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~ I'm planning to increase the number of advanced chapters to +50 this weekend!
~ I've edited some of the previous chapters to remove anything you might consider "cringe" or "unnecessary." I'll continue reviewing them from time to time!
~ Very soon, we'll return to releasing two chapters daily, including bonus privileges for Power Stone contributions
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"Who else would ask to eat their own weight in ramen and ask if you had a scale to determine how much ramen that really would be?"
Ayame smiled. "Good enough for me. We thought you might show up with all those clones we saw in the streets. What's going on?"
"To put it short, I'm going to have to flee town for a while." Naruto told them.
Teuchi made an understanding 'ah' sound. "So it's finally come, eh?"
Naruto nodded. "Looks like it. I wanted to say goodbye since you guys have been like family to me."
"Speaking of family, could I go see your mom? There's something I'd like to ask her while she's here." Ayame asked, a stern look in her eyes.
"Uhh... I guess, though we have to move fast."
Ayame smiled. "No problem. Just let me get ready. I'll be a moment." She then turned and went in back.
Teuchi looked at the young boy he considered the son he never had. "Where will you go Naruto? That Wave country you told me about?"
"Likely. It's nearby and somewhere I know I'd be welcome in."
Hinata tapped his shoulder to get his attention. "Naruto-kun, maybe you should think of somewhere else. If any hunter nin are sent after us, that might be the first place they'd search."
"Really?" Naruto asked.
"Actually that makes sense." Teuchi added.
Ayame appeared. "I'm all set." Naruto was surprised to see her. She wasn't dressed in her ramen server outfit, probably the only thing Naruto had ever seen her wear. This time Ayame dressed an awful lot like Anko, wearing a black open jacket with a dark purple mesh shirt underneath that almost made her bust look half a cup size bigger than her normal outfit led others to believe. She wore skin-tight black leggings under a black skirt with a blue belt and a ninja tool pouch strapped to her right thigh. On her back was a purple backpack. "There. I'm ready."
"For what?" Naruto asked, not expecting this.
"If I'm going to see your mother Naruto, I want to make a good impression on her. As well as show her I'm no pushover." Ayame calmly explained.
"Are you expecting to fight her?" Hinata asked, quite surprised.
"No, but if she says something that will make me want to kick her ass then I'm sure as hell not going to do it dressed as a chef." The brunette told the younger girl.
"We should get going now though. Old man, thank you for everything, and be ready to really get to work when I come back." Naruto told Teuchi.
The old man nodded. "Will do." He then shared a knowing look with his daughter who nodded, as if they silently came to a conclusion the two genin didn't understand.
Rather than worry about it, they both left the ramen stand with Ayame following them, moving with the grace and speed of an experienced kunoichi.
"Naruto-kun, you never said she was a shinobi." Hinata mentioned.
"It never came up. Besides, she resigned years ago. I'm not sure why, she just said she was mad at someone and refused to do more work so she quit and started working with her dad. I asked why but she always told me not to worry about it." Naruto told her.
"How good is she?" Hinata asked.
Naruto thought it over. "Let me put it this way: When she tells me I've had enough ramen to eat, I don't argue anymore."
While still a vague answer, Hinata knew it had big implications. 'She can actually make him STOP eating ramen? Holy crap!'
Tsunade and Kushina were on top of the monument discussing something when Sakura, Shizune, Naruto, and Hinata showed up. Both older women were surprised to see two extras accompanying them. "Naruto, who are they?" Tsunade asked.
Ayame walked p to Kushina. "I'm assuming you're Naruto's mother?"
Kushina nodded. "Yes I am. Are you one of my son's-?" She was cut off by a solid punch to her jaw that knocked her on her ass.
"Bitch where the fuck have you been all this time?" Ayame yelled at the redhead, surprising those around her.
"Ayame-nee-chan!" Naruto called out in shock, but the brunette paid it no mind.
Kushina got back on her feet and glared back at the ramen chef. "That was unwise brat."
Ayame refused to back down. "You've been gone for twelve years leaving this poor boy all alone in the world and NOW you decide to come back and be a part of his life? Not while I'm around. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick your ass for leaving Naruto alone like that."
Kushina smiled. "You care about him, don't you?"
"He's practically family to me and probably the only decent boy I know of any age. Now answer my question dammit!"
Kushina looked at Naruto and smiled. "I like this one Naruto. Fierce and not afraid to defend her turf. Don't lose this one."
Everyone was confused. "What?"
"Never mind this. Naruto, why did you bring others here?" Tsunade asked.
"Ayame-nee-chan wanted to see my mom, and Moegi here has nowhere to go. You saw what happened earlier so I can't just ignore her. What should she do?"
Tsunade knelt down to look at the young girl who was clinging to Naruto. "Do you have any family to stay with?"
Moegi shook her head. "I was adopted and Mom never mentioned any other family. Please don't send me back to the orphanage. I don't want to be orphaned twice."
"Why not bring her along?" Kushina suggested, catching everyone's attention. "I don't see why not."
Tsunade shook her head. "Not the best idea. It could slow us down and make us more vulnerable to anyone who wanted to do harm to us."
"Got a better idea? Because so far I only see three options. With us, in the orphanage, or find a new guardian right now." Kushina asked.
Finding a new legal guardian right then was definitely impossible for Tsunade. The Anbu were disorganized and it was impossible to tell for sure where everyone's loyalties lay. Not to mention it would look suspicious if Tsunade was in a hurry to give one girl a home within an hour.
Tsunade sighed and got back up on her feet. "I still don't think bringing her with us is a good idea, however leaving her doesn't sound any better. Just do what we say little lady, understand?"
Moegi smiled and nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
"So where are we going?" Sakura asked.
"Hinata-chan says we shouldn't go anyplace we've already been, like Wave or Tea or Snow." Naruto stated.
Shizune nodded. "Yes, and even though we could probably catch up to the three from Suna who are going home, it would be unwise to get them involved in this mess."
Tsunade snapped her fingers. "I know the perfect place to head to for now anyways."
"Where?" Everyone asked.
"Sea Country."
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