Chapter 3: Rise of Power
After three years of solid, rigorous training, Naruto had finally mastered his Sensei's Genjutsu techniques. He could create any illusion he wanted, some that could surpass even the Mangekyo Sharingan. Now his physical training and chakra control would be put to the real test.
Walking out of his shelter, Naruto stretched his arms and yawned. Over the years, he had absorbed enough of the fox's chakra to make him nearly impossible to recognize. His hair was a fiery orange with a light yellow tint, he had claws where his fingernails once were, the pupils in his eyes had become slits with his iris becoming a gold color, and his teeth had changed into much sharper fangs. Even his body had become thinner, more lean and sleek. This was a result of his constant agility training and running.
'Good morning Sensei. What do you have planned for today? I think I have mastered that last Genjutsu of yours.'
Deep within the darkest recesses of Naruto's mind, the Nine Tailed Fox smiled a twisted smile. His new body was nearly one third of the way to his prime goal.
"YOU HAVE DONE WELL KIT. YOU ARE NOW A GENJUTSU MASTER ON PAR WITH MYSELF. AFTER YOUR PHYSICAL TRAINING, WE WILL START WORKING ON KITSUNE STYLE NINJUTSU AND SOME TAIJUTSU. NOW BEGIN!"
Without hesitating, Naruto took off into the forest at a breakneck pace, leaving clouds of dust in his wake. To the naked eye, he would seem to be a mere blur speeding by. Effortlessly dodging the trees and boulders along the way, he sped along through the forest with ease. It amazed him when he thought of how much improvement his Sensei's training had caused. His new chakra reserves were immense and allowed him to run almost indefinitely.
After running two hundred miles in the time it would have taken him to run ninety, Naruto doubled back and began to leap through the branches, flipping and spinning through the tangled web of tree limbs as though it was second nature. Once he returned to the clearing his hut was in, he instantly did a handstand and performed his push-ups. It had all become normal practice to him now, and without even thinking he would run through this routine every day. First running, then handstand push-ups followed by weighted sit-ups and squat thrusts.
Standing and cracking his back, Naruto walked over to his favorite tree and sat beneath it with his legs crossed.
'Ok Sensei, I'm on my way in. Get ready!'
Laughing inwardly, the fox demon merely sat on his haunches and waited for his pupil. He wondered if Naruto had even noticed that over time, his attitude had completely changed. No longer was he the loud mouthed, insolent youth from three years ago. Hell, he even spoke to him with a sense of respect.
"COME ON KIT, TODAY MARKS YOUR GRADUATION FROM RUNT TO PUP. NOW HURRY UP, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON."
Closing his eyes, Naruto began meditation. After a few short moments, he found himself once again before the fox demon. Bowing out of respect, Naruto looked up at the demon and smiled.
"All right Sensei, let's do this. What do you want to teach me first?"
Laughing as he looked down at Naruto, the fox demon used the Human Visage jutsu and morphed his body into that of a man in his late thirties. He had long, wild, blood red hair, a scar over his right eye, and a long, black coat. Crossing his arms, the fox demon paced back and forth as he looked at Naruto.
"ALL RIGHT KIT, I'LL BE TEACHING YOU A TAIJUTSU STYLE THAT HAS BEEN LOST FOR CENTURIES. THE BLOOD FOX TECHNIQUE."
As he spoke, the fox closed his eyes and slowly began to flood his red chakra into Naruto. By now, he had transferred five tails worth of his chakra into the boy. This not only gave Naruto a near in-exhaustible chakra source, but would in eight years prove to be the conduit that the demon would attempt to take over Naruto's body.
Grinning, Naruto took the demon's chakra and merged it with his own with little effort. Over the years, it had changed from a painful and torturous task to a simple and effortless one. Now with yet another large amount of chakra added to his own, he felt that he could handle any jutsu the demon could throw at him.
Connecting his mind to the fox's, Naruto slowly began to learn the Blood Fox style of Taijutsu and slowly began to move through the paces. He learned that the style relied much on the Hyuga Taijutsu strategy. Quick, decisive blows over a short time frame. The only difference seemed to be the method of striking and the stance. Where the Hyuga style strikes in pinpoint locations on the body, Naruto found that the Blood Fox technique relies on rapid clawing movements, inflicting cuts with each movement. While keeping a fluid defensive stance, one could quite literally bleed one's opponent to death with this style.
Breathing deeply, Naruto opened his eyes and began practicing what he had learned. He managed to perform a rough version of the Blood Fox technique. Failing to perform the strikes with the accuracy needed, but succeeding in replicating the speed needed.
"There… how's that? I think I did pretty well, don't you Sensei?"
Smiling darkly, the fox demon nodded his head in approval. His new body was just about ready… perhaps eleven years was too long of an estimate. At this rate, eight years would be more than enough time to prepare him perfectly.
"IMPRESSIVE NARUTO. NOW FOR YOUR NINJUTSU LESSON. THIS JUTSU IS CONSIDERED A B RANK JUTSU, AND IS THE WEAKEST JUTSU IN MY ARSENAL. KITSUNE STYLE: FOX INFERNO."
Smiling eagerly, Naruto once again connected his mind with the demon and slowly learned the jutsu. After a long while of studying the technique, he opened his eyes and began to go through the hand movements repeatedly. After countless failed attempts, he performed the jutsu perfectly. Upon initiating the final hand seal, a massive three tailed fox sprang from the ground before him and let out a feral howl. The fox would rage against any opponent before it, independent of Naruto's will.
"Thank you Sensei. If we are done with my lessons, I will wake up and get a little work in."
Reverting to his true form, that of the massive demon fox, the Nine Tailed Fox nodded and returned to the depths of his cage. This would be the critical moment of his plans…. Letting Naruto believe he was in control.
Opening his eyes and standing, Naruto began to gather firewood and kindling so that he could prepare his meal for the night. Things went as they always have, he explored the forest, gathered logs and twigs for the fire, then went to the nearby creek for some fish. While fishing, Naruto sensed a chakra source nearby. It was only a matter of time that an Anbu team would be on patrol in his location. Using his primary Genjutsu, the Human Visage, Naruto took on the appearance of a young girl with long white hair.
Sitting on the bank of the creek, looking as innocent as possible, Naruto waited for the Anbu team to approach him. If things went well, they would leave him alone and continue on patrol. If they didn't however….. Naruto would be forced into combat. The thought of wounding, even killing ninja from the hidden leaf just tore at him. His whole purpose here was to protect them after all.
Landing on the bank, the group of three Anbu approached Naruto and looked at him quizzically. Looking down at the girl that sat in front of them, one of the Anbu knelt down beside Naruto and began to speak to her.
"Excuse me little girl, you're an awful long way away from the village. Are you here with someone?"
Looking up at the Anbu operative, Naruto gave a childish grin and waved at the ninja enthusiastically, all the while groaning inwardly at how immature he had to act.
"Hi mister! I'm here with my big brother. He said he wanted to take me fishing, but dropped his pole in the creek. It floated away so he's down there trying to get it back."
Looking at each other, the Anbu nodded in agreement as one of them took off downstream to track down Naruto's 'brother' and bring him back to the village. In the meantime, one of the Anbu reached down and took hold of Naruto's arm and gently tried to pull him to his feet, believing Naruto to be a harmless seven year old girl.
"Ok, we'll find your big brother. While my team member searches, you should come with me back to the hokage's mansion."
Sighing inwardly, Naruto stood up and pulled his arm out of the Anbu's hand and looked defiantly at the man. This was the opposite of what he hoped would happen…. But it couldn't be helped now.
"I hate to tell you, but I won't be going anywhere. Now please leave before I force you to."
The Anbu members looked down at the young girl who so blatantly threatened them just now. They had enough to deal with, what with patrol and their other duties. Gripping Naruto's arm again, more forcefully this time, they lifted him up and began to drag him to the village.
"Look here you little brat, we're busy men so we don't have time for your games. You're coming back and that's final."
Growing tired of the Anbu operative's attitude, Naruto took his foot and launched a lightning quick kick at the ninja's shoulder, striking hard and dislocating the arm. As he dropped, Naruto de-activated his Genjutsu and took the Blood Fox stance. Giving off a feral growl, Naruto narrowed his eyes and waited for the Anbu to make their move.
"I told you guys, I won't be going anywhere. Now I would highly recommend leaving while your lives are still yours. You have no hope, I'm way out of your class."
Jumping back from Naruto, the unharmed Anbu operative looked at Naruto with obvious shock, even though he wore the Anbu mask it was obvious that he was surprised. Classifying Naruto as a threat, the Anbu drew a kunai and tossed it at Naruto's face in hopes of killing him.
In a flash, Naruto raised his had and plucked the kunai from the air, twirling it on his finger. While twirling the kunai, Naruto made a rapid single handed seal behind his back and called out one of his more basic Genjutsu.
"Kitsune Style: Projectile Swarm!"
As he called out the name of his jutsu, the kunai began to hum as the Anbu were trapped in the sound based Genjutsu. To them, they saw the kunai shatter into countless shards of metal, each one flying with lethal precision at them. Holding up their arms in a futile attempt at blocking the attack, the Genjutsu took full effect, causing them to feel each individual shard bore into their bodies and wedge into them.
While the ninja were incapacitated, Naruto tossed the Kunai away and decided now was a good time to test out his newest jutsu. Making the intricate hand seals required, Naruto called out the name of the demon fox's Ninjutsu.
"Kitsune Art: Fox Inferno! I told you guys, you're no match for me."
Upon calling out the attack, the massive flame fox emerged from the ground and snarled. The sound of flames crackling filled the air as the fox lunged at the two stunned ninja, engulfing them in a torrent of fire. After a few moments, all that was left of the two Anbu was a large burn mark on the ground and a pair of skeletons huddled in fear.
"Now to track down that other Anbu…. I don't need any surprise visits from other Anbu teams."
Dashing along the creek, Naruto quickly caught up with the unaware Anbu member and used his momentum to plunge his hand through the man's torso, effectively severing the spine.
As the Anbu coughed up a large amount of blood, he looked down to see the clawed hand sticking out of his chest and spoke only a single word before the life left his body.
"D….Demon…."
Withdrawing his hand from the Anbu, Naruto looked down at his blood soaked limb and the body of the ninja that lay before him. He did it…. He killed a leaf ninja and more importantly, killed someone's family member. He always knew it was a possibility, but had hoped it would never have to come down to this.
"I lost my appetite….. I'm going home and going to bed."
With that, Naruto kicked the corpse into the creek and returned to his shelter, wanting to put as much distance between him and the dead ninja as he could.
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End of Chapter 3! Wow, I am having way too much fun writing these things. Again, please read and review. I'd love to hear your opinions on my fanfic. Just please, no flaming. Chapter 4 will be up as soon as I can think of what to do with it.
