The Orange Flash: Lost Chapters | By : Breath_of_the_Wiz Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 120664 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 16 |
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, if I did, it wouldn't suck so hard. Also, I am not the owner of the fandom, nor am I doing this for any monetary gain or profit. Enjoy. |
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... If I did, it would probably be a bit less ridiculous...
AN: I've decided to start posting this story on here, however, this takes second priority to the FF.net version, which is where I primarily operate. This will recieve updates shortly following the release on FF, but if you want to read things ASAP, I'd suggest keeping up with the original.
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The sun was high in the sky as two figures broke the horizon of Konoha. One of them was instantly recognizable via his wild mane of stark white hair, the Sannin Jiraiya. The other… not so much. He stood at exactly 5'9", a head shorter than the sannin, while the sunlight highlighted his most distinguishing feature, a spiky blond mane of hair, done similarly in style to the sannin, ponytail and all.
He wore simple, yet distinctive clothing, his long-sleeved shirt was a distinct shade of orange, while his pants were the standard navy color. He wore black ninja sandals with matching orange ankle wraps, and he also wore some light body armor on his shoulders, black in color.
Naruto was back, Naruto was finally home. The teen was radiating a volatile happiness that would brighten even the most hardened cynic's day, if it weren't so sunny out, one would swear he was glowing.
Jiraiya peered down at his apprentice and chuckled, he looked like a young child on christmas morning. It was understandable of course, seeing as there were several complications during their two and a half years away from Konoha, one of which forced them to keep their distance from populated areas.
Jiraiya's curiosity concerning Naruto's development wasn't without its selfish motivations however. The boy's social skills had deteriorated somewhat (and that's saying something), however, he'd grown quite a bit during the last 10 or so months of the trip.
Naruto was starting to look even more like his father, who was unitentionally a certified lady-killer. What's worse, Jiraiya could tell that between Minato's features, and Kushina's disposition, Naruto had gotten the best of both of his parents.
The sannin gave the skies a lecherous grin and thumbed his new note-book, visibly chomping at the bit to document Naruto's first day back since he'd changed. He noticed that Naruto was flipping a whetstone into the air and occaisionally tapping it against the hilt of his sword.
"Gaki."
"What's up?"
Jiraiya pointed toward Naruto's hip.
"You sure you don't want to get that thing fixed? It's always been a fancy blade, I'd think you would be more invested in repairing it."
Naruto drew the distinctive weapon, Its' blade was orange, and the cross guard appeared to be a fox head, the blade sprouting from the roaring mouth. The most interesting detail concerning this ninjato was the fact that it's handle was about twice as long as as most katana even.
Naruto observed it for a moment and eventually smiled before shaking his head.
"Nah. I prefer the blade to be shorter, and besides, it's a reminder... keeps things in perspective, ya know? I can't forget why I asked you to take me with you."
Jiraiya breifly pondered the parallels between both himself and Orochimaru, as well as Naruto and Sasuke, however, the Sannin's train of thought was summarily interrupted by the sound of the blonde's voice.
"Oi, Ero Sannin."
"What is it?"
"... You go on ahead to Baa-Chan's office. I'll catch up with you all later."
"She's gonna rip my arms off and beat you with them if you're late. You know, we were supposed to be back six months ago."
"Hey, that was a credible lead on Sasuke's location 'ttebayo! Besides, all you did was blow your cash at that whore house the whole damn time!"
Jiraiya's nose began to trickle a bit of blood. "Money well spent I might add..."
The young man turned toward Jiraiya, disgusted. "You're just as lame as the harlots that work there... We would have been back ages ago if you'd actually helped!"
Jiraiya glared at the young man before him. "Harlots? That's kinda harsh for you ain't it?"
Naruto shrugged. "Yeah, maybe, but I have a low opinion of anyone who screws up my training. You left me out in the woods to train by myself four times in one week while we were in that cesspit!"
Jiraiya closed his eyes and placed his hand on his chin, he then gave Naruto a stupid grin. "... I'll have you know that Miko-chan was a very elegant woman that saw me for the great man that I am! I'd say my time was well spent!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yea sure! Just as long as you kept those bills flowing! You could buy our entire army brand new gear for the cash you wasted on her."
The Sannin flicked Naruto on the back of the head, causing the teen to stumble forward. "Just run your errand, Naruto."
Jiraiya exhaled in annoyance and used a shunshin to go to Tsunade's office.
Naruto rubbed the spot where he was flicked. "That's a first, he called me by name."
Naruto cracked his neck and jogged over the hill to the main gate, his toothy smile making itself known when he saw who was guarding it. Izumo was currently trying to wake Kotetsu from a cat nap. Naruto jogged up to the two chuunin. "Hey! Do you guys remember me?"
Izumo turned to Naruto and scratched his head. "I don't think we've met sir."
Naruto's smile switched to disappointment. "The chuunin exams ring any bells?"
Kotetsu suddenly snapped awake and looked directly at Naruto. "Yea, you're that orange kid who beat Neji Hyuga! … Whoa... Puberty hit you like a train." Izumo whirled around and stared at Naruto, who stared back.
Izumo stared, slack-jawed at the blonde ninja. "Naruto? Naruto Uzumaki?"
The jinchuuriki gave a thumbs up and smirked. "In the flesh 'ttebayo!"
Kotetsu pulled his forehead protector over his eyes and leaned back against the tree. "I forgot how annoying that catch phrase of yours was. -yawn- Tsunade-sama said to go see her as soon as you got back."
Kotetsu pulled out a clipboard and checked Naruto in, he motioned for the boy to walk through the gates before kicking back and exhaling.
Izumo looked at his friend with an exasperated expression and retorted. "Oh, so now you actually do your job, what's it take for you to-… DID YOU GO TO SLEEP AGAIN ALREADY?!"
Naruto stared in amusement at Izumo's attempts to awaken Kotetsu. Approaching boredom, Naruto absentmindedly dug in his ear and went on his way through the checkpoint, as he stepped through the gates, he was greeted by a familiar sight. It was the Gate Plaza, the place that would greet him and say it's farewell every time he passed through those giant red doors. He looked at the statue of the Shodaime Hokage on the top of the fountain and smiled nostalgically at it, however, something that he hadn't seen before caught his eye.
Off in the distance, he could see a fifth face on the Hokage's monument. Naruto grinned and his chest puffed out, knowing that he himself was instrumental in getting her to return to Konoha. Naruto tightened his hairband and walked around the fountain, that errand wouldn't run itself after all.
As Naruto walked through the streets, visibly deep in thought, he failed to notice the attention he was garnering from the general populace.
"He looks like the…"
"Is that the demon brat?"
"I though the Yondaime was dead!"
"Oh my god. That guy is so hot!"
Naruto's ears twitched at that last one and he stopped and looked around. Unable to find this "hot guy", Naruto awkwardly walked through the awestruck boulevard, everything having paused to gawk at him. Man or woman, young and old, the hundreds of people in the dirt roads of Konoha were staring, some out of lust, others out of fear, and even nostalgia. Naruto nervously chuckled and scratched the back of his head; he gave a smile and jumped to the nearest rooftop to go run his errand, not that it helped any. Everybody was rubbernecking, trying to catch a glimpse of Naruto as he ran across the rooftops, unintentionally invoking the image of the late Yondaime Hokage.
Ino was bored, no, 'bored' is an understatment; on this particular day, watching paint dry would look like the fucking 3rd Shinobi World War. Inoichi had forced her to run the flower shop for the day since he was on a mission, and Ino's mother, well, she was "out", whatever that meant. Having sat there for five hours, without a single customer in sight, Ino was considering bashing in her skull in with a flowerpot. Well, she would've, but the bell on the door jingled as an unseen customer walked in. Ino straightened up as the footsteps drew near the shelf blocking the register.
Ino straightened her apron and wiped the look of disgust off her face.
"Welcome to Yamanaka Arrangements, are you looking for anything in particu-… oh my god."
The flowerpot shattered on the floor.
Naruto looked at the shattered pot and bashfully scratched the back of his head. "Uh… Hey Ino, It's nice to see you again. Look, I know we're not exactly friends or anything, but I really need your help."
Ino didn't hear a word that Naruto had said.
In Ino's simplest terms, this person was gorgeous, even if she was firmly opposed to using that adjective to describe a man, it was the only word that fit. No getting around it. Stunning enough to leave Ino Yamanaka, the village ice-queen, tongue-tied like a groupie. Ino's mind was drifting toward impure fantasies involving this orange-clad prettyboy… orange… whisker marks? …
Ino gasped. "NARUTO?!"
Naruto cocked his head to the side and appeared confused.
"I mean, I know I've gotten taller... I haven't changed that much have I?"
Ino scrambled to sweep the shattered pot off the floor. "Uhm. Uh… anyway! Was there something you needed me for, Naruto?"
Naruto perked up a bit. "Oh yeah! I need some flowers for someone!"
Ino put a hand on her hip and looked at Naruto inquisitively. "What's she like?"
Naruto's smile slowly disappeared, causing Ino to recoil slightly.
Naruto ran up the tree for the umpteenth time, only to land firmly on his ass... again. "Dammit! Why's this so much easier for everyone else?" Naruto sprinted toward the tree and punched it, his fist embedded itself firmly in the bark, and the whole tree shuddered as countless fruits Naruto had never seen before all began to fall to the ground. He looked up to further examine the tree he was training on, but apparently that wasn't in the cards for him, because he was promptly knocked out by a yellow, star-shaped fruit that landed on his face.
The black abyss slowly disappated and Naruto could feel himself returning to conciousness after what only felt like seconds.
The genin's mind began to ponder his predicament. 'Why am i so comfortable? Last thing I remember is getting hit in the face by one of those damn fruits.'
Naruto's eyes slowly opened to one of the most beautiful faces he'd ever seen, second to Sakura of course. His head was propped up on her knees and he could feel her treating the bruises and cuts on his face and body.
"You're awake. I'm glad."
Naruto smiled, or what would pass for a smile, given the amount of pain he was in. He tried to sit up, but the beautiful girl stopped him.
"Don't move yet, I'm almost done."
Naruto didn't complain and stared up at her face as she treated his cuts and bruises. She noticed his gaze and smiled down at him.
"Might I ask your name?"
"Naruto... Naruto Uzumaki."
"Uzumaki? I've heard of that clan before. What's it like?"
"Actually, I never knew there was a clan. I'm an orphan as far as I know."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that... I'm an orphan as well."
"Really huh? What's your name, Miss? I gotta call you something."
"... It's Haku."
Naruto's blank expression gave Ino the chills, his voice was weak, uncharacteristically so for the energetic ninja.
"She was gentle, and kind... Without her, I wouldn't be where I am today." Naruto looked toward the ceiling nostalgically, Ino could have sworn his eyes went watery for a second. She put two and two together and pointed toward a bouquet of lavender and black flowers that are commonly put on the graves of loved ones.
Ino nodded and replied in a sympathetic tone. "I'd ask more, but I don't want to stir up any bad memories. I'd suggest those over there, that'll be 500 ryo, Naruto."
Naruto walked over and inspected the flowers, they were lovely, but they seemed so dark and gloomy with the black petals. "You sure Ino? The price tag says 1000."
Ino leaned over the cash register. "Consider it a favor toward us moving forward. I hope to become closer acquainted with you later on!"
"Ya know, you're alright, Ino." Naruto turned and started to jog out the door, he chirped out his goodbye as he left. "Thanks, I'll see you around!"
Naruto flipped the money to Ino and walked out the door. She smirked at him and chuckled while she watched him leave.
"Naruto Uzumaki... Looks like christmas came early this year..."
Short'n sweet.
~ Breath of the Wiz
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