ch 15

Naruto sat perched on a large flat boulder, trying to remain perfectly still. A gentle breeze blew at his hair and slow beads of sweat dripped down his back. The sun beat down on him, not too hot though considering it was noon. Tenchi had explained that it was the time of year, they wouldn't get snow, but it would get cooler. Naruto focused as best he could on 'nothing' like Pa had instructed him. The Sage training had begun almost immediately upon his return to Tengoku.

Naruto had hardly seen his friends since he came back. Pa and Ma Toad had agreed to train Naruto here in Tengoku, but insisted that he could not have company, or a break from training other than to sleep, until he had achieved a certain level. When he asked what that level would be, Pa had replied very firmly, "I will tell you when you reach it."

A brightly colored red Macaw landed nearby and let out a screech that he ignored as best as he could, but he flinched anyway. Pa smacked him on the head with his walking stick.

"Again!" He commanded Naruto.

Naruto scowled and rubbed his head. "How am I supposed to keep perfectly still with all these distractions?!"

Pa growled at him. "You must learn to ignore minor distractions Naruto. Now start over." Naruto sighed and closed his eyes, letting the wind run over his body for the hundredth time today.

Senjii watched as Old Man Tora held his first class. The warrior academy was still being built by Naruto clones, so for right now they were under a large white tent, learning about the theories of various martial arts as well as other basic schooling. It was unanimously agreed that the school day would be divided into two sections, normal schooling including reading and mathematics, and warrior training.

Senjii was watching Tora instruct the sleepy class in mathematics currently and he himself felt like he could doze off at any second. He understood the need for it, but it was god awfully boring.

He glanced over at the children. There were three tents, with a general age grouping under each tent give or take a few years. Tora was teaching the 'older' generation of children, the young teens and older teens. Mabry was talking to the group below that; ages seven to ten. Of all people, Guerrera was the one who had volunteered for the kindergarten children; ages four to seven.

Guerrera was splitting his time between teaching in the mornings, and his masonry work after lunch. So far it was working, and everyone could tell he had a real soft spot for his class. They loved him as well.

Senjii was there because it was coming up on the class switch, and he was told by Tenchi to come assist him with the first class.

Tenchi strolled up to Senjii and looked over at the class. He smiled warmly. "Feels like a lot of potential doesn't it?"

Senjii shrugged but smiled. "We'll see I guess. You going to do the Chambers training my sensei put us through?"

Tenchi nodded. "The first few, not all thirty five. It will give them a strong base without specializing them in one martial art. After that we can do specialist courses for those who want to choose."

Senjii grinned, these young warriors in training were in for a real treat. Well, they wouldn't think so right now, but maybe when they look back at it, he thought to himself.

Senjii could just about make out the three orphans Naruto had saved from the half demon Ji-Hoon. They were off to the side of the class, Mirrun and Gennosuke looking very calm in their white training clothes. Syrren seemed fidgety, itching to get out of the oppressively boring classroom. Next to them were the Kazimo twins Junya and Fuki, paying rapt attention to their grandfather.

"OK class! That's it for our lesson today," Tora concluded, to an almost imperceptible sigh of relief from the teenagers. They raced out of the room into the sunlight of the training grounds.

Tenchi lead them all outside to an area he had clearly set up beforehand, where there was a large ditch filled with water and floating logs not having been there the day before. Various obstacles and areas were set up all over the field.

Senjii could not suppress his grin, this was going to be fun to watch. The older generation, or the First Class, as Naruto referred to them, would be doing the training with Tenchi and Senjii. The Second Class was off doing physical fitness with Shizune and one of the new Citizens of Tengoku, an instructor named Yuan. The Third Class was too young for anything other than naptime or going back home to their parents or the orphanage, so they were welcome to watch the training exercises that they themselves would be doing in a few years.

The First Class lined up in front the man-made moat and stared across at Tenchi.

"Balance." Tenchi spoke to them in a commanding ringing voice. "The first thing any and all warriors must have. It doesn't matter if you're a ninja, a samurai, a grappler or a kung fu master. All the basic principles are the same. If you look here the sign says '1st Chamber'. There are seven basic chambers that you will need to complete in order to move onto your fighting style of choice. Some of you may want to continue down the path of the Chambers. I will guide those that wish to go down that path."

"There are currently many different fighting styles that you can choose to learn in Tengoku, and we hope to add even more as the village builds. The Art of the Ninja, the Way of the Samurai, the Dance of Capoeira, the High Flying Lucha Libre. Any of these plus any style you wish to learn, can be taught to you. But first…" he pointed forcefully to the water and the logs floating on it. "First you must cross without getting wet. Any students with special abilities are not allowed to use it, that means you Syrren, and you Kristen." Senjii glanced at the two children in question. Syrren he knew could turn into water and emerge on the other side perfectly easily. He did not know about the Kristen girl, but he'd ask Tenchi later.

"Begin!" Tenchi shouted. In lines of two at a time, the students raced into the water, trying to run on the logs. Almost instantly it became a chaotic scene of splashes and drenched young teenagers. As one fell in, he or she was directed to climb out and go to the back of the line to try again.

Senjii laughed, remembering the time he had spent doing this training himself. It had taken him a week to figure out how to cross. Tenchi came over and shared his mirth.

"Oi Sensei, what's with the girl Kristen?" Tenchi pointed at one thirteen year old girl, who laughed as she climbed out of the water.

"She can pass through objects. Rock, sand, earth, water, nothing can stop her. She's one of Mabry's kids." Tenchi said matter of factly. Senjii whistled softly. The academy sure had some gifted people, when they were trained up, he'd almost feel sorry for anyone that picked Tengoku as an enemy. Almost.

Guerrera strolled over to his shop. He had enjoyed spending the morning with the children. He smiled as he saw Hiroka playing with his daughter Gabriella. The young female warrior had taken a strong liking to her, as did Hiroka's other friends. Not a day had gone by that either Sakura, Hiroka or the wild one that called herself Calamity hadn't been at his shop spending time with his daughter. It did free him up to teach on mornings, and a kind lady from the - now teeming with life - village would be there soon to watch her while he continued his construction projects.

He glanced at his 'shop'. It was finished before he could start on the Academy. Naruto and the other 'founders' of the village had insisted he make a decent home for himself and Gabriella before he began any more buildings. He had said he did not mind sleeping in the tower, but he did prefer his own place. No sooner had he said that than Tenchi had mapped out a nice lot close by that gave him a great view and easy access to everything. A few of Naruto's clones had shifted to work on his home and shop. He kept the heavenly theme, white stone walls, arches and pillars. He had to admit it was the most luxurious looking Blacksmith and Masonry shop he had ever seen, but this sort of thing would be the norm for Tengoku.

"Hi Guerrera!" Hiroka smiled at him. "Is it noon already?" She glanced at the sky, the sun in the exact middle. The light from the giant quartz stone that was at the top of the white tower reflected rainbows of light down to her. Not for the first time, a question formed in her mind. Guerrera saw the expression on her face and laughed.

"How many times is it now?" he asked her.

She smiled and gave a small laugh, "I've lost track," she replied.

"OK, well tell me your guess today," he said as he picked up his cooing daughter and touched his masked forehead to hers.

Hiroka cocked her head to the side. "Well Sakura seems to think its possible you found the stone while quarrying the fields for white stone for the tower."

Guerrera laughed. "No. I did not find the stone here on this island."

"Damnit!" Hiroka scowled. "That eliminates finding it here, buying it from a lost prince, stealing it from a warlord, a gift from the actual Heaven, and it not being really there but just an illusion."

"That's about right," Guerrera agreed. "None of those are the true origin of the beacon light."

Hiroka stood up and sighed. "I wish you'd just tell us, we're all dying to know! Even Jiraiya refused to tell us. Said it was your secret to tell."

Guerrera nodded. "Someday I will explain how it came to be in my possession..." He lifted up a giggling Gabriella, playing with her before the babysitter came. "…but today is not that day."

Hiroka spied Sakura and Calamity over by a fountain that a pair of Naruto

clones were finishing. She smiled at the sight of her friends. She hadn't expected to make such good friends in Sakura, and now the new girl Calamity. They just…clicked. Calamity was a year older than Hiroka at nineteen, and Sakura was a few years younger. But the three of them had become inseparable.

Calamity had so far resisted changing her outfit, and that was the task at hand for the girls this afternoon.

"Hi Hiroka. How was Gabby today?" Sakura asked brightly.

"Great! Oh, and you were wrong about the quarry," Hiroka replied. They stood their chatting while the Naruto clones happily laid smooth stones down on the lip of the soon to be functioning fountain.

"So girls, what are we doing today?" Calamity asked. Her father was still preparing his restaurant for opening day, but he had run her out of the shop to go spend time with her friends.

"Today, you officially join our squad Cala," Hiroka said flatly. She had taken to shortening her friends' names just to poke at them.

"Girls, I said I would already. But after my dad's place opens I need to help him run it," Calamity replied. This was the tenth time they were having this discussion.

"Yes," Sakura interjected. "But most ninja in my village had day jobs as well. There isn't always a mission to go on. And you just HAVE to join us. We're a team!"

Calamity laughed but Hiroka nodded. "Yes, have you looked at how Senjii's team is constructed?"

Sakura whispered under her breath, "…Naruto's team…"

Hiroka continued uninterrupted. "The boys perfectly balance each other out. Nagi is a short range specialist. He uses his fists and feet in close range combat. My Senjii is a medium range expert. His swordsmanship covers that. Naruto is an all around fighter, but can pull off massive long range attacks from what we've heard. Together their teamwork is perfect."

Calamity cocked her head and looked thoughtful. "That's all true. They do work well together. It helps that they're all best friends."

Sakura nodded. "Like us. I'm a close range fighter. Hiroka's style is mid range. So your archery skills would balance us perfectly with your long range attacks."

Calamity sighed and they started walking down the street. "My dad agrees with you. I was going to tell you, he says he would be proud of me protecting our new home. He thinks Naruto is the greatest person who ever lived to be able to build this place, and to invite us to move here. He says I can help out at the restaurant, but he can manage if I need to leave."

"Yay!" Hiroka exclaimed and hugged Calamity. "Now, just one last thing." She looked calamity up and down. She wore rough working long legged pants, and a boy's shirt with the sleeves rolled up. A short kerchief tied around her neck.

"This look will not do for our team," Hiroka said scornfully. Sakura nodded in a serious manner.

"What's wrong with my clothes dammit?" Calamity asked.

"The villagers may be calling the boys team Daitenshi, but I'd rather we, the first girls team, were known not only as warrior angels, but as heavenly beauties as well!" She smiled with stars in her eyes. "You my friend Cala, need a makeover!"

With that Sakura and Hiroka each grabbed an arm of the mildly protesting Calamity and continued their walk into the hustle and bustle of the still building village.

As they walked through the main street, Sakura noticed that the stores were all taking on similar styles and qualities of Guerrera's house and shop. The Naruto clones that were everywhere in the village were perfecting the masonry work needed to make strong, sturdy structures that matched the heavenly theme.

Inari walked by with a few pipes under his arm and smiled at them. Sakura knew he wanted to join the Academy, but admired his resolve to finish the job first.

She looked up at the sky as they neared the first shop. The hot midday sun was disappearing behind some dark clouds. It looked like it might rain a little bit later.

That night, thunderous rain and lightning pelted the village of Tengoku. Lightning struck the white tower repeatedly, but all the bolts seemed to go straight to the beacon light which just glowed brighter. Some citizens of the village didn't have proper homes built yet, so were going to stay in their wagons, but Naruto had invited them all into the tower for the night. He reasoned there was room for all, and he wanted everyone to think of each other as family.

It worked wonders on the people. The first two floors were full of families, laughing and talking to each other. Even those who could sleep in their houses chose to stay with everyone else in the tower.

Nagi, on a dare from Senjii, stood on a barrel and started to sing a song he had picked up in his travels. Several citizens laughed and joined in, the song a fairly well known one in certain regions. Nagi danced a small jig as he sang.

"'Twas down by the glenside,

I met an old woman,

A'plucking young nettles,

Nor thought I was coming;

I listened awhile

To the song she was humming,

"Glory O, glory O,

To the Bold Tengoku men!""

The crowd roared in approval as Nagi modified the song to refer to their village. He launched into the second verse and many voices rose to accompany him. Naruto cried tears of laughter, clapping along to the song. Outside the thunder raged and rain pounded against the walls to the oblivion of the citizens. A few guys looked at each other and ran out the doors into the rain, only to return before Nagi could finish the verse with their instruments. They cued up and played alongside him.

Sakura, Hiroka and a newly dressed Calamity held hands and danced around the barrel that Nagi was on. This was of course a sign for all who wanted too to join in and dance as well. The trio of Spirit Wolf clan members who were there were the first to show off their dancing, as well as laughing uproariously and singing along even louder than Nagi was.

Tsunade downed another cup of sake. A fine wines establishment was opening and its owner had brought a few bottles to this impromptu get together. She heard something hit the building then, but ignored it, thinking it was another lightning strike. She laughed seeing Nagi almost topple off the barrel, his dancing getting a little out of hand considering his foothold, the odd sound forgotten for now.

When the first rays of morning light hit the tower, the light hit the beacon and filtered down into the building. Carefully placed seals and crystals reflected and enhanced the light, flooding the interior. Naruto stretched and yawned. The party had lasted until early morning, and he had only gone to bed to the insistence of Pa Toad who said the training today would not be any easier if he didn't sleep.

He looked out the window and sighed. Went to the bathroom, showered, changed, and leapt out the window onto the street. He landed gracefully and stood up straight, bending backwards to stretch his back, his hands on his hips. Looking up and slightly back he saw something against the side of the White Tower.

"What on earth?" he exclaimed and turned around. A huge billowing cloth with a multitude of ropes dangling from it was stuck against the tower. From a few of the ropes hung what Naruto knew was a bicycle, but this one had a giant fin behind it, and an oddly thin man in a dripping wet black suit waving down at him.

"I say, hello down there! Sorry to be a bother but I've been up here a rather long time!" The man shouted down at Naruto.

Naruto stared up at him incredulously but was in too much shock to move. "Who are you? How did you get up there?"

The man smiled weakly. "My name is Yoshiro Nakamatsu. And my dirigible ran into your tower here last night in the storm. Not that I mind of course, that storm made my life flash before my eyes. Do you know how many inventions I've done in retrospect? Over five hundred. That's not a bad lifetime achievement. I pondered this as I faced my death in the storm. But then I saw the light in the sky, and I tried my best to steer towards it. What seems like hours later, I ran into your tower here. I tried calling for help but the storm was rather loud; and I could have sworn I heard singing for a while."

Naruto stared at him slack jawed for a minute but then shook himself awake and walked up the tower wall, applying chakra to his feet to accomplish the task.

"Well that's simply amazing now isn't it!" Yoshiro exclaimed at seeing a boy walk up a wall.

"Hold on a second Mr. Nakamatsu," Naruto said as he approached the man. He un-looped some of the rope from around the man's body and then held onto his hand. Naruto smiled at him warmly.

"You ready?" he asked. The man looked relieved to be untied and perplexed at the question.

"Ready for what?"

Naruto lifted the man out of the bicycle and held on tight, jumping off the wall. The man held onto Naruto tightly as they plummeted to the ground. Naruto used his one free hand to push some wind chakra to slow their descent a bit, but they still landed fairly unceremoniously.

Yoshiro extricated himself from Naruto and brushed off his coat. Naruto noticed he was wearing a black suit with a red bow tie. A tool belt was strapped around his waist with all manner of tiny contraptions that Naruto had never seen before.

"I really should have brought my descent device, it would have made coming down from there much simpler. But my KongMing cycle didn't have room now did it. No Yoshi it did not." The man seemed to carry on a conversation with himself.

Naruto looked a little taken aback at this. He'd never met someone who seemed as …off…as this man appeared to be.

"Oi Naruto!" Senjii walked out of the tower, stretching as he did so. "Who's your friend?"

Yoshiro stood up straighter and cleared his throat. "I am the scientist and inventor Yoshiro Nakamatsu! Creator of the Parabolic Warming Umbrella, PyonPyon Spring Shoes, and the Karaoke Machine!"

He flourished a beaker and a pen, "The beauty of invention! The thrill of success! The magnitude of helping the world with advancements in technology! No one knows these things more than I do!"

Senjii and Naruto both stared at the man, jaws open. Nagi and the girls' team had also woken up and witnessed Yoshiro's introduction.

"Welcome to Tengoku Mr. Nakamatsu," Tenchi said walking out of the tower. He too had witnessed the introduction. "Pardon me, but we're all a bit surprised at your sudden appearance."

"Well yes I can understand that." Yoshiro said. "It was most fortunate for me though, finding this village. Tengoku you say? Heaven? Perhaps Yoshi did not survive the night?"

Jiraiya approached. The villagers had begun to leave the tower to head back to their homes and businesses still under construction. They eyed Yoshiro curiously as they passed by.

Mabry looked at Yoshiro and grinned. "I remember you. You were run out of a village I was passing through because your house kept exploding. They said your experiments were a nuisance to their society."

Yoshiro sighed. "Sadly I cannot tell you which village that was. It has been too many times to count."

Naruto grinned and slapped Yoshiro on the back. "Well Tenchi had it right, welcome to Tengoku Mr. Nakamatsu! We hope you'll like it here."

Tsunade groaned and rubbed her head. Too much Sake last night, she thought. With a stretch she was off her bed and looking out the window. The hospital site was the first thing she saw. Some Naruto clones had already begun work on it this morning. She frowned at the sight. Not because the building was unsatisfactory, but because she had no one to staff it.

True that the village was still fairly small. Only a couple hundred people. But it would grow, and they'd need doctors and nurses. Soon.

She hoped she could convince some of the new villagers to join her, but for now all the children seemed more interested in emulating Naruto and being a fighter.

Tsunade sighed and walked out into the main hall, hoping that today she could scrounge up some new apprentices or nursing students.

Ali stared at the building that Naruto had given him for the Spirit Wolf Guild house. It was just that. A house. A five story house with space for meetings and a kitchen on the first floor, and four floors of bedroom space. He could easily fit his entire clan into this one building. Of course it wasn't finished, the Naruto clones were busy putting up brick walls and slathering concrete on it. But the main structure was there, and the first floor was completed.

Ali was astounded. What also astounded him was that the huge man in the mask had carved a stone circular tablet four feet in diameter to be placed over the entranceway to their Guild. That stone was in the shape of a wolf's head and had the symbols for their clan around it.

"Boss, it's something else isn't it?" one of his subordinates said in wonderment. They had been in Tengoku less than three weeks and the novelty of the place just never seemed to wear off.

"Yeah boss, look at that symbol. It will be with much pride that our brotherhood calls this place home. We've never had a home," the other thief said.

"No," Ali said softly. "No we haven't. Naruto has kept his word and our honor is now bound to this place. However," he said as he peeled off his shirt and flexed his sinewy muscles. "I will forever be damned by Kali herself if I let someone else finish my brotherhood's first real home." Ali walked over and picked up a palette of bricks and moved to help the Naruto clones finish the wall they were working on. The two other men followed their leader into the building happily, ready to work hard.

Jiraiya sat down under a large umbrella overlooking the training field where the students were for the second day in a row, trying to cross a log filled pond. Next to him sat their new guest, Yoshiro or Yoshi as he referred to himself.

They had been talking long about Yoshi's past and what his plans were for the future. He had asked officially to stay in Tengoku as a citizen; it wasn't like he had anywhere else in particular to go back to. Naruto hadn't even stopped on his way to Training but shrugged and smiled. He had said Of course, I thought that was understood from the moment I took you down from the bicycle.

Yoshi was fascinated by the concept of the island and held a piece of the solid cloud in his grasp.

"You know it occurs to me that this place while impossible to find, once found is impossible to defend. I mean everything is wide open. How do you get up here? " Yoshi asked.

"There's a windstream that picks up objects in some mountains far below and shoots us up. We land over there in that solid cloud bank and walk over to the island." Jiraiya responded.

Yoshi looked over towards where Jiraiya pointed and shook his head. "Now that just won't do. What if someone sends a bomb up the wind stream? Or the army of a warlord? They'd be in your home before you knew what was happening."

Jiraiya shrugged. "I put in some seals where the wind tunnel can be accessed, but its not foolproof."

Yoshi pulled out a pad and a pen. "I need some measurements. Yes Yoshi I know, its fascinating, now be quiet while Yoshi thinks. Perhaps an obstacle that will allow the wind but not objects."

Jiraiya squirmed uncomfortably as the scientist spoke to himself, Guess he must be alone a lot. No one but yourself for company.

"What are you thinking Yoshi?" Jiraiya asked after seeing Yoshi write down a bunch of incomprehensible numbers.

"Why, I'm thinking a gate of sorts. A sturdy gate that would only let certain people enter. But I need measurements, cloud samples. Data! More data! More!" Yoshi said with a mad smile and rushed off to do his research.

Jiraiya shook his head. The man was mad as a hatter, but he had to admit, the self fanning umbrella he was sitting under (another Yoshi invention) may just make the man bearable to be around. He sighed and watched as yet another young student ended up dunked in the pond.

Ji-Hoon stared at the ground before him. Kyuubi had been here. He looked out over the broken port city of Carachi. At the split houses, the cluttered streets, the hundreds of vultures that circled and infiltrated every inch of this city filled with the rotting corpses of the dead pirates who attacked the city. Ji-Hoon absolutely loved this place.

He cackled madly and drifted lazily through the town. He chanted a spell and threw some black dust into the air. The dust seemed to multiply and spread all over town. One by one the pirate corpses shifted, then rose and walked towards the center of town where Ji-Hoon was waiting. The undead were always fun to play with.

As hundreds of undead pirates lined up around him, Ji-Hoon looked grim. Time for some serious business.

"I need to know where Kyuubi is." He chanted a spell and signaled for one of the ships in the bay that had been sunken by Kyuubi's power. The ship rose out of the waters and floated closer towards shore.

"Feel his energy. The energy that killed you. Find it. Find him!" He commanded and the undead pirates walked towards their ship to set out into the world.

Jiraiya called out from the doorsteps of the Tower. "Sakura! Hiroka! Calamity!" His voice ringing like a bell into the village. The three girls in question raced out of their respective places and rushed towards Jiraiya.

They stopped right before him and glared.

"Do you think you can call for us in a nicer tone next time?" Hiroka asked

Jiraiya grinned. "You mean you don't want to go on your first team assignment?" He smirked at the expressions on their faces.

"Pack your gear. You're protecting a Crowned Prince and his son of the Crescent Moon Kingdom as he journeys across the unnamed country. Tengoku Archangels were specifically asked for, money is no object." He glared at the girls in a serious manner. "You are now representing this village and our reputation is all that we have. We need to build a strong one so I want you to do well on this mission. Is that understood?"

The girls nodded in unison. "Yes Ero-Sennin!" Jiraiya flinched at that, but didn't bother saying anything. After all, more than half the village called him that now, simply because Naruto did.

Sakura looked troubled though and had to ask a question. "Why us?"

Jiraiya smiled and replied. "You mean why you girls and not Naruto and his squad? Well several reasons." He raised his hand and started counting off the fingers.

"One, you girls need experience too. We can't focus all our strength on three warriors. We need everyone to be strong."

"Two, your team is newly formed and you need to cement your teamwork and find your 'groove' so to speak."

"Three, as you know Naruto is undergoing Sage training. He's in a dangerous place to interrupt that right now. So he has to complete it before he can leave Tengoku again. He should be tied up for a couple months at the very least. "

"Does that satisfy your curiosity?" Jiraiya finished with a smile.

"I also think it would be good for you to have a more experienced sensei with you, so I've asked Kakashi to supervise your team for this mission."

Sakura and Calamity both smiled at that, but for different reasons. Hiroka looked incensed.

"But Senjii's and Naruto set out without a team supervisor! Why do we need one? Because we're women?" Hiroka erupted.

Jiraiya shook his head. "This mission could be very dangerous, but Kakashi will let you girls handle it. He's more of a guide and will help you with training you might need or want along the way. That, and he's going a bit stir crazy, always asking me when my next book is coming out and I need him out of here before I kill him."

Hiroka nodded then and the three girls sped off to pack for their journey.