Slowly but surely we're drawing to a close.
And in this time, let us recall the good and the bad...and the just plain hillarious moments that have come to pass.
Random voice: Just roll the damn camera already!
FRAG-A-DOOM!
Kyugan: (Growls and lowers RPG) NEVER, interrupt me when I'm addressing the audience!
Valley of the end; goodbye my friend.
"This isn't good at all!" Pakkun noted grimly, struggling to make headway through the thick foliage of the woods "I smell rain clouds on the horizon, if we don't hurry, I'll lose the scent!'
"Then hold onto yer britches Pooch!" Domon barked, grabbing the pug and tearing through he trees with a burst of chakra, smashing through anything that got in his way "'cause the Ishijima express just left the station!"
Kakashi sweatdropped at the rampant destruction the teen was leaving in his wake but said nothing. If it got them there faster he'd be more than happy to level the damn forest. "Quit Day-dreaming sensei!" Recca called out, snapping the jounin out of his daze "We gotta get there quick! Orochimaru could be there!"
THAT definitely lit a fire under the jounin, while he'd heard tales of how his students had stood their own against the Sennin, that was when he'd been seeking Tsunade's aid. He didn't doubt that the serpent had found a way around his injuries by now…and no doubt Kabuto was sure to be there, probably with an army of shinobi to back them up.
'Knowing my luck, Itachi will decided to stop by for a chat too.' The jounin muttered bitterly, shaking his head and dashing to catch up with his students 'Naruto…Sasuke…hang on there…I'm coming for you!'
--
The beast growled in confusion, staring at the strange, hand-like growth that had come between it and the prey. It had been toying with the prey for some time now, wanting to soften the meat before it snacked down on it. But then the Beast's scent had changed, the smell of blood and snake oil mixing in with the original scent to create something…different. Something stronger. Something Dangerous.
'Threat.' It deduced, just as the growth flexed, swatting the beast aside and sending it crashing headfirst into the Shodai's statue again, only the thick cloak of chakra protecting it from harm. Looking up, it watched as a second growth erupted from the prey's body, the prey crouching like a hawk, wincing in apparent discomfort as if injured.
Before the beast could capitalize on the prey's apparent weakness, it twitched in discomfort, staring at it's left arm, which refused to function at all. The limb felt dead, as if all the life had been drained from it, yet at the same time felt as if it had been drenched in fire.
"It would appear your power has the same drawbacks as mine." The prey called out, drawing the beast's attention back to it "Naruto…I don't know if you can here me…but don't you think this place is a little TOO perfect for our fight?" it smirked "Right…you can't hear me…" it started flexing it's fingers "But I'll bet you can SEE what I'm doing."
The beast bristled, watching as lightning gathered in the prey's hands with its lips drawn back, Right hand clenching tightly, almost instinctively. It didn't like this strange chirping noise, and the smell of burning ozone was making its hackles rise.
'Chidori' an echoing voice noted, the beast's ears twitching as it looked around for the source 'Kaka…sensei.'
The beast's brow furrowed, eyeing the ball of lightning as it darkened, silvery sparks of dark chakra mixing with it as the prey reared its arm back. Slowly almost instinctively, the chakra began to rotate in its palm, the cloak shifting to accommodate this rapidly rotating addition.
'Rasengan…Ero-sennin.' The voice echoed, growing stronger, as if a distance was closing, faces rising to the fore 'Big-booby Neechan…Saru-jiji…Iruka-sensei…Kagero-kaa-san…Shigeo-ji…Fuko…Yanagi-ne…Tokiya…Kaoru…Domon…Aniki…Hinata…'
"Sasuke." The beast growled out, looking the prey…no…it's RIVAL in the eyes, the Uchiha's widening slightly, before smirking.
"Naruto." He replied, before lunging forwards, his hand-like wings carrying him through the air, even as his crimson foe lunged towards him, their arms drawn back for the final attack.
CHIDORI!
RASENGAN!
--
"HOLY SHIT!" Domon yelped, nearly crashing into a tree-trunk as he fell to one knee, gripping the sides of his skull, eyes clenched tight as he tried to ward of the sudden surge of pain.
"Domon?!" Recca yelled, leaping down beside his rival in concern, even as the echo of the clashing Chakra blasted through the forest around them "What's the matter?! What happened?!"
"Sudden…burst of chakra." The giant managed to grit out, blood running down his nose and ears from a burst vein, his eyes bloodshot "Felt like…an explosion…in my head."
'Domon's chakra sensing abilities are impressive.' Kakashi noted, pride for his student momentarily eclipsing his concern for his health 'I can't sense it as well as that, but even I can tell that something very big just took place up ahead.'
"Sensei…" Recca began, looking up at the jounin in concern as he helped his decidedly unsteady rival to his feet "What do we do?"
"We press on." Kakashi ordered after a few seconds pause "Domon, stay close to Recca and try to guard your mind. Chakra detection is a two pronged ability, it leaves you open to assault if you just throw it out."
Domon nodded, dashing after the others after a moment's hesitation. 'Something big just went down up ahead.' He noted, features grim as blood trickled out his ears 'Naruto…hang on little buddy…we're comin' for ya!'
--
Naruto…
A blonde haired boy, no older than five, stood with his hand outstretched.
Sasuke…
A dark haired boy, the same age as the blonde, reached out with his own.
…Loneliness…
…Bitterness…
…Confusion…
…Delusion…
…Jealousy…
…Rivalry…
They reached out to one another, hands gripping tight as they gazed into one another's eyes. The Blonde smiled, eyes closed in a fox-like manner as he held the other boy's hand tight. After a moment, the dark haired boy returned the smile.
…Acceptance…
…Equality…
…Family…
--
Light shone down into the valley of the end, highlighting the battle scars that had, after three generations, been added to the once serene canyon. The waterfall now flowed into a massive bowl, which had diverted the flow of the river somewhat, creating several small islands where there had once been a valley floor.
At the feet of the proud Senju Hashirama, a beam of light shone, growing ever narrower as the clouds overhead gathered. Bathed in this light, a red-haired youth lay on his back, his face exhausted and the whisker marks on his cheeks ragged. Standing over him, like a silent sentinel, was a youth with raven black hair and a pale complexion, his dark eyes solemn as he gazed down at the figure at his feet.
"Naruto." He uttered, watching as the beam of sunlight seemed to focus on the other boy's face before receding to a point and vanishing, his Hitai-ate falling from around his head to lay beside his fallen foe. 'No…not foe.' he realized, gazing upon those restful features, so different for the raging monstrosity from moment's ago 'So much more than that…so much more.'
The patter of rain against his skin caused him to look up, as the sky released it's burden upon him, the rain falling fast and heavy, drenching him as he gazed upon it. He spasmed, the mark on his shoulder sending a moment of pure agony through his battered frame, driving him to his knees and coughing up blood, before looking again upon the face of the redhead, so close his nose was practically touching the metal of the other's Hitai-ate.
He held his position, looking upon the serene features of the teen before him, wondering if he'd ever seen him so at peace, before resting his forehead against the cool metal of the Hitai-ate, his breath slow and calming as he did so.
"Naruto…"
--
"SHIT! WHERE'D THIS RAIN COME FROM?!" Recca demanded, leaping through the trees like a drenched chimpanzee, the rest of his team not too far away, idly noting the steam rising off the enjutsu-shi as he pressed onwards.
"Pakkun!" Kakashi called out, wiping water out from his eye even as he leapt alongside his students "Can you still track the scent?"
"Barely!" the pug called out in response "But that doesn't matter! We're really close! Right in front of us!"
Domon let out a yell and bodily threw himself out of the woodlands, only to fall off the edge of the cliff and sail towards the valley floor. Rather than scream, he righted himself, landing with a crash on his feet and leaving a small crater in his wake, even as Kakashi and the rest touched down beside him. "Where-?" the giant began, only to trail off, his face paling and knuckles tightening as he caught sight of the figure lying on his back not ten feet away from them, a solitary figure with spiky red hair and familiar kimono top and shinobi pants, a sheathed Katana resting at his side.
'We were too late.' Kakashi noted, his soul weighing as heavy as lead as he gazed upon the form of his most unpredictable student. He blinked as Recca walked up to him, the enjutsu-shi looking down at the body in shock, before chuckling.
"Ha! Good one Naruto!" he cackled, hands on his hips "Quit the drama man, we know you're yanking us."
Kakashi felt the weight on his soul increase, watching the teen crouch next to the body of his beloved Outoto. He'd seen people do this before…it had never ended well. 'Why did this have to happen.' He wondered, looking heavenward for an answer, as if the gods were really in an accommodating mood. 'First Obito…then Rin…then Minato-sensei…and now Naruto?' he asked, looking up at the pouring sky accusingly 'Just how many people must you take from me before you're satisfied?!'
"Sasuke was here." Pakkun reported, sniffing around at a slashed Konoha headband that had been placed next to Naruto's sword, neatly folded, like a trophy.
If anything, that made Kakashi feel all the worse, as it meant he'd not only failed his teacher, but his best friend as well. He'd let Orochimaru darken Sasuke's heart, and now the boy had tossed it all aside.
"Hey he's still breathin!" Domon exclaimed, Kakashi's eyes widening as he turned to face them "Check it out! His wounds are bandaged too!"
And indeed they were, albeit sloppily, as if the administrator had been rushed or unable to focus. While hardly first class treatment, it was a perfect emergency field medicine procedure, straight out of the academy guidebook.
"Something tells me Pedo-Hebi wasn't here." Rekka noted grimly, looking at his bandaged Outoto with concern "I highly doubt he'd bandage his opponent up and just walk away."
'Indeed he wouldn't.' Kakashi noted, walking over to the group and picking up Sasuke's Hitai-ate and Naruto's sword, looking off to the side even as Domon scooped the battered teen into his arms. 'Orochimaru wouldn't have left enough of Naruto for us to bury, and from what I've been told Kabuto would've taken the corpse with him.'
He gazed off into the woods, his eye solemn, but with a hint of hope that had, for some time now, been absent.
"Sasuke…"
--
Sasuke stumbled as he pressed through the woods, his right hand gripping the seal on his shoulder tightly. It didn't stave off the pain any, but it gave him something to do as he pressed through the woods.
'To gain power equal to mine…' Itachi's voice echoed, his menacing Sharingan looming before him 'You must kill…your closest friend.'
Sasuke grit his teeth, so hard they began to crack, clenching his hand over his shoulder tightly, before glaring at the darkness accusingly. "I AM NOT YOUR PUPPET!" he yelled, voice hoarse and aching from the battle, but underlined with a strength of will that could move mountains "Power equal to yours? Don't make me laugh!"
He snorted, a sneer on his face as he glared at the image of his brother between the trees "You killed your best friend for power…you took the easy way out." He stepped forwards "I'll gain power my own way…I'll SURPASS you, and everything you stand for!"
Dull laughter echoed from the depths of the woods, Sasuke's hackles rising as he glared at the image acidly "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!" he demanded, hurling a kunai at the illusion, only to blink as it vanished in a plume of fire "Wha?"
"Impressive resolve." A voice called out from behind, Sasuke whirling round to face the newcomer in alarm "Good eyes…burning with determination."
'How'd he get behind me?' the Uchiha wondered in alarm, noting the robes and belts that adorned the figures frame 'And…is that my kunai in his hands?'
Indeed it was, and the figure seemed to enjoy twirling it around his finger like a pen, leaning against a tree with his other arm folded across his chest, his face hidden in shadow. "A truly marvelous display." The figure noted, "I haven't seen talent like that for some time now…you're a credit to your village." A dark chuckle as he turned to regard the Uchiha "Oh wait…you left didn't you?"
"Who are you?" Sasuke demanded, unnerved by the man's tone, yet at the same time, put at ease "Did Orochimaru send you? Are you working with him?"
"Orochimaru?" the man repeated, sounding honestly amused at the mere thought "That gutless son of a serpent?"
Yet another dark chuckle emitted from the man, sending shivers up Sasuke's spine as he turned to face the teen, a single eye, with cold, merciless eyes, pinning him where he stood from behind a porcelain mask
"Do not associate me with trash like that."
--
"How long is the squirt gonna sleep for?" Domon asked, leaping through the trees carrying Naruto piggyback, Recca leading as Kakashi brought up the rear.
"He just fought Sasuke to the death." The copy-nin shot back, a lot calmer than he actually felt "We're lucky the two are still ALIVE."
'No foolin'.' Domon muttered 'I sensed the chakra they were putting off…I'd a hated to get caught up in THAT.' He blinked as several blips appeared on his mental radar, relaxing as he caught the familiar scent coming towards him "FUKO!"
Sure enough the fujin mistress entered the scene, a trio of medic-nins at her heels as they fell in line alongside the group. "How is he?" she asked, looking over the former blonde in concern "And what's with the hair?"
"No clue…for either." Recca shot back tersely "Sasuke patched him up before he took off though, so he's not in any danger yet."
"And what of Uchiha Sasuke?" one of the medics asked, only to sigh and look away after meeting Kakashi's gaze. One of them shot the slumbering genin on Domon's back a look of solemn pity, not wanting to be the one to break the news to the boy when he awoke.
"What of the other genin?" Kakashi asked, hoping to get off this touchy topic as quickly as possible.
"The first and second medical corps were dispatched immediately by the Hokage shortly after Kirisawa-san reported in." the bespectacled medic replied "We encountered the genin sent after Sasuke in various locations, applied basic treatment, and transported them back." He nodded at Kakashi's look of inquiry "Of the group, Nara Shikamaru suffered minor injuries, and whilst Inuzuka Kiba suffered from deep lacerations, there is currently no threat to his life at this moment." He nodded "As for Hyuuga Neji and Akimichi Chouji…"
--
"Would you relax already?" Temari demanded, sitting across from the Nara scion with her legs crossed, hands on her knees. She was a little irked, and at the same time a little intrigued, at the fact the chunin wasn't trying to eye her up like so many others, but then again, his team was in the red zone. "Getting worked up over everything won't do you any good." She shrugged "Every decision has a price, surely they explained that in psychological training?"
"Training and actual combat are two entirely different things." The Nara scion shot back, a little surprised at the bitterness in his tone "I've been on missions before…but this was my first time as squad leader…and it made it clear I'm not cut out for this."
"Psh, weirdo." Temari muttered, looking the teen over calmly "What's with the delicate act?" she eyed him carefully "you scared of getting hurt?"
Shikamaru eyed the older blonde for a few seconds, before getting to his feet and walking off with his hands in his pockets, idly noting his father off to the side, a stern look on his face. "Save pops." He called out, his voice leaden with exhaustion "I'm not in the mood for a man-to-man talk right now."
"That's fine," Shikaku agreed, face stern "After all, you're hardly acting like a man now are you?" he frowned "Even if you quit, your friends will still be sent on missions, just with a different leader." He shrugged "Even with that, there probability of deaths' high…but maybe, if YOU lead them, your friends will survive."
Shikamaru paused, which Shikaku took as his cue to continue "You made it back this time, reflect on what happened this time and learn from it, perfect your strategy for the next mission." He looked at his son's back "If you care for your friends…then before you even think of running away, become stronger for them." He glared at his son "THAT's how true friends are supposed to act, you brat!"
'Tough old man.' Temari noted, with approval, looking the elder Nara over as he glared at his son's back 'Just what this guy needs.' She blinked as the door to the operating room opened, revealing the smiling face of the busty godaime Hokage. 'I wonder what she eats to get them that big?' she wondered offhandedly, before looking up as the blonde spoke.
"He's clear." Tsunade called out, taking a seat to relax "The continuous destruction of his cells brought on by the pills has been halted." She elaborated nodding at Shikaku "The Nara clan's medicine guide was a tremendous help, it must have taken years of continuous research to accumulate such knowledge."
"Thank you, Godaime-sama." Shukaku offered with a grateful, world-weary smile "I'd hate to see the look on Choza's face if he lost Chouji."
"Tsunade-sama!" a voice called out, a pleased looking Shizune rounding the corner "We just finished healing Hyuuga Neji, he's in the clear!"
"How did she do?" Tsunade asked, smiling at the girl hanging close to the brunette with a smile. Yanagi waved at her shyly, her hands stained slightly red from the blood.
"Amazing!" Shizune replied, "Short of replacing the blood, we hardly had to do anything to help him! It's a miracle!" She blinked, before coughing, clearing her throat in embarrassment before standing straight "Also Hatake Kakashi Uzumaki Naruto have returned, Naruto-kun was injured, but he's in no danger."
"Quite the contrary." An aged voice spoke out, startling quite a few people with it's suddeness "He's in more danger than you think."
"Who?" Shikaku wondered, only to blink as Tsunade let out an irate squawk, eyes bulging out of his head at the sight of a diminutive old man in a Hawaiian shirt fondling the godaime's assets. Tsunade reared back a hand and swatted the thing, only for it to bounce off the wall, flip in mid-air, and crouch next to a terrified Shizune on his knee, having easily blocked a blow that could have flattened a bull bison.
"W-WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Tsunade roared, getting to her feet in a rage, only to blink as the old man made a double victory sign.
"I am…the mysterious old man!" He chuckled as they stared at him in abject confusion, Tsunade gaping at it disgust, before waving cheerfully at Yanagi "Yo, Yanagi-chan!"
"Ah! Koku-jisan!" the healer called out, her eyes wide as she smiled at the perverted Karyuu, "What are you doing here? Does Recca know?"
"I slipped out while he was chasing after Naruto and the Uchiha brat." Koku replied, patting his shoulder stiffly "Mataku…kids these days, always rushing around." He nodded at Shikamaru "And you, quit worrying so much, you'll go bald."
'Who the hell is this geezer?' Shikamaru wondered, a bead of sweat running down his brow 'He just snuck past six shinobi, one of which being the Hokage herself, only to cop a feel? And what's with the sage advice?'
"Girl's don't dig baldies that's why." Koku replied, shocking the younger Nara out of his thoughts "Just ask any monk, but to the point," he turned to regard Tsunade, his eyes serious behind his sunglasses "we need to talk…"
--
'Where am I?' Naruto wondered, his voice echoing as he gazed at the darkness around him 'What happened? Where's the waterfall? Where's-?!'
"SASUKE?!" he yelled aloud, turning his head as he hovered in the darkness, his eyes wide in concern "TOU-SAN! ANIKI! DOMON?!"
"They can't hear you."
Naruto blinked, looking around in confusion into the darkness, searching for the origin of the voice. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" it called out again, a lilting, echoing tone that sent shivers racing up and down the Hanyou's spine "Feh, and you call yourself a demon?"
"Who the hell are you?!" Naruto snapped out, reaching for his sword that, to his shock, wasn't there anymore "Where am I?!"
"Who am I?" the voice repeated, the echoing, lilting tone filled with dark amusement at the Hanyou's dilemma "Who am I you ask?"
Naruto gaped as a pale, clawed hand suddenly clamped around his neck, he tried to force it off, only to discover, to his horror, that the left side of his bode was disintegrating, like some sort of puzzle. He gazed up in horror at the arm attached to the hand, HIS left hand, following up the reforming arm to espy his assailant, an inverted, red eyed version of the left side of his face, leering maniacally at him the entire time.
"My name is…!"
--
Naruto sat bolt upright, a scream tearing form his throat as he eyed the room in confusion. As his racing heart calmed, he began to wonder how on earth he'd gotten to the hospital, just as the door swung open beside him, revealing a concerned Hinata, dressed in a hospital uniform.
"Hinata?" he wondered, eyeing the wide-eyed Hyuuga heiress in confusion as she stared at him "What're you-GACK!"
Hinata launched herself at the Hanyou with a cry, latching onto him and giving him a hug that reminded the blonde exactly What he'd been doing that might have landed him in the hospital. "H-Hinata!" he managed, gritting his teeth against the creaking of his ribs "Y-you're killing me here!"
Hinata lessened her grip but refused to let go, sobbing slightly as she buried her head in his chest, fingers gripping into the back of his hospital pajamas, as if to validate his existence. Feeling incredibly awkward, the former blonde slowly returned the hug, rubbing her back gently, and calmingly, until her sobs finally stopped. As she raised her head to look at him he smiled and wiped the tears from her cheeks "Missed me huh?"
Hinata flushed and looked down, stepping back and releasing the injured Hanyou as she fought the urge to twiddle her fingers. "O…okairinasai…" she stammered, her face flushed as she avoided his gaze, only to blink as a gentle hand patted her on the head, causing her to look at the smiling object of her affection.
"Tadaima." Naruto replied, his smile warm and grateful, his eyes gentle despite the red ring that encircled the blue. He smiled as she blinked, ruffling her hair and earning a giggle from the heiress, before a loud growl filled the air between them.
"Looks like it's time to feed the beast." Hinata joked hesitantly, earning a quirked eyebrow from the patient, as he made a half-hearted swipe at her, "Stay here, I'll get you something." She shot him an apologetic smile "No ramen, sorry."
Naruto moaned as the heiress shut the door behind her, sinking back onto the hospital bed with a grunt. He suspected the damned things had been specifically designed to make the patient feel uncomfortable, a sentiment shared by anyone who'd spent prolonged stays at the facility.
Closing his eyes he breathed in deeply, the departing scent of lavender that was Hinata already being replaced by the stench of chemical death that was the hospital. Wincing, he stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. He'd been fighting Sasuke, that much he could be certain of, the fact he was covered in wounds and felt like he'd been put through a blender verified that fact even further. But last he'd checked, the only major injury he'd suffered had been the Chidori to the chest…fatal to a normal human, but easily handled by tapping into his father's chakra.
'Otou-san!' Naruto thought hurriedly, sitting up straight at the sudden thought, wondering why he hadn't heard from the Taiyoukai. Closing his eyes he focused on the dreamscape, opening his eyes to find the familiar forest of the retreat. "Otou-san!" he called out, looking around wildly for his demonic sire "Are you here? Otou-san?!"
"Naruto…" a solemn voice called out, Naruto turning to espy the Kyuubi, in human form, standing not ten paces away.
"Otou-san!" the Hanyou sighed, smiling in relief at the sight of his sire, taking a step forward, only to blink as he took note of the solemn frown on the Taiyoukai's face.
"You can't stay here…Naruto." Kyuubi muttered, not approaching his son as he stared into the youth's eyes, frowning as the blonde made to step forward, drawing his sword to drive him back "Come no farther! Until you can control yourself, we can't get too close!"
"Control myself?" Naruto repeated, staring at his father in confusion, this wasn;t like the Taiyoukai at all "What are you talking about?"
"Have you forgotten already?" Kyuubi asked, looking at his son, his blade pointed at the ground "I highly doubt you have."
Naruto would have continued to query, but froze as a chill swept over him, the feeling of something sliding over his skin like ice. He tried to turn his head, only for his eye to widen as he caught sight of the left side of his face in a puddle.
White hair, a pale face, jagged, scar-like whisker marks that seemed to have been clawed onto the cheek. The lips were lined with black, giving the appearance of a smile, distorted further by the leering grin as the blazing red eye lock onto his startled blue.
"Yo, half-ass." The lilting voice from his nightmare greeted mockingly "Come runnin' to pops have ya?" it chuckled "Don't bother…he can't help ya." The leer grew, stretching the skin around the face abnormally "No-one can."
Naruto's scream tore through the mindscape, even as an invisible burst of raw chakra slammed into his chest, forcing him out of it.
--
The scream echoed around the hospital, alerting every available medic, Tsunade, and all those with her to the Hanyou's dilemma. Dropping Koku to the floor like a bad habit, the Godaime tore down the hallways like a stampede, slamming orderlies and startling nurses out of her path, her mind and vision locked on the door to Naruto's room, wondering if Orochimaru had sent someone to finish the boy off.
As she drew near, she entered the room to find Temari's younger brothers, one of them the sand jinchuuriki, the other looking like he was about to faint with terror, trying to hold the struggling teen to the bed, he seemed to be having a fit, fingers clenched and frothy spittle flying from clenched teeth. "Hold him down!" she ordered, lunging towards the bed to push down on the boy's shoulders, eyes widening as she realized why the older brother was so scared.
Naruto's lips were lined with black, the markings on his cheeks deepening to look more like markings and a wild, animalistic light had entered his now fully crimson eyes. Even as she pressed down on him, those eyes locked onto hers, and in them she saw no recognition, no conscious thought, only pure, animalistic fury at his confinement. 'What on earth-?' she wondered, flinching as he began to push forwards 'This strength! Where is he getting it all!?'
"This is bad!" the kabuki wearing sand sibling cried out, struggling to hold the teen's legs down, "Even Gaara was never this bad!"
Gaara said nothing, he merely focused his efforts on restraining the only one he considered an equal, cursing Kimimaro and the battle that had consumed so much of his chakra. If he could only control his sand, restraining Naruto wouldn't have been an issue, as it were, he was putting his all into just holding down one of the teen's legs.
"Hmm…having problems are we?" a voice called out, the group looking up to find Koku perched above the teen's headboard "I told you there'd be trouble," he stated, eyeing the startled Godaime calmly "his demon blood has reached boiling point."
"Bastard!" Tsunade snapped, shooting the lecherous dwarf a glare "if you know so much why don't you DO something?!"
"I intend to." Koku replied, flipping down to kneel on the bed, just out of reach of Naruto's teeth, grabbing the struggling teen's left arm by the wrist even as it swiped his sunglasses off "After all, this IS what I came here for."
Tsunade blinked as flames burst out of the old man's open palm, followed by the revelation of what appeared to be a tekko, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the array of miniature seals inscribed into the metal. Before she could say a another word, he had clamped the metallic cast onto Naruto's arm, the teen going rigid, eyes wide and veins bulging in his neck, before slumping down to the bed, unconscious.
"That should hold him." Koku muttered, watching as Tsunade checked the boy over for injuries "It took me forever to devise a method of sealing off the excess demon chakra, at least without seriously inhibiting the boy's OWN."
Tsunade looked up at the old man and shivered, noting the wisdom in his eyes for the first time, feeling as she'd done when she'd first been brought to meet her grandfather. 'Who is this man?' she wondered, watching as he looked over the boy she regarded as a brother methodically 'He act's like an eccentric old pervert…but that seal…and those eyes…not even Sarutobi sensei had that much strength in his stare!'
"Nee-chan?" a weak voice croaked out, causing the Godaime to switch her gaze to the teen she was holding down "What happened…where am I?"
Tsunade didn't answer, she merely lunged at the teen and held him close, rubbing his suddenly red hair as he struggled futilely to extract himself form her grip, only to freeze as spomething pressed against her bossom, staring at Naruto in shock as she got a proper look at him.
"Neechan?" the former blonde asked, voice cracking from the strain it had endured as he pushed the godaime back slightly "Is something wrong?" he frowned "and why's my voice so damn high?" he blinked, catching sight of the sand brothers for the first time "Gaara! How you been?"
Gaara merely nodded, a dumbfounded expression on his face as he stared at the person he considered his equal. Kankurou's face had turned an interesting shade of magenta, a trail of blood dripping down his nose as he stared at the embracing leaf nins.
"Uh…you two alright?" the Hanyou muttered, looking between the addled brothers in concern "neechan, maybe you should check the –WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Naruto's eyes widened as the Godaime ceased attempting to smother him with her bust and promptly groped his chest. Slapping her hands away, the startled teen covered himself in protest, only to blink as something soft and squeezable entered his grasp. "What the?" he muttered, squeezing it again and blinking at the odd sensation it produced "What the hell is-?" he paled, looking down in disbelief at the bust that would put Fuko to shame, eyes widening in horror as he lifted the blankets to check under his pants.
"Told you there'd be side effects…" Koku muttered, wiping his bloody nose secretly, even as a high-pitched scream tore through the hospital for the second time that day.
--
Yeah...wasn;t expecting THAT little plot twist were ya?
For those wondering about the little Ranma 1/2 refference, this plays a major role in the upcoming sequal.
YES! That's right! Hokage no Isan: Shippuden, is in the planning stages!
Book your advance copies now by sending in an assload of reviews to the usual address!
Just kidding, but seriously, Reviews PLZ!
