023

"Alright, I want you two to spar."

"Wait what?" Naruto blinked, staring at the older man In confusion.

"You know, fight, come to blows, beat the snot out of each other," Jiraiya replied evenly.

"I know what sparring is," Naruto snorted. "But why do Zero Two and I have to fight each other?"

"How else would I be able to determine where to start with your training? I need to know your full capabilities, so don't be afraid to go all out. I'll step in once I've seen all I need to see," The Toad Sage spoke plainly. Naruto was about to object until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced behind him to see Zero Two grinning at him.

"What's wrong Darling, scared of little ole' me? Don't worry, I don't bite~!"

"Yes you do!"

"Oh come on Darling~!" The rosette whined. "It'll be fun. I haven't been able to cut loose for a while now. That sound scum from the prelims wasn't even a good warm-up." Naruto sighed as the sprightly girl bounced back and forth on her heels, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Fine," Naruto finally relented, ignoring his beloved's jubilant cry as he threw and annoyed glower in her direction. "But I'm not falling for any of your cheap tricks this time y'know!"

"All's fair in love and war y'know...Darling~!"

"Yeah well, let's see you sing that same tune when I have you begging for mercy."

"Ooo, that almost sounded like a threat y'know~!

"It's a promise y'know!"

'Dear god...it's like watching two Kushinas go at it.' Jiraiya shuttered. "Alright, alright, save it for the battlefield. And try not to kill each other."

"No promises," the two teens chorused as they stared each other down with matching cocksure grins.

"Fine, whatever. Have at it," Jiraiya waved dismissively as he retreated to a safer distance. 'Okay...let's see just how strong you two are.'

"Neh Darling," Zero Two called our as she finished the last of her stretches, drawing the blond's skeptical gaze. "You're taking me out for dango later after I kick your butt, you know that right?"

"Oh? Someone sure is full of themselves," Naruto rolled his eyes before shrugging off the stiffness in his shoulders.

"Ara Ara~!" Zero Two smirked as she craned her neck. "Last time I check, the score was 63-57 in my favor was it not?"

"Oi! 13 of those wins are because cheated and you kn-"

"Neh Darling...your guard is down y'know~!"

The startled blond didn't even register the sultry whisper echoing throughout his head, let alone stand a chance of evading the lithe appendage barreling towards his face a mere 3 centimeters away. Zero Two's knee crashed into Naruto's face with astute precision, causing the normally sturdy teen to stumble backwards. Without missing a beat, the rosette coiled around her beloved's torso and shifted her weight to slam him into the ground.

"Pinned ya!"

"A cheap shot..." Naruto wheezed as he struggled to draw breath. Zero Two was too preoccupied drowning in her own self praises and was left quite surprised when her blond-haired foundation collapsed beneath her in a plume of smoke. "Eh?!"

She felt a firm grip take hold on her ankle as a chilling chuckle crept into the air. "I expected as much out of you," Naruto scoffed before snatching his mate into the air.

"Oh my~!"

"Now to show you why they call me Uzumaki!"

Naruto suddenly began gyrating in place, picking up speed with each rotation as he flailed a helpless Zero Two about like a rag doll. 'This is getting fun Darling~!' the rosette purred as she directed chakra towards her hands. She slammed her fists into the ground, bringing thier vortex-like spinning to a grinding halt.

Naruto was left dumbfounded by his girlfriend's tenacity, and thus was unsuspecting of the foot that slapped him across the face. He was forced to relinquish his hold of Zero Two's other foot, who was quick to capitalize on the blond's stunned state. She pulled her hands out of the ground before using them as a pivot to sweep her legs underneath Naruto, knocking him off of his own. His face planted into the ground with a dull thud, accompanied by a pain groan. He felt a weight land on his and had to strain his neck to glance over his shoulder. Zero Two was sitting in a low crouch, much like that of a fox, and bearing down on him with a cheshire-like grin.

"Pinned ya again~!"

Naruto was uncharacteristically silent and continued to remain so as Zero Two giggled impishly at yet another small victory. Her chipper demeanor shattered when she felt a strong pulse of chakra, spurring the rosette to quickly vault away. She slid to stop a few meters away from the blond, an astonished expression etched across her features. 'That...killing intent just now...'

"Neh Hime...I guess I haven't really been fair huh?" Naruto spoke shakily, slowly pushing himself to his feet. "Here you are giving me your all, and I'm still holding back, which isn't fair to you y'know. For that, I am sorry Hime," Naruto offered a sincere smile. Never once in the myriad of times that he has sparred with his erratic mate had he ever used his full strength against her. It was mostly subconscious, yet he could never bring himself to oppose. The mere thought of him harming his beloved, accidentally or not, made the blood in his veins freeze. He wouldn't even be able to live with himself.

But he was now starting to realize that he may have been doing more harm than good. They promised to get stronger together so that they could finally leave this forsaken village and Zero Two was certainly giving it her all. She found the thrill of battle intoxicating, and to not come at her with his full strength was the most disrespectful and unforgivable thing he could possibly do. And he'd eaten her entire stash of dango once while she was in the shower purely out of spite. "You're strong Hime. And as much as I love you, I think you're starting to get a little too full of yourself." The air around Naruto seemingly dropped a few degrees as he rose to his full height. A flash of vermillion streamed through his eyes and another burst of chakra shook the earth. "Allow me to remind you which one of us is the Alpha."

"OH~?!" Zero Two beamed, jade eyes vibrating with excitement. "Finally! I've been waiting for this Darling~!" Kurama's chakra bled into her system, staining both her eyes ominous shade of crimson. "How I've longed for this moment! Come at me Darling~!"

Naruto met the rosette's lustful gaze with a flinty one of his own. "Don't worry Hime. I'll carve my love into your very flesh."

"I love it when you talk dirty to me~!"

Jiraiya could only blankly at the sight before him. Then again, there wasn't much to see considering he was having a hard time keeping up with the duo's movements. He wasn't sure what words were exchanged between the two, but The both of them were now channeling chakra from the Nine-Tails. 'Reading the Old Man's report is one thing, but to actually see it in action is astounding. To think she is actually capable of not only siphoning the chakra of a Tailed Beast, but also able to wield it as her own. You certainly are a terrifying creature Zero Two.'The lines on the elderly Sage's face extended further down to his chin and his nose grew slightly as he began tapping into the natural energy around him. With this, he would be able to better follow the ensuing spar. 'Feels like we're only scratching the surface right now. Now, show me what you two can really do.'

Naruto and Zero Two went at each other like bloodthirsty demons, clashing repeatedly as they blurred in and out of sight. Zero Two in particular was enjoying herself. 'Amazing! It's like Darling turned into an entirely different person!' She had spent weeks now trying to get him to drop his whole chivalrous act. She had watched him train with Sasuke many a times and he never came at her with the same intensity that he did the Uchiha. Until now that is. Naruto was the most resilient person she knew, but even he would crack if you pressed the right buttons long enough. And she was all too familiar with said buttons.

She deflected a hook aimed at her temple and took a quick advancing step into Naruto's guard, surprising the blond with quick elbow strike to the nose. "Come on Darling, I thought you were gonna punish me? I've been a bad girl after all~!" Naruto only responded by throwing his arms around her, trapping the rosette in a tight bear hug. "Kinky~!" Zero Two purred. "But now isn't the time to get all fris-"

"Secret Sword."

'Shit!'

"Moonlight!"

Employing a similar tactic he'd seen Zabuza use on Kakashi, Naruto used a shadow clone as a decoy and tore through it with his sword to land a decisive strike on the unsuspecting Zero Two. The rosette was sent careening from the blow and skipped across the dirt before skidding to a halt.

"Oi, Oi! What's the big idea Darling?" Zero Two spoke blankly with an inkling of annoyance in her tone. "Using the back of the blade are we?"

"That was merely a demonstration Hime," Naruto said cooly as he settled into a Ko Gasumi No Kamae stance. "Come. It seems you still require instruction."

Contrary to her standoffish tone, Zero Two was still feeling the effects of his previous attack. 'Darling is definitely striking with more force than usual, and his speed is nothing like it was before. This is your true power huh Darling? How adorable!'

"Guess that means I'll have to get serious too then. Dragon Vein!" Crimson chakra exploded to life around the rosette like a column of fire. Her horns had an eerie vermillion glow that dyed her hair a vibrant shade of carmine. Naruto merely scoffed at the exorbitant display. 'You see this Kurama? Using your chakra against me of all people.'

"Tch...the audacity of your mate I swear."

'It one of the things I love most about her honestly. But now its time to put her in her place.'

"That is literally the best idea you've had all year."

'Give it a rest already.'

"Argentea!" Zero Two's chakra spiked once more as fire danced around her forearms. The flames dispersed to reveal the sleek black metal of her claws. "Now the fun begins! Let's dance Darling~!"

Crimson chakra bubbled out of Naruto's pores and quickly took on the form of a fox that enveloped his entire frame. "Yes, let's."

The ground beneath their feet shattered before the duo disappeared in a flash. Their physical forms seemed to fade away, reconstructed into dazzling crimson streaks that cavorted with one another and gave birth to spectacle of sparks that illuminated the field. Zero Two assaulted her beloved from every angle imaginable, her eyes diligently studying his every move and watching for the slightest slip in his defenses. But Naruto remained steadfast and unwavering against the rosette's barrage. 'Darling sure is one tough cookie I'll give him that. Damn, maybe I shouldn't have ask Yūgao to train him. She's gone and corrupted my cute little furry.'

Naruto's aptitude for growth was absolutely staggering, and the last 3 months were a glaring indication of it. He might come off as aloof, dense, and even a bit of an idiot at times, but he had an instinctive knack for combat and was incredibly cunning. He had this strange guiding force about him that allowed him to grow stronger with every fight, win or lose. He was headstrong and stubborn, constantly searching for ways to improve himself even if it was by the smallest of margins, and that was done of the things she loved most about him. But now wasn't the time to be admiring her mate. This bout of blades was about asserting dominance within their small skulk and her sweet reynard was about to learn that it was the vixen who was in charge.

"Fox Hunt!"

Zero Two focused chakra into her limbs, further enhancing her speed and strength. Naruto immediately found himself trapped within a dome of darkness. 'Shit...it just had to come to this,' He mentally cursed as he prepared himself for the oncoming attack. The darkness was a Genjutsu that served as the first layer of her technique. It disoriented the victim by interfering with their senses, leaving them at the mercy of the rosette's blindingly fast attacks. And unfortunately for Naruto, it served as a hard counter due to his inaptitude for the illusionary art. He was at least able to recognize and dispel basic genjutsu now, but he still struggled with more advanced techniques.

'Damn it, I can't get a read on her. You picking up anything Kurama?'

"Unfortunately, no. As much as I hate to admit it, your vixen is exceptionally skilled in the art of war. It doesn't help that I'm forced to use your senses as a proxy and you're shit when it comes to genjutsu."

'Would you lay off already?'

"Fire-Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Naruto was drawn out of his thoughts when he suddenly surrounded by a massive cluster of fireballs. They collapsed upon him as swiftly as the appeared, alarming the blond.

'Well...'

"Shit."

Zero Two watched on from afar, her devilish grin widening as her handiwork took effect. She had been inspired by Haku's use of his ice mirrors and decided to replicate his technique. Rather than lure her opponent into a dizzying dance with speedy movements, she opted to assault them from every angle imaginable with a fiery hailstorm. Her smile widened ever so slightly when she felt a massive surge in chakra. A blade of wind tore through smokescreen that had kicked up from the explosive sneak attack along with a nauseating semblance that descended the area and forced the air pressure to skyrocket.

Zero Two's eyes sided with glee when she caught sight of a golden silhouette emerging from the smoke. "STRELITZIA!" The rosette's chakra cloak detonated, engulfing her in flames. They danced across her skin, rubricating it before forming a fox-like shroud around her as Strelitzia manifested in a flash of brilliance. Zero Two seized her long-time partner with a flourish and began pouring chakra into the glaive. "That's it Darling~! Come ate me with everything you-"

"You're wide open Hime."

Zero Two felt a sharp, gut-wrenching pain pierced through her solar plexus, expelling the air from her lungs. A hand enclosed around her neck, further debilitating the rosette, but what truly frightened her was the sharp tug on her chakra. In less than a second, the crimson chakra flooding her system was completely drained out of her body, causing her protective cloak to evaporate. Her connection to the Tailed Beast's power had been effectively severed. She was flung harshly to the ground, collapsing with a desperate cough as she struggled to draw breath.

But she wasn't given a moment's rest and a streak of light brought her face to face with a pair of glaring blood red orbs. Zero Two was left stunned by the frosty glare and daunting face that drifted over her. As the blade brandished by this demonic entity was brought plummeting towards her skull, Zero Two was overcome by an emotion that she ha doing since buried. But the unhallowed claws of fear had clawed their way up from the depths of her psyche and sank their talons into the young kunoichi. Her eyes instinctively clenched tightly in anticipation of a final blow, which was why she was left bewildered by the soft tap on her nose.

"Boop."

Viridian eyes snapped open in a panic. Zero Two could only stare up in confusion as her mind worked slowly to process what just happened. Naruto was hovering over her with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

He swooped down and stole a kiss from his dumbfounded mate and rested his forehead against her own. "Guess that makes this my victory, neh Hime?"

"D-Darling..."

"You two...are really something else." Jiraiya appeared above them.

"What? You said go all out," Naruto shrugged.

"Yeah I know, but what in the actual hell was that?!"

Their words were tuned out by the abnormally quiet Zero Two, her full attention directed at the blond straddling her. She was still having difficulty registering the sheer amount malice that her beloved had radiated. She had never once been scared of him due to his status as a Jinchūriki, much less worry that he would actually cause her harm. But just now, for the slightest second, she felt genuine fear for her life. Her plan of antagonizing him repeatedly during their sparring sessions over the last 2 months had completely backfired. Mostly, she just wanted him to take her seriously in all aspects. It was rather difficult to facilitate their growth as shinobi if he was always holding back against her. She had also been curious to the full scope of the blond's strength. But Naruto let go more than she had anticipated. He came after with the intent to kill, even making her believe he would up until the final moment. And almost immediately he had returned to his normal, cheerful self.

'It would appear that Darling's anger runs a lot deeper than he lets on. I'll have to get him to open up more about his feelings. But for now...' The rosette found herself plagued by yet another distant emotion. Something about the way her beloved overpowered her and how she was left completely helpless at his mercy lit a fire of excitement within the rosette. Unlike the normal euphoria of battle that she often relished in, Zero Two felt an enkindling sensation swell up in her abdomen that surged throughout her body like a paralyzing lightning jutsu. Her mouth was dry, her skin felt clammy, and her moistening nether regions were starting to make her squirm. It was irritation that she was always subjected to once a year thanks to the klaxosaur blood coursing through her veins. But now that she had been reunited with her one true love, it was feeling that she longed to indulge in. Zero Two's mind was a swarm of emotions but there was there one clear cognition that she had settled on 'I can't wait to bear our children~!'

"That golden form Naruto...was that the Nine-Tails power that the Old Man mentioned?" Jiraiya queried.

"Oh that? Figures he would've you if he asked you to train me," Naruto said blankly as he adjusted Zero Two in his lap, eliciting a squeak out of her. He steadied himself before rising to his feet, carrying the rosette in his arms like a newly wed bride. She had been so lost in thought that she didn't even notice the shift in their positions until he stood up. "It is, but it's something that I'm still not able to control quite yet.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Well, the first time I ever used this power was when Kurama brought me back from the brink of death. It kinda hard to explain y'know. It was almost like when I enter my one-tailed state but my power and speed is far superior, especially the latter. My body just feels lighter than a feather. And just now when I was talking to Kurama, we came to an agreement I guess to not lose to Hime and it just sorta...happened." Naruto shrugged.

'I see...the Nine-Tails was acting out of self preservation before. I can't quite grasp his relationship with the beast, but if it was willing to assist the boy in a petty squabble such at this then it doesn't seem to be one of hostility or deceit. Definitely have to look further into this...' Jiraiya mused as his eyes fell on the atypically silent Zero Two. "And what's your deal pinky?"

"Let's not beat around the bush here. I'm sure the Old Man explained to you about how Hime is capable of siphoning chakra, even that of a Tailed Beast." Naruto spoke, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"He did, but I'm asking her-"

"Well I'm telling you. Think of her as the same as me, only with a finite supply of Kurama's chakra. We sparred like you asked, so now what Pervy Sage?"

'Cheeky little shit...' Jiraiya mentally cursed his godson. It was like he had all the skill and promise of his father and the impishness of his mother. "Tomorrow. 0500. You want to be trained, then I'm going to spend every waking moment driving you both into the dirt every day until the final roll around. Don't be late." Without even waiting for a response, the elderly Sannin dispersed in a cloud of smoke.

"Tch...I don't care if he is a Sannin or if he trained my father, I don't like him," Naruto scoffed. He was anticipating an equally snide comment out of his beloved, which is why his brow furrowed in confusion when it never came. He glanced down at the girl in his arms and was taken aback. Her face was flushed of all color save for the rosy blush dusting her cheeks. She was staring off to the distance and wore contented smile. He wasn't sure what exactly or why, but he could sense something different about his beloved. This was the most docile he had ever seen her, and that was including whenever she was asleep.

"Just how slow can you be? I thought it was obvious already."

'Oh, and I suppose the "All Knowing" Nine-Tails can understand the inner workings of the human female's mind?'Naruto shot back. Technically Zero Two was only half human, but it was a common consensus that all girls were equally confusing.

"A monkey? Fucking gross! As for females, it's simple biology."

'Meaning...?'

"Look, all females long for a strong mate. As annoying as she is, that vixen loves you to hell and back. But she had yet to actually acknowledge and respect you as the Alpha. Until now."

'Wait...huh? You mean that stuff I said before the fight? I was just caught in the moment trying to intimidate her y'know.'

"And she took it as a challenge. You two clashed at full strength and she lost. Glad to see you finally stopped being such a little bitch."

'Oi-'

"Shut up. I told you already that form burns through my chakra at an alarming rate since you have no concept of the word "control" and I need to sleep."

'Bu-'

"Sleep!"

Naruto could only shake his head in amusement when Kurama forcibly closed off their connection. He considered the old fox's words as he gaze fondly at his girlfriend.

"Neh, Hime."

She was still deep in thought and he could only guess what she was going through her mind. But the nauseating aura of jubilation she was emitting right was enough to ease his concerns. "Hi~me." He coddled, giving her a gentle shake.

"Huh, wha-" Zero Two's head snapped towards the direction of his voice and immediately locked eyes with the blond. She felt entire body heat up and a blush spread across her entire face under Naruto's inquisitive gaze. "Y-Yes Darling?"

"Still in the mood for some Dango?"

"B-But...I lost..?"

"I know. Doesn't mean I can't still spoil the princess though," Naruto grinned as he set off for the village. A smirk crossed the blond features when he noticed his beloved's face now matched her hair completely. 'Alpha huh? I can totally get used to this y'know.'

Days until left Finals: 29

"Onward Darling~!"

"Ugh...you were born with two legs for a reason y'know."

"Yeah but I like using yours~!"

Naruto let out a dejected sigh as he flew through the treetops of the forest surrounding the village with Zero Two firmly secured to his backside. He was already starting to miss her more docile side, which was incredibly short lived. After their spar yesterday, they stopped for dango and he audaciously took it upon himself to go after the final stick. It was at that moment his beloved returned to her normal stubborn, feisty self and nearly set fire to the small stand to defend her delicacy. As much Mrs. Tanaka loved them for their excessive patronage, namely Zero Two's, they were still banned for a whole week.

After 10 minutes of running, they finally arrived at the designated training ground and were surprised to see Jiraiya already waiting. He was standing in the middle of the field scribbling away in a small notepad, giggling like the girls in the academy whenever they saw Sasuke pass through the halls.

"Great. The sun isn't up and he already doing something perverted." Naruto snorted as Zero Two gracefully dismounted her steed.

"I'll have you know I am working on a masterpiece here. This will be my greatest work yet!" Jiraiya snapped at the blond.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Naruto waved him off. "So what now Pervy Sage?"

The Sannin's eye twitched in annoyance as a vein bulged just above his brow. "Well, first brat I need to know what it is exactly that you're trying to improve on. There's a whole slew of intermediate and advanced skills I can teach you, but that will be the foundation for your training. We'll start with you Naruto since you're feeling mouthy."

"Well, I wanted to work on my kenjutsu, but you don't seem like much of a swordsman and I haven't seen Hayate-sensei since prelims. Other than that..." Naruto brought a hand to his chin a she began to ponder. "I guess it would be nice to have better mastery over Kurama's chakra. Perhaps then I can finally learn how to tap into that golden form regularly. Maybe add a few Jutsu to my arsenal while I'm at it."

"I see...and what about you Pinky?"

Zero Two threw a glare in the old fart's direction, but he wasn't fazed in the slightest. "Like Darling, I took wish to perfect my proficiency with Kurama's chakra. My Dragon Vein technique increases my physical prowess exponentially, but it burns through chakra at an alarming rate so it's not ideal for extended confrontations. I think some extensive chakra control would do me some good so that I can make the best use of the finite supply that I have. Having some more long-range jutsu on hand wouldn't hurt I suppose."

'Hm...chakra control and new Jutsu huh? I can kill two birds with one stone. But training with the Nine-Tails chakra might be tricky. I'll have to prepare some more seals, just to be safe,' Jiraiya mused. "Alright, I'll need some time to put together a training regimen for you both, so in the meantime I want you guys to get warmed up. After you're all stretched, I want you to start with a couple laps around the village."

"Sounds easy enough," Naruto smirked as he rolled his shoulders.

"Good, then you should be able to finish all 20 in no time then."

"20?!" Naruto gaped.

"Oi what the hell are you smoking you old pervert? The village is like 25km in diameter!" Zero Two snapped.

"First of all, that's Super Pervert to you missy. But I did forget to take that into consideration. Let's make it 50 then." Jiraiya nodded as he clapped his hands together.

"50?! You mus-"

"Shall we shoot for 100?"

A satisfied expression settled onto the Toad Sage's face when both teens fell silent. "Ah that's what I thought. You guys only have until noon so I suggest you get a move on it." He suddenly felt rejuvenated at the sound of Naruto and Zero Two's groans echoing across the empty glade as they set off to complete their assigned task. 'Might as well start by building up their stamina first while I work out a game plan.'

"Neh Darling, let's race~!"

"What? No, it's too early for this."

"But Daahling~!"

"Don't give me that. And not falling for the puppy eyes this time y'know!"

'God what haven't I gotten myself into...'

Days left until Finals: 23

"Neh Pervy Sage, question."

Jiraiya let out an exasperated sigh as he turned to face his student. That stupid name was going to stick at this rate. "What do you want brat?"

"I already know it'll be a bit of a stretch, but do you by chance know any kenjutsu?" Naruto queried.

"Can't say that I do. My expertise lie mostly in Fuinjutsu. Why do you ask?"

"Well you see, I used the money we got from our S-rank mission and some of my savings to place a special order at the weapon's shop, and I was looking to adapt my style. Normally I would ask Hayate-sensei questions on this subject but I can't seem to track him down and Yūgao-née has been away on a mission for the last three weeks." The blond explained. He had even gone to Sasuke's house to see if the Uchiha had any pointers or scrolls lying around. It was the only other lead he had to work with since the style Yūgao had taught him was mostly derived from an old Uchiha art, but Sasuke was nowhere to be found either.

"I see...and what sort of style were you looking to pick up?"

"Dual wielding. Kind of."

"Kind of?"

"Kind of."

The Toad Sage eyed his charge suspiciously. "Well...unfortunately, I don't know much outside of basic hand-to-hand combat with a kunai."

"Damn...guess I'll just have to use what I know and make it up as I go," Naruto clicked his tongue as he started to brainstorm. "Who knows, maybe I'll just create up own style y'know."

"Wait...what?" The Sannin blinked. "You can't just create your own kenjutsu style on a whim!"

"And why the hell not?!" Naruto huffed.

"Look brat even if you did, it's not something that you would be able to pull out at the finals. It takes years to master the sword." Jiraiya was caught by surprise when he was immediately surrounded by a horde of Narutos.

"Me and my 200 shadow clones beg to differ y'know!" They chorused.

"That's...a fair point I suppose." Jiraiya relented. He had completely forgotten about the blond's monstrous training method. It took him years of hardwork, dedication, and experience to perfect his skills to level that they were at now, while his godson could do it in a matter of weeks with his shadow clones. Honestly, it was absolutely cheating if you asked him. "Alright you cheeky brat since you're feeling so energetic, Zero Two!" The rosette was busy with a chakra control exercise when she heard the sudden call of her name. She glanced over in their direction and tilted her head in confusion when caught sight of her beloved's shadow clone army. "If you catch the real Naruto in the next 10 minutes, I'll buy two cases of dango."

"Eh?" Came the girl's intelligible response.

"Eh?!" All 200 clones parroted.

"I'll double it if you hogtie him."

"What the hell Pervy Sage?!" Naruto snapped at the older man. His anger was immediately quelled and he felt a chill slither down his spine when a saccharine voice called out to him.

"Oh Darling~!"

"I suggest you get to running brat."

Days left until a Finals: 16

"Alright you two bring it in."

"Huh? What's up Perv-Ow!"

"Oh my god I'm so sorry Darling!"

Zero Two immediately rushed to the blond's side. She had been so caught up in their that she didn't even register the Sannin's presence until she had already belted an unsuspecting Naruto in the face. "Are you ok Darling? It's not swollen is it?"

"I'm fine Hime. I'm not a kid y'know," Naruto shrugged away from the rosette with a grumble. He loved her, he really did. But right now the last thing he wanted was to be touched by the person that sucker punched him in the eye.

"Oh shut up you big baby and let me worry about you. Somebody has to y'know!"

'God...this sense of deja vu is uncanny,' Jiraiya nearly faulted at the sight of Zero Two fussing over Naruto. "Girls, girls, you're both pretty. Now hush up. It's time for me to teach you a new jutsu."

Naruto was just about to snap at the Sannin when he finally processed his words. "Wait what was that about a new Jutsu?"

"Figures you heard that part. I swear, you're just like your mother," Jiraiya shook his head. "Anyway, I was originally just going to teach you Naruto, since this is your father's own original technique. But you're kind of spineless when it comes to Zero Two, and she would most likely pester you until you showed it to her as well."

"Oi!"

"You're not wrong y'know," the aforementioned rosette giggled.

"So I going to save you the trouble and teach it to both of you. Here, each of you take one of these," Jiraiya said before tossing a small balloon to each teen.

"Is there...water inside of these?" Zero Two gave the flimsy orb a gentle shake, confirming her suspicions.

"Let me explain first before you get to asking questions. Firstly, there's the tree walking exercise, which teaches one how to gather and maintain chakra in certain parts of their body. The water walking exercise teaches one how to release and control steady amount of it. You've both mastered this, which will help significantly when it comes to learning this jutsu. Now observe." Jiraiya held out his hand in which he held another water balloon. Naruto and Zero Two watched carefully and were surprised to balloon start to distort wildly out of shape before finally exploding. "Now what did that look like to you?"

"It was like...the water was going crazy inside. You were making it...spin?" Naruto mused.

"More or less," Jiraiya shrugged. "The goal is to apply what you've learned from the tree walking exercise to gather chakra into your palm and then utilize the water walking technique to release a steady stream of it."

"I think I get it. We're supposed to use our chakra to spin the water inside of the balloon until it pops correct? Something like this." Zero Two lifted her own balloon and began to focus as she gathered chakra into her hand. There was no evident reaction at first, but soon the balloon to warp and twist violently before finally rupturing.

"T-That is exactly right," Jiraiya stared in bewilderment. It had taken him a whole month to learn this step and her Zero Two managed to get it down after only seeing it once. "Um...well then. This is unexpected. I guess you can move on to the 2nd step Zero Two. Nicely done."

"Well I am pretty awesome y'know," the rosette replied smugly with a flip of her hair. "Try not to fall too far behind Darling. Ohohohohoho~!" She let out an obnoxious as she brought a hand to her chin.

"Tch, whatever! It can't be all that difficult," Naruto huffed before making attempt himself. He could feel the water sloshing about inside of the balloon but wasn't able to spin and churn it to the degree that they could.

"Hohooo~? What's this? Darling can't seem to spin his chakra to break this wittle old ballon~?" Zero Two loomed over him haughtily.

"Shut up!"

"And you call yourself an Uzumaki."

"Will you stop pestering me while I train!"

"Darling has always been such a sore loser. Such a shame~!"

"Go away Hime!"

"Awwww, are you gonna cry?"

"Pervy Sage!"

'They're like children,' The old sage sighed, not even bothering to hide his dead pan expression. 'Well, at least they're great at motivating one another...'

Days left until Finals: 10

Jiraiya was slowly drowning in apprehension as he observed the meditating teens sitting before him. 'Damn...this can't possibly be his limit, can it?.' The Toad Sage was currently overseeing the teens' meditation as they worked to control the Nine-Tails' chakra. After three days, Naruto was able to draw out four tails worth of chakra, but she still wasn't able to reach the golden state.

Zero Two had come a long way herself. She was now able to maintain her Dragon Vein state for 15 mins, which was quite a jump up from her original five. He was certain that she would be able to push it to at least 45 minutes with the 10 days they still had left before the finals. After all, she managed to master the Fourth Hokage's jutsu in only three. Considering her chakra control had risen to the point that she was able to balance herself on the surface of water with just the tip of her finger now, he honestly wasn't surprised. It was also a fact that she made sure Naruto was aware of with each passing day. The blond was still struggling with the 3rd step.

But in regards to his current training, Jiraiya began to suspect that it wasn't a problem with the Nine Tails. At first, he assumed that it was a lack of cooperation and coordination. According to Zero Two, Naruto and Kurama bicker back and forth more often than not, which honestly did not surprise the Sannin. Naruto's personality was definitely one that was capable of annoying even a legendary Tailed Beast. But the rosette affirmed that the duo had set aside their differences to discover a solution. The root of the problem was becoming more and more clear to Jiraiya.

'It must be the seal.' It was specifically designed to contain and suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra until it was eventually absorbed into Naruto's own. Right now, Naruto was attempting to forcibly draw that chakra out, which was starting to cause a great deal of strain on the seal. If the blond kept up at this rate, he estimated the seal would only hold out for another two months. 'I could repair the seal now, but the boy is determined to master this newfound power. It would just be delaying the inevitable. 'Of course there is always that...' the Sage mused.

As Naruto's Godfather, Minato has entrusted the Toad Sage with the key to unlocking Naruto's seal. He also left behind instructions for a new seal in the event Naruto ever wished to fully tame the Nine-Tails. Could this be what Minato was talking about? Even if Naruto was on friendly terms with the beast, could it truly be trusted? It must have an ulterior motive in all of this. "Naruto, a word." He called out to his godson.

"Huh?" The blond snapped to attention at the sound of his name. The Shrowd of chakra enveloping him dispersed as he glanced up at his godfather in confusion. "What is it Pervy Sage?"

"While I do agree that being able to utilize the chakra of the Nine-Tails in a pinch would be beneficial, don't you think you're going a bit too far?" Jiraiya queried.

Naruto's head tilted in confusion. "What the hell are you going on about Pervy Sage?"

"Do you realize that the more of its chakra that you draw out, the more your seal weakens, and the easier it is for the Beast to take over your body?"

"Yeah so? Kurama wouldn't do something like that. He's way too lazy. Besides, I trust him. We made a promise after all."

"Promise?!" Jiraiya exclaimed. "How could you possibly place so much trust in the monster that killed your parents? What makes you so sure he won't do the same to you?!"

"Well unlike you and the rest of the world, I don't view Kurama as a monster. He had about as much of a choice in this matter as I did. That's why I promised to find a way to free the both of us from this imprisonment. I would rather work together with him than blame him for something beyond his control. Besides, Kurama is my oldest friend. He's been there since the very beginning, which is more than you can say Godfather."

"I suppose you have a point there..." Jiraiya flinched under the blond's cold stare. He still thought it would be best to wait until Naruto was older, but the seal would not last much longer. At least this way he would be able to supervise Naruto and Zero Two in a controlled environment and could prepare the necessary countermeasures should the situation get too out of hand. If Minato had enough faith in his son to tame the most powerful of all the Tailed Beasts, then it was his job as the boy's godfather to help guide him. He wasn't there for Naruto in the past, so at the very least he could be there for him now. He just really hoped he wouldn't come to regret this. "Come here Naruto, I think I've figured out what the problem is."

Days until the Finals: 2

"Daaahling!"

Zero Two moped her way out of the bathroom and spotted Naruto lying on the couch. His eyes had been glued to the television but hearing his beloved's call was enough to draw his attention. "Huh?"

The rosette drug her feet across the floor, sluggishly crossing the room with a displeased pout etched onto her features. She collapsed onto the blond with out warning and groaned into his chest. "I can't feel my arms," Zero Two whined. She had spent majority of the day trying to master the final step of the Fourth Hokage's jutsu, which was introducing elemental chakra. This was a tricky process for her given her fire affinity and the volatile nature of the jutsu. Naruto actually had it easy this time around since wind chakra was fairly easy to manipulate once you got a good feel for it.

"You and me both Hime," Naruto chuckled as he ran his free hand through the curtain of Sakura petals now enveloping his torso. He couldn't exactly put his finger on it, but something was definitely different about his dearly beloved. Her hair was a lot softer now and had this glossy sheen to it that made it sparkle. And much like himself, Zero Two used to have this piney, forestry scent with a hint of honey about her. But now she always smelled of apples and cinnamon. It was quite pleasant actually. He always enjoyed being close together with her like this, but nowadays he couldn't wait to drown in her assuaging aura.

"Neh Darling?"

"Hm?"

"Is that a kunai in your pocket or are you just happy to see me~?"

"A-AH!" Naruto struggled to find his words as he found himself face to face with a grinning Zero Two. He had been so lost in thought in one head that he hadn't even noticed the other was stirring awake. "I-I mean...you come in here fresh out the shower and just dump all of this soft flesh on me! I have hormones y'know!"

He was silenced by kiss stolen by the impish rosette. "I noticed...you reek of them y'know~!" She purred, nibbling on the blond's collarbone. Lightning surged throughout Naruto's body, causing rhapsodic sparks to dance across his skin. "H-Hime...?"

"Neh Darling...patience was never really my strong suit y'know. But I've been waiting for this day fo so long now," Zero Two hummed, grinding her svelte supple form against Naruto's strong and sturdy one. "I want you~!"

Naruto gulped audibly. Their bodies were meshed so close together that they were on the verge of melting into one another. It appeared he would not be able to escape his beloved's advances so easily this time around. It didn't help that she was emitting this beguiling musk that was starting to drive him crazy, stirring up primal emotions from deep within. "W-Wait Hime! Shouldn't we uh...wait y'know?" He stammered.

"Why? I've already decided to spent the rest of my life with you, so what's the point in waiting? I love you with all my heart Darling and I want to give my everything to you. Become one with me Darling~!" The rosette purred as she nipped at her mate's neck.

"Y'know...you make it hard to disagree with you...when you get like this," Naruto growled as he returned the rosette's playful ministrations.

"Then don't~!"

Naruto let out a defeated sigh as the last of his resolve withered away. "Are you sure about this Hime...?" His leg was soaked and her pheromones were making his senses go haywire. It was impossible to ignore the passion dripping from her lips.

"I can't be anymore certain than I already am~!"

"Alright. It's just that everything that's been going on..."

"Darling."

"With the finals coming up..."

"Darling..."

"And that creep Orochima-"

"Dar~ling~!"

"Huh?"

"Just shut up and kiss me already."

"Y-yes ma'am."

Ok I'll keep it short. My computer broke the same day I posted that updated. I came home from work and it would not start. I couldn't get it fixed until yesterday because I had to save up these last couple months for moving expenses (got a brand new apartment!). I wasn't going to rewrite the entire chapter over again and I felt like another update would just add insult to injury so I decided to wait. In the mean time, I caught up on Demon Slayer, Black Clover, My Hero Academia, AND even started Bleach manga. I also read the manwhas Solo Leveling and The Breaker (New Waves too). I am disgusted at the sheer amount of story ideas this endeavor has given me. I think it's safe to expect some random one shots every now and then. OH! I also started drawing again you guys and it's turning about a lot better than expected. (the Zenitsu in my new profile pic is my handiwork).

Anyway, we're winding down to the final few chapters. I decided to just make part 2 a separate story, but I don't think it will be as long as this one. No more than 100k words (hopefully). Once again, I'm sorry for the super delay you guys but I was busy adulting unfortunately. But rest assured, I will NOT abandon this story. It's my favorite after all. As always, RR and let me know what you think!

-Chi

P.S You guys can save your breath asking for a lemon(s) because it is literally never going to happen. For one I'm pretty sure the site started cracking down on those a few years ago, but even still it's just to weird for me. I can handle romance but writing erotica is way too awkward of an experience for me. (I have actually made the attempt once for Thunder Maidens lol)