Naruto was thankful she was in her disguise. She wasn't ready to run into a Konoha shinobi she was too familiar with, except perhaps Shisui, because he would play along with whatever act she kept up with. It was true Itachi was her best friend, but Shisui was her brother in all but blood. Itachi would understand her thoughts, but she and Shisui thought alike when she was in a mood to prank, and when they were serious in missions or spars.
Lately, her childish demeanour was wearing off slowly. Perhaps because she was not hanging around Shisui and Itachi as much as she used to. But we are getting off the topic.
Itachi was stoic in front of anyone other than Naruto, Shisui and his family. But he wouldn't know that it was Naruto under her disguise. Also, pranking the Uchiha clan heir would be fun. That was the only reason why she still hid under her disguise and was thankful for it.
Kurama, however, thought otherwise. The aged being was old enough to understand and discern feelings.
Years later, he would tell his Jinchuuriki that her inert shyness towards a possible crush had made her thankful now for her disguise.
Speaking of Naruto's disguise, it was the usual one she wore while travelling as another- Male, Orange hair, indigo eyes, no whiskers, chakra affinity of lightning, no Kyuubi, name of Shimizu Osamu.
'He' was checking a Wakizashi when Itachi stood beside 'him', his own chakra made to blend into the surroundings. He picked up a nearby Katana. It was exquisite, intricate carving on both the blade and the hilt. Naturally, he was intrigued by it. He read out a carving on the blade that was almost too faint to see. "Madoka?"
[A/N: I'm not a Japanese, so forgive me if the names I choose for OC's are irrelevant.]
"It's the name of the sword." Itachi turned to see an orange-haired male, but made no attempt to respond. Typical. "The one who had made it had been an excellent Kenjutsu master, learnt from some of the best Uzumaki swordsmen. The beauty of the sword deceived the ones who were striked with it. Everywhere he went, there was tranquility after storm, and hence the name. He had settled with a civilian family that was soon killed by shinobi. He fell into despair since and took revenge before vanishing. He had left this sword with his friend who had started this store in the memory of the swordsman who had vanished without a trace with a wish for peace." Osamu recited the story he had coaxed out of the shop owner. "You seem to have excellent taste in weapons."
"Hn." was the reply.
"Not much of a talker, are you? Your demeanour deems you a shinobi. Of course you wouldn't be a talker." Itachi, who was in merchant clothing, raised a brow. "By simple demeanour that you observed from few minutes, you say? You talk as if you've seen many shinobi in your life." The Uchiha asked.
"I have." I have been travelling." 'He' replied curtly before changing the topic. "So, are you proficient with swords?" Osamu asked, trying to make a conversation. "I can't say I am a master, but I am confident in my skills." "Now, now, don't be so humble. How good are you? Killing hundreds in a strike?" "No. Perhaps, the best in basics would be a better insightful answer for you."
Osamu hummed. "Yes, it is. But if what you say is true, then the sword isn't the best for you. As much as I would appreciate your taste in swords, it is for highly proficient Kenjutsu users. Even the best find it difficult to wield it like its maker did. Choose another, like this Wakizashi." He held out the weapon in his hand.
"It is for a friend." Itachi had no choice but to say it. The orange-haired man was getting under his skin. Yet he didn't know why he felt compelled to say it. This annoyed him even more as he hated not knowing things such as thus.
"Oh? A friend? Who is this Kenjutsu master? Anyone I might know? Actually, is he a master?" Osamu asked amused. Itachi would have a vein popping on his forehead in annoyance had he not practiced self control as an Uchiha. "Oh she is. She doesn't like to be known."
Osamu took his act up a notch. "A lady you say? Are women up to the task?"
Itachi was officially pissed, but refrained from showing off his sharingan. "She is more than an expert. In fact the clan you spoke of in your story, the Uzumaki clan, had women as some of the best Kenjutsu masters. I don't need to give any examples, do I? My friend flows like water while dancing her way through Kenjutsu Katas." To any others, Itachi's voice would be cold and stoic, but Osamu, or Naruto could detect a hint of wistfulness and pride.
Itachi turned away. "If you'll excuse me..." He said as he proceeded to go to the owner. "Oh, but-" Osamu started but was cut off when someone from outside had called Itachi, probably a teammate. He placed the sword in its place and went outside to answer said teammate.
Osamu/Naruto smirked. Itachi had thought of buying something for Naruto. She felt elated. But why had he?
Naruto couldn't help but feel mischievous. She had always felt so around Itachi. Wll, she had felt something, but chalked it up to her mischievous instincts around the most stoic person in the world who happened to be her best friend.
Osamu went to the owner to help fabricate a tale and paid for the sword before vanishing. He was waiting a good distance away from the shop to observe the events that would be unfolding.
Itachi went back into the shop, only to find the sword missing. His team was to start moving and break was over. He asked the owner for the missing sword. The reply he got was, "Oh Madoka? Osamu bought it. He had booked it yesterday and came today to collect it."
"Osamu?" Itachi was puzzled. "The lad you were talking with a while ago. The one with orange hair." The owner answered before attending to another customer.
Itachi thanked him before walking away with a blank face. Naruto could, however, see a storm of emotions behind the calm look. She pitied his teammates who would be facing his anger.
Soon she had got a letter from Itachi asking about her health and whereabouts. The letter had also mentioned an 'unpleasant' encounter with a man named Osamu. When she asked what had made the encounter 'unpleasant', he gave a vague answer that would've made sense if she knew any less of Itachi. She decided to ask him when she returned to Konoha after her trip.
...
The next two months were spent in travelling other minor shinobi villages and nations. Of course Otogakure was missed out since it wouldn't be wise to enter Orochimaru's territory with only a toad sage against a crafty snake and his army.
Jiraiya and Naruto visited Takigakure ( Village Hidden in Waterfall). They met the resident Jinchuriki of Nanabi no Kabutomushi. Chomei was a seven tailed armoured rhinoceros beetle. His Jinchuuriki, or Naruto's 'Seventh Sibling' was Fuu, a bubbly girl, with the personality of her Bijuu. She was around the same age as Naruto, with green hair, orange eyes and deep tan skin. She was favoured only by the Kage, Shibuki, and wasn't all trusted by her fellow villagers. Shibuki had asked her to make friends one day, and since then, she had made it her goal to make a hundred friends. Naruto and Fuu became fast friends with the Fuu's bright personality.
Naruto and Jiraiya had then met a rogue Kiri shinobi of the name Utakata. He was the Jinchuuriki of Rokubi, a slug named Saiken. In other words, Utakata was Naruto's 'sixth sibling'. He was a calm shinobi with rare but sharp comebacks when provoked. He was proficient in jutsus involving bubbles, like poisoning, spying, distraction and explosion.
Utakata who had been a jounin, was a stoic person who refused to open up to anyone. When he was 'forced open' by Naruto, he revealed that he was betrayed by the only man he thought he could trust, his master who tried to kill him but was killed instead. Later when he revisited his memories with Naruto, Utakata was shaken. It seemed his master was trying to find a way to separate the Bijuu from him without harming him. Utakata had thought otherwise and the rampage of Saiken didn't help . He ended up killing his master. His last words to his student had been to stay alive and happy.
Utakata had then approached an orphan girl who had persistently tailed him to accept her as his student, and accepted her request. For the sake of both of them, he returned to Kirigakure, abandoning life as a rogue ninja.
They travelled to Kaze no Kuni, the Land of Wind, the land where Sunagakure presided. But they couldn't stay long. Gaara had become the Godaime Kazekage. Though the majority of his council had approved, the minority and some of the citizens had rebelled. The brewing civil war had shut off Sunagakure from outsiders. The trades that involved Sunagakure were temporarily handled by other villages in Kaze no Kuni, and they weren't entertaining guests for long. Naruto had written a cryptic letter to Gaara, asking about his situation. His reply stated that the war would take a few more months in the least. She decided to visit him later.
The duo then visited the Land of Iron. It was like Uzushiogakure, a nation, but also a village with its own warriors. While Uzushiogakure's warriors were also shinobi like other villages had, the Land of Iron had Samurai. They were exclusively swordsmen that use chakra to enhance their sword techniques and honour they thought Shinobi lacked. This land had always been a neutral ground for shinobi nations when treaties were to made involving three or more elemental nations. Naruto understood that network in such a place was more essential, and did not want to miss any opportunity to establish connections. The current leader was Mifune, an old, but the most powerful samurai. The travelling duo stayed there for around three weeks.
The only place they hadn't attended till now was an elemental nation, Tsuchi no Kuni or the Land of Earth/Soil. The shinobi village, one of the five great shinobi villages, Iwagakure (Village Hidden in Rock) had a bad history with Konoha, especially with Naruto, or rather, with her family. Iwa shinobi were more likely to recognize her as her father's child than her own comrades.
Minato alone had killed a thousand of shinobi from Iwagakure during the Third Great Shinobi War, courtesy of the Hiraishin or Flying Raijin technique. Ever since, Iwa held a personal grudge against the Yellow Flash. This was the main reason why Naruto was introduced in Konoha as Uzumaki Naruto, rather than Namikaze Naruto.
The master and disciple entered Tsuchi no Kuni. They were even more careful while travelling through this land. Naruto had cut off communication with her Uchiha pals as a precaution. They had encountered Iwa Shinobi on the way. Some had seen the blonde hair and were sceptical of Naruto, but the blonde's good nature and the way to bring even the most stoic of Hyuuga and the stubborn of Uchiha into a conversation had removed any bad blood, and those shinobi were sent off with the thought that the blonde hair was, perhaps, merely a coincidence.
But Naruto knew that such luck would soon be running out as she entered Iwagakure with her Godfather.
Turns out Naruto was either oblivious or willfully ignoring her heart...
What about Itachi?
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