Naruto's POV (Iron Festival - Land of Iron)
The Chunin Exams had wrapped up with less than a bang. Gaara and Naruto's match had been eventful and killed any chance of another match being held. Naruto had been beaten pillar to post in display many of the crowd had found distasteful and hard to watch. Gaara was also exhausted and quickly disqualified upon the uproar of not only the crowd but many of the Kage, shinobi, and samurai alike. They had crowned Sasuke as the champion as the last, legal, standing competitor. The Uchiha seemed utterly pleased with this, and by the crowd's roar, they also approved. Naruto supposed no one liked a match end like theirs, or jinchuriki, one of the two.
But Naruto did not honestly mind. His goal of winning the exams faded once his mother told him the truth. Naruto had been determined to win regardless, but he was okay with losing to someone like Gaara. Fighting the redhead had been something Naruto had thought he was prepared for. It had been apparent early on he had assumed incorrectly. In his defense, It's not like anyone else could've lasted as long as he did! But seeing his performance written off as tragedy or unlucky did sting. Naruto had nearly won, damnit!
Furthering his anger was the unwelcome news of the disappearance of some of his friends. Five of them were missing without a trace, leaving behind evidence to suggest it wasn't a peaceful kidnapping. Naruto felt ashamed he had been so focused on everything else, and even more, that the Hokage had decided they were not allowed to search. It wasn't in his nature to stand idly by while his friends were in need of help. Sasuke, Hinata, Shino, and Team Eight were belaying this order and exploring the surrounding area anyway. The Samurai did not like this but were simply too busy to bother stopping them. Perhaps they were sensing it would lead to unneeded tension was ultimately harmless and, potentially even beneficial. Naruto was upset he could not aid them, but somewhat trusted those around him would find them. The very best were gathered here, after all.
His anger didn't last, however. After the long and painful tournament, their had been time to rest, they were given little time to rest, and the time to do so and the excitement over his recent promotion overwhelmed such. Various shinobi officials and sensei motivated their students to clean up and prepare according to Samurai standards. Which Naruto had been confused by. Neji, ever the pompous jerk, had, of course, filled him in kindly—in his own unique way, of course.
"The people of the Land of Iron are disciplined, honorable, and humble," Neji began. "The differences between the Land of Iron and the other Lands are more than the Samurai. Even the civilians are a bit formal and withdrawn; we of the Hyuga respect such and have developed some of our customs from their culture."
Neji's words proved more than true. Apparently, the Land of Iron heads all celebrations in twos. One is a more casual and business-driven time for people to cut back, relax, and enjoy a rare time of indulgence. Such was called the Iron Fair; the celebration afterward is called the Iron Festival, a more formal and official affair. It was known for the practiced dance of the samurai, a somber but infamous dance that the Iron People were famed for.
Naruto was amazed at the difference. The Iron Fair had seemed similar to most fairs he had been to at home. But the Iron Festival was different entirely. Unlike before, the stall-ridden land had been cleared, smoothed, and freed of snow entirely. It was lit by a litany of rod torches, long iron poles wrapped neatly in some sort of cloth that burned brightly and set off warmth. Despite the cold air and snow surrounding them, the entire area felt warm and dry. However, such was never a concern in the first place. For the center of the clearing held a giant iron construction that held oil-soaked wood, occasionally cared for by samurai in absurdly ornate kimonos that would dance by or dutifully add fuel or wood to the blazing inferno the odd iron brace contained. The partygoers also danced around the flames; their movements seemed precise and rhythmic, simpler than the samurai's though similar, yet no music played. Instead, the samurai who tended to the fire hummed a slow, deep melody, their voices merging and harmonizing into a loud resonant tone. They swayed and shimmied in sync as if completely in tune. Something was entirely captivating about it. Though as Naruto watched longer, it seemed it was mostly locals, the other visitors, like Naruto, seemed out of their element and slightly confused. They danced as well, but in small groups and in their own unique ways.
Of course, Team Seven had come together for such, something Naruto had been initially ecstatic about; even Kakashi had promised to come! Kushina had unfortunately had to return to the Leaf; the Hokage having said; having both of their jinchuriki out and about was risky. With his decision made it had been decided both Jiraiya and Tsunade would escort her back. Seeking them on the return trip halfway. His mother had been sad to miss it, yet seemed oddly excited about him coming to the festival.
Now Naruto knew why; the Iron Festival was considered a formal event and, as such, had mandated attire; all guests were to wear simple one-color kimonos. Supposedly, it represented nobility and humility, but Naruto preferred regular clothes to these infernal robes. Not to mention Neji had to assist him with the damned thing. His mother must've been laughing all the way home thinking of it. Of course, Ino and Neji had no such problem as "dignified" clan members. Neji had chosen a white one, Ino a purple one, and to the horror of the other two, Naruto had gleefully chosen an orange one. His mother had often found a way to remove the majority of his orange clothes so this was welcomed. But as "formal" as they called the festival, it seemed intrinsic and fun to the Blonde.
It was funny; Naruto had never really yearned to travel. It never occurred to him, but now that he had finally experienced it. Naruto would say he was more than a fan. The Iron Fair had been a surprisingly enjoyable event. It had been interrupted but had worked out relatively well despite that. This was a much more lively event with tangible excitement in the air. The odd formality to it only added to the mystique and intrigue for Naruto. One thing that made Naruto smile involuntarily was that both Ino and Neji were also transfixed by the odd sight. Though Neji was poorly attempting to hide such. They had grabbed drinks; from one of the various servants, who walked around dressed even less lavishly than the visitors, and they handed out sake, water, or even freshly cooked meat speared on thin, dull slivers of Iron. Team Seven watched the dancing transfixed for a while before Naruto spoke.
"Man, that looks crazy! Kinda jealous I don't know the dance, looks like they're having fun." Naruto complained good-naturedly. He had never been a dancer or was very motivated to learn it. But he felt somewhat envious watching the locals enjoy their chaotic but controlled dance.
"It certainly seems complex. I've had a fair amount of dancing experience and am hesitant to hop in there." Ino joked with the fellow blonde. "Looks like we're out of our element, Blondie, even our favorite gen-"
"Actually," Neji countered with a smile that was giant for him. "As a well-regarded member of the Hyuga clan, I have been informed about the various customs from the various groups we are tied to."
"Is the Hyuga clan's famed trade deal with the Iron real? What do the two exchange?" Ino asked curiously.
"They allow access to certain rich metals in this land that we use for various purposes. In exchange, we offer them some seals that they otherwise would struggle to produce, not that we are masters but more than skilled enough to be of use." Neji lectured with pride. "Now it's time I made the two of you look bad." Neji taunted as he walked towards the thriving mass of dancing people, soon joining them with effortless grace. Fitting right in with the locals with an ease that stunned the blondes.
Ino and Naruto watched owlishly as the crowd, now with Neji in tow, continued to dance around the flames. The swaying steps, contrasted by sharp swings of their arms, and flare of the flames made for quite the image. There was clearly a rhythm for the dance; the two, as practiced and dexterous ninjas, could detect such. However, discerning such without a musical tune seemed impossible, the feeling of inferiority and awkwardness led Ino and Naruto to a predictable conclusion.
"No way in hell I'm letting Neji punk me like that!" Naruto yelled defiantly. Naruto wasn't much of a dancer, but it couldn't be that hard!
"Yeah, I'm an heiress anyway! I am a master of dance!" Ino roared with pride, similarly wounded by Neji's teasing.
Naruto felt his smile grow massively as Ino and his hand and hand raced into the writhing chain of dancing people. Naruto's eyes flew around wildly as he quickly took in the steps of the dance; easy enough, the solo dancers and Neji seemed to be doing a more complex version of the dance. It simply had too many steps to copy as he did it, and Ino seemed similarly concerned from a brief glance. However, Naruto noticed that the couples danced more straightforwardly, with fewer steps, and seemed to count on the dancers to make it whole as a combined effort. Naruto once again glanced back at Ino, the two's pride having been challenged; the recent drama between them was forgotten, instead, determined to prove Neji wrong, they joined hands as they began the complicated struggle of the dance. They were predictably rough and stood out for a few seconds. Something Neji made clear when he danced by purposely smirking and taunting as he did.
The Hyuga may have made this mistake, for the two proud blondes doubled their efforts. With Ino's absurd flexibility and grace, Naruto's boundless energy and speed, it allowed the two to outshine the other pairs. Copying their dances and doing so with more energy speed and grace than any of them could offer. Neji saw such with a mere smile, and Team Seven began dancing in utter joy, encaptured in the celebratory mood and the tireless people of Iron. Nearly all the dancers eyed Naruto worriedly, but either too drunk to care, or simply confident he was under control, danced all the same. Some even whispered of the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi being… different from the others. But the few who had this revelation kept it to themselves. The crowd, in fact, gave a berth around Team Seven, seemingly not willing to come too close to the Blonde. Naruto felt the good mood dim momentarily before smoke suddenly erupted around Ino, Neji, him, and even some of the crowd. The dancing stopped as the crowd panicked before the smoke suddenly faded, revealing what had joined them…
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Ino and Naruto called out happily; Neji merely nodded. Naruto was convinced he often pretended to be unaffected. Smug bastard…
"Yo!" Kakashi called cheerily. Before the Jounin danced wildly, it wasn't the dance they had been doing; not any of the crowd or even the others. It needed to be looser and unrefined. However, Kakashi's pure gusto and charisma won the crowd over. And with a roar of a approval and continue of the deep humming continued their own dance. The birth now slightly closing. Naruto's smile nearly split his face in two; it hadn't gone over his head that Kakashi's display had distracted the crowd. Team Seven danced again, and soon, Ino, Neji, and Naruto joined. Naruto couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun!
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Kurotsuchi's / Ino / Naruto's POV (Iron Festival - Land of Iron)
Kurotsuchi couldn't help but smile wide as she tugged along her unwitting helpers. She usually wasn't such a troublemaker, not so openly anyway. The children of the Tsuchikage had to conduct themselves a certain way after all. And as a daughter as opposed to a son, the bar was much higher. Kurotsuchi had condoned herself appropriately and as needed to achieve her ambition.
As a child, she was incredibly proud of her grandfather. Kurotsuchi and everyone else, the man, had become the leader of their village and a legend throughout the elemental nations. Kurotsuchi had spent much of her days chasing around her busy grandfather, dogging his every step. She needed to learn how to become him; as a child, mockery was her best effort. Due to this, she had grown close to him, close enough to hear his grief in the coming years.
Onoki had become old, much past his prime. He often complained of such, Kurotushci wondered if he realized how much it gave her chills. In fact, he was the oldest of all kages, though unfortunately not the longest reigning. Her grandfather was determined to find a worthy successor. Like many kage before him, he had looked to his kin first. Her mother had never truly been a consideration; a non-shinobi prospect simply would never amount to much. And her father…
Kitsuchi had been a promising shinobi, powerful, level-headed, loyal, and more. But he had yet to impress his father. Onoki had said he was unremarkable, lacking a spark that all Kage needed. Kurotsuchi saw it as well. Her father simply had no ambition, something that had always driven a small wedge between Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi—so much so that Kurotsuchi had always secretly agreed with her grandfather's response. But that raised the following issue: just who would replace Onoki?
It had always been a tradition in the Stone for the Tsuchikage to hand-select their successor. Many villages may choose to do so as well, but their system had been in place since the origin of the Stone. So much so that while other villages often did different as needed the stone refused to. And had served them well, until recently, anyway. Onoki had searched their home far and wide and, to the dismay of he and Kurotsuchi, had found no one he deemed worthy. As a young child, as she had been, the solution had been straightforward. Kurotsuchi would take his place; Onoki had laughed when she first suggested it. But Kurotsuchi had walked that path since, and she never bothered to look back. Onoki, her grandfather, would need only wait a little longer.
Yet she couldn't deny tonight she would stray just for a bit. The exams had been a decent success for her for sure. Kurotsuchi had imagined winning the vest after having thoroughly bested the competition. But she wasn't foolish enough to deny a promotion she had managed to earn in defeat. She could return home proud of having accomplished her goal of representing her village well, but Kurotsuchi couldn't help but want to top it off well. Cause while career and personal success was nice. But she had always enjoyed some drama… Though she couldn't engage at such at home, her reputation meant too much. So while she was here…
Ino's drama had been unexpected but not welcomed. Kurotsuchi had initially allowed it to prove Naruto wrong, she wasn't intolerant of Leaf hippy bastards. Though it had been nice, ultimately it had been somewhat melodramatic. But she had to admit it had been well worth getting involved in. Kurotsuchi had inspired Ino and enjoyed some decent fireworks during the exam, which was a win-win. But if there was one more night with a dance of all things… well, love might just be in the air…
Hence her unwilling helpers. Kurotsuchi smiled even wilder, dragging the other two women along even faster. One cheered at such and the other cursed at her. But in their kimonos they couldn't offer true trio of rushing women must've made for a sight. Kurotsuchi wore a simple red kimono, but as a proud Chunin of the Stone, she wore her dark brown vest over it with pride. Fuu's kimono was a brilliant emerald color, and Kurotsuchi bought one for her plan. Samui was dragged along with a slight frown, wearing a dark gray one herself. Both had been planning to come but had been hesitant. Fuu was slightly overwhelmed not seeing a celebration like this much, and Samui seemed to be thinking over something heavily. But both were crucial for Kurotsuchi's fun! Convincing Fuu had been as simple as asking and convincing her it'd do no harm. Samui was left in the dark; she would've probably vetoed it otherwise.
How could she make Naruto's and Ino's odd relationship more entertaining? Pressure it by throwing another attractive beauty in the mix! Grade-A cinema, indeed! Kurotsuchi would remember the fun for years to come! Fuu was merely to add to the subtlety of her ploy. No need for any blonde to go after her.
Her plan was simple. There was a large and odd dance. She had heard tales of the people of the Land of Iron often doing so at these celebrations. Inject two future love birds, and a sweet dance was sure to ensue. Kurotsuchi, however, would make things more complex. A little switching of partners could create the sparks she longed to see. Besides, it would serve that blonde bastard's right to humiliate her in public like that!
"This- is- incredibly- uncool!" Samui complained as they drew closer to the massive burning pyre.
"I think it's kinda fun!" Fuu chimed in, chuckling happily as she willingly led, barely being dragged, unlike the more hesitant Samui. "Besides I want you and Naruto together!"
"You wanna say goodbye to the Leaf hippies, right?" Kurotsuchi chirped convincingly. She only needed to fool one. "And you want Naruto right topheavy?"
"Actually, I'd prefer if we didn't… also uncool…" Samui started.
"I ALMOST FORGOT TO SAY GOODBYE TO NARUTO!" Fuu yelled out disappointingly before she grabbed both their hands. Samui gasping at such and Kurotsuchi merely smirking, as Fuu carried them with ease, racing forward to the fire. Samui sighed, not looking forward but hesitantly content to face what came. Kurotsuchi could not say the same. More than giddy to be stirring the pot so thoroughly, Fuu was now unknowingly aiding her in earnest.
The trio arrived soon to see the large dancing crowd and the more prominent spectators. Fuu cooed happily and prepared to race in and join, but Kurotsuchi grabbed her arm. Samui eyed her warily all the while, the intelligent woman likely sense the trap but her manners stopped her from acting.
'Chump.' Kurotsuchi thought as she eyed the crowd.
"We haven't even seen them yet, just one second, Fuu." Kurotsuchi reasoned smoothly.
"What is your plan once we see them?" Samui asked suspiciously.
"I'm just waiting for a dance," Kurotsuchi replied with feigned innocence. She watched the dancing line carefully as Samui optically scanned her for dishonesty. However, as the dancing line continued to revolve, she saw what she was waiting for. She lined it up as Samui continued.
"It seems awfully like you have an ulterior motive for this." Samui accused. "Perhaps some sort of nefarious plan to stir up drama?"
"Sure, do you wanna see what?" Kurotsuchi said smugly.
Samui started to answer but was caught off guard as the earth below her shifted, sending her flying toward a particular group of blondes. Kurotsuchi had been subtly setting up the jutsu for such. Fuu having been won over by Naruto and Samui being together guaranteeing her more time around them. Reacted quickly and raced after her, Kurotsuchi followed, barely able to keep her laughter in.
Ino's POV
Ino had spent much of the last few months feeling dour. She had regretted her reactions and level of commitment to her career and friends, doubted the very friendships she had recently made, and even who she was.
But now, such thoughts were so small and unnoticeable that it was a wonder she'd paid any attention to them. She and Naruto laughed again, smiling, with no awkward silence, tense arguments, or unbearable tension. The two of them merely enjoyed each other; the people surrounding them didn't matter; they only added to the joyous atmosphere. It made her feel bubbly, and Naruto's rare beaming smile made it clear it also affected him. Their hands stayed linked at all times, like the other duos. It made the dance difficult; they were meant to sway and swing their arms as they pranced, but as shinobi, it was an easy enough matter. Something Ino took no small amount of joy in. Though Ino admitted to seeing Naruto's earnest smile, she was slightly distracted by his face, dramatically lit by the flames.
Ino could be forgiven then for being caught off guard as suddenly she saw a blur race for her in her peripherals. Naruto somehow reacted timely, shoving her back and turning to brace against the impact. Ino flipped, landing on her feet as she prepared to dash in to help. But she was shocked as she realized what the blur was! That damn Samui again!
Naruto had caught the airborne woman with one arm. Holding her up with his strength with ease. The positioning was unintentionally romantic. Both dazedly gazing into each other's eyes.
'That Bitch! She's really going too far this time!' Ino's mind raged. Her hands clenched as she started to angrily walk towards them 'I'm not taking this sitting down! I was finally getting to enjoy time with Naruto!'
But before she could move to stop the treacherous Cloud shinobi, another blur appeared, wrapping her up and spinning her around with terrifying ease. Ino's instincts kicked in, and her hand whipped out to punch at the throat of the attacker, it landed but instead of a choked gasp they merely chuckled in a light voice. A super strong tank…
"Fuu?" Ino asked, confused as she gazed at her sudden captor.
"I wanna dance!" Fuu sang as she twirled the two of them. "Let's do it!"
Ino tried to complain, but Fuu spun and attempted to join the rhythmic hum of the samurai. She felt a slight drowsiness settle in. She doubted her ability to free herself from Fuu without hurting her feelings and her ability to even free herself in the first place. She allowed the dance for now. Samui would not have the final laugh.
Her eyes glanced at Naruto and Samui, who seemed to accept the oddity of the situation and were dancing in Ino's stead. Naruto glanced over at her worriedly but seeing Ino shrugged and accepted the situation.
'Damnit Blonde! Stop being so damn nice!' Ino thought bitterly.
Samui somehow seemed much more adept at the dance than Ino and, in fact, had started to guide the blonde through more complex moves that even the other coupled dancers weren't doing. Samui's face seemed troubled, but as Naruto told a joke, it seemed to relax her, giving the blonde a relaxed smile. Ino knew that smile; she had just been giving it! Ino needed to interfere right now!
"Fuu, don't you wanna try dancing with different partners!" Ino tried.
"Can't do~!" Fuu sang.
Ino growled, this felt planned. She glanced at Naruto and Samui and prepared her own plan.
Kurotsuchi POV
There were few pleasures in this world Kurotsuchi enjoyed as much as a plan coming together. Her impromptu fling of poor Samui and deployment of over-eager Fuu had worked perfectly. And based on Ino's frustrated face, it had worked as intended. Kurotsuchi's smile grew enormous, and her eyes glided to Samui and Naruto. The Cloud kunoichi seemed slightly unsure, but her smile made it clear she was enjoying this. Naruto ever the nice guy had adapted to such and was now happily dancing with Samui. "Ah, to be young and in love." Kurotsuchi joked to herself. "Though I would never pick such a clueless guy…"
However, she saw a potential party pooper attempting to make a move. Luckily, Kurotsuchi had never been afraid to get her hands dirty. She had never really craved a dance with a Leaf hippy but in pursuit of laughs…
Kurotsuchi leaped directly in front of Neji, who flinched at her arrival. Taking advantage of his momentary stunning, Kurotsuchi snatched a hand and began a rough rendition of the dance being done by Naruto and Samui. Prideful as any Hyuga and unwilling to look silly, Neji smoothly went into such with masterful guidance, guiding them through the dance. He was almost charming.
"What are your intentions?" Neji barked darkly. "I don't enjoy these silly dramatics you're bringing about."
"Now, now," Kurotsuchi snarked. "Act your class and age. I merely wanted to help my friend get a dance with an interest in hers and improve social relationships. Think about it: Leaf, Cloud, Stone, and Waterfall shinobi all becoming staunch allies and friends. All due to a little romance due to your's truly."
"Convincing words, if not tone women." Neji sniped back. "It seems much more likely that you're stirring the pot for your own twisted amusement."
"Perhaps, but that's such a cynical world view," Kurotsuchi remarked. "Ever consider I'm helping them along? They say a little competition is good for you. Might make Ino realize that guy won't be naive and undervalued forever…"
"That does not excuse you sticking your nose into it and manufacturing incidents for your own amusement," Neji said rebutted.
Kurotsuchi merely snorted. "We're shinobi, not some honorable moral warriors. Deceit and manipulation are our bread and butter. Besides, it wasn't a lie; either they fight, and that blond bastard catches on, one of them makes a move and he catches on, or they realize he's not all that. They, and much more importantly, I, win in each situation. Besides, we're not little kids anymore; real love isn't so easy as first sight."
"It strikes me as odd to be so invested when you lack a partner yourself," Neji said with a smirk.
Kurotsuchi felt her excellent mood only increase. To think one of these Leaf bastards would engage in some actual verbal sparring! "There hasn't been a man who could handle this," she said with a wink; however, Neji was unaffected.
"That ego is overwhelming." Neji agreed.
"The pot calling the kettle black~!" Kurotsuchi sang.
"I, at least, do not manipulate others for mere entertainment. Unbefitting for a Kage's blood."
"Yes, because we must all engage in endless self-serving platitudes, lest the others realize we Hyuga are human!" Kurotsuchi mocked. "Besides, you should be lucky to dance with two beauties tonight~!" Kurotsuchi sang again even more gleefully.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Ignoring the fact I would contest your supposed beauty." Neji insulted. "Whatever do you mean-"
Kurotsuchi didn't allow the Hyuga to reply. Instead, she yanked his hand, ripping him close to her. She snuggly hugged him to lean in and whisper in his ear. "Ah, and here you were, my type, Hyuga~." Before he could process and respond to such, she sent him spinning away with a quick toss. Fuu did the same; Neji was caught by Fuu, and Ino landed back with the blonde, leaving a confused Samui alone. Kurotsuchi fixed that by grabbing and leading her into another dance. The two stared at each other as they danced. Kurotsuchi with a broad smile, and Samui with a surprisingly passionate glare.
"Okay, what the hell, Kurotsuchi? First, you randomly threw me at Naruto, and now you interrupt our dance. I was willing to indulge you, even happy it led where it did. But what is your game?" Samui asked seriously. Though Kurotsuchi couldn't help but see the slight flush her skin had. It seemed she either had it bad or the blonde bastard was smoother than he looked.
"I was just trying to help you out. I can tell you are interested in the Blonde Ba- Blondie, and I wanted to make sure you got a dance with him. Didn't expect Ino to be so territorial like that." Kurotsuchi explained. "So you'll have to share with her, it's only fair. I think she has first dibs as his teammate, anyway. They probably spend all sorts of time together."
Kurotsuchi knew that all wasn't relatively true; it seemed clear to her that as infatuated with the blonde as she was, Ino wasn't fully decided on making something more of it. Hell, Samui seemed interested, but cross-village relationships? Rare and often looked down upon. But stirring it up was just as eventful as she had figured.
Samui glanced at her eyes suspiciously. But Kurotsuchi had been careful to tell half-truths, which were harder to suss out than outright lies. "It is uncool of her…" Samui admitted.
"Especially considering who knows when you two will cross paths again, let alone if it will be as enemies." Kurotsuchi tended to the flames cautiously. "If it were me, I'd make my mark."
"It's probably not worth it…" Samui reasoned to herself.
"True, Naruto does seem to be into her, I mean, look at the two of them." Kurotsuchi continued, barely able to hold her mirth. The two women glanced over to the pair, and the pair of blondes laughed as they danced. They focus on each other, and their movements are seemingly in sync. The two had seemingly unknowingly drifted closer nearly touching as they danced. Ino seemed to sense their attention, for she offered a cocky smirk before they turned away in dance.
'That Bitch!' Kurotsuchi knew Ino had that fire in her!
"That little b-" Samui started before sighing heavily. "Uncool of her, but maybe for the best."
"Hopefully," Kurotsuchi agreed. "Then again, the guy definitely doesn't fully realize, I bet he thinks he's low-demand goods Maybe if some beautiful lady enchanted him…"
Samui frowned deepened at such. "My brother always did say it was uncool to keep emotions bottled up…"
"My thoughts exactly…" Kurotsuchi agreed. "When we have an opening?"
Samui puzzled over it for a few seconds before nodding.
Kurotsuchi loved these exams.
Naruto's POV
Naruto needed clarification. First, he danced with Ino and had a ball. They were proving Neji wrong and were simply enjoying each other's company for the first time in months. Then suddenly, one blonde had been replaced with another. Samui suddenly appeared, and Naruto, not wanting to be rude or stop dancing, simply continued with her. Samui had caught him up with some of A's reactions. Apparently, Karui and Omoi had been sent back to the Cloud early, disgraced, and both apparently received some sort of special training due to such. He had been light on Samui but warned her to continue her mission. Naruto felt odd at such; unlike before, Samui seemed focused on him and not her mission. Yet as they danced, Naruto swore they brushed against each other more than necessary. Samui wore a rare smile as they danced wildly. The energy from her was infectious, and Naruto found the different side of her enjoyable.
Yet just as she was getting into such a situation, Samui seemed primed to ask him something, and she was again replaced with a blonde. Ino was back.
'The fuck is going on here?' Naruto thought, confused, as he looked at Ino.
Ino seemed less surprised, grabbing his hand and began another dance. Naruto didn't mind but was well beyond confused at this part. However, the oddness was quickly forgotten as the two continued their dance. Ino eyes lidded, and like Samui, they seemed to get closer as they danced.
"Naruto," Ino asked quietly, eyes intense yet somehow relaxed as they were fixed on his eyes. Something in her tone made him hesitantly gulp.
"Yes?" Naruto asked.
"What do you think about Samui?" Ino asked sweetly.
"Samui?"
"I didn't stutter, Blondie."
Naruto gulped again; he knew that tone. Well somewhat, he knew it wasn't good! Ino was not playing games here. She would only drop the matter if given an answer that she liked or felt was fully honest. Naruto chuckled to stall, as his mind wildly tried to think of a conclusion. "Well, she's pretty strong; her swordsmanship is as skilled as mine, hell we use the same kind of sword and her lightning jutsu is no joke. Though I honestly was a bit disappointed when she beat you. Thought you had that for sure."
"Continue," Ino said with a nod.
"Um, well, she's smart, accepting, and I like how chill she is. I guess overall she's cool, ha ha." Naruto finished lamely.
"Do you enjoy her company?" Ino asked. Eyes making it clear his answer had been unimpressive.
"Well, yeah? But I mean, I don't really know her all that well." Naruto explained honestly. He was attempting to get through this conversation smoothly. But Naruto simply didn't understand what she was getting at here.
"You don't," Ino said with a smile, she was pleased with his answer? She suddenly stopped her dancing, glanced at Samui, him again, then asked another question with that sickly sweet tone. "So, who do you think is prettier?"
Naruto also stopped dancing, recognizing, at the very least, the minefield he had suddenly been dropped into. While unsure of what Ino was getting at, he knew his answer would need to be tactful. "Well, they say beauty is subjective, ya know? Who cares what I think?"
"I do," Ino said with that same terrifying smile. "I'm just curious. I mean, Samui is a gorgeous girl with a lot of…" Ino seemed to glance over to Samui. "assets…"
Fuck. This was worse than Naruto had thought.
"Well…" Naruto began whirling his mind through the limited advice he had bothered to remember his mother had given him. As someone as ambitious as he, social situations had never been his forte. "You're both incredibly beautiful!" Ino's short stare was all the response he needed to know that was not his escape.
"Naruto, no need to be dishonest. Everybody has their type; which of us is closer?" Ino promised.
Naruto went to respond before two streams of water suddenly wrapped around his body, and the blonde yanked from the clearing and into the snowy landscape around them. Honestly he should've been alarmed or angry, yet he felt like he had been somewhat saved.
Give him random kidnapping to this any day!
Ino's POV
Ino nearly fell as Naruto was snatched away. Her instincts homed due to her training with Anko, had made her attempt to dash after them. But suddenly, a body smashed into another, the two of them falling as three more ran upon them to check on them.
Ino glanced from her downed position, seeing Samui across from her in the same position. Samui had reacted like her, and the two had crashed into each other due to it. She felt her anger flare as she surged to her feet. Samui did so as well, seemingly upset for some absurd reason. Before the two could race toward each other, Neji stopped Ino, and Kurotsuchi stopped Samui. Fuu ignored such sprouting wings and flew off toward Naruto.
"I'll check on him~!" Fuu alerted as she chased after the blonde.
Ino paid no mind, however, and Samui and her sent death glares at each other. Both, however, were calm enough not to fight. This allowed Neji and Kurotsuchi to step back and allow the two to face each other.
"What the hell is your problem?" Ino asked, annoyed. "Why do you keep trying to interrupt me dancing with my teammate? Hell why is a Cloud shinobi so insistent on being around him anyway?"
"The first time, as well as this time, was not my fault." Samui countered. "However, retaliation is childish. And furthermore it isn't a political matter nor a concern of you. Your his teammate not his partner."
"Childish?" Ino asked, further insulted. "I get it. I may not have watermelons on my chest. I assure you I'm all women. Also I know what I am and what I am not. Besides, it was my dance, not something you have the right to interrupt. And I assure you-"
"Yes, childish, one a teammate isn't someone you get to monopolize to yourself. Two if you're insecure with your size, it's not my problem. And three, maybe that's why you weren't promoted." Samui sniped back. "Besides, I think Naruto prefers his woman to be cool, not possessive!" Samui sniped back.
Ino growled at that; this woman seemed determined to stay in her way. First, she ruined her tribute to Naruto, her shot at Chunin, and now seemed determined to steal the blonde away entirely! "Firstly, I'm not; I have enough back problems. Secondly, Naruto prefers someone with a vocabulary larger than the world cool and one who knows a bob cut is acceptable; thirdly, I'm not possessive. Just concerned about a foreign shinobi attempting to seduce my teammate."
"Ahuh, or maybe you're just an uncool sore loser." Samui snapped back.
"You little bit-" Ino paused as she visibly reigned herself in. "Not now, but sometime soon, we'll settle this." She promised. Samui merely nodded in agreement before she stomped off. Ino did the same after a few seconds of glaring.
"Do they even remember Blondie got swiped?" Kurotsuchi asked curiously. "Also shouldn't you help the Blonde Bastard?" She asked Neji, who had watched the whole situation with much less enthusiasm than she thought would be reasonable.
"No, no, they don't, and no, no, we shouldn't," Neji answered. His Byakugan is active and staring at where the blonde must be. "Naruto was taken not too far from here, and Fuu is catching up shortly watching. There are two shinobi orchestrating the meeting. It seems they merely wished to get his attention. I don't know why, but it is unlikely to be a violent reason. As such, I refuse to involve myself in every piece of drama Naruto inexplicably finds."
"Right, that ruins my fun, so… wanna dance?" Kurotsuchi asked Neji with a smirk.
"I suppose so."
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Naruto's POV (Nearby Snowscape - Land of Iron)
Naruto was calm as he zipped through the air. Honestly, if not for the water tentacle slowly soaking his kimono, he would be content to allow this to happen. That whole dancing situation had been confusing and alarming. Naruto never knew women could be so confounding. Though he supposed it seemed he was missing something and, as such, was making it worse. The whole situation was confusing, so as far as Naruto was concerned, this was a welcomed excuse to escape it.
Naruto shuffled into his robe and drew a scroll. His progress with Fuijutsu was slow; his mother had occasionally aided him with such, but Naruto had never been all that skilled at it. Though always had trained diligently in the art, it made his mother happy. Naruto however, with consistent effort and time, managed the most basic of seals. With a pulse of chakra, he released Riptide and slashed through both strands of water with ease. The momentum carried him lower in the air until he landed on a slope with a lack of trees filled with snow. There stood two shinobi, Magetsu and Suigetsu of the Mist, they stood staring at Naruto, Suigetsu's arms solidifying as Naruto slid to a stop. Naruto offered both a confused stare but cautiously dipped into a defensive stance. Two-on-one combat was still preferable to the odd situation he had been in before.
"Naruto Uzumaki, we wish to speak to you," Suigetsu offered somewhat kindly. It was obvious that Naruto was forcing it to some degree, and Naruto prepared his chakra to fight.
"I told your younger brother we should ask him to speak to us. It's a miracle he didn't try to kill us." Mangetsu said with his face in his hand. "Please do not misunderstand Uzumaki; we mean no harm."
"Funny way of showing it, swear I can't have a peaceful night…" Naruto mainly complained to himself. "Listen, if you wanna attack me, just do it, I am not in the mood for mental gymnastics. And would rather just get it over with so I can get some alone time."
"I don't like his attitude; we don't need him, brother." Suigetsu quipped as he paced toward Naruto. The blonde subtly started to flow chakra into Riptide. "What kind of fool willingly allows himself to be taken?"
"Well, it would be an unfair fight…" Naruto started with a smirk. He felt mischievous and relished Suigetsu's dismissive snorting; he was taking the bait.
"No such thing-" Suigetsu started, but Naruto did not have it.
"You should've probably brought more guys. Not much of an ambush if I can smash through ya, ya know?" Naruto taunted.
"You think that little match in the exams was how I fight?" Suigetsu asked, incensed. "Let me show y-"
"Suigetsu!" Mangetsu roared and flexed an impressive amount of chakra, stopping the two in their tracks. "We have no time for your games. We're here on business." Naruto watched as Suigetsu obediently stepped silently behind his brother. What on earth did they want to discuss with him? Couldn't he just enjoy his night?
"Alright, so what the hell do you all want anyway?" Naruto asked bluntly. "You really could've just asked."
"Do you know of the Civil War inside the Mist?" Mangetsu asked.
"Um, well, somewhat? Most sources have cited information as difficult to validate due to propaganda from both sides." Naruto answered slowly. He had heard people discussing the topic but wasn't overly familiar with it.
"Half true," Suigetsu snarked. "The Bloody Mizukage certainly releases plenty of propaganda; the rebels, however…"
"Let's walk him through it, brother." Mangetsu chided before continuing. "For years, the Mist had suffered under the cruel reign of the Third Mizukage, a man who had developed a unique and deadly style of water jutsu. His power was unique and politically ingrained within the village. His reign had seemed absolute until a new prodigy arose."
"The jinchuriki of the Three-Tails died; as such, a new host was chosen." Suigetsu chimed in. "The third chose him himself and decided to train and raise him. The training was whispered to be cruel and unending. It was not only of the mind but the body. The Third spent years creating what he called the Hero of the Mist. And to be fair to the long-dead bastard, it worked."
"Yagura was trained to be a hero?" Naruto asked. "Why would that be bad?"
"Yagura is no normal man; his sanity has been shattered by the cruel and relentless life he had lived due to the third. Perhaps the beast simply drove him mad; it mattered little. He was no hero of the Mist; he was a beast. Yet the man thought himself different. Even in his odd mind, the ideals of the Third took root. Yagura is obsessed with being a hero. It's certainly odd, but Yagura worked hard to achieve that goal. Crushing criminals, corrupt officials, and intruders with a zealous lust. Was able to sway the Third towards a more reasonable rule."
"So how does somebody raised to be a hero lead to the "Bloody Civil War"?" Naruto asked.
"It started with the death of the Third. It is said he died in an ambush in the village, but, oddly, he was killed, yet his own guard Yagura had not noticed nor been felled himself. It mattered little, however, for no one in our home had the credentials to override his reign. Yagura was next in line, and only then did we see the monster he had become. His hero complex, the reason he was beloved, soon became the very reason people turned on him. Believing himself to be a hero, anyone who stood against him was seen as villainous, his word and law became the new moral standards, and he believed in crushing any such "evil"/ opposition he crossed."
"When it was those we all could agree were guilty, the people approved it. We don't mind some healthy pruning, after all. However, the culprit list seemed to only grow, and the reasons became more and more nonsensical. Soon, it wasn't even limited to his enemies; even those who had the slightest chance of being disloyal were killed." Suigetsu ended.
Naruto was shocked by the news. The whole situation sounded absurd. He had heard the rumors to listen to it from Mist shinobi themselves, which made it clear how real it was.
"I see, but why are you telling me this?" Naruto asked.
"We need all the firepower we can get; we have the unenviable task of besting not only the youngest kage ever but one that is a perfect jinchuriki. You are clearly a skilled shinobi after these exams, one that just so happens to be a jinchuriki of the strongest beast." Mangetsu explained further. "We're offering a dire job, fighting with the Equal rebels against Justice Loyalists. Upon victory, you will be rewarded with fame, riches, and power beyond what you could imagine." Mangetsu offered.
"I don't think I can just agree to do that," Naruto replied, feeling guilty even as he said it. The situation sounded dire, but he couldn't just chime in and help at the drop of a dime. "I cannot validate what you're saying, and I cannot abandon my home to help."
"Another waste of time, older brother; he won't bother to help people outside his circle, the same as anyone else," Suigetsu remarked snidely.
"Hey, I'll talk to the Hokage. He's a reasonable guy and surely will help," Naruto reasoned. "It's not like I don't want to help; I just can't."
"My brother speaks in frustration." Mangetsu reasoned. "While my more rash personality was a farce for the exams, my brother's behavior was no disguise. Truly, we understand your reasoning. However, we have already spoken to the Hokage. He has already deemed the situation one the Leaf will avoid. They are prepared to let the slaughter continue. Are you?"
"My home wouldn't ignore those in need unless they had no choice. You're either attempting to manipulate me or are simply making shit up." Naruto defended. His mother had often described Hiruzen as forgiving and kind to a fault. And didn't like the picture the two were painting; besides, Naruto had no reason to trust them.
"Chojuro of our team meets with Gaara of the Sand to ask the same. We are manipulating you, but it is necessary. As it stands, we are likely to be facing death soon; without aid, Yagura will stomp out the rebellion and, in the process, sentence thousands to death. But his aim doesn't stop there."
"Bastard isn't content with purging opposition in the homeland. Once he secures it, he plans to consolidate his forces, eventually beginning a worldwide conflict. You may think it isn't your problem, but it will be." Suigetsu spat angrily.
"My brother is crass but not incorrect. I witnessed him risk life and limb to aid another man today. One who held nothing less than contempt and foul intentions for you. One that you barely knew." Mangetsu pointed out. "You are not a man willing to stand idly by while people suffer. If you truly feel that way, lend aid to a land full of people desperately needing aid," the man pleaded.
Naruto was silent as he pondered over it. Truthfully, the request was ludicrous; asking him to abandon his home and career to fight in a war he may not survive wasn't even close to a reasonable ask. He loved his home village, and if he acted out against their wishes, Naruto would be forever labeled a traitor. Besides, Hiruzen may not have known the facts or had been suspicious. Naruto was sure Hiruzen would not condone such a thing; indeed, if he raised the matter with the kind man, he would relent and aid somehow.
"I'm sorry, but there's too much unknown possibilities here. I can't validate what you're saying. And such cannot agree to help." Naruto stated firmly. There was a sinking feeling in his gut, but he ignored it. "I will speak to the Hokage, however. If we can validate your claims, I have my word that the Leaf will help."
"Naive bastard," Suigetsu said simply before the body flickering from the clearing.
"Little brother—" Mangetsu said with a sigh. He bowed respectfully to Naruto. "He means well, simply upset to see our home still stands alone. Please consider our words. I respect you can't aid us or trust merely our own words. But I will reach out again with suitable proof. You strike me as a man similar to the woman who runs the Equal Rebellion. If you are, you won't be able to ignore it next time."
"Hey, I-"
"It is okay, Naruto Uzumaki." Mangetsu bowed again. "I don't blame you for ignorance; time will show you we meant well." With his piece said, Mangetsu faded away as well. Leaving the blonde alone in the clearing.
Naruto was locked into a stunned silence. The heavy conversations and topics whirled in his mind as he considered them. Had it been the right choice to refuse? Was the war really as they described? Was Yagura indeed some cruel tyrant? Had the Hokage indeed ignored their pleas? Did Naruto believe his homeland was capable of such a thing? And if they were…
"No need to fear, friend! For Fuu has arrived!" Fuu yelled out as she landed on the slope, shaking the ground from the impact. She looked around owlishly, realizing only Naruto was in the clearing. "Did you already win?" Fuu asked, impressed.
Naruto nearly smiled at his friend's antics, but his mind was much too occupied. "No, it was alright; they just… wanted to talk." He lied slightly; there was no need to involve Fuu as well. It wasn't her problem… or his…
Fuu nodded at the information with a smile. "It's good we were worried. You should've seen how Ino and Samui reacted… well before they started arguing anyway."
"Why don't they like each other? I get first impressions that mean a lot, but they are so at odds. Like some invisible line has been crossed. I figured they'd be friends after the fight." Naruto complained before he sighed dramatically. "Listen, no offense, Fuu, but I need a minute. There's a ton going on right now, and I need some time to process it."
"Hmm, I see," Fuu said, surprised. "Sorry to hear that, Naruto." The cheery woman quickly lifted the short blonde from his feet and hugged him tightly. "If you ever need my help, just let me know! I made many friends in the exams and don't mind protecting them if they need it. Hope we see each other again soon."
Naruto nodded as his happy friend left him alone in the cold, sloped wilderness. He sat in the snow, ignoring the cold that seeped into him. He felt slightly numb and tired. Perhaps he needed a break-
Smoke suddenly filled the clearing as a familiar voice called out.
"Finally, you're alone!" Muri called as the smoke cleared, exposing the small raccoon facing the blonde. "I've Been waiting all day to talk to you. I need to speak with you about a private matter."
'Kami, why can't I catch a break.' Naruto inwardly complained as he nodded. As exhausted as he felt, Naruto would never have stood a chance against Gaara without Muri. The blonde owed him one.
"Okay, so what's going on? I'm kinda busy right now. My friends are all weird; some are missing, and I escaped two other situations." Naruto explained to Muri. "I can't just run off on my own, ya know? I'm a Chunin now."
"You shinobi and your foolish loyalty to your villages." Muri shook his tiny head disapprovingly. "Blind loyalty serves no one. Besides, I believe this problem we need help with will be one you'll be motivated to solve anyway. At least if those missing Leaf shinobi are truly your friends."
That shattered Naruto's stupor. His eyes sharpened and focused on Muri. He felt his muscles tense. Lee, Choji, Yuno, and even Sakura and Kiba were people he considered friends. But how was Muri connected? What did he know or find out that those looking already had failed to?
"The hell?! Do you know where they are?! Let me tell the Hokage, he'll arrange a rescue party!" Naruto ranted as he smiled, glad to have a problem he could feasibly face.
"Unfortunately, it is not possible. The situation is complex, and if you wish to save them, we can only bring a small party, one that I am willing to bring, but you must be a part of." Muri replied sagely, nodding at the blonde. "Otherwise, your friends will never be found and likely face horrific deaths."
Naruto growled at the knowledge. "What the hell does that mean? Where are they?"
"That is more complex than you'd like Summoner. First, do you understand how our lands work? The difference between my land and yours?"
"Well, location primarily, and supposedly all homes of summon animals are hidden and nearly impossible to find." Naruto listed. "It was thought to be impossible until somehow pervy sage managed to find the home of the toads somehow."
"Indeed, that is the first case. See, we "animals," as you humans refer to us, are a bit different than most. Different in the sense of origin, we come from an entirely different version of this world. See there are supposedly several levels of existence all layered upon one another with only the top most layers being able to interact with each other. Our world is on top of yours and as such was linked to yours so long ago. We know not what is above our own world and have no wish to know. The reason and method are unknown. As such, finding our true homes is wholly impossible; the only way to access them is with the summoning jutsu, which both parties can use to travel to and summon the other. However, due to the previously mentioned links between this world, there are what we call "convergence points."" Muri lectured. While the raccoon was typically as relaxed and fun as Naruto, he often went into long-winded rants regarding his family and their customs. Having gotten used to such things due to their joint training, Naruto nodded along before chiming in. Muri would grow annoyed if he didn't offer input.
"So convergence points are… some sort of spot that links us two worlds?" Naruto reasoned.
"Basically, at least in the physical sense, this was originally made for travel between the two worlds. But now, it often stands as a clan's home in your world. A way to establish a connection to current summoners and possibly attract new ones. However, due to a long-forgotten war, few known ones remain. There are surely more hidden in the world but we only know of; The Toads, The Snakes, The Slugs, The Monkeys, The Weasels, and us. Each of us holds these convergence points in control and, as such, is uniquely qualified to recruit summoners. This is a highly sought-after goal for us, "summoning animals," as it benefits us as much as them. We gain access to the aid and, in some cases, the servitude of a summoner; they gain the same. This is why Jiraiya found the Toads; they were interested in a new summoner and found him to be a fine match. As such, they influenced him to find his way when he searched for a summoning clan to ally with. A clan can only be found by humans and other creatures of the human world if they wish to be."
"Okay…" Naruto said to himself, slightly overwhelmed by the information. "But how is that related to my missing friends?"
"As I said, summoners are sought after, but with such few clans having access to convergent points, they struggle to find new summoners. Occasionally, a long-forgotten scroll will be found, and new connections will be made, but it's an oddity. As such, the animals are cursed to never become a summoning clan. This is considered quite the negative fate, for clans without a summoning contract can never reach their full potential. As well as never gain access to the benefits one can gain from interacting with humans. Due to that, many animal clans seek ways to gain access to the human world in one way or another. Force summoners to interact with them and potentially even pledge with them. I believe one of these poor clans might be to blame if not them… well it clear forces are betraying the natural order of things. Something we of the Okama clan have always stood against, regardless of whether they succeed in their goal the end result will be horrific."
"They kept talking about smoke and poofs, almost like a summoning jutsu… they were taken by summoning animals? Why would that be so bad? If they just want summoners then they'll all come up even stronger?" Naruto asked incredulously.
"These Natural Laws that we of the Okama clan defend isn't mere self imposed discipline. As I said these worlds of ours technically exist within the same space, simply on different planes of existence. Due to that fact in order to travel between worlds one must use pre existent holes between each layer to travel between. But in unnatural travel, it rips a new pocket in the world. It is believed that this will slowly over time destroy both of our worlds."
"So those natural laws are incredibly important, which is why you want me to go kick their asses." Naruto mused.
"Indeed," Muri agreed with amusement. "Despite what you'd humans like to believe, we animals, just like you, have complex social relationships within our line and outside of it. Due to the unique and empowering nature of being a clan, the other established clans have made standards and laws to control who became a summoning clan and the actions they take as one. For a clan to do this is a flagrant disregard of our laws and customs. One we intend to the right, well intended for you and me to anyway."
"I imagine this will also serve as a test of sorts? I don't mind, but my friends are my first priority." Naruto answered honestly.
"We figured as such and would have it no other way. A summoner of ours is expected to be morally motivated. However, if you wish to become a full summoner of our clans, you can gain full support and access to our jutsu. This would be the opportunity."
"Fine then, two birds with one stone." Naruto agreed. "We should go to the Hokage now and gather for our party." Fortunately, he had to go; he wanted to ensure their safety himself. Naruto wondered how the Hokage would re-
"We work with you, Naruto Uzumaki, and not the Leaf. We will fight and work on your behalf even if it aids them. However, we cannot include them in our business. However, you cannot go alone if you intend to rescue your friends. Even you would likely perish on your lonesome. And if another party is responsible, I would leave you alone. I'm also limited in how much chakra I can transport at one time. You alone limit me greatly. You, along with Jounin or Anbu, would only make it all the more impossible. Instead, I have lured you some allies I can transport and should be uniquely qualified for the mission in mind." Muri said as suddenly three people leapt into the clearing. All faced the blonde and raccoon with various levels of confusion.
It was Sasuke, Shino, and Hinata. Hinata seemed incredibly worried and stressed, and Shino and Sasuke were more challenging to read. But their silent, tense atmosphere spoke volumes of the pressure felt by all the Genin whose teammates were missing.
"Naruto," Sasuke said while marching toward the blonde. "You said you had information regarding the whereabouts of Yuno, who ran when I came after you. Explain."
"You said something similar to me and did the same. Not to mention asking a litany of questions. Why? Well, I intend to find out." Shino echoed.
"You told me Neji wanted me… Then you asked all about me. Though this may be a different sort of meeting." Hinata shyly interjected.
Naruto scratched his head, utterly befuddled. Before Muri snickered loudly from on top of his head.
"The respectable young lady has the awe-inspiring ability, one that should aid in search and rescue; the more somber fellow, the one in glasses to be clear, does more of the same as well as being fairly knowledgeable on wildlife, the last one was more grumbly, but seems to be the strongest shinobi I could find with low enough reserves," Muri explained. "This fine crew was vetted by myself personally and should be the perfect group for this. I also took the liberty of packing some supplies from your home and the others ' homes."
"There is so much wrong with what you just said…" Naruto grumbled. "How did you even sneak into and lead on three different shinobi and not even the dumb ones!"
"The ability to freely transform allows me to take on any physical form within reason. Come in handy in these cases. Enough dilly-dallying; have you made your choice? Will you aid your friends and the Okama clan you signed loyalty to? Or act within the limits given to you? I believe we know the answer…" Muri chuckled to himself.
"Naruto." Sasuke warned.
"Shut it, man." Naruto sniped back. "We can save Yuno and all the others as long as we go where Muri is going. Though it would be without the permission of the Hokage."
Sasuke merely nodded and stood beside Naruto, impatiently tapping his feet. Hinata and Shino both froze, seemingly at odds with doing something against codes. Naruto was prepared to tell them it was okay before Muri chimed in. First, fully explain the situation to the three before offering a warning.
"Make no mistake, if you don't go, the odds of your friends surviving dramatically decrease," Muri warned the two. With that said, both marched over, joining Naruto and Sasuke. "Excellent; now, while I will transport you all simultaneously, you will likely be separated. This shouldn't be a major issue. I will ensure we all converge eventually. That being said, we won't be going to any clans land but the wildlands themselves. They hold the entirety of the unsigned clans, our likely culprits."
"All well and good, but what precisely will we do once we arrive? You say an unknown clan must be doing so, but how will we find them?" Sasuke asked.
"They use chakra just like you and I, and their little trick likely costs quite a bit. It should be easy enough to track; if I'm present, I will be able to do so effortlessly," Muri said.
"You seem to be suggesting this place is dangerous?" Hinata asked.
"Undoubtedly," Muri answered grimly. "If left there, eventually you would be overridden. Though as a unit, you all should be able to power through."
The three all nodded, and Naruto did as well. The four were unprepared for the adventure ahead of them…