I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Temporary Return
Naruto stepped through the gate and Jiraiya was talking to Tsunade. He motioned Hinata, Sakura, and Naruto over to them and Tsunade handed Sakura a scroll. She unrolled it and Naruto read it over her shoulder.
Their mission was to escort a runner named Idate in a cross country race from any number of shinobi that might be attacking him. He had specifically asked for the best fighters, however, so Naruto and his team had been chosen. Hinata was Sasuke's stand in given how well she and Naruto got along compared to the others.
"We have to escort a racer?" Naruto questioned.
"Yes," Jiraiya sighed. "If it wasn't important I would be refusing to let you go. Just escort the racer to the finish line without doing anything to directly hinder the other ninja's progress. Okay?"
"You know I don't want to," Naruto stated.
"No choice," Jiraiya stated. "Now get going."
"We can't even rest?" Sakura questioned.
"You can," Naruto stated. "Unfortunately, the meeting time doesn't give us even enough time to travel at your speed. We'll have to travel at mine."
"What about Hinata?" Sakura questioned.
"I'm carrying her while she rests," Naruto stated simply. "You'll have to settle for a clone."
Naruto created a clone and crouched so that Hinata could climb on his back. Once she had, he stood and began running toward the meeting point in a near blur. He was a small bit faster than Lee was with his weights on. After about another ten seconds, Naruto's clone finally began to follow with Sakura.
"They're a ways behind," Hinata noted. "Should we wait for them?"
"Nah," Naruto shrugged. "He knows where he's going."
Hinata nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. Over the next three hours, Naruto debated whether or not to tell Hinata about his trip and how to do so. He had never particularly had trouble speaking his mind but suddenly the only scenarios his brain could foresee ended poorly at best. Eventually he gave up when they reached the meeting point, a small cafe on the border of the Land of Tea, where the race would be held. His clone and Sakura arrived soon afterward and the three of them went into the cafe and sat down, Naruto ordering a coffee and Hinata and Sakura both just having water.
After a few minutes, a boy behind them about their age spoke up, being the only other customer in the cafe.
"Never seen a ninja quite as horrible at stealth as you Blondie," the boy snickered. "Enemies could have seen you coming from a mile away and killed you before you even got halfway to them."
"You better hope not for your sake," Naruto grinned. "Otherwise you'll have a short race huh...Idate."
"He's Idate?" Sakura questioned.
"Yep," Naruto smirked. "No one else here and the racer is fifteen minutes late. In truth, he's early."
"Good guess," Idate smirked. "Time to go. We're heading east to the Wasabi household. Try to keep up."
"I highly doubt you can..." Naruto trailed off when he saw that the boy was already gone.
He looked out the window and saw that the boy was already almost out of sight and shrinking fast.
"Shit he's fast!" Naruto shouted creating a clone then picking up Hinata and sprinting out of the cafe, swinging her onto his back while his clone did the same with Sakura.
After a couple of minutes, they caught up with Idate just as several shinobi appeared, one of them kicking Idate into a tree and taking a knife he dropped.
"Pathetic," one wearing a kimono shirt, pants, slippers, bandages around his legs and waist, a pair of glasses with the right lense black hiding his eye, and shaved black hair sneered. "To think we are supposed to be afraid of you."
"I agree," another wearing a long-sleeved kimono shirt and light grey pants over a black full body suit, sandals, a pair of sun glasses blocking his eyes from view, and spiked brown hair added. "Such a disappointing mission.
"Not anymore," the third said pointing at Naruto.
He wore a long-sleeved kimono shirt and pants with a pair of sandals and his hair messily spiked up with a good portion of it handing in his face. Naruto recognized him by his voice.
"Oboro," Naruto growled. "You're the ninja they hired? Typical. So hard to find good help nowadays."
Oboro's eye twitched and he looked to Kagari, the one with the full sunglasses, who shook his head.
"See you soon, Naruto," Oboro growled before the three Ame ninja sank into the ground and disappeared.
"You okay Idate?" Naruto questioned.
"Fine," Idate grumbled picking up his knife. "Come on. We need to go."
He began running again, slower this time, and Naruto followed with his clone carrying Sakura as he carried Hinata.
Finally they reached the house and the head of the Wasabi family informed them that the race wasn't as important as they believed but that he would appreciate them protecting Idate, who absolutely hated ninja in general. Which was, in truth, ironic given that he was a ninja in Konoha at one time before his older brother Ibiki failed him for the chunin exams and Idate ran away.
"We don't need their help," Idate grumbled.
"Obviously you do," Naruto stated. "Those three weaklings almost beat you. I thought you were a ninja once."
"I was," Idate stated. "But that was a long time ago."
"True," Naruto nodded. "That was back when you were worth the effort of protecting. Ibiki failed you because you didn't have what it took. It looks like he was right given you deserted just for being told 'no'."
"Enough," the family head sighed. "The race will begin tomorrow morning. You need to rest for it."
Naruto nodded and they were lead to the guest room where three beds were set up for them. Naruto took his clothes to the bathroom to change to give Hinata and Sakura some privacy. after a few minutes he returned to the room and knocked on the door. After a moment, Hinata opened it and both she and Sakura dissolved into fits of giggles. Naruto blushed beat red and ripped the hat, the object making them laugh, off his head, hiding it behind his back.
"Nice hat Naruto," Sakura laughed. "Does it come with slippers?"
Naruto's face grew steadily redder as the two girls laughed until they both finally managed to stop, their faces red from the effort of stopping themselves. Naruto quickly hid his bed cap in his bag and lay down on his bed, face still red.
"I'm sorry Naruto," Sakura sighed. "You're not mad are you?"
He shook his head staring up at the ceiling and glanced sideways at his Double-Edged Swords and Fire Sword. The Garian Sword was now concealed under his clothing with some bandages wrapped around his torso to keep the blade from cutting into his skin. The hilt of the sword was quite helpfully able to retract into the blades meaning that Naruto wouldn't have it digging into his back when he lay down.
"I'm sorry," Hinata muttered.
"It's okay," Naruto sighed. "I should have known better than to wear that thing."
Sakura snorted an agreement and rolled onto her side facing away from them and drifted off. Naruto heard Hinata fall asleep soon after but sleep eluded him. His mind was swirling with worries about what could go wrong on the mission and how Hinata would react to Naruto having to leave. He still couldn't figure out why he was so worried about if but finally sleep overtook him as well.
The next day when Naruto awoke, he looked around and was instantly confused about where they were. Then, about why Hinata was sleeping on his chest. The first one he was able to remember relatively quickly but the second he wasn't as sure about. After a few seconds he decided he had to use the bathroom but couldn't make himself move her. She looked too peaceful and calm. Naruto smiled without really knowing why and then placed a feather light kiss on top of her head without meaning too. Then, he sighed quietly and gently set her back on her own bed before taking his clothes to the bathroom.
When he left the bathroom, he found Idate preparing himself for his race and stood in the doorway watching him stretch and pray.
"Man, you must feel like shit," Naruto finally snorted. "You used to be a ninja and now you probably couldn't fight a sea sponge without stretching first."
"Fuck you," Idate snapped. "You have no idea what my life has been like."
"Let me guess," Naruto began. "Your family loved you, you had friends, but your brother crushed your dreams so you left your village. Your life alone was hard until you got taken in by the Wasabi family and have lived an easy life ever since with the exception of your own hatred and this race. Sound about right? You've had it easy Idate. I grew up without any friends at all outside my parents. I was routinely beaten, hated, and treated like a monster. You think you had it rough? Try having everyone you know think you're a monster."
Idate was taken aback a bit but then simply returned to what he was doing so Naruto returned to the room for his sword, very careful not to wake the girls up. As he turned to leave, Hinata sat up yawning and smiled up at him.
"Good morning," Naruto smiled. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good," Hinata smiled. "But, I had the weirdest dream."
"What about?" Naruto questioned.
"N-nothing i-important," Hinata stuttered suddenly blushing.
"Oh, okay," Naruto shrugged as Sakura woke up. "We'll be leaving soon, you two should get dressed."
And with that, he left. After a few minutes, Hinata and Sakura joined him outside where Idate was waiting.
"Are you fucking ready yet?" Idate demanded.
"After you Asshole," Naruto said creating a clone for Sakura before crouching so Hinata could climb onto his back again.
Idate began running and Naruto and his clone followed with Hinata and Sakura. They followed Idate to a town where a massive crowd had gathered to watch the runners at the start of the race. Without a doubt, there was a larger crowd waiting at the end. Idate stood beside his opposition, only one other runner who looked more than a little nervous about the presence of ninja on Idate's side and the lack, thereof on his own. The race began and Naruto and his clone sprinted as hard and fast as he could, just barely managing to keep up with Idate as they sprinted through forests, fields, and toward a canyon spanned by one thin rickety bridge. Idate's challenger was a bit slower but when Idate and Naruto skidded to a stop, not trusting the bridge, the challenger sprinted straight across, several boards breaking but the bridge held.
"We'll have another one after this if we can get across it," Idate stated.
"Then we had better get going," Naruto stated as he and Hinata took the lead and his clone with Sakura took the rear.
The three groups began to make their way across the bridge quickly. It held but just as they were nearing the far side of the gorge, a single shinobi appeared at the end of the bridge. they all stopped as the ninja drew a kunai and grinned.
"Idate Morino," the ninja sneered.
He wore a full body suit with white sides and black down the middle. He wore an Amegakure headband and spiky green hair. He wore a black arm warmer on his right forearm and bandages around his left wrist. There was an umbrella on his back, held by a light brown strap running diagonally across his chest.
"Good to see you again," the ninja sneered. "I'm glad I get to kill you personally."
And with that, he swung the kunai at the rope holding up one side of the bridge. Naruto instantly threw both Hinata and Idate off the bridge while his clone did the same for Sakura. Then, the bridge fell. After a moment, Naruto hauled himself over the edge of the cliff, a chain of clones behind him and saw that the Amegakure ninja was gone, as was Hinata.
"Where's Hinata?" Naruto demanded.
"Aoi took her," Idate stated. "Come on. He'll be back. For now, we'll need to take a ship to the next part."
Naruto thought for a moment before nodded and they all moved down the path, soon reaching a port where there were two ships docked, one burning and the other about to.
Naruto drew his Double-Edged Sword and swung it toward the burning ship. The blast of wind hit the ship and it exploded, all of the pieces flying out to see away from the intact ship. They all sprinted forward and onto the ship and all froze. leaning against the mast of the ship was a certain raven-haired shinobi that Naruto was more than a little nervous about seeing so soon.
"Please tell me I'm not that far behind," Naruto said.
"You were always far behind," Sasuke stated. "But no, it's not time yet. For now, I'm going to help you two. Then, I have to get back."
Naruto nodded just as Sakura threw her arms around Sasuke. Sasuke hugged her back for a moment before stepping back and looking at the shore. Naruto looked too and groaned. Clones wearing familiar black body suits, breather masks, and blindfolds were rising out of the ground and surrounding the ship.
"Time to move Naruto," Sasuke stated.
Naruto flooded the ship with clones who got the ship ready to sail then surged overboard and got it moving. Then, he released them all as Sasuke took the yoke, steering the ship away from the dock and after the competitor, who they could see just on the horizon.
"Naruto, we need a boost," Sasuke stated.
Naruto grinned and swung his sword at the sail, careful to keep the power low enough to not damage the ship. Their ship surged forward and Naruto sent another gust of wind into the sail, quickly catching them up with the competition.
"Naruto," Sasuke said. "Isn't it a little weird that they never attacked us on shore?"
Just then, water clones began to climb over the railing of the ship as it began to rain. Naruto drew his swords as the clones charged at him. His first swipe sent them all flying off the ship with a gust of wind. next he swung his Fire Sword and sent flames shooting after them destroying them all. but the flames were weak. He tossed the sword to Sasuke who had a small amount of sword training from Itachi. Sasuke readied the sword just as even more clones rose over the sides, more forming out of the water and climbing the sides of the ship. Naruto created several clones to fight the clones on the deck while Sasuke used his sword to send amplified waves of fire at the clones climbing up the ship. After a few minutes, Naruto's clones were gone and he couldn't find enough time to recreate them. He separated his Double-Edged Swords and began shredding through the water clones with their blades. Sasuke soon joined him as they were both beginning to be overwhelmed. Suddenly, Naruto noticed that the rain was black just as Sasuke raised his sword.
"No!" Naruto shouted catching his arm.
Noticed the rain and caught a drop smelling it and growled in annoyance.
"Oil," Sasuke growled. "Clear us...shit."
Naruto looked up just as a flaming arrow fell toward the ship. Naruto put his swords together and swung them, clearing the clones off the deck before swinging it the other way and forming a mini-tornado that sent all of them flying off the ship before the arrow hit, sending flames racing across the deck instantly. As they resurfaced, water clones formed around them by the dozen and Naruto groaned as he and Sasuke stepped up out of the water.
"Sakura, take Idate and leave," Naruto ordered. "We'll handle these guys."
Sakura nodded and picked Idate up then began to run across the water away from the clones, following a path that Sasuke had cleared with his new Fire Sword. As she left, Naruto created a massive tornado that sucked up all of the water clones before Sasuke lit the tornado on fire, incinerating all of them. Then, they exchanged amused looks.
"They just don't quit do they?" Naruto questioned.
"Nope," Sasuke sighed.
Just then, a pair of hands shot up from under each of them, dragging them under water. Oboro was waiting and instantly fired several spheres of water at Naruto. Naruto managed to move his swords slightly and a blast of wind shot out of the sword and pushed the water, Kagari, and Oboro's attack backward, cancelling the attack. Naruto threw a kunai toward Sasuke who caught it and Naruto teleported to him, kicking Mubi in the face. Mubi let go just long enough for Naruto to send out another wave of water placing Mubi beside Oboro. Then, Sasuke and Naruto both sent out a massive stream of their respective element before the water got back to them. The result sent a massive wall of boiling water around a stream of flame at the Amegakure ninja. When it cleared, only their charred corpses were left, and just barely that. Naruto and Sasuke swam to the surface and both grinned.
"I am so keeping this sword," Sasuke stated.
"So am I," Naruto grinned. "Come on, let's get this mission over with before you've got to leave again. And before it's over, we had better find Hinata alive and unharmed. If not, Aoi is going to wish I would just kill him."
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