Naruto: Summoner 3

Chapter Three

Konohamaru, the Hokage's Grandson

“This woods is really long, Master,” Naruto said as he looked around. From left to right, all he could see was the great forest. However, he didn’t mind that they were walking along it, even if his voice sounded like he was bored; the woods actually made him feel very comfortable.

Sakura, who was walking alongside her Summon, frowned a little disappointedly. “I asked you not to call me Master . . . it makes me uncomfortable.”

“What for?” Naruto asked, shrugging. He only looked in her direction for a second for staring upwards, where a sky would have normally been had there not been so many long branches in the way to cover it up. It wasn’t enough to shroud the couple in darkness, but it did make for plenty of shade. “You really are my master, so . . .”

“I’m not so sure,” she replied with an awkward smile, pulling a bit of her hair away from her face and placing it behind her ear. “I just don’t feel the authority I’m supposed to feel, I guess . . .”

Naruto did not answer, but instead nodded knowingly and went back to looking out at the woods. As he watched the small life hustle around among the ground, not daring to go near the two of them, he could sense the strong presence of magic. His senses were still a little rusty, he supposed, and there was also the fact that both Tsunade and her home had been marinated in the same kind of presence, but still . . .

‘Now everything seems to have magic,’ he thought, closing his eyes peacefully and linking his fingers behind his neck. He took a deep breath, relishing in the sort of calmness that evolved around him. ‘From what I remember from before, everything was so dead . . . Now it’s all so . . .’

“Sakura,” Naruto began, for the first time using her name. He immediately caught her attention with it, and she smiled faintly as if pleased by it. “What is this Hokage like? Why is he the village master?”

Sakura looked up to the branches abruptly as if in deep thought, the available hand not holding her traveling bag tapping on her tiny lips. Not many people had actually known the Hokage personally, although everyone had seen him. She, however, was the former apprentice to a legacy and had talked to him on several occasions. She felt lucky she had; otherwise, she wouldn’t have had much to say.

“Well,” she started weakly, forming her words together in her head. Just for a moment she stopped walking, but as she put her focus back on the world around her and noticed Naruto had continued on, she caught up with his strides. It was than that she answered his question.

“The Hokage is a great man who has always protected our village from danger. There have been only a few Hokage’s, but many believe that he is the greatest.” She smiled widely. “And he’s even a Summoner, like Master and me! But he has sealed most of his away for another time or given them to worthy apprentices.”

“Most of them?” Naruto inquired. Sakura nodded.

“The only Summon he has left in the open now is the one whom he considers his grandson, Konohamaru. Believe it or not, he’s only a duckling, not something great and strong like one would expect.” Sakura’s smile grew wider, and she squealed girlishly as her cheeks flushed. “And he’s the cutest thing!”

Naruto looked over to his master skeptically, wondering if all girls acted this way when they saw something they adored. But as he watched her, his own cheeks started to burn with a slight tint of pink, and he was grateful that the shadows of the branches above had hid them from Sakura. He didn’t mind her being so happy in the least, as strange as he thought it was.

As they reached the edge of the forest, the two were suddenly embraced with a whole new setting, one that left Naruto stunned. It was what Sakura had talked about, the village that the Hokage was supposed to protect. People, small and tall ones alike ran about the road, some playing childrens’ games and kicking up the dirt on the street while others were shopping at the various markets stands selling fruits, chatting with the owners happily.

The homes, stores, and an Inn that Naruto had spotted in the corner were all built out of wood from the forest, and somehow they literally seemed to glow with the magic within the bark. Seeing so many people like he had never seen it before made him feel a bit like a wound up child, and he grinned and darted out in the center of the street.

“This is great!” Naruto shouted out loud, earning some strange stares though it seemed like he didn’t notice. He threw his fists in the air, spinning around a bit and dizzying himself just to take a look at everything in view. Sakura ran to him, a little embarrassed, but as soon as she tried to straighten him out he grabbed her hands and spun her around along with him. “Sakura, this is my first time in a real village!”

“Calm down, Naruto!” she demanded, though she was giggling a little herself. Still, under order of his master he did stop, just only slightly holding onto her fingers like he did not want to let go. Things seemed to rattle and double right before his eyes, particularly Sakura’s face, but he tried his best to keep his balance. Still, he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.

“I didn’t think I’d get so excited,” he told her, looking around in a much less noticeable manner now that he could see much better. It hadn’t stopped others who had already witnessed him to stop staring, however. “I just . . . I saw how alive everything was, just like how the forest was alive with magic and I just . . .”

Sakura already seemed to understand. She squeezed both of his hands affectionately, her face beaming much like his. “I see! Seeing something so different than what you’re used too . . . it must be amazing! Especially after being sealed inside of that scroll for so long. Though I don’t think anyone was as energetic as you.”

For a moment that grin on Naruto’s face dulled at the mention of the scroll, and Sakura tilted her head a bit, an almost regretful expression on her. But she wasn’t questioning in the least; she knew that it must have been a lonely and terrible place within that scroll, since it was the prison for the Fox Demon. Her master wouldn’t have put him in a paradise.

Sakura slowly let go on Naruto’s hands, turning around to look for her traveling bag. She had carelessly dropped it when she was running towards Naruto, and she had hoped that none of her belongings had fallen out of it and gotten dirty. But as she looked around, her eyes came upon a small, brown haired child, his tiny fingers tugging on the strings of her bag to drag it in her direction. Her heart soared.

“Konohamaru!” she said, skipping over in the little boy’s direction. As soon as his dark eyes met hers he let go of her bag, grunting and pouting a little as she effortlessly picked up and slumped it over her shoulder. She kneeled down, an index finger poking at the young boy’s nose. She giggled. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you out in the village like this.”

Konohamaru didn’t seem to enjoy the child-like attention he was getting, but as he took in Sakura’s pleased smile a warm, cheery feeling filled his chest. He held out a hand and she took it, standing up again.

“Gramps doesn’t know I’m down here,” he said, speaking as though he were an important figure. The two walked over towards Naruto, who was already out of his sad stage and looking down curiously at Konohamaru. The child, however, did not seem to wonder who Naruto was in the least and kept talking. “He said he felt something dangerous and sent down some people to check it out, but I’m here investigating on my own!”

The older two glanced at each other, both having a sneaking suspicion as to what the Hokage was sensing. It might have been many things; he might have noticed Tsunade’s death, or even the summoning of the Demon Fox. It could have been both. But Sakura knew something that Naruto didn’t, and it was the one thing above all that stood out for her. ‘Orochimaru . . .’

“Konohamaru,” Sakura said softly, kneeling down by the boy’s side once again so that they were eye level. “Could you please take us to the Hokage? I need to speak with him . . . it’s important.”

Konohamaru’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm and he beamed. “Sakura! You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

“Well . . .”

“Come on, say it!”

“Hey!” Naruto suddenly said harshly, bopping the young child on the top of his head with a fist. Konohamaru let go of Sakura’s hand and felt the top of his skull, flinching but staring defiantly at the one who assaulted him. Naruto, though, was showing no remorse; his face looked just as irritated as he crossed his arms and looked downwards. “Don’t bother Sakura.”

“But I wasn’t!” Konohamaru complained, little tears forming in his eyes though he tried his best to hide it. “I just wanted to know what was happening . . .”

“It’s alright,” Sakura said, patting Konohamaru’s back as a way of comforting him. She turned her face and frowned at Naruto, who looked back at her in disbelief. He honestly thought he was doing something right! Wasn’t she bothered by him nagging her? “Naruto, he’s only a child!”

As much as he wanted to argue his point, a tug at his heartstrings kept Naruto silent. He wasn’t exactly sure if it was him who was feeling so ashamed all of a sudden, or if it was the fact that it was his master who scolded him. After all, from as far as he could remember in his past, which was vague, he didn’t have a master before.

But as he looked down at the little boy who was getting all the attention in the world from Sakura, he immediately turned his nose to the sky. ‘All I know is that kid is a brat!’

“Konohamaru,” Sakura started, lightly kissing his forehead to try and make him feel better. She concentrated her best just as she had been taught, and when she breathed ever so slightly, an essence of magic seemed to swirl like pixie dust. In a flash the boy was well again, as if he was never hurt in the first place. She stood again next to Naruto, giving Konohamaru her most thoughtful smile. “Now could you take us to Hokage?”

Without a second thought he nodded again and again, reaching out for her hand. “Yeah, yeah!”

The home where the Hokage, Konohamaru’s master or ‘Grandfather’ lived was within a long, winded path just like Tsunade’s home was. The main village where the three had just been was where travelers or residents stayed, while places of importance were disguised among the forest.

“Be careful,” Konohamaru warned, holding up an index finger informatively, “Gramps has guards all over the forest, so they might try and ambush us if we’re not careful.”

“Don’t worry!” Sakura said, giving a big sister smile. “I have Naruto with me, and you too. Both great Summons that are here to protect me!”

Konohamaru suddenly seemed to gain interest in the other boy for the first time as he turned his face to look at him in wonder. Naruto was behind the other two, his face twisted into a jealous pout. ‘He’s a Summon like me? I couldn’t tell . . . He must be really powerful to hide it like that!’

For the first time Konohamaru willingly let go of Sakura’s hand to run by Naruto’s side, his face full of questions. Naruto glanced over to his master, wondering what he should exactly do or say, but Konohamaru answered for him. “So, what kind of Summon are you? I’m a duck!”

Naruto grinned, and it seemed like the two finally found a common interest in each other. He stopped walking, placing one hand on his hip and the other with his thumb pointing to himself as if he were an important figure. Then he boasted loudly, proudly, “Who, me? I’m the great De-“

“Naruto, stop!” Sakura commanded harshly, and he shut his mouth. When she saw the look on his face, as if she was telling him to stop because it wasn’t important, she felt terrible. Quickly she came up with an explanation for both boys, her face flushed with both embarrassment and shame. “Um . . . you see, Naruto’s Summon is a really big secret right now . . .”

Konohamaru looked like he didn’t care at all about that; now he wanted to know even more. “Come on! I won’t tell!”

She laughed it off just a bit, then turned around to continue walking, glancing back to see if the two boys followed her. She frowned, still not exactly feeling settled with her excuse. ‘I’m sorry, Naruto . . . But if Konohamaru found out you were the Fox Demon, it would surely cause trouble. We have to let the Hokage know before anyone else.’

Sakura paused her movement as she heard a quick rustling from the woods to her left, but when she looked, there was nothing there. She took a cautious step towards her focus, narrowing her eyes and looking hard for anything in the least bit suspicious. Still, even though there was no physical presence, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. ‘Strange . . .’

Only after she was sure that there was nothing that was going to attack her did she step forward, but just then from the corner of her eye she caught the glint of something dart out from the darkness, nearly making her heart stop. Before she could even see what it was she shut her eyes and two hands clamped on her shoulders and pulled her back, barely missing the attacker. She could feel the tingle of something sharp that had brushed the bridge of her nose.

“Sakura, are you okay?” she heard, and when she looked up she saw that her savior was Naruto. He let her stand on her own, almost pushing her before she could answer as he rushed to the enemy.

Before them on the path to the Hokage was a large snake, with rough, coarse black skin and two piercing fangs that seemed to drool with a violet, liquid-like substance. It slid into a coil, holding its head up high above them and staring down at the three with startling eyes. Sakura looked into them, watching the swirling black windmill within the blood red pupil as if in a trance.

“How dare you attack my master!” Naruto growled, his own Demon Fox teeth and claws jutting out. He bent his knees, a low growl erupting from him before he charged, jumping high to directly swipe at the top of the skull of the snake.

His sharp fingernails cut right underneath its eye, making a long, thin slit that started to bleed as soon as the wound was opened, and the snake hissed loudly before diving at his enemy. Dirt flew into the air and Sakura shut her eyes, going down on her knees and pulling Konohamaru into a tight hug to try and protect him from the noisy scuffle. Seeing nothing, she could only hear loud growls and screeches.

“Sasuke, stop!” she heard an unfamiliar voice shout, and she felt Konohamaru’s tense body calm. She peeked an eye open to see if the dirt had cleared, and while it hadn’t completely gone away she deemed it safe enough. She let go of her tight grip on Konohamaru and stood. The first thing she saw was Naruto lying flat on his back, the snake’s giant head pressing him down and the fangs trying to poke through the clothing at his chest.

“Naruto!” Sakura said worryingly, though she stayed in her place so as not to alert to predator. Another rustle in the woods caught her attention and Sakura looked over, as well as the snake and Naruto to see a man had walked out from behind a tree.

He was much taller than herself or any of her companions, with seemingly all-over-the-place silver hair, but not quite as out of place of Naruto’s. While a mask that covered even down underneath his top covered most of his face, one of his lazy, coal eyes was visible. He was staring right at the snake, which ignored its battled to stare back.

“Sasuke, I warned you against going out like that. Look.” The man’s face looked harsh, as if he were scolding the snake as he pointed to Konohamaru. The young boy, even if his grip was loosened, was still shaking and his arms were still securely wrapped around one of Sakura’s legs. “The Hokage’s grandson is right there. What if you hit him?”

For a moment the eyes of the snake seemed to narrow as if in contemplation, then Sakura watched in amazement as the creature shrank, growing thin, pale arms and legs and a head of black hair. It was another boy, and she suddenly put to and two together as she looked between him and the silver haired man. ‘This snake . . . it’s this man’s Summon! He’s a Summoner!’

The snake, whose more human-like body was sitting on the ground next to Naruto panting, rubbed the blood from a long, thin cut off of his cheek and spat on the ground. He looked in the direction of the Fox Demon and glowered, standing up to walk next to his master. His black eyes, no longer the possessing the strange, mysterious swirl from before, were still utterly dark and attractive. “Sorry, Master.”

That confirmed it for Sakura, and instead of being scared she was now in awe. Summoners, after all, were rare people since it took so many years of dedication and work, and she was already face to face with one like herself! Looking between the both of them, her cheeks blushed heavily. ‘They’re both so handsome . . .’

“Geez,” Naruto said, finally sitting up and patting his chest to see if there were any wounds. He looked fiercely at the snake called Sasuke, his incisors still sticking out from his battle. “You could’ve killed me with those fangs of yours! I can practically still feel them jabbing me . . .”

Sasuke scoffed, acting as if it were nothing. He put one hand on his hip, balancing all his weight on one foot and looking down at Naruto the same authoritative way he had as a snake. “Why not get better so that won’t happen next time? You’re so weak.”

“I’m not weak!” Naruto retorted, hopping up and sliding in front of Sakura and Konohamaru, holding out his arms widespread to protect them. “I-I’m just new at this, that’s all!”

“Both of you, calm down,” said the man, holding up both of his hands and laughing nervously to lighten the mood. This had quickly let down the guard of both boys, as well as Sakura. Here, he didn’t look the least bit fierce, but Sakura also had a uneasy notion that the commanding power he had before was still hidden somewhere. “That’s going to get us nowhere.”

“I-I agree,” Sakura said, nodding. As she willed herself to take a step Konohamaru let go of her leg, and instead she took his hand again and walked around Naruto. The silver haired man also did the same with his Summon, letting the both of them stand face to face. Once again, his immensely tall figure intimidated her. She didn’t like having to look straight up at someone.

“Young lady,” he began, glimpsing past her to see Naruto then going back to her, “Is that your Summon right there? The Fox Demon?”

Everyone reacted to his words, including his own Summon. Sakura felt her heart begin to pump, and she gulped as she succumbed to the pressure she was feeling and averted her eyes. ‘He knows . . . he knows who Naruto is! But how? What’s going to happen . . .?’

“Kakashi,” Konohamaru said, beginning in a quiet voice then speaking up. Somehow he already knew the man. “Naruto is the Fox Demon?”

The man called Kakashi simply smiled at the boy, not exactly answering his question the way he wanted it to be answered. “Naruto, huh? Interesting name for an interesting Summon.”