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Dragonheart	By : UmbreonMessiah Category: Naruto > General Views: 1644 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Dragonheart

Chapter 9

            Tsunade sighed exasperatedly as the newest load
of paperwork zoomed through the double doors of her office. She was the most
powerful shinobi in Konoha, having damn near created the art of medical ninjutsu
and having her chakra-based super strength to boot. She was a foe that even
Orochimaru dared not tangle with without some sort of dirty trick up his
sleeve. She could easily leave this desk and lead a whole nation to war with
herself at the front, pounding bodies into nothing but pink mist as she moved.
            So why was it she was perpetually stuck in her
office, forced to do nothing more than stab her signature onto every single
leaflet and document that the village could find? It was like they thought she
had nothing better to do with her time than sign treaties and reports. Who did
they think they were dealing with? She wasn�t some rank Chuunin with no
future. She was the Ho-freaking-kage for crying out loud! She had a billion
things she could be doing.
            Of course, when forced to actually think of
what else she could be doing, Tsunade drew a blank. It was either this or
listen to the elders bitch to her about �Naruto this� and �Orochimaru that� and
�Akatsuki would probably do that�. Akatsuki hadn�t shown their faces since the
incident with Gaara, and Orochimaru wasn�t anywhere on the radar. Naruto in her
eyes was a non-issue, as his training with Jiraiya had seemingly erased any need
for concern about the trapped Bijuu. According to the mission report filed by
Jiyumaru about five days ago, Naruto had even willfully summoned the Kyuubi�s
chakra in order to save his teammates. If that didn�t show that he had control,
what did?
            Tsunade gave off another sigh and pushed the
papers aside. She didn�t have time for any of this. There were far too many
other things occupying her mind at the moment. One of the most prominent issues
she was facing right now was the dilemma involving Hyuuga Hinata. For a while
now the elders had been searching high and low for a suitor for their
disenfranchised heir. The only reason behind this was that they did not want
her involved with Uzumaki Naruto, the village-wide infamous carrier of the
demon-beast that had robbed them of the Yondaime Hokage. Every time Tsunade
found that sentence replaying in her head she spat. They were the words of a
particularly grumpy Hyuuga elder with graying hair, sagging breasts, and ratted
purple robes. The woman had almost struck Tsunade with her cane, but Hiashi had
managed to help avoid that problem. Tsunade probably would have called the
wrinkled sack an old bag if it weren�t for the fact that they were nearly the
same age.
            Tsunade quickly thrust that argument out of her
mind and returned to the problem at hand. The Hyuuga Clan had deemed Naruto too
much of a risk for them to take. The Hokage had easily believed that once they
learned that the girl most of them took as nothing more than useless was infused
with the Demon Fox�s chakra, they would drop the idea. Unfortunately it had not
turned out to be so. Instead of abandoning the prospect they had doubled their
efforts to find a suitable husband, convinced that her new abilities could
actually �make her useful to someone�. The aged blonde did not like the
tone that sentence had been said in. It made Hinata seem more like a bargaining
chip than a human being. Though it was not uncommon for clans like the Hyuuga
to do something just like that, it made the Hokage a tad ill to think that they
would still practice it. The more she dwelled on the entire matter the more
agitated Tsunade became.
            I need to relax, she sighed to herself.
            The only thing to relax to was the mountain of
paperwork in front of her. Deciding that it was better to do what she hated
than continue to brood on something she only had limited control over, she dove
into the mess of documents with haste. She had been trying for so long to help
the Hyuuga girl, and for the time being it seemed as if everything was okay.
The Hyuuga had not come any closer to finding as suitor than they had a week ago
and Hiashi had been doing his part in stalling the process as long as possible.
Her influence as the mightiest ninja in the whole Hidden Village only went so
far, and that reach was about thirty times shorter than the populace imagined.
It was still better than no power at all.
            What�s this? Tsunade hummed quietly as
she picked up another piece of paper. This is from�Naruto? Something about
Yakusho?
            She leaned on an elbow and allowed her heavy-chested
frame to unwind gently, taking a restful pose on her desk. Her eyes roamed the
white parchment a few times to make sure she was reading it correctly.
According to what she was perusing, Yakusho had been faking his amnesia in order
to have a place to stay. He apparently also had a wide knowledge of the country
and the rumors passing through the other shinobi nations. This information came
as very little surprise to the Hokage. She had had her suspicions of Yakusho�s
story since day one, but had always chosen not to voice them. So far if his
track record with missions said anything about him, he was a good person and
good shinobi. She even broke a smile as she read the footnote in the report, a
small message from Naruto asking her to let him stay. It was obvious that
despite his rather obnoxious personality that he was valuable in more than one
way. She could overlook his trickery and allow him to stay. That was assuming
he could keep up the front a little while longer.
Honestly, she sighed,
if it was anyone else asking, I�d tell them to go burn. What is it about Naruto
that just makes me want to help him with everything?

            Tsunade took a moment to laugh at herself. She really had taken a
shining to that stupid blond boy. She could only hope he�d shape up sometime in
the next few years. Making him Hokage would be a problem otherwise.
            The doors to the office suddenly burst wide
open. Shocked by the unexpected intrusion, Tsunade flailed at her desk before
regaining her composure. She stood tall in her regular ensemble, sandy blonde
hair tumbling down over her green top. Whoever would just barge in here had to
have a lot of guts. She would show him what for, even if it was Naruto again.
            Her building anger stopped dead as she looked
into the lifeless eyes of Hyuuga Hiashi. He was short on breath, holding onto
the doorframe in an attempt to catch some air in his lungs. His hair, which was
normally splendid like the mane of an alpha male lion, was disheveled and frayed
in his haste. The look he had on his face spoke of terror and failure, his
voice lacking the ability to get the message across. Words were unnecessary as
Tsunade quickly picked up on his intent, her sandy-brown eyes quivering in
understanding.
            �Shit,� she cursed.

            Naruto stared down at his sixth helping of
ramen and sighed. It had been nearly a week since his last mission, yet he was
still brooding over it. Absently he wondered exactly what it was he had to be
so upset about. They had completed the mission successfully, had they not?
Then what was it that was bothering him so much?
            Are you going to eat that, or let it
stand until the next Ice Age?
            Oh right, the Kyuubi.
            Naruto was still rather distressed that he had
called upon the Kyuubi�s power to defeat Karimaru. It wasn�t as if he had done
anything wrong. Using the power that was within him, he was able to defeat the
swordsman and save his friends. Despite that, part of him still felt shame from
his actions. He had promised himself and Jiraiya that he would never use the
Kyuubi�s strength ever again. Yet in the heat of the moment he had left his
promise at the wayside and given in to his darkness. It had been so long since
he had tapped into the beast�s energies that he had forgotten just how
incredibly strong it made him. In that moment where he had killed Karimaru he
had also remembered the insatiable want for death the Kyuubi instilled in him.
In the past it had taken all of his devotion to contain it, but he could no
longer deny that using that forbidden force left him thirsty for the coppery
tang of blood. It made it quite easy to understand how someone like Hinata
could be consumed by its will. The hunger was insatiable.
            So he sat and did the only thing his mind could
do when in such a disturbed state. Ayame and Teuchi looked worriedly at their
top customer, unable to discern just what it was that was making him so
unhappy. Knowing all too well that if Naruto wished to speak about it he would,
the two kept to themselves and their chores. It was a sad sight to see such a
happy young man dreary and depressed.
            Well don�t just sit there, the
Kyuubi taunted, eat something.
            I have been eating, Naruto responded.
What? Five bowls isn�t enough to shut you up?
            You�re just sour because I was right,
the evil spirit rejoined.
            Whatever, the teen sighed, just leave
me alone alright?
            If that helps you sleep at night,
the fox�s evil voice snickered.
            Naruto had been avoiding conversations with the
Kyuubi more and more lately. The little devil hadn�t stopped hounding him since
he and the others had returned to Konoha after the last mission. What annoyed
the whiskered shinobi most is that he knew the Kyuubi was simply trying to prod
and pester him, and it was working. Even when the brightly-dressed boy cut the
creature off before it could go on another tirade, he felt as though he had
lost. He was doing everything within his power to avoid admitting that he had
enjoyed it, if even just for a split second.
            There was a slight rustling as the flaps to the
ramen bar were parted. Naruto turned his head slightly to see the double-bun
hair of Tenten. He hadn�t seen too much of the girl lately, except for the odd
time he found himself talking to Neji or walking past Gai�s team training. She
was wearing something different than she normally wore though. Instead of her
usual pink she was sporting an elegant white yi-style shirt with red trim held
on her body by its lapels. Her lower half was decorated with baggy pants that
were a deep crimson color. He wasn�t exactly sure how to describe it, but her
outfit made more sense than it seemed.
            The female member of Gai�s squad took one look
at the situation presented to her and whimpered. Her eyes fluttered between the
six different bowls of ramen Naruto had amassed as the clock struck just a
little past four, biting her lower lip in anxiety.
            �Oh no,� she said sadly, �you�ve already
heard.�
            �Heard what?� Naruto asked glumly. �What are
you talking about?�
            Tenten�s face twisted at those words, her
features speaking of panic. She�d obviously said what she had said in haste,
not really bothering to consider if he�d heard what dreaded news she was holding
or not. He could tell that she didn�t really want to be the one to deliver the
information, but now that she had let it slip she would have to. The
oddly-coifed girl sighed as she took Naruto�s blue eyes into her gaze.

            �I�m so sorry Naruto,� she apologized. �They found a suitor for
Hinata.�

            The skies overhead had taken a darkened twist
in the last few moments. Thunder rolled across the air as a storm came in. The
wind began to scream as if it were carrying the agonized shouts of a tortured
woman with it. Even as droplets of moisture began to slam into the earth Naruto
ran, desperate to find his significant other no matter what the Gods threw
against him. He knew without having to know that she was in pain, suffering
because of what her family had done to her. He knew that she would feel alone,
discarded and betrayed. He knew he had to find her no matter what.
            At first he didn�t understand why he was
running so rapidly. After all, he didn�t have any real idea where Hinata was or
where she would be going. Yet for some reason his feet took him beyond the
houses and the restaurants. Soon he realized it wasn�t his feet that were
carrying him to his destination. Something deep inside him was telling him
where to go, where he could find her. From quite a distance away he could swear
he felt her heart beating, its resonance beckoning him to her location.
            The rain was coming down in veritable sheets by
the time he found her. It only took him a moment to recognize his surroundings
as he hopped off the nearest building�s roof. The small playground with the
large tree and a single wooden swing attached to it were all too familiar to the
Ninja Academy�s �dead last�. This was the place he had spent so many years of
his life bragging he would become a shinobi. It was that very wooden swing
where he had spent many days feeling the harsh words and glances of his fellow
classmates and their parents. It was here that he found Hinata.
            She sat in the swing far too small for her size
now, clinging to a single rope with both hands. Her entire body was dripping
from the rain, her long dark locks matted against her face as water coursed down
her frame. He could see her shake and shiver, both from the cold and her
crying. Tears mixed with the pouring water as she sat there, wallowing in
remorse.
            �Hinata,� he called to her gently.
            She looked up at him with surprise as she heard
her name. Surprise quickly turned back into sadness as her face scrunched up
and she began to cry harder. In three steps he was at her side, crouching down
on his knees next to the swing to draw her into a tight hug. Both of their
bodies shared the wetness the storm had to offer, rivulets of water cascading
down their jackets like mountain brooks. She shook in his grasp, letting go of
the sturdy rope and grappling to him for dear life. Their cheeks pressed
together as she sobbed, finding what little comfort she could in the whiskers on
his face. Together they stayed for several minutes, enduring the harsh elements
to simply be together in peace. For those few short minutes it was as if they
were alone in life, in a place where none of the rules and disasters that
entailed it applied to them.
            They could not live in fantasy forever. Too
soon for both their likings Naruto separated them, running his palm across her
cheek to remove her wetted hair from it. He peered into her reddened lavender
eyes and held her closely, making sure she understood he would not abandon her.
            �We need to get out of this rain and somewhere
warm,� he said.
            �N-Not home,� she quivered. �I don�t�I don�t
want to be near my family right now. Please?�
            There was no real question in her words, but
Naruto knew exactly what it was she wanted. Slowly the two stood in the
whipping rain, Naruto clasping her clammy and cold hand in his tightly.
Wordlessly they began to trudge through the stormy village to a place where they
could try and be free from the torment.

            Naruto brought Hinata back to his apartment.
It was the only place he could really take her, and deep inside he knew that if
she was near him it would calm her down. They stood in the midst of his
relatively small living space without purpose, the water from their soaked
clothing dripping onto the wooden floor. For a while neither of them did or
said anything as Hinata remained fixed to the blond�s body, holding him to her
tightly. It came to his attention that they were both still wet from the
rainfall and that any prolonged exposure to the cold moisture would be apt to
make Hinata ill. He knew that the Kyuubi�s power would keep him from getting
sick, but he wasn�t sure of the extent of its influence on the petite girl
before him. He attempted to convince Hinata that she needed to get out of her
wet clothes and take a shower to warm up, but she refused to release her hold on
him. Realizing she did not want to be apart from him for even a second he
offered quite chastely to join her. She agreed to the terms very softly,
squeezing his arm even tighter at the prospect. Naruto was forced to very
slowly pry her hand from his body in order for them to remove their clothing.
            Once they had left their clothes to dry and the
water was hot enough, Naruto allowed Hinata to pull him into his small shower
with her. The moment was slightly awkward as they stood in the midst of the
steamy water, pressed together in the tiny space available. They continued to
stand there, looking into each others eyes as the hot water washed over them.
Words did not come to them and words would have done them both no amount of
good. Instead of trying to voice his feelings, the blond simply wrapped an arm
around his lover and drew her closer to his body. They remained that way for
some time, Hinata gently resting her head against Naruto�s well-toned chest.
She noticed for the first time that he did not remove the necklace he had
received from Tsunade all those years ago. The pale green crystal that hung
from his neck entranced her, her eyes becoming fixated on its calming glow.
            The storm was still going on strong when they
finished. Thunder roared in the distance as the two dried themselves off using
Naruto�s orange towels. Another crash echoed through the air as the jinchuuriki
finished drying his messy hair. The noise had been so loud that he did not hear
Hinata�s request. He only noticed she was addressing him when he felt her grasp
his wrist, tugging him down to eye level with her. With his head lowered a few
inches, he could feel the warm patter of her breath on his cheek. Her spotless
lavender eyes caught his own orbs as she spoke again. She did not give him the
time to say yes or no to the request, pressing her lips to his in a fleeting
kiss. The taste of her mouth, along with her insistent pulling, compelled him
to follow her into his bedroom. She dragged him there because it was the only
place he could fulfill her wish. It was the only place he could make love to
her until all her pain and sorrow were forgotten. There they stayed as he did
just that, giving her what she desired and needed. Her want for him seemed to
only grow as they went on, forcing him all-too-willingly to take her again and
again. Their pace was slow and methodic, wasting hours of the day and a few of
the night together. In that time they were one, the way they wanted life to
be. They were together and nothing could change it. They did not stop until
the last look on her face was a smile, which only occurred just as she finally
passed out. He remained at her side, stroking her long hair and holding her
close before he too went to sleep. Even afterwards the rainstorm kept going
until long into the night.
            The next morning was the first time that Naruto
hadn�t been woken up by the sun in a very long time. He awoke simply by chance,
his eyelids drifting apart on a whim. Hinata was already up, staring at him
with the same worry she had had the previous day. They stayed like that until
Naruto�s frog-clock croaked its alarm, signaling the arrival of seven o�clock in
the morning. Attempting to cheer her up, Naruto offered to make them both
breakfast. She agreed with a forced smile, sitting up on the bed as Naruto
walked off, collecting some clothes to put on for that day.
            The morning meal was simple, being comprised of
nothing more than a few pieces of toast and fruit. Hinata didn�t care what she
ate, only that she was eating it with the man she knew she loved. Both of them
remained hardly dressed as they ate, Hinata grabbing only her panties and black
undershirt as they sat at the table. Naruto had managed to find himself a pair
of boxers to wear, hoping that the frog design on them would elicit even a small
chuckle from his raven-haired girlfriend. When they failed to do so, he sighed
before reclaiming their clothing from his radiator.
            They had just finished getting dressed when a
knock came to the blond�s door. Having gotten used to strangers and passersby
in the last while, Naruto was hardly shocked that someone was paying him a visit
this early in the day. He opened the door to reveal Hyuuga Neji dressed in
rather formal robes. They were wrinkled and hardly put on right, suggesting
both that he had slept in them and that it had not been a very peaceful
slumber. The older boy�s pale-eyes instantly focused on Hinata before a sigh of
relief left him.
            �Thank goodness,� he said. �I had a feeling
Hinata-sama was with you.�
            �Gomen Neji-nii-san,� she replied dejectedly,
�it�s just��
            �You don�t need to explain,� he stated. �I
understand perfectly. I only wish there was something I or Hiashi-sama could
have done.�
            �You mean you don�t�� Hinata tried to say.
            �Neither Hiashi-sama or I have a problem with
you being here,� Neji explained. �The Elders are�at least feigning concern. As
long as they know you are unharmed however, no trouble should come of it.�
            �How did this happen?� Naruto interjected
loudly. His brows were narrowed in anger, expressing the emotion that Hinata
could not. �I thought Hiashi and Baa-chan were stopping it.�
            �They tried very hard Naruto,� Neji said with a
sunken heart, �but the Elders did things behind their backs. They searched high
and low and sent out a few letters of request without informing Hiashi-sama.
One of them returned with an acceptance�and the terms were such that �no� was
simply not an answer.�
            �Wasn�t an answer?!� Naruto hollered. �What
the hell do you mean!?�
            �Please stop yelling at Neji, Naruto-kun!�
Hinata gasped, shocked at her own tone. �He�he was only trying to help.�
            �Gomen,� he apologized, clenching his fists in
anger.
            �I wish I had more time to explain things,�
Neji said, �but that will have to wait for while we are on the road.�
            �What do you mean?� Naruto questioned.
            �The Hokage has selected us and several others
for a mission,� the Branch member clarified. �Even I do not know all the
details�but I am told it is a diplomatic mission, which worries me.�
            �Why would it worry you?� the blond asked.
            �We don�t have time,� the long-haired male
responded. �Come along and just�pray that my instincts are wrong this time.�
�Alright,� Naruto sighed. �Be
safe while I�m gone, alright Hinata?�
�I will be, I promise,� she said
quietly. �Come back soon.�
�By your leave, Hinata-sama,� Neji nodded. Naruto
quickly pulled on his geta before following Neji out of the apartment. Hinata
stood in the empty living space, letting out a whimper as she found herself once
again alone.

            Tsunade scowled as she looked over the mission
parameters and the shinobi in her office. She had gathered what was, in her
opinion, the finest group of people she could for this particular task.
Standing in her office at that moment were Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura,
Ryumoto Yakusho, and the weapons mistress from Gai�s squad, Tenten. Having this
many people on a mission was like slamming one too many people into a cardboard
box stuffed to near-bursting. It was dangerous and unsound, yet with the
gravity of the situation Tsunade was forced to toss her shinobi instincts to the
side. There was great safety in numbers, and with the talents these shinobi had
the mission was almost guaranteed to succeed. That in and of itself did not
worry the Hokage.
            What bothered her most was the fact that in
addition to the four people she had already assembled, two more had been
specifically chosen for the job. She could see the logic in having Hyuuga Neji
on the squad, simply because of what the mission entailed. But having her add
Uzumaki Naruto to the group, without any choice otherwise, seemed like nothing
more than a deliberate attack on the boy. This mission would crush his poor
heart and both she and those who had set it all up knew it. They were trying to
break him, to show him just who he was dealing with. Tsunade despised them for
it, but there was nothing she could do about it.
            The doors to the Hokage�s room opened slowly as
the last two members of the six-man team rolled in. Naruto seemed quite
agitated, which Tsunade had fully expected. She was surprised to see the Hyuuga
boy out of sorts, his entire body screaming the word �stress�. Tenten took to
the long-haired young man�s side, patting him on the shoulder comfortingly as he
took a spot beside Yakusho.
            �Sure is a lot of a people for just one
mission,� Shikamaru grumbled. �If you�ve called this many of us then it must be
something of rather large importance.�
            �It is,� Tsunade replied half-heartedly,
�though it by no means makes me happy. I�m sending you all on an escort
mission.�
            �An escort mission?� Sakura questioned, tilting
her head. �With all of us? Just who are we bringing, and to where?�
            For a moment, the Hokage paused. Her eyes
drooped as her heavy heart sunk further, preparing herself for what she had to
say. Finally she looked back up at them, purposefully avoiding Naruto�s gaze.
She hated herself for this, but her hands were tied.
            �You are going to the Earth Country,� she
stated as monotonously as she could. �You are going to be escorting Kongouseki
Katai of the Earth Country back to Konoha.�
            �D-Damn it,� Neji cursed. �I knew it. I knew
they�d do this.�
            �Do what?� Naruto asked, turning to the
frazzled Hyuuga. �What�s going on?�
            �Kongouseki Katai,� Neji repeated, his lip
quivering, �is the name of�of the man who is��

            �He is Hyuuga Hinata�s suitor,� Tsunade snapped, her voice teetering
on the verge of crying.
            Naruto�s eyes widened to the point where they
almost burst from his sockets. �Wh-what?!�
            �I�m sorry Naruto,� the Hokage said, trying to
explain. �I did everything I could. The Elders requested this escort and I��
            A loud slam sounded throughout the
chamber as Naruto ran out, the dual doors crashing shut behind him. Sakura
quickly chased after him, calling out to him an attempt to get him to slow down.
            �How troublesome,� Shikamaru muttered, rubbing
his temple.
            �How could you Tsunade?!� Tenten yelled. She
was shocked that someone she looked up to could be so cruel.
            �I wish there were another way,� Tsunade said.
�The Elders have said Naruto must go on the mission�or the wedding will
fall through.�
            �SO?!� Tenten yelled back. �It�s not like
anyone involved wants the wedding to happen!�
            �That�s�not true,� Neji stated darkly.
            �What?� Tenten gasped. �What are you saying?!�
            �This wedding is a chance, albeit a small one,�
he continued, �for the nations of Earth and Fire to attain peace. We have not
been on the best of terms, especially not after the Great Shinobi Wars.�
            �Kongouseki Katai is of very high standing in
Iwagakure,� Tsunade explained. �He is the Tsuchikage�s apprentice, and most
likely will be the next one to hold the title as well.�
            �In other words,� Shikamaru stated, �if Hinata
and Katai marry, it will be a way to facilitate peace between the Earth and Fire
Nations.�
            �Son of a bitch,� Tenten whimpered.
            �In the same way,� Tsunade kept going, �if we
back out now that the proposal has been accepted, they may take it as an open
sign of aggression. I wish there were another way�but a chance at peace with
the Earth Country is something I simply cannot pass up�even for Naruto.�
            The room was filled with indignant glares
directed at the Hokage. She looked at them all with a half-alive expression,
waving their anger away from her.
            �Please, stop looking at me like that,� she
practically begged. �You have your orders. Pack your things, you leave in an
hour.�
            Another loud slam filled the Hokage�s
office as Neji forcefully closed the doors on the way out. The Hokage felt
drained and weary, hardly able to believe she had been thrust into this
position. It was all Tsunade, strongest shinobi in all of Konoha, could do to
avoid breaking out into tears.
            �Gomen nasai, Naruto,� she muttered.
�Please�please�forgive me.�

            Naruto went home after that. Hinata greeted
him as he walked in the door, but he said nothing to her. He spent a good
twenty minutes pacing back and forth through the apartment trying to gather his
thoughts. What had just happened? One moment Tsunade was on his side, the next
she was forcing him to go collect the man who was supposed to marry woman he
loved? None of it made sense to him. Hinata grew increasingly worried the more
he wandered about, trying vainly to get him to explain what was going on.
            Luckily for the both of them, Sakura came in
not too long afterwards. She took Hinata aside and explained what was going on
to her, the white-eyed girl responding with the most shocked look that had ever
graced her features. The two girls spoke a bit more as the whiskered teen
finally slumped into a chair, unable to take another step.
            He could feel Hinata�s hand pry at his.
Listlessly he opened his palm and allowed his fingers to snake in between his
lover's as they held hands. Her left palm rose to cup his cheek, aiming his head
upward to look into her eyes.
            �Naruto-kun,� she whimpered softly. �I�I heard
that��
            �It�s not fair,� he hissed. �I�m not going.
I�m not going to help them bring him here.�
            �Naruto-kun,� she begged, �please�go on the
mission.�
            �What?� he asked, unable to believe what he�d
heard.
            �Things will work out in the end,� she said
with a decisive smile. �Don�t you remember Iruka-sensei�s words? Please�have
faith.�
            �But I�� Naruto tried to say.
            �They chose Kongouseki Katai as my suitor to
facilitate peace,� Hinata continued, her face twitching in an attempt to avoid
tears. �If�if our marriage will bring peace between two countries�then I would
be okay with that.�
�H-Hinata�� Naruto whimpered. �I
thought��
�I love you Naruto,� she stated
firmly, gripping his arm tightly. �If I had a choice in the matter�I would
choose you. Please try to understand��

            There was silence for many moments. Naruto could tell that Hinata
was torn over the entire series of events, but that she was also resolute in her
decision. He didn�t want to lose her. Yet at the same time he saw the point
she made. It took him a few moments to swallow his pride and nod.
�I understand Hinata,� he said.
�But I�m not giving up. I will find a way. I promise.�

            �I know,� she said with a forced smile. �Now hurry and go. I�ll�be
waiting here for you to come back.�
            Sakura helped Naruto pack his things and
offered a final farewell to Hinata along with him. It was hard for the blond
and his lover to separate now, worrying that the next time they met may be the
last time they could be together. They shared a soft kiss before the two
members of Team Seven departed, leaving Hinata alone in Naruto�s apartment for
the second time that day.

            Three days had gone by rather slowly for the
troubled teen. The others of his group had attempted to make the journey to the
Earth Country pleasant for him, but all their efforts had failed. He kept to
himself mostly, brooding and contemplating what could be done to rectify all
that had occurred. By the time he�d woken up that morning he still hadn�t been
able to figure anything out.
            They had crossed the border during their
previous day�s trip. According to Shikamaru, who had been set as leader for the
mission, Iwagakure was not much further away from where they had stopped last
night. Naruto was somewhat looking forward to finally seeing civilization
again, if only for the night that it would last. Shikamaru had warned Naruto
beforehand to be careful while they were in this country. Relations with the
Earth Country and its shinobi were less than amicable. Wearing a Konoha Hitai-ate
only made it much more likely that people would attack first, ask questions
later. Naruto made sure he was on his guard the second they crossed the
border. So far they hadn�t seen so much as a wagon or another traveler. It was
almost eerie.
            �So Naruto,� Yakusho said, suddenly breaking
the boy�s concentration, �you�ve never been to the Earth Country have you?�
            �I would imagine most of us haven�t,� Neji
said. �It would have been very difficult for any of us to come here without
being attacked.�
            �Except for now,� Tenten added, �as we�re
probably expected.�
            �Yeah, and Ero-sennin specifically made us
avoid places like this and the Lightning Country while I was off training,� the
blond said with a sigh.
�Why do you ask Yakusho-san?�
Neji pondered. �You talk as if you have been here before.�
            �I have actually,� Yakusho admitted with a
slight chuckle. �It�s slightly more habitable than the deserts of the Land of
Wind, but the people here aren�t quite as friendly. Ever since the Great
Shinobi Wars they�ve had sort of a�grudge against most other nations. Most of
them live in deep poverty and seclusion. The entire country has fallen on hard
times.�
            �That�s why they�re so open for this alliance?�
Sakura asked.
            �Probably,� Yakusho nodded. �I would imagine a
lot of the people of the Earth Country would like to regain their nation�s
former glory.�
            �That�s a pretty in-depth analysis,� Naruto
said, quite bewildered by Yakusho�s knowledge of the area.
            �Well I would imagine it would be,� the brunet
chuckled. �I did live here for about seven years. You tend to pick up on
things like that.�
            �You lived in the Earth Country?� Sakura
gasped in amazement.
            �Those weren�t the best days of my life,� he
said with a wry smile, �but it�s not like they were terrible either. We don�t
really have a lot of time to be visiting my past though, do we?�
            �Yakusho makes a good point,� Neji announced.
�We�d best pick up the pace.�
            Naruto took one last look over the craggy hills
and mountain ranges before he picked up his feet. It was barely noticeable, but
Naruto could see the outskirts of the village in the valley below them. From
their position it would be about another hour before they actually made it
there. All the while the blond continued to think about what exactly he was
going to do about the state of affairs he was involved in. His thoughts drowned
out the footsteps of his peers as he mindlessly followed them through the
windswept rock faces of the Earth Country.

            Iwagakure was quite well populated. It was
just as large as Konohagakure, if not larger. The walls that made up its
perimeter extended quite a ways around the valley that the village was situated
in, giving it protection from all sides. Each gate was protected by four
visible guards, each sporting an Iwa Hitai-ate. They were let inside the
village without any incident, something that bothered Shikamaru more than he let
it show. The streets inside the village were not much different than those of
Konoha, albeit with more dust and less recent paint. The buildings, while made
with wood and brick like Konoha, seemed to be more dilapidated and worn down.
The roads were not well-kept, what little pavement they had been chipped and
cracked with no repair in sight. The people were just as sad to look at, as
those that were not employed by the village�s military seemed to be wearing
clothes that had gone out of style almost ten years ago. Anything that was worn
on a civilian also had a fine layer of dirt, mud or dust accumulated on it.
            �Good lord,� Naruto said under his breath,
�what happened here?�
            �Like I said earlier,� Yakusho sighed, �it�s
not the same place it used to be. The War really trashed this place, and for
some reason its economy has never recovered. Don�t let it fool you though�the
parts of the village close to the Tsuchikage�s office are pretty decent.�
            �Still,� Sakura said with regret, �it looks so
bleak.�
            There was no time for more words as the group
was suddenly surrounded. Iwa-nin began to pour out from out of every corner and
alleyway within vision, forming a large circle around the shinobi from Konoha.
Shikamaru made a single hand gesture to signal the others into formation, at
which point they made a tight circle with their back to one another. None of
them drew a weapon however, remembering that they were here for peace. If they
appeared hostile then it could make everything end prematurely.
            �What is the meaning of this?� Neji spoke up.
            �You are from Konohagakure,� one of the Iwa-nin
shouted. �Don�t you dare make demands of us. Explain why you are here!�
            �We come from Konohagakure at the behest of the
Tsuchikage and the Elders of the Hyuuga Clan,� Neji returned as formally as
possible. It was clear he had been chosen to come on the mission as a type of
ambassador. �We are to escort Kongouseki Katai back to Konoha for his marriage
to Hyuuga Hinata.�

            Hearing those words did not make Naruto�s mind rest any easier. He
grappled with a want to make it stop, almost lunging out and hitting Neji for
reminding him. In the situation they were in however, that would not have been
fortuitous to any of them. Instead of acting on instinct he simply stood with
his back in the circle, waiting to see how everything played out.
            �Yeah, like we�ll believe that,� another
Iwa-nin snorted. �Shinobi from Konoha are all the same. Line them up and kill
them all.�
            �Seems they don�t believe us,� Yakusho
grumbled. �But if it�s a fight they want��
            �It�s a fight they�ll get,� Tenten finished,
pulling out her large scroll.
            �That will be quite unnecessary,� a stoic voice
announced.
            The attention of the Iwa-nin surrounding Naruto
and his friends was diverted to the voice of the man who had just spoken. The
gaggle of shinobi before them spread out to allow two well-dressed figures into
the circle. One of them was completely unmistakable simply due to his
garments. The long white robes and shrouded hat of the Kage office were hard to
ignore as the Tsuchikage seemed to glide in from the streets. The symbol of
Earth on his hat seemed to shine brighter as he approached, looking over the
group from Konoha with great scrutiny. He was a man in his late thirties,
perhaps close to his forties. Behind the Tsuchikage mantle he possessed a livid
head of long caramel-colored hair to backdrop his stern, rock-like face.
            �He�s kind of young, don�t you think?� Naruto
whispered to Sakura.
            �He�s as old as the Fourth Tsuchikage should
be,� she replied in a hushed tone. �You forgot that our Hokages are selected
replacements. He�s probably the same age as the Fourth Hokage would be right
now.�
            �Is there something wrong sensei?� the young
man next to the Tsuchikage asked. He was almost as tall as the leader of
Iwagakure, sporting a full head of dark chocolate hair. His eyes were
unnervingly black, seemingly devoid of any depth at all. He wore rugged
clothes, similar to the ones worn by the rest of the meager populace, but far
too clean and stylized for him to be one of them. The word �sensei� had left
his mouth regarding the Tsuchikage, which meant that he had to have been his
student in some way.
            �There is nothing wrong,� the Tsuchikage
smirked. �These men and women are indeed the escort sent by Konoha.�
            �How can you be so sure Tsuchikage-sama?� one
of the Iwa-nin called out. �They could just be trying to��

            �I will not hear such slanderous words while we attempt peace,� the
High Ninja snapped. �These people are from Konohagakure. They have traveled
all this way simply to bring Katai back to their country with them. You could
show that much respect.�
            �Ah, so these are the ones?� the boy Yakusho�s
age asked.
            �They are indeed,� the robed leader smiled.
�Shinobi of Konohagakure, I would like to introduce you to the man you will be
escorting. Meet Kongouseki Katai.�
            The boy with dark hair simply bowed in greeting
at the Tsuchikage�s side. It took everyone in the closely knit circle a moment
to realize that the bent teenager was the man they had come to collect.
Naruto�s mind reeled for half a second as he absorbed the information, staring
in mild shock at the boy who was hardly any older than he was.
            �Greetings,� he said with a generous smile. �I
am Kongouseki Katai of the Earth Nation. I have been selected as Hyuuga
Hinata�s suitor�and now that the formalities are out of the road, I�d like to
get to know you all, if I could.�
            The change in pace took Neji by surprise. He
had fully expected Hinata�s suitor to be a stuck up snob or some elitist with no
understanding of how life functioned outside of his sheltered home. Katai
seemed to be the opposite at first glance, trying his best to befriend them and
get to understand them. A smile creeped onto Neji�s face as he walked out of
the defensive ring he and the others had formed.
            �I am Hyuuga Neji,� the lavender-eyed boy
said. �Member of the Branch Family of the Hyuuga Clan.�
            �Ah, they sent a distinguished Hyuuga as my
escort,� Katai returned with yet another smile. �I am honored, I assure you.�
            Neji�s cheeks reddened a little at the praise
he received. Tenten found herself giggling at the decidedly comic sight as the
Hyuuga boy tried to cover his face.
            �Come now, don�t be shy everyone,� Katai
laughed. �I�m very eager to meet you all. Come, introduce yourselves.�
            The others from Konoha took a moment, looking
back and forth between themselves to decide if this was okay. Finally Tenten
broke from their huddle and walked up to the distinguished man, holding out her
hand in salutation.
            �I�m Tenten,� she said with one of her
trademark beaming smiles, �weapons specialist trained by Maito Gai.�
            �Quite a catch, I�m sure,� Katai said, taking
her hand and shaking it firmly. Tenten�s cheeks flushed for a moment as she
flashed an embarrassed grin at Neji. �What about you?�
            Sakura blinked a few times before she realized
that Katai was referring to her. She walked up to him and extended her hand.
�Haruno Sakura,� she said proudly, �medic-nin trained by Tsunade-sama, the Fifth
Hokage.�
            �Trained by the renowned Tsunade-hime herself?�
Katai asked in amazement. Both his hands clasped around Sakura�s, shaking her
outstretched appendage firmly. �You must be quite skilled. It is truly an
honor to meet the apprentice of the Hokage.�
            �As it is an honor to meet you, Katai-sama,�
Sakura replied wistfully. Something about his attitude and words simply made it
impossible to not show him the respect he deserved. Sakura almost felt herself
pulled away by his charm, but at the same time saw the plain friendly look in
his eyes.
            �What about you two?� he called to Shikamaru
and Naruto. �I�m not that scary, am I?�
            Shikamaru remained unimpressed, shuffling over
to the Tsuchikage�s apprentice and offering his palm unceremoniously. �Nara
Shikamaru,� he stated like a captured soldier. �Strategist and Chuunin.�
            �A succinct summary if I�ve ever seen one,�
Katai muttered, blinking at Shikamaru�s formal informality. �And you?�
            �I am Uzumaki Naruto!� the blond shouted as
loudly and as obnoxiously as he could, pointing at himself extravagantly with
his thumb. �Future Hokage of Konohagakure!�
            The street went silent as Naruto shouted those
words. The other members of his group paled at his hysterics, thoroughly
embarrassed in front of the ninja of another country. Some of the Iwa-nin began
whispering and laughing at the display, only adding to the colorlessness of the
situation. It was an action that was entirely within Naruto�s character, but
something the others had hoped he�d grown out of.
            The horrid quiet was shattered as a deep laugh
rang out through the air, followed by slow clapping. The eyes of everyone
shinobi turned and focused on Katai, who was chuckling heartily and slapping his
hands together in approval. His mirth was genuine and not mocking, causing
Naruto to lower his hand and look at the man inquisitively.
            �Are you okay?� the blond asked.
            �I�m more than okay,� Katai said with a
chuckle. �You remind me of myself, that�s all.�
            �I do?� Naruto said bewildered.
            �Of course,� Katai smirked. The Tsuchikage�s
apprentice made a show of pointing to himself with his own thumb, holding back
more laughter. �I am going to be the future Tsuchikage, after all. Your dream
is quite honorable, if you ask me. Your will to shout it out to the heavens
only proves that you believe in it that much more.�
            The shinobi from Konoha were shocked at Katai�s
complete acceptance of not just Naruto, but Naruto�s behavior. The Jinchuuriki
himself was flabbergasted, his mouth attempting to make some sort of noise and
failing. His lips opened and closed repeatedly as he tried to form words. He
finally just swallowed and focused his mind, finding his lips curving into a
smile.
            �Thanks,� he said with an authentic grin.
            �Not a problem,� Katai continued smiling.
�Everyone feels very strongly about something in their life. It makes no sense
to make fun of them for what they believe in. Isn�t that right?�
            Naruto nodded to the boy while at the same time
biting his lower lip. Katai nodded to the blond and peeked over his shoulder.
            �And what about�� he started, then abruptly
stopped. He had finally taken the time to get to Yakusho, only to seemingly
lose all the words he had prepared. Both men took a few moments to look at each
other, an appearance of mild surprise apparent on the face of the Tsuchikage�s
apprentice. After another moment Katai stood up tall and chuckled. �I see.�
            �What was that about?� Tenten asked Neji.
            �I don�t know,� the Hyuuga said.
            �Well, if that�s everyone,� Katai said loudly,
�shall we get away from this grimy street? I�m sure most of you would like to
relax from your long journey here. We have all sorts of food prepared.�
            �I am afraid that that will not be possible,�
one of the Iwa-nin surrounding them stated deeply.
            �And why might that be?� Katai asked sincerely.
            �Because we of Iwagakure WILL NEVER SURRENDER
TO KONOHA!� the shinobi hollered. With eyes full of rage he burst from the
surrounding entailment of Iwa-nin, brandishing a short sword aimed directly for
the Tsuchikage�s apprentice. There was no time to dodge the attack as the
traitorous ninja plunged the blade into Katai�s chest.
            �Katai-sama!� was the unanimous cry through the
street.
            SNAP!
            Everyone seemed to freeze at that noise. It
was a completely unexpected sound for the situation. The shinobi from Konoha
had thought to hear a slicing resonance, or perhaps the noise of blood rushing
from an open wound. None of those expectations lived up to the breaking of the
Iwa-nin�s sword against Katai�s body. The attacker slowly backed away with a
gulp, revealing the area where he had attempted to stab the other man. Katai�s
skin was thick and black, glimmering in the sunlight like diamond.
            �That was entirely unwise,� Katai said quietly,
his voice low and focused. �You know what I�m capable of.�
            The Iwa-nin had no time to escape. Katai
lifted his right arm as it began to solidify and extend into a long, black
spear. His victim only had time to scream in repentance as the sharp tip was
driven through his heart, blood pouring out from both sides of the wound. Katai
withdrew his arm from the poor ninja, letting his bloodied corpse drop to the
road a dirt-displacing thud. Blood trickled down the weapon that Katai
had used, which slowly began to retract and reform into the pink shape of
Katai�s right arm.
            �What the hell was that?� Naruto said in
astonishment.
            �That wasn�t necessary Katai,� the Tsuchikage
sighed. �The others could have dealt with him.�
            �I apologize sensei,� Katai bowed.
            �Was that a Kekkei Genkai?� Tenten whispered to
Neji. �It looked�like his body became steel or something.�
            �Is everyone alright?� Katai called out
loudly. He waited for everyone to announce their state of being before
continuing. �Excellent�now, I imagine it has been a rough journey for the six
of you. Please, by all means, treat this village as if it were your own home.
Find a place to relax and rest yourselves. Your arrival will be announced
throughout the village, so you won�t have to worry about a repeat of this
incident.�
            �That is very kind of you Katai-sama,� Neji
said humbly.
            �Don�t mention it Hyuuga-sama,� Katai returned,
bowing towards the Branch member. �I require no other praise than your
presence. Please, don�t be afraid to visit any building or stay in any lodgings
we have. I take it we will leave in the morning?�
            �If that is what you wish Katai-sama,�
Shikamaru droned. He had a knack for making everything seem boring.
            �It is indeed,� the dark-haired apprentice
beamed. �I will see you all in the morning then.�
            The conglomeration that had gathered in the
lonely avenue of Iwagakure quickly disbanded, each of the primed and ready Iwa-shinobi
rushing off to attend to other duties. The body of Katai�s attacker was quickly
gathered up and taken away, leaving nothing more than a bloodstain on the
ground. The six members of the team from Konoha stood a little while longer,
contemplating the events that had just occurred.
            �He seemed nice,� Tenten mumbled from the
side.
            �Indeed,� Neji sighed. �Perhaps we should take
him up on his offer and relax?�
            Neji�s words somehow seem directed at Naruto,
who was currently wearing what appeared to be the freakish offspring of a scowl
and a glare. The flaxen-haired teen quickly took the hint and shook the look
off his face, grumbling below his breath as he walked into the rest of the
village. Worried about her fellow teammate, Sakura decided to trail Naruto
slowly to see where he was going. Shikamaru, Neji and Tenten began to talk
amongst themselves as they made their way towards the visitors� center. There
they could arrange where they would be sleeping and discuss the plan for the
return trip to Konoha. By the time that Shikamaru�s mind had gotten to Yakusho
again, the Dragon-nin had already vanished. The pineapple-haired Chuunin paid
the disappearance no mind, chalking it up to Ryumoto Yakusho�s chronic
anti-social behavior with a sigh of �troublesome�.

            As seedy bars went, the one that graced the
center of Iwagakure had to be the second seediest Naruto had ever been in. The
entire establishment reeked of booze, blood and poorly bathed bodies. Still, it
was probably the best place he could have gone to drown his troubles in a lovely
little liquid called sake. During his travels with Jiraiya the boy learned that
the legal drinking age only really applied to pussies and civilians. If you
were tough, had a Hitai-ate, and enough balls to prove that you had indeed
killed someone in your life, bartenders were more than willing to fork over a
few drinks. They understood the life of a shinobi was anything but easy, and
sometimes alcohol was the only thing that made it seem all worthwhile.
            The music blared at an intense level, almost
drowning out the process of thought. It was a relatively upbeat tune, something
the patrons decided was worth dancing to. Naruto on the other hand decided to
ignore it. The blond boy took a seat at the bar and ordered the usual sake he
had whenever life got him extremely down. He hadn�t told anyone other than his
perverted sensei that he�d taken to the drink every once in a while, and quite
frankly he didn�t see a reason to. Most of his friends probably hadn�t caved
quite as far as he had and it would be difficult to explain to them his
position. He was still trying to keep his status as a Jinchuuriki a secret, but
that feat was slowly becoming more and more difficult. Not only did he always
have an incredible urge to get the news off his chest, but Hinata�s current
condition threatened to blow the lid off the entire thing. As if people didn�t
hate him enough as it was.
            Well, that wasn�t entirely true. He had
Sakura, Hinata, Tsunade and Neji on his side at the very least. They all seemed
to support him when others wouldn�t. His teachers were always there to try and
cheer him up when things got rough as well. Lately however, he�d felt more
alone than ever before. He realized a few days ago he�d been harsh on Tsunade
when she had given him the mission, right after Neji explained why he had to go
on the mission in the first place. The facts only made the whiskered teen hate
the Hyuuga Elders more than he already did.
            His drink arrived faster than he�d thought it
would. It wasn�t that hard to pour sake, but his mind had a habit of shutting
off the rest of the world and racing at a million kilometers a second. It
wasn�t something he was entirely fond of, but it at least allowed him to get a
lot of thinking done in a short period of time. He took the small cup into his
hand and raised it to his lips, toasting to his misfortune before taking the
first swig.
            �I figured I�d find you in a place like this,�
the seemingly angelic tone of Sakura�s voice sounded.
            Naruto turned his head to see his pink-headed
friend take the stool right next to him. �You shouldn�t be here Sakura,� he
grumbled, �you�re too young to drink.�
            �So are you,� she sneered, �but it hasn�t
seemed to put a damper on your drinking habits.�
            Naruto sighed dejectedly as Sakura grabbed the
bartender�s attention and ordered herself some sake as well. The two old
buddies sat together, eyes never meeting as Sakura�s drink arrived promptly.
She nudged the bright- and dark-clad boy in the ribs with her elbow to gain his
attention, letting the warm rice wine slide into her throat as she drank from
her cup.
            �So what�s bugging you?� she asked.
            �This entire marriage thing stinks,� Naruto
hissed.
            �I figured it had something to do with that,�
Sakura sighed. �I thought you were keeping high spirits about this.�
            �I was,� the blond admitted, �until just a few
minutes ago. When I pictured the guy the elders had chosen for Hinata, I�I
pictured some snobby fat kid with too much money. Someone who really felt they
were more important than anyone else. The kind you see in the movies.�
            �I get where you�re coming from, I think,� the
medic-nin said.
            �Only�that�s not Katai at all,� Naruto
mumbled. �He�s kind and funny and interesting�not to mention that cool thing he
did with his arm.�
            �So?� Sakura asked, sucking back more of her
sake.
            �So I actually like him,� he returned. �This
whole thing was easier on me when I could hate the person who was going
to take Hinata away. I can�t�I can�t bring myself to hate Katai. He�s
too�too��
            �Too much of a good person?� the bright-haired
girl ventured.
            �Yeah,� Naruto sighed. �I pictured him like a
seedy villain, someone who was only in this to take Hinata away. But he�s in
this for his country and his people. On top of that he�s just a great guy
altogether. How can you hate something like that?�
            �You can�t,� Sakura said firmly. �Katai isn�t
a bad person Naruto. The only thing I can really tell you is to get your head
out of the clouds and realize that this isn�t just about you and Hinata. Not to
mention�how do you think Hinata will feel when she meets him?�
            �Things just go from bad to worse, don�t they
Sakura?� the young male chuckled before downing his entire glass. He quickly
ordered another one, something Sakura didn�t particularly want him to do. She
grabbed his arm tightly and dragged him onto the bar�s dance floor with an
impish smile on her face.
            �Dance with me?� she requested.
            �Wh-what? Dance with you?� Naruto coughed,
quite shocked by her sudden energy. �What�re you talking about?�
            �Come on, it�ll be fun!� she insisted. �You
can even grab my butt if you want.�
            Naruto�s frown slowly turned into a limp smile
as he felt a laugh coming out of his throat. �Arigato Sakura,� he said.
            �Don�t mention it,� his female friend giggled,
taking his hand as they began to sway to the tune.

            On the other side of the establishment, Ryumoto
Yakusho growled as he finished his second cup of sake. The stuff tasted
terrible in his opinion, but what else was he going to drink? Nothing else had
the kick he needed. He found it much more worthwhile to brave the taste to get
drunk than to protect his taste buds. After all, living required taking risks.
            The little table he sat at soon found another
client of the bar sitting at it, opposite from the Dragon-nin. Yakusho turned
his rusty eyes up at the invading figure before letting out a snort. He took
the small pitcher of rice wine he�d bought and a second cup, pouring his guest
some to drink.
            �Thank you Yakusho,� Katai said, brushing some
of his long hair out of his eyes.
            �Not a problem,� he replied, testing the weight
of his own drink. �So this is what you�ve been up to all these years?�
            �You talk as if it�s been terribly long since
we last met,� the other man returned. �It�s only been��
            �Three and a half years,� Yakusho informed him,
gulping back the rest of his bitter drink before pouring himself more.
            �Time sure flies, doesn�t it?� Katai stated
rhetorically. He let a minute chuckle leave his body as he took back the
alcohol into his system. �Of all people I didn�t actually think you�d be sent
on the escort.�
            �I guess we both got sort of lucky, didn�t we?�
the russet-haired teen snickered. �So this is how you�ve been keeping busy?�
�You could say that,� Katai
sighed wistfully. �It gets kind of boring though.�
            �Oh yes,� Yakusho snorted, �I�m so very sure.�
            Katai�s eyes took on a look of seriousness for
a moment as he put his drink down. �You haven�t forgotten, I hope.�
            �Of course not,� the Ryumoto boy snapped. �Who
do you take me for?�
            �My apologies,� Katai laughed, holding his
hands up defensively. �You just seemed so��
            �Well I�m not,� he replied, drinking more of
the warm liquid. �I assure you.�
            �Well that�s good at least,� his friend said,
relaxing in the chair. �I�m simply glad I didn�t have to remind you of the
details. You still owe me.�
            �I know, I know,� Yakusho growled, waving the
boy off. �Either way, things will get solved. You sure this whole marriage
thing hasn�t gotten to your head?�

            The two of them shared a deep laugh together before draining their
cups of Sake. Katai�s sight turned to the dance floor where his eyes met the
forms of Sakura and Naruto. He took a moment to straighten himself in his chair
before speaking again.
            �They seem to have quite a rhythm,� he noted.
            �You�re telling me,� Yakusho grunted, not even
looking in that direction.
            �Are you sure you don�t want to go and cut in?�
Katai offered with a devious smirk.
            �Trust me,� Yakusho sighed. �I really don�t.�
            Both men refilled their glasses, drinking the
night away as two close friends moved to the pounding music of the bar.

            Morning came all too soon for the wearied
travelers from Konoha. They had but one day of real rest from a three day long
trip, leaving them with bones that still ached and muscles that still needed
time to loosen. They had a schedule to keep though, and complaints would garner
no results. Shikamaru, Tenten and Neji had gathered at the gates of Iwagakure
before any of the others, reviewing their equipment and supplies. Tenten had
seen to gathering extras for the return voyage, making sure that they wouldn�t
go hungry with their added passenger. Shikamaru went over the plan with the two
of them once again, making a point of stating that Katai�s safe delivery to
Konoha was their priority and nothing else.
            Naruto, Sakura and Yakusho arrived shortly
afterwards. The two members of Team Seven looked like their night had been
exciting, Sakura�s hands still fiddling with her Hitai-ate and slightly
disheveled hair. Naruto was still zipping up his jacket when Yakusho leapt off
a nearby roof, the Dragon Fang making a noisy clang as it tapped the solid
surface of the earth. A mere moment later Katai and the Tsuchikage, along with
an entourage of other Iwa-shinobi, rounded the bend. Katai looked nothing like
he had the previous day, sporting more limber clothes and a beige ninja vest.
Various parts of his legs and arms had white bandages tied tightly around them
so that the relative looseness of them, along with other factors, would not
impede his travel speed. The young man took one last moment to secure his
Iwagakure Hitai-ate before flashing them a thumbs up.
            �Good morning,� he stated with a grin. �I
trust everyone had a good night?�
            �As good as can be expected of us,� Shikamaru
grumbled. �I see you�re all prepped and ready�more so than I thought you�d be.�
            �Some people tend to forget that I am a
shinobi,� Katai smiled. �It�s easy to do so when I follow the Tsuchikage around
in those rather�humble garments.�
            �Well since everyone�s ready,� Shikamaru said,
his eyes flitting back and forth between his team, �I suggest we get on the
road.�
            �I agree,� Katai said. �I won�t hold you up, I
promise.�
            �Be careful Katai,� the Tsuchikage said. �Make
it to Konoha safely.�
            �Arigato Tsuchikage-sama,� he said with a curt
bow. �I will.�
            �Let�s get moving,� Shikamaru called out.
            Each of the seven shinobi bowed towards the
figurehead of the Earth Country before departing the humble village. Their pace
started slow into the morning sun before picking up speed as they got clear of
the area. Another three day trip awaited them all as they sped off into the
mountains, hoping that the journey would be devoid of any hassle.
            Somewhere in the boulders and crags just off
the regular road, several figures began to tail them.

Flames will be used to heat my home. Bring it on.
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Dragonheart

Dragonheart