Yo! Now, people may be getting annoyed as this will be the third story I will begin typing up but I have a serious case of overloaded imagination syndrome. Simply put, I've got too many ideas in my head to carry on with unless I put most of the ideas down. By doing this, I can switch between stories to update when I get good ideas for each one. This is essentially the beginning of the re-write of my Naruto x Majikoi fanfic that failed the first time round... horribly failed. :'(
I want to give a quick shout out to 'absolutezero001' and give him credit for several parts in this chapter as I've taken some inspiration from it. Hope you're reading this and I hope you enjoy it man!
Now, disclaimers... don't own Naruto or Maji De Watashi Ni Koishinnasai. If I did, Naruto would not be getting sucky as it currently is and Majikoi would be in the third series by now...
Speech: "I will not stand down!"
Thoughts: 'I will never give up!'
Whispering: "I need your help, Kurama..."
Kurama: "I will lend you my strength!"
Kurama's Thoughts: 'Show them our power, Naruto!'
Techniques: "Bijudama!"
Wandering Kitsune
Home Away From Home
Tsunade Senju, the Gondaime Hokage of Konoha, was busy filling in the forms that was sent in for approval. Of course, the past two years was near traumatic for the busty blonde; naturally because of the damages and costs that followed after the village was decimated by the former leader of a group of ruthless mercenaries, the Akatsuki, known as Nagato. On top of that, she had the many diplomatic visits to the other four major nations and their respective Kages. It seemed that Naruto made a lasting impression for them to fight over who his loyalties would be to but she had quickly stopped the trail of thought, there and then. She remembered the response he had given them which stunned the whole group into silence:
"My loyalties doesn't belong to Kiri, Kumo, Iwa, Suna or Konoha. My loyalties are to two things and to two things alone: first and foremost, my loyalty is to everyone who considers themselves to be a shinobi. Regardless of colour or creed, we are all one and the same under the banners which makes up the title of Shinobi. Secondly, my loyalty is to myself. Because I know that I will push myself further, beat myself harder, fight with more than everything I have until I can happily say that I gave everything I had and nothing less."
Tsunade could only smile as she let those words replay in her mind as she remembered the stunned faces on all the other Kages, and Mifune, as they listened to the boy's words. It was because of this that they were able to form the first-ever 'Great Shinobi Alliance' between all five great nations.
However, the main thought that had occupied her mind for the past two years was that of a certain, familiar blond. After everything that happened, it was ultimately thanks to him that the five great nations pulled out the biggest victory to date. Sure he disobeyed orders from a superior, and was properly reprimanded for the action, but she was glad that he did. Having near-perfected his tenant's power, he managed to reach out to each of the divisions and help them with the fighting. Nevertheless, the biggest clincher was when he landed the killing blow on Madara and Obito. No-one expected it to happen: the strategy was flawless, well-prepared and worked to absolute perfection... not even Shikamaru could have thought of a plan like the one he did, admitting it himself.
Speaking of the blond in question...
"Tsunade-baachan?" The intruding figure ducked to avoid a paperweight that was thrown in his general direction. "Sorry to intrude but I'm here to report." he continued, straightening himself up before her. Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the cryptic hint he had given her, a signal for him to continue as she placed everything back on her desk.
"Well? Spill it, brat."
"Hoshitsuchi decided to pay me a visit again, along with his three stooges. Gotta give it to them, full-marks for consistency." he replied nonchalantly. Tsunade rolled her eyes at the news, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What does that make it this time? Fifteen?" she wondered.
"Seventeen. Look, I understand their way of thinking; 'We can't kill the Yondaime so we'll settle for killing his brat-son! We'll get our revenge yet!'" he retorted, mocking a villainous expression and tone of voice. "Seriously, it was funny the first six times. Now, it's pointless. I can sense them coming from a hundred kilometres away, thanks to Kurama. They should just give up. Either that, or..." he trailed off, leaving his mind wander about the other option he just thought about.
"Or?" Tsunade hinted.
"Mah, it's nothing. The four of them are currently in the ever-careful hands of Ibiki and Anko. I'm sure they'll enjoy seeing familiar faces again." he sarcastically responded, shrugging his shoulders in note of his lack of caring. Tsunade's eyebrow twitched slightly from the blatant dismissal but decided to keep her cool about it. It was a common trait of his to draw attention to himself and shattering the atmosphere before anyone realized it; leaving him partially immune from Anko's and Ibiki's techniques. Hell, they even asked him if he wanted to have a shot at interrogation...
… safe to say, if he ever retired from the shinobi duty, they would happily accept him at the Interrogation and Torture Department.
"Very well. I'm assigning this as an A-Ranked mission and you will be paid accordingly." Tsunade replied, filling out an official form for the mission and stamped it. "That everything, brat?" she asked, turning her head towards the other blond in the room, only to find him spaced out in front of her. It seemed to be a habit he picked up after fighting in the Great War but no-one could explain what was causing these episodes, nor would they want to find out. His mind was territory that no-one would dare enter for two reasons: first, it was his mind. Secondly, and most importantly, his tenant was able to access the memories of the blond, leaving him as a guard so to speak.
"Naruto? Are you alright?" Tsunade asked, in a much more worried tone. Upon hearing silence as his response, she made her way over to the blond and stood in front of him. Now standing at five-foot ten-inches, Naruto has grown into a fine young man. His blond hair was still unkempt as ever but it was a surprise to see him let his hair grow; leaving it long enough for him to place in a tail. His deep blue eyes still held the mirth of his naivety but there would be times when his eyes could turn colder than ice, and Kami help anyone who would be on the receiving end of such a glare. She can lay testament to that claim after bringing up a sore memory of his, leaving her overwhelmed with pure malice. His whisker-marks have also thickened a considerable amount but in turn, gave him a more dominant and feral presence.
To his fortune, or misfortune, he finds himself on the receiving end of numerous accounts of 'fangirling': ranging from letters, date requests, vows of marriage, photographs and autographs. He swore vehemently that he would never take the piss out of Sasuke again after his experiences.
Despite the familiarity of his looks, the main difference is his attire. Even at nineteen years old, the blond could not kick his habit for wearing a piece of clothing that was orange but thankfully he had managed to tone himself down. He wore a sleeveless Chinese-style shirt that conformed to his muscular frame (courtesy of Tenten's fashionable tastes), black khaki pants with two orange stripes running down the sides, steel-capped boots and black wrappings that covered his arms all the way up to his elbows. The rest of his exposed body was covered in seals he had asked her to place on him; namely storage seals and a gravity seal to help with his training. The most distinguishable feature on him was the white-dyed flak-jacket he received on his promotion to Jonin. 'That was one hell of a celebration... I'm jealous that the brat could out-drink me!'
"You know, Naruto, I still don't know why you wanted to place storage seals on yourself. If you had the choice, you could just up and leave the village without anyone knowing." Tsunade smirked, hoping to gather his attention once more. Thankfully, the blond snapped out of his stupor and looked in her eyes, not realizing she was standing that close to him.
"Hmmm? Oh, sorry... I spaced out again, didn't I?" Naruto asked, slightly embarrassed by the ordeal. Tsunade twitched in response, hoping that the blond didn't pick up on his sensei's ethnics.
"Seriously, Naruto, I don't know what's gotten into you but its obvious that its affecting you mentally. I'm thinking of calling it a night anyway, so c'mon. Talk to me." Tsunade suggested as she points towards the sofa for him to take. Albeit reluctantly, Naruto complies with her request and lays down on said sofa while she pulls up a chair and sits beside him.
"Heh, this is a new approach. Normally, you'd send Ino into my mind... well, attempt to, anyway." Naruto dead-panned, sighing.
"You know we wouldn't try that because of Kurama. How is he, these days?" she asked. Before the blond could answer for himself, she noticed the shift in his eyes, changing from blue to a crimson red.
"Still here as ever. I must admit, it's unusual for someone to inquire about my well-being." Kurama responded, taking over Naruto's body to communicate with the busty blonde.
"How is it, being cooped up in his memories?"
"You don't want to know. That's all I'll say." he warned.
"How come? I know that something plagued his mind because of the 'episodes' of him spacing out. Can you shed any light on the matter?" she inquired, hoping that his tenant would comply and give her the necessary information.
"Yes, something has happened and no. As amusing as it is to occasionally watch my host lose control, I'm still respectful to his privacy. You know, he really holds you in high regards, Tsunade. He'll tell you when he feels comfortable to do so." Kurama explained, genuinely concerned for his host's mindset. He has noticed that there's something going on and that he knows the reason why Naruto is acting this way.
"Damn. I understand. Anything you want to talk about while you're here?" Tsunade sighed disappointed.
"I'm not the one who needs this, Tsunade. I will let him return to you." Kurama replied before she noticed his eyes return to their playful blue.
"So, did you have a nice chat with Kurama, baachan?" he asked, not concerned by the tick-marks that appeared on her head. "Seriously, I've been calling you that for the past few years now and you're still getting ticked off by it?"
Slightly taken back by the statement, she admitted that he wouldn't call her by her title except for missions and diplomatic meetings where she would choose him as one of her personal guards. Admittedly, she missed the name when he left to train with Jiraiya six years ago. 'Six years... has it already been that long? Where has the time flown?' she inwardly asked herself, slightly surprised by the revelation. "Tch, I guess there's some truth to admitting that I don't mind you calling me that. I just wish you wouldn't call me by that in front of others! If it's just us, then fine." she replied, her tone taking a more gentle tone than usual. "Seriously, Naruto, I'm... worried."
"Eh?" Naruto asked in slight shock. 'Is it seriously that bad?' he thought.
'It's affecting you and your work, Naruto. I don't want to push you but this may be the best chance you have to tell her the truth.' Kurama commented as he settled down in front of the fire-stove.
Since having the connection with Kurama, Naruto decided that it was finally time to sort out his mindscape, changing it from the drab and dreary cage it was stuck as, to one more befitting for the Kyuubi. It wasn't much creativity but the fox seemed to like it: it was the setting he encountered when he first stood at the base of the Waterfall of Truth, back on the island with Killer Bee. He made a small den made of rocks and leaves for him to sleep in, fitted with a pelt-rug on the floor which easily covered his entire frame. Just outside of the den was the ever-burning fire Naruto had placed there, making sure that the fox could get in and out without burning his tails. Adding some animals for him to hunt, Kurama was truly happy with the new setting, thanking Naruto for the uplifting change.
'You really believe that, huh?'
'Listen to me carefully. You've proven yourself to be a strong-willed individual, one who is capable of taking a tremendous amount of strain, pressure, hatred and dependence upon yourself, turning that into your strength. If you couldn't, you would not be here with me talking like we are. You've shown me that you're nothing like the rest of my containers; actually spending time with me and talking to me. Sure, I find you an annoying little brat but you're still a good kid. Now, though, is one of those golden opportunities to get everything off your chest, starting with that memory.' Kurama explained, leaving Naruto in utter shock. Of course, he and Kurama have gotten along much better after the war but this was an eye-opener for the blond. Having heard the most powerful bijuu (still around, anyway) saying that to you, it took an immediate effect on him.
'Aw, I love you too, fuzzball!' he teased before settling back down. 'Seriously, thank you. I have a lot to be thankful for and you're probably number one on that list for keeping me alive enough to get here. I'm... glad I was used to have sealed you and... I'm glad to be your jinchuriki, Kurama.' Naruto replied.
Kurama listened to the words and couldn't help but let them sink in. This was the first moment the two of them properly sat down and talked about everything and, safe to say, the Kyuubi no Kitsune, was speechless. To add to the fact, a stray tear fell out of his eyes as the words continued to chant within his thoughts. A genuine smile graced his appearance as he lies back down near the fire, resting his head on his paws.
'Thank you... Naruto Uzumaki.'
"Naruto, are you alright?"
"Yeah... having a heart-to-heart with Kurama. Look," he sighed, "I know you're wondering what the hell is causing everything to happen to me right? I think it's alright to tell you but I want the ANBU out of here. This conversation is kept between the two of us and will not be passed on to anyone else, is that understood?" he asked. Respectfully, Tsunade knew that this wasn't a request but an order. He was still mindful of her being the Hokage but he was as stubborn as she could be and she knew this was important to have the ANBU dismissed. She waved her hand, signalling that the ANBU was to leave. Once they promptly left, she activated the silencing seals dotted around the room.
"Right. Do you want me to ask questions or are you just gonna spill?" she asked bluntly.
"Give me a starting point and we'll go from there, I guess."
"How are you feeling?"
"What?" he asked, slightly surprised by the simple question.
"I'm not messing around here, brat! I want you to be open with me; how are you feeling?" Tsunade sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. 'Seriously, he's a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with yet his mind is simple and complicated at the same time.' she groaned mentally.
"Oh. Well, I guess... I'm kinda feeling bored." Naruto confessed. This remark wasn't one she was expecting from him. He would always come into the office requesting missions to undertake, then come back with a more-than-satisfactory report from the clients. Naruto has the record for most amount of missions completed out of everyone in Konoha.
"What do you mean, bored?" she asked, still trying to figure out why.
"I just... I've been an orphan my whole life, never really had the love of my mom and dad when I was growing up. I was hated by the village for being the jinchuriki of Kurama and I was struggling to live. I was raised to be a ninja, trained by some of the most influential figures of the Elemental Nations. I defeated Madara and the Juubi at the risk of my life but something doesn't feel right. I... I wanted to talk to you about a request I want to make but I couldn't bring myself to tell you about it." Naruto confessed.
"And that would be?" Tsunade asked back, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"..."
"..."
"... I want to take temporary leave from active duty."
Tsunade's eyes widened at the startling revelation. Naruto, the one person who would do anything to gain the position of Hokage and the only person who's strong enough to take on any and all threats that would come to Konoha, is requesting leave from duty? "Naruto-kun... why?" she asked once more, her voice laced heavily with concern as she changed into his mother-like figure.
"I've not had a normal childhood, as you know. I want to leave the worry of being a ninja behind me for a while and just focus on being me. I never got the opportunity to live a normal life; hunted by Akatsuki, Orochimaru and Kabuto, keeping my promise to Sakura and bringing Sasuke back... when have I ever asked for something that I wanted for myself?" the blond asked, his voice releasing more emotions than she had ever heard before.
Tsunade could only feel sorry for Naruto as she continued to listen to him; yes, she knew everything he was saying was true and that he's managed to deal with an amount of stress that could put make the title of Hokage seem like child's play. She felt like crying right now as she realized that he had to deal with all this before he's even reached twenty. He got a massive bump up in the list of people she respected.
"I get it now..." she whispered, loud enough for him to hear.
"Huh? Get what?" he asked, incredulously.
"I'm going to be blunt with you, Naruto, you're suffering from mild depression, emotional stress and Post-Traumatic War Syndrome. It makes everything fall into place; the increased take of missions, the anti-social tendencies you've picked up... it all makes sense. Answer me this... how long?" she probed. Naruto knew that it would be no point in hiding the truth any longer, so he began telling her with a shuddering sigh as he got his emotions under a decent control.
"Around a year ago. I don't hear much of anyone any more... Sakura's with Sasuke, Tenten is busy with her dad running the forge and the shop, Ino's in I&T when she isn't keeping the shop open, Chouji's dealing with the restaurant, Shikamaru's your councilor when not looking after Asuma-kun, Sai's... well, Sai. Lee's the same as ever, Kiba's running the vets with his sister, Shino's taking care of his hives, Hinata's keeping up with the responsibilities of being the heiress of the Hyuga clan and Neji's helping her out as much as, Iruka-sensei's busy with the Academy, Kakashi-sensei's back in ANBU and I'm... well, here." he explained.
"It's like everyone's got something to do but I'm stuck here, not knowing what I can do. My fuinjutsu's gotten much better to the point that Tenten's selling my custom-made sealing scrolls and explosive tags but that seems to be it for me. I've got the highest honour during the war but that's all it is, a title. I've never liked titles, you know that, and I just want to have something I can devote myself to without having to constantly trod through each day taking missions or fighting for my life. I just want time to find what I want to do and not having to worry about fighting every day to live." Naruto explained, relieved that he's finally got the matter off his chest. He seemed lighter, that was a good thing.
'You're not sure of your purpose in life... many people have found themselves in the same place as you, Naruto, but for you of all people to be in this situation, I can't even begin to understand how painful it must be for you. Having nothing except your parents' legacies, there's nothing for you right now. He said he wanted to request some leave time, maybe to explore and find something for him to live for? Of course, he'll still want the chance to fight now and again, that's obvious knowing him. But where can I send him?' she pondered, taking everything that he's talked about over the past hour into consideration.
"Tsunade, are you okay?" Naruto asked, slightly creeped out by how she wasn't responding to him. 'Is this what I'm like when I space out all the time?'
'Yes.' Kurama dead-panned.
'Damn, I'm being more emo than Sasuke right now.' he inwardly sighed.
'Pffft! You know I can't stand the Uchiha in whole but you have a better reason to act depressed than he did. Of course, I'm annoyed that you are depressed but I can't bring myself to blame you for that.' Kurama replied, slightly annoyed by his host's previous statement.
'It's fine, honestly. I just take what's given to me and deal with it in my own way. Maybe a break from Konoha would do me a bit of good, ne?' he thought before the idea struck him like a thunderbolt. 'Kawakami City!' he mentally yelled.
'Oho? I believe you're on to something there, kid. I wonder if the others would still recognize you after all these years?'he mused, surprised that Naruto remembered his time there...
Actually, take that back. It was the one period in his life he wasn't constantly fighting to survive or facing down the hatred of the entire damn village. It was probably the closest Naruto had ever gotten to a normal childhood with friends who accepted him for who he was. Kurama sniggered as he remembered the three girlfriends he made while he was there as well...
'Who knows? It'd be ideal as I can ask Tesshin-jiji if I can enter the Academy while I'm there... depending how long I'm gone for, I guess.' Naurto replied, hyped up at the idea of returning back to the place he experienced true happiness as a child.
"Naruto, with everything you've said, I want to say that I'm sorry." Tsunade apologized, bowing her head respectfully.
"Why do you have to apologize to me for?" Naruto blurted out in response. If there was anything that annoyed Naruto more than anything it was when people apologized for something that wasn't their fault. Close to being pitied on, it was a major no-no.
"I should have seen it earlier. I should have done something about it earlier but I didn't know if you wanted my help or not. It was my insecurities that led you to this." she slightly bowed.
"Tsunade-baachan, don't be so stupid to apologize for something like that! Hindsight's twenty-twenty, right? Leave it at that. Anyway, I was wondering something." Naruto replied forcefully, much more than he wanted.
"What?" she asked.
"How much time are you giving me and where are you going to send me? I know you don't want me wondering around aimlessly in the off-chance that I might get into trouble as usual." he dead-panned. The past two years have taught him to look 'underneath the underneath' and in doing so, he's gotten better at reading people.
"Hmph. You must understand that you are one of, if not the most, influential and strongest shinobi within our forces. I cannot allow you to leave for too long without people catching on to your disappearance. There may still be spies within the village and the news could be passed on to other nations and allow them the chance to attack our village. However, I've decided that I'm giving you a year, no more, for you to do whatever you want. As for where I will be sending you, I have a few choices in mind." Tsunade calmly replied, expecting the outburst from Naruto...
… only to find that he was nodding in agreement. Damn, this must be bad...
"It's fine. I understand the position you're in and I can't condone you for it. Giving me a year is already more than I could ask for. When I was younger, jiji decided to send me to a place overseas for a small while so I could escape from the villagers. Do you know a place called Kawakami City?" he spoke up, wondering if it was such a good idea.
"Kawakami... wait, Kawakami Academy? 'Of course! Tesshin still owes me that favour from years ago when he visited me last.' Tell me, Naruto, what do you know about the place?" Tsunade smirked in response. 'This is perfect!'
"A lot, actually. I know about the Temple there from talking to Tesshin-jiji. He taught me about some of the history of the Temple itself and also told me about the Academy there. It's not compulsory but it seems a good place for people who are more active. They have a dueling system there which allows students to settle disputes through games or combat. I know a bit of the city as well and I made a few friends over there. Just wondering if they'd recognize me after all these years..." he explained.
"You know Tesshin?" Tsunade jaw-dropped as she never knew about this. She had gone over Naruto's report several times as she noticed a sudden gap in his childhood spanning over six months. Hearing this, it was probably that time where Sarutobi had sent Naruto overseas to Kawakami City as a respite.
"Yeah. I know his two granddaughters as well, Momoyo and Kazuko. Heh, I wonder how those two have turned out." he mused to himself, missing the warm smile on Tsunade's face.
"'Thank you Naruto. I know exactly what I'll be doing...' Then it's settled. You're leaving for Kawakami in a week's time. I remember him telling me that he finally managed to get a satellite over here so I can contact him instantly. I'll send him a message straight away and tell him the plan; he'll be more than happy to see you again." she smiled. "I'll summon the others and give them a few days vacation leave so you can get a proper send off." she told him, getting a warm smile from the blond as he surprised Tsunade and hugged her.
"Thank you, baachan. Means a lot to do so much for me." he smiled as he rested his forehead on her shoulder. Tsunade glanced at the boy before smiling, wrapping her arms around her surrogate son's torso and returning the hug.
WK
A lone figure could be seen in the middle of the room as he continued to meditate. His facial expression could tell the most perceptive of people that he was still conscious to what was going on around him; the chants of the trainees as they practiced their katas, the sounds of cooking in the kitchen area not too far away and the sounds of nature in harmony outside his window. The room itself was spacious and spartan in design, only being fitted with lights and a cushion for him to sit on. The floor and walls had a natural wood finish to them with a sliding door and a window breaking the monotony of the room. As he continued to meditate, he suddenly felt a disturbance that entered the city...
His eyes opened slightly, only enough for him to see without revealing his eyes to the world. He was an elderly male figure with a long, pristine white beard that made up for the distinct lack of hair on his head. He had dressed himself in a white and black outfit that bellied his status as the master of Kawakami Temple. The meditation session was soon cut to a halt as his phone beeped a few times, telling him he had a message. Opening it up, his eyes widened in shock from who the text was from. He had not heard from Tsunade in over seven years and was a pleasure to hear from here once again. He was surprised to find out that she had become the Hokage, something she was adamant about not doing. He opened up the text and began reading the contents before his eyes opened fully, revealing his ash-gray eyes as a large smile appeared on his face.
"So Naruto-kun's coming back to Kawakami, eh? I believe things will get interesting indeed..." he chuckled as he began making arrangements for the young blond he had become a second uncle to. "I wonder what Momoyo and Kazuko will do once he returns?" he chuckled louder as he made his way out of the room.
WK
The following afternoon proved to be interesting as Naruto found himself being summoned to the Hokage's office. He decided that he didn't want to wait around and that he wanted to surprise everyone with the newest skill in his arsenal. Having dressed himself, he held up half a sign before disappearing in a flash of yellow.
He arrived in another flash of yellow, startling the people present in the room. He could feel several looks of wonder, admiration and shock from what he had just done but he paid no attention to them as he glanced around the room. In front of him were all his friends from his days at the Academy as well as the members from Team Gai. Neji was still indebted to Naruto on bringing him back from death by using his Yang chakra that belonged to Kurama, stunning the on-lookers at the feat. Alongside them were Iruka, Kakashi, Yamato, Anko, Yugao, Gai, Kurenai and Konohamaru as they all got the message to meet up at the office.
"Mind telling me what's going on?" Sasuke spoke up from his place between Sakura and Kiba. "We got notices saying that there's something important happening."
"Indeed there is," Tsunade began, "However, I believe Naruto should be the one to tell you." she looked at him, nodding. The blond in question sighed before leaning back on the wall, minding the two ANBU he sensed either side of him.
"I know it's been a while since we've all met up like this but there's a bit of news I want to tell you guys." he started.
"What is it?" Sakura asked.
"I'm gonna be taking a break from the shinobi force for a year." he professed, getting a large shock from the crowd in front of them. "Before you bombard me with questions and what not, I have reasons for doing so. After talking with Tsunade-sama last night, she did a spontaneous psychology report on me and it seems I'm suffering from..." he trailed off, turning to the person in question.
"Mild Depression, Emotional Stress and PTWS." she clarified, getting several gasps from the people there.
"When did this happen?" Kakashi spoke up, concerned for his former student.
"About a year ago." he admitted, stunning them with every word that came out of his mouth. "You guys all had things to get on with and continue doing what you enjoy doing but me? What have I got apart from being a shinobi? Tenten, making seals to sell doesn't count." he interrupted before the weapon mistress could butt in. "You see, you've all passed me and moved on with your lives and have stuff to aim for. What's there for me?" he honestly asked. "I dealt with the Akatsuki. I dealt with the return of Madara Uchiha with help but you have to admit that most of the grunt work was done by me. I dealt with the Juubi, something that should've been impossible for me to do. I freed the trapped Bijuu and restored Kurama to full power once more. With so much to my name before I've hit twenty... what do I have left to look forward to?" he asked each one of them.
Silence. That was the only noise that filled the room as each person took the blond jinchuriki's words to heart. Each one of them knew everything that Naruto had put himself through and that they were indebted to him for being here doing what they do. Not once did he ask anything of them nor did he want them to feel like they owed him for it. As the words continued to sink in, he continued.
"This is why I'm leaving for a while to try and live the life I never had the pleasure of living. It'll let me take a break from everything and, hopefully, it'll give me a chance to figure out what I want to do in life." he finished. It was hard words for everyone to swallow but the matter of fact was this: he was right. They couldn't argue with him because there was nothing to argue about.
"Where will you be going, gaki?" Anko spoke up next, breaking the discomforting silence.
"I'll be leaving the Elemental Nations but I don't want to say where I'm going exactly. Don't get me wrong, it's not because I don't want you to know... I want to be able to leave this part of me behind and allow me to find the answers for myself with no distractions. I need to do this on my own and I can't allow you guys to interfere with this, so please respect my decision. I'll keep in touch with you guys and I'll bring back some souvenirs to boot, okay?" he asked, getting no response for a few minutes.
"Sure. I can respect that." Sasuke spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'll admit, I haven't made it easy on you and if anyone deserve the break... it'd be you." he nodded. Naruto nodded back, smiling at his rival.
"I agree with Sasuke-kun. You just go and find the answers you need." Sakura added her two cents in.
"Heh, things will be boring without you here. It's like adventure is naturally attracted to you!" Kiba joked, getting a bark from his companion in response. "I'm sure she has a crush on you." he chuckled.
"Who knows?" Naruto shrugged, grinning in response.
"I believe you'll find your meaning in life, Naruto-kun. Take your time and enjoy yourself." Hinata warmly smiled at him. Naruto nodded, returning the warm smile to her.
"Well... Naruto will be leaving in two days time. I just got message from your escort that he will be picking you up personally." Tsunade explained, getting a wide-eyed look from Naruto. "So, as Hokage, each one of you will have four days off to give the brat a decent send-off. This is in effect immediately. Understood?" she asked, getting a chorus of 'hai's' in response. "Good, now go do stuff." she shooed as everyone began clambering around the blond before they all left in their respective shunshins.
WK
It had been a wild two days since been given the order and Naruto found himself standing in a private training field that had been covered in concrete for the plane that was coming to pick him up. Standing beside him was Tsunade, Shizune and Kakashi as everyone else had already said their farewells a few hours prior. He had several gifts from everyone there as a good-luck charm for his time away. The four of them looked up to see something heading towards them as a shape manifested itself through the parting clouds, signalling them it was time to go.
"Well, it's not really a goodbye... more like, see you soon." Naruto quipped, earning smiles from everyone there. Kakashi stepped forward and ruffled his hair before handing over his gift to the blond. Without saying a word, Kakashi gave him his signature eye-smile and disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Shizune was the next one to step forward as she rested her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm gonna miss you, Naruto-kun." she smiled at her surrogate brother. "Try not to get into too much mischief!" she playfully scolded. Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at the sentiment as she soon joined him and giggled at her own order. "That's asking for too much, isn't it?" she smiled.
"You know it is! I'm a magnet for trouble!" he pouted, earning another giggle from the ravenette. To his shock, she got on the tip of her toes and planted a soft kiss on his forehead as her sign to be careful before she stepped back, the smile never leaving her face.
"Well, I hope you're not expecting anything from me, I've already given you enough." she smirked.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." he waved dismissively before pulling out a scroll and chucking it to her. "That's why I'm giving you that as a thank you. Oh, Shizune-neechan? She's allowed to drink that, my orders." he told her, getting questioning looks from the pair before Tsunade opened the scroll up and summoned the contents. In her hand was a large, navy blue, hexagonal bottle that contained a fluid of some sort. "You wouldn't believe how many favors I pulled to get you a bottle... let alone three of them. Try not to drink them all in one go, they cost too much!" he chided as Tsunade's eyes widened at the drink she was holding.
"Twilight Shadow!?" she yelled. "How the hell did you manage to get hold of this!?" she practically begged him.
"I just asked some contacts of mine to keep an eye out for some for me. I gave them a reverse summoning seal and they summoned me there to pay for it. I placed a seal in my apartment and I did the same to get back thanks to a clone I constantly keep in the house. So, enjoy it while it lasts." he smiled as Tsunade ran over and hugged him once more.
"I'll miss you, brat." she spoke before her words softened. "I hope you find what you're searching for. Keep safe and keep in touch, Naruto-kun." she requested as he returned the hug.
"I will, don't worry." he smiled as he pulled away from her. It was at that moment that the plane had landed on the concrete runway, slowing down to a standstill as the side door of the plane opened up, revealing a figure Naruto hadn't seen in years. With a quick wave towards the three of them, Naruto began heading towards the plane, giving them a wave before disappearing into the plane to head out to his new destination.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Shizune asked her mentor. Tsunade looked at her before turning her attention back to the plane, smiling a genuine smile.
"If there's anything I learned about him, is that he can hold his own. Don't forget," she spoke up, walking away as the plane disappeared out of sight, "He's the Number One Unpredictable Knucklehead. That title isn't just for show, you know?" she smiled as the pair made their way back to the office. She glanced down to see a note attached to the bottom of one of the bottles and read the contents. She soon burst out laughing in a mixture of amusement and relief as she showed Shizune what the note said:
"Last parting gift: The solution to paperwork? Kage Bunshin. Thank me when I get back!"
"You're right, Lady Tsunade. Number One Unpredictable Knucklehead indeed..." Shizune warmly smiled as she followed the blonde back to the office.
WK
"It's been a fair while, jiji. It's great to see you looking healthy as ever." Naruto smiled as he sank back into the chair he was sitting on. He had forgotten how amazing the chairs were on his personal jet plane as he could find himself falling asleep in them.
"It's good to see you as well, Naruto-kun." Tesshin smiled back. "You have grown splendidly since the last time I saw you. I'll admit, everyone will have a hard time recognizing you and I wish I could see their faces when they realize it's you." he chuckled warmly. Naruto shared in the sentiment before taking a mouthful of his drink. "So tell me, how's things been for you?"
"Man... where do I begin?" Naruto replied, rattling his brains. "Well, simply put, things resumed as normal when I got back and it pretty much continued for a fair while until a few years ago. I say why in a bit. Had my growth as a shinobi stunted because of me being a jinkchuriki and it left me in a bad state. I passed the Academy and got placed on a team under my old man's student, Kakashi Hatake." he began.
"Oh? The Sharingan no Kakashi? Intriguing... I take it you found out about your parents then?" Tesshin asked, curious.
"In the most unorthodox ways possible. Again, I'll say later as it'll link in nicely." he requested, getting a nod. "Well, not much after that... I guess. Chunin Exams got invaded by Suna and Oto and it turned out to be Orochimaru behind the whole thing and his apprentice, Kabuto. They killed the Yondaime Kazekage and Orochimaru disguised himself as him. Fought a released bijuu and saved Konoha from more damage than it should've taken. After that, met up with Jiraiya and went to get Tsunade to take the mantle after Sarutobi-jiji was killed during the invasion." he explained.
"I'm sorry to hear, Naruto-kun. He was an incredible man." Tesshin paid his respects.
"That he was, jiji." the blond smiled warmly. "Well, Orochimaru and Kabuto turned up again and asked Tsunade to heal his arms after jiji took them from him using the Shiki Fuin on him and sealing a portion of his soul in the Shinigami. Tsunade refused and it was then I learned my father's Rasengan." he explained, performing the technique as the familiar blue ball of energy appeared in the boy's right hand. Tesshin was impressed at the mastery of the skill as he watched the chakra rotate wildly inside the sphere before being safely drawn back into his body.
"I made a bet with her that I'd get the technique down in a week and I won. Doing so, she agreed to be the Godaime Hokage and the first female Hokage to boot." he explained, getting a chuckle from Tesshin.
"I knew you had something to do with why she changed her mind. You always were like that." he smiled.
"Well, during the trip... was when I found out about a group of S-Ranked mercenaries who were collecting the bijuu for their own plans, the Akatsuki. I ran into an ex-swordsman of the mist and Itachi Uchiha. I just managed to save myself from being taken by Jiraiya showing up and a distraction from Sasuke, who followed us. During the Chunin Exams, Sasuke got marked with a Cursed Seal and he ended up defecting from the village and joining Orochimaru, who simply wanted him for his Sharingan. Tsunade sent a rescue squad, with me in it, to bring him back but we were outgunned and I couldn't keep up with the seal... even with one tail's worth of chakra from Kurama. He got away and I woke up in hospital. After I was discharged, I left for three years on a training trip with Jiraiya before coming back to Konoha."
"My, you have been busy!" he claimed, enthralled by the tales.
"That's not the best of it, believe me..." Naruto replied. Before he could continue, a female voice broke the conversation as she spoke to the two of them.
"Tesshin-dono, Naruto-san, we're nearing our destination. ETA, fifteen minutes." she explained before the sound of the speaker turning off signalled them that she had finished speaking.
"Where was I?" Naruto resumed. "Well, did a few more missions and got placed on a new team with one of Danzo's ROOT members. Our first mission proved to be the most hilarious as we ran into our old team mate, Sasuke. After that, things got downright crazy... Akatsuki began making their move with the other jinchuriki, including Gaara, the same person who attacked Konoha. However, I managed to convince him that he didn't need to be alone anymore and he changed for the better. I was placed on the squad to retrieve him but we were too late. Yet, Chiyo, one of the people from Suna who came with us, she gave her life to bring him back and I gave her some of my chakra to complete the technique." he reminisced, letting a sad smile grace his face.
"I'm sorry..." Tesshin apologized while Naruto shook his head.
"It's fine. After that, the next significant thing was that Jiraiya was sent to do recon in Amegakure, where the Akatsuki were supposed to be based. During the mission, he found out who was behind it but he got killed in the process. After that, I was summoned by the Toads to Mount Myoboku and began my Toad Sage training. The moment I returned, Konoha was destroyed by the leader of the Akatsuki, Nagato. He was much stronger than everyone I faced before hand as he had the same eyes as the Six Sage, the Rinnegan." he explained. Tesshin's eye widened at the revelation.
"The rumours were true? I never would believe that there would be someone who would inherit those eyes..." he mused.
"Yeah. During the fight, I got pinned down and a girl who had a crush on me came in to protect me, nearly dying in the process. I lost control and entered my eight-tailed state... which was when I met my dad." he chuckled. "Turns out he planned ahead for when Kurama was close to escaping and made the seal so that he would intervene and make sure I didn't release him. It was after that I discovered the full potential I could have by entering my bijuu form. Carrying on, I defeated his puppets and talked with the real Nagato and convinced him to stop the attack. He used the last of his chakra to revive everyone who died during the invasion as his apology." he smiled as he remembered the smile on his fellow Uzumaki's face.
"So, the village was rebuilt soon after?" Tesshin asked, finding himself wanting to know more about the boy's adventures.
"Yeah but that was the turning point. By this time, the Akatsuki had acquired seven of the nine bijuu; leaving myself and the Hachibi jinchuriki, Killer Bee. He was much more powerful than me as he was on a friendly level with his bijuu while I had to fight mine... which was where I met my mom." he laughed at the absurdity of it.
"Things are never simple with you, are they?" Tesshin shook his head, chuckling softly to himself at the blond's warped sense of luck.
"Would they be interesting to listen to if they weren't?" he asked back, grinning. "Well, I found out about my mother, Kushina, and she she helped me fight the Kyuubi. I won the fight and absorbed all the chakra he had at the time, allowing me to access my bijuu mode and my cloak mode. the latter was myself being shrouded in Kurama's chakra that was clean; no malice, hate, nothing. It was at this time I found out that the 'true leader' of the Akatsuki had declared war on the five shinobi nations." he continued, earning a gasp from Tesshin.
"We heard about that... the Kuki Corporation had to move the satellite away for a while because of the damage that took place. It was a weird phenomena that took place as some of the backlash affect us as well." Tesshin explained, getting a shocked look from Naruto.
"You serious?" he asked. "Damn... didn't realize it was that big. Well, we're close to landing so I'm gonna skim the next parts: Sasuke killed Orochimaru, Kabuto absorbed Orochimaru, Five Great Nations formed the first ever 'Great Shinobi Alliance', Danzo was killed by Sasuke, Kabuto joined Obito. Obito was the guy who called himself Madara Uchiha but was, in fact, Kakashi's 'dead' team mate. Finally got Kurama on my side and unlocked the complete bijuu mode by transforming into the Kyuubi himself. Madara was brought back to life by the Edo Tensei, several Kage's were summoned, all four Hokages were summoned... even the ones who used the Shiki Fuin. Long ass fight between everyone and the Juubi was summoned. Another massive fight, Kabuto was defeated by Sasuke and a revived Itachi, who died to Sasuke. Orochimaru came back, helped out with the war and another long-ass battle before the turning point of the war..." Naruto slowed down as he readied himself for the next part. Tesshin leaned in as he wanted to know what happened next.
"I came up with a plan that freed the bijuu from the Gedo Statue and temporarily absorbed their power to fight against the Juubi. Madara and Obito couldn't control the original Juubi and they couldn't stand against me when my bijuu mode combined with my Sage mode and overpowered the three of them. We finally managed to seal Madara away for good, the Juubi was taken into a revived Nagato and died with the bijuu inside him. Obito tried to fight back but I ended up delivering the final blow and killed him. After that, the war was finished and it's been like that for the past two years, now." Naruto finished as he took a big gulp of his drink.
"I must say I cannot begin to imagine how powerful you've become." Tesshin smiled as he patted the boy on his shoulder. "To accomplish so much is nothing short of an achievement and you should be proud of the fact. It makes me feel somewhat silly for what I have to say to you next..." Tesshin shrugged.
"Huh? What do you mean, jiji?" Naruto replied, intrigued by the cryptic message.
"I've invoked the Kawakami Rule between classes 2F and 2S..." he started off as Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what that meant.
"Kawakami War... heh, now I see why you feel silly!" he chuckled heartily before settling down once more. "So, what are things looking like right now?" he asked, very much intrigued by the new situation.
"Well, I should let you know that Tachibana Takae is no longer a member of the 'Big Four'..." he began before Naruto suddenly stood up in his seat.
"What!? Who beat her?" he yelled, stunned by the news.
"Her name is Yukie Mayuzumi. You would know her father better than the child." he replied as the recognizing glint appeared in his eyes as he sat down and regained control of himself.
"The Eleventh Sword Saint... *whistles*, that shows just how good she really is. I heard the news that she's supposed to be better than her father, right?" he asked.
"Indeed. Before Tachibana could establish her position, she had lost to the same Sword Saint and lost her place in the Big Four. Also, I should let you know that she, and a transfer student from Lubeck, have joined the members of the 'Kazama Family' and are currently staying in their dorm." he explained, getting a slow methodical nod from the jinchuriki.
"So how does the family members play out in this?" he pestered, wanting to know details so that he could make an entry that no-one would be expecting.
"Each member of the family is fighting under the banner of 2F, with Momoyo deciding to side with 2S. In light of this, Yamato has informed me that he has asked the help of Ageha Kuki and Tsubame Matsunaga to deal with Momoyo. I take it that you'll reveal your return during the battle?" he probed, wanting to know more about what the blond was planning.
"Of course! Would I do it any other way?" the blond and elder chuckled together as they soon heard the announcement that they had arrived. Quickly making their way down the plane stairs, the two were soon greeted by a black limo that pulled up next to them. The back door opened up and revealed a slim leg that was concealed by a grey-pinstripe trousers. Soon the figure made herself known as she flicked her silver hair behind her shoulder, opening her eyes to reveal her grey orbs.
She knew about Tesshin bringing back an old friend but by hell she didn't expect him to come back to Kawakami so soon. With a smile appearing on her face, she jogged over to the blond and embraced him in a fierce hug. "Naru-chan!" she squealed in delight.
"Nice to see you too, Ageha-neesan." Naruto smiled as he returned the gesture for a few minutes before the two of them separated from one another. "D'you miss me?" he asked, getting a pinch of his cheek in response.
"And why didn't you contact us?" she chided.
"I had good reason, honestly!" he began, pulling himself free from the silverette's grasp. "Bad stuff happened back home and there was a war which took all five nations to fight against." he quickly explained, getting a wide-eye from Ageha as she soon scurried over his frame, checking if he was alright. "I'm okay, we managed to defeat him but that's a story for another time. Moving on... I've been told you're fighting alongside 2F tomorrow, correct?" he asked.
"Yeah." she nodded, smiling at her handsome brother. "Momoyo decided to swap teams because she was bored and was looking for a challenge." she giggled, allowing the blond to smile. "So, how're you gonna do it?" she asked, whispering to him.
"Oh... I got a few ideas." he grinned foxily, flashing his canines before making his way inside the limo as the three of the drove off. "Can I take a look at where we're gonna be fighting tomorrow? I want to get a feel for my environment." he quipped, getting odd looks from the two people that were with him.
'He's up to something...'
Chapter one done! And thus, this marks the re-write of Naruto x Majikoi! There will not be any FFVII references this time and will strictly be the two anime's involved.
Lemme know what you think of the chapter and R/R as always!
Ja ne! ;)