Disclaimer: See chapter one.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews and I'm sorry for the delay. Got held up by other things and life in general. I'll try to keep my updates regular, but I'm not promising you guys anything. Keyword- Try. Anyway enjoy!
Warnings
Shounen-Ai
Incest- NaruMina
Somewhat Betaed
Times Are Strange
Chapter Four
Upon entering the office he saw the Old Man Hokage sitting behind the desk smoking his pipe, but what made him attentive was the other entity leaning against the windowsill of the office.
It was Jiraiya.
It took all his will power not to leap across the office and embrace the man. There were so many different emotions flowing through his being. Sadness, for his death. Anger, at him for dying and at himself for letting the old perverted bastard die. Fear, that he might not be able to be his student again. But one emotion dominated them all, happiness. Pure undiluted happiness. Thus he allowed a huge grin that nearly split his face to emerge.
Walking towards the Hokage, "You called, Jiji?"
On that note Jiraiya let out a bark of laughter. Naruto studied the man. Indeed he was younger, one could say from his face and build. His spiky white hair was shorter and the red markings were thinner than when he'd first met the perverted sage. There was also an air of confidence, power and vigour. This was Jiraiya Toad Sage at his prime.
"So this is the gaki you were talking about." An amused voice cut in.
"The names Kazama Naruto, Ero-sennin." The Sandaime let out a bark of laughter.
"We both know that's not true, Gaki."
Naruto shot a glance at the silencing seals, once seeing they were activated he continued looking at the Hokage, "So he knows everything, I presume?"
The Sandaime nodded.
"And he needs proof?"
The Hokage nodded again.
"Crystal ball, Jiji."
"I don't want proof that way." Jiraiya cut in before the Hokage went to unseal the crystal ball from its scroll. "I want you to prove you are my student, my way gaki." looking intently at Naruto.
Naruto allowed his grin to turn predatory, he was itching for a fight and he seemed like he was going to get one. So he casually asked "Training Ground Seven?"
"Meet you in five." Jiraiya answered and flickered out and Naruto followed a second after.
"Kids." The Sandaime grumbled deactivating the silencing seals and informed his secretary that he would be out for a while.
In exactly five minutes, three people appeared in Training Ground Seven. This training ground was the furthest from the village and next to the Hokage monument. It was commonly used by shinobi if they were practicing high ranked ninjutsu and the Hokage's permission was needed to enter or use the training area, giving them privacy and secrecy for their spar. The ground had all the requirements and was similar in environment to Training Ground Three. There was a stream, trees and a flat plain. Sandaime sitting on one of the stumps near the entrance of forest area gave the limitation of the match.
"Taijutsu predominantly, Kenjutsu, Genjutsu, Senjutsu and Ninjutsus are allowed but nothing too destructive. I still want a training ground left at the end of this 'spar'." He stressed the last word to get the message across.
While Jiraiya's outfit didn't change, Naruto's did. He now wore ANBU issued black pants and top with black fingerless gloves and the standard ninja sandals. He also had a sword about the size of a nodachi strapped across his back from right to left with is kunai and shuriken holster.
The two shinobi nodded at each other and went into their taijutsu stances. Jiraiya immediately fell into Frog kata form without using senjutsu, while Naruto fell into a form neither of the men recognised.
He had parted both legs, placing his right with is foot facing Jiraiya in front of him and pushed his left perpendicular to the right, behind him. Then he had placed all the weight on his right leg and bent his entire torso forward over it, while stretching out his left. Creating a strange flat footed lunge. His hands were neither open nor clenched mimicking an animal's clawed paws. They were positioned; his right in front half stretched and his left the opposite, as if to grab something from behind.
"Since we don't want this fight to last forever, there will be a time limit. Does fifteen minute sound all right?" Sandaime asked
"Please Jiji, I'll whip this blonde brat's ass under five." Jiraiya commented, smirking smugly.
"Don't get ahead of yourself old man. After all, your all fart and not shit." Naruto shot back, his face sporting a smirk of his own.
"Don't play with fire brat-" Jiraiya began dangerously.
"Ten minutes," the Sandaime cut in before they started the match on their own "At the end of the time limit and if neither one is immobilised, It will be a draw. Use only the open area for your spar."
"Jiji, just start the match."
"I side with the gaki on this one."
'Brats' The Sandaime sighed but announced, "Begin."
Jiraiya shot forward, but realised in time that Naruto was above him coming down with a heel drop. Blocking that, the two separated.
'That entire stance hinted nothing aerial so the opponent would dash forward coming into the position for the heel drop.' The Sandaime thought while smoking, and he continued to watch Naruto's unusual style 'Ingenious and completely unpredictable. This taijutsu seems to be a mixture of styles of incomplete or incorrect forms and sequence of attacks depends upon improvisation. The hands were half formed due to the slight advantage of grabbing something faster than an open hand or a closed fist. But then again, most of the stances leave the torso open meaning than the user either has to doge or take the hit as defence.'
Jiraiya and Naruto broke again. Both winded, Jiraiya began to use senjutsu but didn't go onto sage mode for he would have summon Shima and Fukasaku to help him balance the nature chakra. Also that would fall under the category of 'too destructive'.
Naruto fell into the same position he began the fight with only now both his hands were reversed as if to grab something behind him. Jiraiya pulling out a kunai he went into the frog kata stance.
This time it was Naruto's turn to start.
"Ninja Art: Shadow Clone Technique."
While running towards Jiraiya he made three clones to flank either side of him and 'they' all grabbed the two ends of 'their' nodachi sheath and simultaneously pulled out two swords. One was katana and the other was its complimenting wakizashi. A daisho.
The two sparred for a few moments. Jiraiya blocked the swords with his kunai and Naruto and his clones in turn dodged his punches. After managing to dispel one of Naruto's shadow clones and seeing that hand to hand was not working Jiraiya began making hand seals.
"Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet."
Naruto and his remaining clones responded by swiping his shorter sword in a downward motion, creating a wall of water in form of a horseshoe in front of Naruto to protect him from the attack before dispelling.
"Water Release: Sword Water Wall."
Using the momentary surprise, Naruto swiped his longer sword horizontally.
"Wind Release: Slice."
Wind attacks were invisible and since Naruto swiped his sword horizontally, he created an invisible blade travelling parallel to the earth towards the sage. So Jiraiya rolled flat on the floor until he felt a small shift the air signalling the danger was over. But when it passed him it hit the cliff behind him. Generating a large explosion and when the dust settled, a deep, thick wedge was seen. Exploiting the distraction the Sannin used,
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld."
Cursing his lack of concentration, Naruto slammed his katana into the ground that didn't turn to mud to keep him from sinking. But he already was caught.
Walking towards the blonde shinobi, Jiraiya released his senjutsu. Letting out a breath, he closed his eyes and said "Good spar gaki, you nearly had me a couple of times. Guess I win this match."
"No, it's a draw Ero-sennin." That when the sage felt a slice on his neck.
Opening his eyes, he found Naruto still in the swamp using his katana to keep him from sinking in. But his other hand had his wakizashi pointed at him. The blade had a section of water added to it to increasing the length and the tip was at his jugular.
"Water Release: Water Sword."
Jiraiya blinked and then grinned which the blonde returned.
"Brilliant show of skill and it's been seven minutes." A third voice appeared.
The two released each other and turned towards the Sandaime.
"You have an interesting daisho." The Hokage commented eyeing the two blades. Jiraiya looked at him as well in interest.
"My primary affinity is wind but I can manipulate water just as well. The swords are created to channel the chakra, release it and manipulate it. I separated the two elements into two different swords."
Holding the katana up, "Like you noticed, this is Kaze. I only use my wind element with this sword and most of the time it's the attack sword." Then raising the wakizashi up "And this is Mizu. Like its katana I use the water element. It's the defend sword, but can be offensive." Jiraiya absently rubbed the flesh wound on his neck.
"Interesting, you removed the disadvantages of hand seals and swords but kept the use of them both." Sandaime mused out aloud.
Naruto nodded.
"Gaki, one more thing." Jiraiya spoke up, "I can understand how you manipulated the wind element, since it's your primary affinity. But how did you use water? We are quite a distance from the stream and your elemental chakra can only do so much."
"When Mizu channels my chakra, it charges the air around it and condenses the moisture in it." Naruto demonstrated again. This time slowly, showing the gradual build of water around the blade. After the two men were satisfied with the explanation he released water, allowing it to fall on the floor and he resheathed the two swords.
The three men walked to the forest. Sarutobi went back to the seat of his stump, Jiraiya sat down on a root of a tree with his back against its bark and Naruto plunked himself on the floor.
"You were aware of the extension the nature chakra gives frog kata, also you were familiar with the style. Which means you have mastered sage mode?" Jiraiya looked at Naruto, when he got a nod in return he let out a smile and said,
"Gaki, I accept you as my student."
Naruto's eyes widen for a moment and then lowered his head in a bow from his sitting position to show his gratitude to the older man's statement.
"Sensei, whip out the crystal ball." Jiraiya called out to the Sandaime. Naruto rose his head and looked at the man in confusion and hurt.
"What?" Jiraiya asked with a smile on his face, "I finally get a chance to have a peek into the future and you think I'm going to just throw it away?"
Naruto smiled and took the sphere from the Hokage and commented "No good perverted bastard." Jiraiya chuckled in response and placed his hand on top of the orb turning it black.
After few moments the two broke the connection. Jiraiya looked at Naruto and said "Dead last, huh?" Naruto grinned in response. Then the Sannin's face turned lecherous and let out a perverted giggle.
"Glad to see Tsunade's beautiful jugs of milk will grace the office of the Hokage's. It seems like there's something to look forward to in the future."
Naruto face palmed and Sandaime sighed.
"Now that everything is in order, I will call a council meeting." The Sandaime cut in grabbing the other two shinobis' attention, "I'll tell them, you are one of Jiraiya's students he trained during his time of running the spy network. You became the Kage of your village, which was destroyed and sought refuge in your teacher's village." After pausing for a moment the two nodded in agreement with the older man's story.
"Which village?" Naruto asked.
"There is an island north east from Whirlpool Country, So far it's just filled with dangerous wildlife and no human activity. The land is very hilly and filled with a thick forest." Jiraiya suggested, when the Sandaime remained silent.
"Are you sure you are not making this up?" Naruto asked, as far as his geography went he was sure that there was no such island.
Jiraiya threw a rock at him. The Sandaime sighed; he feared the future of his village.
Catching it Naruto sighed, "What is with you people and throwing stuff at me?"
Ignoring him Jiraiya continued, "So far there is no name given to the Island, so come up with a name for it and your village."
"You want me to lie?" Naruto asked
"Gaki," Jiraiya pinched the bridge of his nose sighing "we are ninja. It's kinda what we do around here with this occupation."
"Yeah, but to my own village?"
"Just come up with a name, so we can tell the council to save us a lot of headaches and paperwork." Sarutobi nodded vigorously at the last part and added,
"Also it would make sense, since it's next to Yu no Kuni (Land of Hot Water) and that's where Minato and his team were ambushed before you intervened."
"Fine, for the official version then. But I'll never say I came from there." Naruto said crossing his arms, the thought for a moment. "You said it had a lot of trees and hills?" he asked
Jiraiya nodded.
"I'll call it Yama Shima (Mountain Island)." He paused moment "And the village I'll call it Morigakure no Sato (Hidden Forest Village)."
Jiraiya and Sandaime nodded their heads in approval, when the Sannin clapped his hands "Now that is completed, let's move on to why it was destroyed."
"Civil war." Naruto said. His tone was sharp and final. The older two men looked at him and then at each other.
"Now that we have the facts all cleared, let's put it in writing." The Sandaime said standing up, "Jiraiya, I will need your presence to validate it." The Sannin nodded and got up joining the Hokage to walk towards the entrance of the training ground. It was now early evening.
"Ero-sennin." Naruto called, when the old man turned, "The summoning contract?"
The man grinned and opened the scroll on the floor, "Knock yourself out, kid." Naruto nodded grinning and bit his thumb and wrote his name 'Namikaze Naruto' on the scroll next to his fathers.
"Oh, before I forget." The Sandaime crouched down pulling something from his robe. "Congratulations."
In his hand held a Hitai-ate.
Grinning Naruto picked it from the Hokage's hand. The one Iruka gave him was with him and sealed. He knew that he couldn't use it anymore, since the serial number was yet to be given out and it was scratched upped, old and frail. Then he felt something hit his head.
It was a scroll.
"That's your Jounin vest, and I'll be seeing you at my office tomorrow morning at seven thirty. Do come on time, there is someone I want you to meet." The Sandaime explained with a glint in his eye and cheerful smile.
Naruto suddenly felt his body freeze up, "You're planning something aren't you old man?"
The Hokage didn't respond save for his smile which only became brighter.
Laughing the Sannin picking up the scroll gestured to his sensei that they better leave the area fast. Nodding in understanding, the two flickered out. Leaving Naruto to the summoning.
"Ninja Art: Summoning Technique."
He was not disappointed, when he found himself on top of the toad boss.
Gamabunta on the other hand, was annoyed that the new summoner managed to bring him out on his first try. But still gave the test to the blonde brat. Stay on his head until sunset.
When the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon the chief stop jumping around and grudgingly accepted Naruto as a worthy summoner.
After the summoning disappeared in a cloud of smoke, Naruto fell back on to the grass of the field and let out a tired sighed. The toad had not gone easy on him and he suspected that the summoning was trying extra hard to toss him off. But after many verbal battles and jumping about the toad boss ultimately ended up liking the loud mouth, for Naruto knew that near to the end of the test he could have been thrown off, but the grumpy toad didn't.
Looking at the starry sky Naruto let out a smile. It was so peaceful. There were no screams of pain or shouts of anger. No sounds of jutsus clashing. No blasts from exploding tags being set off. He had been in battle after battle after battle that he had forgotten about what peace felt like. To hear the crickets chirp, to feel grass beneath you not hard ground or rock, to just close ones eyes without fear of being stabbed.
Sighing he closed his eyes.
Glossary
Daisho- The term given to a pair of swords which one is long and one is short. The most commonly seen pair is a Katana and Wakizashi.
Nodachi- Practically mean 'Field Sword'. It's a long two handed sword that usually exceeds four feet.
Wakizashi- A small sword that normally around one foot and three inches.
Katana- A long sword that normally greater than two feet.
(Wiki it if you guys want to know more...)
A/N: Well... I don't know what I'm good at here... I was trying my hand at fight scenes and I hope didn't royally screw it up... Please review and tell me your opinions. I like to know if I'm getting better or worse.
I know Fire Release/Style is Katon and Wind is Fuuton etc, also the Romaji translation of the Jutsus. But the problem arises when my original ones come into the scene and I don't want to use google or any other online software, cause I end up getting confused.
Yes, before you kill me I know Minato wasn't in this chapter. Fear not, he is in the next. I needed these facts out so I can have a good base to build this story on.
