Hyūga Hinata may not have been the 'perfect' Hyūga, but she was still heiress of a clan that prided itself on controlling one's emotions. The importance of emotional control had been drilled into her as much as any Jūken technique. Her father had made it clear to Hinata that emotions were not meant to be turned off. They were a valuable part of being human as well as a shinobi. However, losing mastery of one's emotions could be a disaster.
'Hinata, remember that emotions can be a tool,' Hinata recalled her father's words. 'When mastered, they can provide a sharp edge that leads to victory, but that edge can be brittle if one loses control. They can be a slippery slope that leads to the disaster of failure and endangering one's comrades...and friends. Wield your emotions like you wield a brush for painting or calligraphy. Emotions add beauty, comfort, accent to moments. Cherish them and embrace them, but do not become a slave to them.'
As the Hyūga heiress watched Naoko pace, she realized that the Uzumaki maiden needed a Hiashi in her life.
"Hinata-chan, I've looked everywhere I can think of! Naruto-nii...He's been gone for four hours! We've never been apart longer than two! I'm worried, Hinata-chan. I know he's upset about not passing, but...but...What if he's hurt? I mean, I don't know where he is, and..."
"Naoko-chan!" Hinata said firmly. She tried to emulate Hiashi's authoritative tone.
Hinata's best friend flinched. "W-What?"
"I'm worried about Naruto-kun, too. Panicking won't help us find him. Where have you searched?" Hinata asked. They were standing near a small shop about halfway between the Uzumakis' apartment and the Hyūga Compound. The two girls had somehow come to the same conclusion and went to collect the other. They were both very worried about Naruto.
"I," Naoko started, but sniffled. "I first went to Ichiraku. Teuchi-san and Ayame-san have always been so nice to us. I really wasn't expecting to find him there, but he might have passed by..."
"Have you asked Iruka-sensei?" Hinata tried to guide the conversation in a productive direction.
Naoko shook her head. "I...I tried looking on my own. Naruto-nii probably didn't want to see anyone..."
"Let's find Iruka-sensei. We can all search together. Naoko-chan, we will find Naruto-kun."
The other girl simply nodded. Hinata finished the hand-seals she required to activate her Bloodline. The familiar action was soothing to her fraying nerves. 'I hope Naoko-chan can't tell how terrified I am right now.'
The Hyūga heiress motioned in the general direction of 'north'. "Iruka-sensei is still at his home. If we hurry, we should be able to get there before he leaves!"
The two girls ran as fast as possible to the teacher's home. Hinata's prediction was barely accurate as they reached Iruka's home right as he exited the front door.
"Hinata? Naoko? What are you girls doing out here?" Iruka asked gently.
Naoko sniffled. "N-Naruto-nii never came back after the exams. W-We don't know where he is!"
"You were always close to Naruto-kun," Hinata pointed out. "We thought maybe you had an idea of where he was, Iruka-sensei."
"Girls...this won't be easy, but..." Iruka quickly explained what he knew, and more importantly, what he suspected, about Naruto's current predicament. The two girls were sent into shock. Naoko slumped to the ground. The two possibilities were both terrible.
'If Naruto stole the Forbidden Scroll like Mizuki-sensei said, Naruto-nii is a traitor. If he was tricked, the village won't believe him if someone else finds him first,' Naoko thought as the tears flowed in unapologetic defiance of the Shinobi Rules.
The 'younger' Uzumaki twin desperately tried to compose herself. She watched as Iruka and Hinata discussed some possible locations Naruto could be hiding in. They debated a number of places, but eliminated them one by one.
'How can I be a shinobi if I can't even help my brother?' Naoko thought.
"I-I think I know where he could be," Naoko finally forced out. "There is a small cabin out near the walls. Naruto-nii told me he used to hide there after pranks."
Iruka fixed Naoko in place with a commanding look. "Lead us there. We have to reach Naruto before anyone else does." The teacher turned his attention to the Hyūga heiress. "Can you use your Byakugan long enough to keep an eye on patrols heading in that direction?"
The two girls acknowledged their teacher's order and set out.
'Hang in there Naruto! We're coming to help you!' Iruka silently willed his favorite student to endure.
"This! Is! Awesome!" Naruto shouted. "That actually worked!"
Naruto had secured the Forbidden Scroll just like Mizuki said for his Extra Credit Exam. The boy had been so awesome at sneaking past the old man and grabbing the scroll.
'I didn't even have to use the Sexy Jutsu to get past the Hokage! I won't get yelled at by Naoko now!"
The unfortunate side-effect of Naruto's incredible skill was that he reached the rendezvous point he worked out with Mizuki-sensei a full six hours before Mizuki said he'd show up. It had only taken Naruto fifteen minutes to give in to the temptation to look into the giant scroll of forbidden and powerful jutsu.
Naruto was truly proud of his willpower.
The first jutsu was something called the 'Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.' Naruto had nearly passed it over. Then he read the description. Then he had started cackling. Then he read the fine print. Then he started cackling even more.
The jutsu was pretty difficult, but Naruto managed to get it down in just over two hours. The elation Naruto had felt at learning an A-rank kinjutsu was incredible! He had quickly begun experimenting with mixing Kage Bunshin with the Academy Three. The Henge and Kawarimi worked awesome in combination with Kage Bunshin. Naruto still couldn't get the regular Bunshin to work, but that didn't mean Naruto couldn't see some use in it!
However, the Kage Bunshin even provided a way to get around that roadblock!
"I can't believe the Kage Bunshin transfers memories!" Naruto exclaimed. He had tested that potential by sending one of his newly created kage bunshin to carve a message into a tree with a kunai. The bunshin dispelled. Naruto sent a clone to where he thought the message was carved. He had spent a half-hour training to get used to the sensation of receiving memories from his Clones.
Unfortunately, he still had several hours before Mizuki showed up. 'I wonder if I can use Kage Bunshin to help with chakra control? Might as well try!'
Naruto created nearly two dozen of the 'shadow clones' and got the excited mob's attention. "Guys! We're going to master the Bunshin before Mizuki-sensei gets here! Let's get to work!"
The Clones set off to the task with an excited, "Yosh!" Naruto decided that he'd take a look at the fifth technique in the Forbidden Scroll. Five, after all, was Naruto's favorite number. He was going to be the Fifth Hokage! How could he not have that as his favorite number?
'Huh, Kinjutsu: Doro Ningyō? Let's see what this one can do...' Naruto sat down and studied the Forbidden Mud Golem jutsu. He wondered if learning two kinjutsu in under six hours would give him extra extra credit and let him choose his teammates?
Naoko had stopped talking as she guided Hinata and Iruka to Naruto's likely hiding spot. First, Hinata was reporting on several search posses. Any talking could accidentally lead hostile villagers to Naruto. Second, Naoko feared that if she talked she would shut down again. Every time she thought about the truth of the situation, she nearly collapsed into a weeping heap. The search parties were looking for Naruto...to hurt or arrest him! It was almost too much.
"There is a patrol three hundred meters from our current location," Hinata reported. "They are heading east, away from us."
"What about Naruto-nii?" Naoko choked out.
"No one has found him yet," Iruka assured the blonde.
Hinata nodded. "Naruto-kun is where you said he would be. He's...there's a lot of Narutos..."
"Narutos?" Naoko and Iruka asked at the same time.
Hinata confirmed what her Byakugan had revealed. The Pro-Naruto search party quickly reached the wayward Uzumaki's position. Naruto was shouting out orders to the dozens of other Narutos.
"Has anyone got any evidence we've mastered the jutsu?"
"We all look the same! Do you know how to tell what the duplicate of a duplicate looks like?" One of the Naruto Clones shouted back.
"Uzumaki Naruto! What are you doing?" Iruka shouted. For a second, all that filled the nearest Naruto's vision was Iruka's angry head. The Naruto followed through on the wisest course of action it could think of. The clone motioned to all of his 'brothers' and bailed. After the enormous shroud of chakra-smoke dispersed, the actual Uzumaki Naruto was left standing in the middle of the small clearing.
His eyes were downcast. "T-The Extra Credit Exam. Didn't Mizuki-sensei mention it?"
"Naruto...there was no extra credit exam..." Iruka began to explain. His gaze hardened substantially and he pushed Naruto out of the way. Hinata caught Iruka's sudden switch into 'combat mode' and pulled Naoko out of the way.
"What the hell!" Naruto shouted. His heart dropped out of his chest when he saw the wounds Iruka had suffered.
"The scroll, if you please," Mizuki said casually. "Remember, we have a deal."
"Forget the deal! You tried to kill Iruka-sensei!" Naruto snapped.
Mizuki shook his head as if Naruto was arguing that he should have another day to turn in a homework assignment. "You have no reason to keep it. Since there's no reason, and since you and your sister are here, I think I'll spill the beans."
"Mizuki! You can't!" Iruka yelled.
"I've practically committed treason already. I plan on going 'freelance'. What's one more charge?"
"Charge?" Naruto asked as he positioned himself between Mizuki and Naoko and Hinata. 'Keep his focus on me. Let Iruka-sensei get into position...'
"Have you ever wondered why you and your sister are hated by the village, Naruto?" Mizuki's tone grew darker and more gleeful as he continued. "I'm sure you have already figured that it has something to do with your birthday...or should I say first death."
"W-What? F...first death?" Naoko questioned numbly. 'Was there a forbidden justu used the night we were born?'
"Mizuki-sensei!" Hinata cried out. She knew this conversation would change everything. Hinata didn't want Naoko-chan or Naruto-kun to be hurt.
"You have no clue, do you, Hinata-sama? Have your clan's precious eyes failed? Can't you see that your 'friends' are the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox? This village has lied to you! Your 'noble' clan has lied to you! The Fourth Hokage failed to kill the demon! He bound the demon into two unwanted children so that we could finish the job, but this village is soft! The Third couldn't finish the job! So, I guess I'll fix that mistake!"
'Unwanted...mistake...' Those words repeated over and over in Naoko's head. Eventually, they cut through the haze of shock and worry. Naoko found a white-hot core of rage.
"We are not mistakes!" The female twin screamed as she grabbed one of Mizuki's kunai. The sudden emotional swing caught everyone off guard. Naruto had no time to stop his sister's wild charge at the Chuunin.
Mizuki smirked as he caught the wild swing. "Funny, I'd expect your brother to reveal his true nature first, Demoness."
Naoko cried out as Mizuki's vicious punch sent her sprawling. Mizuki seemed to have incredible luck as his jump to attack Naoko allowed him to avoid Iruka's strike. The rogue teacher pulled his Fūma Shuriken from his back.
"Imouto!" Naruto cried out.
Mizuki was going to kill her! Naruto had to act and act he did. Naruto would never complain about the Academy Three ever again. He pulled off the Kawarimi in an instant. Naruto didn't hear his own scream as the Fūma Shuriken pierced his shoulder. The only sound Naruto could hear was his loved ones calling out his name in terror.
"L-Like my sister said...we aren't mistakes. Hinata...is not blind..." Naruto forced out after Mizuki wrenched the giant weapon free of Naruto's shoulder.
Mizuki's retort was preemptively countered by a wounded Iruka clocking his former friend in the face. Naruto recognized the expanding blood-stains from where Iruka-sensei aggravated his wounds. "No one threatens my students! The only demon here is you, you traitorous son of a bitch!"
Iruka's blow staggered the enemy ninja. The icy confidence in Mizuki's eyes gave way to a smoldering fire. A snarl escaped from behind clenched teeth as he furiously slashed with the Fūma Shuriken. The loyalist teacher demonstrated his mastery of the Academy Three and substituted away from the attack without using a single hand-seal.
"Hyaaaa!" Hinata yelled as she charged.
Mizuki threw his Fūma Shuriken, but realized too late that he was swinging at a second Hinata. The giant shuriken passed harmlessly through the Hinata. Out of the corner of his eye, Mizuki watched Iruka undo his transformation. The teacher smirked weakly as he dropped Hinata's form. The Hyūga Heiress took advantage of Mizuki losing his most effective weapon and launched into a Jūken combination. The experienced Chuunin managed to dodge most of the attacks, but one connected with his side. He cried out in pain as the "Gentle Fist' damaged his muscles and part of his lung by forcing foreign chakra directly into his organ. Mizuki pushed through the pain and drew a kunai in a single fluid motion. The stab punched directly into the skull...of Naruto.
"YES!" Mizuki cried out in short-lived triumph. The instant the final cry left his lips, Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke.
"You...aren't hurting any more of my precious people..." Naruto growled from behind the teacher. "I had six hours alone with the Forbidden Scroll. Watch this! Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
There were suddenly hundreds of Narutos. Over a dozen were in a protective circle around the unconscious Naoko. Mizuki was stunned by the display of power. The lapse in aggression was brutally punished by a tidal wave of vengeful Uzumakis.
Three minutes later, all but one of the Naruto's disappeared. The last remaining Naruto rushed over to his sister. "She's going to be okay, isn't she?"
Iruka and Hinata joined Naruto at Naoko's side. "Naoko is breathing normally," Iruka confirmed.
"I believe I will be able to help young Naoko-chan."
The Third Hokage emerged from the treeline and approached the group. He quickly used the Mystic Palm technique to heal the various wounds of the group.
Naoko was hearing and seeing double. "H-Hokage-sama?"
"We have a great deal to discuss, it seems," the Hokage admitted. "First, Hinata-chan...you may not repeat anything I discuss here."
"I-I understand Hokage-sama," Hinata agreed.
The Hokage sighed. "First, we must address the details of the Kyūbi..."
There was no doubt that the Hokage's revelations had stunned Naruto, Hinata, and Naoko to their core. Hiruzen had moved the team assignments back a day to give the three Genin, along with Iruka, a chance to recover from their battle against Mizuki.
It also gave the Uzumaki twins a day to begin to come to terms with their status as Jinchūriki.
They had not seen anyone. Naruto and Naoko were the only ones who could truly understand the nature of being a Jinchūriki.
"Come on, Naoko. I-I think we'll be fine. Hinata and Iruka were there. Hinata didn't freak out! She fought Mizuki with us!"
Naoko sighed. "I didn't do anything in the fight except get us all hurt."
"You're a genjutsu user. Once you get the one in your scroll down, you'll be awesome." Naruto's traditional thumbs-up was like a cool breeze.
"Thanks, Niisan." Naoko smiled. "Wait a second! I hid that scroll next to my diary! UZUMAKI NARUTOOOOOOOO!"
"Oh crap! Fleeeee!" Naruto cried out in absolute terror. There was no shame in fleeing from an angry sister! It was a matter of survival! He couldn't become Hokage if his sister beat him into something vaguely resembling porridge!
Naruto flashed a hand-seal he was becoming very proud of already. Half-a-dozen new Narutos appeared and immediately scattered like quail.
The original smiled the entire time. 'It's good to have my sister back to normal.'
Author's Note: Here's chapter two of "The Twin Tides". I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed my recent updates. I know this chapter is much shorter than my usual length. However, after speaking with Dread Knight N7, Chewie Cookies, and others we all agreed that this is a good place to end the chapter. Next up, we've got Genin assignments!
Another Reminder! I have a trio of challenges up on my profile. There is a Fire Emblem: Awakening/Mount and Blade: Warband crossover. I also have two Naruto challenges (Obviously NaruHina. It's me can you see them not being NaruHina?). One is "True Genin Test Failed" and a Time Travel challenge. Take a look and let me know what you think!