Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Inner Secrets ❯ Chapter 19

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything affiliated with it.

 

Warnings: They remain the same as the previous chapter.

 

Pairings: Itachi/Naruto, Shikamaru/Neji, Gaara/Sasuke, Kakashi/Iruka.

 

A/N: Yay! Here is chapter 19 for you kind readers. :) Now, I know my updates are short and that they take a long time to come up, but I do have a life (sometimes). I am a student, I have a job, and I am a major gamer. (Addicted really) As such, my story writing time is only limited to when I have a) good music and b) a creative mood. Meaning I spend more time `being on your account sharding your purples' (a cookie to whoever gets what I'm talking about), than I do writing, and for that I do apologize. ^^ But I have not forgotten this story, so no need to worry about my abandoning it like I have my other fics. ^^

 

Chapter 19

 

The Kage-Gesshoku stood before the tall man that had been his backing through his dawning. “Kyou,” The shadow began; his voice stern. “I require some things.” He stated straight to the point as he handed a scroll to the man, who accepted it without a halt. “I need these in ASAP if Konoha is to survive its impending war.”

 

The dark featured man open the scroll and regarded its contents with a firm eye. “I can get you all this and more. You know how I work.” Kyou said quietly, his dark eyes drifting around the empty courtyard of his tea-house. “I will do anything to keep this village alive and well. I want to see these gardens filled with beauty and splendor once more. This pre-war shadow dampens the beauty more then anything ever could.”

 

“I understand.” The cloaked figure sat down on the wooden walk-way, his feet dangling over the edge, easily exposing his boots. “Konoha is meant to forever stand tall and prosperous. So long as I live, this oasis will never fall.” He vowed gently, his stern voice long gone. “It is precious to me.” He admitted before sliding off the walkway, moving to stand on the green grass a meter below where he was seated. “I don't have time to sit around, there is so much that I must do. When they arrive let me know, for now though, Kyou, take care of yourself.” He finished before flickering away in a swirl of wind and leaves that gently floated about the breeze.

 

“Shadow Assailant. Stand strong, Konoha is not yet ready to crumble, and neither should you be…” The man stated with a sigh as he slid open a paper door and proceeded inside, door slipping shut behind him. The courtyard was silent.

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

Blue scrolls littered a desk in a dark room that only had one lamp lighting the desk top. In a chair placed before the desk sat the fair and proud Hyuuga Neji, his white eyes scouring the pages littered about him as he worked more details and schematics into each and every single design, though, occasionally a frown would momentarily mare his brow before he crumpled a scroll and tossed it into the wastepaper disposal basket. “Tch… War is troublesome.” A deep voice from the door way muttered as Shikamaru slouched into the dark room, moving to sit on the window sill.

 

“Shikamaru, everything beyond clouds and nothingness are troublesome.” Neji commented with an amused smirk as he leaned back in his chair, his all seeing eyes focused on the dark haired genius.

 

A peaceful and gentle silence fell between the two as each fell into their own thoughts within the dark apartment that the Hokage had granted the three dear friends. “Naruto isn't back yet, is he?” The Hyuuga asked as he looked up at the shadowed ceiling, easily noting the confirmed nod from the teen against the window.

 

“No, but I was sent to get him. The Kazekage and his forces are here.” The Nara sighed quietly before pushing himself up. “I suppose we should look for him.” He muttered as he tossed his long strands of silky brown hair over his shoulder, enjoying the freeness his scalp felt without his hair up as he had done in his younger years.

 

Neji stood gracefully, moving towards the door a few paces ahead of the eerily taller Nara. “I do believe he is talking with Kyou-sama.” The prodigy answered as he turned his head back to look at Shikamaru who was extremely close behind him. Dark brown met pale white in the darkness of the night's hall.

 

Silence thrummed softly about them as they stared into the other's eyes, words lost to both of them. Shikamaru's eyes drifted from the pale white eyes, along the smooth expanse of pale moonlight skin, down to full lips of a dusted light rose, and there they stayed. Neji's eyes were focused solely on the Nara's lips, though it was difficult to tell with his eyes so white.

 

Neji shifted his body so that he wasn't quite looking over his shoulder, and so that instead of being basically beside the Nara, he was standing facing him. Slowly Shikamaru leaned down, moving his face closer to Neji's lips, their breath mingled together, and the warmth of the other's breath tickling their lips in a tantalizing wave.

 

Lips drew closer, before the Nara slowed his advance, leaving their lips hovering with a ghostly brush, eyes were half mast, staring at the mouth so close yet so seemingly far away. Neji moved the rest of the way forward, putting their lips together in a soft, tender kiss that sent jolts of fire shooting through them from their connection to the other.

 

They kissed, eyes closed. Neji's hands drifted up to Shikamaru's neck, while the Nara placed his own hands firmly around Neji's waist, their bodies flush. The dark haired genius' hand slipped under the prodigy's shirt, drifting up beneath the tight material to slowly stroke Neji's silky smooth back.

 

A groan slipped out of Neji's throat, pushing Shikamaru to slip his tongue out from his firm lips to lick softly against soft silky ones. White eyes opened a fraction in shock, a tiny gasp escaping him, giving the Nara a chance to slip his tongue inside Neji's mouth.

Their tongues clashed together, moving with and against the other's.

 

Long pale hands slipped into loose soft hair, while the hand beneath the shirt drifted upwards, both hands exploring the soft expanse of firmly toned back. The heat seemed to rise, they had to pull back to breath before they clashed back together in a passionate kiss that grew in desperateness, heated hands moved to caress, stroke and discover.

 

A booming echo sounded through the room, causing both to jump apart and stare at the door down the hall. Someone was knocking…

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Kakashi.' Tsunade greeted with a nod as the silver haired man appeared in her office, thirty minutes later then when she sent a ninja to deliver his summon to him. “Naruto is back.” She stated, cutting to the chase. “I know for a fact that you haven't spoken with Sasuke yet, but Naruto returned three days ago half dead.” She began, gaining the man's undivided attention. “Shizune and I operated long on him, finally stabilizing him before leaving him to rest in the hospital. He was kidnapped by Orochimaru.” She paused, watching the facts connect in his mind through his blue eye.

 

“Is that why we are preparing for war?” The Jounin questioned as he sat down in the chair before the Hokage's desk. The older woman shook her head with a sigh.

 

“No. Naruto managed to escape with the aid of the Legends you've been trying to track down for the past few years. And with their return we learnt of the preparation for war in the enemy lands.” She sighed. “Our resources are limited, our fighters are greatly out numbered, and the Kami-Sannin are going to be bringing in their `friends' to help. Naruto befriended them, and for that we might just have an edge. But what I want you to do is find out just how much Naruto, Neji and Shikamaru have improved. I want you to test the three of them.” She concluded as she scribbled something on a scrap of parchment. “Here, this is their new address for the duration of the war, go talk to them.”

 

Kakashi sighed quietly behind his mask as he took the paper and read the address before tossing it in his weapon's pouch. As he stood, a knock sounded on the door.

 

- - - - - - - -

 

Naruto was seated in a tall tree outside of Konoha, having slipped out to give himself a peaceful space away from the familiar glares and the harsh preparations for war. Through his travels over the years, he had much enjoyed the lack of animosity towards his person, the silence that gave him a peace of mind, and even now he still loved the peaceful tranquility.

 

“Naruto-kun, shouldn't you be working on traps?” The familiar silky voice of Uchiha Itachi said from above the Uzumaki, causing the blond to look up and smile.

 

“No need. I'm far further ahead then I initially thought I would be, so I'm taking my time to think.” The demon vessel said softly as the older teen flickered down to stand on the branch the blond was seated upon.

 

“Why not return to the apartment?” Itachi suggested as he looked up at the setting sun that drew with it grey clouds that promised rain.

 

“I have a feeling that if I return it may interrupt something of importance. Either that or make it difficult to find me when Gaara arrives with his people.” Naruto answered.

 

“The sand's vessel is near.” Itachi commented as he looked up to a man that had just appeared where Itachi had vacated minutes ago. “Zabuza-san.” The Uchiha greeted with a nod, earning himself a sharp nod in return.

 

“Brat, how the hell am I supposed to fight this war anyways?” The dark haired demon of the mist answered as Haku appeared with Kimimaro beside him, both still wearing the cloaks, but the hoods were down, revealing their faces.

 

“Simple. The only people who can fight as the true trio are Neji, Shikamaru and I. Meaning when the enemy knocks on our gates, the three of us will have to take up our cloaks and fight as only the legends could. But that would leave many questions, such as where we are.” Naruto pointed out as a light drizzle of rain began to fall. “Meaning we will have Itachi genjutsu himself into me, Haku into Neji and you Zabuza into Shikamaru.” Naruto stated as he looked up at the clouds through the thick green foliage, gauging how much longer they had before the rain would be flowing hard enough to penetrate the leaves. “Kimimaro on the other hand will slip in with one of our ally groups, and disguise himself as one of theirs.”

 

“Why does he have to use a disguise, I thought no one from Konoha knew his identity.” Haku questioned softly, his features as gently and feminine as ever.

 

“Konoha may not know my face or abilities, but Orochimaru and his legions will.” The silver haired teen responded. “But I do believe that Naruto-kun will be bringing in more of his friends.” He stated, emerald met blue.

 

“Correct, but their identities will not be known by anyone other then myself.” He said with a smirk. “For the time being at least.” He added as an after thought before standing up and stretching. “Well we should split; otherwise we will get wet and won't be able to look our best for the dear Kazekage.” He supposed with a wink before he vanished into the wind, followed shortly by the others vanishing too.

 

The heaven's wept.

 

- - - - - - - -

Gaara marched at a soft pace, his troop of ninja from his home, having left only a few behind for defense while evacuating the civilians. Chances were that if the Village Hidden in Sand was to be attacked, the civilians would perish, seeing that all but a handful of his fighters were marching somberly behind them, their eyes steeled for the task to come: war.

 

Through the luscious green forest they marched, their feet not making a sound, and they could all feel the impending battle, the nearer they got to the great gates of Konoha. Silence, it rained supreme around the group, the wildlife had fled from the gloomy aura, and the wind did not blow. Everything was calm, quiet, but not peaceful.

 

The great gates opened for them as they neared them, and the Kazekage lead the way into the nigh deserted village, earning a salute from the two Anbu stationed at the gate. “Kazekage-sama, Tsunade-sama has been expecting you.” The Anbu at the right side of the gate stated, causing Gaara to look at him before inclining his head.

 

“See to my people.” Gaara ordered as he motioned the halt to his company, with a rise of his hand. The fighters of the sand stopped, but Gaara continued, walking the familiar path to the Hokage tower. Emerald eyes took in the emptiness, demonic enhanced hearing heard the silence, his noise smelt the rain that had recently fallen, and he felt the emptiness to be wrong. “Konoha, are you still standing tall?” He asked the absent wind quietly.

 

Gaara finished the rest of his trek down the damp street of Konoha, making it to the tall tower, entering past the doors, before ascending the stairs up to the Hokage's office. From there he raised his hand and let it rap sharply upon the wooden surface.

 

From behind the door, silence rang, before a feminine voice spoke up, “Enter Gaara-kun.” The green eyed crimson haired teen obliged and opened the door, entering inside, and cold eyes meeting serious gold before they flickered over to one visible blue one.

 

“Tsunade-sama.” He greeted the elderly genjutsu using woman. “Kakashi-san.” He nodded towards the masked Jounin.

 

“Gaara-san, we are glad that you have made it here in good piece and good time. Naruto's calculation on your timing was perfect.” She admitted causing the Kazekage to look over at her.

 

“He has returned then?” He inquired with attentive eyes, earning himself a nod. “Naruto, Neji and Shikamaru have long since returned, and they brought with them news of war. You know the details; it was all in the document the messenger delivered.

 

“I wish to speak with them.” Gaara stated, earning a small frown from the woman.

 

“Kakashi, would you please escort him to their apartment?” She asked the man, earning a nod, before looking back at the red head. “Once your business with them is concluded, would you kindly come back? As leaders we must discuss much.”

 

With a nod, Kakashi lead the teen from the office, leaving Tsunade alone in silence, before the door opened once again, admitted Shizune into the room, with an arm full of documents. “Tsunade-sama, these need your immediate attention.” The dark haired woman stated firmly, earning a sigh from the blond who had just slouched in her chair at the sight of all those papers.

 

- - - - - -

 

A slightly flushed Neji composed himself, white eyes looking anywhere but the Nara boy who was scowling at the door as though the person that had knocked upon its surface had done him the worst disservice ever.

 

The knock echoed through the silent hall again, causing Neji to nervously move towards the door, before opening it and coming face to chest with Kakashi, causing the dark haired Hyuuga to look up into one blue eye. “Kakashi-san.” Neji greeted, his voice firm and his eyes calm, though the slight swell to his lips, caused the Jounin to blink and sneak a glance at the Nara slouching close by, before they refocused on Neji with a happy quirk.

 

“Neji-kun.” A voice, strong and cool, sounded from behind the tall Jounin, causing Kakashi to step to the side and reveal a familiar pale face with hair more crimson then blood.

 

“Gaara-kun!” Neji greeted with a slight nod of his head, his earlier flustered self evaporating as the return of a friend graced their home. “You are right on time.” The dark haired Hyuuga commented with a nod, white eyes watching as emerald took in the hallway calculatingly, roving between Neji and Shikamaru.

 

“He is not here?” Gaara questioned and a slight quirk played at his lips, unnoticed by Kakashi. Shikamaru sighed and moved forward, until his was beside the smaller form of Neji, causing the other to tense as his arm brush lightly over his own.

 

Brown met green. “I still don't understand why you two insist on staring at each other like two clueless monkey's confused as to why the banana won't come out of the trap.” A teasing voice commented from behind the ninja leader of the sand, causing Kakashi to spin quickly, he had not felt the blonde's arrival.

 

“Naruto-kun.” Gaara greeted as he slowly turned himself on the spot, rotating until he faced the blond and his familiar smile.

 

A Cheshire grin spread over the blonde's scarred face as he nodded to the red haired Kazekage. “Maroon suits you.” Naruto commented with a wink, causing Gaara's lips to twitch a second time in a short span. Blue eyes left green and met one analyzing blue. “Kakashi-sensei.” Naruto greeted with a soft nod of his head, knowing full well how much he seemingly must have changed in the eyes of his once teacher.

 

“I have a meeting to attend now.” Gaara stated as he reached into his pocket and pulled a small pouch from it before tossing it towards the blond. “And so I pass it back to you.” Gaara commented as he swirled out of the doorway in a wave of silent golden sand, leaving Naruto to catch the item and move towards the door to his home, the pouch slipping into his pocket without a glance inside.

 

“Tsunade sent you.” Naruto stated as he moved until he was beside the silver haired ninja, his eyes focused on those of his dearest friends.

 

Kakashi nodded, for no words could put it plainer.

 

“You are to be tested. Three on one.” The man stated firmly, his stance lax, though prepared, he knew not what to expect from the three that had been gone nigh a year

 

Naruto smirked. “Are you sure you find such odds favorable?” The blond asked absently as he pulled a black pack from his shoulders and tossed it to the wooden floor with a thump, one that sounded far too heavy for such a little bag.

 

Chuckles escaped the man standing to the side of the doorway; he beckoned for all three of them to follow him. And follow they did.

 

Out of the home—Shikamaru locking the door behind them--, down the stairs of the apartment complex and out onto the stone placed streets of Konoha, where silence and bleakness shone around them, and silence beat upon them like drums to accompany them to their executioners.

 

Down the street they walked, eyes taking in the wilting plants and the dark sky as it rained upon their heads. Silence, it was unnerving, earth shatteringly so. Long gone were the ruckus of children, the teasing jeers of the preadolescents, the gossiping of women, and they fraternizing of men. Konoha was only as strong and beautiful as its people. With the common folk gone, so was the beauty of the great city, for with its simple people left its breathtaking glory. But, so long as its brave still remained, Konoha would remain strong; powerful, but ugly.

 

They were lead along, stopping only as they stopped at the first place Naruto had taken his `official' test to become a ninja. Blue eyes gazed fondly at the three wooden stumps as ghosts of his memory played over his mind. Times had once been simple. But now, things were anything but, with resolve he looked away from the past, he looked to the present which was inevitably their future.

 

“You three must defeat me.” Kakashi stated quietly, feeling no needed to explain further as he pulled out a little pink alarm clock and set it upon the middle post. “One hour, begin!” He called and all four of them vanished from sight and sense, the test was only just beginning.

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

Two figures stared at each other over the map and document laden desk, their eyes cold, unreadable, yet it seemed one was waiting for the other to crack in their scrutiny. The tension was thick, so thick that it was unnerving to the dark haired woman who stood in the room, eyes darting between the two, waiting for something, anything to happen.

 

With a sigh, Tsunade pulled back, leaning fully back in her chair, eyes drifting to the map of Konoha and it surrounding areas. “Gaara.” Tsunade began straight to the point. “You and I know, that even with all those coming to our aid that we are at a great disadvantage of numbers against Orochimaru.” She stated clearly and nodded. “But he is knocking on our door, and he will be coming into our territory. He knows the landscape and he knows the village. But I have people working around the clock, moving things, building things, setting up traps and decoys.” She sated as he rose from the chair wearily and walked over to the window, gold gazing out into the raining darkness.

 

“Naruto's plan.” Gaara stated with a nod from beside the woman, as they felt the whole of Konoha tremble, and through the murky rain they could see a great site. The city was moving. Not with life, but with change. The buildings were rumbling as they slowly repositioned themselves within the city, it was a clever ploy, one devised by the three young men that had just so recently returned.

 

The Hokage tower have a great groan, causing Shizune to sway as the tower itself began to relocate, moving to the epicenter of crooked roads, uneven buildings, the tallest before them, the smallest near the outer wall. “Orochimaru won't know what to make of this; both he and his men will grow uncertain in the face of such a change.” A voice from the doorway spoke, and the room's occupants turned to see the old man with Naruto's eyes standing there with a thoughtful expression as he gazed past the windows.

 

Tsunade nodded. “Yes, Shikamaru, Neji and Naruto all mentioned this.” She whispered more to herself then anyone as the city slowed to a stop and the great rumbling stopped. “Heero-sama.” She spoke up, gold meeting blue. “Do you know how those three knew such a means to reset a city?” She asked earning a shrug from the old man.

 

“I am old. I have seen a great number of things in my life, though I must admit that my grandson and his friends have shown me more new things than any others beyond my own parents, so much so, that I no longer doubt the impossible.” He stated before turning slightly to the side. “A third Kage has arrived.” He announced softly as he stepped to the side to grant the newcomer entrance.

 

- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - -

 

Naruto sat crouched upon a tree, blue eyes closed, and his body unmoving. `I can't believe they want to test you so close to the greatest war this country has ever seen.' Kyuubi muttered in the back of the blonde's mind, causing the teenager to smirk as he reopened his eyes and glanced to the left, eyes meeting white, as he looked over at Neji who sat likewise in a tree. The blond noticed the veins pulsing on either side of the dark haired Hyuuga's eyes and smirked. Kakashi was doomed; he had no element of surprise.

 

Brilliant brown met dazzling blue, a curt nod was exchanged before they both looked back at their pale friend. The Hyuuga silently rose his arm, making sure to keep it well within the shadows, but still easily visible from his companions. He motioned behind him, before making severely strange hand symbols, earning himself a nod before the three of them vanished again. `It matters not; this test will be over before it becomes apparent to Kakashi what exactly happened. You could tell by his eyes that he has greatly underestimated us.' Naruto whispered in his mind as he appeared within the branches of a new tree, eyes peering down at the concealed form of his former sensei, who at crouched behind a tree, his back to a small bush.

 

`Indeed. In his eyes you three are still just students, he would never expect that they, let alone you, would be able to beat him, even through a tag-team effort. He does not believe it is possible from the student to surpass the teacher. He and none of his instructors have ever done so. In the line of Jiraiya, he is the strongest, a Legendary Sannin by name, one who trained your mother's cousin. Sure the blond he trained was great and strong, but never would he have been able to defeat the white haired Ero-sennin. And lastly, Kakashi was trained by the Forth, and still the silver haired ninja had never been able to surpass the one before him. Kakashi will not anticipate such a thing. But remember, be cautious, to reveal your true power now would be foolhardy.' The demon fox advised as three sets of eyes met again from their new position, with a nod matched by the other two and a smirk that graced all three of their lips, they moved into action.

 

 

 

-------

End of Chapter

Hey guys, thanks for reading and reviewing, now for a few questions that I need to answer.

Raziel( are you an Angel Sanctuary Fan?) -You wanted to know the age of Naruto and company. It was mentioned, but only in passing, so lets just say in the beginning Naruto and Shikamaru were twelve while Neji was thirteen, and presently, to this point in the story, they have aged nearly three years, putting Shikamaru at fifteen, Neji at sixteen and Naruto is still 14 ( his birthday is in October, and isn't quite there yet.) Hope that clears that up. ^^;

Sorry for the longer then usual wait. (Especially for something so short) I really have been lacking extreme motivation in writing, or doing anything for that matter. The last few months of school drained me, and then summer came and I can most defiantly attest to having been sleeping more then waking this holiday. (God it feels good to not have to be up at 6am now…)