865(Three months later- Suna)
The wide expanse of sand was endless.
Not a sound was heard.
Not a vibration felt.
"Fire release: Dragon Fire"
"Water Release: Waterfall Wall"
A huge dragon smashed into a wall made of pure chakra before two blurs were seen moving all across the room travelling at high speeds.
A left roundhouse kick was deflected with a right elbow block, which grabbed the offending leg and picked it up before spinning in high speeds. Finally releasing the person, who seemed to, in the air, stop and push off an invisible wall, flew right back at the person before front flipping with a left heel drop. The attacker connected as the defender brought their hands up to block, bringing up a huge crater in the earth, before jumping away and dodging a flurry of random punches, the crater created slowly patching up as if nothing occurred.
The flurry of punches were continuously blocked, hand for hand and movement for movement as a stale mate soon came as neither attacker or defender seem to be giving up. The attacker surprised the defender however, as a hook attacked the defender in the jaw, making them twisted in the air twice before landing on his back.
A ninja sandal was placed on the chest of the heavily breathing loser.
"Good job keeping pace with me, but always keep your guard up, especially your face, it is the easiest way to knock someone out," said the lady with her foot on the boy's chest.
"Good point. Can you get off me now?" asked Naruto, as he found it hard to breathe now. The massive sands of Suna endless, humid air and the weights they were both wearing were steadily increasing as the day continued all combined into a winded Naruto, which was a word most wouldn't associate him with.
Kushina tapped her chin in thought, secretly enjoying watching Naruto squirm.
"Make me," She said in a playful tone. Naruto growled before moving. Naruto's right leg flailed up and kicked Kushina in the thigh before Naruto kipped up as she jumped in the air, to which she landed and received a drop kick to her chest as Naruto back flipped off the kick and landed on his toes before jumping in the air and smashing his knee into Kushina's face, which she blocked, but smirked at his uncanny mixes of taijutsu.
"Good, now two more hours and we can finally get out of here," Said Kushina. Naruto nodded in excitement. It had been three grueling months, eight weeks in Suna, and with the help of the Kage Bunshin years' worth of tons of training, learning and more training. It was finally time to get back to Konoha.
Putting her hands up to signal the end of the spar, Kushina's face turned serious however.
"There are things you need to know right now concerning the state of affairs back in Konoha," Kushina said.
Naruto raised his eyebrows, what could have possibly happened in the three months outside of Konoha? It could not be that bad, could it?
(Hyuga Clan house)
Another Hyuga branch member went flying onto the floor sprawled out and unconscious.
Another soon went flying into the wall before crashing through it.
Three more soon followed suit, another got sent back flipping to the floor and two more sent into various chairs and another through a table respectable.
Hiashi and Hizashi sipped their tea in a silent matter, moving the tea kettle as another clan member went through the table, or what would be where the table was had Hiashi not moved it. The two placed their chairs back and continued sipping calmly.
"What powerful children we have raised," Hiashi said to Hizashi, who also nodded.
In the middle of the training field, back to back, was a ten and eight year old Neji and Hinata respectively, blindfolded with their Byakugan off, simply using their senses. The two were currently laying waste to the fellow members around their age from both Main and Branch houses.
"Maybe we should call this off before their parents complain too much about injured youth," said Hizashi. Hiashi nodded and stood up.
"Enough." Hiashi said authoritatively.
Nothing can be heard but the sound of groans and walls, chairs and tables cracking. Hinata and Neji, respectively, took their blind folds off and stood at attention towards the two Clan heads.
"You both have done a good job today, however the reason we had you back to back was so that you two would cover the others weak spot. This is the most challenging thing to face as a Hyuga. Not many people know of the Hyuga weak spot as we keep that fact to ourselves. It seems your awareness training has been paying off however, as not one of your attackers have seemed to lay a hand on you. Your training for today is over, you may do whatever you wish for the rest of the day," Hiashi stated. The two bowed before making their way outside.
"Hinata," called out Hiashi.
Said person stopped and turned around, her long hair following her as she moved. Her face was the epitome of emotionless. Nothing could be seen in her eyes; even her stance was already ready for movement. Hiashi was proud. Despite what occurred in the past three months, His daughter had blossomed into a worthy Hyuga Clan heiress.
"I am proud of you." Said Hiashi, emotion clear in his voice.
Just like that his warrior princess's stoic visage crumbled as her eyes widened and she smirked before schooling her face and coughing.
"T-thank you Father," She replied as strong as she could but berated herself mentally for the stutter as she and Neji left the grounds to shower off.
Her friend would finally be back and she could hardly wait to see him, Hinata rushed inside so that she could hang out with her friends, navy ribbons flying in her hair.
(Hokage Tower)
The Hokage, sat at his seat silently appraising his new arrivals.
He had reason to do so. As the last time someone from this village came through, a quarter of the Uchiha clan were found dead and poisoned and two Hyuga clan members had been almost kidnapped. Luckily the children were retrieved and the kidnapper brutally erased from existence. This led to a very heated discussion back and forth until the Raikage himself came to Konoha.
As such, the current Raikage, A, arrived as more knowledge developed. It seemed the 'Kumo' Nin was not even a part of Kumo anymore, simply a man who had been around during the Third Raikage regime, and had still been one of the Nin who wanted to kidnap Hyuga clan members to experiment on. The man ambushed the real Kumo delegate and murdered them, taking their place, with some hired Nin of his own, they infiltrated and took the Hyuga clan head children, Neji and Hinata respectively. They found Neji at the border and Hinata at the Valley; it seemed the man who had taken her was found dead halfway there.
The most troubling of it all was a very powerful seal was found on the abdomen of the poor Hyuga Heiress, with not even Jiraiya aware of what it contained. After clearing her as not a danger to Konoha, the heiress was released back to her family. The fact of a seal that unknown and powerful meant someone else was at foul play in this plot. Sandaime had his suspicions as to what the sealed contained, but until Kushina returned, he could not develop the information needed, so sadly, the matter had to be left alone until her arrival next week.
While bittersweet, they were able to blame the Kumo Shinobi of the mysterious deaths of a quarter of the Uchiha clan, saying he had poisoned the water systems of the Uchiha clan house, effectively wiping out the many who planned on trying to take over Konoha in a revolt.
Next to A was the current eighth Jinchuriki, Bee, who was simply writing in his notepad, apparently, he was a rapper of sorts. But the reason he was back was the currently emotionless women standing at attention behind the two, also in the room was the newly appointed temporary clan head, Mikoto Uchiha, and Hyuga clan head, Hizashi, who had arrived from watching his son and niece train not too long ago. Behind the Hokage were the Sannin themselves, also steadily watching the Raikage and Jinchuriki, with an entire squad of ANBU in the shadows looking for any sudden movement of attack. Finally, after an intense stare down and silence, A sighed before finally speaking.
"As I have stated in my letter, the men who had attempted to kidnap the Hyuga clan head's son and niece, and further poisoned the Uchiha clan, was a missing Nin for over twenty years. The bodies of my official delegates were found buried in a ditch not too far from Kumo. I, personally do not see why my village is at fault."
As this, the room tensed up as A clenched his fist, trying to reign his anger in. Kumo was a nation that built itself on being the strongest but also the most reserved. For something of this magnitude to take place, really urked him. Finally sighing and opening his hand, he continued.
"But while the man was out of my village, and we had yet to captured him, we are thankful to Konoha for taking care of our problem. As a thank you and sign of good faith I am here to make a trade with you and if possible, strike an alliance and deal,"
If Hiruzen was anybody else, his mouth would have dropped and the pipe in his hand would have dropped, but the shocked look on Hizashi's, Mikoto's, Tsunade's and Jiraiya's face had spoken volumes as to how surprising his announcement was. After a very long silence and unwavering eye contact between two Kages, Hiruzen spoke
"I am all ears Raikage-sama,"
"No matter what the decision is, I have decided that I will be giving the Uchiha clan, as a small token of their tragic loss, over ten of our most forbidden techniques and one million yen. Though I know this will not bring back the lost souls my Missing Nin has brought, it is still something I believe I could do to help the pain of such a great loss. I will personally pay for the funeral services as well. Finally, I will be giving to the village of Konoha to enter your ranks, a Kumo nin to be both the trading piece and ambassador for Kumo. As a sign of good faith, she is one of the strongest Genin out of Kumo, and the Jinchuuriki of the two-tailed cat, Yugito Nii.
Now Hiruzen did drop his pipe. He was now immensely interested in such a thing.
"What do you want in return?"
A sat up straighter.
"I want the body of my missing nin, and I will be giving you the price for his head as it is you who have captured him. The next part of what I want may be controversial. But I see it as another sign of good faith. I have been told that the Hyuga clan has both a Main and Branch clan. To me, personally speaking and to be blunt, I find it inhumane to put another family member in servitude and have them be under you at your beck and call, it is as if the branch clan are no longer humans of their own will as they are enslaved by their own kin,"
The tension broke as the head of the Branch clan Hizashi chuckled.
"Raikage-san, I have never met you, but I can already see you are a man of unwavering belief that the strong will always persevere. I too agree that the customs of the Hyuga clan is too old fashioned and inhumane. I can see where you are going and what you are requesting. If I am right, you wish to have my branch clan members, if they choose, build another clan in Kumo, to strengthen the possible alliance we would have, and one would also be an ambassador of Kumo. Am I right?
A simply smiled as well and nodded his head.
Sarutobi was stunned. It was not a bad plan at all. Kumo and Konoha would become allies, they would give up their two-tailed jinchuriki, and in exchange, the branch members, all with caged bird seals, so their secrets would be protected, would form a clan in Kumo. They would also receive the bounty for the missing Nin and probably more if the talks continued.
"I will think of this decision, for now, we have a luxurious hotel room for your stay as we think about this proposal, but as you have stated, since Yugito is now the ambassador for Kumo and Konoha, I think it is only fear she stays with one of the prominent clans in Konoha. I was thinking of…"
Suddenly a voice called out.
"I shall take care of young Yugito Hokaga-sama,"
Red hair flowed in the wind, as the person who spoke sat on the window ledge, surprising a majority of the room as they had not felt her coming in at all. The recognition flowed in the eyes of A, Yugito, and Killer Bee as there in the flesh was Uzumaki Kushina. While Kumo was not on Kushina's favorite list due to their past, she was willing to take in a kindred Jinchuuriki. The Uzumaki clan was back from vacation.
Mikoto inwardly relaxed at the fact that Kushina was back in Konoha from her vacation. If there was any time she would be in need of a friend, now was that bowed down to the floor, it would be an honor to be under the care of one of the strongest Kunoichi in Konoha next to Tsunade, Tsume Inuzuka, Anko Mitarashi, Mikoto Uchiha, Kurenai Yuhi and the late Mito Uzumaki.
"Then it is decided. Please enjoy your stay in Konoha," Hiruzen said.
(Senju Compound- Hours later)
Naruto Uzumaki, sat in the backyard silently contemplating the current events.
"So, Hinata has an unknown seal on her, her personality shifting as a result. Most of Sasuke's clan has been wiped out in an accident that involved water being poisoned through a leak of their gas, making the clan move further into Konoha, in fact not too far from us now, and Mikoto is the clan head as Fukagu was found dead apparently chasing after the delegates from Kumo, who were in fact missing Nin?" asked Naruto.
"Yes. That and we will be having a new possible clan member staying in this house, as such, I want you to treat her with the utmost respect as she is older than you," Said Kushina. Naruto remained silent before finally speaking.
"Understood," Naruto replied, making Kushina smile. The training for young Naruto was extremely beneficial, as he had abandoned his childish ways and fully embraced the Shinobi ways, making his own nindo to never give up and fight for all that is right, unknowingly following the Uzumaki clan creed.
"Can I go lay down now? I am tired," Naruto asked, making Kushina sweat drop.
"Fine, go on brat," Kushina said, letting Naruto make his way to his room, that he had not been in for over three months.
Naruto made it to his room and instantly collapsed into the bed, hoping the area was not dusty.
After a few minutes of feeling the comfort of being back on his bed, Naruto sat up and sat Indian position; he had to take care of some business and gather his thoughts.
(Two Hours later)
A sound was heard, which made Naruto realized the guest must have arrived and Kushina was calling for him.
Naruto left his room, changing into black slacks and a maroon shirt, his hair all over his face as he decided he did not want to tame it, his mother said he looked like a young Minato anyway, so he preferred it that way. He had grown a bit more, from the intense training and healthy diet he was force to endure. He was the peak of a healthy eight-year-old boy. But that was beside the point, time to get this over with.
Making his way to the stair case, Naruto decided to be a bit flashy to show off his new attained training. Jumping down the steps, while flipping twice in the air, Naruto landed on his two feet and flipped his hair up and smirked.
" I'm here Kaaaaaaaa….." Naruto's face turned instantly red as the Hokage, The Sannin, The Raikage of Kumo, his guards, and the Jinchuuriki of the eight-tails and two tails and Kushina looked at him with various faces of amusement, confusion and mirth.
"Nice of you to join us, Naruto. I'd like to introduce you to the Raikage and his brother, Kirabi, and Yugito, who will be staying with us for the foreseeable future.
Naruto laid eyes on Yugito and instantly the room disappeared because all he could she was her.
Long straight blonde hair, dark eyes, she had on Kumo gear, her headband proudly on her forehead. Purple blouse, Black pants and ninja shoes with a red belt around her waist, kunai holster on her right thigh, purple fingerless gloves, white beads around her left hand and an expression of emotionless, but in her eyes he could see she was full of wonder at who he was.
Jiraiya slowly smirked at the expression on Naruto's face as he went from shocked to emotionless, and then his eyes and whole stance changed as he stood up, instantly he shifted into a true Shinobi ready to move like a well-coiled spring and graceful in his movements as he, in what seemed like three steps, crossed the huge dining room to where Yugito was standing. Bending down on one knee, Naruto took up her right hand and laid a small kiss on it, making her show an emotion of surprise as her eyebrow rose.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Yugito-Chan, I hope me and you can become great friends in the foreseeable future and I will be your guide for Konoha and hopefully more, call me Naruto," the boy said smoothly, and if you could hear, a Genjutsu was created with smooth sounding jazz playing in the back ground as Naruto's tunnel vision eyes peered deep into Yugito's curious eyes,
Kirabi slowly smirked. The boy was good. He was respectful and knew how to comfort people. Not to mention, he knew how to make an entrance. Not a wasted movement in his landing and jump.
Tsunade and Kushina growled at the boy's brash and usual love-stricken ways.
The Kages said nothing but chuckled at the scene in front of them.
Blushing a bit in embarrassment, Yugito simply nodded, as words escaped her. Did this brat know how older than her she was? But not everyone seemed as amused.
Kushina growled and grabbed Naruto by the ear. Producing a yelp from the blonde as his mother smashed her forehead into his.
"When I said make her feel welcome, I did not mean to seduce her, you brat!" She growled at him, making the occupants of the compound sweat drop.
Naruto shook his head and glared back at his mother as he pushed back in annoyance
"This is different, I'm just being nice and accommodating Dattebayo! "
"You're eight and she's older than you, a respected Jounin, show some respect before I beat it out of you, Dattebane!" Kushina growled back as she balled her hands into a fist to show how serious she was.
"Bring it on you old lady, I'll beat you to a pulp and embarrass you in front of Kumo," Naruto growled right back.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Ehh uhm," A voice cleared their throat.
Both Hot-headed Uzumaki turned to see everyone looking at them in various facial expressions. Dropping Naruto onto his butt, Kushina cleared her throat and smoothed out her shirt before laughing and acting like nothing happened.
"Ah, just uh… having some fun… usual mother son banter, nothing serious." She said laughing as she scratched the back of her head in nervousness and embarrassment. Unknowingly, she was mirrored by her son.
"Heh heh, yeah, it's always lively in the Senju- Uzumaki House," Naruto said, getting up and side hugging his mother. Cause everyone to sweat drop deeper.
Just another day in the Uzumaki Household.