-AN-
A little something extra, more like an in between chapter here to focus on one of Naruto's acquisitions.
-Story Start-
Through the Land of Hot water and the Land of Spring, Uzushio was finding a new though small wave of mission requests that they were having to fill. Naruto and the members of Riptide could fulfill most, but it was beginning to get overwhelming. Thankfully there had been a few recent additions in their ninja ranks, and that now included the Chinoike clan. Naruto had promised them that if they had gone through their probation with no problems that he would personally carve out a new clan home for them, but they all decided that they wanted to work for it properly themselves, so instead they requested a different type of home in the meantime.
Home was a metal works warehouse. Hot and humid, air thick with steam and sweat, the building was meant to help meet the demands of the various construction orders around the growing city. Just one piece of a much larger picture, the clan was earning a name for themselves thanks to their bloodline abilities that allowed them to manipulate iron and mineral particles. So who better to help shape hot and malleable iron and steel than them? Many of the clan members who did not feel up for combat instead were making their living shaping and forming metal, the humid environment almost a breezy day compared to their previous home. It was still hard work but they were happy.
On the ascending floors high above the work floor, the entire complex was being converted for their clan's needs. They did not want to forget their roots and while the exterior of the building was very much industrial requirements, the interior of their living quarters screamed traditional form and function. Today found En and Gosu facing off again, the more flashy man grinning while Gosu sat with his arms crossed with a scowl on his face. Behind each sat an equal number of men and women who awaited their decision on what the clan would do. Tsunami had come by, two missions given to them with orders to have both completed asap. Everyone in Uzu knew not to cross the woman. Sure she continued to tell everyone she was just a civilian, but somehow they all knew.
They'd die if she somehow stopped smiling one day.
So, here they were, frowning and trying to decide who would go on the missions they had been given. One was a bounty job, some A rank fire nation run away who apparently liked to torch villages, while the other was a request to escort the Land of Spring Daimyo to the Land of Frost. One was very important politically while the other would earn a name for themselves as heavy hitters.
Gosu considered taking the scroll for the bounty right away before mentally he sighed. After being so thoroughly trounced by Lord Naruto he had been rethinking things as of late. He needed to redeem himself, not just in combat but in his way of thinking. Leaning forward he pushed the bounty scroll to En, much to the onlooker's gasps. "You hunt the bastard down."
En raised an eyebrow, "You wouldn't normally pass up a chance to show off your strength. What's the catch?"
Gosu shook his head, still frowning and crossing his arms. "Out of the two of us, you have the better skill. You'll have an easier time bringing this guy in, alive, than I would. And we get a bonus if he's alive."
En sighed, nodding finally and relaxing. "That means you have to put up with potentially a prissy princess while they finalize aid between nations. Think you can stomach that?"
Gosu closed his eyes with a grimace, "I'll do my best…" Chuckles erupted from everyone around him and he slammed a hand on the floor, "Shuddap! This is important and if I gotta swallow my normal pride and do this then I will. It's a few days, I can handle a few days of being proper."
En and the others tapered off their laughter. "Okay okay, my team takes the bounty, while your team takes the escort. We still have enough for guard duties yes?"
Behind him his wife leans forward, "We have things in hand here. Thanks to the border seals and the limited country traffic there's little for us to do. We're more like a police force than anything. It's been pretty minor outside of some rowdy drunks." Her eyes sharpened pointedly at him specifically when she brought up that last point.
En scratched his head while he received jeers from some of the others, "Uh huh, noted dear."
Gosu smirked, "Whipped."
Keiko, En's wife, leaned around to face Gosu as well, "And you! When are you going to do your duty and settle down? We have a home here now, we should be bolstering the clan. Stop being lazy."
Gosu faulted a bit before nodding quickly, "Yes ma'am."
En smirked, "What was that about being whipped?" The smack he received was well worth it. Laughter filled the room as they made more plans and armed up. They wanted to get these missions done and over with so they could have gleaming reports for their Lord when he returned. They had a lot of time to make up for.
-b-
Konan was doing just as her leader had requested. Things had been different recently within the Land of Wave and though they were a small island nation they had quickly centered themselves as a shipping hub that currently had no rival within Fire nation borders. That did not bode well for the ruling elite there, but for now Wave seemed protected. Konan was dressed in less obvious ninja attire, much simpler blue pants and a longer blue turtleneck, she had decided trying to blend in would be best. She wanted the opinions of the locals and being a ninja would most likely have them clamming up in no time.
Crossing the massive bridge, Konan set about her task. The town square was a busy affair, stalls and shops were open for business and people from all over hustled about their errands. As she walked she took it all in. In one shop, a bakery, a mother was being trailed by what most likely was her son as she shopped, the boy being dutiful and holding his mother's purchases. That the place was somewhat packed but everyone seemed to be in good spirits was a nice change. In the next shop Konan had to lean out of the way as a pigtailed boy rushed by, arms pull of heavy looking bags as he rushed towards the docks. Must be a delivery boy she figured.
"Miss, miss! Hey hey! Why don't you try our takoyaki! Fresh ingredients all the time here in Wave!" A man was calling to her over all the noise and she figured she hadn't eaten today, so why not.
Walking up to him she produced several ryo bills, "Fresh you say?"
The man nods, "Absolutely, here!" Holding out a thin cardboard dish with several of the treats waiting to be eaten, he grinned as she took the tray from him. "On the house for such a beauty. Enjoy your stay here."
Konan raised her eyebrows, "How. How do you know I'm visiting?"
The man winked at her, "You all have a certain look to ya." He pointed away from them, towards the docks where she could make out a small walkway, "There's an overlook there with a pretty amazing view. You should check it out if ya have the time."
Konan considered the man for a moment. She couldn't feel any chakra from him, so he wasn't a ninja. "Can I ask a question, before that?"
"Sure thing missy."
"How do you like this country?"
The man had his hands on his hips, shifting his weight from side to side as he thought about that. Eventually he snapped his fingers, taking a deep breath. "It's like, like breathing real good clean air after being stuck in a mine for a long time."
Konan took that in for a moment before smiling softly, "Thank you. I think I understand."
"Glad to help!" Waving as she left, the man went back to calling out to potential customers.
Konan herself weaved her way through the crowds as she did as he instructed, finding her way along cleanly paved streets as she enjoyed her snack. The smaller park area cum overlook was just as he described, offering an amazing view of the shoreline and the port. Several larger container ships were docked and being unloaded or loaded, while even more smaller fishing vessels seemed to continue a steady stream in and out of the area. No wonder the work here was constant.
She nearly missed the smaller woman sidling up next to her with a comfortable smile on her face. "It's a beautiful day out, isn't it?" Long blue hair tied back and braided. Dressed in pinks and reds, Konan wondered who this unassuming woman was.
"It is." Konan could be polite at least. "The breeze feels rather nice as well."
Tsunami nods, leaning against the railing as she realized she was getting a lot of practice in with greeting strange ninja. "It's a perk of being an island nation. It's never to hot here." Here Tsunami turned to look at Konan fully, offering a short bow, "I am Tsunami. It's wonderful to meet you, ninja-san."
Officially caught flat footed, Konan watched the other woman warily. She had been told not to start a conflict here, only observe, but she didn't expect to be caught so quickly if at all. Did they have something like they did in Rain? "My name is Konan. I'm sorry, have we met before?" She hadn't felt a barrier, nor had she noticed any ninja following her.
Tsunami shook her head, "Oh no. I just always make it a point to greet powerful ninja who come to our country if my schedule allows. I was nearby, so I came. Nothing more or less. Call it…curiosity."
Well that wasn't making Konan feel any better about this. Just as before with the other man she couldn't feel any chakra from the woman, barely any at all. Was she suppressing it? A seal perhaps? Idly she suppressed her own chakra in order to dispel any genjutsu placed on her. Feeling and seeing nothing change, she sighed and realized she was at a disadvantage here. "Curiosity is, dangerous, in this work."
Tsunami nods, "I've been told that repeatedly. I just can't help myself however. Now that I've met you though I think you'll be alright." Tsunami took a step back to make some distance between them. "I'm sure you'll find your time here pleasant. We're in the middle of building a few new hotels and a new entertainment district. I'm sure you'll find something to satisfy you."
Konan raised an eyebrow at that wording but didn't comment on it, "Are you the leader here?"
"Think of me more like a Mayor. I answer to someone, but they aren't around right now."
"Would you permit me to meet your leader then, when they return?"
Tsunami seemed to watch her quietly for a minute, taking her in before her smile dimmed slightly, "Possibly. Be warned of course. There is no forgiveness for violence here in Wave."
Konan suppressed the shiver she felt crawl up and down her spine, "I'm just, looking to talk, nothing more." This woman, Tsunami, truly was dangerous.
"Then it is a possibility." Tsunami turned to walk away, "No one will bother you so long as you don't cause any trouble." With those parting words the older woman was gone, leaving Konan to think on the encounter.
"How. Odd." Taking a bite of her treat, she eventually relaxed and turned her gaze back over the busy port. Hmm. Find something to satisfy her huh? Well, she did have time and she was supposed to figure out what was going on around here. Why not explore a bit? It was on Akatsuki's dime after all.
Somewhere far away Kakuzu sneezed and felt the urge to throttle someone.
-b-
Days had passed and En with a team of four of his clan members were hot on the trail of their target. Affectionately calling himself Hinoiki, the shorter brown haired man was rather easy to track down. He almost couldn't stop talking about his fires. An arsonist through and through it seemed. But he did have skill, leading them on a chase through the forests along the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Noodles. They were gaining on him however and Hinoiki was laughing about it.
"You fools, you think you can stop the mighty Hinoiki? Why, Hinoiki would be impressed if Hinoiki wasn't planning on burning you to a crisp." flipping in mid air to spit fireballs at the group, the team scatters while one of En's teammates sighed.
"Please don't tell me he speaks in the third person all of the time."
En had a feeling he did. "C'mon. By our usual, get around him and cut him off. I'll make the takedown and we can bring him in."
"Oh you think it'll be that easy huh? Why do you think Hinoiki has such a high bounty!" Breathing deeply, Hinoiki began making hand seals. They all could feel the chakra levels rising within him and two of the Chinoike clan rushed forward to cover the others, hands blazing through seals.
"Greater Fire Dragon!" Said dragon shaped fire blast erupted from Hinoiki's lips, blazing straight and true for the group.
"Water buttress!" Two sets of seals complete, water was pulled from the very air and formed into two complete walls. They held, churning the attack into steam that covered the area. En however was already racing ahead.
"Let's go. We can't lose him."
"Hinoiki never retreats! Hinoiki'll kill you first!" Clothes damp from where he rushed through the heavy steam, Hinoiki was already working through several more seals as he again breathed deeply, "Great fireball!"
En only had a moment before he dropped to the ground below, the branch he had been on incinerated in an instant. Hinoiki was hot on his heels however, making more seals. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Hinoiki will roast you alive and watch you burn!" There was another burst of white hot fire, and En was forced to jump away as the very ground burned.
"I'm ending this!" From the fire and covered in a thin layer of water, one of En's teammates had kunai out and was planning on taking out the other man's knees.
"You're going to burn is what you're going to do." Turning lightning fast, Hinoiki spat a smaller yet fast ball of fire that impacted with the man closing in on him.
"Mika!" A woman's voice called from above the fire, several kunai impacting the group where Hinoiki was walking to close the distance between him and the downed Mika.
"Oh was that your man? Don't worry, you'll be joining him soon." Several shuriken burst from the wall of fire to arc towards him, but more white fire melted them within seconds before they could ever reach him.
En pushed chakra to his eyes, activating his Ketsuryugan with a smirk. "Honestly, there was a reason we're the best at bounty hunting." He watched as Hinoiki began a longer chain of seals.
"Oh why's that you kindling?" Hinoiki was seconds away from firing another fire dragon and leapt towards En, the other four Chinoike clan members too slow behind him to stop him.
En watched as Hinoiki touched down in front of him, chest expanding. He held out a hand and reached deeply for the iron in front of him. "Did you know blood has a lot of iron in it?" Freezing the man in his place, En watched the fire nature chakra seep from his lips as Hinoiki struggled against his body.
"What have you done to Hinoiki? Why can't Hinoiki move?"
En smirked, motioning down with his hands and bringing Hinoiki to his knees. "Yeah. Our bloodline let's us do a few things. My specialty is more towards the iron manipulation. My rival Gosu? Much better with genjutsu. Anyway. Time for you to go nighty night."
"Fuck you! Hinoiki won't be silenced! Hinoiki must see more and more beautiful flames and-" One of En's team members chopped him in the neck, knocking him out in seconds. Another pulled free one of the Uzumaki suppression seals, placing it on Hinoiki's back to insure he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
"Well that was fun eh boss?" Everyone watched as Mika was picked up and hobbled over to them. Singed and wounded but alive.
En nodded and wiped the sweat from his brow as he deactivated his dojutsu. "Sure. Only took running nonstop for a full day and putting up with his bullshit." En watched as the others tied the man up and one hoisted him up on their shoulders. "Let's get a move on. I wanna be back home and handing this guy off first chance we can get."
"Aw, no job well done. No praise for the underlings?"
En smirked, looking each of them in the eye as they started back up into the trees, "En can always start talking in the third person, cause En is already irritate and En needs some stress relief."
The only woman of the group, nearly chucked a kunai at him, "Okay okay we get it boss!"
Chuckling En led the way. This ended up being a rather easy job, though that was probably due more to a favorable matchup. No one knew of their skills after all. That'd take time. Time that they now had thanks to their Lord. "I wonder how Gosu is doing."
Half a continent away in much colder climate, Gosu himself and a team of four men stood guard around the Spring Daimyo Koyuki as her travel coach bumped along the snow covered road. While the driver urged the horses along and they passed through a sleepy looking village, Gosu questioned again if this was the best call? Beyond bored, at least the Spring Daimyo had been focused on her work and planning and so far wasn't some prissy stuck up aristocrat like he had assumed.
"Excuse me, Gosu? Could you come here for a moment?" From the coach Koyuki's voice floated from an open window. Jumping and holding onto the top rail, it was easy to rise along on the side of the cart as they bounced along.
"Yes Lady Daimyo?"
Chuckling and moving the window shade aside, Koyuki shook her head, "None of that. Koyuki will be just fine. Tell me, you've seen the land so far. What is your estimation of things?"
Gosu raised an eyebrow, "Well, it's not really my place to-"
Koyuki shook her head again, "I didn't ask if it was your place. Just your opinion. Please."
Caught off guard, Gosu really took the time to think about what she was asking. Estimation of things? What the hell did that mean? "Well uh. It's a hard place to live. But looks like the people are just as hard, probably stubborn as hell too. Why would anyone want to live in such a cold and dreary place."
Koyuki giggles and waves a hand at Gosu's disgruntled look, "You'll find us Northerners think much differently than most. This has probably been these people's homes for generations. They'll do a lot to make sure they don't have to leave I think. Thank you Gosu." Relaxing back into her seat as she worried over a scroll and scribbled away, Gosu jumped down to walk next to one of his men.
"Odd woman that."
"Ah is Gosu starting to notice women finally?"
Gosu cuffed the man in the head, "Hush Ginta. Rumor is she's one of Lord Uzumaki's. That's why this mission is so important."
"Shit boss. What's the plan then?"
"Defend her to the last. This is for the clan, we can't let anything happen to her."
"Sure thing, I'll tell the other."
"See that you do." Watching the younger man trot off to the others, Gosu watched as the mansion was soon before them. Time to get to real work it seemed. It wasn't long before they entered the former Frost Daimyo's mansion. He had been pleasantly surprised to find Koyuki was actually both very pleasant to be around and very focused. She didn't ask for much and had even told them a few times that if it wasn't for Naruto insisting that she would have come to this meeting alone. Gosu of course agreed with Naruto's estimation of things but didn't voice his opinion. This was a Daimyo. You did not talk back to a Daimyo.
Being led into an open seating room, they were all slightly surprised to find Frost ninja here. Gosu was first to immediately come forward to cover Koyuki while the others behind him all reached for their weapons. The man in front of them however held out his hands and waved them for peace. "Wait wait. I'm the one here for the meeting!" He looked left and right behind him before sighing. Realizing that having two full squads of ninja probably put off the wrong impression. "We uh. We haven't gotten around to replacing our Daimyo yet, so I'm still running things until then. I am Yamamoto. Formerly just the captain of the guard, now apparently a stand in for the Daimyo."
Koyuki edged her way around the much taller Gosu, smiling and placing a hand on his outstretched arm to show him things were okay. He lowered it, stepping aside though keeping an eye on the opposing group while the others put their weapons away. "It's a pleasure to meet you Yamamoto. I am the Spring Daimyo Koyuki. Sandayu received your message that you wanted to talk about aid."
Yamamoto nodded, motioning to the table and waiting for Koyuki to seat herself. Once she did he did on the opposite side, twitching only slightly as the brutish looking man stood tall at her side and refused to stop looking at him. Focusing, the former captain motioned to a man behind him who brought forward several documents. "We've been finding all sorts of issues since our former Daimyo was outed as a traitor. While of course now we have plenty of ryo to fund recovery efforts, one of the major issues is going to be getting our people back, and surviving this winter."
Koyuki nods, looking over the paperwork while holding up a hand to snap a finger. One of Gosu's men came forward, a scroll gently placed in the waiting woman's hand. "Spring can supply bulk food stores and winter supplies as long as you have payment. We wish to help yes, but we aren't a charity. From reports, you should have run your Daimyo out a long time ago."
"Yes um…we've been working through that ourselves. It has been, enlightening."
"Sure." Koyuki looked at the recent reports in front of her. Population numbers, border crossings, trade. It was all abysmal. "I do have another option of course. If you'd like to hear it."
Yamamoto nodded, "We are much more open to options these days."
Koyuki clapped her hands together once, smiling brightly, "That is wonderful to hear." Unrolling her scroll, she turns it to face Yamamoto. "In truth, my nation is looking for partners and allies. We've already brokered alliances with the Land of Rice and the Land of Hot Water. We would love to add the Land of Frost to our list as well. You wouldn't be subservient to us, but equal. And as allies we would happily share supplies at discounted rates along with helpful technology. Like an industrial rail line connecting you to your neighbors."
Yamamoto frowned, "A rail line?"
Koyuki nodded, "Think a giant transport cart capable of transporting literal tons of material quickly over long distances."
"Hmmm. It's, troubling to think about. We told the Maelstrom we would not be subservient to anyone. Ever."
Koyuki pauses, eyes becoming chips of ice. "Oh? Did I mention anything about subservience? I'm trying to help you help your people. By all means, pay full price for everything and go it your way if that's what you'd like. I won't stop you."
"Watch your tone woman! The Frost-" The random ninja who spoke up never finished as he locked eyes with a suddenly red eyed Gosu. Everyone watched the interplay between the two before the Frost ninja gurgled and dropped to the floor, foaming at the mouth but unconscious.
"Anyone else want to speak out of turn today?" Unseen by Gosu the rest of the Chinoike group all stepped forward, no weapons present, but they all projected an aura of intense malice.
Koyuki coughed, and they all returned to their posts, "That's enough don't you think? And what did you do to him?"
Gocus nods quickly, deactivating his dojutsu, "Sorry my lady. And um. I don't think it would be polite to say to a Lady."
"Humor me."
"Genjutsu. I made him believe he was a 13 year old girl going through puberty."
"Oh my." Giggling Koyuki waved his worried expression away. "It was warranted, Naruto would have done much the same or worse if he was here." She looked up to him with a grin, "Funny that, I'll have to thank him for sending someone who thinks much like he does."
Across from them Yamamoto was sweating, "I apologize." Behind him he could hear his downed ninja being dragged away. "Things have been very tense these last few weeks."
Koyuki sighs and places her hands on the table. "As a leader, it is important to understand that not only do my decisions affect my relationships with other countries, but they also have consequences for the people under my rule. Emotions have no place here. I want to help, like I said as we have the resources to do so." Here Koyuki held eye contact with the older man, "But you have to want our help. If you don't, then there's no point to this."
Yamamoto took his time thinking on it before sighing and nodding. "We do want your help. We. We can't yet talk about alliances or partnerships. I truly wish to wait until we come up with a new Daimyo. But for now, we can negotiate emergency aid."
Koyuki nods, "Splendid. Then let's get to it."
Next to her Gosu sighed and relaxed slightly as the meeting truly got underway and past the posturing. This wasn't so bad after all, plus he did get to show off in the end anyway. Life was pretty good AND she was going to put in a good word with Lord Naruto. Take that En.
-b-
Back in Uzushio and within their city, a tired but happy team En are entering the Uzumaki tower through the more ninja able entrance on the fourth floor. That being a simple open and wide balcony that led straight into the ninja offices. Still rather bare, they still could see a growing staff of mainly record keepers and specialist. Some where Chinoike clan members themselves and En waved at them proudly. Towards the center of the room was a wide circular desk where four women were either accepting reports or dealing them out. Still not enough mission traffic to worry them just yet. All attention slowly turned to his team however as he held up a scroll with his report, while behind him Mika dropped Hinoiki to the floor.
"Bounty retrieval was a success. Got him alive at that."
The woman behind the desk, a pretty blond with long braided hair and thick glasses blinked as she looked over the counter at the man on the floor. Tan skin shining in the lights, she eventually nods and takes the report scroll from him. "Team name?"
"Team En."
"Understood." The woman turned to the far wall where several golem were waiting, "I need one for processing!" Raising her voice, she was rewarded with one of the golem breaking away from the others to come up and take the bound man from the floor. Silent as the grave, the golem walked away to a special elevator only accessible from this floor. "You've just returned, you have the usual 48 hours before you're allow to take another mission. Rest periods are mandatory."
En nods and motions to his crew, "Understood. We'll take it easy." Waving at the cute woman, he nearly misses seeing Gosu and his team showing up, "Look who it is!"
Gosu grins, walking up to clasp forearms with his rival, "I'll assume your mission was a success."
"Of course, same for you then?"
"Peace of cake. Even got a recommendation from the Daimyo." Gosu stepped away so he could hand in his mission scroll.
"Well isn't that a nice bonus. Think we'll get a real bonus from Lord Uzumaki for it?"
Gosu shrugged as he leaned again the counter, "Who knows, it'd be nice." Turning his eyes to the pretty blond, Gosu smirked, "Team Gosu back from our Daimyo escort mission." Holding out his report scroll, the woman took it with a flush.
"Mission status will be recorded. Standard 48 hours downtime as well."
"Aw, even though we didn't see any combat? We're still fired up and ready to do something."
The woman shook her head, "I'm sorry, rules are rules."
"Well if you say so."
Another voice rose above the noise, "You'll get used to it! Our resident medical professionals recommended the rest periods after all. Don't wanna piss them off." From the elevator came another team of four. The Riptide members were in high spirits, Tayuya, Kotohime, and Karin were joking and laughing with each other though the fourth woman, a shorter purple haired girl covered in bandages, certainly wasn't one of them.
"Team Riptide, we didn't expect you back so quickly."
Tayuya grins, coming up to the desk and depositing her mission scroll with one of the other receptionist. "We were motivated, plus, Karin has a lot of setting up to do." The others formed up near the desk with her as they talked and gossiped back and forth.
Gosu however was interested in the shorter girl with them, something about her was captivating. He missed En coming up to shove an elbow in his ribs, "Hey there airhead, c'mon, let's get home."
"Oh uh, yeah, let's go."
En caught his hesitation, eyes trailing towards where Gosu was looking. Everyone knew the Riptide members were off limits. But he could tell he was more interested in the newcomer. "Oh ho, so shorty is your type?"
Gosu turned to En frantically, pushing the suddenly laughing man away and towards the balcony, "Shut it. C'mon you bastard. We get to drink and celebrate."
En is laughing up a storm as they others form up around them, "I'm guessing you really did take Keiko's scolding to heart huh. I'm so telling."
"Shut it!"
Behind them, Isaribi watched the rowdy group leave as Tayuya told the receptionist their story. What an interesting bunch.
-AN-
We get a special Chinoike clan centric chapter this time around. It's good to see how life with Uzushio can be for other clans.