Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Slow dancing in a burning room ❯ Chapter 3

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

[January 27th, 2008]

Chapter 3:

Three Days Later…

`Focus…breathe…' elegant brows furrowed in concentration. The girl's stance was firm. A drop of sweat slid from her brow as her hands formed the necessary hand signs. She took a deep breath…

“Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu,” called the little girl. A ball of flame about the size of her body was generated. She held it for a few seconds before allowing it to dissipate. She bent over, hands clenching her knees, as she heaved for air. Tendrils of hair that were not bound by a barrette, stuck to the sides of her pale face. Her skin was flushed and a hint of pink crossed her nose and cheeks. Azure eyes closed as the youth tried to calm her heart and regulate her breathing to slow and deep respirations. Her body trembled. She had reached her limit. The girl could not help but smile in victory. The salty ocean breeze soothed her heated skin. The morning sun shined bright in a cloudless cornflower blue sky. The gentle lapping of the water below comforted her.

“I did it. (huff)…My chakra…(huff)…is practically gone,” panted the girl as she collapsed to her knees, then finally fell upon the deck asleep.

A couple of hours later a frog hermit came across the slumbering girl and shook his head at her state. `As stubborn as her parents.' He kneeled down over the girl and inspected her for any injuries. `She appears to be fine except for those light burns on the corners of her mouth and the pink tint to her cheeks.' He frowned in thought then gently picked up the small worn out body. He brought her under the shade of a tree and sat down with the girl in his lap. He uncorked his container of water and splashed some water in the girl's face.

She gently stirred before azure eyes slowly opened taking in the man before her. It was obvious to Jaraiya that she was exhausted. A frown crossed her delicate features as she continued to stare at the man holding her, before it was replaced with happiness.

“Jaraiya-jiji,” exclaimed the girl in a hoarse voice as she immediately sat up to hug the old man.

“Haruhi-chan!” laughed the legendary sannin, as he returned the hug.

“How was your trip?... (clears her throat)…Fine I hope.” She accepted the offered container of water and drank most of its soothing contents. She then moved off of his lap to sit next to him.

“Hai, hai. I'll tell you about it later, but first…” he preceded to open his pack to retrieve a first-aid kit. He then pulled out a small bottle of cream and some bandages.

“Wha…” for the first time since waking up, Haruhi noticed the pain around her mouth. She lifted a hand to feel her wounds and abruptly hissed in pain.

“Now sit still,” advised the perverted sage. He uncapped the bottle, dipped two fingers in the medicinal cream and applied a fair amount on the corners of her mouth, spreading it to her cheeks. At first, Haruhi flinched at the cold cream, but she welcomed the cool relief. When Jaraiya was satisfied, he recapped the bottle and prepared two bandages. He peeled the backs off and placed the white patches on each cheek, covering the irritated skin by her mouth.

“(sigh)…your father is going to blame this one on me,” complained the frog hermit, “Speaking of which, where is your father?”

“He went into town to carry out a few errands,” answered the girl with a hinting tone in her voice.

“Errands?”

“Selling unnecessary items. Items we cannot take back to Konoha.” A small smirk crossed her face.

Dark eyes widened in shock as what the girl said clicked in Jaraiya's mind.

“You mean…”

“Uhuh.”

“Hmm. Tsunade will definitely approve,” said the sannin in thought. “Yes. This is good.”

“We have already packed. We were just waiting for you,” informed the girl. “Jaraiya-jiji, have you h-heard

anything about my otousan?” asked the girl with hope and worry coating her words.

“Ahh. Haruhi-chan, I do not know anything about him. My source told me that Orochimaru was defeated. I went to his hideout, but it was deserted. So if your otousan is alive…” began the frog hermit.

“He is,” interrupted the girl fervently.

“…then he has probably gone after Itachi.”

“Hn.” A familiar frown adorned her face.

They sat there for a few minutes, not saying anything. It was quiet but for a few birds flying overhead and the usual sounds of nature. The wind blowing through the trees and the waves created a comforting sound as the pair sat in deep thought. Haruhi was worrying about her otousan while Jaraiya was thinking over how smooth their travel would be…hopefully.

“Oohh, Jaraiya-sama! You came for me,” came the seductive reply before tan arms wrapped around the toad sage. A naked body, but for a few strategically placed clouds, pressed firmly against the old man's back. “I missed you.”

Haruhi rolled her eyes at the newcomer.

“Ahh. And I have missed the feel of your br-…oww,” said the sannin before nursing the bump on his head.

“Pervert!” shouted Naruto already in his original form. Jaraiya pouted at the loss of the sexy creature and when Naruto glared at him, he composed himself. Clearing his throat, the sannin said, “Haruhi-chan told me the news.”

“Oh, yeah. We're ready. Tsunami-san and Inari have been spoiling Haruhi the past few days,” smiled Naruto as he sat next to his daughter. He hugged her and dropped a quick kiss on her head.

“I think you should travel by yourself, in your usual disguise,” suggested the perverted sage looking seriously at Naruto. At the identical looks of shock from two pairs of blue eyes he added, “…just a few hours behind us. The rumor is that only I know where you are at. So I have to try harder to mislead any spies when going in or out of here. No one will attack if I am seen traveling with a little girl. If a man were traveling with us, we will be attacked to confirm suspicion alone.

“Ohh,” came the dual replies.

“So you can leave with Haruhi and I will follow wearing my usual disguise. I'll look like a merchant since I'll be pulling a small cart with the rest of our things,” said Naruto.

“When do we leave, Jaraiya-jiji?” asked Haruhi.

“I think you two should leave now,” advised the fox vessel. At Jaraiya's pointedly exhausted look he said, “You're a hermit. All you do is travel for your `research'.” He caught his daughter's look and said, “All I have to do is pack the things we left out waiting for ero-sennin and load the cart. I'll take my time and then leave.” Naruto turned his attention to Jaraiya and stated, “Don't meet Tsunade-baachan or anyone I know before I get there. If anyone asks, just say that she is your granddaughter. We should meet somewhere in Konoha.” The fox vessel thought seriously before suggesting, “an inn. How about you check into an inn and wait for me there.”

Jaraiya smiled at Naruto's explanation. `He really has grown up. Although training a bunch of kids in combat forces them to grow up. Naruto really has become more responsible for himself and for Haruhi. I'm glad he hasn't changed too much though. He still has a sense of humor.' He looked out at the ocean and agreed with Naruto's plan.

“Let's eat before we go. You said something about Tsunami-san spoiling Haruhi-chan—that means food is involved. And if I remember correctly, she is an excellent cook.”

“We've been feasting for three days.” Naruto smiled and shook his head at the pervy sage's behavior.

********************************************************

It was just before noon when the full soon-to-be travelers emerged from the house. Naruto and Jaraiya walked out patting their bellies in contentment.

With a toothpick in his mouth, the frog sage sighed and commented, “Aahh, that was good. Unfortunately, we must be heading out, Haruhi-chan.” He turned back to look at the girl.

She was wearing ninja sandals, white shorts, and a blue t-shirt Tsunami-san made with a wide collar likened to Sasuke's shirts. Her long raven hair was tucked under a billed cap with tendrils of hair framing her face. White bandages wrapped her shins. A beaded blue bracelet, a gift from Inari, was on her left wrist. She even had a shuriken holster attached to her right thigh. She still wore her father's necklace tucked under her shirt. She would have looked like a little boy if not for her pink shoulder pack. Her eyes were a little red from saying goodbye to Tsunami-san and her Nari-ni, crying into their arms earlier.

“Haruhi,” began Naruto seriously causing her to turn around and face her father, “Don't think I wasn't going to question you about those burns on the corners of your mouth.” His cerulean eyes narrowed.

“Oh, this…it's nothing, chichiue.” She directed guilty azure eyes to the deck.

“Nothing, huh? So you really didn't need that burn cream or those bandages. And I imagined you painfully trying to get through your lunch, bite after bite?” He arched an eyebrow skeptically. At his daughter's continued silence, he sighed heavily. Grabbing her chin he gently peeled the left bandage. Haruhi tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and clenched her eyes shut at the pain. Naruto then peeled the right one off. Channeling healing chakra with a bit of Kyuubi's own, he healed her wounds.

“Arigatou, chichiue,” came the low reply.

Naruto knelt down, cupped her cheeks and kissed her lips.

“Everything is going to be okay.”

“I know.”

Smiling at his daughter he pinched her cheek.

“Itai.”

“As I was saying…listen to ero-sennin. If something bad happens, be a kid…” at her confused look he added, “…act scared. Don't fight back.”

“Oh, alright.”

When her father only continued to stare concernedly she asked, “Is there anything else?”

Cerulean eyes looked sheepishly at Jaraiya. When the toad sage caught the look he turned around and walked further along the deck. Satisfied with the privacy he pulled his daughter into his arms and hugged tightly whispering, “I love you.” Haruhi could feel her father trembling. His voice shook as he continued, “All that I have done was for you. I know I'm not the best father, but I like to think that I do an okay job,” half-joked the fox vessel.

Haruhi rubbed her father's back reassuringly, turned her head into his neck and placed a kiss there. He continued to hug her until his daughter spoke, “Chichiue, I love you too. And you are wrong.”

Naruto released the death grip on his little girl and shifted to look at her. His eyes, shiny with unshed tears, looked questioningly at her.

“You are an excellent father. The best a girl could ask for.” When Naruto smiled broadly she added, “We have to go now.”

“O-okay.” He kissed her head (or hat) before standing up. “Be safe.”

“I will see you tonight. Don't worry.” She flashed him a bright smile and joined Jaraiya. She turned to wave and then the pair was off. Naruto continued to stand there looking out in the direction they were traveling, even after they were well past his view.

Naruto went inside to help Tsunami clean up. He finished packing and loaded their things on the small wooden cart. He went back upstairs to look at the room he shared with Haruhi for seven years. `This is it. We won't be waking up to the seaside view or smelling the salty breeze anymore.'

[I prefer the forest of Konoha]

`Yeah, I do miss home.' He sighed deeply before walking out and closing the door behind him.

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“Are you hungry, Haruhi-chan? We've been walking for hours now. You could use a break.” Jaraiya looked at his tired companion.

“No, thank you. I am fine,” answered the girl.

“You shouldn't push yourself. I know you can handle yourself, but I also know that you were training earlier.”

His eyes sneaked a peek at the quiet girl. When she did not reply he added, “…a fire style jutsu from the looks of it.” At the slight hint of a reaction from the girl, the toad sage smiled. “What jutsu were you practicing?” asked the old man though he had a guess. The girl looked at the ground and cleared her throat. She raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear but remembered that it was tucked under her hat. Voice low but firm, she answered, “Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu.”

Jaraiya gave a long whistle. “That is a difficult jutsu; one that requires a lot of chakra.”

Elegant brows furrowed, and Haruhi was about to argue, but was interrupted.

“Judging from those burns around your mouth earlier, you must have been able to produce a decent sized fireball.”

Guarded azure eyes regarded the sannin. “Are you not mad?”

“No. But allow me to say this, your father sacrificed a lot to bring you into this world and give you a normal life. If anything should happen to you, it would kill him.” He paused and allowed his words to sink in. Glancing at the girl he took in her expression. She was seriously considering his words. “He is completely honest with you, and this is how you repay him.”

Azure eyes widened briefly before closing in guilt. “That was not my intention. Sumimasen.”

“I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. I just think you should give your father more credit. I know you don't want to worry him but he can handle a lot.”

“Hn…well, can we take a break. I am kind of hungry.”

“Hai, hai,” said the pervy sage with a laughing tone to his voice.

******************************************

Ebony eyes resisted the urge to roll as Suigetsu got into another argument with Karin. He could feel the beginnings of a headache forming. Karin made a comment about Suigetsu using someone else's sword, meaning someone else's power, which urged the ex- mist nin to defend himself. Words were exchanged and the Uchiha knew where this could lead if allowed to continue. His emotionless eyes returned to his companions. Sighing mentally he thought, `they are actually getting into their fighting stances.'

“Karin, do you detect any noteworthy chakras in the vicinity?" Angry dark eyes redirected on Sasuke and immediately melted.

“Umm, let's see, Sasuke-kun. Nope. The nearest town is miles away. There is just one chakra signature heading west. Pretty weak, though.”

“You should empathize then,” commented the ex-mist nin.

“Grr. You little shit…”

“How unlady-like, ne, Sasuke-kun?”

“You two head to town and get a place to stay overnight. Gather any information, any rumors, as usual. Then we will retrieve Juugo, our fourth and final member.” The Uchiha turned west without receiving agreement from his constantly feuding companions. He could hear an argument, about who annoyed him more, as he jumped into a tree and increased his pace through the forest.

The Uchiha preferred to be alone, but he had a reason for recruiting his current teammates. The forest was quiet. It was so dense that little sunlight penetrated through to the ground. `I just need a little peace and quiet to think.' He could already feel the headache abating in the fresh and clean air. He increased his speed even more without a destination in mind. A half an hour later, he could sense the `weak' chakra that Karin was referring to. He ignored it and continued traveling for a few minutes before stopping altogether. `This chakra signature feels…familiar.' Ebony eyes looked out at the forest as he considered the chances of his guess being right. `It can't be him. Can it? He has been gone for nearly seven years.' The Uchiha wanted to shrug it off, but his instincts nagged at him for indulgence. So he changed his course, suppressed his chakra, and headed towards the familiar chakra signature.

****************************************

“Jaraiya-sama, you're back!” said a young man at the gate.

“Konohamaru. Still on guard duty. You should know better than to prank Tsunade-hime.” Jaraiya smiled warmly.

“It's better than all those D-ranked missions that genin do. That was embarrassing.” He shuddered at the memory. Konohamaru was wearing the standard uniform for chuunins—blue outfit with a green flak jacket. His brown hair was in a high ponytail. “Who's the kid?”

“Hmm? Oh, this is Haruhi. Haruhi-chan, this is Konohamaru and the one behind him is Udon.”

Haruhi bowed to both men. “Pleased to meet you both. I have always wanted to meet you. I have heard so many stories…”

“Huh?” said Udon and Konohamaru. “What do you m-.”

“Oh, well on the way here, I told her a few stories and how much you reminded me of Naruto,” interjected the sannin.

“Oh…” Konohamaru smiled at the girl, but it was obvious that at the mention of Naruto, he became sad.

“Well, we must be going. I have to check into an inn.”

“Alright, see ya around, ero-sennin,” laughed the teen.

At this, Haruhi laughed.

“Let's check into a room and wait for your father.”

“Alright, Jaraiya-jiji.” The girl followed the frog hermit, azure eyes swiftly taking in her surroundings, absorbing it with her senses. Her chichiue was very descriptive of his hometown. The smells, sounds, and sights, were committed to his memory and now hers. She could not help but grin as they walked slowly through the streets.

****************************************************

“Whew.” Naruto wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand as he pulled the cart. It was not that hard, it's just that he had to suppress his chakra to the level of any normal civilian traveler. He suppressed it even more when he sensed someone with a significant amount of chakra a few miles back. So he stayed alert. At first, the chakra was heading towards him swiftly. The thing that worried him was that he recognized the chakra signature. Or, at least, he thought he did. `Must be the heat; that and wishful thinking.' Naruto sighed and continued to pull his cart. `Hmm. I hope whoever is following me does not intend to cause trouble.' Naruto began mentally preparing himself for a possible attack, for the person with the familiar chakra had just suppressed it to almost nonexistent. `He thinks that he can sneak up on me, ha!'

Some minutes later, Naruto stopped pulling his cart. Looking up, from under his straw hat, brown eyes met dark eyes. `It can't be…Sasuke.'

TBC

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you again for your reviews. Any comments or questions are fine with me.