Chapter 12
The Next Day: the Leader's Bonding Exercises
I own Nothing
Naruto woke at 3 a.m., which wasn't that unusual, but the thing that awoken him was. A scream, such a loud and noisy howl broke Naruto from his slumber, causing him to slither from under the bed as fast as he could and pop out a white bone dagger to defend against a possible intruder.
But his weapon was of no use, seeing as there was no one in the room besides Ayame and himself. He looked to his student to find it was her who screamed and was continuing to scream, her eyes were closed and yet her body flailed around like a carp out of water.
Her body was covered in sweat, it dripped from her constantly as her body continued to contort and her mouth released such a blood curdling scream.
Naruto rushed to her side and pulled her up to an upright position by her shoulders, he had an idea of what this is. She was having another side-effect from her near death experience mixed with her first kill. He was starting to get annoyed, he knew she would freak out the first time she drew blood but he didn't know she was going to be like this, screaming and crying, an unstoppable stream of emotions.
But, his insensitivity aside, he knew she needed him - seeing as he was the only one in the room - He pulled up the sheets, wrapped it around her trembling frame and whispered soothing words to the petrified cook.
"Its okay, Ayame-chan, its okay. I'm here for you," he said, recalling the calming words Kurami once whispered to him. At this point all he could do was recall other's kind words since he really didn't' have a background in making anyone feel better. In fact, if he was associated with something, things seemed to get even worse for everyone involved.
"Look at her," he thought with a saddened sigh, 'if I wasn't her sensei, if I wasn't around her…..she wouldn't be dealing with this. 2 days after I was assigned to be her teacher and she's already traumatized. What kind of teacher am I?"
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Naru-kun. It couldn't be helped," Kurami chimed in, hearing her man's self-loathing thoughts, "you knew this day would come, you even tried to prepare her for it. You can't braid yourself on something that was going to happen. If you do, you'll always be miserable, and I don't like my man being miserable."
"N-Naruto-kun," Ayame whimpered her voice so low and so weak it was barely detectable, "is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me." He assured her, keeping his hands firmly on her shoulders as he gazed down on her slumped over body, her head dangling like it was on a thread, "don't talk, just let it out."
Following Naruto's advice, she launched at him, enveloping him into a tight bear like hug as she wept into his shoulder, staining his black sleep shirt. Once again he was called upon to be the shoulder for his apprentice and he decided it would be right for him to be there for her. He is her sensei after all, what type of teacher would he be if he did not pick her up when she falls? He has railed her for the past month, showing zero support or encouragement, and now he wants that to change, at least a little bit.
He's not going to do a complete overhaul of his teaching methods, seeing as they have been pretty effective over the past month, but, he is going to try and be more nicer to her, a little at a time.
So, deciding to be a little bit more attentive, he decides to rub her back in a soothing manner as he continues to whisper sweet nothings in her ear.
"Thank you so much, Naruto-kun." she said, after peeling herself from his shoulder, it has been two hours full of nothing but sobs, whimpers, and the occasional reassuring whisper. "I don't know where I would be without you."
"Probably at home right now, resting after a long day of working," Naruto stated with a frustrated sigh, "You know, it's not too late to go back and start over. You don't have to be my apprentice. It would be so much easier on you if you just…..qui-"
"No!" She quickly yelled, snapping Naruto from his self-loathing pity party, "I don't want to quit, I want this, I've always wanted this. Excitement, adventure, it's all so grand. And sure,...I haven't been off to the best start as it were, but I still wouldn't miss any of this for the world."
"Why," was the only question Naruto could muster. He was actually, genuinely surprised by her outburst, he was expecting that after today she would have agreed wholeheartedly that she was not cut out for this type of life; that her safe, comfortable, all be it, boring life as a cook/waitress was far more ideal than this terrifying, life or death, experience of an apprentice to a ninja.
"Because, all my life I have been stuck in a boring, unfulfilling life of being a cook's daughter and don't get me wrong, I love my father, and I love cooking…..It's just, I always wanted more in my life." She explained, before looking to Naruto with a twinkle in her eyes, "and I know you are the man to give it to me...and like you said, I'll just have to dive into this apprentice thing head first. Right?"
"Right but…...don't you think being an apprentice to a Shinobi is a little bit of an extreme if all you want is a little spice in your life?" Naruto questioned, happy she was ready to jump back into things but curious as well, "I mean, you could become a travelling merchant or a traveling nomad. Hell, you could have even picked to be someone else's apprentice. Why, after a month of hell with me, did you want to continue to be my apprentice?"
"N-No reason really," she slightly stuttered, her face taking on a light scarlet tenge while she fumbles with the hem of her shirt. Her dreaded tell was back with a vengeance, making her left eyebrow twitch wildly. Her attachment and attraction to the hardcore serpent seemed to grow more and more each day she spent with him. At first it was just a simple intrigue, she was fascinated with him and his story, but now, now she was generally attached and invested into him as not only a human being but a potential boyfriend. Which is pretty rare for the cook turned fighter.
She hasn't really been looking for a mate simply because she just didn't want one. The work to keep a relationship a float is far too much of a hassle, all the lies, the mistrust, the constant amount of dates you have to remember. It sounded exhausting.
And yet for some reason, it doesn't seem like a chore when she thinks of dating Naruto. She thought of all the time they spent together and, even though most of it was brutal, she still thought it was far more enjoyable than any of the dates she's been on.
Naruto, feeling like the conversation was over, got up and slipped off his tear stained tank top, revealing his scaly scarred body to Ayame. If she wasn't blushing before, she definitely was now. Looking past his scars she had to say, this teen was very well defined.
Her blush soon faded when they both heard a knock on the door, indicating someone was there. Naruto got up and went to answer, not before he slipped his genjutsu on and his porcelain mask. Once he was decent enough, he opened the door to find Ao and Chojuro waiting for him at the door.
"Ah, Ao-san, Chojuro-san, what can I do for you?" Naruto asked politely, trying to show hospitality to the two right hand men of the Leader, and possible future Mizukage.
"Mei-sama wishes to speak with you," Ao said sternly, his arms tucked away in his sleeves while he stares him down with his one good eye. He still didn't trust this kid, if what he said was true, he is far too good to be so young. No man, women, or in his case, child could ever reach an A-rank in such a short time on this earth, it just seemed fishy to him.
He and Chojuro were actually on the same page when it came to that. The shy swordsmen was shocked to hear that a young man could hold the rank of A-class, It took him at least until he acquired his famous Mist Sword to actually gain that rank, but this young one has gained it with zero mystical swords. Just good old fashioned dedications -and painful experimentation, don't forget experimentation-. (When I say "young" I mean younger than them, each one is high A/S class fighters and it has taken them years to gain this experience. They gather, since they can't see his face, that Naruto is far younger than them based on their own conclusion.)
"May I ask why?" Naruto questioned, feeling the two veterans of war collectively stare at his shirtless body. Their eyes scanning over his body felt odd, but he knew it wasn't anything perverted or depraved. They were probably sizing up the few scars that were unable to be hidden by Naruto's genjutsu.
Genjutsu was never Naruto's strong suit, even with his fully matured Sharingan; he was still crap at it. Which meant he wasn't able to cover up everything completely, "Boy's, my eyes are up here." Naruto joked, snapping the two from their train of thought on his abused abdomen.
"The boy's got a few Battle scars, interesting. At least it looks like he can hold is own," Ao thought, battle scars, to him, were the sign of a good soldier. No true soldier leaves a battlefield without a few new scars to bring home, it just happens.
You are in the middle of a war zone, jutsu's and kunai's flying past you. You, a lowly grunt, pressed up against a small patch of dirt that smells like sand and shit, there's no way you leave this place without a few scars, physically or mentally.
"She wants, and I quote, "to get to know the new recruit". We're here to escort you to the meeting area." Ao explained.
"Understood, just give me a minute and I will be right out." Naruto stated, closing the door behind him as he went to his room, slipping on his new tank top and his cloak. Once he was ready, he went for the door, only to see Ayame waiting for him at the entrance.
"What are you doing, Cheshire?" Naruto asked, reverting back to the codenames, seeing as two of the Rebel Leader's top lieutenants were standing right outside the door.
"Well, I heard Mei's offer and decided to go," Ayame said, slipping on her Cheshire mask while adjusting her bow harness.
"No," was the only word that left Naruto's lips before he reached for the handle of the door, completely sidestepping his apprentice who seemed rather pissed at his bluntness.
"It wasn't a question, I'm going and you can't stop me!" She stated firmly, slapping his hand from the doorknob and reached for it herself, "I'm fine, besides, you need me."
"Says the women who just spent 2 hours crying," Naruto said harshly, getting a angered glare from Ayame, "look, I like your enthusiasm. Really, I do. But, seeing you last night made me realize you need a break. For a month now you have been training non-stop, so please, take a break."
"But-" Ayame tried to protest, only to be silenced by her master's next words.
"It's also an order, Cheshire. I order you to take the day off," Naruto insisted, "don't worry, we will be training first thing tomorrow morning, but for now, stay put." Once he got the answer he was looking for, a nod and a pout, he was off, escorted by the aging war hero who is stuck in his ways and a timid swordsman who has teeth like a shark.
"So, what is leader-sama planning, exactly?" Naruto asked, trying to indulge in some small talk while also trying to get some info from the two.
"She's probably going to do the same thing she always does with new recruits," Ao stated dryly, not paying Naruto any mind while they continued to walk towards the main building they arrived at yesterday.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Naruto questioned.
Five minutes later: Training Dojo
"Ummm, Mei-sama, I think he's had enough." Another thud echoed through the empty dojo as Naruto was tossed on the ground; head first, into the hardened floor with Mei's right arm tightly gripping his wrist while the other pushed him into the floor.
"Ao, be quiet or I'll kill you," was her response, flashing her right hand a kind smile while her aura told a different story.
Once Naruto and his two escorts arrived, Mei brought them to her favorite place in the whole campground, her personal indoor Dojo. It was fitted with the most state of the art training equipment that they could get their hands on. Rakes of weapons rested against the wall, carrying all shapes and sizes of weapons, blunt, sharp, or some weird mixture of the two. Kirigakure's finest Fuuinjutsu users reinforced the walls with barrier seals, protecting the foundation and the cosmetic design of the inside, allowing anyone who wishes to train to go full force.
"Now then, come at me once more, Viper-san. And this time, please, don't hold back," Mei stated with a hint of animosity towards the masked recruit. When they first arrived, Mei insisted they fight, it was something her sensei always did when he would meet a new face that he thought was worthy of his skills. If Naruto was able to reach the level of A rank at such a young age, she wanted to see what this strapping young lad had to offer her. But, as you saw before, Naruto wasn't giving it his all, not even a fraction of what he was capable of and it was really getting on Mei's nerves, even though she would never admit it. Did he not find her to be a challenge? Is her sex something that is stopping Naruto from going full force? Well, she was soon going to find out.
"I fail to see the relevance of this, Mei-san." Naruto stated coldly, picking him off the ground while dusting himself off, his cloak hanging loosely around his shoulders, "I thought you said you wished to know more about me?"
"I do, and like my sensei used to say, "The best way to get to know someone is to trade blows with them," so, let's try this again." She stated with a kind smile. Her ways were most unorthodox to Naruto. She would smile an innocent smile while also trying to boil your face off, it was odd, but he also had to remember that one of the most deadly ninja's known to man also walks around with a sick, twisted smile on his pale face. "I want your all, you got me?"
"I must say, I do enjoy your enthusiasm, Leader-sama." Naruto stated with a small, noticeable smirk behind his wooden mask, walking towards the wide array of weaponry on the wall and pulling down two wooden practice swords. "But, I am not too keen on revealing everything of mine. I am sure you understand, you are a ninja yourself after all and a ninja's best ally is-"
"Our secrets. Yes, I am well aware of that." She stated, her cheery yet eerie smile never leaving her features while her tone took on a more annoyed flare, "but we are going to be going into battle. Elbow to elbow, putting our lives on the line. I would like to know who exactly stands before me. I would think you would feel the same way."
"...How about this," he stated, looking to the wall to find a clock hanging over another weapon rack, "we'll play a little game. A little something to break the ice,"
"A game? I don't know about you but I haven't played a game in 10 years." She said with a laugh, a small but audible giggle that would bring warmth to most men's hearts, but not this man's, not yet at least.
"Look at the clock; it's at 6:58 A.M., in 2 minutes that will be our starting point." Naruto instructed, twirling his weapons between his fingers before delivering a few practice swings. "The game really doesn't have a name; it's a simple test of strategy, time management, speed, and a good way to find out about your opponent. For 30 minutes we come at each other, each one trying to deliver a "death blow" with practice weapons, and each "death blow" you successfully hit on the real target allows you to ask them one question. At the end of the 30 minutes, count up how many you have and then you get your questions."
"Sounds simple enough," she said, replacing her kunais and shurikens with wooden ones created for children to practice with, "what do you consider a death blow?"
"The throat, heart, any area that would bleed profusely. the basic areas." He stated, diagraming the areas with his own swords, "you ready?"
She smirked before looking to Ao who seemed to be patiently waiting to see what would happen next, "Ao-san, would you be a dear and keep track of time. And Chojuro-san, I would like you to keep an eye on how many points Naruto and I receive."
"What, you don't trust me to keep count of my own points?" Naruto asked with a mocked hurt tone, going so far as placing his hand delicately on his chest as if her insinuation physically hurt him.
She smiled once more before saying, "it's not that at all, I just want one person's main attention placed on the points. Wouldn't want either of us to lose track of our points in the heat of battle."
"Beat her down, Naru-kun!" Kurami chimed in, jumping up and down with joy, ready to cheer her man all the way to the very end. That, and seeing the red haired bitch knocked down a peg or two wouldn't hurt either.
"I'll try my best, Kurami-chan, but it won't be easy. By her aura alone I can tell she is at least S-rank." He stated with a calculative stare, his eyes scanning over her while his heightened senses picked up the intent oozing from her. She is no push over, "I'll have to use all my skills so far just to beat her in this silly game."
"Don't worry, Naru-kun, I believe in you." she said with a smile, trying to boost his confidence. She would love to be out there, by his side to cheer him on and maybe even help when the time called for it, but no, once again reality dealt her the cold, hard truth. As long as that seal laid on his stomach, she will be locked within him forever. So, she decided to just try and be as helpful as she could while inside him, giving him helpful tips and insight to his surroundings.
"Are you two ready?" Ao stated, the minute hand inches from striking the 12.
"Hai," Mei said calmly, sliding into a relatively relaxed stance with one kunai gripped lightly in her right hand, her pasture showing grace and power, care and domination. Once Naruto noticed this stance he was reminded of the leaders long since passed, the power they held within themselves and the confidence to match.
That was the moment he realized his assessment of her might have been wrong. Her bubbly personality could possibly be a cover up, a mask to hide the power and authority behind it. The mask was so well executed that he couldn't see past it; all he could see was her smile.
"Hai Ao-san," Naruto stated firmly, taking a wider, more professional stance. His feet spread out with a larger gap, his left sword held in a diagonal to the side of his hip while his right blade was bent over his back, allowing for quick, decisive blows with strong force.
"Hmmm, seems like he knows what he's doing. This might be fun after all." Mei thought, allowing her free hand to slip behind her back and pull out two wooden shurikens, preparing for her a surprise attack.
Everything fell silent, not a peep was uttered by anyone, the only sound was the rhythmic tick of the second's hand on the clock. The clock's hands hung at 6:59, each tick of the smallest hand matched the beat of the combatants' hearts, each ready and excited. "Begin!" like the shot of the starting gun, both fighters were off.
Mei was first to react, with a quick flick of her wrist she sent the two wooden toys flying towards Naruto, who quickly swatted them from the air with two hard swings from his prone weapons. He looked up to try and find his target but was surprised to see the only thing that remained within his slight was the remnants of mist.
Pivoting on his heel, he's massive swing connected with nothing but air. He then felt a light tip prick his neck, Mei stood behind him, her kunai placed against his spine with her trademark grin.
"You're going to have to try harder if you're going to get me, Viper-kun." Mei cheerfully instructed, removing the kunai from his neck and gaining some much needed distance between the two.
"Point 1 goes to L-Lady Mei," Chojuro decreased, producing a white erase board and drawing a single tick mark under her name.
"Lucky shot," Naruto merely shrugged, taking his stance once more, this time with a more determined glare etched in his features. "How did she get behind me so quickly? Maybe I underestimated her speed."
Just like before, a duo of throwing stars rushed to his position, but this time they had Mei trailing up behind them. He decided to take the offensive approach and charged the speeding throwing stars and the blur of red that was Mei. He quickly swiped the shurikens out of the way with one good flick of his wrist and was now inches from Mei, his right sword ready to be brought down on her collarbone.
His swing was interrupted by a concentrated stream of pressurized air shot into his eyeholes, Mei's hands forming a Horse sign. The slots from where he could see were small enough that most of the damaging pH was blocked, but some was able to slip its way past, causing his eyes to water and distort his eyesight.
Taking the opportunity, Mei "plunged", the kunai she had in her grip into his chest, "was that a lucky shot?"
"No," Naruto hissed, turning from her and her two cronies, pulled up his mask and rubbed them until the sting died off, "just a plain dirty one."
"All's fair in love and war, Viper-san," Mei chimed melodically, twirling the dull wooden instrument within the hole at the bottom, "besides; did you think I was going to make this easy? I want to know everything about you and if I have to play dirty to win, so be it."
"Fine, the gloves are off. I hope you're ready," he stated bitterly, tossing one of his wooden practice swords to the side and gripped one with both hands. "I need to focus; having an extra sword will only cost me in the long run."
"I was born ready,"
"2 points f-f-for Lady Mei," Chojuro explained, marking another point for his leader.
"5 minutes has expired, you have 25 minutes left." Ao interjected, alerting the two to the change in time.
In a flash of speed, Naruto set into overdrive, speeding down the dojo with untold speed, something Mei was not prepared for. "I was wrong," she thought, preparing to intercept him, "he isn't a strict defensive fighter. The first time he seemed only reactionary, attacking only after I did."
He drew closer and closer, before placing the practice katana under his armpit and ran through hand signs quickly, "Fuuton: Shinkūgyoku" (Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere) and, with a quick opening of his mask, Naruto shot a compress stream of air from his mouth into the hardened ground of the dojo, pushing up dirt and debris to blind Mei's vision.
When there was a good enough smoke screen in front of him, he crossed his fingers, creating a single clone and sent it through the fog as a distraction.
The clone slide through the smog, catching the eye of Mei who quickly went for another point with a quick jab to his throat, but the second the kunai tapped his neck it dispersed.
"A clone!?" Mei's voice was soon cut when she felt the tip of a wooden sword snake its way towards her throat.
"Come on Mei-sama, I thought you were going to make this challenging?" Naruto's smug voice chuckled through the smoke he stood in, which soon began to disappear, revealing his confident stance with his arm stretched out and his wooden weapon inches from her throat.
"P-Point 1 for Viper-san,"
"Wow, you actually got a point," Mei teased, both getting some distance from the other, "you must be so proud."
"Yes, and this is just one of many I will get." Naruto stated with confidence, taking up his one handed katana stance once more, ready to change her one more time.
23 Minutes later:
"2 minutes remain," Ao stated loudly, "the score is tied. 5 to 5,"
"You tired yet?" Mei questioned, a light pant escapes her lips while she hold two kunais in one hand with 3 shuriken in the other, gripped within the gaps of her fingers. She was very surprised that this was a pretty good fight; she was breaking a sweat, something she hasn't done in a long time.
"Me? I can fight for days, you?" Viper stated, keeping his cool or at least trying to keep up that appearance. Behind his mask was a sweating blonde kid who was slowly losing his edge. This wasn't suppose to get this extraneous, but through the past 23 minutes it seems like each time one got a point the other had to even it out.
Soon enough, this little game was no longer a just that; it was a battle of will and determination. Each blow was delivered with such force and ferocity that most people would associate each strike with a battle of equals. But, thanks to their non-lethal weaponry and very tame jutsu selection, neither were harmed, just exhausted.
"I do have to say, Viper-san, you have given me a better fight than I expected." Mei cooed, taking a single, deep breath before a thick mist began to roll into the building. "But this victory belongs to me, Kirigakure no Jutsu." (Hiding in Mist Technique) Soon enough the room was covered in nothing but a thick film of perspiration. Blinding Chojuro's view of the battle field and was even throwing Ao, the best sensor in Kiri, off.
"Mist technique, now that's just not playing far!" Kurami whined, sticking her tongue out in a childish and yet amusing manner. It's always tickled Naruto to see how much Kurami can change in a single second. She can jump from horny, to playful, to helpful, to horny once again, and then to childish, it was cute but also a bit annoying when you want peace and quiet.
"Well, if she's going to whip out her big guns for a silly little match," Naruto stated, calmly closing his eyes, straining his ears to his surrounds while he allows chakra to build around his eyes, "I shall do the same!" His eyes snap open to reveal his matured Sharingan in all it's blazing glory, and thanks to his mask's thin eye slots, Mei and her cronies are none the wiser of his abilities.
With a quick swipe sideways, he slaps the incoming wooden projectiles from the air that cut through the thick smog that rose around him. Each step he took in a single direction another flurry of wooden kunais and shurikens spun towards him, distracting him from his true threat. About twenty feet behind him, laying in wait, was Mei awaiting her chance to strike while her few clones continued to throw more and more practice kunais and shurikens to keep him busy.
"I just need to wait for my chance," she thought, peering past her so called impenetrable mist to see she only had a full minute to land one last blow, "Wait until I have 30 seconds remaining and then strike." As if on cue, the small second hand struck thirty seconds, allowing Mei to spring to life and head off towards Naruto's location.
Naruto's Sharingan picked up on the quickly approaching form of Mei and realized that she was prepared to strike and if he didn't think fast he was going to lose this battle…..I mean game, yes, game.
He sheathed his so called sword in his belt loop and crossed his fingers, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Shadow Clone Jutsu)" He proclaimed, creating four perfect copies of himself who instantly went off towards the other Mei clones, distracting them so he could have some alone time with Mei. He speed towards as well, Sharingan flared and sword drawn as they both meet in the middle, clashing their wooden weapons together in a show of pure force.
Naruto recoiled and went for a slice for her stomach, but wasn't fast enough , giving her enough time to slide backwards and chuck one of the few shurikens she had left at him. He dodged, allowing the projectile to clang against the wooden floor.
"Come on, Viper-kun. Is that the best you've got?" She taunted, hoping to throw him off by mocking his fighting skills, something most men hold in high regard. But, surprisingly he didn't answer, all he did was rush her once more, taking several strong strikes at her but was once again, to slow.
"Why can't I hit her?" he thought, delivering several more calculated slashes only to watch her elegantly slide from side to side, dodge his onslaught of attacks like they were nothing, "I guess she isn't the leader of the resistance for nothing, right?"
"I think you're giving her too much credit, Naru-kun," Kurami stated curtly, watching her man's performance through his eyes, "she may be quick on her feet but I can tell you're giving her a run for her money."
"Kurami-chan, there is supportive and then there is delusional" Naruto responded, dodge a flurry of her own slashes and stabs from her weapon of choice, "I am nowhere near her level, at least not yet."
"Maybe I'm not the one who is delusional, Naru-kun." She mused, a little insulted at his comment, insinuating that her natural ability to sense and read people's abilities would be influenced by her fondness for him, "you have always been stronger than others. You just never show it." After that brief statement, her connection to Naruto was cut. She was in no mood to argue this point with him, he knows it, she knows it, and yet he will continue to deny his strength because of his fear of becoming like him.
"Are you zoning out, Viper-kun?" Mei stated, knocking Naruto from his distraction with a hard kick to his chest, sending him stumbling back, "I wouldn't want to win this because you were daydreaming, that wouldn't be fun or fair." Just as she said that, Naruto tripped over a solid piece of wood. He looked down to find his second practice sword. He swiftly picked it up just as Mei whipped out two kunais and charged his downed form, ready to end this silly little game.
"Times up!" Ao's voice rung through the mist, alerting both Shinobi's to the clock. 7:30 on the dot. The match was over and both laid down their weapons, each were exhausted but at the same time exhilarated. It had been a long time since anyone pushed Mei to that extreme with just a wooden sword, even though she knew if this was a true battle she would have won with flying colors. Naruto had the same mind set, other than fighting the Hokage himself he has never had such a vigorous exercise with another person.
"S-S-Score, 5 to 5." Chojuro announced, watching as the fog lifts from the battlefield to see both Mei and Naruto on their asses, each taking in gulps of air.
"I must admit," Mei began, brushing a loose strand of red hair from her slightly damp face, "you are far stronger than I thought. You definitely earned your A ranking. In a few months, I wouldn't be surprised if you go up a rank or two."
"You're too kind, Mei-sama," Naruto stated tiredly, rubbing his sore right bicep, "but I am far from an S ranking, maybe in a few years."
"And you are too hard on yourself, Viper-san" she said, reverting back to a respectful honorific, "even though you do need more work, you are closer to S than you are willing to believe."
"Okay, enough with the self-gratification," Ao spoke, walking up to the two with Chojuro right behind him, "it's time to answer a few questions, Viper-san."
"Ao, these are my questions and mine alone. You have no business in butting in." Mei stated sternly, even though her smile held firm. "Now, I want to think of a good first question…..hmmmmmm, let me think…...Oh! I got one, why is your code name Viper?"
"It's just a title I picked up from my years of working with the ANBU." Viper stated, looking back on his younger years as his villages best living assassin, which is a pretty big feat for such a young child. "People believed I was cold and calculating like a snake, and before I strike, I usually have this look in my eyes. A cold, unrelenting stare down, sometimes I forget to even blink, and when I felt like my opponent was off guard, that's when I would strike."
"You sound like a very dangerous assassin," Ao stated, his words laced with uncertainty and a hint of worry for his leader.
"I was like every other ANBU, Ao-san. Ready to kill and be killed for the sake of my village" Naruto stated blankly. Unwilling to give Ao a reason to distrust him anymore than he already does. "I killed many because they misjudged my abilities. In my youth (aka, a month ago) I wasn't as tall as I am now, making many believe I was nothing more than a pushover, so I used that to my advantage. Even to this day there are people who believe I am too young or inexperienced to pose any real threat. That is when I am at my most dangerous."
"Interesting, I'll keep that into consideration, boy." Ao stated, his tone still holding a hint of mistrust, but Naruto couldn't expect Ao to trust him outright. But then something came to Naruto's mind. If what Ao said about watching Naruto's fight with the Mizukage's guards was true, then he must have seen his bloodline Bone pulse and if his memory serves him correctly the Mizukage is slaughtering any and all Bloodline users he can get his hands on. So, why the mistrust?
"My question is aimed towards you, Ao-san," Naruto asked, looking to the Cyclops in question, "if it's alright with Mei-san, of course."
"I will allow it, go ahead Viper-san."
"Ao-san, you do not trust me," Naruto started, getting a quick nod from Ao, "and yet you saw me use one of my many bloodlines, one that is nearly extinct mind you. So, I must ask. Why are you hell bent on believing me to be a spy? The Mizukage started this war to eliminate all bloodline users, did he not?"
Then something happened that Naruto would never have believed. Ao's eye widened in shock. But, as soon as he came, it was gone in a flash and Ao's usual hard ass demeanor returned, "I am not at liberty to discuss-"
"It's alright, Ao-san." Mei interrupted, her smile fading into a hardened line of sadness, "if we want his trust, we must be the first to extend our own. Tell him, tell him everything."
"B-But," but his defiance was silenced by Mei's stare, "fine, as you wish, Mei-sama."
"I shall give you the quick and condensed version, seeing as we don't have all day to discuss everything." He said rather curtly before his tone turned darker, "...Yagura, he….he isn't just killing bloodline users. At first that is all he did, slaughtering our people left and right. But now, he is capturing a handful of bloodline users he finds and….change them."
"Change them? How?" Naruto questioned abruptly.
"We don't know yet. It could be torture, genjutsu, anything. We have tried to study them but each of his transformed puppets is fitted with a suicide seal on the rough of their mouths. Once their vitals drop low enough, it sets off, causing their bodies to explode." Ao said, a hint of sadness was shimmering in the corner of his one good eye, "hundreds have been abducted. Many men and women, some were just children. I've watched…..as friends faced friends, families slaughtering their own ken…..That's why I believed you to be a spy." He ended abruptly, wiping the moistened corner of his eye, stopping the fall of his own tears.
"But my bone pulse is a dying bloodline already and your village never had a user like me before. Why would you still consider me a spy?" Naruto asked even though he knew he probably wouldn't get anything from him. His emotions are clouding his judgment at this point, and Naruto assumes they were clouding his judgment when they first met to. Until this war ends he will never truly trust him.
"I can answer that, Viper-san." Mei drew his attention to her, allowing her second in command a minute to compose himself, "but this does count as your second question." she cutely stated winking flirtatiously in Naruto's direction, bring a growl from deep in Naruto's mind.
"Even though Yagura has been abducting many of our forces, he is still losing more men than we are thanks to our sound strategy and our outposts that supply use with the best equipment, food, and supplies we could need." Mei said with pride, "so, he has been…...outsourcing his services. Hiring mercenaries and missing-nins to fill in for his loses. He has been known to hire people will bloodlines only to enslave them and force them to do his bidding. I wouldn't put it past him to try and use a bloodline user as a spy. We would never suspect it."
"Fair enough, and I am truly sorry for your people. This….this cannot stand." Naruto said through gritted teeth, his fist clenched in rage. Naruto knew far too well what a mad man without a conscious can do. This man is far different from the fun loving Jinchuuriki he once worked for, he has become a monster that he must put down at whatever the cost.
"I didn't know you felt so…..strongly towards our cause, Viper-san. I appreciate your commitment." Mei stated, surprised by Viper's sudden conviction to this war. "Okay, my turn now. Ao was able to see one of your special abilities and I feel a little left out. May I see it?"
"Very well, it seems only fair." Naruto sighed, standing from his seated position and stretched out his arms, "fair warning though, this may seem a bit…..disturbing." And with those final words, Naruto activated one of his most useful yet painful kekkei genkai he has ever received, Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse).
Bones began to rip through his skin, several from his back and a row of them on each forearm. He didn't want to do much, because he didn't want to demolish his shirt and it does hurt him every time he used it. With Kimimaro it would sting a little at first but since Naruto's ability was forcibly administered to his body it was harder for his body to react to it ripping through his already bruised and scarred skin.
"Wow, I've never seen such a Bloodline before," Mei stated with a surprised yet slightly disturbed look on her face once she got up and personal with Naruto and his bone spurs, "what is this kekkei genkai called?" She questioned, sliding the slick bones through her thumb and index finger, testing the texture of the bones herself.
"Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse), it's a dying kekkei genkai. Only I and one other have this ability." Naruto informed her, retracting his calcium blades before chiming in once more, "Also, that counts as one of your questions. You're down to two."
"Fine, ask your question, meanie." she pouted, sticking out her lower lip like some kind of child who was denied her present.
"Okay…...hmmmm, I have to think about this." Naruto pondered, gripping his chin in between his index and thumb, "what made you want to become the leader of the resistance. You could have left and found refuge in another village; many would love a bloodline user. Why didn't you?"
Everyone's eyes were on her, even her two subordinate, who was very curious about her response. Over the years this war has raged on, neither thought to ask her exactly why she stayed. She could have done what a few have done and abandon their homes, rushing to any village that would take them in. But Mei, Ao, Chojuro and a handful of Shinobi's were undeterred by the Mizukage's genocidal rampage. Ao knew why he stayed and Chojuro knew had his, but neither knew hers.
"Hmmm, that's a good question," she joked, tapping her chin with her index finger, "I guess, if I have to pinpoint my number one reason for leading this resistance has to be that I care deeply for the welfare and history of my home and I will do anything to keep it safe. Even if it means I have to put my life on the line."
"Very admirable, Mei-sama" Naruto stated kindly, smiling behind his mask at the determination she shows towards the cause, "with that determination, there is no wonder why you're the leader of the rebellion."
"You're too sweet, Viper-kun," she flirts once more, winking towards the now flustered serpent. "I think it's my turn now, right?"
"H-Hai," Naruto stated abruptly, feeling uncomfortable the growing heat in his cheeks while a rough growl echoed through his head. "Kurami-chan, please calm yourself. This is not the time or the plac-"
"Shut it, Naru-kun! That bitch is mine! I told you that I was going to mark my territory, and now is as good as time as any!" She roared, shaking her surroundings with her voice. Her fluctuating emotion was causing changes to elapse in Naruto's mindscape. Her once requested meadow was slowly slipping back into the dank sewers she once served her days behind bars in. Her surroundings were not the only thing that began fluctuating, so was her body. Her once 13 - 14 year old body (remember, she aged backwards so she could "grow up" with Naruto) was being swapped for the towering red fox she is famous for being. "How dare she walk into my turf and flirt with MY Naru-kun. I AM THE QUEEN OF ALL BIJUU'S NO MERE MORTAL CAN BEST ME!"
Once her decree reached Naruto's ears a buildup of pressure around him and his new employee's began, causing all involved to sweat profusely, even Mei and Naruto. Kurami's jealousy was out of control, her emotions were so dangerous that she was able to bypass the seal and release an ounce of her presence before them.
Trying to catch his bearings, Naruto noticed something very unsettling, the ground below him, it was cracking. Her presence was causing a physical change, not just emotional. It was unbelievable! He never knew she would have such untapped power that just an ounce of it could do such damage. Sometimes, he forgets he is in love with the Nine Tailed Fox.
"Kurami-chan, please, calm down! You're hurting them." he pleaded, feeling a crack began to work its way down his own mask, fracturing a small portion of it completely off.
"First that Anko slut thinks she can muscle in, and now, this harlot who doesn't even know you thinks she can flirt! I'LL SHOW HER WHO'S TOP DOG!" It's happened it finally happened. Kurami has been pushed over the edge; year after year she had to lay in wait while Anko fawned all over her Naruto. She believed she had finally won when Anko drew away from her man, but now she has to sit by and watch as this new bimbo tried to take his attention away from her once more. No way in hell!
Years blocked off from her love, day after agonizing day went by while Naruto grew and adapted, leaving her behind. Her worst fear has been building on her nerves for the past years. That Naruto might have moved on, that he didn't need her anymore. Every time Naruto has professed his heart to her seemed to be erased from her mind at the moment.
"Kurami!" Her rant was soon halted when she felt Naruto's presence in her mindscape. She opened her beautiful red eyes to see Naruto standing before her, his mask vanishing from his face to reveal his true form, like he always does in his mindscape. He started to walk slowly towards her, inching closer and closer to his emotional distraught love while she took long strides backwards, embarrassed by her outburst.
"It's okay Kurami, its okay." he said once he had cornered her, the fluctuation of her environment and her body stood still, revealing her beautiful meadow that her fox form towered in. She hated this form, especially when she was around Naruto. She felt so…..monstrous, like no one could see anything else than a Bijuu who is only good for two things, a weapon or a price.
"No, Naruto-kun, it's not." She whimpered as her back rested against the largest tree that rested in the center of this endless beauty of forest and flowers. It reminded her of what she truly wanted, peace. Peace for her and Naruto, to be left alone too were it is only the two of them, together forever. "I….I don't want to lose you again."
"And you won't," Naruto stated firmly but still with a tender undertone as he placed his hand on her massive, red paw, "don't you see? No matter what lays in wait for our future, we will always be connected like no one else ever could. I care about you more than I care for my own life."
"How can you promise that, Naruto?" Kurami asked, calling Naruto's sweet bluff, "I am immortal, a being that is cursed to walk this world…alone."
"…I don't have an answer for that, Kurami-chan." Naruto sighed, his head hung low and his un-genjutsued silver hair hanging over his eyes, "and I don't care!"
"W-What?"
"I don't care, I don't care that you can live forever. I don't care that one day I will die, weather I am 10 or 100, close to my own death bed. I want you to be by my side!" Naruto proclaimed, his eyes staring defiantly upward. "I know this…might sound selfish…..but dammit, I deserve to be selfish once in a while!"
"N-Naruto..." she stuttered, "I'm sorry, Naru-kun. I'm so sorry!" Her body slowly shrunk, devolving back to her original human form before rushing Naruto, tackling him to the ground with her red hair shimmering in the sunshine. "I-I don't know what came over me, I just….."
"No, I'm sorry, Kurami-chan. I failed you." Naruto whispered, running his slender scaled digits through her perfectly red, pristine hair while he hummed a soothing tone in her sensitive ears, trying to calm the raging beast he loves more than life itself. "I want you to hear this, and hear this now. I won't leave you, now or ever. Do you hear me? I won't quit on us, on you."
"Naru-kun," her eyes met with his once more. Naruto's true golden, slitted orbs locked with her red ones and at that moment, she knew, she knew that those words came from his heart. He loved her, he truly loved her. His mouth may not be able to say it, but he didn't have to, not now, not ever. She knew she held his heart.
She craned her head to the left, gripped his shoulders with a strong hold and pulled him forward, locking him in a passionate, stolen kiss.
It held such convection and love that it dazed both involved. Naruto, the first to slip from his dazed stupor, and snaked his slender yet muscular arms around her waist, pulling deeper into their most emotion filled kiss yet.
After a minute or two, the couple felt that should be enough for now. Naruto has much explaining to do with the three onlookers who are confused and slightly spooked by what transpired in a few mere seconds. Naruto, feeling his duty as a shinobi calling, cut the link with his furry mistress, leaving her to ponder on their actions in a blissful silence.
"Farewell, Naru-kun. I love you."
Naruto returned to his body to find three individuals staring at him with varying degrees of emotions. Chojuro, the timid one of the group, held his blade, Hiramekarei tightly in front of him while he puts a defensive hand in front of his leader. Ao acted the same but instead of a timid expression, his face showed nothing but anger, his one good eye gleaming with inconceivable rage.
Mei was the one that surprised Naruto more than anything. She actually held an impassive stare, her one visible eye scanning the fractured floor and Naruto's broken mask, trying to find a logical response for the utter randomness that just transpired.
"Ummmm," Naruto stammered out after a full minute of nothing but silence, using this time to allow his mind to race, hoping to find the proper response to this very difficult to explain situation, "well, I think that's enough questions for today. You and your men must have a very busy schedule; I won't take up anymore of your time. Good day, Mei-sama!"
Before Ao could charge the snake, Naruto's body disappeared in a burst of air and leaves, leaving the three Kirigakure ex-ninja's to their thoughts.
"W-W-What was that, M-Mei-sama?" Chojuro questioned timidly, wrapping his double handled weapon back into its stark white bandages before sheathing it back in its holster on his back.
"I'll tell you what that was," Ao stated bitterly, his words swilling through his mouth like it had a bad taste, "that was one of the grade A reasons why we shouldn't trust that brat. Did you see what he did? He fractured something that was reinforced with the strongest seals our Fuuinjutsu masters could muster."
While the two continued to bicker back and forth like they usually did, Chojuro siding more on the peaceful, humane side of dealing with this boy, and Ao on the side of the strong willed, brutal execution of this possible future threat. Mei stood off to the side, her eyes trained solely on that fractured piece of the dojo floor and the leftover piece of Naruto's broken mask.
"There is only one person I have ever met to produce such raw power….you are becoming more and more of a mystery by the day, Viper-kun."
Mizukage's Base of Operations:
"Speak," He said rudely, waving his hand dismissively towards his second in command, or rather, his personal bitch boy. Despite his height, and childlike appearance, Yagura, the fourth Mizukage, is an adult male with a head of messy, light-grey hair, pink pupiless eyes and what seems to be a stitch-like scar running from under his left eye, all the way down his cheek. He wore a grey, sleeveless shirt with the Kirigakure forehead protector attached to the front, short-sleeved mesh armor over which he also wears a green poncho along with a turquoise sash around his waist, paired with a green apron over his pants. He wears a pair of brown boots, and on his back he carried a staff-like pole weapon with uneven sized hooks with a green flower on the larger end.
His size has been brought up in many conversations; many wondered if a man so small and so childlike deserved the honor of being a Mizukage. And every time that happens, Yagura silences their skepticism with such power and ruthlessness that no mere man could dispute his rule.
"T-T-The two unidentified intruders were able to…...break through our defenses. They made it to the resistance base camp." The sniveling little worm murmured, his head hung low and his shoulders hunched, showing how submissive this once proud man has become.
"They what!" Yagura hissed, his head tilting ever so slightly, causing his second in command to twitch and shrink under his hardened gaze.
"I-I-I'm sorry, Mizukage-sama. Please, I-I-I can make this up to you. I can sen-" before the poor man was able to finish his sniveling plea, he was met with a hard crack to his cheek, sending him to the floor on his hands and knees.
"Stop, you quivering worm, you have failed me for the last time" he stated coldly, his pale, pink eyes staring down at his subordinate with nothing but mallelous and disgust. "Kill him, Yagura. He will only be a hindrance to our plan," a low whisper echoed through Yagura's mind, forcing his hand to rise for his staff before tapping it twice on the floor.
"Yes master, his incompetence will only cost me…..I mean us in the long run."
"N-No, Mizukage-sama, please, I have a wife and ki-!" but his attempt to appeal to Yagura's better nature was silenced when a row of chakra infused coral shot through the oak floorboards, impaling the poor fool. His last, pathetic whimper fell on deaf ears as the fourth Mizukage signaled three new ninja's to clean up the bloody mess he just created.
"Your wife and children shall be dealt with. You will meet them in the afterlife, don't you worry."
How dark has the Fourth Mizukage become, how far has he fallen? Tune in next time for the next installment of Naruto: The Ultimate Test Subject!
Thank you all for reading and please review and pm me if you have any questions.