Berserker Chapter 1, a naruto fanfic

Berserker

Author: Diskonto

Oh, and credits to Kishimoto too.

1, The First Odysseys

Naruto was somehow able to regain consciousness after the brush with death he had just encountered. He had long before realized that it would end this way, but he still could not bring himself to kill his former best-friend Sasuke. And now he lied broken and defeated, swallowing the rain as he looked upon the heavens with a distant face.

I didn't keep my promise. And in spite of it all, he could not think about himself in the least bit. I can't even move. He got the feeling that the others would come soon, but his body was freezing, and he didn't seem long for this world. He slightly began to shiver from hypothermia, and he cursed his luck. If I don't move, the weather will kill me, and that would be a bad way to die...

Death by freezing... that was one fate that Naruto was sure to try to avoid. In his attempts to get up, he noticed that something had bumped into his hand, which was currently in the river itself. Surprised by the sudden impact, his hand closed shut tightly, and he felt something almost perfectly round in his hand. His eyebrow rose as his curiosity increased. Just what had he caught? Some sort of gem? A grin spread across his face as his tiredness was forgotten and he ripped the object out of the water.

"This is..."

He was looking upon a rather strange piece of gemstone. Perfectly rounded on all sides, in a perfect sphere. The inside was clouded by a haze that seemed to dance in the light as Naruto moved it from side to side over his face. "Is it... alive?" The question was preposterous, but the strange orb did seem to be a bit ... off. I wonder what it is?

However he was sure that whatever it was, would fetch a hefty price in town. Maybe he would finally be able to get a better house. If it's at least that... I'll be happy. As he heard footsteps, Naruto placed the orb in his pocket, and waited to be picked up. It took him long enough though, I wonder if their battles were harder than I thought.

The energy signature came closer, and Naruto realized that it was not his friends, but someone that was still familiar to him. When he saw Kakashi's form jump from the top of the cliff to the ground beside him a smile came across his face. Late as usual, sensei. Immediately following his landing, Naruto saw the sad face that his sensei had, and wondered if he could have been sad about his condition... Nah, probably not. Reality didn't really hit like a ton of bricks, but it was still a bit sad.

"I'm sorry Naruto, I didn't get here in time." Naruto saw Kakashi's head dip to the ground and he wondered if he actually thought he was dead.

"Yeah, maybe if you got here in time I wouldn't be dying of hypothermia!" As he finished yelling he grunted in pain and clenched his eyes shut. "ow ow ow..."

"Naruto?" Naruto opened his left eye and saw the look of shock on Kakashi's face. Then it was immediately followed by a look of relief, something that he had not seen much of after the chuunin exams. "I thought you were..."

"Dead? Yeah, I figured..." Naruto tried his best to chuckle, but he ended up just bringing more pain to his chest, so he thought better of it.

"I'll get you back to Konoha, just hold on alright?"

"How about the others?" He saw Kakashi's praising look, obviously because of his worry of his teammates, and didn't see any grave signs in Kakashi's answer. It seems they at least survived.

"Well, they are battered and bruised, but still alive." Naruto let out a sigh of relief and looked back up to the sky. While the main purpose of the mission was left unfulfilled, at least they defeated their opponents while still staying alive. "You'll be heroes in the shinobi ranks, even if you failed, you've done above and beyond the call of duty."

"Somehow, that doesn't sound like much of a replacement prize..."

Naruto was glad it was raining. Now it was because Kakashi could probably not take the tears running down his face as actual tears, but rather just raindrops. It hurts, and I don't think we'll be able to get over this for a while.

"Naruto, you've done so much for him..."

"What else did I have?" Naruto could see that Kakashi saw that coming. After all, he of all else should know that he had nothing but his friends. Out of everyone, The ping of Naruto's heart was more of a heavier burden than anyone else. Maybe the pain he felt... was more than even Sakura's. Not that he would ever let anyone else know it.

"What will you do now Naruto?" The question was an honest one after he placed Naruto on his back. "Sasuke is gone, and Sakura is broken, she might recover, but if she meets him again, it could crumble. But what of you?"

"There's no getting off this path I'm on... not for me."

"Just what are you really striving for..." They started to move along the forest floor, towards their hometown. For Kakashi and Naruto, this was a very important time, some time to think, and some time to get to know each other. "I really do want to know."

Naruto leaned against Kakashi's back and kept looking off to the side. His mind was aflutter with ideas and memories. Everything came together as he tried to focus on what he wanted. What is it that he wanted? To be hokage? No, a goal like that would alone accomplish nothing. His eyes narrowed and his eyes flared red a moment, just a moment. "To be remembered for all time..."

In his pocket, the orb began to glow brightly...

Naruto's eyes fluttered open in a moment. He was in a darkened room somewhere. By the smell and the clean sheets, he would bet his money on it being a hospital. Suddenly he remembered the orb in an instant. It seemed odd that he would, but regardless he checked his pockets. It's not here...

Of course, since he was not in his orange jumpsuit, but rather a hospital gown. Sighing, Naruto's head slammed back on the pillow and he stared up at the ceiling. I wonder how Sakura is taking our failure? Somehow he got the feeling that he would be going so far away, that nothing will reach him, even his friend's voices.

Why am I thinking like that? He chuckled to himself as he turned over to the window. The light was shimmering in through the closed blinds, but still not nearly enough to illuminate the room. Dark, and beautiful. Somehow that thought didn't seem like his, maybe the fox was messing with him. Can't he leave me alone just for a change?

Hearing the door open, Naruto turned around in an instant. He settled down the minute he saw Jiraiya slipping inside the door and closing it behind him. "Oi! What are you doing here pervert, can't I get a moment of peace?"

"Quiet kid, I'm actually doing you a favor, so be grateful!" Naruto saw Jiraiya grit his teeth in annoyance as he walked into the room and over to the window. "I want you to come and travel with me on a training mission."

"What's the catch?"

"You do what I say, when I say it, in return you get stronger. Oh, and this is not an option Naruto... it's for your benefit." Naruto grunted and sat up, crossing his arms over his chest. "What, you don't believe me?"

"It's just to get me away from the villagers, and to protect me from those Akatz-whatever guys." Naruto glanced over and saw Jiraiya's grin and figured he must have been right. "I think I do have an option, it does sound like a good deal, but I still need to look for Sasuke."

"Sasuke is gone Naruto, just like Orochimaru before him."

"YOUR WRONG!" Naruto saw Jiraiya's eyes snap to him with shock. "Sasuke is not beyond saving, he's being misled, and that's no reason to abandon him. If I walked off the path, would you just sit there and watch me fall? HELL NO!"

"You sure presume a lot about me..." However, Naruto wasn't fit with just assuming...

"I think you would die for me..."

"You think so huh?" Naruto could practically feel the sweat coming from Jiraiya, maybe he had really hit right on the mark. But even so, why would the "great Jiraiya" give his life for him? It didn't really make sense, yet Jiraiya was sweating so much it was like he was right. It seemed there was something that Jiraiya knew that he didn't. Some secret that tied them together, almost like friends. Even though they had only known each other for a short time...

Naruto's ears perked up as he heard Jiraiya mumble something, but he couldn't make it out. Grumbling, he decided to ask about the gem he found at the river. "Hey pervert," he said. Immediately he caught Jiraiya's attention and continued, "I found a gem or something in the river, do you know where it is?" He saw Jiraiya cup his chin in thought, and a few moments later, snapped his fingers.

"That strange thing? It was much too bright, so the staff put it in the closet so you could sleep." Naruto watched as Jiraiya walked to the closet and opened it up, immediately it became increasingly brighter, and as Naruto's face lit up with it's blaze, it darkened again. "That's strange, they couldn't get it to darken at all, but it seems like it's dull now. What is it, Naruto?"

"I don't know, It bumped into my hand in the river so I snatched it."

"That was... some luck." Naruto could see the strange sense of uncertainty in Jiraiya's face and voice. It seemed like he had a bit of freight when it came to the strange object. "Just, be careful with it alright? Your enemies are very cunning." Naruto caught drift of what he was saying and nodded. "So you're not completely stupid, aren't you?"

Naruto grumbled and grabbed the pillow behind him, heaving it at Jiraiya's head. The hermit's eyes widened as he ducked under the projectile, only to be hit in the face with the second pillow he threw just afterwards. "Nice one-two punch!"

"Get... OUT!"

It wasn't long after that Naruto found himself released from the hospital. After he had kindly been informed that he wouldn't have missions for a while, Naruto walked down a path on the outskirts of Konoha, wanting to be alone for a moment.

He sat down in the shade of a tall tree and leaned back against it's trunk. He wondered if he had truly done the right thing by taking on Sasuke, or perhaps there was another way to have handled it. Even then, there was no mistake that if he had let Sasuke go ahead, he would have gotten away. I guess I made the best decision I could.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the odd gem he found. For some reason he felt a lot calmer with it in his hands. But, I should figure out a place where I can sell this thing. He looked around for a moment, and confident that no one had seen him, he placed the gem back in his pocket. But who would buy from me?

After thinking about it, there didn't seem to be anyone in Konoha that would buy from him. Most of them were probably forced into selling their stock to him by the Hokage. Then, what should I do? Scratching his head, Naruto walked off to the side and down the path, back towards town.

He went a few steps before a sound caught his ears. Turning around quickly, he looked around but saw nothing. The sound seemed to have been someone landing on their feet, but there was no one there, And I don't feel anything... Shrugging it off as paranoia, Naruto turned back around and kept walking away from the scene. Strange, but probably nothing.

Before long though, Naruto was feeling very nervous. He had heard the sound again a few times, and to make it even creepier, the sky was becoming cloudy and darker. It suddenly didn't feel like he was a lone anymore, and his muscles tensed. Just who is behind me?

He stopped in the middle of the street and looked behind him again. This time there was a presence, but it was so masked he couldn't exactly spot where it was. To make matters worse, Naruto could not hear anything from the person. It was almost like he was being stalked. This is weird, I should get back soon...

However, as he turned around, that's when it spoke...

"You're surprisingly dull-witted!"

Naruto turned back around in a heartbeat. He didn't see anything again! "Where are you!" Naruto walked backwards as he looked from side to side, watching for anything out of the ordinary. "Come out! And quit messing with me!" He heard a chuckle, and narrowed his eyes.

"I'm up here!"

Naruto's eyes flipped upwards to the canopy overhead. Sure enough, there was someone sitting on a branch above him. However, he was surprised by what he saw. She was a girl about seventeen with red hair tied back in a long pony tail. A smirk was across her face and under mysterious crimson eyes. Two canine teeth were poking out of her mouth, and the rest of her body was slender, much more so than a normal human. "W-Who are you?"

"Can I see it? The orb?"

Naruto's eyes widened as he reached into his pocket. He raised an eyebrow and kept his eyes on the girl as he clutched it tightly. "How did you know about that?" He saw the grin on her face grow and tensed as he prepared for anything.

"Well, I'm drawn to it, since it proves who you are... or will be actually." Naruto had confusion written on his face as he looked up at the strange woman. "I guess you wouldn't understand at first, but if you must know. You having that makes you very important where I'm from."

"And where do you come from?" Naruto blinked as he looked at her. Out of everything, she was a strange on. It was starting to become confusing. "What is this all about anyways?"

"You want to know? Well then how about you beat it out of me?" Naruto's mouth dropped as his muscles relaxed. "You know, fight me, and if you win I'll tell you." Naruto wasn't sure what she was talking about, but it wasn't like he ever turned down a challenge.

"If you want to fight, I'm all for it!" Naruto smirked as he balled his hands into fists. "I'll win for sure!" Even if he had his confidence, he was still injured, who knows what could happen. It's not like I have much of a choice though...

"Well little mortal, if that's what you want..." She stood up on the branch and crossed her arms over her chest. Naruto slid into the only fighting position he knew and prepared, but when she disappeared from the branch, his eyes widened and his confidence was already shaking.

She reappeared right in front of him and he jumped back. Naruto gritted his teeth as he clenched his stomach. It hurt, but still he had to fight. He could see how she saw his discomfort and her smile faded a bit. What's with that? Her emotions are changing a bit now...

Before he knew it, she had moved again, this time, instead of being greeted with her face, he was greeted with her shoe. He got knocked backwards and landed harshly on the ground, clenching his stomach in pain. All in all, he felt thoroughly defeated as he lay on the stone pathway. That really hurt... However, he felt something on his chest, and his eyes flew open.

He was surprised when he felt the steel of a dagger on his neck, and all four of his limbs bound. Even if she used her hands and feet... then what's holding the dagger? Looking, Naruto saw that a spaded tip of a tail was wrapped around the dagger, and the rest of his body was held by her legs and hands. "Whoa, what the hell?"

"Your probably afraid right?" Naruto stopped struggling for a moment and met her eyes. Her crimson eyes focused in on him like a predator, but for some reason he wasn't completely fearful. He had a feeling that she wouldn't do anything to him, and it was proved as she dropped the dagger and reached into his pocket with her spade tail.

"W-What are you doing?"

She ignored him at first, looking only after she had a decent look at the orb. After she placed the orb so where they could both see it easily, she said, "it is true. I had to make certain for myself, but I'm so glad I found you... my lord."

After a few moments of confusion, what she had called him sunk in. "lord?" Naruto mentally groaned as he wondered just what he had gotten himself into...

(A/n:) Since this is my first story, I'm looking for an editor. If you are interested in this story enough, please contact me at my email account provided in my profile. I hope to hear helpful reviews from people as well.