Title: Reclaiming my Hero
Chapter 2: An Enticing Offer
Disclaimer: Due to the laws of copyright, patenting, and all-around creativity- I am not the owner of Naruto...but wouldn't it be cool if he wrote a fanfiction of his own work?
Comment: I'm glad that this is well accepted so-far and since I did not clearly state why I need this to motivate me for 'A Wager of Love,' allow me to do so now. In chapter six of my previous story, I promised all who wanted the full chapter a copy; however, shortly afterwards I had to go to the hospital and was released Saturday in which case I come home and find mind nice little chapter (THE REAL VERSION OF CHAPTER 6) and chapters 1-6 deleted off MY COMPUTER because my mom thought I was wasting me time writing these things. So, that sorta hurt my motivation and I must apologize to all those who so dearly wanted to read my lemon...and can only make it up to you by rewriting it when I have the chance or giving you slightly more detailed lemons in the future.
To say this was the most ideal circumstance to try their many schemes to renew what had always been a false smile was an understatement; however, the object of the concern of his precious people was not completely ungrateful. It was masked artfully underneath the very cold mirrors that where his eyes. 'Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama, Jiraiya-sensei...damn, I suppose this has to be the most well developed plot they've come together on to try and get me to move on...they even made sure it involved her...' Musing on simple thoughts, the blonde was currently standing over a slightly decent sized bed while reviewing the many objects he would need to bring along. It was no secret even though Otogakure may have been leveled, Akatsuki was still active in pursuing the demon-vessel.
"Shuriken, Three-pronged shuriken, katana, exploding tags, kunai, lightweight and heat efficient clothing, a medical kit would be nice in case I'm placed on a team lacking a medic-nin..." Obtaining all said items and placing them before his view was one thing; it was another when actually packing them because it seemed no matter how well-prepared one is...they always seem to miss something vital in the end. In Naruto's case, it was something only he would comprehend anyway. "...They keep trying to save me but they've yet to realize, I'm not worth saving." With that said, the Special Jounin decided to pay another visit to the Hokage in order to clarify whether this would be a solo or group mission; the invitation sent to him by Temari, and assuming Gaara enjoyed approving it, could mean anything...including having to face of against his fellow Jounin in some effort to spark the flames of his previous youth. With a minor set of hand signs and a thrown three-pronged kunai, the teen found himself dissipating and being pulled through the complex natures of space and time...arriving at an impressive door with an intricate seal placed on it...as well as a kunai sticking out of it.
"Hokage-sama, will be most displeased to know I've been throwing kunai at her door to again..." With the resemblance of a faint smile, Naruto pushed open the doors only to see an uncharacteristically serious Tsunade waiting for him. 'She must have foreseen my reasons for coming here, or perhaps Tsunade simply had something she wanted to discuss with me anyway?' He stepped in fully and moved to take a seat after searching the woman's eyes for approval; it seemed this might turn into a rather long discussion of some sort and even now Naruto was uncertain whether or not this might only compound to the many reasons he was being shipped off to Suna.
"Uzuamaki-san."
"Hokage-sama," the blonde replied as he searched her eyes for any hint as to where their conversation would head; it was indeed a shock to hear her direct him by his last name, but then again it was something he had been trying to get her to do forever now. No matter how much pain it cost them both, Naruto refused to be used on familiar terms with anyone for his past sins.
"Brat, if you've come here to talk about your assignment you're going to have to wait until I bring out an offer that Jiraiya brought to my attention...and it doesn't seem to have any negatives..." Tsunade paused, those wine-colored orbs starring at her surrogate brother in the utmost manner of professionalism. It tore her heart not to see his stupid grin or signature fox-like smile, but it hurt even more to know that if nothing was done soon...the boy, no the young man infront of her would send himself spiraling down a road of his own destruction. 'You'll appreciate everything we've done for you sooner or later Ototo...you were unable to save Sasuke, but that doesn't mean you're life has to simply be put on hold or your friends and family at a distance.' Now came to the business at hand.
"It is no secret, Uzumaki," oh how it pained the Godaime to use his surname instead of a more affectionate term or perhaps his first," that you wish to rise to the ranks of Hokage and surpass all those who have come before you...and it is no secret that since the day you were born you were the savior of this village and continue that post even now." She paused only to allow him to digest this tid bit of minor details before continuing with the present course of action needed. "Aside from repairing the damage to our precious person by...finding something you claim to have lost...another incentive for winning the tournament would be your immediate rise to the title of Sannin for your generation." It seemed the desired reaction came to pass as the wiser of the pair noticed the flicker of hope, the flicker of being able to move a step closer in gaining that acknowledgment he had been seeking seventeen years to obtain.
"Hokage-sama, as tempting as this offer is, it is a mission for me to carry out. Why would you consider awarding me such prestige for simply completing yet another A-ranked mission...and as to what it is I've lost Hokage-sama, some things are better left for personal matters and have nothing to do with what it is we discuss on professional matters." There was a tone; no it was a warning to his surrogate sister that his private life was to be left out of this discussion, and even his superior was not as foolhardy as to ignore it. It seemed that no matter how much he would press to simply be left to his own accord, they all seemed to try and pull him in even further from his protective barrier...no from the true individual that was Uzumaki Naruto.
"Do you really need me to tell you, Uzumaki?" The Fifth shot an almost incredulous look toward the boy, as in comparison to her age, and sighed as the signs of a rather troublesome headache was itself known. 'Let it go Naruto, you're a hero...no matter how far you've think you've fallen, you're the only hope this village has left...and without you...there is no Konoha.'
"Well," she started, "you without consent bore the responsibility of containing the Kyuubi, you've single-handedly saved this village countless times, you've defeated Oto, killed Orochimaru, and...finally allowed your friend to rest in peace...you gave him freedom Naruto, not death. You were trained under the sensei of the Yondaime; you perfected his technique, you've created countless ninjutsu, genjutsu, and kinjutsu on your own...and most importantly you are the Will of Fire..."
Naruto almost smiled at her when she said these things about him; however, almost did not cut it with the solemn Jounin. "Hokage-sama, more people have saved this village than I, we as a whole defeated Orochimaru, and...Sasuke, was a mistake. That single mission will remain my greatest sin, one-san. If I am the Will of Fire, then we burn a tainted flame." It was nothing she should not have expected in the least; although, the thing that frightened the woman sitting across from the unnerving, unnaturally calm shinobi was the fact he almost made her believe every single word of it.
"Uzumaki, get over yourself. We all have sins that will haunt of to till we die, and Ototo, you need to learn to let go and enjoy the life you've created for you...so, in either case will you accept this offer to coincide with your assignment? I'm more than positive a certain Suna Kunoichi would bash your skull in if you refused any position that would help boost you to your dreams." An evil glint could be noted flashing through the woman's eyes as she made a slight reference to the whole reason, the ultimate reason Naruto was being sent off. Because there was still someone who loved him as much as his precious people, but in an entirely different manner he refused to accept.
Naruto winced inwardly at the mention of this name; however, it seemed fair enough in logic. Yes, the older shinobi were getting to cunning when it came to ensnaring him for things as of late...and this was no doubt just another ploy to simple excite him to some degree about winning-for there was no doubt he would win. "Hai. I accept your proposal, Hokage-sama, and now I have to discuss with you a matter at hand...will this mission be a solo or accompanied priority?"
"Accompanied. Your friends will be leaving with you, Sakura included as well as Jiraiya and Shizune." Tsunade noticed the immediate pain that seemed to be fortified on the mentioned of the pink-haired medic-nin...but once again he persevered. 'Naruto...if this is who you really are...then just how badly as a family have we failed you?'
"You are dismissed Uzumaki, no further questioning."
"Hai. Hokage-sama." With that, he disappeared into the shadows and moved on to discuss some matters with a certain individual who would no doubt become an integral part of this whole assignment. It did not take long to be leaping from the many roof tops of the Hidden Leaf Village, from that to the many attractions that provided good lift, and finally to the very top of the Hokage's monument. He was waiting for him here and he knew it. "...Kazekage-sama, you still remember to visit my most frequent resting place I see..."
Being held up with the molding of chakra-imbued sand in the form of a floating platform, those placid, sea-toned eyes would shoot open. It was starting to dishearten even Gaara of Sand to see the pathetic state his friend had fallen into; what would it take for him to understand in his heart that what had happened would have happened eventually? "Uzumaki, I informed you earlier, we are on a name basis. I expect you to act like it."
"As you wish." Naruto nodded, his legs and feet having equally been imbued with his near limitless reserves of chakra in order to scale the masterwork monument of faces that would remain eternal in the history and minds of the village. Of course, he stood atop the Yondaime, the man who had entrusted the fate of Konohagakure in the hands the blonde Leaf-nin. "Now, would you be so kind as to explain, Gaara, why it is exactly that I have been chosen for this...and why you all are so adamant on trying to get me to put my mask back on?"
Gaara almost laughed; if he could, he would have. "You were chosen for this Uzumaki, because it is no secret...the love you and my sister harbor for each other. No matter how you try to keep her at a distance because you say it's for her own safety, she will continue to hunt you down and force you to accept the fact she cares about you. Baka. As for why we're so adamant on a mask, we are not."
This particular comment at least seemed to pique the interest of the blonde. Folding his arms before his well-defined chest, Naruto raised a brow in askance of this particular statement.
"Uzumaki, we don't give a damn about who you were pretending to be...but we will give our lives over to Death itself before we allow you to destroy yourself. Especially without realizing who it is you've become. Who you show us now is only part of the equation; the question is, how long can you continue to lie about in your denial of the rest of your soul?" Gaara glanced at his comrade with slight amusement as it seemed his commentary had struck a raw nerve, one the teen would have to face sooner or later at any rate.
Naruto merely turned his gaze down; it would have been so much simpler if he had died the many years back during his intial fight with Sasuke. He wouldn't have had to worry about these problems, mental or physical, that were attacking him now through the only medium it hurt him to ignore. The people he held dear to him in his very heart. 'If it were only that easy Gaara. You didn't have to kill your best friend; you didn't make the only promise that drove you to the point of rebuilding yourself only to fail your friend, but also make your life worthless. Whatever it is between Temari and I, it's...it's safer for her if I stayed away...but, damn it all...just damn it all!'
"Gaara. Why...why did she put all of this up just to get me to see her?"
For once, the Kazegake did find a reason to smile...or at least curve his lips to a make the slightest notion of a distorted and calm smirk. "Simple Uzumaki. Temari is strong, crafty, and in my belief the reincarnation of the devil itself; however, what more could entice my sister than finding a way to see the person she holds dear, help him get one step closer to his dreams, and all the while screw him over in the process? You should feel honored that she went through all the trouble to bait you into marriage; had it been anyone else, I'd have personally killed them."
Naruto could not help but sigh. That sounded exactly like the beautiful woman Temari was, and even more unsettling was the fact not only would he succeed in his mission...he would become married, start a family, become a Sannin before he made Rokudaime, and all the while he would fear it. The fear would consume him. If he allowed himself to...admit these feelings and attempt to move on, would he be able to see past the waking fear of his enemies coming to kill his family; would he be betraying the memory of Sasuke if he found contentment; would he be adding insult to the soul-deep wounds he inflicted on a former friend by being happy while she lived her life cursing his name in a distraught manner?
"...Gaara...I'm afraid..."
"We all know that Uzumaki; however, we refuse to allow you to let fear rule what little life you've created for yourself. Now, if you manage to quit complaining about your assignment verbally, I do believe I shall treat you to ramen." With that, the platform of sand lowered along with Gaara's body until it was nothing but an insignificant speck from the distance Naruto still remained.
'I don't deserve these people...' Removing himself from the state of his true mind, Naruto managed a weak grin for the sake of deceiving his own nature. Yes, there was a part of him he refused to admit existed ever since his complete failure to all the principles he held dear to his heart; however, he was the top Jounin after succeeding even Kakashi's accomplishments. He would not fail a mission; he would continue preparing for the upcoming trip; however, he would do even more than that...
After all, no matter how despondent one's soul may become...who could turn down free ramen?
Author's Notes: Well now that I both explained why it is imposisble for me to send the rest of chapter Six to everyone, which I am sorry for, I'll go about writing it when I can. Anyway, this chapter sorta came to me like an hour ago this morning and after I finished writing it I wrote about 3000 words on Chapter Seven for 'A Wager of Love.' It's coming out really nicely in helping me out and I think it's shaping up to be a decent story as well. Read and Review and once again I apologize for my mother's dislike of me writing and deleting years worth of writings while I was in the hosptial. -tears-