Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Kyuubi Kid ❯ I've Got Your Back ( Chapter 2 )

Boy was I surprised when (after only 6 hours since posted) I got my first review. Especially since I posted the story at 1AM. You readers are nuts. Haha.

 

Thank you Uma for pointing out my mistake, I went back and fixed it.

 

Also, I'm not really following the story line. There's about 100 eps of filler arc at this point and I just figured I'd breeze over that with whatever the hell I wanted. Don't like it, tough. I've got a bunch of other stories that are rotting. Message me if you want to take one of them over and finish them. Some I'm not giving so don't be mad if I say no.

 

Here's the next chap!

 

The Kyuubi Kid

 

Chapter 2 - I'veGot Your Back

 

 

Last time:

 

“Don't worry, Joukei-san. Naruto will be back in no time with Sasuke in tow and he'll perfectly fine.” Lee assured her.

 

“Thank you, Lee-kun.” Joukei turned her gaze back to the road wishing to see Naruto's wild color on the horizon.

 

 

Lee was eventually able to convince Joukei to go home and get some rest, though he had no intention of doing the same. When the others had left, Lee felt useless because of his injuries and surgery. Seeing the others willing to risk their lives to bring back Sasuke caused Lee to make a crucial decision.

 

He was going after them.

 

With a final look at Konoha, Lee dropped his crutch and sped down the road and out of sight, all the while thinking about what he could do to help.

 

Lee kept running until he caught up with Naruto. By the looks of things he needed some help. Lee jumped between Naruto and his opponent, blocking the attack.

 

“Lee! What are you doing here?” Naruto cried.

 

“Relieving you of your opponent. Sasuke is getting away.” Lee replied settling into a relaxed position. “I am your new opponent. Fight me!” Lee called to the man standing across the field.

 

“Who are you to interfere?” The man called back.

 

“I am the Beautiful Green Beast of Konoha, Rock Lee! Who are you?”

 

“They call me Kimimaru.” He answered.

 

“Go, Naruto. I will handle him. You made a promise to Sakura-san to bring back Sasuke.” Lee reminded Naruto.

 

“Right.” He nodded. Turning he ran in the direction the Sasuke left in.

 

“I'm not letting you get away!” Kimimaru made a move to attack Naruto.

 

“I'm your opponent now!” Lee cried intercepting the attack.

 

Kimimaru turned his attention to Lee, and the two began to fight.

 

Hurry, Naruto. Bring Sasuke back.

 

 

Naruto raced after Sasuke, desperately trying to catch up before he hit the border. Every fiber of his being spoke of determination.

 

Sasuke… I will bring you back!

 

His pace quickened ever further, his leaps became longer, he was catching up. The landscape flashed by going unnoticed by the blond. His mind focused only on running. Suddenly he burst forth into the light and saw him.

 

“Sasuke!” He cried.

 

The boy stopped and turned at the sound of his name. Seeing Naruto, he smirked arrogantly.

 

So they sent the failure to get me. Perfect.

 

Naruto glared at the arrogant Uchiha, when his smirk only got bigger.

 

“What are you smirking at? There's no way you're getting away from me!” Naruto stated with passion.

 

If anything, Sasuke's smirk got bigger. His black, emotionless eyes boring into Naruto's, trying to engulf him in darkness.

 

I'll bring this jerk back for hurting Sakura-chan! No matter what!

 

 

Joukei may have heeded Lee's request that she go home, but that didn't mean she was going to rest. She stood straight and tall, on the roof of her home, staring in the direction Naruto and the others had gone. Her face contorted in a look of sheer determination as she gazed out over the forests surrounding Konoha, willing her eyes to pick up the outline of them all and spot the brightness of Naruto on the horizon.

 

I will not turn away. Not until they come back. I owe Naruto that much for helping me train all this time.

 

Suddenly, a pulse of chakra, so strong that Joukei could have sworn the building shook, passed through the city. Though, her eyes didn't perceive any difference in her surroundings, nor did she see anyone heading back to the village. The short hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and goose bumps ran up her arms. Joukei's eyes widened realizing who the chakra belonged to.

 

No. Let me be wrong. That pulse was too big for anyone to survive. Let me be wrong!

 

Joukei wasted no more time thinking and raced off along the roof tops of Konoha toward the gates, toward that chakra.

 

Just before reaching the gates someone's arms snaked around her waist and held her tightly to their body.

 

“Let me go! I have to help Naruto!” She cried.

 

“Calm down, Joukei. Help is on the way.” Jiraiya's calm, rough voice sounded in her ear and she stopped struggling. “But, this is Naruto's fight. He needs to do this on his own.”

 

“What? I don't understand.” Joukei said.

 

“Naruto is fighting not only his rival, but his friend. He needs to handle this on his own.” Jiraiya explained calmly.

 

Joukei sensed there was more to the situation then he was telling her. She sensed the bitter undertone of regret in Jiraiya's voice.

 

I don't understand. Who is this Sasuke to be so important to so many people? And who is he to Naruto? He never seemed anything but a jerk when I met him.

 

“He's going to be okay, right?” She asked softly, hanging her head so her hair obscured her eyes. “Please don't just tell me he will to make me feel better. I want the truth.”

 

Jiraiya paused for a moment before answering. He took in the appearance of his newest student. She's already changed so much since she started training with Naruto. She's become a Kunoichi in such a short time. Naruto really has a big affect on people.

 

“The truth is Naruto will come back with a smile plastered on his face even if he was an inch from death. I've already seen it once. But, really, I don't know.” He said sadly.

 

Joukei turned her head back to the road leading out of Konoha. “I want to help him. I need to get stronger to help him.” She whispered.

 

Jiraiya smiled down at the top of his new students head. If Sasuke some how gets away from Naruto he will need a good training partner to get stronger. I think this girl is just that partner.

 

 

Sunlight streamed in the windows of the hospital room causing the occupants to stir out of their slumber.

 

Naruto opened his eyes with effort, groaning slightly at the bright sunlight coming through the windows. Shifting to see where he was, he noticed Joukei curled up in a chair next to this bed, sound asleep. Smiling, he attempted to sit up. The task made more difficult then normal due to the amount of bandages covering his body. He groaned with the effort, effectively waking Joukei.

 

“Naruto-kun! You're awake. How are you feeling? What happened? Do you need anything? Should I get someone? Is there--?” Joukei jumped up asking questions a mile a minute.

 

“I'm fine, Joukei. You can sit down and relax.” Naruto interrupted.

 

Instead of sitting, Joukei walked over to the bed with a solemn look holding something in her hands.

 

“I,” she hesitated, looking for the right words, “You can in with this, and I think don't know what it means, but I think you might want it.” She finished in a rush, holding the parcel out to Naruto.

 

Taking it carefully, Naruto un-wrapped the cloth to reveal Sasuke's forehead protector. A bold scratch going through the center of the leaf symbol caused by none other then Naruto. He stared down at it with sadness. Sadness for a lost comrade, for a lost team mate, for a lost friend, his best friend.

 

Joukei fidgeted next to the bed, shifting from foot to foot. I've never seen him look like this. I don't know what to do. Do I say something? “Naruto, I don't know anything about what you're dealing with right now, and I'm new at this kind of thing, and I don't really know what to say to make you feel better, but I wanted you to know that I'm here for you, if you need me.” Joukei said in a rush.

 

Naruto smiled at her, “Thanks.” For just being here.

 

 

 

A few days later Naruto was released from the hospital. Of course, he had tried to get away numerous times before, which resulted in him being tied to his bed by Shizune. Joukei never lifted a finger to help him, nor did she help Shizune. What surprised both of them was the sudden summons to the Hokage tower.

 

“Tsunade-sama? Joukei-san and Naruto-san are here to see you.” A chuunin announced.

 

“Send them in.”

 

“What's up Tsunade-baa-chan?” Naruto asked, cheeky as ever.

 

A vein throbbed in Tsunada's forehead, the mantra `Don't kill him' running through her mind. “Jiraiya has something he needs to discuss with you.” She said carefully.

 

Said toad hermit made his entrance through the window. “Tomorrow you start a new training regiment. We leave at dawn from the North Gate. Pack enough supplies for a month and don't be late.” That said he promptly left via the window.

 

Joukei and Naruto just stared at the spot Jiraiya had originally been standing with identical looks of complete confusion mixed with excitement on their faces. Tsunade couldn't help but laugh at them.

 

“You heard the man. Dismissed.”

 

 

Dawn rose to find Joukei leaning against the North Gate of Konoha, supply pack on the ground next to her. Jiraiya watched her from stare down the road, the same road where she witnessed Kakashi carrying an unconscious Naruto on his back to the hospital.

 

Flashback:

 

I can't wait here much longer. If he doesn't come back soon I'm going after him. Joukei thought.

 

After her talk with Jiraiya, Joukei had jumped to the top of the gate and sat gazing out over the road willing Naruto to appear. Finally, two blobs of color appeared on the horizon. One she recognized as Naruto's sensei, Kakashi, the other was Naruto's, but something was wrong.

 

“Ero-sennin, something's wrong. Naruto's color is wrong!” She shouted, nearly in tears as she jumped from the gate and ran down the road.

 

“Joukei, wait!” Jiraiya shouted, pursuing his emotional student. He caught her just as Kakashi came into view with Naruto on his back. “Naruto.”

 

“Naruto! Kakashi-san, what's wrong, what happened? Is he..?” Joukei couldn't control herself anymore. Collapsing into Jiraiya's arms she let her tears fall.

 

He can't be dieing! He can't! I can't lose the only person I have! Please, Naruto, don't leave me. She silently willed to anyone that would listen.

 

“Please, don't leave me blind.” She whispered so softly Jiraiya only just heard her.

 

“Get him to the hospital Kakashi, I'll take care of her.” Jiraiya ordered the Jounin.

 

End flashback.

 

 

I've never seen her scared of anything. None of my training exercises even made her hesitate, but seeing Naruto like that nearly destroyed her. They formed such a strong bond in so short a time. Naruto was her first friend, her first precious person besides her foster parents. This training will only strengthen that bond.

 

Jiraiya stepped out of the shadows alerting Joukei to his presence. “You're here early. Any reason why?”

 

“Couldn't sleep. Too, excited about this training, I guess.” Joukei half lied.

 

“You know what the life of a shinobi entails, Joukei. You and Naruto accepted those risks when you started training. This may sound harsh, but there are always casualties. That is what awaits a shinobi.” Jiraiya said.

 

“Just because I accept something does not mean I like it, nor does it mean I will just roll over and let it happen. I will do everything I can to protect my precious people. Without them, I would be nothing, and no one. They define who I am. I won't let them be taken away. Not when I can do something to stop it.” Joukei answered passionately. “That is my nindo.”

 

Jiraiya studied his pupil. As she spoke her posture changed. Joukei went from leaning against the gate to standing straight-backed, hands fisted at her sides, with determination and defiance etched across her face. “That's what I like to hear.” Jiraiya laughed.

 

As Jiraiya finished laughing, Naruto came running over looking like he just rolled out of bed.

 

“What happened to you?” Joukei asked.

 

“I'm not a morning person until at least nine.” He replied with a grin.

 

“Since, we're all here, let's get going.” Jiraiya leapt off into the trees with the others following.

 

“Hey, Ero-sennin, where are we going?” Naruto asked after a few minutes of travel.

 

“A secluded spot right outside the Fire Nation. Its neutral territory, but we will still have to be on our guard. We'll talk when we get there. For now worry about keeping up.” Jiraiya picked up the pace after this little speech and the conversation died out.

 

 

After hours of travel the trio reached their destination. Jiraiya had led them to a small clearing with a river to one side and thick woods surrounding them. It would have been quite tranquil if they weren't going to be training.

 

“So what's the big training you've got planned?” Naruto blurted out.

 

“A little survival training. You two will be against each other setting traps for the other and using stealth to hide or ambush the other. I have to report to Tsunade every week about your progress. When I'm gone you will return here under a white flag until I return. Understood?”

 

Both teens nodded, mischief shining in both sets of eyes. He never said we couldn't lay any traps for him. Both laughed evilly in their minds. Jiraiya suddenly felt very vulnerable.

 

“Before you start, there are two more things; Naruto take off your forehead protector. We are no longer in the Fire Nation and there could be missing nin out here that don't need to know who you are, and Joukei, this test will decide if you're ready to become a genin. Begin.”

 

 

Yeah, I know, short chap. But I wanted to get something out and this felt like the greatest place to stop it. Plus, some great stuff is going to happen in the next chap.

 

About Joukei not being a genin yet. Tsunade said she could be a ninja, but she never granted her a forehead protector. She has to earn that sucker just like the rest of them, granted this way is either more evil or more fun then the way the others received theirs, but whatever.

 

I'll try to get the next chap out faster. Raevyn out!