Rogue's Retreat: For What It's Worth
Prologue
On an island far off the coast between Water and Sea countries, a new travel destination popped up after the fourth great shinobi conflict, the largest war not fought by any of the big five. Inadvertently, the island became a neutral zone, where no battles nor grudges could be had on said island. The first occupant happened to be a whiskered, red-tipped, blond-haired, dull-violet-eyed, double S-Rank shinobi, formally of the Hidden Leaf and Commander of the winning side of the conflict. This shinobi had led a force of mercenaries, roaming ronin, and missing ninjas against a group of S-class shinobi known as Akatsuki.
After the conflict, the Village Hidden in the Sound was completely crushed in what would be known as the Red Rice Raid. Though it was more of a massacre. The Hidden Leaf forces found the site razed to the ground with no survivors. Orochimaru, the leader of said village, was found impaled on a spike with his head severed from his shoulders. His new henchmen, known as the Sound Four, were found scattered around, torn to pieces by the enemy that came across them.
Two of the five nations found themselves tracking down the rogue group, and in a number of pitched battles, the group was left decimated and picked apart. The last straw for their leader was the death of his wife and unborn child at the hands of their assailants. He was so consumed by rage and sorrow, but the group buried their dead and moved on, leaving the area before anyone could find them. The Hidden Sand village would find the mass cemetery, and Temari would later report that her brother actually cried at the sight of Naruto's wife's grave. Her sword was acting as her gravestone, with her flute as the gravestone for their unborn child.
This news, however, was swept under the rug when the Fourth Hokage returned to the Hidden Leaf, his wife and five children in tow. He had been away from the village for nearly twenty years, raising his children in secrecy in response to a prophecy told to him by the toads. The party went on for a full week. The only dent in the family's mood came when they discovered their eldest member had been through hell in the village before being banished at the age of thirteen. According to records, he was considered a failure as a ninja, with little skill or control over his own abilities. Many believed him to be dead already, as no one had caught any news of his whereabouts. Until now.
First Chapter; Rogues Refuge
Senju Residence
Naruto sighed as the sun continued to close in on the horizon, the calming sound of crashing waves and gentle wind messaging his senses elegantly. A soft smile threatened to grace his features as his eyes remained closed while enjoying the moment he found himself in, which was promptly ruined by a new arrival, causing him to sigh again but much harder and deeper. "Lord Forth. To what do I owe this displeasure?"
The red-tipped blond asked as he took a sip from his Renegade beer, a beer brewed on the island known unofficially as Rogue's Refuge, colloquially called Reds Rest in honor of their former leader, the double S-ranked Red-tipped Devil, Naruto Uzumaki-Senju. "It's good to see you again, son."
"You do not get to call me that, Lord Fourth," Naruto responded calmly, coldly, and completely devoid of any fondness. "It's been twenty-five years, and now you come to find me."
"We had to ensure that…"
"The prophecy of the chosen one came true. Right?" Naruto spoke over his sperm donor, condescension and malice dripping from every word as he continued. "...And how did that work out for you?"
"Naruto. We had no idea…"
"Of course you didn't. Why wouldn't you check on the decoy you left behind? The son you abandoned to the wolves, the son who died twelve years ago when the only home he knew threw him aside to face the world alone and unaided." Naruto continued with a completely flat tone; the previous malice was completely gone. "Sochi…!"
"You, Lady Namikaze, cannot call me that either," Naruto only offered the approaching red head the briefest of glances. "Now, speak up and leave. I have no business with any of you."
"Sochi, we cleared your..." Kushina froze upon seeing her own cousin, Tsunade Senju, exit the sky-blue two-story house of Naruto's with a plate of food, numerous bottles of various drinks in the other hand. "Sochi, the tacos are..." The last Senju paused for a moment upon seeing the Namikaze family surrounding the decking to which her adopted son sat with an almost empty beer.
Finally, she snorted, "What are you all doing here?" She sat down on the deck's side, beside Naruto, offering him a new, colder beer. "We came to reclaim..." Kushina shook her head in confusion. "...what are you doing here, Tsunade?" Naruto and his adoptive mother both chuckled at their confused state of mind.
"What does it look like? Enjoying my retirement." The blonde looks to her son in all but blood. "My sochi here offered me bed and board out here with no strings attached, and I took it up. Haven't been happier." With a gentle smile at her Naruto, who simply smiled back softly as he leaned up against the railing for the stares down to the sand, "Now, explain to us why you've come all the way out here?"
"We want to bring Oni-chan back!" said a girl who seemed to be a carbon copy of Kushina, just a lot younger than said kunoichi. Tsunade raised an eyebrow at that before she looked to the two oldest in the new arrivals. "Naruto Namikaze, we want you to come home with us," spoke the blonde-haired teen who looked like she was trying hard to act professional but came off as somewhat constipated.
Naruto looked to Tsunade, who looked back. The two shrugged before looking back at the group. "We don't know to whom you are referring." The duo spoke in unison, causing the guests to sweat drop. "We are talking about you, Naruto," Minato stepped forward with a strained smile and an offered hand. "You can come home now, Naruto. Everything's been dealt with, your crimes forgiven, and..."
"Crimes?" Naruto growled, alongside his adoptive mother. "What crimes may they be?"
"Attack on fellow leaf…" a snort cut the Hokage off. "Bitch please…" Naruto chuckled as Kushina covered her youngest's ears, "…the Uchiha had betrayed the village and rammed not one but two Chidori's through my chest, yet I still managed to drag his brooding ass back to the leaf." Naruto informs them, causing their eyes to widen. "Then, after my banishment, he ran off again anyway."
"...'cause no one saw that coming." Tsunade spoke with clear detachment as she began to chow down on the food she had brought out. Naruto chuckled along with that, his gaze flowing from her to the kage, "…and now I am forgiven? What a joke! I completed the mission I was assigned. Suffered not one but two mortal wounds and still dragged that duck butt back to the village that ultimately decided I was too much of a risk and kicked me out."
"That can't be…"
"It is," Tsunade confirms. "They went above my head and straight to the Daimyo, got his approval, so my hands were tied."
"I will look into it."
"No need to waste time, Lord Fourth," Naruto chimes in as the tortilla begins to break apart in his hands. "I, Naruto Uzumaki-Senju, am no longer a part of the Hidden Leaf. As the last Uzumaki, I wish to remain here in isolation until my time has come."
"You aren't the last," Kushina shouts, causing the red-tipped blond to stare at her blank-faced. He places his meaty treat back down and withdraws a medium-sized scroll from his arm, a puff of smoke signaling its arrival.
Without words, he threw it at her, and she caught it. Opening it up, it was soon apparent that this scroll was highly sought after and incredibly important. The red head began tearing up before falling to her knees, trembling. "Mom!" her children all called out, but the woman only looked up at the blonds ahead of her. "Wha… why… when…?"
"During that final battle, after my Ka-chan here showed up, the enemy called forth Lord and Lady Senju to battle us." Naruto began to recall the massive battle that took the lives of many of his closest. "Our tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds, and our steadfast belief in our blood that stood beside us was what saved us in the end. Seeing the loyalty we had for one another…"
The most Senju woman continued on, noticing her boy taking a swig of his drink, "...sticking with our family through that tough time showed Mito-oba-sama that we were true Uzumaki, and our beliefs hold true to this day."
Naruto continued after his caregiver seamlessly, "After the battle, she approached us and explained that we were the last of both clans. Our family who died in the fight have confirmed things for the elders and wished us the best going forward." He sighed, seemingly aging two decades in the act.
"But why were we excommunicated!" Yelled Kushina in rage, anger, sorrow, and regret. "Family above all, remember?" Tsunade said with a quirked eyebrow. "That is the creed of both the Senju and Uzumaki clans, and yet you abandoned one of your own to chase after your husband. It was at that moment you ceased to be Uzumaki." Naruto explained calmly as he examined the group of kids and his younger twin brother. "Guessing from your disgruntled looks, I can tell that none of you have inherited her chains, nor any other Uzumaki ability, thus confirming the elder's decision."
"If that's the case then you definitely…"
"Not going anywhere." Naruto speaking over the hokage yet again, sighing shortly their after as he glances out across the ocean "Now, it is getting late, and we have a previous engagement to get to." Standing up and helping his Senju mother up, his open palm toward the scroll in the hands of his birth mother suddenly flies into it and he seals it back away "Do not be here when we get back." Naruto's warning as he and Tsunade leave, the Namikaze family still reeling from the revelations unloaded upon them.
Several Hours Later…
Naruto and Tsunade returned to the house to find the family still there, and a sigh escaped them both. He looked at her, and she nodded before heading back to her room. The young man trudged towards the camping leaf team, not allowing his emotions to get in the way of what he had promised.
The oozing killing intent rolling off the red-tipped blond was not lost on anyone located on the island. The Namikaze family jumped up, cold sweat running down their faces in various amounts. Minato approached his estranged spawn, "...umm..." but froze upon the unholy, godly levels of killing intent, which put even him on his butt and widened eyes. "Did you not understand my words, Minato Namikaze of the Hidden Leaf?" His voice was articulate and damn right demonic.
Shakily, both Namikaze family members got to their feet, breathing laboured, and sweat still running down their features. "…Naru…to… we…"
"Silence," Naruto hadn't shouted once, his voice barely audible among the ocean breeze, yet all heard him, and even the few birds nearby dared not twitch at the absolute malice within his words. "I warned you; out of respect for our ties of blood, yet you trample on my generosity." Stopping before the struggling duo.
Releasing their own intent, Kushina and Minato began to fight against the dense chakra released by their progeny. Amused, Naruto allowed their resistance to push him back, and just as they steeled their resolve, he flared his chakra, crushing their defenses in totality.
The kids had long passed out, his twin brother included, as Naruto stood over the struggling kage level shinobi with nothing but malicious intent, a glare so cold it could be considered a bloodline but before he could speak another did, "NARUTO UZUMAKI-SENJU!" the intent hanging in the air abruptly vanished, and Naruto paled.
For the first time ever, the Namikaze saw the normally stoic and angry Naruto turn into a little kid being scolded. From the house came a light blond-haired woman, with angry lavender jewel-like eyes, storming towards the trio. She wore a dark purple night robe closed loosely, revealing a simple white cotton t-shirt that was way too big for her, along with purple slippers. "You – inside now."
"…but…" Naruto shuddered under the glare he was given, and growled lowly but complied. As he left, the two remaining shinobi glanced at his retreating form, then to the woman's firm figure with the classic hand-on-hip pose. Sighing, she offered them a fleetingly brief glance before making their way back to the house. This was something for tomorrow to deal with, and she damn well wanted her cuddle time.
The Following Day
Midmorning came around again. Naruto awoke to a soft kiss upon his lips, followed by a smirk as he smelled her sunflower and coconut shampoo. "It's time to get up..." the angelic voice graced his ears, and a yawn forced its way out. "...or breakfast will get cold."
"Mmm… but it's…" he mumbles softly as she parts his hair, the amethyst diamond upon his forehead coming into view. "We also have guests…" His hand abruptly snaps up to the wrist of the hand playing with his crimson-tipped locks, his eyes locked on hers with a previously unseen intensity. "Shion…" he began, the former priestess gulped hard and was actually left somewhat fearful about the action. "…who is it…?"
"The Hokage and his family..." she responded calmly, but the slight tremor in her voice was caught by the man lying before her. "You're too kind..."
"Listen…" Her words and tone had firmed up, surprise and shock forgotten, and abruptly Naruto went stiff as a board. The double S-rank shinobi had frozen upon her icy tone and narrowed eyes. "…You know how much I love you for you, right? I consider us all family." Leaning down towards the now sitting man that held her heart, she held his gaze. "As they are yours, even if only by blood, we shall meet with them and be civil in my house." Her eyes shimmered with a dangerous glint within them. "Am I clear?" With a smile so soft, the passing clouds grew envious, but it was enough to make the currently most dangerous shinobi in the world sweat.
After a tense silence, Naruto caved. "...Fine." He wilted under the heated gaze. "Good." Her smile was radiant, a complete one-eighty from a second ago. "Now hurry and get dressed. I want my Naru-cookies later." As she walked back towards the door, a heavy sway emphasized her wide hips, attracting his eyes as planned.
Within moments, Shion led both Naruto and Tsunade down into the living room, and then to the open-plan kitchen where two mugs of coffee awaited them. Their groggy posture and tiredness slowly evaporated as they drained their mugs.
Revitalize, the two Uzumaki-Senju's finally took notice of their guests and both growled deeply in their throats at the sight of the Namikaze family at the table, with a full breakfast spread. A throat clearing from the third blonde silenced them both. "Now, then..." with a smile much too sweet to be genuine, "...let's have a fine meal, no?" Wordlessly, the three take seats on the opposite side of the table, with two empty seats separating the two families.
Tsunade sits at the table's head, Naruto at her left and Shion on her right. "Thank you for the food," was announced, and the food began to evaporate. "By the sage... this is amazing!" Minato announces, tasting the rice. "Can I have the recipe for this?" Kushina questions. Various other similar types of praise directed towards the chef caused Shion to blush profusely. "It wasn't really..."
"This fish is amazing; how did you get such a rich salty flavor?" Mito Namikaze, Naruto's younger sister, questioned Shion, who had a twitching eyebrow. Both Tsunade and Naruto were holding back their chuckles, with mirth twinkling in their amused gazes at their chef. "Wait, have you tried the salad? I haven't had anything like it before." spoke the middle child, Narumi Namikaze, who was basically a carbon copy of her mother. At that declaration, the mother-son duo lost it, laughing hard and heavy, while the whole table, save Shion, looked on in confusion. The priestess patiently waited for them to calm down.
A few minutes later, the laughter had subsided enough for normal conversation, and it was the Fourth Hokage who broke the silence. "What was so funny?" he asked, still chuckling. Tsunade looked at her successor dead in the eye. "Of all the things here—the meats, rice, soups, and condiments—you complimented the only things not made by Shion-chan." Their eyes widened at that, and at least they had the decency to blush. The meal continued in an unsure silence.
After breakfast, the families moved to the living room. "I have been ordered to be civil about this, so speak." Naruto said from his armchair, with Shion sitting upon its arm, his hand softly running up and down her lower back smoothly and slowly. "Why do you insist on taking me back?" the former priestess glanced down at him, raising her left eyebrow. "Wait, that's why they're here? To convince you to go back?" Naruto nodded, and this time Shion sighed deeply, breaking her normally dignified demeanor. Her hand met her face, palm first. "I see. No wonder you two were so moody this morning."
"Listen, Naruto…" Minato brought the room's attention to him "…the Hidden Leaf is in a bad way and our enemies are closing in for the kill. We need all the help we can…"
"I am aware of your village's imminent military and economic collapse, Lord Forth." Naruto raised his free left hand to stop him, though his eyebrow raised. "What I fail to see is how this is of my concern?"
His former siblings looked at him incredulously. "It's our home, Naruto-nii. Surely you want to save it?" Mito spoke, jumping from her seat on the couch. She then flinched back at the now common snort from the three blondes. It was always considered bad when Shion snorted at something, which caused a raised eyebrow and smirks from Tsunade and Naruto at her use of their favorite response.
"That place was no home," the former priestess states, forgoing any sort of etiquette at this point, sliding onto Naruto's lap without breaking eye contact with their guests. "You who claimed him as family, do you even know what he went through after you left him behind? How broken his soul was? Yet even after all that, you dare question his loyalty? He saved the damn world twice over already and you dare..." Naruto's arms around her tighten, and she pauses upon hearing him speak in a muffled whisper, "...leave it. Let it go. Hatred, guilt, and sorrow will consume you if you let them, so let it go." She nods, sighing softly, leaning into the warmth of her man's chest as the guests slowly emerge from their shock.
"As the last Uzumaki..." Naruto began, but was silenced when the Hokage's wife spoke up, "You aren't the last..." but was quietened by a large puff sound and the sight of a familiar large scroll unrolling before them. "This clan scroll again! It's wrong!" Kushina shouted, looking over all the names, all of which were labelled deceased with dates and times.
As they reached the bottom, six names were all deceased with a blank entry beneath Naruto and Tayuya who, according to this, was the grandson of the main house yet his mother wasn't listed and Kushina glaring at the peculiar incident "Why am I, nor your siblings, on here? This can't be the clan scroll. We should all be…"
"Namikaze Kushina. You haven't been Uzumaki for the last almost twenty-six years," Naruto announced. "What did you expect, Kushina?" Tsunade questions from the armchair beside Naruto and Shion, her head resting on her knuckles, clearly bored and unamused. "That the Shinigami wouldn't keep tabs? That the Uzumaki elders wouldn't be informed just because of something like death?"
"You can't be serious, can you?" Kushina almost wails, her hands frantically waving around. "Oh, but we are," Naruto states, feeling Shion's grip on his arms tighten. "As I said before, just as we sent against the Akatsuki, Ka-chan..." gesturing with his head to the older blond at his side "...took me to Uzu, where we stumbled upon the elders. Upon seeing my life from my eyes..."
"…and mine," Tsunade cut in, presenting her own two cents. "…and with our joint experiences, the elders conferred with the Shinigami to confirm that you both still lived." The hollow smile that stretched across his face offered no comfort. "I care not for your excuses, phoney promises, empty threats," he said, waving his spare hand dismissively.
"Your so-called prophecy was fulfilled without your star child." Shion cut in with an uncharacteristic scowl upon her delicate features. "As a priestess, I understand your insistence on following them, but to build lives upon them is nothing but folly. Prophecies are not things that can be manipulated."
"…but…" Minato's argument was halted by Shion's raised hand. "As a leader, you may have had the best interest at heart, but as parents…" Her eyes turned ice cold. Naruto chuckled at her tone. "...you failed. You have no claim as his parents."
A heavy sigh slipped out from Tsunade and Naruto. "…this is tiresome." they spoke simultaneously, causing their guests to glance between the two. Their movements were synchronized as they both sighed, rubbing their eyes with their left hands. "...look," the eldest blonde began, all eyes shifting to the last Senju. "I retired honorably, with the blessing of the Fire Daimyo..." looking directly into the baby blue eyes of the current Kage, "...made far easier with your return, of course."
"…and I, Konoha's dirty little secret, was banished for a successful mission that, A; I wasn't leading, and B; I was almost killed on. C; it was successful." Naruto spoke before sighing into Shion's shoulder. "…but that can be fixed with…"
However, Minato was stopped by his opponents shaking their heads. "You don't have the power to," Tsunade stated, bored with this already. "Not when the council, elders, and Daimyo signed the banishment orders." Naruto explained in a similar bored manner as Tsunade.
The similarities between the two of them did not go unnoticed by anyone, causing the Namikaze family's hope to diminish in regaining their lost member. Their contemplation was broken when "For what it's worth..." Naruto spoke up, gaining the room's attention, "...we don't have any ill will towards you, but I am not going back to that cesspool of a village."
"How dare you?!" yelled Menma, leaping to his feet and growling at his elder twin with crimson eyes. "Our village is the greatest..."
"Sit down." Shion's voice was firm, cold, yet commanding, and the overwhelming pressure forced the man back down. It was an impressive feat as the blond did not even shout, barely even lifted her eyes at the man. "Now then…" the priestess sighed, "…with this, I believe you should leave…"
As the Namikaze family were halfway out the door, the worst possible outcome, at least in Naruto and Tsunade's opinion, happened: "Mama! Papa!" Young voices echoed from the upper floor. Kushina physically perked up, her head spinning around, but before she could protest, the door was slammed in her face, which promptly prevented her from seeing the children.
Two children barrel down the stairs, caught by Naruto and Shion respectively. "I thought I told you to wait until we come to get you," Shion sighed in exasperation, looking at Naruto, who sighed while breaking into a smile. "Fine. They stayed put longer than any other time before."
"Okay, okay," Shion said, carrying the youngest duo of the house toward the kitchen. Naruto was right behind her. "I'm going to get a manicure!" Tsunade shouted as she headed to the door. "I'll grab the ingredients on the way back."
"Thanks, Ka-chan!" the light blonde and red-tipped blonde call out together, and the sound of the door shutting hit them shortly thereafter. It didn't take long before they both heard, "JUST LEAVE ALREADY!" gaining a snort from Naruto and an exasperated sigh from Shion. "Why do I bother with you two?"
"Because we're awesome and fun?" Naruto offered as the kids snickered at their father's antics. Their mother's rolled eyes suggested that this was an age-old argument. "Yeah, yeah... if only that were true."
Naruto face-faulted at that, the kids laughing along with their mother at his position. "DON'T FUCKING EVER CALL ME THAT!" Tsunade's voice echoed through the house. Shion's eyebrow twitched at the language, "Woah, she's..." Naruto froze upon the glare from the fairer blonde bombshell. It was so cold that even the snake sannin would cower away. He gulped, hands up.
Outside a few minutes ago…
Tsunade closed the door behind her, excited to get a manicure, and was beaming at the opportunity. Her plans were somewhat detailed upon noticing the arguing family at the threshold of the estate; one side, consisting of Minato, Menma, and Narumi Namikaze, the three eldest. The other; Kushina, Mito, Karla, Mikoto and Natsumi, the youngest of group with the exception of Mito who was second eldest. This group wanted to find an Inn and keep trying to connect with Naruto, the other wanted to head back to the village.
The bickering fell silent when they all noticed the former Hokage, sannin, and last senju approaching. "JUST LEAVE ALREADY!" roared at them, causing several flinches from them. "Tsunade-sama..." Minato spoke up, stepping forward towards the S-rank kunoichi. "...we could use your expertise in..."
"I'm retired," Tsunade waved him off unconcerned, "I left plenty of trained medical staff, even both of my apprentices and all."
"Lady Tsunade…" Narumi stepped forward and bowed, "…I beg of you, please teach me about…"
"No." The last Senju stated, growing frustrated with this whole situation. "Come on, Su-chan..." Kushina was stopped abruptly by the absolute murder in the eyes of Tsunade Senju, honey brown eyes aflame with rage. "DON'T FUCKING EVER CALL ME THAT!"
Nighttime Bonfire
That night, behind the seafront house of the Uzumaki-Senju duo, the younger of the two of said duo watches over a controlled bonfire. The sounds of childish laughter, from the next generation playing in the sand, drown out the crashing waves of the sea.
"…I heard that you had an unwelcome visit earlier," spoke a man with long black hair, equally obsidian orbs for eyes glancing at the host, his tear trough lines coming into view of the golden light emitted from the flames.
"The most unwelcome," Naruto growled out while leaning forward on his knees, fingers gently grasping the bottle of sake between his legs. A gentle chuckle escaped the newcomer's lips as he sat beside the blond, wearing dusty grey three-quarter length trousers paired with a pitch-black short-sleeve t-shirt. "I see." He took a swing from his own sake bottle.
A heavy sigh of contemplation. "We've done enough for world peace, Itachi, no?" he whispered, though he did gain said man's attention. A soft smile graced the former missing ninja's face. "Indeed we have," he nodded in agreement.
A smile grew upon the last Uzumaki's face, fingers tapping the ceramic bottle within his grasp, "We did it. We actually did it."
"It was a crazy plan, worthy of you, dobe," another soft chuckle as a new face joined the soft conversation. "It worked, didn't it... Sasuke?" Naruto retorted as his oldest friend dropped in on the wooden decking, joining his two brothers. The three men watched the new generation enjoy a childhood that none of them had, with soft, forlorn smiles on their faces. "It did," Sasuke commented, handing out fresh sake bottles to his two companions.
Watching his children interact with their cousins, laughing and cheering, or presenting s'mores to the flames. The silence was broken by the former avenger, surprisingly. "You know… If you had told me five years ago that we'd be sitting here, watching over the next generation, like this…" A snort from Naruto interrupted him. He turned to the blond, noticing that they were both chuckling. "...Yeah, we know, little brother." Itachi mentioned before taking a sip. The other two fell silent as he did. The second the liquid was swallowed, the trio burst out in hearty laughter at their younger selves' dramatic inclinations.
The three would banter all night, more and more sake shared though their wife's would leave them too it, knowing full well how much all three do on a daily basis, and these get togethers are the only times they allow thier guards to drop. Even just a little.
Breakfast
Several loud thuds on the door jolted the three snoozing men awake from their places on the three couches, all equally as pissed as one another, with three sets of red eyes glaring at said door from the living room. Shion appeared from the upper level, stepping down from the top floor only to be caught off guard by the three sets of scarlet eyes flickering to her, which froze her for a moment.
When the door parts and the red-headed Namikaze matriarch bursts into the room, only to find herself being hit with two Tsukuyomi and a Kitsune illusion. She dropped like a brick of osmium in the open ocean. Shion looked from the men to the woman several times before sighing hard in exasperation "...seriously...?"
The men just groaned, flopping back into the sofa and grumbling about stupid redheads and loud noises. The fairest blonde in the house just sighs as she closes the door, stepping over the potentially brain-dead kunoichi. "Fine, whatever. I'll get the coffee on. At least pick her off the floor..."
The three moan, and she nods, grabbing the pint-sized coffee mugs, specifically labeled "Hangovers" out of the cupboard, two with the Uchiha fan, and two with the Senju spear. "Ka-chan might not be doing much better," she whispered, preparing the brew.
Some time later...
"I suggest you back the fuck up," Naruto growled halfway through his first pint of coffee, at the island in the kitchen, sleepy, groggy, and definitely hungover. "Language," Shion gently scolded, considering their current status.
He was one of three, flanked by the last two Uchiha, resting on the kitchen island stools. "Why are you even still here?" Sasuke spoke, narrowing his black eyes as he took another sip from his coffee. "Naruto is my son!" Kushina growled way too loudly, making all three men wince visibly. "Quiet down, would ya?" Naruto whined just as Tsunade stumbled in and wordlessly took an offered cup from her son.
After chugging down her drink, Tsunade said, "I needed that." She looked deep into her mug with a deep, long sigh of contemplation before she finally looked up to see the three struggling men. A chuckle escaped the Senju matriarch's lips, and her teasing sense kicked in full blast as a grin played across her face, which all three men noticed and inwardly grimaced at. "Is my little sochi struggling with a little drink...?"
"Like your much better…?"
"Oh, but I am..." she grins, dramatically posing with hands on hips. "...damn Senju." groans Sasuke, staring down into his coffee, his left eyebrow twitching. "Have I told you how much I love you, ka-chan?" Naruto's voice snaps the two Uchiha to their Senju friend, a green glowing hand atop his crown and stomach from the matriarch. "Oh? Perhaps a few times, but I won't turn down more." That level of smugness was lost on no one; it was thick and suffocating.
"Ahem." Kushina cleared her throat, tired of this soap opera. Naruto peeked one eye open to see the red-faced, red-headed woman. "What are you still doing here, Lady Namikaze?" Itachi questioned with a steady gaze upon the matriarch of the premier clan of the Hidden Leaf.
"I am your…" Kushina began, pointing only at Naruto, only to be spoken over. "Do not waste our time." Naruto sighed as Tsunade finally finished her clean-up of his hangover, eyes opening slowly and casting a dark glare at the target of his current ire. "Fine," Kushina snapped. "Can you please come home?"
"I am home." Naruto replies swiftly yet coolly. "...and as before, I am not your son but hers..." gesturing to the legendary medic currently tending to Itachi, having finished with Sasuke already. "...but I carried you for ten months..."
"…and abandoned in ten minutes." Tsunade said, returning to the island and taking another coffee. "Man, I love this stuff…" she looked at her son, "…where'd you find this?"
"It's the demon blend mixed with the ocean blend from Neo-Uzu." Shion, who was preparing breakfast, spoke from the side. "Ah, so that explains why I can't replicate it. It's a mixture of two..."
"Listen, Namikaze…" Sasuke spoke as coldly as an arctic desert. Itachi actually shuddered at that. "…I suggest you just leave. Deal with the crap that disgrace of a village created for itself."
"Preach!" Naruto adds, causing Itachi to choke on his own brew, coughing to clear his throat. "We're being threatened by the Stone and Lightning, with Sound regaining their strength rapidly," Kushina continues, despite the coldness being returned to her. "We have no one coming to our aide, being abandoned by the Sand, the Mist wants nothing to do with the oncoming war."
"We know," Itachi comments as a plate is placed before him, courtesy of one former priestess. He thanks her before his obsidian eyes lock back onto the red-haired woman's amethysts. "The Leaf always claimed to be the strongest, the one with the noble goal of protecting the weak and defending the helpless." Sasuke snorts as he begins to enjoy the honey-covered bacon, though he notices the extra tomatoes on his plate.
"…then why…"
"That Leaf village is not the one my family died to protect," spoke the last Senju, chowing down on the maple-cured bacon. "This place is more of the dream my grandpa..." she points her fork at Itachi and Sasuke, who are sitting on the opposite side of the island "...and their clan head came up with." The slug princess stared dead into the pale violet eyes of the former Uzumaki.
"Here…" Her manicured finger dented the countertop, causing Shion to freeze while staring unblinkingly at the offending finger "…the kids are carefree, everyone has a place and is safe from harm. Second chances are given but not forgotten." The stare turned cold. "Trying to drag us around 'just because…' is foolish, and trying to claim relations without action is petty."
"Namikaze, your clan makes claims of grandeur, claims to seek world peace; yet now you're in trouble and seek to turn the utopia created here to ash," Sasuke comments, which most who knew his younger counterpart would be surprised by. His onyx orbs fade to red, a justice-laced anger appearing upon his face. "How dare you?!" he snarls.
"We never…" Kushina began, but found similar expressions on the others. Even the seemingly harmless Shion had a face of disappointment. "Just leave, Kushina," Tsunade finished with a dismissive tone. "We… do… not… want… you… here…"
Kushina found herself backed into a metaphorical corner, enemies on all sides, yet her Uzumaki stubbornness held her still. "Tough!" she declared with fiery determination. "I'm here to see my family! And see my family I will!"
Several deep growls rumbled throughout the kitchen. The hair on the back of the guest's neck stood on end. "The nerve..." Naruto's feral features darkened, his eyes locked dangerously upon his egg donor's stubborn one. "Lady Namikaze... I suggest you do not joke around like that," Shion spoke lowly, unflinchingly staring at the woman.
Kushina gulped, absentmindedly noticing that both Uchihas had their Sharingan active and her son's eyes were slit. Blue, but still slit. "I… I … just… wanted to meet the kids I saw yesterday."
"What kids? You didn't see any kids," Naruto comments, chewing his sausages casually now, purposely focusing solely on his breakfast. "We have no idea what you're talking about?" Sasuke gets unusually defensive, his Sharingan spinning wildly with a hard glare, but again the lady of the leaf notices the extra plates on the counter, ten of them with various breakfast items.
Eyes twinkling, Kushina knew she was onto something and was not about to let this slide again. "Oh? Then why is she setting out ten plates?"
"That's none of your damn business," Tsunade growled, the rumbas upon her forehead pulsating as if itching to be released; a clear threat that could not be ignored by Kushina, who took a step back. Almost instinctively, she attempted to call upon her chains, but when nothing happened, she froze stiff as a board. The shinobi all noticed the chakra buildup along her back, but only Naruto and Tsunade knew what that meant, and both smirked. "What's the matter, Kushie-chan?" the latter called. "Did the Namikaze forget she's a Namikaze?" Naruto chimed in, earning a confused eyebrow from Itachi.
With wide eyes, Kushina looked between the two. "...You... you didn't..."
"We did." The duo continued in unison. "Did what?" Itachi questioned, with Sasuke paying attention as well, pointedly ignoring the tomato seed and juice running down his chin. Naruto began explaining, a smug smirk on his face as he chewed on his toast, "She just tried calling upon the Uzumaki kekki genki; the adamantine sealing chains. Forgetting that she's no longer an Uzumaki."
"You mean…?" Sasuke said, with wide eyes, to his blond best friend, who nodded back. "The Uzumaki clan was a dangerous clan with great power alone, however, what made them even more so was their connection with the Shimigami, as a lot of their top-tier techniques require his assistance." Tsunade explained for the Uchiha duo. "As such, the pact we have to nullify the death penalty associated with using his power has a few..." Naruto swallowed his buttered toast. "...terms and conditions."
One of which happens to be a permanent connection with our clan elders, and the possibility that our strengths and powers are subject to being "turned off" if our actions are against our kin, as punishment or displeasing to his deathly grace. Naruto uses air quotes to highlight the deactivation of their kekki genki that Kushina is experiencing at present.
"Damn." Sasuke gaped, while Itachi nodded, knowing that Naruto, once properly trained, had handled him and his brother in numerous spars they've had in recent years. "Great power, greater responsibility..." Tsunade Senju stated, with her gaze firmly locked on the lone Namikaze. "...a responsibility that you neglected..." and much to her opponent's surprise, out from Tsunade's back came two green-hued chains that raised and hovered above her shoulders, thick hooks on their ends. "...and I picked up."
The door opened, and in stepped Karuii of Kumo. "Yo, boss, I heard that..." She paused upon seeing the irritation written on his face. He wasn't the only one; everyone, including Shion, was irritated or angry in one way or another. She sweat dropped at the sight. "Umm... Should I come back later?"
"Nah…" Naruto waved her off, "…the lady was just leaving."
"…but…" Kushina stuttered, bewildered, "So, what do you have to report to us?" Itachi switched to commander mode, as the official leader of the defense forces, and Karuii snapped to attention. "Sir! Well, we heard about your problem."
"Yeah. We came to help out." Guren stepped in behind her, a stern look upon her face. "I strongly believe that you should leave," Itachi spoke to the Namikaze, his eyes meeting hers. "Your family has been notified by now..." he trailed off as both Guren and Karuii nodded, gaining another nod from the older Uchiha. "...so if you would be so kind as to see yourself out."
"Tou-san!!!" a shout from upstairs that predated a stampede of tiny feet. With that said, eight kids and another lady, both in civilian attire, one had long straight brown hair, dark onyx eyes, a face clearly Uchiha, pale skin, and supple lips stretched into a smile. "Izumi-nee; couldn't you keep them contained?" Naruto moaned whilst rubbing his eyes in despair, "Oh come on, Naru-chan, you know better than anyone that these brats are uncontainable. They're ninja after all."
"True." Naruto chuckled along with his fellow father's, Sasuke however was silenced by a kiss from Karuii gaining a smirk from his blond brother "Man, your thing for red heads…" but was silenced by a kiss from Shion. This time Sasuke smirked "Just like you and blonds."
Naruto waved him off casually. Shion was already moving to wipe her daughter's face. "I have no idea what..."
"Ino..." Sasuke counted off on his fingers, Tsunade raising an amused eyebrow as Naruto grew tense. "...Samui... then there was Temari, then Takumi, Ino's cousin, Suki from Moon, Miyazaki of Mist. Then that fling with Ino again, despite you being banished."
"How'd you manage that, Sochi?" Tsunade asked with an unreadable expression, forcing Naruto to scratch the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, the Leaf's detection barriers are woefully inadequate..." he began, "...and as it was designed and installed by the Uzumaki clan..." shrugging casually, "...every jutsu has a flaw, every barrier has a loophole."
"You snuck in?" Tsunade asked, her eyebrows reaching her hairline. Sasuke grinned as he continued to hold Karuii, who was sitting on his lap, with a grin matching her husband's. "Just for some ass?"
"It was a great ass." Naruto spoke sagely, though his eyes did seem to float over to Shion's backside, unknowingly nodding to himself as if confirming to himself that she too had definitively a great ass. A smirk on his face and a certain trail of thought began to filter into his mind, causing it to turn lecherous.
A soft cough brought his attention back to the kitchen island, where five sets of eyes stared at him amused, while the last looked bewildered and flushed red. Adopting a completely innocent facial expression, which fooled absolutely none, he asked, "What…?"
"Oh... nothing..." Itachi chuckled, turning away as Izumi had a feral grin, shaking her head in amusement. "You're insatiable, you know that?" Sasuke mentioned. "What Samui sees in you is beyond me," Karuii added, idly playing with the onyx locks of her husband.
Naruto just shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine..." but he froze as if recalling something, "...no. Actually..." his grin became damn right lewd, "...I do know, but that information is need to know."
Karuii was dumbfounded for a brief moment, before blushing profusely and looking away. "Pervert."
"Like you to talk," Shion comments, appearing at Naruto's side and lecherously glaring at the dark-skinned redhead. "If I recall..."
"I get it, I get it, shish..." Karuii said with a blush that matched her hair. Sasuke was matching it before a cough brought the entire room's attention to the lone outsider. "Umm... you're still here, Namikaze?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow, disgust and disbelief lacing his words. "Well, umm... you see..." Kushina looked over at the two blondes and the two dark redheaded children with hope in her eyes.
It was not to be, however, as before she knew it, she was standing back before her family, outside a large seafront hotel in the tourist district, a swirl of sand announcing her arrival, confusing her greatly. "Wow, Ka-chan, I didn't know you knew a sand shunshin," Narumi cheered; the other kids were gobsmacked at the sight. Minato, however, knew better; only Suna shinobi knew that particular variant.
Back at the house…
"Gaara, my man, thanks for getting rid of the trash," Naruto cheered just as a volley of mini-human-sized missiles found their target in his gut. Dissolving into sand, the real Gaara appeared from behind the grinning blond duo in a Hawaiian t-shirt, beige long shorts, and white sandals, holding a tanuki mug of Shion's unique coffee blend, "She was interrupting my morning coffee." With a shrug, light chuckles all around.
Uchiha Villa
Beachside
That night at the Uchiha villa, which was more like a large manor than a summer beach house, the party was on. As usual, the beachside bonfire was ablaze, though, as Uchihas are known pyromaniacs, this time the flames were three times larger than the Senju's. The blood feud may be over, but the rivalry was still hot.
Naruto was sitting on a beach chair, baby Atsui on his lap, chatting with the former Raikage Ay who was playing with the baby using his hulking fingers. After the post war stabilisation, an eighth of Kumogakure's shinobi force retired alongside the Raikage whose last act was to pardon those who joined him at Rogue's Refuge. Those that did vowed to never raise arms against the Land of Lightning directly, or indirectly. Should Kumo ever need their services, they could be recalled though.
Ay and Mabui settled down on the island paradise, four beautiful kids and plenty of nieces and nephews with baby Atsui being one of them "You know, kid…" Ay's rumbling voice catching both baby and adult blonds attention. "…when you approached me all those years ago, never did I think things would turn out this way."
"Peace is great, huh?" Naruto joked, and Ay nodded, finally sitting straight again, taking up his root beer bottle. "It is." With a grin, both men take huge swigs of their cooled beverages. Letting out content sighs, both men look around at the mass of kids and their parents enjoying the good life they fought so hard for. Sacrificed even more so. "Though, rumors are that it's about to end."
"After all we've done to secure it, too," Naruto growled softly so as not to disturb the little one. Ay nodded at that. "I don't want Yugito's sacrifice to be in vain, but I also don't want to worry about how many people will die in a war without reason."
"We both know how strong Kumo is. It won't fall."
"I know that but still…"
"You're a former Kage." Naruto looking to the aging man, "It's only natural that you're worried about home." Ay looked back at him, "You may not have a village anymore, Naruto, but you are a Kage too. Even if its name only." a snort was Naruto's response. "I turned it down, remember. All that paperwork was a real turn off."
"Doesn't stop you from managing the whole island though." A new voice jolted both men to see the pregnant form of Samui, three months along though looking like four, and her Naruto clone escort helping her down to the seat alongside Naruto. Ay smirked, "You sure don't waste time with…" his words died in his throat upon Samui's deathly cold glare.
A few moments of icy silence passed before Samui spoke up. "After these two..." she rubbed her growing stomach, "...I want another three." She held up three fingers, earning a raised eyebrow from the former Raikage. He looked to his fellow male incredulously. "How many does that make?" Naruto shrugged, seemingly uncaring, though all knew how much he dotes over his eight kids, though now he was focused solely on the giggling Atsui. "My life is filled with family and love. Whatever happens now, happens. I love every single member of said family and would move heaven and earth to keep them safe."
"So, you're going to intervene in the upcoming war then?" Ay grunted causing the blond to sigh hard, very, very hard "…I have little choice, neh?" Samui offered a wry smile gently rubbing his back with her gently ministrations, rubbing circles softly "I'll send a missive to Mifune… no – wait. I think it's Akune is the new leader."
"Yeah," Ay confirms with a nod. "Then, after Akune..." Naruto lifts each finger. "...perhaps Shibuki, then Mei, maybe I should recall Shizuoka?"
"I'll call upon Darui. Don't worry 'bout Kumo."
"…then, it's just the Iwagakure negotiations that I'll have to worry about." The blond male sighs long and hard as Ay chuckles, knowing how much his young friend dislikes dealing with those 'Rock heads' - Naruto's words, not his.
"Relax, hun…" Samui comments. "…Be cool."
"You got this," Ay chuckled, shoulder-bumping Naruto softly. "…but… but the paperwork…!" Naruto growls, causing Ay to grin. "Better you than me," his booming voice in full effect as the blond continued to grumble about bulky old men and stupid rock-headed fools. Samui giggled behind him.
Central Administration Building
Minister of State Office
Naruto was not amused, not amused at all. Across from him sat none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Sitting in his office within the central administration building, a spacious room with filing cabinets along the back wall, but the open right window spanned nearly the entire wall. The beige color scheme.
"Why are you here, Lord Fourth? I don't believe I told you my office location." Naruto spoke so coldly; the Land of Spring became summer. "I came here on official business as a representative of the Land of Fire." Minato's voice was professionally monotone, steady baby blue eyes staring back at dark slitted blues of Naruto's. "Oh...?" Leaning back in his seat, "...and why - pray tell - would I even care to listen?"
"Because we can pay…"
"With your economy?" a raised eyebrow, "Yes. I'll pay out of the Namikaze family funds." Minato states firmly, swallowing the lump in his throat, but manages to keep a strong expression "…and you assume it will be enough to sway us to your cause – why?"
"I'm not going to lie to you; we're desperate," Minato states flatly. Naruto couldn't help but smirk inwardly, even as his prisoner lifted an eyelid. "We only have Waterfall and the Hidden Star..."
"The Hidden Star hasn't responded, though, have they?" Naruto interlocks his fingers and rests his elbows on the leather chair's armrests. Minato sighs internally, but Naruto can see the defeatist thoughts in his eyes. The demon fox's chuckles echo within his mind. "No," the Kage confirms tightly, "...your intelligence network seems pretty advanced."
"…comes with the territory when one saves the world," Naruto shrugged, still blank-faced. "Everyone wants to be your friend."
"Indeed," the pure blond noted before swallowing spit, moistening his throat. "So, what is it going to cost to gain your support, the support of Rogue's Retreat, for the Land of Fire and subsequently the Hidden Leaf?"
Main Street
Menma was strolling through the dirt streets, unwilling to go shopping with his sisters and smart enough to duck out of sight unlike his younger brother. Proudly donning his standard issue leaf Jonin attire, Menma wore Namikaze haiory over it with the kanji for 'Second flash' embroidered on the back, he wasn't gaining much attention unlike back home.
He did, however, notice that those who noticed him all seemed to be in a discreet form of uniform that at a glance could pass as casual wear. He dubbed them as some kind of enforcement division, and these officers all wore tan three-quarter-length shorts, covered black sandals, and plain-colored t-shirts with a red fox badge patch, featuring a katana in its mouth.
Every street he walked down, he saw at least one of these "Officers," and now that he actually paid attention, they weren't actually being discreet. A quick glance ahead showed one at the coffee shop three stores down, two chatting on beach chairs on his left, and one giving directions to a tourist on the corner.
He smirks; they clearly don't know who they're dealing with, as Menma Namikaze is the second flash of the leaf. He has single-handedly taken Sound bases and outposts in record times. Sure, they never really recovered after his estranged brother had done to them, but still, he knew that the Land of Earth had heard of him. No doubt, in the upcoming war, he would lead the Leaf into a second victory over those pesky rock nin.
Brea't Coffee
Stopping at the previously mentioned coffee shop, Men orders an iced coffee and a chocolate ice cream sandwich. After being served at his outside table and taking a sip of his cool coffee, which was amazing but he would never admit it aloud, "...what kind of get up is that...?" a feminine voice grabs his attention. His tall glass lowers as his eyes raise to come face to face with an absolute knockout kunoichi, who wore a black forehead protector and form-fitting uniform with a grey-colored right shoulder guard, grey gloves, and an opening in her shirt which reveals some of her sizeable assets.
Menma got lost in her bright green eyes, but his own soon fell to the opening, and her figure was the stuff of legends. He idly noticed she had her hands on her hip as if expecting something from him, but damn, he wanted to take her out or perhaps she would join him. "…umm… are you feeling okay?" Her look of concern and her voice only enticed Menma further. "I… I uhh…"
"I was heading to your office to report, but I guess I got lucky running into you here…" the woman says as she moves to take a seat. Menma begins to figure out what exactly is going on; he just needs a few more pieces of information. "…which is convenient for me, as I haven't eaten yet. I was going to ask you out anyway, so…" She smiles, and he can't help but return it. "It's fine. By all means, I'll cover the bill." Menma doesn't know what he said, as the woman suddenly frowns. It's only for a second, but it's gone again a moment later, replaced with a heart-stopping smile. "How generous of you."
"It's the least I could do..." Menma comments as the waiter comes over. "I'll have my usual, please," the woman says. The waiter nods, giving a fleeting glance at her company, but a smile from the dark-haired goddess seems to pacify any protests.
A brief stint of silence was broken by the green-eyed beauty who spoke up quietly as if not to be overheard, "I have the information you asked for from the Land of Earth via my contacts in the Land of Iron." This immediately caught Men's attention, and he sat straighter. "Oh, do tell?" All hint of playfulness was gone at those words.
Shizuka's POV
Shizuka felt like an idiot at the moment. She really did. Looking back, how could she have missed the lack of red tips, or the entire leaf attire this man was wearing? She had just assumed he was in a funny mood, but now she recalls that even before she had arrived, the sailors had mentioned that the leaf had arrived a few days ago.
Sure, they could have sent anyone as an emissary, but truly, who else would they have sent other than the only ones publicly left with any ties to the leader of the isle?
Namikaze.
As mentioned before, she felt like an idiot for not realizing that this 'Naruto imposter' was most likely his younger twin brother, Menma Namikaze; the second flash of the leaf. A powerful Jonin in his own right, currently listed as a high A-Rank shinobi, pegged for S-rank if the war with the Hidden Stone kicks off and he deploys his family's famous Hirashin no jutsu.
A fine shinobi, to be sure, but he pales in comparison to his older brother. His personality leaves something to be desired. The Refuge's intelligence network (RIN) says that he plays fast and loose, with many "conquests," his words, under his belt. Many Leaf kunoichi have fallen for his bad-boy charms, fierce passion in the defense of others, but are also quick to point out that the morning after the shades come off, he is a bit of a slob and useless for anything beyond shinobi-related matters. Hell, he still lives at home and is still cleaned up after by his mother, according to rumors, at least.
Sighing again internally, Shizuka keeps her best-practiced smile and decides that she would at least get any information about the leaf she could with her womanly charms. Perhaps get a free meal or two out of it for her troubles. Giggling at his pathetic excuse for flirting, she laments to herself that being as attractive as she is can definitely be a double-edged sword, though ordering a full course meal at his insistence was a firm way to ease the pains. She hopes she gets an award for surviving this touture.
A/N: Decided to try and make this a series. It won't be a long one though.
o7