Naruto was banished after failing to retrieve Sasuke. After a mysterious woman makes a deal with Tsunade, the Kitsune becomes her one of her eight students and under her tutelage, Naruto learns the Forbidden Arts and merges with the Kyuubi. KakaNaru. Yaoi
Chapter I: Banishment and a Promise
- Betrayal is a stab in the heart, a kick in the ass, but most importantly, a lesson in disguise.
§
"NO! I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" The table groaned in protest as the Godaime slammed her palms into the furniture as she stood up to protest; the Council merely regarded her coolly.
"The decision is final, Godaime." Cold black eyes resolutely stared into Tsunade's own blue ones.
"HE SAVED OUR LIVES AND THIS IS HOW WE REPAY HIM? KICKING HIM OUT OF THE ONLY HOME HE HAS EVER KNOWN?" Tsunade roared, but the Council members were unmoved.
"Naruto is going to be banished from Konoha." The Council members left the room regally in a coordinate sequence. The blonde woman merely dropped onto her chair in defeat and she buried her face in her hands. Then a sudden spike in chakra caused the Hokage to sit up abruptly and scan the room.
"Godaime." A cultured, pleasant-sounding feminine voice rang out behind her and Tsunade was shocked to find the owner of the voice. The slender woman was beautiful, that was the only word Tsunade could think of to describe the stranger. Black with blue streaked hair and grey eyes, the young woman had the most strikingly attractive face Tsunade had seen with the elegant aristocratic features that were coupled with perfect alabaster skin. The blonde Hokage could only stare and the stranger chuckled, breaking the Fifth out of her staring trance.
"What do you want?" Tsunade asked as neutrally as possible, and the lithe woman walked to the door with a lazy feline grace and locked it with a complicated privacy seal. The blonde raised an eyebrow; the young woman did not look a day older than twenty and had the capacity to perform an S Grade seal.
"I want to make a deal with you regarding Uzumaki Naruto." At the mention of the young demon vessel, Tsunade's hackles rose.
"What do you want with him?" The question came out as a growl.
"I want to teach him." Grey eyes flashed silver and Tsunade once again wondered who exactly this young woman was. "I want to teach him to control the Kyuubi."
Tsunade stared at the young woman with shock; this girl was obviously not a Leaf Nin, so how the hell did she know about Naruto?
"Control… control the Kyuubi? How is that possible?" Tsunade's eyes widened and the young woman sighed.
"It is possible, with the right method and time. And in exchange for Naruto, I can promise you peace in Konoha for the next three years." The young adult regarded Tsunade seriously and the older woman frowned.
"You promise three years' worth of peace for Konoha in exchange for Naruto? How can do you it?" Tsunade nearly scoffed at the offer. The other woman merely raised a perfect eyebrow and answered with a word.
"Barriers." Tsunade's eyes widened again with comical extent and she stammered.
"Barr...Barriers? Covering the whole of the Leaf Village? Do you know how much chakra that would need?" The Fifth Hokage was almost hysterical with the stress of choosing between two choices for Naruto, one definitely devastating and the other potentially devastating and dangerous for the village.
"Yes."
"Where are you going to get the chakra? Don't tell me you think you're up to the job." The young woman merely made her grey eyes glow silver and then smiled.
"You'd be surprised."
"To have that immense amount of chakra would only be someone non-human… you… you're a Demon… aren't you?" Tsunade grew increasingly worried as moments passed without a denial.
"Well, partially so I guess yes but more specifically the Ryuukotsusei." Sharp, elongated canines glinted in the sunlight and Tsunade gasped; the Dragon Demi-Goddess was even more powerful than the Kyuubi no Kitsune. It was something of a sovereign amongst the Demons, no matter what the race, because of the celestial blood that was in the being's veins and the Dragon was not one of the Bijus. And for her to take notice of a young boy, let alone want to teach him, was monumental.
"So do we have a deal?" Tsunade gulped, not exactly used to conversing with a part-celestial being who was close to several hundred thousand years old, and nodded. As the young-looking being was about to leap out of the window, she parted with a piece of advice.
"Don't let Naruto know about his banishment unless he figures it out and I give you my word that the boy will come back without a scratch on his body. In three hours the barrier will be erected; I'll meet Naruto here." Tsunade nodded, knowing that it was for the best and sighed after the being vanished. With resignation in her eyes, the Godaime requested someone to retrieve Naruto.
§
Dull electric blue eyes stared out of the window of the small apartment as a flashback hit him with ruthless, relentless cruelty.
"I'm sorry, Sakura. I didn't bring him back, but I promise you that I'll bri –"
SMACK! Naruto was cut off with a sharp slap to his cheek, which was reddening rapidly. His heart shattered when he saw the burning hatred this young pretty girl that he fancied had in her green orbs,
"You are a good-for-nothing lazy bastard, demon child. You made me lose my Sasuke! Everyone was right, you are a Jinx, and they should have killed you when you were younger!" Naruto felt the shattered pieces of his heart breaking into even smaller fragments.
"Sakur –"
"No, you Demon, you have no right to say my name. From now on, you are no friend of mine; Uzumaki Naruto is dead to me. You are the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the demon who killed thousands of Konoha's villagers and left poor Sasuke-kun to Orochimaru!"
Knock. Naruto was shaken out of his reverie and opened the door, which revealed an ANBU with a tiger's mask. The voice that greeted him was emotionless.
"Uzumaki, the Hokage wishes to see you." The tired young blonde nodded and the pair vanished in a puff of smoke. Tsunade was seated at her table, with a solemn expression on her youthful face.
"Leave us," the Godaime ordered and the ANBU member bowed and took his leave. Tsunade surveyed the young vessel in front of her and her heart broke at the lifeless sight of her little charge.
"Naruto…" At the sound of his name, the young Nin looked up, and the Hokage saw tears flowing down his whiskered cheeks.
"Why? Tsunade-baa-san? Why?" The older woman sighed and walked up to Naruto, gathered him into her arms effortlessly and soothed him. After a long while of silence, Tsunade spoke up again.
"Naru-chan, you've got a new teacher to help you to deal with the Kyuubi, you will be going out of the village for the training," she cooed, stroking his golden locks.
The young blonde merely sniffed and stated emotionlessly, "I'm being banished, am I?" Tsunade stopped the stroking in stunned silence and Naruto took the sudden change in body language for an answer. Resignation radiated from the world-weary teen as he nodded.
"I'll accept the training but I am not going to give up on the village, even if the whole of Konoha is against me; I will protect it, even if it means giving up my life." Tsunade felt her eyes water, touched by the devoted determination the demon vessel had for his village.
"I am very proud of you, Naruto." The young kit smiled softly and Tsunade pressed a sisterly kiss onto the smooth forehead. The spike in the chakra alerted Tsunade of Ryuukotsusei's arrival. The part-celestial being's grey eyes softened with sympathy and sadness. Naruto turned around and looked at his future mentor. Ryuukotsusei sighed inwardly with sorrow as she saw the weariness in his eyes that were too old for anyone his age.
"You must be Naruto."
"I entrust my life to you." The Dragoness nodded and beckoned him to come to her side. Obeying her first command, the young blonde leaped out of Tsunade's embrace and walked to his Sensei. Grey eyes glowed an eerie silver as she studied her new student.
"I will be your mentor for the next three years and you will be coming with me to receive your training. Young kit, are you prepared to suffer in the name of improvement? Are you willing to leave behind everything to gain knowledge and power?" Naruto nodded curtly as the silver gaze bore into him, right into his soul.
"Yes, for I have nothing to lose." Tsunade felt her heart wrench with that heartrending statement that was sadly true. The Demi-Goddess deemed the answer satisfactory as she said, "Close your eyes." She then placed a finger onto the young vessel's forehead, silver magic shone around the fingertip and when she removed her finger, a beautiful silvery mark of a dragon could be seen in the middle of his forehead which then sunk into the skin. The dragoness smiled with pride as she declared softly, "You are the first of my brood, the Golden Kitsune."
Naruto gazed at his official mentor with a determined glint in his electric blue eyes which shone with an intense fire, now holding flecks of silver.
"And you can call me Shishou."
"Hai, Shishou." Ryuu smiled warmly and was convinced that her choice in apprentice was perfect; I will make a Hokage and a survivor out of you just yet…
"You have an hour to pack all the belongings you need. The place that you will be staying in will provide you with the necessities, so only bring things of sentimental value. I'll return then." Naruto nodded and bowed as the Dragoness disappeared in a vortex of silver and black flames. The young Kitsune then turned to the Hokage and gave her a soft smile which melted the woman's heart. Right then a sisterly instinct reared its head and she made a decision.
"Naruto, would you like to be my brother?" Tsunade wished – no – begged for him to accept, because it would give him an extra reason to remember Konoha. The young vessel blushed and widened his eyes. "Hontouni?"
"Hontou." Tsunade smiled and the Kitsune grinned shyly, reminding her pleasantly of her deceased younger brother. Then Naruto jumped and hugged the buxom woman tightly.
"Arigato, Tsunade-nee-san!"
"Of course, Otouto and I trust you to keep yourself safe?" The blonde nodded and kissed his sister chastely on the cheeks. Tsunade felt herself smile in familial bliss.
"Keep the necklace safe too; after all, it's worth three mountains." Tsunade's blue eyes danced with amusement as Naruto nodded fervently.
"Watch me, Nee-san. I'll come back stronger than before and prove myself good enough to be the Rokudaime." Electric silver-blue eyes gazed hard and determined into the sky blue of Tsunade, who found herself nodding as Naruto whispered firmly. "Watch me, I'll be back." Naruto hugged the woman warmly and disappeared in a puff of reddish gold smoke. Tsunade smiled tenderly and exhaled. Be safe, Otouto, and may Kami-sama be with you…
Then her eyes hardened as the usually jovial sky blues turned a metallic steel cerulean hue as she whispered a promise.
"I swear that the Council and everyone who abandoned Naruto will suffer accordingly."
§
Yamanaka Ino stared at the floor with disbelief as she recounted what she witnessed a few hours ago. She was just returning to the Yamanaka flower store after a delivery and she happened to unwittingly come across the paths of Naruto and Sakura. And the conversation was not exactly pleasant; in fact, it had shocked her.
"You are a good-for-nothing lazy bastard, demon child. You made me lose my Sasuke-kun! Everyone was right, you are a Jinx, and they should have killed you when you were younger!" Ino could feel Naruto's heart shatter and the young Yamanaka clenched her fists in anger. How could she do that?
"Sakur –" Ino heard the young teenaged demon vessel try again but what she heard next was definitely unforgivable.
"No, you Demon, you have no rights to say my name. From now on, you are no friend of mine; Uzumaki Naruto is dead to me. You are the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the demon who killed thousands of Konoha's villagers and left poor Sasuke-kun to Orochimaru!" Ino swore that she could hear a pin drop after the pink-haired girl's harsh declaration. Upon looking at Naruto's utterly devastated facial expression, the Yamanaka heiress felt her heart go out to the painfully lonely young blonde.
Determined to let the fellow kunoichi hear her piece of her mind, Ino got up and searched for her former friend. She found the pink-haired ninja girl talking cheerfully with a bunch of teenaged girls.
"Sakura, I need to talk to you." The green eyed Nin whirled around and was about to protest until she saw the unyielding glint in those serious dark eyes. Gulping, Sakura agreed and followed the mind-possessor into an unused training ground.
There was an uncomfortable silence between the pair until Sakura asked with slight apprehension.
"What is it that you want to talk to me about?"
"You," Ino hissed with barely concealed disgust, "are a disgrace to womankind."
The pink-haired kunoichi stepped back in plain fear and surprise as she saw the despise lying within the burning dark depths of her former best friend.
"What are you talking about?" The Yamanaka narrowed her eyes and spat viciously.
"Naruto." With that singular word, Sakura froze up and then recollected herself to defend herself.
"What? So what if I said that? That useless, good-for-nothing demon failed to bring back Sasuke-kun! I was right! Right about every single word about him and you are not going to make me change my opinions!" Ino walked up to Sakura and asked in a harsh whisper while she held the green gaze with her narrowed dark one.
"Then, tell me. Tell me what did you do to help retrieve Uchiha Sasuke? Hmmh? Please do tell me. What exactly did you do?" Sakura opened her mouth to answer but nothing came out. Ino smirked cruelly.
"Just as I thought. You did nothing. Absolutely nothing and you dared to berate Naruto for trying to bring him back. At least Uzumaki tried to bring back your precious Sasuke-kun, while you just sat in Konoha doing nothing!" By the time Ino finished the sentence, Sakura was visibly shaken but the blonde did nothing to soften her vicious attacks.
"Have you forgotten about the Naruto actually nearly died fighting Gaara and the Shukaku just to save your life? Who was the one who cheered you up when Uchiha ignored you? Who was the one who encouraged you to work harder to catch up with them? The one who never left you behind? It was Naruto, not your Sasuke-kun." By this time, Sakura was pale and trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"I really thought better of you. I thought you would be there, there for him after he failed to get back Uchiha because he just lost his closest, no matter how dysfunctional, friend, but you didn't." Ino's intense depths softened with disappointment but hardened again when she regained the vicious stance.
"You know what? We are through. I, Yamanaka Ino, will not acknowledge the presence of you, Haruno Sakura, for as long as I live. That is it! You and I are through; I don't want to put up with your biased, fucked up views any longer." In a fit of righteous anger, Ino tore off the armband Sakura had given her for her tenth birthday and threw it onto the pink-haired kunoichi's feet.
"You don't deserve the friendship of Naruto; what he saw in you, I would never know or understand, because all I see is a hypocritical bitch who hides behind stronger people with similar distorted opinions." With that parting sentence, Ino whipped around and walked out of the training area. Sakura finally retorted, not seeing her friend's point of view at all. Instead, the pink-haired kunoichi defended herself even more rigidly.
"Fine, bitch! Like I care whether you rot in Hell or not!"
Halfway back to the Yamanaka estates, Ino looked up into the sky to find it beautifully highlighted with the sunset hues of crimson, gold and orange and with tears and remorse in her eyes, she whispered.
"Gomennasai, Naruto."
Behind the young girl, hidden by a shop, was a pair of silver orbs glowing with approval.
"You would make another worthy child…"
Ino heard someone whisper about being a worthy child and whirled around to catch anything but when she surveyed her surroundings, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Returning to her previous depressing thoughts, Ino was unknowingly chosen as the next Child of the Dragoness.
It was there that Yamanaka Ino had the urge to head to the front gates of the Konoha Village. She was going to take a stroll to relax but what she encountered on her walk would forever change her life.
§
A glint of gold belonging to an earring sparkled in the sunset's light as the usually emotionless dark orbs that belonged to Nara Shikamaru swirled with suppressed anger. The Nara genius had overheard the conversation between Ino and the Haruno chit, and boy was he surprised.
That was three hours ago.
Now he was in his room, his very being consumed by righteous anger, just like his teammate Ino had felt a few hours ago. Shikamaru spent the last two hours going through the seriousness of the whole situation in his head and he had come up with a conclusion: Naruto absolutely does not deserve this.
Walking out of his room, the lone Nara child made his way to dinner. Nara Sayuri had outdone herself again with a scrumptiously laid out dinner.
"Gochiso samadesta." After dessert, Shikamaru finally spoke up. "Oyaji, tell me about the Kyuubi."
Nara Shikaku's eyes widened upon the request and a resigned glance from his wife answered the question.
"All right, you are old enough to know this anyways." The head of the Nara Clan sighed before starting his story.
"What I tell you must never to tell to a second person." His son nodded his agreement and Shikaku opened his mouth.
"12 years ago, the most powerful of the Bijus, the Kyuubi no Kitsune, attacked Konohagure. Many people died, shinobi and citizens alike, and there was nothing we could do to the Kyuubi because it was simply too powerful until the Yondaime sealed the demon into a newborn baby, and the price of the sealing jutsu was his life, which is why the Sandaime was pulled out of retirement in order to re-govern Konoha."
Shikamaru put two and two together and he whispered, "The newborn was Naruto." Sayuri nodded; remorse flickered in her eyes as she sighed.
"The child has gone through many obstacles and now he's being banished…"
"HE'S BEING BANISHED?!" Shikamaru roared and his parents shrunk back from him, completely unused to this emotional side of their usually lazy and disgruntled son.
"He's being banished for not bringing back a traitor…" Shikamaru whispered to himself in disbelief. Then he laughed.
"What has Konoha become? They are banishing someone who deserves so much more." It was then and there when he made the most important decision of his life.
"Oyaji, Okaa-san, I have decided that I am accompanying Naruto into his banishment." Sayuri stood up to protest but was held down by her husband, who had fatherly pride glittering in his dark depths.
"All right even though I do not agree with your father wholeheartedly, you need a chance to prove yourself but you have to come back in three years. May Kami-sama be with you." Shikaku gave his son a crooked grin and went into the private wing of the estate. Sayuri looked torn between protesting and motherly pride.
"My dear Shika is all grown up; just be careful, okay? Tell Naruto-kun to be careful too." Shikamaru nodded and kissed his mother on the forehead; Sayuri widened her eyes at the unusual display of affection and smiled.
"Come back safe." The shadow user nodded and rushed up to pack every essential that he needed on the long trip away from home. Everything included his thick wads of cash that he had saved up from being too lazy to do anything or get anything. When he came down, Sayuri had a bag which had a jutsu to make is much better, filled with food and gave him an extra bag of money.
"The food will last you at least a year and there are 2 million ryos in that pouch. Your father has something to give you." At that moment, Shikaku appeared with two scrolls in his hands that held the Nara crest.
"Oyaji?" Shikamaru widened his eyes when he realized the contents of the scrolls: The family jutsus. Shikaku threw the scrolls at his son, who snapped out of his reverie just in time to catch them.
"Arigato, Oyaji. I'll do my best." Shikamaru bowed and quickstepped to the imposing front gates of the largest Nin village. Little did he know that what he was about to do would change his destiny.
§
Hyuuga Neji held the hand of his cousin, Hyuuga Hinata, the heiress of the Hyuuga clan famed for their bloodline limit, the Byakugan. They were running away from the Souke bodyguards who were on secret orders to remove them. The cousins were close to the point of true siblinghood and when Neji had heard of the plan, he was determined to save his cousin. Neji was a member of the Bunke, the branch clan while Hinata was a Souke, the main clan.
Unknown to them, both Neji and Hinata were targets of an assassination attempt by Hyuuga Hatsumomo, a Head Souke whose son was next in line after Hyuuga Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister. The son was betrothed to Hanabi; therefore with the elimination of Hinata, the son's status of Clan Head would be secured with the pending marriage. Hatsumomo regarded Neji as a threat to the security of her son's future as the young Bunke was seen as the most powerful and gifted Hyuuga member of next generation.
"Hinata, hurry!" Neji whispered as they quickstepped, trying to lose the elite group of bodyguards. Hinata nodded mutely, trying her best to keep up with her older cousin. Alas, the bodyguards were gaining on them.
"Quickly!" Hinata gasped as she nearly tripped but she was supported by her cousin. Channeling all of their chakra to their legs, the pair of Hyuugas sped up, leaping from tree to tree.
Suddenly there was a burst of silver chakra which resonated throughout the area. Neji and Hinata both gasped at the strength of the chakra pulse; whoever created it was extremely powerful. Hinata turned to see what happened but was stopped by a hiss from Neji.
"Don't look; we have to reach the gate!" Hinata nodded, obeying the older brother figure of her life as they sprinted for their lives. But what they missed was the charred corpses of the pursuers, and what was even more bizarre was that only the bodies of the bodyguards were charred, the surroundings were a perfect green, not even a spot burned.
In the distance was a pair of glowing silver orbs that held speculation and appraisal as the eyes regarded the fading backs of the Hyuugas.
§
Rock Lee sighed; this was going nowhere! He had no talent for ninjutsu and genjutsu. He was never going to be a Jounin, almost everyone knew that with a well-placed ninjutsu or genjutsu would knock him out.
However, what was special about Lee was his determination that could enable him to bring down mountains if he was set on it. Due to this fiery determination, Lee's talents in taijutsu could not be denied. And after that fight with Sabaku no Gaara, his body had no exercise for two months due to the recovery needed and now he was suffering for it.
Lee was born without the ability to perform any ninjutsu or genjutsu and as a child with a dream to be a Jounin or an ANBU; this fact was an obstacle in realizing that dream. And Lee was aware of that devastating fact, so aware that he once thought of abandoning that dream and living as a normal but unsatisfied citizen of Konoha.
He was a medical anomaly but the Medic Nins could not find anything wrong with his body, his chakra coils were undeveloped, constricted and arranged in such a pattern that the chakra usage was limited but it was a genetic trait, nothing medically wrong.
When he was younger, Lee used to be taunted and bullied for the fact that he could not perform any ninjutsus or genjutsus. Other children in the Academy would laugh at his inabilities but he strived on, thinking that if his taijutsu was powerful enough, it would cover up his lack of talent regarding ninjutsu and genjutsu casting. It was Gai Sensei who had discovered him one day when the man was strolling.
"Thirty! Thirty one!" Gai smiled and the young child pushed himself to the limit. The child will last until forty, he thought, the taijutsu expert was a master at predicting the limits of the human body.
"Sixty! Sixty One!" Gai was shocked, and he quickly stopped the young boy.
"Yamatte! You will hurt yourself even more if you push yourself further. You need to take things one step at a time, straining yourself is not a good way to train your body." The young boy's gaze surprised the taijutsu master, it was twin pools of determined fire and Gai liked the spirit of the boy, but was bewildered at the boy's actions.
"Why are you pushing yourself so hard?" Gai asked softly and the young boy's answer was tinted with sadness.
"Ever since I was in the Academy, I could not do ninjutsus and genjutsus, and the other kids kept laughing at me. So I want to be a taijutsu master and make them shut up! That is why I am training so hard! Because I want to the BEST!" Gai laughed, he really liked this kid's spirit.
"What is your name?"
"Lee. Rock Lee."
"Okay, Lee, how would you like it if I taught you taijutsu?" The young boy's eyes shone with hope as he nodded. That was the beginning of the close but extremely weird teacher-student relationship between Maito Gai and Rock Lee.
He owed it to Gai Sensei; without the eccentric man, he would not be here. It was Gai Sensei who would encourage him whenever he was down or troubled and Lee sat up straighter; he was going to prove to himself that he was a man and that is why he would be testing himself outside of Konoha. Grabbing his necessities and writing his teacher a note, Rock Lee set out, determined to prove himself.
What a surprise he would receive once he realized what Lady Luck had in store for him…
§
Kankuro was dead…
The sentence ran through the demon vessel again and again as Sabaku no Gaara quickstepped through the forest with his blonde sibling, Temari, who had tears streaming down her face as she mourned for the death of her beloved brother.
"Temari." The cool voice broke the silence between the siblings. The Kazekage, who coincidentally was their father, had ordered their deaths and they were running for their lives.
"Yes, Gaara?" The blonde looked at her brother with sad but determined blue eyes, the loss of one of her brothers had struck her hard however, she had to be strong for her remaining brother.
"We will avenge Kankuro." Gaara whispered as a tear slipped down his face, Temari was shocked to see that crystal of emotion that quickly disappeared. The pair could see Konohagure and once they reach the village, they will be safe.
But alas, a flash of a fire jutsu caught Temari squarely in the back and she stumbled, Gaara widened his eyes and tried to catch her. However, Temari knew that her end was near so she mouthed as she fell from the branches, "I love you, Gaara, no matter who you are and what you do, because… you… are…my…brother…"
With those words permanently etched in his mind, Gaara narrowed his eyes and increased his speed. Only Kami-sama would know what the future had in store for him, as Gaara would be given a chance to avenge for his fallen siblings and change Suna, the Sand Village, for the better. The large, imposing gates of Konoha, the Leaf Village, were soon spotted and the Shukaku vessel channeled every single tendril of chakra to reach there.
I WILL avenge you, Temari… Temari-nee-san and Kankuro… Kankuro-nii-san…
§
Aburame Shino walked through the throngs of the village. His dark glasses and high collared white coat characterized his heritage; an Aburame. From birth, people of the Aburame clan had a pact with an insect known as Destruction Bugs. In exchange for a lifetime of chakra which the insects use for food, the host in which the bugs live in could call upon their service whenever they needed to. Shino was no different, and has thousands of the insects living inside him. Aburame Shino utilizes the insects by having them sneak attack his enemy, while he distracts them with simple taijutsu. He could also have a clone of himself performed when in danger, or use a female bug as a tracking device hunting down fleeing pursuers.
"Uzumaki Naruto is going to be banished…"
That eavesdropped piece of the conversation that had went between his Clan Heads rang in his head and the Aburame was confused. The blonde shinobi had done Konoha a lifetime of service and yet after a failed mission that anyone else would have failed too, he was going to be banished. Logic did not follow him this time and he frowned. The crowd parted for him easily because his family's reputation for being living hives was widely known.
Clearing his head, Aburame Shino went for a stroll, in the direction that would bring him directly to the Great Gate of Konohagure.
§
Ryuu smiled to herself as she sat on the Great Gate of Konoha, waiting for her special ones to appear. The part demon, part goddess being was clearly enjoying herself as she reveled in the breeze that was caressing her pale cheeks. Scanning the area with her chakra, the Dragon smirked when the eight were found close to the gates.
Ooh, this is going to be interesting…
§
Naruto blinked, he could not believe his eyes.
§
Ino gasped when she saw Naruto, and then she realized at he was staring beyond her and she turned around. And it was a sight.
§
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow as he saw familiar figures but the state of some slightly worried him. Then it hit him squarely in the head.
§
Neji and Hinata were speechless and stunned as they were met with the sight with familiar people, but looking at a couple of figures, they were rather confused and concerned. Why were some of them carrying satchels? And the pair took a closer look and both the pale Byakugan eyes widened in surprise.
§
Lee widened his eyes and looked at the small group of people that he knew. Oh dear, I am caught…
But when he further analyzed the group members, it was actually the complete opposite and his jaw dropped in surprise.
§
Gaara reached the Gates but nothing could prepare him for the shock that he would inwardly receive when he was greeted with the sight of the familiar Konoha gennins with interestingly different conditions. He raised an eyebrow.
§
Shino's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as all logic fled when he inspected the group before him.
§
The Eight had unknowingly met in front of the front gates of Konoha and they were startled when a woman landed elegantly in the middle of the circle that the eight had unconsciously formed.
"Are all of you ready?" Mischievousness sparkled in those ageless orbs as the woman regarded the circle with her metallic grey eyes. Somehow the octet realized that she was not someone anyone would toy with and they found themselves nodding, as if under a compulsion genjutsu.
"Excellent." The slender female's grey eyes suddenly glowed an ethereal silver and the octet found themselves in sudden darkness.
Relax, all of you are just merely receiving what Fate has in store for all of you…and Nara, don't you even dare think that it's going to be troublesome…
Then everyone in the octet except Gaara blanched or snickered, and from then on, the Eight knew, no matter how much they want to deny, that their destines were written closely together.
Hello Everyone! This is my first attempt at writing Naruto Fanfiction so please excuse my blatant mistakes. Constructive Criticism is very much appreciated and I live on Reviews! Hope you enjoy Eight Dragons and a Fox!
- Kage Ryuu Tenshi