CHAPTER 9 – Building the Trust!
First, to all my fervent and old readers, I’d like to thank you. You all didn’t bugged me and were very indulgent with me – despite me, halting the FF for exams purposes. The least I could do was to stick out to the 1st December date that I did fix for my comeback and yeah made this one pretty lengthy. For all readers who never read it before, then I suggest, you start from the beginning (All links are in my Sig). Just a little note though (especially my readers who don’t read the HP book), the character ‘Scorpius’ in this chapter has nothing to do with me but the character is in fact part of JK Rowling’s work and is the son of Draco Malfoy. I just wanted to clarify this. So here you are, enjoy the chapter.
Naruto: I’m glad you are all finally here.
Sakura: You didn’t need to give us such a tumultuous welcoming though. Now, this will...
Little had she spoken that most of the Hogwarts students came at the outside to see what was happening? The inevitable glares were really not to the ease of Ino while Tenten barely beamed and Choji opened a new packet of chips. The younger students were staring more than ever while a low buzz of chatter and rumor started between the elderly ones.
Neji: You really couldn’t have played the discreet card, could you?
Naruto: Sorry, I didn’t know. I’m surprised you did come though, Gaara.
Gaara: Well, there isn’t really much danger right now since the war. In fact, there’s boredom ever since. In those situations, I couldn’t refute a mission on Kabuto.
Kankuro: I agree that it’s the best way to de-rust some of my puppets.
Choji: Where’s Shikamaru and Kakashi-sensei by the way?
Temari: …
Naruto yelled hard to call on Shikamaru who was watching awkwardly, beyond his and Naruto’s window, the arrival of his peers and more specifically Temari.
Naruto: Come down, Shikamaru!
Kankuro: Look who it is. I think, you owe some of us some explanation if I remember.
Gaara shot several warning glances towards Shikamaru suddenly, who gulped and sighed.
Shikamaru: Alright, I’m…
Little had he said a word that Gaara’s sand flushed towards him to grab him but the sand barely missed Shikamaru – who dodged – and effloresced the vintage wall of Hogwarts where some bricks dropped down.
Scorpius: Hey, you ungrateful ninjas! Stop damaging our school with your weird tricks.
Sakura: I’m really sorry for everything. Shikamaru, just get down here now.
Shikamaru: Okay, I’ll come. What a drag!
Scorpius: I see that your team is just composed of over-reactive, failed idiots or even cravens and you claim to find Professor McGonagall’s assassin. It’s a pity.
Eloise: What, “they” are the ones who are investigating.
Scorpius: Yes and when they don’t know who to blame, they are targeting my mother.
Choji: I suggest, you all mind your lan…
Eloise: Shut up, you fat-ass!
She definitely clicked on the wrong word. Choji puffed hard, eyes wide open as he crushed his packet of chips.
Naruto: No, please go away.
Eloise: Oh, the fat pig is vexed. Go and bring him his teddy bear.
As she just began giggling, Choji’s right arm just got colossally huge as he rushed for a real punch in high speed.
Gaara and Naruto: Damn! I won’t make it…
However, concern and reflex thoughts barely clicked their minds that…
???: Petrificus Totalus!
As a black cape flew onto the ground and Choji’s body was petrified just before it hit Eloise’s face –whose giggles turned into yelps, Harry was standing with his wand. Cheers were suddenly echoed by the students for Harry. It wasn’t everyday that they saw the Legendary Boy. On listening to those deafening roars, James proudly look up to his father and Albus blushed – though was deeply heart warmed – by Hogwarts’ reaction. The same was not the case for Harry, though whose cold look was signifying more of disappointment and anger.
Harry: Quiet! Remain quiet, everyone! You should all be ashamed of yourselves to insult our guests. You’re disgracing the name of the school.
The students were suddenly silenced while some even looked down in utter shame.
Harry: Naruto, I’m sorry to have petrified your friend. He’ll be able to move within one hour or so.
Naruto: No worries, I’m rather glad you’ve intervened.
The girl, terrified over the idea she was barely saved and angry that a “fat scum” rebelled against her, pursed her lips to control her emotions as some other girls tried to console her. Shikamaru got downstairs to the scene but all attention were no more on him which definitely was not in his displeasure. While, beyond…
Kakashi: Well, this whole mission is going to be much more turbulent than it was thought initially, it seems.
Hermione: There’s still a long way before there’s some kind of coherence unfortunately.
Ron: Who’s this cute pestilence by the way?
Hermione: Oh, you don’t know?
Ron: No, it’s you, the Headmaster. But stop kidding around, tell me who is it?
Hermione: She’s your ex-flame daughter. You know, your dear Lavender.
Ron looked in disbelief as Hermione smiled at his agape look.
Ron: You’re not joking?
Hermione: No, I’m not. In fact, Lavender married to a very rich Muggle man.
Ron didn’t really wanted to hear this kind of emphasis but Hermione kept teasing him, given Ron’s speechlessness.
Hermione: So, cherishing back some of your memories, Won-Won?
Ron knew that remaining silent could hurt Hermione’s ego – given she always hated Lavender. So he played safe.
Ron: Who’ll like someone like her when I’ve got such a gorgeous wife along me?
This compliment touched Hermione, regardless how common and cheesy it was, though.
Ron: Now it’s clear that she inherited her mother’s traits.
While these two were talking, below Sakura, Lee and Neji were trying to move Choji’s still immobilized body away. Meanwhile, Naruto took a big leap till Hermione’s office.
Hermione: …
Naruto: Well, as concluded, can we all moves here?
Ron: You really want to stick to your decision to live here during your stay. There’s still possibility to try making some places available, you know.
Naruto: That won’t be necessary. I wanted to ask if we could construct something here.
Ron: …
Hermione: Well, sure.
Naruto: Thank you.
Naruto got back down and weaved an affirmative sign towards Gaara and Yamato who got to “work”.
Ron: What did they mean by construct?
Kakashi: You’ll see.
The wishful view didn’t wait a bit. Gaara modified the quite rocky lawn of the field leading towards the gloomy Forbidden Forest to a perfect sandy landscape to everyone’s awe. However, what followed was simply jaw-dropping for every wizard’s present obviously. Yamato grew up a whole wooden house structure.
Hermione: Well, you definitely don’t need places, I guess. Isn’t it, Ron?
Ron: …
Ron: Indeed…
Naruto: Good job, you two.
Eloise: Pfff, another useless showoff. Ruining our school to make a holiday resort for you, it’s pitiful.
Naruto gazed at her perceivably as all other ninjas ignored her.
Harry: You should learn some manners, my dear.
???: The girl is right though!
Harry: Who said that?
???: I said that.
Behind the clustering amount of students, came out Horace Slughorn.
Harry: …
Slughorn: The girl is right. These guys, in their “facade” to help us, are destroying the 4 Great Masters’ creation. They have no…
Harry: These guys are here to help us. Everyone, particularly the Professors, need to aid them in whatever way they can. We already owe them a big service.
Slughorn: You mean for sealing out Minerva McGonagall? We could have done better without them. Also…
Harry: They are going to help us fight…
Naruto: No need to go to that limit. If we aren’t welcomed here, I think, we can find some other way…
Harry: No, you need to stay here…
Naruto: Who talked about going away?
Harry: …
Naruto: I’m sure Mr. Slughorn and we can find a deal, right? Tell me, what do you…
Slughorn: I want a fight right here and now.
As Harry looked up a bit stunned to the current turns of events, most of the other students gave a huge pop to the Head of Slytherin.
Slughorn: You win and you prove us your worth. You lose and you leave us alone.
Naruto: It’s funny; it’s exactly what I wanted to. I accept your challenge.
While the atmosphere was getting more and more electric, Harry looked up blankly to Naruto.
Harry: You cannot be serious about this…
Naruto: Well, I think we are both damn serious. In fact, if we are going to take down Kabuto, it’s by trusting each other that we’ll succeed. This fight will generate the bridge of trust between us – the bridge that will mark a new alliance and will be Kabuto’s downfall.
Harry: …
Harry: Alright, do as you wish.
**
Hermione: They can’t be serious to fight. We need to cooperate, instead of getting divided.
Kakashi: Perhaps, but a half-baked trust between us won’t be effective against Kabuto.
Ron and Hermione: …
Kakashi: Dumbledore and the 1st Hokage had that long time deal concluded between wizards and ninjas but since it never occurred as planned, distrust occurred inevitably. If this alliance was really destined to happen, all these events are perhaps leading towards a longtime fated alliance.
Ron: I guess you’re right. Besides, I think this alliance will never be concluded as long as each other regard their counterparts as equal in respect and dignity. Slughorn’s pride needs to be tamed and that’s perhaps the only way.
Kakashi: It’s the same for Naruto as well. He wants this alliance to be respected by both sides. Moreover…
Hermione: …
Kakashi: He’s also thirsting to fight to prove ninjas’ mettle.
Hermione: …
All three looked as both of them were ready to fight.
**
Slughorn: Ready?
Naruto: Of course!
A more than tensed atmosphere suddenly settled in, as the Whomping Willow lashed its branches, as if to give a starting signal to the delayed alliance.
Slughorn: Stupefy!
The stunning spell flew out of Slughorn’s wand – starting the duel – as Naruto dodged in Sage Mode.
Slughorn: Not so easily. Stupefy! Stupefy!
Naruto kept dodging as he took a big jump upwards.
Naruto: Kage Bun…
He barely had time to make the signs for his jutsu as a number of Blasting Spells were targeted after him. After avoiding two of them, he took a direct hit…
Slughorn: Over already?
Sakura: Naruto!
As the smoke dissipated, wooden lags feel on the ground…
Slughorn: ???
Suddenly, 4 clones of Naruto jumped from all directions towards Slughorn…
Slughorn: Expulso!
Several spells flew like rockets towards all Shadow Clones as a big smoke surrounded Slughorn.
Slughorn: Where is he?
In an astounding surprise, Naruto emerged from underground with a Rasengan in his right hand – aiming at Slughorn’s chin…
Slughorn: You were nearly there, however, Stup…
The optimistic reflexion was of short instance as Slughorn suddenly realize that Naruto was actually aiming to disarm him.
Naruto: Gotcha! Rasengan.
Before the Rasengan hit his wand though, he casted a spell towards himself.
Slughorn: Ascendio!
The master of Slytherin flew upwards as Naruto missed his Rasengan. His wand suddenly slipped from hand as he was about to crash down…
Ron: At this height, he will…
Slughorn: Aresto Momentum!
In a split second before crashing down, he faced the ground flatly immobilized towards it before smoothly landing onto it.
Slughorn: That was…
His shadow on the ground was suddenly intensified and as he turned around, it was an illuminating Naruto – in Kyuubi Mode – that was up in the sky; forming a Giant Rasengan in his hand.
Slughorn realized that with his wand not in his grasp that defeat was incoming.
Slughorn: I…
Naruto charged with Rasengan in his hand!
Slughorn: …
Naruto: …
Slughorn: …surrender!
Naruto, quickly reacted, forming a chakra arm from his belly that acted as counter-balance on the ground and deviated his wrecking attack on the Slytherin Headmaster!
The win of Naruto over Slughorn was met with motionless astonishment as the looks of the wizards varied and ominous muttering were being heard. Among these, a loud clap sound resonated in the crowd.
Naruto turned away and saw the eyes full of humbleness of a grounded Slughorn. He stood up and kept clapping as he stopped to tend his right hand.
Slughorn: Nuisance or not, you ninjas are worthy opponents and I think we’d rather have as allies.
This definitely pleased Naruto as he accepted the handshake and with that, deafening roars, claps and whistles from wizards and ninjas were heard; signifying the real start of the alliance between wizards and ninjas.
Naruto: And I firmly believe it’s reciprocal! However…
Kakashi: …
Hermione: …
Harry/Naruto: …What awaits us might be beyond what we can imagine!
Ron grumpily understood what Harry and Naruto meant; he still looked in his ever-lasting half-perplexed, half-determined look while Kakashi coldly turned towards Hermione.
Kakashi: Umm…
Hermione wiggled her hand towards Kakashi as a sign that she knows already.
Kakashi: So? He must have seen everything of what just occurred surely.
Hermione looked towards the sky and crossed her arms.
Hermione: I know. Call Krum up and tell everyone else. The Goblet of Fire is starting in one week!
~END OF CHAPTER~
Next Chapter Entitled: TBD
Well, I hope you liked it and weren’t disappointed. Hopefully, I didn’t lose my touch in my writing or my story. It wasn’t easy to write back after such a hiatus but it defitely felt good to re-continue my FF. Awaiting your CnCs impatiently for this one. Don’t forget to Rate it as per your liking.
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