Disclaimer: I am just a fan. I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 11: Preparation: Time to Pull Yourself Together Sasuke is Waiting
If Naruto's memory was correct then there was a place not too far from Konoha that was relatively quiet. It was where Jiraiya had allowed him to sign the summoning pack with the toads and taught him how to summon them. It was also where Naruto first learned how to consciously use the Kyuubi's chakra. Naruto shivered at the mere thought of the Kyuubi, the fear it inspired and all the suffering he had endured for being the vessel which imprisoned it. However, since his memory loss, Naruto had come to see many things from his past in a new light thanks to Master Yoshikawa. Naruto wondered how much his Master had been able to deduce about him and if he had known what he was.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX Flash Back XXXXXXXXXXXX
It had been two and half months since Naruto dreamed about those huge glowing eyes and that monstrous voice. He was sitting at the dinner table playing with his food withdrawn and contemplative.
"Naruto what troubles you" Yoshikawa inquired.
"Nothing Master, I was just remembering a bad dream I had or at least I keep telling myself it was just a dream, but the response it was able to provoke from me makes me think that maybe it was something more."
"Tell me about your dream?"
"I woke up in a dark place, and in front of me stood a cage with some type of seal on it; from behind the cage I could see a huge pair of angry eyes looking at me… through me, as if whoever or whatever owned them wanted nothing more than to devour me. When it spoke its voice was so cold and inhuman calling me boy as this red mist like chakra escaped from underneath the cage trying to wrap its self around me, and then I woke up. It really freaked me out especially the way it called to me as if …. Well, it felt as if it knew me and I felt as if I knew it."
"How many times have you had this dream?"
"Just the once, but it felt so real I haven't been able to shake it."
During their training Yoshikawa had seen the markings on Naruto's belly, and had surmised that Naruto was no ordinary boy but that he was a Jinchuuriki. Naruto's retelling of his dream added wait to his assumption. Yoshikawa felt as if he should inform Naruto of his suspicions, but knowing the tragedy that usually followed a Jinchuuriki's path, he decided to keep this knowledge a secret. He had grown fond of Naruto these passed three and a half months, and wished to spear him any ill memories that such knowledge might awaken.
"I think your dream has to deal with your memory loss." Yoshikawa said adopting a sagely manner in an attempt to resolve his pupil's angst.
"Huh?"
"Obviously you have not fully dealt with all the emotions pertaining to your memory loss, and subconsciously those emotions have manifested themselves in this dream you can't seem to let go of."
"Huh?"
"The caged beast that knew you in your dreams is a representation of you and all the negative emotions you harbor like your anger and fear which sought to envelop you through the use of the red mist. The cage with the seal represented your understanding of something you have no control over, and the fact that you ran from these elements means you are not ready to deal with your current reality. Naruto, in life you can't always choose the path you walk, sometimes the only choice you have is how you choose to walk the path you are on."
"So what you are saying is I am angry at myself for something I have no control over and I am not ready to deal. Okay, I guess I can kind of see what you are saying, but what the heck does choosing paths and not choosing paths and how I walk them have to do with any of the other stuff you just said. Arrgh, I think my brain is going to explode! Why does all your help always lead to me needing more help just to figure out the help you supposedly have already given me? You really truly enjoy tormenting me don't you Master."
"All you need is some time, with a little time you will come to understand; now eat because you will need your strength. If you thought today was hard wait until you see what tomorrow holds.
Yoshikawa was glad that his poor attempt at misdirection succeeded in distracting his student replacing the dream that plagued him with the regular worries of a student trying to understand his lessons. The dream that Yoshikawa knew was not a dream but a sad and lonely road, more than likely forced upon him without his consent.
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Naruto arrived at the lake by the waterfall and was immediately greeted by a familiar figure who was fishing on the lake.
"Yo, Naruto what brings you way out here?"
"I have five days in which to train if I am to prove I am still a capable ninja." Naruto explained to Jiraiya.
"And you came all the way out here?"
"I am finding Konoha to be a little overwhelming right now."
"I see." Jiraiya said his tone filled with understanding.
"I figured the fewer distractions the better. How long have you been out here" Naruto asked. "I don't remember your idea of relaxing as being fishing."
Jiraiya inwardly lost his composure at an imagined implication but quickly recovering retorted.
"You are not the only one to have changed in these many months."
Naruto silently thought that this proposed change was highly unlikely and he was certain that Jiraiya was here as a chaperone, but he knew with all that was coming that this was probably the only time for Jiraiya to answer his lingering questions.
"Did you catch any fish for me? I hope this camping trip together is nothing like our last one."
Jiraiya smiled inwardly at Naruto's high level of observation, and the nonchalant and tactful manner in which he revealed his knowledge. He thought the old Naruto would have more than likely viewed the whole incident as mere coincidence and been more than a little angered at the idea of people watching over him had he found out. Seeing his apparent growth, Jiraiya had come to view Naruto's disappearance as something positive born from good karma rather than a crisis averted.
"Now that you mention it, I have caught quite a few fish which I am more than willing to share, but you have to get the fire going. It is only fair after all, since I caught them."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you are not lying about catching those fish and purchased them ahead of time from the local market." Naruto quipped as he left to fetch wood to build a fire.
"WHAT, I would never do such a thing! What happened to showing your Master some respect" Jiraiya cried in mock disbelief.
"My memories of how lazy you are when it comes to things like this must be a by-product of the amnesia. Please forgive me Jiraiya-sama." Naruto said smiling as he disappeared into the forest.
"His powers of observation are greater than I thought. I am going to have to be more careful around him in the future." Jiraiya thought. "Now I truly am curious to know the identity of Naruto's rescuer."
Naruto spent the next twenty minutes gathering fire wood and building a camp fire so that Jiraiya could start cooking while he finished setting up his tent.
"Lunch will be ready in thirty minutes Naruto." Jiraiya yelled from the campfire.
"Take your time I can get a little studying done while you are cooking."
"You know I don't know if I will ever become accustomed to how much you have changed."
"I can't be all that different."
"Your maturity, calm, and focused since last we were together are on a completely different level. It is really remarkable."
"I am still pretty bull headed when it comes to learning things though." Naruto said before retreating to his tent to study. Naruto was able to study for half an hour before lunch was ready.
Jiraiya and Naruto ate lunch silently; they listened to the sound of the waterfall as it met the lake in a violent union. Naruto excused himself from the campfire after he had finished so he could search for a quiet spot to train. Once he found what he was looking for he summoned as many shadow clones as possible and begun practicing the techniques held within the ninjutsu scroll given to him by Master Yoshikawa. Jiraiya watched from a distance as Naruto trained himself through the use of Kage Bunshin and couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't thought of the training tactic himself. It took Naruto two days to master the scroll. A quarter threw his third day he had managed to learn two genjutsu techniques, and decided that it would take more time to learn than he wanted to devote at the moment so he placed the seal back on the scroll and devoted the rest of his day to practicing his newly acquired techniques in multiple scenarios instead.
Naruto practiced well into the night and had perfected his skills in a way no other could, thanks to the use of his Kage Bunshin. Before retiring for the evening, Naruto broached the subject of his disappearance. Finding nothing illuminating, he changed subjects coaxing basic concepts in the art of sealing from Jiraiya instead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX Naruto's Dream XXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto was standing on top of a mountain overlooking Konoha the wind was blowing briskly when the peaceful scene was transformed into one of carnage. The bodies of many dead ninja laid strewn about the forest ground. The trees suddenly were a blaze as an enormous fox with nine tails appeared destroying everything in its path. Those who tried to stop it were simply tossed aside like toys. A huge frog leapt out from behind a fiery curtain with the silhouette of a man on his back. Naruto attempted to get a clearer view of the man but could not because of all the smoke from the forest fire. A Flash of bright light blinded him.
When Naruto regained his vision the Kyuubi and the man were gone, and he was transported to the center of the forest left to witness the sobering view of destruction. Naruto noticed a mirror a few feet away. He walked closer to the mirror and he watched as his mirror image did the same. Naruto and his image stared at each other for a moment and then he watched as his mirror image was enveloped by an ominous chakra. His eyes become feral as his nails began to grow and his skin started to peel off. Blood poured out of his wounds painting his body as he released a terrifying scream. Naruto averted his gaze unable to stand the sight any further. A bloodied hand grabbed Naruto by the shoulder and spun him around. As the mirror shattered, Naruto stood face to face with himself in the form of a miniature version of the Kyuubi. The Kyuubi, Naruto released a chakra laced roar hurling Naruto into a tree and rendered him unconscious.
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Naruto awoke to the sound of dripping water. Darkness surrounded him except for a dim light which illuminated two huge locked iron bar doors marked with a seal. Huge eyes stare down at him as he gathered himself to stand. A guttural noise could be heard emanating from the Kyuubi.
"You" Naruto yelled "How did I get here? Did you bring me here?"
"Your questions irritate me boy, if I had that type of power at my disposal I would have freed myself long ago." The Kyuubi growled in a civilized tone.
"I know you have more sway over me than I would like."
"Do I?"
"I think we both know that unforeseen circumstances have arisen from tampering with the seal, circumstances which have allowed you to seize control over me from time to time."
"Even if that were true, there would still be nothing you could do to change it boy. What is done is done."
"Wrong, I could restore the seal to its original form."
"Save your empty threats boy! We both know you lack the knowledge and couldn't survive without the strength I provide you."
The Kyuubi lowered his head meeting Naruto's eyes as best he could before roaring into his face. Naruto was bombarded with spittle and hot noxious breathe pushed him back. Naruto braced himself and stepped forward meeting the Kyuubi's gaze defiantly.
"Why?" Naruto screamed over the Kyuubi's roar, a slight tinge of agony cracking his voice.
Undecided if Naruto was courageous or foolish, an amused Kyuubi ceased his display of power and stared intently at the insignificant speck before him as Naruto continued.
"Why do you act this way? Why did you attack a village that didn't even so much as provoke you? Why choose to be the monster everyone says you are? ANSWER ME?!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you amuse me to no end child. Who do you think you are to demand answers of me?"
"I am the one burdened by you!" Naruto spat.
"Insignificant" the Kyuubi's voice resonated in an ethereal tone. "You are just one of many who have suffered because of me. You should be thankful you are alive to speak of it."
"I think it is the other way around. I think you should be thankful that you still live."
"I am beginning to find you annoying boy!"
"After all that I have endured because of you, what makes you think that I would care? This is my body and from where I stand you have no rights!" Naruto said unable to hold back his rage any longer.
"With all that you have been through and after tampering with the seal created to keep me imprisoned you still believe this body is yours alone, boy.
Through the whole of the conversation the Kyuubi had been secretly releasing his chakra hiding its presence in the mist which covered the floor of Naruto's subconscious. The demon fox smiled wickedly at the emotionally charged Naruto who was to angry to notice. Caught unaware and too late to re-act Naruto was engulfed in a cocoon of demonic chakra.
"HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA" The Kyuubi's laughter echoed through Naruto's mindscape as he writhed in agony. Suspended in the demonic chakra cocoon the Kyuubi's laughter seemed so distant, and everything seemed so far away as the Kyuubi took control.
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In the real world demonic chakra slowly covered Naruto's body as he slept.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX Flash Back XXXXXXXXXXXX
"You want me to what!"
"I want you to shift your weight to the center and balance yourself on one leg just like you have been doing underneath the waterfall." Yoshikawa said with a calm face.
"You can't be serious."
"Haguru if you wish to master taijutsu or anything else you must first learn to master yourself."
"Master I have been balancing on this plank in horse stance while keeping these buckets from spilling for hours my muscles are spent there is no way I can do what you ask."
"Haguru have you learned nothing in all this time? Perhaps I was wrong to hold you in such high regards."
Naruto hearing the disappointment in his Masters voice accomplished what he said he couldn't. Yoshikawa seeing this was pleased, but wanted to make sure this lesson stuck in Haguru's brain.
"I will not always be there to remind you of what you already know. You must train yourself mercilessly until this knowledge becomes as common to you as breathing, but until then I will be more than happy to help ingrain this knowledge into you." Yoshikawa said grinning devilishly.
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"I understand Master." Naruto said as he closed his eyes in deep concentration.
The chakra cocoon that was surrounding Naruto in his mindscape suddenly began to bubble, and in the real world the Kyuubi's chakra that was slowly enveloping Naruto subsided. The Kyuubi no longer laughed, but stared silently as Naruto freed himself from his chakra cocoon. Naruto awoke sweating and breathing heavily. Back in Naruto's mindscape the Kyuubi returned to his slumber.
"You have grown much since last we met little one." The Kyuubi thought to himself as he fell into a deep sleep.
Naruto realizing his recent inability to control his emotions enhanced by the more terrifying realization of the Kyuubi's influence over him spent his last day of training in deep meditation. Naruto had always found meditation difficult but after what happened he knew that if he was to prevent the Kyuubi from taking advantage of the altered seal then he would have to train himself mercilessly just as Master Yoshikawa had advised all those months ago. Meditation for Naruto as simple as it was, was difficult, because he learned by doing and this seemed to him to be the antithesis of doing. He had asked Master Yoshikawa the point behind meditation and was told that there was knowledge in breathe and that there was knowledge in stillness.
Naruto addressed a letter to Jiraiya explaining where he had gone off to and politely asked not to be disturbed. It was still dark and the sun had yet to rise when Naruto reached the waterfall and allowed the power of the cold water beating down upon him to wash away all thought save one, the thought of his singularity within the universe. He focused until that singularity that was him became the universe and he became nothing. Jiraiya awoke to find a message addressed to him placed on top of his chest and thought "I am truly looking forward to seeing how you handle your test."