Apprentice of a Demon
Death
CG1 Temporal
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Enraged Itachi of regular Kyuubi"
--
7 hours from the Eastern Gates of Konoha
Naruto raced after Itachi, who had been increasing the pace as much as he could without Naruto lagging behind to much. They were silent while running straining to hear if someone was following them. Itachi had said something about crossing the Valley of the End so that only the hunter-nins could come after them and thus reducing the amount of fighting that they would have to do. Naruto didn't know just how long they have been running, but the sun was starting to rise over the horizon when he first heard the sound of the waterfall.
"Neh, Otousan, How much longer until we get to this Valley of the End?"
"We should be nearing it now Naruto. Try to keep up for a little bit longer. We don't know who they currently have chasing after us. While I don't like the idea of stopping even for a little while you need to rest or we won't be able to get as far as we would otherwise get. There should be a cave up ahead here soon, we will rest in there."
"Hai, Tousan." It took them longer to get to the cave then Itachi would of like, however it was unavoidable due to Naruto's lack of knowledge of the terrain and lack of speed. As it was they got there shortly after sunrise.
"Naruto we will rest for today and then continue in the evening."
"But why do we have to stop now? You said that once we cross the Valley only the hunter-nins would be able to get us?"
"That's true however we need to make preparations so that if we are separated we will know where to meet up at and when. That and I have something to give you so that you can continue to train in case we do get separated." While he was speaking Itachi set down the bag that he was carrying and took out a small oil skin pouch that he then handed to Naruto. "This is a bag containing a few simple training scrolls and in the black and red scroll there is a copy of a scroll that contains many different types of jutsu. However you will not be able to unseal the scroll until you have learned something from one of the other scrolls. And no I will not tell you which one so don't even try."
Itachi then took out two ration bars from his bag and gave one to Naruto, and proceeded to eat the other one. As Naruto opened the wrapping on his meal he couldn't but get the feeling as if they were being watched. However it didn't seem to be someone who meant the harm.
"Otuosan..."
"I know Naruto. Don't worry they don't seem to be after us. So were fine." Raising his voice "Come on out and show yourself. It's not like we have any reason to fight you. Unless, of course, you just like peeping on men."
After a few seconds four people walked into small fire that Itachi had made when they first got into the cave. They were obviously shinobi as not many people knew about this cave and also the fact about how hard it was to get there if you did have good physical conditioning. That and they each wore a hitai-ate. This put Naruto on guard considering he had never seen this type of hitai-ate before, so the obviously weren't from Konoha. Three of them couldn't have been older than thirteen or fourteen, while the one who was the oblivious leader and Jounin was in about his mid to late twenties.
"So what are four Ninja from Kumogakure doing in Hi no Kuni?"
The Jounin was someone who didn't stand out in a crowd, which is surprising since most of Konoha's Jounin were know for standing out. He had fairly non-description brown hair and dark hazel green eyes. "We are just passing through on our way back home from our mission from Kawa no Kuni. I hope you don't mind if we rest here a bit with you seeing as you and your son are not going to attack us. My name is Ki note Sameru."
With that he motioned for his students to introduce themselves. One of the girls on the team stepped forward to introduce herself. She was about 5'2" had on a black shirt that hung slightly off her body and was tucked into a pair of dark pants as to keep the shirt from moving too much. Her hair was a dark chestnut brown that was cut into a short but efficient combat style similar to many of the older girls from the academy. "My name is Hikaru Haruka." Her eyes were a nice rich brown color that seemed to see what the person they are looking at is thinking.
After Haruka's introduction the other male stepped forward and gave his introduction. He was about 5' even, black hair, and had brown eyes. "Yo, I'm Nikita Koniki." He held himself like someone who came from a clan that was similar to the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans, just a lot more relaxed. He had a black shirt that had the sleeves cut off, he had a black hakama on and a sword strapped to an obi.
The final person on the squad stepped forward to reveal herself. She had long blond hair pulled into a tight ponytail, slanted blue eyes. She had on a dark gray body suit with ANBU style armor over it. Her introduction was by far the simplest of the Kumo team. She just said her name, "Nii Yugito." The fact that she even spoke seemed to startle her teammates.
Naruto it seemed wouldn't be content with just their names. Nope he wanted to know everything about them and Kumo. So he naturally started with the one who was hardest to get anything from, Yugito. "Neh, hen, Yugi-chan how old are you? What's your family like? What's like in Kumo?"
This was only stopped by an exasperated Itachi. Who of course had to remind Naruto that they had yet to introduce themselves. This seemed to shut him up for about four seconds. After which he began introducing both of them. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto and this is my Otousan, Uchiha Itachi." Now this got their companies attention, in more than one way.
"How is that he is you Otousan if you have different last names? You two don't even look alike." This was stated by Haruka who seemed a little miffed at being left to stare while the blond brat asked seemingly endless questions about various subjects about their lives.
At her outburst the two ex-Konoha citizens both looked at her with a dead-pan look and tilled their heads as they were trying to figure something out about her that they didn't quite get. What scared Haruka was the fact that they had done it the exact same way at the exact same time. The end effect was quite surprising to say the least. While they didn't look alike they sure did act like it.
The rest of the Kumo team was equally creped out by their little display of similarities. They however got over it rather quickly. In Yugito and Sameru almost didn't react to the demonstration, after all there were weirder people out there than the two in front of them. Just take Maito Gai as an example while strong and cunning he was very eccentric. He was also known for saying things like Power of Youth or some such phrase. So this wasn't really that bad.
The fact that there was an Uchiha here didn't seem to faze them either. It did however make the Jounin even more cautious than before. After all it wasn't every day you come across an Uchiha who didn't want to kill you. However it reminded him of something that he had heard about when they passed by Konoha on their way home, and it seems like this was as good as it would get for him to pass along the information along what was possible the last Uchiha.
After a bit of consideration Sameru finally approached Itachi. "Excuse me Uchiha-san, could I have a word with you in private."
"I don't see any reason why not. Naruto why don't you keep our guests company while I have a chat with Sameru."
Naruto it seems doesn't mind the least. "Sure, Otousan, I won't let you down."
"Just try not to annoy them too much please."
"I'll do my best."
"That's what I'm worried about."
"Alright Sameru-san, There's another alcove father in were we can talk. Please follow me."
As they left the younger generation they could hear something like a girl screaming, however they didn't pay it any mind since it was probably just Naruto.
When they were sure that they were out of hearing range, which was easy they just had to move far enough away so that they couldn't hear Naruto's cries for help, they turned to each other and began their discussion. "So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I was wondering if you knew anything about what happened in in Konoha earlier today? After all it does involve you clan." This got Itachi's attention, it wasn't every day that something major happened to the Uchiha clan.
"What do you mean involves my clan?"
"Just what I said. Do you want to know what happened or not?"
"Yes, I do want to know what happened."
"Alright it appears that someone has killed almost ever last Uchiha in Konohagakure. The only other survivor is an Uchiha Sasuke."
"Do you know any of the details about what happened."
"Just that it was supposedly done by just one person."
"Do you know who it was?"
"Not for sure but it was said that it was Sasuke's older brother who did it."
"Is that the actual story or just something that they made up to scare the standard populous of Konoha?"
"It's not a hundred percent proven, however it is a fact that his brother did kill all of the clan counsel. It was shown on the recording devices that the counsel had put in their meeting room in order to have blackmail on who ever they wanted. Turns out it didn't really help them much. After all it was proof that they were planning treason against your kage."
"Well then I would like to personally thank him then." This didn't seem to convince Sameru at all, in fact it only made him that much more persistent.
"Funny according to some of the recordings the persons name is Itachi. So, why don't you tell my why you killed your clan members. Maybe if your lucky you won't become a nuke-nin." Itachi didn't react to this accusation at all in fact he just stood there and looked at Sameru with a steady gaze.
"What makes you think that I killed my entire clan?" It was a reasonable question, especially since it was what was expected of him.
Sameru just looked at Itachi and sighed. "Well, first, there is the fact that they said your name outright in the recording. Second, you have been declared an A-rank nuke-nin, and finally Sasuke Uchiha has pointed his finger at you." Itachi just continued to look at the man before him with the same unwavering gaze that he always wore.
"What if I tell you that your information is wrong? What would you do then?"
This set Sameru's mind into overdrive. 'What about the information isn't true. I know it's not the fact that he killed the counsel. I have the proof to that on me. So then what isn't true.' Finally he came to a decision. "I would try to find out what was true and what was false. And then decide what to do from there."
"Well some of you information is wrong. I did kill the clan counsel, however I left immediately after. After I picked up Naruto we proceeded here until we stopped to rest. You then caught up with us from there. The part of you information that is false is that I killed the rest of my clan, not just the counsel."
"If that is true then who kill the rest of your clan, because I know that the only person other than you that is left is your brother. As for turning you in, well it doesn't really matter to me." With that he turned the way that they came from. "Lets get back before something happens to the gaki."
"Lets." As they walked they could slowly hear someone whimpering with someone else was gloating over them. When they finally got into visual range something strange greeted them. Naruto was tied, gagged, and wriggling around with Yugito sitting on his head while Koniki was sitting on his legs and Haruka was tickling Naruto without mercy. It was an amusing sight to come back to.
Itachi was the first to make his presence known. "What are you doing to Naruto?" It seemed that was the wrong question to ask, as when he spoke both of the girls turned there heads to them and glared.
It was Haruka who answered, "We're punishing him for a grievance that he committed."
"And what would this grievance be?"
Haruka it seemed was the leader of this little band of troublemakers seeing as she was the only one answering the question, all the while she was still tickling Naruto. "He said that me and Yugito would make a good couple."
The answer got the Jounin's attention. One thought was racing through Itachi's mind, 'Where did he learn that?' Naruto it seemed had the good grace to at least blush at what he said. "If you would by so kind as to allow Naruto a brief reprieve for his punishment I wish speak with him." They paused before Haruka nodded to the others and they let Naruto up off the ground. Itachi then took Naruto a little ways off from the others and began to speak. "Naruto something came up and I need to go back to Konoha to investigate it. I want you to travel with these shinobi for now."
"But Tousan!!"
"Don't but Tousan me. I need you to do this. Not just for me but also for Hinata. I also have a message to you for a friend. When your in trouble trust that which is both feared and respected. I will get back to you a soon as possible. Now you still have a sentence to serve if I'm correct." At the mention of a sentence Naruto got very pale and turned slowly to the rest of the group. "Okay he's all yours now."
As if they were waiting for that command the kids attacked Naruto like a pack of dogs. Itachi then turned to Sameru. "I will need you to look after Naruto for a little while. I will pay you have in advance for a general C-rank protection job. Here, I really need to get going." Itachi then handed Sameru a fairly large sum of bills. He nodded to Sameru and then called out to Naruto. "Naruto I'm leaving." Then like a true shinobi he slipped into the shadows and disappeared.
--
And there's Chapter 3 folks.. hope you enjoy it. I won't be able to update any time for about a year because I'm going to Basic Training Tomorrow. So instead of answer your reviews separately the next chapter will include my answer to any questions that you address in your reviews. I have a forum that if you want to you can get together and discuss the story. It is under the forums link on my profile page. Thank you for reading. Ja Ne.