Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Life for a Life ❯ Ayeka ( Chapter 68 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I do not own Naruto

Avatarofrage... Hmm...I didn't think about it like that for summary. Will have to remember to fix it later...*grins sheepishly.

IX-Forgotten angel-XI...- giggles uncontrollably. Sounds like a true romantic....I had to do the same thing. AND I WROTE IT!

In the meantime, folks watch your review tones, there are ways of letting people know that they have made a mistake without sounding like a patronizing (Insert choice word). I do not appreciate being told in that fashion as I have stated hundreds of times before in previous chapters on all my stories. It's nice if you tell me, and point out my mistakes but if you tell me I have to go and fix it or look for it as someone has pointed out.

I will leave things alone just to piss you off. Have a nice day....

Chapter 68

Konoha village, Hokage Tower two days later

Approximately three and half weeks until Chuunin exams...

Frowning at the amount of paperwork, piling up in the shared office with Tsunade, the two look at one another and grown. “Remind me why are we hosting the Chuunin exams again?” The blonde woman muttered as she longed to take a swig of sake.

Arashi looking at self same bottle as her sighs in misery as well. “Because we're idiots?”

Giving him a dark look, they look up as the doors burst open to find Shizune panting in exhaustion. “Arashi-san, Tsunade-sama. The first of the delegations from the other villages have arrived and ask for special escort.”

“Who is it?” Arashi asks curiously. His three children were getting antsy for some missions to test their teamwork. The three of them although still learning much from Kakashi, Yamato, and Iniochi. It was decided that Anko Mitarashi would be their team Jounin instructor for the exams. Level headed and wise enough to curb the two elder genins tendency towards recklessness, not to mention fighting one another from time to time, she proved to also be a boon for Sasami as well.

Having learned a variety of jutsu from Iniochi these last few days, the little girl was getting supplemental training with the snake summons alongside Sasuke. There was only one other person who had signed the contract with Manda after Orichamaru had gotten his hands on it.

And that was Anko....

Together the two of them were learning to work with Snakes almost as efficiently as his other son worked with the Frogs thanks to training from Jiriaya. On top of that her weapons skills were phenomenal compared to most of the others jounins, therefore, Sasuke was getting a heavy work out with his sword. As Sasami and Naruto, were getting training with the Kunai and throwing weapons as speed proved to be an advantage with the both of them.

Essentially, there wasn't a day that goes by, where the three of them weren't physically and mentally exhausted, from being run ragged by four different instructors. One matched to each of their specialties and the last one to help them work as a team.

“It's Cloud sir.” Shizune replied as Tsunade leaned back to pinch her nose between her fingers.

“So our problems begin now...” The blonde woman mutters under her breath. Arashi echoing the sentiment somewhat sighs himself as a massive migraine seems to be coming on.

“Send Anko's team, Shizune.” Arashi stated after thinking about it for a bit. “We can't send Kurenai's because of Hinata, and the same with Gai's, because of Neji. We don't want trouble to start, before we are able to warn Hiashi.”

“Understood Arashi-san.” Shizune replied as she turned to run out of the office. Tsunade puzzled for a moment looks at Arashi with questions. “Why not Shikamaru and the others?”

“Because I already sent them to do something else...” Arashi replied quietly. “Something far more important...”

Looking at her longtime friend, Tsunade smiles as Arashi looks almost thoughtful. Turning back to the paperwork though, she lets out a little whimper of sorrow. They were never...going to get through all this today.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

Konoha South gates an hour later....

Three groups of genin along with their instructors were chatting amicably amongst themselves. None really expected to go far, it was their other two members, who were somewhat alert for who their escort might be.

One was an young woman with long red hair, and bright blue eyes. Very beautiful to those guards who were watching her as she spoke with her companions, they did not notice the other watching them with a practiced eye.

A man, with blonde hair and dark eyes was studying the security and frowning somewhat at what he had seen so far. Having heard the reputation of Konoha's ninjas this man was indeed wondering if his leader's grandson was safe here from harm.

For he most definitely was not impressed....

Ninjas should not be distracted by such a pretty face...

Nor should they be leaving the gates wide open....

About to do something for the sheer fun of it, the two guards snap to alertness with a speed, that readily gives him second thoughts on acting. Approaching them was a dark haired woman, in a trench coat followed by two teenage boys of about 17-18 years old, with a 10 year old girl between them.

“That a boy Kotetsu, Izumo....” The woman replied slyly, as she twirled a kunai in her hand like it was nothing. The smirk on her face was actually making him wonder as the expertise for which she was twirling the weapon. Because it was nothing short of expert.... “You know you are not supposed to stare at our guests so much right...”

Gulping a little bit as he prepared for pain, instead, the Cloud Ninja as well as others watched and cracked up, as the woman pulled him out of site alongside his companion. The two pleading with anyone for aide...

The three younger ones standing in front of them, eyeing them with a practiced eye, the Cloud jump in reflex at the yelps of pain and protests of whatever she was doing to them. While this is going on, the young girl approaches and offers her hand in greeting.

“Hello! My brothers and I will be your escorts through the village.” She chirped.

The blonde groaning loudly in annoyance as the dark haired one rolls his eyes. The little girl narrows her own in response to their sounds. Stalking over towards them, she attempts to deliver a sharp kick to both of the young men, who leap out of the way in record time.

As the trio, playfully dodge and fight one another, the older man looks to find the woman from before standing beside him. Surprised, he rapidly turns to the guard who have been neatly trussed up and looking shamefaced from their positions beside the gate. “Don't mind them,” She replied in amusement. “Those two tease their little sister mercilessly on purpose under my orders.” The woman grinned. “It helps her chakra reserves grow, when she attempts to retaliate. I'm Anko Mitarashi, their team leader and one of their teachers.”

“I am Ryo Ukeda, chief advisor and one in charge of the Cloud teams until the Raikage comes later on.” The dark haired man replies as he introduces each of his companions. Stopping at the young red headed woman, who steps forward a little nervously.

Her eyes on both of the young men before her, she studies them as a hint of a smile appears on her delicate features. “And this is Ayeka, my daughter. We are here to not only watch the exams, but to negotiate a treaty with the Hidden Leaf Village.”

“Treaty, you have promised us that before, if I may be so blunt” Anko replied as she watched the reactions. Normally loud and obnoxious, when on missions the woman was purposeful and alert to any and all changes that could happen.

“I regret that is true, but I can not say anything else other then the fact, that I can not speak any further....”

“Until you see, the Yondaime or Godaime right?”

“That is correct...”

Sighing Anko turns and gestures for the three teens to approach.

“Sasuke, you and Sasami, escort the three jounin and their teams to their assigned rooms in the village and show them the assigned training ground they can use.”

“Okay, Anko-sensei!” The little girl replies as she latches onto the dark haired youth. Having seen him up close now, Ryo recognizes the youth, or should we say the younger brother of one who is in many bingo books all over the elemental nations.

“If I didn't know any better, I would say that was Sasuke Uchiha...”

“Then you would only be half right.” The blonde youth replied in response to that statement. Ryo turning to study him, he somehow knows he should tread carefully on his words, lest he make a bad impression on this youth. Anko, throwing a kunai at him, the youth jumps back to dodge it, as he summons a clone to catch it in mid strike.

The others startled at the speed of which he not only moved, but at which he summoned the clone. They observe as the two blondes now glare at the woman, who just smiled sweetly.

“Just because we are simply escorting them to Hokage tower, Naruto-chan, doesn't mean we've stopped working on your reflexes.”

Growling a little bit, Anko starts playing with some shuriken now. Juggling them one handed, she starts walking down the road. “Sasuke! You and Sasami meet us at the tower, once you get them settled in.”

“Yes, Anko-sensei.” The dark haired youth responded this time, as Sasami was busy chatting with the genins from Cloud. The Jounin instructors happy, with the distractions the little girl was providing their students, followed Sasuke then led the way. Their teams following a moment later....

Heading off in a different direction, Anko is chatting with Naruto. Both fully aware of their companions eyes studying them, they remain alert and wary.

Still as they chat pleasantly, they remain unaware of Ryo's own words towards his daughter.

“Well what do you think of Naruto, Ayeka?”

The red headed girl blushed as she studied the blonde figure. Tall and muscular, in that broad sort of way, that she likes, she had seen his face only for a short time and was indeed intrigued. Dark tanned skin, much like her own, aired with gold hair and bright blue eyes were indeed something she would be interested in.

Hugging her father close as she twirls her parasol in her hands, she remains ignorant of the men who stare at her and the woman who growl in envy. So talking more about the treaty, the older man and his daughter find themselves approaching the tower of the Leader of the Leaf.

Tall and built like a fortress, albeit a warm and welcoming one. The building itself exhumed power radiating from those within.....

Waiting but a few moments, Ryo and Ayeka are both startled as the two who had split from them emerged from out of nowhere. The girl on the dark haired youth's back, she approached Anko who took her report with a kind smile.

“You did well, Sasami. But you are not supposed to report to me little one.”

“I'm not....?”

“Yeah squirt.” Naruto chuckled as he jumped over a half-hearted kick. “We have to go report to Father and Baa-chan.”

“Don't call me squirt!”

The little girl chases the blonde around the small group of people for a few moments, much to their surprise. The ANBU guards at the gate, although stoic and silent, Ryo swears he can hear hints of laughter at the antics going around them.

Anko having long since gone in, comes out with another woman in a blue kimono beside them. Slender of stature, Ryo finds he is curious as the blonde and little girl stop.

“Shizune-chan!” Sasami happily shouts as she approaches the young woman with a bright smile on her face. “I got Naruto-brother and Sasuke-brother twice today in training!”

The young woman smiled as both of the young men scowled. Anko, had taken Sasami under her wing, when it came to strategy with the snakes. Despite the fact, that she was aiding Sasuke as well, when it came to learning special attacks and such with the summons.

Their sensei, had said point blank, that us women had to stick together, when she first met them. Informing them of the fact she would be working with them as their Jounin instructor for the exams.

Sasami had to take an immediate liking to her.... while Naruto and Sasuke groaned. The two of them had known the wild ninja since their first attempt at the Chuunin exams and she was essentially like Gai.

Just more unpredictable....

Still, as Shizune beckoned for them to follow, they can't help but be eager as well to see someone inside the offices. Following behind the two from Cloud, as Anko and Sasami remain ahead with Shizune. They enter the building, at calm and yet fast pace.

About fifteen minutes later, they and Sasami are outside the Hokage main offices as Anko escorts the man and his daughter into the room. Waiting almost impatiently, the three of them are startled about twenty minutes later as all three find Shizune opening the door to let them in.

An ill wind blows then, and all three shiver in response. Sasami having a need to be in contact with both of them, leaps on Naruto's back effortlessly as in times like this. The blonde's cheerful nature and belief that everything will be all right, helps her gain strength and confidence in herself.

Sasuke smiling warmly at her, Sasami smiles and leans forward to place a kiss on his cheek. The youth knew full well, that he was never very good for comfort, had felt a momentary twinge of jealousy. When Sasami had first taken to Naruto in depression, he had wanted to fight Naruto again as an age old envy had risen. But as his now brother and soon to be future sister turned to look at him with worry.

He had felt it go away immediately as Naruto's grin, warmed the coldness of that part of him he had recently regained. Sasami gazing at him as well had started affecting him the same way, as did his new found Father. The one thing the three of them had in common....

They in all accounts could not and would not lie to him...

So entering the room side by side, they turn to find Arashi pale and somewhat shaking at a piece of paper that was admittedly disturbing. Tsunade was steadily getting drunk as Shizune, who would normally disprove watched with understanding.

Now beginning to wonder if they had made a mistake, Arashi stand sup to hand Sasuke and Naruto the paper in hand....

And as they read....

To the Yondaime of Konoha....

Long before you had become leader, you had come across my home and that of my village. We have fought before, but at this time you did not know the reason...

Someone close to me had become quite taken with you. And when I had refused her permission to see you, because she was affianced to Ryo Ukeda at the time, shehad abandoned her people, her fiancée, and her family.

You knew her well, she was my daughter Yukita. To repair things between my clan and his, when we had heard of your marriage, it was said that by children he may have will be married to one of yours.

It was sealed in a contract that I and he had signed here in Cloud, as well as two visiting Lords, whose names I am sure you recognize.

But you and my daughter had died supposedly of the Kyuubi attack, before I could demand a meeting, or show you what was done.

Reports have come to us recently, which not only have indicated that you had returned. But that the Demon Vessel for Konoha was your son. By now Ryo and his daughter Ayeka, will have shown you the contracts and considering it is signed by both Lords of Air and Fire at that time. It is indeed valid.

When I come to watch Second half of the Chuunin exams, I will expect that the two of us will be working together to arrange a wedding as well as signing a treaty.

Until then, Ayeka and her father will stay with you so that she and my grandson may get to know one another.

Tenchi Nakamura

Raikage of the Village Hidden in the Clouds...

Having read the letter, Sasami luckily was pulled away as seconds later, Naruto passes out....