Chapter 35
3 months later- mid August
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Naruto sat beside Minato in the most awkward and tense meeting she had ever borne witness. And she had been part of meetings with Kurotsuchi flirting with poor Choujiro.
Across the two of them was the Raikage A and current Mizukage Mei, the latter was attempting to seduce Kakashi whenever she was not in a meeting. Personally, Naruto was just pleased she wasn't flirting with Minato.
Honestly, she could take kage acting like angry teenagers, and she understood where they were all coming from since she had been in their shoes before- kind of.
The things she couldn't take was Mei's guards. She had bought Kisame, Zabuza and Mangetsu. The same teenager, she and Shisui, had argued about a few months ago. They had talked about it only once after that when they had the awkward ex's talk which was long on Naruto's end and non-existent on Shisui's end.
She could feel how tense Shisui was and she thought about creating a seal which would allow her to transfer her chakra into him without touching him. She made a mental note to make one when she got out of today's meeting.
Minus the tense air that none of the kage seemed to be aware of, the meeting had gone well enough. They discussed further into the pros and cons of the additional benefits each village would gain and had come up with something similar to Konoha's treaty with Suna.
Genin would be trained by jonin from other villages, shared imports and exports, sharing of jutsu which were not kinjutsu or clan techniques. There were other benefits, but these were the most notable.
After five hours of discussion, they adjourned the meeting and agreed to come the same time tomorrow for another and final session.
Naruto and a masked Shisui made their way through the village without drawing much attention till a very familiar voice called out, "Yo, Naruto!"
Naruto turned around with a smile on her face as Killer Bee made his way over to the secret couple, his arms doing that flap/wave that he liked to do.
Hey, she wasn't one to judge.
"What's up B?" she asked once he caught up, and they carried on walking.
When B didn't answer, she turned to look at him and saw he was busy looking at food stalls. Naruto was a big eater whenever she ate, but that was mostly due to her not eating very often, so food had not been on her mind when she should have recalled her boyfriend needed food.
She let B pick and buy whatever he wanted as she looked around for a place where they could all eat and noticed the Akimichi restaurant and mentioned they should go and eat there and then could go for a drink afterwards.
Going for drinks with B usually meant the two of them would have a drinking competition to see who could last the longest which was always Naruto since Kurama was never happy to allow Naruto to be intoxicated.
That, and her Uzumaki blood filtered through it relatively quickly as well.
She didnt see the appeal today though since she knew a certain someone would appear and that'd be awkward for everyone.
The eating part of the day went off without any problem, that was until dessert arrived and so did the one person she didnt want to meet today.
"Well, well, well. I hadn't thought we'd get the privilege to run into you so soon, Lady Namikaze." Spoke Mangestu and Kisame snorted.
"You gotta love how the brat makes it seem like he didn't just drag us to where you chakra was." Spoke Zabuza sarcastically and she gave the man a smile.
"I've seen worse cases like this to be honest. There was this one fanboy from.... Taki if I'm correct who followed me through Ame to Kusa and even when I returned to Konoha. He just could not take a hint." She gave him a suggestive eyebrow wiggle and the elder two swordsmen and Killer B laughed.
Mangetsu in the other hand scowled, "I wouldn't call me a fanboy."
Naruto quirked a brow and leaned back in her seat, her hand under the table clutching Shisuis clenched fist, "Looking for me, lurking in the shadows, sending me letters attempting to talk to me whenever you cam... the list goes on. Do you deny them?"
Mangestus face went a very interesting shade if red thanks to the fact he was as pale as paper.
He grabbed a chair from the table next to then and sat down, ignoring the burning gaze if her boyfriend. Or at least she thought, "Shouldn't ANBU be in the shadows? Your guard should be hiding." He stated, sparing Shisui a minor glance as he scowled at her.
Naruto shrugged her shoulders, "I quite prefer him to be closer to me. He can fend off all the biys with a single glare."
Kisame chuckled from where he stood, "I imagine that makes your sex life very boring."
Naruto gave him a smirk, "Not at all. My boyfriend keeps me plenty entertained and my ex boyfriend used to do the same. You remember Kakashi, dont you Mangetsu?"
His face gave nothing away, "I didn't realise you and the Copy Ninja were dating."
"Ex. We used to date. I dont need you rileing up my boyfriend by making him jealous."
Zabuza quirked a brow, "You make it seem like he's here. We know it can't be Hebi over here since dating you and guarding you would be a conflict of interest."
"My boyfriend has ears everywhere. People like to talk in villages and he would no doubt hear about this conversation and I dont want him needlessly upset."
She reached for her drink as Mangetsu replied, "So who is your boyfriend?"
She let out a heavy sigh as she placed her cup down, "Were keeping it on the DL for now since other clans would see it as favouritism or something like that." Shw waved her hand and the three adults nodded their heads in understanding.
"I find that if you like someone enough the opinions of others shouldn't matter. Unless you're ashamed of dating this person." Replied Mangestu and by his face Naruto knew he meant no harm by it but it struck a nerve on Shisui who stiffened.
"I do agree but sometimes life is a bitch and we have to make due with the cards we've been dealt. Im6very outspoken." She and everyone minus shisui scoffed or chuckled in acknowledgement. "And because I'm like that, keeping my relationship a secret... it makes me feel bad. I honestly just feel like running around the village, screaming I'm dating him and that everyone else can kiss my ass." She placed her head on her hand, letting out a heavy breath. "But I know that's not going to happen. There will be fighting within the village. I'm the 'honourable daughter of the fourth hokage', and I need to be aware of whats going on around me." She said making speech marks with her hands.
Sadly, whilst her explanation made sense to the others, it did nothing to soothe her boyfriend next to her so she but she knew they couldn't change their current situation.
It wasn't that easy.
The group carried on, Shisui choosing to lurk in the shadows as to 'scope out the area' which left Naruto with a bad feeling in her stomach.
After a short while the group went back to the hokage's office as the break was over and they had to attend the meeting once again.
Upon entering Minato's office Naruto noticed the absence of her father which waswhen the tsuchikage looked at her. "The hokage had to leave to attend to some matters with your daimyo and said you could take over his part in this meeting."
Naruto nodded and sat in Minato's seat, wearing her metaphorical hokage cloak. "Which matters do you wish to address first, Lord Tsuchikage?" she asked.
Onoki raised a brow, clealy not expecting her to address him first. "I wished to address a trade deal that could benifit all people."
"Each nation has something to put on the table here." spoke the gruff voice of the Raikage.
"I agree. Each nation should supply something of equal value." added Mei.
Naruto took note that they all seemed more calm with her being here and not Minato.
Rude.
"Konoha can offer better trade deals in general to each nation. Food, water, medical aid, builders and many more. There's a notepad and paper in front of each of you, if you don't already know what you need or want from any of the nations then write it down and we can discuss it further. What are your thoughts, Lord Kakekage?" Naruto spoke diplomatically hoping she could keep the peace in the room as she felt a spike of annoyance from Rasa.
"Suna isn't as... fruitful as the other nations. What can we provide to each nation that the others don't already have in abudance?" he asked and Naruto frowned. True, Suna didn't have a lot and it couldbe exploited for that but they also had some things that the others did not.
Before Naruto could answer, Mei spoke up, "You're currently providing Kiri and Konoha aid on missions and people to teach about poisons and antidotes. You're also providing us with glass." Naruto chuckledat the last one. It was arguably the most important given how many windows we shinobi break.
The Tsuchikage and Raikage nodded. The last time she had gone to either of those two counties they didn't have windows. 'Saying that, neither does Suna.' spoke Kurama and Naruto realised he was right, Konoha seemed to be the only one who actively had glass covering every window. Maybe because they could afford for all the repairs.
"Write down what we all want in general and another sheet write what you can provide. We'll send those to be copied and hand a copy of everyones sheet to each person." Naruto said and everyone got to writing. There wasn't a lot Konoha needed considering they already had so many contracts so she thought of what the other could provide and wrote those down.
The rest of the meeting went down in similar manner and before any of them knew it, it was time for them to retire for the night. Tomorrow they would continue matters.
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Naruto hadn't seen Shisui for a few days after the first day of meetings even though she knew he was in the village. She figured he needed some space or had things to deal with with his clan.
She walked through the village aimlessly, not having a mission to complete as the five kage summit was going on and was currently not allowed in the meeting they were having.
She contemplated going to see Obito but shook her head only to have someone she didn't expect to see run into her leg-sakura.
The little pinkette looked as she had when Naruto had first been growing up and looked very red in the face about something. She was also talking to the blonde however she want listening. Instead naruto patted her head and carried on walking.
Deciding against looking for anyone she knew she decided to go do some training, growing when she realises she hadn't done any in some time.
With a new objective in mind she turned around and ran to the forest of death, hoping no one would notice her training if she was around chakra based creatures.
When she hot to the gates she noted they were locked, odd as no one had reserved the forest today since it wasn't on the roster outside the mainforest gate. Which meant someone was in the forest that shouldn't be in the forest.
Mentally letting out a sigh she went in to find out who they were and tell them to fill in the damn paperwork on their own instead of making her having to deal with it all later instead.
Reaching out her stage chakra, she felt the life around her, sending other chakra sources and trying to identify the people in there.
She didn't recognise them.
Frowning, she went further in the forest where thr small lake was and saw three shinobi with no headbands. They weren't from konoha, and they weren't envoys since she had met them all. She decided to sit on the high branch where they wouldn't see her.
Deciding them to be none hostile to konoha she fazed then out of her direct thought and went into her mind scape. As usual whenever she went through the long way she had to pass her corridor or memories, doors all lined up and all labelled accordingly.
Kurama said she was torturing herself unnecessarily and her hokage persona always said wasting time thinking of a past that ceased to exist.
But it was what made her, defined her, her memories were words of a book that were published and could never be erased. Whilst she wished some memories never existed she always looked back at them- those hard times were what made her into what she was and helped her be the beacon on light her people had needed, even if she was in the depth of darkness in her soul.
Her hand pressed against the engraving if one particular door, the time she met Itachi after the war, when he had been reanimated to clear his name to the whole village. He hadn't wanted to do it, but he had no choice as she had resurrected him.
It broke a piece of her heart when she heard his side of what happened and not the version told to her hy others. Because whilst he didn't show it, his chakra weeped for the family he killed, it burned at the loss of lives by his hands. But a part of his sadness was from leaving his brother without family. When he had said his piece she took him aside to speak with him, saying he had done what was ordered and despite everything konoha had done, he remained loyal.
She gave him the option to stay, she had an endless supply of chakra that could keep him and he had agreed.
For one day.
He wished to be here in day to day life for a single day to spend time with his brother. She had allowed him to do as he pleaded. Even if bu the second day, when it was time to say goodbye, sasukes heart and chakra wept for having to say goodbye again.
She hadn't thought of her brother in arms, only of the man who gave up everything to protect them.
Going passed the door she carried on to the part where everyone was and was greeted to the sight of her Male persona playing a game of shogi with her hokage persona. She furrowed her brows and went over to them to see who was winning and was slightly miffed that the hokage version of her was winning.
'I see you're all enjoying yourselves whilst I sit in Boredom in real life.'
They looked at her and blinked before going back to the game.
It was her Male persona that replied, 'well if you went along with sparring with others you wouldn't be bored would ya.'
Scowling the hokage replied, 'the number of people that serve a challenge to us in a fight came be counted on one hand and none of them are available. It would be a waste of time. She could simply be at the meetings and be hokage. That would keep her occupied.'
'And she'd be done with her paperwork in a matter of minutes. It's never taken her long.'
'You on the other hand take far too long to deal with any of her work.'
'Rude. I'll refresh your memory a bit apparently. I was made to be lazy, the deadlast. She didn't make me to be productive.'
Naruto had to agree he had a point. The longest running prank she had ever pulled and it gave her great pride in knowing that simple fact that no one suspected it. Minus a few that knew.
No one said anything and so she went over to kurama who looked to be sleeping but she knew better than that, what are the others saying?
Kurama slowly opened his red slotted eyes and stared at her before using a tail to lift her onto his head, Son says the tsuchikage is perhaps planning something. Though he cannot confirm. His jinchuriki has not been told anything.
Naruto contemplated this information. Onoki hadn't seemed all that different than normal. She hadn't sensed him acting suspiciously. Perhaps it was a rumour or perhaps a preference of the village elders in Iwa
"In either situation, my brothers jinchurikis are looking into it.'
Naruto clocked her tongue before resting into the red fur of her longest friend and companion trying to ignore all the negative thoughts racing through her mind.
She didn't want to think ill of the guests in the village but if they planned on attacking they needed to be ready. Konoha was ready prepared ao she could relax on that front.
Chief, murmured the blonde Kage and they all turned their heads to look at the other persona. 'The people that were in the forest. I remember reading his files. He's a member of a dead clan that he does not name. His name and basic information is unknown to us. All I know is he is called Chief as he was the first leader of both the ANBU and the hunter corps.'
At this, everyone looked to the corner where the female hunter member stood decorating her skin with seals, purposely not making eye contact with the others. 'He was dead by the time I entered the corps. I never met him. All i know is he taught every generation of ANBU and hunters to be as deadly as they were but he also taught kunoichi to be badass. I believe he told them "your body is a temple to be worshiped and a weapon to be revered." A quote we have all come to believe as a fact than as a quote.'
Naruto decided to drop any further conversation and left her mind scape. She narrowed her eyes at this Chief person. She really wanted to know more about him but figured it would be in her best interest to simply leave the man to it. Even if it was odd for him to be talking to another person in the middle of the forest of death.
Looking at the sky she realised hardly any time had passed and took note that she had done nothing productive all day. So, for what felt like the tenth time that day she turned and made her way to the clan district.
Despite technically being a member of the Namikaze family and a member of thr uzumaki clan, Naruto only ever visited the clan district. She had no need to remain in a district that wouldn't feel like home. Too big and not enough noise. It would drive her mad, as it had done to Kakashi sensei.
She stopped at a familiar wooden door near a forest and knocked on it, and not a moment later a member of the Yamanaka clan opened it.
Years of training ensured she didn't raise her brow in confusion and instead voiced it noncommittaly, "what bring a yamanaka to the gates of the nara clan?"
She didn't particularly care either way. Once her initial confusion had worn off she remembered she didn't care about the goings on of other people which was a bad attitude of a Kage so it was a good thing she wasnt one anymore.
The man bowed to her, a cat she was used to after so many years of people wishing to respect her, whether as their saviour, the hokage or simply due to her relations with their Kage.
"I am here to see my sick team mate my lady. he fell I'll during our last mission." Came the mans reply and it took naruto a moment to realise he was the lover of the nara male that had fallen ill some months ago due to a slow progressing poison.
"Daisuke Yamanaka. Teammate and long standing lover of Eichi nara. Has he been seen by lady tsunade?" Naruto ignored the flinch when she mentioned he was lovers with the nara and it took her a moment to realise why.
She mentally scoffed at the mentality of others. Who cares who people fall in love with or simply enjoy to fuck? It had nothing to do with them.
"I-i have not, my lady." Came his reply in a quiet and shuttered breath.
She clicked her tongue before shaking her head, "you ought to do so. She'll be able to help. I'd offer my own support however it isn't wise for people that have not spent time around me to be healed by me." She gave the man a sharp look and he nodded his head before leaving into knew of the rooms.
Just as the man left, the muffled sounds of running children began and she turned around to see mini shikamaru, chouji and kiba coming her way and she prepared herself for the hug attack that was to ensue with a smile on her face.
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