Naruto: Legacy Undone

While Takechio understood his cousin's misgivings about Iwa, he was not, and he was certain his father was not, about to let those misgivings lead them to betray Kurotsuchi's trust. None in Iwa were trusted by them, and Onoki was a ruthless, opportunistic cut throat when it came right down to it. The legacy of his master's teachings, the Nidaime Tsuchikage.

But Kurotsuchi, after having near raised the girl since she was ten, was not someone they wanted to stab in the back; much less hold hostage with the threat of death.

His father would have been able to convince him, bring him about to his way of thinking. Koutou could usually do that. He might have even managed it before their food got cold.

A shame he hadn't inherited his father's good graces.

-0-

As he marched through the village streets again, Naruto's eyes couldn't help but gaze, almost forlornly at the sights around him. His teammates took in his expression, mistaking it for curiosity at all the new changes that had happened over the last six years. The new shops that had cropped up, the bazaar that had opened with the current booming trade with Suna and Kiri using Konoha and some of its territories as way stations for their own markets.

"Its nice isn't it?" Kyofu ventured, gesturing towards what was rapidly becoming a bazaar just beside the main square. "Silks from Suna, medicines and steel from Kiri, jewels from Bird country. Being in the center of the continent has opened up trade for us very well." She commented.

"Yeah, especially since no one has to worry about Iwa getting uppity with the Daimyo holding their princess on a leash." Ryoko chuckled.

Naruto frowned. "Hey Kurotsuchi's a friend and Koutou isn't holding her hostage."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow, incredulous before she shrugged. "If ya say so Naruto. I don't know either of them. Just sayin what the word on the mill is."

"How well do you know the Daimyo and the Tsuchikage's granddaughter Naruto?" Kyofu asked as they made their way through the hub.

The blond grinned. "Pretty good I think. They're both good people. Though Kuro-chan's a lot easier to prank than Koutou."

"You tried to prank the daimyo" If anyone was competing for a way to pull off looking aghast and murderous simultaneously, then Kyofu was certainly a contender.

"Was it a good one?"

Naruto laughed. "Oh I tried everything...Painting his clothes pink, putting itching cream in his soaps, putting glue on the throne. I never got him. I blame the Anbu guard. I can sneak past one set of eyes easy but twelve is a little much even for me."

Ryoko scoffed playfully. "Excuses excuses" She darted out of his reach as he swiped at her, both of them oblivious to the horror filled look in Kyofu's eyes.

It was through the crowds that Naruto caught the shock of brightly colored clothes. "Oh. Hey Rahman!"

The olive skinned man started looking this way and that way as he searched for the voice before finding them as Naruto called again.

"Oh Naruto, it is good you've come." He held held out a wall tapestry, its images and bright colors depicting a colored map of the entire continent, complete with a legend of sorts, of the major cities, ports and military fortresses in each. "I am thinking this will look good on my wall."

The blond shrugged, he wasn't much into tapestry art, though the head of the Daimyo's guards certainly was. His rooms in the palace was one of the most interesting, brightly colored monstrosities he'd ever laid eyes on really. Red seat pillows, carpets of purples, oranges and reds, various tapestries and tile murals. And several kinds of incense for different days of the week or holidays. It was weird, but it suited the foreigner.

"Who's this guy?"

"Ahh, sorry." Naruto apologized. "Ryoko-chan, Kyofu-chan this is Rahman, head of the Daimyo's Honorguard."

"You are making me sound old now." He smiled, a set of white teeth on what most would refer to as a baby face as he held his hand forward. "It is pleasure to meet Naru's teammates."

Ryoko took the offered hand first, Kyofu a second later. "You seem young to hold such a high position." The mocha skinned chuunin noted.

"It is family curse you see." He grinned. "We stay forever handsome no matter what age we make."

"I thought that only applied to your maturity." Naruto snickered.

"Hush you! Respect the old."

Considering his current track record with Sarutobi that was not very likely to happen. But Rahman was allowed his hopes and dreams.

The foreigner looked around raising a curious eyebrow. "Where is Itachi girl? You two were always connected at pelvis back in the palace."

Ryoko laughed and Naruto blushed, the red blooming across his face to creep down his neck and up the tip of his ears. "That's not-" He growled as he caught the man's sly little smirk; damn bastard using his accent as an excuse!

Kyofu grinned with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? Does our Naruto have another girlfriend then?"

"First it was that Kiri girl, now this Kuro-chan and now a new Itachi? And you're just twelve? Workin fast there big guy"

"The boy makes any man jealous truly."

"You know." Kyofu grinned. "You're not allowed to have a girlfriend until she passes Ryoko and my screening test right Naruto?"

"Ha-ha." Naruto drawled, glaring at them now as he crossed his arms.

"No seriously." Ryoko decided to continue the joke waggling her finger infront of his face. "No dating until she gets the seal of approval from us."

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