CHAPTER 23
Plese read chapter 22. Uploaded two chapter two days guys. Found many visitors missed chapter 22 and read only the latest uploaded one.
The three continued their journey and reached the Wasabi family. Joricho, the head of the family received them. He explained that the annual running race was important for the peace and welfare of the village. The opposite Wagarashi family hired dangerous ninjas who might kill the racer of Wasabi family. If he lost that race, the villagers would be under the iron hand of Wagarashi family. The hooligans of the family would make the poor villagers suffer more.
"Don't worry, Joricho san. We will make sure you win this race for the sake of you and your village. Ask your racer to meet us", Naruto said hiding his smile and Kakashi gave him an amused smile with his single-eye.
The door opened to reveal the guy behind. "It is you", Sakura shouted and Naruto smirked. Sasuke was shocked but hid it. The guy who disappeared on them twice was sitting there.
"Joricho-sama, we don't need those ninjas. I will be alright. Ninjas can't be trusted", the guy who was introduced as Idate told him.
"We will provide extra support Idate-kun", Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
'Seriously, Kashi only have four expressions on the outside world. Poker, aloof and fake sweet smile and rare seriousness. That fake enthusiasm and sweetness weirds me out more than other things', Naruto thought when he heard the 'kun' at the end of Idate's name.
"We will do our job", Sasuke supplied.
"Yeah, with us you will definitely win", Sakura smiled at Idate.
Idate turned his face and refused to acknowledge them.
"Oi, civilians like you are weak and ninjas are strong and we are there to protect you. So, shut up and run. We will help you even if you don't want it. You don't pay us, your boss does", Naruto said loudly characteristic of his chibi form.
"Haaan, I am not weak. I am-", Idate was fuming.
"You are what? Are you not just a civilian?", Naruto provoked him to answer otherwise.
"Whatever. Ninjas aren't good", Idate yelled.
"Ninjas are amazing, dattebayo", Naruto yelled back.
"No"
"Yes"
"No", Idate said and ran outside. "Yes", Naruto said and ran behind him.
"Naruto-baka, come here. I am sorry. Please excuse him. He doesn't have manners", Sakura apologised to Joricho.
"It is ok. It is good to see Idate yelling and goofing around. You guys can visit the village too. You are free to do whatever you want. Just protect him during the race", Joricho said and everyone left.
Naruto's clone who had been with Team 7 and Idate for some time was arguing how ninjas were awesome and hokage was the most important and noble while Idate was telling how Joricho was the most noble person he had ever meet.
The real Naruto was standing on a top of the roof surveying the village. Kakashi jumped up next to him and Naruto cast a privacy jutsu around them.
"Have you found Aoi?", Kakashi asked.
"That's your job. Not mine. My job is fight him after you find him", Naruto said and added, "I sense more chakra signatures than you would expect for this mission. I cannot pin-point Aoi's chakra because I haven't come in contact with him. Do you know his chakra affinity?", Naruto aka captain Ryu asked Kakashi.
"He didn't become jonin in Konoha, so I don't know his chakra signature. But he uses senbon well", Kakashi supplied.
"Then I will wait when you try to locate him", Captain Ryu said smirking.
"Seriously now taicho?", Kakashi teased. It was a long time since he called someone that.
"I didn't come here entirely for him Kakashi. I have another mission as well", Naruto aka captain Ryu revealed.
"Oh. Am I allowed to know?", Kakashi was mildly taken aback to know another mission.
"I will tell you if it goes as planned. There are lot of Amekagure ninjas around this land. I will do the recon while you search for Aoi in the village. Kakashi, you want to be on team zero? Find a way to break the lightning sword in an indigenous way. It is the test for you from your captain", Captain Ryu of squad zero informed.
"Break that sword? I thought we are here to retrieve it", Kakashi was puzzled.
"That sword has limited number of times it can be wielded. If we retrieve it Ame ninjas will come after it. All that fighting over a sword which is going to be useless in a while is not worth it. Let's break it", Captain Ryu said.
"What about Sandaime?", Kakashi didn't think the hokage would be thrilled about breaking his sensei's sword.
"I have more right to it than he does. He will understand my decision", Captain Ryu said and started travelling ninja way to the forest and Kakashi followed him.
"More rights?", Kakashi was always curious when he talked to Naruto.
"I am a part Senju", Naruto explained turning off his taicho made.
"Oh"
"My grandparents were an Uzumaki and a Senju. I found it during Wave mission and I can freely access Senju compound in Konoha", Naruto explained.
"So, you are an heir to both Senju and Uzumaki clan. You are almost the prince of Konoha and certainly the prince of Ushio, Naruto-sama", Kakashi said teasing.
"Oh God, no. Stop that right now", Naruto said with a glare. He created another clone and sent it in front of them. The clone soon disappeared from their sight.
"Huh, Kakashi sama, your emo student is standing up for a villager. One of my scouting clones passed the information. He is beating up the hooligans while Sakura is watching him like a princess dreaming over a warrior in your favourite heroine Yukie's movie. His eyes are proud featuring sharinghan and her eyes are unfocused featuring pink hearts", Naruto said teasing Kakashi.
"First, cut that sama crap", Kakashi glared and continued, "As much as I am happy that Sasuke has a heart to help people, I hope he doesn't feel too superior and Sakura doesn't run behind him like a headless chicken in love". Kakashi sighed.
"You aren't paid enough for the job", Naruto shook his head.
"Yeah. Other jonins have it much easier. Thanks for being less of a headache Naruto", Kakashi said implying the team seven.
"You are welcome. It's just, other jonins aren't you Kakashi. They can't handle team seven like you. Don't feel discouraged. The team may not be good now but it will be certainly great later", Naruto assured him when they come to stop in front of a sea. "Until then, you can count on me. I won't let this team be broken. You aren't alone in handling us, handling them."
"Thanks Naruto", Kakashi said and Naruto smiled at him.
"If you want to meet me, find me here every day at sunset. I have to clean the borders of the village while you keep the peace at the village until the race. Be careful, there are few Ame ninjas. Don't interfere and don't start a war. Keep Sasuke and Sakura from crossing their paths. We are lucky that it was hooligans Sasuke beat up today. What if it was ninjas hired by the opposite family? We would have started a small territory war in the village before the race. Keep the team in line", Naruto instructed.
"I thought those ninjas wouldn't show up until the race", Kakashi said even though he wasn't careless about those hired ninjas. he thought the same thing Naruto did when he was told that Sasuke beat up someone in the village.
"They killed the racers before the race started previous times", Naruto informed.
"No information for a shinobi, is sure death", Kakashi said and Naruto smiled at him.
"That was the first thing you taught me when I almost lost in the forest. You told me to remember the way to the village before leaving it", Naruto said thinking about the past.
"And today, you proved to remember it. I am proud of how far you have come Naruto", Kakashi said patting Naruto's head.
"Thank you for everything Kashi", Naruto looked at Kakashi with a smile. "You know, contrary to popular misconception, you are my favourite sensei".
"What?!", kakashi was surprised. "What about Shisui, Itachi and Iruka?"
"Shisui was my first sensei but he was my favourite big brother, not favourite sensei. Itachi is neither. He is my best friend. Iruka sensei kind of believed in me but I always know he can't become my sensei. He is my other big brother. But I remember everything you told me at various occasions when I was young. Naruto, life will be hard for you. Be strong. Don't trust anyone. Be healthy. Eat properly. Don't feel too sad. You have to learn to do everything by yourself. You cannot expect people to support you. But don't worry. One day, you will make bonds. You will be stronger than them, than me and even surpass your father. I am not going to be there but I will always watch over you from a distance. You cannot see me but I will always see you. Don't let this village and its hatred break you. I know you are capable of kindness that can surpass their hatred. Don't let anybody break your will, no matter how hard life gets. Because there are people who care about you even if you don't see them. You are going to be a great shinobi and even I will not be able to hold you down. You will be so fast no one will be able to catch you. You like my hair but your blonde hair is prettier. You will look like your father when you grow up with your blue eyes and become a great man like him. You are naughty like your mother. When you start walking, Konoha may not be able to withstand your pranks. But chibi, don't get caught in your pranks and don't let them prove you did it and so on", Naruto said and Kakashi stood there stunned.
"I said those mostly from a distance where you can't see or hear me. And when I was near, you weren't even five to understand them", Kakashi said in awe.
"I was smart for my age and I have advanced hearing and smelling senses. And, I was a sensor from birth. Your chakra was cackling and intense like lightning and earth but never malicious", Naruto explained.
"Wow. You could tell me apart from that young age!", Kakashi was thrilled. 'Thank kami, I came clean to Naruto. Imagine the embarrassment while I pretend to know nothing about his lineage or being his ANBU guard and Naruto knows everything from the beginning or finding it out one day unexpectedly. I saved myself from an awkward situation.'
"And you told me how our comrades are more important than a mission. It sort of became my motto now", Naruto told and smiled.
"That was Obito's line", Kakashi said and corrected "and my father's motto."
"I don't think they realised that it was what they were saying. You are the one who gave life to that sentence from their actions and words. To me, you may not have taught jutsus and train the ninja skills like you do with Sasuke and Sakura, but you taught more important things. They are the ones I really needed. So, you are my favourite sensei Kakashi sensei", Naruto said.
"You are my favourite student too, Naruto", Kakashi said in a quavering voice at what Naruto said. he didn't think that it would feel that good to be called a favourite sensei. 'After this, who cares if I suck at teaching? I may not be a good sensei but I am my favourite student's favourite sensei. Genma, Guy and Anko can suck it. Even other jonin senseis will be jealous of me', Kakashi thought happily.
"I don't believe it", Naruto gave a duh look.
"What?!", Kakashi was puzzled.
"What about before Wave? Was I not an annoying slow learning loudmouth then?", Naruto asked.
"Naruto, I have thought of you as everything you said", Kakashi said and Naruto gave a stinky eye. Kakashi showed his palms in peace and continued. "But despite all that, you are my favourite student, even then".
Naruto gave a 'you don't make any sense' look.
"You were one student I never have to worry about going on a wrong path or being a negligent ninja. I know you can pass over the hurdles and become a good ninja one day. Sure, I didn't think you would surpass Sasuke soon but I believed you will surpass him ultimately. And you will be a ninja he never will be despite his skills and sharinghan. Senseis like that kind of students but they tend to neglect them assuming they are fine by themselves. Sasuke was kind of the student a teacher would worry over his every victory, about it being going to his head but you are a kind of student a teacher would be proud and brag about to his fellow teachers despite that student being a knucklehead. A diamond everyone thinks as a coal, but only the teacher knows that it just needs to be polished. You are a favourite kind to every sensei and I am no exception. You are the student who carries the will of the teacher while other students just carry their jutsus and skills. Your Shisui and Iruka sensei would agree with me. Despite being an Uchiha, Shisui chose to teach you instead of Sasuke to pass his Will. He could have just put you under watch instead of teaching you about being a shinobi but he didn't. Even Itachi didn't. And I know from the first day at the KI memorial, you are the one who took my words about bonds to heart. I could see it in your eyes. An understanding and awe about those words reflected in your eyes. So, you see, even if I did a poor job as being a sensei at that time, you are always my favourite student because you carried my will and a strong heart required to be a great ninja", Kakashi said putting a hand on Naruto's head. "You will meet Jiraya-san soon, he would be able to teach you things I cannot. But even then, you will always be my favourite student. Even then, I will shoulder all your burdens with you", Kakashi said and smiled.
"Thanks sensei", Naruto was teary eyed.
Kakashi didn't expect tears from Naruto and he didn't realise Naruto attached a great importance to the matter of being his student.
"Maa, maa, I didn't know I was a teacher in demand. I thought team seven despised a tardy sensei", Kakashi joked to disperse the emotional situation.
"You don't know how much that means to me", Naruto said relieved.
"Naruto, did something happen? Did anyone say anything about you being my student?", Kakashi sensed something fishy that could be heard from the relief in Naruto's voice.
"It is a childish thing. I can't believe that I let it bother me. Leave it", Naruto said wanting to end this topic.
"Despite you being an ANBU captain, you are a child. All of us went home after our missions to let down our emotions. You should too. There is nothing wrong with that. Both I and Itachi did it. We became the ANBU captain around same age as you. Itachi talked to me and Shisui. After us, there was no one to vent out and he became confused and became a missing-nin. When I was in Konoha, I had Itachi, Genma and you. Duing those days, I was functioning, barely may it be, but I saved Tenzo and made a new bond. I managed to visit you once in a while. But after my border mission alone, my depression became worse and I stopped caring altogether. I have never made a bond after that until meeting you again. Now I am reconnecting with my friends and you. It helps to talk about these things Naruto", Kakashi explained patiently.
"I am fine with the missions. I can handle that Kashi. It was the stupid 12 year old stuff that bothers me much", Naruto said disappointed in himself.
"Don't make that tone. We all have our fair share of disappointments at 12. But I have a feeling this is different. So, you talk to me if you want", Kakashi kept his tone light.
"We were waiting for you on the training ground seven for our D-rank mission before few days. The usual routine with Sakura asking Sasuke on a date and him rejecting her explaining how he had to train his sharinghan. Sakura was asking him to train with her on the earth jutsu while scolding me about how I would be the dead-last and holding them back. Everything was as usual but then Sasuke opened his mouth. He said that 'I have sharinghan, so Kakashi, the number one jonin in Konoha was assigned to teach me. Sakura was weak but she scored good marks in the academy. I don't know how you are assigned to this team. You don't have anything special and I am an offensive fighter too. You will only hold back the team in long run with your brains and your presence on the team is redundant'", Naruto said Sasuke's words and took a deep breath. Kakashi wasn't angry because he knew Naruto had something else to say because Naruto had more brain and brawns than Sasuke and so it shouldn't matter to Naruto.
"It is the usual taunt but it made me think Kashi. He may not be know my circumstance but what he said makes sense. I mean, if I am not a jinjuriki I wouldn't be in this team with my academy scores. I am in the team so you with the sharinghan can control me or use your chidori, which is capable of killing a jinjuriki, to end me. I have no reason to be in this team or any other team of Konoha. If you have refused to accept me, even now, I wouldn't be in a team. Sure, if I haven't been a jinjuriki and just yondaime's son, I wouldn't have been mistreated but directly or indirectly killed by Iwa nin, Danzo or Orochimaru. They all hated my father to the core. I wouldn't be even here. And now, I being a jinjuriki seemed to the only thing keeping me alive because the Danzo wanted me alive for the village. Even without all that, as the last Uzumaki of Konoha, I would be the next jinjuriki even if my parents were alive. So, it all comes to the same conclusion. I end up being a jinjuriki and be feared by the village. Maybe in a reality where my parents are alive, I maybe not bluntly hated and have a place to belong, but in this reality I am living in, those words made me realise, I have no place in Konoha where I belong. Not in this team or any other team, with my special circumstances", Naruto explained his feelings.
Kakashi was proved wrong once again by Naruto. He thought Sasuke's words were not a problem because they were false. But, Naruto understood more than he did. 'The genin Naruto, without his newly proven strength and genius skills, was told no reason to be in his own team and I found no fault with this. What is wrong with me?'
Kakashi was beginning to understand the gravity of the situation. Naruto, if somehow was stupid and not stong as he was now, would have been everything Sasuke just mentioned. Naruto was now capable of building his own team but what about the ordinary twelve year old Naruto? What about the jinjuriki Naruto who was not taught or trained in anything? What his life would be like? He would feel like his existence was meaningless if he heard someone say that, much less from his own team. Naruto would not be able to make bonds and he would suffer in silence.
Kakashi couldn't lie that what Sasuke said would not be true. Naruto might not belong in a team where Sasuke was but Naruto would always belong in a team where Kakashi was. If there are other Uchihas Kakashi would choose to teach Naruto instead of Sasuke, every time. He could never imagine a reality where he would not accept Naruto in his team. Kakashi knew that no one would accept Naruto on their team because some didn't like Naruto and other wouldn't able to control if a jinjuriki got out of control. Kakashi knew that from a very start and he knew that if he refused, Naruto would spend his entire life in genin reserves without his ninja career ever taking off or he would be put in ANBU for special training. Naruto would never become a hokage or amount to anything much. In no reality, Kakashi would do that to Naruto despite how much it hurt to see Naruto's face.
Everybody needed a place of belonging. Despite every mishaps, Konoha was Kakashi's home. He had friends where he can let down his ninja alertness and have a drink once in a while. But Naruto didn't have that. He could not kick back even in his home. He was always looking out for danger and had to always be on the look out to hide many things to cover up his true self. Kakashi realised a glaring problem.
'There is no safe place for Naruto'.
Naruto turned to look at the silent Kakashi and before he could ask what happened, he was pulled into a strong embrace. Naruto's brain stopped working.
"Naruto, who said you don't belong anywhere?", Kakashi said holding Naruto and holding Naruto's soft blonde strands with one hand. "You always belong in my team. Okay? I will always have a place for you. And you are going to always have a place for me in your team. I am going to travel with you as your sensei when you are a genin, as your captain when you become a chunin, a subordinate when you are the ANBU captain now and in the future and your shinobi when you become the hokage one day. And through all this, outside being a shinobi, I am always going to be your friend. So whenever you want to take a break from your multiple roles and masks, I will always cover you and support you. You belong with me and I will always be there, this time in the open where you can see me", Kakashi promised clearly and sincerely. Tears on Naruto's eyes started leaking despite his self-control and he buried his face on Kakashi's shirt. He hugged Kakashi back tightly and they held on to each other till Naruto calmed down. Naruto might have found a safe place after all.
Finally, the day of the race arrived. Kakashi found that the other family had hired Aoi to kill Idate. Naruto cleared the borders of the village and had stopped the new ninjas from Ame entering the village but he suspected that another group already invaded before Konoha team arrived. They were in opposite family compound and Naruto didn't want to risk the peace of the village. On the day of the race, it was decided that Naruto would go with team seven while Kakashi would try to intercept the enemy ninja.
Idate still didn't trust ninjas. The race started at the port and ended after retrieving the things from the shrine. Naruto left a clone in charge to survey and went with Sakura and Sasuke. It was chosen that way so as not to raise any doubts and Naruto expected an intrusion above the level of genins from the opposite side.
"Let's go Sasuke. Idate is starting"
Idate was starting the race against another man. But he deviated from the course on the way and the Wasabi family started doubting whether Idate bailed on the race. Joricho trusted Idate and told them to calm down.
Naruto expected Idate to pull something like that and he sped away behind Idate leaving Sasuke and Sakura behind. He caught up with him only to find that Idate was stumbling. Naruto arrived on time and the ninjas who came to attack him were driven away by Naruto. But Idate was injured a little. Naruto didn't ask for an explanation and asked Idate to continue. He hesitated and Naruto gave him a sharp look.
Idate started running while Sasuke and Sakura caught up. Naruto asked them to follow from the trees while Naruto ran beside Idate on the land.
"Why did you deviate from the route?", Naruto asked.
"We are going by the sea", Idate answered and Naruto sighed. 'As if land isn't dangerous enough. Let's hope no one fall into the ocean.'
All four of them arrived on the sea shore and got into the boat. When they were on the sea, they were intercepted by enemy ninjas from other boat. Sasuke was fighting with the ninjas and so did Naruto. Meanwhile Sakura was in charge of protecting Itade. Itade scolded her and wanted to jump from the ship. Naruto used clones to speed up the boat and fight. The enemy ninjas set fire to the ship and Naruto save Sasuke from the fire. He saw a kunai going towards Itade. He knew Itade could avoid it since he was a former ninja but Sakura took the kunai on her hand instead of Itade and got injured. Naruto was angry that Sakura didn't think to deflect the enemy's kunai with her own kunai. Itade was confused. Naruto wanted to use water jutsu to put out the fire but Itade already jumped from the boat.
"Shit, Sasuke let's jump too"
"Yeah"
"Sakura-chan, jump", Naruto said and all three of them jumped in the river.
Naruto asked Sasuke to go after Itade and he swam slowly to protect Sakura. When they were followed by enemy nins, Naruto left a clone to go with her and he turned back.
"Suiton: Hahonryū (Water Release: Tearing torrent)
Suiton: Ryūsuisō (Water Release: Running Water Spear)"
Naruto used water release jutsus and scattered everybody out of range within seconds and swam towards the shore. His tearing torrent works even in dense water and water spear didn't care about light or heavy waters.
When he arrived, his clone was saving Sakura who almost drowned. He saved her and when he wanted to wake her up Sasuke arrived. Naruto asked him where Idate was but Sasuke missed him. Sakura woke up and thanked Sasuke for saving her. Naruto rolled his eyes and tracked Itade's smell to the other side. Naruto sensed another chakra and ran towards him. He saw Aoi standing over Itade's knife and mocking him. Naruto arrived and stopped Aoi's senbon attack with senbon attack of his own. He mastered three senbon techniques in seven days and Genma was so proud. He dispersed all the senbons aimed towards Itade while Sasuke and Sakura arrived. Itade was already injured and his knees were bleeding.
Aoi ridiculed three genins could not measure up to one jonin and left them saying it didn't matter as Itade couldn't run anymore.
Naruto didn't say anything but the clone Naruto who was hiding released his chakra. Aoi sensed the large chakra signature and thought Kakashi was coming. So he ran away. Aoi knew Konoha sent Kakashi and Kakashi was stronger than him.
Naruto took all three of them towards the cave and Sakura bandaged Itade. Meanwhile, Kakashi was in the forest surrounded by Ame ninjas. He was busy taking care of them and he hadn't seen Aoi till now.
'I wonder if the team had seen Aoi. I hope Sakura wasn't hurt', Kakashi worried. If Naruto wasn't there he wouldn't take these missions where he had to leave the genins behind. 'Well, at least it is better than chunin exams. If not for Naruto, they would be in chunin exams, alone, right now and chunin exams get bloody, fast'.
After some time, Idate woke up. Naruto asked him how he was and whether he could continue. Itade answered that there was no point as he was a failure and traitor.
"You can't change fate. Some people were born to win but others were born to be mediocre. I am already expected to lose but with this imjured knees...", Itade sighed.
"Shut up. What fate! Stop talking and get up. Let's go", Naruto yelled while Itade went out of the cave.
"Naruto, try to understand him", Sakura said feeling sorry for the injured Itade.
"Naruto, he is right. You can't change some things. An ordinary person can never become truly strong just because they yell", Sasuke said pointedly.
Naruto got fired up. After Sasuke got sharinghan, whatever character development he showed started to regress. His feeling of supremacy totally took over any compassion he had. He needed to get down from his high horse and Naruto just knew the exact thing to say.
"Is that so Sasuke? Do you really believe that?", Naruto asked.
"Hn"
"So you have no chance to kill that person you want huh? Some people are born to be great, right Sasuke?", Naruto asked.
"Naruto", Sasuke yelled.
"Teme, don't say things you know nothing about", Naruto said and left the cave much to Sasuke's anger. But it worked miracles because Sasuke began to think.
"Hey Itade"
"Go away Naruto"
"Listen, just tell me why you think that ninjas can't be trusted and that thing with Aoi looked personal. Was he your friend?", Naruto asked and Itade's face changed.
"Nothing. It is just that ninjas lie", he said.
"I know. That is the job description of ninjas", Naruto rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean"
"I do", Naruto said and proceeded to tell about Mizuki. His teacher cheated him to be a traitor and almost killed him.
Itade listened carefully and after some time, he explained his story. Aoi was his teacher and both Aoi and Itade was konoha's ninja. His big brother Ibiki was a ninja too and he was the chunin exam instructor for him. Itade failed the last question and Ibiki didn't pass him. He was sad about that and Aoi tricked him to steal the sword of life and the scroll containing instructions on how to use it. Aoi also joined Ame and imprisoned Idate and Ibiki who came to save him. Ibiki let Idate escape but he was captured and tortured. Ibiki then escaped too. He returned to Konoha but Idate refused to follow him.
"I am a piece of shit Naruto and nobody cares about me. Everyone in the village already thinks I bailed", he said with a sad voice.
Naruto picked him up by his collar and yelled, "Not everyone. There is still one person who trusts you. Joricho san. That is enough. A single streak of warmth can keep the surrounding cold at bay. Let's go", Naruto said.
"But my knees", Itade was shocked but he wanted to win.
"I will carry you and the numbing medicine will work in few minutes. Once we cross the bridge, you start running the last stretch", Naruto said.
"Thanks Naruto", Idate said.
"Tell that after winning", Naruto smiled.
"Sakura, give him numbing medicine. Sasuke, you protect us. I am carrying him and we are going to win", Naruto said entering the cave.
"Naruto, what are you saying?", Sakura said.
"Just do what he said", Sasuke said. 'Maybe effort changes things'
"Ok Sasuke-kun"
Naruto carried Itade on his back and team seven minus their sensei left in a rush. The said sensei stumbled upon Aoi and along with another Ame jonin.
"Sharinghan no Kakashi", Aoi said scared. He took out the sword of life and activated it. The lightning made a sizzling noise and Kakashi remembered Naruto saying break it in an indigenous way. 'Indigenous huh? He meant without my sharinghan. He didn't want anyone to know my identity being in his squad. So that's what he meant. Understood. Let's see if Naruto thinks this is indigenous'.
"Rasengan", Kakashi said and almost connected it with the sword but before it could fully sink in another Ame jonin interfered with an earth release jutsu.
Aoi escaped leaving that ninja to Kakashi. Kakashi was fighting that ninja. Naruto was running with Idate on his back. The bridge was on his sight and all of them were relieved. When Naruto almost reached the starting edge of the bridge, Aoi showed up.
Naruto didn't stop and bypassed him while Sasuke stopped Aoi. Naruto put Idate down, created a clone and asked Idate to run.
Naruto and Sasuke teamed up against Aoi. Sasuke went with a fire ball and the sword of life cut down chakra like a vegetable. Naruto sent a wind release jutsu and hit Aoi's hand. The sword cut it but his hand was still injured. In anger, Aoi cut the rope holding the bridge down. Before he could do it, Naruto fell on Aoi's back pushing both of them down the river under the bridge. But the bridge was cut as that sword was special.
"Haha. You are going to lose anyway", Aoi said.
"Not me. I don't lose to traitors like you", Naruto said and turned Aoi's face with a kunai. Naruto's clone who was running on the bridge caught Aoi and threw him towards other edge before all the ropes gave in. The clone then kawarimi-ed with a rope on the bridge near Aoi and threw him again who almost fell down short from the edge on the other side. The clone Naruto kawarimi-ed again and vanished dispersing his chakra. The dispersed force of chakra threw Aoi towards the edge who was caught by Kakashi. Kakashi set him down and asked him to run.
Sasuke and Sakura came towards the edge to look for Naruto but Naruto manipulated the terrain with earth jutsu forming a cave hiding from their eyes.
"I can't believe a genin like you defeated me", Aoi spat out.
"There is no genin like me", Naruto said and formed a hand seal.
Fūton: Atsugai (Wind Release: Pressure Damage)
Naruto said and pressed the condensed air ball on the sword. The pressure shattered the sword and Aoi was shocked.
"I didn't have to fight you at all. I could have killed you at the beach and made him win. It is just to train my teammates", Naruto said and smiled. That smile scared Aoi more than Ibiki's fire.
Naruto knocked him up and asked the clone to take care of him.
He then shunshinned to the other end of the bridge to Kakashi while clone Naruto was climbing the steep river bank to find his teammates.
"Kashi, did you take care of the other jonin?", Naruto asked.
"Yeah. What about the sword?", Kakashi asked.
"Broke it", Naruto said.
"I didn't get to break it"
"I saw the crack you made. Whatever you did it with, it would have worked if you connected the attack properly. I finished it with a compressed air ball at the same place", Naruto said.
"Compressed air ball?", Kakashi asked. 'That sounds like a rasengan without the third step'.
"It is Fūton: Atsugai. You compress an air ball and apply enough pressure to shatter things", Naruto explained. "What did you use?"
"Something like that too", Kakashi said swallowing.
"So you didn't use chidori", Naruto raised his eye brows.
"Yeah".
"Good. Then Kakashi. Welcome to squad zero. You can choose a mask you like. I will customise it to hide your chakra", Naruto said.
"You can disguise Chakra?", Kakashi asked impressed.
"Clan technique", Naruto said and Kakashi didn't ask anymore.
"Let's go. Team is here and we should know the results. I am tired", Naruto said.
"Was he that heavy?", Kakashi asked doubting it would. He knew the level of Naruto's gravity seals and this would not tire him out.
"No. I am tired of playing weak. I could have just shunshinned him to the other edge but I have to use running and lot of jutsus. Sakura almost drowned and Sasuke had to be knocked down from his high horse", Naruto complained and Kakashi was grateful that he wasn't there. Naruto then briefly explained what happened on the way and Kakashi did the same.
All of them arrived and Idate won the race and Wasabi family celebrated.
"Well, there is no more drama", Kakashi said and Naruto said in a voice only Kakashi could hear. "I wouldn't be so sure".
The next minute Wagarashi family accused Idate that he cheated since he was carried. It was in the rule but they refused to accept.
"Well, well, it is lively here", an authoritative voice spoke and everybody turned to look. Once they knew who it was, they bowed immediately.
"Damiyo-sama", they chorused.
Kakashi looked at Naruto with a stinky eye and Naruto gave a smirk.
"So you were here to meet him without arousing suspicion. This is your other mission", Kakashi accused.
"I didn't want to meet him to develop relations with him. I wanted to meet him on Konoha's business", Naruto said. "I have been making sure to clear the bandits and Ame ninjas waiting to harm him in the village's border on all three sides", Naruto said.
"Oh I see. When are you going to meet him?", Kakashi asked.
"Already did", Naruto answered.
"Sneaky blonde", Kakashi scolded fondly.
The Damiyo decided on the favour of Wasabi family and exposed that he was aware of Wagarashi family's corruption. He told that he got all the account books from them and told that they would be punished accordingly.
"Did you do that?", Kakashi asked.
"I am not betting this village's future on a guy who was unsure of himself. I needed a backup plan to ensure Wasabi family would win or Wagarashi family would lose even if it meant same or different things. And it all worked out in the end", Naruto explained.
"You did well", Kakashi praised.
"Heads up. Damiyo might want to meet you later. I don't know what it is about but it might be about me", Naruto warned.
"Got it. Does he know that you are captain Ryu?"
"I told him yesterday"
Naruto dispelled his clone and both Kakashi and Naruto took their place near Sasuke and Sakura while they were distracted by Damiyo's speech. The Damiyo left to take rest and Idate searched for Naruto in the crowd before finding him.
"Naruto. I won. We won. Thank you so much", Idate said and wanted to give him a hug.
Naruto stopped him, "No one is allowed to hug me. I don't like people touching me. But your happiness is much appreciated and reciprocated".
"Baka", Sakura scolded.
"Usurontonkochi"
"That was lucky Kakashi sensei caught him. Don't be too happy. If you hadn't pushed Aoi down, the bridge wouldn't have been cut and Sasuke-kun would have beat him", Sakura said supporting her Sasuke.
"I don't want her to be my bride anymore", Itade said looking at Sakura.
"Don't do things by yourself. We could have caught that Aoi. But you lost to him and let him escape", Sasuke said irritated. 'How could he lose to that pathetic man? Tch'.
"I didn't lose to him", Naruto pretended to be enraged at Sasuke but he completely ignored Sakura's comments because she was like everyone else and nothing special. 'If I didn't push him down the next thing he cut would be your neck. That sword requires a chidori or atleast an A-rank jutsu to handle it dumbass emo'.
Later, as Naruto predicted Damiyo wanted to talk to Kakashi about Naruto. Idate decided he would become a warrior under Juricho and continue good work under him.
The next day, a ship landed on Land of Tea's port to collect all the Ame's ninjas captured by Kakashi, as it would be recorded officially while the fact remained different. Kakashi waited with team seven and Ibiki Morino, head of T&I department of Konoha, came to collect the Ame nins. Naruto wrote to hokage specifically asking Ibiki to fetch them.
Idate was shocked and teary eyed to see his big brother Ibiki again. Naruto sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.
Ibiki looked at him after collecting the enemy ninjas and looked at Idate and pretended he didn't know him. If he acknowledged him, Ibiki must take back Idate to Konoha as a traitor. Idate understood that and didn't bother him. Naruto already explained to Idate that that Ibiki would arrive and he might take a look at his brother once again. When Ibiki boarded the ship again, Idate just raised his prized black carved knife so Ibiki could understand that he was still precious to him.
Ibiki understood and he was happy to see that his younger brother was adored by everyone on the port. He realised Naruto had something to with it and remembered Anko's words. 'That chibi was special. He has the ability to reach people's hearts.'
Ibiki looked at Kakashi and Kakashi gave him a knowing look.
Naruto bid hi goodbyes to Idate and Juricho and to the entire Land of Tea and boarded the ship with a smile.