Disclaimer – Kishimoto owns Naruto and the characters therein.
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Memories Of Others
Chapter 56
A Chunin And A Princess
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"Land ho! Land off the port bow!"
The lookout's call echoed down to the deck and Ino looked round with a frown.
"I don't see any land." She half-complained.
"The higher up you go, the further you can see." Kakashi said from where he was lying on the side of the mast, reading one of his Icha Icha books while simultaneously practicing his chakra control. "You see, the whole world is a giant ball that pulls us onto its surface, so while it seems to be flat, it actually curves down in every direction. Didn't you cover that at the Academy?"
Ino scowled at the cyclopean Jonin, but refused to rise to his bait.
"So, what's the plan?" Kakashi asked as Hiruzen walked past on his way to the prow for a better look.
"Naruto and myself will take Fujikaze back to Konoha." Hiruzen said, glancing back at his successor's student. "Anko is good at disguise, we can hire her to act as Yukie's body double for a while, she'll pretend to be her until you get to the place where the filming is taking place, whereupon you can use the Kunai to tell us it's safe… or that you've been clumsy… and we'll return with her. It'll also allow me to talk to Tsunade about reforming Team Seven. She has some files she wants me to look at."
Kakashi nodded slightly and returned his attention to the book.
"I have no idea how you can read that crap." Ino grumbled as Yukie emerged onto the deck and paused, her eyes fixed on Kakashi's novel.
"Is that… Icha Icha Traveller?" She gasped and Kakashi stared at his empty hands while Asuma and his team gaped.
"She just… but… how?" Asuma gasped as Yukie started to read the interior of the book.
"It's signed by Jiraiya himself!" She gushed as Kakashi dropped to the deck, looking somewhat gobsmacked. "Wow!"
Kakashi sighed as he tapped her on the shoulder.
"If I arrange for you to get a full set signed by Jiraiya and a meeting with him, can I have my book back?"
Yukie blushed slightly as she relinquished the book back to its owner and Asuma shook his head.
"Just when you think you're starting to understand someone." He mourned.
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"So," Yukie said as Naruto escorted her out of the Hokage tower and into Konoha proper, "This is Konoha… I'd expected… well, I don't really know what I expected, but… it doesn't really look… ninja-ish…"
"That's exactly how a ninja village should look." Naruto snarked, earning an eye-roll from the older woman. "According to Kosuke-Sempai, Konoha's the most civilian-like village because we make use of the support structure that civilians can provide, thus freeing up a higher percentage of our military forces for missions and security. Places like Kumo have virtually no civilian support, so they need to devote quite a bit of their effort to things like construction, retail, food supply, weapons creation and maintenance… that sort of thing."
"Sounds a bit like film-making." Yukie said after a thoughtful pause. "Most people never realize how much goes on behind the camera… finding places to shoot, assembling the sets, costume creation, script writing…"
"Speaking of scripts, I hear you may be interested in one of mine." A new voice purred and Naruto half-turned to see Jiraiya dropping into place by Yukie's side, the clone that had located him dispelling now that it was no longer needed.
"And you are?" Yukie asked, causing Jiraiya to skip ahead and drop into a Kabuki stance.
"I am the one that other men can only dream of being a pale reflection of, the man that all women want to be with. I am the writer of art and the purveyer of romance and excitement! I am the Sage of the Toads, the gallant Jiraiya!"
"Pervy-Sage, meet Fujikaze Yukie, professional actress." Naruto sighed. "Fujikaze-sama, this is Jiraiya of the Sannin, one of Hiruzen-sama's students and writer of the Icha-Icha series of books."
Yukie blinked, then smiled. "Ah, so you're the one Kakashi-san was talking about when he said he could arrange for me to meet the author."
Naruto sighed as Jiraiya puffed himself up. "Of course! But surely someone as beautiful as yourself deserves a more mature guide to Konoha, someone who knows the best restaurants…"
As he spoke, his hands flashed through a series of ANBU signs and Naruto nodded.
"Fujikaze-san, Jiraiya is one of the best shinobi in Konoha. You'll be safe with him."
"Thank you." Yukie said, placing her hand around Jiraiya's elbow. "So, if we visit a bookstore first, can I get some autographed books?"
"For a true fan, I keep first-edition hardbacks and I'll happily dedicate them to you as I sign them." Jiraiya smiled as he started to lead Yukie away. "Naruto, you go catch up with your fiancee, I'll use that kunai to call you if we need you."
Naruto nodded, then reached out for a familiar tag and vanished.
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"Back already?" Asuma asked as Naruto appeared on the deck of the boat, just behind Hinata who half-turned to smile at him before returning to the game of shogi that she was playing with Shikamaru. "And where's Anko?"
"She has to meet Fujikaze in order to be able to look like her, so I left several dozen clones behind to help her and transport her here when she's ready." Naruto said, watching as Hinata slid a tile forwards, causing Shikamaru to frown for a moment.
"Makes sense." Ino said from where she was polishing her kunai and shuriken. "We're going to make landfall in about four hours, according to the helmsman, so she needs to be ready by then."
Naruto made and popped a clone. "Message sent."
Asuma shook his head. "You still have no clue how much you've changed things, have you." He marveled. "Instant communication over any distance, reinforcements available in minutes rather than days… do you have any idea how much that changes the entire strategic map of the Elemental Nations?"
"Dad and I were discussing it just prior to this mission." Shikamaru commented as he slid a tile diagonally to block Hinata's impending assault. "He pointed out that should Naruto be able to teach Hinata how to do the one-person version, that means that he'll be able to teach their children, or anyone else they choose to take into their family, as well and before long, we'll have an entire clan of shinobi able to be virtually anywhere. The tactical and strategic advantages would put the combined capabilities of the Hyuuga and the former Uchiha clans in the shade.
"On the negative side, it does mean that until he figures out a way to teach the one-person version, Naruto is going to be a priority target for those who don't want Konoha to be the strongest of the Villages. Incidentally, was it my imagination, or was the flash of light dimmer when you appeared?"
Naruto blinked a couple of times at the unexpected question.
"I… don't know."
"It could be that the flash is caused by leftover chakra." Shikamaru mused. "Most times that too much chakra is used in a technique, it tends to manifest as chakra smoke or a flash of light."
"My chakra control's pretty good." Naruto half-protested. "The Hyuuga clan allowed me to learn some of their techniques for chakra control."
Asuma's cigarette landed on the deck as he gaped at Naruto and Hinata nodded in confirmation.
"Damn." Naruto sighed as he created half a dozen clones. "I'm needed. Call me if you need me."
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"An interesting team you have lined up for me… Tsunade-chan." Hiruzen said as he looked up from the trio of files.
"Mitokada Homora himself chose the boy for your team." Tsunade pointed out, leaning back in her chair and steepling her fingers. "I'm certain that you still trust your former team-mate when it comes to recognizing talent."
"I do still trust them, now that they have changed the path that they were following." Hiruzen replied calmly. "That is, after all, why I suggested assigning them to run Ne instead of Danzo. How did he take it, anyway?"
"Not very well." Tsunade chuckled. "When I pointed out that Homora and Koharu had actually fought the Oto shinobi while he hid, thus making them far more trustworthy in my eyes, I thought he was about to have an embolism. They've given me a preliminary report and, kamis above, some of the shit that the old warhawk tried to pull… and less than half of it actually worked! The rest left Konoha in a worse position!"
Hiruzen nodded in agreement as he glanced at the files again.
"The second, I have no problems at all with, especially with the technique that she learned recently, but the third could be a problem. Her personality can be changed, but her current skill-set…"
"She is rather overspecialized." Tsunade agreed. "Nevertheless, I think that you'll do just fine. All three are ready, when can you take them?"
"Once the mission to Snow has concluded." Hiruzen replied. "After all, you might need a plenipotentiary there to get some good deals on their technology. I have heard quite a few tales of what they have come up with."
"As have I." Tsunade agreed. "As have I."
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"This isn't going to work." Anko grumbled as she looked up at the taller woman. "Oh, I can put some small platforms under my sandals to get the three inches needed, but that'll throw off the way I walk and the bodily proportions won't match either."
Naruto coughed slightly and Anko looked at him. "What?"
"I may be able to help… if you trust me." Naruto offered. "I'll need you to push some chakra into one of my techniques, however."
Anko's face suddenly lit up in understanding.
"Sure thing. After 'Nai-chan told me about this skill of yours, I wondered what it would be like."
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Orochimaru fell off his throne, spasming in agony as his entire chakra system seemed to burn.
Fortunately, no-one else was in the room to see him slowly pull himself back onto his chair, his body twitching and shuddering with the after-effects of whatever had struck at his very soul.
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A faint flicker of light was all that announced the appearance of Naruto and the person he was transporting as they appeared amidships on the top deck. Asuma lifted an inquisitive brow.
"I thought that you were bringing Anko, not Yukie-sama."
The woman with Naruto sniffed and stalked towards the stern of the ship, every movement screaming affronted dignity and Asuma watched her go, then caught Naruto's wide grin.
"That… that was Anko, wasn't it?"
"Had to teach her my version of the Henge." Naruto confirmed. "Odd thing, though, when I cloned her, something odd happened. She didn't tell me what, but after learning the Henge, she ran off to the Hokage Tower for some reason, clutching her shoulder."
Asuma blinked. "Her… shoulder?"
"I didn't get it either." Naruto shrugged as he walked over to where Shikamaru was re-setting the Shogi board. "You win again, Shika?"
Shikamaru nodded and a puff of smoke heralded Kurama's appearance.
"Okay, let's do this." Kurama said as he flopped down opposite Shikamaru. "I'll beat you this time!"
"Port in sight!" Ino called down from the top of the mast.
"Looks like we'll be landing in less than an hour." Asuma noted as he put his weapons away with quick, economical movements. You ready?"
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"Sir, the second ship is ready and the train reports that it's moving to the port now."
"Excellent." Doto gloated as he looked out of the window at the bustling building below. "It is time for me to greet my errant niece… and reclaim the treasure that she had kept from me all these years."
Turning, Doto stalked through the door, the trio of armored shinobi trailing him. Guards and functionaries stepped aside, bowing deeply, as he descended the main staircase, then he walked across the Great Hall even as the doors were opened for him. Pausing in the entrance, he smirked at the sight before him, two giant airships, their underslung cabins fully manned and with Kunai launchers fixed into gimbals that let them swivel to unleash a rain of metallic death or be swung in for easy reloading.
"Prepare for departure!" One of the officers called as Doto approached the larger of the two airships. "Daimyo Kazehana is about to board!"
The smaller airship rose into an escort position as Doto walked up the gangplank. At the top, the Captain bowed deeply.
"Welcome aboard, Daimyo-sama. We are ready to depart on your command."
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Author's Afternote - 4 chapters remaining.
Edit - Of the story. Sorry.