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Konoha…For some reason, it didn't hold that warmth it had to Naruto as he returned, clutching the Black Book as he made his way to his house, knowing his mother and vassal Jaken were waiting for him as Lightning walked alongside him too, concerned for his wellbeing due to what happened in the cave. But she knew that a person from his past had returned at that moment Naruto killed Orochimaru. It must have been a Cypher counterpart, and if what Naruto said about Cyphers were true, this Orochimaru was merely 'holding back' with his powers.
She shuddered at the thought of Cypher Orochimaru unleashing his full power, even Lightning herself would be defeated by a powerful being like that, even with the powers as Etro's Champion. But what worried her even more was that book he carried, a book that contained forbidden knowledge and power…the temptation is sinful indeed as she knew that many people would go to very dangerous lengths to acquire such power. "Don't worry Light; I don't sway under the temptation of power and knowledge that easily." He told her out of the blue as she blinked. She sometimes nearly forgets that they're mentally connected to a degree, and must have sensed her concern.
"Me and Uncle Mora go way back thanks to Tenryū, he's been one of the few I can call 'family' in a sense…The strict librarian uncle that is." He replied with a chuckle. "So, how is it that his book was in this world exactly?" she asked, "Good question, wherever I am in any world, I act as a beacon so Uncle Mora can send a Black Book there and begin his quest for knowledge collecting, and he's collected a lot from the eras, some that may be useful to us in the future, along with Cypher Orochimaru's secrets." He replied as Lightning already knew that Naruto must have a mad scientist side to him to say it like that.
"But enough about that, let's eat and get some sleep because tomorrow, we're going to see what the four bodyguards that were captured in the invasion have to say." He told her. Now that got her curiosity.
*The Next Day*
"Greetings Lord Naruto, we've awaited your return." Spoke the big one of the four as all four, even though their arms were restrained, were kneeling before him. "Lord Naruto?" Hizuren asked as he was there, wanting more information on Orochimaru's bases, and see what he can do to save any other victims of his student's experiments. "Yes, for you see, Orochimaru made this boy his heir, the one he entrusted everything to, and in so, is the will of Orochimaru himself." The six armed man replied as Naruto raised a brow. "Release them," he ordered as everyone looked like he grew a second head. "I inherited this from Orochimaru, and he has entrusted me with something very important that even though he's done some things that are unforgivable, I kind of owe him this favor." He told them as Hizuren narrowed his eyes.
"What could Orochimaru entrust you with that could only you could know about, and what do you owe him?" he asked, almost demanded. "Pipe your tongue you wrinkled ass fart! Why do I have to serve a pint sized midget twerp is beyond me!" exclaimed the red haired girl of the four shouted as Naruto had a very thin smile. "Now Tayuya, a lady doesn't use such-"
"Shut it fatass! I don't give a crap what you have to say about any of-!" Tayuya snapped only for Naruto to walk up to her, and he had a very ominous aura around him. "You are quite the feisty one…I'll enjoy putting you through utter humiliation and pain on levels that'll make you beg for death. And trust me on this; you don't want to make the guy who Orochimaru chose to hold your very fate in his hands angry, do you Tayuya?" Naruto asked in a sickly sweet tone as a sinister monster of untold evil (Magatsu Arashi) appeared behind him in a phantom form. Needless to say, it scared the crap out of Tayuya as she realized she had just said some very rude things to the guy that Orochimaru had entrusted with everything, even her own life with, too. And it was just as bad because he already reminded him of Orochimaru in some way.
"F-Forgive me Lord Naruto, I've been a fool and I was horribly rude to you and anyone else I spoke bad to." She bowed her head to the ground as Naruto had Elo in sword form and personally undid the restraints. "Arise Sound Four, we have some things to discuss, and work to do." He told them as the Sound Four stood for their new master as Naruto looked at Hizuren with a serious expression. "I need to go over a few things with you and Baa-chan." He told him.
*Hokage's Office*
"I see…" Tsunade replied with her hands together as she leaned forward on her desk, looking at Naruto, Lightning, and the newly clothed Sound Four. "So, you're going to quit being a Konoha Shinobi for the time being, help take care of things in the Sound Village, and then going off to finish your 'Focus' correct?" she asked as Naruto nodded his head. "Yes, because with every day that passes, a little more closely I'll become a Cie'th. That is why…I must give up being a ninja till this L'Cie business is done." He replied as Tsunade looked at him, and saw his eyes pleading at her behind his serious expression. He was an Uzumaki, a relative of hers on her grandmother's side of the family, and so was Kushina as well, and she wants to help her son as she is only temporarily a reinstated ninja.
This L'Cie curse is one worse than death, and is terrifying, and she doubted even she could handle such a burden. "…If I say yes to this, once your Focus is done, you'll return as a fully reinstated ninja?" she asked as Naruto gave her a thumbs up. "Alright then, permission granted. Your headband please," she replied as Naruto took off the headband that was given to him by Iruka and handed it to her. "I'll keep this safe for you." She told him as he smiled at that.
He turned to Lightning and the Sound Four, "We're moving out!" he exclaimed.
*Sound Village*
"Now this is a dark and gloomy place if I ever set eyes on a ninja village." Kushina commented as various ninjas of the village, now under Naruto's command, were helping moving in furniture to the room Kushina was going to stay in as Lightning and Naruto were heading towards the medic wing. In there, they saw a man with white hair and two red dots on his forehead as they looked down at the man. "So you're Kimimaro? I see that this disease is truly lethal." Naruto spoke up, as the man looked at him. "You are…the will…the legacy of Lord Orochimaru?" he asked as Naruto nodded. "I am, and I want to give you a second chance. A chance to prove yourself as the great loyal man you always were, to me." He told him as Kimimaro looked at him directly in the eyes.
"How can I have a second chance? This…disease is beyond even Lord Orochimaru's abilities to heal." He asked as Naruto merely smiled. "If there is one thing Kimimaro, is to never give up hope, or else everything you believe in is truly lost. Lightning, please cure him." He told her as the Master L'Cie looked at him and began drawing out power from her brand. "Esuna," She commanded as she guided the light to Kimimaro as it entered his body as he gasped in bewilderment as his body felt different, as if he was reborn anew. "This Kimimaro is your second chance. Will you walk alongside me to the new future?" Naruto asked, a hand outstretched as the man looked at him, and took it. "I will follow you to the very end, Lord Naruto." He replied with utter devotion and loyalty.
"Alright, next one goes over there, and put that one there. And where is that map? Lord Naruto needs it soon." Jaken ordered as the labs and prison cells were being reorganized as most people were set free, happy at the newfound freedom from the cruelty of Orochimaru's experiments as Jaken checked the list. "So far, this base is cleared. Now to find this…Karin girl at a different base; she's a powerful sensor type that will be useful for Lord Naruto." He commented as he checked her profile. He checked another file on a man named Jūgo and raised a brow. "Now…this is an interesting person that Lord Naruto would love to investigate." He muttered as he immediately ran off to find his lord.
As soon as he found Naruto, he handed the two files as Naruto looked at them and read through them. "So…this is the origin of the Curse Mark?" he asked with a raised brow as he looked at Kimimaro. "Yes, Jūgo is a friend of mine that tends to absorb natural chakra from the world and turns into a berserker. I usually help keep him under control when he starts absorbing too much energy." He replied as Lightning looked through the file herself and frowned. "What are you up to Naruto?" she asked as Naruto smirked. "I'm going to help our dear friend Jūgo regain his senses so he can't go psycho on anyone." He replied as he looked at Kimimaro. "Where is he?" he asked. "…At the Northern Hideout." He replied.
*Northern Hideout*
"Well fuck me sideways and call me a bitch." Tayuya swore as she and the rest of the Sound Four, plus Kimimaro, Naruto, and Lightning were at the entrance that was destroyed, as numerous prisoners that were influenced by the Curse Seal were in monstrous forms as Lightning looked at them with contempt. "They remind me of Cie'th already." She said as Naruto nodded his head. "Kill them all, but spare Jūgo." He ordered as the Sound Five (renamed five now that Kimimaro is back in action) began their slaughter. "You really aren't getting your hands dirty this time." Lightning noticed as Naruto scoffed. "I'll dirty my hands in blood of ninja, not experiments of Orochimaru's doing." He replied as he walked on forward with Leo and Elo in blade mode as he cut down any stragglers who got in his way as he walked into the building with Kimimaro following him.
Lightning shook her head as she shot a prisoner trying to sneak up behind her without looking and began following them.
The hallway was a wreck as Kimimaro had opened a certain cell door and walked in, with Naruto following behind as he saw a giant of a man sitting there with his head down. "So, this is the infamous Jūgo I've heard all about? I know appearances are deceiving, but your personality tells me otherwise…makes you more dangerous for some reason." Naruto spoke up as he looked down at Jūgo. The man was afraid, and Naruto knew why from the file on him. "I'm here to give you a second chance, a chance away from here, and find a way to control yourself." He explained, as Jūgo looked up at him. "…Can you really…cure me of my insanity?" he asked as Naruto looked at him. "For someone like you, it is all about control. With my wisdom, we can help make sure you do not become insane against your will and go killing anyone recklessly. I helped cured Kimimaro of his disease, giving him a second chance; I want to give you Jūgo, his best friend, that same chance as well." Naruto replied with his hand outstretched.
Jūgo looked at the hand, and then at Kimimaro who nodded with a faint smile on his otherwise blank face as he reached out and took it. "Welcome to the family, Jūgo." Naruto greeted him with a smile.
*Sound Village*
"Alright now, ladies go on the left, men go on the right, children are to head into the middle!" Jaken ordered as medics were currently diagnosing the people who have been experimented on by Orochimaru, to see who will be alright, and check for those who still want to be a ninja for the Sound Village. Jaken felt he was competent enough to do this; after all, being spared into serving as a vassal for his Lord Naruto would be very beneficial in living a good life without dying. He'd give up his ninja career just like that if he wanted to live. As he went through the files of more 'unique' individuals Orochimaru had stumbled upon, he picked up one name among them: Guren.
A ninja with the ability to use the Crystal techniques; Jaken had heard of fairy tales about such a chakra nature for that existed, but only in stories and myths, but this woman was the real deal if these photos had anything to say about it. Now he had to send messengers to get Karin and Guren to meet with Lord Naruto. Things always keep getting interesting around his lord it seems. He needed the best of the best that can be offered right now at Naruto's request. He's seeking a team for his next assignment that will test them and their skills to the limit in what the young lord's request.
The biggest mission they are going to perform was to end the Bloodline Purge in Kiri. A task that was going to be quite dangerous, but knowing Lord Naruto and his ability to make the impossible possible, was going to be nothing.
*Several days later*
"That's a fucking lie!" the woman named Guren shouted, enraged at what she heard as the Sound Four looked at her. "It's the truth Guren, Lord Orochimaru has fallen, and chose this one to be his legacy." Sakon told her as Guren shook her head hard. "He gave us a vision of his last moments, and made his decision upon that Naruto Uzumaki was to inherit all of his works. He showed us this vision, to follow the new Master, and we shall, for it was the will of Lord Orochimaru." Jirōbō added politely as Kidōmaru nodded his head in agreement. "He wants the loyalist of men at his side, and will let others go do their thing if they do not join him, but I can tell just by looking at him…he's got the same vibe as Lord Orochimaru does." He spoke up, gaining everyone's attention.
"How can I describe this…He's got this aura like Lord Orochimaru does, but more benevolent, which somehow sends chills down your spine. Like he was a demon waiting for the right moment to steal your soul." Kidōmaru explained. "And how right you are my arachnid friend," a voice spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "L-Lord Naruto, what a surprise…" Tayuya greeted weakly as Naruto walked in with Kimimaro and Jūgo. "Me and Orochimaru are…past acquaintances of sorts, long before he had you guys in his village. He was quite the man alright, and he was merely holding back with the knowledge and experiments he did." He explained, gaining the attention of the Sound Four and Guren.
"What do you mean by holding back?" Guren demanded as Naruto smirked. "He had an improved Cursed Seal designs. To have a better survival rate, improved abilities, and even, a stronger version of the next stage." He replied, causing most of the people in the room to widen their eyes at what he said. "Right now, with my research on it, and adding in something else with the knowledge I have, I have created a new type of Cursed Seal. The Ciel Brand." He explained as Tayuya, the ever expressive one, was a little skeptical.
"Wait a minute, how come Lord Orochimaru never brought this new upgraded version up before?" she asked without swearing, because she knows that Naruto will punish her in the worst way possible if she showed any disrespect for him. "Because he didn't need to upgrade it at the time; for it wasn't time for desperate measures, so he kept it under lock and key at the time till he chose me as his successor before he died." He replied coolly like it was second nature. "So…um, are we going to get these marks?" Sakon asked as Naruto smirked. "Once the human trials on these are done, I'll consider giving you guys them, and you will know true power. But I'm still looking for those with absolute loyalty to me like Kimimaro and Jūgo, so a test for loyalty must be conducted. And what better way to test it out than on the battlefield?" he asked, gaining even Guren's surprise at what he was saying.
"What are you getting at?" she asked as Naruto smirked. "All of us here are going to go to Kiri, end the Bloodline Purge by killing the Mizukage. Only the bravest and strongest will survive, and will prove their loyalty to me. So, are you in with the big bad wolves, or are you out like a chicken?" he asked.
Even Kimimaro was surprised at what the boy was saying, but thanks to him, for giving him a purpose and finding a second chance to prove himself, he'll follow Naruto to the ends of the earth. Jūgo was there with Kimimaro all the way, for the two were best friends, and after gaining words of wisdom from Naruto on how to control himself, he will help to end the blood spilling of innocents. Now all was left, was the Sound Four, and Guren.
"Heh, this sounds like a challenge, bring it on!" Kidōmaru exclaimed with excitement. "Hell yeah! Kicking them blood cock sucking barbarian's right in the balls is something I live for! Sign me up!" Tayuya shouted with a fire in her eyes as Jirōbō merely nodded his head quietly. "Very well then, I guess this will prove that we the Sound Four are the best at what we do, and are worthy of protecting the legacy of Lord Orochimaru." Sakon said with a smirk as Guren looked at them and then at the ground.
She was lost in thought. Orochimaru had given her meaning with her existence, and was gone now. She had nowhere to go, but hearing that this boy in front of her was the very legacy of his whole work and ambition, she must see if he lives up to Orochimaru's expectations. "Alright, I'm in too." She spoke up as Naruto nodded. "Very well then, met up with Lightning you guys, she'll want to see if you're in tip top shape before we prepare for this. Don't disappoint me with your results." He told them as he walked out with Kimimaro and Jūgo following him.
Once the three left the room, they walked down the stone hallway and into a big empty room as Naruto stopped. "So, what will you do now? Will you walk beside me as a man in pursuit of knowledge, or as an obstacle in my ambitions…Kabuto?" Naruto asked, as from in the darkness, a figure pushed back his glasses that gleamed in the darkness as the figure walked up to him. "I'm sure you already know of my answer…Lord Naruto." Replied the voice of one smirking Kabuto Yakushi.