KG: YOSHA! I'm back in action baby! It's been one hell of a week trying to get organized to my classes, but I've managed to pull it off without a hitch. Now then, let's get started with this.
Naruto: B-But the movie!
KG: Argh! Fine, fine. Yura, Yuri, Sasuke, EVERYONE PLACES!
Naruto: Action!
Kushina: And that is how Kirito-kun managed to meet Asuna in SAO which in turn formed one of the strongest bonds between two people. Especially for their ages.
Naruto: (Raises hand) If Kirito was supposed to be a Beater, Beta tester and cheater, then shouldn't he have won this game easily? I mean, the dude had a dual sword wielding ability.
Kushina: The reason Kirito-san wasn't as strong as some other people is because most of the people above him were either system regulators or something like that. Still Kirito is SAO's inspiration.
(Bell Rings)
Kushina: That concludes this lesson people. Good luck in your next class.
KG: Which is...math. Dammit all.
Naruto: Aren't you good at math?
KG: Doesn't mean that I like it. It's a waste of my time. Come on, let's get going already.
Girl 1: Sasuke-kun, wanna eat with me?
Sasuke: No, leave me alone.
Girl 2: How about me Sasuke-kuuuuun?
Yuna: Fuckin' Harpies. I kill you all with my hands if you touch him!
Girl 3: I can't wait to start a family with Sasuke-kun! We'll live in a big house, have two kids-
(Twitch)
Girl 3: -An Sasuke-kun will do this and that to me. KYAAAAA!
Yuna: That's it! Listen up you #$ . (Grabs Sasuke's pants) This is mine dammit. This is where my babies come from. Now back off!
KG: Oh brother, there they go again. Stupid fangirls. Now then, before the class period is over. We'll get this done.
Quote: "Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them" Washington Irving.
Elsewhere
Oblivious to what just happened with Team Ten's jonin sensei, the members of Hinoken were all gathered around the lake looking it over and suddenly Kushina just from the beach and landed into the water. She looked around the misty marsh and sighed.
"I don't see anything here. Or that guy is really hidden," she said and everyone agreed. Naruto could still hear Kyuubi's ramblings that Sanbi was definitely in the lake, as for where then he didn't know, but he could feel his fellow bijuu's power like a damn plague that invaded the fox's senses.
"Well we know that Orochimaru's shinobi are here for some reason. If they are here then there is something of interest around here. And we all heard that screaming not long ago. I do believe that something is here," Yugao interjected and her confidence was raised when Naruto agreed with her. The blonde proceeded to walk across the water as well despite his tiredness and looked out at the seemingly calm waters.
"Yeah Sanbi is here. Kyuubi said that he is. As for how to draw him out into the open then I'm lost here. I don't know what we should do," Naruto spoke, providing his input. Kushina narrowed her eyes and folded her slender arms.
"If that's the case then we'd have to wait until those others are done with whatever they are supposed to be doing. It's risky, but if we can get the Sanbi to appear then we can contain it," Kakashi assessed while Fuka and Yura seemed at a loss for words.
"Yes, but one wrong move and it could end up with Orochimaru. The last thing that we need is for him to be experimenting with a bijuu," Yugao retorted making some of the others chuckle even though they knew that she was being serious.
"Alright we'll just have to leave it at that. Sochi, Yura and I will travel into the lake and find anything. Fuka you are to go with Kakashi, Yugao and Mikoto. Help them set up a perimeter around this lake with some seals that Sochi designed. If we're lucky then they will wait till night time to come back. By that time we should have something concrete," Kushina ordered and everyone agreed as Yura and Naruto watched their teammates vanish in leaves with Fuka giving a small wink to Naruto making the blonde showcase a small pink blush to his face. Yura rolled her eyes while Kushina snorted. Something about flighty women in their family before they walked off into the water with the mist covering them. Naruto was about to follow before he turned around to see Pakura land behind him.
"Pakura-san, what did you find out?" Naruto asked and Pakura knelt down on one knee as she gave the information to her summoner.
"Hai Shikon-sama. Kimimaro and I know where the enemy is hiding. They are in a small shack not far from here. It also seems that there is a small boy with them. Kimimaro and I believe that he is crucial to their plot to control the Sanbi. Kimimaro has agreed to stay behind until I return. We think that they will come back somewhere near nightfall," Pakura said and Naruto brought a finger to his chin. That tied in well with the rest of Hinoken's plans. Naruto could now take some precautions when it came to this, but the boy that Pakura referred to sort of got Naruto's interest. What could a little boy be doing with Orochimaru?
"Ugggh, I don't even want to ponder that. I need some mind soap or something. Yuck," Naruto shuddered at the thought. Quickly for his, and Kyuubi's sanity, they got off that topic fast and just in time as Pakura seemed to have something else to say to him.
"Also there is this blue haired woman with him. You've seen her right?" Pakura asked and Naruto nodded. He had seen her before at that one point. He hadn't given a chance to them as his team had come for him. Naruto grumbled and scratched the back of his head.
"What about her?" Naruto asked and Pakura cleared her throat with a cough.
"She's like me Shikon-sama. She has a kekkai genkai. Kimimaro and I have seen it. She's able to encase anything she touches into crystal. Sort of like me with my Shakuton," Pakura answered and Naruto sighed. A kekkai genkai for crystals. That seemed weird enough that it already was.
"Shoton?" Naruto thought to himself before he smiled and patted Pakura's shoulder making her look up at him.
"Alright then, thank you Pakura. You can go back. Tell Kimimaro that I said thanks as well and keep up the good work," Naruto said with a thumbs up and Pakura allowed for a small, happy smile to come across her face.
"Understood Shikon-sama. Oh, also Kimimaro says that he remembers the boy that we were watching. He says that if you don't want to then he won't force his wishes upon you, but he hopes that you will...save that boy, Yukimaru," Pakura said and Naruto paused in mid-step. Pakura watched him go through several emotions. Well sort of, his back was turned to her and she tried to look at the subtle hints on Naruto's face, but she didn't really get that much out of it. Naruto then turned around and smiled.
"I see. So Kimimaro is just a big softy. Tell him that I'll do all in my power to get the boy safely," Naruto said and Pakura nodded before she floated off back to Kimimaro. Naruto in the meantime walked off to catch up to his mother and cousin. He was busy thinking over Kimimaro's request. Naturally Naruto would've wanted to save anyone from the clutches of Orochimaru, but since the sannin's apparent death then Naruto could've just told them that. For some reason, he would be sure that they wouldn't believe him unless he had some form of proof and in all actually they didn't have to believe him about anything. He would have to think things over.
It didn't take Naruto long to catch up to Kushina and Yura who had been waiting for him to arrive. The blonde had relayed all of Pakura's information to his mother and leader. Kushina was more than pleased to know that they wouldn't be back until the night time. That gave Hinoken more than enough time for them to get themselves situated with the environment.
"So what are we going to do?" Yura asked and Kushina smiled. It was sort of like Naruto knew a prank was coming from his mother and that fact sort of scared him. He had never known his mother's prankster side before, but for some reason it got him hot under the collar. Oh yeah, he was just so hot for his mother at the moment from that smile and the fact that Kyuubi was telling him to take both Yura and Kushina at the same time didn't help him at all. Naruto ignored the dirty thoughts for another time while he knelt down earning him stares of confusion from Kushina and Yura.
"Sochi, what are you doing?" Kushina asked while Naruto placed his hand on the wet water. He closed his eyes while he offered his mother and cousin an explanation although Yura hadn't asked, but he knew that she was just as curious as Kushina was.
"I'm going to send out a wave of Honshou over the lake. If there is anything that uses spiritual energy at all then I should be able to find it. Since the bijuu are condenses of chakra then-,"
"You should be able to locate the spiritual half of the chakra that allows you to make chakra," Yura exclaimed interrupting Naruto, but getting a nod from the blonde. Kushina seemed okay with it and allowed Naruto the opportunity to do his works before the girls noticed Naruto slam the water. Immediately a large wave of Honshou swept the lake from the surface and covered it entirely. Naruto slightly coughed since his use of the Kukanyugami had sort of drained him while he did a jutsu inside it. He noticed that Honshou was much harder to control and using it for his incomplete time-space ninjutsu was hurting him slightly in that department.
Naruto closed his eyes and scanned the entire area. It was obvious that the lake was deeper than he had imagined it. He then suddenly opened his eyes and glared at the water. He had just located the Sanbi. He seemed to have been sleeping or something like that, but Naruto was sure that the bijuu knew that he was there thanks to that tactic.
"He's here, but he's really down there. At least 50 feet below us and that's just an estimate. I doubt any of us could go down there unless we're really good at holding our breath," Naruto said while Kushina sighed. Fifty feet seemed like a bit of a stretch. No real human could do it and while Kushina knew that her son couldn't die, she'd rather not have to actually test that out unless it was something of a last resort.
"Alright then, Yura keep the guard. Naruto and I will get to work," Kushina said and Naruto agreed. Kushina began to weave handsigns while Naruto watched her. He watched her on her last set before he took out a piece of paper and quickly wrote across it. He then slammed the water with it.
"Uzumaki Fuin: Funsai no Ryoiki( Uzumaki Seal: Area Shattering)," Naruto shouted as Yura watched in astonishment that the water suddenly swirled into the air hovering over them allowing them to catch a glimpse of the earth below, but not for long since that was nothing to what Yura spotted. She could see a large three tailed creature at the bottom of the lake. It was so massive before she saw Kushina quickly slam the air.
"Tojikome Fuin no Uzushiogakure( Containment Seal of the Hidden Whirlpools)," Kushina shouted as Naruto and Yura watched a large array of seals come from her hands. They attached themselves to the Sanbi and quickly glowed before dissipating. She smiled at her work before Yura gulped.
"And what do we do with the massive amount of water over our heads?!" Yura asked not really wanting to experience being crushed to death by a sudden intake of water. Kushina turned to Naruto and the blonde nodded. Naruto sighed and knew he would have to rest after this.
"Kukanyugami no Jutsu," Naruto shouted as he extended his hands. Everything around him froze and he looked to see Yura staring at the large wall of menacing water threatening to crush their very lives while Kushina was totally relaxed, but he could understand why his mother was so. The blonde kenjutsu user sighed and grabbed his mother. He grabbed her and then he made a clone to grab Yura. The blonde then shot off for the land before his five minutes were up. Seriously, he just needed to find a way to deal with that stupid time limit or it wouldn't grant him much.
Naruto quickly made it to land before he gently placed Kushina and Yura on the ground. Naruto cancelled the jutsu and everything began to move again. Yura seemed confused to what happened. Once second they were in the water and now they were on land. She turned back to hear the thunderous sound of the water crashing back together while Kushina smiled. They had done their part and now they just had to wait for a few fools to try and take the bait for it. She then turned to her son and noticed that Naruto dropped down. He huffed heavily like he had trouble breathing. He really wasn't used to using Honshou to such a degree and it was a pain that he would have to go back to chakra basics. Consuming tons of Honshou that his reserves got bigger for him so he wouldn't be all tired for the next time, but right now he had to rest and his mother realized it.
"Well stop there dattebane. Then we'll set up a little camp. Yura, take Naruto to the tents and let him rest. I'll go and collect the others," Kushina said and Yura nodded her head before she slowly helped Naruto up and took him away to their camp for his rest. Kushina looked back at the waters and glared.
"Your turn. Just know that it's not going to be as easy as the last time," Kushina said with a smirk before she disappeared from view.
With Sasuke and Yuna
The two Uchiha quickly made it to one of Orochimaru's former bases. Sasuke guided Yuna down its stepped and Yuna was sure that she had been here before. She doubted it, but Sasuke said that all of Orochimaru's bases were constructed the same way so that there was really no way of telling them apart. Yuna thanked Sasuke for the explanation as they traversed the halls knowing that they wouldn't be encountering any of Orochimaru's men. You want to know why? Well let's just say that Sasuke never liked company in the places that he went to when he was alone. He always focused on his training and the unlucky assholes who crossed his path filled the earth beneath his feet. He didn't really care. They were all former bandits, rapists, slave traders and the other pieces of trash that society had to offer.
"So Uchiha-boy what are we doing here?" Yuna asked with a smirk as she lightly tapped Sasuke's arm. The Uchiha glanced at her with a sort of knowing glare of his eyes, but didn't stop the small smile from creaking across his face though he was sure that Yuna had missed it.
"Simple we're going to get the only idiot that I actually left in this place. Don't worry, he's pretty much harmless. Though he's someone you could take if he got on your nerves," Sasuke said and Yuna nodded her head sort of relieved, but at the same time pained. Why she wasn't sure.
"Alright then, what's this guy's name?" Yuna asked and Sasuke turned around.
"Suigetsu. It's time that idiot repaid his debt to me," Sasuke said before he opened a door. It was dark, well sort of. The only types of lights were computer monitors and lights flashing. Yuna could see a tube of water and the bubbles surfaced from time to time. She looked inside and narrowed her eyes.
"BOO!" a sudden voice said and Yuna jumped back in surprise while Sasuke folded his arms. Both Uchiha noticed a teen with blue-ish white hair. He cackled at Yuna's surprised face before he turned to Sasuke.
"Oh boy what do you want? Don't you have better shit to do than bother me?" he asked while Sasuke snorted.
"Shut up Suigetsu. We're getting you out of there and you are coming with me," Sasuke said while Suigetsu glared at him.
"Ha! You wish Sasuke. I'm not facing Orochimaru's wrath just so you can exact vengeance on your brother. Stupid emo," Suigetsu said while Yuna glanced at them both. She saw the smile on Sasuke's face as he folded his arms.
"Well then. It's good that he's dead and not coming back. Isn't it?" Sasuke asked while Suigetsu widened his eyes. He then calmed as Yuna and Sasuke watched him laugh out loudly.
"HAHAHA! And Kabuto said that the Uchihas had no sense of humor. That's a good one Sasuke," Suigetsu said and Sasuke narrowed his eyes into a glare. Yuna chuckled and walked up as she leaned her body against Suigetsu's container.
"They also say that the Uchihas are legendary for a reason water boy. Want me to show you how strong my Katon affinity is? I wonder if I could turn you into steam," Yuna threatened while Suigetsu glared at her.
"Sasuke, who is this bitch?" Suigetsu asked while Sasuke smirked.
"Yuna Uchiha," Sasuke responded and Suigetsu glanced at her. Yuna seemed more than ready and capable of going through with her threat. Suigetsu then moved his eyes back to Sasuke and glared.
"Is he really gone?" Suigetsu asked and Sasuke nodded his head in an affirmative. Suigetsu sighed and rubbed the back of his head.
"Looks like I'll finally be entertained. Well, hurry up and get me out of this thing already," Suigetsu said and Sasuke nodded. He advanced on the tube before Yuna stopped him. She looked at Suigetsu with a thoughtful expression.
"What do you say?" Yuna asked while Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"NOW!" Suigetsu shouted and Yuna shook her head. She placed her hand on the container and quickly channeled her chakra into it. Suigetsu watched as the water began to bubble. He widened his eyes and so did Sasuke before Suigetsu slammed the tube.
"You're crazy! Fuckin crazy girl. You're worse than Karin!" Suigetsu shouted and Yuna merely whistled while she kept channeling her Honshou into the water. Living things couldn't handle the heat of Honshou nor the Honshou in general. Oh it looked like it really hurt.
"I'm waiting," Yuna said patiently while Suigetsu cursed. He could feel his insides hurting from the power of life that all spirits were known to possess.
"Please! Please! PLEASE! Get me out!" Suigetsu shouted while Yuna stopped her technique. She motioned for her little cousin/lover to move forward and in one swift motion Sasuke cracked the glass and watched as Suigetsu fell out. He coughed and glared at Yuna before his body was cloaked to wear some clothes. He wore a sleeveless, purple shirt with grey pants, sandals and a belt around his waist with water bottles attached to it. Suigetsu stood to his feet and in one swift motion he appeared behind Yuna and chuckled.
"You know I could kill you right now right?" Suigetsu asked with a smirk across his face. It was only then that he noticed Sasuke's blade, with lighting running through it, at his neck while Yuna had a smirk on her face. She had easily seen and expect Suigetsu to come at her and with her sharingan it was really easy.
"You do and you'll be on the next one following her," Sasuke said with his sharingan flaring. Suigetsu glanced at Sasuke while Yuna smiled.
"Don't bite off more than you think you can chew," she said before she removed herself from Suigetsu's hold and placed a hand on her hip.
"No can we go now? It's late and I'd like to get something to eat," Yuna said while Sasuke agreed.
"Whoa, if I'm gonna join you then there is something that you have to get for me," Suigetsu said and Sasuke glared while Yuna raised an eyebrow.
"And what would that be?" Yuna asked and Suigetsu grinned.
"The sword of the Demon of the Mist, the Kubikiribōchō," Suigetsu said with a grin. Yuna didn't seem all that impressed actually. Hmph, men and their toy blades. Sasuke didn't really seem to care, but he doubted that he could tell Suigetsu that the sword's wielder was alive and even stronger than before.
"Fine," Sasuke said and Suigetsu nodded as he left. Yuna pulled Sasuke to the side and whispered.
"Ummm you do know that Zabuza is-," she trailed off as Sasuke nodded.
"He doesn't need to know that," Sasuke said and Yuna snickered and nodded before they followed Suigetsu out of the door.
Back with Hinoken, two days later, nighttime
Naruto sighed and opened his eyes. It was night and the moon was in the sky. He looked around and noticed that the others were in their tents. Most likely no one was really sleeping since they were waiting for an attack at any moment. It had been two days since their encounter and it seemed that Kimimaro and Pakura were wrong in their information, but Naruto didn't reprimand them for it. No that was somewhat of his fault. Naruto felt most of his Honshou return to his body and this was something that he noticed also. If he wasn't doing anything then Honshou could refill in his body much faster than chakra could so the blonde was feeling a little better. He had used yesterday to practice with the time-space jutsu. He drained his Honshou continually doing things and he noticed something else. He could only use the Kukanyugami three times a day. He had tried to shoot for a fourth, but it didn't work. Which made him wonder why.
"Did I wake you Shikon-sama?" Dan asked shocking Naruto slightly. He kept his warm and inviting smile which calmed Naruto down. The blonde sighed and shook his head to Dan's question. Dan then reported his mission a success for Naruto in delivering the scroll to Tsunade before he was absorbed into Naruto's sword. The blonde watched him leave and since he was up he decided to have a little walk. Naruto left his tent and quickly walked off though he knew that the others knew he was up and where he was going in case they needed him.
Naruto enjoyed the little quiet that he could get and looked up at the moon. Strangely, it reminded the blonde of Shin with its white presence. He settled on top of a rock and stared at it longingly. Naruto, for some reason, could feel a lot of spiritual energy flowing from it. He could feel it linking to the Honshou in his body.
"What are you thinking?" Kyuubi asked from behind his cage to his grown accustomed to friend. Naruto smiled and leaned back.
"Not sure. I just feel at peace when I look at the moon. I don't know why," Naruto said and Kyuubi didn't know why either. He then closed his eyes and gave a snort of acknowledgment before he used on of his tails to scratch his eyebrows before going to sleep unless something interesting happened.
"Oh so you like looking at the moon too?"
Naruto resisted the not unexpected urge to jump from the sound of a voice and shifted his eyes to glance at Yukimaru who had come up with a smile. Naruto raised an eyebrow to the boy before he noticed a little further off that Kimimaro and Pakura weren't far off.
"This must be the kid that they were talking about," Naruto said in his thoughts before he registered the boy's question.
"Yeah I do. How about you?" Naruto asked and Yukimaru nodded his head while he looked up at it showing his crystal flower to Naruto. The blonde glanced at it and watched it shimmer in the moonlight granting it a very nice luminescent glow.
"I love it. There is just something nice about it," Yukimaru answered and Naruto nodded. The two teens stayed together for a bit since there was little to talk about then they stayed quiet, but Naruto didn't know that Yukimaru didn't like silence.
"Say, would you mind telling me? Where is home?" he asked and even though Naruto had his eyes closed he thought over the question. So many times he had often wondered that question when he was younger and still the bane of people's existence. He wondered if he would miss Konoha if he left or if they would miss him. Whether or not he would be happy in another village or even another country. However Naruto knew that if he had left then he most likely wouldn't be here. He might not have the Shinigami Contract. Not his mother, Hiashi and Hinata might still be sad about Hinako. Neji would still be sad without Hizashi. So many things wouldn't have happened had he not been in Konoha and endured it all.
"Home is where your heart is. You don't need things. You just need to be happy with whoever you're with. And trust me, Orochimaru isn't going to give that to you," Naruto didn't have to open his eyes to know that the boy looked at him in awe. He could somehow see Kimimaro with a calculated stare as well as Pakura.
Yukimaru got silent and traced his fingers over the crystal.
"So you knew about me?" he asked and Naruto nodded his head.
"Yep, it wasn't that hard actually. You really should leave him. The guy's dead anyway," Naruto said and if Yukimaru was shocked about Naruto learning of his identity then he was even more shocked about Orochimaru.
"What are you talking about? Orochimaru-sama is alive. Kabuto said to," Yukimaru said while Naruto chuckled. Oh he would've liked nothing more than to laugh in Kabuto's face about that fact, but he knew better than that.
"Yeah well sorry to break it to you, but Kabuto's pulling your leg kid. You and that little group you've got going on are doing this for nothing. Trust me, Kabuto's not going to have anyone who can challenge him so he'll most likely kill them and you later," Naruto said while Yukimaru looked at him jokingly, but the small glare that Naruto gave the moon made him flinch.
"H-He'd even kill Guren-san?" Yukimaru asked and Naruto watched him tighten his hold on the crystal while Naruto smiled.
"Is she the one who made that crystal for you?" Naruto asked and Yukimaru nodded with a small smile.
"She's really nice. She stopped the mission for my benefit. I don't like using my powers, but if it will make Guren-san happy then I will do it," Yukimaru said and Naruto glanced at him. He figured that Guren was the woman he had seen and chuckled.
"To be serving Orochimaru she must be messed up somewhere," Naruto baited. He wanted to see Yukimaru's reaction and he got a glare from the boy.
"Guren-san isn't evil or bad. I trust her. Don't talk about her like that," Yukimaru said and Naruto closed his eyes with a smile.
"She's not bad huh?" Naruto thought to himself and chuckled which got Yukimaru's attention. It was then that he noticed the swirl on Naruto's right shoulder and widened his eyes.
"Ah that marking. I've seen it before," Yukimaru said while Naruto's eyes widened. He quickly stood up and turned to Yukimaru which shocked the boy.
"Where?!" Naruto asked frantically. His symbol had been seen and he hoped that this kid wasn't joking.
"U-Umm Guren-san has one like that on her lower shoulder. Also there was this middle aged man in Kumogakure who had it. He had blonde hair like yours. I was in Kumo at one time before coming here. Did I say something wrong?" he asked and Naruto shook his head. There were two women working for Orochimaru who were related to his family. Then there was Tayuya and this guy from Kumo. Naruto looked up at the moon and sighed. No way was he going to get near Guren unless they fought and she really didn't seem like the type to talk first and fight later.
Naruto sighed and sat down. He brushed his hand through his hair and grumbled. This was some troubling in formation for the blonde, but he couldn't deny that he wasn't happy.
"Are you sure?" Naruto asked and Yukimaru nodded. Naruto chuckled at the innocence of the boy. He was telling information to the enemy, but Naruto wasn't going to abuse it. No way would he.
"Tell me Yukimaru, if Guren were family of mine would you go with her with me?" Naruto asked and Yukimaru pondered his question. He placed a finger to his chin and smiled.
"Where Guren-san goes, I will go," he said cutely and Naruto chuckled. He stood to his feet and walked off.
"Very well then. Be prepared for tomorrow. It's going to be a long day," Naruto said and Yukimaru watched him disappeared before he saw Naruto wave his sword into the air. He wondered what he was doing, but Naruto then sheathed it and walked off.
"Weird guy," Yukimaru said to himself before he walked away.
Back at the shack
Yukimaru came through the door and he was met with a glare and a tapping foot as he looked up to see Guren with her arms folded merely waiting for Yukimaru's reply. Every seemed to enjoy the boy's squirming before he smiled.
"I went out for a walk," he said and Guren's glare tightened. This kid was crucial to their mission. How could be so nonchalant.
"I almost went out looking for you. Do you know that?" she asked and Yukimaru smiled.
"I'm sorry I worried you," he said and Guren snorted. She would've retorted and said that she wasn't worried no matter how much it was the opposite. During these past two days Guren had been around Yukimaru a little bit. She didn't allow herself to admit it, but the boy's smile was infectious on her. He wasn't afraid of her at all and he wasn't mad at her for putting him through this. He was just concerned with making her happy which was probably the most hypocritical thing here. This wasn't making her happy. She had to question this method. They hadn't moved in two days and Yukimaru was starting to get the color back to his face which Guren was glad for.
"Just don't do it again," she said and started to walk back before Yukimaru grabbed her arm and tugged her. Guren sighed and turned back to him while Yukimaru spoke.
"Ummm Guren-san, can we talk outside?" Yukimaru asked and Guren raised an eyebrow. She'd never known Yukimaru to be fidgety, but she allowed it.
"Fine," she said as they walked out. Gozu and the others glanced at each other, but Rinji was the only one who seemed truly interested in what Yukimaru might've had to say.
Outside
Guren stood slack-jawed at what Yukimaru told her. He fidgeted underneath her gaze while Guren grabbed his shoulders.
"Who told you this?" she asked angrily. Not angry at Yukimaru. No she couldn't be angry at him, but she had to be angry. How in the hell could Orochimaru die? He was one of the sannin. He always proclaimed that he was the greatest of the sannin and no one could really refute that as they never lived long enough to try.
"N-Naruto-niisan. He said that he and Sasuke Uchiha took down Orochimaru-sama. He said that Kabuto was there and knew it, but lied to us. He said that we were doing this for nothing," Yukimaru said while Guren growled. Konoha had said this? She hadn't seen Orochimaru for a few weeks, but could that explain his disappearance?
Guren unhanded Yukimaru and looked out towards the lake. All the images of her childhood caught up with her. Orochimaru had saved her from herself and from certain death when her family was killed. Her mother always taught her stories about her redhead grandfather. A fiery man who married one of their civilian women and how she was born and stuff like that. Guren had never known or she forgot it.
"You met with him?" Guren asked and Yukimaru nodded.
"Yes Guren-san, he also knew that I was from Orochimaru even when I didn't say anything. Also I'm sorry, but I told him about that s-swirl marking on your shoulder and he got all excited," Yukimaru said while Guren covered the marking. She had gotten the marking about two or three months ago, but she had played it off as something stupid.
"Why?" she asked and Yukimaru shook his head.
"I don't know, but he then suddenly said that if Guren-san would come home with him then would I follow him. I said that I would go anywhere that Guren-san went because I like Guren-san," Yukimaru said and despite the situation Guren balled her fists. Curse this kid and his smile. Also curse this information. But how could a mere brat and an Uchiha handle Orochimaru? Guren had to know.
"Where is he now?" Guren asked hoping to get the drop on Naruto and the others, but Yukimaru wasn't sure and Guren didn't reprimand him for that. It was sort of obvious.
"I don't think he was lying Guren-san," Yukimaru said while Guren turned to him.
"He had this look in his eyes. It was like I had to believe him above all else. W-What will you do if he's right?" Yukimaru asked and Guren bit her thumb. If he was telling the truth? On the chance that he was telling the truth then Guren wouldn't know what to do. Her life revolved around Orochimaru's goals and without him then it was over. She wasn't sure what she would do. Guren racked her brain left and right before she widened her eyes. She gave a small smile and nodded. Yes, that could work. If he was telling the truth then that was the best way to do it wasn't it?
"Yukimaru, here's what we're going to do. If he is telling the truth then we'll do something. If not then I'll kill him. It will require a few things. Do you want to do this?" Guren asked. She really was changing because of this kid. She wasn't sure why, but he always made her smile. In fact this plan would make her heart wrench again.
"Hai Guren-san," Yukimaru said while Guren sighed.
"Just Guren. The -san is annoying," she said and Yukimaru shook his head with a smile while they walked off.
Next Morning
Hinoken was out in the lake like yesterday and waited for everyone to come out of their hiding. Naruto sighed and skipped a stone. He couldn't seal the Sanbi because that would require a human and he;d be damned if he made a jinchuuriki. He doubted he could seal Sanbi in an object as well. Kyuubi told him that while they could be sealed in objects it wasn't going to stay long before they broke out. Naruto would just have to wait.
"So what's the plan?" Mikoto asked and Kushina suddenly smiled. She grabbed the hilt of her sword and everyone tensed suddenly.
"We fight dattebane," Kushina said and everyone immediately dodged to the sides as a crystal dragon slammed into the beach. Kushina and Naruto backflipped while Fuka protected Yura and moved to the side. Mikoto, Kakashi and Yugao had jumped into the air before landing. They watched as Guren came from the field. Kushina glanced at Naruto and the blonde gave a silent nod of his head. She nodded and turned back while Guren smiled.
"Well it looks like we have guests. Would you leave if I told you to?" Guren asked while Naruto came up.
"Not without the Sanbi. Sorry, but Orochimaru's not getting his grubby hands on this. Actually he won't be getting his hands on anything since he couldn't get it anyway," Naruto said and Guren growled. She noticed the rest of Hinoken smirk. It was then that smoke popped up and everyone heard a dragon's roar.
"Enryuu( Smoke Dragon)," A voice shouted and they watched the dragon cover the entire beach. Naruto sucked his teeth from the smoke before he noticed four other shadows come into the cloud of smoke. Clashing could be heard around Naruto and the blonde took out his sword only to block a crystal blade. He narrowed his eyes while seeing Guren grin at him.
"You're dead," she said, but Naruto shook his head and Guren was punched across the face by a clone sending her flying back. Guren brushed her cheek before everyone heard a shout.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Yukimaru shouted while Guren smirked. Kushina smirked as well and held up a handsign.
"Kai," she said silently before getting back to the fight.
With Kakashi and Mikoto
The two Hinoken members stepped away from Nurari and Kakashi flashed his sharingan while Nurari smiled.
"You're who Konoha sent to fight us. You look like amateurs," he said sort of femininely which was something that Kakashi and Mikoto noticed.
"And you look like a drag queen. The world is weird like that I guess," Mikoto answered and Kakashi resisted the urge to snicker before the two dodged a kunai strike. Kakashi quickly unsheathed his sword and charged at Nurari. The drag queen dodged to the side from Kakashi's blade strike and then dodged Mikoto letting out little shrieks which made them wonder just how tough he was.
With Fuka and Yura
The two females were facing off against Kigiri who was looking at them both with a shrug of his shoulders. His cloak masked his face so they couldn't tell what he was expressing.
"Why do I have to fight girls? Ugh such a bore," Kigiri said before he heard Fuka chuckling. She stood to her feet and brushed a hand through her hair before looking back to her cousin.
"Yura, please stand back. I think I'll have some fun. You try and stop that brat from doing anything stupid," Fuka said and Yura wanted to retort to her fellow Uzumaki, but a glare that Fuka gave Kigiri left her no room to say that so she left.
"So fighting a woman is a bore huh? Allow me to prove you wrong then. After all I hear Uzumaki females are supposed to be quite...entertaining," Fuka said as she took out a kunai. Kigiri narrowed his eyes at her before the two got started.
Yura made her way towards the boat that was quickly leaving with the kid right on it. She hurried and was about to catch up to it before she heard a shout. She saw Gozu overhead with a large fist coming down on her. Yura widened her eyes before another shout came.
"Uzu no Fukushū: Teikoku no Gisei( Whirlpool Revenge: Imperial Sacrifice)," Kushina yelled as she slammed her sword into Gozu's arm. The two clashed and Gozu yelled out in pain as a wave of electricity came across his body. He was sent flying away into the trees while Kushina grinned.
"Go, we'll back you up," she said and Yura nodded before running off.
With Naruto and Guren
The two continued to clash away at each other. Naruto narrowly dodged a strike to the face and Guren jumped way from a swipe to her feet. She spun her body to send a kick to Naruto's face. The blonde was ready to block before he noticed her foot encased in crystal. Yeah, that would hurt. Naruto took the hit square on which sending him crashing across the dirt. Guren grinned before she noticed a poof.
"Kage Bunshin?" she said in astonishment before Naruto shouted.
"Rasengan," He hollered and slammed the ball into the ground. Guren had dodged the attack, but awed the destructive power only for her to notice that she was surrounded by Naruto clones. Guren looked left and right across from them all before she heard the Narutos shout.
"Uzu no Fukushū: Itarutokoro Shikei no Mai( Whirlpool Revenge: Surrounding Death Dance)," The Narutos shouted as they all converged on Guren. The female shinobi of Otogakure glared before she did her own handsigns.
"Shoton: Kurenai No Kajitsu( Crystal Release: Crimson Fruit)," Guren shouted and Naruto watched as she encased herself in crystal as they slashed at it. Now Guren's armor was tough, Naruto could admit that because it stopped the attack cold. Naruto cursed and backflipped away before he saw someone coming. They were clapping repeatedly while Guren raised an eyebrow.
"Nice work. But let's see how you fare against me," Rinji said coming out before Naruto chuckled. He shook his head and turned to Guren.
'Oh how could you not see it? Hey Kabuto, why don't you tell Guren that Sasuke killed Orochimaru?" Naruto asked while Rinji paled. Guren stared over to Rinji in surprise.
"Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. My name is Rinji. You're obviously confused," Rinji said while sweating. Naruto grinned and nodded his head.
"Nuff said. See ya," Naruto dashed off and went after Yukimaru. Guren gasped and quickly followed him before everyone heard thrashing around. Kushina smiled and everyone looked to see the Sanbi emerge. It roared violently while everyone took the time to notice it. Yukimaru continued his screaming while the chakra output raised.
Acting fast, Naruto quickly swung his sword out.
"Shikon no Mai," Naruto said and Guren could see four spirits come out of Naruto's sword.
"Pakura, Dan, Kimimaro, Fujikaze assist Kaa-chan and the others. Take out these guys. Also Pakura, I want you to take out Rinji for me," Naruto said and the four beings nodded and floated off. Naruto could see Guren right on his tail and smiled as he bit his thumb and traced it over his seal.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu," Naruto shouted and Guren suddenly felt the air go cold. She felt an immense KI wash over the beach and the Shinigami appeared behind Naruto.
"Shin, time to work. Help me deal with this thing," Naruto said and Shin looked up at the Sanbi and sighed. Another bijuu that he had been summoned to fight.
"Very well, what needs to be done?" Shin asked and Naruto looked up before he smiled.
"Kaa-chan's seal should be working in three...two...one," Naruto said and soon everyone was blinded by a huge light that came from the Sanbi. It's light blinded everyone, even Guren and Naruto before they faintly saw the Sanbi open its mouth and Guren gasped.
"No! Yukimaru!" Guren shouted before a blast of water came from the Sanbi's mouth. It was only a few inches away before Yukimaru was pulled and pushed into the water below. Yura coughed to keep Yukimaru afloat while giving a thumbs up to Naruto. The Sanbi roared out again before its tails thrashed violently. It shook the lake that people were on before it noticed Naruto and Guren.
"Oh shit, no no no!" Naruto said repeatedly before all went dark for him.
"GUREN-SAN!" Yukimaru shouted while Yura struggled to bring him to shore. Yukimaru cried at Guren and Naruto getting inside the Sanbi. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to go. Yukimaru shouted out and the chakra bursted Yura away from him before the Sanbi raged again. Being even more violent this time around.
With Kakashi and Mikoto
"Katon: Karyu Endan no Jutsu," The two yelled together sending a roaring fire at Nurari. The drag queen shrieked out before he placed his hands into the air.
"Nensuikai( Viscous Water Mass)," Nurari said while Kakashi and Mikoto watched as a strange liquid formed from his suit. It made a protective barrier over his head as the fire slammed into the water membrane. Nurari chuckled at seeing his technique stop the fire before he turned to the others.
"You two are really weak. I'm surprised that Konoha sends this few people," Nurari said with a feminine chuckle making Kakashi shivered. He and Mikoto glared before Kakashi did a handsign. He quickly took his blade back in his hands and everyone could see a white light cover the field. Kakashi then vanished and appeared behind Nurari. The drag queen ninja widened his eyes in surprise of Kakashi's actions while the cyclops Hinoken member closed his sword.
Shhhnck!
Kakashi carefully closed his sword and a huge lightning line appeared from Mikoto's position and in a crazy zig-zag crossed Nurari to where Kakashi was.
"Raikiri Issen( Lightning Blade: Single Flash Slash)," Kakashi said and Nurari dropped to the ground. He didn't even cough up blood. He just laid there dead from Kakashi's attack. Mikoto whistled before she looked at the ground to see a searing line across the ground with residual traces of lightning across it. Kakashi turned around and gave an eyesmile.
"Let's go get the others," he said nonchalantly while Mikoto felt that the only other option was to nod.
With Fuka
"Raiton: Jibashi," Fuka shouted and she slammed the ground sending down a wave of lightning over Kigiri. The man dodged to the side and sent a shuriken at Fuka who blocked it with her kunai. She then quickly turned her head to the side to met a kick. Fuka dodged that attack before she slid between Kigiri's legs and came up around. Kigiri turned around to met the female Uzumaki's lovely smiled.
"You know, you're cute. However, you're not as cute as Naruto-kun so I'll just have to kill you,"Fuka said like it was the easiest fact in the world. Kigiri narrowed his eyes at her before he did a handsign.
"Tajuu Kemuri Bunshin( Multi Smoke Clones)," Kigiri said before he vanished in his smoke. Fuka could see dozens of smoke clones all around her and her patience was running thin. The Uzumaki chuckled and before she did her own handsign.
"This is enjoyable, but you're beginning to bore me. Time to die. Suiton: Haran Banshō( Water Release: Stormy Blockade)," she said and Kigiri watched as a large fall of water appeared over them both, but he easily dodged that and jumped into the air.
"You think that's enough to take me?" he asked and Fuka merely had a smile on her face.
"Who knows," she said walking away. Kigiri landed on the ground before Fuka snapped her fingers. An huge explosion came behind her and Fuka brushed her hair with a light chuckle.
"Katon: Senka no Jutsu( Fire Release: Sage Fire Technique)," She said before she was regrouped with by Yugao.
With Naruto and Guren
Naruto groaned and got to his feet. He coughed and opened his eyes. He looked to see that he was somewhere, but he didn't know where. Naruto turned his head to the left before seeing Guren. She cursed and Naruto noticed the look of her leg. It looked like it bended the wrong way. He winced at it and sighed.
"Oh who got the number of that asshole who sucker punched me?" Naruto groaned while Guren snorted.
"Bought time you woke up," she said and Naruto snorted back at her.
"I don't think humans are supposed to bend that way," he said jokingly before Guren sent him a death glare. Naruto chuckled despite himself before he got to his feet.
"Where are we?" Naruto asked while Guren sighed.
"This wasn't a part of the plan. We're inside the damn turtle!" Guren shouted while Naruto looked around. Yep, definitely the insides of some kind of creature. He sighed again before he saw Guren tried to get to her feet. She used the wall for leverage and when she got a good balance she...slumped to the floor. Naruto watched this for three times more before he sighed.
"Here let me help you," he said before his hand was swatted away.
"Shut up! I don't need your help! Not now, not ever!" Guren said and Naruto glared at her. Guren growled at him, but it was then that she could see just the smallest traces of sadness in his eyes before it was masked.
"I didn't know that family was so mean," Naruto said while Guren's eyebrow twitched. She turned to see Naruto's goofy smile and snorted. She was related to this buffoon? No way.
"And you expect me to believe that?" she asked and Naruto advanced on her. She tensed, but she just noticed him look at her back and he saw the swirl symbol. Naruto chuckled and he showed the swirl symbol on his arm. Guren widened her eyes to it and Naruto sighed.
"Why am I only finding female Uzumaki?" Naruto asked out loud while Guren stared at him incredulously. Naruto merely placed his hands down and picked up Guren while she gasped and unintentionally wrapped her arms around his neck.
"We've got to stop meeting like this," Naruto said while Guren just settled for looking at him. She then punched his arm and growled.
"Yeah, whatever just hurry up and get us out of here," she said and Naruto quickly carried her off though on the last step he huffed.
"Damn girl," he huffed while Guren growled.
"Are you saying I'm fat?!" she hollered while Naruto sighed. She wasn't fat, not she was hot. Sort of like Fuka. She seemed to be her age if not a year or two older. Had that older woman feel that his mother had, but nowhere near as appealing or even as satisfying.
"No of course not. You have a wonderful figure dattebayo," Naruto said while Guren allowed a faint blush to grow on her cheeks. Oh she wasn't going to live through this humiliation.
"Right, now then. This wasn't exactly in my plan, but anyway. If I'm to even have the slightest option to not kick your ass then tell me right now. How is Orochimaru dead?" Guren asked while Naruto guided her through the tunnels.
"Oh so you wanted to talk with me? Awesome dattebayo," Naruto said before Guren snorted. She rolled her eyes before the Shinigami came behind him.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you have summoned me, so what are you going to do?" Shin asked making sure to appear invisible to Guren.
"Working on it," Naruto replied while Guren looked at him weirdly. Was he working on a reply to her answer? Oh she couldn't wait to get out a strangle her apparent 'family member' across his throat.
Back in Konoha
Shikamaru stood in front of Kurenai's door and knocked. His eyes red from the tears while Kurenai opened the door. Shikamaru took a deep breathe and told Kurenai the news. Kurenai widened her eyes to Shikamaru's word.
"No...no...no...no," Kurenai said as she dropped to her knees. Shikamaru couldn't say anything before he watched Kurenai cry letting the tears fall from her eyes. He wanted to comfort her and tell her that it would be alright. He could just hope that whatever this "benevolent force" that was reviving people was doing, that it would do it for them again. It had to. It just wasn't fair for Asuma to die. Kurenai continued to cry in her apartment door and Shikamaru stayed with her the entire time before he looked up at the sky.
"I don't know if you're real or not, but please I'm begging you. Please bring back Asuma to us," Shikamaru said to the raining sky that seemed to perfectly mask his tears from staining his jacket.
Council Room
Tsunade sighed along with everyone else. Izumo and Kotetsu had given Tsunade the report instead of Shikamaru. Hearing that report then Tsunade could understand just how Shikamaru was feeling which was why she didn't reprimand him for not coming.
"To think that another Sarutobi has died," Homura said while the rest of the council was silent, well except for an enthusiastic councilman.
"But look at Mikoto-sama, Hinako-sama, and even Kushina-sama. Maybe he will come back as well," the man said trying to raise some people's spirits. The civilians were sort of happy, but the Shinobi side didn't look convinced at all, well except Hiashi. He knew the reason why and he knew it would be hell if Naruto did do it. One hand, he would make everyone happy and revive Asuma who many people know had died and end up revealing his contract. On the other hand, if he said he wouldn't then everyone would stop believing in such things.
"That's not to say that it will happen for this case," Hiashi interjected which seemed to get everyone to control themselves.
"You can't say that! You got someone back. None of us have!" A civilian hollered before Tsunade slammed the table.
"Shut up! We're not going to leave anything to any stupid chance. We shall hold the burial for Asuma in two days," Tsunade said while people calmed. Tsume sighed and so did Shikaku. Everyone in this room had known Asuma personally.
"Speaking of Tsunade, I hear that the Uzumaki brat has a contract. Mind sharing the details?" Homura asked while Tsunade twitched. Her eyes darted to the left fast to see Hiashi's emotionless face, but his eyes showed a bit of concern.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Tsunade asked stalling by as much as possible.
"Nothing I'm sure, but it seems that people are talking of deaths and Uzumaki-san's contract. I can't help, but think that he might be-,"
"Be the reason that they are coming back? Are you saying that Naruto is pulling an Orochimaru on us? Please the pup doesn't have a single evil bone in his body," Tsume interjected rather harshly. She liked Naruto. He was good company when he had the time to visit the Inuzuka family.
"I agree. Naruto-san is rather strange, but we all know that he doesn't have control over life and death," Shibi said. Oh if only they truly knew.
"Be that as it may, all records of Summons must be cataloged into Konoha's records. Tsunade, you must tell us what contract he holds," Koharu pestered while Tsunade sighed. This was getting tough.
"And what would you do if it was such a big deal?" Hiashi asked with his hands folded.
"If it's a big deal then we'll ask him where he got it. Also he he's got anything to do about this," Homura said while Tsunade chuckled.
"Careful both of you. I am still the Hokage and Naruto is one of my shinobi. Besides he doesn't answer to you. He answers to me," Tsunade stated while the civilians glanced at each other. She seemed rather...protective over a simple summons contract.
"We're looking out for the village's best interests is all Tsunade. You know that," Koharu said that it was like a fact. No actually Tsunade didn't know that. She hardly knew what these old geezers thought about half the time. She had been informed of how asshole-ish they were to Naruto in his childhood and now that Kushina, the Yondaime's wife, had returned. He was the great heir to the Namikaze Clan and Uzumaki clan. Damn hypocrites.
"Whatever," Tsunade said with a huff.
"And that is why we ask that you call back Naruto and his team from what they are doing. Which we really don't know. Please do that at your earliest convenience," They said and Tsunade adjourned the meeting. People filed out, but Hiashi stayed behind.
"What are you going to do?" he asked and Tsunade rubbed her temples.
"I don't know Hiashi. I just don't know," Tsunade said to him before the two left as well.
Somewhere near Ame
"And what makes you think that I will go with this idea?" Madara asked folding his arms. Danzo smirked with his two Root members behind him.
"Because I know that you want the Kyuubi jinchuuriki and my sources tell me that said blonde has been seen in the vicinity of Wave recently. Isn't Akatsuki looking for the bijuu anyway?
"We're not looking to capture that boy yet. However you do propose a nice idea. You don't mind if I investigate before I make my decision?" Madara asked while Danzo snorted.
"Of course not. Take as much time as you need, but make sure to look beyond the reaches of Wave. You never know about that boy," Danzo said and Madara turned around.
"Sounds like you're scared of him," he theorized and Danzo resisted the urge to laugh outrageously at such a ridiculous comment.
"Surely not. I'm just sick of him being around is all," Danzo said and Madara disappeared.
"Be ready Kyuubi jinchuuriki," Danzo said before he walked off with a satisfied smirk.
KG: Okay, I'm done here. Yeah I know I rushed those deaths, but seriously I hated those guys. I hate Kigiri, I hate Kiho, and I HATE NURAR! That weirdo. Naruto's not having any bloodlines in this. He won't have Nagato's Rinnegan or Guren's Shoton. Also making Guren an Uzumaki seemed appropriate after I read Shoton of Konoha. It was a good story and still is. I wasn't planning to make this arc very long and just wanted to skip it, but having Guren was just too nice to pass up. Now then, play.
Naruto: Cut!
KG: What now!
Naruto: We can't do this play?
KG: Why not?
Integra: Your budget remember?
KG: Oh Son of a bitch!
Naruto: Besides, it's time for more. JERRY SPRINGER!
Everyone: (Drones) Oh joy.
KG: At least I pwned Minato in that last one.
Jerry Springer: Good evening folks. Was that last episode nice or what? Now then, our next guest happens to be someone we all know and love very much. Everyone meet Justin Beiber!
(Gunshot)
KG: Sup people. Ya'll saw nothing. Don't mind me (drags body away).
Jerry: Ummm okay then, what are we going to talk about?
KG: Yeah, move over grandpa. Ahem, now then thanks for joining us. We're here at IITN. What is it you ask? Well the producers and I are happy to welcome you to Icha-Icha Television Network. Our sponsor is the great Eroninja himself. We're funded by the Lemon Sage and Jiraiya the Sannin. Ahem, this is where we examine all books by the renowned Jiraiya and his works. Now then let's take a look at this one book. It's called Icha-Icha Smexy Romance. Oh and look at this. You're supposed to figure out who is who in these stories. Hmmmm, let me read then.
KG: "He came into the room that night. She laid there smitten at his body. She wanted that hot sex god right on her body to make her explode in beautiful pleasure. Trushina's hands trailed up Garuto's body while she sighed in b-bliss. "T-T-T-Take me," s-s-she said out. Garuto knew he had to h-have her. He had to make her love him and bring her to that joyous p-place in the heavens of the-.
KG: Ummmm do we stop? I mean are we going to be banned for this?
Crowd: NO keep reading! What happens to Trushina and Garuto?
KG: (Gulp) U-U-Ummm, oh man this is just...G-G-Garuto carefully t-t-t-took off his pants showing his trimmed body.
Women: Yea baby take it off!
KG: T-T-Trushina unclipped her bra and let it slid to the floor.
Men: WHOOOP!
KG: T-T-Then they both...(reads on) (Closes book) I just forgot I have a terminal illness. SEE YA!
(My House)
Naruto: Who the hell is Garuto?
Kushina: And who is Trushina?
Sasuke: Replace the G with an N and replace the T and R with a K. And what do you get?
Mikoto: Oh my.
Kakashi: Icha-Icha forbidden romance hehehe.
Fuka: Hehehe we are a kinky family.
Naruto and Kushina: Replace that with that and then replace that there and that gets...JIRAIYA/ERO-SENNIN!
Jiraiya: My pervert sense are tingling!
KG: Hehaha, oh my we have fun here. Well we'll see you people later. Stay Breezy, protect what's important to you, review, and SEND ME CREAM SODA! Also, if you would be so kind as to, RESPECT DA' CREAM HO!