Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
A/N:
"human speech"
'human thoughts'
"bijuu/summon speech"
'bijuu/summon thoughts'
...o0o...
Naruto: The Red Spiral
Chapter 1: Last day of Uzumaki Naruto
...o0o...
Secrets.
In Konoha, everyone knew about 'demon child', 'fox boy', or in other words about Uzumaki Naruto being jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Everyone knew about it. everyone except for him. The only person, to whom this secret was really important was kept ignorant. All to find out about being jinchuuriki from a traitor of all people, from a traitor that deceived him before. How could he trust his village if the traitor was more honest to him than all other people than Hokage? How many more secrets about him Konoha held? But this made his resolve even harder. To be Hokage so nobody could keep secrets from him!
Neglect.
Whatever Naruto did in his life, however hard did he try, it didn't matter to anyone. He was always 'that boy', 'loser', 'dobe', 'deadlast', and other 'proud' titles. No matter how hard he tried, what he managed to accomplish, it was never enough.
He learned Kage Bunshin no Jutsu in mere hours. A-rank technique! In a couple of hours! That was something even jounins couldn't accomplish, but he did. And what? "Oh fine, Naruto, you did well." Well? He managed to do something only one in a thousand can do... screw it, one in ten thousand shinobi. "You deserve this rank, Naruto, now you are genin of Konohagakure no Sato. Wear this headband with pride!" He was told. And he did! Finally, he was closer to his goal, he finally became a ninja, but what next? Instead of normal sensei, one that will take care of his students like a father or older brother, that will teach and guide, he got some Shikamaru's level lazy ass, who could care less. "You need to learn basics, Naruto. Without basics, you can't build up your skills." And that's it! Just one advice and all, nothing more. The only helpful thing that was taught was tree walking. The only thing in half a year!
Then happened something, that can be considered a miracle. Jiraiya of the Sannin appeared in his life and agreed to teach HIM. Nameless orphan became a student of one of the legendary ninjas of Konoha. But then again was he interesting to this man? Or was it Kyuubi? Naruto wasn't smart, his natural hyperactivity and lack of proper academical study took care of it, but he was good at reading people, at reading their souls. He was sure, that there was something more about him than just being nobody and jinchuuriki. Maybe, if he were smarter, he could realize all secrets about him...
His new sensei even taught him his own summoning jutsu. With corrected taijutsu and his natural battle instincts, he won Neji, the man who was considered a prodigy among the Hyuuga clan. With summoning jutsu he managed to beat Gaara, jinchuuriki of One-Tailed Beast, and even Ichibi himself, when he manifested. He took down prodigy, the strongest genin in the village, and a monster, whom his rival Uchiha Sasuke couldn't win. And what he got in return? "Oh, fine." "You did well, but not enough." "Next time you can become chuunin." Always next time, always people ignoring his achievements. But he got a mission, a mission to bring new Hokage, mission with a Sannin, Jiraiya. Jiraiya decided to teach him a new jutsu! A jutsu, created by Fourth himself. Rasengan! He showed him steps and... Disappeared to waste his time on peeping and whoring. Naruto knew that Jiraiya taught Fourth and Fourth taught Kakashi, he thought that maybe something was wrong with this teacher-student line? How can he get strong, when nobody willed to help? Maybe with the new Hokage, things could be different?
But no. The Upcoming Hokage turned to be a drunk woman hiding under powerful genjutsu to conceal her age. "Brat" "How could you teach Rasengan to a brat?" "Like I would let a brat berate me" Damn, he was a genin with Kage-level chakra reserves! He almost got technique with took Fourth three years to create, which took Jiraiya himself a year! He almost took down in one month. He made a bet, a bet he was going to win.
But that hag decided to betray them and accept a deal from Orochimaru of all people. Even now that grey-haired bastard Kabuto was belittling him.
...o0o...
"You will never be as strong as Sasuke-kun," taunted Kabuto.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "Don't underestimate me!" he shouted back.
"I don't see what should I underestimate, Naruto-kun," Kabuto chuckled swinging a chakra scalpel aiming to kill or maim Naruto, "All I see is a pathetic boy, whose only value is the bijuu you hold. You are not from a famous clan, like Sasuke-kun, or any clan for the matter, you are not a prodigy, like Sasuke-kun. No matter how hard you try, you will never be recognized. You. Are. Worthless."
Naruto threw himself at Kabuto. The opponent easily dodged. Naruto tried to hit him with a kunai but failed. Naruto knew that Kabuto was just taunting him, but it still did hurt. Yes, he knew, he was behind his peers in many aspects, but he was never given a chance. How can he prove himself when nobody gave him such an opportunity?
"You are so easy to bait," Kabuto knocked kunai out on Naruto's hand and caught it. He stroke right to Naruto's chest, but Uzumaki held out his hand. The kunai tore through the palm and Naruto clenched his fist around Kabuto's hand.
"Don't," clone appeared at the right, "underestimate," completed Rasengan formed in a free hand, "ME!"
Rasengan ground through Kabuto's chest and with a loud scream he flew away. The shock was printed on the faces of all three Sannins. 'He did it!' they thought simultaneously.
'He won that bet,' thought Tsunade.
'If only I could recruit him...' thought Orochimaru.
'Maybe he packs some of Minato's talent,' thought Jiraiya.
'YAY!' Naruto cheered inside, 'I did it! Finally! I have surpassed Fourth himself and ero sensei! Now people will see, how great I am!'
...o0o...
That changed nothing. Despite the fact, that Orochimaru decided to kill him because he was becoming dangerous. Orochimaru! The same Orochimaru, who had a nose for talent. Despite that Jiraiya still didn't take him seriously. What should he do to make people value HIM? Not fox, him!
He came back with a new Hokage, who too thought of him as a hyperactive knucklehead. Great start! He was just a cheerful person, who never backs down. But maybe... just maybe... Maybe he will manage to get a chance with the new Hokage despite this bad start.
When they arrived in the village Tsunade and Jiraiya went to Hokage tower, while he immediately ran to the hospital. And here she was, the girl he loved and cherished, the only girl, whose acceptance he thirsted the most. Sakura Haruno.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" he greeted loudly.
"Naruto!" she jumped in surprise and asked him, "where have you been?"
"Hey, don't scream at me, I was on a mission," he answered proudly. And how could he not be? He had brought a new Hokage, who will also heal teme and Bushy Brows.
"What mission? Without me, Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-kun?" Sakura was surprised. Despite her obvious dislike towards Naruto, she still cared for him as she could care for a dumb little brother. Or maybe of pet cat... or pet fox in his case. Anyway, she still thought of him as a family member and she didn't want him to leave her. She did dislike his pestering, but they made her feel better, feel more important, than she really was, especially after Sasuke's constant rejections.
"Hey, it was a mission with ero-sennin! We brought new Hokage! She is a super medic, she will heal Sasuke," he assured her. He hoped Sakura would love it and finally notice him and agree to date him at least once.
"Really? Sasuke-kun will be fine?" she was excited. Her love, her lifeline would be healed, what gift can be better than that? Destiny must have loved her! She immediately forgot that it was Naruto who brought Tsunade, all her thought were only about 'Sasuke-kun' and how he will accept her love because she sat at his bedside all the time he was in the hospital.
'If only she could see me like him. Sure he is handsome, but he is broody and hates everyone.' Naruto could never understand, what she and every other girl found in Sasuke, what was so special about him, that he became a whole universe for them.
"What do you see in him, I don't get it. I'm stronger obviously, I mean, I defeated Gaara," he mused aloud, but Sakura heard him.
"Don't you get it?!" she screamed, "I will never date you! Sasuke-kun is stronger than you, he saved me so many times. He is handsome, mysterious, and smart, while you are clanless dobe!" She was pissed that that idiot Naruto just couldn't get through his thick head, that she didn't love him.
Naruto just walked away. Sakura was speechless, she thought, he would deny all she said, but he accepted it and left. Something was wrong with Naruto, but... Oh, Sasuke-kun groaned in sleep.
...o0o...
Naruto arrived at Ichiraku ramen. He was a whole month without his favorite food.
"Hey! Five bowls of miso, 'ttebayo!" he ordered.
"No 'hello' or 'how was your day'? Naruto, we taught you better," reprimanded Ayame. Sure, she was happy to see her favorite customer, but she still was upset, that it was hard to teach him manners.
"Heh heh," he rubbed back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry Ayame. Anyway, I came back from an amazing mission. I learned a new technique, Yondaime created it, and now only me and Jiraiya know it, can you imagine it?" he was overexcited.
"Yeaah, that's great," Ayame was happy for him despite her lack of knowledge about the ninja world.
"By the way, where is Teuchi-san?" asked Naruto.
"Oh, dad is out of the village, something about our business." Ayame answered, "you wanted to tell something about the mission."
"Yeah, yeah. We also brought new Hokage! Well, not like brought, more like she lost a bet to me, heheh. Old hag has cursed luck."
"Speak more, dobe," Team 8 appeared near the stand and Kiba decided to tease the blond.
"Hello to you too, dog breath," Naruto taunted back, "Hey, Hinata," she stuttered 'hello' in return, "Hey... ehm... Shino!" said bug user was upset that Naruto couldn't recall his name immediately.
"So, what else have you imagined about your mission?" asked Kiba.
"Don't be rude, K-kiba-kun," Hinata said.
"I imagined nothing," growled Naruto, "all I said is true! If you don't believe me, ask current Hokage." He was mad that this dog lover, whom he had won with a single fart, talked down to him. Why did everybody think they were his betters?
"Fine, fine," Kiba backed down. Sure, it was only because he didn't want to upset Hinata.
"Then we fought Kabuto and Orochimaru, well ero-sennin and baa-chan fought Orochimaru, I fought only Kabuto, but I won! It was his mistake to underestimate me, but I still won!"
"He must have committed suicide after losing to deadlast," blurted Kiba.
"Bring it, dog breath, I will show you deadlast!" Naruto cried.
"Boys, stop bickering!" ordered Ayame, "Naruto, your miso is ready."
Team 8 left, but Naruto's mood was spoiled. Why must that asshole be such an asshole? Why can't anybody act normally to him? Naruto dismissed the fact that there were people who valued him for being him, he still wanted recognition from some special people. After finishing his ramen he went to ask Tsunade to heal Sasuke and Lee.
...o0o...
Naruto with Tsunade came to the hospital and went to Lee's room first.
"Hey, Lee, how are you?" Naruto greeted his co-deadlast. Naruto held immense respect for spandex-wearing genin. His performance during preliminaries showed everyone the power of hard work, how far can come talentless deadlast with just hard work. 'And with concerned sensei' always added to himself Naruto. He was jealous. Might Guy invested in his team many efforts, especially in Lee. Very unlike Kakashi.
"Yosh, Naruto-kun, I'm great, my youth shines brightly!" Lee was doing push-ups on the floor near his bed despite all his injuries.
"I'm happy for you, Lee," genuinely answered Uzumaki, "Look, whom I've brought! It's Senju Tsunade! She is Fifth Hokage and the best medic ever! She will heal you, 'ttebayo."
Stars appeared in Lee's eyes, "Naruto-kun, you are so youthful! Thank you, my friend!"
Lee was one of few persons who really had acknowledged Naruto for whom he was, they held mutual respect because they both tried to achieve the same goal and they were both still underestimated despite their achievements.
Tsunade read through Lee's case and could only shake her head, "Lee, I will be honest, you have chances to heal, but it will be a risky operation, you can die."
"I won't give up, Tsunade-sama. My youth will shine even brighter!" Lee's resolve was uncrushable.
"Are you sure?" still asked Senju.
"Hai," Lee answered seriously.
"Hey, Lee, want to hear how I with ero-sennin brought baa-chan to the village?" asked Naruto. He wanted to share his success with Lee because he was sure that Lee will truly appreciate him and his achievements during this mission.
"I will go and watch Uchiha," said Tsunade and left as Naruto began his tale.
...o0o...
Unlike Lee, Sasuke awakening wasn't so friendly and when Naruto appeared in Sasuke's room, Uchiha acted.
"Naruto, fight me!" Sasuke demanded as he woke up.
"What?" Naruto was shocked. Sasuke had been in a coma just five minutes ago, now he strived to fight. What's wrong with him?
"I said, fight me," Uchiha demanded again. He was pissed with his progress, he needed to prove himself. He lost almost all his fights except for that loser from preliminaries, while Naruto bested him everywhere. First Haku, then Gaara. How could that loser surpass Uchiha? His resolve was better, right? What could that loser want so much to be better than him?
"Why? Sasuke, you just woke up, you need to get in shape," Naruto tried to reason his rival. He wanted to fight Sasuke, but only in his peak condition.
"You defeated Gaara, I didn't. I need to prove myself, that I grow, that I'm getting closer to his level," Sasuke explained his position. He didn't want to wait, he wanted to fight right now.
'I also need to prove myself... Maybe if I will defeat Sasuke, people will see, that I worth something,' thought Naruto. 'After all, who will care if his victory wasn't that fair? It would still be a victory versus Uchiha Sasuke. Why not give it a shot?'
"Where?" Naruto accepted the challenge.
"On the rooftop, now," with that Sasuke left the room.
Sakura was scared, her Sasuke-kun was just from a coma and decided to fight Naruto. He didn't even say a word to her. Just went to fight Naruto. Why he values Naruto more than her? More than her love? When she came back to her senses, Naruto wasn't in the room either. She had to stop them!
...o0o...
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" cried Naruto.
The whole rooftop was flooded with clones, but it wasn't enough to win. Sasuke used his sharingan to easily dispel them. He literally danced between them and in one kick destroyed one soldier of the Naruto army. Naruto understood, that he had was worse in taijutsu. Not like worse, he had no chance with his current physical capabilities to fight sharingan, he had to use some tricks... Or just tire Sasuke. Naruto grinned at this thought and continued to send clones. Sasuke wasn't rookie of the year for nothing, he quickly understood Naruto's grand plan, especially when he grinned. That also gave away real Naruto among all these clones.
"Katon: Gokakyu no jutsu" fireball was sent towards real Naruto. He created a clone, that threw him away.
Sasuke understood, that fireball was definitely not enough to win. He had a technique, that combined with his speed, could grant him so much desired victory. Lightning crackled around his hand.
Naruto saw it and for the first time in this battle, he was scared. Sasuke decided to use an assassination technique against him. They were friends, right? Then how could he do it? It was not a move for friends but for enemies. Maybe Sasuke just didn't want to limit himself? But didn't it mean that they were enemies? Since when? So many questions and Naruto's brain wasn't fast enough to proceed them all, so he decided to the only possible thing.
'If he wants to go all out, so will I,' clone appeared to the right.
Sasuke sped up towards Naruto, Naruto ran towards Sasuke.
"Chidori!"
"Rasengan!"
Sakura appeared on the roof just when Sasuke and Naruto readied their attacks. Her crush and her other teammate were fighting like that? That wasn't battle for fun, that was battle to the death! And she didn't know what that new Naruto's technique could do, but it was clearly pure chakra manipulation, so it ought to be powerful. She didn't want to know what the outcome of the collision of their techniques would be, so she did the only thing she thought was right.
"Naruto! Stop, please! For me!" she screamed.
It was enough to distract him. His crush, the girl of his dreams pleaded him. Concentration was lost. Naruto looked at Sakura and dispersed his attack.
But Sasuke did not.
"AAAAAAGgghhhhh," Naruto cried in pain as Chidori plunged into his chest.
Sasuke's eyes lost their determination. But he won, right? No, he didn't. Sakura distracted his opponent, his victory wasn't fair. She slowed him down again! Like on every mission! He silently fumed.
Sakura's eyes widened in fear. For herself mostly, because it was her fault, but for Naruto's life too. He still was her teammate and she didn't want to lose him despite him being an annoyance.
Kakashi's lone eye closed in shame. He failed his sensei's son, he shouldn't have taught Sasuke Chidori apparently.
Jiraiya's eyes were determined. If Naruto died fox would be free.
Naruto's eyes dulled and closed. He descended into darkness.
...o0o...
The pillar of red chakra exploded from Naruto's body into the sky. People were scared, panic spread around the village. Many people remembered that dread feeling, that primal fear that was caused by Kyuubi. But soon that demonic chakra disappeared into the sky. People calmed down, but they still were interested, what had happened to jinchuuriki. Tsunade also understood that something had happened to her favorite blond and rushed towards the hospital.
...o0o...
Naruto's body fell limp on the roof. Remains of demonic chakra were healing his wound, but it wasn't enough. He still died. Kyuubi was gone and started its painful rebirth.
Tsunade appeared on the roof in a furious mood.
"What the fuck happened here?" she demanded answers, "Why is Naruto lying on the floor and nobody did a shit?"
The silence was her answer.
"Do something you pathetic idiots or I will put you all in a prison cell with Tora the cat in it!" she said, picked up Naruto, and ran to surgery.
...o0o...
Tsunade managed to bring Naruto back to life for a moment, but his life slipped away. She understood, that it was a fierce fight for his life. Not a week with that cursed necklace and he was already dying, but she didn't give up till the end. After ten hours of nonstop work, she stabilized Naruto's condition. Thank god for his Uzumaki genes! The only thing that bothered her was Naruto's chakra. It changed in a way she shouldn't. It became darker, way darker.
...o0o...
Now she sat in the operation room to look after Naruto and listened to explanations of participants and witnesses of this incident.
"Sasuke-kun wanted to fight Naruto and they went to the roof," told Sakura, "I went up and saw... this..." she broke down crying. Sadly everyone here could see through her play, how she just wanted to save herself.
"Sasuke rushed with Chidori and Naruto rushed with Rasengan, Sakura distracted Naruto and... It happened." told Kakashi. Sakura glanced at her sensei as if he was a betrayer.
"Why didn't you intervene?" asked Hokage Team 7's sensei.
"I couldn't get in time," Hatake answered.
"Jounin couldn't match genin speed? Fine, maybe demotion could help you."
"Sorry, Tsunade-sama..." Kakashi was ashamed of himself.
"And you?" she asked Jiraiya.
"I felt the build-up of demonic chakra and came as fast as I could. It obviously was after... that." he sadly looked at his godson. Maybe if he would be in his life longer, this problem wouldn't exist? Who cares now? He failed. Again and again. And now only miracle saved Naruto's life. After many clinical deaths only luck, Tsunade's immense skills and injection of her life force let Naruto stay in the world of the living. But Tsunade was right, something was off with his chakra.
"Sasuke, what can you say?"
"Not guilty."
"Not guilty? Not guilty?! Where the hell are you not fucking guilty?!" anger boiled up inside Tsunade as she screamed at him, "unauthorized sparring with lethal injures."
"Fine, sparring was not authorized, I agree. Lethal injuries are not my fault." Sasuke shrugged as it was nothing. Like he didn't just bring his teammate to the death's door.
Tsunade gritted her teeth. 'Damn those idiots! Stupid village! What have I got myself into? Now I have to explain how we lost our only jinchuuriki and decide what to do next. Shit!' she cursed blond gaki that he made her Hokage, she cursed that stupid bet.
"Team seven," she calmed down and said in a serious tone, "Get lost! Your punishment will be decided tomorrow."
Sakura quickly fled the room, Kakashi shunshined to the memorial stone and Sasuke threw the last glance at the body of his rival and simply walked away.
"What to do now?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya.
"I have no idea, hime. At least we won't have troubles with Akatsuki."
Tsunade glared at him, "he is your godson for kami's sake!"
"I know, I know... I just wanted to lighten the mood. Let's go hime, council awaits."
...o0o...
with Naruto during surgery
Naruto slowly opened his eyes. He was in some kind of forest, a very misted forest. Fog heavily limited his vision.
'Where am I?' he looked around. It wasn't something he could expect after awakening, he thought he will be in a damn hospital, not in some unknown place. Despite his lack of knowledge, he knew that such weather and such forests you couldn't find in the Fire Country.
"I haven't expected to meet someone like you here," sounded a deep voice, "but I think it's for the best."
Naruto tried to find the source of it but failed.
"I'm here," he heard from behind.
Naruto turned around and saw an elder man with long brown hair and black eyes emerging from thick mist. He was dressed in white kimono with black matagamas. He looked like some kind of ancient royalty, very uncommon for any place Naruto knew about.
"My name is Indra Ootsutsuki and we have to talk," sharingan flared in man's eyes.
Naruto gasped.
A/N:
And cut.
First of all, I have to say that English is not my first language so I search for beta.
And second... Well, I want to know your opinion on this work. I will definitely post some next chapters cause they all are just a long intro to the story. Then I will either continue this story or will drop it and write something else.
It's a sharingan and non-jinchuuriki Naruto story.
This story is made on assumption that Kakashi wasn't close enough to Naruto and Sasuke to stop them. And it's not bashing! Sasuke acted indifferently and Sakura acted like a selfish bitch during 1st season. For example, in a moment with eraser and Kakashi, she cheered inside when Kakashi fell for Naruto's 'trap', but when jounin asked, who had done it, she momentarily backed down and told it had been Naruto and how she had tried to stop him. Is it bashing? No, it's canon.
The next chapter will be about meeting with Indra and Naruto's awakening.
R&R
Till next time