759Naruto Uzumaki was… complicated, to say the least.
He had been sulking for an entire day, making it incredibly awkward to be around him. Not like I would blame him for that sudden attitude shift. Anyone would feel uneasy and awkward if they walked in on their friend having sex, but his behavior went a little beyond that.
He would look away whenever we made eye contact and actively avoid me, as if he couldn't stand being in my presence or, perhaps, actual embarrassment?
Those actions made me feel conflicted about our weird relationship, or friendship that he so desperately cling to, and added more weight to those initial thoughts I had months ago. It seemed ridiculous at the time, but the way he was acting now only strengthened my belief that he actually had feelings for me.
The mere idea sent shivers down my spine.
Could it be true? Was Naruto really attracted to me in that way? I tried to push the thought away, but with his recent behavior, it was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Confront him? Or gather more evidence?
Surprisingly, dealing with Sakura was not as difficult as I had expected it to be. In fact, our interaction was surprisingly cordial and mature, putting aside the small talk with Fu about how Sakura would inevitably break down in tears later on.
As I tried to make sense of everything that had transpired, I couldn't help but wonder how I could explain this situation to anyone. It all seemed so unreal. Better said, did I actually want to talk about this to anyone?
My thoughts kept circling back to that cursed necklace. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't recall anything related to it through meditation or introspection. It was all just a blank void in my mind. The only evidence I had of my prior knowledge of the necklace were those brief memory flashes from when that blonde idiot showed it to me, accompanied by a splitting headache.
But none of that changed how frustrating and weird this whole situation was.
I couldn't believe the mess I had stumbled into. All I wanted was some time for myself and to relax.
As the hours ticked by, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for the luxuries of the modern world. A smartphone with unlimited internet would have been a godsend in this situation, allowing me to browse anything and let the time pass without a care for the world around me. I could have even indulged in some stupid match three games to distract myself.
But instead, I was left with nothing. Just my thoughts and the little things I could do to fight off boredom. It was no wonder that most people preferred to be training and sparring in times like these. If I wasn't stuck in another shinobi village, I would've been doing the same thing. In Konoha, at least I had the privacy of my clan compound.
Call me paranoid, but there were always people watching my every move, stupidly thinking I didn't notice them. Ignoring the fact that I already deceived them, yet they still went with the same tactic, expecting different results.
So for now, I was trapped in this room.
As time dragged on, my mind couldn't help but wander to thoughts of my team back in Konoha. What were they doing? Or did Karin finally find a way to murder Suigetsu?
As I lay on my bed, lost in thought, a sudden movement caught my attention. I turned my head slowly to the left and found Tayuya perched on my open window.
One leg dangled out while the other was used to prop up her head as she looked at me with a sly grin. "Hey princess."
Finally, something had broken the monotony of my day.
I had been wishing for something, anything, to happen; and now it seemed my wish had come true.
"What?" I asked, my tone betraying a hint of annoyance.
Her grin only widened as she leaned forward slightly. "Wanna go out for a drink? Found a cheap place. You look like shit anyway."
But with that offer, all I could picture was a drunken man stumbling over the many bridges of this village high in the mountains before inevitably falling into the abyss. The thought elicited a morbid laugh from me.
Seriously, there must be something wrong with my head.
But as I thought about her drinking habits and soon enough, I remembered her particular tastes, I couldn't help but shake my head in refusal. "Knowing you, I'll pass for now. Come up with something else."
She laughed tauntingly, "Aww, playing it safe? What a pussy." The redhead reached into her waistband and pulled out a thread tied around a small bottle. Taking a short swig from it, she let out a satisfied sigh. "Now that hits the spot."
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight of her carrying around a bottle like that.
And it wasn't even noon yet.
"Does Jiraiya want something?" I asked, already anticipating the answer.
Her nod confirmed my suspicions.
"Yup, didn't tell me shit. Just said to meet him at...the last training grounds where... the last place you saw that shithead." Her nonchalant tone did little to ease my concern.
"That doesn't sound ominous at all," I remarked sarcastically.
She just shrugged and took another swig from her bottle. "Not my problem, princess."
Typical.
With a drawn-out sigh, I slowly rose from my warm bed and stretched my tired muscles. I already had an inkling of the conversation that awaited me and braced myself for the annoyance of whatever the old man would inevitably demand from me.
Thankfully, I hadn't removed my sandals before climbing into bed, so I saved myself a few seconds by not having to retrieve them from the entrance.
I made my way towards the window, and Tayuya quickly caught onto my intentions and moved aside to allow me to exit through it.
As soon as my feet touched the ground outside, I prepared to take off but a sudden thought stopped me in my tracks. Turning on my heels, I surprised my sharp-tongued redhead with a chaste kiss, bidding her farewell.
A smug smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I watched her momentarily freeze before pushing me away and avoiding eye contact with her arms crossed over her chest.
Silently savoring the moment, I said nothing more and headed towards the training grounds.
I quietly observed the training grounds from a safe distance, taking cover in the thick branches of a nearby tree. My presence was not meant to be secretive, but merely a way to observe everything without interfering. I watched as Jiraiya conversed with the Jinchuuriki of eight tails, their voices too distant for me to hear.
My gaze drifted over to where Killer B's team was training, not too far away. The trio were practicing their kenjutsu skills, yet one member was trying to learn Killer B's signature multiple swords style. However, his attempts were met with constant tumbles and falls, making him look like a complete fool in comparison. And the redhead, Karui, if my memory serves me right, was laughing as a result.
The jinchuuriki of the eight tails was on another level entirely. His mastery of such chaotic sword style made it nearly impossible for me to use my sharingan effectively to predict his moves, as my brain would be overwhelmed. Unless I could train specifically to counter this niche fighting style, I wouldn't stand a chance against him at the moment. But how? And what kind of training would that be?
Yet in that moment, I pushed those thoughts aside as I refocused on Jiraiya and Killer B who were still talking. It seemed that the perfect jinchuuriki was especially enthusiastic, given his energetic movements and expressive gestures compared to the more calm and collected Jiraiya.
Perhaps Jiraiya was discussing Naruto and his future training as a jinchuuriki on that secluded island. The thought piqued my curiosity, and I couldn't resist activating my sharingan to read Killer B's lips.
And my suspicions were confirmed - it was indeed about Naruto's training and mastery of his bijuu, or as the big man put it, "making Kurama a bro".
After much discussion and planning, the two finally went their separate ways - Killer B back to his team and Jiraiya to wherever his destination may be. It was now my turn to talk to the legendary sannin and discover what he had wanted to tell me all along.
With a fluid movement, I jumped down from my tree and calmly made my way towards Jiraiya, who was now occupied with writing in his notebook.
"What did you need me for?" I asked once I stood before him.
Jiraiya paused his writing and lifted his gaze, adopting a serious expression as he stashed the notebook inside his robes. "Come with me."
He quickly took the lead me towards a secluded alleyway between two buildings. The narrow space would only provide cover for civilians, not skilled shinobi like us. But I doubted the world renown spymaster would rely on such a basic tactic.
"Here, hold this." He pressed a small piece of paper into my palm, the intricate seal inscribed upon it catching my eye. Before I could even ask about its purpose, he slammed his hand against the wall. Instantly, lines of writing burst forth from that spot, forming a complex circle upon the rough wall.
"Now that we are cut off from the rest of the world, we can speak freely." His tone was calm and collected, but my attention was drawn to the intricate seal in my hands and the one he has created on the walls. With just one glance, I could tell they are both incredibly complex and powerful.
It was no surprise that a seal master would use seals to this extent. The convenience and versatility of seals never ceased to amaze me. And perhaps our stupid spies were now frantically trying to figure out what to do. A small smirk tugs at my lips at the amusing thought.
The old man's arms were crossed firmly over his chest, his expression betraying no hint of amusement as he looked at me. "We will be leaving for Konoha tomorrow at dawn." He announced.
I tilted my head slightly. "I see… I thought you would stay here longer so Naruto could train with the perfect jinchuuriki." The opportunity was right there. Why didn't they take it?
But my comment only made Jiraiya's expression turn to a frown. "You know more than you should, brat."
I shrugged off his warning, unfazed. "I have my ways. So, did the Raikage accept your request?"
His normally tough expression softened slightly as he held his chin in thought. "A might be a stubborn leader, but he's not an idiot. He understood the benefits we could offer in exchange for some special training for Naruto with their perfect jinchuuriki. However, that will have to wait because he'll be allocating a considerable amount of resources and forces to protect and prepare Kumo against Akatsuki. They were nearly successful in capturing the Two Tails, which served as a wake-up call for them."
"But the Akatsuki didn't directly attack Yugito..." I paused, a thought occurring to me. "They used a proxy, didn't they?"
Jiraiya nodded gravely. "It took some time, but I was able to uncover their involvement. An entirely new organization of independent shinobi suddenly appeared out of nowhere, with members just as mysterious as their organization itself. And yet, they almost succeeded in carrying out what many consider being a suicidal mission? That should have raised some eyebrows, at the very least."
A totally new group with equally new members?
Did they use Zetsu clones?
While individually weak, these clones could be dangerous when organized in groups. It was clear they had used them to secretly capture Yugito, but fortunately, failed.
But this revelation only raised more concerns. If they were already utilizing Zetsu clones, it meant they could potentially infiltrate villages and shinobi ranks undetected with their perfect transformations.
My mind raced with thoughts of how to handle this threat, but I knew I couldn't dwell on it here.
"So, should I assume that Konoha and Kumo have become allies?" I asked.
But sadly, he shook his head slowly. "No, just a nonaggression pact with minimal benefits for both sides."
"Considering the state of the world, this is the best anyone could get." I commented, which was a correct statement. Finding allies was extremely difficult, even more allies who didn't stab you in the back.
"You wouldn't be wrong." He sighed. "It would be great if everyone could realize the real danger that Akatsuki represents, instead of worrying about petty squabbles."
"Probably because I killed two of their members. They think they are weaklings."
"It's possible," Jiraiya agreed with a nod.
The two of us fell into a momentary silence before I voiced another pressing question. "Do you think Akatsuki has already captured Iwa's jinchuurikis?"
"I hate to say it, but I'm almost certain they have already been taken," Jiraiya's expression darkened at the thought. "No matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find any trace of them."
"And don't forget about the potential capture of the three-tailed beast, if Kakuzu's words are to be trusted," I added, causing Jiraiya's brow to crease even further.
"Four Bijuus in their possession, those are legitimate reasons to start a war. Nobody should have that amount of power."
"I know." I let out a tired sigh, looking up at the cloudy sky above us. "At least we have four bijuus on our side."
"Mmmm, so either they will wait for the six tails to reform or attack a village to steal a Bijuu," he mused aloud.
"Since I assume you read the information I gave you, their leader is capable of fighting an entire village by himself."
"Pain..." he muttered under his breath before shaking his head and refocusing. "For now, we shouldn't worry about these topics. We will discuss in better detail back in Konoha."
"Is there anything else?"
"No, just get ready for tomorrow," he answered, his expression serious as he went back into deep thought.
I nodded in agreement and turned to leave the alley, crumpling the paper with the seal into a tight ball before tossing it away.
As I strode out of the alley, my mind buzzing with thoughts about Akatsuki, a raucous whistle sounded from behind me.
"Hey brat!" Jiraiya called out.
With a raised eyebrow, I slowly turned to face him, wondering what he could possibly want.
"Your night performance was a great source of inspiration!" he exclaimed with a gleeful cackle.
My stomach churned at his words, repulsed by this irredeemable perverted bastard.
"Fuck off!" I shouted angrily before storming away, ignoring the boisterous laughter that followed me down the street.
Fuck that perverted freak, I should had expected something like that but still cannot help to feel embarrassed that he had been watching… SOMEHOW.
Shit, he probably saw me getting all sappy and caring with Tayuya. My image was forever stained.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and a strong drink seemed like the only thing that could numb the feeling.
But why me?! Kumo had hot-springs where he could peep, for crying out loud!
And why did he have to yell it out for everyone to hear? My eyes darted around, wondering who else might have heard his stupidity.
Just go to a bar and drink something really strong liquor.
That was the plan.
Lost in my thoughts about Jiraiya's despicable behavior, I wandered aimlessly until I stumbled upon a bustling plaza filled with vibrant and energetic civilians. Their chatter and laughter echoed off the walls, creating a lively atmosphere that momentarily distracted me from my troubles.
As I hurriedly scanned my surroundings, my eyes quickly landed on a large neon sign that read 'Bar'. Without wasting another second, I made a beeline for the establishment and headed straight to the counter. In a rush of adrenaline, I threw some money on the counter, catching the attention of the bartender, who gave me a strange look.
"Just something strong." I blurted out, not wanting to waste any time.
The man shrugged indifferently and took the money before turning around to grab a brown oval-shaped bottle and a small glass cup. Expertly pouring out a shot, he slid it towards me with practiced ease.
I reached for the alcohol without hesitation, ready to chug it down until reason suddenly struck me.
What was I doing?
I couldn't just blindly drink something in a foreign shinobi village, especially one that didn't have the best relationship with Konoha. What was stopping someone here from drugging me or kidnapping me?
Feeling stupid, I brought the glass closer to my nose and cautiously sniffed at its contents.
The scent of strong liquor assaulted my senses, and I wrinkled my nose in distaste.
I carefully scanned my surroundings, making sure not to draw too much attention. The atmosphere was thick with a variety of scents - alcohol, smoke, and the faint scent of sweat mixed in. The bar was packed with patrons, each in their own little worlds, completely absorbed in their conversations or thoughts. Even the bartender, who had just served me my drink, had moved on to tend to another customer - an elderly man with a worn expression.
Well, appearances could deceive.
So just to be sure about drinking this shot, I activated my sharingan to quickly try to discern anything out of the ordinary. However, much to my disappointment or relief, everything appeared normal except for the dangerously high concentration of alcohol in the shot.
Taking a deep breath, I made the decision to take a small risk and downed the shot. The burning sensation that erupted from my tongue and throat was almost unbearable, causing me to groan and cough uncontrollably.
Frantically, I rubbed at my chest in an attempt to soothe the intense heat spreading through my body. "I'll never get used to this shit," I muttered under my breath.
As I glanced around the crowded bar, it occurred to me that whoever created this drink must have long ago lost their sense of taste.
"Pussy."
My head snapped to the left, searching for the idiot who had dared to insult me. But all I found was the same old man, nonchalantly finishing his cheap drink and grinning at me. Just as I was about to dismiss him, he suddenly disappeared in a cloud of smoke, revealing the only redhead that had the gall to openly insult me. Except this time she wasn't wearing a cap.
"Tayuya?"
She left her seat, grabbing her own bottle and taking a seat next to mine.
"I thought you didn't want to come. Looks like you're a fucking liar, princess." She flashed a cocky smile, her eyes looking at my empty glass and then at the bottle, only to raise her eyebrows in surprise. "I take back what I said. It takes some serious balls to drink this shit."
She grabbed the bottle and poured herself a glass.
"Why are you here? Or why did you bother disguising yourself?" I asked.
With a nonchalant shrug, she placed the bottle back on the counter. "I told you I wanted to go out for a drink, and for the disguise... I wanted a little privacy," she explained.
She quickly downed the shot, and her eyes widened in shock, recoiling at the burning taste as she slammed the cup onto the counter. "Gotta admit, I wouldn't drink this shit. Good for you princess, soon you will surpass me." She said with a mischievous grin, patting my shoulder.
With an eye roll, I shifted away from her touch and instead reached for the bottle, taking a long swig directly from it. The taste was awful, but I forced my body to endure it as I tried to wash away the embarrassment from earlier.
Finally lowering the bottle, I turned to face the redhead, who was still grinning at me expectantly. Clearly, she was waiting for me to take another gulp from the shitty, poisonous drink in front of us.
Right.
She needed to know what happened.
Taking one deep breath, I exhaled, feeling surprisingly calm despite going to drop a bomb on her, who was already drinking her own booze. "Did you know that Jiraiya made us his source material for his next book?"
I watched as something inside her snapped, her eyes widening in shock before she choked and dropped her bottle. She frantically pounded her chest, trying to catch her breath.
"HE WHAT?!" Her voice echoed through the bar, her cheeks matching the fiery red hue of her hair.
I gave her a deadpan look, silently confirming her fears.
"That limp-dicked motherfucker!" she exclaimed, pulling at her hair in frustration. "I'll kick his balls when I see him!"
"Join the line," I replied dryly.
"No, fuck that!" She stood up abruptly and stormed towards the exit, flinging open the door with force. A few patrons turned to look at the commotion before quickly losing interest and returning to their own worlds.
And leaving me behind and alone.
I had to give it to her. She kept her word.
Now the question would be if Jiraiya would actually get kicked in the balls. I couldn't help but imagine it, the thought bringing a smile to my face.
Looking at the wooden ceiling and some thinking about the morality and punisher fitting the crime, but deep down, the answer was obvious. Of course, I wanted to see Jiraiya get kicked in the balls.
With that decision made, I started to make my way towards the exit. After all, I had already paid and there was no point in staying any longer.
"Leaving so soon, Uchiha?" An unfamiliar voice called out, causing me to pause in my tracks.
The sound of her voice stopped me in my tracks, causing me to slowly turn and face the source.
A woman with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes stood before me, a strange smile gracing her features. It piqued my curiosity enough to make me pause and take a closer look at her.
Only then did I realize it was Samui. She looked different from when I last saw her, dressed in more revealing clothes that accentuated her ample breasts in ways that seemed almost intentional.
And since when did she arrive? I remembered that she was training with her team, which I couldn't see anywhere close.
"Yes, that was the plan," I replied casually, shrugging my shoulders. "So, let's make this quick."
She studied me for a moment before speaking again. "I just wanted to meet the infamous last Uchiha."
"Well, your wish has been granted," I said with a smirk, noticing a slight twitch on her face. "Tell your Raikage to not be so pathetically obvious next time."
With those words, I turned and walked away without another glance back.
As if that wasn't the most obvious honey trap in the fucking world.
I felt even insulted that they tried using it on me, of all people, and they had to pick Samui, who clearly didn't know shit how to do it.
Showing interest in a total stranger, who happened to be a shinobi, wearing revealing clothes that show off your best asset?
Please.
But then again, it wasn't surprising considering Kumogakure's insatiable thirst for powerful bloodlines. So, a sharingan was like instant rage boner for them, but that didn't make it any less pathetic after watching it in person.
I had no intention of getting involved in any drama or political games here. I was already dealing with enough back in Konoha.
If another Kumo kunoichi dared to approach me then… Why was I resorting to violence for a mere inconvenience?
And if they were daring enough to try this, what else could I expect from them in the days to come?
It was stupid. This village was stupid.
Everyone was stupid.
Good fucking riddance that we were leaving tomorrow.
AN: Heh, this time it didn't take more than two months to update this good progress with the speed, just need to keep it consistent.
Am I biased towards redheads? Maybe, maybe not.
If you are feeling generous, then consider buying me some coffee so I can make this more frequent!
/choloman