Blah blah blah…Naruto is NOT mine…blah blah blah
Author's note: The official name for The Hidden Rock Village is Iwagakure and its Kage is called Tsuchikage.
Chapter 18: The Secret within Village Hidden Among Rocks
Sakura was impressed by the unique construction that made up Iwagakure.
This hidden village was similar in size to Konoha, but it was almost invisible to the eye. The entrance arch was plain enough to see, but the buildings were set into the base of the mountain that loomed before them. Each home had its own spot carved out of the rock, some homes placed on top of the others.
Chiseled stairways climbed up and down the rock side. There were even roads carved into the mountain, giving the impression that the entire city was set back in one massive cave. Giant pillars rose up in various places, providing support for the massive mountain above.
"Keep moving." Someone shoved her roughly from behind.
She stumbled, almost falling and turned to glare at the enemy shinobi.
Face half covered with a brown mask, head covered with a hood, he glared back at her. He brandished his hands threateningly, elongating the nails on his fingers with dark chakra.
Sakura was tempted to stand her ground but someone touched her arm, pulling her gently along.
"Easy, Sakura," Kakashi whispered. "They are trying to provoke us. That is what they want."
She clenched her jaw but ignored the second push from behind.
Kakashi stepped behind her even as Sasuke did the same.
They looked at each other and nodded, keeping Sakura in the middle of the group.
It was all Sasuke could to do ignore the fact that the trouble-causing ninja had changed positions as well, aligning himself to Sakura's right side.
But the earth nin made no further move to confront her.
Sakura herself had noticed this as well, and stepped up closer to Naruto. Something about that shinobi made her increasingly uneasy.
As they approached what appeared to be the main stairwell, the party stopped and the man with the water jug on his back stepped towards them.
"You'll see the Tsuchikage now. He will decide what will be done with you." The man motioned to the large group of his ninjas.
They began to disperse with the exception of four.
One of those remaining was Sakura's antagonist.
"Come."
The ascended the stairs quickly, noting that a large building was emerging in front of them.
It was very similar to the Hokage's palace, and Sakura could only guess that this was its equal for the Tsuchikage.
Over six stories high, the building was not entirely stone. The roof and rafters as well as some balconies were made out of wood. They were cleverly fitted through carved out holes in the rock, no doubt adding to the overall support of the structure.
Shinobi surrounded the palace. They captive group passed at least seven on their way inside, and they were the ones that were meant to be seen.
They climbed higher within the building, arriving on the fifth floor before their guide turned down a hallway and led them to a large room.
The office was much more impressive than Tsunade's. It was almost three times the size, with a detailed map of all the countries spread out on a table. Sakura could see figurines laid on top, possibly for some military purpose.
Seated behind a massive desk was a man similar in age to Kakashi. The top of his black hair was short, and stood up in spiked peaks. But a section of it was left long. It reached down to the middle of his back, held there in a ponytail.
His ice-blue eyes pierced through them.
"Report, Mudo."
The shinobi with the water container stepped forward. He bowed. "Tsuchikage-sama. We found these six crossing the border. Their passports say they were originally from here and were traveling abroad." He looked back at them. "They do not look like they are from Earth Country."
"You." The Kage pointed at Naruto. "You're the spitting image of Konoha's Yellow Flash. And you," He pointed at Kakashi. "You've been here before. Though it was a long time ago."
He said this with absolute certainty.
If the memory bothered Kakashi, he didn't show it. His expression remained impassive.
The hawk-eyed man's attention shifted. "Where's my son?"
Sakura's eyes narrowed as the masked shinobi who had pushed her stepped forward.
He bowed respectfully.
"I think your time would be better spent training than on patrols." His icy tone made both Mudo and the young man cringe. "Go."
Without a word, the son stood and turned to leave the room, glaring maliciously at Sakura as he left.
She returned the glare full force.
"Leave us." The Tsuchikage dismissed the rest of the people in the room.
Jiraiya studied the fierce man. He must be very confident in his abilities to leave it six against one.
As if reading the sannin's thoughts, he looked back at them. "Do not think you have an advantage here. The room may be empty, but I assure you the rest of the building and town is not."
He inclined his head at Naruto. "You—The Flash's kid—tell me why you're here."
Inwardly, Jiraiaya and Kakashi cringed. But they cringed because of the name the Kage was using, not because they were afraid of what Naruto would say.
The blond stared angrily at the Rock Village leader. "I don't know what you're talking about! I'm not the person you're thinking of. I never even knew my parents!"
The Kage was momentarily taken aback. But as he stared at Naruto's angry expression, he realized the youth truly believed he was not who the Tsuchikage thought he was.
And while he was, indeed, a cruel man—there were some things he wouldn't delve into.
"Alright," he said. "Normally, enemy shinobi are simply executed. However," he looked at the odd group, "I'm curious about you. Such a large cell for a mission. With such varied ages and skills. You are undercover—so you don't want to fight. What could you possibly be here for?"
No one spoke.
"Perhaps an introduction is in order." The Kage stood. "My name, though rarely used, is Rokuku. You however, will not call me that. You will use my formal title."
He pointed. "You."
"Sakura." She bowed politely.
He pointed again.
"Saruwatari." She also bowed.
"Sasuke." He hadn't acknowledged a superior since he was a child and wasn't going to start now. He remained standing straight.
"Jiraiya," The Toad Sage provided a slight bow.
"Kakashi." Again, a slight bow.
"Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto stepped forward. "And future Kage!"
Nearby, Kakashi shook his head. At least he didn't name the village.
Surprisingly, Rokuku chuckled. "Future Kage? I am sure. But yet here you are, at the mercy of my will."
"Not for long!" His own blue eyes blazed. "I won't let this stop us! Our mission concerns even you!"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya grabbed his arm. "Enough."
"Relax, sannin." The Tsuchikage waved his hand in dismissal. He ignored Jiraiya's surprised look. "Yes, I know who you are. Though it is only the name I recognize and not your face."
Rokuku walked over to one of the windows overlooking the town. "I have business to attend to momentarily. But I wish to continue our conversation."
Six guards entered.
"I cannot have you out in the town, for I am sure you'd take any opportunity to leave. However, you may have free use of the fourth level of this palace. There is not much there, but it is spacious enough."
The rock shinobi began to escort them out.
"I will send for you again." The door shut behind them.
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Sasuke leaned against the wall in the corner of the room they were in. From this point, he could see everyone—from Sakura sitting by the window, to the seven guards posted around the room.
By their masked faces, he guessed they were the ANBU or the equivalent of.
None of the members of team seven had ventured into the other areas of the fourth floor. They all shared the unspoken thought that separation was undesirable. If one of them turned up dead, it was doubted that anyone would make much of a fuss.
The Uchiha kept his gaze moving.
In his mind, he noted every motion of the guards, every change, every slight movement they made.
And just as he had thought, a familiar face appeared.
The hooded and masked shinobi returned his cool gaze. He walked out into the hallway, turning down the hall to where Sasuke could no longer see him.
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Sakura sat up and rubbed her eyes.
It was dark outside. They had been in that room for hours.
She glanced around. The rest of the team was all out sleeping or resting quietly. Saruwatari was snoring quietly in a corner chair. Naruto was on the floor, a long stream of drool pooling beneath his head.
She looked over at the corner.
Sasuke was still standing, but his eyes were closed.
Where are Jiraiaya and Kakashi?
She stood and walked over to one of the guards.
"Excuse me, the other people I was with…where did they go?"
The ANBU masked figure did not respond.
She was about to walk away when someone else answered.
"They are with the Tsuchikage."
Sakura froze. She knew without turning around who was speaking to her. Instinctivly, her hands balled into fists. The strange feeling on the back of her neck had returned.
She started to walk away without acknowledging the speaker…
…when a hand grabbed her wrist cruelly.
She turned and looked down at where his fingers dug into her painfully throbbing arm.
"Let…go…of…me," She growled menacingly.
But it was not her voice that caused him to let go.
"Sakura-chan said to let go," came an even more deadly whisper.
Ice colored eyes met angry red ones.
"Sharingan!" The ninja hissed. He backed away. "This is most interesting."
Sakura took the moment to heal her injured wrist.
"Hmm. Two secrets revealed." The hooded figure watched calmly. "Most interesting."
"Sakura," Sasuke said without looking at her. "Go back over by Naruto."
"Saskue-kun I can…"
"Go!" His tone left no room for argument.
The rock ninja watched her go and then smiled at Sasuke.
The Uchiha turned to follow her.
"It is good of you to protect the weak."
Sasuke didn't break stride as he replied quietly. "Sakura could kill you quicker than I. Perhaps it was you I was protecting."
He didn't bother glancing back. He knew the rock shinobi was thinking hard about what he had said.
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Naruto stood proudly in front of the Tsuchikage.
The man raised an eyebrow at him. "Well? What you tell me now will decide what I do with you."
The blond remained oddly silent.
"Naruto, Kakashi and Jiraiya have already asked me for passage through this country. But they failed to tell me why. I am less inclined to kill you, if I know what you are about."
"We're trying to stop Akatsuki."
Rokuku frowned. "Akatsuki?" His eyes narrowed. "A most vile of organizations. One of our own defected there a while back. Diedara…"
"The guy with the mouths in his hands?" Naruto piped up. "We've already gotten him."
The Kage's brow furrowed. "Gotten him?"
"Yeah, we fought him a few months back, in Orochimaru's old lair. Kakashi and I fought against him before Yamato killed him."
"Orochimaru?" Rokuku leaned forward in his chair. "I had heard he was defeated. There is more to this story than you and your friends have let on."
Naruto shrugged. "We're just trying to stop Akatsuki from taking over the world."
"Their statue?"
The kyuubi youth nodded.
"Hmmm. I have heard the stories about it." He gestured to the map on the table. "I have been increasing our military forces because of it. But even I have little faith in our abilities against the power of a collection of tailed-demons."
"That's why you have to let us through!" Naruto pointed to The Land of Fire on the map. "Our Hokage sent us to find the remaining tailed-beasts, to see if we can't use their powers to fight against Akatsuki!"
Rokuku looked at him in mild surprise. So that was it? He didn't keep their plan secret for long.
"Naruto. Now that I know this, what makes you think I would want Konoha to have the control of all the remaining creatures? In my eyes, what would stop Tsunade from taking over countries just like Akatsuki?"
"She wouldn't do that!" Naruto crossed his arms. "And I give you my word as future Hokage that we only want the bijuu to help protect everyone!"
The Tsuchikage gave him an appraising look. Leaf's Yellow Flash He shook his head. Doesn't know his parents indeed!
"Badejiru," He called out. "Come in here."
The door opened and the Tsuchikage's son stepped in.
"Remove your mask and hood, boy."
Naruto watched as the shinobi looked questioningly at his father but reached up and pulled the cloth away.
He found himself looking at a young man his own age. Grey hair spiked away from his head, a black streak running down the center.
Beneath ice-blue eyes, his smile showed irregularly sharp teeth.
"Show him," Rokuku said.
"But…"
"I said show him!"
Badejiru let out a guttural growl and Naruto watched in awe as long chakra claws appeared from each of his fingers.
"Second stage," The Kage said quietly.
Badejiru growled again, seeming somewhat pained by the effort.
His eyes blazed with cold fire and a burning blue tail appeared.
Rokuku looked sadly at his son. "Enough."
He returned to his original state, clearly drained by the transformation.
Naruto saw a hint of hatred in the young man's eyes.
"Now you know," The Tsuchikage said. "I assume this is what you came for."
Naruto looked at them in confusion.
"My son is part Kaku—the seven-tails."
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Coming soon: Chapter 19: Like Father Not Like Son