"Why is ramen so delicious?"-thinking
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu- jutsu
YOU LITTLE BRAT/you little brat- demon speech/Inner Sakura
Tempered By Divine Winds
Chapter 2: Rumors of A Maelstrom.
Five Years Later
Jiraiya sighed as he leaped through the trees. He had finally caught up to Naruto two years after the set date for his return. He had feared the worst but he had to keep looking. Naruto had even taken his signature of the Toad Summoning Contract, which made tracking him with toads impossible. After many months of no clues or substantial leads he had almost given up. Then he reached Nami no Kuni.
Flashback-Three Years Ago
Jiraiya could only stare at the sign hanging at the entrance of the majestic bridge.
THE GREAT NARUTO BRIDGE
DEDICATED TO THE BOY WHOSE DETERMINATION
AND PERSEVERANCE SAVED OUR COUNTRY
But the bridge was not all that had Jiraiya's attention. On both sides of the bridge were two statues of Naruto. The one on the left depicted Naruto with a foxy grin, his left arm on his hip and his right arm pointing at the horizon. The statue on the left was Naruto all right but he looked very different. He was crouching in an animal-like manner. His canines had lengthened and his nails resembled claws. His pupils were slitted; the whisker marks on his face and his clothes were ripped up. He had a look of pure, feral rage on his face.
"So, this is where he first used Kyuubi's chakra. Yet he is still revered as a hero here."
Looking around, he saw decorations hanging all over the town. Children were running around in orange jumpsuits or whiskered cheeks and both sometimes. There were slogans of "DATTEBAYO!" hanging on almost every building. Jiraiya stopped and asked a passer-by what was going on. His answer filled Jiraiya with hope.
"The Hero of Wave was here."
But Naruto was uncannily good at covering his tracks. From Wave, Jiraiya tracked Naruto to Suna where Naruto disappeared in the desert. Then, in the Land of Moon, his spies gave him a report of recent happenings. Whilst the prince of the Land of Moon, Tsuki Michiru, and his son, Tsuki Hikaru, were away, a man named Shabadaba killed the king and usurped the throne. The prince returned with a blond ninja who, with a ball of chakra with a crescent moon in its center, defeated Shabadaba and his minions. Jiraiya missed him by a week when he reached the Land of Moon. Then a message from a spy in Suna reached Jiraiya. The Suna ninjas had been attacked by a group of armored warriors. The Godaime Kazekage, Sabaku no Gaara, barely managed to protect his people. After interrogating one of the prisoners, Suna uncovered a plot to create a utopia with a legendary gem known as the Stone of Gelel. When Gaara and Kankuro returned to the battlefield, they encountered three mysterious knights accompanied by a familiar ninja with blond hair who disappeared shortly afterward. The knights also left a scroll on the battlefield and disappeared. Opening the scroll, they discovered the head of the ringleader, a man named Haido wanted on numerous crimes, and a note stating that the crisis was averted. The note was signed with a spiral, the Uzumaki spiral. Jiraiya launched his own investigation after his arrival in Kaze no Kuni. After a few weeks, he discovered the cave which held the Stone of Gelel. It was sealed off by a complex array of fuinjutsu, and all the arrays used were original inventions, breakable only by the creator. And still no sign of Naruto. After a few more months of silence, Tsunade asked Jiraiya to give up his search. Just moments before he did, an urgent message reached Jiraiya. A message that both shocked him and gave him hope.
Flashback
Jiraiya's hands trembled as he read the message.
"The civil war in Kiri is over...thanks to...NARUTO!"
According to the report, the Pro-Bloodline faction had staged an all-out raid to quash the Anti-Bloodline faction once and for all. The Godaime Mizukage, Terumi Mei, was credited with the defeat of the Yondaime Mizukage but, according to his informant, a ninja matching Naruto's description and wielding a sword made of a pure white metal engaged the Yondaime moments before his defeat. Reading quickly, he discovered Naruto's next destination.
"Tetsu no Kuni...finally."
Tetsu no Kuni
Jiraiya sighed as he spoke with Mifune, the leader of Tetsu no Kuni. Naruto's visit had not lasted long, he had completed a mission for the leader of Tetsu no Kuni and had come to receive payment.
"How did you contact him?" asked the Toad Sage.
"I didn't contact him, he came to me." replied Mifune.
"Do you have any means of contacting him?"
"No."
"Chikushou."
"Jiraiya-sama."
Turning, Jiraiya saw a slug behind him, carrying a scroll. Taking it, he quickly read it and sighed once more.
"Tell her I'll be there in a week."
The slug disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Konoha - One Week Later
Tsunade silently poured through the books and reports on her desk, waiting for her old teammate to return. She still remembered the day she told him of her decision to banish Naruto.
Flashback
"YOU DID WHAT?"
A livid Jiraiya stood before Tsunade, KI rolling of him in waves that were so thick she could barely breathe. She took a few minutes to calm down.
"I had too. Keeping the Kyuubi at bay is his responsibility. Losing control over the fox's chakra is inexcusable and..."
She was cut off when a palm slapped her into silence.
"HOW DO YOU EXPECT AN ILL-TRAINED, FRESH-OUT-OF-THE-ACADEMY-GENIN TO TAME THE GREATEST OF THE NINE BIJUU!"
Before Tsunade could respond Jiraiya cut her off again.
"No...I don't want to hear how in your ignorance and probably drunken stupor you just threw away the most promising ninja of this village."
Suddenly, Shizune burst into the office looking frantic.
"Tsunade-sama, Uchiha Sasuke has escaped again!"
Turning her head to the Toad Sage, she only saw scorn and disgust in his eyes.
"I wonder who is going to bring him back this time."
The second Sasuke retrieval mission was a complete disaster. The rogue Uchiha, after hearing about his Naruto's banishment from Sakura, had left immediately after he was healed. He had not hesitated to use lethal force against his pursuers and had almost killed Sakura, leaving her half-dead at the Valley of The End. But that just marked the beginning of Konoha's problems.
Flashback
"Our trade agreement is off."
Tsunade could only stare in shock as Tazuna, the new Damiyo of Nami no Kuni, and Kazahana Koyuki, the princess of Haru no Kuni formerly known as Yuki no Kuni, stood in her office, calling off alliances that were so profitable to Konoha.
"W-w-why?"
"You have burned the bridge that connected Konoha to us." replied Tazuna. "Without that boy, our country would still be under Gato's clutches. Since you threw away the Hero of Wave, we will do the same with your trade agreement."
He walked out of the office. Tsunade turned her pleading eyes onto Koyuki's unforgiving eyes.
"Please, don't do this."
Koyuki shook her head.
"It's already done. Goodbye."
She walked out of the office leaving the Godaime a miserable wreck.
Tsunade was roused from her thoughts by Jiraiya's arrival. The Toad Sage had silently flitted through the window and was sitting on a chair in her office. He hadn't forgiven her for banishing Naruto and only spoke to her when it was absolutely necessary. She threw him a bingo book from Kumo.
"Open to the latest entry."
Jiraiya flipped the book open to the last entry. He read the info there with no small amount of surprise.
Name: Uzumaki Naruto aka Shippuu Kitsune (1).
Age: unknown, probably between 14-18 years.
Rank: B
Known Skills: Kage Bunshin, Fuuton Jutsus, proficient taijutsu, possible kenjutsu.
Bounty: 300,000 ryo. Wanted alive.
Beside the entry was a picture Naruto in an orange and black jumpsuit, obviously a modification of his old jumpsuit. He wore a black headband with no hitai-ite on it. His sword, hanging diagonally on his back, was blocked from the picture. The only part of it that was visible was the ornate handle. It looked like any other handle of a katana but was golden in color and encrusted with jewels. It was his eyes that caught Jiraiya's attention. They didn't hold the usual playful light. They were serious, deadly...like those of the fourth Hokage.
"All right." he said as he closed the book. "Naruto's a criminal in Kumo."
Tsunade threw him a Kusa bingo book. He flipped open to Naruto's entry. What he read surprised him a lot...to put it mildly.
Name: Uzumaki Naruto aka Meimei Katana (2)
Age: Unknown, suspected to be in his teens.
Rank: A
Known Skills: Kage Bunshin, Suiton Jutsus, accelerated healing, immunity to poisons and toxins, suspected jinchuuriki, possible kenjutsu, proficient genjutsu.
Bounty: 700,000 ryo. Dead or Alive.
The picture of Naruto was almost the same as the one in the Kumo bingo book. The only difference was the orange cloak with black flames at its hem that Naruto wore.
"Genjutsu?" the Toad Sage asked in a puzzled tone.
Tsunade merely nodded.
"That's just half the story."
Jiraiya looked up to see two more bingo books flying at him. He caught them and looked at their covers. He opened the Iwa bingo book first.
Name: Uzumaki Naruto aka Arashi no Me (3)
Age: 18 years
Rank: S
Known Skills: Fuuton Jutsus, Rasengan, kenjutsu, suspected jinchuuriki.
Bounty: 1,000,000 ryo. Dead or Alive.
Note: It is highly possible that Uzumaki Naruto is the son of Namikaze Minato, Konoha no Kiroi Senkou (4). He is wanted for the death of Roshi and Ryota.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with an incredulous look on his face.
"He defeated the jinchuuriki of the Gobi and Iwa's Shining Stone."
Tsunade, who had removed a bottle of sake, took a sip before replying.
"On the same day."
Jiraiya shook his head and flipped the Oto Bingo Book open. Naruto's entry there took the cake.
Name: Uzumaki Naruto aka Oni Senkou (5)
Age: 18 years
Rank: S
Known Skills: Proficient kenjutsu, fuinjutsu (possible sealmaster), incredible speed and flexibility, unpredictable tactics, jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune.
Bounty: 5,000,000 ryo. Wanted alive.
Note: Uzumaki Naruto is not only the son of Namikaze Naruto; he also possesses a teleportation technique that resembles Hiraishin no Jutsu (6). He is wanted for the attempted (and almost successful) murder of Orochimaru and the kidnap of Uchiha Sasuke. Approach him with caution.
Jiraiya closed the bingo book and rubbed his temple.
"You do know what this means, right?"
Tsunade nodded as she sipped some more sake.
"The council has already begun clamoring for his return. Of course, they all possess ulterior motives."
"What of the rookie ten?"
Tsunade sighed at that, they were amongst her biggest headaches. After Naruto's banishment and the revelation of his jinchuuriki status, the rookies had split into two factions. The Anti-Naruto faction comprised Sakura, Ino, Kiba and, surprisingly, Hinata. After Naruto's banishment, the Hyuuga elders had picked at her fragile mind and turned her against Naruto. The Pro-Naruto faction consisted of Shikamaru, Shino, Neji and Lee. They believed in Naruto and his willpower and were quick to defend him at any cost. Tenten refused to take a side but was mostly seen with the Pro-Naruto faction. The two factions sparked many clashes that caused a lot of property damage, with the Pro-Naruto faction coming on top every single time.
"No changes there."
Suddenly Shizune burst into the office looking flustered.
"TSUNADE-SAMA!"
The Hokage quickly rose to her feet.
"What is it Shizune?"
"Uchiha Sasuke is at the gates!"
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but my schedule is tightening up and this was the only story that inspired another chapter. I'll try to update another story soon. As usual, R&R
(1)Shippuu Kitsune: Hurricane Fox
(2)Meimei Katana: Invisible Blade
(3)Arashi no Me: Eye of The Storm
(4)Konoha no Kiroi Senkou: Konoha's Yellow Flash or the Yellow Flash of Konoha
(5)Oni Senkou: Demon Flash
(6)Hiraishin no Jutsu: Flying Thunder God Technique: The technique that gave Namikaze Minato his alias and victory of the Iwa ninjas in the Third Shinobi War. Using complex sealing arrays that manipulate the space/time continuum on special kunai, he could teleport instantly to the exact location of the kunai.