Hey, been a while, huh? Sorry, no excuse besides being busy.
Can't find it, but I recall a review I meant to answer that commented on how Sasuke didn't seem angry but more curious after his match with Fuu, and they liked that... and then, I assume they weren't too impressed with how the next chapter started. To clarify, he wasn't that upset. He was just playing it up to provoke a reaction from Fuu that he could read with his Sharingan to get a definitive answer on whether or not she was playing Naruto and Sakura. I feel his past with Itachi would give him trust issues.
Temari gritted her teeth as her eyes scanned the forest, fleeing from Shukaku's form as fast as she could. She needed to find Kankuro and get out of there, fast!
Shikamaru was a smart one. Maybe a better strategist than her, as much as she hated to admit it. She'd almost been caught by his jutsu more than once during their rematch.
Then Gaara reached his final form, and they broke off.
Worried as she was about Gaara, she knew it was too dangerous to be nearby when he was like that.
And what had happened to Kankuro?
"Temari!" She heard up ahead, and her worries calmed a bit. That was Kankuro, and he didn't sound hurt. But how did they get past him, then?
She smiled when he came in sight. He looked alright, not even drenched as she'd been when the blasts of wind and water clashed.
Who the hell had summoned a toad the size of Shukaku!?
"Ka-"
"Stop!" He yelled while she was still many yards away, panicked.
Temari landed on the next branch and stood up, looking worriedly. "What is it? And why are you just standing there?"
Kankuro rubbed the side of his head, looking more frustrated than she'd ever seen him. "That blond brat has me trapped with a sealing jutsu. I can't go too far or else."
Ah. That was why Kankuro hadn't stopped them.
She began to look around. "Do you know what he used?"
"It's probably something like what he tried on that Neji kid," Her brother answered. There was a crash. A glance behind her revealed the toad had rammed into the demon of the sand. "Hurry, we need to get out of here."
"I know!" She answered frantically, leaping back and scanning the area. It took her a bit, but she soon struck gold: a seal tag hidden on a tree trunk facing away from her brother's prison.
She whipped out her fan as she turned, sending out a wind blade at the paper tag as she began the journey back to Kankuro in one fluid motion.
She soon found him right where she'd left him. "Ok, it should be safe now."
He quickly joined her, breathing a sigh of relief when nothing happened. "Thanks for the save. I came as far this way as I dared. Couldn't let you get caught in it too."
Temari nodded. "Don't mention it. Now, we need to-"
Kankuro stumbled back. "T- Temari!" The puppetmaster stammered, looking behind her with wide eyes.
Temari's entire body tensed, and she jerked her head around to gaze behind her. Had one of Shukaku's attacks come this way!?
The blonde could only gape as Shukaku fell. Its body broke down into sand. Only the toad was left standing. It was almost a struggle to accept what that meant.
Gaara lost.
That meant a lot of things. The attack was almost definitely a failure. Lots of people on both sides had died for nothing. Suna would almost certainly face some repercussions for its part in this.
But all that came second to her main concern at this moment.
"Gaara!" How? He'd never even been hurt before today!
How badly would they have had to hurt him to force him out of that form? Was he alright?
He... was still alive, right?
She glanced back at Kankuro, who met her gaze. They nodded at each other, clearly on the same page.
They both took off at top speed, returning to where Shukaku once stood.
"Where's the Crow?" The fan user asked. They might be heading into another fight.
Her middle brother clicked his tongue. "The brat destroyed it. Suicide bombing clone. It'll take forever to rebuild."
Damn. Well, she and Kankuro would have to make do without it.
No more words were shared between them as they went to find their brother.
Naruto was falling, the sand beneath his feet giving way as the Biju of sand crumbled away. He turned his head, looking back at Fuu as the clone that rescued her dispelled, and she joined him in freefall.
He quickly noticed she wasn't calling out her wings. He remembered how her chakra cloak had had those same wings and quickly deduced she must have overdone it with... Chomei's power? That's what the fox called it, right?
With the Kyuubi's power still coursing through him, he could easily have caught her and planned on it.
He didn't need to, as Gamabunta held a leathery hand out for them.
They both landed on their hands and knees, and Naruto took a few deep breaths as the adrenaline faded from his system. He released his hold on the fox's power and felt it drain from him as he returned to his regular, blue-eyed self.
He swayed briefly as the exhaustion hit. He'd used most of his chakra in the summoning, and now he felt it.
He shook it off and stood, running over to Fuu and kneeling beside her. "Fuu, are you alright?"
The mint-haired kunoichi picked herself up into a sitting position. "Yeah, I'm ok. But I won't be able to spread my wings for a while." She answered.
The Taki kunoichi then looked at him, many emotions visible on her face. The blond could see sympathy there, sadness. Hope. All written on her tanned features.
And he was sure he was looking at her the same way.
"So, you too, huh?" She asked. He didn't need to ask what she was talking about. He nodded. Fuu looked down. "You know, hanging around Konoha with you was some of the most fun I've ever had. But sometimes, I thought I saw people looking at us... like how they look at me back in Taki."
Naruto winced at that, knowing what she was talking about. It had gotten a lot better since he became a genin, but...
"I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me," She continued, then looked at him in commiseration. "But it wasn't, was it?"
Naruto put his hand on her shoulder and said nothing, and the two shared a moment. The pair looked into each other's eyes, seeing someone who understood what they'd been through for the first time.
"You two are really something else to face down something like Shukaku so young," Gamabunta said, breaking their moment. They both looked up at the toad. "I'd hate to interrupt, but it looks like my work here is done. Besides, something tells me it'll take more than that to do that sand kid in."
Naruto looked at his fellow Jinchuriki, and as one, they nodded. They stood up and walked to the edge of Gamabunta's hand, peering into the forest where they last saw Gaara fly.
They could talk later. There was another Jinchuriki they had to deal with first.
"They actually did it..." Akio murmured beside Hinata. She turned to find he'd stopped, staring out at the wall in disbelief.
A glance told her what he was talking about.
That huge chakra signature was gone.
Hinata breathed out a sigh of relief that that threat was gone. There weren't any enemies nearby at the moment. So, she ventured to ask, "What... what was that? What happened out there?"
Akio closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. She could pick up minor shifts in his expression as he thought about what to say. "It was Naruto," He answered, and Hinata felt her jaw drop. "Naruto, Sasuke, and that girl who fought him in the exams; Fuu. That monster was the enemy's trump card."
What? Naruto? Wait, Sasuke, too? Did this have something to do with Gaara? And where did Fuu come in? She guessed, knowing her, she hadn't been willing to sit by when her friends were in danger.
A smile grew on her face, her cheeks reddening slightly at the thought that Naruto had been part of fighting off... whatever that was. From how he never backed down no matter what, she'd always known that he'd be great one day.
"Come on," Akio beckoned her, beginning to run, and she soon followed. "The enemy's morale will drop like a stone, and our counterattack's about to begin. Let's drive them out of our village!"
The former heiress nodded, her face determined. Naruto had done his part to protect the village; she would, too.
Kakashi ducked down under a swipe from another Oto Jonin, aiming a kick square at his chin in the same motion. The blow sent the man a few inches into the air, and the famed Konoha ninja finished him with one slash of a kunai knife.
He stood, holding his kunai in a reverse grip as he looked down on the leaders of this force, a fake ANBU, and the Suna genin's sensei. He glared at them, waiting for them or another enemy to make a move.
Then, his eyes widened as he noticed something missing in the distance.
He smiled grimly. "Well, looks like things are turning around."
The Suna jonin, Baki, frowned. He glanced at his ally to ensure he'd keep an eye on Kakashi, then looked behind him.
He took a step forward. "Wha-... it can't be. That's impossible!"
The imposter ANBU turned to him, then glanced back and cursed. It was quiet, but the voice was familiar to him.
The Ichibi was gone. And in its place stood a very familiar toad.
'Naruto...' Pride for his students welled up inside him, with bittersweet memories of the blond's father the last time he summoned that toad.
They weren't the only ones who noticed. There was a brief lull in the fighting as relief flooded the Konoha ninja, and their foes realized they'd lost their ace in the hole.
"So, if I'm guessing right, you were counting on the Biju to cause havoc and cripple our defenses," Kakashi began, his voice calm, almost conversational.
They may have looked away, but attacking two jonins of their skill head-on alone would still be foolhardy. Baki was at least as strong as Asuma, and the imposter was an unknown.
"I'd bet anything Orochimaru taught you about Konoha's protocol. If so, you know what's about to happen..."
Until now, the masked man had been pretty relaxed. It was hard to tell with the mask and hooded cloak, but he could detect a slight tension within the imposter.
He knew. Konoha would soon launch its counterattack.
The man glanced at the barrier that stood where the Kage once sat.
That's right. If anyone could turn things around in the enemy's favor, it was Orochimaru. There was only one other person in Konoha besides the Third Hokage who could face him and hope to survive, never mind winning the battle.
'We're counting on you, Lord Third...'
Pain.
A few weeks ago, it would have almost been a foreign concept to Gaara. It permeated his body, circulating through it like his own blood. Sand had cushioned his fall; that and his armor had saved his life, but only just.
The long battle, and especially that final blow, had taken its toll. The myriad of bruises covering Gaara's body was proof enough of that. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so weak. Even the sand around him, now little more than motes of earth, seemed to move around sluggishly, practically feebly.
There was no denying it; he'd been defeated.
He lived to kill. It was what he'd been born to do. It was all that was left for him.
And yet those two... those two... fools... who relied on others... had beaten him.
Even in his crazed state, he'd known what he'd seen, what they were. They were like him; they had demons sealed within them too. That malevolent chakra they had wielded left no question about it.
So, what made them different?
The pair landed not too far away as he thought of them, unsteadily walking toward him.
The pair stopped a few feet away, and his eyes met theirs. He half expected to see hate and disgust, and while that was partially true for the boy's eyes, the girl's eyes seemed brimming with... what was that? Sorrow? Pity?
The sand shifted around him, but it was still sluggish, and he doubted it would be able to defend him.
"Are you here to kill me?" Gaara asked. Though it seemed stupid, he could already guess the answer.
Naruto said nothing, continuing to stare, but Fuu spoke up. "No, we aren't."
Or not. "Why not?" He asked. "Am I not your enemy? Did I not try to kill you?" It was an honest question. They were ninjas, after all. Gaara wouldn't have had even a second thought if their positions were reversed.
"You did," Naruto said, his eyes still harder than Fuu's.
"So why?"
"Because... because we know how you feel," Fuu stated, she seemed almost on the verge of tears.
Gaara felt some anger well in him despite the exhaustion. "'Know how I feel?' You think you know me?" Through gritted teeth, he managed to roll over onto his side and then slowly rose into a sitting position. "What do you think you know about what I've been through, about the pain I've known?"
"You've felt alone for a long time, haven't you?" Fuu asked. "Like... like a pain... in your heart? That aching?" She slightly motioned to Naruto. "He and I... we know that pain."
"You're Jinchuriki," Gaara said, his breathing shallow, his voice coming out in huffs. "Like me."
They nodded.
Gaara spat, some blood mixed in with his saliva. "You think that makes us the same? You think you've been through... what I've been through...?" He closed his eyes. "You know nothing about me."
"So, tell us then," Naruto said.
Gaara eyed him momentarily, then started speaking without knowing why. "Since the day I was born... since my father, the Kazekage, sealed Shukaku inside me while I was still in the womb, I have been a weapon, a killer. My first victim was my mother. I was raised apart from my siblings by her brother, Yashamaru. My uncle spoke of love, and I believed he cared for me... until I was six years old, when he tried to kill me to avenge his sister. He was killed in the attempt."
A look of horror struck Fuu's face while Naruo's grimace deepened.
"He told me the truth: my mother had cursed me for taking her life, and he'd always wanted me dead. My anger called forth Shukaku, and my father deemed me a failure. He's tried to kill me more times than I can count and was too afraid to try to do the deed himself." The redhead glared at them. "What purpose do I have but to kill?"
They both seemed to be at a loss for words. Then Fuu spoke up. "That's... " She looked at him almost pleadingly. "You've never had anyone really care about you? What about your siblings?"
"What of them?"
"You said they were raised apart from you," Naruto said. "So, you don't know what they think of you."
"I see it in their eyes. The same I see in the eyes of everyone who's ever known me. They fear me. They hate me."
"They've said that?" Fuu asked. "They told you they hate you?"
Gaara said nothing.
"They haven't, have they?" Fuu asked.
There was a pause before Naruto spoke. "I can't imagine what being betrayed like that must have been like. Almost everyone I knew hated me for the thing sealed inside me, but a few people always saw me for who I was. And I'd do anything for them..."
Gaara eyed him. "And..?"
"And there could be people who care for you too, Gaara!" Fuu said, on the verge of tears. "I'm sorry you've had such a miserable life that you think your life is hopeless! Without love! But that doesn't mean you should give up trying to find any!" Fuu fell to one knee, and Naruto quickly rushed to her side. The battle had taken more out of her than she'd thought.
This open display of sympathy for him took aback Gaara. It made him... uncomfortable.
Naruto looked at him. "You've been through things that I can't imagine, Gaara, but she's right. Just because people fear and hate you doesn't mean no one loves you."
Fuu, wiped her face, standing again. "And, if you don't think so, I'm gonna prove you wrong right now." She held out her hand to him. "I'm gonna be your friend, Gaara!"
Gaara looked at the hand confusedly.
Naruto sighed, giving a half-smile to her. "You really are persistent, huh?"
Fuu smiled back at him, but before anyone could say anything more, Temari and Kankuro appeared, standing between them and Gaara.
For a moment, there was a standoff; then, he cut through the silence.
"That's enough," Gaara said. He didn't feel like fighting or killing for once, even if he could. "Just... just take me back."
His siblings looked surprised by his condition. Not that he blamed them. "Ok, Gaara," Kankuro finally said before picking him up.
His siblings briefly glared at the other ninja, warning them not to follow. Then, they left, leaping up through the trees.
As Gaara watched the scenery of the Land of Fire go by, he kept going over his conversation with the other Jinchuriki. One thing, in particular, stood out.
He never really knew how his siblings felt about him. He'd been sure they hated him as his parents and uncle had, but if that was so, why were they helping him now?
His value to Suna? That hadn't stopped his father or Yashamaru, and they would never have had a better chance to avenge their mother.
So... "Why?"
That drew both of his sibling's attention. "Why are you helping me? I'm of no value like this."
Temari frowned. "What kind of question is that?" She asked. "I'm not going to lie, you scare the hell out of us most of the time, but you're still our brother."
He saw Kankuro nod out of the corner of his eye.
Was it possible they weren't lying like Yashamaru?
Gaara let his head fall. "Temari... Kankuro... I'm sorry."
There was silence, save for the rustling leaves for a moment. His siblings likely didn't know what he was talking about. Then Kankuro replied, somewhat uncertainly, "Don't worry about it."
Sasuke relaxed as the Suna genin fled, his grip on his kunai loosening. He breathed deep, exhaled through his nose, and leaned against the tree he hid behind.
He hadn't particularly wanted to listen in on their conversation, but he'd wanted to be nearby in case something happened. It had seemed like a good call when Temari and Kankuro showed up. It was a surprise when Gaara called them off.
Did the redhead want revenge on Naruto and Fuu for defeating him with his hand, or did they actually get through to him? Time will tell.
Either way, Sasuke was left processing all he'd just heard. It answered so many questions about his teammate. And the mint-haired girl, too.
Naruto was treated the way he was for something sealed inside him, something like that Shukaku creature. He hadn't failed to notice the crimson chakra coursing through Naruto's chains.
Put all the pieces he'd picked up since they'd been a team together, and only one thing fit the bill: the Kyuubi.
The Uchiha survivor frowned. It seemed so stupid to him to treat them this way because of something sealed within them. Looking at Naruto and seeing the fox, seemingly thinking of Fuu like a timebomb.
He could get it, to some extent. Fear of the unknown, the need to blame the losses of that night on something. That didn't mean he agreed or liked it.
Naruto must have had it rougher than he'd ever thought.
He put aside the knowledge that the Kyuubi apparently had similarly powerful kin and the idea of 'Jinchuriki.' Those were cans of worms he could open later.
And as for Gaara...
He was surprised to hear the redhead knew what it was like to be betrayed by family.
If everyone treats someone like a monster long enough, it's no surprise they become one. Throw that into the mix, and no wonder Gaara wound up the way he was.
Didn't excuse his actions or change that he was a threat. Nevertheless...
From one victim of a betrayal by a loved family member to another, Sasuke hoped they didn't regret sparing him and that those two did make him see the light.
Sasuke silently leaped into the trees above. He imagined Naruto and Fuu wouldn't be far behind.
A fair distance away, the Sharingan bearer noticed another figure retreating from the clearing. He quickly moved to intercept and found none other than Shikamaru.
"Huh, I was wondering where you got to," Sasuke said as he landed beside the Nara. "I guess Temari high-tailed it when Gaara summoned that Shukaku thing."
"Yeah, she was the lucky one," Shikamaru replied, rubbing the back of his head. "I wanted to get out of dodge too, but I figured you guys would be in the thick of it over here. I almost thought better of it when someone summoned that huge toad. I was expecting to find that one of our heavy hitters showed up. Who'd have thought Naruto could pull out something like that?"
Sasuke's eyes hardened slightly. "I take it you heard all of that. What do you think?"
"What do I think?" Shikamaru asked in his usual done-with-everything tone. "It's a drag. Those three got a raw deal; what more can I say?" Sasuke relaxed at that answer. He hadn't thought Shikamaru would let the Kyuubi affect his opinion of his teammate, but he hadn't been sure.
"Aside from that, there's a lot to unpack. It does answer a lot of questions, though." The lazy genin crossed his arms. "You know, my old man once told me not to pay attention to how people treat Naruto. Said to watch him and make my own decisions. Now, I get why." He then gave Sasuke a scrutinizing look. "Did you guys know?"
Sasuke shook his head. "I know the Third had kept some things about him a secret. I know a big one, but not this."
"I figured," Shikamaru then put his hand on his chin. "I don't think Fuu was given the same consideration, with how her teammates treated her when she got here. It would explain a lot if her status was an open secret in Taki."
Huh, Sasuke hadn't thought of that. That would clear a few things up: like how Fuu hadn't seemed to know how to make friends at first.
"So, how are you going to play this?" Shikamaru asked.
Sasuke had already decided. "We don't say anything. Naruto should decide to tell us on his own."
Shikamaru nodded.
He couldn't really be mad at his teammate. Sasuke had things he hadn't told them either.
(A few minutes earlier)
"You think he'll listen?" Fuu asked, turning to Naruto with an expression of cautious hope.
Naruto glanced back to where the Suna genin had disappeared into the foliage. "I hope so..."
Gaara had been through so much worse than they had. It was no wonder his view of things had been so warped. Naruto hoped he could make up with his siblings and turn his life around.
"Even then, it's not going to be easy for him. Either way, it's up to him now. We can't do much besides lend a hand if he decides to make a change." He turned back to Fuu with a smile. "But at least now, he won't blow Konoha off the map."
The mint-haired girl smiled back, and Naruto's spirits lifted a bit. It was surprising how she did that, with how little time they'd known each other. She'd seemed fun and interesting when they met, enough that it hadn't taken much thought to accept her offer of friendship, and the more they'd gotten to know each other, the more he'd felt they were birds of a feather. They'd talked about things he hadn't even spoken to Sasuke and Sakura about.
And that was before they'd learned about the burdens they shared.
"Let's get back to Konoha. Hopefully, they've got things tied up back there, too." Naruto said. "And once everything's settled down... well, we've got a lot to talk about."
"Yeah," Fuu nodded before looking back to Konoha. "I need to know if Shibuki's ok."
Naruto took a deep breath. "I think I've still got enough chakra left for this."
Fuu looked at him curiously. The blond made a cross-shaped hand seal and conjured two shadow clones. They wouldn't be much in a fight, but they'd get the job done. As they took off, he turned to her and said, "Now, we shouldn't have to worry about any surprises catching us off-guard."
"Good plan," Fuu complimented, and then they followed.
It wasn't long before they found Sasuke resting on a branch with his back against the tree's trunk. Shikamaru was nearby, sitting a few feet away with his legs hanging in the air.
"Hey!" Naruto said as he and Fuu reached them. "Glad to see you guys are alright."
"Somehow," Shikamaru stated. "That was one crazy battle." He then raised a brow. "So, what happened with Gaara."
"His team rescued him," Fuu answered. "He's not in any condition to fight, though."
"Didn't think so, from how that thing collapsed," Shikamaru replied. He then eyed the Taki kunoichi. "I'm surprised you came to lend a hand, though."
"What else was I going to do? Stand aside and let my friends fight for their village alone?" Fuu asked, putting her hands on her hips. Then, a thought seemed to occur to her, and she glanced at Sasuke. "Uh, Sasuke, do you think we're friends now?"
"Seriously?" The Uchiha asked, and Fuu shrunk a bit. Before Naruto could say anything, Sasuke closed his eyes and continued, "You have to ask after you put your life on the line to help us out here?"
Fuu blinked, smiled, and pumped her fist with a squeal of victory. Naruto chuckled fondly as he watched her. She turned to him, practically beaming at making another friend, and he returned her smile in kind.
Naruto then took a step toward the village, preparing to take off. "Come on, let's head back to Konoha. I sent the few clones I could muster on ahead, so we shouldn't have to worry too much about walking into an ambush."
"No rush. It's not like we're in any condition to lend a hand." Shikamaru said.
Naruto turned to him with a frown. "What? Don't you want to make sure everyone's ok?"
"Of course," The lazy Nara shrugged. "But if there's nothing we can do to help, it won't change if we return sooner or later. Besides, we need to find Asuma and Kurenai first."
"Oh, right! They took out some guys from Oto that were on our tail," The blond told Sasuke and Fuu, who looked confused.
"And they didn't show up yet? I hope they're ok," Fuu said.
"It'll take more than a group of no-named ninjas who had the time to hunt a pair of genin to take them down," Sasuke said, standing up. "Still..."
Naruto nodded. "Come on. Let's go to where my clones last saw them."
And with that, they began to make their way back to Konoha.
Naruto stared into his mirror, dressed in all black, and his usually vibrant eyes dull.
It had been two days since the failed invasion. It hadn't taken long for the four genin to find Asuma and Kurenai, and together, they'd returned to the village. Shikamaru had been his usual self, although Sasuke had seemed to be in thought about something.
It had taken a bit; one of the Oto ninjas had used something like Dosu's attack on Asuma and Kurenai, but they were too exhausted to help anymore anyway. They hoped to find good news waiting for them after they fought off a Biju attack.
Those hopes had quickly been dashed. They'd expected there to be some casualties on their side. It was a war, even if a short one.
But they hadn't expected to hear that the Third Hokage was among the fallen.
Naruto closed his eyes, remembering the many times the Third had been there for him. Birthdays when he would have been alone if it hadn't been for him. Times he comforted him when no one came to pick him up after school. The times they'd talked about his parents.
He could hardly believe he was gone.
It was almost time. Naruto turned and began to make his way toward the funeral.
The whole village loved the Third. Everyone was just as depressed as Naruto was as they stood in front of the casket on top of the administration building, paying no mind to the rain.
It was hard not to notice Konohamaru crying. He'd have been there for him if Iruka hadn't wrapped him in a hug first.
His older brother figure had words for him, too, and they'd lifted his spirits a bit.
One by one, every villager put a flower before the Third's portrait.
As he waved goodbye to Iruka and ran towards his team after the ceremony, he saw someone else approaching.
Fuu, dressed in all black. She and her team had remained in Konoha to pay respects to their longtime ally, but this was the first time he'd seen her since they'd returned from the fight with Gaara.
"Hey, guys," Fuu said, more subdued than usual. "Sorry I haven't been around. I thought you might need some time alone, you know?"
"Don't worry about it," Sasuke said. Fuu looked a bit relieved at that. He felt she'd been holding herself back from being there for them the past two days to give them time.
"You're leaving tomorrow, right?" Naruto asked.
The mint-haired girl hung her head. "Yeah..."
Naruto smiled. "Then how about we make your last day here the best we can?"
Fuu looked up and blinked. "But, what about...?"
The blond shook his head. "I think spending some time with good friends is just what we need right now, right guys?"
"Probably a good idea," Kakashi said. "It can help a lot in times like this."
"My mom probably wouldn't mind cooking something for us," Sakura said.
"Think she'd make ramen if I asked," Naruto wondered.
Sakura tilted her head with a smile. "Always on your mind, isn't it?"
Naruto gave a small smile and a quiet, almost laugh.
Not long after, the group found themselves at Sakura's home, playing cards at the table while Mebuki cooked them a meal.
It was nice. The warm atmosphere almost made it feel like everything was back to normal.
"Read em' and weep!" Naruto said as he laid out a royal flush. He raised his fist in victory while the other genin groaned.
"Seriously? Again?" Sakura muttered, putting her hand on her forehead.
"And I thought I was lucky..." Fuu said.
"This happens often, I take it?" Kakashi asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah, I'd think he was cheating if we didn't check a while ago. Naruto's luck is just absurd." Sakura commented while Naruto grinned cheekily and held out a victory sign.
"Ah, let him have his fun. Here, a win like that deserves a high-five," Kizashi said, holding out his hand to Naruto, who slapped his palm against his. "They go hand-in-hand, you know?" That had Sakura groan for a whole other reason.
"I don't know, it's kinda getting out of hand," chirped Fuu, causing Kizashi to laugh uproariously.
"Please, don't encourage him," Sakura pleaded.
"Eh, come on, Sakura, it's..." Naruto started to get in on the fun, only for a glare from the pinkette to stop him. "... all in good fun, right?"
"We should probably bring something besides games of chance," Sasuke commented.
"Maybe we could have a backgammon tournament?" Fuu suggested.
"Not enough boards," Sakura shot that down.
"Lunch is ready!" Mebuki called out, bringing out...
Naruto's eyes lit up at the sight of several bowls of... "We're having ramen?!"
"It's the least we could do for the hero of the hour," Mebuki said, putting his bowl in front of him. The blond stared down at it with a wide grin, and Fuu and Sakura laughed.
"Well, someone's easy to please," Sakura commented as her mother left. She came back with trays of omusubi and-
"Woo-hoo! Daifuku mochi!" Fuu cheered.
"Thank you for the thought," Sasuke said as he took one of the rice balls.
"Don't mention it; it's practically a mother's duty," Mebuki replied. "So, let's dig in."
"Thanks for the meal!" Most of those at the table said before they did just that.
That night, now alone and without friends and family to take his mind off of things, Naruto sat on the roof of his apartment building, staring once more at the face of the Third Hokage.
He'd done this every night since the invasion. He'd cried the first time.
"I thought I'd find you up here," Naruto heard a familiar voice behind him as someone landed on the roof. He turned to see Fuu rising from a crouched landing, looking at him with concern. She walked to his side and followed his gaze to the Hokage monument. "He was there for you a lot, wasn't he?"
"Yeah," Naruto replied, memories flashing through his mind. "For everyone, really. Like you said, Shibuki does for Taki. But for me..." He trailed off, looking at the monument once more.
"He was family," Fuu finished for him.
"He was my grandfather," Naruto said with a nod. "Always looking out for me, making time for me when he was busy. He was there every birthday. On some of my worst days. He even took me to Ichiraku's a few times." The blond shook his head ruefully. "I can't imagine how Konohamaru must feel."
"Ah, he was the crying kid, wasn't he?" Fuu guessed.
The Kyuubi Jinchuriki nodded. "His actual grandson. He spent so much time looking after the rest of us that he lost a lot with his family." He was silent for a few moments, and Fuu let him think. "Even then... I wish we had more time, you know? I feel like I really took him for granted. It's..." He trailed off,
"Like there's a piece that's been torn away from your life," Fuu finished for him. "But, at least you all share in your memories of him."
"Iruka-sensei said the same thing," Naruto said before turning to Fuu.
"It's something Shibuki told me when Kiyo died," Fuu said, now looking up to the sky with a whistful smile. "He'd always take the time to play with me when I was bored. He'd read me bedtime stories and tell me about what he saw outside Taki. He'd make special nights for games and movies and taught us so much."
Naruto smiled. "Sounds like he really went the extra mile to be there for you if he was as busy as the Old Man was."
"He did. I asked him about it once. He said that all of Taki was his family, but he was responsible for us as a father. As much as he was to Taki as a leader." Fuu said before adopting a look of determination. "'I won't shirk one for the other,' he said." The mint-haired Jinchuriki said firmly, and Naruto guessed she was imitating his tone. She then looked to the side, running a hand through her hair. "He tried to shield me from, you know, the looks, the hatred, so he wouldn't let me past our yard." She then looked to the side, running a hand through her hair. "All my tutors were always cold, so when he was gone..."
"All you had left was Shibuki," Naruto realized, looking at her sadly. At least he grew up with a few of his classmates, Iruka, Teuchi, and Ayame. If she only had the two of them...
Fuu nodded. "After the funeral, I couldn't stop crying. I just buried my face in my pillow until Shibuki came. He was already trying to learn how to fill his father's shoes. I still remember what he said to me that day," She looked at him with a small smile. "'It may be hard, but we can't let our grief keep us back. Because if he was here, he'd say 'go forward, you've gotta keep moving' with a smile.'"
Naruto closed his eyes and smiled. "Yeah, I can imagine him saying something like that." He then stood up. "Come on, let's go inside."
Fuu watched him pass and followed. The blond stopped, glancing at the Third's face on the Hokage Monument, and then headed inside.
Soon enough, the Taki kunoichi sat at Naruto's table. The blond got them both glasses of water and passed Fuu hers as he walked by.
"So, uh, how did Shibuki take what happened?" Naruto asked as he sat down.
Fuu frowned and stared into her cup."... Not well," She answered. She sat up a bit, a small smile on her face. "He said he was proud of the thought behind what I did. He couldn't be too mad since we couldn't have seen something like this coming, and there's no telling how things would have turned out if I didn't go all in." Then her face fell, and she grimaced. "But I'm still grounded when we get back to Taki."
"Ah," Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "I guess I get where he's coming from; from what little I know, this was a big deal." Fuu glanced at him in confusion. "Huh?"
Fuu looked confused. "What do you mean 'from what little you know?'"
Naruto blinked, then caught on to what she meant. "Oh, well. The Old Man made a rule that no one could talk about me and, you know, people like us. He wanted me to have a shot at just being a normal kid."
Fuu's jaw dropped. Then she leaned forward. "Wait, so, Sasuke and Sakura...?"
The blond shook his head. "They don't know." He then looked out the window, his gaze far away as he remembered his days in the academy. "It didn't really work out as planned. I told you, remember?"
Fuu frowned, then looked at him sadly. "Oh, right. The other kids saw how the adults treated you and..." She then looked surprised. "Hang on, you went to Konoha's academy?"
Naruto raised a brow. "Yeah. Didn't yo-" He cut himself off. "Oh, yeah: tutors."
"Uh huh," Fuu replied, and a silence fell over them. Naruto couldn't imagine what it would have been like being constantly couped up at home. The Hokage's mansion looked awesome, sure, but not being allowed to go past the yard? It must have been so boring...
"What was it like? Going to the academy?" Fuu asked.
"Well, it wasn't exactly the best time..." Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Most of the other kids barely gave me the time of day." He leaned back and smiled. "There were some, like Shikamaru and Choji, and I could sometimes get Kiba to help me with a prank, but we never really hung out outside class. Still, those were good times."
"Sounds like it," Fuu said with a smile. He couldn't help but think it sucked that she never had the chance.
"Most of the teachers would send me out of class and give me detention over nothing." He grinned sheepishly. "I mean, before I started doing things to deserve it. That didn't change until Iruka warmed up to me."
Fuu frowned. "That's stupid."
"Heh, tell me about it," Knowing what he did now, it kinda was. If Jinchuriki were supposed to be the village's secret weapon, you'd think they'd make sure he was, you know, actually trained well! "I can't tell you how often I got laughed at because I missed stuff or flubbed a jutsu..."
"So that's how you wound up being dead last, huh?" Fuu asked. Naruto hummed in agreement.
"Yeah, I had a lot of catching up to do once I was put under Kakashi-sensei. Even if it took him a while to get it in gear," Naruto crossed his arms, frustration leaking into his face and tone as he remembered the early days with his team. "I mean, it took him until our first mission to teach us tree climbing!"
Fuu's jaw dropped. "Wait, what was that?" She looked at him in shock and confusion. "They should have already taught you how to do that! With chakra like ours, you'll mess up jutsu if you don't train harder. How'd they teach you to handle the heavy stuff if they didn't even bother with that?!"
"Well, they didn't."
"... What?"
"Yeah, uh, the thing is... no one told me I was a Jinchuriki until about half a year ago."
Fuu just stared at him blankly. Naruto got where she was coming from and began to explain. The tanned kunoichi was silent as she listened to his story, ending with what happened with Mizuki.
"That-" Fuu growled, drawing in a hissing breath through her teeth. "How dare he use your trust to-" She seemed to have trouble finding the words. She raised a fist. "I don't even know the guy, and I want to punch him in the face!"
"Yeah, the bastard," Naruto snarled at the memory of the traitor. Naruto swept a hand through the air dismissively. "Don't waste your energy on him. He's gonna be rotting in a cell for a long time."
Fuu shook her head and took a moment to calm down. She took a breath and then said, "I kinda understand. They didn't want you to think you were different from anyone else, either. But..." She looked at him sadly. "To go all that time being treated... the way we are, and not know why..."
"And I can't imagine what it was like to be stuck at home for so long," Naruto replied, looking at her in sympathy. "I mean, I had a lot of hard times, but I got to win a few people over. Some shop owners treated me alright, and I wouldn't have met Old Man Teuchi and Ayame. If they'd let you out sooner, maybe you could have found some people who accept you in Taki, too."
Fuu murmured in agreement, looking down.
He then smiled at her. "But hey, the Hokage, Kiyo, Shibuki, they were all trying to do what they thought was best for us, right? That's the important part."
Fuu returned it, pulled from her gloomy thoughts of the past. "Right."
"So, what was the first time they let you go out and about?" Naruto asked.
Fuu giggled. "They didn't," Naruto's brows shot up as the mint-haired girl gave him a mischievous smile. "When I was six, I got fed up with being constantly cooped up. I wanted to go out, meet people, and see the village and everything up close. So, when Kiyo and Shibuki were busy, I snuck out."
The mint-haired girl looked out the window with a faraway look, her smile growing wistful. "The first thing I did was climb Taki's sacred tree. It took forever to get to the top, but when I got there..." She closed her eyes. "I could see so far! I could see forests, mountains, and valleys. Rivers and lakes glow in the sunlight. Towns and villages. It was all so beautiful and new." She finished with another giggle. Even now, you could see traces of that amazement on her face.
He could only imagine what seeing that must have been like after not being allowed to go beyond the yard for as long as you could remember.
Then, Fuu's expression fell slightly like a light dimming and going out. Her smile turned a bit rueful. "What came next wasn't so wonderful, though. I thought I'd try finding my parents and making friends." Naruto winced and looked at her sadly, but she waved it off. However, her smile reminded him of the one he made when he was hiding how he felt. "But at least I got out there and met everybody! They'd never think of me differently if I just stayed out of sight all the time." She then looked playful. "Hell, they might have started thinking of me like some kind of monster that has to be locked up!" She said, clawing her fingers and raking one hand through the air.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, you might have terrorized them with pranks, like I did!" He gave her a sly look, smirking and holding out his hand. "It's not too late, you know? Join me, and I can tell you all my secrets. You'll be painting all over Taki's tree and dying people's clothes pink in no time!"
Fuu gasped, looking affronted. She slammed her palms on the table, leaning forward and looking determined. "No way, I'll never go over to the dark side!" They held this for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"I think things are getting better," Fuu said once she calmed down. "Slowly. And at least Shibuki's letting me go on missions now," She grimaced. "At least once I'm off punishment."
Naruto furrowed his brow in confusion. "Wait, what do you mean?"
"Oh, Shibuki was afraid that people would find out what I was, so he only let me patrol around Taki until now," Fuu explained.
Now, Naruto's jaw dropped. "So, that means this was..."
Fuu nodded sheepishly. "Un huh, this is the first time I've really been outside Taki."
Naruto stared. Thought of everything that had happened a few days ago. And then couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Naruto calmed down. "It's just... my first time outside Konoha; I wound up in a fight to save a country, too."
Fuu gasped, then hopeful. "Really? Could you tell me about it?"
Naruto then told her everything that happened in Wave.
The pair talked for a while longer, sharing their experiences. It was nice talking about it all to someone who could understand. It left him feeling lighter and warm, and from the looks of it, Fuu did, too.
They spent a few more hours together. They played backgammon and talked about whatever came to mind to squeeze a bit more fun into Fuu's last day in Konoha.
The next day, Team Seven, Shibuki, and Fuu's team stood at the main gate of Konoha.
Fuu was hugging Shibuki, who had gotten down on one knee. Taki's leader still had some business in Konoha. "I'll have to stay longer than I thought because of the invasion. But I'll be home before too long."
The mint-haired girl nodded as they separated. "Don't worry, I'll keep the house in order, same as always."
Shibuki smiled before giving her a stern look. "Don't forget what we talked about."
The Taki kunoichi grimaced slightly, and she looked to the ground. "Yeah, I remember."
She sighed. She wasn't going to try to weasel out of her punishment since she did break her promise. No games, no books outside of ninja skills, nothing except training for the next few months.
'This is going to be so boring...' She thought to herself.
'There's always a silver lining, Fuu,' Chomei's voice echoed from within her mind. 'Take this chance to pour your all into training. Maybe you can finally branch out and learn some ninjutsu to have long-range options. Like your teachers and I have been telling you.' She got the feeling that he was giving her an 'I told you so' look at that moment.
'Yeah, I guess you're right...' The mint-haired girl had always preferred taijutsu. Her fights with Gaara and Sasuke finally hammered home that she'd be better off being more well-rounded. Not that she would slack off on taijutsu; she had to catch up to Lee's speed, too, but still. 'I should really find out what my element is...'
She still had a long way to go. But she wouldn't complain. Seeing all this firsthand... she never wanted something like this to happen to Taki or for Shibuki to give his life for them as Kiyo did, and the Third had for Konoha.
She stepped over to Team Seven with a smile. "Welp, I guess it's time for me to head home." She said. "Let's be sure to hang out the next time I come here."
"Looking forward to it," Sakura said.
"Take care," Sasuke told her.
Fuu nodded back, then stood in front of Naruto. Now here... knowing she wouldn't see Sasuke or Sakura for a long time sucked. She was going to miss them.
But this hurt.
She was sure it showed on her face as she raised a hand to her chest. "So, I guess this is goodbye," She said to her fellow Jinchuriki.
Naruto nodded, smiling sadly. "Yeah... but I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."
There was a moment of silence, and Fuu hugged him. The blond blushed, his eyes wide. A moment later, he returned it. "I'll miss you."
"Yeah, me too,"
They held each other for a few seconds, then broke apart. Fuu wiped her eyes, then returned to her team and waved over her shoulder. "Goodbye! See you guys!"
They all said their goodbyes as she took her place in her team, and they began to make their way home.
"So, you really went and fought Gaara after he went full Biju?" Giichi asked.
Fuu frowned, wondering why he'd ask. This was the first time she'd been with her team since the invasion, but still. "Well, of course. I mean, I couldn't just stand aside while everyone in the village was in danger."
"Huh," Giichi said with a shrug, putting his hands behind his head. "Pretty cool of you."
"I hear Shibuki's planning to let you go on missions later," Yoro said. "I hope we'll be working together again. I know Lord Shibuki prefers to train you himself these days, but I can think of a few pointers I can give you after seeing you in action."
Fuu beamed. She was still sad to leave her friends behind, but it looked like things were looking up for her.
Naruto watched as Fuu's figure became smaller in the distance, feeling a pang in his heart and clearing his eyes.
The blond figured he'd have to get used to this sort of thing. There were sure to be lots of partings over his career.
Sakura smirked at him, her eyes half-lidded and her hands behind her back. "Well, you two got close over the last month."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Well, we've got a lot in common. Birds of a feather, you know?" Even without counting that they were both Jinchuriki.
"Yeah, I get it. I hope you know what you're getting into; I hear that long-distance relationships can be pretty tough." The pink-haired girl said, drawing a look of confusion from Naruto. That seemed to amuse her. "Guess I'll have to get used to not having you pine after me anymore."
Naruto just blinked. "Ok, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, quit joking around. You like Fuu, right?"
The blond just felt more confused. "Well, obviously. She's one of my best friends."
Sakura giggled. "That's not what I mean," She looked at him slyly. "I'm saying if she was sticking around, you'd be asking her on a date right now."
Wait, was she saying...?
Naruto's whole face went red. He frantically waved his hands back and forth. "I- it's not like that! We're just friends!"
"That's what they all say~," Sakura replied. "And I'm not hearing 'no.'"
Naruto stammered, trying and failing to respond. Shibuki, meanwhile, put his hand on his chin. "Well, he does get her better than anyone else I've come across..." He mused before looking at him with a raised brow. "Am I going to have to give you a shovel speech?"
Choking noises left Naruto's throat as he opened and closed his mouth before he crossed his arms and turned away.
A short, quiet laugh drew his attention. Sasuke was smirking, and Kakashi was giving one of his eye smiles.
As Sakura giggled at him, he looked off at Fuu in the distance, hoping to see her again soon.
And Fuu's left the stage... for now. Don't worry, she won't be out of the story for long.