I own nothing, never have and never going to.
The poll for the next three who will be in the harem is on my profile, anyone who would like to have a hand in doing so should do it soon because after I am down with chapter three it will be turned off and the votes shall be tallied right then and there.
Chapter 2
New threat: The Awakening of the Beast Within
After the proctors escort Naruto from the room he walks into his now stunned classroom, they all saw the headband wrapped around his eyes and couldn't believe the dead last Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze Senju passed the class when three years ago he couldn't even make a simple clone.
"I guess they really have gotten slack with the requirements of being a ninja huh?" Kiba asked one of his neighboring classmate who started to snicker. Even though the whisper was very silent, Naruto's almost ungodly hearing ability picked up on the sly comment and couldn't help but become pissed from it.
As of right now he stood as an equal to Kiba, if not more and now he still has the gall to say he doesn't deserve this? Well that will soon change.
As Naruto started to walk up towards his set he decided to mess with the mut. He pulled out a small smoke bomb and 'accidently' dropped it, releasing the thick purple smoke.
While no one in the room could see the transaction between the two in question, they could hear the hard thuds and cracks from Naruto's cane smashing against the arrogant muts skull.
Once the smoke died down you could see a 'bewildered' Naruto who was frantically looking from one side to another while Kiba was sprawled out on the ground with big bruises covering his body from head to toe.
At that point Iruka walked in to give his final announcements to his graduating class only to see this sight which almost made him laugh at how comical it looked.
"What happened!" he asked, gaining his composure before he started to laugh out loud at the amusing sight of Kiba, the proclaimed 'Alpha' male of this generation sprawled out on the floor, covered in bruises and a slight bit of drool rolled from his open mouth.
Naruto turned to the sound of the voice and with the same 'bewildered' look he answered with, "Iruka, is that you? I was walking along and i heard a bang and i was thrown off my direction. Can you tell me what happened?" with the straightest face, making sure to hold down his laughter.
"It seems a smoke bomb went off" Iruka said walking over to the area around Naruto to see the slight residue on the ground and desk around him.
"A smoke bomb? why would someone use a smoke bomb on me, i can't see?" he questioned almost gagging on those pitiful words, now milking his disability to its finest. Sure, he doesn't believe that this is a disability anymore but at times a ninja's best weapon is deception and if he is able to fool a grade A ninja like Iruka he had his little act down packed.
Iruka just waved off the abused form of Kiba as the feared flailing of Naruto who was startled when he heard the pop of the smoke bomb and took Kiba to the med room to get a check up while Naruto walked to his seat with a sick mental smile. As the class calmed down and Iruka came back from his trip to the med room he started his famous "ninja" speak that bored our blind hero to no end.
He had read every book, every file, and every document that Tsunade had translated for him and he couldn't understand why Iruka would continue to give off this stupid speech. In the battlefield no one cares for your feelings, your life, or your loved ones they will do or say whatever they have to until they win, simple as that.
Once he was done giving his speech he dismissed the graduating class and told them to meet back here at 9 in the morning for team placement, which Naruto couldn't wait for.
He hoped it was with Hinata, Shino, or even Shikamaru, the only three in their entire graduating class that didn't treat Naruto as either a charity case or a complete burden.
As he walked out of the Academy he felt the presence of his instructor behind him, Mizuki.
The smell of snakes is now evident on the procter, it was almost suffocating, like he had taken a bath in snake saliva.
"Ah Naruto I am glad I was able to catch up to you!" he said with a cheerful upbeat tone that almost made Naruto vomit, it was the same voice Sakura uses so she could try and get into his pants.
"Teacher, nice to hear your voice. How can i be of assistance?" he questioned now truly putting his acting skills to the limit and back. "Iruka didn't tell you? Man, i guess he just got caught up in the heat of them moment like he always does" Mizuki said making Naruto ark an eyebrow.
"And what would is piece of information be?" he questioned, feeling the desorption radiating from Mizuki which was a dead giveaway that he wasn't who he truly says he is.
"Well, a lot of the higher ups especially the council believes since you are...handicapped that you should have to be given an ext8ra test just to make sure you won't endanger your fellow teammates in the field." As Mizuki finished his little speech Naruto was now physically biting his tongue as from not killing this miserable fool, he knew that it was a bull face lie but still, it was a low blow even by this snake in the grasses standards.
"Really?" he questioned through gritted teeth, holding back his rage the best he could.
"Yeah, but anyway i can here to tell you what your test will be" Mizuki said with cockness flowing from his every pore, "there is a scroll in the Hokage's office that you must take, if you are able to get it and evade me and Iruka for the rest of the day you pass."
With the minute of the forbidden scroll it was the final nail in Mizuki's coffin, Naruto knew the Hokage would never risk that scroll even if its a 'special occasion'. Naruto only nodded and headed towards the Hokage tower, fooling Mizuki into believing he knows nothing.
As Naruto rounded the corner to get to the Hokage tower he bumped into a nearby passerby who seemed very annoyed with the sudden takedown.
"OW, what were your goin- Naruto?" the voice questioned, Naruto's ears perked up at the familiar feminine voice. He quickly got to his feet and extended his hand, "S-sorry about that Ayame, I guess i didn't see where i was going" with a smile.
The now slightly blushing Ayame takes his hand.
After Naruto lifted the ramen waitress to her feet and bowed slightly to apologize to his long standing friend Ayame, who deep down inside he truly liked. Over the years he has dealt with his problem there has been a list -a very short list mind you- of worth while people and could only find at least 6 to 7 max in this disturbed village he lives in.
One being his long time -not so secret- admirer Hinata Hyuuga, a purple haired beauty with a heart as big as her smile. Next being his godfather, Jiraya of the Toad Sage. Even though being an annoying pervert and his constant attempts at peeking at Naruto's surrogate mother Jiraiya has done a lot for the blind swordsmen, like teaching him the rasengan for starters.
Speaking of his mother, Tsunade was the top of this list. Even though she has a…...rough way of teaching and an unorthodox way of discipline -aka, punching you through three reinforced walls- there was nothing Naruto loved and cherished more than his mother Tsunade.
His Sister was the close second for his top spot, Shizune was the perfect sibling, she was supportive, helpful, guiding, strong, and slightly to involved which is something Naruto loved most of all. Having someone actually become too attached to him made it all the more better, someone finally saw him for something more than just a martyr or a beast.
And finally, the one woman Naruto couldn't get enough of -on a romantic level…...second to Hinata- ,Ayame. Her aura was just so peaceful to the young swordsman, everytime he ate at her restaurant or he meet up with her after her shift it was just a perfect feeling he got from her and he couldn't understand why.
His gut said it was love but how could it be? He couldn't love, his heart was so damaged anything other than a family or a bond would put too much of a strain on it.
Unknown by the blonde knucklehead, the woman he contemplated about all day and night was having the same problems that he has.
Ever since the raman cook met the pre-teen she couldn't stop thinking of anything else. He was 2 years her junior but the age gap did not stop her teen mind to wander to some…...more mature setting for her and the blind bandit.
Every time she would hear his voice or see his face she couldn't help but feeling butterflies in her stomach…...actually, it was more like a zoo was standing in her guts. It has gotten so bad that she can't control herself and she would sometimes makes a complete fool out of herself.
Like take right now for example, if Naruto could see he would have noticed his face was mere inches from hers, it wasn't that bad…..except, before he offered his hand she was inching even closer to his, ready to steal a kiss from a pubescent blind child.
While both were now pondering their thoughts and feelings about one another, they didn't realize their hands were still intertwined, their fingers now interlocked tightly that even a safe cracker couldn't separate them.
Naruto could have stood their for hours, basking in the glow of her aura and to feel the softness of her hands, but his prior engagement can to the forefront of his mind and reluctantly released her hand, getting a small sigh of disappointment from Ayame.
"Sorry for knocking you over Ayame, I'll pay you back for anything I have spilled" he said, not giving her anytime to respond as he takes to the rooftops, jumping from one to the other with speed and procession.
Thanks to his sounare, every hit and every step his foot or other's made, a sound wave would be created, showing him every object in the area, building, rivers, people, you name it…..even though it does have its drawbacks.
Naruto, after kicking his speed into high gear, finally landed in the courtyard of the Hokage tower. He sensed the presence in his way, one seemed to have an aura of pride, it felt like an overabundance of mist covering his body in a shroud.
Next was a aura of pure…..what the hell? It was odd but the feeling he got from this person was an aura of pure youthfulness, an aura that could manipulate others, something Naruto has studied and even perfected.
And the final was a aura he has sinced for years now, a aura of self confidence, yes many people, especially ninjas, have to have a mix of self confidence but this one was full, 100% confidence.
"Ah, team Gai. It is nice to see you again" Naruto mused, walking towards the group while twirling his cane in between his fingers. Over the years he has known Tenten he has met her team on many separate occasions, and with each meeting he becomes more and more annoyed with the stuck up Hyuuga named Neji. His aura made Naruto sick, it made his senses feel ill every time he walked past the slippery eel.
Lee on the other hand was a different story entirely, with Lee's odd aura that mixed in with Naruto's cooling yet influential aura they instantly hit it off without a hitch. They even became rival and trained together, one learning from the other so they could better themselves and one day fight a glorious battle of the ages.
"Uzumaki" Neji huffed, leering at the blind bastard only to see Naruto continue his stride. Neji is one of few that actually didn't believe Naruto was blind, since Naruto never took off his bandages to show anyone his deformity and his slightly below average grade in the academy, it would be impossible in Neji's opinion for Naruto to be blind.
"Hyuga" Naruto retorted, showing no ill will or malice towards the Hyuga protege. Not only was Neji's constantly mocking Naruto's skills and handicap but he also belittles Naruto's favorite girl in this whole village, Hinata, his own cousin is the brunt of his beatings. One of many people that are Naruto's shit list is the stuffy and prideful Neji, who soon will get what was coming to him, but for now, he has something of importance to do.
"Naruto! My youthful rival, what brings you here" yelled Lee, using his and his sensei trademark pose, hand shot out with a thumbs up, one closed eye with a smile and a twinkle from one of his teeth.
Naruto cuckled at his friend and "eternal rival's" antics and responded with, "top secret Lee, can't go telling just anyone now can I?" which only got a confused stare from Tenten and Neji, while Lee had fire burning in his eyes.
"My eternal rival has a top secret mission! I shall help you in anyway I can Naruto-chan!" he yelled once again, jumping in the air with enthusiasm.
"Ha, you? An Important mission? Don't make me laugh" Neji commented, "A gaki who hasn't even graduated cannot have a mission that is important enough to be top secret. Whatever it is must be idiotic, like one of his pranks" and with that Neji walked towards the exit, leaving behind his team mates who were glaring at the back of his head.
"Hey Neji" Naruto said, stopping the proud Hyuga in his tracks, "if I didn't graduate, then what is this" he questioned, pointing to the headband tied proudly over his scarred eyes.
Neji's eyebrow began to twitch, trying to hold back his shock and annoyance of this development, the dead last was now a official ninja.
"Naruto thats amazing! You passed" Tenten yelled excitedly, she ran to his side and enveloped him into a massive hug that Naruto has come accustomed to from his long time friend. Naruto returned the hug with as much vigor and strength, his blush gone unnoticed by his friend. Yes, the blind swordsman did not like just one woman, not two, but three women in his life and he felt dirty for it. After being told for so long from his mother and sister that perverts should be castrated and then thrown into the woods to be eaten by wolves -a rather graphic saying around a growing boy- he had kept any and all perverted ugers buried deep deep down in fear of persecution or worse….death by dick removal and wolf disinboling.
He even grew a physical tick when his mind wandered to impure thoughts, he would twitch and slightly curse under his breath, which people for some reason have never noticed.
After an awkwardly long hug for the spectators, the two friends separated and blushed slightly. Unseen by the three teammates, Naruto twitched and under his breath whispered "F**k" before bowing to his two friends and waving of Neji as we left to go take to his grandfather, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Naruto, walking past the secretary, knocked on the Hokage's door hoping he didn't interrupt anything of importance. Once he heard the tired old man say, "come in", Naruto barged in with renewed vigour and rushed the table….or whatever was in front of him, and dove at the Hokage yelling, "Grandpa Hokage!" now tackling through the mountain of paperwork the Hokage had finally sorted out and filed in their correct boxes.
As Naruto collided with the old man, sending his rolling chair with him in it backwards, smashing into the back wall, all Hiruzen could do was sit there and watch, watch as all of his hard work is scattered around the room like freshly fallen snow.
"How are you old man?" questioned Naruto who was giggling like a little school girl, unaware of what he had done.
Hiruzen was so close, so damn close to wring Naruto's little neck but there was two things that kept him from slaughtering the blind, unsuspecting runt. 1). If Tsunade figured out that he was the reason her bundle of joy was killed there would be no force on Kami's green earth that could stop her rage, and 2). He really couldn't have known the stacks of paper were there…..could he?
Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs and the messed up thoughts, he looked at the pre-teen sitting in his lap with a huge smile plastered on his face and his thoughts were instantly cleared. He couldn't hurt this boy, sure he had just messed up days of work that he had to stay up all night to finish…..but look at his smile!
Its like getting mad at a puppy, they could rip up your slippers, demolish your curtains, and even piss on your favorite pillow, but once they look at you with those innocent eyes and their tails start to wag uncontrollably all you want to do is hug them and kiss them.
Hiruzen just smiled at his godchild and said, "I am doing fine Naruto" but then he looked at the final falling piece of his paper work and sheeded a single tear, "well, maybe not fine".
"Are you doing okay old man? You seem sad?" he questioned with a look of pure ignorance, a look of a child.
"It's nothing Naruto-kun, just a little…...paperwork problem. Nothing to worry about" he said, patting Naruto's head which earned a laugh from the blonde.
"Well grandpops, I best tell you why I am here" Naruto said, flipping from the Hokage's lap, over his desk, and landed on the other side with perfect accuracy, not a single movement out of place.
Hiruzen had to give it to Naruto, even though he had a rather…..eccentric way of doing thing but he did them flawlessly. His acrobatics, his acting, his swordsmanship, he has learned to incorporate them all fluently into everything.
He could fool anyone, which opened them up to his hidden sword and then if they retaliated, all he had to do is use his rather modest arsenal of contortionist skills to get by their attacks, then snake into their defenses to finish them off. But….he is not without flaws.
"Okay Naruto" Hiruzen said, sitting back and pulling out his pipe, seeing how serious Naruto was this was serious, "what do you have to tell me?"
"Mizuki came up to me, he told me that I must take a second exam so I wouldn't be a 'hinderance' to my fellow teammates." Naruto said, taking a more serious posture to show he wasn't in his playful manner. "The exam was going to be me sneaking in here and stealing the forbidden scroll. Everything he said was scratchy but when he said that I knew something was up, you wouldn't risk the scroll on anything, even a test."
"Very nice Naruto" Hiruzen mused, actually surprised at the thought that went into this. He knew Naruto wasn't stupid by any means but a child would never question his superiors, even if they think something is wrong but Naruto not only questioned him, but took it a step further and brought it to an even higher superior.
"You are becoming one great detective Naruto" Hiruzen said, cracking a smile.
"Thank you old man, but what should I do?" Naruto questioned, looking to his leader for answers.
Hiruzen cocked an eyebrow and asked, "what do you mean?"
"Well, if you go after him with ANBU's he could sense their chakra. He is already expecting me so I think I should finish this on my own" Naruto said sternly, showing maturity for a 13 year old.
"No, I won't allow this. Tsunade would kill me if anything happened to you" Hiruzen said, feeling a chill go down his spine the moment he mentioned the woman.
"But old man! I am the only person that could get close to him and hold him off" Naruto said with force, a aura of seriousness rose from him.
"Hold him off? What are you talking about Naruto?" Hiruzen questioned, contemplating on how he could approach this without being killed by Tsunade but also test naruto's drive and determination.
"All I have to do is hold him off. Then, you can get your ANBU's to circle the area so if he decided to split you can take him down. It's a win, win situation."
Hiruzen takes a drag of his pipe and let the smoke blow from his nose, this was a tough choice. He really doesn't know Naruto's full potential since he refuses to show it, saying its 'too dangerous for mortals eyes' and what not.
He can't risk the Naruto's life and the wrath of Tsunade on the off chance he might be right, but also he can't risk Mizuki running and taking all the secrets he has learned about the village to whoever he works for.
Letting out a sigh Hiruzen looked to Naruto who stood there like a statue, still and unmoving as he awaited for the Hokage's verdict. "Fine Naruto, but you must promise me that you won't hold back on this! He is a Chunin and I don't think you are at that level yet. You will have five minutes, that should be enough for me to rally the troops."
Naruto jumped into the air with his fist held high as he screamed, "WoooHooo!" dropping all of the seriousness he had not five seconds ago. "Don't worry old man, I won't let you down!" He said, giving the Hokage a thumbs up and then burst through his window, breaking the unopen window with his body as he tumbles down the side of the building.
And their was one of Naruto's many flaws, leaping before you look is never a good thing. Even though he has his sonar ability down packed he has a tendency not to listen to them when he is excited, like right now. After a hard thud echoed through the area you heard a raspy and weak, "I'm okay" with a slight limping sound with a curse here and there for good measure.
'This is the kid I am entrusting this mission too?' questioned Hiruzen, holding his head in his hands as he stared at his desk, perplexed at what he just did, 'I must be going senile. Yeah thats it.'
Later that Night: In the Forest of Death
"Damn, where the hell is he?" Mizuki thought angrily, scanning the area he had told Naruto to meet at, infuriated by the blonde's lateness he begins to pace back and forth on the the branch he stands on.
"I can't be late, Orochimaru is a stickler for punctuation" Mizuki thought, feeling sweat start to build on his forehead. Orochimaru, far from normal had a rather odd quirk about him, he was a person who wants you their on time! No excuses. if you show up beforehand he will cut a finger off, show up late, you will lose a hand.
"Mizuki sensei!" he heard echo through the forest as a wave of relief washed over him, he didn't have to say goodbye to his hands anytime soon. He turned to see the blind bastard standing on a branch a few feet ahead of him, holding the scroll in his arms as he was slightly panting from exhaustion for having to lug that heavy scroll around.
"Took you long enough!" Yelled Mizuki, still rather pissed at Naruto for being tardy, "Learn to read a clock or a map once and a while"
"Read? Really?" Naruto said with an annoyed look on his face, "Anyway, I got the scroll. Can I pass now?" he questioned, leaning the scroll on the tree he stood on so he could take a breather.
"Well, not exactly" Mizuki mused, slowly reaching for his kunai pouch so he could finish this quickly so he wasn't seen by anyone.
He threw out three shurikens and jumped backwards, getting as much room from Naruto if he was able to by some miracle dodge the attack. As the shurikens inched closer and closer to Naruto all the blonde did was smile when his ears twitched. He knew the shurikens were coming, but he couldn't let his plan go to waste because of a little pain now would he?
Needing to buy time he decided to do the more theatrical and time consuming route and jumped into the air, and started to contort his body in mid-air, allowing his limbs and body slide through the gaps between the grouped projectiles.
He slide through the collection of shurikens with ease, only having one scratch on his back to show for it as he landed on the same branch he started on.
Mizuki was awestruck, it wasn't uncommon for ninja's especially high graded ninjas to possess such mastery of acrobatics but, seeing as he wasn't a visual learner it was next to impossible for him to have known were those shurikens would be or end up.
"So I am guessing that you lied to me?" Naruto said, slipping his hands into his pockets, sighing at the weak attempt to take him down.
"And if I did?" Mizuki questioned, pulling a gigantic windmill shuriken from his back and started to spin it around his index finger over his head, building up as much speed and force.
"Then I have no choice. I have a big problem with liars!" Naruto yelled, bursting from the tree limb at full force towards Mizuki. Being taken off guard by the quickness of Naruto, Mizuki instinctually stepped backwards, slipping on the wet branch he stood on thanks to the downpour last night, and begins to fall backwards just enough for Naruto to strike.
Naruto opened his arms wide, covering as much ground as he could so even if he made a miscalculation of were Mizuki was, he could at least catch him and bring him down with him.
Dead on his target Naruto tackles the unstable Mizuki, sending them both falling to the ground.
They both smashed into the ground, Mizuki back first while Naruto took the full brunt of it on his gut, driving any air from his stomach.
"Okay, not my best idea" Naruto thought as he stumbled to his feet and reached for his sword he had hidden in this spot before he and Mizuki were supposed to meet. He pulled out his cane and pushed some of his chakra through the wood, making the sheath detach from its seal on the sword and dropped to the ground, revealing the stainless steel 6 foot blade.
"You know, I was really hoping I was wrong Mizuki" Naruto whizzed out, still feeling the effects of that rather high drop from the old oak.
"What…..the hell are you…..talking about?" Mizuki moaned, rolling slowly to his side and reach for the fallen windmill shuriken that was embedded in the soil, mere inches from his head.
"I thought you were a good teacher…..you know, besides trying to fail me and now trying to kill me" Naruto said sarcastically, doing a few practice swings as he slowly walks towards the still grounded Mizuki.
Mizuki was now flopping to his feet, seeing as he probably fractured or dislocated a vertebra in his spine it was really difficult for him to control his legs.
"Yeah, I guess I did screw you over. Didn't I?" Mizuki chuckled, using a nearby tree to slide himself up to a crouching position as his left arm dangles to the side with his windmill shuriken in it's grip. "But you deserved it, and do you know why?" he questioned waiting to see what Naruto's reaction would be.
Naruto had a pretty good idea of what he was about to say, it is what every villager says when they want to get away with their prejudices of him or trying to abuse him. Hell, the three out of four people that were tried and sentenced to death for attacking Naruto said the same thing he was sure Mizuki was about to.
"Because you are a demon! You are a worthless mongrel that deserves to be skinned alive. You useless worm!" and with those choice words Mizuki whipped back his arm and threw it, releasing the shuriken towards Naruto who seemed to be in a daze.
He wasn't moving a muscle, his arms were down at his side and his mouth agape. The words Mizuki spoke, they seemed to have resonated with something long since forgotten in Naruto, the memory of the day Naruto was attacked, the day he lost his eyes forever.
Snapping for the scattered images of his past before him, he sensed something inching ever closer to his face. Thinking quickly he ducked, dodge by an inch the windmill projectile that took some of the spikes of his blonde hair off. Mizuki cursed under his breath, he thought he had gotten Naruto but sadly he was to fast, and he was running out of options.
Seeing as he has a defective back and unresponsive legs he cannot dodge any attacks from Naruto, especially with that long and rather sharp double sided blade.
"You were there" Naruto whispered, looking up from the dirt and aiming his head towards the direction of Mizuki, getting Mizuki's attention.
"W-w-what?" he stuttered, feeling another twinge of pain shoot through his back as he tried to shift to another tree trunk but was stopped by the burning sensation coming from his back.
"You were there!" Naruto yelled back, standing from his crouched position and pointed his blade at Mizuki, "your voice, I remember your voice. You said those exact same words on the day I was blinded."
Mizuki, now sweating bullets, began to twitch under Naruto's non-existent glare, "I-I-I don't know what you are-"
"Lair!" Naruto yelled, sending a shockwave from just his voice. Unseen by Mizuki who was now smashed against the tree he stood in front of, Naruto's hidden pool of Youkai was being tapped into. Over the 8 years Naruto has been a half-demon he has learned to control his demon half thanks to the scroll Kurama left before he died and then were translated into braille by Tsunade. It took years of hellish effort to control and maintain his blood lust and otherwise animalistic side, sometimes he would just have to meditate calmly, and others he had to use physical therapy and demolish things outside of the village limits.
Either way he kept it in check…..but now, being blinded by his rage he is losing control of his Youkai and it is overloading his other actions.
"You took my eyes away from me! You took everything from me!" Naruto yelled while his features start to become more…..primal. His fingernails begin to elongate, same with his canines while his other teeth start to sharpen, and his arms and legs begin to lengthen….he was truly becoming a fox!
Thank you for reading and I will try to create more chapters quickly as I can. Having to deal with school and possibly having to get a job on the weekday will possibly cut into my time with story making but I haven't lost hope and I won't stop writing.
If you have any questions or suggestions do not feel afraid to ask, no question is a stupid question. But some might not be answer because I do not want to ruin the surprise.
Thank you and Goodnight!