Konoha's Ice Dragon continuation

Chapter 16

As Team 10 continues to make their way to their client's residence, they noticed a small Tea House nearby. They decided to head towards there, to get some lunch and rest before moving on.

As they walk, Ino couldn't help but noticed that Naruto was reading a scroll intently, so she decided to ask...

"What are you reading, Naruto-kun?"

"Oh this? It's a scroll based on Fuinjutsu, also known as the Art of Sealing. I got it last month from Sarutobi Sensei. It's quite 'complex' compared to Ninjutsu. I might need to work on my calligraphy too, since I need to write down the Kanjis perfectly, otherwise it won't work." Naruto answered as he continues to look through the scroll.

"Why are you learning Fuinjutsu all the sudden?" Shikamaru asked.

"Three Reasons. One, Fuinjutsu is quite useful. Its possibilities are vast and endless. The simplest Jutsu I can do now is the Storage Seal, which I can use to keep all my belongings into a scroll. I can pack a month's worth of supplies into a scroll, and still run around at my top speed without feeling any of the weight. Two, Kakashi-Niisan's birthday is coming up, and I'm learning a very 'particular seal' that might just surprise him. Three....Sarutobi Sensei told me....my mother was part of a Clan called the 'Uzumaki,' and they were well known for this technique. Feared Even." Naruto said excitedly at first, but with a sad tone in the end.

"I heard of that Clan. They were from the village of Uzushiogakure, The Hidden Eddy Village. They were actually one of Konoha's Greatest Allies for decades. At the end of the Warring States Period, the Senju chose to symbolise their clan's friendship by adding the Uzumaki's emblem to Konoha's flak jackets." Asuma said, as he used his thumb to point at the red spiral on the back of his Jonin flak jacket.

"What do you mean by 'were'? Aren't they still around?" Ino asked.

"Unfortunately....No. Some of the world's nations banded together to destroy Uzushiogakure, believing the village was too powerful to be allowed to continue. The survivors of Uzushio's destruction went into hiding and spread throughout the world. I guess that includes my Mother." Naruto said with a sad tone.

"Naruto-kun...I'm so sorry." Ino said, feeling sad for her 'whiskers.'

"Don't apologize Ino-chan, it's not your fault.....Haha I remembered....I once said this line to you already. When we first met, when I told you I was the 'Last Senju' in Konoha." Naruto said with a soft smile, thinking of the happy memory of how he met his Ino-chan.

Ino couldn't help but blush, that Naruto actually remembered how they met 8 years ago. But she was still sad for her Whiskers, for being one of the last members of ALL his clans.

"Sigh....I guess I just I have the worst of luck when it comes to Clans. Three of them are nearly extinct already" Naruto said with a sad sigh, but he quickly realized he accidently let something important about him slipped out.

Which did not go unnoticed by his teammates.

"Three?" Asuma asked, with a raise eyebrow.

"T-Two! I mean Two" Naruto quickly corrected himself, but failing.

"You said three" Shikamaru added in.

"No I didn't" Naruto answered dumbly.

"We heard you said three, Naruto" Asuma said, with a little serious tone.

"Maybe...I meant three MINUS one....which is two.....ANYWAY LOOK! the Tea House! Let's go! I'm starving!" Naruto immediately tried to change the subject, by running away quickly to the Tea House.

Asuma and Shikamaru then turn to Ino.

"Do you know something that we don't?" Asuma asked his platinum blonde student.