Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Villages ❯ The others... ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
“How does one determine the difference between right and wrong? How can a person go from believing that killing another person is wrong to picking up a rifle and marching off into battle? What is it about a soldier that allows them to throw aside their morals to defend what they hold most dear, I don’t really know but if I had to guess I’d say takes a special kind of courage and will to do what is best for your country even if it perverts the ideals you’re defending.” –Ryujin Gensoui, Jonin of Paradiseo


Yoh strolled down the busy street sipping tea from his favorite cup, life of a ninja… He'd actually become a ninja due to an error during the war, his actual profession was as a store owner. Luckily he was excellent with swords, and although he was strong in all the areas of mastery few could surpass his kenjutsu. Even though he was older than most genins, at 22 years old he fit right in. He wore his black and white stripped hat which kept his eyes in a constant shadow and helped keep his messy blond hair out of his eyes. He wore his favorite Dogi (K/F note: a dogi is a martial arts uniform), and his headband bounced lightly against his chest (K/F note: he wears his headband like Temari.) Yoh also knew that Neji Hyuga was following him.

Training Ground….

NO NO NO YOU'RE STUPID!!! For the last FUCKING TIME, don't put the .45's in the 8MILLIMETER MAUSERS and don't put the 8 millimeters in the .45 Peacemaker! It doesn't fucking work.” Anasake said in frustration as he rubbed his throbbing head, at 17 he is the leader of Paradiseo’s AZIC sniper squads formed during the 3 year war after guns had been introduced, and now due to the fucking treaty was desperately trying to teach Konoha's ANBU how to use guns. And it was the worst job imaginable; the ANBU just weren’t getting even the most basic things about the weapons. He adjusted his sunglasses, tightened his bandana-headband, pulled some rounds out of his vest and loaded the K-98. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.


“Hey, who's hungry?” Kuroudo said cheerfully as he turned and smiled at his friends.

“I am!” Miho enthusiastically called out and raised her hand, her voice now lacking the growl it had before.

“Yeah, why not?” Kankuro said, he thought that it was near lunch time…

“I, yeah I could eat.” Momoko said quietly, she was acting all jumpy and paranoid again.

“Me too, and what's up with your girlfriend?” Temari said as she looked at Momoko, her patience was wearing thin with her new friend's jumpy attitude.

“Sorry, her job during the war was to remove and set traps, let's just say she's seen things that a young woman shouldn't have.” Kuroudo said as he looked around, “And it took some time for her to get the hang of it.”

“Soooo…?” Temari said with a flustered tone, she really didn't understand why that mattered.

“She accidentally blew up a small village that was rigged on a chain detonator that she found in the woods, she detonated what she thought was the main bomb. Only it set off hundreds more, 400 people were killed and we still are looking for some of the pieces.” Miho blurted out loud enough for everyone on the street to hear her.

“Okay, then but why is she so…”

“You try spending everyday of three years of your life disarming and locating traps, while a large group of people wants nothing more than to see you dead; and then just three weeks later try not being paranoid of everyone and everything around you.” Momoko spoke in soft tone, but you could tell she wanted to change the subject.

“Okay then…” Kuroudo looked over at Gaara, “Hey Gaara!”

“Hmm?” Gaara hadn't been paying attention to what was being said.

“Ya' hungry,” Kuroudo said cheerfully with a dull grin on his face, “I'm buyin'?”

Gaara paused for a second, someone cared if he was hungry or not? “Yeah, I could use some warm food.” Could he have actually made a friend?


At the same time Tsunade was meeting with the most powerful man from Paradiseo; Hajime Saito, the Inukage. They sat in her office having tea and discussing the exams and a few trade related topics.

“I've seen a few of your genins, Lord Inukage.” Tsunade offered the man some tea; he was over six feet tall, with a runner's build, unlike many of the other shinobi rulers he dressed very simply; black shoes, dark green well worn jeans, a black tee-shirt, a dark green long sleeve shirt over it which was unbuttoned, and black fingerless gloves.

“Aren't they impressive? I sent only our very best, that Kuroudo is a stand out, and so is Momoko. Those two possess skill far beyond a Chunin level ninja.” Hajime smiled as he politely spoke to Tsunade, “And please Lord Tsunade, call me Saito. I took the rank of Inukage to act as a protector of my country not to flaunt it as symbol of undeserved power.”

“Okay, but what about them makes them standouts?” Tsunade asked calmly. This was her first face-to-face with Saito, speaking of his face he wasn't too bad looking. He had fairly short black hair that was combed back but antennae-like bangs still hung in his face, he wore his head band around his forehead.

“Kuroudo is the only person to ever land a blow on me, ever until the last time I fought him I'd never had so much as a paper cut in my whole 38 years. And Momoko is despite her appearance the best kunoichi I've ever seen in combat, those two tear through even ANBU-level ninja like they were mere rags. But I did not recommend them for the exam because of their strength, no those two Kuroudo especially have a devotion to their comrades that I look for in my squad leaders.”

“So what of the other member of your squad 13?”

“Ah, Miho, she is my main worry. Her parents died sealing a demon wolf inside her, and she's nowhere near stable but the other two keep her in control. I often think of the members of that team as my children, they're orphans you see.” Saito said calmly as he picked up the tea cup, “I practically raised them myself, Miho never knew her parents, Kuroudo's mom died in labor and he killed his father after his `dad' tried to kill him, Momoko's parents also died when she was young.”

“What a collection of problems.”

“True, but they function better than you'd think.” Saito said calmly, “They survived combat in the Three Year War; that was no place for weaklings. If anything it was a baptism by fire, for both my government and our new style of military. Not to mention those who fought it.”


A little while later Gaara and his new friends picked out a quaint looking little restaurant to eat at. And they'd all been seated; Kuroudo sat on Momoko's right side and Temari was right next to Momoko, on her left side, Gaara was seated across from Kuroudo, with Miho on his right side and Kankuro on his left. Momoko was chatting with Temari, mostly about what combat was like during the war.

“So they call you the master of murder?” Gaara said as he looked deep into an eye that showed no bloodlust, almost no emotion at all, frightening in a way that a man could have seemingly no feelings at all, despite being engaged to a woman. Kuroudo’s eye seemed to see through everything, he kept his gaze focused on something far off in the distance, something no one else could see.

“Yep, I got that name because my only real skill is slicing other people up, I've killed so many” Kuroudo said absently as he took a drink of water, “I've just about lost count.”

“Hey.” Shikamaru Nara said as he came walking up.

“Oh, hey.” Temari said in surprise, she had actually forgotten about him while Momoko was sharing stories. She motioned for him to sit down. Momoko was leaning towards Temari; she was acting a little, odd. As weird as it seemed, Temari thought that Momoko was acting flirtatious towards her.

“And you are…?” Kuroudo looked over at the stranger, now Gaara could see the malice and bloodlust in that muddy brown eye, it rivaled Shukaku's.

“He's my…friend, Shikamaru.” Temari said as she grinned and looked at Momoko who smiled at her. Temari thought to herself, Okay, she's defiantly being flirty with me, and I think I kind of like it. Should I try returning her advances? Just to see what she does? I know she's got Kuroudo, and she's obviously flirty with him too… I'll see what happens, why not, try acting flirty right back? She's cute and she's got a nice figure, I wonder what she's like in bed Temari stopped her train of thought there, Wait a minute, am I seriously giving thought to having sex, with another girl? I think I've just learned something new about myself right now. And Kuroudo's pretty cute as well…

“Really? Well you're late; we all ready ordered the food.” Kuroudo's words shook Temari back to reality.

“What a drag.”

“You shouldn't bitch.” Miho said harshly as she looked up, her `other half' hadn't tasted blood in a long time, it needed to `feed', quivering she grabbed her head band and begun to move it, slowly so Kuroudo wouldn't notice; it didn't work.

“Miho, not here, there are no enemies uncover your evil eye and you'll face ME.” Kuroudo said sternly as he looked at Miho coldly. The far off gaze was gone from his eye, replaced by a burning intensity that chilled the bones.

I DON'T CARE!!!” Miho howled out but before she could say more Kuroudo had the back of her neck gripped in his right hand and he was behind her.

“You know this grip right?” Kuroudo said sternly to Miho as he held her neck, “You know that one tight squeeze is all it takes and then it’s lights out for Miho the Beowulf, forever.”

“Just trying to keep you on your toes…” Miho laughed and waved a dismissive hand.

“Well don't surprise me okay.” As Kuroudo pulled his hand away blood dripped from his fingers and Miho's neck was bleeding.

“Umm, your food is here.” The waiter looked frightened as he looked into Kuroudo’s eye.

“Why, thank you so much!” Kuroudo said and gave the waiter a warm smile as he put their food on the table. Kuroudo looked at his dish; grilled Atlantic salmon with some rice as a side dish and for his drink he’d ordered sprite and vodka on the rocks. Momoko had ordered a t-bone steak, medium rare with mash potatoes as her side dish and for her drink she’d gone with rum and coke.

Temari ate her meal on basically auto-pilot as she looked at Momoko; she really did look quite attractive. Temari blushed when she found herself staring at Momoko's chest, and her little belly bulge. Can't hurt to try, I mean she has been coming on to me. I think I'll try to show her that, well jeez… I can't believe I'm even considering this.

Temari gently placed her hand on Momoko's thigh, and then Momoko gave a little grin and looked at Temari's blushing face; and placed her hand on Temari's thigh. I guess I was being courted… I'm liking that little belly she's got… her legs are soft too. Momoko placed her hand on Temari's and for the rest of the meal they held hands, under the table.

“How boring!” Naruto snorted as he watched the sand and light ninja eat and share stories, he was hoping for a fight or something.

Toku stood on the roof top of a building, laughing out loud, he'd just killed some punk sound ninja who wanted to remove him from the exams, and the joke was unbearably hilarious to him.

TO BE CONTINUED……

-Kazuki Ferret