Chapter 2: Naruto's Battle
(Konoha, the morning after Naruto left)
It was a day like any other in Konoha, but something feels different, something is missing from this city. The wind was blowing softly, too soft like the wind itself wanted to tell its people about something but it's too quiet to hear, like a whisper, the sun is shining but not as bright as usual…
Two people can be seen walking toward the gate, it was none other than Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane. Izumo has brown hair, and dark eyes. His hair is combed down and always covers his right eye. He wears his forehead protector like a bandanna along with the standard Konoha shinobi outfit which goes all the way up to his chin, in a similar manner to Yamato's and a flak jacket and Kotetsu has long, spiky, black hair and dark eyes. He has a strip of bandage running across the bridge of his nose and a light-colored marking on his chin, although it has the same color as his hair in the anime. He wears the standard attire of a Konoha shinobi complete with a forehead protector and a flak jacket. The two of them are a chūnin Level Shinobi they usually work at the village gate as the gate guard. Today too they walk toward the gate to guard it…
'Sigh' "What a crazy night" Izumo stated with a tired look, bruises and cuts all over his face and a black eye mark.
"Hoy Izumo I asked you about that look on your face and that black mark since I met you this morning, but you always said 'nothing' is there a reason to it?" Kotetsu asked
'Sigh' "I just... don't want to remember what happen by explaining it to you" Izumo replied with shiver
"Ok now you really make me curious with it, there's no way it's that bad" Kotetsu Stated
"Do I really have to explain it?" Izumo asked and Kotetsu just nodded his head
'Sigh' "It's just that last night when I went to the hot spring to relax, it was just like any other night, but when I enter the bath, someone was already inside. Can you guess who was it?" Izumo explained Kotetsu just shook his head.
Izumo Takes a really deep breath and sighed "it was Hokage-sama, Apparently someone changed the sign for man and women's hot spring and after tha-" Izumo didn't continue because Kotetsu placed his hand on his shoulder with apologetic look on his face "I'm sorry my friend for making you remember that" the two kept like that for a couple of minutes and continue their track to the gate in silence…
"Oy Izumo did you feel it?" Kotetsu asked breaking the ice
"Hmm" Izumo said looking to him then he look around, everything was normal for him. He felt no enemy presence or killing intent in the air but still something felt different "Everything looks normal for me but I feel something is not right" he stated
Kotetsu just nodded his head and continued their track again but stopped when they spotted someone was lying on the bench near the gate… they've ran toward whoever it was, when they got closer to it they finally recognize who it was… it was Uchiha Sasuke
"He's alive just knocked out" Izumo stated while checking his pulse
"What is he doing out here?" Kotetsu asked
"I don't know but we have to bring him to the hospital right now and we have to tell this to the Godaime" Izumo stated Kotetsu nodded and the two then gone to the hospital with a shunshin bringing Sasuke with the.
(A couple hours latter hospital)
"Uggh," Uchiha Sasuke said before opening his eyes, slowly waking up and sitting upright,
"What happen to me?, Where am I?" He said while holding his head with both of his hands when suddenly he hear someone open the door.
"Ahh i see you're finally awake Uchiha-san" the person said to him
Sasuke immediately entered guard mode but when he looked who it was he relaxed. It was just a nurse, so that's meant he was in the hospital... 'Wait hospital?'.
"How am I ended up here?" he ask the nurse
"Izumo-san and Kotetsu-san brought you here. They said they found you on the bench near the gate this morning," She said
"Bench? how?" then he suddenly remembered what happen lastnight 'Sasuke Please Protect everyone else when i'm not around' "That's right Naruto!" he yelled, and jump off the bed "I need to see Hokage-sama, I need to ask her about something immediately," he said in a hurry and start running outside..
"Ahh Uchiha-san please don't run in the hall!" the nurse yelled but he paid her no mind and continued running toward the hokage tower.
(With Tsunade)
It's just like any other day for the Godaime working, stamping and signing paperwork for a whole day.
'I swear to god I'll give this job to whoever want it if they asked it right now' she thought, continuing her daily job with a tired look on her face she just sighed until 'BAM!' the door flung open by sheer force from someone with black raven hair black eyes with a frown in his face… it was Uchiha Sasuke.
"Hoka..." before he could finish it, he was cut off by Tsunade's hand.
'Sigh' "I know what you came here for, it's about Naruto leaving the village isn't it?" she said to him. The raven haired man nodded at this. "So you know about this, is he just out on a mission?" Sasuke asked. Another sigh escaped her mouth "No! He's out on a journey on his own and before you ask he's retiring from the leaf's shinobi" she stated. "He WHAT? Why? But what about his dream? And why aren't you stopping him?" Sasuke said surprised by this. Tsunade just sighed at this "Uchiha-san you should know about this better than anyone that once he think he makes a right decision, he won't go back on it no matter what happen and before you asked again He made me promise to not tell all of you about him until he left because he didn't want to make you all worried and chase him." Tsunade stated to him. "That Selfish bastard" Mumbling Sasuke… "So if there is nothing else you may leave Uchiha-san" Sasuke open his mouth to say something but nothing come out so he bowed his head and left the office. SIGH 'I hope you'll find a good and better life where ever you're going and when you come back you better bring me something for me to pay all the trouble you brought with this. I better tell all of his friends tomorrow. I don't know how they'll react to this news but they need to know, the two old bitches from the council will yell on me about this 'sigh' when is my retirement' Tsunade thought with a tired look on her face "SHIZUNE! Bring me sake" and the day continue for the Godaime and her enemy the paperwork.
(The next day)
Tension could be felt all around Konoha, the citizens were wondering what was going on right now. Why? It was because the Rookies were gathering which could only mean something was happening. Since the war Konoha Rookies made a name for them and established themselves as one of the strongest Ninjas to have ever come out of Konoha
The Rookies, Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Lee, Ten Ten, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Sai, Sakura, and Sasuke were standing in Hokage's office looking at a very serious Tsunade. Alongside the Rookies were their teachers, Kakashi and Gai. There was one more person in the room, Temari of the Sand who was acting as a liaison between Konoha and Sand. Shizune was as always by her Masters side but someone is missing.
Sakura interrupted the silence, "Tsunade-sama, what's happening? Why are we all here?"
Tsunade rested her head on her hands, a Kage look on her face. Whatever it was it must be something humongous. "What I'm going to tell you is news for all of you from one of your friend." The rookies were all confused at this "Now you must be noticed someone is missing from your group." Tsunade continued. The group just nodded except for some people who know what was going to be told by Tsunade. "Hai Tsunade-sama we haven't seen Naruto at all this two days. Did something happen to him?" Sakura asked with worried look, the others start talking to themselves with Shikamaru mumbling something about 'Troublesome blondes'. Tsunade stopped them by lifting her hand "What I'm about to tell you is considered a S-ranked secret, so no word goes out to the civilians." Tsunade stated with serious face. Taking a deep breath and release it with a sigh "Naruto Uzumaki retired from Konoha's active shinobi force, and right now he already left the village to take a journey for undecided time" Tsunade said. Silence ensued for a minute "HE WHAT?!" all of the rookies yelled. It was a good thing Tsunade used a soundproof jutsu on her office, because their voice could be heard all around the village even to the neighboring country. The rookies start to bombarding Tsunade with question with Lee and Gai start shouting about the lost of someone youth until she couldn't take it no more, slamming her hand on the desk, everyone stopped as she look around and noticed that Hinata was gone. "Where's Hinata?" she asked looking around…
(With Hinata)
"Naruto-kun I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" Hinata was crying under some tree holding Naruto's and hers picture when they were still at the academy. After hearing that Naruto left the village from Tsunade, she immediately ran out of the office and end up at the forest near the village gate. It was hers and Naruto's favorite place when they were still dating. "HINATA!" someone was calling for her, she was surprised that someone actually could find her here, she looked up and saw it was Sakura "What are you doing out here, everyone is looking for you?" she asked.
Hinata was not answering. She just kept looking at the picture still sobbing. "You know Sakura-san, Naruto-kun was like a sun to me. Whenever I saw his smiles, his laughs, and hearing him talk, my heart would always beat faster. Just being near him was like you are in the safest place in the world." Hinata said with smile "Hinata!" Sakura said worried "When we were dating, he always made sure that every day is a day that I couldn't forget. Every time I go down he will always be there for me making those big goofy grins of his and every time he does that I couldn't help but forget everything else and start smiling too." Hinata said remembering those days "Naruto-kun was always there for me. He gave everything he got to make me laugh and smile but in the end what did I gave him in return was betrayal and I hurt his heart again." she started crying again "those days were the greatest days in my life but I destroyed it. Since that day he started avoiding me, even when we met he never called my name anymore I always tried to explain everything to him but he just kept looking at me with those fake smile, my heart was hurting when I saw him like that and now everything is late, I can't even see him anymore." She' cries again "Hinata!" Sakura called and start hugging her 'I know how you feel Hinata but I won't give up and when he's back I'll start everything again between us' Sakura thought.
(With Naruto)
Nine months had passed since he left Konoha he was heading toward a port city in the east to take a boat to the sea. After he left Konoha he has been visiting all of the Kage's to say goodbye to them. Every time he entered a village, they would always throw a big party for him. The party always lasted for a whole week. It was like a festival. At the end of the week, when the party would end, he would say goodbye to them and leave. Right now our blond hero was walking with a tired look on his face. It's been 5 whole days since he's been walking without taking a break. "WHERE THE HELL IS THAT DAMNED PORT?" Naruto yelled out. "Oy! You don't have to yell you know." someone said to him clearly irritated. "If you are looking for the port, it's just right down there." He said while pointing to the port "ehh!" he looked around realizing that everyone stopped whatever they were doing and looked at him with weird eyes. He started laughing sheepishly clearly embarrassed about this. Its looks like he's just entered the city when he started yelling without noticing it. He said thank you to the man and started running toward the port leaving dust in his trail.
(The port)
"So are you saying that the boat that was going to that place went missing?" The blond asked.
"Yeah we don't know what happen but a week ago the sea around that place started becoming weird and one by one the ship that went there never came back." A captain of a trading ship answered. "We started searching for them, but we only found one survivor."
"So have you got some clues from him?" Naruto asked with serious face
"No" He shook his head "the man doesn't remember anything. In fact he doesn't even remember his own name." he explained
"Hey Kit."Kurama throw in.
'What is it?'
"Did you feel it?"
'Yeah I feel it, I don't know what it is but it's really dangerous and it keeps getting bigger and bigger as we speak.'
"You'd better be careful this time, I have a bad feeling about this"
'Yeah I too have a bad feeling about this'
"So is there a boat I can use right now?" the blond asked the captain
"Yeah there's one right there. But are you sure you're going there alone?"
"Don't worry about me, nothing can put me down." Naruto said with his goofy smile while give him a thumb up and take the boat.
(One hour latter)
'It's supposed to be somewhere around here, right Kurama?'
"Yeah I can feel it, just keep going forward"
'Err Kurama I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired right now' the blond thought falling asleep
"Oy gaki don't you dare to sleep! Oy gaki wake up! Oy" Kurama sighed 'Hmm' "OY GAKI WAKE UP! LOOK!" Kurama yelled
"Hmm what is it Kurama? Why are you… yell-WHAT THE HELL!" Naruto yelled with wide eyes 'Hey Kurama why is there a big whirlpool right here? Isn't it supposed to be a calm sea?' Naruto asked
"Don't ask me but whatever it is, it's the source of the power we felt back there. We better get out of here now!"
Naruto nodded and try to jump but failed and stumbled on the boat "Kurama wh-what is happening to me?"
"Urrgghh that damn strange whirlpool is sucking our energy"
"Uggh Kurama what… are… we going to…. do…" the blond managed to say before losing consciousness getting sucked by the whirlpool.. The whirlpool suddenly stopped and the sea became calm again.
(Several days latter)
"OY GAKI WAKE UP! OY WAKE THE HELL UP!" Kurama Shouted in Naruto's head
'Uggh... my head...'
His mind slowly began to kick back into gear as consciousness started to spread over his senses. His eyes twitched as he struggled to think back over what happened. There he was at in the middle of a sea, and then... Nothing? It's started getting fuzzy after that and Naruto racked his brain to try remembering what happened.
'Ah that's right that DAMN whirlpool so I get sucked to it wasn't I, does that mean I'm dead?' he thought.
Naruto pulled his eyelids up and a blurry world came into view. Everything was white, a hospital? Nope it didn't smell artificially clean enough though so it probably wasn't. He shook his head to try and clear the fogginess. His head hurt so much that it made him stop.
"DAD HE'S AWAKE!" someone yelled making his head snap to where the sound belonged.
"Ahh finally awake huh?" someone asked him this time the sound seems like it belonged to someone older.
A pair of hands came to rest on his person, one on his chest and another under his head. They gently lifted him up and he felt a cup rest against his lips. Quickly sinking the lot, he tried to say his thanks but his voice didn't come out. He tried to work on clearing his vision. The water granted him some strength to recover he noticed that the place was quite small.
Blinking a few times before asked "Where am I?"
"You're currently in the guild Fairy Tail. The area though called is Magnolia." Someone stated to him looking around he noticed some people standing there. He was currently talking to a man with a balding scalp and exposed forehead. He also had a thick mustache on him
Frowning, Naruto tapped his chin. Fairy Tail? Magnolia?
"Magnolia? Where is that located? Is there somewhere near the Elemental Nations?" he asked
They looking around and shrugged "I'm sorry, but none of us have ever heard of that place."
Naruto's eyes widened and his face paled slightly. "You you must be joking right? Ho-how did I get here?"
He clenched his fists as he desperately tried to wait patiently for their answer.
"Unfortunately no we're not joking. Romeo here found you lying on the beach unconscious."
Naruto tried to digest the information. If what he thought was right, then that damn whirlpool sent him somewhere far away.
"Ahh it's looks like we forgot to introduce ourselves, my name is Macao the Master of this guild and this is Romeo my son." Macao said introducing himself and Romeo after that one by one the other guild member introducing themselves.
"My name is Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto" Naruto introduced himself
"So Naruto, May I know what are you doing out there and what happen to you?" Macao asked
The blond explained what happen to him to them leaving some parts that he didn't thinks necessary for them to know. After several days at Fairy Tail, Naruto was getting closer to them, he felt indebted to them for saving his life and so he always did whatever he could to help them. After hearing the story about the guild and their missing teammates, he decided to join the guild so he can payback their kindness to him, besides it looked fun to join them anyway so why not he thought, he didn't have a place right now and he didn't plan going home anytime soon.
Hearing that Naruto wanted to join the guild, Macao was overjoyed and told every other guild member. they threw a party that whole night.
(A month later.)
"Hoy! Macao someone sent this S rank mission to us." Wakaba said
"Hmm who was it? Didn't they know we currently don't have an S class mage." Macao asked
"I don't know, but it looks like it has pretty big bounty."
"Hey, old man, what is the S-rank mission about?" Naruto asked out of no where
"Hmm it's said about eliminating a monster in the south." Wakaba explained
"Forget about it, you can't do it. It's too dangerous" Macao cut in
Naruto frowned "Hmm… so what if I can complete the mission"
"Then I will run around the town butt NAKED, But if YOU can't, you have to run across the city while shouting 'I m a GAY'. How about that, hmm?" Macao asked offering his hand. "OK! Then that's a deal!" Naruto agreed without a hint of hesitation. He takes the note and leaves the guild…
"Hey Macao, Are you sure about this?" Wakaba ask him. "He'll be fine, Even though he tried to hide it, I can see it in his eyes that he is strong far stronger than any of us here." Macao replied with a smile "No that's not what I asked, I asked you are you really sure you want to run around the town naked?" Wakaba asking him again and leave… 'Damn it I didn't really think he will take it when I made that bet.' Macao thought with a defeat face SIGH "whatever happen then happen."
(Present time)
The capital of Fiore Kingdom, the Flower Blooming Capital, Crocas. And right now also the host of the Grand Magic Tournament. A Tournament which will decide who is the strongest in Fiore. Guilds from around the world come together to prove their strength and try to reach the top of the magic world.
Despite their desire to win, Fairy Tail didn't have a good starts. While having two teams, they were ranked the bottom two. And now!
"WELL LET'S COMPOSE OURSELVES AND MOVE ON TO THE SECOND MATCH OF THE DAY. QUATRO CERBERUS – BACCHUS! AGAINST FAIRY TAIL 'S…."
"Us huh…" Erza
"What'll we do if it's Natsu?" Lucy
"We'll smack him awake." Gray
"That guy was on par with Erza right?" Elfman
"There he is! I don't care who does it! Takes revenge for me!" Cana
"Cana, calm down" Macao
"Hohoho you arranged the match up properly right?"
"You're Majesty."
"I'm looking forward to it. Bacchus vs. Erza. This will undoubtedly be an excellent match."
"EH. Did. Did you just say Erza? but th... the one I Arranged for is..."
"NARUTO!" the commentator finished
The stadium became silent then
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" The king yelled
"WHO?" is the question all around the stadium?
"Erza, do you know who is that?" Lucy asked
"No it's the first time I heard the name myself."
"Can the contestants please come to the stage?" the commentator asked
"Master, do you know what's going on?" Erza asked
"Eh yes I'm the one who assigned him in place of Elfman, hasn't i told you about that earlier?" Makarov said
"NO! I believe you haven't mentioned about this at all," Erza replied while eyeing Makarov
"ANYWAY! I didn't expect him to have come out this early,"
Silence came for several minutes, Then Soft footsteps could be heard and the stadium gulped with excitement.
A moment later, a man stepped out. A man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and six whiskers on his cheeks wear a strange outfit came out of the tunnel, Whispers and murmurs flooded the stadium, trying to find out who is that man.
Fairy Tail were also wondering just what the hell happened. Erza was very interested and worried to the man, because for some reason she couldn't even feel a single drop of magic from this man
The man started walking towards Bacchus who was lying down on the floor, looking all smug and possibly also drunk or that could just be how he normally looks like.
The man stopped a few meters in front of Bacchus. Bacchus raised an eyebrow, "And who might you be, would you mind introducing yourself?"
"Sure my name is Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto fairy tail's new member."
Bacchus hummed "So you're a new member huh, what are you doing out here kid?"
"I don't know I just hear my name is being called so I came out." Naruto said with a shrug
Bacchus smiled, "So you don't know anything then?"
"I know one thing, it's that we have to fight right."
Bacchus smile got wider "It looks like you have some balls Kiddo… Hoy! Why don't we make these fights a little interesting."
"How so?" Naruto said
"How about this, if I win lend me those women you have in your guild for a night." Bacchus grinned
"Ehh! Err how I should say this." Naruto said while scratching his neck
"What's the matter kid are you afraid?" Bacchus taunted
"No not like that, it's just that I don't know them yet. So I think it's really inappropriate for me to make a bet on them"
"Oh come on, seems you really are affraid of losing," Bacchus said while grinning
"Hmm...! ok then. This might be interesting anyway, but if you lose, you have to run naked around the town while shouting 'I am a Gay' 100 times." Naruto said with a grin
"Ok that's a deal!" Bacchus agreed without a hesitation on his voice.
"OY DON'T MAKE A BET ON SOMEONE ELSE SISTER!" Elfman yelled
"Don't worry big guy, I'll win." Naruto Stated giving them a very corny thumb up and showing his shining teeth that went off with a 'blink' just like what Gai-sensei used to. The whole stadium sweat dropped at this. And they started laughing at him.
"Master do you think he is going to be alright?" Erza asked worried about the man
"You don't have to worry. He might be a little weird, But You should probably have felt something about him, Right?"
"Yes Master something doesn't feel right, I can't feel anything from him."
"Yes that's why you don't have to worry, besides I want to know how strong he really is." Makarov explained Erza nodded and looked to the arena once again…
And the battle begins…
Bacchus sped towards Naruto sending a punch to his face. Naruto was sent flying to a nearby wall making a crater on it while Bacchus laughed thinking this is going to be an easy fight for him.
"Oooh! That is some speed you have there." someone said to him while clapping his hand
Bacchus turned around and saw Naruto standing there unharmed. He looked at the crater where Naruto should've been, there's nothing there.
Bacchus smiled "It looks like you aren't as weak as I thought kiddo."
"So let's get started." Naruto said making a hand sign "Kage bunshin no jutsu"three Naruto puffed into existence this caused a GASP all around the stadium but Naruto paid no mind to it.
Bacchus was caught off guard. The four Naruto Disappeared from sight only to reappear in front of him. His eyes widened and a moment later he was sent flying backward by a powerful punch in face, then two Naruto appeared out of nowhere in front and back of Bacchus, kicking him upward, but it didn't end there, the original Naruto is already waiting, giving him a powerful axe kick sending him down to the ground making a big crater. Naruto hummed "Don't tell me that was enough for you."
After a couple of seconds Bacchus stumbled out of hole. Bacchus cracked like a madman he finally found someone worthy to test his power against. He walk toward where his flask of Nectar, casually picking it up, drinking from it.
"Let's end this so I can have those lovely girls tonight." Bacchus grinned like a madman. Naruto raised an eyebrow at this then in a burst of speed he was behind Naruto, with his arms spread and laughing like a madman, "everything is useless!"
Every member of fairy tail was shocked; they didn't even see him move. 'Seven hits in that instant… but that Naruto guy is much more amazing' Erza thought
"Is that your best?" Bacchus laugh, but he suddenly stopped when he saw Naruto "Ho-how did you survive that?" Bacchus said his eyes widening while Naruto just shrugged "I just dodged them all, it's not like that move of yours is unstoppable, and it also have a lot of openings. Besides your style somehow makes me remember the style of an old friend. " Naruto explained remembering his training with Rock lee and Neji Hyuuga. By then Bacchus felt a sharp pain in his chest. It looked like Naruto was not just able to dodge all his attack, but also punch his chest.
Ignoring the pain he sped toward Naruto again engaging Naruto in a taijutsu fight but Naruto just dodged or blocked them expertly. A fist aimed to Naruto's head was blocked by Naruto's fist, followed by a kick to the side blocked by his knee. It continued for several moments.
"Oy Kit stop playing and end this, I'm starting to get really bored." Kurama shouted inNaruto's head
'Yeah it is starting to get really boring.' Then a loud growling could be heard 'and I'm hungry too.'
"Then FINISH IT!"
'OK OK… what an impatient old fox.'
Back to the fight Naruto kept dogging the mages attacks without even breaking a sweat. After a while he jumped backward away from Bacchus. "As fun as this is, I have more important things to attend to right now." Naruto said to Bacchus, He slid his hand inside his coat and pulled out a strange Kunai from it, He spun the Kunai in his hand around and throw it toward Bacchus direction at great speed, but the kunai passed beside Bacchus Head.
"Such weak attack will never hit me,"
"Oh is that true?" Naruto said appearing behind him, Bacchus eyes went wide because of it, he tried to spun around to elbow Him but it was too late. Naruto kicked him hard in his stomach and Bacchus was sent flying backwards, then he saw the strange kunai passing him again and once again Naruto appeared where the kunai was but this time he was holding a blue orb in his right hand "You are certainly fast but i'am faster RASENGAN!" Naruto yelled before slamming it to Bacchus back lucky for Him naruto made the rasengan weaker enough just to make him pass out before it hit him.
The last thing Bacchus felt was an intense pain in his back before he got slammed down to the earth making a crater his size then he became unconscious. The whole stadium gaped at Naruto's show of speed and strength, they never thought that Bacchus an S-Class Mage of the Quatro Cerberus Guild could be defeated easily by the newcomer especially a mage from Fairy Tail. After a while the Commentator finally regained his bearings and spoke, "Winner, Uzumaki Naruto from Fairy tail A's!"
A loud cheering and clapping could be heard all around the arena. Naruto bowed his head once and waved to them with smile on his face 'I wonder if this city has some ramen stands.' With that thought Naruto was gone with a shunshin to search for his ramen.
