Chapter Text
Naruto awoke again, looking up he found himself in a cave, an again masked Bat sat by the entrance looking outside, while Index seemed to write something in a scroll, "Good morning Uzumaki-San" Index said without looking at him, "did you sleep well?"
Naruto sat up, and responding to his will, his hair then raised him high so his legs wouldn't touch the ground, he looked down to his bandaged leg still wrapped by his hair, but at least now it was reattached, "What's happening?"
"Well it's been two days since we escaped Root, Bat-San carried us out of the dangerous forest and we've since been waiting here for a few hours," Index stated, "some ninja have passed us, but Bat-San seems to have covered her tracks well enough that the ninja can't track us."
Naruto nodded and crept over to Bat, he hid himself on the opposite end of the entrance, "Hey" he whispered drawing her attention, she turned to him and waved, "how do we get to the land of water?" he asked and in response she shrugged.
"I know the way Uzumaki-San." Index stated, "part of my records was a map of the elemental nations and every village great and small on it."
"Good, then it's time for us to escape." Naruto said, his hair stretched off and wrapped around both Index and Bat, pulling them toward Naruto, as his hair again changed shape, forming arms, hands, a body, head, legs, and four long bushy tails, the large hair fox dashed out of the cave, carrying the three in its head as it charged.
The three curled up in the head watching while the massive hair creature smashed through the trees, uprooting and knocking over all it could as it ran away, neither Index, nor Bat, had any problems with the strategy, as Konoha's tree line was its greatest defense, and just as valuable to Konoha as Naruto the Jinjuriki, thus splitting the forces that would be chasing them into the pursuing force and the repair force.
"Uzumaki-San since we're likely going to Jiro island which route would you like us to take?" Index asked, "there's a fast route through numerous villages, or a slower route around them, both of which I've plotted."
"Slow route until we lose the chasers," Naruto said, "then we can take the fast route on foot."
"Open the creatures mouth then Uzumaki-San," Index said and as bees swarmed out of both his flail and the robed sleeves of Index himself flew out of the hair fox's mouth, "my network of bees will allow me to keep track of our pursuers, and where precisely we are."
"Great work, now, lead the way to Jiro Island Index." Naruto requested,
OCTOPUS-Meanwhile-OCTOPUS
Anko let out a whistle as she saw the tree line vanishing as the red hair fox disappeared over the horizon, "So ladies any questions?" she asked the gathered group of Naruto's fan club.
"Why a fox?" Mizore asked as she snapped a few pictures.
Anko turned to her, "What?"
"Why did he choose a fox?" Mizore asked.
"Ask him when we get to where we're going Snowball." Anko said.
"And where ARE we going?" Azula asked, "you never mentioned that part."
Anko grinned and rubbed her chin, "I didn't did I?" She asked pulling a whiskey bottle out of... somewhere under her coat.
"Where were you hiding that?" Katsuragi asked, "the inside of your coat has no pockets and you're basically naked."
"Who cares, wanna see me down the whole thing?" Anko asked.
The girls looked to one another, "No" Ino said, as Anko removed the cap and started chugging the drink,
The girls watched as she walked with the bottle in her lips, head tipped back, leading them down the path leading outside of Konoha, several Ninja they passed started to call to them, but seeing Anko replace the now empty whiskey bottle with what looked like vodka, most of them just sighed and went back to trying to repair the tree line.
OCTOPUS-Elsewhere, three days later-OCTOPUS
"Open the damn door!" a young woman raged as she held up the edges of her girly pink dress and stomped on the door yet again, slowly bringing it off of it's hinges, "I'm getting out today!" she promised as she kept kicking, eventually the door fell and the lady leapt up and rode it down the spiral staircase, when the ride ended she was sent flying off it, she used several foxtails to stop her fall, and lowered herself to the ground, she dusted herself off as a bunch of people in scaled armor sighed and stood up picking several weapons that they then pointed at her, "if you pricks tear this dress, I'll kick your brains out your skulls." she spat.
This is Kumi, fox tailed and eared daughter of Kurama, she had blonde hair/fur, and a tomboyish attitude, and she'd been kept captive in this tower for as long as she knew, and as usual she was ready to make her escape, sure she'd done this 260 times, and only made it to the next room 7 times, but she was sure, today was her lucky day.
She took a deep breath, "I'm going to make a flower crown in the fucking sunlight, and you wimps aren't stopping me this time!" she stated, the knightly group rushed her, the first to do so was beaten with a flip kick from the young woman, a flip kick that made him bounce back up, and Kumi then gave him a spin kick to the neck knocking him at the other two, she bounced back onto her tails which sprang her forward, her foot connected to the knight on the left's armored head, in a flying kick, then she raised the second and brought it down hard sending him down.
Her tails swarmed the place five seizing the limbs and neck of the other guard, she twisted on her heels tossing him down the stairs *clang* "Oof" *clang* "agh! my-" *clang* "ahh!"
Kumi grinned, her tails snatched a bunch of weapons, one per tail, "This time I learned jackass!" she said grabbing two kite shields, then she grabbed a guard's leg, tossing him after the other, then the shield at the ground, stepping on it and using it to slide down, "WoOoOoOoOoOoO~!" she cheered, hiding behind the second shield, the body bounced and as they entered the next room was hailed on by a bunch of crossbow bolts, Kumi's shield banged off the nuts of the first guy she threw down the stairs, "NEXT ROOM!" she cried kicking the shield under her at the guys loading their crossbows on a roof above her, she cartwheeled out the room, "yes new record!" she cheered flipping to her feet and running down the staircase wall, then sitting and sliding down the rail, "flower crown~ flower crown~" she sang.
She skidded to a stop at the bottom and sprang off the rail, coming up to the next door, she kicked it open "Knock knock!" she cried entering the room, "who's next?" she asked.
A large man was in the center of the room, he was massive, rotund, and yet packed with muscle, "Hello" he said picking up a pole with a large metal ball at the end that itself was three times the size of Kumi's entire body, "you go back to your room now."
Kumi grinned, she shot forward kicking at the man's face, then twisting her body in the air, her tails swinging the gathered weapons at his head, "My room can suck it!" she said, but the man's hand grasped her tails and tossed her back at the staircase. "ow." she whined.
"Back to your room fox girl," the wide man said, "it's not safe out there."
"I'm getting out" she said with a grin, she stood up and pointed at him, "and Mr-all-you-can-eat-buffet isn't going to stop me." she said.
The man laughed, "My there's so few who can joke after I toss them across the room, but if anything, I'm Mr. Comet."
"Cause when you fall down you make a crater?" she asked.
The man got an evil look in his eye, "Actually yes." he leapt at her and swung his club, the force of which made a gust that pushed her back onto the stairs before he even touched the ground, and when he did, true to his word Mr. Comet left a crater where he landed.
The man sat up, "Sure you want to fight?" he asked.
Kumi gritted her teeth as she jumped up, "I ain't done yet!" she cried.
"Then-" Mr Comet stopped, he turned to the unopened door behind him, "wait... who's there!?" he asked.
The door opened, revealing a red fuzzy looking blob with a white robe draped over where it's shoulders would be, a white fox mask covering his face. "Hello," the figure said, slithering into the room, "I'm here to pick someone up."
"Me?" Kumi asked hopefully, "cause I have a few things you'll have to do first."
"She stays." Mr Comet said.
The figure looked past Comet and smiled at Kumi, "Your requests shall be met my dear."
Comet dashed forward, "I won't-" a cloaked figure entered the room, his face covered with a blank mask, this one swung a beehive looking flail and Bee's shot out of it, flying around Mr Comet making a whirlwind that shot him through the ceiling,
"I have subdued this floor's obstacle, shall we continue?" he asked.
"I don't think we need to go any further Index." the figure said, "see?" he gestured to the girl picking herself up off the ground and dusting herself off.
"Ah" Index said, "yes that's Kumi." he nodded.
"So, Fox, Bugman, you here for me?" she said looking between the two of them.
"I refused to wear the mask Ms. Bat made for me, why do I still get a weird nickname?" Index asked.
Naruto chuckled, "It seems our damsel in distress is actually a damsel causing distress."
Kumi grinned, "Oooh, I like that."
"Then, shall we go?" The robed figures gestured to the stairs.
"Sure, though this isn't a cult thing is it?" she asked.
"No, my robe and mask is to hide my identity," the young man said, he took off his mask showing his face, three whiskers on either cheek, and behind him a mass of red hair that almost seemed alive. "I'm Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Great to meetcha Uzumaki bud." Kumi said, "guess you're my knight in shining... uh robes?" she said, "how many floors are left?"
"Two, my friend is downstairs, she's probably taken care of-"
A figure burst through the floor, head only, getting stuck in the floor, the knight looked up, barely conscious, "The scary bat lady beat us all up." he said before passing out.
"Great!" Kumi said, "I knew today was the day." she grabbed the arm and hair of the two beside her, dragging them along with her as she took them downstairs, they came to a room with a bunch of broken tables, chairs, and knights,
The lone figure in the room was a woman in a black shirt and pants, with a bat mask over her head, she stared at the three, pulling a notepad off her belt, "All done?" she wrote.
"Yep, all done Bat," Naruto would say,
"Come on guys" Kumi said pulling the two males by Bat, a fluffy fox tail snagging Bat's arm as they ran by, pulling her along with the other two, the next floor down was a smashed up entryway, iron bars were smashed and bent at odd angles, guards lined the floor as before, there were bees there that flew into the metal hive mace's head, Kumi saw the grass outside the tower, she stopped and took a breath, releasing everyone's arms, she kicked off her shoes, "I've been waiting so many years for this" she said walking over to the edge of the stone fortress,
She took a breath, then leapt outside, letting out a nice breath as her feet touched the grass, she kicked about the grass sliding between her toes as she giggled, then she danced and jumped about, "this is grass?" she asked with a giggle, she jumped and rolled about "wicked cool," she said, her tails sprawled out as she sunk into the grass, "I never thought grass could be so much fun, then again I've never even been outside before."
She sat up, "You three help me, I have many requests, first I desire to make and wear a flower crown, second I wish to pet a 'hot dog' third I desire a jetpack so I might take wing," she grinned and her hand balled up into a fist, "and sock angels" she said, "I've heard there's a 'big cat' who hands jetpacks only to those who are worthy, take me to meet her." Kumi said.
Bat and Index vanished, while Naruto smiled, "You see, a hot dog isn-"
"We're back," Index said, he and Bat dumped a bunch of flowers and animals onto the ground,
"Awesome!" Kumi shot across the ground, grabbing a tanuki, "A real life hot dog" she gasped stars in her eyes, she buried her face in its belly, "mmmm just as delicious as the guards said it'd be."
"Delicious?" Index asked as the other animals ran away, "also that's not a dog, it's a Tanuki, it's part of the racoon family."
"Can I have it?" Kumi asked, the Tanuki seemed to fall asleep in her arms,
The three looked at each other, "Sure," Naruto said, realizing it was all on him to decide,
"Yay, now help me make a flower crown." she said, setting the sleeping 'Hot dog' down which woke up and crawled into her lap tiredly, before falling back to sleep,
Naruto looked from Bat to Index, "Does anyone know how to-" Bat shook her head, as did Index.
"Forgive me, but such knowledge was not considered vital to Konoha's survival, so I don't know it." Index stated,
"Hopefully Kumi-" Naruto saw Kumi smashing the gathered flowers together, confused at why they weren't becoming a flower crown, 'Fox do you-'
"Shh" The nine tails urged in his mind, he could sense her eyes locked onto Kumi through his own,
'Do you want to talk to her?' he asked.
"No, she's happy, now we just need her safe."
Naruto silently promised to give her a moment with her daughter, but The Fox was right, Konoha was hot on their trail, especially after what happened in Hoshi, he let out a breath, "Kumi listen," The fox girl turned to him, "I'll grant the remaining requests you have for us later, but for now we need to run, there's people chasing us for the murder of someone important-"
"Sure I'll go with you guys." Kumi said.
"... I..." Naruto furrowed his brow in confusion, "you will?"
"I got to touch grass and rub a hotdog's belly two seconds after I escaped that tower, I'll follow you guys around for a while just for that alone." then she crossed her arms, "but you'd better be ready to actually do my requests or I'll whoop your butts."
"Not a problem," Naruto said, "though-" he started as fog started rising around them, "perhaps we should've run sooner?"
Kumi looked out, "Woah!" she gasped, "is this fog? what does fog taste like?" she asked,
"I don't know either, I imagine like smoke." Index said as he laid his flail over his shoulder.
Bat walked forward ahead of the others, and out of the smoke several ninja left, all baring Konoha's headband, though Naruto didn't recognize any of them.
"Seems Konoha must really want you back Naruto-San," Index said, "the ninja they've sent are very dangerous." he stated, "we've got-"
"Tell us later Index," Naruto said, his hair stretching out wrapping around the lot of his group, pulling them all into his hair, and which formed into a ball, and rolled backwards smashing through Kumi's Tower's backwall, stopping again as a torrent of fire rose up in front of them, and behind them the tower collapsed, and out stomped Mr. Comet.
"Kumi cannot leave," he said, laying his massive club over his shoulder, "I'll give you twelve seconds to return her."
"He's lying" Index stated, "he's searching for her inside the hair, spread your chakra evenly and he can't find her."
Naruto nodded, and let his chakra flow, easily hiding Kumi's presence in the hair,
Comet grit his teeth, "Want me to smash you all? is that it?"
"Comet got his nickname not only from his size, but his attack style, he's at his most dangerous when he's in the air, prevent him from leaping to keep him more... manageable."
"Can't you just use bees again?" Kumi asked.
"Not if we want to escape Konoha's forces."
"Anyone we'd recognize?" Naruto asked.
"I recognize them all, don't you?" Index asked.
Naruto shook his head, "I don't,"
"What if we just go out there swinging?" Kumi asked kicking the air, "really give 'em a good thrashing!"
Bat drew a cutesy Bat, a red and a blonde fox, and man in robes, surrounded by a bunch of shadows, she flipped over the page, showing them all getting overwhelmed, "Good point, sooooo any ideas?"
"Maybe I could-"
"Don't suggest me, that'll just scare her." The fox stated
Naruto waited for a few seconds, "Ah, Sorry, I forgot what I was going to say." he lied.
"Trouble" Index said,
"More?" Naruto asked,
"Three large chakra sources have entered the chakra fog, whoever it is they're comparable to Suna's Pakura."
"Alone or together?" Naruto asked.
Mr. Comet growled as Konoha forces closed in, "The Girl is mine!" He stated, "she's not leaving! not with him! not with you!"
"We're here for the Jinjuriki-"
Comet swung his club sending several ninja flying, "I already said she's staying!"
A hail of rocks hit him, he just ignored them and launched himself at the ninja, quaking the ground with every strike,
"Konoha is closing in." Index said, and Bat dropped her notepad
"Just asking, but... do you think they'll let me go explore the world?"
"I don't think they will," Naruto said, "I'm sorry." he said taking her hand, 'Fox-'
"I know, I know, fine! just, hug her before we go." Kurama pleaded.
Naruto wrapped his arms around the blonde girl, "Kumi, your mother loves you very much." he said,
"My... mother?" Kumi asked, "how-"
"Shh," Naruto said, "you three run for Uzu I'll-" Bat ran over and grabbed Naruto's arm, shaking her head, "I have to," he said, the ground shaking making them all stumble, Bat fell over, but put her hands on Naruto's shoulders, keeping him down, she shook her head again at him. "If I don't you won't escape."
Bat pulled him close, into her arms, holding him tight.
Kumi flinched as the ground shaking got worse, slowly she inched herself towards Naruto and Bat,
Their air grew tense as the shaking got worse, and comet's attacks sounded less like attacks, and more like the stomps of a great angry beast, slowly heading towards them, flames hailing down, water jets blasted, explosions, knives, all a mess of sound and then.
Silence, everything stopped, felt like the calm before the storm, before the group realized there was a faint noise, that of a harmonica in the distance, but only that.
"Oh my" Index said, "I fear I was all too correct with my assumption."
"Index?" Naruto asked. "Who's out there?"
"When I said they were comparable to Pakura I wasn't wrong," Index said, "I believe her students, Naomi, Tamiko, and Namiko, the Fujiwara sisters are outside," he clarified, "which means our problem has either gone from dire to safe, or from dire to disastrous."
"All three of them?" Naruto asked, at Index's nod the ball started dissipating opening them up.
Around them were the frozen stiff forces of Konoha, and Mr. Comet, all likely trapped in a genjutsu.
"Naruto?" Index asked, as Naruto's hair formed a cone shape before his mouth he took a deep breath, "NAOMI-CHAN! TAMIKO-CHAN! NAMIKO-CHAN! I'M OVER HERE!" he shouted.
A figure appeared behind Naruto, just forming like mist, she had mostly red hair in a ponytail, but the long fringe that covered her left eye was blonde, her eye that could be seen was blue, she wore an outfit identical to Pakura's own. "Gotcha!" she said, tapping him on the back of the neck through his hair, then slipping by him, her blue eye looking down at him with pure joy, "hey cutie~" she said puffing her hair up, "come here often."
"Naomi we've got a job to do! Stop flirting!" Ordered another lady this one had mostly blonde hair with red bangs and fringe her eyes were also blue, narrowed in frustration as she moved between the other girl and Naruto, "get your big butt out of the way."
Naomi smirked, "Why~?" she asked, then fake gasped, "Did you miss him too Tamiko?"
Tamiko blushed, "Sh-shut up" she said, "we're f-friends" she huffed turning her head away, "hi Naruto it's nice seeing you again." Tamiko said trying to push Naomi out the way.
Two hands grabbed Naruto from behind, "Guys I don't think this is that little guy we met so long ago in Suna," said a third voice belonging to a woman with the same dress style as the other two women, she had a ponytail with bangs but hers was mostly blonde with her fringe(same size as the first lady's) and bangs being red halfway down, her eyes were also blue. "He’s too big to be the same adorable little guy we met."
Naomi smiled, "My, Namiko might be right~" she teased, "he got his cuteness, but I don't know," she knelt down, holding her arms out wide, "maybe you can hug like he did, that'd convince me you're the same cutie~"
"Stop teasing you two, you'll give him a complex." Tamiko said.
Bat walked over and grasped Naruto's shoulder pulling him away from the three,
"It's okay Bat," he said, "before we met when I went to Suna with Sarutobi, these three had your job."
"Job?" Naomi asked indignantly, "cutie please, I'd adore watching you for free."
"Not like Naomi-chan, she's my protector, she... she even left Konoha for me." Naruto said, reaching through his hair and rubbing her hand.
Bat looked down at him, she nodded, it was the best affection she knew how to give right now.
"She can't talk," Naruto said, "but she's probably the best guard I've ever had."
"Better than us? Namiko asked, she raised an arm over her face dramatically, "the shame~"
"Maybe you two were just that bad, I know Naruto appreciated me," Tamiko stated, then she blushed, "uh n-not that I care!"
Naruto shook his head and chuckled, "You three haven't changed at all."
The Fujiwara sisters smiled, "Of course we haven't," Namiko said, "Tamiko wanted us to be just like you remembered."
Tamiko blushed, "Y-you shut up!" she said crossing her arms, “I-it's not like I didn't try to change or anything," she said, "I just... stayed the same is all."
"You knew and met them already?" Index asked, "How odd, I thought I knew everything about you, beyond the hair thing."
"I've had many friends in many different villages." Naruto said, he then gestured to Index and Kumi. "You've met Bat, these are my other friends, Index and Kumi."
"A pleasure" Index said with a nod.
"Hi, thanks for helping us." Kumi smiled brightly, her tails wafting about.
Naomi chortled, "You're quite welcome, but any friend of Naruto's is one of ours as well." she said.
"Speaking of which," Tamiko started, "Naruto you have to be careful, Sarutobi abused his position with Suna to try and get you back home." Naomi said, "said these two" she gestured at Bat and Index, "stole you and murdered Danzo Shimura before escaping the village." she said.
Naruto shook his head, "So he would lie," Naruto said, "Danzo was killed by a blue haired woman from Ame, though I guess I did kind of help."
"A blue haired woman from Ame?" Namiko asked, "got a name with that? we should probably send her some flowers or something as thanks for killing that prick."
"You wanted him dead?" Naruto asked.
Naomi frowned, "Oh yes," she said, "she's the reason our teacher Pakura was sent to Mizu and... well you know."
"Right," Naruto said with a nod, "we're off to Uzu, if you ladies wanted to come?"
"Uzu?" Tamiko asked. "wasn't it destroyed?"
Naomi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder "Please, we've just me again after so long," she said "you won't get rid of us so easily now."
Namiko rolled her eyes, "Don't suppose you guys would know the way?" Tamiko asked.
Naruto turned "Index?"
Index turned and pointed "Five hundred and sixty miles that way," he said, "to the closest Navel town, used to be used for trips to Uzu back in the day, all ran by a Captain Ginrei with ties to Uzu, she was murdered for her ship years ago during the raid."
"Well, we know where we're going then." Naruto said, his hair grew pulling them all inside, it grew into a large ball and several spider like legs emerged from it and they stabbed into the ground lifting the ball off, and a large eye like shape opened up in the front, allowing them to see they were miles above the earth, they looked down seeing everyone still frozen like statues, all midway through fighting.
The legs started carrying them away and Kumi walked over to opening "Wow" she said, "I don't-" she looked at Naruto, who was still surrounded by a blob of hair, "how do you have so much hair?"
"I'm... not quite sure myself," he said, "I think it'll all be revealed when we're back in Uzu."
"Riiight" Kumi said, "and about that... other thing you said," she started, "about my mother loving me" she said, "how would you know?" she asked, "how would you know my mother?"
"Well-"
"Cause I don't" Kumi stated, "all I ever learned was she sold me for money." she said, “I don't even know anything about her."
"Silly girl" A lock of Naruto's hair formed into a hand and moved a lock of Kumi's hair over her ear, "your mother wouldn't sell you for anything, not even for her freedom."
Naruto opened his mouth, "I-"
"Don't tell her that, not yet, wait until she's safe."
Naruto gritted his teeth, he shook his head, "In Uzu, that's where you'll meet her, and trust me, you weren't sold, you were stolen."
"I... I was?" Kumi asked hopefully.
"If she were able, she'd wrap her arms around you and tell you herself, but she can't." He said, "you'll see her soon, I promise."
"Really? Promise?"
Naruto smiled at her, "Yeah, I do,"
Kumi started sniffling, and he leaned into her, "Lean into my hair, it's nice and soft." Kumi nodded, she turned and fell into his hair,
"It's super soft" she said, "wait" she said looking around, "where's hotdog?"
"Isn't it with you?" Naruto asked, "I'm sorry I never realized it was-" then said Tanuki dropped out of Naruto's hair onto Kumi's lap, "missing?"
"Hotdog!" Kumi cried, wrapping the creature in her arms for snuggles, "this is the best day ever, that's almost everything, please tell me someone has a jetpack to lend me?"
"A jetpack?" Naomi asked, "Sorry, never heard of it."
"How about flower crowns? Is there anyone who knows how to make one?"
"D-do you not?" Namiko asked. "If I had some flowers I could teach-" 'Hotdog' got up and jumped out the eye hole, "woah!"
Naruto leaned over, seeing it running down one of the hair blades, after a while he felt something... kicking it. so, he raised it showing the Tanuki had gathered a bunch of different flowers and stuffed them into his hair,
"I think... that Tanuki is too smart for a name like hotdog," Naruto said.
"You're right" Kumi bit her lip and thought hard while Naruto brought the Tanuki and flowers back in, before continuing on with their journey, "how about... Misato?"
The Tanuki gave her a thumbs up? "Can, can Tanuki do that?" Tamiko asked, everyone looked around, nobody knew,
"Misato it is." Kumi said wrapping Misato in her tails, snuggling it close, "so, how do you make a flower crown?" she asked Namiko, who sat down before her and grabbed some flowers,
"Here, watch what I do-" she said,
OCTOPUS-Meanwhile with Sara-OCTOPUS
Sara frowned as she sat on a bench, "Why are we here?" she asked as Haku came back from buying a ship, "we were supposed to find him in Konoha."
Haku rolled their eyes, "Just be glad we had a backup plan, your dear sweet mother thought he could've awakened as an Uzumaki," they said, "I never expected his awakening would be so violent, but also so beneficial,"
"Yes, but I had three ways to seduce and knock him out, one of which had me drench something in chloroform, and it turns out he'll just come to us."
"Hopefully it is so easy for us, but, look over there," Haku said, they turned and nodded their head at three figures slowly entering the clearing, two men and a little girl, looking like they'd been running for a while, "they are also ours, and he's coming here because it is the only town that had a positive relation to Uzu, it is also why they have come."
The three wandered over to the dock, staring out at the ships, and the little girl spoke, just loud enough to be heard by everyone around, "Wow the sea looks so peaceful," she said, then checked each of the ships, "The Ginrei sounds like a nice ship, should we check to see it?" she asked.
Haku elbowed Sara, "Oh, that's-" she cleared her throat and stood up, "The Ginrei?" she asked approaching the three, "how funny, I just purchased that ship, tell me would you like to hire it out?"
The three turned to her, "Ah, yes miss, my brother and daughter here are looking to go on a fishing trip, but we're not sure which one to take," the man chuckled, "tell me, do you plan to go far into the water?"
'That's the code word Haku mentioned,' Sara thought, she shut her eyes, "we go far dear sir, where the sea spirals, and the waters ripple."
"You're hired miss, mind if we go take a look?" He asked, "we're a little tired from all the walking."
Sara gestured to the boat, and the three walked on, Haku nodding at her and the two following them,
As they entered the captain's quarters, the two men fell over, revealing themselves to be Honoka and Socks, the little girl ran over to them, her true form changing to Rin's as she pressed her hands to them, which started glowing green, "Easy, just rest and breathe." she said easing their fatigue.
"Th-"
"Don't talk" Rin said, "trust me."
She soothed them and then they lay against the wood of the deck, "Alright we got them here," Rin said, "please tell me the boat is well stocked,"
"Wouldn't know, I haven't checked yet." Sara said.
"I checked," Haku stated, "basic supplies, food, water, and medicine, we'll need to stock up for the trip to Uzu, I've already made a few clones to patrol the ship, I can make another if you need them watched."
"I'll watch them," Rin said, "we need to get them below deck, I'll need at least three beds, two for these three, one big enough for these two alone." Rin said, "Honaka here's a druid, she's been away from her bonded buddy Socks for so long they might need to re-establish their link."
"There's a double bed downstairs ask one of the ice clones to help you move some more beds in, we'll get back to looking for the others,"
"Message was already sent to us all in Konoha," Rin said, "find Ginrei, named after the captain of the old ship to Uzu," she said, reaching into her clothes she pulled out a scroll, and opened it, a flag sprung out, it was orange with a red circle that had a spiral inside, "We all have one of these, hang it up and the others will know which ship is ours."
"Little obvious don't you think?" Sara asked. "Hanging the Uzumaki symbol on our ship named after the old captain who used to do Uzu runs?"
"Doesn't matter, we all need to get to Uzu fast, staying outside will draw to much attention," Rin stated, "Naruto will know this symbol too, it'll draw him, and everyone else, next coming should be Anko, and after her Tsunade, that'll be everyone for now."
"Right" Haku said handing the flag to Sara, "put up the flag, if anyone asks you found it below deck and wanted to put it up cause you thought it was pretty, act stupid if anyone asks about its meaning, and I mean really stupid, pretend you don't even know what colors are." she said
"Yes I know how to act dumb Haku" Sara said rolling her eyes and leaving, Haku quickly made a bunch of Ice clones that helped Rin move everyone downstairs, then she helped get the beds in the same room for her, hoping to make it easier on the poor medic nin, leaving her as she started setting up Kushina's bed for her.
Her clones stood on the door as she went upstairs, Sara was inside again, checking her nails as she put her feet up on the desk.
They stayed in the room for a while, waiting for anything to do, after what must've been hours, they heard someone stepping onto the boat, and then shortly after, a loud thud.
Both walked over to the door, and opened it a crack, allowing them to peer outside.
Face first on the deck, was a passed-out Naruto Uzumaki, and by his side checking him over for injuries was a bat masked woman, and another woman with a two-toned ponytail, and a sword on her back.
"Is that normal?" Naomi asked.
Bat reached down and grabbed him, lifting him gently into her arms, she looked around as if trying to spot someone, then turned to the door, Haku barely registered the woman shouldering through or rushing by them, and she definitely didn't register the heavy thumps leading away and getting further and further as being the woman's footfalls down the stairs.
When she rose though, it was due to the ponytailed woman, and a... clone of her with different hair, helping her and her charge up.
"Sorry for that, seems our... friend passed out on this ship, we'd like to register a trip with you... apparently."
"Naruto Uzumaki is welcome for free," Haku said, "if you're with him, as are you."
"Ah, good," Naomi sighed a breath of relief, "we've more coming, they just took a break to explore the town a little."
"Unfortunately, the bat lady has their descriptions drawn on her notepad." Tamiko said with a sigh, "I'll go get it for you."