Red and White
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
"Powerful/Demonic Talking"
"Powerful/Demonic Thoughts"
"Flashbacks/Entities"
Roger9481: Whooped? Really? Are you serious? Sorry to be a jerk but…really? Look closely to what I typed back in Chapter 14, I typed "the Klaximus are able to go toe to toe with the GSF…" and yours, "whooped". "Toe to toe" and "whooped". I never typed or even said "the Klaximus whooped the GSF", are they the same meaning to you? You tell me.
Thor94: Good lord, have some patience lol! Don't worry! I don't want to rush that fast! XD
Guest: As to how Akia is talking…well…you gotta wait! It'll come soon though! :D
Anyways…ONWARDS! FOR THE GSF!
0000 Chapter Start
"Daddy?" Akia asked as she looked around herself. "Real?"
"I am very real my child…" Kaizen assured. "This is no dream…but reality."
Akia's eyes stared intently at him as if trying to dispel some sort of illusion. Her right eye glowed as she focused on him…her eye…so similar to Kaizen's own. Then she did something unexpected…she hugged him. Hesitantly…Kaizen returned the affection thought lightly as if fearing she would break like glass. Her hands and fingers reaching and grabbing part of Kaizen's unnatural shadow cloak. Her finger's sifting through its unnatural cloth-like material. She continued to feel them and soon enough lifted them and rubbed her cheek against it. A small glint of tears slowly seeping from her eyes as she nuzzled the cloak.
"Real…real…" Akia croaked.
Kaizen hummed a soothing song in his throat as he held her close. Kaizen heard Akia sniffle and parted the hug to look at her, his finger, slowly wiping a tear that trailed down from one of her eyes.
"There, there my child…my beautiful child…" Kaizen cooed. "Your father is here…"
…
…
…
"Mi…miss…you. Thought…you…you…dead." Akia struggled to say.
Akia sniffed and more tears trickled down and Kaizen wiped them away.
"I…I see…forgive me little one…" Kaizen whispered. "I had thought…you were too…"
This time Kaizen hugged her, lifting her up slightly, Kaizen bent slightly forward before moving down to sit on the floor. He held Akia close to him as she continued to hold onto him, never letting go of him or his cloak which slowly slithered around him and wrapped around her, forming a large black blanket of sorts over them both. While in each other's embrace, Kaizen hummed a tune of sorts and rocked back and forth. While he was humming, Akia began to hum as well, her hum matching his in sync. The two both stayed in that position for quite a long period of time, both of them silent as they stayed within each other's affectionate embrace.
…
…
…
"Akia…" Kaizen spoke which caught her attention. "Though I am glad to have found you again…I am curious…why are you here? Why are you not with your clan?"
Akia looked around before patting her father's chest. The cloak the wrapped around them both slowly receded behind Kaizen allowing Akia to stand up and walk over to the night stand, opening the drawer she pulled out a notebook and grabbing a pen and writing in it.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"I'm not a little girl anymore daddy…I'm a shinobi now." She wrote.
"Oh?" Kaizen mumbled, his voice hinted with amusement. "No longer a little girl now hmm? Just my little snowy ninja now."
He then chuckled which earned a pout from Akia.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"The reason I'm not with my clan is that I had requested permission from uncle Ichiro…to…look for mother…and…perhaps you."
Akia sniffed again as a result before leaning closer to Kaizen's chest.
"Found you…found you." Akia whispered, her voice slightly cracked.
AKia snuggled closer to his body and Kaizen patted her head and hummed in response. They stayed together in a terse silence before Kaizen leaned away slightly to look at her.
"Color my curious…how did you get this yacht?" Kaizen asked. "I doubt you would have the money at hand to even afford one, let alone even maintain it."
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"I got it as a present from one of my clients. He wanted to come here but we went to Wave first since he wanted to do something there first. After he finished with whatever he did at Wave, he had this yacht waiting for me…as well as the extra payment." Akia wrote.
"Hmm…interesting. Who was this client?" Kaizen asked in a suspecting manner.
Akia didn't notice as she wrote down the description of her client.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"A little shorter and probably younger than me if his size was to say anything, had tanned colored skin tone, sun colored blonde hair, blue eyes…though one of them did turn red on some occasions and the other glowed, he also had three whisker marks on his cheeks, and he was wearing a tattered cloak." She wrote.
"Hmmmm…" Kaizen hummed as he nodded as his thoughts went to a specific blonde. "Name?"
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Naruto." She quickly wrote.
"What happened to your…client?" Kaizen asked.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"While we were making our way here, a storm hit us during the night. The waters got very rough and rowdy, made me very nervous. I was checking on Naruto who was working on making sure the sail wouldn't rip from the winds and the mast wouldn't be put with too much stress. Then…I recall…a loud cry like…then lots of water." Akia wrote the last part hesitantly as she tried to recall what happened.
"What happened next?" Kaizen asked, his voice becoming stern and demanding.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"I…I was washed off the yacht." She wrote and Kaizen growled as a result.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"The water was…freezing. I went under a few times and…I needed air but the waves were…crazy. I had only been in the water for a few minutes or so but…the conditions…it was frightening. I felt…tired…exhausted…I thought…I could slip away. But…Naruto…I think he made…clones…physical clones to get me. He saved me. Jumped right into the water and hauled me out." She continued writing and Kaizen's body relaxed.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"After saving me, his clones quickly took me back inside the yacht and took off most of my wet clothing and placed a lot of blankets on me. That's all I recall before passing out. The next day I woke up…he was gone. Not a single trace. I've been pretty much drifting around at this point, wondering if he washed up anywhere really." Akia finished before setting the notebook down and sighing.
Kaizen then hummed before speaking.
"I'm glad you're save little one." Kaizen whispered.
Kaizen then blinked as small idea came to mind.
"Hey." Kaizen whispered which caught her attention. "Want to come to my place? Much better and warmer than here I assure you."
Akia frowned before pointing at the floor, mentioning for her yacht.
"Don't worry too much, as long as the anchors are properly set and everything is off the yacht should be fine. So…you ready?" Kaizen asked after assuring her.
Akia only nodded in response. Nodding to himself, Kaizen motioned for her to come close which she did. His black cloak began to move as if alive and slowly wrapped around both of them, covering them in darkness. Before the darkness fully enveloped them, he pressed a few buttons on his arm for his mechanical companion to return to base. After that, he wrapped his arms around Akia before a black portal formed under them rising up and swallowing them.
0000 Back at base…
"Chiyo? Akako?" Naruto mentally spoke as he walked into the cafeteria.
"Yes?" they both replied.
"Are you guys familiar with the GSF?" Naruto asked.
"We are. We were actually soldiers in the UDF, which is allied with the GSF." Chiyo replied.
Nodding, Naruto walked over to the food dispenser and watched as a screen appeared from under a panel.
"Is there anything else about the GSF I should know? I kind of let that slip my mind when Mika was lecturing me." Naruto explained as he grabbed a tray of food.
"Well…other than that the GSF look out for their own, always trying to make new ways to kill others, and working towards a collective goal…nothing much to say." Chiyo answered.
"We could tell you more about the threats they face!" Akako piped in.
"Can you tell me more about Klaximus Pirates? Mika mentioned they're about to go toe to toe with the GSF. How?" Naruto asked.
"Klaximus Pirates are…difficult to deal with. In a full blown battle with the GSF fully committed and concentrated to deal with the Klaximus, yes the Klaximus would most definitely loose. But with GSF patrols and lightly defended worlds, the Klaximus can easily win a small skirmish and takeover if they're careful enough. But with so many other galactic threats and other potential wars, the GSF can't really put most of their focus on the Klaximus." Akako said with a growl of annoyance.
"They're kind of like and annoying feral dog that won't leave you alone, while you're dealing with a damn bear or some other monster in front of you. Klaximus also tend to…prioritize size and firepower over everything, which makes them quite dangerous at some points. But luckily they don't see plasma or laser weaponry as powerful or anything, so they stick with ballistic weaponry of sorts. Also they tend to try to make themselves bigger to emphasize strength, usually by adding lots and lots of armor that they either make or scavenge. Big means good. Lots of big explosions, means strong. At least that's the gist of it." Chiyo added.
Naruto winced as a memory popped up.
"Needz more dakka! Dakka! Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!"
Shaking his head Naruto continued to listen.
"So why do the Klaximus clash with the GSF? Aren't there other targets to go after?" Naruto asked.
"The Klaximus are on the top of the food chain in the Pirate World. They're the top dogs, and no other pirates are willing to go head to head with them. And other non-GSF empires are tough enough to even go head to head with them. With the GSF however, they're more than willing to go and instigate fights with the GSF. Going head to head with the GSF puts them on higher status than other pirates since most pirates really want to avoid getting killed by the GSF." Chiyo explained.
"So…I feel like you're telling me that…they fight with the GSF simply…for the thrill? The challenge?" Naruto concluded.
"That's what most of the GSF thinks." Chiyo replied.
"Hmmm…" Naruto hummed. "Anything else?"
"Hmmm…let's see…" Chiyo drawled.
They continued to banter about mentally while something was occurring in another part of the base.
0000 At the Command Center…
In the Command Center of the hidden base, a black mass formed on the floor. The mass began to quiver as it two dark figures rose from it. Upon finally exiting, Kaizen unwrapped his arms around Akia, his cloak falling back behind him.
"Mika!" Kaizen called out.
"You have returned master." Mika appeared with a flash of light, she then turned to Akia. "Who is this?"
"M…Mimi?" Akia croaked curiously.
Mika's projection blinked owlishly before widening.
"Akia?!" Mika exclaimed before materializing right in front of the girl in question. "Is that you?"
"Mimi?" Akia tried again.
Mika blinked before smiling slightly as she examined Akia.
"Wow…its…been so long little one. I thought…" Mika whispered.
"Touch?" Akia murmured as she held up a hand.
"Hahahah, no Akia. Still can't touch yet. Still trying to figure how to do that." Mika chuckled before rubbing her hands together. "Where did you find her master?"
"She was in a yacht just off the coast of the ruins." He answered before frowning slightly.
"Really? What was she doing out there? And how did she get here in the first place?" Mika asked.
"A friend of hers." Kaizen answered. "He got her some money and a yacht as payment to get here."
"Payment?" Mika said with a raised brow.
"We'll talk more about that later, I need to ask you something." Kaizen asked.
"Yes master?" Mika replied with a small bow.
"Where is the initiate at the moment?" Kaizen further explained.
"Well…he should still be at the cafeteria eating lunch at the moment master. Do you want me to fetch him?" Mika asked.
"No. No need, I could use some food as well. Mika explain to me what you've told to him so far." Kaizen spoke, with a small gesture to follow, he led Akia out from the Command Center.
Mika's image blinked before she became thoughtful.
"Ah yes, so far I've managed to show and explain him a little bit of the GSF, weapons and armor, and other equipment. I was about to explain more on the subject of the GSF, their policies and laws, then move on to the class system, vehicles, and so forth." She explained as she floated alongside him.
"Hmm, I see then. Anything else I should know?"
"There is." Mika simply stated. "Remember the base Naruto pointed out earlier?"
"Yes, what about it?" Kaizen asked, giving Mika his full attention.
"While I was going through some of the old files in the system, there was an alert from the system of a distress signal originating from the base Naruto pointed out. I thought there was an error in the system at first but after going through it several times the signal was real."
"Is it still broadcasting?" Kaizen asked.
"Yes, still signaling right now." Mika replied after her projection phased out slightly.
"Good. Another thing for me to do then…" Kaizen drawled as they finally neared the doors to the cafeteria.
The doors slid with a hum allowing them inside, the sound of the door caught the attention of a blonde boy who was in the middle of drinking form his glass cup. When he turned around he choked on his drink as he spotted them. Akia froze slightly before she stepped forward and tried to get a better look at him. He first looked at Akia then to Kaizen before looking straight back to Akia.
"Akia-san? Is that you?" Naruto called out warily.
Akia only gave a small smile before nodding; Naruto in response gave her a grin.
"Good to see you're well! I was worried after I got washed off!" Naruto said.
"Nice to know you've…acquainted yourself with my daughter…" Kaizen's voice drawled.
Naruto blinked before staring owlishly back and forth from Akia and Kaizen.
"Wait…what? Daughter?!" Naruto said in realization.
Kaizen only hummed affirmatively as he walked over to the food dispensers, leading Akia with him. He pointed to a small panel on the wall slide up to reveal a screen of sorts with various foods and dishes displayed; Akia looked in wonder as she examined what he did. Kaizen pressed a few and there was a following hum, he looked back to Akia and beckoned her to do the same. She had a slightly timid posture as she looked at him and back to the screen.
"Go on. Pick what you want." Kaizen said as he moved over to grab his tray of food that slid out from a large box.
His tray had an assortment of meat, fruits and other consumables, looking at it made Akia slightly hungry even though she ate earlier. Akia slowly nodded before pressing a few images on the screen, this was quickly followed by a hum. Mimicking Kaizen, she walked over to the box and accepted the tray that slid out, a plate of chicken meat and corn, a bowl of soup and a cup of juice. She quickly followed Kaizen who had walked over to Naruto's table and sat down before slowly digging into the meal.
"So…you're her…dad?" Naruto drawled out carefully.
"Correct." Kaizen simply replied.
"Uh…how does that work? You're…" Naruto drawled off.
"Different?" Kaizen finished bluntly.
Naruto only nodded as he looked back and forth from both Akia and Kaizen. Kaizen took a sip of his cup before staring at Naruto with a dry look on his face; he then looked to Akia as if asking her a silent question. Akia only nodded, earning a sigh from Kaizen. Kaizen's cloak began to move on its own accord and slowly wrap around his body. With his entire body wrapped in his dark cloak it began to puff as if expanding and red vein-like glowing lines appeared followed by a ripping of cloth and flesh tore through the air. The shroud that wrapped around Kaizen soon quickly began to recede back behind him, slowly peeling away to reveal…a very human-looking Kaizen.
"Huh?!" Naruto blinked in surprise as he looked at the new Kaizen before him.
The human form Kaizen was in was around his mid-twenties, very pale skinned, slightly angular face, dark red hair with thin grey streaks, a yellow organic eye and an orange mechanical yet almost real looking eye that had an orange line tracing from it to the bottom of his jaw, both had a sharp look to them, and he was still wearing the same armor from before just…resized and refitted for a human to wear.
"Does this answer your question?" Kaizen spoke as he took another bite from the leg of pork in his hands, the action ridiculously similar to how a regular person would chow down on a leg of chicken.
"Uh…" Naruto droned.
Kaizen then growled dangerously which Naruto backed up slightly.
"It was during my time when I was…looking for things and information, trying to get materials. Apparently her mother took an interest in me and next thing I know, I'm in a relationship with her despite me not wanting it in the first place…but…I eventually did after some time…" Kaizen said softly.
"Is…her mother…" Naruto's sentence was however interrupted.
"I do not know." Kaizen looked to his daughter who shook her head.
Deciding to change the topic Naruto stared at Kaizen's human form.
"So…how do you change like that? Is it an illusion…or…is it actually a real transformation?" Naruto asked.
Giving a small sigh, Kaizen explained.
"This is somewhat of a…universal ability everyone in the GSF can possibly learn. It is…a real transformation, no gimmicks or illusions I assure you." Kaizen said slowly as if decided what to tell and not.
"This idea came from the magnuses mainly…" he continued.
"Magnuses?" Naruto asked.
"Magnus, a term we use for Magi or Mages." Mika piped in.
"Anyways, the magnuses came up with this idea to well…assist in blending and to…associate better in with the other species within the GSF. Anyone can learn this ability, as it allows you to…transform your body to that of another species. All you really need is concentration, enough power, some imagination and a general idea of what you're trying to transform into. Your personality will primarily effect how you appear when you transform into different species, so this only happens when you transform and not in your true form. For example, I am a full-fledged member of the Shadow Hunters. My primary personality or…trait would revolve around that, Shadow Hunters are usually associated with…Death and Darkness. If I transform into a human…the color of my skin would be a pale color to represent Death and my armor, a coloration of black to represent the Dark. Other…attribute such as…red attribute to my…nrgh…fiery-short tempered personality. The grey, my occasional cold calculating persona."
"So…doing so…you can literally transform into any specie?" Naruto asked with a curious frown.
"As long as it's within your…size range. Anything that's…well…anything that's bigger than you by leagues would require exceptional control and an enormous source of energy to even perform the feat. Ah yes…I almost forgot…it's quite important to always think of your gender while in the process of transforming. Why? Well…let's just say…personal experience…unless it was intentional of course…"
Here Kaizen's cloak came to life again and wrapped around him. With another rip and tear the cloak slipped back, revealing a female version of the human Kaizen just moments prior. Only difference was the longer hair, more voluptuous feminine figure, and slightly narrowed eyes. Naruto literally choked on his spit as he looked at Kaizen who had an annoyed expression, yet there was a small satisfied smirk on Kaizen's lips.
"Otherwise you end up like this." Kaizen's…feminine voice said in a…sultry manner, this surprised Naruto to some extent.
"But don't worry too much…" Kaizen added. "Your true form's gender will usually be the dominant factor in what sex you'll be after transforming. Unless you will it to place you in the sex of females of course. But…remember this…doing so will…have some minor side effects. Like about now…more playful as opposed to my serious demeanor, more…urging…than blunt."
"Ah…Kaizen-sensei? I think I know something similar to…this." Naruto notified.
"Oh? Really?" he…she replied.
Naruto slowly nodded in response before forming the hand sign for Henge.
"Oiroke no Jutsu(Sexy Technique)." Naruto muttered before a white cloud puffed around him.
When the clouds vanished, both Mika and Aika blanched and the latter choked on her drink. While still in his human female form Kaizen raised an eyebrow. In Naruto's place was an attractive and developed girl with the same blonde colored hair kept in a twin-long pigtails wearing Naruto's clothing. She also had Naruto's whisker marks on her cheeks as well as the same blue eyes. Kaizen hummed in interest, her eyes examining Naruto calculating while Akia blinked several times and pinched herself.
"How interesting…hmmmmm…" Kaizen leaned forward trying to get a closer look.
Naruto looked at Kaizen and gained a slightly unnerved expression at the expression Kaizen was making towards him. Naruto became further unnerved as Kaizen…smirked in a predatory manner…and licked her lips slightly. With a quick puff, Naruto returned to his original form. Kaizen's female human form pouted slightly which was very out of character compared to Kaizen's true form. With a huff Kaizen's cloak wrapped around him…her? Wrapped around and puffed out with red veins showing again before slowly receding to reveal Kaizen's true form. Kaizen gave a groan before shaking his head and rubbing his face. He then glared at Naruto with his mechanical eye and Naruto did a placating gesture with his hands. Kaizen only closed his eyes before sighing as he refocused back on his food.
"Ugh…I think I might have a migraine later…" Kaizen muttered as he shook his head slightly.
There was a terse silence as all the occupants stared at their food…and Mika who held a slightly amused expression.
"Uh…how is it…actually turning your gender to that of your opposite?" Naruto decided to ask.
"You don't feel the after effects with yours?" Kaizen asked in an offhand manner as he grabbed his glass and downed it in one gulp. "More."
A drone flew by and took the empty glass before floating off.
"Well…a little but…I still feel like myself though…" Naruto explained.
"To me…the experience is…harrowing." Kaizen said in a slow manner, the drone returned with a full glass of…whatever Kaizen was drinking and he quickly accepted it.
"I feel…funny…off…uncertain…whenever I am in a form that's opposite of my true forms gender. I feel my…let's say…male traits being snuffed out…or muffled by the new…female traits making their way in. They're still present yes, I can feel them…but…my mind in a figurative sense is trying to figure out what in the hell is going on. Then…I feel…these…foreign feelings quickly replace and reverse those that are usually dominant with my true forms gender. They are constantly clashing against one another which further confuses my mind in the process. My soul knows what I truly am…but my mind…in is…chaos and disarray at the changes. I think it's the traits that I usually associate with the opposite gender overtaking the transformation."
"Which are?" Naruto asked.
"I usually associate females with…beauty and perfection, quick footed yet also strong in their own right, playful yet serious as the same time, joyous yet also full of anger…sorrow…and ice, and mischievous yet very tactical and smart. These are the traits I associate with most females, and I feel that it is these traits that…either override some of my traits or…blend with it, making something…new…unknown. I can't really explain…it feels…like…I'm there…yet…at the same time…I feel like I'm not. It is…unsettling…unnerving…yet at the same time…so…curious."
Another silence befell the group before Kaizen looked at Naruto.
"Anyways…enough of that. Naruto, there is something that we need to do topside." Kaizen said as he took a bite from what looked like a large slice of watermelon.
"Eh?" Naruto responded. "Something come up?"
"Remember the place in Wave you mentioned to me?" Kaizen reminded.
Naruto immediately nodded.
"The place has been sending a distress signal all over the place. We're going to check it out and see what's up over there." Kaizen finished before he felt a nudge on his arm.
"That meant all of us." Kaizen added with a sniff.
Akia smirked slightly before continuing to chow down on her food.
"So how are we going to get back to Wave?" Naruto asked.
"We-"
"No Mika, that's a one way trip and plus it would be a pain in the arse to get back if by any chance that the porters over there don't function at all. We're going to do it the old way…" Kaizen mumbled. "Akia? Would you kindly assist us in sailing back to Wave?"
Akia looked at Kaizen before smiling slightly before nodding enthusiastically…before Mika angrily chirped in however.
"Not before you get some rest first master." Mika growled dangerously and the drones nearby turned a red hue.
Kaizen only sighed gruffly as he lifted both hands up in a placating gesture.
"Really…I'm fine. But…very well…we'll go after I rest of course. Hrrrgh…" Kaizen said in a bland manner. "But first…let us finish eating."
0000 Sometime later…
After some time when they finished with their meal, Kaizen gave a small yawn before hugging Akia slightly before walking off with a wave of goodbye to both Naruto and Akia. Naruto and Akia both looked at one another after a moment; with a quick thought Naruto opted for the room with the artificial greenery once more and quickly led Akia there. There they began to hang out for the time being. Naruto also took this time to really examine Akia much closer, especially the glowing line on her face. As he was thinking while sitting on the grass floor he heard the tell-tale scribbles from her notebook.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Hm?" Naruto hummed as he looked at what she wrote.
"It's good to see you again."
"Ah. Yes, it's good to see you as well Akia-chan!" Naruto said in slight cheery manner as he placed both arms behind his head.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Though I never had the chance…thank you for saving me when I was washed off the yacht." She wrote.
"Ara…you helped me greatly in getting her in the first place…well…sort of. So of course I wasn't simply going to let you die!" Naruto said as he draped an arm around her shoulders. "Besides, you're a good person in my book!"
Akia smiled slightly before writing more things down.
"Color me curious…why did you want to come here?" she wrote.
"Ah…I never told you the whole reason huh?" Naruto recalled.
Akia nodded and Naruto sighed.
"Well…to be truthful…the ruins that your father seems to be so interested in? Well…it was the home of my people." Naruto said in a longing manner.
Akia blinked before frowning slightly.
"It was called Uzushiogakure no Sato, Village Hidden by Whirlpool or Whirling Tides. My mother as far as I knew, was born there. I am an orphan, I never knew her. Nor my relatives." Naruto explained, then his expression turned slightly dark which made Akia raise a brow. "My…people…were…powerful. Feared even. It took the might of three other nations to destroy my people's homeland."
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"I am sorry for your loss. Did they not have allies?"
"Don't worry about it and yes they did. Oh yes they did…however…when the call for aid sang…it was never answered. My kin…my people were left fend for themselves, their ally turning their backs on them." Naruto continued, and then the air dropped a few degrees.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"Who were their allies?"
Naruto stopped and Akia stopped as well. Naruto's hands clenched tightly enough for the sound of leather scrapping and squeezing against one another to be heard. Naruto growled in a feral manner as he looked away from the notepad.
"Konoha." Naruto growled. "So long as I live…I will avenge my people."
Here Naruto looked as his hands, on his left a familiar red gauntlet formed and on his right a familiar shadow blade formed as well.
"I'll eat their souls…" Naruto creepily hissed, his voice slightly warped and his eyes taking a slightly maniacal shape.
Akia, sensing the sudden change backed away slightly. This seemed to snap Naruto out from his trance; he shook his head before hissing. Regaining his posture he turned to look at Akia.
"Sorry…" Naruto muttered. "Akia?"
Akia nodded in response to whatever he was going to ask.
"Though I didn't press with Kaizen…what was your mother like?" he asked in a curious manner.
Akia was silent before slowly scribbling.
"My mother was born in Kumogakure no Sato. She had the most long silky beautiful ocean blue colored hair, a very slender yet beautiful form, a sharp yet heart shaped face, sharp and narrow maroon colored eyes. She always had a knack for adventure, her family burdens and duties however always seemed to get in the way."
Naruto however blanched at the words family duties…duties as in…
"Akia?" Naruto spoke.
Akia turned to see Naruto giving her an inquisitive stare.
"Are you…an heiress?" Naruto asked carefully.
There was a terse silence as Akia and Naruto stared at each other.
…
…
…
*Scribble… *Scribble…
"You be correct…I am an heiress also a shinobi of Kumo. My full and true name is Yukimura Akiyama, Akia was simply a nickname my mother loved calling me, and soon enough I began to call myself that as well. But enough of that, my mother was an heiress of the Yukimura Clan in Kumo that was well known for their high affinity with lightning, water and wind. My clan was also quite well known in Kumo for making seals, weapons, armor and various equipment's for daily civilians and shinobi to use."
Naruto hummed in thought before looking closer at Akia who turned pink at his calculating stare.
"I assume you're mother was also a ninja as well?" Naruto asked with curiosity.
Akia only frowned slightly as if trying to remember something before shaking her head.
"*Scribble! *Scribble!
"I remember mother saying she was an ANBU before her illness kicked in…" Akia wrote.
"Huh…that's…wow…I'm still surprised that you're an heiress and all…and your mother was a Kumo ANBU despite her…clan position…" Naruto said in an unsure manner. "I assume you were a secret then? Cause from what I know, something like this with a clan heir would cause a huge uproar within prominent clans."
…
…
…
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Not exactly."
"What?" Naruto replied in wonder.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Father…during the time before he met my mother, he had taken the guise of a travelling doctor merchant."
"Huh…how did he manage that?"
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"If you want the full story about that, then you're to have to ask him, I only know bits and parts from what mother told me." She wrote.
Akia then went back to writing in her journal, it took a few minutes before she finished and showed him.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"But he was called by my clan to help mother by her older brother who was the head of the clan. She had gotten very ill from a disease a few months ago, one that some of the healers couldn't figure out how to heal, and father despite not really wanting the attention was quite known for his miracle herbs and medicines and…surgery techniques and procedures that most healers would find a bit unsure about was called to aid her. Father at first gave mother medicine to stall the disease. He then got some blood sample and began to study it quite thoroughly. This went on for a few days before father was able to find out what was causing mother's illness. Something was making her body cells attack one another, her white cells were literally eating and killing her red cells and vice versa. It wasn't long till the cells began to attack her organs and her flesh itself."
Naruto's mental process did something akin to tires screeching to a halt.
"Hold the horses. Did she just say what I think she said?" Naruto thought.
"This virus was to simply infect living organisms and soon enough make the body's cells turn on one another to make it literally cannibalize itself. You probably guess how the GSF reacted when they found that out. The GSF literally performed genocide on the empire in question…" Mika's words came back to his mind.
"How did your father get rid of her illness?" Naruto asked in a somewhat cautious manner. "How in hells name did it get down here in the first place?! Bet Kaizen had a field day when he found that!"
Akia quickly began writing.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"Mother told me that father had a very frightened expression on his face when he found out what was happening to her. He tended to her quite obsessively, drawing out lots of blood and running himself ragged as he fixed her up. He injected some sort of medicine directly into her bloodstreams and very large doses of it too."
After Naruto finished reading that page, she turned and began to write again.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"It didn't kill or harm her but it did however make her very drowsy and…slightly drunk. Whatever the medicine was, it made those symptoms occur with mother when in use. But during this time, mother was also at her most vulnerable as well. Kidnappers made many attempts on her due to her position; one attempt had an almost succeeded with her life on the line as well. A pair of shinobi, mother described them both wearing black cloaks with red clouds. One was rather foul mouthed, the other…made mother nervous, from what she told me. They managed to get quite some distance from the village."
"Hmmmm…" Naruto hummed in thought as he continued to watch what she wrote.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"However…father surprised her, the clan and even the two kidnappers. Father caught up with them and engaged them; he was not just some ordinary defenseless looking merchant doctor. He was something else as he fought them…and managed to even fight them off…though mother didn't get away without a scratch though. The…foul mouthed one…did something…and it would've killed her had it not been for father for…whatever he did. He quickly brought her back to the clan home and began his work again without as much as a blink. A tense week later, mother was in tip top condition. No wounds on her, diseases or illness affecting her, no aches, no pain, nothing. Even her allergies she used to have had vanished completely. She never got sick ever again, was stronger, had better eyesight, stronger bones and tougher tissue and she was full of energy even more so than usual. As if anything that had happened to her…was…nothing. It was then; mother developed an interest in father. A months and so later, father began to return her affections. The clan didn't object much, not even her over protective brother did, nobody better than the Miracle Doctor to be with my mother. Soon enough, a year or two, mother was pregnant, sometime later, she had me." Akia wrote before rubbing her wrist and turning a page.
"Huh…quite a story about your mother and father." Naruto mused. "Though…when did he show you his true form?"
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"When I was three. Not something I would like to remember…" Akia said in a shy manner.
"Then…why are you all the way out here then? Shouldn't you be with…you know…your clan?" Naruto asked with a thoughtful posture. "Unless, you're out here willingly and it had something to do with the separation."
Akia only stared at him before slowly nodding.
…
…
…
"So…how did the separation happen?" Naruto asked.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"I was five at the time, there was a little even at the time…something with my chakra blooming excessively…which did something to my eyes, my left one in particular…making it look like father's own eye. Mother and I were having…a family outing with our relatives; father was away at the time tending to some business with the Raikage. I recall playing a game with my cousins…we played for a while…then…the last thing I remember was…a tall masked man, and a red glowing eye staring at me, then blackness."
Didn't take too Naruto much thinking to know what happened next.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"It doesn't take a genius to know I was kidnapped when I woke from whatever the man did to me. The man used me as bait to lure his prey…and…and it worked. He left enough trail crumbs and mother followed…and so did father. I remember mother…catching up with the man…and fighting him. She…she…the man was more than a match apparently. When father came…I swear I could feel the man…grinning under his mask. Apparently…he was after father. Why? I didn't know at the time…but now…I think I know. I think…he knew…father wasn't a…native…a human I should say. I could feel the greed in the man's aura as father appeared."
Akia paused to wring her hand before continuing.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"Then…all hell broke loose. Explosions…screeches…roars…lights…rocks…everything…gone to hell. Father was able to severely wound the man…but…the man left a nasty trick…he had…placed…explosive tags everywhere before the fight…hidden everywhere. The man…teleported or something…and again…all I recall was bright blinding lights…and father's surprised expression. I do not know what happened to father…but…I do remember mother. She…she was so hurt…I was so hurt…we both were so hurt…mother…despite the explosion…managed to crawl over to me…and comfort me…before the bastard came back again…taking her away…and would've taken me as well…had my clan not been nearby. I fell to darkness…and when I came to…mother was missing…and father…father was presumed dead, nobody could find his body…only…blood and rubble near the remains of a cliff. Devastated…I fell into a silent depression…I think for a year or less. Then…I was enrolled into the academy to be trained as a Kumo shinobi, and it was there…my goal was to find mother…and avenge father."
Akia then turned the page in her notebook before continuing to write.
"I became a Genin at ten…got teamed up with some interesting people and worked with them for two years doing all sorts of things. A few months the exams are hosted…and soon enough…Chūnin."
Akia stopped before smiling fondly.
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
"Haven't seen them for almost a year or so…I wonder what they're up to? Back on track…the my personnel request was…accepted surprisingly…after a few talks with my clan…I set out to look for clues for mother…and that man."
"So you're still a Kumo ninja…just…on an away mission right?"
*Scribble! Scribble!
"Yes, you are correct."
Naruto nodded before noting back at Fire Country.
"Then why were you…you know…doing boating jobs then?" Naruto asked.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"One thing…rumors and gossip. Second, allowed me to get around without much attention. Thirdly…it also got me some money as well, since I was more than willing to do the more daring travels and odd jobs, most which had me doing private deliveries. Couldn't rely forever on my pocket money. Fourth, allowing to find potential locations for myself to settle down in. Fifth…getting information back to Kumo."
After reading that, Naruto then hummed and adopted a thinking pose which caught her attention.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"What's wrong?"
Looking at what she wrote Naruto turned his body in her direction and stared intently at her, as if examining her. His stare made her flush in embarrassment as his eyes trailed over her.
"How old are you Akia?" Naruto asked out of the blue.
Akia blinked before she then gave him a frown and writing in her notebook.
"Twelve and a half. Why do you ask?"
Naruto blanched and blinked several times before looking her over again.
"Eh? Twelve? You're a Chūnin and you're only twelve?!" Naruto looked at her in surprise. (Note: Shikamaru made Chūnin at…12 or 13 I think…so…)
Akia then gave Naruto a curious stare.
"Not that's bad or anything…I…I thought you were at least fourteen or fifteen. You know…I'm twelve too…so…kind of…odd seeing how you're twelve as well and…you're taller and…more …developed than most girls at that age." …" he made a showing motion towards her…and around her body.
Akia blinked before remembering her hug with Naruto when he came back with the yacht. Recalling that event and with Naruto staring at her intently, Akia turned a slight shade of red and looked away in embarrassment. Akia heard Naruto grunt as looked over to him lying on the grass floor and starring up at the ceiling which was in an almost life-like projection of a star filled night sky. Akia then scooted closer to him and soon enough lied on the ground as well, joining with the blond staring at the 'sky'.
"You know…when I six…I always wondered…if there was something up there…in the skies." Naruto said as he smirked slightly. "Heh…to really think that…there really are things up there. A whole different world than here. This one…just a small world…compared to what's up there."
Naruto then chuckled, Akia turned her head to look at him as saw he had a grin on his face.
"So close…yet so far at the same time." Naruto said, his hand reaching up towards the ceiling projection. "It's one thing to dream…and hear it. But…I feel…ecstatic…anxious…desiring…I want to go and see what's out there…a whole adventure just waiting. But…I first want to go all around here before I go up there. Every world has its own little adventures in it."
*Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble! *Scribble!
Naruto turned and saw Akia writing in her notebook and looked at what she wrote.
"Try telling that to dad."
Naruto only chuckled in response.
"Ah yes…your dad has mentioned a couple of times of wanting to as he was say "Get off this rock." heh. Though I am curious…how long has he been here? I might ask him that later. Yeah. I will." Naruto said as he stretched himself on the ground.
*Scribble! *Scribble!
"Good luck with that."
Akia had a small smile on her face and Naruto returned it with a grin. Akia made some muffled laughs in her throat while Naruto chuckled. The two stayed in silence after that, both staring at the ceiling.
0000 Time Skip…
Naruto didn't know how much time had passed while in the room, he assumed it was most likely an hour or so but the sound of a whoosh caught his attention and he turned towards the door. Kaizen was standing there looking towards them, looking much better than before. He was beckoning them over and both Naruto and Akia quickly stood up and jogged over to him.
"Here, it's going to be a wet trip." Kaizen said as he handed them both grey cloaks.
The cloaks had a slightly shiny synthetic look yet a very cloth-like feel to it, which perplexed Naruto slightly as most clothing or cloaks he recalled touching were cloth-like in both touch and appearance. Putting those thoughts away, he quickly draped the cloak over himself. Kaizen gave them both a look over before nodding. Kaizen then turned to his left to which Mika re-materialized her projection next to him.
"Keep an eye on the base Mika." Kaizen said quickly as a black mass grew from his cloak and latched onto the floor.
"Don't worry master. Come back with all your limbs please!" Mika said in a cheery manner.
With a small roll of his eyes, the black mass wrapped around the three before slowly sinking into the floor, leaving Mika alone in the room.
0000 Scene Change
Back at Akia's yacht, a black mass formed in the living room and rose up. The black mass then split apart, allowing the three to see the real world again. Naruto and Akia wobbled slightly but Kaizen held them keep their balance. With both of the shaking the funny feeling off, the two humans looked to Kaizen.
"Let's get to work then, I'll get working on the sails and ropes. Naruto, you get the anchor. Akia, get to the helm."
Both humans nodded and all three left the lower interior of the large yacht and were greeted with a slightly dark dusky time of day and a small drizzle of rain; Akia immediately climbed a set of stairs to the bridge, Kaizen following her and walking up another set of stairs on the side which lead to the upper fly bridge and upper portion of the yacht where the mast was located, and Naruto going further back on the deck and pulling up the first anchor with a pulley mechanism, after he finished with the first anchor he then carefully jogged on the sides of the yacht and up to the bow to pull up the second anchor.
*Klakakakakakakaka!
Naruto grunted slightly as he turned the lever which pulled the anchor from the ocean floor. The heavy chains clanged and clanked loudly as they were coiled. It took Naruto some time but he managed to finish with the second anchor and soon enough began his hasty return to the deck. Up top, Kaizen was putting the finishing touches in raising the sails, checking the mast, tightening the ropes and securing the chains. He also did a quick check with the yachts primitive radio dish. With a final grunt, Kaizen went over to the side of the yacht and spotted Naruto.
"Initiate! Are the anchors up?" Kaizen called out from above.
Naruto looked up to see Kaizen staring back down from up top, he quickly yelled back.
"Anchors are up! We're good to go if you're done!"
With a quick nod, Kaizen hastily left the upper portion of the yacht and made his way into the bridge. He opened the door to the bridge and yelled inside.
"Akia! We're good to go!" Kaizen yelled and Akia nodded quickly as she began to steer the yacht.
With her at the helm, they began their travel to Wave.
0000 Chapter End
Hello! DrakenSword0z with another chapter to Red and White.
Now we have our little group returning to Wave once more! Why is there a distress call coming from the base Naruto had ventured to?
More will come soon in the next chapter in progress! And if there are things that seem out of place due to many edits to this chapter, lemme know so I can fix it! Despite me doing six checks on this.
Anyways, hoped you enjoyed and peace out!