A/N: Hello everyone! Here is Ulimate Experiment Chapter 2! As many are sure to notice, the title has changed as I deviated slightly from what I was originally going with this chapter, but I am highly satisfied with how it turned out, so please Read and Review to let me know how you think I did!
I will admit that Shikamaru and Sakura got the most reccomendations to be the third member of Team 7, however, I have decided to go with Kiba, as I have an idea of where I want to go with a few of the character's developments.
So the teams will be as follows:
Team 7: Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba with Jounin Sensei, Hatake Kakashi
Team 8: Aburame Shino, Haruno Sakura, Michinuku Taka with Jounin Sensei, Yuuhi Kurenai
Team 10: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji with Jounin Sensei, Sarutobi Asuma
Kudos to anyone who can actually tell me where I got the name for the third Genin member of Team 8.
Now, to address a couple of the reviews I got for this chapter:
Master of Anime: The filtering system has nothing to do with the pairings, though often times the writers will make the main pairing as the focus characters of the fic. I've seen a lot of Naru/Anko fics where Anko is either his mother/sister figure or even his sensei.
The biggest focus of the fic will be Naruto balancing getting his revenge and regaining his humanity. Naruto has also spent half of his life hating Anko because he became so close to her in those two years before Orochimaru supressed her memories, so there will be conflict there as well. The two will share a very close brother/sister bond.
Sensatsu Suisho Drifter: It will probablly be a while before there is any Naruto kicking Uchiha ass, though there will be mention of such a fight in this chapter.
On a minor note and unrelated note, unlike UKG: The Jagan, Haku will be female in this fic.
Chapter Two: Memories Restored, Preparations Begin
The whole trip to Tazuna's house took a couple of hours, and in that time Mitarashi Anko did not awaken.
Naruto refused to leave her side, wanting to verify she was going to be all right, meanwhile his own mind was in turmoil.
The tension was rolling off him in waves and the only one who seemed to be able to reach out to the boy was Hyuuga Hinata, the timid shy girl who completely lacked self confidence in any shape or form.
The kunoichi was quick to patch up Kakashi from his injuries sustained from both Zabuza and Naruto. She may not be as skilled in the ways of Jyuuken and utilizing the Hyuuga Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Inheritance Limit) as her father believes she should be, but she was more than adequate as a med-nin. Especially since she had no prior medical training.
Kakashi observed the occupants of the room. Anko looked to be uncomfortable... Which was to be expected if what was happening to her was what he suspected. Naruto looked conflicted, again he didn't know for sure why, but he had an idea. The one that made absolutely no since to him what so ever was the Hyuuga Heiress' connection to the Yondaime's Legacy. The young girl seemed content with just being near Naruto for the time being only talking when absolutely necessary.
Hinata was blissfully unaware of Kakashi's presence, but Naruto knew he was there. And both were aware that the other knew. After another moment of observation Kakashi entered the room.
"Hinata," said Kakashi softly, the girl jumped at the sound of his voice. He gave her a slight smile. "I need to speak with Naruto for a while, can you wait down stairs with the others?"
She looked hesitant to leave and gave a short glance to the unresponsive blonde before vacating the room to where her teammates were. "Hai, K-Kakashi-sensei..."
"Wish to talk about what's on your mind?" asked Kakashi casually, trying to put Naruto more at ease.
"No," said Naruto curtly.
"It might help," suggested Kakashi.
"Maybe," replied Naruto.
Kakashi sighed, "I guess you'll do so when you're ready. I can already guess what your relationship with Anko is, but tell me, how do you know Hinata?"
"Tenshi-hime?" asked Naruto, slightly confused.
Kakashi nodded.
It was Naruto's turn to sigh. "Other than Sarutobi-jiji, and the people at the ramen stand, she was the only one who was really nice to me before I left Konoha. I met her the day I left with Orochimaru-teme, but I was chased away by other people with eyes like hers."
"Must have been some impression to remember her after all this time," commented Kakashi.
Naruto sighed. "When I first came to Orochimaru, I was put under some very brutal training. For most of that time, Anko-nee-chan was my sensei. After a couple of months of conditioning, the real pain began." Naruto's eyes seemed to glaze over, and he seemed lost in thought. However, he was no less tense than he was before, in fact he was probablly even more so Kakashi noted. "During the really rough... sessions... I'd always picture the one person who I thought might be sad if I'd die or never come back to Konoha... My Tenshi-hime... At the time, I didn't understand why they chased me away from her, but after I found out about the Kyuubi..."
"Hinata comes from the most prestigious clan of all of Konoha," said Kakashi, "Even if you did not house the Kyuubi within you, I doubt they'd have let you continue playing with her because of her status as Heiress."
"Hn," Naruto grunted, "You'd think being the son of the Yondaime would give me SOME credibility... But then again I didn't know until after Hebi-teme told me about the Kyuubi, so most people in Konoha probablly don't know either."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "Son of my sensei, you say? I'll admit the resemblance is uncanny, but I'll have to confirm it with the Sandaime first, if that's all right with you."
"You'd be a fool to trust someone you met and fought as an enemy a few hours ago," said Naruto. "I wasn't going to go back, you know, to Konoha... But now..." He trailed off, looking at Anko, "I guess it would be nice to see the old man again."
"Very well, once this mission has been completed, you may accompany us to Konoha," said Kakashi.
"Hmph, as if you could prevent me from coming," said Naruto.
"No, I guess I couldn't. However, my allowing you to come with us, would be the difference between whether or not we'd treat you as a hostile threat," said Kakashi.
"I'm always up for a good fight," said Naruto grinning, his claws popped out of his hand, "This is just a small taste of the modifications Hebi-teme has done to me." When his claws retracted, Kakashi noticed there were no holes or a wound of any sort from where the claws emerged.
"I can't imagine what that would be like, nor would I really want to," commented Kakashi.
They talked for a short while, before Kakashi left the room, leaving Naruto to his vigil over Anko and his own thoughts.
Hinata slowly made her way down the stairs, her thoughts on the boy upstairs. The eyes, though slightly different now, the hair and especially the whisker marks were unmistakable. He was the boy she had seen from so long ago. She had not seen him though since she was merely four years old, when he tried to be her friend.
After the "Incident", as she referred to it in her mind, her father had her under constant guard for a time and he himself was never too far away either. Many times over the next year, Hinata would be forced to accompany her father on several errands with a small detail of Branch House Members to serve as her guard.
She had seen the boisterous, hyperactive boy many times in town, though many of those times he was running from a small group of Chuunin for some sort of prank he had pulled. She even saw him twice leaving the Hokage's office. She had been surprised when he referred to the Hokage as Ojii-san. Still, his smile never faltered and he had an aura of self assurance and confidence she wished she possessed.
Ever since the "Incident" her confidence had been shattered. Her Tou-san's piercing glare and cold demeanor did not help either. Not to mention, she had become afraid of her families taijutsu style when she watched her father mercilessly kill the Kumo-nin. She was already shaken up as it was, so after witnessing the devastation that the Jyuuken could dish out she had become reluctant to use it.
While she didn't mind the training, as it cleared her head after a particularly hard day, it was the spars with her sister Hanabi that were difficult. Her sister was perfect in every way. Hanabi's looks and personality took after their Tou-san, and she had no qualms at fighting Hinata at her fullest ability. Hinata, on the other hand, would see the fallen Kumo-nin replaced by her sister and she would falter and ultimately lose to her sister who was five years her junior.
The old Naruto was everything she wished she could be, but was always prevented because of her title of Heiress and as a Hyuuga. She had responsibilities and expectations to the clan that she had to keep up, though many of those were almost never met in the eyes of her father and the Hyuuga council.
This new Naruto, however... He instilled a certain fear in her. Yet his eyes... They were so lost, confused. He was searching for something. What, she wasn't sure, but she knew it had nothing to do with the quest of revenge he had set himself upon. She desperately wished she could help him, but she knew that for the time being she would be nothing more than a hindrance. Instead of becoming dejected, as she would have many times before, she silently vowed to herself to get stronger so that she could help Naruto find what it was that he was looking for. She silently promised herself and Naruto that she would be there for him to the best of her own ability as soon as she was strong enough to help him.
Anko was sweating profusely, but Naruto knew she would awaken soon. He'd seen this a few times before from his victims who had fallen prey to Orochimaru's Nagori Yokusei no Jutsu. All he could do now was wait.
Still, he could not shake the feelings of betrayal. The bitterness that had ruled him these past 6 years were still there, but it was lost in a torrent of other emotions. Anko had been on the top of his assassination list right below Orochimaru himself and now he had her. She was completely at his mercy and yet he did nothing. He wanted her to pay. To suffer for abandoning him, but it was truly no use. He did not know now if she truly had abandoned him. He, in his fury, had wanted to kill her. To slaughter her, and mutilate her body beyond all recognition, but now the thought left him cold.
Naruto grabbed his head in confusion and frustration. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He wasn't supposed to be like this. He was a weapon. His sole purpose was to kill, get stronger, kill some more and have his revenge. He was a Harbinger of Death, Hell's Vengeance, a living Shinigami. He was not supposed to feel anything. He was supposed to be cold, ruthless and uncaring. He was an animal, a demon, a machine designed for mass destruction and assassination. He was a killer.
He had fought and killed all sorts of creatures. Things forcibly removed from ones nightmares brought out into reality. In the early days under Orochimaru's imprisonment he had even spilt the blood of innocents. He had unleashed his full fury on them, unsuspecting as they were, and slaughtered them all. So why? Why couldn't he kill her?
It wasn't for lack of skill. Though she was probablly still more skilled than he, he had caught her off guard and had her right where he wanted her. It wasn't a lack of opportunity, as she was lying there unconscious and all he had to do was slit her throat. Yet, he could not detract his claws, would not draw out a kunai. He couldn't bring himself to smother her. Thoughts of killing her made him feel... He wasn't sure at the moment, but the feeling was foreign and he didn't like it.
All he could do now was wait...
Hinata was silent as she joined her teammates and their client in the main foyer. It was Tazuna who spoke first.
"Who is that kid? You and your two senseis seem to be the only ones who know him," said Tazuna.
"H-His name is N-Naruto," said Hinata, "H-He used to be cl-close to the Hokage, but h-he hasn't b-been in the village for qu-quite some time."
"Where do you think he's been all this time?" asked Inuzuka Kiba. The third member, Uchiha Sasuke also looked interested in her answer, but remained silent.
"I-I don't know... B-But... It s-seem l-like it w-was s-someplace horrible..." she looked downcast as she said this. No one said anything for a short while.
"Why did he leave the village?" asked Kiba.
"That is only a question Naruto himself can answer, but I would highly recommend against asking him now," said Kakashi entering the conversation. "He is working out some things now and I think only Hinata would be safe to approach him in his current state."
Hinata blushed at the shift in attention towards her.
"W-why is th-that, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Hinata.
"Just a simple small act of kindness before he left Konoha," said Kakashi, "For someone like Naruto who has never had it easy, they go a long way. Your one act of kindness left a mark on him. Forged a bond that he has clung to for many years, mostly out of despararation. Perhaps, in time, it could be used to his and our benefit, but old wounds have recently opened up for him and any attempt of regaining his humanity would be futile and would end in disaster."
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Sasuke.
Kakashi sighed. "I wish I could clarify it for you more, but that solely falls to Naruto. Much of it is classified and a lot of the rest, I just don't know. He wasn't always treated the best before he left the village, and it seems when he left things only got worse from there."
"And that Anko lady has something to do with it?" asked Kiba.
"It's hard to say really," said Kakashi, "From what I could tell, she probablly did her best to ease his pain, if only just a little. Circumstances forced them apart and he thought she had abandoned him. He was about to finally get his much sought after revenge when he realized something had been done to her." The Genin had all been intrigued by the explanation, but before they could ask, Kakashi told them that that was all he would discuss with them until Anko woke up. Kakashi then suggested they each get some rest, because it would be a long day of training the following day.
Naruto had eventually fallen asleep, when suddenly he was awakened by a muffled sobbing noise. Anko was sobbing uncontrollably. It reminded him of all the times she'd go off with Orochimaru, only to come back sickly pale and depressed. Only once had Anko nearly broken down. The little girl, just barely older than Naruto, was being subjected to various sorts of treatments. While overall she was a success, she was a failure of the Weapon Program drawn up by Orochimaru and his subordinates. It was only through Naruto's intervention that they did not dispose of her.
He hoped wherever Isaribi-nee-chan was that she was still alright.
Back to matters at hand he looked over towards the broken woman before him. He barely touched her shoulder to alert her that he was awake. Before he could react, she latched onto him, apologizing profusely. He stiffened at the unfamiliar contact. He hadn't been touched affectionately since a few months after Anko left. Isaribi was the last person to hug him, before he had been moved to a different facility.
He knew at that exact moment that Anko had not abandoned him like he had thought all along. He also knew that Orochimaru did nothing to correct his suspicions and in fact, encouraged them. Naruto's hate for the Hebi-Sannin went up a few notches.
After a time, Anko finally recomposed herself and the two of them made their way down stairs to where the others were all eating breakfast.
"I see that you're doing much better Anko," said Kakashi nonchalantly, while reading his orange book. "How are you?"
"All things considered, I'm doing just fine," she answered, though they could all tell it lacked her usual fire.
The Genin each looked over Naruto before Kiba spoke up. "So exactly who are you?" Though it was asked rudely, Naruto could sense it was spoken more in general confusion than out of intentional rudeness.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he answered shortly.
"Kakashi-sensei and Hinata both said you used to live in Konoha, how come you left?" asked Kiba. Anko flinched at the question asked, but Naruto looked over at the curious boy calmly. The boy's puppy, Akamaru whined quietly.
"Things in Konoha weren't exactly going all that well, so I decided to take an opportunity," he answered. When Kiba went to ask another question, Naruto interjected sharply, "And no, I will not tell you where or why."
Before anymore of an interrogation could go on, Kakashi spoke up. "As interesting as Naruto may be, you three," he indicated to Kiba, Sasuke and Hinata, "Have some training to under go this morning. Zabuza is still very much alive, as is his partner, and no doubt they'll both be back, perhaps with a bit of help next time. Naruto, you of course are welcome to join us."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"To gain a rudimentary knowledge of your skills," said Kakashi, "Though since you are not a Konoha shinobi it's entirely up to you." Kakashi then turned his gaze to Anko. "If it's not too much trouble, can I ask that you watch over Tazuna while I begin their training. It should only take a few hours for me to show them what I want them to work on and I'd like to test out Naruto's abilities as well."
"Sure," said Anko, barely listening.
"I guess I can come with you. It's been a while since I've been in a good scrap," said Naruto grinning sadistically.
"Very well, you four meet me outside in about an hour," he said before walking outside.
After breakfast had been consumed, the three Genin and Naruto followed Kakashi towards a clearing.
"All right... Sasuke, Hinata, Kiba... Since I am well aware of what the majority of your current skills are, I am going to show you a new chakra control exercise. You three are going to climb trees."
"How in the hell is climbing trees going to help us?" asked Kiba rudely.
"If you'd shut up and listen, Inu-baka, he'd tell you," Naruto snorted.
"What did you say!?" threatened Kiba.
"I'm out of your league," growled Naruto, "Back off."
Kiba growled back in response, but Akamaru whimpered in fear.
"Kiba stand down. The sort of training Naruto has been through was far more brutal and highly specialized. At your current level Kiba, you can't beat him," said Kakashi, "If you haven't already forgotten, he fought me and knocked me down while I used my Sharingan. Not even Sasuke managed that."
Kiba grit his teeth but backed off, Naruto merely smirked.
"Naruto, I ask that you not threaten my students, or I will be forced to intervene," he said with his eye narrowed at Naruto.
"Understood, Ichigan," said Naruto, "No scaring the kiddies."
Kakashi sighed, it was going to be a long day.
"Before I was rudely interrupted," he shot a glare at both Kiba and Naruto, Kiba had the decency to look sheepish, while Naruto looked bored out of his mind. "I was about to show you how to climb trees."
"But we already know how to climb trees," said Kiba indignantly, Naruto snorted in amusement while Sasuke looked puzzled by the blondes reaction, though he didn't say anything. Hinata looked like she wanted to correct Kiba, but couldn't gather the courage to speak up.
"So, Kiba, you already know how to climb trees... WITHOUT using your hands?" asked Kakashi lazily regarding the boy.
"Of co- What? How would you climb trees without using your hands?" asked Kiba.
"Like this Inu-baka," said Naruto as Kiba growled in annoyance. Naruto turned his head towards the whimpering Akamaru, "Keep your pet on it's leash or I'll put it down."
Kiba went to charge at Naruto's back, but was held in place by Sasuke, who grabbed a hold of Kiba's jacket.
Naruto made the ram seal and charged the soles of his feet with purple chakra as he walked up the tree with out his hands.
"Not too difficult, is it?" asked Kakashi from a nearby branch, hanging upside down. Naruto turned towards his voice a look of surprise on his face.
'Fast...' Naruto thought. While he didn't hold any illusions that in a fair fight he'd actually beat Kakashi, he didn't expect the Copy nin to be able to move that fast. He could easily tell that Kakashi was smirking beneath the mask. 'Show off...'
Sasuke, Hinata and Kiba were also surprised as well.
Kakashi drew three kunai and threw them at the Genin, a kunai landing in front of each of them.
"Those are to mark your progress as you climb. Now, before you begin, the bottom of the feet is one of the hardest areas to channel chakra through, and controlling the chakra there is even more difficult. Theoretically speaking, should you master this exercise, you should be able to master any jutsu. Since you are new to the exercise, it might help if you got a running start."
"Hmph... If that guy can get it, it should be easy!" Kiba said as he grabbed the kunai and charged at the tree. He channeled some chakra into his feet as he stepped onto the tree. He took another step and fell flat on his back.
"Not too hard, eh, Kiba?" Sasuke taunted. Sasuke ran up the tree and made it about ten steps as the tree below him seemed to crack and crumble beneath him. He slashed the tree with the kunai and flipped backward, bouncing between the trees as he descended.
"As you can see, if you channel too little chakra into your feet you will fall flat on your ass, like Kiba. However, channel too much and the surface you're sticking to will crack and crumble and often times explode beneath you," lectured Kakashi.
"A-Ano... Kakashi-sensei... I... I've..." stuttered Hinata, blushingly.
"Just as I'd expect from a member of the Hyuuga Clan. As the Jyuuken requires precision chakra control, I bet you learned this exercise before you even entered the academy," said Kakashi. "So, it looks like the mighty Uchiha have fallen far from glory. It appears the Hyuuga will always be superior to them. As for you Kiba... It looks like Hinata would have the best chance at beating Naruto if it came down to a fair fight. You both are pathetically weak."
Hinata blushed in embarassment while both Sasuke and Kiba were simmering in rage. "We'll show you weak!" shouted Kiba as he ran up the tree, this time taking three steps before he fell flat on his back.
"Wow, Inu-baka, you're really showing us!" Naruto said sarcastically. "Alright, Ichigan, what do you got next?"
"Hmm..." said Kakashi in a thoughtful stance, "I suppose we could have a quick spar just to test out some of your skills."
"Can Tenshi-hime come? After all, she's already far ahead of these weaklings," said Naruto. "Inu-baka has almost no talent and broody-chan over there is no where near that other one's level."
"Other one Naruto?" asked Kakashi.
"One of HIS old associates," said Naruto referencing Orochimaru. "Looked similar to broody-chan over there."
"Itachi..." whispered Sasuke angrily. No one heard him save Naruto, due to his enhanced hearing.
"That his name?" asked Naruto, "He'd have killed me if not for a few of my special abilities. Left him a good scar on his face though."
'Interesting...' Kakashi thought.
Naruto then strolled out of the clearing, Sasuke looked like he was about to go into a rage, while Kiba and Hinata looked confused. Naruto stopped and turned his head to where Hinata still stood on the tree, "Coming, Tenshi-hime?" Hinata slightly blushed and nodded.
"What was that about?" asked Kiba after Hinata, Kakashi and Naruto left.
"None of your business," Sasuke angrily said as he attempted to run up the tree. He made it four steps before it exploded beneath him and sent him tumbling into a nearby tree.
"You know Naruto, that wasn't the smartest thing you could have done," said Kakashi.
"Like he could beat me," said Naruto, "Even if he caught me off guard, I doubt he'd be able to do much damage."
"Be that as it may, Naruto, Sasuke's brother is a bit of a sore spot with him," said Kakashi, "He's made it his ambition, above all else, to kill his brother."
Naruto glanced at Kakashi and said in a harsh, cold tone, "I don't care."
Both Kakashi and Hinata frowned.
"So... What did you mean by one of his old associates?" asked Kakashi.
"That is something that shouldn't be discussed out in the open," said Naruto, "Anko-nee-chan may know a little bit about that, but it's hard to say. Hebi-teme was nothing if he wasn't cautious on exactly who knew how much."
"For someone who hates him so much, you know an awful lot," noted Kakashi.
"I didn't always hate him and by the time I did, Anko-nee-chan left so I used him as a means of getting stronger so I could go after them all," answered Naruto.
"Them, Naruto?" asked Kakashi.
"Amachi, Ichigaki, Gero, Orochimaru... A few others," answered Naruto, "And then there are the others... The ones who possess a mark like this one."
Naruto slipped his tattered trenchcoat off his right shoulder and pulled up the dirty sleeve of his shirt revealing a black 'X' that seemed to be branded on his right arm. Hinata looked at the mark with a mixed look of confusion and horror on her face.
Kakashi raised his eyebrow inquiringly. "How many others possess such a mark?"
"Nineteen, twenty counting me, that I know of," said Naruto, "I was the tenth one."
"Ah, so the brand is a number," noted Kakashi, Naruto nodded in response. Hinata was left to wonder what exactly everything meant, but she was too shy and timid to actually ask.
Finally, the group came to another clearing.
"Hinata, stay at the edge of the clearing for now, while I test Naruto." Hinata nodded and stopped where she was. Kakashi and Naruto moved out to the center of the clearing. "Other than tree walking, what else can you do?"
"Water walking. I can also use most of Hebi-teme's personal jutsu and I have learned at least the basics of the four taijutsu styles native to Konoha," answered Naruto. "I've nearly mastered the Hebiken (Snake Fist), and I'm pretty good with the Goken (Strong Fist) style, but the Sekkendou (Intercepting Fist) and Jyuuken (Gentle Fist) are practically useless to me in combat without the Uchiha and Hyuuga doujutsus (eye techniques). Hebi-teme thought I should learn those so I could think of ways to counter any Uchiha or Hyuuga I would fight."
"Anything else?" asked Kakashi curiously.
"Curiosity killed the cat you know," warned Naruto with a smirk.
"I'm not a cat, so I think I'm going to be fine," remarked Kakashi.
Hinata pouted for a moment before finally speaking up. "G-G-Gomen... K-Kakashi-sensei... B-But I don't th-think that was m-meant to warn cats..." she stuttered while pressing her fingertips together."
Naruto snickered at her remark, making her blush in response.
"So, Ichigan, what do you want to see?" asked Naruto.
Kakashi thought for a moment, before dropping into a defensive stance, "How about a friendly spar, defeat me by any means necessary. I suggest you come at me with intent to kill."
Naruto smirked, dropping in an unfamiliar stance that Hinata had never seen before.
"Modified slightly from the one Anko usually uses, whether in combat or in spars," noted Kakashi.
"Who do you think taught me?" asked Naruto, then slightly frowned, "The information I have on you says you're a ninjutsu specialist, second in Konoha to only Sarutobi-ojii-san."
"True, but a friend of mine is likely to be the best Taijutsu Master in all of the Elemental Countries," said Kakashi, "One is bound to pick up a few things in spars. I will warn you of this, though I am highly specialized in Ninjutsu, I am no slouch in Taijutsu and my Genjutsu is fairly good, even without the Sharingan."
"Noted," said Naruto, "I'm more than likely classified as a Taijutsu Specialist, with strong skills in kenjutsu, Hebi and Doku (Poison) Ninjutsus, and my 'bloodline' and my Genjutsu skills are nonexistent."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "You know, you shouldn't give information like that freely to an opponent, Naruto."
"You told me, it was only fair that I do the same," answered Naruto.
"You're definitely a strange one, Uzumaki Naruto," Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, "Ready?"
"Whenever you are, Ichigan," replied Naruto.
Hinata watched as the two stared each other down. Suddenly, without warning, Naruto lashed out at Kakashi. "Sen'eijashu!" Three large pythons shot out of Naruto's right arm.
Kakashi immediately sped through a few hand seals ending with the tiger seal, "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu! (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)" He quickly pulled down his mask and burned the incoming snakes to a crisp.
Naruto wasting no time, took to the air and came at Kakashi in an aerial dive. All six of Naruto's claws where detracted and pointing at the Copy nin.
Kakashi did a back flip to avoid the blonde missile, but did not have time to regroup as said blonde was already attacking him with a ferocious fervor. Kakashi noticed that while Naruto used his claws that he no longer was using the Hebiken Taijutsu, thus making his movements easier to read, though no less dangerous.
Kakashi was backed into a tree, and moved to the side as Naruto brought his right hand down in a powerful swipe. Kakashi watched in astonishment as the claws sliced through the thick tree.
Naruto growled in frustration. "You're too fast."
"Having trouble keeping up Naruto?" taunted Kakashi.
Naruto slashed at Kakashi again as he growled again. Kakashi jumped back to avoid the strike only to find that his vest had still had three horizontal slash marks inflicted on his vest.
Hinata watched wide eyed, 'H-How...? Naruto-kun didn't even touch Kakashi-sensei...!'
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "My, My... You're awfully advanced for your age. Already capable of elemental manipulation. Wind type, if I'm not mistaken."
Naruto smirked ferally, "Don't take me lightly, Bub, you'll regret it if you do."
"Very well, shall we take it up a notch?" asked Kakashi, pulling up his hitai-ite revealing his three tomoe Sharingan.
"Let's," agreed Naruto as the wind seemed to swirl around him. His muscles seemed to tighten and his canines seemed to sharpen as they had when they first encountered the blonde boy. His hair also became even more unruly than it had been previously. Kakashi looked into Naruto's eyes, noticing the blue being overtaken by the purple. Naruto's eyes were no longer sapphire with an amethyst ring around the slitted pupil, but purple, with a deep blue ring around the outer iris and the pupil was now surrounded by a crimson ring.
"Interesting," said Kakashi, "Though your... Transformation... Seems... Incomplete..."
"My Hageshii Mouretsu (Furious Rage) is as far as I'll go, except in extreme circumstances," warned Naruto, "Any further and I lose myself to it. Only Hebi-teme and Uchiha Itachi have ever beaten me beyond this state."
Kakashi nodded, but did not press for more details.
Naruto crouched low, and then leapt at Kakashi, "Tatsumaki Tsume (Tornado Claw)!"
'Sealless jutsu...' Kakashi thought in astonishment.
Naruto became an aerial corkscrew as he sailed through the air at Kakashi. With the Sharingan, Kakashi noticed the spiraling blades of wind that circulated around Naruto's body. 'Defensive and Offensive all at once...' Kakashi also noted one more detail, 'The blades of wind seem to leave small cuts on Naruto as well, but the wounds heal instantly... Only someone with Naruto's... Unique... Circumstances could use such a jutsu. What exactly has Orochimaru done to you?'
Kakashi was quick to move out of the way of Naruto's attack, quickly realizing that very few defensive jutsu could actually defend against the technique.
Naruto came out of the technique as soon as he passed by Kakashi, gracefully landing on his feet facing towards Kakashi. Kakashi saw that Naruto had already started channeling chakra into the claws in his left hand. "Kaze Kiritateru (Wind Slash)!"
Kakashi ran through handseals, "Doton: Shinju Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Inner Decapitation Technique)!" Kakashi then sunk into the ground as the triple blades of wind sliced swiftly through the air where he previously occupied.
Naruto looked all around, sniffing the air. "Kuso... I can't keep track of him below the ground..." He retracted his claws as he flipped into the air and used chakra to stick to the side of a nearby tree.
"Clever defense..." Naruto heard from just above him. He turned around in surprise, with wide eyes. In the distance he heard Hinata gasp in surprise. In a branch above Naruto, stood Kakashi totally unharmed. Even the slashes in Kakashi's vest were gone. "You definitely have a lot of skill for someone your age..."
"Yes, I'm very impressed," said Kakashi raising up from the ground. Naruto turned to face the Kakashi on the ground when he spoke. His eyes widened further when the Kakashi on the ground ran through another set of seals. "Katon: Karyuudan no Jutsu (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet Technique)!" Kakashi then vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Kage Bunshin..." whispered Naruto as he jumped away when the flaming dragon came streaming towards him.
For the first time in the whole fight, Naruto was now on the defensive as Kakashi in the tree came at him with combo after combo of chakra enhanced kicks and punches.
'Goken...' he thought blocking Kakashi's blows.
The two finally broke apart. Naruto was grinning and only slightly panting. Though it wasn't as noticeable, Kakashi was also smiling and panting lightly. He then stood up straight and pulled his hitai-ite back over his Sharingan. "I'd think have a pretty accurate measure of your skills, though I suspect you were still holding back."
"So were you, Ichigan," said Naruto, as his features became less feral, and his eyes returned to their sapphire hue, "I doubt I could actually beat you in a straight out fight like that, even if I was using my Hageshii Mouretsu."
"Perhaps not, but you could definitely do more than just hold your own," replied Kakashi.
"I was raised to be a Weapon," said Naruto, "Knowing the type of things Hebi-teme resorts to, are you really all that surprised?"
"When you put it like that, not really," said Kakashi. "However, your skills are impressive, none the less. I do have a favor to ask you, though Naruto."
Naruto nodded and waited for Kakashi to continue.
"Since you have some knowledge of the Jyuuken fighting style, I'd like for you to help Hinata train in her families' Taijutsu," said Kakashi, "Only until Sasuke and Kiba have mastered the tree walking exercise, of course. I'll be accompanying Tazuna to the construction site- as guarding the Tazuna is mine and my team's responsibility. Anko, in the meantime, will be completing the mission she was sent to do."
"Why are you trusting me?" asked Naruto, "I could gut her without regret and hang her guts from the trees with little effort."
Hinata frowned at Naruto's declaration, and was somewhat afraid.
"Because despite everything, your revenge is against Orochimaru and his followers, not Konoha," said Kakashi, "And I doubt anyone would be as safe with you as Tenshi-hime."
The last part was said in a teasing tone, to which Hinata blushed furiously and Naruto growled.
"Anyways, I'm going to go relieve Anko from watching Tazuna as soon as I've checked in on Sasuke and Kiba's progress," said Kakashi, "Ja Ne!"
He gave them a smile, that was only visible by the way his one visible eye crinkled, before using the Konoha Shunshin (Leaf Body Flicker) to teleport away.
"So... Where do we begin?" asked Naruto turning to Hinata.
Hinata tried to come up with a response, but found herself unable to speak or even move. She ducked her head down and started pushing her fingers together.
Naruto sighed, he had his work cut out for him. "Look, you're not going to hurt me, if that's what you're nervous about... And I'm not going to gut you either."
"G-Gomensai..." Hinata stuttered.
"Relax, Tenshi-hime... You have nothing to be sorry for," said Naruto trying to calm down Hinata, who was both a little afraid of Naruto and embarrassed by the nickname he had given her, not to mention how self conscious she was considering her own sensei had asked him to train with her.
Hinata still had her head down and her shoulder slouched.
"Look," said Naruto sternly, "If I'm going to help you train, we're going to have to work on you confidence."
"G-Gom-" stuttered Hinata
"Don't." ordered Naruto, "Don't apologize, Ichigan asked me to help you so I am. Before I can help you with your Jyuuken form, I'm going to have to start with the basics of fighting."
"I-I d-don't un-understand... N-Naruto-kun..." said Hinata.
Naruto gave her a slight smile that was far different from the others. It wasn't the feral grin he had when he fought Kakashi, nor was it the cocky smirk her wore when he taunted Kiba. It was a genuine smile.
"Fighting isn't all about using your fists or whatever jutsu you might know or how well you use them," said Naruto, "You can sometimes tell who is going to win a fight, just by their opening stances. Just by looking at someone's posture, watching how they breathe, their eye movements and how tense or relaxed their stance is you can easily tell how confident they are, their skill level and a lot of other things. Fighting is just as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one."
Naruto cupped Hinata's chin with his hand and lifted up her head. "First we've got to work on your over all confidence. That means standing up straight and trying to talk while stuttering less, all right?"
"H-Hai... N-Naruto-kun..." nodded Hinata.
Kakashi watched his student and the outcast interact. Naruto seemed to do a complete personality change. Where as before his was either cold and uncaring, or seemingly overconfident and very cocky, he almost seemed to become a different person around Hinata. Hinata, on the other hand, was her same old self, though once given a task, Naruto seemed to make it his personal mission to remedy that hurtle. Perhaps the two of them would be good for one another, only time would tell.
Kakashi the promptly teleported away to check on his other students and relieve Anko.
A/N: As many of your were sure to notice, Naruto, much like Wolverine, has a habit of calling people by a nickname, as Demonstrated by him calling Kakashi "Ichigan" or "One-Eye", Kiba "Inu-Baka" or "Dog Idiot", and Sasuke "broody-chan". I had originally had Sasuke as "emo-chan", but he didn't really come out very emo in this chapter, but Sasuke has been known to brood alot through out the anime, so I went with that instead.
The next update will either be The Archive Rejects, which will see it's first Naruto ficlet in Chapter 5 or Ultimate Kekkei Genkai: The Jagan Chapter 12 with the long awaited Naruto/Gaara fight in the Semi-Finals.
