Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Mokushita Hyuuga ❯ Chapter 3
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Moghedian 
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.09.2006 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 953 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters belong to Kishimoto, not me.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.09.2006 | Updated On: 02.11.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.0K | Visits: 953 | Status: Work In Progress
Thanks for all the reveiws<3
Chapter 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kouden's POV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neji-ni-san, as he told me to call him, was odd. I had decided this a few hours into our journey. After the shock of seeing a byakugan so powerful wore off me, I started to notice things about him. His quirks. Like when he was thinking, he ether had his hand running through his, rather long, dark brown hair, or his hand was twitching. As if it wanted to stroke a kunai. But whenever he noticed me watching him, he would smile, very un-serious like, and ruffle my hair.
Shikamaru, I had heard his name in my household before. Only once. I had refused to get out of bed one day, and Kaa-san told me to stop pulling a Shikamaru. She then gasped, and tried to pretend she had never said it. But I remembered. Kaa-san told me I was very observant. That the Hyuuga blood runs strong in me.
I once asked about my Uzumaki blood. I thought that if Kaa-san didnt want to talk about her parents, maybe she would talk about Otou-sama's.
"Ne, Kaa-san, did you know Otou-sama's parents?" Kouden said, out of the blue one day. Hinata looked at Kouden sadly.
"Iie. Naruto did not have any parents. He said that they had both died the day he was born." Hinata looked back at the garden. The soft look apeared in her eyes, and Kouden knew she was thinking of his father.
Hinata wrapped an arm around Kouden and pulled him closer.
I saw the pain in Kaa-san's eyes, even though I couldnt have been more than 6 years old. It hurt my heart to see her like that. I wanted to resent Otou-sama for putting Kaa-san through so much pain, but everytime I mentioned him, Kaa-san's eyes softened.
I, the watchful Uzumaki, finally figured out what that look was. Love. Utter adoration. I knew then that if Otou-sama left Kaa-san, it was for a good reason. I hope.
"Ne, Kouden-chan! Are you still with us?" that was Shikamaru, he was like the cool older brother I never had.
"Yea, yea. But how far away is Konoha? When are we gonna break?" I was anxious. Shikamaru just laughed. I frown, I hate being laughed at.
"Umm, I think I can safely say, that if we go without incident, we can be at Konoha by early tomorrow...that is if you can keep up." I puffed my chest out. He thinks I can't keep up?
"I can keep up! Im almost 9! Kaa-san's been training me to be a shinobi since I could walk!" Really, Kaa-san said it was for self defence, no son of hers would be a moving target. But shinobi sounded cooler.
"Oh, oh really now? Well, when we get to Konoha, I'll have to spar the mighty Kouden-chaaaaan~!" Shikamaru dragged out that chan just to make me mad. Grr. If I was bigger I would so, what did Neji-ni-san say? O yea.
Kick his ass.
I'm sure Kaa-san would probably throw a fit if she could read my thoughts. As if I hadnt heard it all before. Me and Sasami-chan would often overhear the other fishermen talk like that. It got bad once, and I had felt the need to cover Sasami-chan's ears.
Mmm. Sasami-chan. I'm gonna miss her. But i'm almost a grown man. I can't be thinking about the times we used to run up and down the shores. All those sandcastles. Sigh. I'm gonna miss her.
"Kouden-chan, stop, and be quiet." Neji-ni-san grabbed the collar of my jacket, and pulled me down slightly. My heart started to beat faster. Neji-ni-san was looking around. His byakugan was activated. Shikamaru was leaning against a tree, and he looked like he was asleep.
I quietly activated my byakugan, and I felt Neji-ni-san gaze through his skull at me. But only for a second, as his attention was turned towards the woods once again. I followed his gaze untill it came to rest on a a group of people. Peddlers. No, shinobi! My heart is beating faster. I pour more chakra into my eyes, and Neji-ni-san puts a hand on my shoulder. Shaking his head slightly, he whispers,
"Dont. Let it go. You've seen them. Any more chakra and they will spot us." I only nodded. Lowering my hand, I let the chakra run from my eyes. Glancing at Shikamaru, he still appeared to be sleeping.
But I am watchful. He was tense, in a relaxed way. He was ready to fight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Normal POV
"Akahoushi-sensei, some one is using chakra, someone not from here!" A younger nin said. His grass hiteate secured around his forehead. Akahoushi rolled his eyes. Even though the young nin was still a genin, he should learn not to point out the obvious. The rest of the group, consisting of Himself, and his three genin students, had already tensed. They felt the intruders. A branch snapped and the group whirled around.
Two ANBU stepped out of the woods. ANBU, great. Just what I need. The ANBU with the deer mask raised his hand.
"May I ask why four grass-nin are tresspassing on Fire Country Territory?" Akahoushi smiled, more a sneer, but a smile nonetheless. Akahoushi pulled out a small booklet and tossed it to the other ANBU, the one with the mask of an animal he didnt recognize. The ANBU leafed through his book and tossed it back.
"Chuunin exams, eh? Are you sure your students are ready? The Chuunin exams are hell in Konohagakure." The Deer ANBU said. The other ANBU rolled his eyes, unseen behind his mask.
"My students are the best the Grass has to offer. They could beat your Leaf genin any day." Akahoushi looked back over his 2 students.
"Hey!" Akahoshi yelled, making his students jumped. "Where did Kichiro go? I told him to not make trouble!" His remaining students, and the ANBU glanced around the glade. Kichiro was no where to be seen.
"Nya! Akahoushi-sensei! I found a rat! These ANBU were hiding some one! Probably trying to overwhelm us!" A voice, Kichiro's voice, came yelling from a tree, and if that hadnt disturbed the silence, the bone breaking crack that followed it did.
A small blonde body was thrown into the clearing, his arm visably broken. The ANBU with the unknown animal mask hissed and quickly hoisted the boy up, looking at his arm. The deer ANBU shot a glare at Akahoushi.
"Control your students or I will have to ask you to leave Fire Country!" Emphasizing on 'ask'.
Akahoushi shivered.
"KICHIRO-BAKA! GET DOWN HERE NOW, BY KAMI I SWEAR, THAT IS YOUR LAST STRIKE!" Akahoushi yelled. Birds in nearby trees flew off with disgruntled caws and twitters.
The small blonde boy woke up with a jerk, jarring his arm. He cried out in pain, and shot a glare at the now returning Kichiro. With a another small cry, the boy broke free from the ANBU's arms and rushed at Kichiro.
Kichiro laughed, this runt wanted to pick on him? He was at least, a foot taller than the blonde kid. Kichiro let his mind wander at how this kid could even think of winning, when he felt a poke in his stomach. And then another, and then another, and then they started picking up speed. He glanced down at the blonde kid. With one arm, he was poking Kichiro faster than Kichiro could watch. His arm looked like a black blur. His other arm lay limp at his side.
Then, the blonde kid stopped. He was sweating as he jumped back.
"I could only get 32, I havent learned it one handed yet." The blonde kid mumbled. The Unknown Animal ANBU didnt move, he was still staring at Kichiro. So was Akahoushi. Actually, everyone was staring at Kichiro. Kichiro tried to say that that was nothing, but he found that he couldnt move.
A gust of wind swept up, and Kichiro started to tip. His body started to move again, and as he fell, he doubled up and coughed up blood. His only female teamate caught him before he hit the ground.
"What did that brat do?" Akahoushi yelled, turning red in the face as he gazed at his now unconcious student.
"Jyuuken, it appears. One handed Jyuuken at that." The taller ANBU said. Turning his back to Akahoushi, his long brown hair swaying in the moonlight, he said to the blonde boy,
"Has your mother been teaching you that? I mean, she didn't even master it untill she was 15! And what are you, 9?" The boy grinned a foxy grin, one that reminded A particular lazy ANBU of Naruto.
"Not one handed, I had to improvise." Kouden said breathily. His arm really hurt.
"I do suggest that you take your students and hurry it up to Konoha. Before I get angry." The deer ANBU said. It sounded as if he was clenching his teeth the whole time.
Akahoshi sneered again, and hoisted Kichiro onto his shoulder. The two remaining student jumped high onto the treetops and was soon followed by Akahoushi.
As soon as the taller ANBU determined they were out of earshot, he slipped his mask to the side of his head. The deer ANBU followed suit. The blonde boy wiped the sweat off his forehead. His arm really hurt.
"Ouch, Kouden-chan, that looks painful, ever broken an arm before?" The deer ANBU, Shikamaru, said.
"Iie...My wrist, but Kaa-san's a medic-nin." Kouden was still breathing through his teeth. The taller ANBU then said,
"Ne, Kouden-chan, no one here is a medic-nin. You're gonna have to wait untill the next village before we can get it looked at." He looked at the sky, "It's about three hours from here, tree jumping." Kouden nodded.
"Ahh, Neji, do you want to set it, or should I?" Kouden didn't know what 'setting' meant, but from the look on Neji's face, he got the idea, that he didn't want to know. Neji sighed.
"I will. I can get it more accurate. You can find a splint." Neji kneeled down so he was eye level with Kouden.
"Kouden-chan, can you take your jacket off?" Kouden complied, wincing when his sleeve passed over his slightly crooked arm. After his jacket lay in a heap on the ground, Neji gently put his hand on Kouden's elbow, and took a hold of his wrist.
"Kid, this is gonna hurt like hell. Feel free to scream." and without warning Neji pulled sharply on Kouden's arm, and using his byakugan, pushed it back so it was straight with the rest of his arm bone.
Miles away, Akahoushi and the rest of his conscious students swiveled their heads towards the place that they had encountered.
"Ne, Akahoushi-sensei, did you hear that?" The kunoichi said. Akahoushi nodded. But he couldn't place what it was. It almost sounded like...like a...scream. Akahoushi shuddered and continued to Konohagakure.
Dawn streaked across the sky by the time that the trio arrived in the small village off the main road. Neji's hair had burs in it, and Shikamaru's leggings had a hole from catching a branch. Other than that, the two ANBU were in perfect condition. Other things could be said for their young friend.
Kouden's eyes were still puffy from crying. Everytime he jumped from branch to branch, his arm jostled, shooting darts of pain up his arm. Shikamaru didn't come back with the splint untill Kouden had stopped screaming. That kid had a set of lungs.
Just like his father. Neji had thought. It made him smile.
But Kouden tried to be manly about it, after he stopped screaming, he just leaked silent tears. Shikamaru helped some. He had a few painkiller pills that were a Akimichi clan secret. They dulled the pain to a constant ache. For an hour or so. Then the shooting pains came back.
Neji was impressed, though. He didnt complain once.
Walking through the streets, Neji wasn't surprised to see a few Shinobi here and there. He tapped Kouden on the shoulder.
"Dont look anyone in the eyes, they'll know your related to me." Kouden took a step more before answering.
"Got it covered. One step ahead, Neji-ni-san." He said, grinning like a fox. Neji looked at him, and jumped when Kouden had bright green eyes, with pupils, nonetheless. He looked like what Sakura and Naruto would have produced if they had ever hooked up.
"Heh, partial henge, how long did it take for Hinata-sama to teach you that one?" Neji asked, offhandedly.
"Mmm, Well, I got it in an afternoon, but It took me three days to get it so it didn't just drop at anytime. It took another two weeks to invert it though. Inverting genjutsus are hard." Kouden brow furrowed. Neji gaped, and Shikamaru laughed, gaining the attention of another ANBU.
The ANBU, sporting a dog mask wandered over to the trio and waved. Lifting his mask, it was revealed to be Kakashi.
"Hey, Neji, Shikamaru, kid." lowering his hand, he pulled out a sucker and tossed it at Kouden.
"Nnn! Arigato, sensei!" Kouden said before sticking the sucker in his mouth. Neji looked at Kakashi.
"You've met?" Neji said. Only Kakashi and Kouden noticed the touch of heat in his question.
"Aa. Didn't Shikamaru tell you? It was me, him, and Yuugao-chan who first saw him. I was the team leader to kill that nin." Kakashi peered over at Shikamaru who just sighed and mumbled 'mendokuse' under his breath.
"No, no he didnt. But anyway, Kakashi, any medic-nin in the area? Ran into a grass team on their way to Konoha for the exams. One of the hot heads got excited and broke the little kid's arm. I set it, but I'm sure it's painful to treejump with." Both Neji and Kakashi looked at Kouden. In the process of retreiving his sucker from his mouth, he jarred his arm again. He was wiping away stray tears and has face turned redder.
"Hmm, actually, I think you're in luck. Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan and Oshi-chan are in town, on a small vacation. What are the odds?" Kakashi tilted his head. Neji sighed. He lifted his hand and said,
"Well, take us to them. Kouden, remember your story?" Kouden nodded.
"My name is Kouden, I have no family, no surname, and you found me trying to train after seeing ninja pass through my village, and decided I had potential." Neji nodded. They had changed it slightly from Hinata's story, but it followed the same lines.
"Nyuu, Neji, I'm gonna go score some food. Meet you here in...two hours?" Neji waved him off, and Shikamaru left. Kakashi lead, and Kouden followed. Neji brought up the rear, his hand on Kouden's shoulder.
"Che! Kakashi-sensei! It's been awhile, you're always on missions...oh! Neji-san! How are you? How are Tenten and Aiko doing?" A woman with flaming pink hair said, standing up from her table in the small open cafe. In her arms she held a small child, no more than a year old, who had very dark eyes, and very pink hair. A boy, Kouden determined. He chuckled. He didn't want to be that kid. Neji waved his hand.
"Fine, fine, how is the baby?" Neji said.
"Ohh, he's great. Oshi-chan is good too." That earned a chuckle from Neji and Kakashi, and a groan from a man at the pink-haired lady's table.
"Aa. Sakura-san, that wasn't the reason we came, my young friend here needs his arm fixed. He has a lot of travelling left to do." Neji pushed Kouden forward. Kouden blushed slightly. He could be shy sometimes too.
"My..." Sakura looked up at Neji. Kouden just continued to stare at Sakura with his fake green eyes. "He looks alot like a certain someone. Hey little guy, do you have a name?" Sakura said, handing her son to the sitting man and kneeling down to Kouden's eye level.
"K...Kouden...Sakura-san." Kouden said, slightly stuttering. Sakura ruffled his hair.
"Ooo, that makes me sound old, how about Sakura-ne-chan?" Kouden nodded and Sakura continued.
"So, who are your parents?"
"Unn, I dont know...I have no family. Neji-ni-san found me and decided I had potential. Im going to become a shinobi!" Kouden started to lose his shyness at the chance to brag. Sakura laughed and stood up.
"How'd he break his arm?" She asked Neji.
"Over-eager grass-nin on his way to the chuunin-exams." Sakura sighed. She leaned over Kouden and held his arm out gently. Her other hand hovered over the broken spot, and Kouden jumped a little when it suddenly appeared to catch on fire. Green fire, but fire all the same. She touched his arm and within seconds Kouden felt his arm cool down and the throbbing stop.
When Sakura took her hands of Kouden's arm, he moved it around. Not feeling pain he looked up at Sakura.
"It's nearly completely healed, hun. You can take off that splint now. Just no major fighting for a few days, at most a week." Kouden laughed and started to unwrap his splint.
"So tell me more about where you found this kid. If I didn't know better, he looks...Legendary." Sakura said, for lack of a better word. Kouden finished unwrapping his splint, and held the pile of wrappings in his arms. Listening closely to the conversation.
"He was out hitting trees. Said he saw visiting nin do it, and he wanted to be a shinobi. He had already used chakra by that point, he even pulled off a simple jutsu I showed him." Neji smiled, even if it was a complete lie, he still felt proud of his little cousin. Sakura smiled. Kouden couldnt figure out what kind of a smile it was. His new ne-chan kind of frightened him, but in a way that didn't make him scared of her.
"Really? How old is he?" Neji grunted and Kouden said,
"Ne-chan, I'm almost 9! How old were you when you became a shinobi?" Sakura's smile quivered, but she answered before Kouden could catch it.
"When I became a genin, you mean? >sigh< those were the days. I was twelve years old, and I got put onto a team with the boy I liked," she gestured over at the man on the table behind her, playing with her son." and with the boy I hated, but later made best friends with." Kouden blinked. She married her teamate? Weird.
"What about the boy you hated, who was he?" Kouden asked. Neji made a noise, but Kouden was too curious to listen. Sakura sighed as unwanted tears spring into her eyes. The man behind her reached out with a gloved hand and let it rest on her thigh. She placed her hand over his and said,
"His name was Uzumaki Naruto, he was such a good friend, loyal, hardworking." She choked a littled, "He loved ramen, that and his dream to become Hokage." Kouden's eye's widened. Neji put his face into his hand.
Kouden knew what was coming next. Maybe Sakura could tell him how his Otou-sama died.
"Although, he died over nine years ago. We all miss him so much."
"Unn...Sakura-ne-chan, how did he die?" Neji's face shot out of his hand. He grabbed Kouden shoulder and said,
"Ahaha. Sakura, that's such a sad story. We dont want to be giving this kid nightmares do we?" Nightmares? How had Naruto died? Kouden let his shoulder's droop.
"Oh, yes, I guess you are right." She trailed off, looking at her son. He was now asleep in the arms of that man, who was now standing behind Sakura.
"Sakura, we have to go now anyway. I have to meet Ibiki." Sakura's face sparked. If they were to see Ibiki, then they'd probably spot Ino. Ino was his apprentice in torture. Sakura had never thought that her choice of career was surprising. It suited Ino just fine.
"Ahh...Arigato, ne-chan!" Kouden waved at the retreating form of Sakura and her, husband, Kouden had guessed. A small cloud of smoke poofed beside Kouden and Kakashi apeared. Reading a small red book. The 12th in the series, first edition signed copy of Icha Icha Makeout Tactics 4. Neji rolled his eyes and Kouden didn't know what to think.
He didn't even know what making out meant.
After they found Shikamaru, apparently dozing in a corner, the trio left the small village rather quickly. Kouden was the first to stab the silence.
"So, Sakura-ne-chan was on Otou-sama's genin team?" He knew what that was all about. He had read it in one of the many scrolls his mother owned. Shikamaru grinned.
"Yea, she was the smartest of all us rookie nine, except for me. She kept both Sasuke and Naruto in check at all times. Her team was special. All three of them had been taught by the Ledgendary Sannin. They had meant to be apprentices so that when they were good enough, they'de become the Sannin themselves."
"Who was Otou-sama taught by?" Neji laughed this time. But Shikamaru continued.
"Jiraiya, the Frog sennin, or as Naruto called him, Ero-sennin. He was the biggest pervert I had ever seen. Sakura was under Tsunade's apprenticeship untill she turned 18, so...6 years? Yeah. Sasuke, that man who was probably with Sakura, was taught by Orochimaru, for nearly 3 years. Naruto dragged him back kicking and screaming from the evil sennin. When we get to Konoha, you'll have to ask Tsunade-sama about it. She likes telling little children that tale." Kouden gaped. Orochimaru? He had read about him. Apparently he had killed the 3rd Hokage, and triggered the attack that had killed the 4th Hokage as well. Hinata had told him that it was all because Sandaime didn't pick him to be the 4th.
The rest of the trip was quiet and uneventful. Neji made them stop for a few hours to let Kouden nap, but they took off again right away. Soon, sooner than Neji had expected, Konohagakure came into veiw. As Kouden took in the sights, all he could do was gasp.
So this is where his parents grew up.
End Chapter 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters. But all of the OC's are mine.
Chapter 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kouden's POV
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neji-ni-san, as he told me to call him, was odd. I had decided this a few hours into our journey. After the shock of seeing a byakugan so powerful wore off me, I started to notice things about him. His quirks. Like when he was thinking, he ether had his hand running through his, rather long, dark brown hair, or his hand was twitching. As if it wanted to stroke a kunai. But whenever he noticed me watching him, he would smile, very un-serious like, and ruffle my hair.
Shikamaru, I had heard his name in my household before. Only once. I had refused to get out of bed one day, and Kaa-san told me to stop pulling a Shikamaru. She then gasped, and tried to pretend she had never said it. But I remembered. Kaa-san told me I was very observant. That the Hyuuga blood runs strong in me.
I once asked about my Uzumaki blood. I thought that if Kaa-san didnt want to talk about her parents, maybe she would talk about Otou-sama's.
"Ne, Kaa-san, did you know Otou-sama's parents?" Kouden said, out of the blue one day. Hinata looked at Kouden sadly.
"Iie. Naruto did not have any parents. He said that they had both died the day he was born." Hinata looked back at the garden. The soft look apeared in her eyes, and Kouden knew she was thinking of his father.
Hinata wrapped an arm around Kouden and pulled him closer.
I saw the pain in Kaa-san's eyes, even though I couldnt have been more than 6 years old. It hurt my heart to see her like that. I wanted to resent Otou-sama for putting Kaa-san through so much pain, but everytime I mentioned him, Kaa-san's eyes softened.
I, the watchful Uzumaki, finally figured out what that look was. Love. Utter adoration. I knew then that if Otou-sama left Kaa-san, it was for a good reason. I hope.
"Ne, Kouden-chan! Are you still with us?" that was Shikamaru, he was like the cool older brother I never had.
"Yea, yea. But how far away is Konoha? When are we gonna break?" I was anxious. Shikamaru just laughed. I frown, I hate being laughed at.
"Umm, I think I can safely say, that if we go without incident, we can be at Konoha by early tomorrow...that is if you can keep up." I puffed my chest out. He thinks I can't keep up?
"I can keep up! Im almost 9! Kaa-san's been training me to be a shinobi since I could walk!" Really, Kaa-san said it was for self defence, no son of hers would be a moving target. But shinobi sounded cooler.
"Oh, oh really now? Well, when we get to Konoha, I'll have to spar the mighty Kouden-chaaaaan~!" Shikamaru dragged out that chan just to make me mad. Grr. If I was bigger I would so, what did Neji-ni-san say? O yea.
Kick his ass.
I'm sure Kaa-san would probably throw a fit if she could read my thoughts. As if I hadnt heard it all before. Me and Sasami-chan would often overhear the other fishermen talk like that. It got bad once, and I had felt the need to cover Sasami-chan's ears.
Mmm. Sasami-chan. I'm gonna miss her. But i'm almost a grown man. I can't be thinking about the times we used to run up and down the shores. All those sandcastles. Sigh. I'm gonna miss her.
"Kouden-chan, stop, and be quiet." Neji-ni-san grabbed the collar of my jacket, and pulled me down slightly. My heart started to beat faster. Neji-ni-san was looking around. His byakugan was activated. Shikamaru was leaning against a tree, and he looked like he was asleep.
I quietly activated my byakugan, and I felt Neji-ni-san gaze through his skull at me. But only for a second, as his attention was turned towards the woods once again. I followed his gaze untill it came to rest on a a group of people. Peddlers. No, shinobi! My heart is beating faster. I pour more chakra into my eyes, and Neji-ni-san puts a hand on my shoulder. Shaking his head slightly, he whispers,
"Dont. Let it go. You've seen them. Any more chakra and they will spot us." I only nodded. Lowering my hand, I let the chakra run from my eyes. Glancing at Shikamaru, he still appeared to be sleeping.
But I am watchful. He was tense, in a relaxed way. He was ready to fight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Normal POV
"Akahoushi-sensei, some one is using chakra, someone not from here!" A younger nin said. His grass hiteate secured around his forehead. Akahoushi rolled his eyes. Even though the young nin was still a genin, he should learn not to point out the obvious. The rest of the group, consisting of Himself, and his three genin students, had already tensed. They felt the intruders. A branch snapped and the group whirled around.
Two ANBU stepped out of the woods. ANBU, great. Just what I need. The ANBU with the deer mask raised his hand.
"May I ask why four grass-nin are tresspassing on Fire Country Territory?" Akahoushi smiled, more a sneer, but a smile nonetheless. Akahoushi pulled out a small booklet and tossed it to the other ANBU, the one with the mask of an animal he didnt recognize. The ANBU leafed through his book and tossed it back.
"Chuunin exams, eh? Are you sure your students are ready? The Chuunin exams are hell in Konohagakure." The Deer ANBU said. The other ANBU rolled his eyes, unseen behind his mask.
"My students are the best the Grass has to offer. They could beat your Leaf genin any day." Akahoushi looked back over his 2 students.
"Hey!" Akahoshi yelled, making his students jumped. "Where did Kichiro go? I told him to not make trouble!" His remaining students, and the ANBU glanced around the glade. Kichiro was no where to be seen.
"Nya! Akahoushi-sensei! I found a rat! These ANBU were hiding some one! Probably trying to overwhelm us!" A voice, Kichiro's voice, came yelling from a tree, and if that hadnt disturbed the silence, the bone breaking crack that followed it did.
A small blonde body was thrown into the clearing, his arm visably broken. The ANBU with the unknown animal mask hissed and quickly hoisted the boy up, looking at his arm. The deer ANBU shot a glare at Akahoushi.
"Control your students or I will have to ask you to leave Fire Country!" Emphasizing on 'ask'.
Akahoushi shivered.
"KICHIRO-BAKA! GET DOWN HERE NOW, BY KAMI I SWEAR, THAT IS YOUR LAST STRIKE!" Akahoushi yelled. Birds in nearby trees flew off with disgruntled caws and twitters.
The small blonde boy woke up with a jerk, jarring his arm. He cried out in pain, and shot a glare at the now returning Kichiro. With a another small cry, the boy broke free from the ANBU's arms and rushed at Kichiro.
Kichiro laughed, this runt wanted to pick on him? He was at least, a foot taller than the blonde kid. Kichiro let his mind wander at how this kid could even think of winning, when he felt a poke in his stomach. And then another, and then another, and then they started picking up speed. He glanced down at the blonde kid. With one arm, he was poking Kichiro faster than Kichiro could watch. His arm looked like a black blur. His other arm lay limp at his side.
Then, the blonde kid stopped. He was sweating as he jumped back.
"I could only get 32, I havent learned it one handed yet." The blonde kid mumbled. The Unknown Animal ANBU didnt move, he was still staring at Kichiro. So was Akahoushi. Actually, everyone was staring at Kichiro. Kichiro tried to say that that was nothing, but he found that he couldnt move.
A gust of wind swept up, and Kichiro started to tip. His body started to move again, and as he fell, he doubled up and coughed up blood. His only female teamate caught him before he hit the ground.
"What did that brat do?" Akahoushi yelled, turning red in the face as he gazed at his now unconcious student.
"Jyuuken, it appears. One handed Jyuuken at that." The taller ANBU said. Turning his back to Akahoushi, his long brown hair swaying in the moonlight, he said to the blonde boy,
"Has your mother been teaching you that? I mean, she didn't even master it untill she was 15! And what are you, 9?" The boy grinned a foxy grin, one that reminded A particular lazy ANBU of Naruto.
"Not one handed, I had to improvise." Kouden said breathily. His arm really hurt.
"I do suggest that you take your students and hurry it up to Konoha. Before I get angry." The deer ANBU said. It sounded as if he was clenching his teeth the whole time.
Akahoshi sneered again, and hoisted Kichiro onto his shoulder. The two remaining student jumped high onto the treetops and was soon followed by Akahoushi.
As soon as the taller ANBU determined they were out of earshot, he slipped his mask to the side of his head. The deer ANBU followed suit. The blonde boy wiped the sweat off his forehead. His arm really hurt.
"Ouch, Kouden-chan, that looks painful, ever broken an arm before?" The deer ANBU, Shikamaru, said.
"Iie...My wrist, but Kaa-san's a medic-nin." Kouden was still breathing through his teeth. The taller ANBU then said,
"Ne, Kouden-chan, no one here is a medic-nin. You're gonna have to wait untill the next village before we can get it looked at." He looked at the sky, "It's about three hours from here, tree jumping." Kouden nodded.
"Ahh, Neji, do you want to set it, or should I?" Kouden didn't know what 'setting' meant, but from the look on Neji's face, he got the idea, that he didn't want to know. Neji sighed.
"I will. I can get it more accurate. You can find a splint." Neji kneeled down so he was eye level with Kouden.
"Kouden-chan, can you take your jacket off?" Kouden complied, wincing when his sleeve passed over his slightly crooked arm. After his jacket lay in a heap on the ground, Neji gently put his hand on Kouden's elbow, and took a hold of his wrist.
"Kid, this is gonna hurt like hell. Feel free to scream." and without warning Neji pulled sharply on Kouden's arm, and using his byakugan, pushed it back so it was straight with the rest of his arm bone.
Miles away, Akahoushi and the rest of his conscious students swiveled their heads towards the place that they had encountered.
"Ne, Akahoushi-sensei, did you hear that?" The kunoichi said. Akahoushi nodded. But he couldn't place what it was. It almost sounded like...like a...scream. Akahoushi shuddered and continued to Konohagakure.
Dawn streaked across the sky by the time that the trio arrived in the small village off the main road. Neji's hair had burs in it, and Shikamaru's leggings had a hole from catching a branch. Other than that, the two ANBU were in perfect condition. Other things could be said for their young friend.
Kouden's eyes were still puffy from crying. Everytime he jumped from branch to branch, his arm jostled, shooting darts of pain up his arm. Shikamaru didn't come back with the splint untill Kouden had stopped screaming. That kid had a set of lungs.
Just like his father. Neji had thought. It made him smile.
But Kouden tried to be manly about it, after he stopped screaming, he just leaked silent tears. Shikamaru helped some. He had a few painkiller pills that were a Akimichi clan secret. They dulled the pain to a constant ache. For an hour or so. Then the shooting pains came back.
Neji was impressed, though. He didnt complain once.
Walking through the streets, Neji wasn't surprised to see a few Shinobi here and there. He tapped Kouden on the shoulder.
"Dont look anyone in the eyes, they'll know your related to me." Kouden took a step more before answering.
"Got it covered. One step ahead, Neji-ni-san." He said, grinning like a fox. Neji looked at him, and jumped when Kouden had bright green eyes, with pupils, nonetheless. He looked like what Sakura and Naruto would have produced if they had ever hooked up.
"Heh, partial henge, how long did it take for Hinata-sama to teach you that one?" Neji asked, offhandedly.
"Mmm, Well, I got it in an afternoon, but It took me three days to get it so it didn't just drop at anytime. It took another two weeks to invert it though. Inverting genjutsus are hard." Kouden brow furrowed. Neji gaped, and Shikamaru laughed, gaining the attention of another ANBU.
The ANBU, sporting a dog mask wandered over to the trio and waved. Lifting his mask, it was revealed to be Kakashi.
"Hey, Neji, Shikamaru, kid." lowering his hand, he pulled out a sucker and tossed it at Kouden.
"Nnn! Arigato, sensei!" Kouden said before sticking the sucker in his mouth. Neji looked at Kakashi.
"You've met?" Neji said. Only Kakashi and Kouden noticed the touch of heat in his question.
"Aa. Didn't Shikamaru tell you? It was me, him, and Yuugao-chan who first saw him. I was the team leader to kill that nin." Kakashi peered over at Shikamaru who just sighed and mumbled 'mendokuse' under his breath.
"No, no he didnt. But anyway, Kakashi, any medic-nin in the area? Ran into a grass team on their way to Konoha for the exams. One of the hot heads got excited and broke the little kid's arm. I set it, but I'm sure it's painful to treejump with." Both Neji and Kakashi looked at Kouden. In the process of retreiving his sucker from his mouth, he jarred his arm again. He was wiping away stray tears and has face turned redder.
"Hmm, actually, I think you're in luck. Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan and Oshi-chan are in town, on a small vacation. What are the odds?" Kakashi tilted his head. Neji sighed. He lifted his hand and said,
"Well, take us to them. Kouden, remember your story?" Kouden nodded.
"My name is Kouden, I have no family, no surname, and you found me trying to train after seeing ninja pass through my village, and decided I had potential." Neji nodded. They had changed it slightly from Hinata's story, but it followed the same lines.
"Nyuu, Neji, I'm gonna go score some food. Meet you here in...two hours?" Neji waved him off, and Shikamaru left. Kakashi lead, and Kouden followed. Neji brought up the rear, his hand on Kouden's shoulder.
"Che! Kakashi-sensei! It's been awhile, you're always on missions...oh! Neji-san! How are you? How are Tenten and Aiko doing?" A woman with flaming pink hair said, standing up from her table in the small open cafe. In her arms she held a small child, no more than a year old, who had very dark eyes, and very pink hair. A boy, Kouden determined. He chuckled. He didn't want to be that kid. Neji waved his hand.
"Fine, fine, how is the baby?" Neji said.
"Ohh, he's great. Oshi-chan is good too." That earned a chuckle from Neji and Kakashi, and a groan from a man at the pink-haired lady's table.
"Aa. Sakura-san, that wasn't the reason we came, my young friend here needs his arm fixed. He has a lot of travelling left to do." Neji pushed Kouden forward. Kouden blushed slightly. He could be shy sometimes too.
"My..." Sakura looked up at Neji. Kouden just continued to stare at Sakura with his fake green eyes. "He looks alot like a certain someone. Hey little guy, do you have a name?" Sakura said, handing her son to the sitting man and kneeling down to Kouden's eye level.
"K...Kouden...Sakura-san." Kouden said, slightly stuttering. Sakura ruffled his hair.
"Ooo, that makes me sound old, how about Sakura-ne-chan?" Kouden nodded and Sakura continued.
"So, who are your parents?"
"Unn, I dont know...I have no family. Neji-ni-san found me and decided I had potential. Im going to become a shinobi!" Kouden started to lose his shyness at the chance to brag. Sakura laughed and stood up.
"How'd he break his arm?" She asked Neji.
"Over-eager grass-nin on his way to the chuunin-exams." Sakura sighed. She leaned over Kouden and held his arm out gently. Her other hand hovered over the broken spot, and Kouden jumped a little when it suddenly appeared to catch on fire. Green fire, but fire all the same. She touched his arm and within seconds Kouden felt his arm cool down and the throbbing stop.
When Sakura took her hands of Kouden's arm, he moved it around. Not feeling pain he looked up at Sakura.
"It's nearly completely healed, hun. You can take off that splint now. Just no major fighting for a few days, at most a week." Kouden laughed and started to unwrap his splint.
"So tell me more about where you found this kid. If I didn't know better, he looks...Legendary." Sakura said, for lack of a better word. Kouden finished unwrapping his splint, and held the pile of wrappings in his arms. Listening closely to the conversation.
"He was out hitting trees. Said he saw visiting nin do it, and he wanted to be a shinobi. He had already used chakra by that point, he even pulled off a simple jutsu I showed him." Neji smiled, even if it was a complete lie, he still felt proud of his little cousin. Sakura smiled. Kouden couldnt figure out what kind of a smile it was. His new ne-chan kind of frightened him, but in a way that didn't make him scared of her.
"Really? How old is he?" Neji grunted and Kouden said,
"Ne-chan, I'm almost 9! How old were you when you became a shinobi?" Sakura's smile quivered, but she answered before Kouden could catch it.
"When I became a genin, you mean? >sigh< those were the days. I was twelve years old, and I got put onto a team with the boy I liked," she gestured over at the man on the table behind her, playing with her son." and with the boy I hated, but later made best friends with." Kouden blinked. She married her teamate? Weird.
"What about the boy you hated, who was he?" Kouden asked. Neji made a noise, but Kouden was too curious to listen. Sakura sighed as unwanted tears spring into her eyes. The man behind her reached out with a gloved hand and let it rest on her thigh. She placed her hand over his and said,
"His name was Uzumaki Naruto, he was such a good friend, loyal, hardworking." She choked a littled, "He loved ramen, that and his dream to become Hokage." Kouden's eye's widened. Neji put his face into his hand.
Kouden knew what was coming next. Maybe Sakura could tell him how his Otou-sama died.
"Although, he died over nine years ago. We all miss him so much."
"Unn...Sakura-ne-chan, how did he die?" Neji's face shot out of his hand. He grabbed Kouden shoulder and said,
"Ahaha. Sakura, that's such a sad story. We dont want to be giving this kid nightmares do we?" Nightmares? How had Naruto died? Kouden let his shoulder's droop.
"Oh, yes, I guess you are right." She trailed off, looking at her son. He was now asleep in the arms of that man, who was now standing behind Sakura.
"Sakura, we have to go now anyway. I have to meet Ibiki." Sakura's face sparked. If they were to see Ibiki, then they'd probably spot Ino. Ino was his apprentice in torture. Sakura had never thought that her choice of career was surprising. It suited Ino just fine.
"Ahh...Arigato, ne-chan!" Kouden waved at the retreating form of Sakura and her, husband, Kouden had guessed. A small cloud of smoke poofed beside Kouden and Kakashi apeared. Reading a small red book. The 12th in the series, first edition signed copy of Icha Icha Makeout Tactics 4. Neji rolled his eyes and Kouden didn't know what to think.
He didn't even know what making out meant.
After they found Shikamaru, apparently dozing in a corner, the trio left the small village rather quickly. Kouden was the first to stab the silence.
"So, Sakura-ne-chan was on Otou-sama's genin team?" He knew what that was all about. He had read it in one of the many scrolls his mother owned. Shikamaru grinned.
"Yea, she was the smartest of all us rookie nine, except for me. She kept both Sasuke and Naruto in check at all times. Her team was special. All three of them had been taught by the Ledgendary Sannin. They had meant to be apprentices so that when they were good enough, they'de become the Sannin themselves."
"Who was Otou-sama taught by?" Neji laughed this time. But Shikamaru continued.
"Jiraiya, the Frog sennin, or as Naruto called him, Ero-sennin. He was the biggest pervert I had ever seen. Sakura was under Tsunade's apprenticeship untill she turned 18, so...6 years? Yeah. Sasuke, that man who was probably with Sakura, was taught by Orochimaru, for nearly 3 years. Naruto dragged him back kicking and screaming from the evil sennin. When we get to Konoha, you'll have to ask Tsunade-sama about it. She likes telling little children that tale." Kouden gaped. Orochimaru? He had read about him. Apparently he had killed the 3rd Hokage, and triggered the attack that had killed the 4th Hokage as well. Hinata had told him that it was all because Sandaime didn't pick him to be the 4th.
The rest of the trip was quiet and uneventful. Neji made them stop for a few hours to let Kouden nap, but they took off again right away. Soon, sooner than Neji had expected, Konohagakure came into veiw. As Kouden took in the sights, all he could do was gasp.
So this is where his parents grew up.
End Chapter 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters. But all of the OC's are mine.