Naruto: Amongst the Whirling Tides Chapter 14

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. This one is slightly shorter as I couldn’t find a good way to finish the chapter, but it’s only by a small amount.

Chapter 14

Mei Terumi was a beautiful woman, but she came with thorns. Naruto saw a resemblance between her and Tsunade. Both had a strong, self-reliant aura and refused to tolerate any grief from anyone. Based on the information from her entry in the Bingo Book, she was truly an amazing kunoichi. Not only was she proficient in four elemental transformations, but she also possessed two powerful kekkei genkai: Lava Release and Boil Release.

She possessed immense power at the level of a Kage and could put up a formidable fight against Jiraiya. What would happen if she chose to launch an attack? The two shinobi by her side were unfamiliar to him, but he doubted his ability to take on both of them if it came to a confrontation.

Naruto released his chains, extending them out to seize Mei's leg. It became immediately apparent that he would not be extracting any pertinent information from her. Her mental fortitude was evident, with not a hint of emotions leaking out from her, similar to gazing into a serene pond. Clearly, she possessed some form of training that enabled her to resist mental manipulations. Yet, amidst this unwavering composure, Naruto caught a fleeting glimpse of concern for her subordinates who should have been waiting for her on the shore.

"You're as spicy as ever, Mei," Jiraiya remarked. "It's been quite a while since we last saw each other."

“Quit stalling Jiraiya,” Mei took a step forward. “Tell me where my subordinates are now or I am going to attack and ask questions later. Do you want anything to happen to the little boy by your side?"

"I can take care of myself," Naruto replied. "But you don't need to worry about your subordinates. They are alive, although they may be a bit roughed up."

Mei heaved a sigh of relief and placed her hand on her impressive chest. "That's a relief. Could you please take me to them?"

"I would like to speak to you privately before that happens," Jiraiya said. "Having all your people staring me down makes me feel quite nervous."

Naruto understood why he felt that way. He estimated there were at least sixty or seventy individuals on the shoreline behind her, all busy unloading supplies from the ship. However, they were also vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on Naruto and his group. They would swiftly come to their leader's defence if necessary. What was more concerning was that most of them appeared to be shinobi, as indicated by their uniforms.

"Lady Mei will not be going anywhere with you," declared the tall, middle-aged man with blue hair. "I believe you have other shinobi lying in wait to ambush us."

Naruto's curiosity was piqued by the sight of the man's eyepatch, concealing his eye like Kakashi would. Was he concealing a Sharingan beneath it? Naruto released Mei and redirected his attention towards the man, promptly attaching the chains to him instead. The man’s emotions and thoughts were a little more transparent than Mei’s, but still muted enough that he wouldn’t get anything from either.

“We don’t have to move anywhere,” Jiraiya said. “Do you have some shelter you can build quickly? We can all sit down and talk.”

"I will have a tent set up," Mei replied. She called over one of her subordinates and issued some instructions. The man saluted and hurried off to fulfill them.

They watched as her subordinates assembled a spacious tent. Once the tables and chairs were arranged, they took their seats to begin their discussion. Shortly after, Mei graciously served them tea. However, despite her polite gesture, Jiraiya and Naruto chose not to drink the tea, still harbouring doubts about them.

"Allow me to introduce these two shinobi," Mei said, gesturing towards the individuals seated beside her. "This middle-aged gentleman is Ao, and the other one is Chojuro. I rely on them to keep me protected."

"Hello," Chojuro bowed his head. "I sincerely hope that you won't attack us, as I am truly concerned about engaging in a battle. Thank you in advance."

"Seriously? That's such a weak statement," Ao scolded him, exasperated. "Come on, show some backbone, Chojuro."

Chōjūrō has short, tufty blue hair, and dark eyes hidden behind a pair of square black-rimmed glasses. His most prominent feature was revealed when he opened his mouth, revealing a row of shark-like teeth. He carried a massive sword on his back, its blade tightly bound with bandages. Could he be proficient in Kenjutsu?

“Chojuro is one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist,” Jiraiya told him quietly. “Don't underestimate him for a second. Right now, you're no match for him.”

"Really?" Naruto looked at the short guy with newfound respect. "So that sword on his back must be one of the infamous Mist swords."

"What is it that you're whispering about, Jiraiya?” Mei inquired. “And shouldn't you introduce the boy to me?"

“I can introduce myself,” Naruto retorted. “The name is Naruto Uzumaki. And you are trespassing on my land.”

"Uzumaki?" Mei's surprise was evident. "It's rare to come across someone with that name. But what makes you believe that this island belongs to you?"

"I have more rights than most. Do you think it should belong to someone like Kiri?" Naruto inquired. "The shinobi who played a role in its destruction, even though they never participated in any of the Great Wars. I wonder what their motivation was for doing so."

Mei squinted at the disrespectful boy. "That incident took place thirty years ago. Kiri made a lot of mistakes during that period, but surely you can't hold that against me?"

"I don't know," Naruto said with insolence. "Exactly how old are you?"

Chojuro gasped, casting a worried glance at Mei.

Jiraiya winced as he heard Naruto's words. Why had he decided to bring him along in the first place? It felt like a moment of sheer foolishness on his part.

Mei's hand rose to her mouth as she let out a soft chuckle, despite the iciness in her eyes. “I have a mind to put you over my knee and give you a spanking. Has no one ever taught you how to speak to a lady?”

Naruto attempted to speak, but Jiraiya swiftly covered his mouth with his hand to silence him.

"We're getting off-topic," Jiraiya interjected, wanting to steer the conversation back on track. "I'm curious about your purpose for being here on the island. It seems like you've come well-prepared with an abundance of supplies, suggesting a long stay on the island."

Mei took a sip of tea and began speaking openly. "I see no reason to keep this from you. We have fled the Water Nation and intend to establish a village on the island. Initially, we thought there was no one inhabiting it, so we did not anticipate encountering any opposition."

Jiraiya nodded. "I can understand your desire to leave, especially with the ongoing bloodline purges. However, you don't strike me as someone who gives up easily. In fact, I had almost imagined you becoming the next Mizukage."

“Yes, I shared the same ambition," Mei replied. "I've been locked in a fierce battle with the Fourth Mizukage for quite some time now. Both sides have endured heavy casualties, and our progress has been at a standstill. However, everything took a turn when I confronted Yagura directly."

“There's a rumor circulating that he's being manipulated by someone else,” Jiraya said. “I have collected information from various sources regarding this matter.”

"Just what I expected from you Jiraiya," Mei commented. "Many of us shared the belief that Yagura was being controlled as well, but it seems we were wrong. Yagura is acting independently, and his recent actions have shown an alarming increase in his tyrannical behaviour. He has been mercilessly killing and plundering his own citizens with extreme prejudice."

Jiraiya looked disturbed by the information. “Are you confident that Yugura is not being controlled?

"I had a confrontation with him recently," Mei said, her gaze distant as she recalled the memory. "I believed he was under the influence of a genjutsu. So, I asked Ao to try and dispel it after I successfully incapacitated Yagara temporarily, but..."

"But he wasn't under a genjutsu," Jiraiya concluded. "Are you confident that your subordinate had the skills required to determine that?"

"I made no mistake!" Ao exclaimed as he slammed his hands on the table.

“What gives you such confidence?” Naruto asked. “Does it have something to do with what you are hiding under that eyepatch?”

Ao glanced at the boy. "So, what if it is?"

"What exactly is it? A Sharingan? Are you similar to Kakashi Hatake, having implanted it into your eye?"

"Heh, if only I were that lucky," Ao remarked, raising his hand to remove the eyepatch and unveiling his pale, pupil-less eye that belonged to the Hyuga clan.

Naruto was taken aback, his eyes widening in disbelief. Jiraiya, on the other hand, appeared unfazed by the revelation.

"I now understand why the Hyuga clan took such extreme measures to safeguard their eyes," Naruto derided. "It turns out there are unscrupulous thieves who have no qualms about extracting eyes from corpses and implanting them into themselves."

"I took this from my defeated opponent, boy," Ao declared, "thus I had every right to use his eyes as I so desired."

"What a creep," Naruto snarked, "Hiashi won't be pleased when he meets you."

"Is the Hyuga clan leader here as well?" Mei asked with curiosity.

Jiraiya shot Naruto a sharp glare, wordlessly conveying his desire for him to remain quiet. Naruto averted his gaze, feeling stupid for letting information slip so easily.

“What happened after you confirmed that he wasn’t under a genjutsu?” Jiraiya asked.

Mei glanced down at the table, her hands tightly gripping her cup. “I can't quite put it into words, but something inexplicable happened. Out of nowhere, a vibrant red aura enveloped him, granting him a significant surge in power. We were no longer able to restrain him, and all we could think about was finding a way to escape.”

Mei reached up and brushed aside the hair that had obscured part of her face. Naruto winced at the sight of the hideous scar that ran down the left side of her face.

“I was fortunate that this is the only thing I suffered considering the circumstances,” Mei smiled.

"I take full responsibility, Lady Mei," Chojuro said, lowering his head in remorse. "Had I performed better, you would not have endured such a severe injury."

"That’s complete nonsense," Mei said, waving her hand dismissively. "I was the one who came up with the idea to attack Yagura and overthrow his rule. I acted too hastily and paid the price."

"Many good shinobi were lost that day," Ao growled.

"Yes, it's something I will have to live with for the rest of my life," Mei said, placing a hand over her heart.

A sombre silence fell upon the three individuals from Kiri, who appeared lost in their thoughts, seemingly recalling that fateful day.

"You're saying it had a red aura?" Jiraiya asked, breaking the silence. "So, it wasn't connected to his abilities as a jinchuuriki then?"

"No," Mei replied firmly, shaking her head. "I am familiar with Yagura's abilities, even his tailed-beast form. However, what I witnessed was entirely different. It was unlike anything I have ever seen before."

"Well, that is certainly concerning, but it's not something we need to worry about at the moment," Jiraiya remarked. "So, is this the reason you fled from the island?"

"Following the failed coup, Yagura became even more ruthless," Mei explained. "We were losing an increasing number of our people each day. Realising the urgency of the situation, I made the decision to gather my remaining subordinates and depart from Kirigakure, at least temporarily."

"I see," Jiraiya sighed. "Could it be possible that you were followed? I would dread to think of the consequences if your conflict reached Uzushio."

"There is no chance," Mei stated. "I made certain that we weren't followed. But Uzushio is one of the closest islands to the Water Nation, so there's a chance that Yagura might dispatch shinobi forces to search for me here. The real question is whether he deems me significant enough to warrant the trouble."

Naruto let out a sigh of frustration. Despite their short time on Uzushio, they were already starting to attract a considerable amount of attention. The possibility of a conflict with Kirigakure meant that their presence would not go unnoticed by the other nations. If they were discovered, everything would be ruined.

"Now it's your turn to explain why you are here," Mei said, interrupting Naruto's train of thought.

"Well, our story isn't as interesting as yours," Jiraiya admitted. "Danzo has assumed the position of Hokage after Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he made several decisions that we strongly disagreed with. As a result, a faction within Konoha’s ranks made the choice to leave and establish our own village."

The three Kiri shinobi were taken aback by Jiraiya's story. Mei and her bodyguards were eager for more details, prompting Jiraiya to share some but withholding crucial information. Mei fell into a thoughtful silence, placing a hand on her chin as she processed the information Jiraiya had revealed

Naruto watched Mei closely as she seemed to ponder something. Even without his chains, he understood exactly what was on her mind. Surprisingly, he had entertained the same idea, but had dismissed it almost immediately, convinced that the Kiri shinobi wouldn't consider such a course of action.

What if they were to join forces? If their people were to settle down in Uzushio, that would nearly double their population. If they encountered problems in the future, then they would have more shinobi at their disposal to protect themselves. However, there were several issues with the idea that would not be easily solved.

After a few moments of contemplation, Mei lifted her head and spoke up. "Before I share my proposal, I must ensure the safe return of my subordinates."

“I will have some of my men bring them here,” Jiraiya nodded. He glanced at Naruto. “Can you send Gamakichi to deliver a message to Hiashi?”

Naruto nodded, rising from his seat. Mei watched with curiosity as he summoned Gamakichi and instructed him to deliver the message.

“You had him sign the toad summon contract?” Mei asked. “Is he your apprentice, Jiraiya?”

Jiraiya hesitated briefly before giving a nod. "The kid definitely deserves it. He has a great deal of potential."

Mei cast her gaze upon Naruto, her eyes gleaming with calculation.

Naruto felt uncomfortable under her gaze. “Hey, I know I am handsome, but you don’t have to stare like that.”

Mei raised a hand to her mouth and giggled. “I don’t bald little boys.”

"Oi!" Naruto protested, as he ran a hand through his sparse hair, "I am not bald. It will grow back in no time."

Stepping outside the tent, they awaited Hiashi's arrival along with Mei's subordinates. After a few minutes, Hiashi appeared, accompanied by Iniochi, Choza, and Shikaku. The six captive Kiri shinobi were also with them. Coming to a halt a few feet away, Hiashi cast a questioning look in Jiraiya's direction.

“What happened to Hachi’s leg?” Mei demanded.

“One of the subordinate’s ninken got the better of him,” Jiraiya said. "Do you have any complaints? Given our lack of knowledge about their origins, my men had to take them down forcefully. We were able to promptly treat his leg, so there shouldn't be any long-term consequences."

“I am fine, Lady Mei,” Hachi told her. “It was my own lack of ability that caused this injury.”

"Very well," Mei nodded. "Jiraiya, I have considered our respective situations and believe that it would be advantageous for us to join forces. So, what is your answer?"

All were stunned by Mei's offer, except for Jiraiya and Naruto. Considering they had only just met, and not in the most favourable circumstances, it was difficult to comprehend why she would extend such an offer so soon, if at all.

Jiraiya folded his arms as he considered the offer.

“I believe it is an amazing idea, Lady Mei,” Chojura praised her. “Your foresight is as amazing as ever. With an alliance, we don’t have to fight anyone.”

“Jiraiya, are you seriously considering this offer?” Hiashi asked. “I can see the benefits of such an alliance, but aren’t you being a little hasty?”

“Yes, there are several things we have to take into consideration before we consider joining forces,” Jiraiya said. “What do you think, Naruto?”

Jiraiya was unaware that Naruto had been discreetly observing everyone's reactions to Mei's suggestion using his chains. Although Naruto didn't oppose the idea, he wanted to gauge everyone's feelings about it. The majority of them were in favour of the proposal, once they recovered from their initial surprise. Only Hiashi and Ao showed resistance to the idea.

"I'm not opposed to it," Naruto said, casually folding his hands behind his head. "However, the most pressing concern that needs to be addressed is the chain of command. Who will take charge? Will it be Jiraiya or Mei?"

"Obviously, Lady Mei would be the ideal choice," Ao scoffed. "While Jiraiya may be an amazing shinobi, he lacks the necessary skills to lead a village."

"You must be dreaming if you think we would allow ourselves to take orders from a foreign shinobi," Hiashi stated.

"Why not both?" Naruto suggested. "We don't have anyone here dictating how we should govern our village. There's no need for us to adhere to the traditional system of electing a kage."

"Before we make any decisions regarding these matters, how about I come and visit your village?" Mei proposed. "I would prefer to take a day's rest for now, but if you are agreeable, I would like to visit tomorrow."

“That is an amazing idea,” Jiraiya said. “I will send out a team tomorrow to escort you.”

“Lovely. May I have my subordinates back now?” Mei asked.

Jiraiya nodded in agreement and gave the order to Hiashi to release the prisoners. Naruto briefly cast a gaze at their visitors before following Jiraiya, leaving the shore behind. Although he harboured doubts about whether their choice was the correct one, there was no turning back at this point. Even if they didn't form an alliance, it was unlikely that their visitors would simply depart. Instead, they would establish their own settlement in this area, potentially leading to future conflicts with their village—an outcome they wished to avoid.

=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=

With a triumphant grin, Naruto witnessed a swirling ball of chakra materialise on his hand. He wasted no time, swiftly dashing forward and thrusting the ball into the target. The impact reverberated through his hand as the target was obliterated, scattering debris in every direction. As he clutched his hand, a surge of invigoration washed over him, fully experiencing the immense power that the Rasengan unleashed. Without a doubt, it was an extraordinary jutsu, a testament to the brilliance of his father's creation.

He turned his head in response to the sound of clapping. Sheepishly, he rubbed the back of his head. They were applauding him for successfully mastering the jutsu that he had dedicated so much effort to perfecting.

Kushina ran towards him and jumped into his arms, unable to contain her excitement. "That was amazing, big brother!"

"It was cool, wasn't it, Kushina?" Naruto smiled as he twirled her around in the air.

The girl had recently started referring to him in that manner, and he wasn't quite sure how he felt about it. It struck him as somewhat strange. Has anyone ever been in a similar situation? Nevertheless, he had to remind himself that this girl wasn't his mother. Thankfully, she wasn't calling him "dad," which would have made him even more uncomfortable.

“Congratulations, Naruto,” Hinata said as she approached him.

“Thanks, Hinata,” Naruto grinned. “I was getting pretty frustrated near the end, but I am glad I stuck with it.”

"It's incredibly powerful," Hinata remarked, as she looked at the obliterated target. "I can't even begin to fathom what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of such a jutsu. It would undoubtedly cause unimaginable damage to my internal organs."

“I want to learn how to make the swirly ball,” Kushina demanded.

"Is that right?" Naruto asked, glancing down at the young girl. "Firstly, we need to unlock your chakra. However, before we can do that, we'll have to begin by focusing on your physical training."

"Then let's do it," Kushina nodded decisively.

"Are you certain that she is capable of handling this? Maybe you should seek Lady Tsunade's advice beforehand?"

“I don’t see how it would be a problem,” Naruto mused. “Tsunade has already said that Kushina has the potential to be a shinobi in the future. Considering who my mum was, it’s no surprise.”

"But what about... you know what?" Hinata asked softly.

“What are you talking about?” Kushina frowned.

Naruto grimaced. Despite being young, the girl displayed a surprising amount of perceptiveness. He needed to be cautious with his choice of words around her, so she didn’t find out she was a clone. Naruto thought it would be better to wait until she was older and more capable of handling the information.

"It's nothing," Naruto reassured as she gently rubbed her head. "We're simply worried about your health given the way we found you in the tank."

“I am fine, though,” Kushina said, raising her arm in a strong arm pose. “Believe it.”

Naruto shook his head, embarrassed by the fact that Kushina was copying his signature catchphrase. Hinata let out a giggle, which earned her a glare from Naruto.

“Let's make our way to the communal area," Naruto said. "Mei Teruma will be arriving soon, and I don't want to miss her."

Hinata nodded and followed him in leaving the training grounds. Kushina crawled around onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

The village was undergoing rapid expansion. Initially, their efforts were concentrated on removing rubble from the demolished structures and extending the village's boundaries towards the east and west of their original camp. This resulted in a cleared strip of land approximately one mile in length. Currently, the construction of the first buildings was underway, starting with those essential for establishing the village's infrastructure. The construction of homes could be postponed as the existing tents served their purpose adequately.

In addition, the farms had greatly expanded to achieve self-sufficiency, and the training grounds were also undergoing expansion. They had accomplished a substantial amount of work within a short span of time. The monetary incentive for the ongoing demolition and construction proved beneficial. It was evident that Jiraiya's decision to introduce missions early on was a wise one, in retrospect.

A considerable crowd had already gathered, their anticipation tinged with unease ahead of Mei Terumi's imminent visit. Hostile expressions were evident on the faces of some, clearly indicating their disapproval of Jiraiya's willingness to entertain the notion of allowing the people from Kiri to join their village.

“I am sure everything will be fine once they meet Mei,” Naruto said.

“What’s she like?” Hinata asked as they took a seat at a long table with the other genin.

The table had become almost exclusively theirs, as they always shared it during meal times. As Hinata asked her question, the other genin turned their gaze towards Naruto, interested in his answer.

"She's a formidable kunoichi," Naruto remarked, "and she's also beautiful. She reminds me a lot of Tsunade, although Tsunade hides the fact that she's an old lady, so it's not really a fair comparison."

“Watch what you say about my master,” Sakura shook a fist at him.

“Who would win in a fight between the two?” Tenten asked with interest.

"It's difficult to determine," Naruto responded thoughtfully. "In close combat, Tsunade would undoubtedly come out on top. However, when it comes to mid-to-long-range battles, Mei would hold the advantage. She is a Ninjutsu powerhouse, boasting two dangerous kekkei genkai that pose a significant challenge."

Suddenly, a raucous chatter erupted from the crowd as Jiraiya made his entrance. He was accompanied by Mei Terumi and a group of five shinobi, including her bodyguards from the previous day. There was a sixth person, a young woman, but she was standing behind the others, so it was hard to make out. The group seemed unaffected by the throng of people surrounding them, even though many were fellow shinobi who potentially posed a threat.

“Oh man, look at the knockers on her,” Kiba drooled. “I would give up anything to have—”

Sakura punched him in the head, sending him crashing to the ground. “Shut up, Kiba. I don’t want to hear something so disgusting coming from your mouth.”

Naruto winced, knowing how that felt. Since Sakura had been training with Tsunade, it probably felt a whole lot worse for Kiba. Then a strange thought entered his head. Had he been replaced by Kiba as Sakura’s punching bag? Even he wouldn’t wish that kind of punishment on the asshole.

“Naruto,” Jiraiya called.

Naruto glanced at his godfather, who he saw gesturing for him to join them. Standing beside him, Mei wore a smile that was directed towards Naruto.

“Dammit,” Naruto rose to his feet. He just wanted to see how the woman acted in their village, but why did he have to interact with her?

“Where are you going?” Kushina grabbed his arm.

“I have to speak to Jiraiya,” Naruto said. “Do you want to come with me?”

“Okay!”

Naruto grabbed her hand and led her over to where Jiraiya was standing with Mei.

“Hello Naruto,” Mei greeted him. “Who is your little friend?”

“I am Kushina,” the girl replied, staring up at Mei in fascination. “Your hair is really pretty.”

“Thank you,” Mei kneeled down and patted her head. “Red hair is the most beautiful, don’t you agree?”

“Yes,” Kushina nodded.

“What do you want, Jiraiya?” Naruto asked.

“Mei has requested that you help show her around the village,” Jiraiya smirked. “How could I refuse such a lovely lady?”

What the hell was he playing at Jiraiya? "Of course, but there isn't much to see in the village."

“Thank you, Naruto,” Mei smiled. “Do you mind if someone else joins us for our tour?”

Naruto shrugged, and the woman gestured to the young woman standing behind the other Kiri shinobi. She stepped out from behind them and walked forward.

“Who is this?” Naruto asked, although he already had a good idea.

With the girl standing beside Mei, it was apparent they were related. She looked like a teenage version of Mei, around his age or slightly older.

“I would like to meet my daughter, Hikari,” Mei said. “I didn’t introduce her yesterday for obvious reasons. I hope you get along with her in the future.”

Hikari raised her head and glared at Naruto, which confused the hell out of him. What had he done to deserve her ire? Just as trying to figure it out, he caught Jiraiya exchanging a glance with Mei, their smiles instantly putting him on edge. What could those two be up to?

So, what do you think? Next chapter, Naruto has an unexpected fight on his hand, and Danzo finally makes a move on Suna.

Thanks for reading.