I'm back with another chapter. I had a lot of fun writing this one. I didn't expect this fight having taken so long but I think I feel pretty satisfied with it. I hope you enjoy.
Sefiriot: Thanks for the review. It really made my day reading all of your comments. You'll enjoy the real Minato vs. Orochimaru fight. I intend to make it epic, lol.
Kyuubiforevr: Itachi will not fall in love with Naruto, but I will tie him in with the entire Namikaze chakra thing, but as he seems to reject the typical Uchiha mentality, he won't go the same route like Sasuke.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles: Lol, now there's a thought, lol. Can't say I didn't consider it *shot* ShikaNaruIno would be rather interesting… maybe I should make a vote… or is it too daring?
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 24: A Namikaze Through and Through
"Begin," Hayate informed the two opponents.
"I suggest you forfeit, Naruto, if you don't want to be in a world of pain," Kiba warned the blonde.
Naruto scoffed. "You don't need to worry about me, Kiba. I'm more than ready for this," he shot back heatedly.
"Who said anything about being worried?" Kiba snorted. "I'm just trying to spare you the utter humiliation you will face if you fight me."
"Your arrogance astounds me," Naruto said dryly, not looking impressed at all. Kiba just scowled.
"Do you even know the meaning of those words?" the dog nin taunted.
"Do you, Dog Breath?" Naruto countered, irritating Kiba.
"This is as good as over," Kiba promised. "I won't even need Akamaru."
"That would be a stupid move," Naruto argued back. "You'll need all of the help that you can get."
Kiba growled. "You're asking for it."
"Bring it," Naruto smirked, beckoning Kiba to come at him.
With a loud cry, Kiba lunged at the blonde, punching him so hard that Naruto flew straight through one of the arena walls. At the same time, Akamaru lunged for Sakuya, and the two nin-animals engaged in a vicious tussle of their own.
This, more than anything, confirmed to everyone that knew about him, that Naruto's guardian angel was gone. If he'd been there, that hit wouldn't have ever landed. The angel was Naruto's own Ultimate Defense. Without him, Naruto was completely vulnerable to attack.
"Call the match, he's finished," Kiba told Hayate.
"Don't be so quick to judge," a voice rang out and everyone turned to see Naruto climbing out of the rubble, looking mostly unharmed, save for the blood dripping down from his split lip. Naruto grinned. "Good punch, Kiba, but I've had worse."
"How could you? Ever since we've known you, not one hit ever landed on you? That 'wind' of yours always intercepted. You don't know what it's like to feel real pain!" the dog nin exclaimed.
He'd always been jealous of Naruto's ability to avoid all hits throughout the academy. It just didn't seem fair to him. Now knowing that the source of Naruto's apparent safety was sentient filled Kiba with an even greater jealousy. What was so special about Naruto that he got to have a 'guardian angel?' What about the rest of them? Naruto would never get hurt and would always come back safe from all of his missions; at least, that's what Kiba assumed, while everybody else was at complete risk of getting hurt or even killed. It pissed Kiba off to see Naruto have such an 'easy' life.
"That was a bad thing to say…" Shikamaru remarked, recalling how angry Naruto had gotten when Inari had basically inferred the same thing. The rest of Team Seven and Ten were forced to agree.
"You know nothing," Naruto told Kiba firmly, recalling all of the beatings he had received at the hands of the villagers before Minato had been strong enough to exert some control over the situation. It was only because of Kyuubi healing his wounds that he was able to survive. Thinking back made him realize just how horrible it must have been for Minato to not be able to do anything while his son was beaten half to death on a regular basis. It would definitely explain his insanely protective nature.
"I'll never let anyone hurt you again, Naruto. That's a promise."
Naruto remembered Minato telling him that once back when they'd first met. Now he knew why.
'I'm sorry I didn't take the time to understand that, Tou-san… maybe if I did, we would have never fought… and you would have never been ripped away from me,' he thought mournfully.
"Pay attention to me!" Kiba yelled irately as he tackled Naruto to the ground. He was pissed off that Naruto had had the gall to space out in the middle of their fight.
Naruto glared at the other boy. "Why should I? You're not worth my time," he said coldly before kicking Kiba off. He didn't care if that made him sound like Sasuke. Kiba deserved it for making him so angry.
"'Not worth your time?'" Kiba repeated, anger growing. "Who do you think you are? The Prince of Konoha?"
'Technically speaking, you could consider Naruto as such,' Kakashi thought to himself. 'Given his heritage.'
"I'm nobody," Naruto responded as he dodged the Inuzuka's blows as best as he could. He hated to admit it, but in his current state, the brutal nin had the upper hand. Orochimaru's seal hampered most of Naruto's Ninjutsu, his Genjutsu ability was nearly nonexistent, he didn't want to dare try Fuuinjutsu with his currently poor chakra control. All he had was his Taijutsu and he didn't want to show off his real style with the Iwa nin so close by… They may know who he is now but he'd rather not flaunt his relationship to his father that much more if he didn't have to. As proud as he was of Sakuya for asserting herself, he knew that she didn't stand a chance against the more experienced nin-animal. He would have to find a strategy to defeat Kiba and fast.
"That's right, dobe. You're nobody. Nobody cares about you and nobody ever will. Hell if I know why Shikamaru's so interested in you. Maybe he's just interested in playing around with you. He'll see how worthless you are in the end… just like your 'angel' did!" Kiba exclaimed, his jealousy and need to prove himself as alpha doing away with reason.
Naruto stiffened at Kiba's harsh words. He didn't want to show Kiba how much it hurt him to hear those words come out of his mouth, but it was obvious. He faltered in his step, allowing Kiba the moment he needed to drive his fist hard into Naruto's stomach.
Naruto coughed out blood and folded over Kiba's fist, face scrunched up in pain. Now that hurt.
Next thing he knew, he was pinned to the floor face first with Kiba straddling him. He could hear Sakuya whimper nearby as Akamaru managed to get his jaws around her neck.
"Did I hit a sore spot, dobe?" Kiba taunted the blonde.
"I'll kill him," Shikamaru growled angrily, shocked that Kiba had made such low remarks. The only reason he hadn't dived into the arena was because Asuma was holding him down.
"Don't be rash, Shikamaru. Do you want to disqualify Naruto?" the wind-using Jounin reasoned with his subordinate. Damn… Naruto just had a way with turning the most unlikely people into the most overprotective, irrational people in the world. Out of the corner, he saw Chouji pinning Ino down, Gai holding Kakashi in place, and Temari and Kankurou frantically trying to keep Gaara in check.
"Murder isn't the answer, Ino!" Chouji told the girl in a panicked tone.
"Hell yes it is!" the angry Yamanaka shrieked louder than Sakura could have ever managed. She fought against Chouji's hold like a hellcat. She would do Kyuubi proud…
'How dare he say that about Sensei and Naruto!' Kakashi thought, enraged by the double insult against his precious people.
Sasuke eyed the Jounin out of the corner of his eye. He'd never seen the Copy Nin so angry before… He wondered what was so special about Naruto. He personally agreed with Kiba. That didn't mean he wouldn't try everything in his power to make Naruto his, though. Naruto and that guardian angel of his belonged under his sway, and he would have him.
"Kick his ass, Naruto," Sakura spoke out from beside Sasuke. "Prove him wrong."
"Calm down, Gaara!" Temari pleaded with her brother.
"Mother needs blood," Gaara intoned in a creepy voice. "The mutt's blood!"
"I thought you stopped with all of that crazy talk!" Kankurou bemoaned. It was just typical that the moment someone slighted his 'brother' that Gaara would revert to his old ways.
Hinata gazed at her teammate with narrowed eyes. How could he say such cruel things? She'd have to talk with him when all of this was over…
Kurenai watched everyone wearily. With so many people out for her student's blood, she was worried for his safety… not that he didn't deserve it for what he was saying. She just wondered who this 'angel' was.
"You're wrong," Naruto told Kiba through gritted teeth, struggling to get out of Kiba's hold. "He never left me!"
"Then where is he?" Kiba queried, putting all his weight into keeping Naruto down.
"…" Naruto didn't have an answer. Kiba guffawed loudly.
"Just face the facts, Naruto. Your angel finally got wise and saw how weak you really are. He ditched you. You're just like the rest of us now," the dog nin said gleefully. "Although, taking everything in consideration, your angel must have been pretty fucking retarded to have stuck with you for this long. He's as pathetic as you are."
The Killing Intent that flooded the room was utterly stifling… and it was all coming from one source: Naruto.
"You can insult me all you like, Kiba… I don't give a damn, but don't you dare insult Him!" Naruto growled in rage so only Kiba could hear. Kiba's eyes widened as he was flung off the enraged Jinchuuriki.
Nearby, Sakuya reacted to her mother's rage, a faint red chakra beginning to seep off of her form as the chakra Kyuubi had once infused within her began to stir. With a loud yowl, Sakuya sent Akamaru flying towards his master, red eyes glinting ferally.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Iruka whispered to himself from where he was watching with the rest of the Chuunin. Everyone could feel the faint demonic chakra flaring but there was also another source of chakra rising, one that only the older generation had felt before…
'Is he using Kyuubi's chakra?' Orochimaru, disguised as the Oto nin's Jounin-sensei, wondered. 'It shouldn't be possible with the seal I put on him…'
But it wasn't Naruto who was using Kyuubi's chakra, it was Sakuya, meaning that the strange other chakra was coming from Naruto.
Naruto climbed back onto his feet slowly and stiffly, eyes shadowed by his hair, his hitai-ite no longer there to keep it out of the way. It had been flung off during Kiba's relentless assault.
As Naruto sank into a hauntingly familiar Taijutsu stance and opened his gold-ringed eyes, realization hit Asuma like an electric shock. He whirled on Kakashi.
"You taught him his Taijutsu?" he asked the Copy Nin in shock.
"Whose Taijutsu?" Sakura frowned in confusion. What did the adults know that they didn't?
"He would have wanted Naruto to know it," Kakashi responded simply, covering for Naruto.
"How can you be so sure?" Gai inquired.
"None of you know him like I do," Kakashi stated coldly. "Don't talk as if you know what he would have wanted. Naruto has more right to his style than anyone else in existence."
No one dared to argue against him. Kakashi had already expelled a great deal of bloodlust that day for Naruto's sake. They wouldn't excite it any further.
Sasuke was intrigued by the strange stance Naruto had taken and he was curious to see if there was any part of it that he could use for himself like he had done with Lee, so he started to activate his Sharingan when a heavy hand clasped onto his shoulder.
"Don't even think about it," Kakashi warned Sasuke, pouring out a little Killing Intent. "You are not to use your Sharingan to steal the secrets of your own allies… not that it would do you much good to try to copy this style. It can't be copied."
'What?' Sasuke gaped. How could there be anything that couldn't be copied by the Sharingan? He glowered at Naruto. Here was something else that Naruto had that Sasuke should have. He'd have to force the other boy to teach him the Taijutsu by himself. If everyone's reactions were anything to go by, the Taijutsu had to be powerful.
"You better start preparing to train Sakura, Kurenai," Kakashi told the Genjutsu Mistress firmly. "The moment that Kiba started his trash talking, he forfeited his victory."
As much as Kurenai wanted to argue in favor of her Genin, if Naruto had truly mastered the Yondaime's Taijutsu, Kiba wouldn't stand a chance…
Kiba was strong but that would do him no good against a prey that was too fast.
"Kai!" Naruto canceled out the gravity seals, finding himself feeling significantly lighter than before.
"Whatever you just did isn't going to help you, dobe," Kiba stated, unaware of the real depth of the situation.
"Hn," Naruto took a leaf out of the Uchiha's book once again, letting Kiba lunge at him without even flinching.
Just when Kiba was about to land a hit, Naruto vanished from sight.
"He's fast!" TenTen gasped, eyes wide. "Almost as fast as Lee! No… he's just as fast!" She was referring to when Lee removed his weights too...
"Just how many surprises are we going to get with this kid?" Baki wondered.
"This is what you get from the number one most surprising ninja in all of Konoha," Kakashi spoke proudly. Naruto was just like his parents: his mother's attitude mixed with his father's intelligence, tenacity, and speed… what a dangerous combination.
Daichi smirked as he watched the fight. This was the proof he'd been waiting for. The sign that Naruto really held the potential his father had. This would make everything more interesting…
"Where'd you go?" Kiba called out, looking around frantically. He heard a loud yelp and found that Sakuya was now ferociously attacking Akamaru, biting wherever she could and scratching him with enlarged fangs and claws.
"What's up with Sakuya? It's like she went through some sort of 'upgrade,'" Chouji commented, seeing Sakuya acting more viciously than before. She seemed stronger too.
'Looks like Kyuubi passed on a few traits to Naruto's 'kit,'' Ino realized. She wondered if this made Sakuya a demon fox.
"Akamaru!" Kiba called out in shock. "Hang on, I'm coming!"
"You won't," a voice rang out from behind Kiba and he whirled around to see Naruto standing there, an eerily cold look on his face. Kiba felt a shiver run down his back. Was this really Naruto? "Your fight is with me, Kiba."
With that, Naruto punched Kiba straight through a wall.
"Payback," Naruto said simply, waiting as Kiba climbed out, coughing up a storm.
"How did you get so strong?" Kiba asked, rubbing his jaw. It almost felt like it was broken. Getting hit by Naruto was like being run over by a huge boulder.
"Training… and a lot of it," Naruto replied simply. With a taskmaster as harsh as his father, it was no wonder he'd become as good as he had, even with his horrible handicap. He started walking towards Kiba at a sedate pace, the same cold expression still on his face. "So the reason you turned your back on me… the reason you've treated me so horribly all of this time… was because you were jealous?"
Kiba flinched. When Naruto put it into context like that, he had to admit it sounded rather stupid… yet all of his instincts pointed to Naruto being a threat to his role as alpha amongst their companions. Not only that, but Naruto smelled like a vixen in heat half the time, which really threw Kiba's senses off. He couldn't help but be hostile at the odd enigma in front of him!
"I'm done taking your abuse, Kiba. I'm going to show you that I'm not a dobe, once and for all," Naruto vowed, sinking back into the Taijutsu stance.
In the eyes of the adults, they saw another image superimpose itself over Naruto.
'He looks just like the Yondaime,' many people thought.
Naruto's assault was swift and brutal, sending Kiba flying in one direction, only to appear in that area to punch him into another direction.
"You can barely see them," Sakura remarked.
"That's the specialty of this Taijutsu style," Kakashi explained. "It's all based on speed."
All of the speed training that Naruto had gone through had paid off. He was able to use the Taijutsu almost to its full potential. It would be even better when Naruto learned the Hiraishin. While Hiraishin was technically a very advanced teleportation technique, learning how to be naturally fast served to help keep Naruto's reflexes in tune with moving at fast speeds. That way, he wouldn't be vulnerable in any way while utilizing the Yondaime's ultimate jutsu.
"He's going to be sore for a while," Chouji winced in sympathy as Naruto trounced Kiba.
"That is if he's lucky," Ino replied, getting a sadistic pleasure out of seeing her foxy new friend get his well-deserved revenge.
"Remind me not to get that boy angry," Kankurou commented, watching the battle in shock. Naruto was only using Taijutsu but the puppeteer already knew he didn't want to ever face Naruto in battle. If he could fight like this without even using an ounce of his Bijuu's power, he hated to see what the boy was capable of while using it.
'He's just like his father,' two displeased individuals, Jin and Orochimaru, thought. That really pissed them off.
'His parents would be proud of how far he's come,' Sarutobi thought, watching Naruto fight with pride. He was really curious what this 'angel' business was all about though…
Everyone winced as Kiba slammed face first into the ground so hard that it cracked. Naruto landed on him and pinned his arms down behind him. "Yield," he told Kiba sternly, eyes as cold as ice. He would make Kiba face the fact that whether he liked it or not, Naruto was who he was and fully capable of making Kiba submit even after being the "dobe."
Although Kiba was in a lot of pain and ready to pass out, he wasn't willing to admit defeat against Naruto. "Kiss my ass," he replied defiantly, causing Naruto's eyes to spark with anger.
He was growing rather tempted by the idea of breaking Kiba's arms when a voice rang through his head.
Let him go, Naruto…~
Naruto's eyes widened and he instantly got off of Kiba.
~Tou-san?~ he asked tentatively. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.. 'Is that really you?'
Minato chuckled tiredly. ~Who else would it be, Little One?~
Tears threatened to spill from Naruto's eyes. He was so relieved. ~I thought… I thought I would never hear you again,~ he admitted.
That will never happen,Minato stated with conviction. ~Nothing short of Kami could keep me away from you… maybe not even then.~
~That's good to know,~ Naruto said with a small smile. ~I really missed you.~
And I, you,~Minato conceded.
~I hope you missed me too, Naruto,~ an all-too-welcome voice rang out and Naruto laughed.
~Of course I did,~ Naruto declared. ~Who could ever not miss you, Kyuu?~
~That's what I thought,~ Kyuubi said smugly. ~After all, I was the one who saved our lovely Princess from Orochimaru's evil metaphorical clutches.~
Naruto nearly burst out laughing as he felt Minato's chagrin wash over him.
I'm not a girl!Minato exclaimed, pouting.
~You sure look like one,~ Kyuubi countered. ~And let's face it. Kami knows that in both relationships you've had so far, you've been the girl in the relationship.~
I have not!~ Minato argued, embarrassed. It was technically true. It was just Minato's fate to fall in love with the two most dominating women in existence.
~Does that mean I should start calling you Kaa-san?~ Naruto teased his father, causing Minato to groan in mortification.
Not you too, Naruto. I thought you loved me, the former Hokage whined.
~I do, but messing with you is too much fun.~ his impish son replied.
You take too much after your mothers, Minato grumbled before his eyes sharpened. ~Heads up.
Naruto tuned back into the real world just in time to dodge Kiba's incoming attack. His conversation with Minato and Kyuubi had allowed Kiba the time he needed to recover. Unfortunately for him, Akamaru had been knocked out for the count by Sakuya's vicious assault, which left the dog nin feeling very angry.
The blonde noticed that even if Minato and Kyuubi were now 'free', Minato hadn't moved to produce the wind barrier.
Orochimaru's seal is preventing me from materializing or using our chakra to aid you,~ Minato explained. ~However, even if we could help, we won't. This is your fight.
~Tou-san…~ Naruto declared, touched that Minato finally trusted him to fend for himself.~
It's time I stopped looking at you through rose-tinted glasses,Minato admitted. ~You may be my son but you're also a shinobi. I won't hold you back from what you desire any longer.~
~Thanks,~ Naruto replied, feeling a warm sensation run through him. He really had missed having his father's support. It was the best thing in the world.
"I'll never submit to you," Kiba growled. "The only way I will ever accept you is if you beat me into the ground!"
"That's what I was doing," Naruto pointed out, ever the smart ass.
"RAARGH!" Kiba snarled. "Tsuuga!"
Kiba turned himself into a terrifyingly fast tornado, aiming to make Naruto pay for what happened to Akamaru and for the humiliation Kiba had just gone through.
~Yikes!~ Naruto yelped, using his speed to avoid the attack. ~If I'd been any slower, he would have got me… and I doubt even I would have been to recover from it fast enough. He's pissed.~
~The Uzumaki clan is said to have that sort of effect on people,~ Kyuubi asserted. Minato looked curiously at the demon.
~How do you know that?~ he queried.
~It's not only the Uchiha clan that I have a history with, you know,~ the Bijuu answered mysteriously with a wink. ~Stick around and I may just show you my secrets.~
~Like I could do anything else,~ Minato pointed out the fact that they were literally stuck with one another.
~Smart ass,~ Kyuubi muttered. The Hokage was as dense as his son…
So what are you going to do, Naruto?~Minato asked his son curiously.
~I'm going to put the mutt down,~ the scion of the Namikaze and Uzumaki clans quipped, gold-tinted eyes glowing faintly.
'He's using the Namikaze chakra,' Minato realized in shock. He thought he'd sealed it all away. Orochimaru's seal must have dislodged it… He only hoped that Sasuke wasn't watching with the Sharingan… He still remembered what Kakashi had told him recently after Minato had shared the information about Madara.
(**Flashback**)
"Well that explains a few things," Kakashi muttered after Minato described Madara's obsession with the Namikaze.
"What are you talking about?" Minato frowned, eyeing his student curiously.
Kakashi had the grace to look sheepish. "Well, back when I first received Obito's Sharingan eye… when I looked you with it, I started to feel real weird," he admitted. He didn't really want to admit things like this to his sensei. It was embarrassing.
"Define weird," Minato frowned.
"Like… possessive weird…" Kakashi murmured, looking away.
The blank, unsettled look on Minato's face was all it took to make Kakashi clam up.
"It's not like I wanted to feel that way," he quickly said defensively.
"I don't blame you, Kakashi… that just serves to show that it all ties to the Sharingan. You never felt like that around me before, right?"
Kakashi made a vehement shake of his head.
Minato sighed in frustration. The entire situation was, as the Nara would say it, troublesome. "I hate the Uchiha clan…"
It was a bad thought to have as a Hokage, but he couldn't help it. They were a threat, maybe not to himself as he was technically dead and unable to be harmed, but to Naruto for sure, and he couldn't stand for that.
(**End Flashback**)
~You better be watching this, Princess,~ Kyuubi told Minato, snapping him out of his thought process.
~Don't call me that,~ Minato sulked. Kyuubi didn't look like she was about to stop.
Minato focused his attention back on his son's fight, seeing as Naruto was currently letting Kiba exhaust himself in his rage while conserving most of his own chakra. It was a smart idea considering Naruto couldn't utilize it properly at the time.
~Your chakra problem is a real hindrance, Minato assessed. As long as Kiba kept using his Tsuuga, Naruto wouldn't be able to land a hit. Without the use of jutsu, he wouldn't be able to interfere with Kiba's jutsu properly. ~Perhaps I can do something about that…~
~What do you have in mind?~ Kyuubi wondered.
~If Naruto can't utilize better chakra control by himself, then I will be his control,~ Minato stated as focused his energy around Naruto's chakra core, using his own will to siphon out the chakra properly.
~I knew there was a reason you were considered a genius when you were alive,~ Kyuubi spoke with approval.
~Naruto… go wild,~Minato suggested and Naruto grinned.
~You're the best, Tou-san,~ he replied before making a series of Kage Bunshin. ~I've got an idea.~
~Let's see it then,~ Minato stated with pride. Win or lose, he was proud of how much Naruto had grown.
Just as Kiba stopped his rotations, Naruto's clones converged on him, beginning to kick him into the air. "U – Zu – Ma – Ki! Naruto Rendan!"
Kiba cried out in pain as he was harshly slammed into the ground, no longer able to move after Naruto's attack. His body had reached its limit.
"He ripped off Sasuke's Shishi Rendan," Sakura pointed out in surprise.
"I think he was trying to teach Sasuke a lesson," Kakashi analyzed, eyeing the Uchiha. "Never steal from an ally… it doesn't feel good, does it?"
"Hn," Sasuke grumbled.
Sakuya yipped in triumph and leapt into her mother's arms, licking him happily. Naruto smiled.
"You fought well," he complimented her. "Although, next time, perhaps you shouldn't use that chakra, alright? I think you gave a few people a heart attack."
Sakuya whimpered in apology.
"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto," Hayate finally spoke up, declaring the end of what had to have been the longest battle yet.
Naruto grinned. It had taken a lot of work… but it had been worth it all.
~I'm proud of you, Naruto,~ Minato told him, pleased with Naruto's victory.
~Me too,~ Kyuubi added.
~Thanks,~ Naruto replied, a wide, completely happy smile appearing on his face for the first time since they'd been ripped away from one another. The Namikaze family was back together and nothing would be able to get between them again.
A/N: I also have a muse in my head and I was wondering what you guys thought of. Of course Guardian Angel is my first priority, with Digital Intervention coming up next, but it's in my head and I'm dying for an opinion.
Setting: part AU
Pairing: KyuuMina
Summary: Minato is the most important player in a prophecy in which whoever has him on their side will basically get control of everything, or something like that (basics: he will determine if good or evil wins). With this prophecy over his head, he is the most valued and sheltered member of all of Konoha and almost everyone (save for a select few) have ulterior motives towards him. One day, he wanders into a forest and gets attacked by a demon, only to be saved by a certain nine-tailed fox. As thanks for the rescue, Minato promises to stay and nurse Kyuubi back to health and slowly, a romance brews, much to the chagrin of many of the villagers.
Do you think you would like reading such a story?