Chapter 3: Homecoming
It had been five months since Naruto had officially set out on his travels with the Legendary Sanin and her assistant Shizune. From Yu no Kuni it was only a two weeks travel to Kaminari no Kuni, and while it was originally proposed to him as being a short stop, Tsunade's fondness of the hot springs and scenic sights resulted in their stay being extended. Not that Naruto himself was complaining, of course.
Outside of studying the sealing techniques that were present in the spiral notebook he was gifted, Naruto mostly passed the time by exploring the many mountain sides that adorned the land. So long as he wasn't spotted by anyone, Tsunade had instructed him, specifically shinobi. And yet, his favorite past time outside of reading, was bird watching one in particular.
Perked on a nearby ledge, Naruto peered over the edge into an opening. It was at the moment uninhabited, informing him that he had a little more to time to continue on what he was working on. Looking down at the scroll below him, already fully decorated with a seal, Naruto brought his thumb up to his mouth. Giving it a quick bite, he drew blood and quickly stamped it on the scroll. Following it up with the tiger seal, Naruto watched as in a poof of smoke, three kunai appeared infront of him.
"Yes!" He yelled out, leaning back on his hands in exasperation. A simple sealing method for transporting items, it was only the second technique in the booklet and yet Naruto already felt he had wore out his mental prowess. Progress was progress though, and for the moment this was something to celebrate.
Gathering his things, he was beginning to contemplate heading back when heard noises from down below. Looking over the edge, his eyes lit up. Finally, she had arrived.
Dropping a bag to the floor, a lone girl reached up with her arm into a long stretch. She followed it up with more complex ones, all the while Naruto continued to watch secretly from above.
It had been a little over a month since he had started this routine. During one of his many excursions into the lands around him, one day he stumbled upon her in what he assumed were one of her training runs. The headband around her neck clearly identified her as a Kumogakure shinobi after all. And just like now, he found himself mesmerized.
He had always held a secret infatuation with the shinobi life, even though he had never encountered any until his trip to Konoha. So getting to watch one up close was practically a dream come true.
He figured the girl was a few years older than him. She clearly wasn't an adult, at least not facially and stature wise. She sported a short banged hairstyle with blonde hair even brighter than Naruto's and similar blue eyes. Her gray crop top set with mesh underlinings were signature for Kumogakure kuniochi, but her's uniquely had a white gold wrap cover her midriff.
Finished with her stretch, the girl gave a quick look around before taking a deep breath. Naruto watched intently, waiting for what her next move would be. Suddenly however, to his perspective, she disappeared. Looking around frantically, Naruto felt a presence appear behind him. Almost falling off the cliff, he jumped around and was met face to face with the person in question.
"You," she called out in a monotone voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I, uhh..." Naruto stumbled out, trying to think of an excuse. He noticed her gaze had shifted to beside him, particularly to the three kunai next to him.
"A shinobi, huh?" She asked eyes narrowing. Reaching behind her, Naruto began to frantically wave his hands infront of him to get her to stop.
"W-wait, I'm not a shinobi, I swear! I was only practicing! And I happened to see you training and wanted to watch, that's all!" He yelled out. Hand still behind her back, the girls eyes narrowed further before finally, with a sigh, she returned to her normal stance.
"Practicing? Are you member of the Kumogakure academy?" She questioned.
"No. I'm...honestly not from around here. I've been living nearby at one of the mountain top suites for the past few months." Naruto said, noticing a glint form in her eyes.
"Are you rich?" She asked further.
"...No?" Naruto said, unsure of how to answer the question. Technically speaking, he himself wasn't rich, but he wasn't exactly keen on Tsunade's financial status. His words didn't seem to satisfy the girl infront of him, though he couldn't really tell as her facial expression never really changed.
"...Well, either way, you should beat it squirt. I don't take kindly to people watching me without my permission, especially when I'm training. I'll let you off this time because your hair's cool." She said, turning to leave. Naruto, however, had suddenly had the revelation that this was the first shinobi he was having a conversation with outside of Tsunade and Shizune. It was an opportunity that couldn't be wasted.
"W-wait! Do you think you could, uh...teach me some things?" Naruto asked. The girl stared back at him blankly.
"Teach you some things?" She asked. "What type of things are we talking, kid?"
"You know...things. Shinobi things. Like, techniques." Naruto said. Gaze softening, the older girl reached up to grab at her neck, cracking it as she hummed in thought.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you?" Naruto responded out of habit. He quickly remembered Tsunade's rule on not using his last name and grimaced.
"Uzumaki, huh? That name sounds familiar..." She replied, thinking to herself. She soon gave up however, shrugging it off. "Well, the name's Samui, and sorry to say kid but I'm not much of a teacher, you're better off going to the academy for that."
"Oh..." Naruto said, clearly upset by the news. "Well, I understand. Sorry for watching you without your permission."
Giving a short bow, the boy turned to leave while Samui watched from behind. Though she was trying to fight it, a pinch of guilt slowly began to build up in her heart until she finally relented. "Hey, wait."
Stopping, Naruto turned back around as the girl walked up to him, a small blush of embarrassment adorning her face. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to give you a few pointers. You've already been watching after all."
Naruto's face lit up as he ran up close to the girl. "Really? Thanks a lot, ya' know!"
"Ya' know?" Samui questioned, taking a step back. "I don't think I do, actually."
"This is great! You won't believe how long I've been waiting to learn something! All those two ever talk about is 'chakra control' this and 'chakra control' that. I've been dying to learn something else! Really, you don't know- Oh! I just thought of something! Are you good at a sealing techniques? How about I teach you something in return!" Naruto blurted out at a mile a minute. Samui stared back at a loss of words. She was beginning to regret this decision, but his last point did pipe her interest.
"Sealing techniques? You know them?" She questioned.
"Only really basic ones so far. Still, they're pretty useful, especially the one I just learned! It should be easy enough for someone like you to learn." Naruto said, grinning brightly.
"You really have a way with words, don't you kid?" Samui questioned, not knowing whether that was a compliment or not. "I'm interested at least though. If only to see if you're bluffing."
"Hey, I don't bluff!" Naruto said reaching behind him and grabbing a scroll out of his bag. Unfolding it on the ground before them, he performed the tiger sign and in a poof smoke, three kunai appeared similarly to before. "See? It's a seal that allows you hold things inside of a scroll. Well, inside of the seal technically, but still. Pretty useful, huh?"
"It's definitely the basics." Samui said, Naruto deflating at her words. "Not that I know how to do it myself though. Alright kid, you've got a deal. I'll give you a few pointers I guess. But you're teaching me first, and you have to call me Samui-sama, got it?"
"Yes!" Naruto exclaimed. "You'll be here tomorrow, right? I'll be back here at the same time, maybe even earlier! Oh, you can come whenever you're ready though, ya' know? I've gotta' head back now, see you then!"
Quickly gathering his things, Naruto began to run off before stopping abruptly, turning and giving Samui a short bow.
"See you, Samui-oneechan!"
"It's Samui-sama!" She yelled out to deaf ears as Naruto quickly scaled down the cliff. Sighing, Samui turned back to the ground where she was originally going to be training. Oddly enough, she found herself particularly motivated after their interaction.
"So uncool..."
"Ahh, I'll never get tired of that." Tsunade said, stepping out from the room connecting the resort to the hot springs. Behind her trailed Shizune, who gave a nodding approval as she closed the door behind them and released a relaxed sigh.
"Can't argue there, Tsunade-sama." Shizune replied, looking down at her watch. "It's about time for Naruto to be returning. We should probably head back to our rooms."
"I'm still curious as to what that brat's up to while he's out there in those mountains. It's only so much sightseeing in the world..." Tsunade said, squinting her face in suspicion. "He's never gotten into any trouble though so I haven't had a good enough reason to complain."
"It's better than him staying cooped up in the hotel room all day. For the first month, his head never left that book of his. He's been seeming a little more lively lately, don't you think?" Shizune asked as the two turned the corner into main reception area. Before Tsunade could reply, they were interrupted by one of the hostesses.
"Pardon the intrusion, but you two have a visitor waiting in the lobby. He says that he knows you personally." She said. Tsunade and Shizune shared a look.
"Take me to him." Tsunade said, quickly becoming serious. The hostess bowed and obliged, motioning for the two to follow her. They eventually came upon a room, where she slid open the door and again motioned them inside.
Sharing another look with Shizune, Tsunade walked forward to go in first. Stepping in, her eyes locked with one lone one as Shizune followed after, gasping at who it was.
"Tsunade-sama. Shizune-san. It's been awhile," Kakashi said, giving an eye smile. "I didn't expect to see you two here."
"I could say the same for you. I didn't take you to be a hot springs enthusiast, Kakashi." Tsunade replied.
"Well, I don't think you have to be an enthusiast to enjoy a good resort every once in a while. It's always nice to get quality rest." Kakashi answered. Tsunade's eyebrow rose.
"In full shinobi attire?" She questioned. "Quite a way to relax."
"Once again, I never admitted to being an enthusiast. I'm here on business. Separate from you, or at least I thought." Kakashi said. "I never took you for being one to take in runaways. In fact, I'd still reckon it's out of character considering the location. Care to explain?"
"I wasn't originally planning on taking him. I was just doing a check in. He was the only one there, though." Tsunade answered. "The kid wanted to come with me and i brought him along. Simple."
"Even though you're aware the Hokage has been looking for him for the past five months? You realize how this could look to him, don't you?" Kakashi asked with a sigh. "He won't be happy at all when he learns about this. Luckily for you, he happens to be a little preoccupied right now. The village is in quite the uproar, and while I was originally on a search for the Kyuubi, now it's been shifted to someone else."
Tsunade's eyebrow rose again. "And who's that?"
"Itachi Uchiha."
Tsunade mouthed the words 'wow'. "So he's still alive then? For him to divert efforts must mean he's gotten some pretty concrete truth."
"He does. And all things point to him still being with us, which is why I've been recalled to the village. I just happened to be needing a place to wait while I was in the area and checked the registry. Never expected to see you of all's names, let alone Naruto's. It's been an eventful few days."
Noticing the looks he was getting from both of them, Kakashi smiled in his own fashion as he raised his hands into the air. "Now, now. There's no need to point the daggers at me. I wouldn't be as stupid as to go against one of the Legendary Sanin. And besides, I was left with my own mission regarding Naruto from her. 'Look after him when he returns to the village. I'm sure he will one day, if only in a vain search of us.' "
"That certainly sounds like her." Tsunade said, shaking her head. She was never fond of riddles.
"Well, if you were entrusted with him as well, I have no complaints. He's much safer in your hands than mine, after all. It's just nice to know he's not out there all alone, I can rest a little easier with one less thing off my mind. Though now it's been replaced with another." Kakashi said, taking a seat on the floor. Tsunade smiled at his words, but then she remembered the earlier part of their discussion.
"That reminds me, how does the old man figure Itachi is alive? And what about the other one? Did someone spot them somewhere?" She asked.
"There's no word on him," Kakashi said, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a scroll. "And as for Itachi, apparently, he sent a messenger."
Night had fallen over Konohagakure, cooling the summer air as activity began to come to a halt in the village. It wasn't long until it had mostly fallen quiet, outside of the few nightlife spots open for the nocturnal.
At the gates guarding the village, a young Izumo Kamizuki peered out into the dark forest before them. It had been a little over a month since he had been assigned to guard duty, and yet he still couldn't get over the eeriness that emitted from the dark. It was enough to always keep him at least somewhat on edge.
The same couldn't be said however for his partner, Kotetsu Hagane, who was soundly sleeping away next to him. Snorting in his sleep, his snoring became louder as Izumo's ire began to rise. Sighing, he settled back in his chair and continued staring out into the forest before him. He was beginning to feel rather sleepy as well, so he figured he'd better let Kotetsu rest while he could.
Just as he began to doze off, something moving in his far vision caught his eye. Sitting up a little further, Izumo looked a little closer. He could've swore he noticed something glowing red. Could it have been an animal? he wasn't familiar with any having red eyes, though.
Slowly, he could make out the silhouette of someone coming closer. Standing up, he quickly gave Kotetsu's chair a kick, almost knocking the man over in the process as he stumbled awake. "Kotetsu, wake up. Someone's coming!"
"Whaa?" Kotetsu said, wiping some slob from his lip. "Who's coming?"
"I don't know, tighten up already!" Izumo said. Looking back, as the figure came more into view Izumo began to notice that the profile was more that of a child than an adult. His deductions were proven correct as finally the boy stepped into the illuminated moonlight. His onyx eyes were almost obscured by the bangs, but nonetheless they stared piercingly at Izumo as he continued his trek forward. Coming up to the booth where the two waited, he stood silently.
"Uhh.." Kotetsu started hesitantly. "You alone kid?"
"...Yes." He replied back. Izumo and Kotetsu shared a look. "Well, what's your name?"
"Sasuke Uchiha."
...finally got sparking zero.
ranked is literally everything wrong with humanity inside of a community. still having fun though.
life's also been pretty ass so there's that, but we move regardless.
also, just gonna get this out the way. This is an AU story, so i'm gonna take the liberty to play around with some of the ages of characters and stuff. case in point, samui would technically be around 24-25 right now in the actual story, but i'm aging her down to around fourteen for plot purposes (no, perv. well, maybe.). I'll try to be pretty distinct when i do this so it's not a cluster fuck and i honestly won't do it too often but yeah.
i'm gonna go be goku now, salute brothers/sisters/all-encompassing