Hidden Sand…
Rasa stared at the time light dome, a new monument that had been opened to the public.
To pay homage to the previous feudal lord, he was buried in front of the newly established monument by the new feudal lord's order.
Rasa stared at the new feudal lord concluding his speech in front of the crowd.
"This light will support us through every passing day as we strive with hard work and excellence to surpass our previous selves,"
"This light is not the signal of the end of an era, but a new one,"
"as the new feudal lord, I promise you that our country will as rich as other countries with arable lands,"
"This is my promise to you the People!" The Feudal lord concluded his speech.
"YEAH!!!" The people cheered very loudly.
The Feudal lord descended the stairs of the temporary stage.
"Rasa," he stopped upon seeing Rasa in front of him.
…
In the Kazekage's office,
Rasa stood beside the Feudal Lord who was sitting on the sofa.
"Rasa,"
"Yes, Milord!" Rasa responded.
"I'm well aware of the people behind the assassination," The Feudal Lord said.
"Um…"
"I'm unable to…" "No," The Feudal Lord interrupted Rasa.
"You don't need to explain,"
"This was supposed to happen sooner or later, considering my brother was driving the military force of our country into a corner…" The Feudal Lord sighed.
"Milord…" Rasa murmured.
"Listen,"
"Though, I am able to understand the problems that you all face, this still remains a personal problem of mine,"
"A family member being killed,"
"If I don't see this through,"
"People will laugh at me," The Feudal Lord said.
"Mm…" Rasa nodded, while also fearing himself being at the receiving end of the problem.
"Here's the deal,"
"Show me major improvements,"
"Work till your bones to make this Hidden Village a prosperous one,"
"Not only this one, but more importantly our entire country as well,"
"If you show results in two or three years,"
"The public and I will slowly forget as the time passes by,"
"Of course in the event that this is not possible, You will be personally answerable," The Feudal Lord smiled.
Rasa felt cold sweat down his spine.
"I will not let down this chance you have provided," Rasa said.
"Don't worry,"
"I am already starting to see improvements,"
"Especially the celebrations for the treaty,"
"A Sport Festival is it?" The Feudal Lord asked.
"Yes…" Rasa answered.
"Good,"
"Seeing that the Hidden Leaf who was a superficial friend suddenly come up with this, especially after that supposed battle that you had participated in to imprison that ninja named Orochimaru,"
"That's already a step in the right direction," The Feudal Lord said.
Rasa smiled.
"It wasn't much…"
The Feudal Lord got up,
"Don't say that,"
"I give credit where credit is due,"
"That's why I am letting your people get away with what they did," The Feudal Lord said.
(Cough!)
Rasa coughed within his hand upon covering his mouth with it.
*Door Opens*
"Start working on plans to have our ninjas trained,"
"I want to see them on par with the other great nations,"
"We already have quality,"
"What we need is the quantity,"
"I'm sure the Kazekage knows what's to be done," The Feudal Lord smiled.
"Yes," Rasa responded immediately as he walked towards the Feudal Lord to see him off.
"Don't"
"I'll go by myself,"
"As the Kazekage, you are a busy man," The Feudal Lord said.
"Hehe,"
"I am not busy right n…" "RASA!" The Feudal Lord called out.
"Yes!" Rasa almost jumped up in fear.
"Don't tell me you are already taking the tasks I have given you lightly?" The Feudal Lord stared at Rasa.
Rasa instantly understood what the Feudal Lord was expecting.
"Ah!"
"I'm extremely busy," Rasa grabbed a bunch of papers by his desk and started turning pages randomly to show he was working.
"Hmph," The Feudal Lord walked away from the office.
"Haa…." Rasa let out a huge sigh of relief.
"All this time I was being tortured in burning hell only to end up in the new demon lord's hands…"
Rasa wiped his sweat as he stared at the windows of his office through which the evening sun shined…
"Looks like there will be a lot of developments to do,"
"Thanks to Lord Seventh's memories I know how to bring this village to the next level,"
"Hahaha…" Rasa started laughing seeing that what lied in front of him was a path that already paved by none other than Naruto himself…
—————————
"W-Who are you…?" Takeuchi stammered as he struggled to ask.
"I am Uzumaki Naruto,"
"The Orange Spark of the Hidden Leaf!" Naruto announced the title that the others had decided for him.
"The Orange Spark…" Takeuchi murmured absent-mindedly.
"Listen up,"
"Today could have gone much worse,"
"Despite the conditions your village had put forth, I have gone easy on you guys," Naruto said.
"…" Takeuchi was speechless.
"I know your village had sacrificed a lot during the Third Ninja War,"
"However, you should do well to remember that the only reason the war was ended was because the Third Hokage was willing to have our village swallow up our anger and put an end to that war,"
"The Tsuchikage had no choice but to agree as well because, many people would continue losing their life if the war had continued…"
"I am sure you guys are aware of this fact very well," Naruto said.
"Mm…" Takeuchi nodded slowly.
"Because of that, the Third Hokage had to step down so that the villagers would not have a chance to complain,"
"Even today before we left, The old man asked me again to spare you guys," Naruto said.
Takeuchi eyes widened once more,
"The third Hokage…"
"He asked for our sake?" Takeuchi asked slowly.
"Indeed," Naruto nodded.
"I see…" Takeuchi said.
"I don't know who put you guys up to this task, but I am warning you now,"
"Karin, is a long lost family of mine,"
"I am sure you would have understood it from my name just now," Naruto said.
Takeuchi nodded immediately.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
("They both are Uzumaki, we were just digging our graves now,") Takeuchi thought.
"Hinata, the little girl you guys had trapped in the room is the most important person in my life," Naruto said.
"Mm…" Takeuchi was confused, but pretended to understand.
"Remember this, if anyone from my village is taken away again…"
*gulp* Takeuchi's eyes widened as he witnessed the change in Naruto's pupil from the regular sage mode eyes to the Nine tails mode.
*Sh!*
Naruto unleashed a terrible amount of killing intent almost drowning the man in despair.
"I…"
"Will not…"
"Hesitate…"
"To kill…" Naruto said one by one following which a light flashed behind him in the sky.
*Thunderclap*
It started to rain.
*drip*
*drip*
Drops of water fell on Hinata's face.
*Ugh* Hinata opened her eyes.
"Naruto…" Hinata woke up only for she and her team to see Naruto staring down at the man with a killing intent that almost overwhelmed their souls.
*Wuu!!* Akamaru let out a whimper as he burrowed into Kiba's jacket out of fear.
"Naruto…" Kiba was also scared upon seeing this version of Naruto.
"What was that chakra just now…?" Karin was scared visually and psychologically as well. Not only had she seen Naruto erupt with killing intent, she was able to sense it as well.
However she understood that Naruto was doing it for their sake.
"U-UNDERSTOOD!" Takeuchi squealed from the fear of having his soul crushed from the sheer pressure.
Naruto retracted his killing intent completely.
*Sound of footsteps accompanied by water splashes*
Hinata ran away from the scene.
"Hinata," Karin called out.
"Huh," Naruto turned to see Hinata running away.
"Hinata," Karin chased after Hinata.
"This matter is concluded,"
(Whoosh!) Naruto had teleported away.
Takeuchi let out a sigh as he stared at the other side of the bridge through the rain only to see the team chase after Hinata.
"Just how in the world did he rescue her…?" Takeuchi thought.
…
(Whoosh!)
Naruto appeared next to Hinata.
"Hinata," Naruto called out.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata panicked upon seeing Naruto show up in front of her.
Her heartbeats were so loud, that they echoed in her ears.
Hinata became a bit red.
The rain made her jacket and clothes stick to her body making harder for her to breathe.
"Calm down Hinata," Naruto said as he placed his hands on Hinata's shoulders.
Hinata folded her hands and gripped either side of her arms tightly using her hand.
"s-stay away…" Hinata mumbled in fear.
"huh?" Naruto stared at her.
"Naruto…" Karin arrived followed by the others from behind.
"Hinata,"
"You are safe,"
"I am here,"
"No one will hurt you now," Naruto said.
"n-no," Hinata shook her head.
"you've changed,"
"Naruto-kun,"
"who are you…?" Hinata asked slowly.
Naruto was shocked.
"w-what are you saying Hinata?"
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto,"
"I'm your Naruto," Naruto said.
"y-yours?" Hinata was surprised but her emotions made it rather hard for her to accept.
"Hinata," Naruto hugged her tightly without reservation.
"No," Karin murmured in an almost inaudible voice.
Asuma and Kurenai looked at the three in front of them.
"Shino, Kiba, and Karin,"
"Let's give them sometime," Asuma and Kurenai said.
"Mm!" Kiba and Shino went along with Asuma.
However Karin was unmoving.
(Whoosh!)
Kurenai appeared by Karin's side.
"Karin," Kurenai called out.
"huh?" Karin looked at Kurenai with tears from the side of her eyes.
("This girl…") Kurenai despite the rain could observe Karin's tears.
"Come," Kurenai pulled Karin away from the scene.
However, Karin's eyes were still on Naruto and Hinata as she moved away wit Kurenai reluctantly.
…
*Heavy rain*
Naruto stared at the rain that was coming down on them heavily.
He looked around for a tree nearby.
("There's one,") Naruto spotted a tree.
"Hinata," Naruto carried her in his arms.
(Whoosh!) before Hinata could respond they had teleported together.
…
(Whoosh!)
Naruto and Hinata appeared under a tree.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata called out.
"Hinata,"
"tell me did I do anything wrong?" Naruto asked.
"n-no,"
"I was probably scared of seeing you like that over there," Hinata said slowly.
"I see…" Naruto nodded.
("If that man could be scared then why not her?") Naruto thought.
"N-Naruto-kun,"
"It is not only that,"
"but my father called you the seventh hokage," Hinata said.
"huh?" Naruto was shocked as he thought back to the time he had teleported to save Hinata.
It was then he had realised that the one who had messed up was Hiashi himself.
("Damn it, do I really have to pay when it is not my fault?") Naruto thought following which he called out Shū.
*sh!*
Shū appeared.
*heavy rain*
Karin and Kurenai were trying to find where Asuma and the others went, but at this moment Karin had a bad feeling in her heart.
("Why does it hurt so much…?") Karin thought following which she turned back and started running towards where Naruto and Hinata were.
"Karin," Kurenai called out.
However Karin did not listen.
*Sound of footsteps accompanied by water splashes*
Karin ran in top speed with the rain pouring right over her head which made it difficult to see.
But her senses kicked in to guide her in the correct direction.
"That tree," Karin's gaze landed on a particular tree.
However, after running a few more steps she slowed down until she came to a stop, and then fell on her knees.
Karin's eyes were wide as saucers. But the the sight she saw was something she had never imagined would happen so soon.
Hinata was holding Naruto's face and kissing him.