Fishing
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the Naruto universe.
Thinking (+ flashbacks, etc.)
Emphasis
Bijuu, etc. speaking
Bijuu, etc. thinking
Naruto had just finished having a long talk with her bijuu - the one that would talk to her anyway. He had scolded her for falling hopelessly in love with Yahiko, reminding her that she shouldn't "covet" someone else's property, and that clearly, Yahiko belonged to Konan. Sweet, beautiful Konan who was nice to her even when she'd been ugly and showed how jealous she was. How embarrassing.
It just made her even less attractive to Yahiko.
Ugh! Stop thinking like that, Naruto!
The blonde really wasn't sure how to handle all of these new emotions. She'd never been in love or even had a crush on someone before now! She remembered Sakura, Ino, and Ami pining over Sasuke and once again felt nauseous. She never wanted to be like them!
"How are you holding up, Naruto?"
"Oh! Nagato! I'm fine, I'm fine," Naruto mumbled shyly. Kurama had told her a bunch of stuff that she had to let him know, but also mentioned that he might not want to hear any of it. She wasn't quite sure how to bring it up, especially since she didn't really understand a lot of it. And from what Kurama had said, she didn't really want to understand it all, either.
What he'd told her about a possible future was ugly and terrifying.
"Sometimes I need someone to talk to; how about you?" Nagato asked, smiling down at the teen Jiraiya-sensei had brought to their village. He looked up into the sky when the girl shrugged and shook his hair back. Although he normally hid his eyes, (they made most people uncomfortable,) today was a rare sunny day in the Land of Rain, and the warmth he was basking in wouldn't last long. Snow and sleet would soon overtake the streets, but Nagato couldn't help but feel positive. He chuckled to himself; there was so much he, his friends, and comrades had to do; this would probably be one of the last days he could just relax. The sun shining down on them was wonderful and hopefully a good omen for what was to come.
"I used to like a girl," Nagato admitted, getting the little blonde's attention. "She liked someone else, but for a while, I didn't see it."
"What happened?" Naruto asked as she pushed a thick strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well, she was one of my best friends, you see. It didn't take me too long to see that she liked another friend of ours. Well," Nagato chuckled again, "actually it may have taken a couple of years before I wised up. Looking back, I think I started liking her when I was around 11, and I guess I was around your age before I figured things out."
Naruto frowned and didn't think she understood. "What did you figure out?"
"Oh, Naruto," he sighed, then remembered what his sensei had told him "Hey! Did you know that your name came from a book Jiraiya-sensei wrote about me - or at least some things I said and... well, still deeply believe in? So you're named after me!"
"Really?! That's - that's super cool, 'ttebayo. That makes us even more family, huh?!"
Nagato tilted his head and thought that was sweet. "If you'd like, I suppose. ...Imouto."
Naruto looked up at the redhead and smiled after realizing that he wasn't making fun of her. Nagato's hair was just like her mother's, and in the sunshine it glowed like what she could imagine a comet would look like if it was racing down to earth, fire trailing behind it. So cool. She couldn't stop a giggle from escaping her, so she bumped him with her shoulder. "Okay. If you say so."
The redhead cleared his throat and looked down his nose at her. "And you're supposed to call me?"
"Oh! Umm... Aniki?" she nearly squeaked.
"Very good. I think I actually like this," Nagato said to himself as much as Naruto.
"What do you mean you think so? You're the one who called me your little sister!"
"Ah, but you're the one that said we were family, ne?"
"But we are! We're both Uzumakis. I'm half, but I'd bet anything that you're as much Uzumaki as my mom... Well, she's all Uzumaki and I guess one of your parents could have hair that got covered up by the Uzumaki genes or whatever they're called, and..."
"Naruto, wait, wait, wait! I, ano... hmm. Why do you think I'm an Uzumaki?"
"What?!" Naruto almost squawked. "Why DON'T you think you're an Uzumaki? It's SO obvious to me that you are." When Nagato still didn't seem to get it, Naruto stood up and put her hands on her hips. "Check your chakra, Aniki! It's like mine, right?" Nagato still looked confused even as he seemed to do as she'd asked, so Naru decided it was time for her to go find Ero-sennin. He was probably doing something he shouldn't be and the blonde really didn't want to get into trouble here.
Ame was really nice! Wet. But nice!
"Wait up!" Nagato quickly caught up with her and continued to look down at the determined girl. They did have similar chakra: both had more than generous reserves; their chakra flowed the same way - had the same wild nature that he'd never seen in anyone before. Could he really have family out there? Nagato knew of the Uzumaki clan, knew of their red hair and other commonly known facts, but he'd never imagined that he was one of them.
He was just an orphan; his parents were killed in a war that crossed their borders. He was a street rat... He really couldn't remember his parents' last names.
"So what about you and this girl? Why'd ya start telling me about that?"
So intrigued by the idea of having family out there somewhere - anywhere - Nagato had nearly forgotten that he was originally trying to cheer the girl up!
"The girl, huh? Well, what can I tell you, Naruto? She fell in love with someone else. As her friend and someone who cares deeply about her, I have only ever wanted her to be happy. Because we care about the happiness of the ones we love, ne?"
Naruto stopped and looked up into his purple Sage-eyes. She'd learned about them from Kurama, of course. Kurama said that his eyes were dangerous and needed to be protected or destroyed, but all Naruto saw was kindness coming through them. "Who is this girl? Should I have a talk with her, 'cause you seem like a good catch!"
Sakura and Ino used to talk about boys being "catches" a lot.
Nagato smiled and placed his hand over his heart. "You flatter me, Uzumaki-hime!" He got a kick out of the way the girl snorted at him. He had a bad habit of snorting, too. "And no. There's no need to talk to her, because..."
"Because what? Won't you be sad and love her forever and be depressed, watching her from the shadows?"
"Y-Eee," the redhead groaned. "Have you been watching soap operas?!" She shook her head no, but Nagato wondered. "You meet more people as you get older, Naruto. You become wiser, learn more about yourself, and learn what it is you want in life. What you believe is romantic love when you're young often turns out to be friendship."
If you're lucky.
Naruto hummed as she thought about what he said for quite a while. "What do you want, Nagato?" she eventually asked, genuinely curious.
He sighed, wondering how their little talk became so circuitous and far-reaching. "Peace more than anything. I've lived through war and never want to see it again."
"I want that, too," Naruto agreed, feeling very strongly about it. "But I want a real peace that people are willing to work for. We'll always have to work hard even if we're able to achieve peace, ya know?" For some reason, it was something that Naruto had always thought about a lot.
"You're right," Nagato agreed after a beat. He'd imagined peace, dreamed of it! In those dreams, he was always older and finally able to sit back to let the next generations enjoy what he and his friends had achieved. It wouldn't be that easy. And a child is the one to make me think more of it.
Nagato didn't beat himself up too badly for it. He had been so busy since Jiraiya-sensei got him off the streets, and so young, haunted, and starving before that. He rarely had time for deep philosophical discussions.
His thoughts were also always clearer when he spoke with others.
Naruto, who had sat back down at Konan's workstation, folded another crane successfully - pretty much. "What do you want for yourself after that - or while you're working for that peace?" The blonde then yawned, having been up most of the night and getting up early again in the morning. She stretched and smiled up at her new friend/brother when he didn't respond to her. "You mentioned getting smarter and learning more about yourself... Guess you've learned more today, huh? After all, you didn't even know that you're an Uzumaki."
She saw Jiraiya talking to Yahiko and Konan and skipped off to greet them.
Nagato looked through the window into the sunset and smiled at the rainbow that had appeared over their country. What do I want for myself? How would I want to live in a peaceful world... or even in one that's struggling? He'd been fighting to live or training to fight for as long as he could remember. Do I really have family out there? Konan and Yahiko were his family but it would be...
Hmm. Would it be wrong to want to learn if I have more blood relatives out there?
What a strange child you are, Uzumaki Naruto.
"I can't believe what a sap you are!"
"I'm you, dumbass," Kurama muttered back to his larger, whole self.
"To think that I, Kurama, the Great Kyubi no Kitsune, eldest and most magnificent of my eight siblings, Father's favored son, would stoop so low as to advise a Ningen on her love life!"
"Tch!" Kurama turned away from his caged larger self. At least his prison was open once again. Naruto crying into his fur about her silly crush on a boy was embarrassing, though.
"You are clearly not me," the whole Kyuubi smirked. "Using a genjutsu to fool the moronic kit into believing that you and your chakra is the same pathetic half of what it was before? Tch!" Nose in the air, he continued. "Perhaps you have even used a genjutsu to fool me: that would make more sense."
Kurama glared at his whole self before rolling his eyes and closing them again. "To suggest that you could fall prey to my genjutsu proves that you are not so incredible after all."
Kurama was beyond exasperated and sick of his large other self to a degree he wouldn't have been able to previously imagine. It was hard to believe that he used to be this much of an ass! However, he did notice that his larger self used the words "Ningen" and "Kit" to refer to Naruto. He supposed that was progress. Surely Inari-sama would be happy with him. Honest to the goddess herself, he was doing the best he could with a frequently time-traveling jinchuuriki with memory issues and his other self: his other self that...
"Perhaps you've disguised yourself, Tanuki?"
"I will fucking kill you," Kurama said reflexively. They both knew it wasn't true. But to bring up Shukaku? That was just dirty pool.
Orochimaru wasn't really sure what he wanted, so he began to make a list.
1. Rule the World
2. Bring my parents back
3. Lean all jutsus ever invented
4. Gain respect for my vast intellect and incredible skill
5. Ensure that I will be forever remembered and admired
6. Smite all my enemies
7. Create cures for all diseases known to mankind
8. Lead a cult - possibly
9. Never die
10. Create poisons that cannot be traced and
"What are you doing, Rochi-kun?" Tsunade asked as she tried to sneak up on her Genin teammate. She knew that he sensed her, even though she'd done a proper job of hiding her chakra because he hid what he was writing.
That just would not do!
She shocked him when she jumped on top of him as her hand dove into the stainless steel drawer he'd yet to seal.
"Tsunade!" Orochimaru cried. "Get off of me! I'd expect this nonsense from Jiraiya, but not from you!" He summoned a set of snakes to grab her, but Tsunade just punched them out of existence. He sighed and grabbed her perfectly manicured hands. "STOP!"
"What are you hiding, hmm? Let me see it!"
"You're drunk," he said, disgusted. "Come back when you're sober and then we can discuss your mental health issues as professionals. OWW!" Tsunade had flicked him in the forehead. "Honestly Senju, this is my lab!"
"I know that. And I'm not drunk! What?" she asked, outraged that Orochimaru looked like he didn't believe her. "I just had a single drink with Kushi-chan but that's all I've had all day! I've been working at the hospital: you can ask Shizune! Now, what are you hiding?"
"Nothing," he lied while using iryo ninjutsu to heal his aching head. Tsunade and Jiraiya and their head flicks were nightmares. He never particularly liked doing that. He much preferred to bite people or have his snakes do his bidding for him in such circumstances. "And you're too close. Go stand over there." He tried to shoo his Genin teammate away but she just settled down more in his lap, making him squirm. As soon as he was desperate enough to substitute with one of his flasks, Tsunade reached into the drawer that remained unsealed and pulled out his list.
"STOP. You're one to know how important privacy is," he said angrily.
"Meh. Too late now, and what is this?" She looked up at her longtime friend and teammate from the list that she was reading. Orochimaru looked deeply angry and put out with her, making her grin up at him warmly. "I know you, Rochi-kun. For you to make a list like this, something has to really be bothering you; and I'm sorry." She held up her hands in surrender. "Genuinely!" Orochimaru snatched the list out of her hand and Tsunade walked over to rub his shoulders. "So what's on your mind and what is that list all about?" She patted his back even as Orochimaru made a fuming noise at her and jerked away, so she pinched the shoulder she had been rubbing harder. "You tell me some of your supposed secrets, and I'll tell you mine. How 'bout that?"
"Tsk! As if you'd ever willingly volunteer any personal information about yourself that I don't already know."
"I guess I won't then? And to think that I was in a sharing mood." She patted the wiry shoulders that she'd been rubbing and turned to examine the experiments that her teammate had brewing. The more she went around the room the more impressed she was, although considering Orochimaru's genius, perhaps she shouldn't be. She was also glad that at least in this lab, everything was on the up and up.
"Has Jiraiya told you anything... interesting lately?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at the woman. Yes, he and Jiraiya had recently spoken about many things, especially the whole predicament involving the pervert's time-traveling (and probable jinchuuriki) goddaughter. He certainly didn't have all of the S-classed information that he would like to know about the girl and her circumstances, though.
Would Tsunade tell him more? Could he get the identity of the young man who had eventually killed him? Did she know the jutsus or anything else that had been blacked out in the report that he read on the girl? "Perhaps Tsunade, I have been too harsh. It has been a... long time since we've shared a drink, hasn't it?
Tsunade smirked up at her teammate from the chair she was now occupying. Orochimaru was so full of shit. She still was very curious about that list and his mindset, though, and perhaps he could also give her some of the information that Jiraiya - of all people - seemed to have that she lacked. As long as her dark-haired teammate didn't inject her with anything, she'd be fine. Plus, there was very little she wasn't immune to after being one of his two reluctant lab rats when they were younger.
Orochimaru was immune to almost every poison or toxin known to man. There was one thing that affected him and did so quickly, however, and that was alcohol. She'd be ahead of their game, she was sure.
Fucking lightweight, she internally jeered.
"I think a drink sounds lovely, O-rochi-kun."
"I'm sorry I was such a brat before," Naruto said sheepishly.
"Nonsense," Konan said with a smile. She watched Naruto attempt to fold an origami crane and was pleased that the bubbly blonde's efforts were coming along nicely. It was surprising, though, that the girl had never done this before. Konan thought that this was something that was taught to all little girls, if not an art that was passed between mothers and daughters. "Although maybe you were a little bit of a brat before."
Naruto looked up at the purple-haired woman's face and realized that she was teasing her. She grinned back but averted her eyes. "Do you think Yahiko will forgive me, too?" Konan nodded and winked at her, making Naru sigh. "You're so lucky to have a boyfriend like that; he even has orange hair! That's gotta be the coolest thing I've ever seen! Plus he's so fun." She smiled up at Konan, expecting to see her agree, but the woman looked shaken. "What?!"
"B- Boyfriend?!" Konan ultimately stammered. "Naruto I don't know where you've gotten that idea, but I can assure you... Yahiko and I are just good friends!"
A smile crept up the whiskered girl's face before she began laughing.
"Then you better get a move on, sister," Naruto laughed more. "'Cause he's what the girls call a 'catch;' both your friends are!" She sighed sadly and pouted before continuing, her voice just over a whisper. "I've never like-liked somebody before, 'ttebane."
"Oh, I see," Konan said kindly. "Boys are confusing, huh?"
"Yeah. Back home they're okay, especially if they'll buy me ramen." Konan giggled at her, and Naruto had to explain herself. "What? Ramen's the greatest!"
"Konan," Yahiko called from around the corner. "Do you think you can give me a hand?" He winked at Naruto, making her blush brightly and look away, then gave a goofy open-mouthed smile to his Akatsuki partner, wiggling his eyebrows to make the picture all the more ridiculous. Konan shook her head at his silliness and directed Naruto to make a smaller crane, telling her that she'd be back to check on her progress.
"She's a good kid," Konan said with a smile in passing. Once in the kitchen, she continued. "For having such a heavy burden, she's remarkably well-adjusted."
"Then it only makes sense that she's in love with me!"
"Oh shush, you," Konan said, looking behind her to make sure that neither Naruto nor her sensei was within hearing distance. "Don't make fun of a girl's crush."
He hummed as he washed his hands. "She said I'm a catch," Yahiko grinned as he began to debone a huge fish.
Konan groaned in exasperation. "You were listening! Shame on you!" She felt her face heating up as she realized that Yahiko may have heard Naruto's remarks about them being a couple. "A-and you're about as much of a catch as this fish!"
Yahiko chuckled and moved, leaning back against the kitchen counter to look at the woman he'd long loved in the eyes. "And yet you've caught me," he smiled at her affectionately, loving the way that she blushed even harder. She seemed to be trying but failing to look away from him: that was good. "I'm ensnared in your net, yours to do with as you wish." Konan's eyes had grown wide, making his heart soar. "Here I am in front of you, flopping around, desperate for your attention and love - just as much as a fish out of water struggling to breathe..."
"Yahiko," Konan breathed, moving closer to him. He moved forward slowly, then kissed her tenderly, barely brushing her lips with her own. "You're not just teasing me?" she asked.
"Never."
From the window outside, Jiraiya was madly writing down notes. He'd have to change their setting to somewhere that didn't reek of fish, to change the way his students were smooching and awkwardly brushing their undoubtedly smelly hands on each other, but Yahiko's phrasing was pretty good. With a little tweaking, he could really make something out of it.
Nagato made his way to the kitchen with silent footsteps, then wished he hadn't been trained so well. He walked backward even more carefully after what he saw, came to the room Naruto was in, and let out the breath he'd been holding. "Finally!"
"Finally what?" the girl asked. Seeing Nagato's face that was returning from its blooming red color, she sighed. "You saw them, too."
"Naruto-chan, were you spying on my friends?" Nagato asked as he sat down to fold paper. He figured he might as well enjoy his day off.
"Yeah," she pouted for a bit before looking up at him with clear big blue eyes. "I guess you're right about wanting what makes somebody else happy. When you lov- er, like them, I mean."
The redhead ruffled her hair, making her scowl and sloppily swipe at his arm. "I talked to sensei, Naruto," he said quietly. "He thinks you're right about me: that I am an Uzumaki."
"Of course I'm right!" Naruto remembered some things her mother told her and became contemplative. Maybe her parents or the pervert could help her warn Nagato about the dangers that came with his eyes? Plus her mom had been so lonely and sad about her home country and all the people she lost. "You should come to Konoha with us and meet my mom. I got a message from her saying that her cousin and baby got there a week ago; she sounded so happy! That means there are five of us now! Maybe together we could even find more Uzumakis." She looked up to see Nagato listening to her attentively, which was a little intimidating but flattering, she guessed. "Family should stick together."
"Hmm. While I agree with that Naruto, Konan and Yahiko are my family."
"So am I! Ne, you could at least visit, right?"
Nagato sat back and thought about it. He, Yahiko, and Konan had much to do to ensure the future security of Ame, but the thought of meeting some of his blood-related family moved him in a way that he didn't quite understand. Jiraiya-sensei had spoken of a treaty between Konoha and Ame, so perhaps he could take a diplomatic mission that would also allow him to visit his new little sister and meet his... clansmen?
"...Cousins?" - It was hard to imagine that he really might have family out there after all of these years. "Perhaps, Naruto." He looked at her latest origami attempt and sighed. "Let's try something easier."
The two sat in comfortable silence for nearly half an hour creating little animals from paper. It was calming, even for Naruto who was normally fairly hyper. A chill came over her as a memory or vision - something like that - appeared in her mind. The man beside her was hunting her, and he'd done something terrible. She slowly scooted away from him, hoping that he didn't notice. Naruto wanted to run but knew in her heart and mind that it would get her nowhere. Her skin prickled all over; she didn't know what to do. Nagato eventually noticed that she'd stopped folding the fan she was working on and looked into her frightened eyes in curiosity and concern.
The blonde found it hard to swallow and didn't know if what she was feeling or perhaps remembering was real. The REAL Nagato in front of her was just so kind and calm. She couldn't imagine him ever hurting anyone on purpose.
But he did or will: murdering tens if not hundreds of thousands, her conscience supplied. She hoped that she'd just been hit with a scary genjutsu, but just in case...
"Say Nagato," she began with a shaky voice and very dry throat, "just what would you be willing to do or sacrifice for peace?"