:A/N:
Well, this is my very first fic. It's not my first attempt, mind you, but this is the first time I've had the determination to actually get behind it. I can't promise I'll stick with it; don't be surprised if I'm not a fast updater, but I can promise that I will try my best. I've got a lot of things worked out in my head, but I have no clue where this will ultimately lead. There are Japanese manga spoilers here, so take heed if you're avoiding those.
This fic is an AU; it picks up the story after Naruto, Hinata, and Yamato encounter Kabuto on the mission to find Itachi; anything after that is up for change. In this story, Naruto is captured by the Akatsuki shortly after that encounter with Kabuto, and the Kyuubi is extracted. Eventually, I may make story based upon that, but this story starts after that mission. Also, an OC will play prominently in the story. Sorry if you don't like that.
Sections of the story that are completely bolded are parts that aren't taking place at the moment. Flashbacks and foreshadowing are done with this style. Also, this entire prologue is foreshadowing; view it as the same as the little intro in Shippuden.
EDIT: Updated with changes 3/16/09
Anyways, enjoy!
:DISCLAIMER:
Naruto ain't mine, kiddies. Don't ask me for it.
________________________________________
SHINOBI CHRONICLES
PROLOGUE
________________________________________
Pain.
It coarsed through every inch of his body. It was worse in his left shoulder, which was shredded and bleeding profusely. The shoulder had taken a direct hit, and he couldn't move the arm at all. He could barely draw upon enough of his chakra to keep him on the water's surface; that crazy sword had devoured the rest of it. Every fiber of his being felt sore, his legs weak and frail, shaking against his will, barely holding up his exhausted body.
"Dammit..." he cursed to himself, stealing a glance at his fallen teammate, who was face down, unmoving, on a large tree limb. Anko had fought valiantly, but their enemy had targeted her, apparently deeming her a bigger threat. He didn't even know if Anko was still alive. Anger and frustration pulsed through his veins, bringing his blood to a boil. "It...It can't end like this...!"
"Heh, sure it can, kid!" the blue-skinned man taunted, an evil sneer spreading across his face, exposing his razor-sharp fangs. "I think I've toyed with you fools long enough...It's time for you to understand what happens when you cross the Scourge of the Hidden Mist!"
'C'mon, Naruto! You've got to do something...! Anything!!' Naruto closed his eyes, angry at himself for being so useless. Angry at this monster for hurting his friends. Angry at him for abandoning them again.
Anger.
Pain.
Despair.
Kisame began raising his sword, Samehada, over his head, and cackled before taunting him some more.
"Ah, well. You beat me last time because of that damned Kyuubi. No such luck this time, eh? Time...to..!?" Kisame trailed off, eyes widening in shock at the sight before him.
That feeling. That familiar chakra flowing through him and exploding around him. It consumed him. Naruto looked down at his hands. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw.
It was back. He didn't know how or why, but the Red Chakra had returned.
It wasn't as strong as it used to be, but it was there. It was still stronger than his standard chakra, and it was giving him a second wind.
"W-what...?!" Kisame stammered. His grip on Samehada loosened a bit. "But...but that's impossible!" he shouted, taking a step back.
A sneer slowly spread across Naruto's face. "Heh heh, what's wrong, fish-breath? Scared?!" he taunted, glaring at Kisame with blood-red eyes. The Red Chakra continued to flow around him. He could feel the wound on his shoulder healing slowly.
Kisame's eyes narrowed, and his grip on the Samehada tightened. "...Gah! It doesn't matter! I'll just take that chakra too!" he bellowed angrily as he swung the giant sword at Naruto. Naruto stopped the chakra flow in his feet and propelled himself under the water, avoiding the attack. He winced as he felt a little bit of his chakra get devoured by the sword, but it wasn't much. As he fell underwater, he brought his hands up in front of his face.
"Tch, what is this?! The water's my turf, kid!" Kisame shouted, diving after the blonde-haired teenager. It didn't take him long to spot Naruto, and he pursued him back to the surface. They both surfaced at the same time, Kisame tearing the Samehada through Naruto's stomach.
"Aha! Stupid kid!" Kisame shouted triumphantly, landing back on top of the water.
POOF!
"Tch...Shadow Clone..?" Kisame's eyes narrowed in annoyance. 'Calm down...don't let him get to you, dammit..!' he thought to himself as he spun around. Another Naruto had surfaced about 10 meters away.
"I guess you forgot what my best Jutsu is, eh fish-breath?" he taunted once more, extending his right arm outward, palm facing upward. Chakra began to swirl inside his palm.
Suddenly, two more Narutos burst out of the water, one about 100 meters behind Kisame, the other directly in front of him. The closer one swung a large shuriken upwards towards Kisame, but the attack missed, Kisame dodging the blade easily. The attack did, however, force Kisame away from the first Naruto. Meanwhile, the farthest Naruto started running towards him, his hands held outward in front of his body. Kisame glanced over his shoulder at the second Naruto, his eyes narrowing. 'Those hand-signs again..?' He scowled.
"Pathetic!" Kisame bellowed, cleaving through the closest Naruto and turning towards the one that was rushing him. Unsurprisingly, the one that he had slashed disappeared with a loud pop, just as the one before it had. Kisame blanched. "You don't learn, do you?!" He charged towards the rushing Naruto, Samehada at his side, ready to strike.
"Wind Style! Wind Fangs Jutsu!" the rushing Naruto shouted. His hands crossed in front of him as he did, then swung outward violently. A powerful blast of wind shot towards Kisame, raising a small wave of water as it traveled forward.
"Hmph! Try again, kid!" Kisame bellowed, swinging Samehada in front of him, devouring the chakra of the Jutsu and neutralizing the attack. He continued towards the now closer Naruto and swung his sword again, cleaving through his midsection roughly.
POOF!
Kisame spun around angrily, and rushed the last remaining Naruto. The chakra in his palm was starting to take shape.
"Tch, of course that was the Clone! Well, it doesn't matter! Time to-" Kisame suddenly came to a halt right in front of Naruto, sword raised over his head. Kisame's eyes widened in shock.
"Wha...What the hell!?"
Naruto's eyes followed a shadow along the surface of the water to it's source. He smirked.
"Success..!"
Kisame's head slowly turned to the left against his will. There, he saw a young, black haired shinobi, hands held in front of his face, smirking triumphantly. His shadow had extended outward towards Kisame's shadow, connecting with it.
"Sh-Shadow Paralysis?!" Kisame stuttered, his voice laced with dread. The boy scowled.
"It's Shadow POSSESSION! Get your Jutsu's right already..." the young Shinobi retorted, sounding bored.
"Took you long enough, Shikamaru!" Naruto exclaimed, glancing over at his lazy friend.
"Just finish him off already!" Shikamaru replied, glancing at Naruto.
"Reinforcements...ugh. Those damn kids were fast..." Kisame stammered, wide eyes glancing back at Naruto.
Naruto closed his eyes, focusing his chakra. His palm was still facing upward, chakra still swirling. 'Alright, c'mon, Naruto...focus...'
"Keh! When I get free of this, I'm gonna tear you all to pieces!! I'll make sure you suffer..!" Kisame ranted angrily, struggling against the shadow that bound him.
The chakra in Naruto's hand began to take a spherical form. It was spinning and swirling wildly. Naruto scowled. 'C'mon...compress the chakra..!' The chakra continued to gather and form, until Naruto held a blue, spiraling orb in his right hand.
'That's it! Maintain it..! I've got it..!'
"Argh...this is not...good...!!" Kisame's eyes widened in panic. He struggled more, but to no avail.
Naruto slowly opened his blood-red eyes, glaring at Kisame. A vengeful scowl crossed his face as he prepared to attack.
"This...This is for what you did...to Hinata..!" Naruto growled. Kisame gritted his teeth, eyes widening even more. Suddenly, Naruto shot forward towards Kisame, thrusting the blue orb towards his midsection.
"RASENGAN!!!"