My God Has Nine Tails
Chapter One: A Temple for the Soul
The Hokage was clearing the char from his pipe as Kakashi entered. Looking up from the small bag of tobacco he was fiddling with, the Third smiled at him. "Ah, Kakashi. I trust this is about the matter we spoke of earlier?"
The Copy Ninja put away his book and nodded. "There was an uneven number of graduates this year, so I suppose I'll be taking Sasuke as a lone apprentice." The Hokage shook his head, and lit his pipe.
He puffed a bit, then let out a smooth line of smoke. "There was a last minute addition, it seems that Naruto was promoted in the field." Kakashi's eye narrowed at that. "Field promotion? Pardon me, but the last time I checked we were not at war."
The Hokage nodded. "Unusual circumstances were involved, the Chuunin sensei Mizuki betrayed the village. He convinced young Naruto to steal the scroll of sealing, apparently as some sort of Genin advancement test. To make a long story short, Naruto figured out the ruse with the help of the other academy sensei and he apprehended the traitor."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at that. "How did an academy dropout take a Chuunin down single handed?" The Hokage laughed amusedly, remembering the blood bath from the night before. "I wouldn't exactly describe attacking someone with over sixty shadow clones as single handed."
Kakashi leaned into his hand. "Sixty? Hmm, that's quite a lot." The Hokage sat for a bit, smoking his pipe. He took a deep breath and let the smoke drift out his nose. "There's something you need to know about him. He's... Perhaps it would be better to tell the story from the beginning."
The Hokage leaned back in his chair. "In Naruto's first year at the academy, he had a mishap during chakra training. He used far too much chakra, which nearly fried his coils and left him bedridden with chakra exhaustion. He was in a coma for nearly six weeks, and I believe he came into contact with the Nine Tailed Fox during that time."
He looked Kakashi in the eyes, and continued. "It changed him. He became vicious, blood-thirsty, and aggressive. He was like a wild animal, but he was not malicious or antagonistic. So I allowed him to remain free, as long as he was not a threat to the village."
It was then that the Hokage looked almost remorseful. "I had him pushed into some unsavoury activities, as a way to turn his insatiable lust for blood and violence into something productive. He took to street fighting and other such competitions like a duck to water. He's mellowed over the years, and I feel he's ready to shoulder the responsibilities of a shinobi."
Kakashi frowned deeply. "I suppose you would want him to be more than just a random thug. Any ideas on how I should approach him?" The Hokage nodded. "I do, but it would be better for you to figure it out on your own. I recommend you see one of his matches, he'll be fighting in the pit at Old Man Daisuke's Bar in a few hours."
Kakashi nodded, and excused himself. He walked around the village for a while, and eventually found the bar. He looked around, it wasn't often he found himself in the seedier parts of town. He smelled blood, and lots of it.
He walked into the bar, and was led into the back room. When he arrived he saw the fight was about to begin. The announcer smiled widely, and waved his arm toward the ring. "In the red corner we have Iron-fist Uzumaki, five time lightweight champion! In the blue corner is the up-and-comer Kenichi the Vagabond!" The crowd cheered wildly.
Naruto cracked his neck a bit, and smiled. He was wearing an orange and black keikogi with the sleeves ripped off, and wraps around his hands and feet. The kanji for iron fist was emblazoned on his back. Kenichi was somewhat large, and wore a ratty brown coat and traveller's hat.
The referee stepped into the ring and began his monologue. "You all know the rules: Fight 'til you can't no more, and don't die." He then signalled the fight to start. The two fighter's bowed to each other.
Kenichi started the fight by dashing form his corner and pulling out a longer than average bo staff. Nine feet by Naruto's reckoning, and he swung it around like it weighed nothing. Naruto blocked the first blow with his forearm, and deflected it upward. While Kenichi was stunned Naruto grabbed onto the middle of the staff and kicked upward, shattering it.
Kenichi snarled at him, and attacked with the newly made spear. Naruto threw his half behind him, and charged at his opponent. He grabbed the spear that Kenichi stabbed at him with, and spun with the force of the attack. Naruto used the momentum to slam his elbow into Kenichi's back.
The force knocked Kenichi's hat off, and caused him to bite his lip. He wiped his mouth and spat. "Good hit kid, good hit." Naruto smirked, and got into a modified horse stance. Kenichi ran towards him and jabbed at him with his spear. Naruto grabbed his arm and used the momentum to throw him backwards. When Kenichi was halfway over him, Naruto used the force of his entire body to thrust Kenichi's arm back into his face.
Kenichi staggered backward, and Naruto flipped forward and thrust his palms into his stomach. As Kenichi doubled over in pain Naruto grabbed onto his coat, and he pulled him into a vicious knee-strike to the face.
The referee called the fight, and Naruto beamed as he heard the crowd chant his name. Kakashi laughed from his vantage point. An old man nearby asked why he was laughing. "I've never seen anybody use yoga in a fight, and I've seen a lot of fights." The old man laughed as well. "That's Uzumaki for you, he's crazy like that. Good kid though, he's turned down more money than most folk make in a lifetime!"
Kakashi smirked "Oh?" The old man nodded. "Some of the seedier types will pay good money to rig a fight, but that kid has never taken any of them up on it. Says that the fight is pay enough, but if you ask me I say he does it for the attention. He laps up those cheers like a starving pup, he does! Look at him down there, that ham!"
Naruto walked out of the ring, bowing to the crowd and smiling like a loon. Naruto walked over to the old man and Kakashi. He smiled at the old man. "Hey Daisuke, does that fight cover my tab or what?" Daisuke nodded, and patted him on the back. "It's a shame you'll be leaving us kid, I hope I get to see you fight again before I croak!"
Naruto laughed good naturedly "Aw, old man you'll never die! As long as there's people with deep wallets and empty heads, you'll be there with a smile on your lips and a hand in their pockets!" Daisuke ruffled his hair ruefully, then shooed him away. "There's a bottle of chug and a coupon for Ichiraku's in the usual place!"
The old man looked around for the Jounin a bit, but never found him.
Kakashi followed Naruto to Ichiraku, and approached him. Naruto ordered six bowls of assorted meat and a glass of amazake. Kakashi sat next to him and ordered a bowl of ramen and some warm sake.
The two ate in peace, when they were done Naruto looked at him questioningly. Kakashi smiled. "I saw your fight, you were good. Very good." Naruto rolled his eyes. "I keep telling you bastards, I don't want your money. Besides, I'm going legit. Gonna be a ninja, I am! Tell your Oyabun he can shove it."
Kakashi brought his hands up, and pointed to his headband. Naruto looked up frowned thoughtfully. "Ah, I suppose you were checking me out. So you're going to be my Jounin sensei, right?" Kakashi nodded. "Nothing's set in stone just yet, but most likely. I will give the Hokage my recommendation in your honour, but I need to ask a few things first."
Naruto nodded, and motioned for him to continue. "Why do you want to be a ninja?" Naruto frowned and spun around on his stool for a bit. "I suppose it's because I have begun to think of Konoha as more than a prison, it's home now. Daisuke, Teuchi, Ayame, the old men in the park that play othello with me, the Inuzuka, heck even the Hokage... They are my pack, my family. If I can do something that will keep them safe and happy then I will do it, and if I get to beat up some thugs along the way... Well, that's the egg on my ramen!"
Kakashi smiled and nodded, "Walk with me kid. I have one last question, and I can't ask you here." The two walked off until they were near a small bridge. Kakashi leaned on the railing, and Naruto sat on the ledge.
Kakashi looked up at the sunset. "The Kyuubi, tell me about it." Naruto's eyes flashed for a moment, and he looked up at him. "The Fox taught me many things. It told me of fire and blood. Of our beginnings, and of our destiny... It showed me a way of being that is like no other. It showed me the Path of Nine Tails, and for that I am grateful. I'm pledged to be Its disciple."
Kakashi steeled himself, and let none of his emotions show. "Why do you serve the Beast?" Naruto smiled creepily. "Why do you serve the Hokage? I don't serve anyone, I am my own highest authority. I live by my own command."
Kakashi looked down at him. "What is your allegiance: To the village or the Beast?" Naruto laughed. "Neither, weren't you listening? I owe my allegiance to no one. I fight for myself, and for my family. If doing so means working in defence of Konoha, as a whole, then so be it. Though, I would never betray the village if that's what your asking. When I accepted this headband I made a promise to uphold the code of the Leaf Ninja, and to strive for nothing else than to burn with the Will of Fire."
Naruto pointed at his headband for emphasis. "The Fox Itself told me that if I ever broke my word, he would eat my soul. I promised to serve the village as a ninja. The only promise I made the Fox was the pact of blood and fire. He lets me use his chakra, and I give him offerings of blood. It matters not where the blood comes from."
Kakashi remembered the fight, specifically when his opponent bit his lip. The smile on Naruto's face was feral and hungry.
Kakashi told Naruto that he believed him, and with that he left. The Jounin thought long and hard about what he said, in the morning the Third Hokage found a scroll with Kakashi's recommendation for Naruto.
The note at the bottom said that Naruto was like a stray mutt, vicious and sickly... But if shown kindness and fed well, they show a fierce loyalty that has no equal.
If there's one thing Kakashi knows, it's how to whip dogs into shape.
