Yo, it's Ken.
I'll keep this note brief so you guys can get into the story but I'm so looking forward to these next few chapters as I usually say with every arc considering I love this story but these ones especially I've been looking to.
Anyway, let's get to reviews!
Dragonkeeper10: I'm glad you enjoyed the festival, I love action, but I was dying for some slice of life. That chapter was awesome to write. Naruto and his accidental stuff, I find it funny too haha but let's be real the guy is kinda awesome in general. I got to write more of the little things for the characters I really wanted to add for them in this chapter like Yugito's hobbies she doesn't usually get to enjoy and Fu and Tsubasa dancing with each other. I was a big fan of that part. Keep the Sasuke and Tenten thing in mind because there's a method to the madness but I can't say much for now. I'm glad you enjoyed the update, and I can't wait for what the story brings into the new year either and It's plenty! Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next one!
Alexander4443: Thanks, as always bro! Thank you again for reading and here's to another year of seeing you in the next one!
zachogs07: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! That last line was something right? I won't elaborate but look forward to the story progressing, this is still a story in the world of Naruto so who knows what the future holds. thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Kabundio: I'm glad you enjoyed! This chill chapter was one I needed to write as well haha. I'm also glad you have questions, I will be answering them all, but you already know the rule so look forward to it and it will all come in due time. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
TheAlienHeart: Lighthearted chapters are my big weakness; I wouldn't call myself an action writer, but I do plenty of writing actions scenes and stuff so it's nice to have a chapter like this occasionally. I'm eagerly waiting for the encounter too haha it'll be sooner than you think as I'll say until it happens. Until then please look forward to it. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Yuzuki476: Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate them! Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Guest: Thank you for words! I write in the hopes of making the best possible story I can make and I'm glad you like so far. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Samuel Santillan: Resting is highly important, and I couldn't help myself being in the holiday mood and writing a chapter with those kinds of vibes. Regarding the romance I'll continue to dance around it but for now I have a somewhat plan for what I want to do with that so for now no spoilers haha. The photo was one of my favorite additions to the chapter. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!
Krieger Techpriest: Krieger! I hear what you're saying, and you'll be missed but eagerly waited for so take your time. Alright rapid fire. I wanted Yugito to have a reasonable hobby that both fit her character but also contradicted it in a way the peace of the instrument and the violence of the ninja, also I never made that connection with her and Bee when I planned but now I can't unsee it haha. No, that asshole in not going to pull a reincarnation through the baby. I'm crazy, not insane lol. Mother hen Tayuya is always a win in my book and I'm glad you enjoy it as well. Interesting thoughts on the festival but you know the rules, you gotta read haha. The knucklehead and the pregnant mom had one of my favorite sections to write in that chapter. I'm a writer down to my soul Krieger, I can't make things easy not even shipping haha. The Naruto world is very strange but hey I'm going with the flow and can appreciate the technology when writing makes life easier. Lastly. Naruto's current titles according to the in Kokai Bingo Book.
The Wandering Ninja.
The Dancing Blade.
The Blue-Eyed Demon.
The Usurper.
These are it for now... lol Have fun. Thank you again for reading and we'll be seeing you soon.
miguel.a. : I appreciate the kind words my friend, I really do. I'm glad I was able to end the anxiety for the next chapter coming out for you. I'm honored you feel that way about the story and it's things like that that make me want to strive to do my best as a writer moving forward and I'm grateful. Naruto and his philosophy are very important aspects of his character that while I challenge, I'll never stray from because that's his character and I'll continue to move forward with that thought. I also hate OCs which is why I'm strict on myself about creating characters and will always make sure they have a place in the story, that said I'm glad you enjoy Tsubasa, Haruka and Boro. They are my best written ones to date and yes that is me challenging myself. The arcs, the storyboarding, I have a strict process I follow, and the most important part is I have to enjoy what I'm writing if not I gets thrown out the window and I start again. I'm glad you are enjoying them so far and I'll continue to write with that in mind as I improve moving forward. Thanks once again for reading my friend and I'll see you in the next one!
As always you know the drill, feel free to leave any questions, thoughts, and criticisms in a review, I'll always do my best to respond to as many as I can and always read and appreciate all of them.
That said it's time we begin to more forward again and it's pedal to the metal on my side so look forward to that in the updates as the we continue to rush forward.
Thank you all again for reading and I hope you enjoy.
-Ken
Next Time! Chapter 44: Every Dog Has Its Day
{...}
Chapter 43: Haunted
The early morning sun shone on the compound, that just like any morning with the Renegades was as lively as ever.
"Make sure everything is packed properly, the last thing we want to do is have to take too much time."
Yugito said while Boro and Fu nodded their heads, "I wonder what it's going to be like, Naruto's been pretty vague about it. The Land Hidden in Whirlpools. I'm thinking of sandy beaches, cool ruins…" the green haired girl pondered out loud while Boro lifted an eyebrow.
"Wait… Yugi, what are you planning to do?"
Boro asked while Fu suddenly closed her mouth and stared toward the blonde woman, "She's coming with us, right? Why aren't you packing?" the girl asked while Yugito took a deep breath.
"I'm actually going to be leaving in a minute."
Yugito said while Boro and Fu stared at her, "Huh!? Just like that?! Wait, you can't leave! I'll cry!" Fu whined while the brown-haired boy exhaled.
"Yugito, it's been an honor… I'll miss you and your beauty…"
The teen said dramatically as Yugito merely stared at the both of them for a moment, suddenly they were both hugging on the woman's legs where she stood. "Don't go!" They both cried dramatically while the woman couldn't help the smile that came to her face.
"Are you two done?"
Yugito asked before they eventually let go of her legs, "It's true that I'm leaving, but I'm only going to report to Lord Bee. I have to inform him of the operation's success, besides… I already have permission to escort you all to the dock where you'll be departing. A parting gift from the Raikage." the woman explained, causing the two teens to cheer.
"What's with all the commotion this early?"
Naruto asked as he came down the stairs with Tsubasa following behind him, "Morning Naruto, how's upstairs?" Yugito asked while Tsubasa looked at Fu who looked back at him with a warm smile to which he returned with his own.
"Haruka's struggling a little bit, with her due date getting closer and closer I think she's going to pop soon. Tayuya said she'll be taking care of her though. Other than that, the packing should be good."
Naruto said while Yugito raised an eyebrow, "She should still have two weeks, how bad are the symptoms? I could take her into the village with me to make sure." the blonde woman said before footsteps came down the stairs.
"No need to worry, I got her. Stressing her out isn't going to help."
Tayuya suddenly said while Naruto and Tsubasa looked back toward her, "Tayuya… You know how Haruka can be, I don't want her hurting herself because she thinks she's going to be a burden." the woman said as Tayuya shook her head.
"I can read Bright Eyes like a book, the moment she starts acting tough I'll knock down to size. She's in good hands."
Tayuya said while Naruto nodded his head at her, "...I trust you. I'm sure all of you know to be good while I'm gone." Yugito said with an amused smile on her face as Tayuya rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure we'll be fine; you just make it back soon. We got a big dinner planned for our last day."
Naruto said while Tayuya's eyes landed on him, "You guys are headed out?" she asked while Tsubasa nodded his head.
"We figured it would be a good idea to grab supplies, the dock is a few days away by foot. We'll need to camp."
Tsubasa said while Tayuya looked between him and Naruto, "Alright… Don't take too long but don't rush back at the same time." the girl said, causing Naruto to raise an eyebrow.
"What's that even supposed to mean?!"
Naruto asked while Tayuya narrowed her eyes at him, "It means what I say it means so just listen, Shithead!" the girl raised her voice causing Fu to make a face pointing at them.
Chaos ensued while Yugito watched everyone before she smiled, "I'll be on my way then, I'll be back later." the woman announced her exit before she was stopped.
"Hang on."
Naruto said walking toward her while her ponytailed swayed looking at him, "Did I miss anything?" the woman asked before she was suddenly cut off by being pulled into an embrace. Yugito's eyes suddenly widened as Naruto hugged her.
"Thanks… You make it back soon, alright?"
Naruto said while the woman looked at the boy, now slightly taller than she was, she couldn't help but be engulfed by the teen's warmth as she slowly hugged him back. "I swear on everything… I will." the woman said while the younger blond nodded.
"You getting all mushy on us, Yugito? That looks like a tear."
Tayuya's teasing tone rang out as the woman quickly turned away, "That's enough. I'll be back." she spoke wiping at her face slightly. "Wait!" Fu yelled standing up to her feet rushing over to the woman to hug her too. Instead, she only grabbed the air as she vanished.
"Darn it."
Fu said after landing on the ground face first, the girl suddenly felt herself being pulled off of the ground. A pair of arms wrapped around her as she immediately knew who it was. "I've got you." Tsubasa spoke while the girl immediately hugged him back.
"'Basa! You're the best. I wuv you!"
The girl's muffled cries went into his shirt as the teen only smiled at her antics, "Ugh, I've had enough grossness. If you guys don't mind, I'll be puking next to Haruka. Make it back safe." Tayuya retreated up the stairs before Tsubasa let go of Fu.
"Let's try to grab as much as we can, I'm sure we'll need supplies on the island as well. I'm not expecting much to be standing from what I heard."
Naruto said while Tsubasa nodded, "Survival materials and sunscreen?" the rare joke rolled off of his tongue while the blond smiled. In the background Boro nudged Fu before making a kissy face in the air, the girl flushed before slapping at him with her hands. Boro retaliated by ruffling her green hair with his hand.
"We shouldn't be long you two so let's make sure we're all ready to leave by the morning."
Naruto said before Boro gave a salute, "Aye aye Cap'n." Boro said holding a single hand on Fu's head that prevented her from hitting him before she gave a quick salute.
"Got it, make it back soon!"
Fu chirped immediately going back on the attack against Boro who held her back almost effortlessly with a smirk on his face, Naruto and Tsubasa walked out of the compound before quickly making their way out of the gates toward the village.
One last day before they leave.
{...}
"I see… So, the threat has been neutralized."
The Raikage spoke while Yugito kneeled in front of his desk, her eyes stared at the floor with a nod of her head, "Yes sir. The Bandit King, while formidable, was defeated. His compound has been destroyed and as far as our reconnaissance shows his forces have been scattered, not showing up anywhere ever sense." the blonde woman said while A nodded his head.
"It's still hard to believe that a rogue Jonin could cause all of this trouble, not to mention the mess that still leaves us. Even if his forces have disappeared, the fact that multiple traitors are in the midst of it means that we'll have to track them down and deal with them accordingly."
A spoke as Yugito lifted her head, "You don't believe they would flee? Without their leader they wouldn't have a means for organization, not to mention they are now existing as enemies of the Hidden Cloud." the woman asked, causing A to huff.
"Don't underestimate the pride of fanatics, people who believe in lies with all they can aren't the types to just up and abandon their beliefs. I'll be creating a task force meant for the gathering of these rogue individuals, I want them taken care of before they can even attempt to gather once more. Quietly."
A ordered while Yugito looked up from the floor slowly, "Lord Raikage… With all due respect. Shouldn't the people know? While they are traitors, these are friends and family to these villagers, just making them disappear without telling them anything is wrong, isn't it?" the woman asked, causing the man to narrow his eyes at her.
"I understand your sentiment, Yugito. However, these people are no longer ninja of the Hidden Cloud and shouldn't be treated with any kind of mercy for what they've done by siding with him. This needs to be done quietly because if the other Hidden Villages learn of this there's no doubt in my mind they'll attempt to take advantage of it."
Yugito listened to A speak while she stood to her feet, "I don't mean to undermine your words my lord. However, failure to address the reason why will cause a stir in the villagers anyway. Other Hidden Villages should be the least of our concerns when the people are directly in front of this problem." the ninja said, causing A to pound his desk lightly.
"Yugito, I've always admired your dedication to this nation and its people. Your service is beyond valued, but you do better serving this nation by performing your task without question rather than try to play hero. I'd much rather ask for forgiveness than permission. The village will understand when it doesn't have to worry about a looming insurrection."
A spoke while Yugito looked into his eyes, "You should have seen him… The Bandit King. At first when I received this assignment, I couldn't understand why anyone would join his cause. Then, I took one look into his eyes and knew immediately. The Bandit King was a monster of ambition, who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals of making the land his." the woman said, causing the Raikage to tilt his head slightly.
"What are you trying to say?"
A asked while Yugito blinked, "Have you ever thought that the reason why our own brothers in arms abandoned the village for a madman that wanted to be king was because the land that they fought for itself was something they wanted to change?" the blonde's voice was resolute, causing A's eyes to widen.
"Are you hearing yourself? They stood behind a rogue to change this village? Everything I have done has been for the sake of this village, land, and every soul that lives in it. Why would they want to change something they wanted to protect? Why would they want to change their home?"
A asked while Yugito looked toward the floor, "Because that protection… is riddled in blood. I gathered information and looked into his file from before he went Awol. The Bandit King's last position as Jonin before his defection was in the Retrieval Unit." the woman said, making A clench his fist.
"Know your place, Yugito. You're out of line. You and I both understand exactly why that unit was created, don't use that as an excuse to justify these rouges."
A said while Yugito shook her head, "Forgive me, you misunderstand. It's not a justification of their actions; it's a reason to communicate with the village. If these people continue to live while they are in the dark about what's being done for their sake, then they'll push back. I've seen what vengeance can look like." the woman said as A huffed.
"You say that like I haven't… It appears you've changed a bit since joining the ranks of the Renegades. Tell me, what's your report on them?"
A asked while Yugito stared at the desk before she looked into his eyes, "They were instrumental in the defeat of the Bandit King as well as the majority of his forces, they were incredible assets to this nation. I believe they should be noted as such." the woman spoke briefly.
"Naruto Uzumaki… Were you able to confirm that his bloodline could potentially be connected to the Hidden Leaf's Yellow Flash?"
The Raikage asked while Yugito looked into his eyes for a moment before shaking her head, "No sir… I wasn't able to confirm. Naruto stands as his own ninja and shows no knowledge of the man or his techniques, even innately." her response was measured.
"Stands on his own as a ninja? Naruto Uzumaki is a weapon. Judging from reports a rather effective one, someone that would be quite dangerous to keep alive should he become a threat to this nation."
A spoke causing Yugito's hair to fray slightly as she kneeled, "My lord, Naruto is not a threat to this village. His intentions hid nothing, he only fought to protect this land. He doesn't even have his Leaf Headband on his person. His loyalties lie with this group." A noticed the change in her usual cadence leaning forward as he looked down at her.
"If his loyalties lie with his group then what reason would he have to not attack this nation should he gain the opportunity? The Renegades being given the ability to act freely without allegiance makes them a threat similar to the Akatsuki."
The Raikage said while Yugito did her best to keep her composure, "They won't act as a threat sir, they will be leaving the Land of Lighting and headed into the Land of Frost." she spoke causing the man to lean back into his chair.
"I see, that must have been for the escort request you placed. I wish to deliver them to that land out of this one."
The leader stared at her as she nodded, "Yes sir, it's the least we can do for everything that they've done. They shouldn't be a threat from outside this land." the woman said while the Raikge rubbed his chin.
"For the sake of their part in the elimination of the Bandit King, I'll grant you this request. I'm allowing you to escort them to the Land of Frost, however I also want you to ensure they'll be able to be tracked once they enter."
A said causing Yugito's eyes to widen, "Sir?" she asked while the Raikage stood from his seat. "The abilities of these Renegades as well as the two Jinchuriki in their ranks make them a credible threat no matter where they are located. I need you to ensure that at any instance of their movement even out of our sight, we'll be able to know." the man spoke as Yugito stared at the floor.
Her dark purple eyes looked up from the ground toward him, the Raikage felt a chill run down his spine as the cold look in her eyes intensely pierced deeply into his soul from where she was kneeling. The atmosphere in the room changed completely as they looked each other in the eyes.
"Yo."
A voice spoke as a hand landed on Yugito's shoulder, "Bee?" A asked while the blonde woman relaxed completely before she looked toward Bee who grinned.
"Dat's me, the one and only! Killa Bee!"
The man rapped while Yugito stared, "Lord Bee." her voice held an ease to it that the man nodded at giving her a thumbs up.
"I've already told you multiple times not to just barge in here whenever you want. We were in the middle of debriefing."
The Raikage's annoyance was clear in his voice, "Yeah yeah, I know. I need to borrow Yugito. Sensei's orders." the man said while A sweatdropped.
"You being her sensei formally does not trump my authority, Bee."
A said while the glasses wearing man ignored him wrapping an arm around Yugito's shoulder, "Gotta make like a rat, it'll be a quick chat. So, hold your horse bro, we'll be right back!" the man rapped, taking Yugito from the room without hearing another thing leave the leader's mouth.
"Lord Bee, I have to say while the sentiment is appreciated. It was quite rude to barge in and take me away."
Yugito said while the man shrugged, "I'd rather ask for forgiveness than permission, right?" he said simply making the woman look toward him before she chuckled slightly.
"I suppose. Though you shouldn't undermine authority no matter who you are."
Yugito said while Bee stepped in front of her, suddenly pointing at her, "Now that… is a good look on your face." the man said causing Yugito to give him a confused look.
"Good look on my face? I'm not doing anything in particular though?"
Yugito questioned while Bee clapped his hands together, "Oh! I'm so happy, I could fly. Little Yugito's face looks like she no longer wants to die!" the man rapped while the woman suddenly realized what he was referring to.
"What you told me… When you first left me with the Renegades. Did I really allow my face to show that?"
Yugito said suddenly conscious of herself while Bee shook his head, "Nah, don't fret. It looks good on you. That was the point of making you join them anyway. I knew they would have a good impact on you." the man celebrated as Yugito looked toward the ground.
"Still, I was out of line during my debriefing. The way I spoke to the Raikage, I wouldn't have dared to do that before. I should have properly composed myself before speaking with him."
Yugito said while Bee smiled at her, "So. Do you feel like you've grown?" the man asked while Yugito quietly looked ahead of them both, for a quick moment she saw the visage of everyone at the festival together before she smiled.
"... I finally got to play my shamisen."
Yugito said, causing Bee to almost break his neck with how facts his head turned toward her, "Word? That effective huh? That's good! Now I can finally make a proper group for music. Your shamisen, there was also that flute girl she can play with you, and I'll make that fox kid make a beat. With my raps on top, we'll be the greatest!" the man excitedly spoke, making Yugito laugh.
"I hate to burst your bubble but they're leaving tomorrow, we'll have to make that group at some later time."
Yugito humored the man while he nodded his head, "I see, the world is still filled with grand adventures for those kids. That's good. How about the Bandit King?" Bee asked while Yugito looked at him.
"He was strong, but I'll be honest. If you would have fought him, he wouldn't have stood a chance. Naruto and the others have grown but they still have a long way to go as do I."
The woman said while Bee gave her a pat on the back, "I'm sure you all did great. As for whatever is left of the bandit guy's forces we'll take care of it. That guy won't even be a memory." Bee said while Yugito nodded her head.
"Lord Bee…"
Yugito trailed off while Bee stopped looking back toward her, "Yeah Lil Yugi?" the man said while the woman gave him a rare hope filled look.
"I feel like the world is about to change… I believe that Naruto and the others are at the center of that change. I can't help but want to protect them so they can bring about that change. I wanna see what kind of world a place where all of them can live peacefully looks like."
Yugito said wistfully, making Bee smile at the rare sense of peace in his normally haunted protege's face as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Then protect them, now you made me curious about that change."
Bee said while Yugito laughed at him, as the pair talked the blonde couldn't help the thoughts of getting back to the rest of the Renegades as soon as she could.
She was looking forward to journeying with them a little longer.
{...}
A door closed behind a pair of teens who walked away from the storefront, Tsubasa slung the bag over his shoulder while Naruto flipped through a list.
"So that's pretty much all of it. Everything else we'll get on the way or while camping."
The blond said with a smile on his face while Tsubasa stared at him, "Hey, Naruto?" The smoky haired teen asked, causing the other teen to look toward him.
"Yeah? Did we miss something?"
Naruto said, causing the other boy to shake his head, "No, but… I was trying not to ask but I'm curious... Why were you banished from your village?" Tsubasa asked, making the blond tilt his head.
"Huh? Guess I never explained."
Naruto said while Tsubasa lifted his hands, "Not that it matters but it just doesn't make sense to me… You're a powerful ninja, a highly capable leader, and your determination is nearly unmatched. Not to mention you can be all those things without sacrificing your kindness. You should be an asset." The boy asked as they continued walking.
"Well… it's a little complicated. I'm not bothered by it much anymore. I appreciate your kind words and stuff, but I wasn't always like this."
Naruto said with a slight chuckle as Tsubasa blinked, "Is it strange that I doubt that?" The gray-haired boy joked, making Naruto laugh.
"I'm serious, back at the Leaf I was a bit of a class clown. I was still tough but nowhere near where I am now, my time on the road taught me so much. I'm grateful all things considered."
Naruto explained while Tsubasa had a puzzled expression on his face, "So you were banished because you were some kind of prankster? That's even more ridiculous." The teen commented while the blond shook his head.
"No, that's completely different. Remember that friend I was telling you about? The one I said I wanted to understand?"
Naruto asked before Tsubasa nodded, "Yes, I remember. He also wanted revenge, didn't he?" The boy asked.
"Yeah… I tried to save him, but I failed. My team was hurt, and he ran off in pursuit of power. At first I was convinced that was the cause of my banishment, but it ran even deeper than that."
Naruto explained while Tsubasa looked at the boy sucked into the story he was telling him.
"Turns out it was all a plot to get the Nine Tails inside me. Some guy named Danzo from my village planned to isolate me so he could secretly retrieve Kurama and kill me away from the village."
Naruto said, causing Tsubasa to clench a fist, "That's awful… Sounds like we need to take a trip to the Leaf. You helped with my vengeance; I'll help with yours." The gray-haired boy said while the blond lifted a hand.
"No need for that Tsubasa… I don't think I'm really the revenge type. If anything, I've gotten to the point where I'm trying to understand why he did it."
Naruto said while Tsubasa stared, "You want to understand him? Even after you found out what he did?" The boy was puzzled at the blond.
"Well yeah. There are cons for sure but… There are also pros. I got stronger, I met up with old friends, protected people all over. Most of all, I met you guys. I've experienced so much, and I don't think I would have without being banished. So, before I chose to hate him or forgive him I wanna know and understand why first."
Naruto said with a calm smile on his face causing Tsubasa to unclench his fist, "You're so… wise. I don't get it, you almost make me feel foolish for chasing revenge when I could have done what you did first." the teen said while the blonde shook his head.
"Our circumstances are different; the Bandit King killed your family and massacred many others strictly for his own gain. Your revenge was more than warranted."
Naruto said while Tsubasa chuckled slightly, "Yeah. I guess that's true… Can I tell you something?" The teen asked while the blonde nodded.
"Of course."
Tsubasa nodded at his words before he looked up at the sky, "He's dead, right? He's gone… Yet I still don't feel glad or satisfied. I feel like killing him again. Over and over, even now. Even after taking his life, it's like he's still haunting me. I want to make peace, but I still feel trapped in this feeling." The boy confessed as Naruto's hand landed on his shoulder.
"Tsubasa… You can't beat yourself but for feeling that way. If you taught me anything it's that revenge isn't simple. It's still fresh so take it a day at a time. You aren't alone, y'know?"
Naruto said while Tsubasa cracked a small smile, "Yeah. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you." The boy apologized while the blond grinned.
"Nah, I got you. That's what friends are for. I wanna make sure you're ok."
Naruto said causing Tsubasa to stop walking, his thoughts took him back to when they first met. He had tried to kill him, then got him locked in a cell with him. Instead of being angry like he was, Naruto spoke to him and offered him a way out that he refused because he thought he didn't deserve it.
It wasn't until he was about to be executed that he realized he wanted so much more out of life after his revenge.
And once more there to break his chains was him.
His thought then turned to the Renegades all sitting at the dinner table eating and laughing together, how peaceful that made him feel even beyond the rage in his heart.
"Tsubasa?"
Naruto asked with slight concern while the smoky haired boy slowly looked into the other boy's blue eyes, "Naruto… Would it be okay for someone like me… to become a stronger person? To be kind like you?" Tsubasa asked as the wind blew, swaying their hair.
"...That's more than okay, Tsubasa. You've earned that. I'll be there every step of the way."
Naruto said, causing Tsubasa to stare toward him with surprise before his expression changed to a relived one, "I appreciate that… Naruto." the boy said as the blond nodded.
"Hey… What's today's date?"
Naruto asked as he noticed leaves of different colors blew past them, "It's uh sometime in October now the 10th I think." Tsubasa answered while the blond looked surprised before he laughed.
Tsubasa was confused while Naruto continued to laugh, "What? Is something odd with the date?" The boy asked while the blond shook his head.
"No… I just noticed it myself but today's my birthday."
Naruto said as Tsubasa's eyes shot wide open, "Wait, it's your birthday?! You're just now telling me?" The boy's shock leaked into his voice causing Naruto to wave his hands.
"I wasn't even thinking about it until the date reminded me! I think that makes me 15 now."
Naruto spoke while Tsubasa ran his hand through his hair, "I need to get you a gift." His tone was deadly serious, making the blond laugh.
"It's seriously not a big deal! Don't worry about it."
Naruto said before Tsubasa rapidly shook his head, "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't worry about it? I'm getting you a gift now." The teen said while the blond sighed.
"Look my birthday has never been a big deal, it's just another day in the week for me-"
Naruto was cut off by a squeal, "It's your birthday?!" the familiar voice of Fu cut through the air making Tsubasa and Naruto stared toward her.
"Fu? Boro?"
Naruto asked spotting the pair hiding behind a building, Boro sighed while Fu quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Naruto asked while Boro sighed, "Welp, cat's out the bag. Fu enlisted my services to spy on you guys, she wanted to see if 'Basa would talk about her." His tone was teasing as Fu smacked his chest.
"Did not! That totally wasn't it! Boro is just being a bum! I was just… being nosy about my friends."
Fu defended while Boro rolled his eyes before staring at Tsubasa pointing his thumb toward her, this earned him a kick to the shin.
"Wait, where's Tayuya and Haruka then?"
Naruto asked before Boro rubbed his leg, "They're both still at the compound, Lady Cripple is the reason we left. She had something she wanted to talk to Haruka about, 'Girl talk' she called it." The boy said while Fu pointed at herself.
"And she said I wasn't old enough to listen too! Can you believe her?"
Fu exclaimed while Tsubasa raised an eyebrow, "Maybe it's about the pregnancy?" The boy asked with a stroke to his chin.
"If it's about the pregnancy then we should be there, quick let's get back."
Naruto said only for Boro to stop him, "Wait a second buster! You aren't slipping away from a certain birthday conversation, are you?" The brown-haired boy said while Fu nodded.
"Yeah, those two are fine. You aren't getting away that easily!"
Fu said while Tsubasa smiled at Naruto being pressured by his two friends, "I was thinking of getting him a gift." He added as Fu locked her arm with Naruto's.
"I agree! Let's go get you a gift! That's what people do for birthdays right?"
Fu asked while Boro shrugged, "Beats me, I never celebrated mine. However, our buddy Naruto here is gonna get his!" Boro exclaimed, wrapping an arm around his neck.
"Guys seriously it's not a big deal!"
Naruto yelled while Tsubasa followed the teens who were dragging him away, "Naruto's favorite food is ramen." The gray-haired boy added, making Boro and Fu look back at him then at each other.
"Let's get him a ramen bowl!"
Fu yelled while Boro rapidly nodded his head, "Hell yeah!" He yelled as they continued to drag him.
"Guys seriously! It's not that big a dea-"
Naruto was cut off as he suddenly remembered this day in his other instances.
A small, bruised version of himself walked through the streets of the Hidden Leaf, his small hands clutching a ramen packet. He ignored the stares as he continued to walk toward his home, soon he opened the door to his house stepping into it. From there he made himself a bowl of ramen, he found one of the candles he used in his home for light igniting its wick.
The boy watched the small flame dance as he sat in front of his ramen bowl.
"Happy Birthday to me…"
The small boy said quickly, blowing out the candle before eating his ramen.
He still doesn't remember what he wished for that day.
"It's just… another day. Don't worry about it…"
Naruto of the present said with emotion clearly on his face as the three other teens with him looked at him before they smiled. "Nah." They all spoke in unison causing Naruto to stare at them in shock as the continued to drag him to a store intent on buying him a gift.
Naruto couldn't help but chuckle a bit before a smile broke through on his face.
Oh right…
He wouldn't be alone on his birthday this year.
{...}
"It's Naruto's birthday today?"
Haruka's voice raised in surprise as Tayuya nodded her head as she sipped on her tea, "Yup. I ain't well versed in birthdays and stuff so I was wondering if you may have known anything." The reddish haired girl asked while Haruka tapped her chin.
"If it was his birthday, why wouldn't Naruto say anything about it until now?"
Haruka asked while Tayuya drummed her fingers on the table, "That's just the kind of guy Shithead is. Always putting others before himself, he was probably preoccupied by saving this place to even think about it." She explained as Haruka looked toward the floor.
"How did you even find out? Did he tell you?"
Haruka asked while Tayuya sighed, "He didn't have to, it was written all over his face. Plus, at one point while he was doing my therapy with me, he was talking about the date." The girl said while Haruka nodded her head.
"Honestly, I don't have a lot of experience with birthdays either. It was mostly ceremonies, nothing that really resembled a party."
Haruka said while Tayuya sighed.
"Oh, come on. The one person I figured had the least tragic backstory and she doesn't know shit. How are we supposed to plan one if we don't know anything about one?"
Haruka's ears perked at the girl's words, "Wait, want to plan something for Naruto's birthday?" The brown-haired girl asked as Tayuya crossed her arms.
"Yeah. What of it? I could even think of talking about it with loudmouth 1 and 2 running around so I sent them off. "
Tayuya said as Haruka stared at her before she looked at her tea, "Naruto really means a lot to you, doesn't he?" The honey eyed girl asked while Tayuya blinked.
"It's just something he'd do for me or any of us, consider this a preemptive strike."
Tayuya said with a smirk while Haruka chuckled, "Tayuya… Please be honest with me. I've wondered for a while but… Are you in love with Naruto?" The girl asked making Tayuya choke on her tea.
"Fucking what?"
Tayuya asked while coughing, "I'm sorry I was just curious. The way you act and care about him seems like it's more than just a friendly or you owe him kind of way." Haruka explained while the reddish haired girl cleared her throat.
"I'm not in love with Shithead… At least I wouldn't know if I was. Not saying that I am!"
Tayuya clarified while Haruka gave her a confused look, "How would you not know if you were in love or not. I always thought that feeling was pretty clear and prominent." The girl said as Tayuya shrugged.
"Look, Bright Eyes. I wasn't princess locked away in a tower, I was a solider. A ninja. I lived and would die at the order of… you know what I mean. I never felt that stuff before."
The girl explained while Haruka gave her a slightly concerned look, "You mean you never ever felt anything like love for someone?" the brown-haired girl asked as Tayuya stared at her.
"... I was once a part of a group. They were like me, freakshows and failed experiments. 3 and a half annoying ass guys."
Tayuya said while Haruka nodded, "You were the only girl on your team? You didn't feel anything for them?" her question was innocent rolling off of her lips.
"Hell no! Kidomaru was the wannabe leader and always tried to act wise out of his ass when he really was some battle nerd always prattling about games and levels even during combat. He always dragged us into his strategy meetings, I'm pretty sure he just wanted to waste time playing games with us disguising it as work."
Tayuya complained about her teammate causing a smile to creep on Haruka's face at the girl's speech.
"Ugh and Sakon and Ukon. The one and a half men, Sakon would always act like everyone's caretaker constantly worrying about our performance, making sure we were training properly to remain effective, and constantly asking questions about how we were and crap. Ukon was easier to deal with at least he called out his brother's crap with their morality arguments. It always gave us a laugh watching them argue."
A smile crept on Tayuya's face as she spoke. Haruka watched her eyes light up as her hand slapped the counter.
"And fucking Jirobo. That fatso was always on my case, about bullshit like my language and my aggressiveness. I can already hear him now. 'That's unladylike, Tayuya.' Fuck that guy. If Sakon was one thing Jirobo was always worse, he had the calm evenness about him. No matter what I did to tell the guy to piss him off he stayed steady. Always treating me like his little sister…"
Tayuya paused, causing Haruka to look worried as the girl sucked in a deep breath and exhaled it outward slowly.
"Kimimaro scared me, so I never really held him close or anything, to me he was just a corpse. A body for taking... But he also had this serenity to him even after he got sick. Like he had the eyes of a man that had accepted his fate yet still whimsical like he didn't want to die but knew he would anyway. I can't help but remember that..."
Haruka watched the girl relax for a moment before she suddenly clenched her hand into a fist slowly taking another quick breath to compose herself.
"I never felt anything like 'love' toward them but… They meant something."
Tayuya said while Haruka stood to her feet, "It sounds like they really did." The girl said before the reddish haired girl huffed.
"Then there was… Orochimaru. He's an arrogant bastard, a disgusting snake freak dedicated to immortality and toying with people's bodies, a sick bastard that bent and twisted us until we were just barely fit for his needs… He called me miserable as he spirted me away from the burning home I can't remember. He made me fight in cages and seared his chakra into my body to make a me his monster, his weapon... "
Tayuya said as Haruka took a step toward her, "Tayuya…" the girl spoke before she was stopped by the rare vulnerability on the other girl's face.
"But that damn guy was the closest thing I had to a father… Pathetic, right?"
The girl asked while Haruka stared at her before shaking her head, "No… That's not pathetic at all." The girl said, causing Tayuya to look into her eyes.
"The Sound Four, Kimimaro, and even Orochimaru… they were the closest I ever got to any kind of love."
Tayuya answered Haruka's question while the girl tilted her head, "Where are they now?" She could tell it was a sensitive question based on Tayuya's tightened reaction.
"Dead. And Orochimaru… Dead to me. That answer your question?"
Tayuya said with a roughness to her voice causing Haruka to place a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry." the girl spoke while the reddish haired girl huffed.
"Don't apologize, I'm being a big baby. I was an unfeeling badass before I met you schmucks. You're rubbing off on me."
Tayuya said while Haruka chuckled, "You're welcome." The girl said, causing the other girl to smirk.
"I wasn't saying thanks, Bright Eyes… Naruto is important to me and that's all I know right now. When the world was dark, he kicked down the door and brightened it up without my permission. He's strong, strong enough that for once in a long time I feel like he could stick around. I can't lose that."
Tayuya said while Haruka nodded her head, "I get the feeling all too well." The girl said while the reddish haired girl rubbed a hand over her face.
"Ugh, why am I talking to you about this stuff?"
Tayuya asked while Haruka smiled, "Because you like me and the rest of us. No matter how much you hide it." The girl answered quickly.
"...That's pretty fucking scary. You know… You guys weren't supposed to stick around with me and Naruto this long. If it were up to me, it would just be me and him. That would be easier, but you guys stuck around anyway..."
Tayuya said while Haruka watched the girl turn her back toward her, "Why is that?" the brown-haired girl asked.
"Because now, I have to deal with worrying about you guys… Each one of you is a pain in my ass in a different way. You're all getting underneath my skin, growing on me."
Tayuya spoke while Haruka pushed, "Why is that such a bad thing?" She asked as Tayuya looked her in the eye.
"Because in my world, people die."
Tayuya's voice had a bite in it as Haruka's expression dropped slightly at the emotion in the other girl's face.
"I have no memory of where I came from, only that I had a family, and they died in a fire. Orochimaru came along and he saved my life. He moulded me, raised me. He gave me a team. We worked, we fought, we bled, and we stuck together. That man betrayed me, left me to die in the forest with those same bastards that became my brothers."
Tayuya said while Haruka's eyes watered looking at her pain filled brown ones, her hand reached out grabbing the other girl's closed fist.
"So, why are you guys getting too close to me a bad thing? Because I'm only good at two things, Bright eyes… Killing and losing family."
Tayuya said, trying her hardest to hold herself together while Haruka's grip on her hand grew tighter.
"I… don't want to bury you guys too."
Tayuya said, causing Haruka to shed a tear, the reddish haired girl turned only for the brown-haired girl to hug her from behind.
"Tayuya… I'm not as strong as Naruto or the others. Regardless, I swear. I'm going to make sure I'm strong enough so that you'll never have to bury me."
Haruka said while Tayuya slowly looked at her, the shorter girl was crying, and she could feel the tears through the back of her shirt.
"You're pregnant, Bright Eyes. Take that weight off of your shoulders."
Tayuya said while Haruka shook her head to look up at her brown eyes, "No, I'll bear it all. No matter what, because you're my family too." The girl said still hanging on to Tayuya.
"...Damn it."
Tayuya said before she turned, allowing herself to hug the girl giving her a rub on the back.
"I wasn't supposed to make you cry but let it all out anyway. Ya big baby."
Tayuya said while Haruka laughed a little, "You're so mean, it's your fault for talking about sad stuff." The honey eyed girl complained.
"I'll make it up to you."
Tayuya said while Haruka sniffled, "You'll put in a good word for me with Naruto?" The girl joked, making Tayuya break out into a smile.
"You're a fiend. A damn fiend!"
Tayuya yelled as she laughed at the brown-haired girl who laughed while wiping her eyes, "I'm new to love too but I know that Naruto is someone I wanna look into. He'd be a great influence on the baby too." Haruka said as the reddish haired girl smirked.
"What about Bounty Fucker? I see that poor guy following around like a lost damn puppy these days."
Tayuya said while Haruka innocently raised an eyebrow, "Boro is sweet but he's a bit of a flirt when it comes to girls. He's nice to both Fu and especially Yugito. Naruto meanwhile is caring and focused. Not to mention gentle." The girl fanned while the reddish haired girl fake gagged.
"Easy does it there, Bright Eyes. You're getting a little too excited there. Ugh, why are you making me talk about this stuff."
Tayuya complained half-heartedly while Haruka smiled, "Because we're family. Like sisters. I never had one so I'm glad I found one in you." The girl said, causing the reddish haired girl to sigh.
"Keep dangling my embarrassing words in front of me, please I beg you."
Tayuya said sarcastically, making Haruka laugh again, "Honestly though, I am grateful. You all have helped make me a stronger person so thank you." The reddish haired girl ruffled her hair in response.
"Enough mush, focus. Birthday not boys."
Tayuya said before Haruka tapped her chin, "The birthday is about the boy though... Oh! I had one more thing I wanted to tell you." The girl brought up.
"Make it quick, Bright Eyes."
An amused expression graced Tayuya's face as Haruka faced her, "I think I came up with a name… for the bab-" Haruka was cut off as Tayuya's eyes suddenly widened. She quickly wrapped her arms around Haruka turning to cover her before the other side of the room suddenly exploded violently.
Tayuya coughed before she quickly looked down toward Haruka, "Bright Eyes! You, ok?!" She yelled while Haruka coughed before nodding her head.
"I'm ok."
Haruka said while Tayuya sighed in relief before she was suddenly grabbed, the hand pulled her from the floor before she was tossed into a wall. "Tayuya!" Haruka yelled while she made eye contact with a Hidden Cloud headband and the eyes of the white clad ninja.
He grabbed at her only to be kicked into the table nearby, his body smashed through it as Tayuya stood in front of the girl.
"Get up! It's an ambush!"
Tayuya held up a kunai while Haruka stood to her feet, the ninja recovered back to his feet. They both watched as several more ninja walked in through the hole in the wall.
"Haruka, don't you dare look back. Run, I'll make it to you but don't let them touch you."
Tayuya said while Haruka stared at her with concern, "What about-" the girl was cut off by a gentle push.
"Go!"
Tayuya yelled as Haruka quickly ran toward the hall, the brown-eyed girl turned quickly, intercepting several attacks from the ninja. One of the ninjas threw a jab that Tayuya caught, she bent his arm until it broke as she attacked another ninja. The girl dodged a few more attacks before especially tossed the ninja she had in her grip by his arm into another one of the ninjas.
They crashed through a wall as another ninja spun kicking Tayuya across in the face, more ninja poured in as they ran toward the hall. Tayuya's eyes widened as she snatched the leg of the ninja who kicked at her again out of the air, she broke it before slamming her knee into his ribs.
His body rolled across the ground as Tayuya wasted no time dashing after the ninja pursing Haruka.
Haruka ran as the ninja behind her began to catch up, one of them reached to pull her hair but stopped as a blade stabbed into his neck. The honey-colored eyes of the girl watched as Tayuya ran along the wall dragging her blade through the man's neck, she pulled it free as she landed, taking his head off.
Tayuya looked back at the girl, blood covered her face as she opened her mouth.
"Don't stop!"
Tayuya yelled, snapping Haruka out of her stupor, the brown-haired girl got to her feet as the violence resumed. Her footsteps slammed against the floor as Tayuya fought against the ninja she was blocking from her path.
Tayuya deflected a jab before rolling past a slash of a kunai, she then used her own kunai to deflect several slashes. There were a lot of them, and she was clearly at the disadvantage with her legs. As much progress as she's made, they were still far weaker than her arms.
And they were well aware of that.
Tayuya dodged several kicks then another slash before she felt her feet get swept from under her, another kick sent her tearing through multiple screens as the ninja pursued her.
Tayuya exploded out from the destroyed screen launching her leg outward, her kick disarmed one of the ninjas before pinning his arm with her foot. She smashed a knee into his face before leaning away from an attack from the other ninja, the reddish haired girl rolled over the back of the downed ninja.
Tayuya dragged her kunai down the back of the downed ninja before tossing him toward her other attacker. His body was quickly knocked away by the other ninja only for two slashes to cut into him, Tayuya weaved the blade through the air quickly as the ninja counterattacked.
Upstairs Haruka made her way up the steps as quickly as possible with two more ninja in pursuit of her.
The girl panted as she quickly turned down a corner followed closely by the ninja; Haruka moved as quickly as she could, but her pregnancy was slowing her down.
A ninja suddenly appeared in front of her making her fall down, the man glared as he went to grab her.
The floor in the room next to them exploded as a body flew through it, Tayuya jumped up throwing a kunai that stuck into the ninja's skull. Blood landed on Haruka as Tayuya jumped in front of her, "Water Style: Water Bullet!" The reddish haired girl yelled, firing multiple water projectiles.
The Hidden Cloud ninja on the other side dodged as Tayuya grabbed Haruka, "Tayuya!" the girl yelled as she was held in a princess carry.
"We gotta get out of here!"
Tayuya yelled as she ran as quickly as she could, she ignored the pain in her legs as she dashed trying to escape. Another room beside them exploded revealing even more ninja, Tayuya kept running as more enemies were in hot pursuit.
"We have to get back downstairs! They're going to run us into a corner!"
Haruka yelled while Tayuya nodded, "You trust me?" The girl suddenly asked as the brown-haired girl quickly nodded her head.
"Good."
Tayuya said as she went into a dead sprint dashing down the hall toward the window at the end of it, Haruka braced herself as the reddish haired girl shot a torrent of water from her mouth.
The window exploded as Tayuya and Haruka went through it, the girl landed on the roof tile on that level sliding on her feet.
"Quick, go down that way slowly and go to the forest! Get somewhere safe and I'll come get you. Hide!"
Tayuya yelled while Haruka gave her a look, "I'm not leaving you here! Come with me! We'll find the others and-" the brown-haired girl was cut off by a ninja landing on the roof they were on.
"Go!"
Tayuya yelled as she was kicked into the building, Haruka moved toward the side she could get down at moving slowly before she got off of the roof.
Her feet touched the grass as her mind raced, what was happening? Why are they being ambushed? Did they wait until everyone was separated? Her feet continued to crunch against the grass before she suddenly stopped, in front of her more ninja had appeared.
Haruka stared at them as they approached her, the honey eyed girl gritted her teeth before she pulled a kunai, she had on her out. Haruka stood her ground, but she was exhausted. That didn't mean she would attempt to fight, at least to buy even the slightest bit of time. The ninja approached her only for blue flames to quickly engulf them, Haruka looked over noticing Yugito landing next to her.
"Yugito!"
Haruka yelled while the woman hugged her close, "I came as quickly as I could, where's Tayuya?" Yugito asked while the girl looked at the building.
"They're attacking her in the compound! Yugito, these Hidden Cloud ninja. Where did they come from?!"
The girl asked frantically while Yugito narrowed her eyes, "I don't know, nor do I care. They'll die regardless. Stay with me." The woman said before two flaming tails appeared from her back.
Haruka was quickly wrapped in the and held against Yugito's back, despite the flames Haruka only felt warmth and not a single one of them burnt her. Yugito quickly dashed into action, flying into the building quickly dispatching two of the ninjas as soon as she landed.
The woman wasted no time attacking and smashing her way through the hall trying to find Tayuya, "Tayuya!" The blonde yelled as the girl slid out of a room on top of one of her doki.
"Yugito! Bright Eyes, is she ok?!"
The battered girl yelled while Yugito nodded, "She's with me. I have her in my tails, they shouldn't be penetrated by their jutsu or weapons." The woman said while Tayuya nodded.
"Who the hell are these guys?! More of the Bandit Fuck's men?"
Tayuya asked while Yugito quickly dispatched the ninja in the room, "I fear that may be the case." the woman said as the girl spat blood out.
"What a damn shitty revenge plot! Newsflash assholes, your boss and dead and you're trying to kill the people that did it! Not wise!"
Tayuya yelled while Yugito's ears perked, "That doesn't make sense. Why are there so many of them?" The woman said as even more than before showed up. Yugito crouched, extending her nails while Tayuya placed her flute against her lips, the ninjas then charged at them.
{...}
Meanwhile Naruto, Tsubasa, Fu, and Boro made their way back to the compound with multiple bags in hand.
"Jeez, if I knew you guys would do all this, I wouldn't have mentioned it."
Naruto said while Fu gave him a slap on the back, "Stop whining about it, it's your birthday and we love you. Now enjoy your gifts and say thank you like a big kid." the girl said while Naruto huffed.
"Thank you."
The blond said while Boro was double checking his bag, "Hey so quick question about diapers-" the teen was cut off by Tsubasa.
"For the last time Boro, I highly doubt we'll need those. Haruka isn't due for another couple weeks, by then we'll be in Uzushiogakure."
The gray-haired teen said while Boro huffed, "Look man, Naruto is constantly talking about the place being in ruins. I doubt they have a still standing baby goods store and the little guy is going to be here any day now." the brown-haired boy said as Fu giggled.
"Look at you, Boro. You sound like Mr. Dad!"
Fu said with a laugh before she ran into Naruto's back, "Naruto?" The girl asked while the blond just stood there.
"Why… Are there so many chakra signatures?"
Naruto asked as Tsubasa took a step toward him, "Are you sensing something? What's happening?" The teen asked as Naruto's eyes shot open.
Without another word the teen vanished, barely leaving any dust in his wake, "Fu!" Tsubasa yelled as the girl took off into the air.
"No…"
The girl said while Boro and Tsubasa looked toward the top of the trees, they spotted smoke coming from the direction of the compound.
While Fu in the air was looking at the entire building now engulfed in flames, "I'm going ahead!" The girl said quickly, breaking the sound barrier as she flew.
Boro and Tsubasa quickly followed after her on the ground.
Meanwhile Yugito fended off another attacker kicking him away before shooting flames toward him.
Soot and sweat graced her features as she panted, "These fuckers are never ending!" Tayuya yelled as her doki held itself up with its large mace. In front of them still were around 50 or so ninjas all poised to attack them, they all rushed the two kunoichi who faced them.
They were both quickly swamped by the ninjas, but Yugito quickly cleared through a lot of them with several slashes of her nails. The swing of the dog's mace smashed through a lot of them as Tayuya played her flute, "Yugito, Tayuya!" A yell made them both look toward the crowd.
Yugito's eyes widened as she spotted one of the ninjas with Haruka in his arms, she looked back at her tails noticing they were unfurled.
"That rush was a trap!"
Tayuya yelled as Yugito's eyes turned blue, she exhaled flames as she glared, "Give her back!" the woman yelled as she chased after the ninja who took Haruka with Tayuya close behind on her doki.
A large number of ninjas got in their way, but the pair tore through them in pursuit of the brown-haired girl. The ninja holding Haruka suddenly felt his head twist before he hit the ground, the girl was now gone from his arms.
Haruka slowly opened her eyes revealing blue ones looking into hers, "Naruto!" the girl cheered as the blond gave her an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry. I should have gotten here faster."
Naruto said as Fu flew in from overhead blasting air onto the ninjas attacking Yugito while Tsubasa and Boro protected Tayuya.
"Calvary's here!"
Fu yelled while Tsubasa glared toward the ninjas, "Jeez, I know we were moving and all but burning down our house? Not cool." Boro said while holding up his hatchets.
"Who are they?"
Tsubasa asked while Tayuya gave him a look, "They're the Bandit King's men, my guess is that they're here for revenge." The girl said while Fu landed.
"How did they know where we were?"
Fu asked as Tsubasa glared at them, "My guess is they already knew this whole time." the boy said before Naruto looked toward them.
"It doesn't matter; we can't let them go any further."
Naruto said while the Renegades prepared themselves for a fight, the ninja however seemed to stop.
Naruto's eyes widened as he suddenly felt it, the number of signatures rapidly increasing to the point he couldn't keep track of anymore. The Renegades watched as a mix of bandits and more Hidden Cloud ninja came out of the forest surrounding them.
There were hundreds of them, all of them were waiting. The small army of men continued to move out of the forest as the Renegades stood their ground. None of this was making any sense, why were they delaying in attacking? If they had this massive number, then why would they all reveal themselves like this with no plan?
Now that he thought about it.
Why were they trying to take Haruka, if they were here to kill them?
Naruto slowly looked up toward the small army of men as they began to separate, a tall figure started to walk forward toward the front. The Renegades were frozen as the completely bandage covered figured from his chest up to the top of his head made it to the front. Tsubasa's expression twisted into one of horror as he was brought back to that moment again from when he was a kid.
The Bandit King glaring at him as he sat in his burning home surrounded by his dead parents.
"Yo…"
The bandaged man said as he stood at the very front, "I got a quick piece of advice for you, because I'm so kind…" the man said as Naruto felt himself breathing faster as he stared at the bandaged covered man in shock.
The man then messed up the bandages covering the top of his head revealing his hair, Naruto continued to breathe even faster, almost hyperventilating as the man lifted a hand grabbing at the bandages over his face tearing it away.
Revealing one sinister golden eye.
"Run."
The Bandit King's voice rang out as the Renegades stared toward him; Naruto stared toward him before he looked down at Haruka.
The girl was petrified.
The compound they called home burned violently from the sheer amount of heat from the flames that illuminated their silhouettes, Naruto's blue eyes looked directly at the one golden eye of the man grinning under his bandages. They were pinned; he could summon his shadow clones to make up the number difference, but the Bandit King was waiting for the chaos.
The minute it started he would take advantage of it to kill as many of them as he could and take Haruka, if he was anything like he was when he fought them before then the odds weren't in their favor with that vulnerability.
Naruto could let any of them get killed and he wouldn't let the Bandit King take Haruka.
They didn't have any other choice.
Naruto turned carrying Haruka before dashing toward the forest on the other side, the rest of the Renegades followed.
The bandaged king smiled under his bandages as he pointed forward, the small army of men chased after them as they passed him. The man chuckled before that chuckle became full-fledged laughter, he lifted his arms outward silhouetted by the dancing flames of their burning home.
As the house burned down a single picture on the floor caught flame, the picture burned from all corners. The image of Naruto and the others burned, taking away their places in the once framed photo slowly.
Until there were only two left.
"Happy Birthday... Naruto."