You guys are great as always!
I must confess that this chapter took a bit longer then I wanted, due to having to slip into a few character's shoes that I haven't had to in a bit. In that end I'm happy with this chapter. There is a note at the bottom to hopefully clear up a few questions you guys may have.
AU changes: While there isn't any new changes per say, we are seeing the results of the changes from the previous chapters.
And without anymore delay, here's the next chapter. Chapter 24: Aftermath
"...Weak..."
Anko snarled as she fruitlessly kicked a sound corpse that was laying nearby. "Fucker! Asshole!" The normally smiling woman had no trace of a grin on her face. "You wouldn't have been so arrogant if you didn't exploit that seal!" Several more kicks to the corpse didn't make her feel any better. But what else could she do? The one that had defeated her; brought her to her knees; temporally crippled her, was gone, escaped before Anko could recover.
Movement in her peripheral vision had Anko dropping into a basic combat stance, the throbbing pain in her neck preventing her from taking her favored combat stance. "Maa maa." Kakashi called as he casually walked towards his violet haired friend. "It's just me." His calm demeanor didn't show that he had been blurring towards Anko's location until he was able to determine that she was safe. Stopping a scant few feet from where she could hear, he closed the remaining distance with a casual amble.
Embarrassed, Anko flushed slightly and coughed into her hand. "Well, you never know who's going to sneak up on you after the fight we just went through." The violet-haired kunoichi grinned, throwing up a mask of care-free happiness. "But I'm just fine." Anko gestured to her unwounded body. "Perfectly fine!"
"I see." Kakashi nodded, still ambling towards Anko. "Looks like you handled yourself quite well..." He eyed the surrounding dead bodies with mild amusement. "They didn't stand much chance against you did they?"
"Nope!" Anko grinned wildly, turning to hide the still throbbing curse seal on the left side of her neck. "Little ol' me did just fine!"
Kakashi smiled and closed to within an arms-length of Anko. He tilted his head slightly to the left, seemingly assessing Anko. "W-What's wrong?" Anko felt her face begin to heat up at the intensity of Kakashi's gaze. "Is there something on my face?"
Without warning Kakashi took a step forward and pulled Anko into a tight, warm embrace. Anko's mind went blank for a moment, unsure if she was supposed to be blushing right now. But at the same time, the warmness of the hug was comforting, threatening to break the tenuous hold Anko had on her emotions. "It's alright." Kakashi's voice was warm, comforting. "You don't have to pretend. We are alone."
Hot tears leaked out from Anko's closed eyelids. Silent sobs shook her shoulders. Kakashi waited patiently, easily ignoring how his right shoulder was slowly growing more wet. Eventually Anko spoke, her voice soft and sad, a far cry from her normal boisterous tone. "When Sound invaded, all I could think about was how much I hated them. And how dare they come here, to where I lived and try to hurt my friends..."
Anko snapped her hand forward with the speed of a viper, the kunai snapping into the Sound ninja's chest with a wet thud. Normally the violet-haired kunoichi would have taken a moment to celebrate her victory over so many opponents, but the sickening feeling of repressed memories of when she was Orochimaru's apprentice robbed her of any cheer. Then spotting movement in front of her, Anko turned and readied herself, only to freeze in shock.
"Hello my Little Viper." The rather muscular man would have easily considered handsome, were it not for the unsettling half-smile on his face. "Look at you..all grown up..." The smile widened as his eyes undressed her. "And we left on such a tragic note when Orochimaru-Sama left you behind..."
Anko couldn't help the rage that simmered beneath the calm surface that she erected to protect herself from the terrible memories of long ago. "I was never one of your fuck-toys!" Righteous anger bubbled up along with the memories of their interactions long ago. "I never even wanted you!"
"True." Yasuo acknowledged. "But...if I remember correctly, you were running out of places to relocate to when I came around. And when you couldn't run..." Yasuo seemed to savor the memory, "Such fire!" He glanced back at Anko, his gaze now openly leering. "But of course, back then I couldn't force you to do anything with me. You were, after all, Orochimaru-Sama's apprentice at that time." A slow sickening grin swam onto his face. "A protection that you no longer enjoy."
Anko chuckled, confident in her abilities. "Yeah? Well, how about you try then?" She smirked. "I think you'll find that I'm too much to handle!" She blurred towards the man with more speed then he was prepared for. Yasuo was barely able to block the blows that Anko snapped forward, each blow was brilliantly executed and filled with killing intent. It was only a few moments before Yasuo was forced to admit just how badly he was outclassed in hand-to-hand combat techniques. Snapping his left wrist back, Yasuo dropped a smoke bomb at his feet, both shinobi leaping back as the smoke billowed outward.
"It looks like that fire got brighter!" Yasuo chuckled behind the curtain of smoke, "I'll enjoy watching it slowly dim..."
"Try it!" Anko taunted, riding the heady sensation of having forced Yasuo back, "I'll take you down!"
"I'm sure you would win in a Taijutsu contest. Given that I don't want to damage your body prematurely, I can't use any Jutsus. However," Smug satisfaction oozed from his tone, "Orochimaru-Sama has seen fit to grant me a special boon." A moment later Anko's Cursed Seal of Heaven flared with unrelenting agony, instantly driving her to her knees. Unable to move, all she could do was grit her teeth to stave off the tears that threatened to fall from the sheer pain. She was helpless as Yasuo slowly walked closer, his right hand held up in a seal. His left was touching a seal on his right arm, the seal containing a small portion of Orochimaru's chakra, allowing him to influence Anko's seal. "Now...how long can you withstand the pain before giving in?"
A sudden malicious hiss was the only Yasuo's only warning. A red and black snake coiled around Anko protectively, it's open maw baring fangs that dripped with horrifyingly lethal toxin. Hageshidesu, Anko's personal summon and friend, had come to defend it's master. While it did not fully understand the situation, it knew that the Bad Man in front of it was hurting it's Master. Hageshidesu's head swayed from side to side as it measured the distance it needed to lunge in order to sink it's fangs in the Bad Man. Yasou, instantly recognizing the danger, hurled himself back, well beyond the snake's striking distance. He felt a chill run down his spine as he noticed that the snake was tracking his movements, somehow understanding that the seal he was holding was causing Anko pain.
Then Orochimaru's chakra signal for retreat pulsed across the battlefield. "Well, Little Viper," Yasuo sighed regretfully, "It looks like we'll have to...dance some other time." Anko replied with some choked obscenity. Anko gasped for breath as Yasuo left, having released control over her cursed seal. Finally gaining strength to stand, Anko scowled fiercely as she spotted one of the Sound ninja corpses nearby.
Kakashi merely tightened the hug as Anko finished her story. "It doesn't matter." He quietly murmured in her ear, "It doesn't matter who you once were, or that you lost because they exploited that cursed seal. What is important, is that you are alright."Anko twitched in surprise at Kakashi's words. A warm feeling she couldn't quite describe filled her at his words of acceptance. After what seemed like a lifetime, Anko slowly began to lean back, Kakashi loosening the embrace as he felt her move. As they parted they became aware of just how close their faces were to each other's face. Heat seemed to blossom in the air, and the outside sounds muffled. Their faces began to drift closer, drawn by a magnetism as old as the earth itself. Anko's eyes slowly closed as she tilted her head.
A shout in the distance shattered the moment into ten-thousand irrecoverable pieces. They instantly sprang apart. "Well," Kakashi coughed awkwardly as he looked away, "You seem to be feeling better."
"Yeah..." Anko also averted her face, certain that it was flushing bright red. "I'm feeling better now." And she was, she noted with slight surprise, like a burden had been lifted. "Kaka-Kun?" Kakashi glanced back in her direction. "Thank-you." The words, while softly spoken, meant more to Kakashi then every mission congratulation he had ever gotten.
The grey haired ninja's lone eye crinkled as he smiled. "Any time Anko-San." He looked fully into her eyes, making sure she understood his next sentence. "Any time you need a hug or someone to talk to, I'm available. It doesn't matter the time or the place. I will always make time for you." Spotting the tears shimmering in the violet-haired woman's eyes, he turned to head out, giving her the privacy she needed. After Kakashi left the area where Anko could see him, the smile dropped from his face. "Yasuo..." Lightning began to spark in his clenched fist unnoticed. "You will never touch her!" A moment later his self control took over. The lightning flickered then died.
He remembered the expression that had flickered on Anko's face before she had covered it up with a false smile. The grey haired ninja knew Anko's story, hell, the entire village did. Chosen by Orochimaru when she was still a young Genin to be the Snake Sannin's apprentice, Anko followed Orochimaru everywhere. When the Snake Sannin's experiments turned to kidnapping and human experimentation, Anko was there. From what Kakashi could gather, Orochimaru hid his more horrific experiments from Anko, keeping her in the dark until he needed her. Once he had significantly researched what he had needed, he had given Anko the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
When Orochimaru was driven from the village, he had taken Anko with him. From what Kakashi could piece together, especially now that Anko had given him a personal glimpse of what her time in Sound was like, Anko had seen terrible things and most likely been forced to do terrible things. But, when the Leaf had raided the underground base Orochimaru was using, the Snake Sannin abandoned Anko without blinking; going so far as to inflict an injury - Kakashi didn't know what kind of injury, just that it was rather serious - on Anko to keep the Leaf ninja occupied while the Snake Sannin fled.
Betrayed by her mentor, Anko was brought back to the Leaf and given medical treatment. However, when she was released from the hospital, she was met with scorn from the ninja population. Despite the unfair accusations, Anko never let it break her. Instead, her personality developed into a strange mix of carefree cheer and optimism. But, now that he had seen her slip on a carefree smile like a mask, Kakashi wondered how many of her smiles were just that, a mask to hide the pain inside.
Kakashi sighed. He knew that he was unable to do more than be there for her, to listen if she needed an ear, and to provide a shoulder to cry on. But still...he wished he could do more for her. Wait...perhaps he was going about this all wrong. What if he was not the only one to help Anko? The Cursed Seal of Heaven was far too complicated for him, but what about Naruto? What if Naruto could remove it, thus removing Anko's last tie to her hated former mentor. Kakashi nodded to himself. He would speak to Naruto soon as everything grew a bit more calm.
Naruto vaulted a broken wall as he rushed towards the Hyuga Compound. He had complete confidence that Hinata-Chan, Haku-Chan, and Sakura-Chan were able to defend themselves, but he could not rest; could not allow himself to relax until he knew they were safe. While his chakra senses had told him they were not in distress, he wanted to see them with his own eyes. He passed the group of Hyuga who were stationed outside the compound. They were keeping watch for stragglers from Sound or Suna who might try a suicide attack against the Hyuga clan.
The Branch Members didn't even blink as Naruto blurred by, used to the level of care the Last Uzumaki bestowed to his precious people. Brushing past the gate guards, Naruto slowed to a walk, closing his eyes. He sent out a chakra ping, and almost instantly got three replies back. And judging by how they quickly were moving in his direction, Naruto guessed that they had sensed him as well.
Haku hurried down from the tower she had built with her ice. She had felt Naruto-Sama's chakra ping, and she could wait no longer to see him. Not noticing that she was nearly doubling her normal running speed, Haku ran towards the location she had felt Naruto's chakra ping. Arriving at the location a scant few seconds later, she couldn't hold back her cry of exaltation. "Naruto-Sama! You are alright!"
Throwing herself into her beloved master's arms, Haku felt her world right itself when his warm embrace enveloped her. All of her worries and fears faded away in her Naruto-Sama's arms. Her sun, her light, had returned. "Naruto-Sama..." The ice user breathed, feeling tears of joy spill unchecked down her cheeks. "I never lost faith." She leaned back to gaze up at him. "I knew you would win." She leaned onto Naruto fully, tightening her arms around him. "You are my Naruto-Sama."
Sensing Hinata-Chan and Sakura-Chan arriving, Haku pulled back, ignoring the part of her that wanted to stay wrapped in Naruto-Sama's arms forever. "Naruto-Kun!" Sakura rushed to hug him next, "You're back!" Now that she felt Naruto's arms around her, Sakura couldn't help but giggle in delight. "I knew you would return. You promised after all." Feeling something dried on Naruto's shirt, the pink-haired kunoichi couldn't help but lean back in curiosity. Spotting the dried bloodstain on his shirt, Sakura barely refrained from casting her Mystic Palm technique right then and there. Only the knowledge that Naruto wasn't bleeding at the current time allowed her to control herself.
Knowing Hinata wanted a turn with Naruto, Sakura stepped back, surreptitiously wiping a few stray tears that fell as she now allowed herself to relax, comforted by the knowledge that Naruto was safe and had come back to them.
Hinata kept up a strong mask as she approached Naruto, but it grew harder to mask her happiness at seeing him alive and unhurt. While she had been alarmed at the sight of the dried blood on his right shoulder, a quick scan with her bloodline had assured the blue-haired kunoichi that he was wound-free. Stepping into Naruto's comforting hug, Hinata pressed her face against his chest as she felt her mask shatter. Hot tears of pent up worry and happiness spilled down her face, soaking Naruto's shirt. Feeling him tighten his arms around her, Hinata couldn't help but smile as she pressed her face farther against Naruto. A quick inhale brought the heady unique scent of Naruto to the forefront of her consciousness.
An impatient cough from Sakura quickly brought Hinata out of her brief fantasy about Naruto's scent. Stepping back from the blonde, she fought to regain her calm mask as well as displace the heat that had covered her face.
"Move it out people!" Sakura ordered the nearby curious Hyuga, her annoyance at Hinata's bold action bleeding into her words, "There's nothing to see here. Go back to your assigned tasks." Sliding closer to Naruto, Sakura took a stealthy sniff of Naruto's scent, wondering what exactly caused such a blush on Hinata-Chan's face. The pink-haired kunoichi froze for the briefest moments at the utterly male scent that was uniquely Naruto. Logically, Sakura knew that she was still riding the combat high, the released chemicals in her brain amplifying her reaction to the scent. The rest of her wanted to grab Naruto and inhale his scent. A sudden image of Naruto without his shirt blazed into her brain.
"Gah!" Sakura almost stumbled back, a bright blush instantly flushing her cheeks. Spotting Naruto turning to glance curiously in her direction, Sakura spun on her heel and quickly headed off. "I'm heading back home. Coming?" She threw over her shoulder, taking care not to show her flushed face to her Naruto. While she didn't know what love was, Sakura was fairly certain this was what her mother felt towards her father. It was...a good feeling.
Kin Tsuchi felt the dull pain in her hand fluctuate as she clenched and unclenched her hand waiting for Shino to return. It had been sore for clenching a senbon for so long as she waited along with several of the Aburame clan members. She, along with the several clan members, had stayed back from the final matches. While the Aburame members had stayed to complete their duties or to tend to their personal bugs, Kin had stayed back, knowing that Orochimaru-sam...Orochimaru - he wasn't her master, not any more - would attack the village. She had originally planned on slipping out of the village during the chaos that happened during the invasion. However, when the sounds of an invasion alarm rang out over the village, she was torn by two different feelings. The first was her survival instinct, the very thing that kept her alive while she was at Sound.
The second was a strange feeling, one she had never felt before. It was almost as if part of her wished to stay, to fight Sound. Kin had dismissed those thoughts, however. She knew what happened if one went against the Snake Sannin. Her resolve tentatively set, Kin headed for the compound exit. Abruptly, her escape was arrested by a fireball that whizzed in her direction. Her shocked eyes stared at the smirking Sound ninja that blocked the path to the exit. What happened next had changed Kin's view on how the world worked.
"Ah Kin..." The kunoichi had a cocky smirk on her face, "I heard you died."
Kin's eyes scanned the area wildly as she searched for an escape route. She knew she couldn't take the Sound kunoichi on. Hell, back at the Sound village the kunoichi was one of the ones that Kin had lost spars against on multiple occasions. Spotting no escape, Kin prepared to fight, despite knowing that it was futile. Shino, after all, would be disappointed if she didn't put up a decent fight.
Then, with the sound of fluttering wings, something flashed over Kin's shoulder from behind, the small dark cloud missing the attacking kunoichi by the slimmest of margins. "Sound-San," The Aburame clan med-nin's voice was polite, though still the trademark monotone of the bug-using clan, "Kin-San does not appear to want to be near you." A firmness colored his tone. "Please leave."
"Oh? What's this?" The Sound Kunoichi seemed surprised, and perhaps slightly disappointed somehow. "I thought you said you weren't going to do those kinds of things, Kin."
Kin felt her face flush. "It's not like that!" Her dark brown eyes narrowed in anger. "I never had to do...that!"
"In that case..." The Sound kunoichi sighed, "Orochimaru-Sama himself ordered your death." She shrugged. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry it had to end like this. I'll make it quick for old time's sake." Kin could only watch with horrified fascination as the Sound kunoichi began to weave her hands through another fireball jutsu. Then, the ground erupted from underneath the Sound nin. Back flipping away, the Sound kunoichi slid to a stop outside of the compound.
Both kunoichi stared at the wreathing mass of insects that had nearly ended their fight. "Kin-San is a guest of our clan, Sound-San." Something close to outrage laced the monotone of the Aburame that had attacked the Sound Kunoichi. "If she does not wish to die, then we will eliminate you should you try to kill her."
Kin blinked in shock. Why were they defending her?
"You do know that she knew about the invasion correct?" The Sound kunoichi sounded like she was talking to a rather dull child.
"Yes. And it is irrelevant. Kin-San has not caused the Aburame clan harm personally and she has helped us. We will not let you take her."
"We?" The Sound kunoichi glanced back and forth, looking for more of the Aburame clan. And then she spotted them, at least ten of the bug users stepping into sight. A sharp sting lanced across her jugular, her hand snapping upwards to touch the wound. Her hand never made it. Darkness took her as the poison quickly did it's grim task.
Kin stared at the now dead body of the Sound kunoichi. She felt strangely numb, having experienced a roller coaster of emotion these last few minutes. "Kin-San," The monotone of the medic-nin broke her from her mindless thoughts, "If you wis,h you can head back into the compound. We will protect you."
"Why?" Kin's voice ghosted out, lost and confused. "Why would you want to save me?"
"Because Shino-Sama saved you. Shino-Sama said that you were a good person caught in a bad place." The Medic-nin continued, his voice monotone as usual, but there was kindness hidden deep inside the tone. "Shino-Sama said you, Kin-San, were his friend." He tilted his head to the side slightly. "I apologize if I was incorrect in believing that you were his friend as well."
Tears misted her view. Her throat tightened, almost painfully, but it wasn't from poison or smoke. No, this feeling was new, and she didn't dare to hope that this was real. She was, after all, just another dirty orphan from Sound.
"Yes." The Medic-nin confirmed, seemingly not understanding Kin's confusion. "Shino-Sama sated it himself before he went to the Chunin finals."
Kin blinked, slowly swallowing the lump in her throat. While her heart ached to believe the medic's words, he wasn't Shino. She would only believe the words when they came from Shino. But in order to do that, she would have to make sure Shino had a home to return to. That same feeling from before filled Kin again. But unlike last time, she didn't push it aside. "No." The black haired kunoichi reached for the senbon pouch that she had secured to her belt, "I'll stay."
Rasa awoke slowly, pain filtering in like a fog. Slowly opening his eyes, the Kazekage surveyed his current position. Something was wrong, but he couldn't put his figure on it. He was laying half buried in rubble. A sharp pain from his left arm informed him that it was broken, most likely shattered. Rasa flexed his right hand, it was working correctly, ignoring the dull throb that shot through it every time it moved. It still astounded him that Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, had taken him down with one punch. Swatted him aside like a bug. As per shinobi training, Rasa attempted to wiggle his toes, but he felt nothing. Not even numbness.
Bringing his right hand to reach carefully behind his back, Rasa encountered a sticky wetness on his lower back. A inaudible sigh escaped him as he now knew what was wrong with his legs. Concentrating one moving his signature golden sand was harder than anticipated with the now fiery pain that was slowly starting to increase from his shattered left arm. But Rasa persevered, knowing that his village needed him. Judging by the lack of combat noise, Suna and Sound had lost. The Leaf would be looking for answers, someone to blame. It was his duty, as Kazekage, to have them focus all of their ire on him. The rubble that imprisoned him slowly began to move.
It had been two days since the failed invasion of Suna and Sound and Konoha was still recovering from the attack. The blow that damaged the Leaf the most was the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Third Hokage. Without having named a successor, it was up to both of the Civilian Council and the Shinobi Council to appoint a new Hokage. Their first and most obvious choice, Jiraiya, had instantly refused when he was offered the position. Then reality reared it's head, and the councils were now scrambling to figure out what they were going to do with all of the captured Suna ninja. Given how much damage the village took, it wasn't feasible to keep them incarcerated for long. Rasa, the Kazekage of Suna, had willingly surrendered himself to the village, but had lost consciousness shortly after due to his severe injuries he had sustained during his fight with Jiraiya.
However, it wouldn't do to simply let the Suna ninja go free without suffering some kind of punishment. Still, killing all of the captured ninjas would not look good for any future diplomatic relations. Not only that, but the councils still had to deal with clean-up of the village at large as well as get medical attention to those in need. Houses needed repaired, and those who had lost their entire homes needed shelter while new buildings were built.
Not only that, but most concerning of all, the ghostly outline of the Kyubi itself had risen above the trees for the briefest of moments, when Naruto Uzumaki had single-handedly fought the One-tailed demon container of Suna. Even more concerning, the Uzumaki had won. The council itself was split. One side believed that it was indisputable truth that Naruto Uzumaki was the Kyubi and should be killed before he turned his wrath onto the village. The other faction believed that while Naruto was the Kyubi, he didn't attack those hadn't threatened the ones he cared about.
It was the quiet that awoke Rasa. Back in Suna he had always risen slightly after the very early risers, the sounds of his village coming to life bring him back to the wakeful world. However, there was an almost unnatural quiet surrounding him. Cracking open his eyes, Rasa glanced around the area he was in. The clinically white walls and ceiling instantly gave away his resting location. It was a hospital, specifically the trauma wing. Shifting his now open eyes to his left, Rasa noted without surprise that he was restrained. Noise outside of the room prompted him to shift as to face the door.
The door opened on oiled hinges, swinging inwards to reveal several stern faced ninja. "Rasa Sabaku, Kazekage of Suna, are you fully awake?" Rasa nodded, having noted the slight anger hidden behind the cold mask of the leaf shinobi. A moment later a medical nin entered the room and after a running a few rather invasive tests, informed the leaf ninja standing by that Rasa was fit for travel and mentally sound.
It was only a short time later when Rasa was brought before the combined shinobi and civilian council. "Rasa Sabaku, Kazekage of Suna, do you know what you have been brought before the Council of Konoha?"
While he hadn't been told what he was brought directly to the Council, he could surmise it easily enough. "Yes. It is because I led my village to invade Konoha." Rasa, was if nothing else, direct.
"Do you have a good reason why you invaded the Leaf Village?" Shikaku Nara spoke, his eyes watch the stoic Kazekage for any reaction, for any sign of remorse. He found nothing, Rasa's emotionless mask betrayed nothing.
"The Sand village has been getting fewer and fewer contracts over the last few years." Rasa's voice was emotionless as he recounted what had led him to attacking Konoha. "The council and I reached the same conclusion separately: within the next five years the Sand village would not be able to sustain itself if the decreasing amount of missions continued their pace of decline." Rasa blinked. "It was at this time that Orochimaru approached me with his offer. We would invade Konoha. The Snake Sannin promised that Suna would be allowed to take all of Konoha's wealth once the village had been dealt with."
"And what exactly did Orochimaru want in return for this 'grand' offer?" Inoichi Yamanaka questioned, knowing the type of mindset Orochimaru had.
"Orochimaru requested only four things." Rasa explained, "First he requested that my best shinobi be sent along with my invasion force. The second request was that he be the one to deal the final blow to Hiruzen Sarutobi." Rasa blinked again, his face otherwise not showing any change. "The third was that, if at all possible, we take any ninjas with bloodlines prisoner." Outrage showed on many of the shinobi present. They all knew what Orochimaru had been exiled for. "And lastly he required my ninja, once the dust settled, to aid him in his search for Minato Namikaze's secret home." Stunned silence blanketed the Council room at Rasa's words.
Shikaku leaned back, his mind racing. "Now this...was very troublesome and unexpected." Minato Namikaze was universally recognized as the greatest seal master of his generation, if not one of the greatest to ever live. Any research the seal master had could potentially change the balance of power between the villages. But...if the Leaf could somehow gain access to this...secret home of Minato Namikaze, Konoha would be made stronger than ever. Still, even if they could find the location of Minato's home, they would be unable to take anything from it, given that Minato's son was still alive.
The Nara clan head visibly froze at a sudden thought, prompting confused and slightly worried glances in his direction. It had been a very long time since they had seen Shikaku so affected by his thoughts. And so they waited. Shikaku was oblivious to the looks. He was instead attempting, for the first time in his life, to disprove his own theory. It was, after all, a most troublesome theory.
"If Naruto Uzumaki is indeed the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, then it is most likely that the Third Hokage knew that their child would have survived. This theory is supported by Hiruzen's staunch support of Naruto, a supposedly clan-less orphan, these past few months. Not only that, but Hiruzen's statement to me after the meeting all those months ago all but confirmed it. However, I don't have definitive proof that Hiruzen knew that Naruto was Kushina's child." Shikaku shook his head slightly. "Definitive proof is right in Naruto's name. Hiruzen himself gave Naruto his last name. Not only that, but Naruto looks remarkably similar to Minato, with just a hint of Kushina. Given that it is likely that Hiruzen knew, then that means he knowingly allowed the Council to take Naruto's clan heritage."
The Nara clan head steepled his fingers in thought as he continued his thought pattern. "If that is indeed the case, it means that the village took away the heritage of a living clan member. Normally we could repay the full amount plus any reparations to the wronged party, but given the destruction that we just suffered from the invasion, we cannot afford to make such a repayment currently. Not only that, but given that the majority of the village is against the Last Uzumaki, it is not certain that we would vote to repay him. However, there is no public record of Minato marrying Kushina."
Shikaku's eyes widened as another related theory came into mind, this one much more worrying, rather than just troublesome. "But what will happen if we deny Naruto Uzumaki his inheritance? At best, we are setting a precedence that clan holdings can be taken from a clan by the village. And at worst...Naruto Uzumaki could leave the village!" Such an action would be utterly disastrous for Konoha. It mattered little if Naruto was the jinchuriki of the Nine Tails or the Kyubi itself, -though Shikaku was fairly certain it was the former not the latter - Naruto's power would cause the village to try to stop him from leaving. And given the disposition of those close to the Last Uzumaki, they would defend him. And in the end, they would get hurt, perhaps even killed. And then, Konoha would burn.
The Nara clan head blinked, aware that he had been silent for perhaps two minutes. "Please escort Rasa-San out of the room until we call you." Shikaku requested the Jonin guards. The Jonin waited for a moment, checking if any on the Council had objections. When none was forthcoming, they bowed and escorted Rasa out of the Council Chamber. After the doors shut with a seemingly loud bang, Shukaku waited for the questions to start.
"What the hell were you thinking about?" Tsume Inuzuka demanded, wanting to know what Shikaku had learned that she had missed. Suna needed to pay after all. Several of her clansmen had died in Sound's and Suna's attack.
"Fifteen seconds." The Nara noted with slight amusement. Out loud however, he spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words. It wouldn't do to start a panic after all. "I was considering the ramifications of Rasa-San's words." He leaned slightly back, the very picture of relaxed intelligence. "Given his description of the events that lead up to the planning of the attack, there is several oddities with his story." He raised one hand to forestall any questions. "Orochimaru's timing is oddly perfect, given that there should have been no way that he could have known so quickly."
"You mean that Orochimaru had a spy on the Suna Council?" One of the civilian council blurted out, thinking of what he had been forced to witness only a few days prior.
Shikaku opened his mouth to reply, but it was not his voice who answered the civilian. "That's right." Jiraiya's rang out in the chamber as he casually shoved one of the double doors to the Council Chamber open. "Not only that, but I found out an interesting little tid-bit: Sound had been waylaying people who wanted to go to Suna for several years, slowly bleeding Sand dry; making them desperate enough to take his deal." Jiraiya strolled into the center of the room. "Now then, currently you stand at the cross roads."
"What do you mean?" One of the heads of the lesser clans questioned, now unsure of how much to blame Suna for their actions given this new revelation. "What should we do?"
A cunning grin almost slid onto Jiraiya's face, held back only by his willpower. "Well, I have a few ideas..."
Rock Lee slowly awoke, consciousness coming in waves. Blinking at the harsh light in the hospital room, he turned his head to look around the room as much as the constricting bandages and splints allowed. Suddenly he stiffened. There was a strange man covered in scars sitting in the corner of the room, seemingly playing with a scalpel. Horribly aware of how vulnerable he was, Lee lay perfectly still, hoping that the man who seemed to radiate danger hadn't noticed that he was awake.
"Finally awake?" The rough voice was loud in the still room. "Good. I ran out of buttermilk bread a bit ago." Tossing the sharp surgical tool to the side, Anaguma stood and made his way over to Lee's side. "You got fucked up in that fight." He told the Genin bluntly. "Docs think your ninja career is over."
Lee felt his heart drop out of his chest. "W-Wha-What?" He remembered the choking fear he had felt as Gaara's sand had slowly crushed him. How he had given into fear, had wished for it all to be over.
"Yep." The scarred mercenary nodded. "The sand kid crushed most of the bones in your body. Not easy to put back together. Still," Anaguma gave Lee an appraising look, "I think you might surprise them." Seeing Lee confused expression shift with slight hope, the scarred man chuckled. "You remind me just a bit of me." Lee blinked before shooting the man a confused look. "You don't give up, even when life conspires against you. Plus you aren't a real ninja."
Lee bristled. "What!? I am a ninja! A genius of hard work!"
Anaguma chuckled condescendingly. "Is that what they told you? That lie?" The scarred swordsman shook his head. "You can't compete with any real ninja. No matter how good your fists are, you can't shoot fire from them. You can't turn the ground into a weapon. You can't turn the water into a grave."
Lee sank back, his spirit almost crushed. "B-But if I'm not a ninja..." He whispered out, "What am I?"
"I don't know." Anaguma answered. "Only you know that." He glanced at Lee's expression and continued. "But what I can tell you is this: You don't need chakra to become powerful, to complete what goals you set. I was never a ninja, never taught how to how to use chakra." He held Lee spellbound. "Do you know what I did? I picked up a sword and forged my own path. I chose what to do with my life. I didn't let some mystical force choose what I was good at."
Lee was quiet for a long, timeless moment. "You are right." He finally spoke, his heart confirming every word. "I was so unyouthful. I tried to become a ninja that was just like the others, when I am not like them. To prove I could be as good as them, perhaps even better then them. But I failed. Instead, when I get out of this bed, I will forge my own path, though sweat and blood. I will not be found wanting again."
Anaguma chuckled. "Good. The world has enough 'ninjas'. What it needs is those who don't give a fuck. Those who stare death in the face and give it the middle finger. Those who stare at the odds and smile. Those who look at the world's solution and say 'Fuck You. I don't care what you say. I will not be stopped.'" His job done, the mercenary turned and left the room, leaving a changed Genin behind him, cocooned in bandages.
"Never again." Lee vowed, "Never again will I be found wanting again. Never again will I give in. Never again will I stop. Never again will I submit."
Kakashi raised his hand and knocked on the door to Naruto's house. His hand rapped three times, each time the sound echoing slightly. Waiting the common time of thirty seconds, the grey haired ninja raised his hand and knocked again. There was no response from inside. Kakashi now felt strangely awkward. What if Naruto was in the middle of something? Or what if one of the females in the house was in the middle of something? What if both she and Naruto were in the...middle of something? Kakashi couldn't help but giggle slightly.
"Kakashi," Naruto's confused voice sounded from behind the grey haired ninja, "What are you doing?"
"Naruto." Kakashi turned to face the blonde, none of his private thoughts showing on his face. "I was looking for you." Seeing Naruto relax, the grey haired ninja elaborated. "There is something I need to tell you about. And," Kakashi hesitated, not wanting to burden Naruto, but it was for Anko, not himself. "I have a favor to ask you."
Naruto nodded, his face serious. "Come." He motioned to Kakashi, "There is a spot we can talk alone." Naruto swiftly led the grey haired ninja to a secluded pool of clear calm water. A short distance away, a water fall provided ambient white noise. After seating himself down and giving Kakashi a questioning look, Naruto waited for the grey-haired ninja to respond.
Kakashi blinked and looked away, swallowing the sudden heavy lump in his throat. His eyes stung slightly as he glanced away. Kushina often seated herself the same way when she was waiting for someone she cared about to talk. It was her way of putting them at ease, given the normal fire of her personality. Taking several deep breaths, Kakashi mastered himself.
"Naruto," The grey-haired ninja began, his words slow as he breached the topic, "Have you ever seen Anko-San sad?"
Naruto tilted his head in thought as he attempted to remember all of the times he interacted with the sunny purple-haired young woman. "Hmmmm..." The blonde scratched his head in thought. "Nope." The blonde hesitated, a unidentifiable look on his face. "I-Is Anko-Chan sad?"
Kakashi sighed. "I really don't know." Seeing Naruto's look, he looked out over the calm water as he continued, his tone uncertain. "I used to think that Anko-San was always cheerful, never one to let anything dampen her spirits." He let out a fond chuckle, remembering all of the times Anko's special brand of humor lifted his spirit after a long day. "She has this...presence around her, that makes you feel lighter, less burdened." Remembering her tinkling giggle she sometimes let out when he had said something she had found funny, he couldn't help but smile.
But, like a cloud covering the sun, Kakashi's smile slowly faded. "After the battle I went to find her." Kakashi didn't know what he was feeling, but it wasn't something pleasant. "I found her kicking the dead body of a Sound ninja." The feeling intensified. It felt like a lead weight had settled deep in his stomach, pulling any joyful feelings down with it.
"She was...unhappy. Sad even." Kakashi shook his head, not liking the remembered the expression on Anko's face when he had met her. Her smile was cheerful as always, but her eyes...they were sad. "She smiled her usual smile, but it never made it to her eyes." Kakashi lowered his head as he whispered out the next part, his voice filled with something that had traces of self-loathing and shame. "What if her eyes were always sad and I just didn't notice?" "Was Rin's eyes ever like that before that final moment?"
"I don't think her eyes were always like that." Naruto's voice broke through Kakashi's emotional spiral. "I would have noticed." The calm assuredness of his tone lifted Kakashi's spirits. "There were mirrors in my home long ago." Out loud, Naruto glanced over at Kakashi. "So what did you do?"
Kakashi shrugged, not seeing that his actions with Anko were momentous. "I gave her a hug and let her cry on my shoulder." Spotting Naruto's questioning look, the grey-haired ninja rubbed the back of his neck. "Sometimes they do that in Icha Icha. It seems to work out for them." At Naruto's unbelieving look, Kakashi coughed and continued. "After she finished crying, she seemed better." Kakashi casually turned away from Naruto as he remembered what had almost happened after that. "Then we parted ways. I made sure that she knew she could talk to me anytime she wanted to."
Naruto nodded in approval. "That was good." Several emotions passed his face in rapid succession before a business-like demeanor settled on the blonde. "What favor did you want to ask?"
"Well..." Kakashi rubbed the back of his head, aware of that he was technically about to tell a village secret to a technical Genin. "You know how you examined the seal Orochimaru placed on Sasuke?" Naruto nodded, open curiosity in his expression. "Sasuke isn't the only one in the village branded with the seal." Kakashi revealed, "Anko was branded years ago by Orochimaru before he abandoned her." Spotting Naruto's eyes begin to narrow, Kakashi hurried onwards. "What I would like you do to is examine Anko's seal closely and see if there is a way it can be removed."
Naruto instantly nodded. "I will do that. When can I look at it?"
Kakashi looked sheepish. "Well...I haven't...exactly asked Anko yet if you can look at her seal..."
"Oh." Naruto blinked. "Well then. In that case, have her come over once she agrees."
Kakashi nodded, knowing that being thanked made Naruto uncomfortable, but having to thank him none the less. "Thank-you." Feeling Naruto getting uncomfortable, Kakashi quickly found a topic to speak about. It was something that he had wondered on the walk over. "Naruto, why weren't you at your home when I was looking for you?"
"Eh," Naruto dismissed, attempting to force down the slight flush that crept on his face, "Last night Sakura-Chan was cold so she hopped in bed with me. Haku-Chan and Hinata-Chan seemed unhappy when they found out. They asked me to leave the house for a little bit."
Kakashi's mouth dropped open at Naruto's words. "Did you...uh..." His hands made some vague gestures, "Do that with Sakura?" Seeing Naruto's uncomprehending look, the smut-reading ninja made some rather descriptive hand gestures.
"N-No!" Naruto's face flushed crimson. "W-We d-didn't do that!" He shook his head. "She doesn't even like me like that!"
Kakashi chuckled, glad that the uncomfortable mood was gone. "Maa maa. I know you think that." His lone eye crinkled as he smiled at the blonde. "I was just teasing you."
Naruto let out a sigh of relief. He leaned back, watching the calm water with Kakashi. A comfortable silence fell over the pair as they listened to the water fall. "Kakashi?" Naruto asked, finally breaking the stillness, "Why was Anko-Chan crying?"
Kakashi scowled. "From what she told me, there was a Sound ninja by the name of Yasuo..."
The two kunoichi from Team Eight glared across at each other from opposite ends of the table, arms crossed in displeasure. Haku sat at one of the chairs near the middle of the table, feeling almost like she was caught in the crossfire between two powerful jutsus. However, given that such a display would undoubtedly upset Naruto-Sama, it needed to stop. The ice-user had planned on letting the two talk it out, while she figured out her own feelings on the matter. The feelings she had experienced when she had found out Sakura-Chan had snuck into Naruto-Sama's bed were...complicated.
She had felt a hot flash of anger mixed with envy. "How dare she do something like that to Naruto-Sama!" Had been her first thought. On the heels of that emotional mental roar, came the guilt. "What did I just think? Naruto-Sama can sleep with anyone who makes him happy!" Doing her best to ignore how her heart twisted in pain inside her, Haku had busied herself in the kitchen, seeking to drown the conflicting emotions with mindless work. That had been two hours ago. Her emotions had eventually settled into a dull lead weight that settled in her stomach. Over time, she was sure that those emotions would fade, as look as she kept telling herself what she believed was the truth. "Naruto-Sama sees you only as a friend. He doesn't like you in that way."
Blinking away the stray tear and the memories, Haku glanced between the two kunoichi. "Sakura-Chan. Hinata-Chan. Have you spoken to each other?"
Hinata frowned, her eyes narrowed in displeasure. "Why would I talk to her? She took advantage of Naruto-Kun while he was sleeping."
Haku turned to face Sakura. "Did you take advantage of Naruto-Sama while he was sleeping?"
Sakura flushed both from anger and something else. "NO! I wouldn't do that to Naruto-Kun!"
"Oh really?" Hinata sniped back, her tone a mix of skepticism and annoyance.
"Yeah! Unlike you, Little Miss Closet Pervert!"
"Why you!" Lightning seemed to crackle between the two as they heatedly glared at each other.
Haku suddenly had a thought, a thought so profound and important that she couldn't help but voice it. "Sakura-Chan, did Naruto-Kun...show any signs of distress while he was sleeping?"
Sakura blinked, turning away from her glaring contest with Hinata. "No? Why would he be having distress while sleeping?"
Haku leaned back slightly, now conflicted. Should she tell them about Naruto's almost nightly nightmares? Would that be betraying his trust? Did he care if they knew? Did he know that she knew? These questions and others spiraled around and around inside Haku's mind.
Sakura's now worried voice broke though her thoughts. "Haku-Chan! What's wrong? Is there something wrong with Naruto-Kun?" By now the pink-haired girl had risen half out of her seat. "How can we help if we don't know what is wrong?"
Naruto-Sama. It was he who mattered right now. It didn't matter what he thought of her if she told them about his nightmares. Even if he hated her -her very soul threatened to give out at the thought- it would help Naruto-Sama in the end. It would be enough for her, no matter how he felt about her afterwards.
"Naruto-Sama has always had..." Haku shook her head, ignoring the utterly sickening thought that Naruto-Sama might hate her and tried again. "Naruto-Sama has always had nightmares. He has them almost every night. They are..." Haku shook her head, tears dripping down her cheeks, "...heart-rending to listen to." She swallowed. "And if you did not know of it when both of you slept in the tent with Naruto-Sama, then you must have stopped the nightmares when you slept close to him."
Sakura fell back into her seat. Naruto-Kun had nightmares? And she didn't notice? Hinata also fell back, but with a different question on her mind. What had caused him to have such nightmares? A moment later she knew. The village. Those...people. They had hurt Naruto-Kun, again and again, until they left a mark that wouldn't heal. They would pay. They would all pay! Something dark shifted deep inside Hinata, something born of hate and anger. Her eyes tinted slightly pink as her bloodline activated.
"We need to figure something out." Sakura's earnest voice broke Hinata from her dark thoughts. "We can't let Naruto-Kun's nightmares continue. Above all, we must think of Naruto-Kun. It's what he would do for us." Determined green eyes flashed towards the other two kunoichi. "But we need a plan."
"Do you have a plan in mind Sakura-Chan?"
Sakura nodded her head. "Yes. But before I can give it, we need to lay some ground rules regarding our relationship with Naruto-Kun." A trace of sarcastic humor laced her tone. "We can't keep sending Naruto-Kun out after all."
"Barkeep." Horaru raised his hand as he walked up to the bar, "One glass of sake please." After receiving the glass, the civilian knocked it back in one swift motion. Shaking his head at the rush of taste, he couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh. These last two days were hard, given not only the invasion, but waiting for his wife, Atsuko, to awake from her surgery. But less than four hours ago, she had awoken. Not only that, but she was fine and would regain full use of her leg.
When she had described her savior, Horaru had recognized the person from her description. It was the human form of the Kyubi. However, Horaru had never met the boy/demon personally, but he was determined to meet him, to thank the blonde personally for protecting Horaru's family.
"Fuckin' demons." The man next to Horaru groused. "World would be better off if they all died." Murmurs of agreement sounded from around the bar. "Makes me sick to think they might let it off the hook. Should execute it instead." He glanced at the quiet Horaru. "You know what I mean?"
"No, I don't." Horaru spoke softly, attempting to keep his temper. Without Naruto, Emiko would have died! "Naruto Uzumaki isn't a demon." The bar went silent.
"What!?" The man turned to fully face Horaru, outrage oozing from his every pore. "Because of it my family is DEAD! The fucking Demon Fox killed them thirteen years ago!" More outraged murmurs of agreement echoed in the bar, the air becoming tense.
"Because of him my family is alive. He saved my wife and child." Horaru faced the man, feeling anger on Naruto's behalf. "He may be a demon, but he saved by family. He's a hero!" Different murmurs rose in the bar, as some remembered the stories of the blonde's clones saving those who were helpless, those who couldn't defend themselves. The air was stifling as the two stared each other down. One had lost everything on that night, over thirteen years ago. In one instant all of his world had come crashing down. The other stood tall, owing a blonde who had saved his world. In one instant, death was stopped, interrupted by someone who defied a monster.
These scenes played out on a dozen stages different stages across Konoha as those who lost everything they cared about thirteen years ago were challenged by those who's loved ones had been saved by a lone blonde hero.
"Cheers!" Masashi clinked his glass with his fellow Chunin seated at the table in the lone undestroyed ninja bar. Knocking back a portion of the tall glass, he grinned as he listened to one of the other Chunin start his story about how he had defeated two Sound ninja at once. Masashi shook his head in amazement as he remembered the moment his life changed along with the other Chunin seated around the large table. He had panicked when Sound and Suna had attacked, paralyzed by uncertainty and fear.
But then he had spoken. Naruto Uzumaki. The Last Uzumaki had shared why he fought, reminding Masashi why he had wanted to become a ninja in the first place. To protect. But as Naruto spoke, his very presence captivating, the blonde had said something polarizing, something that had resonated deep within each of the Chunin seated at the table sharing drinks.
"... Those ninjas out there are threatening our precious people; our families; our friends. I'm not going to let them do that anymore. I won't let them be taken from me. I will protect."
And in that moment, it had all crystallized for Masashi. It wasn't about the buildings. It wasn't about the village walls. It wasn't even about the so-called pride of the Leaf. It was about protecting those you held dear. Protecting your family; your friends. The little girl his sister played with when he took her to the park. That old lady who sold produce in the market. On and on the list went. Each was important, each needed to be protected. And so he and his fellow Chunin had waited for orders from Naruto Uzumaki, the one who had shown them true path.
On Naruto's orders they had charged the East and West gates. Against all odds, they had held the line. Some of them died, falling while protecting. But each died content, knowing that they had protected, had stood in the fire so those they cared about didn't have to. Those that survived were reborn, reborn with a new purpose; a new strength to protect; a new inner fire to stop those who sought to hurt their precious people.
Glancing around at the seated ninja, Masashi raised his voice and his glass. "To Naruto Uzumaki who gave us a new purpose."
The glasses raised high as one.
"To Naruto Uzumaki!"
So what did you think? Drop a review and let me know.
I will explain why some of the civilians/ninja like Naruto now. If any helpless civilians were noticed by Naruto's clones during the battle, he saved them since he wanted someone to save him when he was helpless long ago. For the ninja, Naruto gave them purpose. Keep in mind, that those who like Naruto are vastly outnumbered by those who still don't. But Naruto's polarizing personality is slowly forcing people to choose a side, rather than just hopping on the band wagon.
To my reviewers' direct questions:
Animanan: While that would be cool, Minato didn't leave something like that. He legitimately trusted the village and believed that they would take care of Naruto. Sadly his trust was very misplaced.
MEleeSmasher: I never said that they would give Naruto his inheritance. Then again, I never said that they wouldn't. Or that things would end well for the council. People have to earn their happy ending.
Illuminated: No. It was another Suna kunoichi Sasuke killed while he was hallucinating.
Confused: Perhaps I'm just a rather cynical person, but if your average person was able to take their hurt out on a defenseless version of some powerful demon, they would. People aren't usually logical when they are emotional. The village, as a whole, believe that Naruto is the depowered and defenseless Kyubi trapped in human form. That's why they hurt him. However, when Hyuga realized that Naruto was a Jinchuriki instead, they realized how badly they messed up. I hope that clears up your confusion.
Okiro Benihime: Well, let me first say that I feel that chapter 4 is one of my weakest chapters. That said, Hiruzen felt it was important to have Naruto on a group that would help him. At the time, he thought Naruto's life wasn't so bad, and thus keeping Naruto near his friends would fix everything. It was those thoughts as well as seeing that he could create a poster team, that made him make the decision. Team seven is the poster team. While cross-team relationships can work, it normally favors the one that is closest to the protagonist. And since I wanted both girls to have an equal chance, I placed them on the same team. Also I enjoy writing the subtle battles between the two, and this way gives me an opportunity to do so. I hope that clears up your confusion. If not, feel free to let me know and I'll do my best to answer your questions.