CHAPTER 9: Mr. Eight
Currently Hinata and Naruto were playing in a park not far from the Hyuga compound with two Hyuga branch member guards watching over her; Hinata didn't have many friends because it was frowned upon to befriend commoners and the other children in the clan were always busy training and studying. But after meeting Naruto, that all changed Hinata now finally had a friend who would play and spend time with her, and she was going to do anything in her power to keep her new friend even if it meant going against her clan.
because to her Naruto was her knight in shining armor, and she loved every part of him from the cute little whiskers on his cheeks which she was so tempted to stroke but was too shy to do so, his beautiful golden blonde spikey hair it was like a beacon of light compared to the usual bland brown hair of the Hyuga clan, than there was his kind and gentle personality and how he was a true gentlemen to her. and how could she forgot about those deep dreamy ocean blue eyes that she just loved to stare and get lost into.
Ever since they had woken up Naruto had been catering to all her needs, almost like a newly married couple. Hinata blushed at that thought. Even now at the park Hinata for the first time in so long was actually able to enjoy the feeling of somebody pushing her on the swing. It was quite glorious just like how she remembered when her mother used to push her before her father had forbid it. He had deemed that a Hyuga pushing a swing to be too demeaning and below something a Hyuga would do even for the branch members.
She was enjoying it so much she didn't even realize they had been swinging for over an hour, well she was swinging and Naruto was pushing and it wasn't until her stomach let out a light grumble did Naruto say something.
"Hinata-sama do you want to get something to eat?"
Hinata blushed slightly in embarrassment of her stomach growling and at the fact that Naruto called her Hinata-sama replied to Naruto,
"Yes I would like that very much Naruto-kun, and please how many times have I told you not to call me that."
Bowing slightly to Hinata he said, "My apologizes Lady Hinata."
Hinata slapped Naruto on the shoulder in a light and playful tone, "Naruto-kun, Hinata-chan is fine."
Tilting his head in confusion he asked, "Do all people in Konoha not care about honorifics?"
Also tilting her head in confusion Hinata said, "What do you mean Naruto-kun?"
Sweet Kami she looks so cute when she looks confused like that Naruto snapping out of his thoughts says, "Well when I met the Hokage he asked me to call him Jiji, and your mom gives me this slightly annoyed look when I call her Lady Hyuga and you don't like it when I call your Hinata-sama.
Hinata bought her hand to her mouth and giggled into it lightly before she said, "Well I guess my mom doesn't like being addressed as Lady Hyuga because it makes her feel old, and as for you, Naruto you are my best friend so there is no need for you to regard me in such a manner. Though I'm kind of surprised the Hokage wants you to call him grandpa, I'm guessing he really likes you. My otousan on the other hand he loves it when people refer to him as Hiashi-sama or Hyuga-sama, he says he's just getting what he deserves which is the recognition of the people below him."
"Oh I see… Hinata-chan," Naruto saw her blush when he said that. "Well enough about honorifics, we should get some food for your before you faint." Smiling Naruto offered her his arm, returning the smile she took it locking their arms together and resting her head on his shoulder. She than began steering him towards a bakery which stocked her favorite cinnamon buns, unknown to them the in the background the two Hyuga guards watching over them were snickering at the sight of the young couple to be.
Upon nearing the bakery the two's ears were introduced to that of rapping emanating from inside the bakery. Entering they noticed a tall well-built tanned man with white hair, who wore dark sunglasses much like the Aburame clan he had on a white flak jacket blue ninja pants a long white scarf and a ton of swords strapped to his back.
"Hey man hurry up with that dough, cause I be itching to go. Though I know you love to hear my rhymes, you see I'm clearly running out of time YOOO."
Naruto, Hinata the baker and the two Hyuga guard's all sweat dropped hearing the man's terrible rhyming skills.
Naruto whispers softly so only Hinata could hear, "Maybe he should be getting a rhyming dictionary instead."
Hinata giggled lightly causing the man to turn around, the moment Naruto saw his Hitai-ate that the man was wearing it instantly reminded of what happened that night Hinata was kidnapped, and instinctively he pushed Hinata behind him. Seething with rage of what Kumo had attempted to do to his best friend, slowly he drew on the Kyubi's power causing his fangs to elongate and his whiskers to become more pronounced.
"Kumo" Naruto snarled out.
"Whoa, Whoa calm down yo. I mean you no harm" Killer B responded while bringing his hands up in front of him.
"YO KID what's happening!" Naruto heard the Kurama yell in his head. Naruto had learned his name when they were discussing on how to make a mental link between each other, it actually wasn't too difficult all Naruto had to do was imagine a button that allowed them to talk and flick it on, and bam he could talk to Kurama whenever he wanted to.
"There's a ninja from Kumo in front of us, I'm scared they are trying to kidnap Hinata again." Naruto said in his mind.
"HMMM kid theirs something weird about this guy, I can't really put my paw on it but….. hey kid ask…" Before Kurama could finish Naruto interrupted him.
"Kurama not now, let me make sure Hinata is safe first."
Kurama grinned and thought "Dam he is protective of his mate."
Naruto not taking his eyes of the Kumo-nin said out-loud in an commanding voice, "Ko.. Tokuma take Lady Hinata home."
The two Hyuga guards appeared next to Hinata was and place their hands on her shoulder, Hinata brushed them off her and grabbed onto Naruto's hand and plead, "No I won't go without you"
Bringing her hand to his mouth he kissed it softly to reassure her than said though all it really did was make her blush wildly, "Do not worry about me Lady Hinata I just want to have a talk with him, I will be fine so please go with Ko and Tokuma I'll bring you back some cinnamon buns after I'm done here." He finished with a smile.
Although a bit hesitant Hinata let go over Naruto's hand and allowed Ko and Tokuma to Shunshin her away. Seeing that Hinata was now safe Naruto let out a sigh still glaring at the Kumo-nin he said.
"I know somebody who wants to talk to you, well not actually you but somebody very close to you. So why don't we go somewhere more private… Mr. Eight."
The kumo-nin nodded his head in slight shock that this little boy knew his secret, he would have to find out how he knew.
Naruto than said, "But before we go I must keep my promise to somebody."
Walking over to the counter he said to the baker, "Good afternoon Keiji-san, I would like 8 of Lady Hinata's favorite cinnamon buns to go." He said with a smile.
The Kumo-nin sweat dropped at the boys complete 180 change in personality, one minute he was cold and commanding now he was back to the young joyful and humble boy he looked to be.
The baker quickly bagged the cinnamon buns than handed them over to Naruto, who dropped off the money he owed plus a generous tip to the man, giving his thanks to the baker Naruto motioned the Kumo-nin to follow him toward a nearby park.
Walking toward a bench Naruto sat down and motioned for the Kumo-nin to sit as well; reaching inside the bag of sweets he took one out and offered it to the Kumo-nin who took it with thanks. Naruto taking one out for himself he took a bite than said.
"You're different from the other Kumo-nins, I can feel you have no ill intentions toward Hinata."
The man also taking a bite out of the bun replied, "I do not always agree with the actions my village takes in order to gain an upper hand. But at the end of the day even if I am loyal to my village, I refuse to do something as vile as kidnaping children so we can turn them into breeders."
Naruto growled lowly than said, "I see, I am glad I trusted you….
Well at first I didn't and I am sorry for not at least giving you a chance, I hope you can see why I was so concerned for my friend's safety."
The man nodded in understanding said, "I understand in a world like ours you can never be too trusting, but I guess we can attempt to start now."
Than he started raping to Naruto's displeasure
"Yo my name is Killer Bee"
"And I'm strongest in Kumo you see"
"I totally got the flow you know"
now it's your turn to go "
He finished while pointing at Naruto with both his index fingers.
Naruto's right eye twitched slightly than said.
"Uhm… My names Naruto Uzumaki and I guess I hope that one day I want to be the strongest as well."
"I see your dreams like me, you and I could be brothers you and me!" Killer Bee rapped out, suddenly he took out a note book and immediately jotted something down. After he finished he said out-loud no longer rapping but in a more serious tone.
"But more importantly how did you know about the Hachibi? Cause that's supposed to be a secret you know."
Lifting up his shirt slightly to show Bee his seal he said, "I know because the Kyubi told me. He also asked if you would mind connecting with me so they he could have a chat with the Hachibi?"
Bee scratched his chin lightly than said, "Yeah Hachibi here doesn't seem to mind." He then raises his fist up in front of Naruto. Naruto looked at him slightly confused than after a couple of seconds he understood what Bee wanted him to do and so he also raised his own fist and they bumped them together.
Suddenly they were pulled into the darkness of their minds and when Naruto could see again he was sitting on-top of the water with the Kurama and his cage behind him. And in front of him was a giant ox like creature with 8 giant octopus tails behind him, and what surprised Naruto was to find that Bee was sitting on top of the Hachibi's head.
"Kurama it's been a long too long hasn't it brother." The Hachibi said.
"Yes it has been Gyuki though I see we are in very different circumstances with your Jinchuriki than I am with mine." Kurama replied interested in the bond between Bee and Gyuki.
"Quite interesting isn't it Kurama, though I'm quite surprised you haven't attempted to same as me." Gyuki said with a smirk.
Letting out a roar of laughter Kurama said, " It's not like I haven't tried brother but as you see." Kurama places his hand on the cage. " But the Yondaime was a master of seals, there is no possible way for boy to properly let me out and live without the key to the seal. At best I could just give him a mere fraction of my power."
"Such a shame Kurama, it pains me to see one of us locked up like some sort of wild animal." Gyuki spat out.
Naruto turned his head from his seated positon to look at Kurama and said, "I'm sorry Kurama, I can only imagine what it's like for the most powerful tailed beast to be locked up. If I could somehow I would let you out of the cage I would, but know this I would not let you out of my body."
Kurama looked down at Naruto with a fox like grin, " it's okay kid it's the thought that counts, though it would be nice to be free one day."
Naruto stands up and walks over to the cage and raises his fist up and sticks it past the cage bars, Kurama seeing this raises his giant paw up and gives Naruto a extremely light fist bump while they are connected Naruto says. "I promise one day you will be free, at least in my mind."
"Enough with the tear jerkers you two, why did you want to talk to me anyway Kurama." Gyuki said while wiping a non-existent tear away from his eye.
"Oh I can't talk to my beloved brother for old time sakes now you wound me brother." Kurama let out a light chuckle than said, "
"But actually I just wanted to see what got my host here so worked up and when I tapped into his sense's I felt there was something familiar about the kumo-nin."
Kurama then lay back down on his forearms and continued, " Took me some time to realize that Bee here was a Jinchuriki, and some more to discover it was you sealed inside of him. And drawing you in here was just a way I could make sure you meant no harm to the boy."
Hearing this Bee spoke up for the first time since entering their connected mindscape, "Look fluffy like I told Naruto before, I am nothing like the council of Kumo who just want more and more power. Naruto here is now a brother too me and I would never hurt him."
"That's good to hear," Kurama said in a slightly irked tone at Bee's nickname for him
Meanwhile in the Hokage's office. "A" the Raikage sat in a chair in front of the Hokage's desk while discussing the attempted kidnapping with each other.
"Hokage-dono I just want to give my deepest apologizes for what one of my ambassadors attempted to do, and how he took advantage of Konoha opening their arms to Kumo in a sign of peace." The Raikage said with his head slightly down in shame for what his council did behind his back.
Unlike his father A did not have a fetish for obtaining bloodlines, and even if he did he wasn't stupid why risk starting a war with Konoha. Who were known as being the most powerful in the elemental nations, when there was another country that treated their bloodline users worse than how people would treat Jinchurikis.
Heck if his father was still alive and was still Raikage he would have assembled an army and sacked Kiri and justified it by stating that he was saving the blood line users from mass genocide.
The Hokage replied while smoking his pipe slightly, "Yes I understand Raikage-dono but it will be hard pressed for you to prove that you took no part in the attempted kidnaping.
Suddenly the door opened and Hiashi entered saying, "Not quite Hokage-sama." Seeing the Raikage in the room he bowed toward him slightly than said. "I have all the proof you need." Making a motion with his hand the Anbu escorted in the 5 Hyuga traitors who now had freshly painted cage-bird seals on their foreheads.
Smiling the Hokage said, "Oh are these the traitors you were talking about?" Seeing Hiashi nod he asys to the Riakage. "Seems to be hope now doesn't it Raikage-dono." He gave the Raikage a short grin then turned to the Anbu. "Take them to Inochi I want everything they know in a report by tommrow."
Hiashi placed his hands up halting the Anbu, "Hokage-sama there is no need for that they have already confessed everything to me and the squad of Anbu I was assigned, whom also wrote down all the names of the councilors in Kumo that they had made the deal with."
One of the Anbu walked up to the Hokage and handed him a piece of paper, the Hokage took a quick look over it than handed it over to the Raikage. Whom upon seeing the names on it clenched the paper in fury.
"THOSE TRAITORS," He roared out loud. Turning over to Hiashi he gave him a short nod than said. "Hyuga-san when I get back to Kumo I will make sure to punish them properly. Kind of ironic that a Hyuga would be the one to clear my good name."
"Though I am angry that Kumo attmempted to kidnap my beloved daughter, I only want justice dealt to those who authorized it, not somebody they used as a scape goat to hide behind." Hiashi said to the Raikage who was surprised at the Hyuga's calm and forgiving demeanor, nodded in thanks.
"Since I am of no more use here Hokage-sama I will be taking my leave whiling leaving Ibiki some new friends. Hiashi pointed at the 5 Hyuga's, "I will return to pick them up after he is done playing. Turning toward the Raikage he said with a bow. "I hope you have a speedy time in taking out your trash like I did mines when you get back to Kumo Raikage-sama." With one more short bow Hiashi exited the room.
Back with Naruto he was walking back to the Hyuga compound after his chat with Bee and Gyuki, He thought to himself. "I wonder what Hinata is up to, I hope she's not too worried about me. Hmm I better hurry up before she starts freaking out." He turns into the market district knowing that if he cut across the district he would get back to the compound faster.
Suddenly four drunken Shinobi walking out of a bar ran over and the leader of the group grabbed him and lifted him up.
"So the mighty demon has returned to Konoha." He slurred out than he slapped Naruto right across the face leaving a bright red handprint.
Many of the people in the market stopped to watch what was happening but nobody stepped up to do anything.
"Why did you return back here DEMON!" the man roared out throwing Naruto onto the floor hard.
Naruto refused to give the man the pleasure of screaming out in pain, Naruto quickly assumed a fetal position while trying to protect the bag of cinnamon buns with his body.
The man turned away from Naruto and addressed the crowd.
"This is demon here is none other the Kyubi brat," There was a loud gasp from the audience. "and you know what I saw him do earlier! He was contaminating the sweet innocent Hyuga heiress he deserves this punishment for trying to corrupt the prestigious Hyuga clan." Raising his leg he stomped on Naruto's ribs, Naruto felt a few of them fracture but he still refused to scream in pain or protest. But he couldn't stop the tears from flowing out.
The man reached down and grabbed Naruto by his collar again,
"So the demon actually knows how to cry," he roared out in laughter. "Cry as much as you want brat knowing what your tears are properly poisonousness. Though I shouldn't free you of your misery, I'm going to kill you demon for the crime of corrupting the Hyuga heiress and most likely plotting to destroy Konoha."
He reached into his hoister and pulled out and kunai ready to impale Naruto, who shut his eyes shut and clenched his teeth waiting for the moment when he would die.
"DIE DEMON!" He heard the man yell out.
Suddenly Naruto heard a wet SPEULCH! And his entire body felt tired and heavy. Than he had the sensation of falling and he hit the ground wondering if this was how death felt like.
When he finally opened his eyes after what felt like an eternity, he was once again laying inside the sewer of his mindscape staring at Kurama who was staring back at him.
"Kid your awake, what have I done to owe the pleasure of you visiting so often lately." Kurama said with a grin.
Naruto sighed inwardly and said, "this is the 2nd time this week I am facing death maybe I should have just stayed in Mount Myoboku."
Kurama chuckled slightly, " So you're telling me saving and befriending that cute little Hyuga girl as you called her not worth it?"
Naruto blushed remembering earlier today when he called Hinata cute, "Yeah I guess you're right, I'm just worried what she's going to do once she finds out I died. She will never forgive me for breaking 2 promises to her."
"You know she might commit suicide if she hears you died." Kurama stated nonchalantly
Instantly standing up and running over to the Kyubi's cage, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN KURAMA!"
"You do realize the girl is in love with you right kid? Even if she doesn't commit suicide her heart would be broken forever, and nobody would be able to help her. She would be forced to live a life of sorrow, misery and eternal hate." Kurama replied.
Naruto let himself fall to a sitting position then he drew his knees in and hugged them into his body, "I guess meeting her was such a selfish act of fate on my part, I rather have never met her and died than making her suffering like how you said. " Tears now flowing down Naruto's face.
Kurama sighed, " Look kid before you drown yourself in tears, I just have to say you really got to stop being so negative. Always assuming your dead, Kami this this is definitely a case of déjà vu."
Wiping the tears from his eyes Naruto asked, "Wait I'm not dead?"
Kurama shook his head, which prompted Naruto to once again jump up and launch himself at the bars of the cage and yell.
"Dammit Kurama why did you lead me on to believe that I was dead… again, and how my Hinata-chan was going to kill herself!"
Kurama said with a shrug, " Can you blame me kid, I was bored." Bringing his face close to Naruto he asked, " and what is this about 'your' Hinata-chan?" He finished with a giant foxy grin.
Naruto grew a tick mark and blushed slightly at Kurama's words.
Before Naruto could give any retort he heard somebody walking through the water behind him and what sounded like heavy samurai battle armor. He then heard somebody say
"So this is who Mito choose as her successor."
KURAMA IS KINDA BEING A DOUCHEBAG
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY PORTRAYAL OF "A" (like seriously why get one blood line even if it is the Byakugan when Kumo could just sneak into Kiri and steal a ton of them)
CINNAMON BUNS!
WHO IS THIS MYSTERIOUS MAN LEAVE YOUR GUESSES IN YOUR REVIEW OR MESSAGE