Naruto: Summoner 5

Chapter Five

The Staff in the North

“Master,” Sasuke began, placing his arms behind his head and leaning his body against the bed, his back arching as he stretched his muscles. “What do you think of that Summoner? It’s hard for me to believe a girl like that is one. She seems weak.”

There was a rather large, all white room that both the Summon and his master shared together, each with their own bed and dresser. It was a wide enough for them to have their own personal space, so neither one felt closed in. Kakashi wouldn’t have minded either way; however, he knew as well as anyone else who had met Sasuke that he did not like being in closed spaces.

Kakashi wasn’t lying in his bed to rest, even though it was a little past mid day and the sky was beginning to fade from its bright color. He was one who barely ever slept and enjoyed the peaceful layout nighttime had to offer outside while still managing his daily duties as a guard for the Hokage. He was sitting in a chair by one of many tall, golden outlined windows, eating an already half-bitten apple and watching the people outside below him. All of them were magic users, practicing to try and become stronger.

“You’re too stereotypical, Sasuke,” Kakashi replied bluntly, taking another bite out of the delicious fruit. The Summon stayed still and stared up at the ceiling, loyally listening to the words of advice he knew that were coming. “Both men and women can become great Summoners. I don’t think anyone that has ever lived was greater than Tsunade, and she was a woman.”

“I see . . . I’ll think about that some more then.”

“But,” Kakashi finished off his apple before dropping what remained of it on the windowsill carelessly, “You are partially right about one thing: She’s not too strong yet. But if you sensed things right, she has extreme potential, much like her master. She must have been taught many things to bring her up for this moment instead of jumping right into the art of Summoning.”

“I think we’re better,” Sasuke spat conceitedly, not wanting to admit that his master was right that time. He didn’t mind the fact that Sakura was going to be a strong Summoner, but more than that he didn’t want to say Naruto was stronger than him. ‘He could barely even keep up with my attacks . . .’

Hearing his master call his name instantly snapped him out of his drifting thoughts, and just then he had noticed that he was almost ready to doze off. He was a very strong Summon, but in truth he lacked the stamina to keep it up for a long period of time, so he slept often. Still, he would never miss an opportunity to listen since it could be important.

“I’m going to suggest something to the Hokage in the morning,” Kakashi said. He stood up out of his chair, making Sasuke sit up a little to listen a little better before his master had waved a hand that said he needed the rest. “I don’t think she should start pursuing her enemy so soon, especially with no basic training on the actual art of Summoning.”

Sasuke scoffed as he finally gave in and shut his eyes. “Tch. What did her master do with her all these years then?”

“Not the right training to prepare her for what she’s about to do. I’d like to teach her the proper fundamentals to actually be able to present herself. And, of course . . .” Kakashi gave his Summon a smile that seemed to beg for a favor. “. . . I’d like you to help me with it.”

There wasn’t any doubt in his mind. Even if he didn’t have to obey the orders of his master, Sasuke was devoted to doing any sort of errand or help Kakashi needed. He smirked, suddenly feeling too heavy and tired to answer. Kakashi seemed to understand and turned to leave the room just as his Summon dozed off to sleep.

Dark fell quickly, and as if on command the people around the Hokage’s home piled in within their bedrooms and got ready for a long nights’ rest. Some, however, were just waking up, preparing themselves to keep guard as they had been told to do. This normally would not have been the case, but Orochimaru’s flickering presence had put the people on alert.

Sakura had long lied down in the bed of her guest room, which seemed much smaller than anything she had expected in comparison to the entire palace. Still, she hadn’t minded in the least; living for so long in a small, cramped room filled with books on magic and Summoning had left her able to easily adapt to her small surroundings, so she was fine.

What she was uncomfortable with, however, was the fact that her Summon was so spread out in their bed. Since there was only one and neither of them were modest or had dirty minds they decided to stay together, but had Sakura knew that Naruto would move around so much so she had to lie against the edge she would have objected.

A sudden hand pushing against her cheek and a loud rustling of the covers being pulled away had made her open her eyes. A low, annoyed moan escaped from her but she refused to move from her place, trying her best to cope with the situation.

‘I will have to deal with this every day from now on,’ she thought, mentally scolding herself. ‘If I can’t handle the first night, then I’m not fit to be a Summoner.’

But when she felt Naruto’s leg –or maybe an elbow, since she wasn’t looking- jab her back so much she fell right off the side of the bed and onto the cold floor her anger flared. Pushing herself upright and leaning overtop the bed, she glared at the peacefully sleeping Naruto and pulled the covers he was cuddling with right away from him.

“Naruto!” she shouted harshly in his ear, making the Fox Demon jolt awake. As she went to sit herself on top of the mattress he also sat up, his small fingers massaging his ear. At first he looked a little irritated well, but seeing his master’s face instantly turned it into a frown.

“What did I do, Sakura?” he asked almost too innocently. The softness of his voice took the young Summoner aback; she was almost starting to rethink whatever she was trying to say.

‘But then,’ she thought, her lips forming that same scowl again, ‘I would have to deal with it again and again! That isn’t going to happen.’

As she tried to form the words she wanted to say, this time wanting to use a less angry voice, she sighed. Then she began. “Naruto, we really have to work on your sleeping habits, or else I won’t be able to sleep at all.”

Instead of understanding he gave her a rather confused expression. “Is it that bad?”

“Yes, it is,” she replied. “And if I can’t sleep then this journey won’t be a pleasant one. Especially since it’s already supposed to be serious.”

That time Naruto nodded, but she wasn’t sure he comprehended the underlying message to what she said. Still, his smile was a relief to her somehow, and something told her that just saying that alone would help him obey even in his sleep.

As they laid their heads down, this time Naruto personally making sure she had enough space and plenty of covers, Sakura smiled softly and easily drifted into a peaceful sleep. This was her first time resting since everything had happened, but she felt at ease. The last thing she saw before closing her eyes were those sweet blue eyes, and they made her believe in what she was thinking for sure.

‘Everything will be okay . . .’

-

Kakashi stood confidently before the Hokage’s desk as the old man contemplated, his thin, wrinkled fingers around his chin and his head lowered. On his desk were still the many books that had been there when Sakura and Naruto were in the room the day before, but there was also a thin paper with scribbling, rushed handwriting on it.

“Well?” Kakashi said, crossing his arms and balancing his weight on one foot as he waited. He had just discussed his idea, one he had been contemplating the entire night. While the Summoner had always been a patient man, ready and willing to go at other’s pace, he was eager to find if his plan had any merit to it.

“It does seem to work in her favor,” the Hokage replied, his voice still sounding pensive yet positive and reassuring. He picked up the letter and scanned through the words again, and this time a smile rose to his face. “I think we should try it. I now assign you, Summoner Kakashi along with Sasuke the responsibility of watching over Summoner Sakura and Naruto on the way to Hanabira.”

As the two quickly wrapped up their conversation, both agreeing with what they had just discussed a loud crashing noise was heard outside that halted both of them from speaking. It sounded like a loud clank against the floor out in the hall, but it was quickly explained with shouting.

“Come back here, you little brat!”

“Nyah! Aren’t youthe Demon Fox? You should be able to run faster than me!”

“Damn right I am! And I can so run faster than you!”

“Naruto, stop chasing the poor boy around!”

“All of you, shut the hell up! It’s morning!”

Kakashi sighed as he heard his own Summon shouting at the new guests and quickly dismissed himself from the Hokage’s presence with a salute before setting out, taking the small scribbled paper on the desk with him. The moment he walked into the hall a flurry of shorter heads flashed by him, the last one which he managed to catch with his hand by the collar being Sasuke.

The young male seemed to jerk his head back harshly and came to a sudden halt, but as soon as he looked to see who stopped him from his mini rampage he immediately calmed down. His eyes seemed to fall towards the floor in a bit of shame and Kakashi let go, knowing full well that Sasuke wasn’t going to attempt to run away. “Master . . .”

The rest of the individuals causing the commotion, notably Konohamaru, Naruto and Sakura, also stopped when they saw Kakashi and hurried over towards him as if it were a command. He smiled at all of them like it wasn’t a problem in the least, but all of them had the same sorry expression Sasuke possessed.

“I’m sorry, Kakashi,” Sakura was the first to say, bowing a little bit and folding her hands together in her lap. She glanced over to Naruto just a little bit and obediently he did the same, followed by Konohamaru.

The older Summoner waved it off, even laughing a bit as he pat the top of his Summon’s head affectionately. He hadn’t done what the others did, but it seemed like he was quite embarrassed. “It’s fine. I don’t know what happened, but it must have been interesting; Sasuke doesn’t usually yell at people so loud even the trainees in the court yard can hear it.”

At this Konohamaru and Naruto giggled, not even caring that they were also just as loud moments before. Sakura stood up straight once again and nodded in acceptance, then she looked back behind him to see the giant doors she remembered as the Hokage’s room. She frowned.

‘Truthfully,’ she thought, ignoring any current conversation the ones around her were having, ‘I had wanted to speak to the Hokage this morning about where I should go first . . . But then Konohamaru had to jump in our bed and wake us up. I guess I should just let Naruto sleep until he’s ready, or else he’ll be irritable every morning.’

This made her look to Sasuke, who was standing next to Kakashi proudly once again. He was wearing a healthy smirk that seemed to make Naruto angry, and the two exchanged petty words. This time one of them had managed to keep their cool. ‘He’s so much different from my Summon, but I don’t know too much about him yet. I wonder if all Summons are different.’

“Sakura?” Kakashi called, taking the young lady out of her thoughts. Not only was the Summoner in front of her trying to get her attention, but Konohamaru was tugging at her skirt, begging to be picked up. She smiled and complied, wedging him against her hip and wrapping her arms around his small figure.

“Yes?” she asked. She didn’t want to miss anything he said, especially if it was important. It was then that Kakashi began to walk out into one of the three hallways, the middle one which they had all crossed yesterday when they first came to meet the Hokage. He glanced back at them, signaling for all of them to follow, and they did.

As they continued to walk, now down the flight of stairs and all of them admiring the glass masterpieces around them Kakashi spoke again. All of them with the exception of Konohamaru listened. “It seems that the Hokage has given you, Sakura, and me a little mission as Summoners before you start your journey.”

“A mission?” Sakura and Naruto repeated together, both equally curious. He nodded.

“Yes.” He held up a small paper in his hands, the very same roughly written note that he had taken earlier. “This is a letter from an old friend of mine in Hanabira. He says recently there was an old Summon Staff discovered in the coal mines near the town, but there are no Summoners there to unlock its potential.”

“Hanabira,” Sakura thought, her mind trying to remember the name. She was excited about the mission, of course -this seemed like an incredible honor to be a part of- but she had to get other priorities straight first. Then she remembered. “Oh! That’s a small town in the north, right? I think it’s in this country still, Konoha, but it might be in Suna country as well.”

“It’s not in Suna,” Sasuke spat as if it were obvious. “Hanabira is a port town that has boat trips to Suna, but that’s all the connection it has. Don’t you know your own country?”

Sakura had no reply for that as she kept herself quiet, a little ashamed by Sasuke’s words. Still, Kakashi seemed not to be affected by her answer like his Summon was and even helped justify her mistake with a smile.

“Now, now, Sasuke,” he started, “Tsunade was teaching her magic- not geography.”

“So, so!” Naruto interrupted, his voice sounding childishly eager for answers. Sakura smiled sweetly, glad that he was so easily able to change things. “Tell us what we’re going to do! What’s the Summoning Staff like? Did your friend say?”

By this time the small party had reached the entrance of the Hokage’s home and they were back at the gate, the one place people could enter from outside. Asuma was there on guard just as he was the day before and he gave a quick salute to them all, smiling. All of them stopped their walk as Kakashi did, and he turned to look at all of them.

“This is actually a special thing for you, Sakura,” he said, surprising the young girl. “In order to become a strong Summoner that could defeat Orochimaru, you can’t just stay with one Summon forever. I’m sure you knew that already.”

Sakura nodded, and he continued. “Hanabira, despite being a port town, doesn’t have much going for it; in fact, it’s barely used as a port town at all anymore, so not many people care to go there. The coal mines are its only worth, and it’s rare for them to find anything so valuable.

“This is going to be a special personal test for you, Sakura. I know that I could easily unlock the Summon inside the staff, but the question is if you can. And if you can do it successfully, you’ll have another partner on you.”

‘That’s right!’ Sakura thought, a smile coming to her face. The rapid excitement made her feel ready to go and see what she could do, but just as quickly other thoughts were rising in her mind that made her want to think things over just a bit more. ‘But how does one unlock a Summon . . .? When I opened the scroll Naruto was trapped in, he just came out, but this isn’t a scroll we’re talking about here.’

Sakura was brought out of her thoughts when she felt someone wring their arm around her neck and turned to see herself face-to-face with Naruto, who was grinning. “Don’t worry about everything! We’ll figure out the hard stuff when we get there.”

Those words alone made things suddenly seem like they were going to be okay. A fuzzy, warm feeling filled her chest as she smiled back, then she felt Konohamaru’s small grip on her shoulder and looked down. He had a very sad, tearful expression on her face. Even though she wanted to be sad with him, her enthusiasm couldn’t be hidden.

“You . . .” Konohamaru said, sniffling a little bit. “You’re going to have to leave now, aren’t you?”

“Awwww,” she said in a sympathetic tone, squeezing him tightly in a hug then kissing his forehead. As she tried to settle him back on the ground there was a little bit of resistance, but it seemed he understood just how important this was. Little tears were already coming down his baby cheeks, and just before she turned to the gate he gave her one last hug around the leg.

“You’re gonna come back, aren’t you?” he asked, his voice a little shaking. This time he felt a small pat on the forehead and looked up to her beaming, this time wider than ever.

“No worries,” she said, and he let go of her. “I will come back as soon as I defeat Orochimaru.”

“But first,” Naruto said, also ruffling up the child’s hair a bit as a strange sort of goodbye, “To Hanabira! Let’s see what that Summoning Staff has to offer!”