Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Memories ❯ CHAPTER 3: Aftermath ( Chapter 3 )

CHAPTER3: Aftermath

 

“Who is that guy?” Sakura asked as Sephiroth and Cloud stared intently into each others eyes, both awaiting the other to make a move.

 

“Cloud, and he's about to kick ass,” Yuffie said glancing from the two warriors to her nephew who was still on the ground leaning against the wall. “As soon as Cloud get tall dark and creepy out of the way, get Naruto back into the hospital, ok?”

 

A split second later with the sound of thunder the two massive swords collided. “What do you want that boy for, Sephiroth?”

 

“You would not tell me your desire,” Sephiroth said bringing his blade roughly against Cloud's again. “Why should I tell you mine?”

 

Cloud answered by bringing his sword to Sephiroth's with such intensity the impact of the blades caused every window in a six block radius to shatter.

 

“You keep growing stronger, Cloud,” Sephiroth growled, pushing his sword against Cloud's, making sparks fly from the pressure.

 

“And you're holding back,” Cloud said before breaking the lock to slash and stab at his rival. Sephiroth blocked every attack and countered with some of his own; neither blade making physical contact with their opponent.

 

Sephiroth finally hit Cloud hard enough to send him flying back toward the center of the village, but with a stab to the ground Cloud slowed his flight and came to a stop. He just got the sword back up in time to deflect the flying sword beam sent soaring his way from the silver haired monster.

 

“Cloud …” Yuffie whispered worriedly as she, Sakura and Hinata watched the fight.

 

“We gotta help him,” Sakura spoke up, starting to go toward the silver haired man's back.

 

“Cloud can take care of himself, young lady.” A soft voice spoke behind them.

 

“Tifa, you're here too?” Yuffie cheered when she turned to see Tifa with Naruto's unconscious body cradled in her arms and his head lolled against her breast.

 

“We caught the tail end of the … discussion, what's Sephiroth want with this guy?” She asked, glancing down to the unconscious teenager in her arms.

 

“I dunno,” Yuffie bit her lip, glancing back to the two swordsmen clashing. “All I know is … he's my family and I ain't letting that bastard touch another hair on his cute little head,” Yuffie said before freezing. “Wait…We?”

 

“So you brought your friends,” Sephiroth cut his eyes to behind Cloud where Barrett, Vincent, and Cid were helping the injured Nin to the hospital as well as Red XIII with Kuromaru and Tsume draped over his large back.

 

“Wasn't all I brought old friend. Shera, do it!” Cloud smirked as the sound of roaring engines filled the air and the Sierra roared overhead.

 

“Say hello to my little friends,” a feminine voice spoke over the airship's speakers as several missile batteries opened and turned toward the silver haired demon.

 

Sephiroth smiled as the missiles flew his way and managed to duck dodge and jump all of theme. “I hope you weren't expecting to stop me with that pathetic attack.” Sephiroth said from the cloud of smoke and dust.

 

His glowing eyes widened when the smoke and dust settled to find the disassembled blades of Cloud's sword floating all around him. “Cloud …”

 

“Omnislash!” Cloud bellowed in an amazing show of speed took each of his blades and slashed at the monster with each. Sephiroth barely was able to deflect the attacks, a couple making contact cutting into his armor and one actually cutting through the sleeve of his coat slicing his arm. The force of the attacks sent the silver haired man tumbling backwards along the ground.

 

Cloud's blade flew back together as he landed a good distance away from the fallen demon.

 

Sephiroth fought back to his feet breathing heavily. “I will not become a memory …” the man growled clenching his sword tightly. “No … not yet …” He growled when he realized his hand was beginning to tremble. “Pathetic weak child …” he growled before sheathing his sword and turning his back on Cloud. “Your arrival was unexpected. We will meet again, Cloud.”

 

Cloud started to go after him, but the demon disappeared quickly into the smoke and destruction. “What are you up to …” Cloud hissed as he spun his sword once over his head before sheathing it on his back.

 

“Cloud!” Yuffie yelled, waving at the hero.

 

“Had a feeling where you traveled trouble would follow, Yuffie,” Cloud said approaching Yuffie, Tifa, and the two young girls.

 

“That's not always true, Cloud!” Yuffie complained, crossing her arms over her chest.

 

“What's the damage here?” Cloud asked glancing around as Jiraiya approached with a frail and unconscious old woman cradled in his arms.

 

“Tifa?” Jiraiya blinked when he saw Tifa standing there holding Naruto.

 

“Sensei?” Tifa replied just as surprised.

 

“What are you doing here?” they asked in unison. “What am I doing here? What are YOU doing here?”

 

The two stood in awkward silence till it was finally broken.

 

“Mmm … soft pillow …” Naruto murmured, nuzzling his face into Tifa's chest.

 

Sakura and Hinata both seemed to bristle as they reached and took the quickly healing Naruto from Tifa, Hinata grabbing his legs and Sakura wrapping her arms around under his arms. “We'll get him inside, where he can rest,” Sakura said, glaring at Tifa before turning to Jiraiya. “Who's the old mummy?”

 

“Huh she's …” Jiraiya started to tell them exactly who she was till he saw the troubled and pained frown on the old woman's withered, unconscious face. “It's just an old woman from town who was in the wrong place at the wrong time during the attack.”

 

“Huh, I know who she is; that's …” Tifa started to say, but stopped when Jiraiya shook his head. “Never mind, I was mistaken.”

 

“Sakura, Hinata, come with me and lets get these two inside, then help the others get the injured inside the hospital,” Jiraiya said, glancing to the two young girls, “Then I'll send a message to the Nin we have out on missions. We need all the support we can get.”

 

“I'm sure you'll be fine on your own,” Cloud said turning his back, missing the glare Tifa shot him. “I'll help deal with Sephiroth. The rest is your problem. Not mine.”

 

“Cloud …” Yuffie said in an almost timid voice. “This … this is my home town, and that boy, he's my nephew …He's the only real family I have left,” She said, nodding to the boy being carried into the hospital by the two girls. Cloud's cold eyes came down and were trapped by Yuffie's puppy dog look.

 

Cloud narrowed his eyes, before looking away and pressing into his com. “Cloud to Sierra. Land close by and bring the ship's supply of Phoenix Downs and Elixirs. Also unload all our packed belongs. We're sticking around for a while… they need our help.”

 

“THANKS CLOUD!” Yuffie squealed throwing her arms around the mercenary's neck, giving him a tight hug.

 

Cloud shrugged as he glanced at Tifa who had her arms folded across her chest. “Ok, Yuffie, we have to help get your home town organized then, Ahab has to hunt his white whale.” She said walking past the two.

 

“You've done it now, Baka,” Yuffie said following Tifa into the hospital.

 

-----

 

A few hours later, Kiba and his sister Hana walked through the hospital as he explained what happened. “I'm glad mother and Kuromaru will be alright,” Hana said looking forward to getting some fresh air after tending to the Alpha Male of her family's dog pack.

 

“That guy … he was dangerous … I mean … bad news doesn't start to sum it up,” Kiba said as he and his sister walked (limped in his case) toward the front entrance of the Konoha hospital.

 

“I just wish I could have been here to help,” Hana said before glancing to her younger brother, “Shouldn't you be resting?”

 

“Just a spring where the silver haired guy threw me into a wall.” Kiba shrugged, before they both froze at the sound of growling.

 

The siblings ran outside to see the eight remaining dogs of their family pack outside their companions. And not a one of them seemed very happy.

 

“What's going on?” Shizune said running out behind the two.

 

“They want to know who hurt the Alpha,” Hana said interpreting their growls and barks.

 

“Guys if you go after that guy now, you'll all be slaughtered, that guy's too strong,” Kiba said to the pack. “We need to stick together for now.” He said, only getting growls and barks in reply. Though most of the growls came from the eldest born female of the pack, Tsuki.

 

Tsuki growled again before turning and starting out of town, only to be tackled to the ground by a red blur. `That is enough!' Red XIII said in the dog's language pressing his paw into Tsuki's throat.

 

`Who are you?' Tsuke growled, glaring up at the single eyed red wolf. `You're an outsider, how dare you interfere in pack business!'

 

`I am Nanaki of Cosmo Canyon,' Red replied, keeping his one red eye focused on the female. `I understand how you feel, I have lost my father and my pack, I too wanted revenge, but to rush off heedlessly will only bring about dishonor to yourself and your pack and get yourself and all who follow you into battle killed. Your father is alive. He will recover, and should you still want revenge on the monster that injured him, do not rush headlong.'

 

“You should listen to the big red guy,” Kiba agreed, “Why don't you guys go on home, and I'll come by with Hana to tell you everything, maybe even bring Kuromaru.”

 

`Very well,' Tsuki growled reluctantly , as Red XIII backed off and sat down humbly with his tail wagging slowly.

 

The group watched the pack walked away from the hospital, and Red XIII waited till they were out of ear shot before turning to Hana. “Tsuki was her name correct?”

 

“Yes, that's her name,” Hana said glancing to the large red wolf.

 

“Does she … perhaps …” He said looking away bashfully. “Have a …mate? Or a perspective mate?”

 

-----

 

Choji gave a small smile when he found Ino standing on the roof top of the hospital. “Hey, Ino, you ok?” He asked, Ino answered with a teary glare. “I know … stupid question … but you'll be ok …”

 

The chubby ninja walked toward her with a bag. “I … uh … I made you some lunch.”

 

“I'm not hungry,” Ino answered shortly.

 

“You need to eat something to keep your strength built up,” he said holding it out to her.

 

“Damn it, Choji, I told you I'm not hungry!” Ino snapped, grabbing the bag and throwing it across the roof. “My dad's dead, and I just want to be left alone, ok?”

 

“No,” Choji said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest.

 

“Excuse me?” Ino asked in a mix of anger and shock.

 

“I said no, I am not letting you sit up here and greave all by yourself,” Choji said, with a firm nod. “You're my teammate and also your one of the few friends I actually have. You and Shikamaru are the only real close friends I have so I'm not turning my back on you now.”

 

“I'm a kunoichi …” Ino said, turning her back, sniffling slightly. “We're not supposed to cry and greave in front of others …”

 

“Nobody here but me,” Choji said glancing around.

 

“But …” Ino said glancing back, only to gasp when Choji grabbed her into a crushing hug.

 

“I'm not letting you go till you have a good cry,” Choji said holding her tightly yet gently. “So any time your ready, I've got all day.”

 

Ino put up a fight for a few seconds before she finally pressed her face into her friend's chest, wrapped her arms tightly around him and shook with violent sobs as she finally let it all out. Choji gently stroked her hair as she sobbed and howled into his chest. “Let it all out, Ino-chan, let it all out …”

 

-----

 

Naruto slowly felt himself return to consciousness, as he was becoming accustomed to his hearing was the first to return.

 

“Hey, are you stupid or something,” he could hear Sakura's voice. “You'll make him too hot and that'll just make him sick if you keep piling on those blankets!”

 

“G-Gomen, I-I just … I just didn't want him to g-get cold …” Hinata's voice countered timidly. “He-hey wait, don't do that … y-you'll disturb him…”

 

“I'm just fluffing up his pillow so he won't wake up with a sore neck,” Sakura snorted in reply, “Stop being such a mother hen.”

 

“I-I'm not the one f-fluffing his p-pillow.” She replied in an almost bold counter.

 

“Wha?” Sakura seemed taken back by the shot.

 

“G-Gomen, I was … I was out of line with that … Gomen …” Hinata returned to her timidness.

 

“Stop apologizing all the time for Pete's sake,” Sakura groaned, “I'm just shocked you might actually have a spine under that oversized jacket after all.”

 

“It is a little chilly in here …” Naruto glanced at the girls conversing over him.

 

“Naruto! You're awake!” the girls squeaked in unison to turn to see his life-filled blue orbs staring up at them with his trademark goofy smirk.

 

“Two pretty girls fussing over me,” Naruto commented with a grin. “I need to get beaten up more often.”

 

Hinata's skin in an instantly began to glow a hot pinkish red color as Sakura reached over and rustled Naruto's unruly blond hair. “Don't get used to it, Naruto-kun,” She smirked.

 

Hinata's blush vanished as her eyes turned to the pink haired girl. “I-I told you he'd get cold, but you didn't listen to me. While you're busy being mean to him, I'll fetch him another blanket.” She said, both Naruto and Sakura noticing her stuttering seemed to fade away as her glare at Sakura intensified. She turned to leave before they could question, and if one listened closely as she walked out of the room they'd have heard Hinata mutter a “baka”.

 

Hinata went to the desk to pick up another blanket when a voice spoke up beside her. “You're never going to get anywhere if you keep backing down like that.”

 

Hinata turned to see Tifa standing there leaning against the wall with her arms folded under her chest. “Ms. Tifa was it?”

 

“Yeah, that's me. But if you're going to get that boy in there you're going to have to work a lot harder then that,” Tifa said stepping away from the wall.

 

“H-How can I compete with S-Sakura-chan,” Hinata said dejectedly glancing to the door. “She's an l-lot prettier then m-me and … and N-Naruto-kun has liked her forever …”

 

“Keep talking like that and you'll never get the boy,” Tifa said glancing from the door to the door. “What you need to do is show the boy that you are as pretty if not prettier then pinky. Hmm?” Tifa placed cupped her own chin.

 

“N-Nani?” Hinata shrunk back from the inquisitive stare.

 

“What you wearing under that jacket?” Tifa asked leaning forward to look into the girl's eyes.

 

-----

 

“You sure you're alright, Naruto?” Sakura asked after Hinata left them alone.

 

“Sore as hell, but I'll be ok, Sakura-Chan,” Naruto groaned as he rested back into the pillow. “Don't worry, I'll stick around long enough to keep my promise to ya, I won't go down before Sasuke's home.”

 

“N-Naruto,” Sakura felt like she had been struck from that one. “Look, Naruto, I …” She started to say but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

 

“I have the extra blanket for Naruto-kun,” Hinata's voice sounded odd … almost … confident.

 

“Sure, come on in,” Sakura replied, but as the door opened Sakura and Naruto's jaws dropped. Hinata sauntered into the room swinging her hips slightly with her steps and her opened jacket waving with her movements revealing the black mesh top over a small black bra once hidden under it. Hinata walked past the shocked Sakura and draped the blanket over the stunned Naruto.

 

“Are you still cold, Naruto-kun?” Hinata asked, leaning toward the boy with her palms resting on his bed. Naruto just stared. “I take that for a yes.” She said standing back up and turning her back to him. Then while looking over her shoulder slowly slid her coat down from her shoulders on down her arms and back.

 

Naruto gulped as she removed the jacket and draped it over him. “There you go, Naruto-kun, you can hold on to that for a while.” She said leaning forward again giving him a clean view down. “I'm sorry for interrupting, I'll leave you two alone for now …” She said turning and walking back toward the door, stopping to wink at Sakura before exiting.

 

The door shut and for several seconds Sakura and Naruto stayed in silence.

 

“What the hell was that?” Sakura asked, clinching her fists.

 

“I butt know what tit into her,” Naruto said in a mild daze.

 

Next thing Naruto knew he was flat on his back on the bed again with a throbbing head. With Sakura sitting back down and grabbing her magazine, growling about “stupid closet sluts”.

 

-----

 

Hinata was still leaning against the wall beside the door to Naruto's room, clutching her chest with both hands. Her heart was pounding and her eyes were wide as she gasped for breath. “I can't believe I just did that …” She murmured as Tifa approached her.

 

“Get his attention?” Tifa asked with a knowing smile.

 

“I … I … I … I think … maybe … um … I thinkhelikedmychest …” She said the last part in one breath.

 

“What was that?” Tifa asked cocking her head to the side.

 

“I can't believe it, Naruto looked at me!” She half squealed half whispered, turning very pink cheeked. “He looked … he stared at me … not like a friend … oh my god …”

 

“Easy, Hinata, breath in … breath out … deep breaths,” Tifa said moving quickly toward her when she started to slide down the wall.

 

“He … could he … I mean … wow …” Hinata's eyes moved around wildly as she continued to try to keep her breathing and heart rate steady.

 

“If it was too uncomfortable for you, you may want to back off the intensity,” Tifa advised rubbing her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, “We don't need you hyperventilating.”

 

“Screw that!” Hinata barked, before shrinking back with a blush, “I mean, no, I've never felt like that before … ma-made me feel … I don't know how it made me feel but I liked it!”

 

“Made you feel sexy and desirable huh?” she asked, and Hinata responded with a quick nod. “You're taking your first steps into a whole new world, my friend,” Tifa smiled patting her shoulder, “If you like I could give you a hand with it.”

 

“Please?” Hinata asked with a smile.

 

-----

 

“So you're the leader of this town,” Cloud asked as he, Barrett, Cid and Shera sat before the desk of the Hokage's office as Tsunade sat weakly in her seat. She had regained enough of her energy to return her youthful appearance but her wounds had yet to be fully healed.

 

“Yes, I am the Hokage of this village,” Tsunade nodded, glancing to Jiraiya. “I understand you and my old friend here have a history with the one who attacked this village.”

 

“Yes, though one thing that is unusual about his attack here,” Cloud said in his usual icy demeanor.

 

“And that is … Cloud is it?” Tsunade questioned the swordsman.

 

“You're all still alive,” Cloud replied, locking his cold gaze with the woman. “It is unlike him to leave survivors in his wake.”

 

“Jiraiya?” Tsunade asked her old friend.

 

“Sephiroth wiped out the whole town of Nibelheim. I was lucky to get me and a local girl out of there, and she was almost killed,” Jiraiya said seriously. “There was apparently one other survivor.” Jiraiya added with a smirk toward the spiky-headed swordsman. “I remember a punk kid who stood up to the freak, and made me promise to keep the girl safe. Glad to see he made it out of there.”

 

“Nibelheim? You were in Nibelheim? When were you in Nibelheim?” Tsunade inquired glaring at Jiraiya, before turning to Cloud, “You're from Nibelheim … you do look familiar …”

 

“We've … met before?” Cloud blinked at the Hokage curiously.

 

A moment later the door opened and Shizune, Tifa and little Marlene walked into the office. “Sorry to interrupt, but we're missing one of our own,” Tifa said looking worriedly to Cloud. “Marlene couldn't find Denzel anywhere so Zune and I went looking too. Cloud we can't find Denzel anywhere!”

 

“Don't worry, Tifa I'll have the ANBU search the town and ...” Tsunade stopped, staring at the woman. “Tifa? What are you doing here?”

 

“Tsunade-Sensei?” Tifa blinked, “You're the Hokage here?”

 

“Tsunade-SENSEI?” Jiraiya glanced from Tsunade and Tifa. “You trained under her too?” Jiraiya roared pointing in shock at Tsunade.

 

“Yeah, trained with her for two years then she and Zune moved on around a year before you came to town … I didn't know you were a couple?” Tifa said glancing between the two closely standing Sennin.

 

Jiraiya gasped and Tsunade forgetting and ignoring her wound shot to her feet. “WHAT? Tiffany Lockheart you watch your mouth! How could you even … that's the most disgusting perverse thing I have ever heard … and you trained under this freak? Did he try to get you to pose for his perverted books?”

 

“I'd just soon date a wild Chocobo,” Jiraiya crossed his arms, “At least they actually look how they're supposed to look. And Ichi Ichi Paradise is not a perverted book series. It's a work of art!”

 

“I wouldn't say work of art, Jiraiya-sensei,” Tifa said, making Tsunade smile only to wipe it right back off. “But it is good reading.”

 

“Where'd I go wrong …” Tsunade sighed hid her face.

 

While this interchange took place, Shizune approached Cloud and was staring intently at him. “Hmm have we met before, Mister?”

 

Tifa suddenly turned pale when she saw the wheels turning in Shizune's mind. “Zune, he's one of my friends from Nibelheim, he wasn't really in our running group, and you never really got to know him too well!” she said quickly but Shizune waved her off.

 

“Hey, I recognize you now, you were the little pudgy loser that always followed Tifa around,” Shizune said, nodding, “Tifa always complained about you stalking her, bet if she knew how you'd turned out looks wise she'd never have complained.”

 

“SHIZUNE!” Tifa and Tsunade shouted, though Tsunade had to back down do to pain from her wound.

 

“It's ok,” Cloud said giving Tifa his usual cold look. “I'm going to look for Denzel. Barret can handle this.” He said walking past Tifa and on out of the office.

 

“What I was just calling it how I remember.” Shizune said dejectedly.

 

“And this is why you're still single,” Tsunade said to Shizune before turning to the remaining Avalanche members.

 

-----

 

“So what do you think really happened?” a voice spoke from under the square box drawn on to make it “look” like a rock.

 

“I dunno, Udon, if we can find the boss, we can find out though,” another voice spoke up. “What's that?”

 

“Move where I can see!”

 

“Ouch Meogi!”

 

“Oh it's just a kid!” the three Konohamaru Corps. Members threw the box off and surrounded the boy laying in the grass just outside the Konoha village. The three children, Konohamaru, Udon and Meogi began to poke and look over the boy. “He doesn't have a ninja forehead protector. But he does have a cut on his arm, pretty deep one too. What ya think happened?”

 

“M-Marlene?” the boy whispered open his eyes to look up at Meogi.

 

“Huh?” Meogi pointed to herself in confusion. “No my name's Meogi, I think one of those outsiders who showed up earlier is named that though. You know um?”

 

“Huh? Outsiders? How'd I get off the airship?” He blinked sitting up.

 

“Let's get you back to the village,” Konohamaru said as he and Udon helped the boy to his feet. “The name's Konohamaru, that's Udon and you've met Meogi. What's your name?”

 

“D-Denzel …” Denzel replied.

 

“Welcome to Konoha, the Village hidden in the Leaves!” Konohamaru said as they led him toward the village.

 

-----

 

Deep inside the Sound Village, Kabuto approached his leader with the latest news from the spies inside Konoha.

 

“So he's finally come,” Orochimaru sat back, “He's later then I expected. It seems my adjustment on the SOLDIER trooper was a bit too much for Jenova to truly handle.”

 

“You know of this warrior?” Kabuto asked curiously.

 

“Lets see how this plays out, you are dismissed Kabuto.” Orochimaru waved him off. Once his lackey was out of the room, he turned to the shadows. “Sasuke.”

 

“Yes, Sensei?” the Uchiha teen walked toward his teacher. “I have a test for you, to prove your strength to me. If you can do this for me you will gain the strength needed to kill your brother and avenge your family.”

 

“I'll do whatever you ask of me, Sensei,” Sasuke bowed humbly.

 

“All you must do, Sasuke,” Orochimaru smiled darkly. “Is kill Sephiroth.”

 

To Be Continued …