-AN-
Honestly I'm glad a lot of you actually liked having a chapter to look in on how the rest of the world is moving. We'll probably have more of that as we gone on. For now. We're gonna check in on the Uzumaki group and see how training is going.
-Story Start-
Naruto watched quietly from his treetop vantage as the bandits rallied behind an improvised fort below them. It had been a few days of wandering from one side of Rice country to the other, cleaning up rogue gangs and bandits, but this was the last stop for him. Several bandit groups had rolled together in some attempt to consolidate power. It wasn't going to help but Naruto could appreciate that they were trying. Behind him Kotohime, Sasame, and Jugo were watching and waiting for his go ahead to do anything. He was currently their leader in this endeavor after all. Of course Kotohime was nearly foaming at the mouth with her desire to bed the young man while Sasame was stuck between greatly respecting and admiring him for his courage and strength of character and wanting to run away because of Kotohime. The girl had just been so, graphic, about what she wanted to do with the boy. No. Someone more like Jugo was her speed. Someone strong and calm, plus their hair matched! That had to be fate.
Jugo was just having a ball learning all he could about his new Lord. There were no thoughts of women or future plans in his mind at all. If only he knew what Naruto had planned for him. Someone needed to take some of this womanly heat off the young man after all. Sorry Jugo, you would be a sacrifice soon.
Naruto however motioned down to the ground, dropping down himself in full view of the short wooden fence that the bandits had erected. Stretching and preparing himself mentally he had stowed his mask away before this. He already knew he wouldn't need it.
Kotohime however was leaning over his shoulder, her yukata much more open than it had been the last few days, "So what's the plan my Lord?" She had found Naruto to be incredibly strong, patient, and loyal to his creed. Qualities many men of this time failed in. She was not letting him escape her. If she had to share then so be it.
Naruto however was doing his best to focus on what was ahead of him, "These guys are some of the worst of the worst. They aren't getting a second change. I'll wipe them out quickly, take you girls back to your clan and then head back to continue my work." It had been nearly a week since he had left Spring. Sure there wouldn't have been any major progress in terms of training but he still missed his girls. Still felt odd saying that, even mentally.
'So you have multiple mates, any strong bull should.'
'We aren't animals, things are a little different for humans.'
'If you say so. Wait until you start mating, you'll understand then.'
'Why are all of my mentors such perverts!'
'Again, wait until you mate once, you'll understand.' Mental link fading, Naruto resisted the urge to pull his hair out as they approached the hastily built gate. It was barely 6 feet high and had obviously been constructed quickly. Who was that supposed to stop?
"Who the hell are you! Go away unless you wanna die!"
Naruto ignores them for a moment, making all at once close to a thousand clones before focusing on the guard, "Look. I'll only say this once. Tell everyone inside to lay down your weapons and surrender yourself to the Daimyo for judgement. Or I'll kill you all."
"The fuck you trying to pull kid? What's the ninja trick you're trying to fake. Everyone knows clones can't touch anything."
Naruto shrugged, "I won't repeat myself."
Sasame leaned forward this time, "I'm guessing you won't need help at all right?"
"Nah, I've got this trash."
"My Lord, this is below you, shouldn't I take care of this?"
Naruto shook his head as they all ignored the guards ranting at them to leave, "It's okay, I've been letting you take out the bandits and gangs we've been running into on the road so far, let me have my fun." Making a signal, Naruto's clones swept into the camp. Amid the screams, yells, and explosions were multiple copies of Naruto voices calling out one liners.
He really needed to check on that.
It was nearly over before the last clone even had a chance to jump over the wall. Naruto started forward while followed by the others. Two cheeky clones opened the doors to allow everyone to see the carnage inside. Just like the last few camps the Naruto's were quick and efficient in their destruction. There wasn't a bandit standing by this point and most of the clones were looting whatever was useful and sealing it away into a medium sized scroll prepared by a clone hanging out in the middle of the camp. Sasame frowns about that.
"You're taking their stuff."
Naruto shook his head, "I'm sealing it away to give to Hanzaki, I'm not taking it for myself." Which was his intent. He didn't plan on taking anything. He was rebuilding a nation with no planes to steal from anyone.
Kotohime looked around as they spotted more cages not far away, "What about them?"
Naruto made a point to make a fresh batch of hardened clones while his base clones interview the captured people and sorted them by where they wanted to go. "Same treatment as usual. Some will stay and some will go with me."
Jugo looked around slowly and saw that everything was well at hand, "This is the last camp correct? What's the plan from here?"
Naruto had his hands on his hips, "From here we'll head back to the Fuma clan to drop off Kotohime and Sasame. Then we'll be back in Spring where I'll introduce you to everyone."
Kotohime pouted, "I thought I'd be going with you my Lord."
Naruto twitched, "Maybe soon, but I have some work to-"
Kotohime was suddenly very much in his personal space, "I'm sure we can work something out. I have a variety of uses that would be good to have around."
Sasame scoffed from his other side, "I'm pretty sure Lord Naruto doesn't need a bag of holes like you around him."
Kotohime bristled and turned to the younger girl, "Say that again!"
Naruto held up his hands, "How about not! Kotohime I can tell you're serious abut this so you can come along. But you realize once you do you'll be sworn to secrecy about where you go and who you meet. It is that serious around me." He paused to lock eyes with the older girl, "You may not be coming home for a long while."
Kotohime bowed deeply, "Your worries are my worries, your journey is my journey my Lord."
Naruto sighed and nodded as a clone eventually brought him the medium sized storage scroll and saluted, "All cleaned out and all of the prisoners have been evacuated. Most wanted to stay in Rice while the rest spread themselves evenly between home and Spring." Seeing the original Naruto nod the clone dispelled.
Naruto himself turned to the group with a shrug and motioned back towards the trees, "Well let's get a move on. First stop is Fuma home base and then from there I'll take you two to meet the rest of my group."
Jugo tilted his head as they began tree hopping away, "Does your group have a name?"
Naruto shook his head, "Haven't thought about one actually."
Kotohime saw a chance and rocked with it, "Well, you said you're rebuilding your clan correct?" Naruto nodded as they bounced from tree limb to tree limb, "Uzumaki correct?" She thought about that. Something island based for sure. Had to be deadly. "What about Riptide?"
Jugo chimes in, "That seems feature dependent though, what about Undertow?"
Naruto tunes them out as Sasame moves up beside him, "You've…you've done a lot for my country in such a short time. Thank you."
Naruto nods, "Now it's up to you, treat the people well and show that the Fuma can be trusted again." It would be half a day at least back to meet up with Hanzaki and honestly Naruto was ready to be back in Spring. There was still so much work to do.
-b-
True to his predictions not even a full day of travel found Naruto and his temporary group standing before a shocked looking Hanzaki. Handing over his scroll of pilfered goods, Naruto just smirks and crosses his arms, "I work fast when I want."
"I, can see that. Surely you haven't made that much progress."
Sasame steps forward with a smile, hands laced behind her back, "Actually we pretty much wiped out every rogue bandit and gang in the country for now. Made the Fuma clan's job a whole lot easier."
Kotohime nodded from her spot on Naruto's left, "He is very powerful. The Fuma clan should have no problem keeping the peace on their own. Though allies wouldn't hurt." Though she was planning on leaving, she would still give her opinion on the matter.
"Allies huh? And with whom would we ally with?" Hanzaki could face the fact that this kid had the power to back up his boasting. That was worth an alliance all on its own.
"Well, officially you'll be an ally with Spring. Secretly it'll be me. Uzu is more of a shadow country at the moment until reconstruction is finished." Naruto reminded himself again that he needed to get around to checking in with Tazuna.
Hanzaki doesn't waste much time thinking about it. This young man was good on his word and so he would be as well. "Then an alliance is easy to agree on. I'll send someone with word to our Daimyo and we'll make preparations. Is there anything you need for now?"
"Nah we're good. Oh here." Naruto unsealed a single hiraishin tag and handed it to the man, "Place that somewhere safe and protected. It's my secret way to come and go between countries." Naruto waited for Hanzaki to take the tag from him before continuing. "After you place it, if you put a little chakra into it it'll call me. If I'm not already in the middle of an emergency I'll make my way as fast as I can. Worst case I'll send a clone to see how bad it is before I come."
Hanzaki held the tag and realized just how important something like this would be. With a nod he places it away in a pocket, "I'll place it somewhere safe."
"Cool, then that's it. Time to move on then." Turning and nodding to Jugo, Naruto had almost gotten away before a smiling Kotohime latches on to him.
"You're not forgetting someone are you?"
Hanzaki himself sighed, "Already on the move then?"
"I made myself clear didn't I?"
Hanzaki just nods and thumps his chest once, "You'll always be a Fuma. Make sure to visit from time to time." Turning to look at Naruto, Hanzaki shrugs as he knows he can't stop the woman, "Take good care of her."
"Will do." Grabbing hold of Jugo and Kotohime, they were soon gone in a flash.
Sasame sighed and turns to go inside, "I think I've had to many once in a lifetime events in the last week. I'm going to sleep."
Hanzaki chuckles, "It can't have been that-"
"He can make enough clones to take over a country. You can't rationalize that."
"Huh." Hanzaki considered that hopefully they made the right call allying themselves with that kind of force. He'd rather not be ground into dust under those kinds of numbers.
To the north and being deposited in a finely furnished sitting room, Jugo and Kotohime had a moment to wonder at where they were before Naruto is grinning and motioning around them.
"Welcome to Spring and specifically the Daimyo's mansion." Currently there was only Hinata looking at them all with a wide eyed expression while at the main table. Sealing scrolls and notes are strewn everywhere.
"Welcome back Naruto. What's, what's this?" She was curious but not worried at all. She already had an idea of what might have happened.
Naruto motioned to the two with him, "I rescued Jugo from the Northern base. He's a good guy, quiet, likes nature. Super strong. And you remember Kotohime, she wanted to come along, you know why." Sure enough Hinata just shrugged and nodded, having a feeling already. Standing the girl walked forward and hugged the boy tightly.
"Missed you."
"It's only been a few days." Leaning down, he kissed the girl lightly and moved away with a blush.
Hinata was smiling as she returned to the table, "Days or months, any time away from you makes me lonely. Are you going to visit everyone else?"
"Yeah, figured I would check in before seeing if Koyuki has any other missions. Maybe finally check in with Tazuna."
Hinata nods, "Okay, just make sure to check in with everyone okay? I'm sure they'd all like to see you."
Naruto however gets curious about what the pale eyed girl is working on. Walking over he looks over her shoulder while Jugo and Kotohime are looking around the room a bit, "What's this?"
"I had an idea about the chakra sensors you made. Was curious if maybe we could extend the range to detect flying adversaries as well."
"Huh, that would probably help for Uzu, since there are only a few ways to get there."
"That was my thought."
Naruto nods and squeezes her shoulder once, "Good thinking. I'll leave ya to it. Don't burn yourself out."
"I won't." Turning away Naruto motions for Jugo and Kotohime to follow him out and down the hall. Kotohime leans forward to address him.
"I'm assuming she's very important to you?" She was not going to consider anyone she met as competition. She was more of the mindset of, the more the merrier.
"Everyone you're about to meet is very important to me. You'll see." Not feeling anyone inside the mansion, his next stop was around the back of the mansion, where a sweaty Ino was training with a brown Oni Mask on her face. However as Naruto and the others got close she turned and lifted the Mask to her head and exposing her features.
"Naruto!" Smiling brightly the platinum blonde got a running start before jumping into his arms. Kissing him hotly, she eventually pulled away with a blush, "Welcome back."
Laughing the boy held her by her waist for a moment before letting her down, "I'm home. I see you're working with your chosen Mask, how is it?"
"My earth control is nearly perfect with it but my chakra reserves def need some work, so I'm training with it everyday." Grinning and flexing a bit, she smirked as she watched Naruto's eyes roam over her form. "I've also noticed that my mind walk jutsu is a little better with it on as well."
"Huh, that's a surprise."
"Yeah, but I'm going to keep working at it. I'm assuming you're checking in with everyone?" Seeing him nod the girl bounced and turned to get back to work, "Make sure to get your letters to Hinata, she's making a new batch to send out soon."
"Oh yeah, I'll get on that."
Leaning over and finally noticing the pair watching them quietly. Well the boy was taking notes in a small notebook and muttering about someone being a love master, Ino nudged Naruto, "Who's this?"
"Ah. Sorry. These are Jugo and Kotohime. Kotohime is from the Fuma clan, we rescued her from the Sound base in Rice. Jugo I rescued from the Northern Sound base. They both decided to join me on my quest."
Ino gave them both a appreciating once over before sighing and nodding, "I get it. We'll all have to have a sit down later."
"Of course. We have stuff to talk about as a group after all." Leaning in to hug the girl again, Naruto was all smiles as he pulls away, "Who else is out here with you?"
"Karin isn't far, just around the corner I think. Tayuya is a bit away, said her jutsu was a little too destructive to use close to the mansion." Ino herself was already getting back into her own training mentality.
"Got it, we'll move on then." Waving goodbye, the trio moved on down the path that led around the mansion.
Jugo leaned forward now, "You really are a man of many talents my Lord. I will do my best to learn all I can from you."
"Stick around, you'll learn a lot." Like how to be a friend, hopefully. Naruto however spotted the shorter red head he was looking for. Komainu mask firmly in place and several earth golem seeming to aimlessly walk around her and perform basic tasks. Though as the group walked up all dozen of them turned to look at Naruto silently. "Well that's not creepy."
Karin laughs though she doesn't remove her mask, "Just wait till I've got this down a bit better. Myself and the Koyuki have been talking about using this in conjunction with the Snow ninja armor and well. The ideas we have right now would make for great village defenders. I wouldn't try sending them out on missions of course. But as like an automated defense or even a policing force?"
"Huh, that would help with keeping the civilians in line as well if you can finish your training."
Karin is grinning behind the mask, "And Koyuki showed me the designs for that blimp they had hidden away. I'm going to be busy for a while."
"Well don't burn yourself out okay, we have time."
"I know that. Now who's the bruiser? I know the Fuma chick." Karin vaguely remembered the flirtatious busty girl. Another boob monster to add to the group. Yay.
"This is Jugo, he's calling himself my retainer after I saved him from the Northern base."
"Oh, another Orochimaru find huh?"
"Another?" Jugo chimed in this time, curious about how Karin worded that.
"Oh yeah, myself and Tayuya are from the Sound as well. And we're happy to never be going back as well."
"Ah, I see. I do not wish to leave Lord Naruto's side as well."
Karin considered that. Jugo was taking the retainer role serious it seemed. "Stick around, you'll learn a lot about us." Here she turned to Kotohime, "Us girls will have a talk later."
Kotohime bowed lightly, "I would expect nothing less."
Naruto had walked up, poking one of the squat golem in the midsection. They were like chubby earthen dolls with glowing blue eyes. "I never would have thought to combine golem with the chakra armor."
Karin just snorts, "That's why I'm around. I'm the actual brains while you get to be explosion murder boy." Giggling as she pushes him lightly, she motions to the woods not far away, "Tayuya is that way. You should go see her."
Naruto just salutes, "On it." Once again starting down the path, now away from the mansion, Jugo and Kotohime follow along. Naruto however thinks it over and makes a single clone while turning to walk backwards and talk to the duo, "Actually you both should head back inside. Follow my clone to go see Koyuki. Tayuya can be, touchy, with strangers."
Jugo again had his notebook out, "Lord Naruto learns and memorizes important details about his women." That felt important to remember.
Kotohime had the urge to smack the larger boy but held it in, just nodding and tugging on Jugo's sleeve to steer him back towards the mansion so they could follow the clone. "As you wish. We'll be waiting for you."
Naruto grins, "Thanks Kotohime, I'll see ya soon." Watching both of his newest comrades walk away Naruto eventually turns and makes his way further into the woods. He wondered just what Tayuya would have to be training with that would take her this far out from everyone else. He got his answer pretty soon however as he felt something approach him quickly. The chakra at least felt like Tayuya's so he stopped where he was and waited.
From the tree cover burst three large demon looking entities. To him at least they weren't alive, but they weren't completely fake. Something to do with Tayuya's jutsu then. He could just barely make out what sounded like a jaunty melody from a flute before the song ended. At it's end, the three beasts were gone as well. Naruto continues to wait and is soon rewarded with Tayuya herself dropping from the trees to stand in front of him. New seal active, it isn't to far off from her previous curse seal. Skin now a dark brown with black eyes and gold pupils, her muscle definition has also increased. More so her previous crown of horns has thinned only slightly, becoming more regal in appearance. Naruto however is left only a little speechless while Tayuya doesn't catch on right away.
"Hey Whiskers, though I felt some weird chakra nearby, was that all you?" Tayuya had a red Hannya mask on, though now was pushing it up and over her horns to address Naruto properly. Eyes wide, she worried if he was working himself to hard, he seemed flush.
Naruto had to take a minute to clear himself of dirty thoughts, "I uh. I'm back. Just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. How's the seal?" Yes yes, right. He was here to check in with his friends and family. Not oogle the very hot Tayuya who was now slightly taller than him and looked capable of crushing boulders bare handed.
"It's great! It's like flipping a switch with how easy it is to use it. No mental feedback or whispers from Orochimaru. My Doki have never responded so well. And the Hannya mask, with it's jutsu negation and chakra control circuits, it makes everything I do an even greater force to fight against." Tayuya gushed a bit over what Naruto had done for her. The power to pull natural energy from anywhere and not be hit with emotional backlash? She'd give anything to keep this up.
Naruto coughed into his hand and nodded, "Well I'm glad it's all working out. Chakra drain from the mask isn't an issue?"
"Nope! Guess that's probably because it's easier for us Uzumaki huh?" Shifting her weight to one hip while stowing her flute away, she watched Naruto's gaze flow over her for a moment before locking back onto her eyes. Oh ho. So he liked her curse form. Wonderful.
Naruto however decided to answer one of her earlier questions. "Oh. The other chakra signatures you felt? I rescued another Sound prisoner, Jugo, and Kotohime decided to join us from the Fuma clan, remember her?"
Tayuya however was focusing on what was important to her, "Uh huh. Yeah we'll get them in a moment, I remember Jugo. Say. Whiskers." Tayuya had walked up to the boy and got well within his personal space, "What do you think of my curse form?"
"Uh-uh there's no truth seal here Tayuya."
"And yet, I'm still asking." While her own assets were rather modest, the curse seal did a good job of, enhancing, everything she had, "So how about it. It's just us out here, what do ya think?"
Naruto knew he couldn't run away. And this was one of his precious people. Relenting and pulling the currently dark skinned girl into him, Naruto smiled, "If I wasn't worried about someone finding us, I might start working on bringing back the Uzumaki clan." Pulling the girl into a quick but very hot kiss, Naruto pulled back with a smile, "Answer your question?"
Tayuya nodded, though she was suddenly very hot and bothered, "Uh huh, sure thing hot stuff. Just don't do that too often. You'll knock me up before anyone else." Winking she let her love pull away from her. The problem with this form was that everything within nature resonated with her. That included, the instinctual urge to mate with the strongest candidate present. That was absolutely Naruto at the moment. Holding that back took a lot of work. She did want to continue training after this and didn't want to switch forms. She does however bring something up, "You didn't flinch at all when my Doki confronted you. Why?"
Naruto shrugged, easier to focus when they were talking about jutsu, "I felt your chakra controlling them, so I had no reason to fear. I trust you. Completely."
Tayuya flushed and smiled, because of course this muscle head would say the absolutely best thing in the moment, "I…I know you trust me. Thank you." She holds up her flute, studying it as she thinking about what she wants to say. There's no one around them for a long while it seems. They were in their own bubble, so she could be a bit more open about herself. "Music has been my focus for a long time. Its….Its gotten me through a lot of hard times. From the torture and training, to the lonely nights and abuse. But you. Because of you, I finally have a new song in my heart." She leans in, kissing the boy once more lightly before pulling away, "I hope, soon, you'll get to hear it."
Naruto grins, scratching the back of his head, "I'll be ready to listen, whenever you're ready."
Tayuya turns away, looking over her shoulder at him, "I know you will. I trust you, because you trust me. Get going, I'll catch up with you later once I think I'm good enough with my training. I'm ready to start laying the hurt on Orochimaru as soon as I can."
Naruto nods, turning away and getting ready to head back to the mansion. "For what it's worth, I'll say it out loud, you're pretty hot with that seal active."
Tayuya smirks, striking a pose while lifting her shirt a bit to expose a lot of skin, "Just you wait. You'll get to see just what this form can do." Without another word Tayuya jumped away, flute back in her hand.
Naruto himself beat a hasty retreat back towards the mansion. He knew that if he stayed in those woods any longer neither of them would be willing to wait for anything after that. So, focus. Don't worry about long haired red heads with great bodies or sharp tongues.
Kurama decided to speak up, 'Between her and the Hyuuga, my bet is on the Uzumaki jumping you first.'
Naruto groaned as they walked along, 'We have feelings too you know. It isn't just about sex.'
Kurama chuckled, 'Yes yes, your mother said much the same thing. And then she met your father. Why I remember when-'
Naruto was immediately hit with the urge to never hear the bijuu speak ever again, 'LALALALALALALA I CAN'T FUCKING HEAR YOU! NOPE NOPE NO UNDERSTAND THE WORDS COMING FROM YOUR MOUTH. DEMONS CAN BE SEEN NOT HEARD!'
Kurama began to laugh uproariously, 'Come now! You know your parents mated at least once to make you. What is there to feel shame about.'
Naruto shook his head as he made his way inside the mansion eventually, 'Yeah, exactly. I know my parents did it, once. Once and then they made me. I don't need details, descriptions. Nothing. Once was enough.'
'Oh just you wait boy. Once is never enough-'
'LALALALALA I CAN'T FUCKING HEAR YOU, YOU AGELESS BASTARD!' Feeling the old chakra construct fade into the background of his mind while laughing it's metaphorical ass off, Naruto was glad he didn't have a mental image of his mother fresh in his brain. That would have been traumatizing. For now he focused on finishing his trek to Koyuki's office and hopefully where Kotohime and Jugo were. His clone hadn't popped like normal. Odd that.
It wasn't long before Naruto found himself in Koruki's office. Jugo and Kotohime were standing before her desk, Kotohime chatting with her amicably while Jugo was standing at attention and waiting. However his clone was behind her and giving her a back rub. He just knew those memories about her movie set weren't a dream.
"Hey Koyuki. I see you've met my two new additions. So do you have anything new for me?"
Koyuiki hummed and leaned into the clone's touch, "Oh suuuure. Give me a clone and nothing personal yourself. I soooooo feel loved. I'm just the Daimyo of my country, who has feelings for you. Nothing serious or any-" Koyuki was eventually silenced as Naruto himself had gotten the message and walked forward around her desk. Tilting her head up back a finger to her chin, Naruto leaned down and kissed the girl fully on the lips. Ignoring the rest of the world for a moment, the two parted with panting gasps that left Koyuki's mind fuzzy and Naruto slowly returning to the other side of the desk.
"You know I wouldn't forget you like that."
"Uh huh. Right. Yeah. Mmmmm."
The clone addressed his boss, "She'll be in lala land soon if you don't get to the point."
Somehow Naruto felt like he should know more than his clones did, but he chalked it up to his subconscious being weird, "So has Spring received any new missions?"
Koyuki nodded and rooted around for a scroll in her desk. "I need you…uh..no wait." She paused as she thought about what she was going to say.
Jugo however had his notebook back out, "Lord Naruto is a master of diffusing his wives tantrums."
Kotohime nodded along in agreement this time, "Apparently so." Her own mind going to how he could, diffuse, certain situations in the future.
"Really you two?" Naruto shook his head and eventually snapped his fingers, "Hello? Koyuki. Missions?"
That worked for Koyuki, snapping out of it and finding the scroll she was looking for. "Right. I've had some contact with the Daimyo of Hotspring. I have a proposition for them and they are open to it. However they wish to meet with you. The Shadow Kage as it is." Koyuki held out a scroll which Naruto took and sealed away on his person. "You'll have to meet the Daimyo at his palace. He's expressly mentioned that you'll need to walk for the last leg of your journey and to keep your Onnamen mask on. That's how they'll know it's you."
Naruto nods and salutes, "Got it, Onnamen and walking. We can do that." Turning back to the others, Naruto first looks at Jugo, "I think it might be a good idea for you to stay. Spring is pretty peaceful and that is what you are looking for."
Jugo shook his head quickly, "I am your shield. I go where you go."
Kotohime cut Naruto off before he could even say anything, "I'm with you. You know that."
Naruto turned back to Koyuki and saluted, "Guess we're set then. I'll be back soon, hopefully within a day or so."
Koyuki nods, "You better be. Take a break when you get back. I'm sure you'll have time to check in with Uzu and with everyone. We haven't had a bath night with you in while."
Naruto frowned, "That sounds like you're still having them without me."
"Get your imagination running with that thought?"
Naruto couldn't say no to that. Sure he may have been peak professionalism before she said anything. But after she mentioned it…."You're all going to be responsible for my death."
Koyuki waved with a smile, "Most men and some women would be happy to go out that way. Now get going. The sooner you go the sooner you return."
Naruto grabbed hold of Jugo and a blushing Kotohime, "Got it. See ya soon!" Then they were gone, Naruto flashing to a random tree within the Hotspring forest.
Kotohime recovered first, "Just where are we?"
Naruto swept his arms wide, "Welcome to Hotspring country. Home to literally hundreds of different hot springs from those that're good for your health to those that help chakra recovery and some that help with, more intimate matters."
Kotohime suddenly had stars in her eyes, "That fabled bust spring is here. Do we have time to find it?"
Naruto shook his head and he motioned for the two to follow him, "Not today. But I'll promise that we'll all find time to explore to our heart's content later okay?"
Kotohime smiles though she is disappointing, "As long as we do come back, I'm okay with it."
Everyone making their way back to ground level and finding the main road, Naruto dons his mask and smirks behind it. "We're actually pretty close already to the Daimyo's palace…hmmm. Here, take these." Naruto unseals two masks, one is a specialized red Hannya mask while the other is a brown Oni mask. "Kotohime, the red Hannya is specialized towards Jutsu negation and chakra control enhancement. It will however tax your chakra pretty hard if you get hit with something, so I'd suggest still dodging if your can." Here he handed the mask over to the astonished Kotohime before turning to Jugo, "This is an mass production Uzumaki mask, the Oni mask, brown to be specific. Brown relates to Earth chakra control and I noticed you have an affinity for it. This'll increase your control ten fold and increase your normal strength by a good factor as well."
Kotohime had donned her mask and took her position at Naruto's left shoulder, "Thank you my Lord, I will use this gift with pride and honor."
Jugo mirrored her own sentiments, "I as well, will cherish this gift from you till the day I die. Thank you sire." Donning the mask and taking position at Naruto's right shoulder, the three started down the road towards the Daimyo's palace.
Naruto had his hands behind his back, "I'm pretty sure I asked for you both to be more informal with me."
Kotohime shook her head, "We're Undertow, the Uzu elite guard, we could never."
Jugo nodded, "Our duty is to protect you and your family, my Lord." Jugo was having fun with this however. He knew Naruto wanted him to be more of a friend, but Jugo had this freedom to be a bit of a tease. He was taking it, for now. Maybe one day he'd have a chance to branch out himself. That girl Sasame seemed cute and had a beautiful shade of hair. Orange! Just like his.
Naruto groaned and threw up his hands as a group of bandits entered the road ahead of them, "Why do I even bother. Find, do what you'd like."
Jugo nodded, stepping forward and confronting the bandits, "As you will sire."
The leader of the bandit group was smirking, "There's a dozen of us here. Lay down your weapons and we'll you go boys go with your lives. The Woman stays with us."
Jugo however is already upon them, "There's nothing staying with you." Unleashing carnage upon them, Kotohime turns to Naruto to tune out the one sided battle.
"My Lord, You do plan on working towards rebuilding your clan correct?"
Naruto nods slowly, "Yeah. I just, ya know, hoped I had a year or two before figuring that out."
Kotohime shook her head while a severed leg went flying in her peripheral vision, "My Lord, you never know what the new day might bring. It's best to get started early and leave instructions for if you pass. Maybe a will?"
Naruto was thinking that one over. Yes he knew Kotohime had her own motives though her reasoning wasn't wrong. Seeing Jugo finish and turn back to them, Naruto and Kotohime continued their walk. "I'll start on a will. That's pretty important. As far as kids go…give me a little time."
Kotohime nodded, "You are a Lord. You have all the time in the word." she meant it as well. Naruto was a man that would change anything to see his own vision come true. She gained confidence as well because Naruto's vision seemed to align with normal every day civilians as well as ninja. Which was a plus.
Focusing on their trek they made good time until they were coming close to the final approach of the palace they could just see over the trees. However, another gang was laying in wait for them. This group however was mostly kids. Some older teenagers sure but they were all wet behind the ears kids. Sure Naruto felt a certain way talking about kids close to his age as kids. It was however that he had been considered an adult since becoming a ninja, something these civilians couldn't claim.
The leader was pointing a decent sized knife at the group, "Leave your money and go. Before I stick you like a pig."
Naruto snorted at that. This kid could barely lift the knife as it was. Huh. "You know, instead of sticking it to me, you could be focused on someone who actually wants your attentions?"
The taller boys grunted, "That's not what I meant you perv!"
Naruto chuckled, "Well that's too bad." Filling the road with a minor number of clones who all took hostages Naruto was smirking as the leader was looking around with a fearful look. "Look, I'm in a hurry. Why don't you get on your way and we'll all forget this?"
Thinking that him and his crew had no way of fighting a ninja, the boy nodded, "Sure-sure. We'll leave ya alone."
Naruto frowned finally, wanting to impart a though as he motioned for the clones to let everyone go, "Look, maybe, I don't know. Find a different way to improve your life. Eventually you're going to run into someone not as nice as me, and then you're dead." Naruto's eyes flashed from behind his mask, "There's no coming back from dead, ya know?"
The boy nodded and he and his crew rushed back into the underbrush, "Whatever man! We'll let you go this time!" Then they were gone, leaving Naruto, Jugo and Kotohime giving bemused looks to the bush cover.
Jugo grunted, "Trash can't help but be trash."
Naruto shrugged as they got to walking again, "I don't know. I used to be trash like that."
Jugo shook his head, "Doubtful. What I mean when I call someone trash is that they refuse to better themselves by their own merit. Weak, but blame everyone else for why they are weak, instead of doing something about it. Those kids? Trash, because they would rather steal than work hard."
Naruto remembered some cold nights along in the Leaf village. Dumpster diving, scrounging for food and warmth. Willing to do almost anything to get away from that life. "Maybe. I think, they're the type of kids we want to help. That's why I spared them. Even here, in a country that prides itself on neutrality and tourist attractions there is strife. Those kids are going the route they think they have to, because the system around them shows that's all they have."
Kotohime could see where Naruto was coming from, "So you let them live, to show them that not everything has to be life or death?"
"Something like that. Plus, no point in killing non ninja kids. What threat are they?"
Kotohime smiles behind her mask, "A very wise decision my Lord."
Jugo himself nods along, "I would not have considered that. Indeed a wise decision."
Naruto himself sighed and settled in for a long walk. "C'mon, we have a ways to go." Naruto admitted to Jugo eventually that he wanted to travel faster to the Daimyo mansion faster but they had been advised that they should take it slow through Hotspring. Naruto wasn't one to ignore Koyuki's advice and so they were walking. Thankfully they actually weren't that far from their destination and as the sun began to set they were escorted under guard to the Daimyo himself.
The Daimyo himself wanted to model himself after the image he wanted to create for his country. To that effect he was a portly man with an easy smile and a joyful yet peaceful demeanor. That said, he was wary of meeting with ninja even if he had gotten assurances from the new Spring Daimyo. Sure the Onnamen mask was the marker she had given, but who was for sure that this was who they were looking for? But he put on a smile and welcomed the three into his office regardless, several samurai in attendance, just in case.
"Welcome. My name is Taida and I believe you have a letter for me? The Spring Daimyo mentioned that they wish to enter into a tentative agreement for goods transportation via train rail?"
Naruto nods, not making a move to move forward or mold chakra. Instead pulling the scroll from a pocket and holding it up in plain view. A samurai guard walks forward to take it from him before checking it over and eventually handing it to the Daimyo. "Spring has made a lot of advances in technology not involving chakra. They want to revolutionize the world, and want to bring everyone they can along for the ride." Naruto was in full shadow leader mode and thankfully Jugo and Kotohime picked up on that, not saying a word themselves.
Taida eventually was given the scroll and opened it to read it's contents. Seeing that everything was in order just as the letter from the Spring Daimyo said, the older man smiled thinly, "Moving people and goods rapidly would be a boon for Hot Spring. This is something that we would love unconditionally." Taida was lying of course but he knew better. Ninja were not to be trusted. Best to lie and get them out the door as quickly as possible.
Naruto however just sighed, Mask telling him Taida's own thoughts as if the older man had said them aloud, "Yeah see, lying isn't necessary. If you don't feel comfortable about the alliance you can say so. Spring is willing to work with any country it wishes to forge a bond with. That also includes leaving countries alone that wish to be alone."
Taida's eyebrows raise quickly. For such a young ninja to see through his lie was interesting. "You are, well informed. You must understand however that I do not wish for my country to be brought into another war. Upsetting the political balance like this could do just that."
Naruto nods, having thought of that himself. Lightning and Earth would stand to lose a lot if goods become more accessible to the smaller countries. Even the Leaf would suffer a bit. Wind would actually benefit, not having great agricultural or seafaring villages itself. "I get it. This is, however, completely voluntary. Spring is not looking for war but the future is uncertain. We will of course defend anyone within our group from outsiders, along with providing our services." Anyone protected by the Uzumaki were going to be considered VIPs as far as Naruto was concerned. He'd level Lightning if they so much as breathed wrong in Hot Spring's direction.
Taida himself thinks about that. "No repercussions if we decide not to agree to this?"
Naruto nods, "None at all. We wish to be friends, not tyrants."
"I see." Taida took a minute to think about that. Usually newer Daimyo's or villages were so heavy handed. That Spring was taking a soft approach spoke of either experience or more likely, hidden strength, "I will say, we can talk slowly about an alliance. I like the idea of a railway for not just supplies but for people, tourist, specifically. Our economy pretty much runs completely on tourism, civilian and ninja." Taida motioned out a window to the roads below, "The roads can be, treacherous."
"Of course, but Spring is doing it's best to develop new technology for everyone. You won't be disappointed with an alliance." Naruto watches as the Daimyo pulls a scroll from his robes and holds it out for a Samurai to bring to Naruto.
"This is for your Daimyo. Take it, and let them know we will begin more formal talks for an alliance. This, railway, they wish to build will take time I'm sure. But if they are willing to fund it completely as they said, then we will support it in the end. Good day to you."
Naruto bows as he accepts the scroll and seals it away. "Good day to you as well." Naruto, Jugo, and Kotohime bow silently from there and accept being escorted out.
Taida however looks over to his advisor who had been hidden behind a wall curtain the entire time. "That ninja was very perceptive."
The nameless advisor nods, "That was the Maelstrom sir. An S-rank Ninja of some renown."
"Maelstrom huh?" Taida shakes his head as he turns away to walk back to his desk. "We should make an entry ourselves. Something more grand. Say. The one who sees the Truth. He saw through me so easily after all."
"It will be done my lord."
"See that it is."
Outside, Naruto and his group barely made it to the base of the steps before Naruto grabbed Jugo and Kotohime and flashed away. Hot Spring was nice but Naruto truly did want to relax sooner rather than later. He could only do that in Spring and Koyuki had only told him to approach the Hot Spring Daimyo at a snail's pace, not leave. Dropping everyone within the Spring mansion, Naruto ripped his mask off with a smile.
"Okay that it! Time to relax a bit and treat ourselves!"
Jugo took his own mask off and looked around. "Would I be allowed to explore a bit? Maybe look around the woods?"
Naruto nods, "Go for it. There will be either one of my clones or a Snow ninja looming not far away able to direct you to a room later okay?"
Jugo nods, "Then by your leave." Seeing Naruto wave him off again, Jugo left the main sitting room, determined to find his way outside.
Kotohime however shrugged as she had a different plan in mind, "Do you have other work to perform?" Hey own mask was off and handed back to Naruto who sealed it away.
"Not at the moment. Just gonna drop this scroll off with Koyuki and then take a bath and relax."
"That sounds wonderful, perhaps I will join you."
"Uh huh, maybe-"
Walking into the sitting room, alerted by Naruto's chakra usage, a taller Snow ninja soon stood before the blonde. "Sir, welcome back!"
Naruto focused on the ninja, "What's up? Koyuki need me?"
"No sir. This is actually about that ninja you captured. We've made a list of the seals placed on them for your review." The ninja was holding out a scroll for Naruto to take, which Naruto did so while handing his own scroll from the Hot Spring Daimyo to the ninja.
"Make sure that get's to Koyuki will ya. I'm gonna be busy." Naruto's mind was already fully into what he was reading. So a silencing seal on the tongue, loyalty seal and a locating seal at the base of the neck. A fertility seal on her lower abdominal and a combo conditioning and paralysis seal on the lower back. Wonderful. This had black ops written all over it. Had to be Danzo. Naruto created a clone and looked at it fully, "Can ya go and find Ino?"
The clone gave a grin and saluted, "On it boss!" Then it was gone down the halls while Naruto walked towards the basement with Kotohime following behind him.
"What's this about a captured ninja?"
Naruto suddenly remembered that Kotohime had no clue what was going on. "So, someone sent a ninja to come find me and either bed me or bend me to their will. We spotted the ruse almost right away, but we were able to figure out who forced them to come. So I'm going to remove their seals and hopefully piece together just what happened and who they are."
Kotohime held a hand to her chest in surprise, "You have that ability?"
Naruto nods, "Seals are amazing." For the two ninja it doesn't take long to find their way into the lower levels of the mansion. Soon they were in the dark basement levels and Naruto was pushing open a door that had a Snow ninja guard. Inside the room however things changed almost right away. Not a dank cell like he thought, instead the room looks more hospital room than it did prison cell. The bed was spartan and there was a curtain that hung from the ceiling to provide privacy though at the moment it was open. Naruto however noted the hospital gown that the girl, Kiyohime, had been changed into though the paper seal he placed on her forehead was still present. "Well, before I wake her I should get to removing seal the seals placed on her." Unsealing his equipment on a provided table, he misses the odd look on Kotohime's face.
"She…looks familiar."
Naruto does take her seriously at that, "How so?"
Kotohime shakes her head, "Her hair is, longer, a little more wild. Her features are also a bit softer, but she looks remarkably like my younger sister."
Naruto nods at that, "Well at the moment she probably doesn't have much of a memory after the conditioning seal was placed on her. Let's get that off and work from there. If she does end up being your sister I'm sure you both will have a lot to talk about." Slowly rolling the girl onto her back, Naruto opens her gown and begins to work on removing all of the seals here, small though they are.
Behind them both Ino walks in accompanied by a clone, "Heya Whiskers, what's the word?"
Naruto himself grinned as the clone he sent dispelled itself. "Wanted to see if you could do a mind walk session with this girl once I remove her seals and wake her up. You up for that?"
Ino nods and leans against the wall to wait, "Sure thing. It'll be good practice and a brush up on my skills." She looks over to Kotohime, "Welcome back."
"Thank you. It's nice to be here. Tell me, you seem to be in the know about what is going on."
Ino grins slyly but shakes her head, "I am, but we're gonna have a girl's night soon. We all hit the baths when everyone is present together. Since you'll all be here instead of floating around Tea, we're going to have one tonight and tomorrow." Ino then turned to Naruto, "Hear that Fox boy?"
Naruto nods as he's turned Kiyohime over and removed the last seal on her tongue, "I got it. I know better than to try and run away." Though really he shouldn't try. Taking an open air bath with a group of beautiful women? Why pass that up? Finishing his work after a few minutes and sealing his tools away, he turned to look at Ino. "Though you might have some work tonight, you ready?"
Ino nods, "Of course."
Naruto removes the seal from Kiyohime's forehead and waits. It takes a moment for the girl to begin to regain consciousness, groaning and shifting her body little by little. However after a few minutes her eyes open, though almost immediately tears begin to flow, much to Naruto's worry.
"Ah, are you in pain at all? I'm sorry. I-"
"No. No pain." Much more emotion now, the girl before them was completely different from who they had met at first, "I….I remember almost everything from when I was captured. The torture, the conditioning. The…."
Naruto held up a hand, "You don't have to continue, if it was who I think it is, I have ideas." Naruto paused as he watched the girl quietly for a minute, giving her a little time to adjust to being herself again. "Do you, remember who you were?"
"Bits. Pieces. Like a dream I just woke from." Finally tearing her gaze from the ceiling to look at the other occupants of the room, her eyes latched onto Kotohime, "Si-sister?"
"It is you. Kin…how did this happen?" Tears were coming to Kotohime's eyes now as she rocketed forward to hug the tired looking girl. This was the sister she thought had been killed in Orochimaru's failed invasion. Here she was, alive, though somewhat broken. "You're alive?"
Kin nodded, "I am. My, memory, isn't perfect. But I remember you. I remember our clan's desperation. I remember being used as a sacrifice to further Orochimaru's goals." Here the tears and anguish grew stronger, "I remember the regret when I realized our clan would get nothing with my death and wishing I could take it all back." Kotohime pulled away slightly but stayed with arm's reach.
Naruto however turns to Ino, "I'm going to leave them be, but please stay, help however you can."
Ino smiles and answers him quietly, "Of course. I'll be here."
Kin however noticed him leaving, "Wait." Seeing him pause and turn back, she shakes her head and tries to clean her tears, "Danzo…Danzo sent me."
Naruto nodded, suspicion confirmed, "Don't worry about that for now. You focus on catching up with your sister and resting. We can figure things out tomorrow. Ino is a mind walker, she should be able to help you regain your full memories.
Kin nods with a weak smile, "Thank you."
Naruto however was already out the door and walking down the hall. So this was Danzo's plan huh? Well then. Maybe the Leaf needed another visit from him soon.
-AN-
Originally this chapter wasn't meant to be this long but I spent a day with my sister for her birthday and realized I slowed down on my self imposed update schedule. So. Here's a longer chapter as an author apology. Danzo seems to be building even more of a case against the Leaf and Naruto seems ready to do. Something. Time will tell however.
-OMAKE-
Itachi was not one to give in to boredom. He was a ninja of immense skill and experience. Long road travel could be a delight in a variety of ways. From people watching to nature watching to even mentally working through theoretical problems in his head. Itachi was not one to get bored easily. The same however could not be said for his partner as they walked along the border of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire. Kisame was nearly always bored and what was more, made it everyone else's problem. If he wasn't fighting, or eating, or playing with his sword Kisame was liable to make up his own fun.
Most of that included murder in some way, but Itachi could at least funnel that energy into useful bounties. Ninja had to eat after all.
Today however Kisame was taking up a new pastime. Something that almost immediately set Itachi on edge and wishing he could send the taller ninja into a tsukuyomi for the next year straight. Because what had Kisame decided to focus himself on? Stupid questions made my hormonal children.
"C'mon Itachi! This is an easy one, fuck, marry, kill. Tsunade the legendary sucker, because we know why they really call her the Legendary . Konan the Angel of Rain, because she sure can make it wet like rain. And the actress Yukie Fujikaze, cause I'm sure she'd be down to play out any role you'd give her." Kisame had his answer right away, but he was curious what Itachi might say. Plus he was bored. They didn't have a real goal at the moment until the 9-tails showed up and it had been months since the last sighting.
"This is beneath us." Itachi was more bored of the question. As it had been asked about a dozen times already, with different people. There was nothing productive about this.
"It's to pass the time! My man, do you want me to rip apart the next person I see on this road? You know what I'm like when I'm bored."
Itachi did in fact know what Kisame was like. "Fine." It wasn't like he had to think hard about his answer. "In order of fuck, marry, kill. Yukie, Konan, Tsunade."
"Whaaaat? You'd kill the Legendary K cup herself ? Miss 106 centimeters? How could you?" It was blasphemy of the highest order! At least have her on the fuck mention. The other two were children compared to Tsunade.
Itachi sighed, "There is more to a woman besides her breasts."
"Sure sure yeah, but this is…Tsunade." Kisame made exaggerated hand motions around his own chest, "How can you pass that up?"
"Because I want a woman of substance?"
"Substance? You want twigs. Maybe we should ship you off with Orochimaru, he seems to share those particular tastes." Kisame wouldn't come out and say the Snake summoner was a pedo. But he could say confidently he had never seen the man court any women, ever. He did however seem really interested in young men. He didn't judge, if men were your thing go for it. Just you know. Stay away from his own holes thank you.
Itachi sighed, "You wouldn't know good quality if it landed in your lap."
"Says you. How do you like those bruises from smashing your hips into pelvic bones? I need a Woman. Capital W. Full bodied and a little extra." It might be a fight between Mei or Tsunade who he was attracted more to, but hmmm. The mental image of that was going to keep him up tonight now. Tsunade and Mei, sweaty, fighting…oh yeah.
Itachi could already see this was going off the rails, "You're a mess."
"Says the guy who tortured his little brother. Which, by the way, wasn't necessary at all."
"It was motivational."
"What's motivational about forcing a child to relive you killing his entire family over and over?"
"It's an Uchiha thing, you wouldn't get it."
"You Uchiha are fucking weird."
"We just have different tastes and traditions."
"Trash tastes from the sound of it."
"I'm not going to argue with the embodiment of human sushi."
"You take that back!" More bickering and arguing commenced. At least Kisame wasn't bored now.