Chapter 2: Late Night Visitor
Naruto was walking across the royal square alongside Rias. Thousands of Crimson Lancers, Rakhan rebels, and even more civilians were singing, dancing, and munching on pastries under the raining fireworks above. Purple, green, red, white, blue, and dozens of bright flashing fireworks were exploding into dazzling shapes. People were gasping, "ooos" and "awws" as Naruto squeezed his body through whatever tiny gaps he could push himself through.
Rias' pale white hand was wrapped around his right hand tightly. Naruto smiled at his distant cousin and pulled her to the best of his ability through the crowd. Atsuko was trailing behind them, but the thirty-three-year-old Captain grumbled, "That damn Nagoya must have been a horrible tyrant. We didn't see a crowd this massive after we liberated Kiri."
"Did you ever consider that's because Kiri was flattened after a decade of civil war?" Rias countered.
"Damn…" Atsuko muttered. "You have a point."
"I usually do, but no one ever listens to me," she said, her greenish-blue eyes glimmering sultrily at Naruto's. "Especially my cousin!"
They exited the massive moss pit of people at the center of the square. Naruto pulled her against him and wrapped his right arm around her. Rias rested her head against his right shoulder, her eyes closed, and she sighed in relief while walking to their hotel. Her breath was visible in the chilly winter air, which drifted from his black-grey zipped camo jacket to his slashed headband.
Her bright red hair ruffled around the crook of his neck, and her warm breath pampered his whisker-marked cheeks.
"Naruto-kun, I'm so happy to have you," Rias admitted. "The day is almost over, and we can finally relax."
"Relax? You make it sound so easy. After what happened to all those innocent people and Genno… am I a bad person?" Naruto asked, unsure about his cousin's answer.
"No, that's just your conscience telling you that you've got a little bit of humanity left. Brighten up. The night isn't over yet," Rias said before giving him a quick wink.
"That's easy for you to say," Naruto said, only to be stopped by Rias pushing her right index finger against his lips.
"Besides, we have other plans." Rias looked at him confidently. "Remember?"
Naruto nodded. "We do," he said with hesitation.
"Good!" She poked his nose, which made him grumble. "Once we get our cut of the spoils of war, we can finally go anywhere we want." She crooked her mouth parallel to his right ear and whispered, "Then we can work on rebuilding the Uzumaki clan."
She quickly rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She looked peaceful and content, much to Naruto's chagrin.
"What are you two troublemakers conspiring to do now?" Atsuko asked mischievously from behind them.
"We are discussing our plans for world domination!" Rias joked, which made Naruto and Atsuko chuckle. "But first, I'd like us to get our room. Then I'd appreciate it if you two gentlemen helped me find that pianist."
"Interested in hearing her play?" Naruto asked.
Rias nodded and started humming. She continued humming until they arrived at the hotel.
They entered through the rotating doors of the Green Dragon Suites, a twelve-story, octagon-shaped hotel directly a block from the Governor's Mansion. The hotel lobby was as packed as it was outside. Hundreds stood shoulder to shoulder inside the bar room, vibrating from the noise and commotion. Loud pops echoed from the upper floors from excited patrons opening champagne bottles. Rebel soldiers were handing out Khat leaves while officers chatted with glasses of alcohol in their hands. There wasn't a single quiet place in the hotel, and because the interior was an atrium, every sound had a slight echo.
Running water was the theme of the hotel because the sound hummed the loudest inside the atrium, with creeks of Koi fish swimming up and down the artificial streams. All the streams led to a massive pond at the far end of the hotel, fed by a three-story tall artificial waterfall. Behind the waterfall were three walkways leading up to a business conference auditorium. On either side of the pond were glass elevators.
Naruto noticed that the officers who were supposed to keep the order were relaxed. Crimson Lancer officers wore distinguishable peaked caps or olive-green berets. He had one, too, but he hated getting it stained with blood... especially after he broke through the enemy's lines. The trio walked up to the front desk, which was already occupied by officers waiting to get into their rooms.
The hotel concierge was a woman in her late thirties wearing a disheveled, unwashed outfit. She looked exhausted, with bags under her eyes and tired fingers slowly pushing typewriter buttons. Her nametag read Shauzia, and her skin tone differed from the Rakhan rebels.
"Here are your room keys. Room 415 is on the fourth floor," Shauzia said, handing three officers wearing peaked caps their room keys. "Room service is out of commission because of the conflict; we did set up a buffet for the victory in the ballroom. Other than that, I heard a pianist playing for us again at around 9:00 PM in the auditorium. That's about forty minutes from now... "
"Thanks, love, don't work too hard, and chin up. On my honor, as an officer of the Black Bear Brigade, I promise to get your family out of the city. Farewell, madam," Sir Rainier stated with a salute. Naruto could recognize that pompous voice a mile away.
Rainier, after all, grew up in a castle on the other side of the world. That's probably why Rainier was shaking his head in disappointment.
"Congratulations, Kazuki Naruto, on your valiant victory! Or should I say Uzumaki Naruto because I heard that's your real name? I always knew you were a criminal, but an escaped convicted felon at thirteen, tsk, tsk, now that is impressive," Rainier commented. "Four years later, and you are still causing trouble."
"You better believe it!" Naruto assured.
"I hope you don't bring us any more trouble than you're worth. Regardless of how you ended up in our ranks, unfortunate events transpire everywhere you go. I bid you and Lady Uzumaki farewell, and I dearly hope you come down for the festivities," Rainier said eloquently. The concierge was glaring at Naruto, which made Rainier smirk. "We have a beautiful pianist joining us tonight."
Sir Rainier and his peer captains chuckled as they left. Naruto's right eyebrow twitched, and he tried not to grit his teeth loudly from his departure. Atsuko was chatting with the concierge about getting their room keys. More and more officers entered the lobby, drawing the Shauzia's attention away from Naruto. Her brown eyes burned with rage, hatred, and injustice, a look he saw plenty of in his childhood.
Officers, foreigners, and rebel soldiers continued flocking to the hotel in droves. The lobby was much busier than before, with many people celebrating at the Hotel bar or scampering into the ballroom that had assembled a massive buffet. However the majority of the commotion now was being focused on the walkway behind the waterfall leading to the auditorium where the pianist was soon to play.
More people walked past him with warm steaming bowls of food. Sadly, Naruto hadn't been hungry after his ramen outing, which was disturbed by those poor souls...
The men being beaten, dragged, and lynched looked precisely like the concierge.
Naruto tried looking everywhere but at the concierge.
"What's wrong," Rias asked, pulling him away from the glaring concierge.
"If sir asshole knows who I am, then it's only a matter of time before everyone finds out," Naruto said while rubbing his throbbing forehead.
"Who, Rainier?" Rias asked sarcastically. "That man has a golden stick up his ass, but he's not a tattletale as far as I'm aware."
"No… that's not it. I have this headache, and…" Naruto looked at the concierge, then back at Rias before saying, "How about we go to our room, and I can explain?"
"Alight, but let us make it quick," Rias said urgently.
They grabbed their keys from Atsuko and body-flickered to the twelfth floor.
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Rias hands dragged him out of the smoke cloud produced by the shunshin no jutsu. She quickly pushed him against the hotel walls, her fingers sinking into his hair and her lips connecting to his.
Naruto closed his eyes and rubbed his nose against hers. His tongue darted into her past her parted lips, allowing him full access. The room was dark. Naruto picked up his crimson-haired cousin and rolled their bodies against the walls. Their arms wrapped around one another, and their hands roamed up and down their bodies as they tried to turn off the lights.
Heavy armor fell and clattered onto the pitch-black floor. Naruto slid his hands up her thighs and raised her butt high. Rias locked her legs around his waist.
"Mmm," Rias moaned while Naruto rolled and flicked his tongue against her welcoming tongue. She deepened the kiss and started moving her tongue back forcibly against his. She separated her lips momentarily from his. Their drool and saliva dripped between their open mouths.
"Feeling better?" Rias asked mischievously.
Naruto shook his head and whispered, "Good enough that I want us to rebuild the Uzumaki clan tonight."
He pulled her head forward, and her thick puffy pink lips crashed into his. Rias moaned louder as he rubbed his member up and down her crotch area. After an entire day of blood and battle, their primal urges overtook their common sense.
"Mmm, ah, yes, Naruto-kun," Rias moaned out separating her lips from his.
"What's going on?"
"After this is over, we'll have enough money to go anywhere or do anything we want," Rias purred sultrily. "We can travel the world," she kissed him and pulled away. "And retire inside a castle. Preferably one out west so that no one can bother us."
"So we're leaving in two weeks? Do you want to leave the Elemental Nations that badly?" Naruto asked, knowing her answer.
"Whirpool is destroyed and we are what's left of the Uzumaki clan. I want to have a new start, a new identity, but to do it with you," she admitted. She started licking his whisker marks and whispered, "Wherever we end up… that's where I want to spend the next decade barefoot and pregnant."
Her proclamation set Naruto off and he quickly pulled her lips to his. They started tearing off their clothes and shoes faster.
Her right hand slid down his chest to his cock, which was still trapped in his pants. He unzipped her shinobi flak jacket, which she had acquired from a Kirigakure Jonin she had killed. As her flak jacket slid off her shoulders, a loud knocking interrupted their short romantic interlude.
"Mmm, ah, stop… we need to stop!" Rias stammered and moaned, hesitantly pushing his head back. "Someone's at the door," she whispered in horror. "Hurry, put me down."
"Damnit," Naruto grumbled. "The one time we're alone."
Rias loosened her feet from his waist, letting him settle her down. He couldn't help but stare as she zipped up her flak jacket and slipped on her right blue shinobi sandal methodically. She gave him a quick peck on the lips before whispering, "Go, answer it. I'll be in the bedroom hiding. The last thing I want is for anyone to find out…" She bit her bottom lip while her frightened sea-green eyes looked back at the door. "If someone found out about us, then we'd be…"
"I know," Naruto whispered as Rias departed.
He didn't keep his eyes off her until he heard the bedroom door lock. The hotel suite entrance resembled a living room with a sofa, coffee table, and television, while it was connected to a small kitchen with all appliances included.
The knocking at the door grew rhythmically louder until Naruto creaked it open. Suddenly, the door swung open, and he was greeted by a hooded man wearing ragged peasants' clothes. Even under the hood, the man's face was covered by scarf clothes except for his glowing red eyes. The man's skin was fair underneath and looked clean compared to his appearance.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked suspiciously of the stranger.
"I'm just a messenger doing Kami's work. I mean you no harm, but I must deliver an urge message to your eyes only," the stranger stated urgently.
Naruto sighed and facepalmed. He waved the stranger inside his hotel room and looked out his door to see if anyone was witnessing this. His room was the only one open on his floor, likely due to the massive crowd forming in the lobby.
Naruto closed the door and crossed his arms, asking, "What's the message? Who is it from?"
"It's from an unassuming friend," the stranger answered.
"Friend? Who is this friend?" Naruto questioned.
"Do you believe that the Lancers are your friends?" the stranger asked cryptically.
"I wouldn't call the Crimson Lancers friends. We are mercenaries through and through, but even though the bulk of our army is made up of thieves, brigands, and war criminals… we are all brothers in arms, and I'd fight alongside all of them," Naruto said with a smirk.
The stranger stepped back and shoved his right hand inside his tattered black cloak. Naruto grasped the hilt of his bastard sword with his right hand while getting into a Raptor kenjutsu stance. A kunai slid out of his black-grey camo jacket, his sword still sheathed, but his kunai raised high.
"Dying ain't much of living because I promise you that whatever you think you're doing, it's not worth the money," Naruto threatened.
The stranger stopped and stared at him, their red eyes flaring. Neither spoke for what felt like a minute, which made Naruto uncomfortable.
He wasn't afraid of the stranger attacking him because he had spent the last four years honing his shinobi skills. He mastered wind, water, and lightning elemental natures during that time. He learned Taijutsu from the Dinosaur summoning contract he acquired in Kiri's ancient ruins. Most important was his relationship with the Kyuubi (Nine-Tailed Demon Fox), whom he found out was named Kurama. Their friendship blossomed during his trial and eventual prison sentence, declared on October tenth his thirteenth birthday. Kurama gave him control of up to seven of the nine tails.
"As I said, Mr. Uzumaki, I come here only to deliver a message. Harming you isn't the intention. That's the last thing I would want," the stranger said, pulling his hand out of his cloak.
Revealing a white envelope with his name imprinted at the center. Naruto sheathed his kunai in his left hand and snatched the letter from the stranger. He opened the envelope and saw that it was a telegram message that had been intercepted:
Updated Report to KIS head spymaster
Sasuke Uchiha
Riyal fell today. Hundreds of Mukden citizens have been brutally killed as I'm typing this message. Please send a team to extract me. My cover has been compromised, and the mercenary company, the Crimson Lancers, are holding me, along with all the foreigners in the city, hostage. General Nagoya is dead, and I fear for my life. I can't verify the primary perpetrator of Riyal's destruction, and I won't be able to send any more telegram messages for fear of the Mukden workers' lives. Rahkan rebels are preying on the Mukden clan for supporting the Amber Country Daimyo. They are now dragging people through the streets. Buildings are being torched. The situation on the ground is getting worse by the minute. I repeat, please send a team to extract me!
"No, no, this telegram is all wrong. We aren't holding the foreigners hostage. Without us, they'd be torn to shreds by the rebels," Naruto said quietly.
Naruto reread the message, horrified that someone in the hotel was a spy and they were contacting Konoha from the hotel. The KIS (Konoha Intelligence Service) was Konoha's premier spy network, which his former master, Jiraiya, set up. Sadly, the person to replace his former master was the world's worst turncoat, Sasuke Uchiha.
Naruto looked up at the stranger whose red eyes glowed brighter.
He thought about what the Kyuubi taught him about spotting illusions and breaking through a genjutsu. By closing his eyes and activating his Mind's Eye, Naruto saw a genjutsu surrounding the stranger.
Whoever this stranger was, he had to be a genjutsu expert.
Only a highly trained genjutsu specialist could speak past ten thousand soldiers leading up to the twelfth floor.
"Do you mind dropping the genjutsu? The strong bond between a jinchuriki and a Biju allows me to break out of whatever genjutsu you have," Naruto said, annoyed. "Also, how did you intercept this telegram?"
"Perceptive, I am impressed. I've heard legendary tales of your prowess over the years, but seeing what you're capable of in person is enlightening," the stranger praised. "I admit you have grown into a powerful shinobi. I'll drop my genjutsu, and you can drop the Mind's Eye Jutsu. I'm not molding my chakra, at least not yet."
"Your voice… I've heard it before. And those eyes," Naruto said, entranced by the stranger's eyes. "Do I know you?"
He deactivated his Mind's Eye jutsu simultaneously with the stranger dropping their genjutsu. The stranger pulled off the scarf wrap, barely covering their eyes, revealing Sharingan eyes. The stranger was an Uchiha!
Naruto closed his sapphire eyes and opened them to reveal crimson-glowing eyes with slit pupils. One ability he learned from the feathered lizards and the Kyuubi was to enhance his ocular perception whenever he used Kurama's chakra. This allowed him to see better and be more situationally aware of all his surroundings, yet he couldn't see through walls like a Hyuga or copy jutsu like an Uchiha.
Naruto grasped the handle of his bastard sword once more when the stranger moved their hand to their scarf-covered head. Naruto curiously stopped and watched the stranger remove their scarf, revealing themselves as Itachi Uchiha.
Naruto should have been terrified that Itachi Uchiha was standing before him, but he was relieved. He was expecting Itachi's no good treasonous-cocksucking-bastard brother Sasuke to appear. He knew Itachi once worked for Akatsuki, an organization set up to capture jinchuriki. The key difference here was that Itachi wasn't wearing his Akatsuki cloak, nor did he appear threatening.
Itachi was five-foot-eight, just three inches shorter than Naruto. He had fair skin and raven-black hair styled into a long, elegant ponytail. Despite his shambled appearance, he didn't look much different from when Naruto last saw him five years ago.
"Itachi? What are you doing here? Is Akatsuki is destroyed? And why did you give me this telegram?" Naruto asked quickly.
"So many questions and such little time. To answer your questions, Akatsuki was destroyed two months ago, and I'm here because I have business to settle," Itachi answered cryptically. "That telegram was intercepted by my former leader's network of wiretapped telegram posts that span The Elemental Nations out East to the Fractured Nations out West. That message was sent out roughly seven hours ago, giving Konoha ample time to respond."
"I was told a few months ago that Konoha's Embassy was in Amber Country's capital, Yalu. What's going on?" Naruto asked.
"My, my, you sure have wisened up, but you forget that Konoha operates close to fifty conglomerates that run subsidiary companies throughout Amber Country. This country's resources range from silk, amber, and tungsten to the waterways from these mountains. Fire Country's economy is collapsing, and their hold over the western Elemental Nations begins and ends with the Land of Amber," Itachi explained to the best of his ability.
"In simpleton's terms for the uneducated," Naruto jested after Itachi's complex explanation, much to the Uchiha's chagrin. "Konoha has its tentacles wrapped around Amber Country's resources, but with a regime change from the Mukden clan to the Rakhan clan. Konoha is probably afraid of losing that revenue of exploited resources."
"Correct. That is precisely why I came to see you. A spy in this hotel is collaborating with Konoha, and they plan on giving Konoha information that leads to your arrest. If you find this spy before they get extracted or they send another telegram to Konoha, then we could avert a crisis leading to the next Great Shinobi War," Itachi said.
"How could this lead to another Great Shinobi War? Amber Country, Silver Country, and Demon Country are in the Triangle of War," Naruto explained, getting Itachi's attention. "It's called that because this region is mountainous, far removed, so backward that no one cares about it. Hell, there are twenty rebel factions and sixty mercenary armies roaming these lands. This region has been at war for forty years, and this is the last place Konoha would send a detachment after me."
"Because there are enough foreigners in this hotel, this region will be front-page news worldwide if a catastrophe happens. The economic crisis in Konoha is so bad that if Yalu falls to the Rakhan rebels, Fire Country will plunge into a civil war. This crisis can be averted if you take immediate action," Itachi answered, much to Naruto's annoyance.
"Hate to break this to ya, but I'm not a shinobi anymore. I'm trying to retire from the soldier's life." Naruto admitted. "My days of taking missions are long gone."
"Just like me, you were once a shinobi," Itachi stated, causing Naruto to turn away from the Uchiha. "We both were born and raised in Konoha. Our nation betrayed us both, yet here we still stand. Naruto, everyone in this hotel's life is at stake. There is no one else I could entrust this mission to other than you."
"Fine, I'll try and get to the bottom of this, but I'll expect something in return," Naruto said with a smile.
"I wouldn't expect otherwise from the number one most unpredictable shinobi," Itachi said with amusement.
"Now that Akatsuki is no more, I'm surprised you came to see me first. I'm honored, don't get me wrong, but I always thought you'd go after Sasuke," Naruto joked, causing him to grin like a fox.
"Why is that?"
"Because I grew up an orphan. I never got to experience what it's like to have a brother, but like you, I was once a shinobi," Naruto said, glaring at Itachi.
"Was Sasuke your brother in arms?" Itachi asked softly almost like he was choking on his own words. "I know you were teammates.
"When I fought alongside Sasuke on Team Seven for a short period of time, I considered him a brother. He was someone I trusted and respected. He once said I was more of a brother to him than you ever were," Naruto admitted.
Itachi's bottom lip quivered, but the older brother quickly composed himself. Naruto saw the faintest tear sliding down his cheek. Itachi allowed the tear to drip to the floor before he said, "That's good to know."
"Don't get all affectionate for that bastard. Sasuke tried to kill me at the Valley of End, but I won. After the Sasuke Retrieval Mission, Tsunade sentenced him to four years to life for high treason and attempted homicide. That brother betrayed me! He testified before a military tribunal set up by Danzo, accusing me of collaborating with Orochimaru. Sasuke accused me, his brother, of crimes I never committed so that he could get out of prison!" Naruto seethed, closing his eyes and biting his cheek. "You damn Uchiha's have taken everything from me. Kurama told me that your family was responsible for the Kyuubi Attack."
"Kurama?" Itachi repeated.
"The Kyuubi's real name is Kurama," Naruto answered.
"Kurama is correct," Itachi stated with a smile. "I swear to you that I had no involvement during the attack. I was barely out of the Academy when it happened."
"No worries, I know. But I just want to know the truth about what happened," Naruto pleaded.
"There is so much to explain, but I must go. I will be in Yalu having dango at the Silk Worm Cafe inside the Rosvo Amber Tower in ten days. I'll be expecting you regardless of what happens tonight," Itachi stated before forming the tiger hand sign.
"Wait!" Naruto shouted.
Naruto tried to grab Itachi's arm, but he activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and burned away in a swirl of black flames. The blonde-haired jinchuriki fell back on his butt, not wanting a trace of Amaterasu's ember on his clothes. He once heard Jiraiya say, "Its flames burn until they turn to ash." Naruto looked at the telegram in his hand and the spot where Itachi burned into thin air.
The only evidence of what happened was the telegram in his hand, but then again…
He formed the tiger sign and closed his eyes, feeling every tenketsu point in his body burst with chakra. He switched off his chakra, which caused him to kneel and look up. He saw Rias tapping her right foot, wearing only her bathrobe. Her robe was just enough that he could see the outline of her D-cup breasts yearning to be released.
Cold drool dripped down his chin, causing him to shake himself fully awake. Naruto saw Rias was reading the telegram that was previously in his hands.
"Took you long enough…" she mumbled, slightly aggravated like he had done something stupid. "And here I thought we were going to have sex."
"How long was I out?"
"Long enough for me to read this telegram while watching you drool over yourself," Rias pouted before settling the telegram down on a counter. "I heard you talking to that Uchiha for almost ten minutes before I heard you stop."
"That was Itachi Uchiha. He must have placed me under a genjutsu before he left or before I answered the door… I'm sorry, Rias-chan, for getting us dragged into more trouble," Naruto said pitifully.
"Was that Sasuke's older brother? The same older brother who tried to kidnap my sweet and handsome fiance?" she asked, only to hear another groan from Naruto.
His headache had returned in full force. He placed his left hand on the throbbing spot on his head, but that did little to ease the pain.
She crouched and pulled his eyes parallel to her caring, worried, and compassionate sea-green eyes. Her lily-white right palm gracely went up and down his whiskered-marked cheek. Naruto's right hand wandered gently through her mane of long crimson hair until it settled on her reddened left cheek.
"Rias-chan, you must get dressed. I need to find that spy. When is that pianist playing again?"
"She is playing in five minutes. I'll meet you downstairs, and we will find this spy together," she agreed.
Her soft, puffy pink lips met his. It was a quick kiss, but it gave him all the strength he needed to succeed.
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The elevators at the Green Dragon Suites were made entirely out of glass. As the hydraulics brought the elevator down from the twelfth floor to the lobby, Naruto saw the massive crowd of hundreds, if not thousands, of people swarming around the auditorium. He knew wholeheartedly that Itachi had given him an impossible mission.
Even if he had a Sharingan or used the Mind's Eye, he wouldn't have been able to distinguish among the thousands who were or weren't spies. His only clues were that the spy was from Konoha and the telegram was sent from the hotel.
Itachi was putting him through a test. This was the only reason he could think of for why Itachi wasn't handling the task personally.
"That or he's using psychological warfare, dattebayo," Naruto groaned while holding his aching ballsack right as the elevator doors opened with a loud ding.
He exited the elevator and instantly bumped into the crowd. He weaved through tightly packed clusters of drunk, happy, loud soldiers cheering as he passed by. Women tried clawing him towards them while drunken Lancer cadets hollered his name. Naruto squeezed, dodged, and pushed through the thickening crowds marching to the auditorium.
Many people were coming out of the hotel bar drunk, disorderly, and foul-smelling. Officers are far older and have lifetimes more experience than Naruto shouted at the most drunken and rowdy Crimson Lancers.
"If I catch anyone else groping or harassing hotel staff, you will be thrown out of the corps! I won't make any exceptions, you devil dog sons of bitches!" Commander Tansuko shouted after many soldiers walked out of the hotel bar.
Naruto tried his best to sneak past the massively obese Commander of the Black Bear Brigade, but he was spotted quickly.
"Ah, young captain Uzumaki," Tansuko chuckled, red-faced and jolly.
Rakhan Soldiers and Lancers made room for him as he slowly glided over to Naruto, who was still futilely making his way into the auditorium. The blonde-haired jinchuriki frowned as Tansuko quickly commanded people to move aside. Naruto frowned because even though he was the most powerful soldier in the army. He was the youngest in high command compared to the rest of the military. He became a Captain only because Atsuko and Genno were there to teach and promote him quickly through the ranks.
He was the only jinchuriki part of a PMC (Private Military Company) worldwide. That was partly why Rias, who was far more skilled than he was at chakra control or anything to do with it, but she too was promoted the same way. He owed all his success to Genno and Atsuko. They were the ones who took him in when the rest of the world was against him. Men like Tansuko were the reason why his master was being sidelined.
Tansuko eventually came to Naruto's side. "Last New Year, I promised to lose weight and be quicker on my feet. Look where it's gotten me," Tansuko roared before laughing like a cackling hyena in the savanna. "It's good to enjoy a performance with the hero of the day!"
Tansuko started walking toward the pianist, dragging Naruto with his chubby right hand. The auditorium was like a massive movie theater with rows and sections that went up to the hotel's third floor. It could easily seat one thousand people, but at least another thousand more were squeezed on the stairs leading to the auditorium stage. A pathway quickly opened up, and they were close to the stage. On the stage were seven large speakers hooked up to a very fancy Yamaha piano.
The crowd coming to see the famous pianist could best be described as a rave.
There were thousands of faces Naruto had seen on and off the battlefield. None of the faces stood out as malicious. Most people looked excited and jubilant. This made him realize that he had once gone to a concert. He enjoyed music but never had the time or opportunity to develop a taste. He spent the last five years of his life fighting, surviving, escaping, killing, and turning into something he never wanted to be.
"Naruto, what do you think?" Tansuko asked as he led them through the roaring crowd.
"Think about what? I didn't hear what you said!" he shouted at the fat commander.
"I want to know if you've already decided to become a commander!" Tansuko shouted back. "It's okay if you don't want to, but I do enjoy having you and your cousin in our army. If I could clone Uzumaki's, I would. I'd make ten thousand of you because your family is dependable!"
Naruto blushed from all the praise he was receiving. He wanted to tell the fat commander the truth, mainly because Tansuko was always kind and generous to him.
"I'm sorry, but I need a month to consider if this promotion is right for me. I like being a captain and directing troops on the front lines. I just like being there to ensure we have as few casualties as possible," Naruto said as professionally as he could. "Could we speak of this another time?"
"Of course! Let's listen to some music and enjoy our victory!" Tansuko shouted.
They finally arrived closer to the stage where Rainier was patiently waiting with his fellow captains, Balian and Ali. All three captains' eyes widened as Naruto accompanied Tansuko to the most expansive space between the rave and the stage. A spotlight was fixed on the Yamaha piano. Naruto was sweating from the furnace of heat the crowd was producing, and everyone was anxiously waiting for this famous pianist.
Word of mouth produced a concert-sized crowd. By his estimation, well over two and half thousand people squeezed inside the massive auditorium, all waiting around the stage for the pianist to come out. The Crimson Lancers took up three-fourths of the crowd, and they wore peaked caps, berets, and slashed headbands. The rebels wore black cloaks and chainmail armor, while the foreigners wore peacoats and furred hats because of the cold.
The doors behind the auditorium stage opened in a loud lurch.
A woman wearing a light purple sleeveless kimono-styled dress appeared. The dress was cut halfway to her knees, and she moved out of the darkness and into the light. She was young, no older than Naruto, but incredibly beautiful, with long, flowing dark blue hair that reached her lower back. Her breasts were sizeable, bigger than Rias', and every curve was filled. Most distinguishable were her eyes.
The pianist waved to the cheering crowd, who returned her gratitude with claps and cheers. She glided elegantly across the stage to the piano, her violet eyes breathtaking. Not a soul said a word as everyone gasped at her beauty.
The woman stood in front of the piano, her lily-white fingers tracing over the black piano cover. She was now entirely in the spotlight, and the crowd roared in excitement, especially now that they could see her entire body!
Naruto's sapphire eyes widened, and his mouth dropped in complete shock. He was staring at the least likely suspect. Once upon a time, she was his secret childhood crush. Her pearly smile, fair skin, and violet eyes looked foreign to most people in the room, but they weren't foreign to him. She wasn't just his crush. She was a dear friend who snuck him food during their academy days.
His heart soared, sank, then soared again with thousands of butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
Standing on stage, bowing before the crowd, the pianist smiled, for she was none other than Hinata Hyuga.
