Ch. 26: Past Connections
It took me a minute to pull myself off the ground, but eventually, I managed to do so. Slowly, I made my way back towards the old man's house, putting today's morning festivities into a deep, dark corner of my mind for another day or century. When I get mad, I repress it and move on.
I walked into the clearing and saw the house right where I left it, on the edge of the water of the lake. The scent of food in the distance was my guide. I took that moment to wonder just what happened to my animal companions because I hadn't sensed any of them at all. No, Mira was there, but Kaguya was nowhere to be seen. Where had that jungle cat gotten off to anyway? Hopefully, she hadn't returned to the Cat Summoning World to tell the elders about my blunder. I'd never face them again if they found out my own seals killed me. That shame would be too much to bear; Tomoe's would be the harshest.
I shivered involuntarily as the impending sense of doom wreaked havoc on me. The hell awaiting me with the cats would be legendary.
"Naru-nii!" I heard a couple of barks above me, so I looked up. I saw a wolf-hound puppy flying out a window and falling towards me. I raised my arms out and caught the hound in my arms. "Naru-nii! You're alive!" Mira cried in my chest. I was shocked for a moment. No sane person would expect a dog to jump from two stories to say hello. This one, though, isn't normal, and she's going to be a damn good partner. I hugged her to my chest and leaned inward as she wailed. Since dogs don't cry like humans, she's instead wailing like she's broken a leg.
"Hey," I patted her on the head and smiled. "I'm alive and okay. Calm down, Mira."
"Naruto-nii died! Mira felt it!" The puppy pushed its nose painfully onto my neck, nibbling on the exposed skin.
"Yeah," I nodded. I did die but alive still thanks to powers beyond my control. "Then how am I alive now? Hmm." The hounds didn't have an answer to give and opted to smother herself in my chest. I pat the top of her head and waited for the hound to calm down. Once she did the hound looked back up to me, mystified and joyful.
"Naru-nii alive. Okay. Stay with Mira," she barked very cutely before licking my cheek.
"Of course. You're stuck with me." I saw a jovial twinkle in her eyes after all dogs like her can't smile like humans. She barked and shot to my shoulder forcing my hood back off my head and rested in it like normal. I retorted by grabbing her by the back of the neck and forcing her back up and in front instead sort of how Kiba does it. I wanted my hood up after all. "Ready, Mira?"
The pup moved around a bit then barked, "Yes!" She rubbed the top of her head against my chin. I nodded and walked up to the door of the house.
Damn, I need me some food.
"Have you eaten, Mira?"
"Yep!"
So she's ahead of the game then. Best catch up.
I heard someone approaching from the side of the dock. I could sense an unfamiliar presence nearby, but didn't give it much thought; it wasn't a threat after all. As it came closer, I sensed aggression in its scent. "You! Identify yourself." I faced towards a boy wholooked to be around my age, maybe 14 or so, like I would be soon. He had black eyes and black hair, styled in a pineapple fashion. His chakra frequency fluctuated, just like a Nara, but not quite the same. Who was this boy, and why did he seem ready to attack me at any moment?
"Strange boy arrives at the same time as you, Naru-nii." Mira whispered softly within my coat. Oh, so that's why Team 10 is here. They probably escorted this little bastard here as my replacement. The forehead protector on his head signifies he's a Konoha ninja, but what I find most interesting is the fact he has a Chunin vest on. Maybe he's closer to 15 instead and attached to Team Seven; then again, looking at it, the vest appears dated. Like back during the third ninja war, it wasn't worn anymore outside of as a piece of nostalgia for older heads like Kakashi. He's definitely a Genin then. The stance he takes is unlike any Nara I know and I know several, including Shikaku. Some rejected Nara possibly from a branch family and lacking in the shadow arts, I assume.
"I'm a lot of things," I said as I stepped up to him. He held out a kunai, begging for someone like me to take it. "What do you intend to do with that?" I questioned the Nara. They're smart enough to know that conversation and digging for information is a better tactic against an unknown threat. Especially when the threat speaks first instead of attacking.
"Identify yourself!" he barked again.
Seeing how this might be a good opportunity for some fun, I let my dark side take over. My intent to murder this kid flowed out from every pore of my body, focused solely on him. I watched his body freeze and straighten. I thought of ten different ways I could kill him, all of them involving the same kunai in his trembling hand. The false Nara took a shaky step back away from me, dripping with fear. I walked up to him and he stumbled back, tripping over his own feet, taking him to the deck. I grabbed his kunai from the deck and seized him by the shoulder. The Nara's eyes turned to dinner plates as flashes of his impending doom played across his mind. I believe I killed him with a stab to the heart through his vest. Instead of that, I replaced it to the pouch on his leg and stood up.
"If an unknown threat is before you, don't act as the aggressor, Trembles." I decided to nickname him. He was trembling slightly before I tested him, but it's apparent now.
"W-Who are y-y-you?" he stuttered like a shy Hinata.
"Naruto?" I heard from above from the one and only Yugao herself. My master was perched above on the roof, like a bird staring down at me.
I rose back up to my feet to greet her. "Good morning again, Sensei. I'm assuming this is my replacement for Team Seven?"
"The one you scared half to death? Yes, I brought him here myself." There goes my assumption that it was Team 10. What the hell are they doing here then? My master dropped down from above and walked up to me. She raised her finger and placed it under my hood before swiftly yanking it back. Didn't even realized I had it on. "Refrain from antagonizing your allies for now on. Especially on a mission."
"Yes, Sensei," I nodded, relenting to her will. I looked back down to the young Nara now flabbergasted by the situation.
"His name is Keisuke Nara. Yes, he's from the same family as Shikamaru who's Sensei you assaulted yesterday," she reminded with a harsh swipe across my head.
"Ow," I rubbed the area.
"I'm the one who had to clean up that mess," she said, holding her hand out expectantly. "Speaking of which, give them here." She held out her hand closer, this time more insistently. I knew what she was talking about, and I reached for my seal, pulling out the knives. She snatched them from me before I could even think about giving it back. "Next time you do something like that, you'll be restricted from eating for three days."
"Whoa, you can't tell me when I can't…" I caught a swift and harsh glare from her then remembered what it meant to be a master and apprentice. She had the right to restrict anything and everything if she deemed it necessary for my growth. She knew that food was one of the few joys I had left in this life. Two of my favorites were in the form of Ramen and women. Take those away and I might as well kill myself. I gritted my teeth and held my tongue. If I wanted to, I could disobey, but that would defeat the purpose of leaving Team Seven and having an Anbu leveled ninja that understood me. I chose her out of dozens of Jonin and special Jonin in the village and needed to adhere to that choice. So, I bowed my head respectfully showing my acquiescence.
"Good, now apologize to your squad mate."
"Squad mate? Him?" I looked back down to the Nara and frowned. "Are you telling me we're attached to Team Seven for the duration of this mission?"
"Yes, but we've the freedom of being a split cell just as long as we fulfill the core mission. During you will act as Team Leader until mission accomplishment. We've a mission outside this one as well afterwards since you got yourself banished and me along with you."
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"You want me to play Chunin to these kids? You can't blame me for the council shunning me for the thousandth time in a row. It wasn't my fault."
"Extortion," she said dryly, making me frown. "Slavery, drug dealing, and smuggling Naruto. You're lucky it was only your more legal activities that were discovered. You get what you deserve for being sloppy," she smirked at me. A soft chuckle escaped my lips at this situation of mine. I didn't cover all my bases and spread my reach thin. Makes sense we're attached to Team seven since the mission was theirs to begin with. If she wants me to play as their senior then whatever. Just shows how well she knows how I can operate in the end.
"Yes ma'am, it'll be done."
A very pretty smile rose on her lips. "Good. Now," she gestured towards the extra. I faced the Nara on the ground still and offered him my mind. He looked at it with distrusted until I put in a very believably light smile and said, "sorry about that Trembles, when I meet an aggressor I gauge them out. I wasn't going to harm you." The Nara blinked than slowly reached for my hand. I helped him up to his feet looking slightly up to him. He's taller than me by a bit so must be older by a decent amount. It's interesting he's still a genin at this age.
"I'm fine. It's just… what was that?" he stammered a bit.
"The intent to murder, I guess you could say. Different than the killer's intent."
"Because killer's intent, it's to exhume the desire to end a life; murderer's intent is the desire to brutalize you before the end," he finished perfectly. I nodded a bit, a little impressed with his quick understanding, but he's a Nara, so it's to be expected. "And you're the infamous Naruto Uzumaki." He studied my features, from my face down past Mira to the boots I wore. "You're different from what I was told."
"And what were you told?'
"You're an uncontrollable hazard to those around you," he answered plainly. He then looked up to my master and relief washed over his stoic expression. "But it seems some of my information is false, but not all. If you don't mind me saying your aggressive approach towards others seems very true. Even now you seem to be straining yourself between causing harm or not."
"Comes with the territory," I shrugged. "But for now, I guess I'm your team leader. I trust you know what that means, yes?"
"I do, yes," he said after he averted his gaze from mine.
"So what can you do? You've been a genin for a while so there's something wrong with you." The Nara grit his teeth meaning I'm in the right path. "I can tell you're at least 15 and most ninja that age are at least Chunin, especially from one of the Leaf's predominant clans. Where're you deficient to the point you've failed to meet the average?"
"I'm not deficient Uzumaki-san," he nearly growled.
"Then why are you still a genin and attached to a squad years your junior?" I spoke clearly implying I don't need emotion but answers.
"Because my last two teams are dead," he said behind grit teeth.
"Was it your fault?" I asked very bluntly. The Nara paused as a hurricane of emotions populated his soul. His soul trembled and his body followed from anger, anguish, and even regret. I knew the signs of traumatic stress anywhere. I took a breath and waved off my own question. "Never mind."
He shook his head. "No, it was my fault. I got my team killed, and I'm the sole survivor. This has happened to me twice now."
"You sound like a bad luck magnet then," I sighed but waved it off.
"Aren't you a little distressed to hear about me?"
"Not in the slightest." I faced my master. "Can we eat now?"
Yugao rose a brow then said, "Yeah. Listen to Kakashi until I get back."
"Aye ma'am." I saluted and she disappeared from sight leaving me and the little spy alone on the dock. I faced him and frowned at his emotionless visage. "So, why are you really here?"
"What do you mean?" the spy maintained his persona well. Crossing my arms, I glared at the guy, thinking how he believed he'd possibly fool me. You can change your face, your height, and even your chakra signature, but the soul can never be broken, morphed, or changed from its original state. I know who he is and why he's acting out as a Nara; it's beyond me. Even more, how Danzo managed to sneak this bastard through the folds to do this is beyond me. His acting is outstanding, seeing that he fooled that master of mine so easily, but now that we're alone, enough is enough.
I faced the spy once more and asked, "What are you doing here, Unagi?"
The ROOT anbu that acted as the liaison between Danzo and I lost all emotion from his expression. His eyes dulled into a gray from its black. The Root in him was showing again. I've never seen Unagi without his mask but something tells me this isn't how real face. He's not using a henge either. I'd rather see his actual face, but this identity probably worked out best for a spy. Unagi gestured that the end of the dock and followed him to its edge. He pointed out the area behind his right ear telling me to switch to harmonics. A form of silent communication through seals on the back of our ears I created for us and a few others I know will never disclose to others.
We both reached behind our ear and adjusted out seal until they pulsed in unison. Our connection was complete and so was our channel for communication.
Unagi reached into the vest and presented a scroll to me. "My master has a request," he said. Opening his mouth, only a single note or sound came out, but to my seal, it was translated into words. A seal to allow conversation through sounds and grunts. I thought it was funny at first, but it turned into a tool for swapping intel. I raised a brow at him, but I took the scroll to give it a look. It was coded and full of seals. I could see through the seals without even touching them and make out the message. The request was hilarious to say the least. He wants something from the Mist to be brought back to the village. All those who tried have failed, and one defected. Shocked he would tell me this, but I guess he wants to show his hand and build trust with me.
I closed the scroll and rubbed my chin. "I'll accept this request." Unagi replied with a simple nod. I stuffed the scroll into my vest this time to read later. There's a lot of fine print and some seals I can't see through without setting time aside to release them. How does that man have such a keen understanding of seals?
For this mission and onward, I will be standing in for you in your former team, Uzumaki. I will be replaced once the mission is completed."
"Good. You're the only ROOT I work with and like it to stay that way." I confessed. Most others didn't make it that long.
"My master deduced as much. When do you plan to leave?"
"In a week. Once I get my bearings of this place. I'll need you to gather more information on Nami in my stead."
Unagi glanced down at me with his sharp eyes. "Do you plan to expand here Uzumaki?"
"I plan to take advantage of this gold mine, and you're," I said, shooting my finger out dramatically. "You're gonna help me."
"That's not my mission." He declined pushing my finger out of his face. He didn't show it but I know irritation when I feel it. Introducing emotion into the tools of Danzo is fun even if it's a negative. But all negatives eventually redact back to positives.
"I'll be sure to tell Danzo when I see him next. Or maybe," I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'll tell him it's your fault I've lost interest in being his little puppet. We wouldn't want to be your fault now, would we?" Unagi frowned at me showing emotions I've forced him to become familiar with again. Frustration seems to be the most common I cause in others and its funny. The ROOT took a long breath basically relenting to my will. "Good." I pat his shoulder and walked to the door into the house.
"Uzumaki." I stopped shy of touching the door and glanced back. Unagi walked up to me and stopped just a few feet away. "My master asked me to give you this as well." Unagi reached into his vest and presented a small scroll to me. Smaller than the mission scroll of before. This one was practically swimming in seals. Enough to get my attention because these seals are his work or the work of anyone in thr village. I've seen damn near studied every seal in the village either personally or through a clone and these seals are different. I took the scroll and instantly felt a something flow through my arm. The sensation of electricity faded up to my elbow leaving the just the scroll left.
"What is this?" I asked while giving it a scan of its seals.
"Half pay." He said.
The reward for mission accomplishment is a scroll of seals I can't open. Looking at the seals I can see several chakra signatures and bloodwork seals on this. Only a specific set of people could access this scroll and the fact I can break the small button keeping it closed shown that this was an Uzumaki scroll. One of a few in his possession offered to me if I fulfill my mission. An Uzumaki Clan book and now scrolls, this man really does get around. "Very well," I tucked the scroll away and turned to leave him behind on the dock. I'm hungry and want food.
I didn't bother knocking, the occupants would be deaf not to hear Mira's whining, and let myself in but removed my boots at the front first. They've gotten muddy and messy on the return here. The smell of food made my stomach growl the closer I got. Finally, I got close enough to almost jump the woman cooking right now. I turned the corner and almost groaned at the large amount of people inside with maybe a few missing. I saw the blonde girl, the lazy one, Fives, and the boy I felt from before. The Uchiha is missing and nowhere nearby. Wonder where he wandered off to. The blonde girl looked ready to shoot for the nearest exit and the lazy one that barely showed any reaction to me.
"Oh crap, he really is back!" The blonde one yelled while taking to her feet. I didn't bother sparing her a look.
"Good morning," I greeted my fellow occupants before walking inside past them and sat at the table.
"Naruto!" Fives called out to me and faced towards her. She was on her feet and walked up before me. I rose a brow at the girl nearly crossing my arms over my chest. The call of food was great right now and didn't have the energy to humor this girl. Suddenly she wrapped her arms around me bringing me to a pause.
"What the…" I gasped genuinely taken back.
"I'm so relieved you're awake," she breathed out in my ear. Never knew she was this this worried about my wellbeing and vigor to show this much relief. The surprise I felt faded away from a warm arc of my lips into a smile and breathed in hard wrapping my arms around the girl. The warmth of her body was very much appreciated especially the manner it pushed back against the cold of The Abyss still chilling my bones. Her scent as well was nice, flowery like cherry blossoms mixed with strawberry.
"I'm fine," I said, raising my hands up and gently pushing her away from me. Fives looked at me in concern, which I could understand. I did die, after all, from being electrocuted. Luckily, it wasn't my time to go yet. She looked down to my stomach and frowned. I couldn't blame her; the pain I still felt from the slash I suffered from Zabuza before was unbearable. It nearly gave me a colectomy. "I'm fine," I reiterated firmly. "But thanks for caring. Not many in my life do." I patted her on the shoulder and walked to the empty spot at the table.
Ignoring the looks from everyone at the table, all of them gauging me in their own way, I reached up for Mira and placed her down next to me. Somehow she had sneaked back to the top of my shoulders without my realizing it. The wolf dog lay down by my side almost instantly, resting her head on my thigh. A moment later food was in front of me in the form of fish, vegetable soup, and rice. "Thank you," I said to the woman. The woman smiled and returned to her kitchen. For once, I decided to take my time eating my breakfast. I rested on the floor, which was uncomfortable at best, but tolerable. The chopsticks in the table stared at me as if to say, 'Use these.' I gave them an internal middle finger. I'm going to make or buy a table and chairs for this house because sitting on the floor while eating makes no sense to me. I refuse to eat while sitting on the floor like this for long. I can be called a spoiled brat, but in my time those who eat on the floor when they have the resources to make a table are fools.
Excuse me," the woman called over to me when I raised my fork to begin eating. I looked up to give her the attention she deserved as the woman of the house. "Can you remove your hood and coat while at the table, please?" I blinked and looked over my coat and sort of agreed with her. My coat was a little dirty and wearing a coat indoors is really rude, same with the hood. It places me in the same category as the people who wear sunglasses at night or inside when they really don't need to. I was filthy from training and really needed to wash my clothes and myself again.
Not to be rude, I nodded to show my compliance before saying, "Yes, ma'am. Please forgive me for my impoliteness." The woman's smile grew with a nod of approval when I stood up and undid the buttons of my coat. Mira hopped up and took to my side as I returned to the hallway. I saw some sort of coat rack in the front and hung my coat gently.
"Actually, can you place it outside? I can wash it for you."
"Yes, ma'am." I took a detour outside and dropped my coat in a basket with other dirty clothes inside, but I'm keeping the rest of my clothes.
"I don't know why you are all unnerved by that boy. He's really polite and respectful." I heard clearly from outside the window where the basket lay.
"Yeah, for now," the blonde spat out. I couldn't fault her for being wary of me, but the way she spat that out was laced with bitterness. It made me confused as to why she had such ire towards me, considering I hadn't interacted with her much, if at all. I mean, by what I could remember, I may have pranked the Yamanaka family once or twice, but I did that to every family that was mean to me. I am a strong believer of equality, so it would only make sense that I pranked them back. This was all done during my childhood, when I wore Hinata's gifted goggles, something I plan to wear instead of a headband like I did the first couple of weeks after becoming an official adult. The goggles q tool for a variety of things, and with the seals I have planned, they will help improve my near-sight problems.
"Hey Forehead, what's with you and your teammate? Is he even more unstable than before?"
"I don't know pig!" Fives screeched harshly. She was angry, not more like furious with that nickname and seemed ready to lash out.
Now nicknamed Sassy, leaded back with her hands up defensively. "Okay wow," she murmured. "Forget I asked." Fives' scowl turned into a frown but she didn't do as her inner demon was telling her to rip the blonde asunder.
"He is different but stable," Fives said in my defense. "And hates it when anyone talks about him behind his back."
Sassy scoffed. "Who cares? I mean, he's Naruto. You know, loud and obnoxious with equally loud and obnoxious clothes as well. The heck is wrong with him?"
Five shrugged. "That was Naruto before, but he's a totally different person who acts nothing like the old Naruto. He's strong and you shouldn't underestimate him."
"What do you mean," the lazy one asked in a bored tone even though that was a cover for his curiosity.
"And what is with you? Defending the dope of all people?" Sassy scoffed.
"I-it's like, how do I say this? At times I felt Naruto wanted to hurt us but hasn't found a good enough reason for it, yet. He's always looking over his shoulders and moving around like a restless animal. It's sort of unsettling how he's never still. Even when he sleeps you throw a rock at him and he cuts it in half." I rubbed my head at that last one. She threw rocks at me whilst I was asleep. How annoying. That's another couple points knocked off the scale for Fives just when she was doing so good.
"He's very honest in how he goes about his business. If you don't bother him, he won't bother you. If you ask him something, he will answer, depending on how you ask and your intent. If you ask for help, he will give it. At times...it's very sad to see."
"So he is overly cautious, close to paranoid, and shows signs of severe anxiety." the lazy one put together and Fives shrugged.
"Wait. Why is he sad to look at? He looks fine to me. Alive and well even," Sassy added in.
"I don't know. He's never stops moving. He doesn't lower his guard to trust anything around him." Fives shivered, "Ay times he stares into your soul and strips you of your… well everything, but at times I see something in them."
Fives took a sharp breath out. "He's sad to look at, at times, because he's looks sad and hurt. Like when he walked in here I could feel it." The air turned eerily quiet after that last one. The room went quite and I can't blame the people inside going silent. I'm getting pitied by Sakura of all people. I'm not sure how to comprehend that. I took that moment to walk into the room with my face showing for once to the general public and looked around to the faces of each person all sporting either a look of shock or amusement. The genin looked to me with mostly horror when I came to view in their minds hovering over fives like a leering crow. Fives shivered, hugging herself, and taking deep breaths all of the sudden.
"Why did it suddenly get cold?" Sassy stared at me then to Fives relaying the message. Fives froze but didn't look back.
"H-he's behind me, isn't he?" Lazy and Sassy nodded dumbly and finally after a lengthy gulp Fives looked back. "Naruto!" Fives called out to me but I did nothing except stare at her with naked eyes and a blank expression like a ROOT mask. Nothingness that was so blank that it could consume all emotion without showing a lick of it.
"You're not wrong," I shrugged at her words. "I'm very different from what I was before." I sat down, leaving those words hanging in the air for them to take as they will. Mira climbed onto my lap as usual, seeking attention from everyone at the table. "I guess you're more observant than I gave you credit for, but you shouldn't worry about me. Worry about yourself and your career." I said, letting down some of my walls just a bit. She's the only one to make note of this openly, as far as I know, besides Shion or Hinata. I've kept a stiff upper lip forward at all times, but even the most solid walls weather and crack over time. Mine are no different. I showed her a glimpse of what I've been feeling, digging deep into that box I swore I would never open. The Pandora's box of all the pain I've suffered, evils I've committed, and vices I've embraced throughout my life.
Five isn't as foolish as I first assumed and even more so has developed empathy towards me now. As a child with her innocence intact, she'll never truly understand what's out there; however, in my opinion, no child should. But she must if she wants to survive, so I showed her a bit of it through our joint gaze. Enough to make her nod her head slowly with dinner plate-like eyes. She doesn't fully understand, limited by her few years of experience, but knows to leave it alone.
I turned to my food finally and reached for my fork to begin. The soup was gone in one single gulp, meat and all. I started quickly on the rice and stew next.
"Naruto," I stopped midway to placing some of the rice in my mouth to eat when Fives called me. I stopped to see what she wanted. "How are you feeling?" She asked lightly with a set of green gems for eyes gazing upon me with worry.
"Well enough," I muttered before rotating my left shoulder that's still a bit sore. "I met the new addition to Team Seven a moment ago. Where's Broody?"
"Training, I think. Kakashi-sensei has us learning tree walking," she told me quickly. "You've been asleep for over three days as well, just fyi."
"Tree walking?" That's the most basic of all the basic exercises for genin to learn. It's right after sticking a leaf to your forehead or kunai to your forearms. It's a good place to start, I guess. I finished chewing and swallowed. "Really," I mused shocked I was out that long.
"Yeah," I heard behind me and shot my chin up to see who it was. It was Kakashi of all people looking nice and healthy right now. I grinned at the man to see him mostly unharmed. His life is more important than a genin's during a mission. "After your lightning jutsu hit Zabuza, it freed me from the prison. You did a very unwise and irresponsible thing, Naruto. You came close to dying yourself; you know that?" He chastised me firmly.
"Very true, but we would have died anyway if we had left you. I simply did what I had to," I answered with my own logic this time. "Zabuza would have hunted us down one by one. I'd rather die crippling a great ninja like that instead of running like rabbit amongst a tiger." I stopped for a moment to take a drink from my cup of water and downed it in a few controlled sips. The woman of the house poured me another drink with a little more of a grave look in her eyes but not like the look in the girl's, the boy, and lazy one in the room along with us.
I went back to my food and swallowed with without chewing for the most part. Life threatening chakra control and manipulations training does much for the appetite. I'm famished to death, not that my current table manners could show it. I finished sadly in no time and gulped down a couple more cups of water I had in front of me.
"Well, you must be healthy if you can bicker and ramble like this," Kakashi said dully.
"I'm fine," I repeated for the third time. I stood up, but presented myself to Kakashi before leaving. "I will take responsibility for my actions for disobeying your orders and for attacking Asuma Sarutobi in your report once I get home."
I don't regret attacking the man. I finally discovered one of the talents I have thanks to our little altercation. The power I took with my blood suck not too long ago has awakened. I wondered just how that chimera moved so swiftly around me. I had to allow the beast to take over my fight. It wasn't some technique but an actual Kekkei Genkai. That is unless I had the special talent to begin with and just forced its awakening bit by bit. I've noticed that things do slow down every now and again like I'm processing faster than I'm moving.
Shattering my body assisted with awakening these abilities. A fight with more experienced and faster opponent forced me to Shift to compensate. I have read about this special set of abilities called Shift Release. There's so much mystery surrounding it since the clan that possessed it were wiped out over eighty years ago. I wonder how I could possibly have this bloodline naturally. I sighed and rubbed my head, stopping my train of thought at the reality station.
"One more thing before you go and "train' again Naruto," Kakashi appeared behind me and stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. I fought the urge to elbow him but knew it wouldn't work. Kakashi is faster and stronger than I am and not as gullible as most. I will lose in a battle against him that much is for sure until fully healed.
"The Teams 7 and 10 is having a training session today with our new addition." I grunted but nodded in the end. "Since you've shown your abilities, I've been trying to train our team to catch up with you. Currently we're working up to water walking like you and I can do, but we started tree walking two days ago. If you can help Brood…" Kakashi cleared his throat before the nickname could slip. "If you can help Sasuke and Sakura both today after your debriefing with your master, I'd appreciate it." I nodded again but looked back to the incomplete team at the table.
"I understand senpai," I sighed. Out of all the teams for them to send it had to be this one. Team Gai would have been more appreciated. Or maybe team nine with Kiba here to back me up. Instead we've this rag tag group of misfits. I shook my head at them and turned back to Kakashi. "When did they get here and why?" I knew the answer, but still, I had to ask just to be certain.
"We got a mission and need a ship so passing through," the Sassy one answered.
"They got here yesterday and leave in two days," Kakashi updated me. I wanted to snort at the loss of good test subjects to use my moves on, but reframed from it for now.
"I see. Thank you for updating me."
"I also want you and Sakura to guard the bridge builder this morning." He quickly added in.
"It will be done." I said in a monotone. Kakashi looked into my eye for a moment longer before letting go.
"Sensei," Sakura suddenly rose he voice gaining attention from the room. She flushed lightly, but stood strong in what she wished to convey. "Naruto just woke up. Shouldn't he rest a bit more."
"Hmm." Kakashi cupped his chin in thought. He looked at me and I shrugged. I'm ready for work whether in recovery or not. I did take note of what she's trying to do.
"The order stands. Get ready, Tazuna is leaving soon."
"But Sen…" I rose my hand up and gave Sakura a look. She hesitated then sat back down.
"Just don't try not to hit on the client's daughter while we're gone, senpai." I took to the front again leaving a shocked pair of ninjas in their places, which was really amusing to see.
Mira hopped back to my shoulders as I put my boots back on my feet and walked briskly out the door facing the direction of the bridge. I wanted to see the village anyway and this was a good chance to go get a leg up on the Mist village slave trading done here. If I am lucky I can get my hands on a kekkei genkai holder or all of them if there are more than one. I jumped out the door to the patio and stopped when I felt like I was being watched. Someone was watching me from somewhere but where is the question. I closed my eyes and pushed my combined senses outward to the area around the house.
I found someone and shot my eyes to the left. A boy jumped and hid back behind the corner. He was Hinata style spying on me from behind a corner. I mind it if someone spies on me most times when I am not doing anything like now. Plus, with all that happened, and almost getting killed again after my coma for a couple days, I'm on edge. I wondered why out of everyone this kid was watching me so I asked.
"Excuse me." The boy remained behind the corner but I could feel him shaking in place like I was am the most frightening person he has ever seen. Best leave the boy alone.
"Hey Naruto." Fives burst through the door like the building was on fire and rushed out. She saw me just by one of the windowsills with something in hand. "You forgot this." I looked down to my book that I must have had laying around somewhere full of experimental seals. Seeing that the house was still here she must have resisted the urge to open it. The big swirl on the cover is a trap seal itself to trick the weak minded to open it sort of like a box of evil magic. It whispers honey in your ear while readying a dagger to slip in your back. She resisted the urge to open it and is even holding it right now, but I can see her resolve is dwindling. She's shivering uncontrollably like a druggy without their fix with even the cold sweats as well. She did well to resist the swirl up until now so I might as well reward her with something.
I reached to my back and pressed a seal that took me forever to place there and pulled a book from behind to present to the girl. "Here." I swapped book for book for one with a brown cover and green spine instead of the swirl book she kept safe it seems. "You should read that one. It might help you." Sakura panted slightly while hugging the book to her chest as if it were a life line. Slowly she calmed down enough to see what sort of book it was.
"What is this," she asked roughly when she saw that the cover and spine were both blank and empty. She turned the book under and over searching desperately for anything close to a title.
"Read and find out," I answered to peak her interest. When she opened it along the way to the bridge I knew that I had her in my grasp just like many that came before.
Nice place… I guess
The village of the land of waves wasn't in the best shape could have been in or has been in. Even I can see the desperation and fear in the eyes of the populace without being in front of them. It's all in the body language. Everyone in this village fear Goto. To be honest, they have a right to be afraid. Men like Goto, while a bit arrogant, is smart with his money. That includes whom he has in his employ. In the village I've come across few men like him. They have experienced mercenaries and thugs as bodyguards. To have the loyalty of such trash is impressive and difficult to hold. I've taken notice of a few of these men patrolling the town and even in poor man's clothing to act as spies. I'm positive nothing happens around this town without Goto knowing.
These men under his employ are all trained and/or seasoned killers who'd play with a couple weak villagers on a whim. They can't defend themselves without endangering their families. Sakura and I, did as we were told to follow the old man as he traveled through the village to the bridge, but I wonder now if it is worth it.
I noticed quickly a good number of children walking around, perhaps orphans. Their families were either sold away or kill out right for getting in the way. It's a shame. Children are supposed to have a childhood not wallow in the dirt like this. I grunted and winced at the sound of ripping flesh below me. I looked down and noticed my hand was stuck in a closed fist and even cutting into my hand. My body is showing signs of rage. I took a couple breaths and calmed down not only my nerves but my grip as well. What drove it home was when one child started to approach me.
"Old man," I called up to the man who looked back with the same look as the villages we past behind us but his was more determined than the rest of those we pass.
"What is it?"
"Stop for a moment." I turned and faced the little girl that tried to approach me from behind. I dropped to a knee and smiled when the child stopped right in front of me.
"Please," the little girl begged with her hands out. Seeing this brought of memories of both my lives. I've been in this little girl's shoes more than once. Scrapping by what food and water I could trying to survive off meager helpings here or there.
I rose my hand and pat her on the head making the girl giggle cutely. "I'll help you out, but first you need to tell me your name little one."
The little girl giggled again with a wide grin. "My name, Yumi."
"Yumi huh," I said tasting the name and accepting it as is. It wasn't a bad name, but did it really fit?
Yes, I guess it does.
"Well then Yumi, I will tell you what…" I looked around the area until my eyes happened upon a house that looked abandoned and not like the rest as well. This one didn't have any life in it. It's slightly rundown as well. The perfect fixer upper for a possible orphanage or at least a place that any of the orphans here could rest instead of roam the streets. "That house right there," I pointed to the one that I saw before that was empty. "If you go and gather your friends tonight I give you as much food as I can cook for you." I promised to the girl and found the redness of her cheek to be even cuter than before. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a couple pieces of candy for the kid to share with her friends. She took them with a grin and nodded.
"Okay, thank you nice person." I pat the kids hair and ruffled it again.
"Naruto is the name Yumi. Naruto Uzumaki."
"Naru-oniichan?" I blinked at the sudden familiarity but her eyes forced me to agree with a nod of my own. "Thank you oniichan!" Yumi quickly hugged herself to me then ran off feeling brighter than before like a sun in the middle of the mist. I sighed and took to my feet.
"Thank you for that. Surprised you're good with kids." The old man said to me, but I waved it off.
I rose my hands into the cross seal and pushed chakra through my body. A group of clones appeared around me. "Group one: your task is to hunt." Group one all did their own personalities version of a salute or a way to show that they understand my order. "Group two: claim that house. If someone lives there figure it out."
"Sure boss," the clone yawned and walked away with his group complaining on how this was a drag and how he was too tired to be doing this. I rolled my eyes at my Nara shadow clone, but held back from killing it. It might be useful later.
We reached the bridge and the workers in no time. I watched them all begin working on the remaining parts of the bridge as I sat down and rested on the one of the boxes in a comfortable positon with my legs hanging out at the ends. In my hands I still had that small dote made by Natsuki, whoever that girl was. I'm still skeptical on whether or not she's my sister coming out of hiding for the first time ever or a fragment of my imagination born from my desire for a sister. An older sister at that even said we were twins. The jutsu from before that she said that father created was swirling in my hands even now, but I couldn't make it take shape at all like before when it became an orb of swirling drilling energy.
I need more practice.
Sakura seemed to take a lot of interest in what I was doing. She was staring at me the entire time from her spot on the bridge with that book in hand over specialized training I wrote without physically writing anything. By the way she occasionally snorted and sighed. She found it to be uninteresting at best so I expected her to give it back to me soon. I wager she'll attempt maybe two or three of the exercises or tasks inside before returning it.
She watched me carefully for some reason, most likely because of Kakashi. That man has been trying to keep an eye on me for the longest time. Ever since I have been on the team after my awakening this man has had an eye on me. I don't have much to worry about now though. It's not like the pink hair girl will notice anything with her untrained eyes. She can't even notice that the me she was watching right now was a clone of the boss. He made me during the walking leaving me only a few words.
"I've a Land of Waves to explore."
The village and these people are depressing. The sun hasn't shined over this land in months, it's that damn depressing. With my clone standing in for me, I've taken to wandering the world around to get my bearings. First, I located my master, Cat. The same woman that's hanging out in a tree right now overlooking the bridge meant to reach the mainland. I'm curious what the Fire Daimyo would think of such a construction reaching out and touching his lands. Because of the Mist Civil War Mist was been split apart and The "Land of Waves" is one of many. It's not part of the Land of Fire or even sanctioned by the Fire Daimyo. I'm sure the Water Daimyo is turning over in his grave right now from what's happening right now.
Maybe I should write my future Father-in-law a letter pertaining to this village and what he'd want done with it once it belongs to me. I'll outline my wishes, my opinion on sanctioning this land, and how taking control of the import and export opportunities will strengthen our country.
"Hey boya!" I turned my attention to the side. A woman donning a loose kimono, obviously a courtesan, sauntered up to me. Her black hair was tied in a neat bun, dark brown eyes examined me like a piece of meat, and breasts practically out in the open just barely covered by her kimono. Her legs were showing with each step, as well as her slightly dirty sandals. I faced the woman with my mind racing, already coming up with the proper action for the person approaching me.
The woman walked around me, her fingers caressed her my shoulder and traced towards my back. She stopped behind me and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You look new to the town. Wanna chat a bit?"
"Depends," I said coyly. Her mannerisms reminds me of Nanami too much. Both are women of pleasure, or so they project to lower your guard.
"On," she purred in my ear.
"What do you want from me and why did you approach me?" I asked with ease.
"Because, little boy," she mused, reaching into my coat with her soft hands. "I know opportunity when I see it."
I wanted to snort at this bullshit I'm hearing. For all intents and purposes, we're alone right now with the nearest person hovering in their room right now. Cortesans don't travel alone; it's the best way to get kidnapped and raped. This woman, too, has little to no chakra to be noticed, which is a common mistake for anyone who isn't accustomed to wearing a henge. I can taste the elemental chakra practically radiating off her soul and see the seals on her person as well. Whoever this bitch is, it's not by chance she approached me. Now the question of how to approach. Ideas circled around in my thoughts. Should I play along with her or capture her then break into her mind? Both options are time consuming and could be interesting. There's also a third option too.
I reached down and pulled her hand out of my coat and stepped back away from her. The woman looked at me surprised by my action. She quickly recovered flashing a sultry smile moments from approaching once more.
"Who are you?" I asked with my arms crossed over my chest. A straight face was on my face as I faced this unknown threat before me.
"I'm just a woman that can fulfill your needs, and more." She felt herself a bit.
"I know you're in a henge." The woman didn't react outside of confusion masterfully shown from a highly practiced Kunoichi. My nose was pointed to then my eyes. "I can sense your chakra nature so tell me what you want before I leave and report you to my sensei."
The woman moved swiftly, faster than any normal civilian, and threw something at me. I moved and caught the object between my fingers. It turned out to be a throwing knife, not the standard kunai. It was serrated with holes along the center, probably to decrease its weight as it flew. The woman's chakra spiked and shifted behind me. Another knife rested at my neck in moments, pinning me. This was easily high-chunin, close to low-jonin, speeds. Her throw as well was aimed at a pressure point on my chest. If it had missed, it would have hit my lung or heart if I dodged too slowly with low-chunin or genin speed. It was a fairly impressive throw, which turned out to be a diversion to get under my guard.
"Not bad," I murmured as I thought about who this woman might be.
"Looks like we doing this the hard way kid." Her voice changed from the soft and gentle slightly deep one to a voice that's menacing but also lighter than before and a bit more raspy. Before I could respond she slammed her hand to the back of my neck. My eyes shot to the back of my skull and fell down to the ground, unconscious. The woman scoffed and sheathe her knife back into her kimono. She gathered her other knife as well then grabbed my body from the back of my neck.
"You ain't so tough kid," she woman scoffed. "What the hell was Oboro talking about? Saying this brat was strong." The woman complained giving me priceless information. During her rants she tied me down with ninja wire. Her collected my weapons and threw them away to the side unceremoniously. The disrespect towards my gear was noted for later response. My Kanryo though she decided to keep for reasons I'm sure. Somewhat satisfied she hoisted me up with ease over her shoulder.
"Dumb brat." She sneered before running off with me in tow. I'm shocked she hadn't checked whether or not I was unconscious. Being completely awake right now I simply simulated I was asleep. Slowing my heart rate, breathing, and showing the occasions muscle spasm to keep up airs. I used my sensory abilities to keep track of where she was taking me. We reached a shack in a few minutes.
"Oboro! Arisu! I brought the kid!" she woman added another set of names to the list and shouted this uncaring if I could hear or anyone for that matter. I could feel the other two within the shack and one felt very familiar. The woman carrying me sat me down in a chair and started to strap be down.
"Did you have any issues Shizuna?" One woman asked that I couldn't recognized by the voice or her aura. I can tell she's a water user's though not that it means anything here.
"Nah, knocked the kid out clean." The woman names Shizuna huffed just as she finished tying down my feet.
"No, you didn't." The other woman snarled, stepping up to my body. Her charka flared before me.
"What are you talking about? He's out cold." Shizuna said matter-of-factly.
"He's wide awake. Aren't you, you son of a bitch?" The woman rose her hand and stuck my face. I felt her talons for nails slide across my skin drawing blood and stinging like poisoned tipped knives. I huffed and turned my chin up and opened my eyes that they forgo to cover. Maybe the women that captured me is an amateur.
"What the hell!" The woman named Shizuna snapped. Each one of the woman before me were dressed like a typical kunoichi from the land of Water each with their faces covered as well. Brown eyes and two sets of black. I'll remember this among with their body features.
"You underestimated him." The woman before me that appeared to know me snarled at her companion Shizuna. "I told you not to!"
"Sorry," Shizuna glared angrily at me. "Didn't expect a brat to let someone kidnap him. I'm mean, look at him. What is he, 13?"
"Almost 14," I said for myself seeing that they forgo a gag as well.
"No one asked you!' Shizuna snapped at me.
"What do we do with him now?" The other kunoichi questioned to which I waited patiently for them to come up with something.
"We let him send a message." The ringleader with the deep and menacing voice growled at me. She leaned down giving me amble sight of her cleavage but wrestled my eyes back up to hers. "You remember me?"
"I'd never forget you, toad," I said to the woman. That voice was too familiar same with the taste of her soul. I've taken her blood to always know if she's nearby and felt her heartbeat. Said woman removed her face mask revealing her face to me. Instead of the beautiful face of a proud kunoichi, it was now scarred. A red, angry cut from the right side of her chin leading upwards as if someone dug a dull knife and sawed their way up. It past through her lip to her nose and then angled across her cheek. By Nadashiko law, with a ruined face, she'll never get married. Worse is the pattern of the cut. She's suffered one of the worst disgraces her people have with her honor in shambles.
A frown was plastered in her lips and pure hatred for me in her eyes. "Do you wanna know how I got these scars?" She pointed to the one I saw then dipped her head down to reveal another to me on the side of her neck hidden by the mask still. This one was different where as the former was just pure mutilation. This one had intent behind it. The fact it makes characters meaning "useless" might has something to do with that assumption.
Seen worse though and had worse done to me.
"My guess is after you lost to me in the tournament your society shamed you." I looked at the scar across her face. "Because of your laws you were compelled to find me and either capture or kill me. Seeing that they destroyed your face taking your beauty from you, you failed to kill me. When, I can't guess, because I've fought and destroyed a lot people after the Tournament."
"Little brat seems to know a thing or two about our customs," Shizuna scoffed.
"And about the Rite of Vengeance," I said staring straight at the my foe. "That's what you're here for isn't that right toad… Gah!"
"Oboro," she whispered in my ear. "The name of your future killer, is Oboro, Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha." I gasped once more as the fist she dug into my gut twisted and pushed against my ribs. I nodded, showing I understood, and she pulled her fist out of my side. Her jade green eyes pierced into my own blue ones. She's changed drastically since the day we fought in the Games. I didn't know her personally, but I knew she was a Hunter of honor. She'd never ask the assistance of others like this. She'd have attacked me from an advantageous position or at least come to issue a challenge. Her kind are supposed to issue challenges before engaging in exciting actions, but she didn't.
"I can assume you've been watching me?"
"Of course we have," the woman that sounded the softest amongst them with a high squeaky voice said. Her name must be Arisu by elimination. "In your village and out I've watched you like a hawk." The woman smirked at me. "You look surprised by that," she noted.
How could I not be surprised? I cut my tail regularly; the only reason she's still alive is because of her intent. If it was just to gather information, most days I didn't care unless it was Anbu. Some random nobody I've never heard of is a passing thought to me. What exactly could she find out about me outside of my supposed lifestyle and habits?
I breathed out sharply and looked towards Oboro. "What have I done for you to betray your typical customs in favor of vengeance?"
A cruel smile marred her face making her scar open just a bit showing wet flesh beneath. "You shamed me in that forest of yours, but that's for another time. For now, " she grabbed my sword from Shizuna and jammed it into my chest. It was so instant that I was more shocked than in pain.
"Oboro, the fuck!" Shizuna yelled stepping back.
"You brought a clone here, isn't that right?" she smirked at me. The blade tore through my insides. I willed my body to stay together for as long as I could. "Tell him that I'm coming to finish what he started. For what crime he committed in the Forest of Death. How he shamed me in your little district of sin and debauchery. And by the end of it, He will be the one hunted, and I will be taking the spoils of victory." The sword twisted and then was yanked up. Darkness was all I could see slowly following the tether back to the source.
My eyes opened as the memories came to an end with yet another death. Stabbed me straight in the heart to. That's not fun to relive.
I watched from the side of a house with my arms crossed as she took me (my clone) to. Too bad that Shizuna didn't noticed me switch out with a clone in the distance that's been shadowing me once I rose my arms up to cross them. I simply had to wait to break her sight for a quick, seamless switch. It's always good habit of mine since arriving at the Leaf Village to have clones shadow me for cases like this. They get knocked out, taken, and I follow and kill everyone on site. Well, that was the old me before Hakudo Gang war. That was a hell of a time. To think gangs have even special jonin under their payroll. Such a fun time to be alive.
I shadowed the woman up to a house she entered without hesitation. Inside I sensed five human lives and a single animal for reasons I won't dwell on. One of which I could recognize from the past. This is such a headache. I freaking jinx myself when I spoke her into existence. This Oboro is here with an entourage of kunoichi to assist her. They've some manner of rat in there as well and not a normal rat. I can see it's a summoned creature by the influx of Chakra and tether between the kunoichi and the summoned. So Jonin level Kunoichi and one with a summoning contract are after my head.
Makes perfect sense.
Fear is part of my personal dictionary. She tried to instill that fear within me. Unfortunately, this tactic brought about a different type of feeling. I'm excited, because I haven't had fun with a kunoichi for a while. Not sense the Forest of Death and that night in the Redlight. The memories of that anbu dressed water charka based ninja ambushing me brought a smile to my face. Same when she approached me in the Red Light to poison me in my way to make a deal. "Fine," I snarled like a feral beast.
"Naru-nii, do I follow them after?" Mira asked being my superior tracker. Her bloodline comes from tracker dogs after all.
"Yes, but first." Oboro realized it was a clone quickly and reprimanded her friend. She's been watching me a long time to be capable of distinguishing me from the clone she killed. Bad idea because I always leave a present behind with all my clones when they dispel. I guess they never learn.
Creating a tiger seal with my hands I said the magic word. "Katsu." The bomb seal within the house that fell from the leg of my entrapped clone exploded within the confines of the house. I watched the ladies and their… bunny rabbit? A rabbit summons, not a rat, left the house covered in soot. They all survived with a warning of their own from me. The hunt is on, and I'm more than happy to participate
"Mira, I want you to follow them quietly and stay out of sight. If you're in trouble use this." I pulled a small tanto from my pocket I made for the puppy. Smoke burst around the puppy revealing her actual size of being an 89-pound puppy that reaches up to my knees with ease. I took a knee and strapped the blade to her side. It was out enough for her to draw it with her teeth. "Stab this into the ground and I'll come immediately."
Mira barked a strong "Yes Naruto-nii!" then faded from view taking full advantage of my blood. A blood contract between human and hound under the Inuzuka clan is so interesting. Share blood and thus abilities. My speed is here. With that finished I walked away with the game beginning again. A grin plastered on lips. This time there's no reason for her to survive the coming bout. I don't care if I caused her disgrace and exile from her village. She could've lived a life away from this, but instead came back to me, as always, begging for death.
Best I don't disappoint her.