I changed a bunch of things here and there, so I'm posting the whole chapter from the beginning one more time.
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Naruto Genkyouien
- ナルト- 幻脅å¨å®´
Chapter Twenty-three: Afterparty – Many Paths, One Destination
Life continued, even if the place called home was in ruins; even if the spirit of dedication and enthusiasm was cooled down by the incessant rain. The clouds painted the sky an unchanging grey, and the torrential rain fell upon the homeless civilians and shinobi like divine punishment for sins they were not aware of. All work had to be done outdoors, and thus not a single person could escape the deluge. The Will of Fire was being doused; men and women moved like machines, driven only by the need to do something other than staying in the makeshift tents they had assembled to make up for the lack of space in the underground shelters.
It was a noisy morning, just like the two previous ones, but the sounds of human activity were also drowned by the falling rain. Work did not cease, would not cease, until the Village Hidden among the Leaves was restored to its former power. Everywhere, teams of shinobi and civilians cooperated to clear out rubble, sort out what could be reused and builds plans for the new construction work. While a number of jutsu could certainly accelerate the process, the number of people who could use them was limited, and thus most of the work had to be done the mundane way. The most significant issue was the main wall that surrounded Konoha: a feat of Ninjutsu and Fuuinjutsu work given shape by the First Hokage; everybody doubted it could be reproduced to its former greatness.
But there was an even more significant problem just outside the walls of Konoha. The forest that same First Hokage gave birth to with his unparalleled Mokuton had been devastated by a number of agents, foremost of all the Emissary of Oblivion, Kuromiya Fubuki and Uzumaki Naruto wielding Higanbana Sesshouseki. A work of natural art given shape by Wood Release jutsu could only be renewed by Wood Release jutsu.
However, as much as the forest meant to Konohagakure, the fact remained that what Konohagakure currently needed was not trees, but wood. An intensive logging operation should have been implemented by this point, but Konoha’s pride was its greenery. The idea of clearing out even more of this forest so precious to them somehow struck at the heart of the village’s spirit. This was what the banished kitsune, Yuria, managed to understand from listening to the lumberjacks.
Yuria was keeping herself busy. The issues of Higashiyama were no longer her issues. Whatever reluctances the people at the top of Konoha’s hierarchy had about accepting the help of kitsune clans were not her concern. She wanted to help, so she would help.
Well, it was not that easy, of course, but…
Even now, she was followed by two of them—ANBU ninja, that is. They were probably as annoyed by their orders to follow her everywhere as she was. Especially because she had not even tried anything heinous or whatever. If they were going to follow her all over the place they could just as well help with the work, really. But, damn were they hard to shake off; as in, she-just-could-not-pull-it-off hard.
So, she lived with the perennial company. At least they were decent enough to look away while she was attending to her biological necessities. And to keep herself busy, Yuria worked from sunrise to sundown. She had a strong body, and those were in demand in the reconstruction work. She got her share of nasty looks from the youkai-haters, but she had the support of her battle bros—those who had fought and watched her fight the Emissary of Oblivion.
Thus far she had kept the whole ‘destroying half of the Hokage Monument’ thing to herself.
Her current job was picking up recently cut logs and carrying them around the sea of tents assembled by the humans and kitsune to the building sites inside the ruins of Konoha. She could carry at least six logs in the time a team of civilians carried one, so her work was much appreciated. On the other hand, the lumberjacks could only cut trees down as fast as the Mokuton users could make new trees grow in the decimated forest.
Among the people working to rebuild Konoha, there were only two of those.
“Jukai Koutan!†A certain masked ANBU and a certain fox-woman cried out as one before slamming their open hands on the ground. In response, the flood of Wood-nature chakra flooding the earth stimulated the overgrowth of plant life. Sprouts matured into fully-fledged trees in a matter of seconds, eliciting the awe of a group of shinobi and civilian witnesses before a foreman amongst them barked orders to start chopping trees down. Only the two ANBU assigned to Chiyuri remained still and silent under the rain; truly a miserable job.
Even the most heated youkai detractors could do little to deny Higashiyama Chiyuri her wish to assist in the reconstruction efforts. She could provide a power only one other person in Konohagakure could reproduce. So, she was there, working under permanent guard.
Human and youkai fell to their knees, panting heavily. They had been at this for almost two days with little rest, regrowing trees to renew the sea of green and to provide wood much needed for the reconstruction of Konoha; talented as they were, neither could compare to Senju Hashirama, one of the greatest shinobi to have ever lived.
Chiyuri sweated heavily. Her short-skirted yukata stuck to her skin by the mixture of rain and sweat, and provided a significant level of service much appreciated by the males among the audience. Her furry appendages were reduced to a single one for convenience. The twin-tailed blonde glanced at her ANBU partner’s lifeless mask, and the Konoha operative nodded.
“You guys should take a break.â€
Chiyuri and Tenzou looked aside, where Yuria landed after some minutes of tree-bound travel—only her “escort†would ever know she had slipped twice on the way there. She approached the foreman, who greeted her most amicably and pointed towards a stack of felled logs.
“You’ve been at it for two days already, Chiyuri. You need to eat something besides bread with honey and sleep more than two hours.â€
The older kitsune opened her mouth to reply but lacked enough air in her lungs, so she ended up panting a bit longer. When she planted a hand on her chest to get a hold of herself, the limb swayed up and down along with the heaving of her significant bosom.
“Yuria-chan’s helping in every way she can…so please let me help the only way I can.â€
After stumbling a step or two, Chiyuri fixed her posture, invoked her chakra and slammed her hands on the ground one more time to elicit a new round of tree growth. Right after that, however, her legs gave up and she slipped forward. Her face would have suffered a painful encounter with the ground had Yuria not moved to catch her falling half-niece, at the same time each of her Extended tails seemingly effortlessly seized a pair of giant logs.
“Chiyuri…â€
The healer of Higashiyama feebly attempted to release herself from Yuria’s cautious hold.
“…still…one more…â€
“Chiyuri, your chakra has a limit; nobody will look down on you if you take a break now,†Yuria insisted, raising her voice over the staccato of falling rain drops. “Right guys?â€
The shinobi and civilian lumberjacks led by the foreman tried to smile in agreement, but it still came out a bit crooked. Yuria did not take that badly: regardless of how much she and the Higashiyama clan assisted them, it would not be easy for them to trust the youkai who had taken so much from them.
That was when the already familiar serpentine shape of a kudagitsune made its appearance before the two lilies. The pipe fox opened its small mouth in front of Chiyuri, and a rolled scroll emerged from within the spirit creature’s body. After reading the scroll’s contents, Chiyuri addressed Yuria with a weak smile.
“Uzumaki Naruto-kun has woken up and left the tent where he was resting.â€
Yuria grinned. “Took him damn long enough. Boss!†She called out to the foreman. “I’m taking a break after I deliver these,†she said, meaning the logs held by her tails.
“Do you know how to find him?†Chiyuri inquired.
“Ah, that’s easy-peasy!†Yuria declared. “The last person in charge of watching over him was my mother, right?â€
Chiyuri nodded.
Yuria grinned and shook her head.
“Then it’ll be easy as heck.â€
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Indeed, it was very easy to find Naruto.
She just had to follow the sounds of petty arguing.
“Well, I’m so sorry Her Highness had to come down from her lofty heavenly abode to look after this pitiful me! It’s not like I was unconscious for anything important, like, you know, burning my goddamned soul!â€
“Ooooh, so the obnoxious protagonist has finally begun acting like he’s the only one who matters!†A tall, overly voluptuous and mind-numbingly beautiful fox woman spat back with venom in her tone. “Took you long enough, I’d say! Should I fall on my knees and plea for acceptance into your harem of beautiful and pathetically submissive women!?â€
They had barely moved from the tent where Naruto had been resting.
“Don’t call your daughters pathetic!â€
“MY DAUGHTERS ARE NOT YOUR HAREM!!!â€
Anybody in the vicinity who had not been paying attention to these two was definitely doing so after this point.
“Ne, ne, onii-chan, what’s a ha—â€
“Not now, Sayuri, the adults are speaking here.â€
“HA!†A disgusting-sounding bark of laughter from the tall fox-woman. “Adult, you say!? That’s rich coming from a moron whose balls have yet to drop!â€
“Well this ball-less moron just saved your life three days ago!â€
“Don’t think yourself so special!†The seven-tails hissed venomously. “You were wielding my daughter’s power…â€
“It was aweshum!â€
“…and Sayoko-san never needed your help in the first place.â€
“Hmph, at least I did something while you were so busy wetting your knickers!â€
“Undergarments are not worn under a kimono, you ignorant!â€
The female kitsune in the audience nodded at that. The males moved their gazes from Yuri’s tits to the curve of her buttocks neatly hugged by the fabric of her soaked kimono.
“I don’t need any of your perverted trivia! More like, accept I saved your ass and show some gratitude! Or is that too much asking from the world’s worst mother!?â€
“A midget who can’t even look up at my head above my breasts should not go around demanding respect!â€
“You call those ‘breasts’!? I thought they were bloated tumors! I bet all the blood that should go to your head ends up in that worthless fat!â€
And that’s when they fell to base insults.
“Moron!â€
“Bitch!â€
“Virgin!â€
“Hag!â€
There was no little sweat-dropping in the vicinity of this pathetic scene in which a hero of Konoha and a beautiful and powerful kitsune growled at each other like mangy dogs, their foreheads meeting in some pointless contest of strength.
“Grrrrrrr!â€
“Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!â€
Then they were set on fire; because screw the rain, I’m Sayuri.
“Muuuu! No fightin’!â€
A chuckling Yuria approached the trio while shaking her head.
“There’s something awfully wrong in the world when Sayuri’s the most mature one in a conversation.â€
“Well it is not my fault this…moron, will not appreciate I was looking after him in his convalescence! Hmph!†Yuri presented her side of the argument while offhandedly dispelling the comedy flames. Naruto’s disappeared on their own.
“What makes you think your bitch face is the first thing I want to see after being three days unconscious!?â€
“You little…!â€
“You got a problem, huh!?â€
Yuria pulled the two away before they descended into petty arguing once more.
“Alright, keep this up and I swear I’ll lock you two in a room until you kill each other or fuck like rabbits, whatever happens first.â€
The former Matriarch’s face showed how much she was repulsed by the idea.
“You-you-like I would possibly…with this…primate!â€
Naruto was too busy retching to retort that insult.
Yuria did not look amused.
“Perhaps you should have stayed in a coma a bit longer, bro.â€
Fortunately, the antics were interrupted by the appearance of a young foxgirl Naruto was not acquainted with. Her hair kept in a ponytail was the color of ash, same as her two white-tipped tails. She looked about the same age as Yurine’s daughters, but—and Naruto felt awkward for noticing this—compared to Yurina and Yuriyo she lacked a bit in the chest area.
It was only then Naruto realized that, yes, he was surrounded by nothing but fox youkai.
“Um, Higashiyama Yuri-sama…?†The foxgirl inquired, seemingly unsure as to whether to childishly petty woman could truly be the former Matriarch of the Great Spirit Clan. “Um…the Songmistress inquires as to whether Higashiyama Yuri-sama wishes to meet her now…â€
“Hmm,†Yuri murmured, quickly regaining the austere bearing she was better known for. “Yes, yes, now would be a good time. I can leave Sayuri and this monkey with you; right, Yuria?â€
“Sure, sure.â€
“Hey!†Naruto did not let that last insult past.
“And you,†Yuri turned to the messenger foxgirl. “Contact the leaders of Konoha; they should attend as well. Now, where’s that daughter and heiress of mine…?†Those were Yuri’s last words before she used Ghost Step to travel away. The other foxgirl bowed to Yuria and the others before leaving as well (by foot), leaving the two kitsune and the young human alone in the crowd.
“Alright,†Yuria then said while stepping forward to walk by Naruto’s right side. “Let’s get you up to date, bud. It’s been a long three days.â€
“First, a question,†Naruto interrupted, raising a finger to make a point.
“Just one?â€
“To begin with, yes,†Naruto clarified. He had indeed a lot of questions. “Where’s Mayuri?â€
“Muuu…†Sayuri murmured with a pout on her face.
Yuria’s irises glimmered with amusement.
“Ooh, as expected of the Lolicon Prince!â€
“Where did that even come from…no, wait, don’t answer.†Naruto quickly took back his retort the moment he saw Yuria opening her mouth again. “Just tell me she’s fine.â€
“Actually, Mayuri makes as good a starting point as any. You would have to meet the Shionzaki clan sooner or later, anyway.â€
“Huh?â€
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“Muu…†Sayuri was unhappy. Because Naruto had asked about Mayuri before anybody else, you see. Still, she sulkily walked beside Yuria and her beloved onii-chan.
Yuria explained to Naruto that a caravan belonging to the Great Sound Clan of Shionzaki had arrived mere hours after the end of the battle, announcing their presence in the middle of the night with a wandering festival of drum rolls and pipe flutes that did not match the somber mood of the invasion’s aftermath.
“Yeah…it was not the best of first impressions,†the three-tails mused.
Yuria did not know the details, not having been present, but as far as she understood the Third Hokage initially rejected Higashiyama’s and Shionzaki’s offer of assistance. However, first thing the next morning he called for Yuri and, after a second meeting, agreed to engage in limited and temporary cooperation with the kitsune of the Great Spirit Clan. Apparently a lot of people in Konoha were not happy about that. As for the Shionzaki, they moved their caravan and set up their tents in their current location, about half a kilometer south from the battered walls of Konoha. The camp was under constant ANBU watch. The Higashiyama Clan was at the moment guests of Shionzaki, and they had moved their camp—which fortunately survived the battle—to the midst of the Sound Clan’s temporary settlement.
The leaders of Konoha had spent the last two days engaged in meeting after meeting. In the same way, the leaders of Higashiyama and Shionzaki spent most of their time in the Songmistress’ tent, engaged in discussion.
“Yurimi must have it though. Oh well, none of my business. Now, if it would just. Stop. Raining! Gods!â€
Indeed, it was the third day of rain unceasing. It had been explained to her that it was the consequence of the obscene amounts of heat released by Naruto and Sayuri (mostly Sayuri) during the battles. It was only made harder by the steam constantly released by the raindrops instantly evaporating upon contact with Sayuri.
“Can you stop doing that?â€
“But Sayuri doeshn’ wanna get wet! The tails get all heavy; it’s not pwetty!â€
“You could just hide them like Yuria!†Naruto pointed out. Indeed, Yuria could pass for a fairly muscled young woman without her ears and tails out.
“Don’ wanna!â€
Naruto sighed. He guessed Sayuri being cute and obedient all the time would be too much asking. This time, he gave up.
On the way to wherever Yuria was taking him, Naruto urged her to tell him as much as possible. Thus, she explained that, after the battle, there was a bit of an argument over who should take care of him in his convalescence. Eventually Yuri won that argument because of three reasons: first, that she could appoint a healer, Chiyuri, exclusively for Naruto, and Konoha could not; second, that there was no way in hell Sayuri would let go of him, and the medic nin were not particularly comfortable about having her around; and third, Hiruzen had enough things in his mind to waste time arguing about something like this. Thus, Naruto stayed with the foxes. Aside from taking care of him, the lilies tried to make themselves useful however they could…and however the humans would let them.
“Yeah, they don’t like us much.†She paused. “Well, them; I’m managing. I guess they just won’t say no to an extra set of muscles in these circumstances,†she said, vaguely pointing towards devastated Konoha in the distance.
“They should’all wike Yuria-nee-chan! Yuria-nee-chan’s awesome!â€
“I know, right!?†The older sister played along. “They just don’t know better yet, Sayuri; not everyone can be as perceptive as you, right?â€
“Wight.â€
Sayuri crossed her arms before her chest and nodded firmly, making Naruto and Yuria grin at the adorably hilarious sight.
“Anyway, regardless of whatever it is they talk about in those meetings of theirs, there’s still a helluva lot to do, so I’ve been fairly busy. We cleared up most of the rubble and found all the corpses while you were out, so you won’t have to do any of the shitty work.â€
Corpses.
Yes, Naruto remembered. People had died, of course. It was a battle. The allied Sound-Sand forces, the giant snakes they summoned, and furthermore, Kuromiya Fubuki and her Emissary of Oblivion…
Naruto remembered.
“Yurika…chan.â€
He regretted opening his mouth the moment the words came out. He noticed the stiffening of Yuria’s taut muscles, but what truly got to him was how Sayuri immediately dropped her ears and tails. There was no longer steam, and the little foxgirl immediately became drenched under the torrential rain. Naruto carefully stroked the little Kyuubi’s hair, and her tails wagged weakly in return.
“Mah…†Yuria’s voice sounded more like a sigh. “…the Void took her, so there was nothing left to cremate. Yurin-nee and Yurina-chan are looking after my sis. They’ll be fine.â€
‘They’, she said. Naruto realized that she was truly no longer Higashiyama. Even if the family bond would remain forever, Yuria was intent on walking her own path.
But, Naruto wondered, if Yurika’s twin sister will have a family by her side in their common grief, who would be there for Yuria?
…wait, what kind of stupid question is that?
“…I’m your family now, right?â€
Yuria quickly jerked her head, staring at the boy with eyes like saucers.
“Wha-what did you just…?â€
“Nah, it’s nothin’, it’s nothing’!†Slapping the back of Yuria’s left shoulder, Naruto walked past her and wordlessly urged her to keep going. Thus, the slightly blushing three-tails pretended no words were said and walked along, offhandedly greeting a passing two-tailed young man on the way.
“So, yeah; Yurimi’s hanging out with Mom and the other big shots in their meetings; Yurine and Yurina-chan are taking care of Yuriko; Chiyuri’s been spending a lot of time with one of those ANBU guys, the one who also uses Mokuton. They’re raising trees and chopping wood and stuff. And we’ll meet Yurisa-nee and Mayuri in a minute. Oh!†Yuria suddenly exclaimed. “And Sayoko-san’s been sleeping and pretending she didn’t kick absurd amounts of ass three days ago.â€
The short girl leaned a bit closer to Naruto.
“Don’t tell anyone I told you, but everybody’s fuckin’ afraid of her now. Everyone.†She repeated the last word with strong emphasis.
Naruto’s thoughts went back to the battle…no, Sayoko-san did not do much of that, did she? “Battlingâ€.
Back then, he was high on Kyuubi-level power, so he felt somewhat calm in her presence, but thinking back on it, it was easy to understand why the others would fear her.
Overwhelming.
That was Kurosaki Sayoko, who had stepped before millennia of tradition of Kyuubi being the cream of the crop of kitsune-ness, and laughed at it before crushing it to bits. Everything those youkai—and those humans knowledgeable of youkai—had believed about the powers of kitsune had been challenged by that woman’s absurd power.
Yes, that is scary, Naruto thought. However…
“Well you don’t look scared to me,†he said while smirking at his former fiancée, who returned the expression with an identical one.
“You kiddin’ me! How awesome was that!? Hell, I kind of want her to kick my ass, too! She’s awakened my M side!â€
Please don’t put it like that.
“So, yeah, Sayoko-san’s fucking awesome.â€
“Sayoko-chan’s the best!†Sayuri confirmed, expectedly. In case a reminder is due, Sayoko and Yuria pretty much tie for the spot of “Sayuri’s Second Favorite Personâ€. Well, Sayoko probably’s got a bit of an edge.
But there was one lily Yuria had not talked about, was there not?
“I…haven’t seen much of her,†Yuria admitted, looking somewhat guilty. “And I feel kind of awkward asking the others, so…yeah.â€
Naruto could tell: Yuria was worried. Although perhaps he did not quite get just how much. If he put his mind to it, he would realize that Yuria truly felt for the half-Void, as one who has carried the stigma of “a worthless kitsuneâ€.
Regardless, the boy made it a point to find Yuriyo when he got the time.
“Ah!†He suddenly remembered. “Kotonoha-sa…Kotonoha! And Mistress Setsuna!â€
Sayuri pressed herself closer to Naruto, for no particular reason. She was already dry and releasing steam again, and the boy noticed he was beginning to sweat. Was this going to be his life from that day onwards…?
“No idea about your tsunloli,†Yuria answered while wearing a teasing smirk on her pretty face. “She went ‘poof’ right after Sayoko-san summoned us all back…oh, and remind me to tell about Oblivion Castle Kurosaki when we’ve got the time; that place’s fuckin’ wicked.â€
“You’re cursing a lot, Yuria,†Naruto pointed out.
“Using more slang, too,†the girl added. “I think the big kahuna up there’s mixing me up with his Vita.â€
You said way too much! Way too much!
“Huh…so, Kotonoha…?â€
“Oh, she’s kept herself busy,†Yuria said, with a telling smile on her face. “She’s got, like, the coolest job ever.â€
Naruto blinked.
“…please tell me she’s not skinning anyone,†he pleaded.
Yuria’s grin only got wider.
“…I don’t hear a ‘no’, Yuria!â€
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Kotonoha was a hunter on the prowl. Originally born a fox, she naturally had a measure of hunting instinct. Furthermore, in her 206 years as a youkai, she had been a mercenary, a hired killer and a spy for several lords before settling down in the lands of Higashiyama.
She knew how to kill. Her first kill, Saionji Sekai, remained fresh in her mind; a vivid memory that would never fade away. It was so simple, taking a life…
She dispelled the thoughts on the distant past. The vivid image in her mind became as murky as the forest around her. Ravaged by flame and void, and currently wracked by unceasing rain, the lands around the ruin named Konohagakure made for forbidding scenery. Visibility was almost zero, and her anthropomorphic body shivered under the downpour. She could not rely on her eyes, for she saw only tree trunks, fog and water in every direction. She could not rely on her ears, for the threnody of that day’s deluge drowned all other sounds. She could not rely on her nose, for the rain washed away all scents. She could not even rely on Fuuton jutsu: the current weather made perception by echolocation or patterns of air flow impossible.
But Katsura Kotonoha is a killer. She put herself in the shoes of her prey, and pondered what direction he would try in his attempt at escaping. In this way, her steps never ceased, and she dashed through the forest without pause. She could feel her instinct was working and her target closer and closer. She could not hear it, but she could feel his heartbeat accelerate as he, too, perceived their inevitable meeting. Her right hand sought the hatchet squeezed behind her soaked obi…
Her eyes were blinded by lightning, and her dash came to a halt. It was awfully close, that discharge. Unnaturally close, even.
There was a scream, belonging to a female, and loud enough to be heard beyond the downpour. Kotonoha eased her breathing, ensured her breasts would not spill out of the soaking wet yukata, and stepped forward.
“Ah, it’s you. This your prey? Sorry, I got’er first.†Kiyoura Setsuna did not sound very apologetic for stealing her rival’s mark. On the grass clearly flattened and slightly charred Kotonoha saw a still figure. A petite thing, this kitsune. The possibility of Henge aside, this girl could not even be a three-tails. In other words, she never had the slightest chance.
“So, what do you think Konoha will do with them?†Setsuna pondered as she stood aside for Kotonoha to approach the captured kitsune. Obviously it would be up to the bustier female to carry their prisoner to base.
“That is none of our business, Setsuna,†Kotonoha murmured while lifting the unconscious youkai over her right shoulder. “I believe Yuri-sama was the one who pointed out the issue of youkai spies. She will handle their interrogation.â€
It would be ludicrous to believe Higashiyama were the only ones with agents in the hidden village. Because Konoha would already be hard pressed to catch the shinobi spies before they send word of the extent of the devastation to other countries, Yuri offered to take care of the youkai side of the issue. Not even Danzou could argue against this “generous†offer.
“And what about humans enthralled by youkai to act as spies? Who takes care of those?†Setsuna posed this question, to which Kotonoha could only shrug.
“I did not know you were helping out, Setsuna,†she said instead.
“I’m not. I just wanted to unwind a little and caught a glimpse of that one. I was kind of expecting more of a challenge, though.â€
“I do not think you’ll find something like that here…â€
Supposedly rivals, but these two actually get along quite well. They turned on their tracks and began the slower trip back to Konohagakure.
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“Spies, huh…†Naruto did not have the most eloquent or intelligent-sounding response to Yuria’s explanation of Kotonoha’s latest assignment. He would not have even thought of spies before it was too late, but it made complete sense: if Yuri had Katsura Kokoro and Higashiyama Koushirou, naturally the other big clans would have at least a pair of eyes on one of the most powerful shinobi villages.
From what Yuria could make out from second- and third-hand references, Yuri and Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to control the outflow of information regarding the events of three days earlier. The idea was letting the other countries and youkai clans known nothing more than what Konoha (and Higashiyama) wanted them to know. So, they had to catch the informants.
But there was something else bothering Naruto at this moment.
“What’s…with all the music…?â€
“Evwywhere’s like, burun-burun…â€
At first it had been hard to tell what with all the rain, but the more he paid attention to the sounds coming from inside the tents and the movements of the shadows inside, the more they distracted him. There was an almost maddening mixture of rhythms flooding the kitsune camp because a different song was played in every tent. Percussion instruments were the most significant, but Naruto could catch the sound of flutes here and there.
“Ahaha,†Yuria laughed openly. “We’re in Shionzaki territory; it would be weirder if there were no music.â€
Naruto logged that future reference. Thus far he had learned two significant facts about the Great Sound clan: they liked music a lot, and there wore light clothing. Really, really light clothing. Thus far all the males he had seen exposed the top half of their bodies, and the females barely bothered to cover the important parts with translucent fabrics. Naruto truly hoped they did not dress that light when they traveled north. That just could not be healthy.
Eventually, they reached a certain tent. Naruto noted that it was the second largest in the whole compound, and it was larger than any of the tents available in the human camp.
“Yuria here!†The three-tails shouted over the music and the falling rain. “Aika-san, Mayuri, I’ve brought Naruto!â€
“Muu, Sayuri’s here too!â€
Naruto and Yuria took a step back when something like a shriek made the entire tent vibrate, followed by a noisy ruckus inside. It reminded Naruto of the Third Hokage on the time he visited his house and the old man would not open the door to his bedroom before hiding all his perverted books.
Finally, the door to the tent was pulled aside, and yet another fox-tailed young beauty stepped into Uzumaki Naruto’s life. He could not help but let his eyes roam over her choice of dress, which he guessed was the standard among Shionzaki females. His eyes briefly passed over her lilac-colored harem pants and the bra of the same color and fabric covering a shapely bust, before settling on widely-open blue eyes. Long and wavy twintails jumped up and down when the girl suddenly bowed very deeply before the young ninja. Her two fox tails matched the color of her hair: a silvery white with a slight lilaceous tone that reminded Naruto of the thistle flower.
“My prince…†The girl whispered.
“Huh?†Better cannot be expected from Naruto, really.
The girl stood upright once more, and Naruto almost took another step back; the luster in her big blue eyes was almost blinding.
“I…I truly…how much I longed to meet you, Uzumaki-sama!â€
Her smile, so full of tenderness, caught Naruto completely offguard. Just when he was thinking it looked like the smile of an old friend after many years without meeting, she voiced her feelings again.
“I have seen you…so many times…â€
Gasping all of a sudden, the two-tails hurried rubbed her left arm against her weeping eyes and stepped aside, effusively inviting Naruto and the others inside.
“Okay, how did this happen?†A slightly miffed Yuria spoke while hurriedly escaping from the rain. “You have never met before, for Pete’s sake!†She glared at Naruto. “You don’t get to add girls to the harem without making at least a bit of effort; I’ll not letting you become that kind of character, damn it!â€
“Add girls to the what…?â€
Their host giggled amusedly.
“Yuria-sama, I have longed to stand by Uzumaki-sama’s side since he was five years old,†she said, but quickly pursed her lips with irritation. “Wait, that did not come out right.â€
“That it didn’t,†Naruto cautiously said. He was already standing on the far end of the tent, where Higashiyama Mayuri, her mother Yurisa and an unexpected guest sat on a bed of exotic-looking cushions.
“Kakashi-sensei,†Naruto greeted his Jounin mentor with a natural smile. Kakashi Hatake returned the greeting with a nod.
“Good to see you’re back up and running, Naruto.â€
The boy grinned most foxily.
“Right back at ya, Kakashi! I remember the Emissary did a number on—what the hell are you doing!?†The youkai present trembled at the radical shift between teasing and outraged.
“Hmm?†Kakashi, however, only tilted his head in mock-confusion. “What is it that’s bothering you, Naruto?â€
“That!†The boy immediately replied, pointing at the orange book in Kakashi’s left hand. “Why do you have that thing out in front of Mayuri!?â€
“Ah…ahaha…†Yurisa was somewhat amused. She had brought up the exact same issue just a while earlier. She did appreciate Naruto’s thoughtfulness, though. “Kakashi-san had made it very clear that my daughter will not be exposed to the book’s contents.â€
Mayuri obviously did not bother to mention that if she wanted she could learn the entire plot looking at the world lines.
“Mugiiiiii!!!†A very frustrated nine-tails cried out. Only the two smallest kitsune knew that Sayuri had already tried to set Mayuri on fire nine times. “Why won’t Mayuri burn!?â€
Kakashi blinked most worriedly at the little monster’s utmost desire to set her relative on fire.
“That technique will not work on my princess, Sayuri-sama,†the Sound kitsune claimed. “Please keep trying your best in the future.â€
Mayuri looked somewhat miffed at that. Will nobody ever ask her to stop, really!?
“Awwight!†Sayuri nodded determinedly. “Then, Pwetty Bea—mugya!â€
The little nine-tails almost bit her tongue when Naruto’s fist fell on her head.
“No beams! Actually, no anything! We’re sitting down and talking.â€
“Muu…okaaaaaaay…â€
Naruto and Mayuri exchanged glances, and the brief moment their eyes met was enough for the boy to know she was grateful.
The newcomers eventually settled down after somewhat drying their bodies with towels provided by their Sound kitsune host, who had also busied herself with a portable stove to prepare hot tea. Naruto dedicated a brief glance to the two gas tanks on one side of the tent; they were obviously necessary for devices like the little stove, but it was still an odd sight.
“An introduction is in order, I guess,†the twin-tailed Sound kitsune said after presenting each of the present with a cup of green tea and sitting among them, claiming a place between Mayuri and Naruto. From Naruto’s right, Yuria, Yurisa and Kakashi completed a circle. Sayuri blew raspberries at Mayuri right after claiming Naruto’s lap, which meant the boy had to spend the good part of a minute shoving tails away to make his face visible to the others.
“My name is Shionzaki Aika, daughter of Utahime. Amongst my own, I am known as the Chanter of Elegies.†Addressing Naruto, she explained that last statement. “It is an identifier similar to the noble crests taken by the ladies of Higashiyama.â€
“Speaking of crests,†Yuria interrupted. “Sayuri never got one of those.â€
“Sayuri-sama was too young to pick one when she was sealed,†Yurisa noted. “But given the circumstances Yuri-sama might insist on it, as a safety measure.â€
“Um!†Sayuri nodded eagerly. “Sayuri will kwaim the Kwest of the Explosion!â€
“Yeah…I don’t see that happening,†Yuria retorted.
“Muu…the Kwest of the Explosion…it’s the best kwest…â€
It was a matter Higashiyama would properly discuss in the near future.
“Okay, before anything else, I want to know what Kakashi’s doing here,†Naruto said, and Kakashi gasped in mock hurt.
“It’s nice to know I’m so loved by my student…â€
“Oh, don’t be a drama queen; you’re in the middle of a kitsune camp and I want to know why.â€
“Mah, well…†the experienced shinobi said amicably, before gesturing towards Mayuri. “I’m on guard duty; on a gesture of good will from our village, I am to watch over the little princess here during the remainder of their stay.â€
“Now there’s a way to put it…†Yurisa murmured. Naruto caught the brief tightening of Yurisa’s and Aika’s facial muscles, and he just knew he was missing on something important. He looked at the little Time kitsune, who simply shrugged, seemingly unbothered by having a new “bodyguardâ€.
“And that makes you the second person in this tent to call Mayuri a princess,†an amused-sounding Yuria pointed out. Were she any other person, Mayuri might have perhaps blushed at the praise.
“Oh, but she is,†Aika agreed. “Mayuri-sama is to us Time kitsune what Sayuri-sama is to all others.â€
“And you just threw a big reveal without a care in the world…†Yuria mumbled. Naruto, however, still looked quite surprised. Aika noticed his wide stare and smiled so charmingly he had to look away…and into Kakashi’s smirking eyes.
“I’m more surprised by your lack of surprise, Yuria-sama.â€
The three-tails made a dismissing gesture with her left hand.
“We’ve had our own Time kitsune all these years; I won’t be surprised if there are more of them in other clans. But can you prove you are what you say you are, girl?â€
Yurisa’s eyes shifted in Kakashi’s direction. Admittedly, neither of them had actually seen proof of Aika being a Time kitsune.
Aika, however, only presented her open hands to the group, as if to show there was nothing on them.
“I only need to prove myself before the princess, and she knows I am what I am.â€
When Aika looked at Mayuri, the Sorrowful Lily nodded. Quod erat demonstrandum.
“Alright, so you’re a Time kitsune,†Yuria decided. “So, why would you put that in the open now?â€
“Well, the confirmed existence of Time kitsune will reach everybody sooner or later, whether we like it or not,†Aika explained. “In my case, it is rather relieving; I revealed my nature to my clan two days ago…at least now they know why I keep my distance from everybody else.â€
Her eyes moved to Yurisa, the oldest member of Higashiyama present.
“Despite Konoha’s and Higashiyama’s efforts to contain the spread of information, Kurosaki Sayoko-san admitted there were a number of scrying probs watching the battle, my mother’s included.â€
“Chiyuri has already confirmed that one of them belonged to Nagashirakawa,†Yurisa declared, and Aika nodded with gratitude for the new information. “And I would not be surprised if Amagumo was behind one of them.â€
Kakashi nodded.
“It is an open secret that they have an alliance with Kumo,†the Jounin said. Yuria shrugged.
“Their Shrine Realm is smack dab in the middle of Kumogakure. But that’s for the higher-ups to worry about, isn’t it?â€
“Wait, wait, isn’t this kind of, you know, really important!?†Naruto said very loudly. Yuria shrugged again.
“Well, you’re the one who wants to be Hokage; I guess you should know all this political stuff. Not my business.â€
“Sayuri just has to burn things.â€
“And you could try doing something about that attitude!†Naruto retorted at the little one on his lap. However, Sayuri was more interested in the newly revealed Time kitsune of Shionzaki.
“Ne, ne, Sound-nee-chan.â€
“Yes? How can I be of help, Sayuri-sama?†Aika briefly glanced at Sayuri untouched cup of tea.
“Can I burn you?â€
“Sayuri!†Naruto immediately complained. “What the hell!?â€
Aika laughed at the Kyuubi’s bluntness.
“I believe Sayuri-sama wishes to know whether I can nullify her attacks like the princess.â€
“Um.†Sayuri nodded.
“Hmm…the short answer is no. I cannot nullify Sayuri-sama’s attacks in the same manner. However, my Aegis is as effective as Mayuri-sama’s.â€
Yuria’s eyes fell on Aika, and they did not bother to conceal the hint of hostility.
“You will excuse my rudeness, but when Mayuri finally reveals her true nature and all of sudden another Time kitsune shows up to meet her I can’t help but worry.â€
“I would not expect anything else,†Aika admitted. “If anything, it makes me glad to see the princess is well taken care of by her clan.â€
Yuria frowned a bit at the other girl’s overly complicated manner of speech, but simply took it as a quirk.
“I’m not in the clan anymore, but Mayuri’s still family.â€
Aika nodded. Crossing her hands on her lap, she glanced at her unpainted nails for a few seconds before speaking again.
“Before I explain myself, I have to explain a thing or two about the powers of Time kitsune.†She smiled in the direction of Kakashi. “It would be too sad if Hatake-san went back to his superiors without anything.â€
“Much appreciated,†Kakashi replied with a courteous bow before turning his gaze back to his book.
Naruto and Yuria got that exchange much later. Sayuri was not even paying attention, preferring instead to cuddle against Naruto’s chest.
“All Time kitsune have two things in common: the ability to receive visions of a specific theme unique to each kitsune, and the ability to stop time. While Hatake-san here is probably more interested in the second, I would prefer to bring attention to the first.â€
There was a smile in Kakashi’s single visible eye.
“Aika’s World only stops time for a bit over a second; it would not make for a great demonstration. Now, on the topic of the visions…â€
“Yeah, every Time kitsune sees visions on a different topic,†Naruto summarized his knowledge of the subject. “And you don’t get to control what you see or stop the visions from appearing.â€
Everybody looked at Naruto with no little surprise. Mayuri nodded. She already knew he knew these things.
“Naruto…san,†Yurisa spoke, quickly decided on a honorific for good. “By any chance, did you know…Mayuri is a Time kitsune before three days ago…?â€
Naruto shrugged. Although he was smiling, there was a hint of guilt in his expression. He looked at the subject of discussion; Mayuri looked the same to everybody else, but Naruto knew she was a bit embarrassed, so he decided not to draw more attention to her.
“It was kind of an ugly coincidence…†Instead he came up with something almost completely random.
“Perchance, is this related to that day Naruto-san arrived to his apartment with Mayuri in his arms…?â€
“Well, yeah…â€
Aika nodded.
“I cannot say I am surprised. Given the latest events, I believe Uzumaki-sama and Mayuri-sama were meant to meet each other.â€
“Does this come from these…visions, as well?†Kakashi asked. For once, he was actually looking at the target of his question instead of keeping his face buried in erotica.
“In part,†Aika admitted. “Now, it is not true that the visions cannot be blocked to an extent. Exposure to Kuuton chakra stops the visions, like most of our powers. But I digress.â€
She collected Yurisa’s and Yuria’s empty cups and placed on the tray. For a second or two, she tilted her head along with the rhythm coming from one of the many tents.
“It is not my place to speak of the nature of Mayuri-sama’s visions. I will say instead that both Mayuri-sama and Uzumaki-sama appeared very often in my visions.â€
Mayuri sighed.
“So, the subject of your visions is…†Yuria muttered.
“Solitude,†Aika explained. “My visions always show those who are alone, either physically or emotionally, or even metaphorically.â€
She looked at Mayuri.
“Even if surrounded by her family and those who care for her, Mayuri-sama is truly unique, the only one of her kind in this world. In that respect, she is always alone.†Aika paused as if pondering whether she should say what she had in mind. In the end, she went for it. “The only one I see more often than Mayuri-sama is Nue.â€
After finishing her tea, she let her empty cup rest on the tray with the other two collected thus far. Outside, the rain would not let up, but the beating of drums also refused to surrender to the harsh weather.
“So, I’ve known Mayuri-sama since the moment she figured out who she is and what she is capable of. That was…what, thirty years ago? More or less. Naruto-sama I first saw when he was five, I think.â€
“And when did I stop appearing in your visions, Aika…san?†A smiling Naruto suddenly asked. The smile was promptly returned hundredfold; seriously Naruto feared this girl would render him blind.
“I would be delighted if I was called ‘Aika-chan’, Uzumaki-sama.â€
“Only if you stop calling me ‘Uzumaki-sama’, that’s way too much.â€
Their smiles softened, but Naruto was still intimidated by the sheer joy Shionzaki Aika projected through her facial expressions.
“You do me too much honor, Naruto-kun.â€
Aika did not see the point in sharing that she would occasionally catch glimpses of Hyuuga Hinata through her visions as well.
