built no doubt from constantly swinging the huge sword that was strapped to his back. He tired rubbed as his eyes, seeing dark spots as he pressed too hard. Zabuza had also seen it fit to tell Sarutobi any news he had of the world-including recent activities of a certain student of his. Already his mind was scheming on how to fix this mess…The council was going to eat him alive for this, or at least try to. He would hold his cards close to his chest for now.
"Nao has been formally accepted into ANBU but he's not yet been assigned to a team seeing as currently there are no spots to fill. I'd hate to break up a currently functioning team which makes your…change in loyalties rather convenient." The hokage took a long inhale on his pipe before he shuffled some papers around on his desk. Finally he came to the documents he wanted.
"Zabuza, you will be the melee and close combat specialist; Haku, you will immediately begin training as a medic-nin for your position on the team; Meizu and Gozu, you two will be training with Anko, or resident poison expert. Nao, you will be made captain of the team and will be specializing in espionage and assassinations." The hokage paused, tapping the ash out of his pipe. Truthfully, the only reason Nao had been made captain without first training under a more seasoned ANBU was because he was the only one who was officially loyal to Konoha.
"You will officially be given your uniforms and masks tomorrow, at which point you will be given the opportunity to choose your team name and mask theme. You have the rest of the day to yourselves to strengthen your bonds. Dismissed." The hokage scribbled his signature on their approval forms, handing them Nao as they formally bowed and left the room.
He already felt the headache coming on when he saw his old teammates-turned-advisors walk through the door after Nao. It was time to start fixing his mistakes for his successor.
O0o0o0o0o
The next day, the newest additions to ANBU made their way into Ibiki's office. He smiled and what may have been a once kind smile was twisted from his scars. He passed each of them a blank ANBU mask and uniform. He then had each of them bare their upper arm to him, and he patiently inked Konoha's ANBU seal into their skin.
"Team name?" he gruffed, spending no time on pleasantries.
"Skulk." They smirked as one.
"Paint your masks so they made be recorded as your faces." Ibiki continued as they each concentrated chakra to their finger tips and began tracing out their chosen designs on the masks; small amounts of chakra painted while larger amounts allowed one to 'mold' the mask.
"Do not switch or give away your mask. If your mask is lost or stolen, cut off chakra from your ANBU mark to destroy the mask. When you need a new mask, you will find spares in with the regular ANBU supplies. It goes unspoken to not reveal your identity, unless you want to be on the other side of the two-way glass." Ibiki chuckled a little in the end.
They each presented their mask to Ibiki, who became more and more amused by the second. Nao's was of a mythical spirit fox, the markings were of light silver and the face long, elegant and wise looking. Haku's mask was of a more common red fox, red and orange stripes accented the mischievous looking mask. Zabuza's was of a black fox, face lupine and dark with a snarling mouth; while Meizu and Gozu's where almost identical. Both were of a common red fox like Haku, but their masks had 'eye patches' around opposite eyes to tell themselves apart.
"Welcome to ANBU team Skulk. Have you chosen code names for yourselves?" He asked as he continued to fill out the large amount of paper work required to become a licensed killer.
"Yes." Nao spoke for his team. "I will be Vulpe, Haku is Vixen, Zabuza is Reynard, Meizu is Kit and Gozu is Pup."
"Everything is recorded and filed. You will take missions only from the hokage and your loyalty is only to the village. Report tomorrow to the Hokage for your first assignment; you will receive and report your missions to the hokage in the mission room in uniform unless instructed otherwise."
(Skulk is the name for a family of foxes, Vulpe is part of the classification, Reynard is the name for a male, Vixen for female, and kit and pup for baby foxes)
O0o0o0o0o
The hokage had gathered his jounin instructors in a large meeting room, Iruka stood beside him to record the procession. He wasn't as surprised as he should have been when the 'rookie 9' was elected to take the jounin exams. Iruka of course, made a motion to argue but Sarutobi intervened before he could stick his foot in his mouth.
"I have reason to believe that the Kazekage has been assassinated and replaced with an assassin or spy." The Hokage announced. "Because of this, I will only allow 3 teams to enter into the exams. From my observations, Teams 10, Team Gai and Team Komugi will be allowed to enter." Again the hokage held up his hand to forestall any protests, this time from the jounin's themselves.
"Team 10 has showed extraordinary team work and has already become familiar with their family's techniques. Team Gai and Komugi have been genin for year already and therefore I'm allowing them to enter based on both experience and seniority. I will hear no protests from anyone on my decision, or I will bar their team from taking next year's exam as well!" the Hokage stated firmly.
"In the meantime, prepare your team for the worst. Kakashi and Iruka, stay behind. Dismissed!"
While the room cleared out, Iruka smugly finished recording the meeting. He was very pleased with the Hokage's decision not to allow the rookie genin to participate…especially his little Naruto.
Kakashi finally made his way to the hokage, eyeing the chunin standing beside the man's chair in boredom. Iruka bristled at the obvious dismissal in the jounin's eyes while the hokage rolled his eyes at their antics.
"Kakashi, the council keeps pestering me about the Uchiha's lack of sharingan activity. During the chunin exams, your goal will be to have it emerge by the finals." Kakashi nodded his head, not even asking about what would become of his other two students. The hokage gave an internal sign of wariness-after the dust was settled, he was sending Kakashi to a therapist…or perhaps someplace with a lot of hot springs. Absent-mindedly he waved in dismissal.
"Iruka, the new ANBU team I sent to Ibiki today, bring me their file." Iruka bowed to his hokage, transporting before he even finished straightening up.
0o0o0o0o
Naruto slept well that night and stretched languidly in the early morning light. He had received word last night that team assignments and meetings where temporarily suspended and to report to train on his own until further notice.
He rubbed his face, already knowing what happened. The hokage had joined him at Teuchi's ramen stall and had (in a very grandfatherly fashion) asked him to visit more often. Translation; come by my office later.
Naruto shuffled to his shower, turning it on and letting it heat up before he got in. He wondered what the hokage wanted already.
O0o0oo0o0
The hokage gave a deadpan stare at the team assembled before him. He sighed in wary amusement. Really? Foxes?
"The chunin exams have come to Konoha this year and with it, hostilities to Konoha. I have reason to believe that Orochimaru has made an alliance or has infiltrated Suna. Vulpe (Naruto) you are to observe the team Suna has sent; Vixen (Haku) and Reynard (Zabuza) you two are to act as my body guards; Kit and Pup (Meizu and Gozu) you two are to guard over Uchiha Sasuke. If I know my old student as well as I once did, he's here for Itachi's brother."
"Complete your task however you see fit. Dismissed."
And like the shadows, they silently disappeared.
O0o0o0o
Naruto had decided to 'introduce' Konohamaru to 'Naruto' to keep an eye on the child. He had become found of the rambunctious child and as the grandson of the hokage, he would no doubt be targeted. Creating a shadow clone before he left his apartment, Nao and Naruto walked out into the streets. It wasn't long before they ran into Konohamaru.
"Konohamaru-kun, this is Naruto-kun, my other precious friend."
"Eh? Nice to meet you Naruto!" Konohamaru enthused as practically hopped on the spot. Naruto gave a large, mischievous grin in reply.
"I've been assigned to patrol duty during the chunin exams. Since I most likely won't be seeing either of you until they're over, I thought you guys would like to keep each other company." Nao smiled, tilting his head to the side allowing his long hair that was pulled up to shift to the side.
"Come on, I'll buy you lunch before I leave." Nao beckoned, making his way towards Ramen Ichiraku.
Both boys smiled goofily and began racing towards the well known destination. Not watching where he was going, Konohamaru ran into someone wondering on the streets.
The body he collided with grunted, and turned, his face set in an angry scowl. The figure was dressed in all black, his hat shaped into cat ears and his face painted with purple lines. A large something was strapped onto his back, wrapped in bandages so that only what appeared to be a tuff of hair stuck out. Behind him stood a blond girl, her hair pulled back into four ponytails and a large fan strapped to her back. She wore a battle kimono, and sneered at her surroundings. Both of their headbands showed they were from Suna. Naruto couldn't believe his fortune.
Still scowling, the Suna-nin fisted Konohamaru's scarf, dangling him so that his feet didn't even graze the ground.
"Stupid fucking runt! You better apologize for that." The shinobi growled into his face.
Konohamaru made a move to protest but was interrupted.
"Konohamaru" said boy ceased struggling and looked at Nao, "you did run into him."
Konohamaru paused for a moment, eyes widening. This is why he liked Nao so much; he didn't treat him with kid gloves or make special exceptions for him because of his family name. Giving a nod in understanding, Konohamaru bowed as best he could in his current predicament.
"Gomen, shinobi-san. I wasn't watching where I was going in my haste; I didn't mean to run into you."
The shinobi grunted, almost throwing Konohamaru to the side. Nao easily caught the boy before he made contact with the ground, frowning in disapproval.
"My, what rude guests we have." Nao commented, looking directly at the Suna-nin.
"Fuck you, the brat ran into-."Nao cut him off.
"Which he apologized for. You are a guest in Konoha's gates, as such you were told when you walked into our city what was expected of you-throwing around citizens was not one of them. If you continue to show that you are incapable of minding yourselves, and escort will be assigned to you." Nao's voice had become mocking and his body language aggressive.
"Why you!" the Sand-nin snarled, grabbing at the wrappings on his back. Nao pushed Konohamaru and Naruto behind him and took an offense stance.
"Kankuro, I really don't think-" The girl with sand-colored hair and blue eyes spoke up, starting to look nervous.
"Shut-up Temari!" Kankuro snapped, starting to rip the bandages off. "I won't let some pretty-boy upstart push me around!"
Nao didn't even hesitate. He shot forward, a single chime of a delicate bell was the only warning before he seemed to disappear in front of their eyes before reappearing in front on Kankuro. He swiftly brought his knee up, driving into Kankuro's cut. The boy bent over, coughing as his internal organs protested at the rough treatment and being shoved up into his diaphragm.
Not waiting for the boy to catch his breath, he brought his elbow down hard, aiming for the spine. Grunting in pain, Kankuro met ground, the elbow strike lighting up his nerves and making his legs and arms feel like mush.
Seeing Kankuro go down, Temari muttered a curse as she made a move for her fan. She startled as Nao's cold eyes zeroed onto her and she could have sworn she saw a ghost overlay the man who stood before her-a creature with flowing hair, burning eyes, a cruel smile, elegant cat-like ears and sleek tails waving behind him. Her fear froze her before she snapped out of it, but it was too late. Mere seconds determine a shinobi battle, and she had used up hers.
Not even hesitating, Nao threw a hand out, metal wires flowing out of the sleeve of his kimono towards the girl. She snarled in angry when her arms where pinned down and she barely kept her balance as the cutting, metal wires wrapped fully down her body.
Nao didn't relax as the presence that had been hiding in the tree finally made an appearance. This boy was smaller than the other two, more petit. His eyes where a light aqua with dark circles indicating he didn't sleep much. His hair was short and bright red which accented his pale skin and the red 'love' symbol on his brow. A giant gourd sat on his back, strapped on by belts and his clothes where of typical Suna style. Arms crossed over his chest, the boy looked disapproving of the two others. He was no doubt the third member of their team, if his age and forehead protector where anything to go by.
"Kankuro…Temari…"both tensed as their names were called. The boy had a deep, smooth and menacing voice, "you shame our village. I apologize on their behalf."
"G-gaara, w-we didn't-" Kankuro began stuttering, pushing himself off the ground only to be interrupted by Gaara.
"Shut up." Gaara said flatly.
"If your two teammates had only attacked me this wouldn't be an issue however" the tension that had drained from Temari and Kankuro at the beginning of Nao's words returned as he practically purred out the last word. "However, you attacked and threatened the Hokage's grandson and Heir to the Sarutobi Clan, one of the original clans of Konoha."
The sand team tensed as a whole. At the least, they were going to be under close scrutiny for the remainder of their stay, at worst; they would be arrested and tried if not banned from Konoha or even worse…executed. Either option meant their mission had just become close to impossible.
"Follow me, I'm taking you to the Hokage and he can decide punishment."
Keeping silent, the three Suna-nins shuffled behind Nao and followed him to the Hokage's tower, Konohamaru and Naruto following behind.
O0o0o0o
The Hokage had asked where their jounin-sensei was, as he would most likely want to be present. Temari answered for them that they had been sent ahead; their sensei was out on a mission and would be returning to Konoha instead of Suna in a few days.
"Hmm, I see. The Kazekage may be an old friend of mine, but I cannot let this transgression pass, not even for his children. I'm sure you understand; if I did nothing many would see that as a sign of weakness or try to act the same and call foul when they were punished. The fact that your chaperone is not present is also disappointing; perhaps he could have kept you three out of trouble." The three before him made no movements to indicated their fear or shame, shinobi where trained out of such habits early.
"I have decided then. One of you will be integrated, to show that Konoha takes attacks against our citizens very seriously, for the remainder of your stay you will be chaperoned by one of my ANBU. He will be waiting at your lodgings when you return. As for the integration…" Sarutobi took a deep inhale from his pipe. "Temari-san I believe it was? Ibiki is our residential specialist, he's waiting outside for you now."
Temari gulped. She had heard stories of that man, and none of them had happy endings. While she knew nothing permanent would be done to her, she did have a large amount of information about the invasion and she didn't have a large amount of training in the mental department. They had been banking on none of them being caught. She couldn't even commit suicide- that would tip them off immediately that there was something to hide.
She bowed to the Hokage and made her way out the door, she immediately saw a man who could be none other than the man whispered about by broken men. She gulped again; sweat beading her brow as the man gave a menacing smile. With no other choice, she followed the man of scars.
Back in the Hokage's office, the other two siblings were dismissed. The two Narutos and Konohamaru had left as soon as the situation had been explained and a message was on its way to Nao with updated intelligence.
This one incident had made the whole situation so much easier.
O0o0oo
Temari sweated in the interrogation room, from both fear and because the room itself was hot. The chair was wooden and uncomfortable; splinters poked at her and she could see nail marks in the arms of the chair along with dried and old blood.
Ibiki had been with her briefly, asking easy questions at first-her name, her rank, age, and connections and slowly it built up from there, but nothing she couldn't or shouldn't answer had been asked. There had been a knock on the plain white door that matched the white, sterile room and Ibiki had walked from his comfortable position sitting across from her. He stuck his head out the door, and accepted a letter. His face had become more and more angry as he read it. Finally, he looked at her with a face full of hate and disappointment; it was a damning look one gave to a turn coat.
In horrifying slow motion, Temari couldn't help but think that they had found out. That they knew. The thought was further reinforced when Ibiki tied her to her uncomfortable chair and had stalked out. That had been seemingly hours ago.
The door creaked opened and Temari's eyes swung to it. A tall and graceful person walked in, ANBU if his outfit was anything to go by, and his mask. His mask made Temari uncomfortable, its mystical face and seemingly kind visage of a fox... Being the sister of a jinchuriki, she had a sixth sense for danger, and this man was dangerous. It practically glowed around him.
"Your brother…Gaara….he's quite a mess, isn't he."
She stiffened as soon as the words left his mouth. They KNEW.
"It's a wonder Orochimaru hasn't used him in some type of experiment. Then again, he isn't all that stable now, is he?" The fox ANBU paused, tilting his head in a curious manner.
"My apologies, my name is Vulpe. Ibiki had a…harder case to handle and I was called in." He paused, head cocking again.
"Back to your brother then…he has a rather bade history back home, doesn't he? They call him a demon, hate him, fear him…a weapon for a village that believed it could control a demon. How long, I wonder, until his leash snaps?"
She remained silent, looking at the table that separated them.
"Jinchuriki" he said slowly, as if almost tasting the word, "their demons are different, but the story is almost always the same. Always hated, always betrayed, just for being born. Tell me, how many times did you spit on your brother?"
"I love my brother!" Temari snapped.
"Oh? What a strange way of showing it, letting him suffer like that…Alone, tired, with a demon eating his mind."
"What would you have me do? Every time I try to comfort him, he almost kills me! If I force him to sleep, the demon takes over his mind and goes on a slaughter while eating his subconscious. I can't even fight my father, he's the Kazekage! Doing so would be treason! I would do anything for my brothers, anything!"
"Even betray your father?"
"That man is no father." Temari practically spat.
"What if I told you I could help your brother? Quiet the demon and let him sleep?" Temari looked at the man flatly.
"And how would you do that?"
"An Uzumaki" Temari harshly sucked air between her teeth. She knew the stories, knew the legends…the Inari blessed. It was said they could calm demons, persuade them even…If an Uzumaki really existed and would help her brother…
"Then what?" she asked, voice hoarse.
"Orochimaru has killed the Kazekage and is wearing his skin. His mutilated corpse is somewhere in the desert I'm sure. It's very simple really, you send a message to Suna telling them about the situation-you're the Kazekage's daughter, they're going to believe you. Then, when you and your troops turn against Orochimaru and his shinobi, you're a hero and not a deserter." The ANBU folded his hands on the table, locking his fingers together.
"So the sooner you send off that message to Suna, the sooner your father's body is found, the sooner the alliance is called off and the sooner your brother is fixed."
Temari stared hard at the table. What did she have to lose? They knew about the invasion, about Gaara, and about Orochimaru…
"Where do I sign?" Temari asked, smiling weakly.
O0o0o0o0
When Baki arrived to Konoha, he was immediately told to report to the Hokage. His heart sank but as a shinobi he showed no reaction. He made his way to the tower, only to be told that he and his students were going to be under surveillance 24/7 due to Kankuro (Kankuro! Not Gaara, but Kankuro!) having attacked the Hokage's grandson ($#()&!) and two shinobi of the leaf. They were lucky they weren't being executed on the spot.
Reaching their lodgings (a rather nice hotel room) he wasn't surprised to see a sulking Kankuro or the ANBU. What surprised him was the fact that the ANBU with a silver fox mask had Gaara's head in his lap and Gaara appeared to be sleeping.
Baki felt panic settle in-his heart was beating out of his chest, blood rushing in his ears, pupils dilated, the taste of anesthetic flooded his mouth. Gaara was asleep. Why weren't they dead?
He gradually calmed as no sand rushed around to suffocate and crush him, Gaara did not begin to turn into a blood thirsty monster, he just shifted in his sleep a little, getting more comfortable.
At that moment Temari walked in. She seemed to have the same reaction he did just moments before, but her breath calmed quicker and with her fear left behind, a gleam of understanding and relief shown through.
"So, you're him then. That's how you knew…" she whispered, voice hoarse and tired.
"A secret you will hold close." The ANBU confirmed. "I am Vulpe when wearing this mask." He shifted his attention back to Gaara.
"Such a large burden to hold in such a fragile being," the ANBU whispered as he moved his hands in a petting motion through Gaara's hair.
"I've sent off the letter…I expect I'll get a reply in a matter of days. We'll need to inform those who are already here. Baki, Kankuro, don't look at me like that. Something has happened, something we didn't think was possible. Let me explain…"