Chapter 7: Cursed Sage
I do not own Naruto. All rights belong with its rightful owner.
Kakashi groaned as the light hit him in the eye at the right spot. He turned away from the glare, and noted that there was no point in trying to fight it any longer. Sitting up, he opened his right eye, seeing Kurama, who was still awake, sitting nearby the shore. Turning his head and saw Suigetsu, whom he recognized in being part of the group that attacked Killer B, the former Jinchurriki of the Eight Tailed Beast. Continuing his gaze, his eyes softening as he saw Naruto and Sakura laying side by side on the ground with a blanket wrapped around them, he surveyed the damage of the camp from last night's battle once again.
Many trees had fallen from the various water bullets thrown at Naruto during the engagement, seemingly forming a path, the shore itself had a few craters indented into the earth. Kakashi got up, and joined the clone. Kurama turned his head, and nodded to him.
"I know that you have your own chakra supply," Kakashi said as he sat down next to Kurama. "But wouldn't you need some rest?" Kurama laughed, which made Kakashi uncomfortable. While Kakashi did talk to the Tailed Beast overnight, he was still uncomfortable by his presence.
"This is nothing." Kurama rasped. "When I actually perform jutsu's, is when I'll actually start to lose chakra. Chakra regenerates after a while. Plus …" Kurama pointed towards Naruto. "If the Kit is using my Chakra, then my energy starts to deplete." Kakashi nodded.
"In the body of a clone, what can you do?" Kakashi asked. Kurama shrugged.
"I'm just a conscious in a clone's body. This was done so that I didn't have to switch between the Kit and myself in the midst of battle. Some of Naruto's abilities, the Rasengan, Kage Bunshins, I can perform. Though his Sage Chakra is beyond me, mainly because of what I am. In this body, I can't gain access to my own chakra. My chakra is still within Kit's body, and Naruto would have to transfer some over to me so that I can use its potential."
"So you're limited as to what you can do in that body." Kakashi noted, to which Kurama nodded.
"This tactic is great for causing confusion, and I'm not necessarily left unable to perform. My own knowledge does come to use in certain situations and I take that into full use. But as you said, I'm limited."
"And without your conscious, Naruto is left by himself to fend for himself." Kakashi stated.
"Naruto can handle himself without my intervention. Look at the past where he refused to use my power until it became dire. Even in the war, he had everyone else to aid him. I really only took prevalence in the past five years when he went training, and during his engagements with the Uchiha and Sannin."
"I wanted to ask about that." Kakashi said as he shifted in his position. "How did Naruto act when they crossed paths?" Kurama looked out across the lake.
"How would anyone other person react to seeing their friend after they've took off? It's the same old song and dance with those two. Talk, fight, final clash, flee. That's all it is."
"It can't be that simple." Kakashi said, raising an eyebrow. "I also asked about Orochimaru, and he isn't necessarily the one to take a back seat." Kurama closed his eyes.
"Orochimaru has a part in Sasuke's Revolution, and that's creating the Cursed Seal Army to take over the Five Shinobi Nations." Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
"There's something more to that though, isn't there?" Kakashi asked.
Kurama was silent for a moment, looking back to Naruto before sighing.
"Yeah, and it's not good. When Naruto and Sasuke clashed last time, I think Orochimaru got himself into the fray and imprinted the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Naruto, the reason Naruto went nuts as he was healing." Kakashi's eyes widened.
"What!" Kakashi shouted, which stirred the two younger shinobi a little, and had Kurama slap Kakashi upside the head.
"Pip it, perv. It's not all that bad yet." Kakashi rubbed his head, upset by the slap, getting called a pervert, and the recent revelation.
"Yet? You just said he lost control!" Kakashi said in a forced whisper.
"I did. We didn't find out about the Seal until yesterday before the mission, and we think we have the solution to holding it back for now until we can redirect our focus to getting rid of it." Kakashi sighed.
"Didn't he consider the dangers? He should have delayed the mission." Kurama chuckled.
"He's concerned about the Villages safety, and is content with a temporary fix until he can focus on it. He considers the Uchiha a bigger threat than himself."
"Temporary is temporary. If he lost control, there's going to be an issue. What happens if he loses control?" Kakashi asked.
"Oh, it's very much similar to him losing control over my chakra when he was younger. The difference is that he's no brute. To be honest, more sophisticated in his thinking, in a twisted sense. It's his darker half reborn, feeding off the negative emotions Naruto has, despite the fact the Kit was rid of it."
"Can he force the chakra back himself?" Kakashi asked. Kurama nodded.
"It takes hours, but yes it's possible. I do believe there is an alternative to get Naruto to break through the Seal." With that, Kurama stood up and walked over to check on the unconscious Suigetsu. Kakashi sat there and looked at the lake, which looked calm, thinking about what the Bijuu had just discussed with him.
Kakashi got up and started to gather firewood to prepare breakfast. He knew that because of the battle with Suigetsu, Naruto was going to want food in his stomach soon. Naruto would have healed from his injuries with Kurama's chakra, along with Sakura's administrations, so they would be able to leave early in the next morning. Though Sakura had spent the majority of the night healing Naruto, and would no doubt be exhausted from the effort.
Kurama returned to Kakashi, who looked towards him.
"I found out the trail to where our friend was hiding. I'm going to go check where the ruin is that Naruto was looking for." Kakashi nodded, and continued towards the forest as Kurama jumped towards the lake.
Naruto felt a pair of arms wrapped around him. His hands reached towards where the arms circled, and felt for the arms pair of hands. When he found them, he grasped them. Soft and small. Sakura's hands. He sighed.
"I could get used to this." he muttered. Then he felt Sakura's arms squeeze him tighter, restricting his breathing.
"Yeah, keep dreaming." he heard behind him in a low voice. Naruto chuckled.
"As if you don't mind." he argued. He felt her body shake in a chuckle.
"No, I actually enjoy squeezing you to death." Sakura loosened her grip a little bit. Naruto patted her hand, and tried to lean back towards his teammate, though a loud cough blew those plans.
"Now I understand both of you haven't seen each other in the last five years and Naruto had a big fight last night, but seriously guys. We're on a mission, and your alone time can wait when we get back to Konoha when you guys can get a room." The voice of Kakashi went through their ears, and quickly had both adults moving to sit up.
Naruto opened his eyes, the bright sun briefly blinding him, and feeling heat on his face. Though he wasn't sure if that was from embarrassment or the sun. He saw Kakashi sitting there stirring something in the pot, all the while reading his 'book'. Naruto was about to retort to Kakashi, though couldn't find the words to argue.
As he stretched his body, he felt little pain from his bruises, thanks to Sakura's healing, though they were still there. Especially his shoulder wound.
He felt Sakura's hands touch his body and pick him up. Naruto cracked open his eyes to see how she looked. Her hair down, sticking up in a few places. Black bags under her eyes, the dark green jades filled with worry.
Yep, she's beautiful. Naruto thought.
He felt her chakra enter his body, trying to ease some more of the pain. But when she stopped, it slowly came back.
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked. Naruto chuckled.
"Maybe if you kissed it away, it would feel better." Sakura sighed, and Naruto saw the furrow in her brow.
"Count yourself lucky I'm not willing to hurt you right now, but I will get you eventually." Naruto laughed.
"I have no doubt you won't." Naruto said, as he struggled to get up. Sakura helped him up,
"Where's Kurama?" Naruto asked as he sat down in front of the fire. Kakashi pointed towards the lake.
"Looking for the ruin that we were looking for yesterday. The clue would be there right?" Kakashi asked. Naruto nodded, accepting a cup of tea Sakura poured for him.
"Anything from Suigetsu?" Naruto asked. Kakashi shook his head.
"Hasn't moved an inch. Though I'm worried that he'll try to escape." Naruto glanced back towards Suigetsu.
"Don't worry. Between the RasenShinsei and the Rasenrenden, he'll be knocked out for a long time. And he won't try to escape. I placed a seal on him." Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of seal? He asked.
"A technique that'll keep his chakra sealed until I personally unlock it or die." Naruto said as he took another sip. Kakashi nodded as Sakura turned to Naruto.
"Could someone else unlock the seal?" She asked. Naruto nodded.
"They would need to watch how I lock in order to figure out the combination. Even then, the combination is performed quickly, you'd need a Sharingan." Kakashi closed his book and continued stirring their meal.
"So the Sharingan would be able to decipher the combination." Kakashi stated.
"Again, if they were watching. The seal itself doesn't leave a trace of chakra. Only I remember the combination, or I conveniently forget it." Kakashi chuckled, and Sakura shifted uncomfortably.
"Was this a technique you randomly picked up? Or one you invented?" Sakura asked. Naruto set his cup down.
"This was a technique I've been toying around with since Orochimaru sealed Kurama's chakra during the Chunnin Exams. I modified it to my liking."
"How much power before the seal breaks?" Kakashi asked, as he started to serve the meal.
"Shinobi can't crack the seal by themselves, it needs chakra. Jinchurriki could easily break it thanks to the Bijuu, and a group of shinobi could break a seal if they all poured a lot of chakra into it." Sakura looked confused.
"What if the shinobi already had a large chakra supply to begin with without the aid of a Bijuu?" Sakura asked. Naruto chuckled.
"It doesn't matter. The chakra supply is sealed like having your chakra points sealed by a Hyuuga. Only permanently." Kakashi gave Naruto a bowl.
"So then the idea is for the shinobi to be tricked into believing that it is unbreakable." Sakura asked.
"Better for them to believe that." Naruto said as he began eating.
Kakashi was about to say something, but Kurama returned, looking very angry. Naruto looked up, and noticed it.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked. Kurama pointed at Suigetsu.
"He hid our trail. There wasn't a scroll in the ruin." Naruto's eyes widened in anger, disbelief evident on his face.
"Scroll?" Sakura asked. Kakashi stood up.
"Is the scroll important?" he asked. Naruto quickly got up, and went to cross to Suigetsu. Sakura tried to stop Naruto, though Kurama held her back.
"The scroll was meant to give us a clue as to where the next ruin is. There's three of them, the last ruin reveals the hiding place of the Kamikage." Naruto said angrily as he approached Suigetsu. "And he managed to hide our clue." He then proceeded to punch Suigetsu in the face, waking him up. Suigetsu winced, being woken up from his sleep, and looked at Naruto, finally realizing the situation.
"You!" Suigetsu shouted, and struggled to break free. He concentrated real hard, and started to panic. "What did you do to me?" Suigetsu shouted. Naruto growled.
"Look at it this way, I sealed your chakra permanently. And if you don't start talking, you won't get it back." Suigetsu was shocked.
"But how?" he asked. Naruto ignored him.
"Answer my questions, and I may consider releasing your chakra." Suigetsu eventually calmed down, then looked Naruto in the face. Kakashi and Kurama approached the interrogation, Sakura held back as to watch Naruto from afar.
"What do you want to know?" Suigetsu asked. Naruto pointed across the lake.
"When you were with Sasuke, he asked you to guard the ruin that was there, am I correct?" Suigetsu nodded. "In that ruin was a scroll. What happened to it?" Naruto asked. Suigetsu chuckled. Naruto frowned.
"What makes you think I know where the scroll is right now? Sasuke took it with him." Naruto growled.
"Trust me. I know Sasuke. If he was going to eliminate me, he would want to do it himself, and as such, he would have left the scroll so that we could follow him. He placed a pawn like you to handle me and my team to slow me down. But you knew you were going to get captured, and so decided to hide the scroll so that Sasuke could get further and further away while we sat here with you." Suigetsu laughed, angering Naruto.
"A good breakdown, but I ask you, why not stall you so that he can get to his goal before you?"
"Because he wants to fight me, and he has to leave a trail somehow." Naruto said flatly. He heard footsteps come up from behind him.
"Naruto maybe he's right." Sakura said, placing a hand on his arm. Naruto growled, and tugged his arm away from her.
"No, he's knows where it is." Naruto said dangerously low. Kakashi, Sakura, and even Kurama all stepped back.
"Kit, calm down. The Seal is getting the better of you. Breathe!" Kurama said. Naruto turned to glare at Kurama, and all three grimaced at the sight of Naruto.
Naruto's eyes bore the markings of Sage Mode, but what accompanied the horizontal frog pupil, was a thinner, vertical pupil, a gray iris present instead of the red orange coloring.
"He lies!" Naruto shouted. Turning back to Suigetsu, he punched Suigetsu in the face, this time drawing blood. Suigetsu spit the blood out.
"You're not going to kill me. Your kind heart prevents you from doing any harmful methods of torture." Naruto's eyes narrowed, his teeth becoming sharper.
"So I'm not threatening." Naruto said. And before anyone could blink, Naruto grabbed Suigetsu by the collar, and yanked him from the tree he was tied to, the rope torn like paper, and threw him into the lake.
"Kit! Cool it! You two, get out of here!" Kurama yelled and tried to hold him down. But Naruto caught Kurama and threw him into the ground, causing the body to dissipate as Bunshins typically do. Sakura, horrified from the sudden turn of events, immediately tried to calm Naruto, but Kakashi quickly grabbed Sakura, and jumped away from the danger.
Naruto looked towards the spot where Suigetsu's head bobbed on the water, and jumped towards him.
He had never felt more alive, the Sage Chakra, the Bijuu Chakra, and the Cursed Seal of Heaven had mixed, despite attacking each other. His strength doubled in power, his senses doubled in sensitivity. His anger quickly grew as well, and his thoughts touched memories that made him furious, building more fire to his flame of hatred. He ran on the lake as he recalled Sasuke's betrayal, the Pain Invasion, Jirayai's death, Neji's death, Sakura's lie at the Kage Summit. Naruto's anger grew and grew, and by the time he reached Suigetsu, he had an aura of orange chakra surrounding him, two tails emerging from it.
Using one tail, he picked up Suigetsu from the water, who now looked terrified from the anger of Naruto.
"He said you wouldn't kill me." Suigetsu said. Naruto gave Suigetsu his devilish grin.
"I guess he lied to you, but even I would have known that. Sasuke doesn't give second thoughts to the likes of you. Now cough up the truth, and tell me where the scroll is, and I may not kill you." Suigetsu gulped.
"I ate it. By now my digestive system would ha-" But Suigetsu would complete his sentence, as Naruto's other tail forced Suigetsu's mouth open. Suigetsu realized what Naruto was doing, and his body panicked, as he started screaming and gagging. Naruto fed off of this fear, enjoying the terror in Suigetsu's eyes as he was tortured. The tail pulled out the scroll from Suigetsu's mouth, revealing to just be damp. Naruto laughed in triumph, and tossed Suigetsu away like he was trash.
Sakura looked on in horror at the sight she witnessed.
"That's not Naruto." she said to herself.
Kakashi took Sakura away from Naruto's rampage, all the while explaining to her what Kurama explained to him earlier that morning. She watched as Naruto charged Suigetsu, the familiar chakra forming around her teammate, and two tails form. It made her sick to watch Naruto force one of the tails down Suigetsu's throat. Sure Suigetsu was the enemy, but not everyone had to endure a torture as dark as that. Then to laugh at the pain. It sent shivers down Sakura's spine.
"It's darker than the tailed forms Naruto used to fall in, the Cursed Seal feeds off of Naruto's negative emotions." Kakashi said, approaching Sakura. She watched as Naruto turned towards the camp, where Suigetsu was thrown towards.
"Isn't he done?" Sakura exclaimed, turning towards her Sensei. But even Kakashi looked helpless. Like he didn't know what to do.
"Kurama said it too hours before the chakra receded. I don't know what to do." Kakashi fell on the ground, and stared at the grass in front of him. Sakura looked back towards Naruto, slowly approaching Suigetsu.
If Kurama can't do anything, but if I could… Sakura clenched her fists, and charged towards the campsite. A memory flashed through her mind of a similar situation, though she was determined to save Naruto this time. Kakashi called to her, but she ignored him.
Naruto had what he wanted. But now it was time to finish the job. He approached Suigetsu, who looked all bloodied up from Naruto's torture. Naruto chuckled.
"Time for you to die." he said in a low voice.
Using one of his tails, he picked up Suigetsu, pinning him against a tree, who watched helplessly as Naruto used his other tail to pick up the discarded executioners blade.
"Funny that I became your judge, jury, and executioner. Any last words?" Suigetsu looked at Naruto, and glared at him.
"You're nothing more than a monster Uzumaki. Just like Sasuke's army. At least Sasuke has more honor than you do." Naruto's grin, turned into a snarl.
"I didn't betray my village. You did, and Sasuke did. Both of you, are destined for nothing!" Naruto bellowed at he swung the executioner's blade towards Suigetsu.
"Naruto STOP!" a voice cried out. Naruto stopped the sword in mid swing, and turned towards the voice. He saw Sakura standing there, shaking in fear. Naruto growled.
"You dare tell me to stop?" Naruto asked. Sakura didn't answer. Naruto dropped Suigetsu and the executioner's blade swung behind him as he walked towards Sakura.
"I am the Savior of this World, and you dare tell me to stop?" He said in a dangerously low voice. Sakura took a step forward. Naruto stopped in his tracks, and glared at her.
"You lie to me, and you expect me to stop what I'm doing? I am far more powerful than you are Sakura, I can kill you in an instant. You have no power over me!" He shouted. Sakura stood her ground.
"You're letting your darker side get the better of you. You're not the true Naruto Uzumaki." she said, looking Naruto straight in the eyes. He growled.
"But I am. This is my true self" He said. Sakura shook her head.
"The real Naruto would push away such negative thoughts. He wouldn't delight in torture like the faker you are. You're not half the person Naruto is." Naruto roared.
"You don't know me!" He shouted. Sakura stood there, with no expression on her face. She then squared off with Naruto.
"Kill me then." Sakura said. "Prove to me Naruto Uzumaki is truly a monster, and not the person I became friends with. Prove to me that Naruto Uzumaki gave up fighting the darkness, and isn't fighting to come back with me, Kakashi and Kurama to save his best friends. Tell me Naruto Uzumaki doesn't love me enough to stop his darker side." Naruto looked at Sakura, and chuckled.
"Love, Sakura? You lied to me, and you continue to do as we face. Who's the monster for lying to their best friend! You don't love me, you see me as a tool to use to save Sasuke. Once I save him, you'll be kissing the very ground he walks upon." Naruto said, to which Sakura was shocked to hear from her friend.
"That's not true, Naruto!" Sakura yelled, tears falling from her eyes. "You're my best friend! I do love you more than you think! I went after you to save you from my mistake! It was my fault you were suffering! And I hate myself every day for lying to you and burdening you with that promise!" Sakura choked up, closing her eyes, and looked straight at her friend again. "If you want to kill me Naruto, do it. I deserve every ounce of your hatred. I will take your hatred as you take Sasuke's. To ensure you don't suffer any longer, I'd die for you!" Naruto laughed.
"You can't begin to understand what I am. I know you better than you do." He said. Sakura continued to stand her ground.
"Then let me take your burden, Naruto." She said calmly, trying to ease her emotions. "Kill me and give me your burden, because as you're the only one who can take Sasuke's burden, I'm the only one to take yours." Naruto looked at her a little longer, and he charged at the kunoichi, raising the blade behind him.
She held her breath, but refused to back down from the darkness within Naruto's heart. As she felt the heat emanate from Naruto, her resolve strengthened every second.
I won't falter, Naruto. I won't hold it against you when you kill me. There are no regrets.
Naruto got closer and swung the blade, but Sakura kept her eyes open, and Naruto suddenly stopped, the blade a foot away from Sakura. Naruto trembled in his spot, and Sakura watched as Naruto's eyes go back to his dark sapphire eyes, and the aura dissipated, the executioner's sword falling to the ground.
Naruto looked at her, and the two gazed into the others eyes. Sapphires turned into pools of water as he fell on his knees to the ground, head bowed and cried violently. Sakura approached Naruto and knelt in front of him, and embraced him in her arms, her chin resting on top of his head, her eyes closed as she cried alongside him. Not in sorrow, but in joy that she had her friend back.
Kakashi watched from a distance, a small smile visible beneath his mask.
"I do believe there is an alternative to get Naruto to break through the Seal." Kakashi remembered Kurama saying.
"She's knows him better than any other person." Kakashi said, as he turned away from the two, and went to check on their prisoner.
Karin kneeled next to the rock, running her hand over it. A hooded Sasuke had a Chidori prepped in his left hand, watching as Karin checked the chakra signature. Orochimaru and Jugo stood guard.
"You shall guard the ruin this time Jugo. Be mindful of the Hokage, and ensure you remove the girl and Uzumaki out of the equation. Suigetsu no doubt attempted to fight Uzumaki head on, but lost to him." Sasuke explained. Orochimaru chuckled.
"Your connection with the Jinchurriki is proving to be quite useful is it not?" Orochimaru asked. Sasuke looked back at the Sannin.
"Useful; yes. But something is not going right though, and it's not on my end. His power intensified thanks to the Cursed Seal, along with his anger as expected … but he tapped into it just now, and it receded relatively quickly than before. What took hours to tame, now only takes minutes. He is starting to overcome the power of the Cursed Seal, and if he continues to do so, Naruto will be able to overcome the Kamikage. But how is he taming it?"
"Found it." Karin said. Sasuke looked back to her and approached the spot. Orochimaru watched him as he went into the chamber.
"Does it surprise you? I told you the Seal wasn't perfect, seeing that yours was easily destroyed."
"I would have expected a little more resistance on the Seal's behalf, especially seeing that Naruto has a longer history with being hated on for carrying the Bijuu. But this quick recovery … I hope your project proves to be as beneficial as you say Orochimaru." Sasuke said as he crushed the ground with his Chidori. Orochimaru chuckled.
"Believe me Sasuke, of all the projects I've done to date, this and the redesign of the Cursed Seal of Heaven will be the most successful. You and Naruto will prove to be the strongest Shinobi in history." Sasuke returned from the ruin, and grunted.
"As you say Orochimaru. I will expect it done and applied to me by the time we get to the next ruin where you will have to stand guard. Jugo, stall them at all costs and stay hidden from the Kumo nin." Jugo flipped his hood back, revealing the hulking person.
"I'll ensure the Kumo shinobi don't find me. And if they do," Jugo smiled. "They won't know what connected to their faces."
Author's Note:
This was a long chapter. Then again, I had this written a long time ago. The chapters here on out might be a little shorter, as I haven't written those yet, whereas I had written this chapter and the ones before that one a while back. Rest assured, that doesn't mean I won't upload two chapters a week anymore.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I won't be posting anything next week, but there will be three chapters posted the following week when I get off spring break, and then it's back to two chapters.
Reviews are always welcomed!
Until next time, see ya!
