Hm… Another story that has been collecting dust in my HD .. It's fem!Sesshoumaru, hahha! She falls into the Naru-verse and adopts Naruto cliché… couldn't resist the cliché storm, but I valiantly tried.. anyways, this is the result!
Silver Dog and the Dog General.
1…
When she first appeared, it was like the whole sky stretched open.
One moment she wasn't there and the next she was.
She wondered for a few moments what happened that she's been moved through space so suddenly, and so decided a more throughout investigation was in order. Testing her senses was easy, they were sharp as ever, and after a small investigation on her body and functions, she stated that yes, she was whole, healthy and most importantly: Alive.
Clenching her clawed hands, she tilted her head almost absently. The smoothness of her movements would have made any accomplished dancer feel like a bumbling elephant in comparison when she finally decided to move.
With deadly grace, she started her way.
2…
"Why are you out here by yourself, child?" She'd ask kindly, having a soft spot for children. The little blonde child looked at her with those huge sky blue eyes of his inquiringly, hopefully and a tad bit wary.
It was a confusion of emotions swirling on his face and she felt powerless to stop the small spark fondness growing in her chest.
3…
The moment she decided she'd take him as a ward was also the moment she decided to forsake her pride and accept that he'd have to be kept in the human village he'd come from.
But after a few days in this world she got to understand a few things.
She needed an alias, and fast.
And that was how the mysterious rich Merchant Daiyokai Sesshou was born and that was how Konoha became her home.
4…
"Are you a ninja?" He asked once, a few days after they were made acquaintances.
"No" She answered, voice smooth and low. Naruto adored her hair for some reason that couldn't be explained with words, so he was currently playing with the ends of it as they talked. She didn't mind – as a dog to her core, she liked that he instinctively acted as pack.
Might have something to do with the demon currently locked in his stomach… As if she wouldn't realize it was there.
"Then what are you?" His seven years old eyes were wide and pleading and she was powerless to resist because they looked exactly like Rin's.
"This Sesshou is a warrior" And she'd leave at that if Naruto's interest wasn't picked.
"Like a ninja?"
"No"
"Can you help me train anyway? I wanna be Hokage one day!"
Darn it cute kids.
5…
"Keep your feet apart and repeat what this Sesshiou has shown you" Her long silver hair wavered in the wind. It's been a month since she settled. By selling a few golden trinkets she had, she was able to accumulate enough funds to buy a portion of land in Konoha's farming district. She wasted no time in contracting a solicitor of sorts to act as a secretary/butler mix… not that she was trying to substitute Jaken.
Through her aid, she used the rest of her funds to buy farming tools and hire help and soon she had a working farm and herb garden that Naruto delighted to help with. She was a Lady by Blood and refused to be anything but.
So what if she started small in this disgusting human village?
She refused to be a mercenary just to subsist.
It was interesting the talk she had with the Hokage, this village's leader.
"Mah! It's boring!" Naruto complained. She wacked his ankle with a wooden pole to correct his stance anyway.
The pout he gave was epic.
6…
"Do your own work" Sesshiou ordered the cute blonde menace as he managed to crawl over to her lap while she did paperwork.
"Can you read me something?" He ignored her orders and asked instead. Sesshiou ignored him in return and resumed the boring accounting work, gleeful that her produce gained such favor in the market so soon.
Lacing the land with a small amount of Youki to make it more powerful and to mark her territory had its uses.
It also kept those annoying ninjas away. Kind of.
7…
"You can't adopt Naruto" The elderly man with deceptively frail image told her tiredly. Sesshiou kept her perfect mask of indifference.
"This Sesshou is not… adopting the child" She stated. The Hokage blinked down at her as if seeing her for the first time, even if this was their third meeting in person.
"You pay for his expenses, you feed him, clothe him, teach him and he lives with you" The old man dead-panned. Sesshiou had to hide an amused smirk, but the amusement hinted anyway from the way her eyes glinted.
"True" She nodded, conceding his point, then she made hers. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all"
"Then does it matter?"
The Hokage's answering smile was as cunning as the glint in both their eyes.
8…
But the council did mind.
And she had to wonder about the logic surrounding these humans…
She ignored them all the same and kept on her routine. If Naruto happened to be in it then who was she to ignore him? The old man hokage proved to be an ally in these matters, even if the supposedly hidden ninja he had trailing after her was still there.
She didn't mind the suspicion. It proved these humans weren't completely stupid.
One day she appeared out of nowhere, and then took the reigns and became a major source of income for the village in under a year.
It didn't take much to keep the civilian part of the council out of her back, just a few words that may or not have involved a treat about relocating her business if they didn't leave her alone.
It worked wonders and to this day, the only objections about her taking care of the blonde boy came from the hokage's own advisors.
Her eyes were on them.
9…
It was funny how after two years (Naruto was 9) no one ever suspected her not-so-human heritage.
But then again, she saw white haired people around more often than she'd care for.
Aside from the far-from-normal powers these humans had. Really… elemental manipulation, speed and power and stealth. This society was one upside down, though she did understand she lived in a military base.
She got used to the quirks these humans had, it helped to hide her own non-human traits. Silver hair, sunny yellow eyes and pointy ears meant demon in her other world. Here it meant nothing.
Though It was time Naruto knew the truth.
10…
Seals were a wonderful thing.
Sesshiou wasn't that proficient in the creation of them, but she dabbled in the art from time to time. Though she knew how to create barriers – perhaps not as well as her father has been, but it was an acceptable level.
Charging her seals with Youki apparently was over-kill in this world.
While the humans had their Chakra to make them more powerful, it reacted poorly with her demonic ki. She was simply more powerful than them.
"Whoah! Cool!" Naruto exclaimed when he came back from his academy and found the house he shared with his guardian encased in a glowing golden bauble. He passed through the layer of protection easily enough, the ninja trailing after him did not. "What is this stuff?"
Sesshou flickered an eyebrow up as the ANBU sent by the hokage to keep an eye on her crossed his arms and plopped down on a nearby tree, the eye-holes of his masks piercing her back.
"A Barrier" Sesshiou answered her charge's question. Naruto narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You said you wasn't a ninja!"
"This Sesshou is not. Though it is time you know what this Sesshou's ancestry is"
11…
"Why do I have to spend a week with him?" Naruto asked sullenly, he was nine and wanted nothing more than to play in the gardens he helped create or train with his little ninja toys.
Sesshiou didn't bother with a reply, her slightly darkening eyes was enough.
She didn't use violence to discipline him, but Naruto always felt horrible every time he disappointed her. Plus she made sure to be extra harsh when they trained personally. She was teaching him kenjutsu and it was awesome.
He nodded, pouting. Sesshiou sighed.
"You will spend a week with Takeo learning everything you can about his trade. He is a blacksmith and the lessons you learn will only benefit yourself"
This time, his nod was more determined.
12…
When he was ten and Sesshiou had him spent a week under everyone's care – the blacksmith Takeo, the trader Amebori, the cook Fuunko, the farmer Sasaki, the miner, the maid, the accountant and the fisherman. Naruto had a wider view of life than most his age had.
He appreciated what his guardian did, even if he stayed cross with her for that first week.
After he learned that the innocent pebbles he sometimes found in the gardens were invaluable to forgery and could fetch a hefty prize in the market, or that certain weeds could be used as medicine if properly prepared, or that if he used a drop of lemon juice, cleaning soap was more effective.
He eagerly went to his weeklong internships.
13…
Training was hard, Naruto knew. The fact that he could handle physical exertion for longer than his peers had him curious one day. Usually it wasn't like him to be so perceptive, but before he met Sesshiou, he was used to being the dead-last of the class.
He thought nothing of it for years.
Yet, as the dead-last, he barely passed written exams, he flunked aim or technic tests and he was absolutely terrible at chakra manipulation.
So why was he the one with the highest endurance?
After his guardian took him under her wings, she had him read a book per week, she had him practice moves to perfection before moving to other katas, she had him solve math problems or logic ones and had him meditate periodically.
He wasn't a good student and gave her a hard time. She punished him for it, sure, but she didn't neglect him in anyway. He was just too distracted, too brash and raw, too passionate.
She said he reminded her of her younger brother.
He asked if he was a demon as well.
She said all demons were naturally stronger than humans and left it at that. He could draw his own conclusions.
14…
"Why do I have to do something so girly!" The little blonde whined, looking down at his crooked lines that bled ink and were absolutely atrocious.
"Do you not wish to learn Calligraphy?" Sesshiou asked calmly. She never seemed to lose her cool. Naruto blinked, staring down at the stained brush and all the wasted paper around him. He came a far way so far, his letters were unrecognizable, and the brush/ink combo was hard to master. He had to have a sure control of his wrist movements and the power he applied on the paper…
Too much pressure, the ink blotched, too much ink, it bled and stained, too little ink, the lines broke and shattered. It was harder than he thought it would be.
His guardian never had him do something that wouldn't help him get stronger in some way though.
Seeing as he wasn't answering, Sesshiou stood with liquid grace from where she sat and glided to his low table. Her clawed hands picked up an extra brush that she dipped lightly in the inkwell.
The Kanji she traced on the paper was perfect.
"Even the strongest of oaks started as a sapling"
She had purple stripes around her delicate looking wrists, they were beautiful and looked like brush strokes.
15…
"I failed the exam" Naruto mumbled. He was eleven and it was the first time he was allowed to take the graduation exam.
"You can try again next time" His guardian didn't even bother with waving her hand, he knew when he was being dismissed by her.
"Can…can I join you?" She was meditating, and he hesitated for a second before asking. She inclined her head an inch. He wasted not a moment to divest from his bright orange jacket and join her on the mat in a lotus position.
He hated meditating, it was boring and useless in his eyes. But at that moment he just felt so alone that he didn't mind.
16…
She stood in his office. Tall, commanding and utterly beautiful. The hokage admitted that she was exotic and even though her face looked soft, her long hair and sophisticated air spoke of nobility, she was dangerous.
The old man knew she was no ninja, her power was too raw circling around her in a whirlwind of will for her to be any good at infiltrations or assassinations. Basically a ninja's line of work – aside from a few insanely powerful exceptions such as himself who specialized in large scale destruction that is.
All case, she was no ninja. She was a glaring power-house however, with a Samurai's pose.
But she still managed to intimidate half his Elite shinobi back into submission and paranoia.
"Why is my charge being held back?"
Fingers crossed pensively under his chin.
"Do you think he is ready to become an assassin?" He asked the white haired woman pointedly, his eyes shrewdly narrowed.
And then the hokage understood just how much that mysterious woman really cared for the stranded Jinchuriki.
"No"
17…
The education she gave her charge was better than many children received. She taught him how to think and how to act, though Naruto didn't care much about decorum, he was just too energetic.
It actually grated on her nerves.
She said nothing to him about her irritation, though he knew he disappointed her sometimes.
This… It was one of those times.
"He was caught throwing paint filled balloons on the other students!" Naruto's teacher announced, holding a scowling little boy by the shoulders as he confronted the boy's unofficial guardian.
"They deserved it! They did! They were making fun of me cause I failed the exams, again! It's not fair!" He groused and whined and made a nuisance of himself. Sesshiou narrowed her eyes at him and he managed one last brave act. "When I become Hokage, they will see who the loser is!"
He was eleven and a half and so full of fire.
The teacher pinched Naruto and Sesshiou shot him a poisonous glare so green the teacher deflated and cowed, practically fleeting their house as if the hounds of hells were nipping at his toes. Naruto was about to boast when he caught his guardian's darkened eyes.
"You will not embarrass this Sesshiou like this again" The blonde boy gulped, full of guilt, shame and embarrassment. Seeing it, Sesshou tilted her head. "If you want to avenge your honor, do so without compromising our house" with that, she turned her back and went back to writing letters.
18…
Learning the art of subterfuge didn't take long. Naruto could be very sneaky when he wanted.
It was no wonder Sesshiou wasn't the only one to catch onto his progress.
Naruto made the right hand seal and manipulated his chakra. It was easy and smooth like breathing, his control was impressive thanks to his guardian's training. But it wasn't enough… The jutsu he was trying was just so pathetically weak that even measuring his power output to the fraction of fractions, it was not able to make a passable clone.
The Naruto' shade created was a pulsing grey outline of his form. Too much power to be channeled through the jutsu. Like lighting a candle with an erupting volcano.
"I'm sorry Naruto, I can't pass you"
And then Mizuki tried to reason and failed, and then came to Naruto with that fake proposition that to the blonde was as obvious as the sun.
He went to the hokage tower, yes, but not before sending a message to the old man.
19…
"I can't make the bushin jutsu" Naruto said to the hokage after the fiasco that night.
Mizuki was not so comfortably sitting inside some interrogation cell.
The old man smiled kindly, rising from his seat and reaching for the secret compartment where he stored the same scroll Mizuki had Naruto steal.
"Read the first jutsu you find on this scroll, if you can learn and use it, it is yours and I will personally make you an official ninja"
20…
The Village symbol glinted merrily on his new bandanna. He had it tied around his head, holding his sun colored hair away from his eyes.
His hair was getting long, but he didn't feel like having it cut right now.
"So you passed" Sesshou stated, flowing from one sword kata to the next like a river on a calm summer day. She was using one of her swords, called Tenseiga if he wasn't mistaken. She didn't pause in her exercise, nor would she.
"Yeah! I'm a ninja and one step closer to being hokage!"
"This Sesshiou is proud" No lie ever left her lips.
Naruto beamed.
21…
Naruto stared at the faces of the people around him wondering who would be on his team.
He learned a lot from his guardian, and being proud of his power was undoubtly one of those things no matter what the other children thought of him, he was also training to be a ninja. 'Deception is a ninja's weapon' his adopted mother once spoke when he asked why shouldn't he just kick everyone back in the academy.
He didn't understand why he had to do it then… hide his progress and fall back on the side-lines while his peers shone their talent high if she, Sesshiou herself flaunted her power like hubris was her middle name.
It was only after talking with Shikamaru and seeing the hidden intelligence behind his eyes that Naruto truly knew.
Sesshiou was no ninja, she was in a category all of her own.
"Team seven, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and … Uzumaki Naruto" Iruka-sensei announced, stealing a glance at Naruto as if to gauge his reaction. Naruto didn't disappoint him in his exuberant explosion – it was expected of him anyway.
22…
"Naruto, what are you doing?" After an hour waiting around for their teacher to decide to come and collect them, Naruto got bored and fished out of his pack a book. It was a small paper cover leaflet that was so old it crumbled around the edges.
"I'm reading" The blonde drawled out lazily, opening his little book and eyeing the pages with barely concealed disgust.
Curious, the pink haired girl tiptoed to stand behind Naruto and peek over his shoulder at the complicated jumble of lines drawn on the pages.
"Naruto… what is this?" His teammate asked breathlessly. She was fascinated. Being a studious girl by nature, Sakura sometimes came across things in the library a less dedicated genin might miss. This which her new teammate held was no rookie material, even she had trouble understanding the meanings.
"Barriers"
Behind them, Sasuke scoffed.
23…
He was as bad at creating barriers as she expected, but she gave him a guidebook anyway in hopes he would read it and present his theories for her in time for dinner.
They always dined together, he was her pack and she'd take care of him as an Alpha. Sometimes it was troublesome, but other times it was completely worth it, mostly because in front of her sat the old man hokage and a silver haired man she's seen around a few times.
"You passed him" Sesshiou stated, not one to waste her breath. The hokage nodded slowly and took a wild intake out of his lit pipe. The silver haired man blinked his visible eye.
"He deserved it this time" Sesshiou narrowed her golden eyes "This is Hatake Kakashi and he will be the one responsible for Naruto and his team" Hiruzen introduced. Kakashi smelt of dogs, faintly in his scent she could feel it even if he couldn't anymore.
They eyed each other, she wasn't hiding her scent in her own home and he must be wondering about her as well.
Kakashi offered a smile.
"Yo"
"Hn"
For some reason, Kakashi's aura spiked in amusement that bled through to the Hokage. They shared a secret laugh and she let them.
24…
"Your team is still waiting for you" Asuma took a puff out of his cigarette. Like father like son it seems. Kakashi smiled, amusement rolling out of him in waves. The smoking jounin shrugged, it wasn't any of his business though he was also amused by Kakashi's antics.
"Mah, let the munchkins learn some patience" The silver haired man waved a hand dismissively. "What about your team?"
"Collected and briefed them already, we will start tomorrow" Asuma paused, chewing on the end of his smoke. "Will you make them go through that?"
"Now that you mention it…"
"Kakashi…"
"It should be interesting to see how someone trained by that one will come out" The silver haired man sighed, pulling out his orange book. "She comes out of nowhere and takes Naruto under her care…"
"You will get your chance" Asuma stated with far more consideration than he was known for showing. For a second, Kakashi reminisced about old times, then he shook his head and smiled again.
He hoped he was a good teacher to the brats, mostly his own teacher' son.
The fact that Minato's legacy was under the care of someone who smelt so acutely like dogs amused him greatly.
25…
"Uzumaki Naruto!" The blond energy ball announced brightly, though still wearily about the fact their future instructor left them waiting for three hours before deciding to show up. "I like ramen, training and my guardian, I don't like meditating, shaming our house or disappointing my guardian in any way! I like gardening and studying swordplay! One day I will be Hokage, believe it!"
26…
He came home a little late that day. But he was happy and it showed.
Coming inside crossing through the barrier didn't surprise him anymore, though as he walked in, he found something that did.
"Come sit" Sesshou ordered. She didn't ask for anything rather, but he was happy to oblige. "It is time you receive this" she sat formally on the tatami ground. A sharp, deadly looking tanto in front of her.
The blade gleamed and moved under the flickering light like smoke.
Pushing her hand forward, Sesshou offered her ward the blade.
Picking it up in a show of formality, Naruto controlled the urge to cry and tackle his guardian in a hug. She made it clear she didn't do flying tackles hugs.
When his fingers brushed against the blade, it was like he had a piece of her in his hands. Looking up, he met half-lidded sun colored eyes.
"Thank you, I will take care of it"
His eyes were suspiciously bright and one of her lower fangs was missing even if he couldn't see her teeth behind the solemn smile she gave him.
27…
Waking up early was a habit ingrained in him by four years living with Sesshiou, who apparently didn't even sleep.
"You will eat" His guardian ordered, sitting against the window sill and holding up one of her precious blades whilst she sharpened it. She looked up when he tried to sneak around her.
"Kakashi-sensei said not to" He responded dutifully, knowing she didn't like when he talked back but he felt a little scared of having to return to the academy.
Golden eyes narrowed dangerously. Naruto twitched, winced then pouted, making his way back to the kitchen where the entire table was set. A large and healthy breakfast ready.
28…
"How…?" Sakura asked stupefied. She has always admired Sasuke for he was the top in their class, an all round shinobi that had the potential to be powerful. To her feminine heart, it was all she asked for. A powerful boyfriend to hold and protect her in his arms.
A princess' dream.
The mysterious and dark boy who was practically a prince in his own right.
She never bothered to pay attention to the other boys in her class, but catching a glimpse of their performance was inevitable when they sparred together, or held practice in the courtyard.
Naruto was atrocious. His taijutsu was lacking, he was too wild, didn't have discipline and showed a complete degraded intelligence. To her knowledge, he didn't even know how to make a working clone!
Sasuke has always been the powerful one, not Naruto.
Naruto was the dead last
So why was he one upping Sasuke against their hopefully future teacher?
29…
"Why?" His teeth were so tightly locked together his word was ground out.
Naruto looked up at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow so similar to his mentor that it would have scared her half-brother had he been there to witness it.
Seeing as Sasuke wasn't going to elaborate, Naruto urged him. "Why what?" He drawled lazily, crossing his arms. He had a good idea of what Sasuke was talking about, but the conceited boy had to ask for it.
Sasuke's eyes told Naruto the raven haired boy felt cheated of all things.
"During our test, your performance was not the same as in the academy, why did you hide your true strength?"
"Deception is a ninja's greatest weapon" And the way his new teammate eyes' darkened, Naruto knew things weren't going to be good.
30…
"Ma… you were the one who trained Naruto?" Kakashi's lazy drawl was deceptive to most who didn't know him, but Sesshiou had centuries of experience in dealing with apparently innocent predators, she belonged to that group.
Gold met Carbon Black in a silent battle of wills that amused the elderly village leader greatly.
"Daiyoukai-san has been responsible for Naruto since he was eight" The Hokage added helpfully, gaining two almost identical blank stares from the feuding pair in his office.
Kakashi's body took a moment to relax, but when his shoulders sagged and his muscles went from tensioned to lax Sesshiou allowed herself to marginally lower her guard, half her senses were trailed on the old man and the other half on the canine smelling human.
"He has great promise in kenjutsu, his control is above average to his rank and he shows great cunning and planning skills" The white haired jounin related, not showing his hesitancy in sharing such report in front of the long haired, mysterious woman.
"This Sesshou wouldn't have allowed for anything less than perfection"
Both Kage and Jounin gained thoughtful expressions.
31…
She's been in this world of powerful humans for years now.
There is no way back that she could see, at least not right now.
Wandering around has crossed her mind a few times, but every time she remotely entertained the thought of abandoning her main base in favor of leaving Konoha to explore the land better, a pair of bright blue eyes staring up at her with so much innocence and trust blinked under her eyelids and she'd find herself hesitant to leave.
Training that scrawny and hopeless little boy have been a hasty decision based on her level of boredom at the time and the fact that his bubbly, lovable attitude reminded her of Rin and Inuyasha coupled into one adorable little critter. She had her pseudo daughter and brother all in one package that was relatively easier to deal with.
Getting attached to said package wasn't in her planning, but it happened and as an Alpha, that pup was hers to take care of as well as part of her pack.
That teacher of his – Hatake Kakashi though… just remembering the lathered layer of his own scent she found in Naruto was enough to make a growl erupt from her throat.
No one marked her pack.
And no one would go around stealing her pack's pup.
32…
"Just who is your guardian, Naruto?" Sakura asked one day after completing ridiculously easy, glorified chores that their sensei called D-ranks mission. Sasuke, still slightly sore about Naruto deceiving them all perked up, though you'd have to squint if you wanted to see him paying attention to his teammates conversation.
"Ehh?" The blond haired, blue eyed boy didn't really know how to answer that. "Her name is Daiyoukai Sesshiou, she says she is no ninja but she's pretty strong! I bet she is stronger than Kakashi-sensei!"
Said sensei who was watching his cute little genins from the top of a tree, flipped another page of his x-rated orange book and sighed.
Sesshiou had definitely ties to dogs, Naruto' scent was heavy with warnings from the clearly Alpha female carrying against him the treat that she'd maim him painfully should he attempt to snag the blond.
Kakashi didn't know if he should feel amused, weary or scared.
33…
The purpose of D-ranks might elude most genins… To them it was a tiresome, low-paying chore that could be done by everyday civilians.
So it wasn't really surprising that they hated those with a passion, and were itching for some sort of action to change the boring routine that was honestly going nowhere.
They haven't even completed a week together yet and they were so in sync when they complained about D-ranks to him that it dragged a sadistic grin out of him.
That is until he caught the following scene.
Naruto sitting beside his silver haired guardian carefully analyzing garden plants.
Naruto's garden mission was a fiasco due to the impatience of a certain blonde.
Now he sat there, patiently listening and actually paying attention to the words coming out from the cold woman.
"This one here is known as Akikodou flower" It looked awfully like a regular weed, though the leaves were a bit crooked. "It's poison however not lethal is a good sleeping agent" The long haired woman gave the weed back to Naruto who had a fascinated glint in his eyes.
"There were some of these in that garden! I saw them! The Oba-san thought they were weeds but I knew better…"
Interesting.
34…
It really didn't take more than a month for the three students to snap.
"We want a better mission!" Naruto, the ever loud-mouth despite his guardian's best efforts at quelling it and making him more of a ninja, bounced in front of the hokage's desk, shooting Iruka an intense look that bellied future pranks in case his demands weren't met.
Kakashi exchange a subtle glance with the Hokage, nodding minutely. Iruka caught their looks and sighed, shaking his head and waving his hand at Naruto's glaring form.
Sasuke and Sakura flanked the blond with an almost faithful belief that he'd succeed.
"Alright, I have a C-rank mission that you might be able to complete"
35…
"Why are you so silent?" Sesshiou asked mindfully, correcting his stance and motioning for her ward to try the kata again. Naruto did so and she nodded, satisfied, signaling for him to do it again and again until his muscles had the movement down.
The blond boy kept his exercises, blinking up at his guardian.
"I got a C-rank mission today… It's away from Konoha and we're going to be away for weeks" He mumbled guiltily.
"Then you shall complete this mission and honor the training this Sesshou gives you"
"I'm going to miss you" He pouted, put out by her cold attitude but somewhat warmed by the fond pat she gave his head.
36…
Sesshiou tried not to feel the heavy lump in her chest as she watched her years long charge walk away from the village. Naruto had barely protested when she insisted on inspecting his travel bad, adding numerous vials of poison extracted from her own claws and a collection of antidotes, healing salves and bandages.
She would miss him, she realized before long. He took to her mothering so differently than Rin! Rin followed every word of command and was a good girl. Naruto was hard headed and stubborn. No matter what, though, in the end both her wards had good hearts that made hers sing.
But he would be away for at least a couple of weeks, too. Time enough to do some exploring of her own.
37…
"This Sesshiou will be away for a few days" The white haired Lady announced to her workers. They were in the process of expanding business, and were a little weary about her departure.
"I will look after things, my Lady" Amebori and the rest of her crew nodded eagerly. "We will be ready to open the Tea house as soon as you and Naruto-sama are back in the village"
Sesshiou nodded, face not betraying how pleased she was. Soon she would be wealthy enough to buy more lands and finally build the palace she truly deserved to live in.
However for now, she'd settle in sating the wander lust she's been suffering these past few years. The urge to travel and see new territory has always pulsed in her heart and blood, plus her canine nature asked regular patrols of the area she saw as hers.
That included Konoha. To her hidden chagrin.
38…
Kakashi could only blink in surprise at the amount of discipline Naruto showed during the mission.
While the kid was as unruly as they came, when the situation asked for it, Naruto fell into his station as the Jounin's underling and prepared to receive orders. Sure, there was that drop of anarchy in there where the gennin just couldn't help but question his orders, but Tazuna was still alive and Sakura and Sasuke were surprisingly easier to deal with once they saw their teammate maturity.
He had Naruto's guardian to thank for this too.
Naruto was looking like a perfect mix of his parents, with Minato's silent finesse and Kushina's loud natured powerhouse.
It made a tight, nostalgic knot seize in his chest and burn.
39…
Traveling has always been relaxing. Sure, the constant presence of an enamored Imp, a double headed dragon and a little girl made things a little less dull, but Sesshou enjoyed the feeling of freedom all the same.
Even so, while crossing Fire Country, she had to make a conscious effort not to follow the few trails of Naruto' scent she found here and there, and made a mental note to teach him how to disguise his trail better when both returned to Konoha.
His new teacher was a tracker, he should have known better.
40…
The pair of thieves couldn't possibly be more skilled than Chunnin level. Aki was a good tracker, while Sato was a good hitter. They made a small fortune with these kind of jobs – kidnapping wealthy looking civilians that traveled through their roads without due mercenary protection and then asking for a rescue fee.
So as their greedy eyes found the figure of a well off looking lady with long and flowing silver hair, brilliant golden eyes, rich clothes and regal, noble air around her, they thought they had hit a jackpot. She was more than a succulent target since Aki wasn't feeling any chakra from her.
41…
Patrols of the ninja corps from Fire Country's own Military village found the couple of bandits neatly tied up and dutifully beaten black and blue.
"Demonic lady…" one of them, who was still conscious, stuttered before being 'gently' put to sleep.
The Hokage would like to hear about this. For now, the patrol unit's leader was simply amused by the night terrors these low-lives were having about that 'demonic lady'.
42…
The smell of rotten flesh hit her sensitive senses hard.
She's been following a suspicious trail for a few days now. The scent of snake demon was prominent, which made the demon lady immediately suspicious. There were supposed to be no demons here.
Aside from a very obvious Inu-youkai and the Nine Tails shaped monster locked in Naruto's belly bottom.
Following the scent of death was more of a chore than a difficulty, for her sensitive senses despaired with the deceased smell. There were no trail, nothing to help her track if there was an enemy nearby, though her instincts were sharp and ready.
There, hidden under a mound of dirt that was cleverly done as to not appear too new. It was the work of someone who knew what they were doing, a shame they didn't account for a dog demon daiyokai in their murderous plans.
43…
"You say you found this body in the outskirt of Fire Country along Wind Country's border?" The Hokage asked a second time, just to make sure.
Sesshiou swallowed any irritation she felt at being second guessed, but her face turned a few degrees colder. "That is what this one said" Her voice was clipped.
The old man couldn't really make the Lady write a report, could he? So he'd be sending his own ninja down where she described soon. To find a dead body lost somewhere wasn't news, but that this matter was brought to him personally by Konoha's Jinshuriki's benefactor herself was reason enough to act cautiously.
He had to ask. The Teacher had to ask to sate his own curiosity. "Why did you decide to bring this up now?"
Her eyes were chilly as her lips parted and words came out. "You know of the existence of demons" She stated coolly. The Hokage and the rest of his ANBU guards froze. "There is one loose in your land, this Sesshiou thought you would like to know"
44…
Snake demons. Sesshiou didn't really care for their ilk much. They reminded her too much of dragons.
She hated dragons.
Though the scent she caught was close enough, it still had traces of humanity – it was strange, like a phantom feeling and remotely familiar.
She reported the murdered human she found to the only authority figure she grudgingly allowed herself to respect not out of a sense of duty, but the pressing feeling that something was about to go wrong, horribly wrong.
Last time this happened, she ignored it and her father was stupidly killed.
Little did she know that the team sent by the old man to investigate this murder case came back with sobering news that shook Konoha' secret force to its bases… To her eternal grief, she caught the eyes of a war-hawk.
45…
"There is no head and his chakra pathways are completely burned out" The ANBU operative narrated to his leader. The hokage's pipe was lit and smoking furiously. The old man's eyes were bloodshot but the glint in there spoke of a mind working sharply. "Sir… we were able to identify him through a birthmark he was supposed to have"
"And…?" The words were dry, heavy and dark.
"The yondaime kazekage was found dead in the border between wind and fire"
Hands were crossed underneath a bearded chin. "Indeed…?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's chest chilled. "Then who is it that was just admitted into our village?"
46…
On another country, a particular team was facing a rather difficult opponent. Momochi Zabuza was at his current oponet, Hatake Kakashi while two thirds of the copy nin's brats were facing off against his own little tool.
"Do you really think your kids stand a chance against my Haku?" The Demon of the mist taunted, grinning darkly beneath his mask. The blood-lust was making his heart pump in eager preparation for the battle he knew was coming.
Kakashi's eyes were lazy and half-lidded. The corner of his mask lifted into an amused half-smile. "I don't know, I'm sure of it… Don't you know my team? I have the most intelligent kunoichi in her generation, the last of the Uchihas and someone whose teacher is a very powerful sword master, plus that someone is also the number one unpredictable most knuckle head ninja"
47…
Under the ice dome, Naruto deflected another needle using his precious Tanto. The blade didn't seem to even become marred from the constant onslaught of projectiles. Remembering who gave him this sword had Naruto's head clear a little.
He couldn't die here, he had to make it Hokage and prove how awesome he is once and for all.
He also couldn't let Sasuke die.
The name of his sword was apt, he thought with a manic grin. Tennoarashi. The Sky tempest.
Sasuke grunted from behind him. So far secure behind the almost impenetrable wall made of Naruto. "Can you hold him off for a while longer?" The raven haired boy asked in a murmur. "I think I can almost see where he is coming from"
And from the corner of his bright blue eyes, Naruto could see Sasuke's turning red.
48…
They couldn't simply destroy one mirror. Haku was stupidly quick in replacing them every time Naruto blasted one.
Wind… Naruto grinned an unrepentant grin down at Haku's downed form. Wind was absolutely awesome – the blond decided.
Tennoarashi's blade cut the very air right on the position Sasuke whispered in his ear that Haku would next come from. Sasuke's hunch has been correct and their aim was true. The tanto pulverized the ice mirrors in a concentrated attack that shot a small tornado out of the dome and unknowingly cleared the mist to Zabuza's annoyance and Kakashi's bemusement.
Haku fell down and didn't move again. Sasuke expertly tied the ice user down using a generous amount of ninja wire.
Sakura flinched when she saw Sasuke's new eyes. Naruto patted him on his back.
49…
"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, good work" Kakashi eye-smiled at them, a proud glint in his eyes that the casual observer wouldn't be able to find… His three little students nodded, pleased with themselves.
Sasuke turned to Naruto, a decisive frown on his face. "Naruto…" He started almost as if pained by something. "Do... do you think your master would accept training me?"
Kakashi paused, looking back at Sasuke with a raised eyebrow, curious about Naruto's answer.
"You'd have to ask her, but don't worry, she's pretty nice!"
Somehow, Sasuke didn't feel reassured.
50…
If Kakashi's hand found Sasuke's hair more often on the track back home, the raven haired boy made no comments about it, though he kept sending annoyed looks at his teacher every time it happened. To Naruto, who had an extra sensitive nose – although not as good as Kakashi's or Sesshiou's – this little display brought huge entertainment. Sakura had this strange look in her eyes.
"Is something wrong with Kakashi-sensei?"
She had no idea.
51…
"An invasion?" Hatake Kakashi abandoned all pretenses and assumed his professional face before his leader and colleagues.
"Aa" The hokage accented gravely. "A few days ago we received the yondaime kazekage's children to participate in the next chunnin exam, they were escorted by the kazekage himself, though he only stayed for a day" The other jounnin and special ops agents listened with rapt attention. "However, we have reasons to believe that the yondaime kazekage has been impersonated the whole time he spent here"
Danzo's face was stony as he took where the hokage left off. "After careful investigation, our spies confirned the worst – the newly formed hidden Sound village in coordination with the hidden Sand village were planning an attack during the chunnin exam finals" His single eyes bore into Hiruzen. "I hope you know what you are doing"
The Hokage's grim smile served to remind them just why he was thought of as the God of Shinobi.
52…
"This Sesshiou has heard about your nomination to the rank evaluation exam" Was the first words Naruto heard when he came barreling in the farm house he shared with his guardian. Bewildered, the blond ignored the menacing glare and launched himself at the silver haired woman's chest. "We will double your training hours, this one will not allow for any weakness"
Naruto was too happy snuggling up his guardian to really care about the death sentence he just signed.
53…
The village council was decidedly sharing one thing amongst themselves, and that was the uneasy feeling that have settled on their shoulders as of late. Members of konoha's council agreed on one thing though.
"The one who found the body…" Koharu started, smoothly and calmly as if she had all the reasons in the world to be at calm when everyone else seemed to be about ready to tear their own hair out. "The one who found the body was… Daiyokai Sesshiou"
The elder smiled as her words had the desired effect. She could feel Danzo's grim smile right next to her and couldn't help the feeling of someone walking on her grave.
54…
It was ridiculously easy to find her.
She was sitting on an embroidered cushion and sipping tea with the poise of Amaterasu herself. Shining silver hair cascading down her back and framing an elven face sculpted so perfectly it resembled a doll. Bright golden eyes that were deceptively blank regarded them coolly.
"Your presence is being requested in the hokage's tower" He didn't swallow nervously, if he did that, he'd be admitting that the woman's unnerving gaze was starting to get to him. He was a trained killer, he could withstand killing intent!
Daiyokai Sesshiou wasn't even making an effort.
Curse it!
55…
Sesshiou didn't allow the annoyance she felt to bleed into her face.
The stony look she had on was enough to cower these lowly humans. How dare they suspect her? She tries to do something nice and this is her reward? See if she helps curb this invasion of them without proper retribution. Maybe they will let her 'acquire' the large unused state at the outskirt of the village for a 'fair' price. It was about time she had her castle.
"My lady Sesshiou, I'm sorry about this inconvenience" The old man that oozed power in lazy thick waves spoke as a form of greeting. The silver haired dog demon smirked, a sharp tug of skin at the corner of her lips. "But we have a few questions we'd like to ask you"
"It is no problem at all, however this one does not promise she will be helpful" The hokage lit his pipe as the shinobi behind him shifted uneasily. Seems they're starting to catch on the power play between the two.
This would be amusing.
"Indeed… did you know the identity of the dead you've found during your wanderings?"
"No"
"How were you led there, if you don't mind us asking?"
"This Sesshiou dislikes snakes" Was all she said, and to those who understood, their skins became white.
56…
Sakura looked thoughtfully at the slip of paper in her hands.
Should she sign it?
She personally didn't feel ready to tackle such a monumental test like this. She was smart, book smart, but her real life experience was mediocre and her physical prowess was laughable. Oh, Sakura was stronger and faster than a civilian, she was a gennin after all.
But that was all.
She wasn't special – Naruto was tireless and possessed an inner fire that moved him beyond expectations. Sasuke was a genius in the shinobi arts. Where did she fit in the team? So far, she's only dragged them down.
Maybe… maybe if she had help? If she gave a hearty try instead of blundering her training?
The paper in her hands was heavy, her hands shook slightly as she signed it.
57…
Naruto stood in front of his house surrounded by his two teammates.
"This is where you live?" Sakura exclaimed, wide eyed. Then again, his guardian's tastes were expensive and she wouldn't settle for anything less than impressive. The blond knew about the silver haired lady's plan of building a castle for herself – as if huge villa like mansion she had now was not enough.
"Yeah… come on! If you feel something weird as you cross the threshold, don't fight it!" Naruto warned. Sasuke shot him a look that said without words 'stop being an idiot' but Sakura faltered.
"It has to do with that book you were reading, doesn't it?" That little book about barriers. It stuck in her mind and wouldn't leave her thoughts for days. Barriers. Fuinjutsu – the sealing arts.
"That's right, Sakura-chan, you're really smart!" Naruto beamed. Sakura blushed and Sasuke scowled. "Come on, I told the lady we would be coming today, so she's waiting for us!"
They entered the property passing the barrier threshold.
58…
"Please, train me" Sasuke's forehead touched the ground. He had to bury his pride deep down to not let it show as contempt in his eyes. At his side, equally as subdued, Sakura imitated his position. Pink hair pooled on the ground in front of her.
"Please, help me get stronger as well!"
Naruto stared at his teammates with a weird look in his eyes. His cheeks hurt from the awkward smile he shot them. His guardian leveled the two prostrated children with a long, drawn out look.
"This Sesshiou is not accepting apprentices"
Sasuke winced. He couldn't lower himself more than this… but he had to get stronger, he had to! Naruto was the dead last, the one no one gave a second glance at – but right now he was the strongest member of team seven aside from Kakashi. It was Sakura who saved him from having to beg again.
"Please Daiyokai-sama, we will do anything! Just help us get stronger!"
There was a pause. Even Naruto was silent for a moment.
When Naruto's guardian spoke again, there was a strange glint in her eyes. "Very well, this one shall give you chance to prove yourselves"… "Survive this exams to the end and this Sesshiou shall aid you in your training"
59…
"Maa… that woman" Kakashi sighed behind his mask.
Sakura and Sasuke were both reeking. She didn't just mark his cute little gennin as hers. She didn't.
This meant war.