Naruto: Chronicles of Darkness

Index

"Normal speaking"

'Normal thinking'

Written words, flashback beginning and ending

Jutsu, spells

"Demon speaking"

'Demon Thinking'

Chapter 1: Awaken the Darkness Within

In a forest somewhere, a young boy with tan skin, golden blonde hair, and three whisker marks on each cheek sleeps. A figure creeps upon the boy. The figure shakes the boy.

"Hey, wake up. You'll catch a cold sleeping out here." The figure says in a kind voice.

"Ugh, Who are you?"

"My name is Haku. I've been living nearby recently when a friend of mine was injured. I'm looking for herbs to help heal my friend."

"I'll help you look for them. By the way, my name's Naruto 'tebayo." Naruto said looking around for the right herbs. Haku spoke again

"I see from your hitai-ate that you are a ninja. May I ask what you were you doing out here?"

"I was training. I have to get stronger."

"You seem plenty strong to me."

"I need to get stronger. It's my dream to be the hokage of my village and he's the strongest ninja ever 'tebayo." Naruto said to Haku. Haku was enjoying the blonde's company and asked a simple question.

"Do you have anyone that's precious to you?"

"Yeah. There's Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan, Sasuke-chan, Ayame-neechan, Teuchi-ojiisan, Saru-jiji, and Iruka-sensei." Naruto listed off the people that kept him from the hell of lonliness.

"You'll become very strong indeed, Naruto-san. There's a saying that say people will gain true strength when they have precious people to protect." Haku said, and then gasped pointing behind Naruto. He turned around to see that monsters were ambushing him and his companion.

Six skeletons wielding club like weapons advanced on the two. Naruto readied a kunai as he and Haku attacked. When he killed the first skeleton, a red sphere of light came out from the scattering bones and entered Him.

'What was that?' Naruto thought as Haku and he finished off the skeletons. Unfortunately, six knights in purple armor carrying spears had shown up.

"We should keep our distance from these foes." Haku said while throwing senbon. Naruto threw a few shuriken killing them, but a blue sphere of light exited from the burning suit and entered Naurto.

'Just like the skeleton' Naruto thought as soon as the last monster was slain. Then the ground began to shake as a giant creature made of stone came stomping out. Haku threw senbon, and Naruto, on instinct, threw a bone at the golem. Though the bone didn't do much damage, Naruto was shocked. It wasn't at the power, but rather the fact that he threw a bone when he never carries them. Haku and Naruto continued to battle the golem with senbon and shuriken, until one of Naruto's shuriken struck the golem and it fell apart. Once again a sphere of light flew out of the golem, but this sphere was yellow. Then the two gathered up their equipment and were thankful that the herbs weren't damaged.

"Thanks for the help neechan." Naruto said to Haku.

"No, I should thank you, and by the way, I'm a boy." Haku said as he walked off with the herbs in hand. Naruto stared dumbfounded at the extremely effeminate boy. He then walked back to Tazuna's home.

Naruto walked in the house seeing his teammates. Both were girls of thirteen, like him, but were completely different. One was a girl with less then developed breasts, long pink hair, a large forehead, jade green eyes, and she wore a red battle dress. The other girl had decently developed breasts, coal black eyes, long jet-black hair that was tied in a ponytail at the end, and she was wearing a blue, sleeveless shirt with a white and red fan on her back and a modest white skirt.

"Sakura-chan, Sasuke-chan! You're not going to believe what just happened. I was out in the forest, and I met this girl but she was really a he." SMACK, a fist came down on Naurto's head during his explanation, and Sasuke gave a level 10-death glare.

'Who's the slut trying to bed MY fiancé?' Sasuke thought, silently fuming at some random girl sleeping with her guy.

"NARU-BAKA! YOU SHOULDN'T FOOL AROUND! We're on a mission." Sakura said a little peeved that Naruto would, allegedly, 'fool around' with a girl.

"First, Sakura-chan, I said that it wasn't a girl, but a guy that looked like a girl. After we met and talked we were ambushed by monsters." Naruto finished his story, and Sasuke sighed with relief. She knew Naruto wasn't into boys, but she didn't quite believe his story. She walked over to him and lightly rapped him on the head.

"You shouldn't tell lies dobe. It just doesn't suit you, and besides you do remember that promise right?"

"Of course I remember that. Jiji was the one who told us about that." Naruto said to his fiancé. They still remember when the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, told them of their arranged marriage when they were younger. Afterwards, Naruto moved into Sasuke's house and they got closer then they were before.

"Good, just making sure you didn't forget. Now, I'm going to go for a small walk and come back. Your punishment is to cook dinner for everyone." Sasuke said and gave Naruto a peck on the cheek and walked out.

"Hey, wait up Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said and left with Sasuke. Now Naruto was left with his jounin instructor. A man with gravity defying silver hair, wearing black pants, a jounin flak vest, a facemask, and his hitai-ate over one eye while his other was in a eye-smile.

"You sure now how to pick them, Naruto." He said returning to his written porn, Icha Icha tactics.

"You believe me, right? Kakashi-sensei?"

"No." Kakashi answered Naruto's question. Naruto had his head down in disbelief. No one believed his story.

Sasuke continued to walk around before sighing and turning around.

"What do you want Haruno-san?"

"I just wanted to talk."

"Hn"

"Um, I know I wasn't nice to Naruto, but why are you so nice to him?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, you've ignored every guy in the academy, except Naruto. You're cold and aloof to everyone, except Naruto. I just want to know why is all." Sakura asked in plain and simple curiousity. Sasuke stared in thought. Should she trust her? The last person she trusted, outside of Naruto, was her parents and brother. Now her parents are dead, and her brother was the one who murdered them.

"Ano, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I have to admit that plan he came up with during our fight with Zabuza was brilliant." Sakura said and started to leave. She was saddened by the fact that the Ice-hime of Konohagakure no Sato wouldn't open up to her.

"Wait Sakura." Sakura stopped when Sasuke said that.

"The reason Naruto is the only person I don't ignore is a secret, but he's the only one I can show my softer side to. I won't show it to anyone else. You're probably the only one I told this too, but it might be because we're teammates." Sasuke finished. She didn't let many people get close to her. The only that has never betrayed her was her best friend, fiancé, and, in her personal opinion, her sunshine, Naruto.

"I don't even want to think about what could have happened if I didn't have him." Sasuke said as she went back. Sakura was stunned. Since the forming of team 7, this was the most Sasuke had ever told her.

'What did she mean by "I never want think about what could have happened if I didn't have him"? Come to think of it, why did she tell Naruto to cook as punishment?' Sakura thought as she dashed next to Sasuke.

"Matte, Joto-matte Sasuke-kun, why did you tell Naruto to cook?" Sakura asked and then saw Sasuke go into a dreamy state for 10 seconds before saying.

"You'll see Haruno-san." Sasuke's answer left Sakura confused.

It was dinnertime everyone was gathered at the dinner table. Inari, a boy with black hair, was sitting next to his mother, Tsunami. Tazuna the oldest had asked.

"So, Tsunami-chan what's for dinner?"

"You'll have to ask Naruto-san otousama. He's the one that cooked tonights dinner." Tsunami answered. Sakura was still wondering why make Naruto cook when their so many other possible punishments. Kakashi was fingering his pockets, searching for stomach medicine. Tazuna was being skeptical about a man doing the cooking, and Sasuke was sitting politely with a stoic face of aloofness, even if she was smirking on the inside.

"Food's done, and here you go everyone." Naruto said as he passed out the food. It looked good enough, and when everyone tasted it.

'My kami this is good' Thought Kakashi

'I had my doubts, but damn this boy is a miracle worker' Tazuna thought

'Maybe I should ask for some tips, or lessons, from Naruto-san' were Tsunami's thoughts.

'This is why Sasuke-kun did this! Naruto's cooking is sooo goood. It's like my taste buds are partying in my mouth.' Were Sakura's thoughts on Naruto's cooking skills. Team 7 unofficially agreed, by majority vote, that Naruto was the team's chef.

Omake

Naruto's cooking.

"Hey Naruto, how did you become such a good chef when you're the class dobe?" Sakura asked a question that everyone, except Sasuke, had on their minds.

"Well…"

Flashback Begin

Mikoto Uchiha, a lovely woman in her mid-thirties was teaching Sasuke to cook a few simple dishes. Simple basic bridal training to ensure her future husband, Naurto, would have a good bride. The door opened after Mikoto tried Sasuke's fiftieth attempt at miso soup.

"MIko-kaachan, whatcha' doing 'ttebayo?" Naruto asked in simple curiosity.

'He certainly inheirited his mother's way of talking' She thought as a six year old Naruto stood next to Sasuke, both of them happily saying hello to their best friend in the world.

"Well, Naruto-sochi, I'm teaching Sasuke-chan how to cook."

"What's so great about cooking? We're going to be awesome kick-ass ninja when we grow up, so we should we know?"

"Watch your language young man," Mikoto said as she smacked Naruto on the head before continuing, "Also, ninja must have many skills. This includes domestic skills such as gardening, woodwork, and, of course, cooking. Cooking is a valuable skill for any ninja. A ninja can't fight on an empty stomach and better meals can make one feel stronger. Also, every young lady should know how to cook for when they get married." Mikoto finished explaining while Naruto and Sasuke looked awestruck at the woman's explanation.

"Will you teach me how to cook Miko-kaachan?" Naruto asked his surrogate mother.

"Please teach Naruto-kun how to momma."

"I don't know…"

"Pleeeeaaaaassssseeee." Sasuke and Naruto said in unison giving Mikoto the dreaded puppy dog pout.

"Alright, I'll teach you how to cook, but don't be too upset if you don't get right the first time." Mikoto said while the two kids hi-fived each other.

It was a few days after Mikoto started teaching Naruto how to cook, and oddly enough, he took like a fish to water.

'He learned how to make miso soup perfectly without buning anything on the first try. Not only that, but he made even better than me.' Mikoto thought as she brought the kids with her to Naruto's favorite restaurant, Ichiraku's Ramen Stand. Even though she, and the kids, noticed the cold glares and stares directed at Naruto, they just ignored them. They ordered their meals with Naruto, literally, gulping down his food, and earning some scolding from Sasuke.

"Teuchi-san, I've got a favor to ask you."

"Sure thing, Mikoto-sama, what'd you need?"

"Well, do you think you can teach Naruto to cook some meals? Well, I've been teaching him how to cook and he's already mastered most of the meals I know. Do you think you can teach him anything else?"

"Sure thing Mikoto-sama. Just tell him to report here for a bit and I'll pound every single aspect of cooking, and not just ramen." Teuchi agreed as Mikoto thanked.

The following week…

'I don't believe this; it's still in front of me and I still can't believe this' Teuchi and his daughter, Ayame, wept as they tasted the ramen that the kami themselves would praise.

Flashback end

"…And after that I worked in Ichiraku's for a week and it was the busiest week ever." Naruto finished his story as everyone at the dinner table, except Sasuke, just sat there dumbfounded. Once again, Sakura learned a new thing about Naruto, as she remembered that she and her mother, Haruno Nobara, had gone to Ichiraku's the week it had Naruto as a chef

…And that's a wrap folks. Boy I had fun with this chapter. If Sasuke seems OOC to you then it's two reasons: 1) Sasuke was born a girl in this and 2) She and Naruto, essentially, grew up together. Also if you read, please leave a review or a golem will start wrecking your house. Not really, but it helps the mojo of my artistic talent, even if it is sucky.