Hey Guys! *Chuckles nervously* Well I decided that I wanted a plain old Naruto story so I'm doing this. I hope you guys aren't too mad at me for not doing my NarutoXHighSchool DXD crossover. I just decided to put that on the back burner for now. Well that's all I have to say really so…PEACE OUT!
Disclaimer: I do not and most likely never will own Naruto. I have no idea why we need to say this every time. It's pretty obvious I don't own it.
All his early life Naruto simply wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become Hokage after him. What happens when Naruto meets a certain red head from the Mist. Will he continue his path towards being the Hokage or will that change. NarutoXMei
The Path of the Fifth
Chapter 1: I'll take the soul
"What is happening out there…and where's Kaa-san and Oto-san?" Questioned a young boy with golden blond hair which was just starting to frame the young boys face. You could see the tear marks lining his cheeks as he watched the window with his violet eyes that were red and puffy from his recent tears.
"I'm sure their fine Naruto-chan." Stated a young woman who was currently standing behind him with her hand on his head. She had red colored eyes she looked to be in her early teens. She was so angry when she was told she had to run and hide in the safety bunker. Though when she got there and saw the young blond boy who she had instantly taken a liking to when she would visit her Sensei at her house. Seeing the young boy made her soften her eyes causing her to forget all about her anger from being told she had to hide. Looking over to her left she saw one her teammates walk up to her and the young boy as she placed a hand on the boys shoulder.
"Naruto-kun your parents are two of the strongest Ninja in the Village they should be perfectly fine." The young woman stated with her straight purple hair going down her back and her brown eyes fixed on the window as well.
"But, but what about Mito-chan and Ryoto-kun?" Naruto questioned as he looked up towards the two girls he saw as his Nee-chan's. "Kurenai-nee, Yugao-nee?" He questioned as the two girls looked between each other. "Oto-san just left with them right after they were born." Naruto stated as he looked out the window again to see the cause of all the havoc in the Village. "Then that big mean Fox just showed up." Naruto stated as he continued to watch out the window. Seeing this Kurenai and Yugao turned around with worried faces.
"What you think Sensei and Hokage-sama are planning?" Kurenai questioned as Yugao entered a thinking pose with her finger on her chin. Though she sighed a few minutes later when she couldn't think of anything.
"I don't know though I really wish one of them stayed with Naruto-kun." She stated as she turned back to see Naruto no longer watching out the window which caused her to widen her eyes in panic as she tapped Kurenai a few times getting her attention which caused her to look towards the area Yugao was staring in horror towards the now open window.
"He's gone!" Yugao yelled in panic as she ran up to the window and looked out it. "Why would they even put a window in here?!" Yugao yelled while she franticly looked out the window for any signs of her favorite blond boy.
"Forget that how could a 7 year old get away from us!" Kurenai yelled as she panicked as well this was not good.
"They started training him a year and a half ago." Yugao answered as she went to jump out the window right as the Kyuubi roared towards the bunker sending a huge shock wave that pushed her back into the bunker hitting her against the wall hard knocking her out. Kurenai ran over to her best friend and placed the girls head in her lap as she looked towards the window in worry. 'Please be okay, Naruto-chan.' Kurenai thought to herself as she noticed a chunin close up the window with an earth jutsu.
With Naruto twenty minutes later
"What are you doing to Oto-san?" Questioned Naruto as he looked up towards a large transparent figure who was standing a good distance from his father. Though Naruto could see the connection between the two and his infant siblings. Naruto looked back up to the transparent figure once he noticed its attention was now on him.
"I am sealing his soul away along with the Kyuubi's while I split the Ying and Yang chakra." The figure explained as it didn't see a reason to lie here. This was a mortal child while he himself was a God. Hearing the explanation Naruto widened his eyes. He was learning Fuinjutsu for a year now and even if he was still barely able to make a proper seal he still understood the full concept behind sealing.
"Why would you do that can't you just take the mean fox's soul and go?" Naruto questioned in a rush as he noticed his father had just finished sealing the Ying Chakra inside Ryoto and was moving over to Mito as he prepared to seal the Yang.
"No. The price of me taking the Kyuubi is a soul, a very powerful soul that is." The figure stated as Naruto now had tears coming out of the corner of his eyes from being told his father was going to be leaving him.
"Isn't there anything that could keep you from taking him?" Naruto questioned as the figure stared down at the boy critically.
"The only way I wouldn't take your father was if I didn't have to take a soul." It stated as Naruto looked up towards him with a fire burning in his violet eyes.
"Then seal the soul in me." Naruto declared as the figure raised an eyebrow from the young child's declaration.
"Child you do understand what you are saying?" The figure questioned as Naruto nodded his head a few times his eyes burning an eternal flame. Looking over towards the older human the figure thought to itself. 'This child is…Interesting. Though I was summoned and I do demand a soul each time, but I could make an exception.' Thought the figure as he placed one of his transparent hands on Naruto causing a seal to appear on his wrist. "You have interest me child for that I shall grant your wish. Along with a small gift." The figure stated as happiness flowed through Naruto's eyes.
"Thank you…ah…" Naruto stopped as he didn't even know he was talking to, to begin with. Looking up towards the transparent figure with sad eyes Naruto just stayed silent since he didn't know its name.
"I'm the Shinigami." The figure stated as the young boy widened his eyes. Looking towards the older blond the Shinigami noticed he had finished sealing the Yang chakra. Seeing that his job was now complete he pulled the Kyuubi's soul out of Minato who had his eyes widen in shock when it happened. Looking towards the young blond boy one last time he pushed the soul into him. "This will hurt more than anything you've ever experienced. I will be watching you Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze." The Shinigami stated as he completely finished sealing the soul into the young boy causing Naruto to scream in pain as he instantly passed out from the pain. Looking up from the blond boy he noticed the older blond staring at Naruto in horror then looked towards the Shinigami with hatful eyes.
"Why did you do that?! We had a contract!" Minato yelled towards the Shinigami while the Shinigami just looked at him with neutral eyes.
"He asked for it to save you. You should be thankful for he saved your life." The Death God stated as he slowly disappeared. Minato meanwhile made a two shadow clones that grabbed each of the twins while he himself walked up to Naruto and picked him up. Looking at his son's pained face almost broke his heart. He knew that the twins were most likely have a hard time with the Kyuubi's Chakra, but he was going to save them from having to deal with the soul by taking it with him. Now Naruto ended up with the short end of the stick by only having its soul inside of him with nothing positive about it. Hardening his eyes he looked towards his seven year old son with determination. Now that he was still alive he would train Naruto to the point he would succeed him as Hokage. He had six years before he had to worry about training anyone else, he had more than enough time to turn his son into a skilled Shinobi.
He was brought out of his thoughts as two people landed in front of him causing Minato too instantly and put his guard up, but he soon lowered it when he saw who they were.
"Minato you didn't?" An elderly man questioned as he looked towards the Twins and saw the seals on them.
"I did what I had to, to protect the Village and my family." Minato stated as the old man looked at him sadly. He knew Minato was hurting a lot more then he let on.
"What are we going to tell everyone?" The other man questioned as he pushed his long white hair to the side.
"Tell them I defeated the Kyuubi." Minato stated as he quickly covered up the seals so no one else could see them. "Only the clan heads may know what really happened. If anyone of them speak about it to anyone besides the other clan heads…" Minato started as he pulled Naruto's long sleeved shirt a bit more down to cover his own seal. "I will kill them." Minato finished coldly as he looked back up towards his Sensei and his Predecessor who were surprised by how cold and untrusting Minato was being. Though they could understand it, Jinchuriki weren't treated like everyone else, they were treated as nothing but the beast they held.
"I understand." Hiruzen said as Jiraiya nodded his head as well causing Minato to smile lightly from them agreeing.
"Also Sensei would you like to help me train Naruto-chan before you leave again?" Minato questioned as Himself along with his clones and the two men jumped into the trees.
"You act like I wasn't going to teach the Gaki before." Jiraiya stated with a laugh as he then noticed Minato stare at him.
"Nothing perverted unless you're planning to live the rest of your life with some critical parts missing. Kushina-chan told me I should warn you. Now you can't say anything if she comes for you." Minato said with a straight face which caused Jiraiya to gulp.
Two week later hospital
"Naruto-chan still hasn't woken up?" Kushina questioned in worry as Tsunade shook her head sadly.
"He should have woken up by now, but it's like something's keeping him from waking up." Tsunade explained as she looked towards Kushina who had been visiting every day to check if her son had awoken. "Where's the twins?" Tsunade questioned since she didn't see them today they were usually always with Kushina.
"Minato took them to the office with him today so I could stay with Naruto today." Kushina stated while Tsunade nodded her head and looked back towards her Godson. "Do you think it has something to do with the Kyuubi?" Kushina questioned lowly as she continued staring at her son. Tsunade just sighed from being reminded that Naruto also had a piece of the beast inside him, the worst piece.
"If I had to take a guess I'd say yes." Tsunade answered while Kushina looked down a bit from hearing this. Seeing Kushina down Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder getting the red head to look towards her. "I'm sure he'll get through this." She stated then smiled. "He is your son you know." She stated which caused a small smile to make its way onto Kushina's face.
"Thank you for looking after him." Kushina stated as Tsunade just smiled.
"I would have looked after him even if you didn't want me to. He is my Godson." The blond woman stated as Kushina nodded her head to this. Though the two of them were startled when they noticed a thin layer of red chakra coat over Naruto as whisker like marks began forming on his face.
Quickly running to the door of the room Kushina placed a privacy seal on the door so no one could open the door or hear what was going on inside. Tsunade herself was over Naruto with her palms glowing green as the red Chakra slowly dissipated. Though she was mildly surprise when Naruto opened his Violet eyes with his pupils being fox like slits.
"Tsunade-oba-chan?" Naruto questioned as he slowly sat up.
A few minutes earlier inside Naruto's Mindscape.
"Ow, where am I" Naruto questioned as he glanced around the area he was located in. He continued to glance around the room as he came up with the most logical conclusion. "I must have fell into a sewer." The seven year old said to himself as he then stood up. Though he was a bit curious as to what the giant bars were, he guessed they weren't in a normal sewer. Well that's what he assumed seeing as he never set foot in one with his Kaa-chan always watching him.
Walking up to the large bars Naruto examined them as he then noticed a ways up the word "seal" which caused the small boy to widen his eyes as he remembered the events of that night.
"I see my jailor has come to visit me." A voice stated as Naruto widened his eyes from the feminine voice. Looking through the bars, Naruto noticed a crimson colored ten foot fox laying on the other side of the bars. "If you're here for power child then you could just leave." The fox stated as her eyes then drifted towards the cold floor. "For I no longer have any." The fox stated sadly as she had already accepted this seeing as she could not free herself without her power.
"Are you the Kyuubi?" Naruto questioned as he wasn't really as scared as he thought he would be when talking to this powerful being.
"Yes I am." She answered as she slowly stood on all fours, but fell right back down from her recent loss of power, her body wouldn't listen to her. "As you could see I am no longer my once powerful self." She stated as she rested her head on her paws. "As I said before if you are here for power I have none left." She stated again as Naruto slowly slipped through the bars and over to the fox as he sat down right in front of her. If she didn't have any power left then it was safe, right? "Looking up to the young boy with one eye she noticed the lack of anger or greed. All she could see was curiosity and small amount of sympathy. "I see you did not come for power. If not power then what?" The fox questioned as she nearly jumped when Naruto began stroking her ear.
"Honestly I don't know where I even am. I'm going to assume we are inside my body of sorts from the seal I saw earlier." Naruto stated as the Kyuubi nodded her head to this.
"Indeed you are child. This is what you would call your mindscape it is a representation of yourself." Looking around the area she smiled softly. "You must not have much going on in your life." She stated with a smirk which caused Naruto to pout.
"What do you want from me I'm only seven?" Naruto stated with a pout as the Kyuubi softly laughed. "You know you don't seem as scary as I remember." Naruto stated which caused the Kyuubi to growl lowly which slightly scared Naruto, but he held his ground as there was no killer intent directed towards him. Calming herself a moment later she laid her head back on her paws.
"That because I wasn't in control of my own body." She stated which caused Naruto to raise an eyebrow.
"How were you not in control of your own body?" Naruto questioned as the Kyuubi simply looked away.
"I'd rather not talk about. I don't trust you nor respect you enough for that. Just know I was not to blame for that incident." She stated as Naruto nodded slowly he understood…he guessed.
"So I'm guessing I must be asleep right now?" Naruto questioned as the Kyuubi nodded to this. "So how long have I been out a day, two?" Naruto questioned as the Kyuubi snorted from hearing this.
"Try two weeks child." The Kyuubi stated as Naruto widened his eyes from hearing this.
"Oh my Kami! What am I going to do, I'm now behind two weeks in training. Now that stupid Anko-baka will get ahead of me!" Naruto yelled as he ran around the room in a panic which caused the Kyuubi to sweat drop. He was out of it for two weeks and the first thing that he worries about is training…that was unexpected. "I know maybe Tenzo distracted her for me. No he's too lazy for that. Man I can't believe she's gonna beat me." Naruto stated as Kyuubi decided to search through his memories for a second to see what he was talking about.
"Aren't you already ahead of them? Seeing as you're only seven while their ten?" The Kyuubi questioned as she found those memories.
"Well this is our last year. So I have to keep my lead." Naruto answered with a thumbs up.
"Don't you humans need more training then just a year?" Kyuubi questioned as she was mildly confused here.
"Well, yeah the academy last seven years for those who aren't ready yet for the outside world." Naruto answered as this just confused the Kyuubi even more she didn't understand human society at all.
"Then how are you already in the graduating class when you've only been going for a year?" The Kyuubi questioned as Naruto rubbed the back of his head.
"I was just a small bit better I guess I had a lot of help from Oto-san and Kaa-san though. I don't really know, I feel around the same skill as everyone in my class though so I guess they put me where I belong." Naruto answered with a small laugh as the Kyuubi just raised an eyebrow from how modest the child was being. Naruto then rubbed the back of his head with a sigh. "The question is how I will wake myself up." Naruto stated as he began pacing around the room then idea popped into his head. Naruto proceeded to sprint into the near wall as he rammed his head into it. Though he just fell back as he held his aching head this caused another sweat drop to come from the Kyuubi.
"From someone who's one of the smartest in your generation…You're quite dumb." She stated as Naruto looked towards her with his teary eyes from the pain in his head.
"I'm only seven!" Naruto yelled out as he continued to hold his pulsing head which only lead to the Kyuubi sweat dropping once again. This was his mindscape he should be able to just will the pain away, she could tell him that, but it was much funnier this way.
"You know I think I know a way for you to wake up." The Kyuubi stated as Naruto looked towards her and smiled.
"Really?" He questioned in excitement as he went sit over near her. No matter hold strong he was, he was still only a kid thought the Kyuubi as she nodded her head a few times.
"I may be drained of the majority of my chakra, but I still have my healing abilities that always stays with me." She stated as Naruto nodded in understanding from hearing this. "Though the only way for me to use any of my chakra is for your body to fully accept my presence which it doesn't currently." She stated while Naruto just looked at her in confusion. "If I force any of my remaining chakra into your system your body will undergo a small amount of changes." The Kyuubi stated as Naruto nodded his head to this. He didn't really understand, but whatever she had planned would wake him up so he was all for it.
"Okay I don't mind as long as it wakes me up and I get cool healing abilities so it sounds good to me." Naruto stated with a thumbs up and Kyuubi just nodded as she closed her eyes once again and pushed as much chakra she could into his system.
"Good, and don't call me Kyuubi I never liked my title." Kyuubi stated in her concentrated stated though she did pause for a second as she debated if she should just tell him her real name. "Just call me Kara." She stated as Naruto was ripped from his mindscape.
Present
"Naru-chan!" Yelled a frantic mother a she grabbed Naruto into a tight hug. Naruto tapped her shoulder a few times as he attempted to get her attention.
"C-can't b…"Naruto was cut off as she tightened her grip on him which made all words die in his throat.
"Kushina I think you're killing him." Tsunade stated with a small smile from the heartwarming scene. Pulling a little away from her baby she looked at Naruto and noticed his now swirly eyes with his soul now floating out of his mouth.
"Don't worry me like that." Kushina scolded as she hugged him once again though this time it was much gentler which caused Naruto to regain his senses as his eyes drifted to the floor he must have really worried his parents.
"Sorry Kaa-chan."
A few days later
"Come on Naruto! I can't teach you this Jutsu without you knowing how to do this." Jiraiya stated as he watched a soaking wet Naruto continue to fall into the pool as he pushed more of the ice he had near the pool into the water.
"Would you stop adding more ice its cold enough as it is!" Naruto complained as he pulled himself out of the pool once again…He was freezing his butt off here.
"It's motivation to learn it faster." Jiraiya stated with a smirk as he continued to look through his binoculars over the fence into the nearby Hot spring. His student picked a wonderful place to live. Turning to look towards Naruto he had to question. "I thought you knew water walking already?" He questioned as Naruto fell in once again and quickly pulled himself out as he panted near the pool he had been going at this for an hour and a half. Even if he had a lot of chakra for his age this was just too much.
"I thought I did to?" Naruto questioned as he stared at the ground he was so confused he mastered this a month ago. Why was he unable to do it now he just didn't understand? Standing up straight once again he added chakra into his feet, the amount of chakra he was sure would support him correctly. Stepping out onto the freezing water he pushed his foot down and noticed it was stable. Taking another step it was stable once again, becoming a little more confident that he had it this time he took a third step. That's when it all went tumbling down as he lost his stable output and tumbled face first into the pool getting a sigh from his Godfather.
"Gaki that's enough for today." Jiraiya stated as he pulled his panting Godson out of the pool. He wasn't going to get any better at this without a break. "We'll continue this tomorrow." Jiraiya stated as Naruto looked down sadly. He didn't like disappointing people and now that he thought about it.
"Aren't you leaving the day after tomorrow?" Naruto questioned as Jiraiya nodded his head to this.
"Yeah, and I'd really like to teach you this Jutsu before I go." He answered as Naruto nodded to this and walked into the house.
Next day Ninja academy
"Hey Tenzo where's Naruto?" Questioned a girl with purple hair that was fixed to resemble a pineapple. Tenzo just smiled in his awkward fashion and pointed to the roof where Naruto was standing upside down with his brows crunched up in thought. Deciding to mess with her friend/rival she walked up the wall and onto the ceiling as she put her mouth next to his ear. Just as she was about to yell out Naruto's hand shoot up and covered her mouth as his eyes opened.
"Shhhh…I'm thinking." Naruto whispered as he then widened his eyes from losing concentration and fell down on top of Tenzo's desk. Anko and Tenzo looked at him strangely for a few seconds Naruto never lost concentration like that before. "Owww…That hurt." Naruto stated as he rubbed his side that he fell on.
"Why were you on the ceiling to begin with?" Anko questioned as she jumped down and landed near Naruto as he took his seat and decided to wait for class to begin.
"I do my best thinking upside down." Naruto stated while Anko just smirked from hearing this.
"I didn't realize you did any thinking?" Anko questioned as Naruto just looked towards her flatly.
"Cute." He commented as Anko smiled from what she decided to accept as a compliment.
"What's up with you today? You seem out of it." Tenzo stated as Naruto glanced towards his friend.
"I don't know my Chakra has been off lately." Naruto stated as he sighed in frustration. He just didn't understand this at all for some reason.
"Hey Naruto what's up with your cheeks?" Anko questioned as she looked closely at his cheeks to see what looked like whiskers. She also noticed his slited eyes which look kind of hot.
"Oh…umm…I don't really know." Naruto stated as Anko nodded a few times it look kind of cute though his eyes looked amazing to her she could just loss herself in them.
Soon a Chunin walked in the room as he looked down towards his clip bored. "I'm sorry I was a little late today, but I do have a good reason for it." The Chunin stated as he looked it over once again with a disapproving face, but these were the facts and he had to follow them. "It seems there are three of you that will be tested early." He stated again as he looked over it one last time, this was ridiculous. "Those three will be Anko Mitarashi, Tenzo, and…Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze." The Chunin finished as all the other children in the room looked shocked from the names stated, they were the youngest members of the class and the academy saw them fit for duty already this wasn't fair. Though they didn't say anything as the Chunin told the class to meet outside for their test.
Once outside the Chunin looked towards Naruto with a calculation face. He still didn't agree with this, but he had to admit this child was a prodigy no one had taken the academy exam at seven much less graduated and he had a feeling that Naruto would be.
"Okay your first test is accuracy." The Chunin stated as the three stepped up.
Twenty minutes later
"Well I have to say I wasn't expecting these scores." Said the Chunin as he gapped at their scores which were 100's across the board. "Well I think congratulations are in order for your classmates Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, Tenzo, and Anko Mitarashi." The Chunin stated as he then smiled he was truly honored to have these three in his class. Naruto graduated in a year while the other two did it in three.
"Yes! I'm finally an official Shinobi!" Naruto yelled out as he bounced around on his heels this was so exiting for him.
"I know what you mean I thought I was going to die in here." Anko stated as she smiled broadly.
"You two are so dramatic." Tenzo stated calmly as Naruto jumped up on the older boys back.
"Don't try to act cool about this we all know your just as excited." Naruto stated as Anko then nudged Tenzo which caused him to smile.
"Yeah I guess I am." He stated as Naruto jumped off his back in order to try and rain in his excitement.
"I am truly honored to have you three in my class for however short that had been." The Chunin Sensei stated as the three smiled towards him.
"Thank you Sensei!" The three said together as the Sensei smiled.
"Well you guys together now form team eleven. Your new Jonin Sensei will meet you in training ground eleven in two hours." He stated as the three of them nodded their heads from hearing this.
An hour and forty five minutes later training ground Eleven
"You're at it again?" Anko questioned as Naruto opened his eyes and looked up towards the ground where Anko was currently standing under him.
"Yeah I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong with my Chakra. You saw during the exam when I went to summon a single clone. I ended up summoning five…Shadow clones." Naruto stated as he closed his eyes in thought once again, but he couldn't think of the reason.
Upon opening his eyes once again he noticed he was now standing a dark sewer which caused him to begin to panic until he remembered what this place was. Slowly walking up to the bars located there he peered inside as he spotted Kyuubi…well Kara lying there.
"Did you bring me here?" Naruto questioned as Kara nodded her head which caused Naruto to sigh he didn't know how he got here at first.
"Yes, and I know the reason for your Chakra problem." She stated as Naruto widened his eyes and went sit next to her to hear everything. "It's because of when the Shihigami sealed me into you it caused your Chakra coils to expand granting you lots more Chakra reserves." Kara stated as Naruto widened his eyes from hearing this.
"So what do you suggest I do?" Naruto questioned as Kara smirked, his face will be priceless.
"A lot of chakra control exercises." She stated as she watched Naruto's face turn to one of horror.
"NOOOOOO! That's so boring!" Naruto yelled out as he rolled on the cold hard floor though he instantly sat up when he remembered something. "I'll use shadow clones!" Naruto yelled out as he stood up to leave, but paused a second later.
"Umm…how do I get out of here?" Naruto question as Kara sighed.
"It's your mind, just will yourself out." She stated as Naruto closed both his eyes in concentration then a moment later cracked one eye.
"Did it work?" Naruto questioned as he looked down to see Kara just staring at him. Shaking her head Kara placed one of her tails against Naruto's forehead as she pushed hard. Causing Naruto to widen his eyes as he face planted into the ground below startling Anko who was sitting under the tree. Looking towards the heap known as Naruto, Anko stood up to see if he was okay when he suddenly stood up with a wide grin. "I got it!" Naruto yelled as he placed his hands in his favorite hand seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He yelled out as ten clones formed which caused him to sweat drop. 'I only wanted five.' Naruto thought to himself, but decided to leave it be. "Alright guys each one of you do a different chakra control exercise." Naruto stated as all ten of them nodded to this as they left the area to begin while Naruto walked back up the tree to one of the higher branches as he sat down to relax.
"I see you're as lively as ever Naruto-chan." Came a woman's voice which caused Naruto to spin his head around in shock. When he spotted the woman she was decked out in jonin clothing with her long raven hair up in a ponytail, looking to her side she could see Tenzo had just arrived as well.
"Mikoto-oba-chan?!"
AND DONE! Well I hope you guys liked it. Tell me what you thought in the reviews…PEACE!