章節 97: Reignited rivalry
'It's a very bad idea.'
"Take it easy, Saiken. I'm here only to scout the place out. No one will see me getting in or out." Utakata, between the droplets of heavy rain, glimpsed an industrial-like town on the horizon.
'If you survive, Kana-chan will grill your arse for that, partner.'
"Heh, you know I'm doing it for her and our baby. Asshole of a Daimyo did not want to acknowledge the mission completion until the Spider is dead."
'That does not mean you should present your empty head to Akatsuki on a platter, partner! There are other possibilities.'
"It will be smooth, Saiken. Get in, ask some questions, and get out... Hmm, so this is Amegakure." The Village Hidden in the Rain consisted of tens of skyscrapers, which were enveloped by sewerage pipes. It was created in the middle of the lake, necessitating the use of hundreds of bridges between the buildings.
A man in a hood walked in front of Utakata, "*Wheeze* Halt! Who are you? *Wheeze*." His voice was muffled by a rebreather on the gatekeeper's mouth.
"Oyaa~ Hello, good sir! I'ma~ just a peddler from Yu no Kuni [Hot Water Country], shinobi-sama!" Utakata greeted back, trying to add an accent.
The guardian narrowed his eyes at him, "And where are your goods?"
"Damn bandits! I got robbed traveling through Ta no Kuni [Rice Fields Country]. Barely got away with my life and my backpack!"
'You suck at this...' Saiken commented.
"Hmm." the gatekeeper nodded, "Where is your permit?"
"Ah! A permit... it was stolen as well."
"Wait on the side. We need to check you." the man moved his hand, asking Utakata to move towards his friend.
Before he was able to take a single step, his body started floating, rising faster and faster towards the clouds, 'Shit-shit-shit! Saiken, I need your help now!'
'Saiken?' Utakata's mindscape was deadly silent. Three seconds later, his throat was caught in a vice-like grip by an orange-haired man with purple eyes.
"The host of Rokubi [Six-Tails]. Thank you for the gift of coming here yourself - your prolonged stay in Konoha posed a problem for Akatsuki."
'UGH... Saiken?' Because of unknown reasons, Utakata's old-time friend stayed silent, "Fuck you and your Akatsuki. You won't get shit from me." He tried to kick the man, but his body rampantly started losing its strength.
"You're just the means for an end. The eternal world peace requires Kaname Uchiha to die, and you would be a perfect bait."
"No! I will not let you *Guh*!" Pain squeezed his throat, almost crashing the windpipe.
"Your opinion isn't of importance."
-----
"NO!" Utakata shouted out, jumping out of his sleeping bag, "*Wheeze-wheeze*..."
'That's what would have most probably happened if you did not listen to the clever and ever-present voice in your head, partner... Hmm, it sounded better when I repeated it back in my mind...'
"Wait, *wheeze...*. It was only a nightmare?" the man looked around his surroundings.
'Yes, Utakata, it was. We're halfway back to Konoha, remember? You napped for the last two hours.'
"Ugh." Utakata massaged his temples, "It was you, wasn't it, altering my dreams? Where is Anko?"
'I may have pushed some buttons here and there to aim your dream in that direction. After our last little dispute, partner, I had to show you where your stubbornness could lead you. It seems the nightmare hit you a little bit too much - Anko stayed in Hot Water for her mission.'
Utakata groaned in displeasure, "... Thanks, and no thanks."
'As always, you're welcome, partner. Now, you should get going. With some luck, you will get back to Kana-chan before morning.'
...
"Naruto? What are you doing? It's 3 a.m."
"Oh, you came back, Utakata..." The tired boy sipped on his tea, "I'm... relaxing and thinking, Sis got a 'little' temperamental today, ~ya know? I would never have guessed how much she does to keep the house clean. Thank the gods for shadow clones ~ttebayo. And I have final exams tomorrow, no wait, it's today. *Sigh* I was worried that if I fail, what would my friends and Sis think of me." Naruto gasped out, completely spent.
"I see. You understand that Kana-chan loves you? From what I know, she redid all the exams to be harder, but she was preparing you for them for the last four years. Have more trust in yourself and your sister. And it's not your fault that she got moody today, it's all-"
"Heh." Naruto smiled calmly, "I know, hormones are buzzing in her body. I read the required books, Utakata. Thanks, I needed the prep talk ~ttebayo."
"Go to sleep, Naruto. I will talk with Kana-chan in the morning. She will exempt you from Iruka-san's droning for the first hour of homeroom."
"Hmm, better than nothing. Thanks again, Utakata. How was the Hot Water Country ~dattebayo?"
"It's a bust. I eliminated a crime group, but I lacked the strength to acquire Daimyo's full cooperation."
Naruto took a long sip, zeroing the teacup, "Sis got another backup plan that she figured out today. *Yawn* You will have to talk with her. See you tomorrow."
"Of course, she has another one already concocted..." Utakata sighed out, "Bye."
'I think that the sentence: I told you so, is very accurate here. You're welcome, partner.' Saiken's voice sounded inside his head.
"Heh, thanks again, Saiken. You know the rules, off you go, no peeping on Kana-chan." he snorted with laughter, standing in front of bedroom doors.
'Hahaha. Sure, sleep well, see you in the morning. Sluggy, out!'
Hearing only Kaname's calm breaths, Utakata tiptoed into the dark room. When his eyes got used to the darkness, he gasped from the sight. Kaname, in her loose pajamas, more beautiful than ever, was sleeping with a content smile, with her hands delicately enveloping her uncovered, lightly swollen up belly from both sides. The thought of soon approaching parenthood put tears of happiness in his eyes and an enormous grin on his face.
'Too much fluff, partner! Did you notice she is the only person you smile at?'
*Groan*.
'Yeah-yeah. I'm out!' Taking care of the gatecrasher, Utakata tiptoed into the shower room and then, making sure he did not wake Kaname up, slowly and carefully slipped into the bed. He delicately put his hands around her belly. He noticed the future mother calmly settling into his hug.
...
[In the morning]
"Why Kirigakure [tl. Village Hidden in the Mist], Kana-chan?" he inquired, entwining Kaname's arm with his own.
"I can't keep the pregnancy in secret much longer - someone, soon, will notice it, Utakata. And Kiri will be the safest place for both of us till Konoha's chūnin exams. I can guess that at the least Orochimaru and, or, Akatsuki will look for the weakened me in Konoha, but we will be long gone by then, and we will be under Mei's and, what was his name now, ah, Tsugunai-kun's protection." she replied, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sure Hokage could organize some protection for you. Are you sure it's safest for you and the baby to travel almost half the globe just before birth?" Utakata offered, letting Kaname lead him towards the Ninja Academy.
"*Sigh* You know why is it not a good plan? Jiji is... old. I'm pretty sure he could kick Snake's arse all the way back to the traitor's village. But he wouldn't be able to endure a prolonged attack of two or three S-rank criminals. You need, let's call it, new blood, to do that. And ANBU, how much I believe in my friends now, I don't want to put them in possible danger of fighting several S-ranks."
"Hmm, okay, Mei is our safest bet. One more thing, Kana-chan..."
"Yeah?"
Utakata narrowed his eyes, "Whoever, or whatever, that would dare to touch our child or you, I will dismember personally."
Kaname purred and put her lips near his ear, "Keep it up, and we will be late for the show."
"Heh, I wouldn't mind, Kana-chan. But we have got, *ahem* ... a tail." he joked.
"*Woof*!" Hamimaru acknowledged his words. The border collie's hearty bark made the windows of nearby buildings tremble, and her swishing end roused a cloud of dust behind the dog.
Kaname shrugged her shoulders, "I never knew that the pregnancy would hit me so hard. My mom was worried about me and sent Hami-chan for help. Yesterday, the dizziness made me faint, luckily I was home. And gods, don't make me even start about this heartburn from hell. I thought that the first two months were bad, I was so wrong..."
"I'm sorry I wasn't here, Kana-chan."
"I sent you to Yu no Kuni myself, Utakata, and it's better I did it now than in a month or two. From what I know, pregnancy will make me tired further with time."
"*Growl*...*Woof*!"
"Hmm, where, Hami-chan?" Kaname patted the ninken's head. Following a quick double sniff of her snout, Hamimaru pointed her head towards closeby bushes.
"Hehe, you can't deceive ninken's nose so easily, hi~." The Uchiha Matriarch, Mikoto, walked out, waving her hand.
"I apologize, Kana-chan. We wanted to see which one of our children makes the biggest show, and you're our best way in." The Hyūga Matriarch, Shiori, elegantly bow down down her head.
"*Sigh* You two... You don't have to come. We all know who will win." Kaname massaged her temples.
"Hmm?" Mikoto smiled back at her.
"Naru-chan will steamroll each of his classmates, Sasuke and Hinata included," she smirked.
"What do you think, Shi-chan? I smell little Kana-chan gave us a challenge." Mikoto smiled sadistically.
"Huhuhu," the second woman with straight-long black hair laughed into her fist, "I believe so as well, Miko-chan. Game on, Kana-chan."
"Just don't get found by Jiji. He will be there to look at his first batch of students."
"No problem, Kana-chan. I gave my Duckling a little gift this morning - he will ace your exams." the Uchiha marched towards the academy with her childhood friend.
"Oh, my little Hime [Princess] received only a bottle of water from me. It's enough for her." the Hyūga nodded her head.
"Hmm, you hid part of their training from me, eh~? Whatever, I will have to think about what to do for Naru-chan." Thinking about her next move, Kaname joined in on the fun.
Utakata just stood there, gaping at the three women walking away from him.
'I'm not sure about you, humans behavior, were they fighting each other, partner?'
"... No, I believe it's called bickering, Saiken. Or maybe a friendly rivalry?" he scratched his head.
'Hehe, go after them, or you will lose your Kana-chan from sight.'
"Tsk... Three temperamental women."
-----
"Okay, kids. After some thought, I decided that the previous exams were shit." Kaname announced in a loud voice, standing in front of Naruto's class, "The old man here wants to see where you excel at. This is your chance to shine in front of your soon-to-be employer. The results will heavily impact the future teams' composition. Iruka will provide you with anything you want, be it shooting targets, mannequins, weapons, seals, or anything else I may have forgotten. Yes, Shikamaru?"
"Can I skip? There are less troublesome things to do, Sensei."
"Sure, go on. Your mother will skin your ass if Iruka-kun makes you stay another year for remedial classes, be my guest." Kaname deadpanned, "All further questions will be answered by your teacher. Make us proud." as Kaname retreated to stand at Hiruzen's right side, she gave a wink to her favorite trio, making Hinata blush.
"Thank you, Kaname-sensei, for giving us a brief exam's introduction." Iruka walked to the middle of the training ground, "You can choose your own way of presenting your skills. Excluding your classmates, you can ask for a fight with anyone present here, or, if you want, you could ask for a shooting target. Knowing yourself and your perks is an important part of a shinobi. We will start with Akimichi Chōji. Say what kind of test do you want, Chōji-kun."
"*Crunch*," the boy munched on his chips, "A target dummy would be enough, Iruka-sensei."
The old man in his red hat intensely scrutinized the examed student. "Hmm," he groaned, "Yes, I can see why you trashed the previous test, Kana-chan. This one gives me much more insight into the children's development."
"<Baika no Jutsu: Nikudan Sensha>! [Multi-size: Human Bullet Tank]" the boy's body expanded, turning into a round ball with a diameter of room doors. Pulling his head and limbs inside his body, Chōji started spinning and smashed through his target.
"Not bad, Akimichi's C-rank clan technique." Hokage nodded his head.
"I wanted to adapt the kids for what is waiting for them out there. Instead of displaying three utility, mostly useless, techniques and maybe some kind of D-rank skill inside the classroom, now they can show off what they can do." Kaname explained.
"Will Naruto finally display what he can do? I'm very interested."
"Did you lend it to them, Jiji?"
"Shino Aburame," Iruka shouted out.
"Yes, future jōnin senseis have my crystal ball and are watching." the old man replied, not peeling away his sight from the children.
"Then nope, I will let the secret stay as one till tomorrow," Kaname smirked.
....
"Look, Miko-chan, look. It's my Hime!" Shiori tugged at her friend's arm.
"Easy there, you overzealous mother. I'm not blind, Shi-chan. So, a bottle of water? What for?"
"Hehe, just watch. My girl pushed the Jūken [Gentle Fist] into a new direction!"
Hinata was standing ten steps away from the provided wood mannequin. The shy girl stood with her knees bent slightly, one of her hands was pulled back to her waist, and the second one extended above her dominant feet. Pulling the screw cap off, the girl threw the bottle above her head, spraying the water all around the training ground.
"<Jūken: Hakke Sanjūni Shō - Mizu Hari>! [Gentle Fist: 8 Trigrams 32 Palms - Water Needle]" several vortexes of chakra gathered the water in front of Hinata, with quick successive strikes the girl send tiny needles flying towards mannequin. Each sharp bullet pierced through solid wood, splashing on the ground behind the training ground.
Kaname laughed out loud when she saw the bug-eyed old man, "Hehe, close your mouth, Jiji. Flies will get inside."
"... Elemental Jūken. First time in Konoha's history." Sarutobi gasped.
After silent ten seconds, Iruka walked towards the wooden target and inspected it. He noted thirty-two tiny puncture holes - the teacher believed that each one matched the location of one of the tenketsu points inside the human body. Tussling his hair, he turned to Hinata, "That would end anyone's shinobi's carrier at the least, but most likely it's a sure kill technique. I can easily classify it as a B, maybe A- rank. Where did you learn it, Hinata-chan?"
"Emm~. My mom helped me. I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei." the girl bowed her head.
"*Sigh*" Iruka sighed out, patting the raved-haired Hyūga, "You shouldn't be apologizing, Hinata-chan. I failed as a teacher - I should put more interest in your development. You were always the silent, shy one. Heh, now I'm worried what will your two friends will show."
"Thank you, Sensei," Hinata replied, blushing.
"Go back to your friends. Next one, Shikamaru Nara!" the teacher announced.
The boy stood up, stretching his hands above his hands and yawning silently, "<Henge>! [Transformation Technique]" from a cloud of smoke came an exact copy of Hokage. Smoking his pipe, he groaned, "I'm too old for this. My back is killing me. All of this is too troublesome. I order all of you to go home and do something productive, like cloud watching or sleeping."
"Hahaha!" Kaname laughed, pointing at Shikamaru.
The old man smirked, "Hrmph... Great start with a bland ending. Almost perfect execution of Henge, with the minimal use of the required chakra. Shikamaru-kun has perfect control over his reserves."
"Pft... Or he is just lazy." She joked.
"Hmm, yes... That would explain much more, Kana-chan."
...
"Look now, it's my Duckling!" Mikoto trampled over her friend's body.
"Ugh. And who is an overzealous one?" Shiori pushed her away, making the bush they were hiding behind racket around.
"Hee~ I will show you how it's done, Shi-chan!"
"Hmm, he pulled three kunais. Sasuke can't win against my Hime with throwing them around, dream on, Miko-chan."
"And who said they're the normal type, Shi-chan?"
"What?"
"Hehehe, I pulled those kunais from Fugaku's stash. They're made from chakra metal."
"That's cheating!"
"Sue me, Shi-chan. Hehehe."
"Three targets? Are you sure?" Iruka questioned him.
In response, Sasuke pulled out three kunais, holding them between his fingers of the right hand.
"Okay." the teacher nodded, waving his hand to assistant teachers to bring the targets.
"Spread them out thrice as far, Sensei," Sasuke commanded.
With his targets ready, Sasuke closed his eyes and started concentrating all of his chakra into the weapons.
As Iruka stood at his side, he started feeling the heat coming off from the boy's side. Looking closer, the air around the blades began distorting. The overheated kunais slowly became red from Sasuke's chakra. When the boy opened his eyes, with a single swipe of his hand, he threw the weapons, aiming roughly at his targets. Without looking back, he walked towards Iruka.
'Sasuke miss-?'
*KABOOM*
*KABOOM*
*KABOOM*
Three powerful shockwaves from consecutive explosions hit the chūnin in the face. Ten seconds later, a rain of soil and stones fell upon the training grounds.
"Hmph, I'm sorry for the windows, Iruka-sensei." Sasuke pointed out at the academy and walked back to his classmates.
"Hehe, not bad, aunty, not bad." Kaname murmured, looking at the devastation.
"It was like Asuma's <Hien> [Flying Swallow], how?" Hokage asked, gobsmacked.
"Don't ask me, Jiji. I never taught Sasuke-kun that. It's all aunty Mikoto's fault."
"Those kids are getting ready for war? What are you doing with them?"
"Hmm, let me ask you, Jiji. Looking at our history, do you believe there won't be any more wars? Do I want a war? Please gods, no. Do I prepare for one?" Kaname smirked, "Always."
"Hokage-sama, Kaname-sama!" an ANBU with bear mask flickered to the old man's side, "We found the trespassers. They were making a lot of noise around the field."
When Kaname turned her head, she noticed two women still bickering with each other.
"Tehe~ we got found." Mikoto played it out to Kaname.
"Haah..." Sarutobi put his palm over his eyes and sighed out, tired, "Whatever, I will talk with the two later. Let's finish this already." he signed to Iruka for him to continue the exams.
...
Looking that her little brother was nervous at the exams, she understood he needed some help.
"Hey, Naruto!" Kaname called out, "Catch!" a small black elongated object flew towards the blonde.
"A black felt-tip pen? What ~ttebayo?" he looked back at his sister, with questions written in his eyes.
Kaname winked playfully back at him.
"Ah! Iruka-sensei, you said I could choose to fight with anyone present here, right?" he asked.
"Yes, but you can't fight your classmates, so, Naruto, who do you want to fight with?"
"Hehe~ I choose to fight Iruka-sensei and Hokage-jiji at the same time!"
"Hah?" Iruka shook his head after his ears played tricks on him, "Can you repeat that, Naruto?"
"Me versus you and Hokage-jiji." Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head.
"Eh... But... He is the Hokage..."
"Hohoho! I accept, Naruto-kun." The said old man walked out into the training field.
"Say Jiji, if I win, will you pass the hat to me ~ttebayo?"
"Na-ru-tooo," Iruka growled out.
"What? It's just a question, Iruka-sensei."
"*Cough* First you have to defeat me, Naruto-kun. Second, it's not so easy to become Konoha's Hokage."
"Hehe, I have a technique that will knock you both out and leave you in heaps of your own blood!" he shouted out the pen at his opponents.
"Naruto, you can't harm the village's leader. ANBU will stop you." Iruka pointed out.
"Ready?" Naruto put his hands in a characteristic clone hand-seal, "Start! <Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu> [Multiple Shadow Clones Technique]" The training field instantly got flooded by several dozens of Naruto's exact copies.
"Hou~, Shodaime's kinjutsu [Forbidden Technique]. With never before seen amount of clones. Not bad, Naruto-kun, but it's not enough to get my position."
"Hehe, prepare to get blown away by my hidden move, Jiji! <Hāremu no Jutsu>!" All Naruto's clones burst into clouds of smoke. When the haze lifted, the field was overflowing with dozens of naked, beautiful females.
Each Naruto's clone had to choose a different type of beauty. Some were blonde with large breasts, others had long-raven hair, others had long legs or perfectly sculpted bodies. Each 'girl' was special in her own kind. The remaining smoke covered only the parts of their breasts and genitals. Soon the 'girls' swarmed the two astonished ninjas.
"It's so cold, Hokage-sama~. Can you hug me?" asked the blonde with a sultry voice, pushing the old man's arm between 'her' breasts.
"Me too~, I have fallen in the lake, Iruka-sensei. It's soo~ cold..." a hazel-haired girl hugged the stunned chūnin from his back.
"I was a bad girl, Hokage-sama~." A black-haired beauty put the old man's head in her bust.
More and more girls started hugging their bodies - the result of Naruto's technique was easy to predict. Both ninjas were blown back off their feet from nasal blood loss. Seeing two unconscious but very happy men, lying at his feet, Naruto dispelled the technique.
"Ha, the old pervert had it coming!" one of Hokage's female ANBU laughed out.
"We must help him!" her male counterpart pointed out.
"You will not move from here," Kaname commanded.
Under the scrutinizing stare of four closeby females, the ANBU lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"And hide your boner." Kaname joked, making his hands quickly come back down.
As Naruto began his art over his opponents' faces, two women walked to Kaname.
"So he defeated the old man? Welp, it's hard to disclaim the results. You win this time, Kana-chan."
"Miko-chan is right. But it's far from the end! My Hime will win sooner rather than later. You will see!"
"Hmm, you are not mad at Naruto for using such perverted technique?" Kaname questioned.
Mikoto shrugged her shoulders, "Seducing your target is only one of the sides of the life of a shinobi. I'm more peeved at Hokage for getting caught in such an obvious trap."
"Exactly. None of us kunoichis will let Sarutobi-sama live it through any time soon."
...
"N-A-R-U-T-OOO!" Iruka growled out at the grinning blonde boy in a square red hat on his head, hiding his blue eyes. With his felt-tip pen, Naruto drew an eye blindfold over Iruka's right eye, joined-up his brows, colored his two front teeth black, and scribbled over his forehead words: 'Journeyman Pervert.'
"Hehehe, I win, Iruka-sensei." Naruto laughed out.
"I will skin your-"
"Wait, Iruka-kun." The old man slowly stood up, his receding hairline now received a redo of black pen strokes, the wrinkled face was now branded by several thick-red lipstick markings.
"But-"
"What if Kana-chan gave him a kunai instead of a simple felt-tip? In a single swift move, and perfect use of ... unique technique, Naruto-kun 'killed' us."
"Hehehe," Naruto flicked the corner of his hat, "It's not a simple felt-tip pen, Jiji. It's a permanent marker!"
"NARUTO!" Iruka charged at the boy, only for the clone to disappear in a cloud of smoke. "Return the hat!"
"Catch me if you can, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto laughed out from the other side of the training field.
創作者的想法 
dahnik
dahnik Some rest from the action is required :-), 3.9k words this week. I hope you liked the chapter. As always I want to read your comments/ideas/reviews, every bit helps :-) Keep the PSs stones coming - with your help more ppl will find this story :-). If you did not vote yet, there is a poll in the previous chapter for you :-P. Damn, what a ride, 98th chapter already, and only just now I caught up with the canon story :-).
If you found any mistakes please inform me :-) I don't like mistakes :-).