So this is another talkative chapter. Sadly to say that there are going to be more like this one, but i honestly don't know what to do in terms of creating action that somehow makes sense. This discusses major information though that if you skip and read ahead you will be confused in the future chapters.
Again, for you guys and girls watching this criticize me if your confused on whats going on in the story, as i will quickly answer your questions.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and all rights go to masashi kishimoto. I'm just doing this for fun and I get no profit out of this.
P.S. This story is of course Rated M for Future Violence, harsh and crude language and maybe future lemons.
Naruto Chapter 8: Closer to Deaths Door
Currently Kushina, Naruto and Natsumi were worried at the moment.
Rama was missing and it was night. Memories of times when they found Rama nearly beaten by the villagers and even some shinobi had flashed in their minds. They had thought of the worse, until they heard someone knock on the door to the house.
"Come in." Kushina said. As the door opened, they all saw Raven holding Rama who was much different looking then before. For one his hair was white now and there were multiple bruises on his face. Kushina ran up to Raven and took her adoptive son at once; putting him on the couch. He was still unconscious at this time. Naruto and Natsumi were so shocked by their brother's appearance all they could do was lay beside him and watch him sleep.
"What happened." Kushina said with a deadpan expression on her face.
"We found Rama being beat up by some ninja while the villagers encouraged the beating. After the ninja was about to take Rama's life dog and I intervened." She said getting a glare from the red headed woman.
"Is the ninja dead?" She only got a slight nod from Raven.
"Good. What about his new appearance?" Raven looked at the two kids and looked back at Kushina. Kushina understood and told her children to go upstairs with their brother. She knew that whatever Raven was going to say was not for children's ears to hear.
"Once we saved him I tried to comfort him but it only made things worse. The times I had spent with him I never knew he was hiding so much rage. He's really good at hiding it. This incident set him off though and because of that he let the kyuubi's Youki out. Nothing happened though as he somehow controlled the youki and fell unconscious. Due to the exposure to the kyuubi's youki I believe that's why his hair is white." Kushina looked at her with a bewildered look and said, "That makes no sense. The time I had the kyuubi inside me I never once had these symptoms before. Did someone else happen." Raven casted her head down, "well…um there's something wrong with his eyes."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I think he's unlocked his father's eyes." Shock was seen from Kushina in an instant. What felt like minutes, she stood there with a shocked expression on her face.
"How…how do you know?"
"I may have not witness Yuuta-kun much in battle, but I know his eyes all too well. The red glassy eyes that seem shattered like a mirror would if someone punched it. The white hair. He's slowly becoming like his father each day. The only thing that's left is his personality which I'm also doubtful at the moment."
"Does Minato know?"
"He'll know in about five minutes. I told dog to tell him everything that happened." Raven said getting a nod from Kushina. The red head sighed and said, "ok thanks for telling me this. This just made it a lot harder for me and Minato as I'm sure Danzo will stop at nothing to gain the power of the Shukketsugan now." The word "Shukketsugan" raddled in Kushina mind, as just mentioning the name made her scared.
"What if Rama suddenly activates it in a fight."
"Unfortunately that's going to happen frequently now. The Shukketsugan is like a symbiotic parasite to its user. The dojutsu responds to the user's endorphins. Every time Yuuta was in a fight the dojutsu would always activate even if he didn't want it too. The longer the user uses the Shukketsugan the more it's harder to get rid of the sight. The dojutsu gets so strong that it doesn't even drain chakra anymore. It becomes independent from its host body, but still sticks around to help its owner." Kushina explained as she could see that Raven was beyond shocked judging from the woman's body language alone.
"How do you even know this?" Raven asked
"Humph Yuuta told me. The man was secretive, but I was still his friend. He told me the details of the dojutsu and how it works." Kushina said.
"So what does the Shukketsugan well…do." Kushina gave out a deep aging sigh to the question and said, "the Shukketsugan gives the user perfect perception and incredibly enhances reaction time. it also enhances your overall six senses as well. Yuuta explained that every time the Shukketsugan was activated it felt as if he had a thousands of eyes around his body showing every direction, as he dubbed it "the eyes of kami". The eye also slows down time for the user but only if that user is in serious need of it. When he told me this I thought that it was the same as the Sharingan but I was completely wrong. The Shukketsugan is one-hundred times stronger when it comes to the perceptions view point."
"Is there a down side to using this dojutsu?" Kushina nodded and said, "yes. Constant exposure to the Shukketsugan damages the brain psychology. And it also dwindles one's chakra cores. This is why Yuuta wanted to sacrifice his life in the first place as he was going to die in a few months. That is why I humbly accepted his offer that day." Raven casted down her head in sadness at the drastic sacrifices Rama would have to deal with, but before she could think about that anymore, she was interrupted from her thoughts.
"I don't think Rama follows this same rule though." Raven lifted her head up in shock as Kushina continued, "unlike Yuuta Rama has the kyuubi inside him. The kyuubi is known for its incredible healing factor. Damn on one mission I had a ninja who was able to completely ruin my chakra coils in my hands, but low-and-behold, the damn fox was still able to fix the damage. Even though I had to stay in the hospital for a whole month, the fox fixed me up brand new. What I'm getting at here is that maybe the fox can maintain and or fix Rama's brain if it ever gets damaged."
"I see thank you for the explanation. Though I will have to take my leave." Kushina nodded as Raven Shunshin out of the room.
"We're sorry Hokage-sama!"
"please forgive us!"
"Shut…up. Not only did you watch my son get beaten by my own ninja but you also paid him to do it. I should kill you all right here, but I believe that quick deaths for you isn't good enough." Minato waved his hand making dozens of anbu surround the room. "Take these scum and bring them to Ibiki. Make sure you tell him specifically what they did to my son and tell him he can do whatever he wants with these people." Most of the villagers paled at the Hokages sentence. As they knew that Ibiki was from the torture department. Before they could protest, they were shunshined away by the anbu to await their inevitable punishment.
Minato then noticed that Raven was in the room. He showed anger in his facial features and shouted, "Raven I know you're in here. COME OUT!" She instantly appeared and stood face-to-face with the man who looked like he wasn't having the best of days.
"How's Rama?" If Minato could she inside Ravens mask, he would see an incredulous expression on her face.
"Didn't dog tell you?"
"Yes but I want to hear it from you. And also what Kushina told you about the Shukketsugan." Raven inwardly sighed and told Minato how Rama had changed and what Kushina had told her about the dojutsu.
"And what is your opinion on the Shukketsugan?"
"It's a dangerous yet effective dojutsu. I just hope the fox can heal Rama's damaged brain when the time comes." Raven said getting a nod of understanding from Minato. He was honestly scared of what would become of his adoptive son, especially once the boy would eventually be in the care of Danzo eventually. The things that Danzo did to his toy soldiers were almost too brutal for even seasoned shinobi. Kakashi had noted he was barely able to get through the training program with his mind intact.
"Let's hope the kyuubi can do that."
Meanwhile Rama had just opened his eyes from his incident not too long ago. He noticed that he was alone in his room, though he could hear his mother and siblings outside the door. He tried getting out of the bed, but as soon as he tried his head started to throb in pain. He could hear a high pitch sound ringing inside his head. The pain got worse and worse, and then suddenly stopped all of a sudden.
'What the hell was that' he tried touching his face only to shriek in pain from the small bruises that were still on his face. He put all his strength into getting out of bed, which he successfully did. He ran out his door and went down stairs only to see his family talking to one another at the dining room table. Kushina and his siblings noticed him automatically rushed to his side giving him a bear hug. The hug was crushing; almost breathtaking, as it took all his air that was in his lungs within an instant.
"Kaa-san…air." Rama tried getting out, which Kushina heard and let go immediately; as well did his siblings. Kushina then looked at Rama with a stern glare, "what the hell were you thinking for staying out so damn late!" Rama held his ears, so as to not have his ear drums burst.
"I was doing a bit of late training and I met somebody."
"Met who boy!?" She shouted getting Rama and even his siblings to sweat bullets. They always knew when their mother was made, she would always put the emphasis on "boy" or "girl" when she was angry at one of them.
"Uh Anko Miterashi. She promised to train me do I accepted her offer." He said, which made Kushina wide-eyed for a split second before going back to being angry at her son. She knew Anko Miterashi well, as she was the student of the infamous Orochimaru. She also knew that the girl didn't just teach anyone, as she was already jōnin, yet she still didn't have a team of genin.
'I swear at the end of this I better not be taking care of more damn children.' Kushina said to herself, referring to Anko's frequent seductive nature. It wouldn't surprise her if the girl tried to get with her son as she didn't really care for age as long as she found interest in that person. Though why would she be interested in a kid she barely knew about? She wouldn't know anytime soon, nor would she ask Rama, as it would only make her even more angry.
"-sigh- just tell me one thing. Where did this take place, as the only time I've seen Anko was in the forest of death." She said in an emotionless voice glaring at her son daring that her son lied to her face. At this point Rama was scared. He had never seen his mother this way.
"well…uh yes I did go in the forest of death." He said nervously. There was silence for a few minutes until Kushina said, "You should run Sochi." Kushina said in a cute but sickly voice.
'This won't end well.'
Killer bee and Yugito were heading towards Konoha at the moment. They had taken the choice to walk on the safest street that villagers usually took. "When are we going to be there yo!" Killer bee said getting a tick mark from Yugito, who had been hearing the same question over and over again.
"Bee for the 50th fucking time we'll be there in a few days!" She said flaring her youki in the direction of bee. Bee was barely being affected by the youki, but he decided to shut up so he wouldn't anger the kitten further.
"Bee I sense some ninja's nearby. They appear to be watching you two." His bijuu said, making killer be on full alert. This also didn't go unnoticed by Yugito either as her bijuu said the same thing. Within seconds ninja's appeared onto the ground surrounding the two kumo-nins. Observing the ninja's, bee and Yugito deduced that these particular ninjas resided from iwa. Their clothes were a dead giveaway as they wore the standard attire of the Iwa-nin consisting of a red uniform with the right sleeve missing and a lapel over their right leg, the brown Iwagakure flak jacket, baggy Crimson pants. They also wore regular shinobi sandals and a pair of gloves.
'Why would Iwa shinobi be here?' Yugito said to herself, though her bijuu but in and said, "The Tsuchikage probably got a heads and knows that you and bee are going to Konoha. He knows the Raikage will settle with an alliance so he intends to disrupt it. Most of these guys are jōnin so be careful kitten."
"Are you sure Matabi?" Yugito asked her bijuu, only getting a nod in response. Before she could talk to Matabi even more, she was interrupted by a iwa-nin.
"Come quietly and there won't be any trouble." This made Yugito and bee laugh.
"If you think you can take us alive then you're going to have to give us one hell of a fight. Oh yeah!" Bee said, as he unsheathed all seven of his blade ready for battle. Yugito also pulled out her ninjatō.
"Bee for once I understood what you meant." Yugito said with a grin plastered onto her face. 'Matabi I want to have fun. Give me your youki.'
"Sure thing!"
In Konoha the next day had passed, and everything had gone back to normal. Kushina had put a high level sealing jutsu to get Rama's hair back to black when he went back to sleep. Naruto and Natsumi had made up with Rama, he still felt some fear within them. He also felt like they were hiding something. Once they had arrived at class things were a bit different. For one Sakura was now next to him in class, whereas Yakumo had moved farther away. He was slightly happy that Sakura had gotten closer to him, as he felt the same for her. They were friends, and his very first friend at that.
Once the class had ended, he went back to the forest of death to meet Anko, and in within a few hours, she came. The training that Anko put him through was hell. She wasn't as bad as Raven, but she sure was close. Her sadistic motives added to her seductive attitude led to a confusing and frustrating process. She started teaching Rama in stealth, which The boy thought it was a coincidental opportunity since it would be easier once he went to the spiders for their techniques. The art of silent footing was a quick, but difficult art. Once you got it down it was easy to get used to it.
He had also learned the Lightning jutsu that his grandfather had given to him. The Raiton no Heki was the most difficult jutsu he had come across. The jutsu was a defensive one, making a complete lightning wall. It took him nearly five hours to master it, and without his clones, it would've taken longer.
Anko had also taken the time to perfect the boy's reaction time. Traps were layers out for Rama to run through. His objective was to not get him by these said traps, as most of them were fatal if hit contact.
"Alright that's today's lesson. Come back tomorrow and I might teach you how to use that bow of yours." Rama looked at her with a confused expression as she continued, "I saw your bow the first time we spared I saw the arrow you threw at me. Good shot to if I didn't dodge you could have punctured my arm." Anko said with a confident grin.
"You know how to fire a bow?" Rama asked getting a nod from Anko for confirmation. His mother was too busy with training other anbu Recruits that she didn't really have time for his archery training. He had started training on his own, and in the few weeks he had become adept with his bow; easily able to shoot a moving target at least.
Rama then bowed to his new sensei and said his thanks. It surprised Anko that someone had showed pure respect for her, as many didn't. Besides her friend Kurenai, no one else really appreciated her skills. They eventually went separated as Anko went back home, while Rama thought it was time He'd pay his grandfather a visit.
Speaking of Rama's grandfather, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in the Hokages office discussing the fate of Konoha, and at the moment the old man wasn't too pleased.
"Is this such a good idea Minato?" Hiruzen asked with bullets of sweat hanging down his forehead. Minato nodded and said, "Yes it's the only thing I can think of at the moment. If iwa and kumo are both our enemies now it will be a matter of time before they likely make an alliance. We need to be prepared before that happens. Even if kumo doesn't form an alliance I still want to make sure."
"But asking Hanzo for help is…is just uncouth." Sarutobi bitterly said, making Minato deeply sigh. "You're are right but, I have no choice now do I? He also owes me for when I saved his ass from the Iwa troops who were after his head not too long ago."
"And so you believe he will end this situation?" Sarutobi said with an incredulous tone getting Minato to chuckle.
"No. He'll only be fighting the good fight just to stall for time while we'll find a better way to solve the problem. He'll be a means to an end. He will be anonymous to us. Whatever he does is not going to lead to us, and if he dies it'll be better for us." Minato said in an emotionless tone. Sarutobi nodded, but in his mind he was shocked beyond belief. For just a split second he saw his younger self within Minato, almost making his heart stop completely.
Minato saw Sarutobi unpleased face and said, "listen hiruzen I know you don't agree with this but it's the only way to make sure that the village is safe from Iwa and possibly kumo." Sarutobi while hearing Minato logic had a thoughtful look upon his face. A few seconds later Sarutobi said, "I agree and the reason why I was summoned is to go retrieve our assets I presume."
"Yes. You'll be leaving in a few days. The man is still in Amegakure hidden within its pouring rain. You must bring the fire to dry it up" Minato said cryptically with a smirk. Sarutobi chuckled, "Ah and with that rain dried up fire will make its way." Sarutobi got up and was about to leave until Minato spoke again, "oh and Hiruzen I want you to take Naruto and Natsumi with you." At this Sarutobi looked at his Hokage with a shocked disbelieving look.
"W-What?" Sarutobi said in a stuttering speech. Sarutobi at the moment was too shocked to really say anything. All he could think about was how stupid his successor was at the moment. Naruto and Natsumi were only seven and weren't prepared for the opened world yet. Within the village there was piece, but outside it was brutal too brutal for a child.
"You heard me. I want you to take my kids to Amegakure. Ever since that incident with Rama I've been…disappointed in their development. I believe Kushina has spoiled them too much and they need to learn what their getting themselves into as shinobi. Their confrontation with the kumo-nins made me realize this." Minato explained getting a shocked look from Sarutobi. In all honesty the man was thinking that he had chosen the wrong successor for a while. This was insane for what Minato was asking.
"Are you insane Minato? The ninja world is no place for children their age, especially Amegakure. If I'm not mistaken the ninja there are trained at the age of four."
"And that's why I'm sending them there. I want them to be prepared just as Rama is. This trip will last about a month. Enough time to make them see the picture. Even though I'm their father I'm still Hokage and I need soldiers not weak little boys and girls. And don't worry about Kushina I'll make sure she knows that this is for the greater good of Konoha." Minato said the last part in a Hokagesk fashion. Sarutobi who had listened just stared at the man for what felt like hours, but nodded none-the-less and exited the door without saying a word.
Rama had gone to the Sarutobi estate, but Asuma, his son had told him that the old money was out and wouldn't be back for a while. Since he couldn't see the old man, he decided to just go back home, but on the way he randomly saw Sasuke on a dock looking at the ocean. He really didn't want to say anything and just walk pass the boy, but he decided to give this awkward friendship a shot.
"Yo Sasuke!" Sasuke turned around to see Rama walking towards him down the hill. Rama decided to sit next to Sasuke in order to talk with him face-to-face. Sasuke only looked at him in annoyance and said, "why are you here Rama?" Rama looked at the water and replied, "I was just passing by and I saw a dumbass who looked depressed. What? I can't talk with a friend who looks down in the dumps?" Rama said in a humorous tone of voice. Sasuke scrounged up his face in irritation but didn't say anything.
Rama sighed and said, "it's about your brother right?" Sasuke turned around immediately at the name while Rama continued, "He was my teacher for a little while but from the time I spent with him he never showed malice or hate towards anyone." Rama leaned back and looked at the sunset, "He was a good person. Better than anyone in this village even Minato. He was extremely loyal to this village and that is why I know he didn't kill all your family because of power." Sasuke looked at Rama with a thoughtful look on his face and said, "what are you getting at?" Rama chuckled and replied, "The man's just misunderstood." This made Sasuke eyes widen in shock. For some reason he found truth in Rama's voice. Sasuke always for some reason liked talking to Rama, as he felt as though the boy was the only one person that understood him. It was almost like talking to himself.
"I was planning to forget him. To never be like him. To follow my own path." Rama looked directly at Sasuke and gave smile. "Well it seems your half right at least but I wouldn't forget him Sasuke. If he is being misjudged, then he has answers for why he did what he did. You can follow your own path but you can't run away from answers that are right in front of you. You just have to stretch your arms out and want to find those answers." Rama wisely said.
"How do I reach for those answers?" Sasuke asked.
"Do what everyone else does when they want answers. Seek power, but make sure you don't go backwards on your road. Don't seek power to destroy, but to protect. Then and only then will you be ready to face your brother." Sasuke was beyond shocked at Rama insightful words. If it were anyone else he would probably have threatened them to leave, but Rama was an exception. the boy had said in words what he had been thinking this whole time, yet he could say it in words to himself. He gained a new found respect for Rama now as he was sure that this friendship would work.
"I've been training with my family's scrolls. It has been hard to train at my house ever since the incident. My drive was to not become itachi but I was wrong. I can't forgive him for what he's done but I can at least ask him why he did it when we meet again." Sasuke said with a slight hope in his voice.
"That's all I ask." Rama then got up, but thought of something seconds later, "Hey you said you've been training alone right?" He said getting a nod.
"Well I was wondering if you'd like to train with me?" Rama asked making Sasuke go widen his eyes slightly. He knew Rama was skilled and a competent person at that. He had seen how serious he was in training and with him as his training partner it was definitely going to be beneficial at the end.
"Yes. Yes, I would."
"Good we'll meet next week at the park. Until then remember what I told you." He said and walked away. Sasuke kept looking at Rama retreating figure and gave a rare smile that had not been seen in some mouths.
'Don't worry I promise I'll remember this day…friend.'
Once Rama had made it home he saw his mother and siblings at the dinner table though he said he wasn't hungry and went upstairs. Currently the boy was in his mind scape discussing the events that had just happened recently.
"So..your telling me that I can unlock this dojutsu if I just pour my youki directly towards my eyes?" Kurama just nodded ruffling his tails in thought, "it's called the Shukketsugan. That's what Kushina said anyway." It was then that Kurama explained what the dojutsu did and what the benefits and major downfalls to the dojutsu was. Rama was in shock by hearing how strong, yet dangerous the dojutsu was.
"Damn that's…not worth using it. I don't want to be brain dead."
"Indeed and I honestly don't know if I could heal your brain. Out of all the wounds I've healed from many of my host; I've never had to heal the brain. Even if I did I'm sure that the process would take a very long time. Months, years even if I take my time." Rama just gave a sad chuckled and said, "so we're fucked."
"Well unless you can somehow find a way to stop the damage then it's going to be one painful career for you as a ninja. I believe that your dad was in his early 20s when he died. So we don't have long." At this Rama gave a deep sigh. He didn't know what to do. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't scared.
'That means I have an unlimited time to somehow find a cure. This is bullshit.' Rama casted his head down and muttered, "thanks Kurama but right now I just want to be alone at the moment, so I'll be leaving." He said getting a nod from his friend. Kurama could understand the boys concern as it was either quit as a ninja or be a vegetable by his 20s.
The next day Rama after he was done with the academy, he went to the Hokage mansion. Out of all the times he had known Minato, he had only been in the Hokages office twice. Once he was put I the right direction, he knocked on the door.
"Come in." He complied and saw Minato working as usual. Minato looked up to see his adoptive son with a slight surprised expression.
"Sochi…why are you here?" He saw Rama come closer and sit in the chair. He could tell that the boy had something on his chest that he wanted to say, as he noticed sweat coming off Rama brow. The boy was also shaking a bit.
"I know who my father is. My real father."
