-AN-
Is the worth of a man in his words or his actions? Is it better than he means well, or that he does well?
-Story Start-
Naruto found himself multitasking today. Jacket and shirt off as he performed handstand push ups, he read from an Uzumaki scroll that would hopefully help him with the curse seal. Today found them somewhere in the Land of Stone while they searched for Orochimaru's northern base. It had been a month since they had been in Rice, this search taking them much longer because it had been a long time since their girls had been here and they were trying to keep a low profile through this specific country. Anyone with blonde hair here was likely to attract the wrong attention. Focusing a bit, Naruto sees that the scrolls keep relating back to natural chakra and the energy of all living things. Well it wasn't like he could talk to animals. Wait, yes he could!
Hinata, Karin, and Tayuya looked up from where Naruto whooped and jumped to his feet. They were high up on a mountain side and away from prying eyes in a cave, still however forced to eat a meal of dried ration bars and water. Couldn't risk the fire after all. Watching Naruto well up chakra and perform several seals, he summoned a toad not much higher than his knee.
"Heya Pa."
"Naruto my boy! It's been so long. Glad to see you're doing okay. Jiraiya boy has had us worried about you. I'm sure he'd love to know you're okay." Pa didn't know what had happened between Naruto and the leaf and Naruto would have to explain that soon.
"Ah, for now you can tell him I'm fine and just doing my best out here. But please don't tell him where I am. There's a lot going on right now." Naruto explains most of the drama surrounding their departure from the Leaf village. Pa however waves it all away.
"You're our summoner boy, not the village itself. You ask us to keep you secret and safe, we'll keep you secret and safe. Now, why did you summon me today, I'm sure it wasn't just to catch up or introduce me to the lovely girls behind ya?" Wiggling his bushy eyebrows, he got a blush out of the boy at least.
"No no! Uh. I'm actually here because I'm trying to figure out this seal. It has to deal with nature chakra and I can't understand it."
Looking the seal over, Pa nods slowly, "Nature chakra is the chakra of the world around us. There is energy everywhere Naruto my boy. Even here in this stone there is life. And if you steady yourself, still your mind enough, you can listen to it's flow. You can ask of it, and receive a bit of it's might in return. Nature training is a difficult life goal, Jiraiya himself is only partially there himself. We had a hunch you one day might be interested in training as a sage as well, but that might still be a few years yet away."
Naruto thought about that one, "What benefit do you get from using nature chakra?"
"All sorts of things, increased speed and durability. Reflexes and mental processing in general. Everything about you improves dramatically. Never mind your ability to attune yourself with nature itself."
"Huh, so that's what the curse seal does. It's forcefully pulling chakra from nature and converting it for use by the person it's been applied to."
Pa's eyes went wide, "This has been applied onto someone? Did you do this?" He almost sounded offended. He might be, Naruto figured.
"Not me. Orochimaru's work." Naruto however points to another section, the part that actively tired to fight him, "This however I really can't figure out. It's storing something, but I don't know what."
Pa looked over the seal, age and wisdom puzzling out the language of it before turning and spitting on the ground. That fool Orochimaru, just how far was he willing to go? "That's some nasty work there boyo."
"Figure it out?"
"Yes. Dark work that. It houses a portion of Orochimaru's soul. If he were to die within range of this, he could resurrect himself and cheat death through this seal." Pa pointed a webbed hand towards another section of the seal, "Here there's a chakra node, you'll have to remove it first, and then you can remove his soul from the seal. The rest of the seal should remain intact."
Naruto nodded, working out just what he needed to do from there. "Thanks Pa. I appreciate it."
"No thanks needed Naruto. Helping you rid the world of any darkness is thanks enough. Though we might need to summon Ma soon, she'd like to see you as well." Getting a smile and nod from the boy, the elder toad returned home.
Hinata finally walked over, watching quietly as Naruto began working on the next counter seal and explaining his work as he went. She was still working on catching up with sealing techniques herself but she was able to follow along mostly. Naruto addressed Tayuya without looking up, "Looks like we'll be able to remove the last negative piece of the seal soon. But most likely it'll be pretty painful. I don't know how Orochimaru figured out how to split his soul, but I'm sure it'll try to fight this."
"I don't care, I don't want any part of that bastard near me if I can help it. It needs to go." Tayuya rubbed her arms furiously. If she didn't know she'd be getting it removed, she'd be better off never knowing a piece of the bastard was inside of her. Just. Gross.
Naruto worked silently, missing as the sun began to set and reduce their daylight. He didn't have much time for today, but he figured he had enough left for the attempt. "Karin can you roll out a mat and Tayuya, same as before, I need access to the seal." Both girls moved to obey while Naruto finished up his practice work on the scroll and activated it. There was a bright green flash of light, before the seal began to dissolve and change. The fake section holding Orochi's soul wilted before disappearing and the entire seal shrunk down until there was an Uzumaki swirl in the middle of the paper. Satisfied, he turned to see Tayuya laying down and waiting, shirt and sports bra again off to the side and folded neatly. "Again, this is going to hurt."
Tayuya shook her head, "Don't care, needs to happen like yesterday."
Hinata unsealed several lanterns and began to light them, while Karin stood and went to the cave entrance. Placing her hands on the ground, she willed a wall of rock to form up and cover the entrance completely. Satisfied she turned back to the others who had odd shadows cast on them from the lanterns Hinata was placing around their camp. Naruto was smiling at her, "For the sound." She felt the need to say it out loud.
"Thanks Karin." Turning back and again taking a seat on her legs in case he had to hold her down, Naruto began drawing the necessary seals. He took much longer this time to prepare them. Wanting to make sure that he didn't mess this up. This was Tayuya after all, not just some paper.
"God that tickles." Tayuya joked with him while she nearly vibrated with anticipation. This was it, the last link between her and Orochimaru! She'd be free, really and truly free!
Naruto grinned as he continued to work, "Yeah well, try not to squirm, you don't want to know just what the wrong line could do to ya." Finishing up, he turned to Hinata and Karin. "Don't intervene. If you touch either of us it could get, messy."
Hinata had learned enough to know not to interfere. Karin as well just nodded and trusted him that he knew what he was doing. Both girls took a seat on the opposite side of their unsealed supplies and waited.
Naruto however mentally knocked to awaken Kurama, 'I need to make sure you don't inject any chakra towards me for the next few minutes.'
'Huh, sealing arts, how dreadful.'
'Yeah, could understand why you hate em, but I'm trying to help my clan here.'
'Understood, no chakra.' Feeling the ancient being slip away, Naruto nodded and finished up. Coating his hands in chakra he looked over to Tayuya, "Ready?"
"Let's do it." Gritting her teeth, she tried to brace herself. The fact that he felt the need to remind her several times that this was going to hurt had her believing this was going to be far worse than last time. Feeling his hands come into contact with her skin, there was a moment of warmth she associated with him before it felt like literal fire was poured on her back and neck. Trembling and holding back a scream she could feel something, shift inside of her.
Naruto however was having to pump a massive amount of chakra into his seals in order to counteract Orochimaru. Even just a portion of him was fighting back terribly. Naruto had learned over the last few months himself and adjusting the seal with just his chakra, he watched the portion that was Orochimaru sizzle and burn away in green fire. Watching the rest of the seal twist and form into the Uzumaki spiral that was now just over one of her chakra gates, Naruto was satisfied. It was the gate of Life, if Naruto remembered correctly. Pulling his hands away as the girl under him trembled and shook, he again went about with aftercare, unsealing and applying the healing cream into her back. "Well, congratulations Tayuya, you're curse seal free. You'll have to learn to use the new seal properly, but no chance of Orochimaru taking control of you now." Taking great care to work softly, Naruto himself had to take a deep breath to steady himself. That was a lot of chakra he just burned through after all.
Karin was smiling with just a hint of tears in her eyes. To think that they would finally come to a point that Tayuya would be free of Orochimaru for good. She never said it, but she knew the older girl most of all wanted her freedom from that stain on her heart. Only thing better than this would be if they could kill Orochimaru himself.
Hinata breathed a sigh of relief, happy that they were able to help Tayuya finally. Now if they could just find this northern base they could relax properly for a little while. Hopefully. Naruto was a workaholic.
Finishing up and sealing his materials away, the shirtless boy shuffled off to the side with a groan. "That was a work out. But we learned something new today, so there's that bonus." In front of him Tayuya sat up slowly, facing away from him, "Everything feel alright Tayuya?" She seemed to be moving stiffly.
Tayuya however turned and pounced on him, arms wide. Crashing into him and sending them both to the floor, she locked him in with a deep kiss that sent his mind far away. She however couldn't think of anything else other than the fact that she was free. No more spectre of Orochimaru at her neck. No more thoughts of him just beyond the next bend or waiting for her at the next base to capture her. She was free to be herself, do what she wanted, whenever she wanted. And it was all thanks to Naruto.
Feeling tongue twist with his own, Naruto had the presence of mind to keep his hands far away from the softness that was against his chest. Well, all softness except for two hard points that he instantly tried not to focus on. This wouldn't end well. Tayuya pulled away and gasping for air, she was all smiles, "Thank you!"
"Uh, of course Tayuya. I'd do it all again." Secretly he knew if that his reward was an arm full of half naked kunoichi he'd do it all again in a heartbeat. No he wasn't a pervert, no he wouldn't answer why not.
Tayuya however finally remembered that she was in fact still half naked. She however didn't care. She'd let him take her right there if he wanted, Karin and Hinata there or not. He gave her freedom. Hearing the other's giggle at her though, she turned and shuffled for her clothes, "I uh…was happy."
Karin smirked, "We could tell."
Hinata was hiding a giggle behind a hand, "I think you broke Naruto. He's not moving."
Naruto himself figured that he was not moving because his body was vibrating. Or at least it felt like it was. Pretty girls tackling you and kissing you was a new thing. So much pink…"I'm happy that you're happy Tayuya."
Dressing and fighting down a blush, she turned away, "Well, thanks to you I'm going to be happy for a long time. Now all that's left is to put some real hurt on the snake dirt bag." Everyone could agree with that. Though she did have to put up with Hinata and Karin teasing her for the rest of the night. Oh well. She'd start gloating that she not only got a kiss out of the boy first, but felt a not so little something that at least showed he paid attention to them. Hmm, she'd have to have a chat with all the girls later for sure.
-b-
Koyuki was tired but still focused. The day was coming to a close, sun beginning to set and that meant her day was almost over. In her hand she had a letter from the Rice daimyo, a new one apparently. They detailed that while they would consider an economic and possible military alliance, Spring would need a good show of faith first. Rice had a bandit and Gang problem that needed rooting out. If Spring could help, that would go a lot way towards opening talks. Penning a letter that expressed that Spring would be sending someone soon to do just that, she paused as Ino walked through her door. Dressed more in Naruto's colors now, a black and orange skirt and black tank top, the blonde had a frown as another black haired girl dressed in a somewhat worn dark kimono followed behind her.
"Ino, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Got a refugee, but she's got a letter for the Uzumaki specifically apparently, thinks they're here. Thought you'd want to talk to her." Ino didn't know this girl, but everything about her was off. To stiff, even for a refugee she barely talked. Tone was so monotone. She was like a robot.
The girl comes before the desk and bows deeply as Ino takes up a position behind and to Koyuki's left. Staightening she introduces herself, "My name is Kiyohime Bohatei. My clan was once retainers of the Uzumaki clan. We were wiped out during a border skirmish but my father and mother always spoke on how much we wished we could have returned to the service of the Uzumaki clan. After hearing rumors about the Uzumaki possibly settling here in the north, I just had to come and try to see for myself." Taking out and producing a small scroll with an Uzumaki seal, she attempts to present it to Koyuki who declines.
Koyuki's own personal bullshit radar was going crazy as well. Something was off with the dead stare girl. "While you were correct that the Uzumaki were here, they are not now. I may be able to direct you in another direction."
"Is there a chance they may return?"
"Life makes all things possible."
"Then I wish to stay. It has been a life's mission of my clan to find the Uzumaki again since the purge. I have hope we may meet if I stay somewhere familiar." Again, tone barely changing, something was putting off Koyuki and Ino something fierce. However, if this girl was after the Uzumaki's for something ill, it was better to keep an eye on her. Somewhere they could control. This could be a good test.
Turning slightly Koyuki addresses Ino, "Why don't we set miss Bohatei up with the aid station. If the Uzumaki do return we'll be able to find her easier from there." Ino nods and motions for the girl to follow her, and she does so, putting the scroll away in a fold of her kimono. Turning back to her work and finishing up her letter to the Rice Daimyo, is was maybe another 20 minutes before Ino returned to the office, closing the door behind her so they could talk. "You feel it?" Koyuki leaned back in her chair.
"Oh yeah. Something is way off with that girl. She never actually looked at either of us. Always at the wall or just past our head." Ino could pick up on a lot of subtle cues, life working with psychology paying off.
Koyuki nodded, "We'll need Naruto to confirm if the scroll she brought with her was the real thing or not. But we'll make sure to let him know our thoughts about her." Turning to look out her window, lights coming on as night descended on Spring. In the distance the sleepy town was slowly becoming much larger. Their flow of refugees and immigrants had increased. She could only imagine what Tazuna was dealing with.
"How goes construction?" Ino was curious about it, not having the time recently to check on much more than the aid station. Sitting on the edge of the desk she pulled a nail file from somewhere and set about perfecting her look.
Koyuki shrugged, "The tunnel has made significant progress, my engineers tell me we should make landfall in Uzu within a year's time. That will start our true partnership in full when we can send supplies and people back and forth." Koyuki was looking forward to it. More so to a day when they didn't have to hide something like this. When the ninja way wasn't so destructive.
Ino was having similar thoughts, "To think we've already come so far. If only the rest of the nations could see this." People from all walks of life were getting along here. It wasn't perfect sure, but people were learning. Understanding each other. Their shared hardships and pain uniting them. Now if they could just get past needing that shared pain in order to talk to one another. Hearing another knock at the door, Ino took her position at Koyuki's flank again. Still time to work it seemed.
-b-
In Konoha at a certain training ground, what was left of team 7 was meeting for a not so fun occasion. Kakashi was standing before a visibly irate Sakura and a bored looking Sasuke while next to him was a oddly smiling pale boy. Sighing, the sensei knew this wasn't going to be received well, "As you know, due to Naruto's leave, we're short a member. Sai has been added to the team 7 roster in the meantime. A full team is important and will allow us to take full missions again. That also includes missions outside of the village." Hopefully they got the message there.
Sasuke sighed but nodded, "A little weird looking, but I get it. We aren't chunin yet so we can't run missions with just us." He however would be working to ditch this guy as soon as possible.
Sakura shrugged with her hands on her hips, medical pouch bouncing with her movements, "Yeah you need some sun, but we'll get you up to speed soon enough." Great, they'd have to do team building exercises again. She shuddered at the memories.
Sai looked between Sakura and Sasuke before turning to Kakashi and pointing at the pink and red themed girl, "I thought you said you had a girl member of the team?"
Instantly hating the boy, Sakura took an ominous step forward, "What was that?"
Sai, oblivious to the danger he was in, continued to point at her, "I just. You're so flat, I just assumed you were a boy. Maybe I'll call you washboard from now on." Oh dear.
Did this pale skinned loser just say she was flat? He was insulting her after knowing her for less than a minute!? DID HE HAVE A DEATH WISH! FLAT WAS JUST FINE! SASUKE LOVED HER MINI TOTS! Losing it, she went straight to trying to pound the boy's face in. Hoping away with a bewildered look on his face, Kakashi and Sasuke sighed.
"Should we save him?" Sasuke watched his girlfriend try to pound the boy, craters being left in her wake.
"I think this'll be a good team bonding exercise. Why don't you go help her?" Eye smiling, the older ninja waited for the boy to move.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" Twin kunai appeared in Kakashi's hands, "I'm going I'm going!"
Kakashi called out at the trio, "This will be good team bonding! Try not to kill each other! I hate paperwork." Pulling out his book, he thought over about this appointment. Tsunade sure didn't look happy about it. Maybe he was a Danzo plant, kami knew that old hawk had the resources. But why their team? Unless he too thought that they knew where Naruto was. Remembering Naruto's warning, Kakashi vowed to keep an eye on Sai for the time being. Watching the fight, Sai rolls over a charge from Sakura only to be forced into blocking a kick from Sasuke that launched him away and into a roll. Smiling the boy stands.
"You have some skill, maybe I won't name you dickless like I first wanted to. You seemed so passive before." He missed Sasuke's face fault.
Sakura however is blushing as she continues to try to pound the tactless boy, "Sasuke's dick is none of your business. It's good sized thank you very much!" Missing the boy and creating another crater, she pauses as she realizes just what she said aloud. Oh boy. "I uh….damnit hold still so I can hit you!" Launching forward again with a frantic shunshin, the fight was on again.
Kakashi had them practicing for hours, both against each other and against him. Eventually as the noon sun begins to fall and fade he calls it quits, happy that Sasuke and Sakura are able to put their mistrust aside for now. He could see that they too didn't feel right about this but that there was nothing they could do about it. Everyone but him groaning on the ground, Kakashi smiled, "That's it for today. Great job everyone." Only he could be so peppy after trying to kill children.
Saukra however just dragged herself to her feet, walking off towards the hospital, "Shizune and Tsunade will kill me if I don't get to practice on time. Later Sasuke!" Waving at the boy, she shook herself and jogged away. Hopefully she could shower there.
Sasuke has much of the same plan, telling Kakashi that he'll be training some more for a while before heading home. Though he promised not to over do it. He wasn't Naruto after all. Not like he could spam mountains of clones and not die.
Kakashi watches Sai leave on his own without a word. He was sure that there was more there but he couldn't come out and ask the kid if he worked for Danzo now could he? He could keep an eye on him at least and hopefully catch him before he did anything to out of line. The ninja world was full of peril it seemed. Now, back to his book and to see what happened to those twins.
-b-
Back in Earth country the next day around noon finds Naruto and a tired group of girls on a ridge overlooking the Northern sound base. Happy and marking the location with a hiraishin tag hidden under an outcrop of rock, Naruto turns to the others.
"I did promise we would just mark it and leave for a break for now. Are you sure you don't wanna trash the place?" Naruto himself was tired and ready for a break. Even Kurama was grumbling.
'Warm baths are nice.'
'No arguments there.'
Hinata is the one to come forward, placing hands on both of his shoulders and drawing him close, "Naruto, please. We need rest, you need rest, we all need a bath. We will come back and ransack this base no sooner than a week." Drawing even closer somehow, shadows covering her face, Naruto began to sweat, "I have not had a warm bath in what feels like a month. I need this."
Naruto nodded quickly, "Got it. Break sounds good. Taking a break is perfect." All three girls holding him, they flashed away without alerting the sound.
Back in spring the group relaxes as they see the comforting walls of the Spring Daimyo mansion. Already within their usual sitting room where the hiraishin tag was placed, the only other occupant to the room is Ino who looks up with surprise.
"Welcome back everyone!" She was all smiles as she motions to the large spread of food on the table. "Hope you're hungry."
Karin however wanted nothing more than to see a soft bed. "Beeeeddd." She'd eat later. For sure. Later. After sleeping for like, 12 hours.
Tayuya isn't having it, pushing the girl herself out the door and towards the bathes, "You need a bath first, then food, then bed."
"But beeed."
"Nope, you don't wanna sleep dirty. C'mon, we'll go together and I'll wash your back."
"Ugggh." They were soon gone and around a corner.
Hinata made to follow them. She smelled, badly, and wanted a bath herself. She was stopped however by Naruto grabbing her hand. Blushing and caught off guard she turned back to him, "What's up Naruto?"
Naruto was turning to Ino as well, "Can I…uh….talk to both of you actually?" After all this time, he couldn't believe that this had taken him so long to get around to. But this was a minor step he should have gotten to.
Ino bounced up and walked to join them, her and Hinata side by side, "Sure thing Naruto. What's up?" She didn't comment on him holding Hinata's hand just yet.
Naruto took a real deep breath for this one. These girls had left the village with him when they didn't have to. They could have stayed, lived their lives out. But they didn't, choosing to come with him. He could trust them with his life, he knew that without a doubt. He knew the feelings he had grown for them weren't going away as well. Stepping back so he could focus on both of them, he took that step. "You both. You've supported me for so long now. Shown me what it means to actually be cared for and to care for someone else. I. I wanted to come out and say that. Well. Uh…" Ino's eyes were shining while Hinata was beginning to blush. What the hell gave them the right to be so damned pretty? "I've had feelings for you both for so long. I love you. I know that. You know, I'm supposed to choose one and I uh. It's hard. You're both so important to me and you each have your own charms and importance that's unique and-" A dainty well manicured finger was holding his lips closed.
Ino was smirking, "Bout time you confessed whiskers. We've been waiting for what feels like forever."
Hinata is still a blushing mess but nods all the same, "We've both liked you for a long time. It grew to love long ago. We've also, talked, about your and our situation. It was something actually I meant to bring up that seems like a moot point now." Seeing both of ther friend's questioning looks she shrugged, "In the village I had been researching the clan restoration act. I assumed that Naruto would be eligible and that we would be able to, share."
Ino herself began to chuckle, "Oh if your team could see their cute and sweet little Hinata. You were already planning on sharing that far back?"
"I knew it was a possibility, that's all. I love Naruto. If that meant sharing a piece of him, I would be okay with that."
Ino shrugged, turning to the silent and shocked other blonde, "Well I think you are a loyal, ambitious, living breathing force of nature. And I want to be at your side through it all." Grinning she pointed dramatically at the boy. "So you're just going to have to accept us one day as your head wives. Any other floozies you try to pick up go through us first."
Hinata nodded, "Whether it's just us or if you decide to build a true harem to rebuild your clan, you must be considerate of us first and foremost."
Naruto could not believe what was happening. He hadn't even considered anyone else truly. His heart was set on the two girls in front of him. Yes he knew Tayuya had some type of feelings for him, and he couldn't really tell if Karin like him as a sibling or what. He would protect this happiness he had found, right here in this room more than anything. "You got it. I'll protect you both with everything I am for the rest of our lives, that's a promise."
Ino leaned forward, now a blush forming on her face, "Be careful whiskers." Placing a soft kiss on his lips, she enjoyed his warmth and softness before pulling away, "Making a promise like that is important."
Hinata stepped forward next, she too leaning up and kissing the boy. Hands bunching into his shirt, she was smiling as she eventually pulled away, "We'll be here as long as you are, Naruto." She would fight just as hard as he would. She would protect this happiness she had found.
Giggling, Ino turned the conversation from relationships for now, something important having come up after all. "As much fun as I wanna have however, we had a visitor looking for you." Seeing them both look at her Ino continued, "Some girl named Kiyohime Bohatei. Name ring a bell to anyone?" Seeing both of them shake their heads, Ino sighed, "She's in the aid station waiting. But something about her seems off. More than just the fact that she has at least chunin level chakra levels. The chakra detection seals you placed around the manor working like a charm by the way."
Naruto nodded, "Well that's a relief. We're going to have to figure out who she is. Hmmm." Looking around the room, he eyes the table in front of one of the couches. "I think I can set something up for an interview. Maybe tomorrow morning?"
Ino nods, "Sure thing. I'll bring her in the morning."
Hinata finally grabs both of them and begins to walks towards the hall. She was filthy and someone would be scrubbing her back. "That's it, it's time to go. I'm dirty, Naruto is dirty, it's time for a bath."
"All of us?"
"Want to fight me on that?" Deadly glare was turned up full force.
Naruto and Ino shook their heads, "No ma'am." Neither would admit to the shorter Hyuuga scaring them. Nope, not a bit. They just enjoyed the warmth of having finally figured out. More could and would come later. For now they could share a bath and relax after a mission well done. Soon sleep, all in their separate rooms, would be exactly what they all needed to finish out a full day.
The next morning the group is getting ready to meet up with the mystery girl who had been looking for the Uzumaki. Hinata, Karin and Tayuya watched while Naruto inscribed several seal tags underneath the wooden low table between two of the couches facing each other. Five tags written and placed quickly, Naruto applied some chakra and the array began to glow a light green color. Nodding, Naruto flipped the table over and placed it down before sitting on a couch with Hinata on one side of him while them behind them stood Karin and Tayuya who had been watching with interested looks on their faces.
"What was that seal for?" Karin recognized some of the work but not all of it. Looked like something for an area genjutsu.
"It's to help with our interrogation." Naruto answered quickly while he heard footsteps coming their way.
Tayuya nodded, "Should probably let you handle it then, we'll be back up just in case."
Naruto grinned, "Sure thing." From the doorway Ino walked in followed by the black haired and regal looking Kiyohime. Naruto noted that she was in fact fairly pale, but her build definitely jumped out to him as ninja. He could see why the others flagged her as suspicious. Watching Ino motion for her to sit across from them before she herself sat on Naruto's other side, they got this underway. "So Kiyohime, I was told you've been looking for us, that right?"
Kiyohime nodded, "The Bohatei clan had served the Uzumaki clan as retainers for years, but we were left on our own after the purge to drift the nations. It had always been a goal of ours to gather as many of the Uzumaki as we could find and continue our work serving them. The Uzumaki clan are powerful, deserving of the right to lead others. I wish to see your clan return to its glory." Reaching into her robes, she removed and holds out the Uzumaki scroll given to her.
Naruto takes it with a nod, looking it over and confirmed it was in fact a real Uzumaki scroll. Opening it and taking a peak inside he confirmed that it was more notes, something about chakra chains. Stowing any ideas for later he rolled the scroll back up and handed it back to Karin. Said girl sealed it away in a pouch at the small of her back. Naruto however focused on the girl in front of him. Leaning forward and quietly making a seal unnoticed at his side, he fully activated the seal on the table. "So tell me, who sent you to find us?"
Opening her mouth to deny anyone sent her, Kiyohime suddenly found she couldn't answer. In fact, she did want to answer, but the seal applied to her tongue would not allow her. Looking up to Naruto in a panic she watched as he sighed.
"Do you really want to be an Uzumaki retainer?"
Again she seems to struggle to answer, before her mouth finally opens, "No. I was only ordered to."
Now they were making progress. They couldn't learn who sent her, but at least we confirm she was ordered by someone. "Were you ordered to kill us?"
"No….only to seduce and bend you to my will. Or bare your children and return them to-" Again her voice suddenly cut off, her body giving a full shudder.
Naruto sighs, go figure someone wanted to try and trick him. Again. "You're within range of a seal that forces anyone within it's range to tell the truth. There is also a minor chakra restriction ability so you'll have a hard time moving as well. However something seems to be interfering with your ability to answer me on some things. Do you have seals placed on you?" The girl nods. "Do they protect the person you serve?" Another nod. "Will they kill you if you happen to force yourself to talk anyway?" One last nod, which caused the girls behind him to flinch. Pulling out a suppression seal Naruto looked her in the eye, "I'm going to have to knock you out, I won't kill you. I will ask, did you want any of this to happen to you?" She quickly shook her head, tears leaking from emotionless eyes.
Tayuya is gripping the couch, "It's a lot like an enslavement seal. But it doesn't seem like Orochimaru at least."
Naruto reaches forward to put the seal on her forehead while maintaining eye contact. "If you want freedom from this, your own life back, I can help. But you have to want it." Waiting for something, anything, he wasn't disappointed. Kiyohime nods very slowly with trembling lips, the only emotion to cross her face this entire time. "Then I'll help you." Placing the seal on her forehead, the girl was unconscious and laid out on the couch. "Okay! You can come get her!" Everyone watched as three Snow nin hustled inside to grab the girl and pick her up. "Be gentle with her okay? She'll be asleep as long as that tag is on." One nin had her by the legs while the other had her by her shoulders. The last paid direct attention to Naruto.
"Yes sir!" The unburdened nin saluting him, the three ninja hustled back out into the hall and towards the basement.
Tayuya leans forward now while everyone else seems to release the breath they were holding. "Sooo, was that bit about the truth seal a real thing?"
Naruto nods, "Yeah, takes a minute to start up and take down, but it's effective. Works on everyone within a certain range."
Tayuya tilts her head this way and that while thinking, "Huh. So then." She leans forward towards him just a tad, "Who's tits are bigger? Ino's, Hinata's, or mine?" The grin on her face stretched from ear to ear.
Blushing up a storm, he's unable to stop himself, "Hinata's for sure. You and Ino are close, but I haven't see Ino's like yours." Panicking and lunging for the table, he's blindsided by Ino tackling him to the ground while laughing. Behind them Tayuya is cackling while Hinata is blushing. Karin is holding a finger to her temple while shaking her head.
Ino however is going to get every second that she can out of this. "So what do you like about my body, huh Naruto?"
"You have great legs are your eyes are super pretty. The extra food and real workouts have done wonders for your figure. Especially your butt." Doing his best to struggle free, god this girl had gotten strong. "Why-" A hand covered his mouth to prevent him from asking a question.
"Ho ho. Do you have naughty thoughts about us?"
Hand removed. "Kami yes. Now-" Hand back. He'd get her back for this. One way or another. They were all traitors!
"Have you ever peeped on us?" This was fun.
Hand removed again, "NO!" Hand was back. Thrashing was doing him no good. Eventually Ino had him on his back and was straddling his hips. One hand holding his wrists together while the other was over his mouth. Damn earth chakra, must be how she was making herself stronger.
"Did you wanna?"
"Damnit yes. Ino-" Hand back in place, the boy was blushing up a storm. Kill him now.
Karin started to walk forward, "I think that's enough for now."
Tayuya however was doing her best to catch her breath through her laughing, "Wait….wait…one more."
Hinata however beat her to it with a small grin in place on her face, "Ino, how's Naruto's crotch feel?"
Ino's eyes went wide, but she shouldn't force herself to stop, "Heavenly. Wait-"
"About how big do you think it is?"
"Maybe little more than 20 centimeters. Hold on!" Control out of her hands she turned back to Hinata who was smile while Tayuya was beginning to wheeze.
Karin however, blushing and giggling, finally took pity and kicked the table over and removed one of the tags. Array broken, the seal was deactivated. "That's enough fun for one day." She'd be keeping that seal setup in her brain however. Might prove useful one day.
Ino looked down to Naruto while chuckling, realizing that she would have to get off of him now, "Uh…truce?" She removed his hand.
"I'm so getting you back for this. Remember who the prank king is." He was already forming plans.
Ino was quick to jump off of him and make it behind the couch in order to put Karin between her and Naruto, "You wouldn't hurt me. You love me."
"Never said I wouldn't prank you."
"Well I have a Karin sheild, you love her too and wouldn't hurt either of us."
"Yeah I do, but I can wait. I have plenty of time."
Karin however was blushing at the casual mention of the boy's feelings. Before anyone could say anything else or in Tayuya's case catch her breath, Koyuki walks in through the door. "Oh, hello everyone."
From the floor Naruto rolls to his feet and nods, "Heya Koyuki, what's up?"
Koyuki holds up a letter, "We have an official request from the Rice daimyo. In order to facilitate a potential alliance, we're being asked to help clean up their nation of bandits and rouge gangs. The Fuma clan has been, ommited from the removal list." Looking over at the blushing and in Tayuya's and Hinata's cases, giggling group she raised an eyebrow, "I miss something."
"Only learning some truths about Naruto some of us were curious about." Ino was still hunched behind the shorter Uzumaki girl.
Naruto however is thinking it over. The girl's wanted and deserved a break, but he also wanted time to start working on something. He could make up the difference though. "I'd say give me a week and I'll take on Rice. I have some training I want everyone to go through."
Koyuki is curious about this, "What's this training?"
Naruto reached into his jacket into one of his inner seals and unsealed one of the Uzumaki masks, a red and blue Komainu mask to be specific, and holding it up for everyone to see. "Karin and myself haven't given ourselves enough time to go through all of the Uzumaki scrolls and books, but I finally let my clones run through them all repeatedly. I was able to pick up what each mask is for and I want everyone to become attuned to one of them that's closest to their style."
Karin pouted, "You got ahead of me, no fair."
Naruto tossed the Komainu mask to her, forcing her to catch it, "I've built something of a library in my room, start going through it daily while I'm gone. That mask can can create golem and give them life. I'm sure it can remove it as well which should allow you to practice to your hearts content."
Hinata raised a hand, "How many different masks are there Naruto?"
"Literally hundreds, but I was able to snag a few more with my clone's help. There are some that are like mass production types that give control of elements. Those are depicted as various Oni masks, colored for the element they control. Then I have a few sets of three Hannya masks that give specific abilities. Then there are a few specific masks which give unique control. Like that Komainu, a white Onnamen, an Okame, and last the Shinigami mask." He didn't unseal any of those masks, but he shrugged, "I've got them in my room so join me there after this and I'll sit everyone down and work you through them."
Karin sighed as she looked down at the bestial mask in her hand, "I'm guessing these are strictly emergency use masks?"
"Something like that, I want this to be strictly between us. Not even a hint to anyone outside of this room for now." Everyone turned to Koyuki who wiggled a finger in her ear.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Something about Naruto being hung like a horse?" That got everyone back to groaning or giggling depending on who it was.
Naruto however shook his head, "So once I get everyone up to speed on the masks and they start training, I can take on the Rice mission after a quick detour through the next Sound base. Does that sound okay?"
"That's agreeable. I'll send a reply. You said one week right?" The young man nodded. "Okay, I'll send a reply for one week." Nodding and turning away to go back to her duties, Koyuki turned to Naruto, "Make sure to stop by my office sometime later okay?"
"Uh, sure thing." Watching the woman leave, he turned back to the others. "Guess this'll be the first time I split up from you, like ever, since we've come here."
Tayuya nodded as she relaxed into the couch, "This'll give us normal people a chance to relax while training and catching up with you. You stamina freak."
Hinata nodded as well, "Training would be good, I've been having some ideas myself I've wanted to try out."
Karin said nothing, fascinated by the mask in her hand still. Ino however looked over Karin's shoulder, "Any chance you might forgive me by the time you get back?"
Naruto grinned, "You'll just have to wait and see Ino." Some time alone in Rice would be good for him probably. He could play the hero, blow up bad guys, and just work through his own personal training for a while. What was the worst that could happen?
-AN-
Ya'll, not going to lie. Coming up with the masks had me going back and forth. I almost decided to make them purely broken and world ending, but decided against it. I'll be fleshing out their meanings and uses, and I'll probably hold true to those descriptions through every fic I write from here on. And yeah, just from that I plan on doing a Naruto fic where he finds the temple earlier. But that's for another day. Have fun ya'll. Enjoy your day.