The Orange Flash and the White Dog

Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto, Inuyasha, Yu Yu Hakushou, and King of Hell. Their respective creators do. I do own all the original characters though. If you wish to use them, please ask.

Summary: Naruto is banished by the council after his failing to retrieve Sasuke and return him to the village. On leaving, things happen between him and the Kyuubi and he ends up meeting Taishio Yaone. A powerful Inuyoukai who is the daughter of Taishio Sesshoumaru, the ruler of the Western Lands of the Makai and the Shikon Miko, Kagome. Together they become the legendary Orange Flash and White Dog.

Warnings: This is a yaoi/slash fic. The eventual main pairing will be Shino/Naru with mentions of Shino/Kiba, Majeh/Naru, and Majeh/Naru/Samhuk
If you don’t like slash, don’t read, don’t flame.

Author’s Notes: Ok, there have been a few changes made most of which is an original 2,000 word scene that was not there in the original post and I have combined chapters again as well. Any grammatical errors that I may have missed please let me know by pm. Thanks, The Lady of Shadows.

Chapter VIII

Another week passed and Tazuna informed him that Wave had finally collected the money they needed to pay Konoha for its protection of him and his bridge. Naruto looked at him seriously and said, “Would you like me to send Tim and Nikki to tell baa-chan to send someone to pick up the money?”

“Sure, brat, you do that,” Tazuna said.

Naruto summoned Tim and Nikki, the female toad that started out as his sidekick but later in life became his wife. With a slight pop Tim and his family arrived. Tim was a five foot tall, blue toad with one eye which was covered in a silver eye patch. He wore a silver vest and was carrying a long, vicious looking serrated sword tucked in a silver sash. His wife and sidekick, Nikki, was four foot seven and was a crimson red. She wore a dark blue vest and carried two sheathed silver stilettos tucked into a dark blue sash. Tucked in between them was their two year old daughter, Deirdre. She was half a foot tall and violet in color. Her mother had dressed her in a royal blue vest. She had yet to choose her style of fighting. In a gruff, age roughed voice Tim asked, “What do you need, tadpole?”

Naruto smiled at the old toad and his family. He was told about Tim and Nikki by Gamanichi. Gama-chan had told him that Tim’s and Nikki’s parents had visited the Western area of the Ningenkai just before they were born. There they decided to name their son and daughter with an ‘English’ name. So a young Tim and Nikki grew up in the Summons realm with names that no other toad had. Naruto was later told by the couple that they were like this song by an English county singer named Johnny Cash. The song was called ‘A Boy Named Sue’ and the two of them were just like Sue. They were out to prove that a name is just a name and had nothing to do with there personalities or their fighting abilities. Tim told him about their encounters with the snake clan and how vicious the snakes were about their names. The snakes soon learned not to mess with the dangerous duo. Nikki pointed out that not all the clans in the Summons realm mocked them. She said that the Slug clan was filled with the nicest of people. There parents had a close friendship with a slug couple who had joined them on their trip to the Ningenkai. That couple followed the example of Tim and Nikki’s parents and named their daughter Shirley. Shirley was a gorgeous emerald green slug. When they first met they commiserated in their shared fate of having parents who had made a terribly bad decision when it came to naming their child. She had then joined them in helping kick ass when the other summons mocked and teased them. She had a nasty acid spit attack and tended to go for the eyes. There were quiet a few blind snakes in the snake clan due to Shirley’s vindictiveness.

Tim and Nikki had taken a liking to Naruto. After they had first met they began to talk about there shitty childhoods that they had due to the choices of their parents. The three of them loved there parents but their actions had greatly affected their lives. After that Tim and Nikki had informed him that they would each teach them their specialties. Once Kouga had finished his dagger training then Nikki would teach him her special lightening stiletto attack. Tim informed him that once he finished his kenjutsu training then he would teach Naruto his special flaming sword attack. Naruto had gotten excited when Tim and Nikki had told him that. He asked Tim and Nikki to show them their special attacks. The damage caused by the two attacks really impressed the three youkai.

“I need you guys to take this to baa-chan,” Naruto said and handed Tim a note.

“Sure, tadpole, see you later,” Tim said and then he and his family disappeared with a poof.

Naruto wondered who would be coming to collect the money and if it would be anyone he knew.

*****
Tsunade sighed and looked down at the paperwork in front of her. She missed the brat. She was not the only one either. Iruka and Shizune missed him as well. Jiraiya had left to check on his spy network. She had a feeling she would not be seeing much of her old teammate. What the council had done to his godson had pushed him even farther away from the village. She sometimes regretted taking this job and thought about leaving this damn village and its annoying politics behind but the brat had asked her to take of his precious people for him and damn it she was going to keep that promise. She got back to the paperwork on her desk before Shizune could start bugging her about it. She worked diligently for the next thirty minutes before she was interrupted by a soft pop and a cloud of smoke. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the three toads before her. She absently wondered what Jiraiya was sending her as she examined the three before her. The first toad was five foot tall and blue with one eye which was covered in a silver eye patch. He wore a silver vest and was carrying a long, vicious looking serrated sword that was tucked into a silver sash. The second toad was four foot seven and she was a deep crimson red. She wore a dark blue vest and carried a pair of sheathed silver stilettos that were tucked into a dark blue sash. The third toad was placed in between the two larger toads. The little toad was half a foot tall and violet in color. She was just dressed in a royal blue vest. Tsunade cleared her throat and said pleasantly, “Can I help you?”

“You baa-chan,” the large blue toad asked in a gruff voice.

Tsunade’s whiskey colored eyes widened in surprise and she choked out, “Yes, I am. Did Naruto send you?”

The blue toad chuckled and said, “The tadpole told me to give this message to baa-chan.”

The blue toad handed her a message and Tsunade opened it up. She read it and then asked the toad, “Do you know how he is doing?”

“He is doing well. He found some people to train him and he is progressing quickly,” the violet toad replied.

“Now Tsunade, I would like to have a little talk with your council,” the blue toad said quietly.

“Now why would you want to talk to them,” she said and the distaste she had for the council was rife in her voice.

“We have a few things that we need to get off our chest,” the blue toad said and exchanged a speaking glance with the violet toad.

Tsunade looked at them sharply and then grinned viciously before saying, “I have no problems doing that umm...”

“The name is Tim. This is my mate, Nikki, and our daughter, Deirdre,” Tim replied.

“Well, Tim and Nikki, I have absolutely no problems in allowing you to have a little talk with my councilors,” Tsunade said solemnly as amusement danced in her honey gold eyes.

*****

The council of Konoha trickled into the council chambers and once the last member was in place Tsunade stood up to address them. But before she could speak one dimwit said, “Why did you call us hear, Tsunade?”

Tsunade smirked at the twit and said, “There are some people who asked if they could address this august body. I said sure, why not? So here you are. Now these two individuals have something to say to you all.”

She stepped aside and Tim, Nikki, and Deirdre came out of the shadows. Tim grinned viciously down at the sputtering members of the council and said, “Hi, I am here to give you idiots a piece of my mind and my lovely mate here is going to join me. Now, you fucking ignorant assholes keep your fat asses in your chairs and listen well. You are a bunch of morons. You banished someone who had the potential to become one your strongest shinobi with the proper training due to your unreasoning and biased fears. He has never done anything to deserve his treatment from you. You are all lower then dung. You are not fit to walk this world and someone should see to it that your lives come to a pitiful and painful end.”

Tsunade grinned as she listened to the beginning of Tim’s rant. Soon Nikki joined in and her nasty comments and zingers made the civilian councilors of Konoha sputter angrily. Deirdre moved up beside Tsunade and whispered in her ear, “My parents are really good at insulting people aren’t they?”

“Yes, my dear, they certainly are,” Tsunade replied and took note of a few of the insults she really liked.

Then it happened one of Danzo’s sycophant morons spoke up and asked in a supercilious voice, “Just who and what are you?”

A heavy silence filled the air and Tsunade’s jaw dropped down in stunned disbelief. The twit was a councillor of Konoha and he did not know what the two toads were? Tim looked at the idiot who just spoke and said in a scathing tone, “What are you? A moron? I am a summons of Konoha. I am a proud member of the toad clan. What rock have you been under not to know about one of your most famous summoning contracts?”

Many of the shinobi in the council chuckled at that sally and Tsunade grinned wildly. Then groaned under her breath when that bastard, Danzo spoke up on his toady’s behalf and asked, “Excuse me, I am wondering why you and your family here. I am sure it is not just to insult the council on its past decisions.”

Nikki glared at him and then informed them, “Naruto is currently in Wave and he was recently approached by Tazuna the bridge builder. Tazuna had asked Naruto to send a message to Konoha about the payment they owed the village. Naruto-kun asked us to deliver the message for him. When we delivered the message we politely asked Tsunade-san if we could address the bunch of nincompoops who make up the council.”

Once again the toads were able to cause several of the council members to begin to sputter uncontrollably but once again Danzo stepped forward and asked, “Why does the Kyuubi brat hold the toad contract when he is no longer a Konoha nin?”

Tim replied and amusement laced his voice, “Naruto was still a shinobi of Konoha when he was allowed to sign our contract. Now, only Gambuta can remove his name from the contract.” The one-eyed toad had then smirked nastily at the councillors and told them, “Unfortunately for you pricks, Gambuta likes and respects Naruto and he will not remove his name no matter what this august body fucking demands.”

That is when the moron’s voice rose again and he complained, “But I still do not know your names.”

“I am Tim and this is my lovely mate, Nikki, and that little tadpole is our daughter, Deirdre,” Tim replied.

Tsunade got a bad feeling when the twit opened his mouth again. He laughed and said, “What kind of weird names are Tim, Nikki, and Deirdre?”

A moment of silence filled the chambers then the other morons of the council started snickering in agreement. Tsunade felt an enormous amount of killing intent and slowly looked at the two large toads. She watched in horror when Tim drew that serrated monstrosity of a sword and yelled, “My name is not weird. Stop laughing at us you ignorant bastards!”

He leapt into the center of the chamber and began laying waste to the idiots that were laughing at him and his family. Nikki pulled out her stilettos and joined him. Tsunade blinked and stood there not knowing what to do as the two toads began destroying her council chambers and a good portion of the councillors. The shinobi members of the council had wisely retreated behind Tsunade and watched as the two toads dealt their punishment to stupid and easily blinded members of the council. Flashes of fire and lightening appeared on and off and when it died down. Several council members were grievously injured and moaning in pain. Tim and Nikki smirked down at their handiwork and their daughter hopped up beside them. They turned and nodded at Tsunade respectfully and left with a soft pop and a cloud of smoke. Tsunade continued to look down at the injured members of her council and began to grin. The beginnings of a plan began to unfold in her mind and she directed Shizune to get the medic nins in to collect the injured bastards on the floor. This, she knew, was the perfect opportunity to remove these particular council members for good with the help of Lord Daecheol, the fire daimyo. Today, she thought, is a good day.

*******

Shino sighed softly and gazed up at the ceiling of his room. His father had informed him what had happened today in the council chamber. He also knew his father was going to be very busy with council business for a little while. Tsunade and Lord Daecheol were using this opportunity to remove as many of the corrupt members of the council as possible and his father and the other clan heads would be choosing new members to take their place. If things went well, Naruto would soon be back in the village. He smiled and hoped that Tsunade succeeded in her plans. He really wanted Naruto back where he could see him in between their missions. He still missed the hyper ball of sunshine. He picked up a picture he had taken of Naruto on the sly and brushed his finger across the glass covering the picture. “Naruto,” he sighed and then set the picture down.

He wondered what he was up to. Someone knocked on his door and he got up to answer it. It was his father. “Yes, father,” he asked.

“Prepare for a mission. We are going to Wave to pick up the money they owe us,” his father answered.

Shino went still. He was going to Wave. He was going to see Naruto again. “Yes, father,” he said and turned to pack.

Shibi grinned behind the collar of his coat. Shino maybe able to hide from his peers and other non-Aburame’s but he could not hide from him. His son was excited about seeing the Uzumaki. Before he turned and left the hall he shook his head and said, “Meet Kakashi and I at the gates as soon as you are ready, son.”

*****
Three days after Naruto had sent the letter, Kakashi arrived in Wave with Shibi and Shino Aburame. Naruto, on seeing Kakashi, ran forward and leaped onto him. Kakashi caught him and he wrapped his legs around Kakashi’s waist, hugging him tightly. Kakashi wrapped his arms around his former rambunctious students torso surprised at this display of affection. “Kakashi-sensei, baa-chan sent you,” Naruto crowed happily.

“Maaa, Naruto, it is good to see you too,” drawled Kakashi.

Naruto unwrapped his legs from Kakashi’s waist and Kakashi let him go. Naruto grinned up happily at his genin sensei. Kakashi smiled underneath his mask at him and studied the changes he could see in Naruto. Naruto had just returned from work and was wearing heavy black, canvas pants, a black tee shirt and his brown leather, steel-toe work boots. Kakashi could see the muscles that he had recently developed and Kakashi could feel the control that Naruto had gained in his chakra. Kakashi was proud of the obvious signs of Naruto’s training.

Naruto finally noticed the two Aburame’s who had come with Kakashi. Naruto cheerfully greeted them, “Hello Shibi-san. Hi Shino, come on in everyone.”

Naruto headed to the house and everyone followed him in. “Why don’t you wait in the kitchen while I change,” he said before running upstairs.

He created and dismissed a kage bunshin to let Yaone, Shippou, and Kouga know about the team from Konoha’s arrival. A few seconds later, Naruto got a message from a kage bunshin that had dispelled itself. His senseis had told him that he had the evening off from training due to Kakashi and the Aburame’s arrival. Naruto smiled joyfully. He was happy that he would be able to spend sometime with some of his precocious people. He undressed and washed himself quickly. He put on a pair of baggy black jeans, the black sleeveless t-shirt with the orange and yellow flames and his orange canvas shoes. He jumped down the stairs three at a time and joined everyone at the table.

He asked, “So what has been happening in Konoha since I have been gone?”

“Maaa,” Kakashi drawled rubbing the back of his head. “Not much really if you do not count the council dealing with the aftermath of their banishment of you. The council found that while some of the civilians may be happy with their decision to banish you from Konoha but none of the shinobi are happy with their decision. The major clans of Konoha are very angry at what they believe is the councils biased and extremely bad decision. Not only that the Fire Daimyo is questioning the validity of your banishment. Tsunade is hoping that this blow-up might be the excuse she needs to disband the current council and reform it to her satisfaction. You might be back in Konoha sooner then you think, Naruto.”

“Naruto might be back in Konoha sooner then he thinks, hmmm. Well that is an interesting development,” Yaone said coolly.

The three Konoha shinobi spun around in surprise. They had not been able to sense her at all. Their eyes went wide as they realized that she was not the only one they had not sensed. The three Konoha nins observed the threes people standing in the doorway uneasily. They had never met any one who could hide their chakra so completely and the Aburame’s were wondering why their Kekai had not warned them about the three individuals in the doorway. Shippou smiled at them cheerfully and said, “Now you just said that Naruto-kun might be returning to Konoha sooner then he thought. Why is that?”

Shibi sighed and said, “There has been a large negative backlash towards the council over his banishment. The rest of the Rookie Nine and Team Gai are the most vocal and have been leading the demand for Naruto’s return. Not only that the Fire Daimyo is questioning them on their decision.” Shibi paused for a moment and a slight smile flickered across his face. “Not only is the Fire Daimyo questioning them the Wind and Water Daimyo’s are also wondering about their decision as well. So it is not looking good for them and Hokage-sama may have the excuse she needs to disband the current council and reform it to her satisfaction.”

“Right now, the council can not do anything about the bad press because most of them are in the hospital,” Shino said quickly.

“In the hospital?” Naruto questioned.

“Yes, in the hospital,” Kakashi replied in amusement. “Not only are they in the hospital, Tsunade refuses to let the medic nins treat them and as Ino and Sakura have become medic nins they are helping Tsunade and Shizune make sure that they are not treated.”

“But why are they in the hospital?” Naruto asked.

“Oh, it seems that family of toads you sent your message with decided to have a ‘talk’ with the council,” Kakashi drawled. “At the end of their ‘talk’ a good portion of the council chamber was destroyed as well as many members of the council were in the hospital with electrical and fire burns, broken bones, assorted gashes from the blue, one-eyed toad’s serrated sword and stab wounds from the red toad’s stiletto’s.”

Naruto and the three youkai’s blinked and Naruto whispered in disbelief, “Tim and Nikki did all that?”

“I actually do not think that they planned on doing that,” Shibi said. “They had Tsunade summon us to have their little talk. They raked the council over the coals over their treatment of you. That is when a council member stupidly asked just who and what they were.”

“Obviously a civilian,” Yaone muttered.

“Hmmm, yes,” Shibi replied before saying, “Tim looked at him and said, ‘What are you? A moron? I am a summons of Konoha. I am a proud member of the toad clan. What rock have you been under not to know about one of your most famous summoning contracts?’ Of course, Danzo intervened on his toady’s behalf and asked Tim why he and his family were here. Nikki glared at him and then informed him that you were in Wave and you had been approached by Tazuna the bridge builder. He asked you to send a message to Konoha. They were the messengers and they had asked Tsunade-san if they could address t he bunch of nincompoops who made up the council.”

Shibi chuckled slightly and continued, “Several of the council members began sputtering uncontrollably but Danzo stepped in again. He asked just why you held the toad contract when he was no longer a Konoha nin. Tim replied that you were a shinobi of Konoha when you were allowed to sign the toad contract. That once you signed it only Gambuta could remove your name. The one-eyed toad had then smirked nastily at the councillors and told them that Gambuta liked and respected you and would not remove your name no matter what the council demanded. That is when the moron complained that he still did not know their names.”

“Oh, boy,” Naruto muttered knowing where this was going.

“Oh boy is an understanding, Naruto,” Shibi intoned. “After Tim and Nikki had told them their names another moron opened his mouth and inserted his foot. He laughed and said, ‘What kind of weird names are Tim, Nikki, and Deirdre?’ The other morons of the council started snickering in agreement. That is when it happened. Tim drew that serrated monstrosity of his and yelled, ‘My name is not weird. Stop laughing at us you ignorant bastards!’ before laying waste to the idiots that had laughed at him and his family. Nikki pulled out her stilettos and joined him. It was not a pretty sight.”

“Should have known it was about their names,” Naruto sighed, “Tim and Nikki are very sensitive about them.”

“We saw,” the three Konoha nins said in unison.

“Well that is what has been happening in Konoha recently,” Kakashi said. “Now what have you been up to recently, Naruto?”

Naruto then told them everything that had happened when he left them outside of Konoha. When they heard that the Kyuubi was a criminal from the Makai, they were shocked. They were stunned when they learned that Naruto’s three current senseis were youkai and that two more were going to be joining them at a later date. By the end of his tale, they were greatly impressed with what Naruto had accomplished so far.

Yaone leaned back in her chair and observed the thee nins while Naruto told them what had been happening in his life. She especially watched young Shino to see if her suspicions about him were accurate. She smirked as she watched as Shino stare at Naruto. She discreetly checked out his scent. Her smirk got wider as she smelled his arousal. She leaned forward and got his attention. She wanted to get to know Shino and see if he was good enough for her little hero.

The evening drew to a close and everyone said goodnight and went to bed. The next day Kakashi took the payment from Tazuna that they had come to get. They gathered outside to say their good-byes. Kakashi drew Naruto to the side and told him, “Naruto send a toad to Jiraiya and let him know where you are at. I think he would like to check up on his godson.”

Naruto smiled brilliantly up at him and said, “I will do that Kakashi-sensei.” Naruto reached out, hugged him tightly, and whispered, “Good-bye, Kakashi-sensei and when you see Iruka-sensei and baa-chan tell them that I love them and miss them very much.”

“I will do that, Naruto,” Kakashi responded quietly, “Good-bye and take care of yourself, okay.” He turned at nodded to the three youkai and Tazuna’s family before moving down the road.

Shino walked up to Naruto and said, “Good-bye Naruto.”

Naruto smiled sadly at Shino and whispered, “Good-bye Shino, it was good to see you again.”

Shino nodded, went, and stood by his father. Shibi nodded to Naruto and said, “Good-bye Naruto.”

“Good-bye, Shibi-san,” Naruto replied and he stood there with his sensei’s and watched the three nins leave. He wondered when he would see them again.

**********


A week later and another weekend off form work. Yaone informed Naruto that his kenjutsu training would start today. Sesshoumaru would be arriving with the other two today after breakfast. Yaone then told him that it was time to raise the level of difficulty in the spike balance exercise. He now had to get rid of one of the spikes and balance only on one fingertip.

“Your chakra control is better then ever, Naruto,” Yaone told him. “I want you to add some more kage bunshin to each group you currently have going, okay?”

“Got it,” he said, “How many do you think I should add?”

“Hmmm, make it another fifty kage bunshin for each group,” Yaone ordered.

Naruto went up the stairs, pulled out his katana, and then went out to the clearing to wait for Sesshoumaru with Yaone. A few moments later Yaone’s father stepped into the clearing looking elegant and cool. “Hello father,” Yaone said, stepping forward and hugging him.

Naruto bowed slightly when Sesshoumaru looked at him with his cool gold eyes and said, “Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sensei.”

Sesshoumaru smiled softly at his daughter and softly murmured, “Yaone.” He stared at Naruto and commanded, “Come!”

He turned and left the clearing clearly expecting Naruto to obey his order. “Later Yaone,” he yelled as he chased after the youkai lord. He followed Sesshoumaru through the forest and he was just able to keep up with him. They soon arrived in another clearing that contained a waterfall that fell onto some jagged rocks and into a large pool of water. Sesshoumaru turned to Naruto and simply held out his hand. Naruto quickly figured out what he wanted and hurriedly handed over his katana.

Sesshoumaru studied the blade for a few minutes before nodding in approval and returned the sword back to Naruto. He then pulled out his own katana, Bakusaiga, and with no commands or comments to Naruto; he demonstrated the first dance in his kenjutsu style. After it was done, he told Naruto it was called the Dance of the Sakura Blossom. Naruto began to practice what he had been shown. Sesshoumaru stepped in and corrected a few movements and for a half, an hour Naruto worked on the Dance of the Sakura Blossom until Sesshoumaru nodded his approval.

Sesshoumaru had just had to look at him and Naruto knew that Sesshoumaru wanted him to create one-hundred kage bunshin to continue practicing the first Dance. The kage bunshin quickly left the area with kage bunshin of Sesshoumaru following them. Sesshoumaru then ordered, “Put your katana to the side.”

As soon as Naruto had one what he was told, Sesshoumaru tossed him another blade, “My daughter grabbed that from your weapon supply. You will not be learning one style but two. I am a master of two styles of kenjutsu and I will have you master both. My daughter does know both of them but she prefers the katana. Now watch me closely as I demonstrate the first dance of this style. It is called the Dance of the Diablo.”

Sesshoumaru pulled out his long sword, Tôkijin, and showed Naruto the first dance of his second sword style. After Sesshoumaru had finished the dance, Naruto then started his first attempt of the dance he had been shown. He made more mistakes in this dance, which Sesshoumaru quickly corrected. An hour later his dance finally got Sesshoumaru’s approval. One-hundred kage bunshin were dispatched to practice the Dance of the Diablo and Sesshoumaru’s kage bunshin followed them out of the clearing.

Sesshoumaru points to the waterfall and says, “Practice the strikes and slashes of the two styles under there. Doing this is good for strengthening the arm muscles needed for kenjutsu. From now on you are to spend thirty minutes in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening under that waterfall practicing the strikes and slashes of what I have taught you.”

Sesshoumaru and Naruto sent the day practicing the two dances. For four hours, Sesshoumaru had him going over every little move of the Dance of the Sakura Blossom repeatedly. He corrected Naruto’s footwork and constantly stopped him and made him do the move until he was satisfied that those particular steps were perfect. When Sesshoumaru did not like the way he swung the blade he stopped Naruto and made him do that particular swing over again until he had perfected it to Sesshoumaru’s satisfaction. This was just with the Dance of the Sakura Blossoms. He was just as exacting if not more so for the Dance of the Diablo.

Naruto began going over the Dance of the Diablo and it seemed that every second he was stopped and forcefully showed the proper way to do the move. This constant search for perfection of the Dance of the Diablo lasted for five hours before he was allowed to break for lunch. After lunch it was back to going over the Dance of the Diablo and Sesshoumaru did not let up on him for another three hours. Then he had Naruto switch back to the Dance of the Sakura Blossoms for another three gruelling hours. Finally, Sesshoumaru said he was satisfied with the progress that Naruto had made. Naruto smiled in relief and pain. His arms felt like they were going to fall off and they ached from the strain of wielding the two blades for so long. Sesshoumaru said goodbye to him and then abruptly left him alone in the clearing. Naruto trudged back to the house with his swords. After he had returned to the house, he carefully cleaned his blades and put them away. He then gratefully sank into a tub of hot water to ease the aches in his muscles.

After his bath, he had supper with everyone. Yaone smiled at him and asked, “How was it?”

“It was gruelling,” he replied.

Yaone just nodded her head knowingly and they finished their supper in peace. Naruto was soon in bed asleep. He was once again completely exhausted from his long day under Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was as he told him when they first met, a hard taskmaster. The youkai lord wanted and expected perfection in his students.