34)Foxy Adventures: Ch.34

“Hey, what took you guys so long?”, I asked as I lounged on the road right beside the gate, grinning as Sakura and Karin huffed while Kakashi just gave me a deadpan stare.

“You realize that making a Shadow Clone cuts your chakra in half, right? Also, we can see you sweating.”

“Really? No, I'm practically fine,” I answered with a shrug, ignoring the sweat pouring down my forehead as Kurama cackled while his chakra restored my own.

Okay, so Shadow Clone Flight is still a work-in-progress until I can get to the point where I can figure out a way to cut the chakra cost down to where it's not half.

'Hmm, perhaps figure out an elemental clone variant and then use that instead of the Shadow Clone? Then, I would have to carry around and waste a crap ton of resources. Wait, a Wind Shadow Clone? I know there's a Water Clone and a Lightning Style Shadow Clone that Kakashi likes to use? Ooh~I like the sound of making a wind one.'

“Why do I feel like you're already figuring out a way to make your clone travelling better?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about,” I answered and Sasuke rolled his eyes as I dodged his question before I looked to Hinata as she walked beside me.

“What's up?”

“Is you being the…you-know-what why most of the adults hated you when we were younger?”

“Pretty much, yeah. Some people were still in mourning of their loved ones and while the Nine Tails was gone, they had a new target to hate.”

“But…they knew you were a child, didn't they?”, She asked and I nodded as we continued following the others.

“They did, but when people are in mourning, they tend to not pay attention to what they do. I didn't mind it, though. Wait, that's a lie. I did mind it when I was younger and didn't get to make friends, but as I got older, my need to try and get attention resulted in me becoming quite proficient in hiding when I didn't want to be found.”

“How did you not go mad from all of that?”, Sakura asked with a slightly guilty look, to which I grinned and shrugged while placing my hands behind my head.

“I guess I'm just built different.”

“You keep saying that, but what does it even mean?”

“Use that big brain of yours to figure it out,” I answered with a shrug before ducking behind Hinata as Sakura turned to me, crossing her arms with a huff while Hinata blushed as I kept her between us.

“You would think you would learn with how many times you've upset her in the past.”

“What can I say? I annoy to please.”

“Pretty sure that's not how it goes,” Karin spoke up and I shrugged as I walked beside Hinata with my arm around her shoulders.

“That is true, but that's how I'm using it.”

“Arm off. You reek of sweat,” Hinata spoke up as she took my arm off and I blinked at that before taking a whiff and nodding.

“Yep, you're right. Looks like a shower is first in order.”

“After the report to the Hokage, of course,” Shizune spoke up and I looked at her before making a clone.

“No Shadow Clones.”

“What's the point of having the jutsu then?”, I grumbled as I dispelled my clone and Shizune rolled her eyes before looking to Team 7.

“You guys can go and rest. We've already have your sides of the reports in the mission scroll.”

“Thank the gods. Have fun working, cousin!”

“Wait until I dye your hair green!”, I shouted, rolling my eyes at Karin's happy cackles before I began following the two Jounin and Hinata to the Hokage Tower.

“You know, I remember someone who use to threaten to do that to everyone she met except she would use blue dye,” Kakashi spoke up and I looked at him before shaking my head at his amused look.

“Really? Huh, I guess I have to step up my game then. Maybe instead of dye, I use hair removal.”

“Uh, that would be assault and not a prank,” Hinata spoke up and I grimaced as I nodded and crossed my arms.

“True, true. Ooh~ what if I dye their clothes instead and make them one size smaller? There's a bit of discomfort, some mild confusion and a lot of bruising to their ego. In other words, the ultimate prank.”

“That's still assault.”

“I'm only assaulting their clothes, not them.”

“Then it's destruction of private property, which is still a crime,” Hinata said with a nervous smile and I looked to her before groaning as I shook my head.

“Why do you have to be the cute angel on my shoulder? Why not the naughty devil that tempts me into doing bad?”

“N-N-Naughty?”, She stuttered and I smirked as both Kakashi and Shizune hid their amused smiles.

“Not like that, Hina.”

“S-Shush you.”

“Hah! Hinata Hyuga shushing someone? Is it the apocalypse?”, I asked, snickering as she just blushed more before rushing away while she chased after me.

“G-Get back here!”

“No, you're going to have to catch me~!”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So, the Akatsuki struck during this mission again,” The old man murmured as he looked out the window, Kakashi nodding in agreement while us three of Team Shizune stood in silence.

“That is correct, Lord Hokage. We believe that they were there for the Hidden Waterfall's rumoured Hero Water that can boost one's power temporarily.”

“Hmm, perhaps looking for a way to reverse its side effects along with making its power-boosting effects permanent. Did Shibuki let you see the Hero Water?”

“No, he did not, but his chakra did increase drastically in a short span of time which made me believe that it may in fact exist,” Kakashi spoke up and we watched as the man simply hummed before turning to look at us.

“What of your secondary mission?”

'Secondary mission?'

“Their Jinchuriki is stable and its seal is holding up strong. She does not appear to have much experience with using it, but Naruto has offered her guidance in exchange for an extension on the allegiance between us and the Hidden Waterfall.”

“… Why am I not surprised you had a secret mission? Also, I thought we were going to keep her a secret?”, I asked as I looked to Kakashi, who gave a shameless shrug as the old man smiled.

“Unfortunately, I have to report everything that happens on a mission.”

“…You know, I hate how right you are. Fine, yeah, her seal is pretty much stable for now unless she tries and tamper with it. Then, it won't be as stable anymore.”

“That's reassuring to hear. What of the method you taught her for guidance?”

“Oh, I was just annoying Kurama until he decided to share his chakra in exchange for me being quiet.”

“…What exactly did you say for the Nine-Tailed Fox, who is Hatred Incarnate, to ask for you to quiet down?”

“You don't want to know,” Kurama spoke up as I let him take control before I smirked at Kakashi's shaky glance and the Hokage's nervous smile.

“Hey, you guys call me the Demon Prankster. I had to show him I was worthy of that title.”

“Of course you did. Very well. Were they powerful? These Akatsuki you fought against?”

“One was Suien Hisashi, an A-Rank rogue shinobi in the Bingo Book. The rest were merely B to C-Rank shinobi, which leads me to the conclusion that they were merely foot soldiers sent to test out the Hidden Waterfall's defenses.”

“I think they were testing to see how difficult it would be to steal the aforementioned Jinchuriki from the village.”

“That is my thought process as well. On top of that, who's to say those were their only shinobi present at that moment? There could have been one hiding away and gathering as much intelligence as they can.”

'That would be Zetsu most definitely. I really need to take care of him before he decides to revive Kaguya,' I thought with a frown as I remembered the bigger threat above Ten-Tails Madara, which I still call bullshit on.

Ten Tails Madara was capable of holding off both Naruto and Sasuke while Kaguya struggled to face off against them and would have lost if not for her stupid overpowered Ash-Bone Jutsu.

'Then again, Madara was a monster amongst monster even before he got Ten Tails chakra,' I thought before tuning out of my thought process as the old man spoke.

“All of these speculations are just making me more grey and grey by the day. For now, it's a job well-done, Team 7 and Team Shizune. Rest and I shall call upon you once again should something come up.”

“Will do, Lord Hokage,” I spoke as we bowed before walking out of the office, a sigh escaping my lips as Kakashi closed the door and I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“I swear, I'm supposed to be running around and being a fool, not be a Jounin and do this kind of crap.”

“You shouldn't have done so well in the Chunin Exams, then,” Kakashi said and I rolled my eyes as we walked to the exit.

“That was more to show up Sasuke and the others, not to actually get the promotion. I mean, I like the promotion, but if I knew it was this much work, I'd have just gone for the Chunin promotion and left it at that.”

“Would you? Truly?”, Kakashi asked and I just rolled my eyes before shaking my head.

“No, I'd be too pissed at myself for not giving it my all,” I murmured before grumbling as he nodded and ruffled my hair.

“Precisely. You're too confident and cocky in your abilities to not want to give it your all. The life of a shinobi is harsher than many genin expect, but I believe that you have what it takes to do some good in the world. So, what you need to do is focus less on how tiring the job is and focus more on the preparation you need to in order to make sure the job never becomes tiring for you. Until you can do that, then you can't call yourself a true shinobi at all,” I just watched as the silver-haired man walked away before slowly turning to Hinata who looked just as awed as I did.

“Did you ever think he'd be able to do a speech like that?”

“N-No, I did not.”

“Despite his…behavioural issues, Kakashi was still one of the most competent commanders in the ANBU and one of the most capable shinobi in the Third Shinobi World War. He does know how to give a speech when he needs to,” Shizune spoke up and I smirked as an idea came to mind.

“Oh? That sounds a lot more like fangirling than praise there, Shizune.”

“I-It is not! It is simply admiration for a fellow shinobi!”, She exclaimed, but I grinned as I saw her face turning red before looking to a giggling Hinata.

“Doesn't she remind you of someone that loved to admire a certain someone?”

“S-She does.”

“I-I think Lady Tsunade is looking for me,” She spoke as she quickly walked past us and I just watched as the blushing woman walked out the main door.

“So, what are you going to do?”, I asked as I looked to Hinata, who frowned before giving a slight shrug.

“I think Kurenai-sensei would like to celebrate my first mission as a Special Jounin.”

“Ooh~ Can I come with?”

“You ready to be questioned by her?”, She asked and I hummed before nodding.

“Nope, I guess I'll see if Karin and Tayuya would want to hang out.”

“I'll see you tomorrow, then,” She spoke and I couldn't help my smirk as she leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss before hopping away right as I wanted to start teasing her.

“Well, there goes that fun…Oh, well. Time to go annoy some cousins.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oi! Anyone still alive in here?!”, I shouted as I opened the door, the clone I had made beforehand pulling me out of the way while taking the three kunai to its chest.

“Hey! That could have killed someone!”

“It would have hit your chest and you would have regenerated,” Tayuya spoke with a huff as I peeked again, Karin giggling from where she was eating a bowl of ramen.

I just rolled my eyes as I walked in, plopping down beside the older Uzumaki before slapping her hand away as she tried to pull at my hair.

“What kind of Uzumaki calls themselves an Uzumaki and doesn't have our signature red hair?”

“Red hair? Ha! You talk about me, but your hair's like a pale maroon and not like Karin's vibrant red.”

“At least it's close to a reddish-pink, but you're as far away from red as you could get.”

“Hey, cut me some slack. I'm not the one that has as much of the Uzumaki DNA in her as possible.”

“Is that any way to talk to your older sister~? Hmm~?”, She asked with a teasing smile and I groaned as I remembered our familial status.

“Don't remind me of that shit. Also, you're not my sister, only a half-sister. We've established that.”

“You've established that. Karin and I have already decided to make it official, right cousin?”

“You threatened to throw me off a roof if I didn't.”

“Eh, coercion requires a bit of force to work.”

“Now you see why you're my favourite.”

“Oh, I know it doesn't take much to be your favourite,” I answered with a shrug and she giggled while Tayuya huffed while crossing her arms.

“So, how have your probationary period been?”

“Other than being stalked by ANBU all day? Oh, it's been lov-Hey! I saw you, you bastard!”, I just stayed silent as I watched Tayuya charge to the window, shouting obscenities out of it before shouting at the people walking below.

“…Do I even wanna know?”

“Apparently, the ANBU love peeking in from the shadows to try and make it seem like she's seeing illusions.”

“And I know they're out there! You fucking dickheads!”

“Oi! Stop shouting already!”

“You wanna go, old man?! I'll beat the shit out of you and that old fart you call a wife?!”

“What you say?!”

“Hey, tomato-head! Shut up and be quiet!”

“Who the fuck called me tomato-head?! Be a man and shout it again!”

“Tomato-head!”

“Is Tayuya arguing with the other occupants again?”, I turned to see Tsunade opening the door, rolling my eyes at the bottle of sake in her hand before blinking at the sight of the pig with pearls walking beside her.

'Is that Ton-Ton? Wait, where the hell has that thing been?'

“Hey, granny. You drinking again?”

“Yes and I'm not granny,” Tsunade spoke with a huff as she bonked my head with the bottle, to which I just rolled my eyes before raising an eyebrow as Ton-Ton hopped into my lap.

“Huh, that's a first. Usually, he wouldn't want to sit with anybody new.”

“I have this way with animals that makes me likeable,” I answered with a shrug while softly rubbing his scalp, smiling at his pleased snorts before looking over to see Tayuya walking back and sitting down next to me with a huff.

“The ANBU again?”

“Yeah. Can't you get them to stop?”

“What the ANBU do during their mission is unfortunately something I can't stop as they're free to do that as long as they do their job perfectly.”

“In other words, you're a useless hag,” The redhead huffed before I blinked as Tayuya was grabbed and thrown through the door, both Karin and I looking at where she vanished before slowly turning to see Tsunade with a thin smirk.

“What was that, brat?”, Tsunade growled as she walked towards the door and Karin and I looked at each other before nodding in unison.

“I'll get the ramen.”

“I'll get the juice.”

A/N: Sorry for the late upload~!! To be brutally honest, I was re-watching some of AOT Season 3, the first part to be more specific and now I want to write an AOT story.

Anyway, that will be discussed at another time. In the meantime, the Uzumaki are having some fun time together and Kakashi drops a speech.

Next chapter:…? Have no clue, we'll see when I decide to do a new arc or a canon one.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!