Disclaimer:
I do not own Naruto or Star Wars.
Chapter 4: Denial of Promotion
Tsunade groaned and rubbed her temples at the amount of paper that was scattered all over her office! She's only been the Hokage for a few weeks, but it felt like she's been doing the job for a few years! It's been hell for her doing all this paper work; assigning various and expensive missions to most of her shinobi to cover the costs of rebuilding the village from the Sand and Sound invasion; negotiating with the Sand village after said village found out their Kazekage was assassinated by Orochimaru; maintaining order in the Land of Fire; dealing with the village elders that she despises with a passion and lastly preparing for the upcoming Kyuubi festival in celebration of the anniversary of the Fourth Hokage's heroic and selfless sacrifice of saving the village from the great demonic beast.
Needless to say she really needed a drink. A good one at that considering the mess she just recently caused and it had nothing to do with all the paper scattered about. It had to do with a certain blonde genin that she had become greatly fond of. The one responsible for bringing her back to this village and for keeping the dream of both her dead loved ones alive; Naruto Uzumaki.
That boy was just as brave and as much of a rascal as her dear little brother Nawaki and just as kind and determined as her beloved fiancée Dan. Both of whom she misses dearly. Thanks to Naruto though she finally let go of her grief and conquered her fear of blood which restored her to the legendary medical ninja she was before. She owed him a great debt that could never be repaid which made her feel even worse about what just happened.
Flashback
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M NOT BEING PROMOTED TO A CHUUNIN?!"
Tsunade had to cover her ears with how loud the little gaki was screaming. She couldn't believe her situation! She was planning on coming in and getting started on her paper work only to find Naruto waiting for her in her office! The boy was practically bouncing off the walls excited to get a chuunin vest. Apparently he got the notion that since Shikamaru was being promoted then he was sure to get the promotion as well.
Tsunade hoped to avoid having to tell him for a bit longer, but it seem she was just going to have break the bad news to the boy sooner than she would've liked. She hoped that he would take it well and just proclaim that he'll do better during the next chuunin exams. Boy was that a fool's hope.
She unclasped her hands from her ears and took a deep breath. There were times when the little squirt would get on her nerves and she didn't need to be hollered at right now by the loudest ninja in the village. She needed to handle this quickly, professionally, and with a bit of care and tact since the boy was dreaming of becoming Hokage and making the rank of chuunin would be a step closer towards that goal for him.
"It's just like I said Naruto. You're not being promoted to chuunin. I'm very sorry but it's the truth. Now, I have work to do so if there's nothing else could you please leave quietly?"
She put emphasis on the quiet part. The little loudmouth could wake up an entire nation with that voice of his, if he wanted to. Naruto however stood firm where he was and refused to budge.
"BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR! WHY DOES SHIKAMARU GET TO BE PROMOTED AND NOT ME?! HE DIDN'T EVEN WIN IN HIS MATCH! HE QUIT! I ACTUALLY WON AGAINST NEJI AND EVERYONE INCLUDING MY OWN SENSEI WERE SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO GET MY ASS KICKED AND LOSE THE MATCH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT GRANNY?!"
Tsunade started to grind her teeth. Both from the volume of his yelling and that she was barely holding her own temper in check. She hated that nickname the little gaki gave her. It was cute and appropriate when he calls her teammate Jiraiya, 'Pervy Sage', but boy did she hate when the kid called her granny. She hates being reminded of how old she was.
She took another deep breath.
'God I need some saki right now!'
"Naruto, Shikamaru is being promoted because he demonstrated amazing tactical skills in his match. The reason he gave up was because he knew he couldn't win with the amount of chakra he had left. It's important for a squad leader to know when to retreat and take the time to regroup and to analyze the enemy and their current situation. That's something the Leaf is going to sorely need from Shikamaru in the future."
She took another deep breath. This next part was going to be hard for Naruto to swallow.
"It's true that you were able to beat Neji. It was an amazing feat to say the least, Naruto. However throughout most of the fight Neji clearly had the advantage. You kept rushing in at him and allowed him to shut off you chakra points. You didn't think. You didn't plan ahead or come up with a strategy. You just met him head on and thought that would be enough to break through his defense. The main reason you were even able to beat him was because of your...tenant. If it wasn't for that chakra you received from it, you wouldn't have beaten Neji. I know you fought hard in that match Naruto, but if your plan for winning that match and the rest of the exam was to just wing it and rely on the fox's power then you're not ready yet and I am sorry. Hopefully in the next chuunin exams it will be different. Now, if there's really nothing else, I have to get to work now."
Tsunade was about to turn and head to her desk until she noticed that the boy was shaking. His hands were curled into fists and his bangs covered his eyes.
"Naruto?"
The boy looked up and his eyes were pierced by tears that he was barely holding back. His pupils were in slits and the bright blue was replaced with a glowing yellow.
"So...your basically telling me...that I'm not being made into a chuunin because I used a little help from the Kyuubi to win a match against an opponent that I was not prepared for at all with the few skills I had then? That I don't deserve it because I was forced to use a power that I didn't ask for or even wanted to have in the first place rather than rely on the zilch techniques that Kakashi-sensei taught me before these stupid exams even took place? Is that what you're saying Granny?"
Tsunade's eyes widened as she grasped the extent of what she unintentionally implied in her explanation to him.
"Naruto I-"
Tsunade was interrupted as the paper work on her disk exploded all across the room! She shielded her eyes from all the papers flying everywhere. When everything settled she looked and saw that Naruto was gone.
She immediately dashed to the door and nearly ripped it off its hinges with her monstrous strength. Her eyes dashed back and forth across the hallway. Looking for the boy. Unfortunately he was already gone.
Tsunade walked back into her office and stared at all the paper that littered the ground.
end Flashback
Tsunade began to curse herself! How could she be so insensitive and careless?! She knew the poor boy was sensitive when it came to the topic of the Kyuubi and yet she practically just all but shouted at the boy that he doesn't deserve to be a chuunin because he used the demon's power!
Not being able to hold her temper in anymore, she stomped over to her desk and yelled as she brought her fists down and smashed it to pieces!
"DAMN IT!"
She knew right now deep breaths weren't going to cut it anymore. She walked over to one of the desk drawers that survived her fury. She emptied the contents which were nothing but a saki bottle and some cups. She poured the tasty elixir into the cup and downed it in one gulp.
She took a breath as the alcohol started to relieve some of the tension.
"That could've gone better."
She narrowed her eyes and looked at the window sill to see her old teammate and the most annoying pervert she ever met; Jiraiya the Toad Sage.
"Don't test me right now, Jiraiya! I'm already feeling bad enough for what happened! I don't need you to rub it in!"
She was practically growling with her last statement. Jiraiya however wasn't sporting his famous lecherous grin or putting up his hands in defense to her right now. He had a serious look on his face that suggested that this wasn't a social visit.
"I have some news about the Akatsuki."
Tsunade raised a brow. It's about time they came up with some information about this mysterious organization that seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. Ever since she became attached to Naruto and found out that the Akatsuki sent their agents, one of them being Itachi Uchiha, to try to kidnap the boy she's been extremely alert and zealous of them. She even gave orders to all her shinobi to find out any information about them while out on missions.
However, for the young genin and chuunin squads she gave strict orders to not engage unless absolutely necessary. If they managed to recruit the likes of Itachi, one of the Mist's Seven Swordsmen, and at one point even her old teammate Orochimaru, then she didn't even want to think about what other terrible criminals or rogue ninja they had up their sleeve.
Jiraiya stepped down from the window sill.
"Turns out that after their encounter with Naruto and me they realized that perhaps that they don't have enough manpower in their organization. Right now they've gone under and are focusing on finding more recruits."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So in other words they're gathering more rogue ninja and we still have no idea where they are and what they exactly want Naruto for?"
Jiraiya grabbed a cup and the bottle Tsunade was holding and poured himself a drink. He took a sip and breathed.
"Yep, that's about right."
Tsunade groaned and walked over to the couch in her office and plopped right on it. Jiraiya walked over and sat down next to her. A bit too close but Tsunade wasn't concerned with that at the moment.
"Tsunade, did you notice Naruto's eyes earlier? And the power he just used in your office?"
Tsunade took another gulp of her saki.
"Yes, it was the same as when we fought Orochimaru and Kabuto."
Jiraiya took another sip of his own saki cup.
"Not quite the same. It was only a fraction of what we encountered in that battle."
Tsunade gulped down another shot of saki as she started to reminisce that battle.
A battle which nearly put an end to their old snake Sannin comrade.
Flashback
Tsunade coughed up more blood as Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword pierced through her chest as it was aimed for Naruto! She wasn't going to let the boy die. No matter what she would protect both him and his dream of becoming Hokage!
She kicked her old comrade away and activated her most powerful medical jutsu technique; Creation Rebirth. The seal on her forehead released the vast stores of chakra she's kept over the years and started to heal the wounds she received from Orochimaru and his henchman Kabuto. Black markings appeared on her face for a brief moment before disappearing again.
Orochimaru smirked.
"It seems I am not the only one whose been spending their time discovering new jutsu. This one is very impressive how is it done?"
Tsunade stood firm and revealed the secret of her jutsu.
"My chakra. For years I stored it up in a space behind my forehead. Saving for just such an occasion. With this chakra reservoir, my body's ability to create new cells is accelerated. Cells divide rapidly. Spreading throughout my body and regenerating any damaged organs. It's like having the ability to reincarnate myself. You see you can slash away at me all you want but I can't be killed."
Orochimaru's eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly agape.
Tsunade smirked at her old comrades surprised expression.
"Why Orochimaru, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were-"
Tsunade was cut off as a large boulder flew right past her towards Orochimaru! The legendary Sannin leapt away as the large rock crashed into the ground where he stood moments ago! Creating a large cloud of dust and debris! He landed further away with eyes that were full of shock and amazement.
Tsunade lowered her arms from her face as the dust cleared away. A slight tick mark appeared on her forehead.
'Jiraiya! That idiot nearly took my head off with that!'
Even though her most powerful jutsu was still activated, she still preferred to keep her head on her shoulders! She was about to scold the old pervert but when her eyes spotted him, she realized that he wasn't behind her but over to her right!
'Wait, if Jiraiya was over there who threw that rock behind me?'
Tsunade turned around and her eyes also grew wider in shock.
There standing behind her with his hand stretched out was the little blond knucklehead that just seconds ago was on the ground wounded from Kabuto's attack!
'It can't be! Naruto threw that?! But how? He doesn't know any Earth style jutsus does he?'
"Naruto?"
The boy slowly lifted up his head. His black clothed headband falling to the ground. When his face finally came into everyone's view, he opened his eyes. His calm blue ocean eyes were now blood red and bright yellow with a small mix of orange and slits for pupils. He pointed at the snake Sannin and growled.
"You should've quit while you were still alive, Orochimaru!"
Naruto then reached down and took hold of the strange metal rod that was clipped to his pants. He pressed his thumb into it.
Fwish!
A brilliantly glowing blue and white beam shot out from the stick! Making a strange humming sound.
Everyone's eyes widened at the spectacle. Each and every one of them have seen things few people, shinobi or not, have ever seen. Yet, not a single person among them has ever seen a weapon like this before!
Before anyone could think further on what this mysterious weapon was, Naruto suddenly leapt at least 30 feet into the air! He barrel rolled about half way through and was heading straight towards Orochimaru! As he finished his roll Naruto held the glowing sword-like weapon above his head and prepared to slash it down straight through the vile snake!
Orochimaru leapt out of the way, at the last moment, causing Naruto to collide into the ground and create another explosion of dust! Taking the opportunity to strike, Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out a large horde of snakes into the smoke! Licking his lips as the last serpent left his disgusting mouth.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune each began sprinting towards the smoke cloud! They all knew that the snakes Orochimaru used were poisonous and with that many attacking Naruto, there was a good chance that at least one of them would sink it's teeth into him!
'NO! He's not going to die! I won't let him die!'
Tsunade was about to reach the cloud of dust before the others until it suddenly blew away!
To say everyone was shocked would be an understatement.
Naruto was standing there with all the snakes floating around him in a circle! Squirming and writhing as if they were caught in some invisible grip! Naruto had his right hand tilted up with his fingers curled before he closed them into a fist.
SNAP!
All the snakes suddenly went limp and Naruto brought his hand down and they were thrown to the ground hard.
Tsunade was at a loss for words. Orochimaru had to have spat out at least 20 snakes each just as if not more poisonous than the last and Naruto killed them all with a flex of his fingers!
Naruto continued to glare at Orochimaru until his eyes widened with realization!
"It was you...YOU WERE THAT GRASS GENIN I FOUGHT IN THE FOREST OF DEATH!"
Orochimaru, who was still in awe at the boy's display of power, snapped out of his stupor and smirked.
"Kukukuku, indeed I am. I'm surprised you were actually able to recognize me. The only one who saw my real face after that fight was that timid girl teammate of yours. The look of fear on her face was sooooo delightful and pitiful, but I suppose with the exception of Sasuke-kun that's to be expected of the current crop of genin the Leaf has produced."
Naruto grinded his teeth in anger! How dare that snake bastard insult him, Sakura-Chan, and the other genin of his class! But what infuriated him more was that once again he was being labeled as weak compared to that teme, Sasuke!
Naruto could feel his rage coursing through him! He focused on it. Honing it. Feeling his senses growing sharper! The power of the Kyuubi and the force within him both growing stronger! Suddenly he became engulfed in the red chakra of the Kyuubi!
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at the boy.
'The Kyuubi's chakra feels different from before! It's feels less wild, more focused, and...there's something else. Whatever it is it doesn't feel like chakra.'
Tsunade trembled slightly at the chakra of the Kyuubi. She's never fought the beast or really encountered it's chakra, but it was just as every bit as terrifying as all the tales said!
She looked over at Jiraiya and he was just as shocked as she was to his new apprentice's power! His eyes locked with hers. Throughout their years of training and fighting side by side they sort of developed a way of understanding and knowing what the other was thinking. At that moment they both knew they were thinking the exact same thing.
There was another power at work besides the Kyuubi's!
Naruto held the blade up over his head and tilted it at a downward angle behind him.
"My powers and skills have doubled since the last time we fought, bastard!"
Orochimaru grinned and spread his legs while letting his damaged arms hang loosely in front of him.
"It will just make you defeat twice as delicious, Naruto-kun!"
Orochimaru licked his lips again. Narrowing his eyes at the small genin.
"Hmpf!"
After scoffing at the ex-Sannin's retort, Naruto suddenly sprinted forward! Already closing half the distance between him and the evil snake! Orochimaru didn't expect the boy to cover that much ground so fast, but it was of no great concern for him.
'The boy is still young and overconfident!'
He waited a bit longer as the boy got closer before he opened his mouth and a snake popped out and opened its own jaws!
Tsunade's eyes widened in terror!
'NO! He's running right into his blade!'
"NARUTO! DON'T GO NEAR HIM!"
Tsunade sprinted afterward hoping to catch him before the Kusanagi could cut him! Unfortunately due to Naruto's speed and distance, there was no way she would make it in time! She looked at Orochimaru and saw the blade was already extending out far faster than Naruto would be able to dodge at the close distance he was to the vile bastard!
"NO!"
"Splunk!"
She looked in horror as the blade pierced right through the boy's chest and out his back! He struggled a little before he went limp and hung there. Blood oozing out of the wound.
Tsunade couldn't believe it! Just when she had finally risen out of depression from Nawaki and Dan's death thanks to this boy, she has now lost him too! She fell to her knees and started sobbing.
'Not again! No...no...NO! NOT AGAIN!'
"POOF!"
She looked up and saw that Naruto's body had disappeared in a cloud of smoke! It took Tsunade a second before she grasped what was going on!
'Shadow clone!'
Something was moving in the corner of her eye and when she looked she saw what seemed to be the real Naruto running around straight towards Orochimaru's blind spot!
However, the leader of the Sound still saw it coming and twisted his neck. Swinging the sword sticking from his mouth fast towards Naruto's head!
"NARUTO LOOK OUT!"
"Pishchuurrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
Orochimaru and everyone's eyes widened in disbelief again as Naruto held Orochimaru's snake sword at bay with his own strange sword! A small bright light emanating from the contact of Naruto's blade with Orochimaru's Kusanagi!
'Impossible! My snake sword is made of one of the strongest metals in the 5 Great Nations! And yet this brat's sword is holding it back like its nothing! It doesn't feel like a chakra blade so what is it?! How did a genin like him even acquire a weapon like this?!'
Orochimaru tried with all his might to push Naruto back, but the young jinchūriki wouldn't budge an inch! Orochimaru tried extending his neck and his sword in an attempt to give himself more of an edge (no pun intended). However, while Naruto started to struggle more, he still held his ground!
"You know when you extend your neck like that..."
Naruto suddenly pulled his blade back! Forcing Orochimaru's own blade to continue slashing in its original intended direction! Scraping across the ground as Orochimaru struggled to swift his head back to his opponent!
Using the opportunity Naruto leapt into the air above Orochimaru! Holding his weapon above his head preparing to cut down on his elongated neck!
"IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER TO CUT YOUR EVIL DISGUSTING HEAD OFF!"
Naruto swiped his weapon down preparing to cut the head off the snake! Orochimaru responded by immediately retracting his neck and his Kusanagi back into his mouth causing Naruto to miss with his attack. Orochimaru then shot the blade out again at the still airborne Naruto!
Before the blade could skewer him, Naruto used the momentum of his previous attack to twist his body and batted away Orochimaru's blade with his own! Causing sparks to fly everywhere! He wasn't done just yet though! Naruto continued twisting his body, after the strike, to barrel roll backwards in the air until he landed a good distance from Orochimaru!
He held the gifted blade in both hands tightly against his side. The blue light radiating off his face and ember blood eyes.
Orochimaru glared daggers at the boy! He couldn't believe this genin progressed so much since their encounter in the Forest of Death! He spared his life then as a means to help the Akatsuki in their goals, yet now it seemed that it would've been wiser to have just killed the brat then and there!
'How could he have gained this much skill and power?! There's no way he achieved this through that oaf Jiraiya's training! Not in such short amount of time! No, it's as I suspected earlier! There something else at work here but what?!'
Orochimaru retracted his Kusanagi back into his mouth. He took a breath and regained his composure.
'No, matter! I refuse to be outdone by a sniveling brat like him!'
Orochimaru smiled.
"I must admit you surprised me, Naruto-kun. Your skills are adequate for a genin with such a very limited mind. It seems that I can afford to take this fight a bit more seriously. You should be lucky that I can't fight a full power, but even so your still no match for me boy."
Orochimaru continued to smirk. While he was an arrogant evil bastard, he knew when to give praise to an opponent. No matter how weak or pathetic they were.
Naruto meanwhile just stood there holding his stance while glaring menacingly at the Sound leader. Orochimaru cocked his head slightly. He expected a sort of rebuttal or retort from the boy but he's just standing there. Focused and waiting.
'It would seem the boy's skills and power are not the only things that have improved since I last saw him. He's completely focused and in control right now. If he were to allow to progress even further he could become a great threat to me and my plans. I need to end him now!'
Orochimaru opened his mouth and shot out a barrage of green snakes that darted into the grass! Disappearing beneath the green blades!
'Let's see how he handles these ones!'
Naruto looked around him. He could feel the serpents approaching but not where they were! He cursed that evil snake bastard, for using such a sneaky tactic!
The first snake launched out of the grass from straight behind Naruto! The young genin quickly side stepped just barely avoiding the snake's fangs! Before he could strike back, it already fled back into the grass!
He twirled his sword a couple of times before taking the previous stance he had before. It didn't take long before another snake leapt from the grass from his right and another from his left! Soon he was surrounded by snakes flying out and into the grass! Eager to sink their poisonous fangs into him!
Naruto was having a hard time dodging them! Each snake was getting closer to biting him! That and they would disappear into the grass before he would have a chance to cut them! He was in trouble!
Tsunade rose to her feet. She's had enough of this! She's not going to allow Naruto to take on this bastard and his snakes all by himself!
"Shizune, I want you to take Naruto and get him out of here! Knock him out if you have to! Jiraiya and I will handle Orochimaru!"
Shizune looked at her master and nodded.
"Right!"
Before she could proceed Jiraiya placed his hand in front of her to keep her a bay.
"Hold on a second! Look!"
Tsunade and Shizune turned their eyes back to the battle and saw that Naruto was standing perfectly still with his eyes closed!
Tsunade gapped in fear. The snakes only just temporarily ceased their attacks but Naruto is practically setting himself up to be killed right on the spot!
"THAT LITTLE IDIOT!"
Tsunade was about to rush over until Jiraiya grabbed her shoulder and held her back!
"LET ME GO JIRAIYA! NARUTO'S ABOUT TO GET HIMSELF KILLED!"
Jiraiya didn't take his eyes off his apprentice as Tsunade struggled in his grip.
"Just wait a minute Tsunade! If Naruto is doing what I think he's doing then he should be fine."
Tsunade gaped at her old teammate! How could he be so calm while his apprentice is standing still with his eyes shut and being surrounded by a horde of poisonous snakes! He had to be nuts!
Before Tsunade could protest further, a snake already leapt out with it's mouth opening wide preparing to strike right at Naruto's neck! It felt like everything was playing in slow motion as Naruto stepped out of the way and dodged the snake's attack and with one slash of his weapon, he cut through the snake! The two halves of the serpent fell to the ground sizzling from the blade's cut.
Another snake leapt out going for Naruto's back! However, the boy spun around at lightning speed and with his blade in both hands he cut through the snake's head! The foul reptile fell to the ground dead and sizzling like it's predecessor. Suddenly the grass blades around the young genin shifted violently as the rest of the snakes leapt from their hiding spots preparing to barrage the boy again!
Only one thing could describe what everyone was feeling when they witnessed what happened next.
Absolute astonishment!
Through their eyes they saw Naruto easily evade and strike down each snake that attacked him! His movements started out as short and precise but progressed into being more powerful and defined! Scores of snakes fell to the ground dead as Naruto began to cut through hordes of them with single strokes! His attacks either done through swiping and slashing his weapon in wide arcs or shortly spinning it around while twisting his body catching the snakes going for his blind spots! Doing all of this while keeping his eyes shut!
Finally, Naruto spread legs tucked his arms together and shot them both out his sides! All the snakes around him, both airborne and still hiding in the grass, were violently pushed back! A small shock wave could be seen streaking across the grass, as the snakes were sent flying away!
Naruto wasn't done yet though as he arched his blade back and threw it! The weapon whirled through the air like a buzz saw cutting through all the snakes while following Naruto's hand movement! Pieces of them falling to the earth burning and sizzling.
After the last snake was cut, the weapon spun back towards Naruto! Instead of being cut in half by the blade, Naruto actually caught it by the hilt and stopped it! He spun the weapon around a couple of times and held it in the same pose as before. His ember red eyes flaring viciously at the Sound leader!
Every single person there was speechless. Not a single one of them in all the years of being shinobi could comprehend the level of skill and power that Naruto was wielding! Orochimaru out all them was more frustrated and curious though.
'That brat is even more powerful than I thought possible! Just what is this power he's using?! How is it giving him this much strength when it's not even a jutsu?!'
Orochimaru was about to prepare another attack until he felt that he couldn't move his body! he looked down, but saw that there was nothing holding him! When he looked back up he saw that Naruto had his hand stretched out with his fingers curled. Orochimaru looked on in amazement and slight fear as he watched Naruto lift his arm up and with it his own body!
Orochimaru struggled in this invisible grip, but he couldn't break free! In fact he could only feel the grip getting tighter! Tight enough to the point where he started to feel his bones crack! That wasn't nearly as painful as the pressure he was feeling on his damaged arms. His screams of pain and agony filling the air and open field around everyone!
"WHAT KIND OF JUTSU IS THIS?! JUST WHAT IS THIS POWER YOU'RE USING?!"
Orochimaru's body suddenly shot forward and he found himself flying straight towards Naruto! Orochimaru had to come up with something fast! At the speed he was going towards the boy, there was no way he be able to maneuver himself in the air to avoid the little brat and his accursed sword!
'That's it! With the speed I'm currently at it would be too difficult to dodge him, but the same goes for him as well!'
Orochimaru had to time this just right. If he used his attack too early the boy may be able dodge! He had to wait till he was a little closer!
A moment or two passed before Orochimaru launched his counterattack! Just when he was about 8 feet away from Naruto he opened his mouth and launched his Kusanagi sword once again! With the distance and speed he was at, there was no way for Naruto to dodge or block his sword in time! He had the little genin now!
At least that's what he thought.
The only thing Orochimaru's sword struck through was solid earth! The snake Sannin darted his eyes back and forth trying to find his target! His mind reeling from disbelief at the boy's speed!
'HOW WAS HE ABLE TO DODGE THAT?! NOT EVEN JIRAIYA OR TSUNADE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THAT ATTACK UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES! JUST WHAT IS HE?!'
"To answer your question earlier..."
Orochimaru's eyes widened with fear as he looked down and saw that the boy was darting up towards him from straight below! Pulling his weapon back for a killing strike!
"THIS IS THE POWER OF THE FORCE!"
Orochimaru started to spit out more of his sword to use it as leverage to distance himself from the boy's attack!
It worked but not in the way he hoped.
"Wach!"
With one slash of his blade, Naruto severed both of Orochimaru's arms!
Orochimaru's guttural scream could be heard by every single person there despite the fact he had a sword sticking out of his mouth! After he landed hard on his back, he swallowed the sword back into his mouth and his scream became so high pitched that it could be heard for miles!
Orochimaru writhed on the ground and stared at the two sizzling stumps of where his arms used to be! He couldn't believe it! He, the mighty Orochimaru; leader of the Otogakure; one of the legendary Sannin was beaten by a snot nose genin that just a little over a month ago was absolutely nothing to him!
He glared daggers at the boy who stood before him! Right into his golden red eyes!
"You...you're going to pay for that you little brat! Mark my words this isn't over! YOU. WILL. PAY!"
Naruto held the tip of his blade at Orochimaru's throat to silence him.
"I could care less about your threats you sniveling snake! You're going to pay for what you did to the village! AND TO GRAMPS!"
Naruto raised his weapon preparing to deliver the final blow! Until his body stiffened and he leapt back from a sneak attack dealt by Orochimaru's most loyal henchman Kabuto!
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kabuto stood in front of his master preparing to defend him at all costs! His interference though only proceeded to anger Naruto further especially since he was still ticked off about Kabuto lying and betraying him! After he landed, he gripped his saber hard and growled at the betrayer.
"You lying, backstabbing, bastard!"
Kabuto was about to engage until Tsunade and the others body flickered to Naruto's side! Preparing to aid the boy in his fight!
"Kabuto it would seem that we will have to find other means of restoring my power."
Orochimaru proceeded to sink into the ground.
"When I return with the elixir of life, I will show you all what it truly means to be immortal! And Naruto-kun I will be sure to pay you back a hundred fold for what you have done to me today!"
Naruto growled. There was no way he was going to let this snake get away after what he did! No way!
He dashed forward preparing to cut through both of them! Kabuto, however, was already preparing hand signs and with a poof of smoke was gone! That little to deter the young jinchuriki as he dashed into the smoke! Even if Kabuto gets away, he wasn't going to let Orochimaru escape! He plunged his saber into the ground where Orochimaru was sinking!
When the smoke cleared there was nothing but solid ground! Naruto gritted his teeth in anger and proceeded to scream out in rage! The Kyuubi's chakra growing more wild and out of control! That is until Jiraiya appeared in front of Naruto and placed a slip of paper on his forehead that read, 'Seal', causing Naruto to collapse and lost consciousness!
end Flashback
To this moment Tsunade still has a hard time believing what happened that day. To think that little gaki had so much power inside him! Enough to even beat and nearly kill her treacherous old comrade! She understood that he couldn't use his arms in that fight but it was still unbelievable.
"What is that power Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya finished his shot of saki.
"I don't know, but you know as well as I do that what we saw that day and today was not chakra. When I saw Naruto fight the snakes I thought he might've been using Sage mode, but he wasn't using natural energy either. At least not in a way I've ever seen before."
Tsunade looked at her old teammate.
"So do you think it has to do with the Kyuubi then?"
Jiraiya pondered in thought.
"No, I don't think so. The Kyuubi is powerful and it may have abilities we have yet to have seen, but it's a being that is comprised entirely of chakra; therefore all it's powers and abilities also consist of it. Whatever this, 'Force', power is I haven't found any reference to it in the village archives or anywhere else yet."
Tsunade gulped down another batch of saki.
"Do you think it was wise to let him keep that sword, Jiraiya? We don't know anything about it. Where it came from. Who made it. Nothing. It's sure isn't a chakra sword and it was even capable of holding back Orochimaru's Kusanagi. Shouldn't we study it first before we even consider letting Naruto or one of our other ninja use it?"
Jiraiya stared into his cup after he poured more saki into it.
"I think it's more wise to let Naruto keep and use it than some shinobi whose had no experience with wielding a sword like that and may accidentally cut their own arms off."
Jiraiya took another sip.
"That's my point Jiraiya! None of our shinobi in this village, including the experienced ones, wouldn't know how to handle a sword like that and we're letting Naruto use it despite the fact that he's still a genin and needs more training and discipline before we let him use a dangerous weapon like that! He's still a child!"
Jiraiya looked at her with slight shock and disappointment.
"Tsunade, you saw how Naruto used it when he fought Orochimaru. He displayed such levels of skill and technique that are way beyond his years. I think that sword may be the best weapon for him against the likes of our old friend and the Akatsuki. Remember Orochimaru swore vengeance on him, and when he comes to collect and he will, Naruto is going to need that sword."
Jiraiya sipped the last of the saki in his cup.
"Don't worry I already had a talk with him and made him give me his word that he wouldn't use that blade or this mysterious power unless absolutely necessary. Though to be honest the real reason I did it was because I didn't want the villagers to ostracize him even more than they currently are."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose again. That was another reason she didn't want to come back to this village. She just couldn't stand the close minded ways of these villagers. The second she arrived and saw the glares the villagers shot at Naruto, when they thought she and the others weren't looking, she was filled with immediate disgust.
It's not the boys fault that he was chosen to bear the burden of being the vessel for the Kyuubi and yet these villagers treat him like he's the beast itself! The village council members Homura and Koharu are no better! They even tried to convince her to remove Naruto's shinobi status, have him kept under 24 hour watch by a team of Anbu who would follow him around wherever he went, and forbid him from ever leaving the village!
She knew the reason why they wanted that was because in their eyes Naruto is, 'the Leaf's Greatest Weapon', and nothing more! That and they didn't want to risk Naruto going on missions and falling into enemy hands! The idea that they would think he's just a tool for the Leaf still makes her want to throttle them both!
After she poured another saki, she gulped it down.
"Jiraiya promise me you'll protect him. No matter what. Even if it means turning against the council and possibly this village, you'll keep him safe no matter the cost."
Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow at her.
"I was planning on doing that anyway. If it would come to that."
Tsunade smiled but while it was partially out of contentment from Jiraiya's statement it was also because another issue was bothering her.
"I'm worried about him Jiraiya. Naruto is changing. Every day I can see his personality and everything else about him just...diminishing. Turning into something else."
Jiraiya poured another shot of saki.
"You're worried that the Kyuubi is taking over his mind?"
Tsunade looked at her old teammate.
"Possibly, I'm not sure. You must've noticed a change in him too haven't you?"
Jiraiya drank his saki.
"I have actually. Since the moment we came back to the Leaf, Naruto has become more withdrawn. I noticed that he avoids the villagers and his friends and spends more time at Ichiraku talking to some old man that I haven't seen before. As for his team, well he and the Sasuke are even more at each other's throats than before. Kakashi has tried to get Naruto to open up on whatever problems he's having but Naruto refuses to talk to him. One time Naruto practically bit Kakashi's head off when he stepped in the middle of some argument he and Sasuke were having. It wasn't pretty."
Tsunade suddenly remembered something Naruto said to her earlier.
"Jiraiya did you catch what Naruto said to me earlier about Kakashi not believing that he would be able to beat Neji and that he didn't teach him anything to prepare for the exams?"
The toad Sannin nodded.
"Yeah, I did. I couldn't believe that Naruto would think Kakashi wouldn't have faith in him. The part about not teaching him anything was an understandable reaction though."
Tsunade raised another question.
"Did Kakashi teach Naruto or his teammates anything before he allowed them to enter the exams?"
Jiraiya began to think.
"Not that I'm aware of. When I first met Naruto he was trying to walk on water which suggested that he already mastered the tree climbing technique. Other than that no, I don't think Kakashi taught him or the others anything else before the exams."
Tsunade quirked at Jiraiya.
"So he just allowed them to enter when the only thing he taught them was how to use chakra to walk on trees?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Kakashi probably thought that they were more than capable. I think he was betting that they would rely on teamwork more than any special jutsus in order to get through these exams."
Tsunade didn't look like she entirely agreed.
"I don't know Jiraiya. If they were my students I would've made sure to teach each of them a few jutsus or techniques before entering the exams. Teamwork is important but if they don't have effective jutsus or skills to go along with it their chances of failing would be even greater. Not to mention that with the Sand and Sound invasion, Naruto and his teammates would've been dead had it not been for the training you gave him."
Jiraiya nodded and took a sip.
"I agree, but this is Kakashi we're talking about. I think the reason he allowed them to enter was so they could build and strengthen their trust and dependence on one another. The main purpose for their participation in my opinion was that they would become stronger together not become chuunins though I'm pretty sure he had faith that they would do well and possibly succeed."
Tsunade nodded a little indicating that she understood why Kakashi allowed them to participate.
"I see so in other words Kakashi used the chuunin exams as a way to have them develop their teamwork more."
Jiraiya set his cup down on the table next to the couch.
"Yep, also we can't blame Kakashi for ill preparing them for the invasion since there was no way any of us could've known about it beforehand."
Tsunade set hers down too.
"I guess you're right about that. As for Kakashi's initial intentions for their teamwork, judging by how the way things are now between Naruto and the Uchiha it would seem that plan of his backfired."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, looks like it."
Tsunade was still confused about something.
"That still doesn't explain why Naruto believes that Kakashi had no faith that he would beat Neji."
Jiraiya cupped his own chin and started to think.
"That certainly is a puzzle. We'll have to discuss it with Kakashi later. It's hard to imagine why Naruto would think so lowly about his own sensei."
Tsunade nodded in agreement herself and then asked something that's peaked her curiosity for awhile.
"What about Naruto's other teammate, that Sakura Haruno, is he fighting with her too?"
Jiraiya shook his head.
"No, far from it. Actually he's rather quiet around her. Barely says a word."
Tsunade eyes widened in shock.
"You're joking."
Jiraiya chuckled.
"Nope, the little loudmouth that we've known him to be is almost totally mute around her."
Tsunade then remembered what happened at the hospital.
"Well considering Naruto's reaction with her when I healed their teammate I guess I can understand his abnormally quiet behavior."
Jiraiya quirked at her.
"What do you mean? What happened?"
Tsunade rested her head back a little on the couch.
"After I healed Sasuke, Sakura didn't hesitate in hugging and showing her affections for him. She acted like the Uchiha brat just came back from the brink of death while Naruto just stood there being ignored. She didn't even bother to thank him and it's only because he risked his life to protect and bring me back that I healed her teammate. The look on Naruto's face Jiraiya. He looked so sad and lonely, but at the same time he didn't seem that surprised by her actions. Like he almost expected it. I tried to cheer him up by telling him that it was a very noble thing he did for her. It didn't work. I guess the little gaki's feelings for her are deeper than I thought and he's struggling to accept that she's infatuated with the Uchiha and not him."
Jiraiya nodded and rested his own head back. It's not easy to get over being rejected.
"That certainly would explain his behavior with her even when her own behavior with him has changed."
This caught Tsunade's attention making her raise her head back up.
"It's changed? In what way?"
Jiraiya elaborated further.
"I noticed that she's been watching Naruto more. Almost like she's trying to see right through him or something. There were times when she's in the middle of berating or criticizing him one minute and she would take one look at him and then suddenly stop and just stare at him with a depressed look on her face the other. At first I thought it was because a bit of the Kyuubi was showing, but Naruto's body and chakra didn't change in any way so it wasn't that. She's also been trying to get him to open up more but still not as much as when she tries with Sasuke and she's had very limited success. That and it looks like whenever Naruto and Sasuke are arguing rather than gang up on Naruto with Sasuke, like she did before, she's actually putting a little more effort into trying to get them both to get along and settle their disputes peacefully."
Tsunade quirked an eyebrow.
"That's certainly quite a change in character for her."
Tsunade couldn't believe that this was the same girl that just a few weeks ago barely even looked at Naruto when she patched up the Uchiha. Maybe this was her way of thanking him or maybe she's learning to appreciate him more. She hoped that was the case.
She went back to thinking about Naruto's reaction to not being promoted.
"Be honest with me Jiraiya. Should I have promoted Naruto to a chuunin?"
Jiraiya looked down as he thought of how to answer her question.
"I agree with you, that Naruto has a tendency to act without thinking, however during the chuunin exams, the invasion, and as well as the fight with Orochimaru Naruto has shown that he has come very far. He not only defeated Neji, a Hyuuga prodigy, but he also managed to defeat Gaara, a jinchūriki just like him, who even unleashed his own Bijuu the one tailed sand spirit Shukaku."
Tsunade's eyes were as wide as dinner plates and she gaped at the Toad Sannin.
"NARUTO FOUGHT A TAILED BEAST AND WON?!"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yes, Gaara was being controlled and possessed by the sand demon Shukaku. The original plan by the Sand and Sound was to have him release it and destroy the Leaf. However, Gaara become too obsessed with killing Sasuke and Naruto. As they fought Naruto not only managed to free Gaara from its control, he was also able to save him from the horrible bloodthirsty mentality that the former Kazekage groomed him to have. Thanks to Naruto, not only was the village saved but he also brought back Gaara from the darkness that had consumed him for years."
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table in front of them. Not enough to break it but enough to make it shake.
"Why wasn't I informed of this?! A genin to be able to take on a tailed beast and defeat it and save the village?! A feat like that more than deserves recognition and praise! Why wasn't this in any of the reports I've read about the invasion?!"
It was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard of! Not only that but for Naruto to still receive glares from the villagers after saving them from one of 9 Bijuu was absolute ludicrous!
"It's because the villagers and most of the older shinobi don't believe a word of it."
Tsunade was getting very tired of having to gap at the pervert's words.
"They don't believe it?! Not a single one of them?!"
Jiraiya looked at her.
"There are few who did come to believe it but then they thought that Naruto only allowed the village to be put in more danger by not finishing off Gaara when he had the chance. They fear that if the Sand invades again Gaara will unleash the Shukaku and kill everyone."
Tsunade curled her hands into fists.
"That's a load of crap!"
Tsunade met Gaara on a visit to the Sand during the negotiations. He wasn't bloodthirsty at all. In fact he was very polite, well mannered and expressed a lot of regret and shame for what he and his village did in the invasion. There was no way that boy was still a bloodthirsty killing machine because if he was she'd be able to tell.
Jiraiya nodded in agreement.
"Back to the matter beforehand, Naruto defeated both him and Neji and he also mastered the Rasengan. A technique no one except for me and the Fourth Hokage have been able to accomplish, well Kakashi too except he copied it, but anyway he also managed to fight and best our old friend Orochimaru. Needless to say Naruto's abilities at this point are far beyond that of a genin, chuunin, and maybe even a jounin."
Tsunade contemplated everything Jiraiya said.
"So you do think I should promote him."
Jiraiya closed his eyes for moment before responding.
"No."
Tsunade hit her head on the floor when she fell before she got up in curled her right hand into a fist and growled.
"Jiraiya, why would you give him all those complements and praises for his accomplishments when in the end you don't think he should be promoted yet either?!"
Jiraiya sighed.
"Naruto skills have progressed very far that's true in fact he may very well be the strongest shinobi we have next to Kakashi, but he doesn't have the right mindset for being a chuunin. He's close but not quite there yet. That and there's no way the village council or the villagers will allow him to be promoted right now. They'd sooner remove you as Hokage then even think about promoting Naruto. The villager's and older shinobi's suspicions would also be a problem. If any of them were to become curious enough to investigate as to why we would allow 'the demon brat' to be promoted they could uncover Naruto's true identity and heritage."
Tsunade sighed. It was true that if Naruto's true identity were to be revealed now it would cause major problems. The main one being the boy's safety.
"Basically we're just going to have to wait and hope that by the next chuunin exams their opinion of him will have improved and that Naruto learns to get a bit more into the habit of thinking before acting."
Tsunade looked out the window.
"Well there actually has been one villager that's been very persistent with me about promoting him."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. He couldn't believe that there was actually a single villager, apart from the Ichiraku family, that would be adamant about Naruto being promoted.
"Who is it?"
Tsunade looked at him with a bit of troubled expression.
"An old man by the name of Palpatine Sidosaki. He's a wealthy business man, who's from a village somewhere near the Land of Waves. He's been very helpful for covering much of the costs of rebuilding the village. I asked how I could repay him and he said that he wanted Naruto to be promoted to a chuunin. I told him that the decision on which shinobi gets promoted lies with me and the council not to the villagers, but I respectfully thanked him for suggesting Naruto."
Jiraiya closed her eyes.
"Of course because of Naruto's condition the villagers' opinions of him are part of the reason he can't be promoted yet regardless."
Tsunade nodded. She wished it wasn't the case.
"Did he request anything else or has it always been the same thing?"
Tsunade shook her head. Her eyes narrowing a little.
"No, and that's what's bothering me. It didn't at first until I kept getting the same requests from him about promoting Naruto. I would get at least one request a week asking if there's any way I could persuade the council or make an exception or understand that Naruto is skilled enough to handle it. I respectfully declined him each time and told him that if there's anything else he wanted I would see what I could do. Still it has me a bit on edge Jiraiya. Why out of all our genin would he suggest Naruto? Why is he so interested in him? What's his angle? It worries me Jiraiya. Whenever I see him he's polite and has a very friendly smile, but something about him makes my skin crawl. I can't explain it but something about that old man doesn't feel normal."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes at her a bit.
"This Sidosaki...does he have white hair? Look to be about in his seventies or eighties? Looks like he hasn't slept in a long time?"
Tsunade looked at him.
"You know him?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yeah, he's the old man Naruto's been meeting and talking with at Ichiraku. He's the only one Naruto has been opening up to lately."
Tsunade's troubled look started to become more apparent.
"You don't think he's with the Akatsuki do you?"
Jiraiya cupped his chin and began to think.
"Maybe, I can't say for sure. In any case though I think we should keep on an eye on him. Naruto already has the Akatsuki after him and Orochimaru wanting vengeance who knows why this old man has so much interest in him."
Jiraiya stood up from the couch and walked to the window taking in the view.
"We may just be being paranoid, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I think I'll be doing a little digging on our new friend."
Tsunade nodded in approval of this course of action and got up and stood next to Jiraiya at the window.
"And that power?"
Jiraiya looked back at her.
"I'm gonna do some more research on that as well. Hopefully I can find out what it is and why Naruto can use it."
A small tick mark appeared on Tsunade.
"I certainly hope this is actual research your doing and not the kind that involves you peaking in on women at the baths."
Jiraiya took step away from Tsunade and started waving his hands defensively.
"It isn't that I swear! I'm only focused on my godson's well being and protection! That's all! Come on Tsunade-hime give me more credit than-"
"LADY TSUNADE!"
Jiraiya's begging was cut off as Shizune slammed the door open! An alarming look on her face and Tonton, who was between her feet, looked just as distressed!
Tsunade and Jiraiya could tell from one look at Shizune's face that something terrible had happened.
"Shizune what is it?"
Unknown to everyone in the Hokage's office, a small mechanical jellyfish like creature was perched right over the Hokage's window. A small little antenna protruded from its head and it started giving off strange beeping sounds.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the village
Naruto was jumping from roof to roof still angry about Tsunade not promoting him! He was so excited about becoming a chuunin only to be flat out told no cause he didn't deserve it! The hell he didn't deserve it! Why couldn't Tsunade and others see that he was ready like Old Man Palp did!
Flashback earlier that morning
Naruto was eating breakfast at Ichiraku with Old Man Palpatine telling him about how the latest mission went and how Sasuke got injured from a chakra enhanced sword. Palpatine nodded and smiled the whole time as he listened to Naruto's story.
"Your skills are definitely improving Naruto. You've become even stronger than your teammate Sasuke now."
Naruto slurped up a bunch noodles right when he looked at Palpatine with wide eyes.
"You really think so?!"
Palpatine patted him on the shoulder.
"Very much so which is why I've been making several requests to the Hokage lately concerning your career status."
Naruto quirked a brow at Palpatine.
"My career status?"
Palpatine nodded and smiled at him.
"Naruto, I've been asking the Hokage about making you into a chuunin."
Naruto dropped his chopsticks into his half empty ramen bowl.
"Me? A chuunin?"
Naruto took a drink out of the tea he ordered with his ramen and took deep breath to keep himself from getting too excited.
"I'm honored that you would do that for me Old Man Palp. Really I am, but Granny and the council are the ones who decide who gets to be chuunin. I know Granny would vouch for me but the council...well they'll never accept this."
Palpatine gave him another reassuring smile.
"I think they will. They're already promoting Shikamaru to a chuunin. And if they're allowing him to become one when he didn't even win his match then I'm sure they will without a doubt promote you. Besides they need you Naruto. More than you know."
Flashback end
He couldn't believe that he allowed himself to get his hopes up like that! He knew that the council would be against the idea of promoting him but he didn't think Granny herself would believe he's not ready! That he didn't deserve it because he used the Kyuubi's chakra! The thought of her denying his promotion because of the fox made him just as angry as when Kakashi-sensei chose to train that teme over him!
No matter how much he tried to reason with himself, Naruto still couldn't let go of the feelings of betrayal he felt from his sensei. He kept telling himself that it was for the best because if it wasn't for his sensei's favoritism towards Sasuke-teme, he wouldn't have encountered and trained under Pervy Sage, who not only was stronger than the Closet Pervert but was also more powerful and skillful than even Kakashi himself!
It was because of Pervy Sage that Naruto was able to beat Neji and show everyone that he wasn't a loser or a weakling. That he was a shinobi determined to become Hokage!
It was even thanks to Pervy Sage and his training that he was even able to save his comrades and the village from Gaara when he unleashed the one tailed beast Shukaku! If it wasn't for the Toad Sage's guidance, then the vision that plagued Naruto's thoughts the whole month in his training for the exams would've come true and his teammates would've been slaughtered by Gaara!
In the end though he just couldn't get over the feelings of neglect he felt for that despicable act of Kakashi-sensei! And now he has to deal with that and Granny not promoting him because he used the Kyuubi's chakra!
'It's not my fault I had to rely on that stupid fox's power! Maybe if my sensei actually trained me I wouldn't have!'
A thunderous roar echoed through Naruto's mind. Making him skid to a halt on one of the rooftops.
'YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! IF WASN'T FOR ME YOU'D BE DEAD RIGHT NOW! DON'T BLAME ME FOR THE FACT THAT YOU WERE TOO WEAK AND STUPID TO TAKE ON THAT HYUUGA BOY BY YOURSELF!'
Naruto grinded his teeth at that insult from the Kyuubi! Ever since Pervy Sage taught him how to communicate with the demon, he and it have been having spats like this constantly!
Focusing his mind he appeared in the sewer of his mindscape where before him large rusted iron bars towered over his head. In the center was a piece of paper which read 'Seal', that kept the great demonic beast in.
Naruto treaded through the green ankle deep water closer to the cage. Inside through the darkness two large blood slit eyes opened and glowed along with sharp menacing looking canine teeth that were so white they could easily be seen through the pitch black darkness of the prison.
Before long the fox's face become visible. It's dark orange fur standing up as a sign of the fox's irritation. Behind him 9 gigantic tails swished back in forth.
There that stood before Naruto was the infamous monstrous demonic Kyuubi!
Anyone else who would be standing before this great demon would've likely soiled their pants by now. Naruto however stood firm and locked eyes with the beast not showing any fear in the slightest. It was one of the few things the great demonic fox liked and respected about the boy. That and his fiery temper.
"Care to make that comment again? YOU GIANT RED MONGOOSE!"
The fox snarled at that remark and raked his claws against the rusted bars of his prison before letting loose another shrieking roar. The water around them shook violently. The pipes around them quivered as if they were alive and if they themselves feared the beast.
Naruto just stood there though like this was just business as usual for him. And considering the amount of visits he's paid the fox lately, since the exams, it practically was.
"YOU DARE INSULT ME AFTER I GAVE YOU MY POWER?! WHEN I AIDED YOU IN DEFEATING THE HYUUGA BOY, GAARA, AND THAT SNIVELING SNAKE OROCHIMARU WHEN NO ONE ELSE DID?! I SHOULD KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW!"
The fox immediately began stabbing his claws out through the bars trying to reach Naruto. It was no use though as like the many other times he's tried the bars just wouldn't budge and his claws would stop about a foot from Naruto's face. After awhile the demon pulled back his claws and growled. Wanting nothing more than to tear the boy apart!
"You idiot! You said it yourself that if I die you die as well! What? Is it so bad being in my body now that you want to kill yourself?"
The fox snarled at the boy and banged his head against the bars.
"DEATH WOULD CERTAINLY BE BETTER THAN DEALING WITH A SPOILED INSUFFERABLE BRAT LIKE YOU!"
Naruto's hands curled into fists and he growled back at the giant demon fox.
"Spoiled?! I'm spoiled?! How the hell can you say that I'm spoiled after being sealed inside me all these years?! If after all this time and after everything I've done and said that you think I'm actually spoiled, then you don't know me at all you damn fox!"
The Kyuubi narrowed his eyes at the small boy that stood before his cage.
"HA! I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU KIT! IN FACT OF THE TWO OF US I'M THE ONE WHO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS YOU BETTER!"
Naruto cocked his head at the fox. How the hell could he not know or understand himself? That didn't make any sense at all.
"What the hell are you talking about Kyuubi?"
The giant fox lowered his head down a bit and started to talk in a lower voice.
"Ever since you returned from that little trip to the Wave country, you've been acting differently kit. You've been sporting that fake smile of yours far less often and have been avoiding everyone including your own teammates a lot lately. The most noticeable change however is your hatred. Your anger towards this village and everyone in it with the exception of a few has increased quite considerably. You have also been getting into fights with your teammate Sasuke even more so than before. And my personal favorite is that you've been threatening the villagers more often when they made snide remarks at you. I've come to like this change within you quite a bit."
Naruto was seething at how this fox just accused him of hating his own village! He would die to protect it and all his friends no matter what! Hell, he already proved his resolve when he fought Gaara! There was no way he was just gonna stand there and let the stupid fox spout such nonsense and lies!
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about! This village is my home and I would die to protect it and all those who are precious to me! Sasuke and I have been getting into fights a lot lately but that doesn't mean that I hate him! And yeah so I'm getting a bit sick of the villagers still going on about me being a demon like you but I'm used to it! So stop trying to fill my head with lies you damn fox!"
The Kyuubi snarled a little at the boy's cluelessness and denial. It was one of the many things he hated about the little loudmouth kit.
"You truly are an idiot you know that kit? The reason why you've been getting into these fights with Sasuke lately is because your hatred for him has been growing. Yes, it started right when you fought those Sound genin in the Forest of Death. You've felt it then didn't you? The anger and hate inside of Sasuke has been accumulating towards you for those unnatural powers of yours. You hate these thoughts he has for you. You hate how you can feel them in your mind and soul. It's the same with the villagers. You thought they were starting to warm up to you, but you can sense that their hatred for you has only increased and is getting worse."
Naruto's knuckles started to turn white with how hard he was gripping them. He hated to admit it but the fox was right. It did anger him that he could sense Sasuke's and the villager's hatred for him growing. He could feel it whenever he was around them like when he felt the presence of the snakes Orochimaru hid in the grass to try to poison him only it was much worse.
"Unlike the villagers though you seek acknowledgement from Sasuke the most. Instead of that you've only achieved his anger and jealousy of your power. It also didn't help when you came back with Tsunade to heal him. Where instead of thanking you and expressing his gratitude he just pretended to ignore you when really he hated and felt humiliated by you for assisting him like that. But what really struck you to the core in that moment was what your precious Sakura did."
Naruto's eyes widened. He looked down at the murky water that surrounded him as he remembered that emotionally painful experience.
"She ignored you. Ignored you even after you defended her in the forest, fought another demon to protect her, and had Tsunade heal Sasuke, she treated you like you were nothing. Like you weren't even in the hospital room. She focused only on embracing the Uchiha and on the fact that he was alive and well. Never mind the fact that you nearly died to bring the old hag back with you, had to master a jutsu created by the Fourth Hokage, and use my power and this unnatural force power to defeat Orochimaru himself!"
The Kyuubi snarled at that last part. The reason why is because he hated talking about matters concerning the Force. It was a power that he's never encountered in all the centuries of his life. He felt that whatever this power was it didn't belong in this world and he didn't like it.
He also didn't want Naruto to hang around with that old man anymore who kept telling him about it. They got into many arguments concerning that. The Kyuubi didn't trust or like him at all. No human being is that kind and compassionate without some ulterior motive. The Kyuubi could sense that there was some kind of dark shadow emanating from the old man's presence but the stupid brat wouldn't believe him.
"Even as you left that hospital room she didn't even bother to track you down and thank you. She stayed there for hours on end and visited Sasuke frequently and didn't bother to talk to you until the Uchiha fully recovered and your team began doing missions again. Even then she still didn't express any gratitude or thankfulness. She only proceeded to criticize and lecture you like before while she still treated Sasuke as if he were the best thing ever to happen to her even though he treats her like trash."
Naruto didn't say a word. No retort, no comeback, nothing. He just stood where he was and listened as the Kyuubi reminded him of everything that has happened since Sasuke got better.
"Only it's a bit different now because she's afraid of you. Afraid that you'll snap and go berserk and kill her just like you tried to kill those Sound genin. That's another reason why she clings to that Uchiha brat so much because she naively believes he'll protect her from you."
Naruto started to shake. Droplets of tears started to drip into the sewer water.
"Now, do you understand? No matter how much you improve, what feats you accomplish, or even how many lives you save in the end Sakura and the villagers will never see you as anything more than a monster. As for Sasuke well he'll only ever see you as a loser that doesn't deserve the powers you have."
The Kyuubi started to slink back into the darkness of his cage. The only thing visible now was just his red beastly eyes.
"There's one more thing you should know. If you think that I'm the one that's been lying to you then you're sorely mistaken. The ones who are really lying to you are Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. They've been lying to you from the very beginning. About what I'm not going to tell you. That's something for you to figure out. Assuming if you're smart enough to do it. See you around kit."
Naruto looked up at the Kyuubi wondering what on Earth could Kakashi-sensei, Pervy Sage, and Granny be lying to him about? Before he could ask anything more, he heard his name being called.
'Naruto...Naruto!...NARUTO!'
Naruto opened his eyes and found himself back in the real world. He felt two hands strongly yet gently grip his shoulders. He looked and saw Sakura standing in front of him with a concerned worried look on her face.
"Sakura-san?"
Naruto was about to ask what she was doing until he noticed a bunch of objects fall down onto the roof around them. They were clothes, clothespins, baskets, etc. Naruto eyes widened when he realized what happened.
'Damn! I let the force get out of control! I need to get out here! I just can't deal with Sakura-san being afraid of me right now! Not today!'
Naruto tried to move but Sakura held him firmly in place by the shoulders. He looked at her wondering why she was keeping him from leaving.
"Naruto, why are you crying?"
Naruto didn't understand what she was talking about. He rubbed his finger under his right eye and found that the skin was wet. Apparently he was crying in the real world as he was in his mindscape. He quickly rubbed the tears away.
"It's nothing just got hit by some pepper powder some old lady threw out her window by accident."
Sakura wasn't convinced in the slightest. She knew something was bothering Naruto and she was going to figure out what.
"Don't lie to me Naruto. Tell me what's going on. I saw you were using that power again so I-"
Sakura immediately cut herself off as she realized that Naruto still doesn't remember what happened in the Forest of Death with the Sound genin. She didn't want Naruto to remember and suddenly go berserk again. Never again.
"Naruto, just tell me what's wrong."
Naruto was barely listening. He was too busy sensing Sakura's thoughts. Her fear of him losing control and going on a rampage was even stronger than before. Not being able to take it anymore he shrugged her arms off a bit roughly and proceeded to walk away.
"I told you it's nothing. Shouldn't you be visiting that teme in the hospital for the hundredth time? Begging him to take you to the Kyuubi festival?"
Sakura was cut off guard by Naruto's reaction. Naruto has never done anything physically aggressive with her not even in training, granted though she doesn't train as much as her teammates, but still he's never laid a finger on her in a threatening manner.
And what was with that tone he used for when he asked if she was visiting Sasuke and asking him out to the festival? She didn't understand what was going on with Naruto.
'What's wrong with him?'
A part of Sakura wanted to pummel Naruto into the ground for using that tone with her and for roughly shrugging her off like that. But another part just wanted to help and find out why Naruto looked so upset and stressed.
In the end the latter part won out and she decided it would be best to just answer his questions rather than risk infuriating him by going berserk herself on him.
"I just got back from the hospital just now. Unfortunately he's still not fully recovered, so he won't be able to attend the festival."
Naruto looked at her with confusion. He just couldn't understand why she was so obsessed with Sasuke's well being and happiness when all he does is treat her like crap and ignores her.
'It's because she's in love with him and fears you that's why you idiot!'
Naruto hated to admit it but there were times where even he had to admit that he was stupid.
"Well then I guess you'll both miss the festival cause knowing you you're going to stay right by his side so he won't feel lonely during it."
Sakura held her hands together in front of her and looked at her feet.
"Actually Sasuke told me to stop annoying him and to just go with someone else."
Naruto looked at the ground and sighed.
"I see."
He then continued walking preparing to leap off onto the next roof.
"Well good luck trying to get a date for the festival. Try asking Lee. I heard that operation Tsunade did on him went well and knowing him he'll be thrilled to go on a date with you. Might speed up his recovery."
Sakura was surprised by Naruto's suggestion. It was shocking enough that it was well thought out and logically as well as ethically made sense, but it was even more surprising that Naruto wasn't asking her out himself.
Sakura lowered her head a bit more.
'Then again Naruto hasn't bothered asking me out since before the chuunin exams and he still keeps calling me Sakura-san. I still don't know why.'
Deciding she's had enough of this strange behavior of his, Sakura decided it was time she surprised the unpredictable ninja.
"Actually why don't you and I go together? As much fun as it would be to go with Lee, I don't want him to suddenly have a relapse when he should be resting and doing physical therapy. We'll have lots of fun I promise. I'll even take you out to Ichiraku my treat, so how about it?"
Naruto looked at her and could swear that he was dreaming. Sakura was asking him out on a date! An actual date! He should be bouncing around on the roof and screaming out to the world that he finally got a date with Sakura!
However, he wasn't. Deep down he knows that she's just using him as a backup date for the festival because she couldn't get Sasuke to go with her and Lee was still recuperating. Not only that but he could still sense her fear of him. It tore him up inside that she would be afraid of him like he was a monster! Especially when considering that she doesn't even know about the Kyuubi yet!
There was another reason that he didn't want to go to the festival though. It was a simple one too.
"I'm not going to the festival Sakura-san. I hate the damn thing!"
It was true, he really hated the festival. When he was younger and tried to attend it he was kicked out because the adults said he's too much of a troublemaker. When he grew older, many times the villagers would get drunk, form mobs, and chase him around the village! One time they caught him and beat the crap out of him! It would've been a lot worse had not Iruka and Old Man Third shown and broken it up.
It was after that terrible event that Naruto decided that he didn't like the festival. When he found out that the Kyuubi was sealed inside him, he grew to hate it because it was basically a celebration of the day that this curse was put on him and that it gave the villagers the idea that it was okay to hunt him down and beat him to a pulp!
'I'm never going to that shitty festival ever again!'
Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing. Naruto Uzumaki was actually rejecting a date with her! It was absolute madness! This isn't like Naruto at all!
'That settles it something is definitely wrong with him and I'm going to find out what!'
Sakura started to march forward determined to get the truth out of him.
"Naruto I'm going to get to the bottom of what's bothering you, even if I have to pin you to the ground!"
Naruto raised his hand up with his palm facing her and Sakura gasped as she felt herself being pushed back! It was like some invisible wall was pushing her away! It wasn't a violent push, but it was still strong enough to move her against her will. Her feet skidded across the rooftop before she came to a gentle stop to the other side of the roof.
She looked at Naruto with disbelief on her face. How could Naruto posses such a power? Just what jutsu was this? A kekkei genkai? She just couldn't figure it out!
Sakura gasped again when she looked at his eyes. They were a mix of rage, sadness, and loneliness all compressed together in those blue eyes of his. Eyes so full of pain.
'Just like in the forest...Naruto what's happening to you?'
"I refuse to go to a festival that celebrates the man who ruined and damned my life and existence!"
Naruto suddenly leapt very high into the air! He looked like he was about 50 or 60 feet high! He landed a few roofs away and started sprinting away at top speed!
Sakura stood there completely shocked. Her hand clutched tightly where her heart was. A few tear drops dripped down onto the roof. She started to shiver which was odd considering that there was no wind and the weather was warm.
She felt cold. So very cold.
Finally! Done! First off I want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter! My teachers have been blindsiding me with assignments and tests none stop! I couldn't even find the time to even think what I even wanted to do for this chapter! Anyway I finally got it in and just before Thanksgiving too! This chapter went way longer than I intended but I decided that since I wanted to wrap up Naruto's progression to the dark side in just a few chapters, again three at the most, and that there was still a lot of ideas I wanted to try out, I thought I'd make it much longer than the previous ones. Also since finals are coming up on me and I likely won't be able to work on this till winter break I figured a long chapter like this would help last you until then. That and it's also another way of apologizing for not updating this story sooner! I hope you all enjoy it and the next chapter ohhhhh man! If things go according to plan then I'll finally get to one of the most epic parts of this story that I want to do! I can't wait but I need to focus on finals first! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!