Ninetails 39

"Please tell me you have a messenger bird around here," Anko said as she once stood atop the pillar-like land formations.

"Hmm? Of course we do. Granted, I heard it took a long time to get used to all the noise and shaking Naruto causes," the chunin remarked, pausing to make a whistling noise. "What happened?"

"You've heard him talking, right?" Anko asked with raised eyebrows.

"Mostly. Did I mishear or is there a talking goose now?" the chunnin questioned as the messenger bird arrived.

"Yeah, that's what this is about, "Anko answered as she tied a small piece of paper to the avian's leg.

"Anything I should know?" the chunnin asked in concern.

"Yeah. The goose is a prick and can turn into a giant bird made of fire," Anko warned as she sent the messenger off.

"....As long as he doesn't burn the forest down, it should be fine," the chunninn said with a shrug. After helping Naruto find some whale bone stuck in his teeth, he felt prepared for all kinds of weirdness.

Anko snorted, amused by this man's unflappable attitude. "We'll be staying the night before heading out in the morning, for the record."

The chunnin nodded before tilting his head. "Was this their "first-kill" mission?"

Anko set her mouth in a line and nodded. "His too."

The chunnin blinked and opened his mouth, but decided it was better not to comment.

"Oh, wow!" Naruto's voice could be heard. "Hey, snake-woman! Get down here, that paddle really is a cool sword!"

"....Paddle....?" the chunnin muttered, giving Anko a dubious look.

The snake woman rolled her eyes and her body flickered several ties to return to the beach. "Alright, I'm here, what-" Anko stopped as she saw Sakura standing utterly frozen in place, her body in mid swing with the strange weapon in hand.

In front of her was a tree that had fallen over after a large chunk in its middle had been destroyed into splinters.

"What did I miss?" Anko asked, very interested now, looking at Ino and Hinata. Ino had her jaw dropped while Hinata looked owlishly impressed.

"Something amazing," Naruto said, watching as he loomed over them.

"Truly, it was a sight to behold!" the goose agreed, standing much further away than the humans.

"Sakura hit the tree with it and the trunk exploded!" Ino exclaimed in shock.

"Can you d-do it again?" Hinata asked encouragingly.

"I...I think so?" Sakura said uncertainly, looking at the weapon curiously before moving to another tree. 

She pulled the weapon back, braced herself, and swung.

Anko raised an eyebrow as the weapon impacted with a dull thud.

"Okay.....? What did I do right last time?" Sakura asked as she pulled heweapon back and looked at it dubiously.

"Maybe you broke it somehow when you broke the tree?" Ino suggested.

"It is old, so maybe-" Anko started as she reached for it.

She stopped as the embedded blades along the side suddenly glowed green.

"-Maybe I almost lost my hand just now," Anko said with a furrowed brow as Sakura stared owlishly at the weapon. "Try it again?"

'Huh? Oh, right," Sakura said as she tried to swing in it against the tree once more.

Anko watched in great interest as the tree trunk exploded where it hit, shattering into splinter and dust as the tree came crashing down. "Impressive."

"But how did I do that, exactly?" Sakura asked curiously.

"I think it has to recharge between uses," Hinata said, causing them to look at her and see her byakugan was activated. "There is another chakra in the weapon. It's restoring itself."

"Another chakra?" Anko repeated curiously.

"So, it's not Sakura's chakra," Naruto mused. "And here I thought this was some shortcut to getting Granny's strength."

"No, it's definitely another chakra, but it seems to be reacting to Sakura's own?" Hinata answered as she studied it curiously.

"You're right, I can feel a drain on my chakra," Sakura agreed with a frown. "I don't know how long I could keep using this thing. It doesn't take a lot from me, but it is constant and I don't have much."

Anko suddenly had a concerned look. "Sakura, can you stop the flow of your chakra?"

"I don't think so, not without letting go at least," Sakura said as she placed the weapon down, stabbing it into the sand and removing her hand.

"....It stopped generating chakra," Hinata said with interest.

Anko sighed in relief. "I was worried it would keep leaching off you for a moment even without contact, or just not let you let go. That might have been a problem."

"Still, this sword or whatever it is seems pretty amazing," Sakura said, looking from it to Anko. "You think someone back in Konoha can help me figure out how it works?"

"Pinkie, it's yours, but I think everyone is going to insist on knowing how it works before letting you keep it," Anko said plainly.

"Yeah, I agree with the snake-woman. For all we know, it could somehow drain everyone in Konoha if something goes wrong," Naruto said in concern.

"Well, look at you being responsible," Anko teased over her shoulder.

"Ummm.....people?" Ino said, raising her hand with a very uncomfortable expression. "If this thing runs on chakra, what happens if it comes in contact with....." she paused and pointed at Naruto.

Everyone blinked, Naruto staring at the blade while the others glanced between him and it.

".....That might make it explode and destroy this beach, killing us all," Anko said cautiously. "And that is the best of the worst-case scenarios I am now imagining."

"Let's just keep that thing far away from me," Naruto said, eyeing it pointedly. "And please tell me anything the village learns about this thing. Also, damn, I am pulling a lot of interesting things out of the ocean."

"That's the real surprise," Sakura murmured, wiping her brow. "This hasn't been a major area for travel and trading."

"Not now," Anko mused as she crouched down to examine the weapon. "There might have been some a long time ago, maybe even before the elemental nations."

"Most history scrolls and books don't go back that far," Hinata said softly. "No one really even agrees on what started the Warring States Era."

Naruto said nothing as he listened.

Sakura looked up and gave him an accusing smile.

"....What? Sakura, why are you looking at me like that?" Naruto asked suspiciously.

"You're making that face. The one you make when you're pretending to know what everyone is talking about," Sakura answered.

Naruto suddenly looked away and found the sea to be very interesting.

Hinata giggled to herself while Ino snorted in amusement.

Anko chuckled as well. This certainly wasn't a boring stop and no one could say it was pointless- a new weapon and a chest filled with scholarly treasure. Not her best day spent at a beach, but it was up there.

With that, she decided t o place said weapon in a sealing scroll so that it didn't accidentally sap anyone else's chakra.

"Oh, thank the heavens," the goose said in relief.

"Goose, is there a reason you're so scared of that thing?" Naruto asked curiously.

"My Lord, I am still adjusting to this new body. I would rather not have to get another one because of a weapon no one understands," the goose said in self-defense.

Anko blinked, looking slowly up to Naruto and muttering under her breath so that the others couldn't hear. "Orochimaru is going to be VERY interested in this goose."

Naruto growled in his throat in agreement.

Anko looked up at the sun before changing the subject. "Okay, ladies? Enjoy the rest of the day while it's here because we're heading out first thing tomorrow morning."

"Awww, can't we just have Naruto take us to the next spot?" Ino asked.

"Blondy, you're not going to have a friendly giant monster to lug your ass around," Anko reminded pointedly.

"Plus, this whole mission is mapping out where Naruto traveled to during the Hakaju incident," Sakura reminded. "This would just add more to the map."

"And we'd already know where they were! See, it works out!" Ino defended half-heartedly.

Naruto snorted. "Tell you what, Ino. I'll send you by tail fling, how's that?"

He accented the question by snapping the tip of his tail, a small and popping boom filling the air.

"What, are you trying to kill me!?" Ino asked with an eye roll.

"I approve of this plan, My Lord!" The goose supplied, raising one wing.

"And it would be your job to catch her," Naruto added to the goose.

"My Lord, I respectfully retract my support," the goose said, lowering the wing.

Ino glared evil eyes at the goose. "How about you and me just stay far away from one another until tomorrow?"

"Agreed, male-scented one," the goose said before flying off elsewhere.

"...Okay, I know that wasn't a whore-comment, but it definitely sounded like one," Ino grumbled as she glared at the goose.

"That, or an accusation of being a crossdresser," Anko said wryly.

The rest of the day went by fairly uneventfully, which was what Anko was hoping for. Eventually, the sun began to set, casting brilliant lights upon the surface of the sea.

They settled on the beach, setting up a fire to cook some fish, freshly caught by the mixed success at fishing by the kunoichi.

"Still horrible at knots, Ino?" Sakura teased with a smirk as another of Ino's catches got away.

"I hardly see you getting anything," Ino remarked, staring pointedly at Sakura's unmoving line.

"I can't help it if the fish hate me," Sakura remarked idly. Between herself and Ino, they had gotten a total of three fish.

"It's alright," Hinata asked as she caught another one, adding it to a small pile between her and Anko. "Me and Anko-sensei caught more than enough."

"Don't call it quits just yet girls! I got a big one!" Anko said with a smirk as her line tried to pull out of her hand. Getting to her feet, she heaved with all her might.

"Wow!" Ino said, ducking under a large fish that was at least three feet long, maybe longer.

"Oh, wow, that is a big one," Sakura said in surprise. "Naruto might actually be able to taste that if he ate it."

"Haha, very funny," Naruto said with an eye roll, lying near the campsite.

The ninjas brought their fish to the campsite to prepare and cook them, a fire surrounded by some debris used as makeshift seats.

"Hey, where did that goose of yours head off to?" Anko asked as she got to work on her large fish with a kunai.

"I am here."

"What the hell!?" Ino yelled, nearly falling backward as she stared at the fire. "Okay, tell me-?!"

"You weren't the only one, Ino," Sakura answered, staring at the flames curiously. "Goose? Are you?"

The flames moved and shifted to form the head of the goose as it poked out of the fire. "It would appear that I can merge with any fire I touch."

"Appear?" Anko repeated. "What, did you just figure that out...?"

"Yep!" Naruto said with a grin, laughing at their reactions. "Ha! I was surprised too, but I'm so glad he decided to pull that on you all!"

"I was merely trying to keep the fire alight with some wind from my wings," the goose explained, stepping out entirely and taking his normal form. "But when my feathers touched the flames, I was pleasantly surprised by this discovery."

"And you decided to just hide in the fire to...prank us?" Hinata asked with a small smile.

"Oh no, he inherited some of Naruto's bad habits," Sakura lamented with a sigh.

The goose huffed. "I will take it as praise to be compared to My Lord."

"So, wait? Is that the same body or did you have to regenerate?" Ino asked with a frown. "Because you were complaining about that earlier."

The goose studied himself thoughtfully. "It does feel like the same body."

"How can you tell?" Anko asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Trust me, you can tell," Naruto said flatly, the goose nodding as if finding Naruto's words to be sagely.

The four shared a look at that but decided not to question it more.

"With that, I shall be off," the goose said as he opened his wings.

"You don't want any of the fish?" Sakura asked curiously.

"I genuinely appreciate the offer. But I can hunt for my own. You four should enjoy what you have caught," he said simply. "Besides, I prefer my fish uncooked."

With that, he flew off to find his own place to rest.

"I still think that goose is an ass," Ino remarked.

After eating their share of the fish, Ino and Sakura soon settled down to sleep, with Anko yawning as she was soon to join. But first, she eyed the Hyuuga of their group as she had unsealed some of the documents found in the shipwreck and was reading one.

Reading it out loud, albeit in a very soft voice. "And with a swing of the blazing halberd, the general had defeated the great serpent, lopping off all its heads in a final attack...."

"Anything interesting?" Anko asked idly.

Hinata nodded with a small smile. "It's an old story among the records. I want to say it's fictional, but..." she trailed off sheepishly.

"It's hard to say what is myth and real these days," Anko agreed with a chuckle. "Try not to stay up too late reading Foxy his bedtime stories."

Naruto's ears twitch, his head resting near them. He didn't respond, didn't even open his eyes, but it was obvious he was listening.

Hinata smiled up at him before continuing with the story.

Soon, even she fell asleep and the beach settled into silent stillness, none daring to disturb the slumber of the golden bijuu.

Meanwhile

"You rang, my princess, and at this late hour?" Jiriaya asked with a grin as he arrived at the Hokage Office. "I thought you would have retired for the day."

"I was about to when I received this," Tsunade said, holding up a message. "It's from Anko. She and her team are at Naruto's beach."

"Anko, Anko. What was she doing out there again?" Jiraiya asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Ahh, yes, mapping out Naruto's pawprints. I suppose that would take them there eventually. But I doubt maps are why you called me."

Tsunade nodded. "That golden goose showed back up. And he can talk."

Jiraiya tilted his head. "Well, that's new. Assuming you're just drunk and misreading it," he teased, dodging a scroll aimed at his head.

"Just read this," Tsunade said with a sigh as she handed it to him.

The Toad Sage did as demanded, taking the parchment from her hand and reading through it quickly. "It can talk and regenerate a new body. Orochimaru will be interested in that."

"If he hasn't already, given that someone knocked out the chunin guarding Naruto with poison," Tsunade reminded.

"I think that was Danzo," Jiraiya said with a scowl. "He has his own keeping an eye on the area. I don't know what about, but I know he's communicated with Naruto at least once."

"Which brings up the other part Anko mentioned," Tsunade said, leaning on the desk. "Naruto is likely keeping secrets."

"It's amazing that a loudmouth like him can keep secrets at all in that state," Jriaiya murmured. "But we've suspected as much for a while now. The trouble is, I doubt he'll just up and spill if asked at this point. Not to mention, Naruto is absolutely aware of anything and everything monitoring him. Any spies lurking about Naruto's beach are only able to because he allows them to."

Tsuande shook her head. "I worry about that brat getting into more trouble than he or any of us can deal with."

"I don't know about that, but a lot of things seem strange at times," Jiriaya admitted. "What about this goose though? It's calling Naruto its Lord?"

"That is the tricky part," Tsuande remarked, rubbing her head. "Word will get out eventually. And the more I think about it, the more it sounds like a new Bijuu or something similar at the least."

"And there might be those tempted to try subduing and sealing it, both outside and inside of Konoha," Jiriaya remarked. "And I don't think Naruto would be too happy about it, given that the Goose helped him against the Hakaju."

"And that isn't even touching how interested Orochimaru will be in this thing," Tsunade said. "We might have to seal it just to keep it out of the wrong hands."

Jiriayia took a breath. "Yeah, that might be a hard sell to Naruto. We might just have to nab the thing and seal it before he can do anything about it."

"If it comes to that and we cross that line, we are definitely burning some of our bridges with Naruto," Tsunade pointed out, looking down at the desk. 

"If it's for the good of the village, he'll understand eventually," Jiriaya reassured, looking out at the night sky. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."

Tsunade nodded with an uneasy feeling in her gut.