Well seems I was able to find the time to get this chapter mainly because it's not really that long of a chapter, or complex one where their fighting. Sorry if their are any grammer or spelling issues.
To EverRose808: glad you liked that bit and happy to here you where so exited for the next chaper well here it is.
To The Devil Dragon God Slayer cool name a reference to the all the slayer you could be in Fairy tail? : As for Hiro having a conection with the Sage of the Six paths well he has the sharingan and anyone who has a dojutsu like the sharingan or the rinnigan can be traced back to him in some way but then again so can the whole of the Uchiha, the Senju and the Uzumaki cna all be traced back to him like the Hyuga and Kaguya clan on earth can be traced back to Hamura. As for Sakura asking about Narutos chakra cloak that will be answered in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its original characters.
"Talking"
"Thinking"
"Tailed beast, summons, second concious speaking"
"Tailed beast, summons, second concious thinking"
'Jutsus'
Chapter 9 A Lack of Courage
It was currently sunny in wave, the air was cool, the leaves of trees full and green. But their was a thick looming tension in the air, a despair and a lack of courage thrived in this country like a plague. It was all thanks to one small man who casts a large dark shadow over the country, killing all happiness and bravery in those who are took weak of heart to leave it's dark crushing shade.
That tyrants name is Gato.
He was a small man with a lot of power, not in skill or physical strength but in business and money, so much so that he could higher the best of assassins and thugs to do his...dirty work. For example if he needed someone to...disappear he could hire the right people to make it happen, leaving no evidence behind that would lead back to him. Only leaving people suspicious and that wouldn't be good enough to incriminate him.
Right now he had a problem. It wasn't that big at first but as time went on it started getting more... problematic for him. An old man, a bridge builder named Tazuna was doing what he did best and was building a bridge. Though this one was going to be big and was getting constructed surprisingly fast. If completed this new link to the main land would greatly damage his hold on this small island country that he has gotten rather cosy in over the short time that he'd settled here.
So to deal with this thorn in his side he hired a small group of rouge nin's but before they could get to the builder he had fled the country to go hire his own. Seems the old bastard was more smarter than Gato gave him credit for and didn't just naively assume that he would sit idly by and watch his hold on this country steadily fall apart.
So the group Gato had hired all lead by the big shot know as Zabuza Momochi ex-Jonin of the Hidden Mist and a former member on the famed Seven Swordsman of the Mist, sent of his two subordinates know as the Demon Brothers who failed and even got killed in their task. How did Zabuza know of this? he had some special snow rabbit given to the Demon Brothers that made it's way back to their secret hideout and was trained to tell them how they failed, weather if it was through simple defeat or death with it being the latter. Though no specific detail's could be given on who defeated them since it was only a rabbit after all.
So after the brothers death's Zabuza himself went in himself, with him too suffering defeat but luckily escaped death thanks to his little proteges efforts who also managed to get in a swift attack on the famous elite of Konoha, Kakashi Hatake after being discovered as a fake hunter by one of the copy nin's Genin.
So as for in the mean time Zabuza laid in his bed back at his hideout with Haku watching over him like a hawk. Not so long ago Gato had stormed in trying to act all tough and in control, but Haku had swifty dealt with both him and his two little lackeys nearly breaking the formers arm after he tried to touch Zabuza. Before Gato left the hideout he demanded that they deal with Tazuna or else they wouldn't be paid. They weren't scared in the slightest by the little man's threat, he was serving his purpose and keeping them hidden from the real hunter nin's and as long as he paid up in the end their wouldn't be any problems between them.
"Haku" called the rough sandy voice of the still recovering Zabuza, he instantly gained the feminine looking boys attention. "What happened after I was killed by you?" he asked adding sarcastic emphasis on the tern killed. Sure he didn't really die but he still felt like he did.
Haku was silent for a second as he thought over the question that his master asked him, thinking he was both going to hate it at first and then love it. "Well the blonde kid found out I was a fake hunter" he revealed making Zabuza look at him with surprised menacing eyes clearly asking him to explain everything. Zabuza was also inwardly scowling at his mental image of the grinning blonde little bastard who kicked him in the face, all while having one of his specially trainedrabbits in his flak jacket; those things weren't easy to train you know!.
Haku let loose a silent sigh as he took a seat next to the big plain bed his master was currently tucked into. "He knew of the hunter nin protocol of dealing with the remains of a rogue nin at the scene and asked me and I quote 'so what are waiting for? behead him, hunter nin'" he explained, his overly sweet smile never once wavering.
Zabuza whistled at that, he had seriously underestimated that kid if he knew about ANBU protocol and even had the nerve to point it out like that, he won't make the same mistake of underestimating any of those Genin again. "So that's all then you had no problem escaping even after they found you out like that?" he questioned not believing that with Kakashi of the Sharingan eye being present that Haku could just go and simply pick him up and escape with no problems.
Haku sweet smiled widened just a tad "that's where I bring in the good news Master Zabuza. It would appear that Kakashi's battle with you weakened him more substantially than first thought..." he started, gaining his Master's total interest who eagly asked him to continue.
Zabuza's focused attention on him was almost enough to make the young nin beam a smile but he kept himself composed. "You see when I was discovered I acted quickly and attacked them all with my senbon, and...the strangest thing happened. The boys where able to evade my assault while Kakashi didn't appear to be able too and was then struck in the right points upon his body that would send him into a death state just like your own" his words where almost enough to make Zabuza burst out laughing at hearing all this. Haku spotted the subtle twitches in his master "so that's why I think given what I could assess he might have been suffering from chakra exhaustion after your battle". That did it Zabuza was now laughing madly, it was all too much! this gave him the perfect edge he would be fully recovered while Kakashi on the other hand...not so much!.
Zabuza's laughter eventually died down into a unnerving snicker "hehehe, Haku lets get started on my recovery immanently. I can't wait to see the look on Kakashi's face when we meet again" he then looked up at the ceiling the bandages on his face wrinkling upwards showing he had a big grin underneath them. "This time when he sees the future it will be of his own death" he finished blood thirsty joy thick in both his tone and the air around him.
Haku bowed in respect to his master wishes "right away Master Zabuza" and with that Haku stud up and made his way out of the room to go and mix some medicines together that will help speed up his Masters recovery.
Tazunas hours a few hours after arrival
Kakashi had yet to wake up, Sasuke and Sakura had tried some healing Jutsus but they came to same conclusion, this was just out of their league and his body was gonna have to recover the natural way. Though during Kakashi comatose state the people of the house worked to keep the Jonin from starving by making him swallow food pills that where brought before leaving Konoha in case they where needed; good job too. Strangest thing was that when they brought the food pill to his face it disappeared through his mask meaning they never got to see his face.
So the gang was currently sitting before Kakashi who was still out cold, with Sakura monitoring his vitals to make sure no negative changes occurred without them knowing about it. Naruto let loose a huff, he was getting bored quickly and wanted something to do, maybe he would go and see if he could find this Gota guy and beat him to a pulp or something but he didn't want leave his team and Tazuna's family alone just in case more hired nin's showed up while he was gone. Sasuke wasn't faring any better than his blonde friend was, he too wanted something to do but felt the same. Sasuke didn't trust that Gato guy to not make an attempt on the old man's family at some point in the future; hell it was a miracle he hadn't done it already.
"Your all going to die" came a young dead sounding voice from behind everyone, they all turned and saw it was a young boy wearing a fisherman's hat. He had a glum, depressing expression along with a dark hopelessness in the air surrounding him. Everyone of the conscious members of Team 7 where perplexed by the little boys cynical attitude and wondered what could cause such a young child to say such dark words to them and with such certainty to.
"Inari!" exclaimed Tsunami in a chastising tone as she frowned at the little hat wearing boy "show some respect to the people who've brought your grandfather back home to use safe and sound!" ordered a very cross mother. Inari turned and when he finally spotted the old bearded man he ran straight for him and was clearly happy to see him, but even though he was happy their was no smile to shown it.
Sakura gazed at the boy still curious on his statement of them dying. "Inari is it?" Inari nodded while giving her a dirty look that the inner her didn't approve of at all. Sakura ignored the voice of her inner self and pressed on with her question "what makes you think where going to die?" she asked calmly while she work to contain her own urge to smack the boy on the look he was still currently sending her.
Inari sat holding gently on to his grandfather as he now scowled at the bubble gum haired girl inner Sakura was now full blown scowling back while real Sakura held her composure. "Because Gatos too strong! he will kill you all!" stated Inari like it was more of a fact than an option.
Sasuke raised a black eyebrow at this "but he's just a business tycoon, he only has money on his side. In front of a real ninja he'd be nothing" informed Sasuke his tone cool as he continued to lean back on one of the four walls with his arms neatly folded.
Inari turned to the Uchiha and scowled at him next "that's all he needs, Gato has an army! He has thugs and he has ninja on his side too. You don't stand a chance! so why don't you just take your friend here and leave all ready. Your all too weak! You'll all just die like all the rest who've tried to stand up to Gato!" shouted the now angry Inari as he went into a full blown rant, tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes.
"Inari that's enough! go to your room!" ordered Inari's now deeply cross mother as she point to the room's only door, Inari scowled at her but left anyway and ran out of the door and up the stares to his room. Tsunami let loose a bitter sigh "am sorry about him, it just he's been through a lot ever since Gato showed up" explained the mother her expression mournful when she thinks of her son and everyone's suffering at the hands of that tyrant.
Sakura gave a reassuring smile to the sad woman "it's okay! we get it mustn't be easy living under this Gato's rule. But don't worry we'll make sure that your bridge gets finish in no time! hell Naruto-" she paused when she noticed her blonde teammate wasn't in the room any more. "Where'd he go?" she wondered looking to Sasuke who shrugged his shoulders haven somehow missed Naruto's exit. The snow rabbit just continued to sleep peacefully haven gouged itself on a tasty carrot that was given to it some time ago.
With Naruto
Naruto had followed Inari up the stares wanting to ask him why he had no faith that things could get better. He'd gotten some pieces to that puzzle when he saw him crying over a picture of what he assumed was his late father. Currently Naruto was standing behind the slightly cracked open door wondering if he should or shouldn't go in. He opted for the former.
Inari turned when he heard his door creaking open and turned with a tear soaked face and saw the blonde nin of the group standing their, his expression unreadable. Inari began quickly wiping his tears away with his free arm and scowled hatefully at the intruder "what do you want?" he asked with clear dislike for the boy.
"Do you always cry like that?" he asked startling the boy with the sudden question, "ya know crying all the time will make nothing better, and constantly crying over the dead is noway to respect their memory either" he said as wisely as a thirteen year old possibly could.
Inari gritted his teeth at the older boy. What did he know? How could he know the suffering he has been through? He was just some outsider who came from one of those high living ninja villages, he didn't know true suffering. "what do you know huh!" Inari shouted in pure anger "you don't know what it's like to suffer! To be alone like this!" yelled Inari who's short rant just seem to make Naruto give a bitter laugh which just served to make Inari even angrier at the Genin with his hands balled into fists. "What so funny huh? you think this a joke or something!?".
Naruto looked at Inari with understanding eyes that shocked the boy not expecting to see such a look in this stranger. "no I just understand, what it's like to be alone. But you aren't alone, you have your mother who loves you, a grandfather too and look at him trying to made this country a better place. But you...your crying, why? Whats that going to do but make everyone else around you sad as well...is that what you want, Inari?" he asked his tone surprisingly calm for the usually hyperactive Naruto.
Inari stud their silent for a second soaking in Naruto's words, he didn't want to make his mother and grandfather sad he just wanted them to understand that Gato was unstoppable, and if they didn't stop trying to defy his rule they would die too...just like father did.
Inari's head dropped as he looked down at the floor, Naruto noticed small droplets of water hitting the wooden flooring and the little boys body beginning to shake. "I-I don't want t-to it's just...I don't want my mummy and grampa t-to d-die like d-daddy did" he sobbed out. If Gato killed them he felt he would have nothing left in his life, Gato had already stolen a huge chunk of Inari's life if they where taken next he would be left completely hollow with no one left besides his uncle.
Inari's sobs halted when he felt himself being pulled into a warm hug, he looked to see who it was and found it was no other than Naruto. After a minute or so Naruto pulled him away and flashed him a bright grin. "Hey don't worry about a thing kid! me and my team will make sure nothing bad happens to them, okay? after all am an awesome ninja and my team is going be this country's Hero's Dattebayo!" proclaimed Naruto his grin never weathering and his tone full of confidence and courage.
Inari looked away not believing him "their no such things as hero's only stupid idiots!" he spat out cynically as he batted Narutos arms off of him and made to walk out of the room, but was stopped when the spiky blonde nin reached out and grabbed his smaller arm.
Naruto looked Inari in his eyes, Naruto's blue ones full of determination and hope, the younger boys full of despair and cowardice. "My village has had many hero's most of which have died in the line of duty giving up their lives to protect or save something from destruction. Their sacrifices have help to inspire generations. But that can only happen if the people themselves are willing to let it inspire them and not dishearten them like you have Inari...you've let your hero's sacrifice drain you of your heart when it should've inspire you to fight harder than before, not give up like you and most of this country has" asserted Naruto as he expressed beliefs that went against the younger boys.
Naruto let go of Inari's arm as he stud up and left the room while Inari stud their in the middle their frozen and wide eyed at Naruto's speech. The Genin's words where hitting him harder than anything he had ever heard before. Inari stud silent and looked over to his father picture now wondering for the first time ever if he too could've been inspired instead of disheartened? "live your life so you will have nothing to regret" came the words of Inari's late father ringing inside his head as clear as a bell.
Naruto walked casually down the stairs with his hands in his trouser pockets as he thought of the man in that picture, he looked like the kind of man who would make people believe in themselves, the smile on his face said he was the type who would brighten up anyone's day. He couldn't image the pain that must come from loosing someone like that. "Naruto we need to talk" came the voice of Hirofumi he was sounding serious but not deathly so, Naruto nodded and went into a private room to mediate and sent a mental message to Sasuke to inform him and ask him to keep an eye out.
Hirofumi's Garden
Hirofumi sat at the top of the stone that will become a statue of Isobu with it's head currently carved and his arms still feeling numb from when he used that blasted jack hammer to carve it, later he'll use his hammer and chisel to refine and add detail. Hiro turned when he sensed the arrival of his spiky blonde grandson "ahhh...Naruto glad you could make it so quickly my boy" greeted Hiro sending a pleased smile in the boys direction.
Naruto grinned at the man he was more than happy to come see him face to face rather than just talk through their mental link. "Sure gramps it not like am Kakashi Sensei or anything" joked the young Jinchuuriki making the spirit chuckle, knowing full well that team 7's Sensei is usually late like it's going out of fashion and Hiro often hears all about it from his two grandchildren. Naruto took a seat at the edge of the tall stone right next to his gramps "so Gramps what is you wanted to see me about?" asked the blonde looking at the man with curious blue eyes.
Hiro frowned as he looked into the distance, his position was high enough that he could see his garden from where he was and over the forest that surrounded it, he could see the pond with the twin streams flowing into it, his little dojo like building, the small sculptures and stone benches, even his favourite tree was visible. Hiro let loose a troubled sigh knowing this part wouldn't be easy to say "Naruto I fear Kakashi will not fully recover in time to take on Zabuza again" he grimly revealed. His words hit the young Jinchuuriki hard as he stared in shear horror, not believing what he just heard.
"w-wh-what?" was all Naruto could sputter out. Yes Naruto was strong for his age and yes he did have access to some of Kurama's chakra true but Zabuza was a very experienced killer who would destroy him and his whole team without a moments hesitation, and Naruto couldn't kill a single man without it weighing down on him. He wasn't ready to face someone who could annihilate him and this whole village of people with a blissful smile on his face.
Hirofumi turned to the boy feeling he needed to explain and put a hand on the boys shoulder to refocus him. "Let me explain the situation. Firstly Kakashi's condition, for starters that Sharingan in his left eye is not his own" he started gaining the boy's immediate interest, "it's a transplanted Dojutsu and so it's for that reason that he's suffering chakra exhaustion despite his high and strong reserves of chakra. So because he used it for too long and doesn't have the proper chakra to fuel the eye efficiently like Sasuke does he's intern suffered chakra exhaustion faster than you could pipe down 30 bowl of ramen in a single seating" explained the spirit sounding serious even when giving his example at the end.
Naruto nodded in understanding, if that eye was not Kakashi's own eye then of course it was going to be draining, it was like fighting while you had a giant chakra leech on your back sucking you dry.
Hiro coughed into his hand to regain Naruto's attention "and to add to it, he has been thrown into a death like state and when he wakes up his body will still be very numb and weakened all over. So it will take more time than he has to reach back to full strength and be ready to match Zabuza again" the spirit elaborated, making Naruto curse their luck in a way that would usually get him a smack up the side of the head but Hiro let it go this time.
Naruto let loose a worried sigh as he looked off into the distance, the floating balls of light helping to sooth his nerves "so then what do we do?" he asked hoping for an answer to this whole mess.
Hirofumi smirked "I have an idea and it's something only you can do Naruto" reveal Hiro his voice sounding almost exited like he had just thought up something so epic and amazing that it would blow the cap of the world. Naruto hadn't heard this sort of excitement from his grandfather since he thought up the idea to start carving these statues of the other eight Bijuu.
Narutos head snapped around imminently wanting to hear it "what is it!? What is it? Aww! come on Gramp's what are you waiting for tell me!" yelled the impatient blonde. Something only he could do? What was it gonna be? He was thinking some cool jutsu, it must be related to his huge reserves of chakra.
Hirofumi laught at the energetic boys excitement, he always did like it when Naruto got like this not to say their wasn't times when it got to be abit too much but those where few and rare. The wavy haired man slapped a hand down on top the boys spiky yellow head and began ruffling his hair while he chuckled in amusement. "Hey calm down kiddo we have time, so you don't need to try and nag it out of me like this" his blonde grandchild pouted and mumbled that he wasn't nagging which only served to make the ghost chuckle further.
Once Hiro removed his hand Naruto looked up again really wanting to get started and if what the ghost had in mind could stop Zabuza then all the more reason to get started right?. "So what is it? Come on lets get started already!" he asked his urge to learn something new fuelling him with a vigour that could match that of a certain youthful duo.
Hirofumi gained a proud but at the same time serious smirk "okay, okay but listen closely" he said making the blonde lean in to listen better. As Hiro the Sharingan user explained the boys eyes began to widen and his jaw began to fall lower and lower until he had a look that portrayed the shear disbelief and amazement going on inside his head, it was like he was just told ramen had never existed or that the whole world was actually orange and that he just never knew or their was a sequel to his favourite book.
Naruto continued to sit still a blank zoned out look on his face and was only brought out when Hirofumi began shaking him back to his sense's "wohoo oh?" he said as he began shaking the cobwebs out of his head as his brain rebooted. Naruto turned his electric blue eyes back to his grandfather "so do you really think it's possible?".
Hiro nodded with a smile"yes with yours and Kuramas chakra I think it's possible to make this Jutsu a reality, well that's if the future Hokage doesn't think he's up to the task " teased the spirit with a sly smile.
Naruto scowled challenging at that "I am! just you watch I'll have this Jutsu down in less than I week!. Just you wait! Dattebayo!" declared the aspiring Hokage fiercely. "Oh and also..." picked backup Naruto gaining the dead man's undivided attention "I'd like to keep this a secret from Sasuke" Hiro cocked a white eyebrow at this. Naruto saw the confusion in his gramps expression and saw it fit to explain, "I really want this Jutsu to be a surprise, I've never been able to shock him with any new Jutsu or seal before and this one I think will do it! Pleasssssse!" he begged with an exited gleam in his eye that the spirit just couldn't deny.
Hirofumi caved instantly feeling kinda cruel on leaving Sasuke out of the loop this time, but hey! if it helped determine Naruto further than it would be for the best in the end. "Fine!" he exclaimed "do as you wish I wont say a word. But! tell him about Kakashi's condition" he add strictly making the blonde nodded promising he would. Hiro stud up and looked down at Naruto who was grinning and shaking with excitement more than ready to begin learning the creation of this new Jutsu. "We start in a few hours, if you want to keep it a secret from Sasuke I suggest you leave a shadow clone behind to cover for you while your off training, and make sure it doesn't get into any spars with him like you two usually do. Also try and preserve as much chakra as possible as well, this Jutsu will eat up all of your first tail state" instructed the spirit his tone deadly serious making Naruto nod before he faded back into reality.
Hirofumi sighed and summoned up his hammer and chisel and looked over to the unrefined face of Isobu "might as well get started now that I've got some feeling back in my arms" said Hiro before he walked over to the statues head and began his work on adding needed detail.
Back in the real world
Once Naruto awakened back into Tazuna's house he quickly went to inform Sasuke of Kakashi's condition and said that was all that Hirofumi wanted to tell him; a big fat lie of course but Sasuke brought it.
Naruto explained how Kakashi got easily chakra exhausted due to his Sharingan being an implant and how he didn't have the special chakra needed to power it efficiently like Sasuke does; which Sasuke perfectly understood. Then he went into further detail on how Kakashi's exhausted state getting mixed in with the death state he was put under by the fake hunter nin was sadly going to leave him weakened, even after he wakes up. While Zabuza on the other hand will likely be back to full strength and probably won't pass up the opportunity to attack while Kakashi is still very weakened.
"This isn't good" said Sasuke as he sat down at the dinning table in Tazuna's home "what are we going do? with Zabuza also having that fake hunter nin on his side we'll stand less of a chance in taking him down" elucidated the young Sharingan user. "Further more we'll need to keep guard of Tazuna to make sure no other possible nins can try to assassinate him while our backs are turned" Sasuke added mentally damning their luck further. It was suppose to be just a normal C-rank mission and now it was a solid A-rank and their only Jonin of the group was out cold and might not be of much use when he isn't.
"Ahh calm down man we'll be fine!" asserted Naruto with up most certainty making the Uchiha look at him like he had just grown a second head on how he could say that. "We just gotta prepare Kakashi Sensei better, give him a trump card of sorts!" he elaborated slightly as he reached into his flak jacket and pulled out a scroll labelled 'Explosive Tag Forger' and once the Uchiha saw that his lips lifted into smirk, knowing what his Uzumaki friend must have in mind.
"So you plan on making some of your special tags for Kakashi, huh?" he asked getting hi answer in the form of a proud nod.
Sakura walked in with a downcast expression "sorry guys but theirs been no change in Kakashi Sensei's state and I don't have a clue when he'll wake up" said Sakura sadly. She didn't like the fact that their Sensei was out, it made her feel lost not having him around to instruct her and the others, she would give anything right now just to see him up in his futon, reading his smut and giving everyone one of his famous eye smiles.
She looked back up and heard the guy's telling her it was fine, she also saw that Naruto had laid out a scroll on the table that had a complex looking sealing formula on it's paper. That reminder her of the cherry pink storage scroll Naruto had given to her and how he said he had made it himself. She approached the table and looked over Uzumaki's shoulder "hey Naruto what's this?" she inquired sounding very interested in what he was up to.
Naruto turned his head and pulled out a seat next to him for her, to which Sakura took but was also surprised by Naruto's show of manners as he gave her a proud grin. "This is a special formula system...of my on creation! and it took me a long time to make" he started and began gesturing to a part of the seal. "you see this makes explosive tags" Sakura's emerald eyes widen when hearing this, amazed by her teammates statement but was finding it difficult to believe. Naruto saw her disbelieve and that just made him want to prove it "here let me show you".
The spiky blonde Genin pulled out some white paper slips from his flak jacket and placed one in the blank rectangle space at the centre of the formula. Naruto placed one hand on the scroll and with the other he held it in the ram seal 'release: normal!' as he said this the surrounding formula began to move and slither to the centre and onto the blank strip of paper, the lines of black ink began to curve, swirl and draw until their it was, a complete explosive tag just like the ones used by shinobi everywhere. Sakura could hardly believe it, she just watched an explosive tag get made right before her eyes and so quickly too. Naruto made it look so easy "amazing" was all she could whisper out as she just stared at the newly made tag.
Naruto laughed at Sakura's amazed expression "you think that's amazing that's nothing! this puppy hear can do more than that, Dattabayo!" stated the proud sealing protege, regaining the bubblegum haired girl's undivided attention. Sasuke subtlety smiled, he was liking how Sakura was changing she was gaining such respect for Naruto and was treating him like a real friend, that was also making Sasuke intern begin to change his own option of Sakura. Though Naruto was always willing to give people second chance's and you would have to do something majorly bad to get on Narutos shit list.
Naruto placed another blank tag into the centre of the formula and called 'release: medium' after that the lines of ink began going over the plain white paper, but this time their was twice as many lines running over it. Sakura noticed that as the lines went on to the tag less lines where left in the surrounding formula, she guessed it must have a limited amount of uses before it runs out of ink and chakra.
After the ink had settled their was a more complex formula on the tag, the lines appeared thinker and bolder than the last tag, slowly the white paper began to change colour until it became a darkish yellow. Naruto picked the tag up and held it up to eye level with Sakura "this tag here has twice the blast radius of a normal tag and a bit more kick too" explained the blonde making Sakura look at the tag in both amazement and great caution; that could be enough to demolish half this house.
"And" spoke up Naruto again as he gestured to the formula still laid out on the table "I can go one more up, I call that one Heavy Duty and it turns the paper red and that one has twice the blast radius of the yellow ones, along with more power" he explained making the girl gulp in fear at the thought of that level of an explosion as it would easily be more than enough to level this house.
Somewhere in the world an explosion loving blonde looked off into the distance, somehow sensing that beautiful art was currently being created. He clenched his fist as a dramatic waterfall of tear ran down his face "yes finally someone else has discovered what true art is! That it's an EXPLOSION!" he passionately yelled to the heavens as his hunchbacked partner grunted in annoyance in the background at his partners antics.
Sakura cautiously picked up the yellow tag not wanting to accentually set it off and studied it's complex closely not able to make any sense of it what so ever, she then looked over at her whisked faced teammate then back at the tag. "Wow Naruto it's amazing. How do you know how to do this kinda stuff? I read up somewhere that the sealing arts are one of the most difficult branch's of the Shinobi arts and...here you are making it seem like child's play" inquired Sakura as she trailed off with both respect and a little envy in her voice at how both her teammates where so talented. It all helped fuel her desire to get to their level, but the question still remained on how she even could? Sasuke has his Sharingan, Naruto has that wired golden chakra that she really did need to ask him about at some point, was it a Kekkei Genkie maybe? like Sasuke's Sharingan?. Her inner turmoil didn't go unnoticed.
"Don't worry Sakura" came the cool voice of the Uchiha making her look up at him on the other side of the table "you'll find your speciality just don't look down on yourself" reassured Sasuke surprising both her and Naruto. Sasuke had never once said anything so nice to Sakura before, he was always distant even during the time he was teaching her medical ninjutsu. Maybe this was a sign that he was finally starting to warm up to her.
Sakura beamed at the Uchiha "thanks Sasuke!"she chirped, feeling worlds better now that Sasuke of all people had just tried and succeeded in cheering her up. Naruto grinned at seeing Sasuke finally beginning to accept Sakura and no longer just tolerating her, now they could finally start becoming a real team. Inside Naruto's seal Hiro was practically throwing a full blown party at seeing this and even went as far as to force Kurama to wear a party hat much to the fox's dismay.
Sakura's emerald eye's spotted the beginnings of another formula peeking out from the edge of the scroll that cached her curiosity "hey Naruto what's that on the other side of the scroll? it looks like another sealing formula" her questioned made Naruto look at where she was pointing, so he unrolled the scroll further and grin foxily when he recognized it.
"Oh this one's special, it another Explosive Tag Forger, but not as you would expect. Here let me show what I mean" so he placed a blank tag into the blank space wordlessly and watched as thin lines of ink began writing the formula. Sasuke was even curious about this one, he doesn't remember Naruto ever showing him this one before.
Once done the paper began changing colour and was left a maria of different colours all over. Naruto took the new tag then held it up and when he did it lit up making everyone at the table begin to freak the hell out, they both shouted at him to throw the explosive out of a window or something. But he didn't, he just sat their grinning cheekily and threw the tag up in the air. Everyone but Naruto took cover and was ready for a fierce explosion but one never came, instead the tag exploded into confetti along with some mini fire works it was quite the mesmerizing sight.
Sasuke and Sakura stared perplexed at the spot in the air where the tag detonated and looked at the blonde dumbstruck "their what I call my party tags" he revealed proudly, still grinning.
"YOU COULD HAVE TOLD US THAT FIRST, NARUTO!" shouted the angry Uchiha with his Sharingan automatically activating and the equably angry Haruno and inner Haruno. Hirofumi and Kurama in the mean time where having a right laugh at watching the blonde getting scolded like that and found the enraged expressions of the other two pre-teens hiiiiilarious.
A few hours later
A few hours later Naruto got the go to leave and start his training, so he created a shadow clone in the bathroom and sneaked out into the woods. After a few minutes Naruto found a good spot in the woods far enough away from the house that no one should spot what here's up to. "Hehehe" snickered Naruto at seeing his escape went as planned "so what do you say Gramps, Kurama shawl we get started then?" asked Naruto his body shaking with barely held excitement. Hiro could be heard chuckling in his mind scape he too was looking forward to teaching the boy this special jutsu "yes lets begin Naruto" Hiro said calmly but they was eagerness under the tone of his voice. "grrrr" grunted Kurama he was ready to start supplying his chakra to Naruto so could use it to make this Jutsu.
Chapter End
To The Devil Dragon God Slayer: Why Sakura didn't ask Naruto about his cloak was simply that she didn't really have the time to do so, she was kept very busy with training and studying on various arts she was lacking in mainly away from Sasuke and Naruto. So I hope that answers your question. You may also wonder about the time it takes for Kakashi to be on time, wouldn't that give her a window to ask? well they adepted to Kakashi's lateness and only turn up a few mintues beofre him and we know it would take a lot more time than that for Naruto to explain his condition.
Well I hope you all enjoyed this small chapter, if you did drop a review, if you didn't drop a review on why, I wounder how many of you can guess what Naruto's new Jutsu if gonna be?