Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters (I wish). All OCs belong to me and some of the plot that I came up with also belong to me.
Demona Evernight: Thank you very much for being my first review for chapter five! I definitely get you with punching Fugaku in the face and someone needing to get the gigantic stick outta his ass. These next few chapters...you're going to want to punch a lot more people in the face. Stay tuned. (;
Thank you to the new followers as well: S123456, Ridward441, bluestar80960, Caboosse137, kotono3
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*Kabocha POV*
I was running late to meet uncle Hikari at the gate to go back home. I was sprinting through the streets that I had come to know so well these last few days, and I wasn't looking where I was going. Well...I was trying, but my large bag had momentarily blocked my line of vision. My body collided with something and I hit the ground.
"Ow. Ow. Ow." I grunted out with another voice and I moved my bag to see who it was. A boy a little shorter than myself, but with bright yellow hair sat in front of me.
"I'm so sorry! Here, let me help you!" I dropped my bag and grabbed his hands. I effortlessly pulled him up and he went back to rubbing his eyes. "Did I hurt you!?" I said frantically, afraid that I had hurt him.
"I-I'm okay." He stuttered and finally looked at me and blushed. I was stunned by his deep blue eyes.
"That's good." I smiled at him and he looked shocked. "I'm Kabocha Kasai." I introduced myself and took his hand to shake. I left off the princess part, so I wouldn't overwhelm him.
"I-I'm Naruto...Uzumaki." I blinked at his last name. It sounded familiar, but I suppose I'll let it go for now.
"It's nice to meet you! Uhm...where are you headed?" I questioned picking up my bag and noticing his gaze traveling to my bag.
"Just to get some ramen? You want to come! I mean unless...you're...busy…" He trailed off after looking at my bag again.
"I was headed home...I'm not from this village. I'm from the village hidden in the lava." I said adjusting my bag.
"Wow, that's amazing! That would explain your pretty hair and eyes! Your skin is also a lot tanner than leaf villagers too!" I outright laughed at his blunt observations.
"Thank you for the compliments!" I said happily shaking my wild, orange curls around. I moved my hair out of my face and grinned at him. "I've never had ramen. I'd love to get some with you some time, but right now I'm in trouble because I left home without permission-"
"Woah! That's so cool!" He said excitedly shaking me by the shoulders slightly.
"Yeah, yeah. Except now I have to go face judgement." I said not minding his hands and familiarity. I loved when people were this friendly, and the only other person who was this friendly with me upon first meeting was Kiba. I learned that the Kiba clan were very physical and warm much like Naruto.
"Oh…" He trailed off sadly...and I removed his hands from my shoulders, but kept them in my own.
"Hey, it's okay Naruto-kun. Here." I let go of his hands and took out a small piece of paper from my journal and a pencil from my bag. I handed him the paper and pencil and he took it confused.
"Write your address down, so I can visit you and take you out for ramen." I told him with a grin. He beamed back at me with a grin that was too contagious.
He wrote down his address and handed the paper back to me. "I'll treat you to ramen since you've never had it before! Make sure you visit me when you come back!" I took his hand to shake on it.
"I'll be back to see you, Naruto-kun!" I shouted as I ran for the front gate of the village.
"Believe it!"
*Normal Pov*
*With Gorudo*
"What are your plans for Kabocha, my friend." Fugaku sat down a cup of tea in front of the golden eyed, diplomatic leader who gently pushed the tea aside.
"Its Princess Kabocha to you." Gorudo said simply and looked into the smirking face of Fugaku. "We are also not friends."
"Oh, not like you and the Nara clan head?" Fugaku sat down in front of Gorudo.
"That is correct. Shikaku is the Jounin commander, so it would only make sense for him and I to get along as well as we do. He is also familiar with Kireina-sama since she is the military leader of our village." Gorudo leaned forward in his seat to rest his chin in the palm of his hand. Fugaku only hummed in response.
"Imagine my surprise when I hear that there is a negotiation going on that the diplomatic leader doesn't know about-"
"You may be the diplomatic leader, but you are not the leader of the lava village; not matter how much you want to be. Princess Kabocha is also not daughter; even though I'm sure you want her to be as well." Fugaku bit back losing all of the formality and etiquette.
"Well now I'm happy we finally have how you really feel about me out in the open!" Gorudo clapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. "You may think you know me Fugaku-sama, but...but, but, but….I'm afraid you have underestimated my position." Gorudo stood to his feet and dusted off the invisible dirt off of his civilian assemble.
"I do believe that I have overstayed my welcome, so I will take my leave now. I do hope your little attempt at gaining military backup works out for you." The smirk finally fell off of Fugaku's face and a content one graced Gorudo's handsome face.
He pivoted on his heel and looked over his shoulder at the man that was glaring holes into his back. "I'll see myself out." Gorudo did his signature hand sign and disappeared in a swirl of flames and gracefully reappeared in Shikaku's office...who jumped slightly.
"Hello my friend!" Gorudo greeted warmly. "Sorry to startle you and intrude without an introduction, but there is something that we need to discuss." He continued when he saw Shikaku open his mouth. Shikaku gestured for him to sit and he did so lazily.
"You're looking stressed.." Shikaku said making Gorudo chuckle tiredly. "You have no idea. This issue involving Kabocha's betrothal is wearing me down. I hate for her to be used for selfish reasons."
"Is that not what you're trying to do as well with her and Shikamaru?" Shikaku raised an eyebrow at the brunette lounging in front of him.
"Quite the contrary. I am trying to save her and secure a happy future for her at the same time. She is my daughter and I want what's best for her." Gorudo sat up straighter in his seat to look at the Jounin commander.
"That's another thing. People need to know what's going on, Gorudo. People as in your family." Gorudo sighed and looked at the man he became good friends with in less than two years. Gorudo had let the fact slip to Shikaku after the two had been drinking. Gorduo was a lightweight even for a man over six feet.
"Jun already knows Tsuyoi, Shosha, and Kabocha are mine." Shikaku began to speak, but stopped and continued to look baffled.
"Unfortunately there's a lot going on in the lava village. Circumstances and underhanded dealings that Jun wants to keep hidden. Those same circumstances and dealings would bring abou at civil war." Gorudo was now speaking and standing facing the window.
"I've made peace but...Kireina has been heartbroken for a little over a decade now."
"And you think Kabocha marrying Shikamaru will save your village?"
"No, my friend. The bond that they share will go beyond anything you or I will ever know. I don't want anything but happiness and protection for her. I have only come here to let you know of my departure. I have things to discuss with Jun since I just spoke with Fugaku."
"Really? How did that go?" Shikaku laughed out.
"Great." Gorudo said sarcastically and both men had a good laugh. "I'll return in a few days with Kabocha in tow. Only so that she can keep up with her future husband." Gorudo grinned cheekily at Shikaku who just shook his head with a smile.
"I'll see you in a few days then." Shikaku clasped hands with the brunette right before he disappeared just as he appeared.
*Lava Village Castle*
*Three Days Later*
"So you think you're an adult now...that you can disobey a direct order." Jun spoke with a voice full of ice at his youngest child.
"Order? She's a kid...your kid. She stays locked up-"
"Stay out of this Hikari." Jun pointed furiously at the raven haired assassin. "You were supposed to keep her here!"
"Watch your tone with me Jun. I will not roll over like Kireina-niisama." Hikari hissed at the older man with a face full of fury. Kabocha sat quietly with a face covered with two rivers of tears. Tsuyoi and Shosha stood on either of her protectively.
"She does what a wife is supposed to do, boy. Kabocha is my daughter and what I say goes where she is concerned!" Jun roared at Hikari making everyone, but Hikari flinch. Kabocha flinched again when she felt a large hand rest upon her head. She turned around to see Gorudo with a firm expression on his face, but his gaze never leaving her father.
"Tsuyoi, Shosha take Kabocha somewhere else." Gorudo looked away from Jun to smile warmly at the two boys whom he hadn't seen in a little over two weeks.
"Okay." Tsuyoi said taking Kabocha's hand and gently pulling her out of the room with Shosha.
"Jun...Kireina...Hikari...let's talk calmly. There are a few things we have to address including what the Hokage spoke with Hikari about." That was the last thing the three children heard before the door closed. The three children ended up in leaf village side of their village since they didn't want to play in the sand.
"Lesson time." Tsuyoi said in his usual flat voice and both Kabocha and Shosha groaned.
"Can't we just play the floor is lava?" Shosha said flapping his arms around. "Yeah I like that plan better. I tried playing it with the other leaf village kids at my goodbye party and they didn't get it." Kabocha said agreeing with Shosha.
"Sit." Shosha and Kabocha groaned and sat down in the grass at Tsuyoi's command.
"Look at the water." The two younger kids looked at the medium sized pond beside them.
"Okaaaay…" Shosha said rolling his eyes and his wrist towards the pond. Tsuyoi began walking towards the water and kept walking.
"Wai-" Kabocha started to say when she thought he was going to fall in, but stopped when he stood on top of the water with ease. Both Shosha and Kabocha's mouths dropped open.
"Teach me sensei!" Kabocha and Shosha said jumping to their feet and running to the edge of the water. "Like I said it's lesson time." Both of the younger kids nodded enthusiastically at Tsuyoi's statement.
"Lesson today is chakra control."
*Meeting Hall*
"There is no reason to be so angry, brother. Hikari you don't have to leave. Everyone here is family." Gorudo clapped Hikari on the shoulder and the two men smiled at each other.
"Gorudo…" Kireina's bell like voice rang out quieting all the men. "She found him didn't she." The grand hall was now filled with a smothering silence.
"Yes." Gorudo answered back quietly. "Who is he?" Jun demanded now with simmering anger.
"Shikamaru Nara. He's the future clan head-"
"He's nothing compared to what the Uchiha will bring to this village, and all they want is military assistance against Konoha." Everyone froze at Jun's admission.
"Wh-what did you do." Kireina hissed taking a large step towards Jun.
"I am currently working on the betrothal between the second son, Sasuke Uchiha, of the head family of the Uchiha clan and Kabocha." Jun said with a proud smile.
"You had no right!" Hikari roared in outrage. "She is my daughter! I will not have her put through what I was put through with this sham of a marriage. All of this for the sake of power and 'good' lineage." Kireina stepped out of her shy wife position and assumed her general role.
"She is my daughter and I will do with her what I see fit." Jun hissed out the word 'my' making Gorudo and Kireina cringe. The statement only fueled Hikari's anger.
"Over our dead bodies." Hikari said with a sadistic smirk. He constantly picked on his favorite niece, but he loved her more than anything. She was the daughter he could never have since he was barren. Kireina always made it a point to say that he was her children's parent if anything were to happen to her and Gorudo. Gorudo agreed wholeheartedly. The relationship between Gorudo and Hikari was more of siblings than in-laws.
"I can make that happen if you decide to cross me." Jun said pivoting on his heel to leave the grand hall. The cape attached to his armor bellowing behind him as he left. "Come Kireina."
Kireina made to follow in her simple white dress that contrasted greatly with her black hair. She was not done with this conversation...not by a long shot. She stopped at the door and looked over her shoulder at her younger brother and her true love.
"Please...continue to look after them." She said simply and followed the man she was forced to marry out the door.
"This is fucked up." Hikari said with a malicious grin making Gorudo sigh.
*With the children*
Shosha and Kabocha layed drenched on the side of the pond; breathing heavily with exhausted chakra.
"That's enough for today." Tsuyoi said making Shosha grunt. "No way! You're still standing on the water and its been three hours already!"
"My chakra control is superb. That's all it takes. No tricks. No genjutsu. All you need is to control your chakra. Concentrate on your feet….too much or too little is where you will fail. It's time to sink or swim. Try again and keep it steady. Kabocha, use less chakra. Shosha, you need more chakra."
"Okay." Kabocha groaned and stood up with Shosha more than ready to complete this lesson.
"Good. Stand here until I get back. A friend is calling." Tsuyoi disappeared in a swirl of flames just like Gorudo and shocking his younger siblings.
"What! Your just gonna leave us here!?" Shosha shouted to where Tsuyoi used to be standing making Kabocha burst with laughter. "You can shut up!"
*With Tsuyoi*
"I see you got my message." Itachi said to the raven haired boy. Tsuyoi inclined his head towards the crow with a slight smile.
"Hard to miss." Tsuyoi said as the crow disappeared after returning to its master.
"You've heard then?" Itachi asked even though he already knew the answer. "Yeah. There's going to be a coup de tau...using my baby sister to gain military leverage and your brother."
"Where did you hear this from?" Itachi questioned, but he did not doubt him. Tsuyoi was trained well and had inherited his mother's kekkei genkai instead of his father's bloodline trait. His mother's kekkei genkai is what made him the perfect spy and what gave Hikari the edge to be the best assassin. "I heard them discussing it in the grand hall a few hours ago."
"Alright then...are you ready to put an end to this farce… my friend."
"I'll do whatever it takes to save them…our siblings...our villages."
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Alright here is the next chapter! I posted it sooner because of the new followers and one review. Thank you guys so much! A lot of stuff going on and a few bombs being dropped. Let me know what you guys are thinking in the form of a review! I dropped an easter egg in chapter three...some of you probably thought it was a typo. Let me know if you guys found it. (;