Naruto: A Lazy Life

Pov: Hiruzen Sarutobi.

*Crash!- BAM!*

Konoha's wall crumbles- as the fox is shoved right through it, I retract my adamantine staff and wield it behind my back as high level shinobi swarm the foxes location, keeping it busy.

"-V.I.P's are all extracted, western Konoha secured" An Anbu informs me.

Already...? How? That was too fast...

"Saburo has secured them- are we pushing the Nine tails Lord Hokage?" The Anbu states, as if reading my mind.

"Yes- no time to waste" I nod grimly and push forward with the Anbu.

...

ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

CRASH! BAM! CRACK!

Minato- where are you?

"Are you going to try that again!?" I yell out as I reach the fox once again, the Nine tails mouth cracks open as chakra begins to form an ominous orb of destructive energy.

Minato handled the last Tailed beast bomb- How could I handle this one!? Perhaps- No... Maybe... No-

*CRASH!*

My thoughts are crushed alongside the fox- as a giant toad is summoned on top of the beast.

"Lord Fourth is here!" A voice calls out next to me.

His summoned toad- Yes!

"I'll need some time to send this fox away- he is far too big! Keep him down Gamabunta!" Minato yells from atop the toad named Gamabunta, pouring chakra into a seal.

...!!

*POOOF! SLAM!*

The giant toad slams into the floor as both Minato and the fox vanish-

"Where did he go!?" I yell out an order.

*Boom!*

"Over there!"

I immediately sprint into the distance- to assist Minato.

---

Pov: Takumi Uchiha.

...

"Back into your mindscape once more... although a little more pathetic this time" The annoying green flame calls to me, in this worlds tongue.

...

"I spent some time learning this you know? In fact I spent a lot of time working on my takeover- I can even mimic the very manner of speech you have, each word perfectly suited to the man you have become... all so the sneaky ninja don't raise an eyebrow at any sudden changes" The little speedster mocks.

"Hn" I grunt, pulling on the chain around my neck... and arm.

"You are too weak- resting in the stomach of that beast, broken mess of an arm and wasted so much chakra guarding those pathetic mortals" He continues to monologue at me.

The chains are stronger than before... he is practicing, refining his state. Becoming more than a seal- reforming a soul for him to use.

Spite has carried him far.

"You need me dead- I am not dead yet" I acknowledge his existence.

"You are certain to die- do you think a medical ninja is in that stomach with you?" He chuckles back.

"Every time I have 'died' you judged pre-maturely" I note.

"You cheated- I won that battle fair and square, people don't come back from a pile of flesh!" The flame flickers.

"I do" I smirk, letting go of the chains I cannot break.

"YOU-!!! I built my life around killing you- I was far more skilled and talented! Half your age and I surpassed you!" The flame yells back.

"Are you losing your head? My, what anger you have for me" I lower my gaze and look to the floor.

"Admit it- I was far superior in all aspects, had I another year I would have claimed the third aspect- hell, I could have claimed it in half a year!" He boasts.

...?

"Ha-" I let out a small laugh.

"I was far stronger than you- far more talented. You were the strongest force in the entire world and I bested you! All you had over me was time!" He gets louder, brighter- green flame sending sparks and embers into the air.

"-Hahaha" I continue my low toned laugh, humoured by his rant.

"What? What are you laughing about!?"

I continue to laugh- before standing up and pulling on my chains, a low chuckle reverberating through my mind.

"SILENCE- I am the winner here! your laughter matters little- the proof is in the facts, and the fact is... you are already dead!" The green flame burns bright- lighting up the entire room as I laugh.

I slowly quiet down and let out a deep breath.

"You are certainly above me in terms of pure power" I let the smile fall off my face.

"So you admit it! I am-"

"I lack care for your words. This life? This one you wish to claim? It is my vacation. My rest. If you wish to wake me from my rest with your pointless drivel then I shall do so- Is that what you want? For me to do more than survive?" I utter into the warm mindscape- and the temperature drops instantly.

Little speedster... the only man on this planet who knew who I was.

The only one smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

The only one who knows not to bother the resting Emperor.

He will gain everything if I die... but If I decide to work like I did in my last life... than he will never see life again. I am what keeps him alive and what stops him from living.

The flame dies down into a small mote once more.

And my eyes open into the real world- filled with pain.

My skin burns, muscle reveals itself across my body as the skin and flesh melt off in the stomach of this great beast made of chakra... the beasts mere chakra exposed to my raw skin seems to burn it. Interesting.

I pull myself up... ignoring the gore within the beasts stomach and restlessly making my way to the nearest 'wall'.

My breath is chaotic, my mind is drained and my body clearly wants to give up.

And yet I push forward- off the wall and from where I entered.

Each finger digging into flesh, using one arm as my other drags behind me.

My feet slip across the wet tunnel- as they struggle to find footing.

I pull.

And I crawl.

Further.

Slower.

With blurred vision... I cling to the creatures tongue and stand tall.

It thrashes around- head being struck or merely just moving... my body is thrown against the teeth, bones breaking and muscles tearing.

I cling to one of the teeth to pull myself up again.

The flesh rumbles- becoming erratic.

Holes stretch into the form of this beast... pulling it apart.

I stumble and fall back to the throat- barely clinging to the dirt... I can feel my chakra being devoured alongside the beast, I will be swept up in whatever is pulling this beast and die.

...

I lack the power.

I am weak.

Overwhelming power has always been my biggest weakness... and that vulnerability has only widened due to my personal lack of power.

Skill can only take me so far...

I feel the chakra of the beast being split- torn... pulled... and as it swarms to a location in front of me- I drop between the gaps of chakra, landing in the dirt.

...

*Waaaaaaaah- WAahhhhh~"

All I can hear... are the whines of a baby.

...

Luck.

I lived due to luck.

No strength. No skill... Luck.

My willpower did not matter- my past did not matter and my actions did not matter.

Fate itself spared me... had the beast not been split before vanishing like that... I would not be able to fall through the cracks of chakra.

...

I hate this.

Relying on fate.

...

But I also hate working my entire life to achieve the strength needed to defy fate itself.

What is wrong with me? I am a broken machine- repeating faulty negative thoughts.

*wahhhhhh!*

"Takumi...?" Hiruzen Sarutobi stands above me- holding a small baby in his arms.

"...Hn" I groan out.

It is too tiring to talk.

"... Thank you"

"What for?" I mutter out, with a dried throat.

"You saved many lives today- and sacrificed your own... I would have regretted your death, quite dearly" The third Hokage frowns at me.

"Let me rest" I reply harshly.

"Help him to a medical tent" The old Kage looks behind him and orders his masked subordinates.

---

-One day later-

Pov: Saburo Mori.

"... Hey! Saburo! Come here and take an extra serving!"

I turn my head as I walk- looking for the voice calling my name.

A lady handling the rations for the temporary camps calls out to me- as the line near the rations tent splits to make way for me.

"I am all fine- I had my meal" I wave.

"You deserve a little more than just a bowl!" Someone in the line calls out.

"I am all fine... thank you however!" I chuckle and scratch my head.

"At least take a portion to your Captain for us!"

"He already ate too..." I maintain my grateful smile.

"Don't praise Jonin Saburo so much- it's annoying" Yu comments as he approaches me.

*tap*

He grips my shoulder and squeezes it tightly.

"How" Yu stares me in the eyes.

"How..?" I smile back.

"How is The Human Bullet of Konohagakure the only person late to this very important meeting? How is Jonin Saburo Mori- late to his first meeting with the Hokage, a day after being promoted? How is my Vice-Captain, disciple of my Captain- late to a meeting with his Hokage?" The hand squeezes tighter and tighter.

...

"... I slowed down to hear people talking about me" I sigh.

"Get. In. That. Office. Now" Yu demands, anger dripping off his tongue.

"Yu! Want to get a bowl for that Lazy Uchiha of yours?" The lady from the rations tent asks.

"He will decline. Too lazy to eat twice in one day" Yu huffs out and pulls me away- I hear the line of people chuckling to themselves as I am dragged along.

"Our team is being assigned a mission- two Anbu are accompanying us, Takumi cannot go" Yu tells me as we walk to the still standing Hokage building.

"Oh- how is he? I didn't get to check up on him today" I ask.

"The question on his arm was answered today" Yu states.

"Really? How bad?- Can they salvage it?" I ask, filled with hope.

"Amputation. He has lost his left arm completely- from just below the shoulder and down" Yu tells me.

A cold anger washes over his words as they leave his mouth.

...

"I see" I sadly respond.

After a few moments of silence- Yu speaks up again.

"The mission is an assassination in the land of Rivers- we will meet with a few merchants who have great connections to certain individuals in the land of wind... it is our duty to eliminate the merchants and whoever protects them" Yu tells me.

"Mission difficulty?" I ask.

"A-rank. Try to show off as much as possible... we are making a show of our greatest talents to keep the other villages from picking a fight in our current state" He tells me.

...

"Wait- did Takumi pick this mission?" I raise my head.

"Yes, and he asked for the two Anbu as well... stating that we could use some shadows to clean up any mess we make" Yu grits his teeth.

"Saburo! Have a good day!" A voice calls from the street and I smile at them.

"You are well loved, you did a good job saving them" Yu tells me.

"You helped just as much" I note.

"I don't care. Keep your credit Human Bullet It is wasted on me" Yu slows down as we reach the Hokage's office.

*Knock- Knock*

We stop and knock on his door.

...

"Lord Third" we both bow as we enter.

Lord fourth... I keep expecting to see his smile every time I enter this room.

"Stand tall- Takumi wants you to complete two more missions on the way- and has decided to pay for the creation of another mission that you can complete on the way back" The Hokage tells us.

..?

"More missions? But we are already assigned one?" I raise an eyebrow.

"We are short on staff. And he so graciously volunteered this team to do more than what I considered inhumane- if you wish to divide these missions into multiple groups then let me know at once" The Hokage gestures to the scrolls in front of him.

Me and Yu share a glance before briefly reading the scrolls.

A-rank Assassination mission- targeting Merchants and their bodyguards near the Wind border.

B-rank Investigation mission- Investigate a small gang in the land of Rivers, operating on our borders- potentially partaking within human trafficking. [Takumi's additional request: Kill them]

B-rank escort mission- Take a few nobles to the land of rivers- they are frightened from their brief visit to Konohagakure. [Takumi's additional request: This mission is fairly easy, but the noble brats have paid enough pocket change to increase the rank of this mission, use it to fill your spare time]

A-rank Assassination mission- Created and payed for by Takumi Uchiha: Twenty shinobi of Konoha have gone rogue in just one day. Find them. Punish them. Break them. Show the world what cowards they are... and how the fear of some beast is nothing compared to the anger of a Hyuga and the Knight with an oath. [Takumi's Additional notes: I will pay in Ryo or Knowledge- you decide]

...

"Complete the first three... and find twenty rogue ninja on our way back...? Shouldn't- No... everyone is busy right now, deserters are the least of our worries" I mutter to myself.

"You decide. Jonin Saburo" Yu tells me.

...

"We are Team Takumi, we do as Captain orders" I respond resolutely.

Even if four missions back to back and all at once is rather inhumane work practice...

I glance at the Hokage who sighs with a worried expression.

Too late- cannot back down now.

"Do not fret over failing a few of these missions... I will not disband a team due to a failure built from exhaustion, I trust in your abilities and will not punish you for being human" The Hokage signs the scrolls officially as he talks.

I let out a deep breath... and glance past the Hokage to look out the window- into destroyed Konoha.

This is the true start of our team- the team that does the impossible, carrying a burden that others cannot. Completing tasks that every team hesitates to take on.

We carry our Emperors will- while he rests.