Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing the start of Naruto's training under Raven and Illyana, as well as seeing just how Konoha treats outsiders, especially those that associate with a pariah. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
It wasn't long before Naruto, Raven, and Magik arrived at the Uzumaki's apartment, with both girls being surprised at how small it seemed to be. Not to mention that it looks like it hasn't been cleaned at all since Naruto's lived here.
"This is…rather small." Illyana stated, not wanting to sound insulting.
"Yeah, sorry it's not much, but it's home. I have some futons you both could use, or you could take the bed if that'd be more comfortable." Replied Naruto, knowing his apartment wasn't much and it'd be hard for all three of them to stay here, but he'd do his best to make them feel comfortable.
"That's fine. Though what about your parents? Will they be fine with us staying here?" Questioned Raven, only to wince slightly at Naruto's downcast expression.
"My parents are dead, so it's just me living here." Naruto stated, making both girls wince at hearing this.
"Oh…sorry." Raven muttered, feeling bad at likely bringing up bad memories.
"I'm sorry as well, that you had to experience something like that." Added Magik, knowing the feeling of losing her family, even if they're still alive it's unlikely she'll get the chance to see them again.
"It's fine, you couldn't have known and you don't have to be sorry. I never met them before, I don't even know who they are, so I just learned to not let it bother me." Said Naruto, while going to his closet to get the futons out for them, not seeing the girls frown at this knowledge.
"You don't even know your parents' names? Who they were?" Illyana asked, finding it strange that he didn't know who his parents are.
"Wouldn't they have had someone look after you as a guardian, or someone would have told you about them?" Said Raven, also finding it strange, as even she learned who her father was, despite how it would have been better if she wasn't told about Trigon.
"I don't have a guardian, the closest would be the old man Hokage, but he either doesn't know or just won't tell me who they are. I stopped asking years ago, after seeing that he wasn't going to tell me anything, since it wouldn't "bring back the dead"." Naruto replied with some bitterness before shaking it off, while Raven's and Magik's frowns only deepened with this knowledge.
"What about you two? What are your families like? If you don't mind me asking." Naruto said as he rolled out the futons, wanting to change the subject and also get to know his new roommates more.
"My family is from Russia, I had two older brothers, Piotr and Mikhail, both of them were mutants as well. Though I'm afraid I don't know what has happened to them during my time in Limbo, or even if the same amount of time has passed on Earth as it did in Limbo. So, it would be possibly they have all either passed or they believe I am dead, I'm afraid." Illyana replied sadly, though accepting the possibility she may never see her family again, given her time spent in Limbo made her more cynical and jaded.
"I lived with my mother my entire life in Azarath, she was kind and peaceful, but also kind of fatalistic, along with my guardians/caretakers, the Monks of Azarath. While my mentor was Azar, the spiritual leader of the temple, the one who taught me to control my powers before she passed. And my father…he's not exactly a nice person." Said Raven.
"I'm sorry that happened Illyana, but at least you're free now, and your Kaa-san sounds nice Raven." Said Naruto, with both nodding in response.
"Though why do you keep referring to yourself as a mutant, and calling your brothers mutants? Since you don't…" Naruto trailed off while motioning to Illyana, seeing she looked nothing like a mutant, at least a mutant that he'd expect, making the blonde girl laugh lightly.
"When I refer to us as mutants, I do not mean a mutated creature that looks inhumane. Being a mutant merely means we have something…more than the average human, a special power we are born with. For instance, my mutation allows me to mentally control "stepping discs", which allow me and others to teleport interstellar distances. Unfortunately, the discs are part of Limbo, so I must use Limbo as a midway point in order to teleport to a chosen destination. Aside from that, I also have a large arsenal of magical knowledge, access to both Black and White Magic, I'm skilled in hand-to-hand combat, as well as using my sword." Explained Magik, much to Naruto's amazement.
"Wow, that sounds really cool, to have a power like that. What about you Raven, what can you do?" Naruto asked, looking at the violet-haired girl.
"I have access to magic as well, along with several abilities that I was born with; including Shadow/Darkness Control, Astral Projection and projecting my Soul-Self, Telekinesis, Teleportation, Flight, and I'm an Empath. The latter lets me sense other people's emotions to understand what they're feeling and thinking, along with allowing me to heal a person by speeding up their natural healing." Raven replied, amazing the Uzumaki again.
"You two must be really strong to know all of that. So, what exactly would you be able to teach me then?" Questioned Naruto, unable to deny he's actually excited to know what they'll be able to teach him, now that he knew what they're capable of.
"We should be able to teach you most of what we know, and can do. Either through learning to use magic yourself, or seeing if you could recreate what we can do with the energy you have inside you." Answered Raven, unsure if Naruto would be able to use the same magic they could, but he should be able to replicate some of their powers with his own energy.
"Agreed. I will also be able to teach you hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. I may even be able to help you create your own Soulsword." Illyana added, getting Naruto and Raven to look at her in confusion.
"What's a Soulsword?" Naruto asked, only for Illyana to hold up her sword.
"This is my Soulsword, it's a physical manifestation of my soul and created from my own lifeforce, with it I am granted many new abilities and powers. I can store it away in nothingness and summon it back, just as easily. It can summon battle armor around me, augment my magical power, break or counter spells, and even strike intangible and ethereal beings that you are normally unable to hit. And with each use, it will become more powerful. It is possible you will be able to manifest your own Soulsword with time and training, though I am unsure if yours will have the same abilities as mine, given they are representations of who we are. So, yours may grant you different abilities." Explained Magik, before dismissing her Soulsword, much to their amazement at seeing it vanish.
"That's…certainly impressive." Stated Raven, seeing the Soulsword was like her Soul-Self; being a copy of Illyana in a way, only as a weapon rather than a clone of herself.
"Yeah, it'd be awesome if I could create my own Soulsword." Naruto said in agreement.
"Well first, we'll need to get you started on training, before you can even think of trying to create your own Soulsword." Said Magik, knowing it will take time, before Naruto could try to summon his own Soulsword.
Naruto nodded in understanding at this, since he figured it would take a while before he could do something like that.
"Yeah. We can start training tomorrow, since I'm sure we'd all want to get some rest after today." Replied Naruto, with Illyana and Raven nodding in agreement, since they'd all been through a lot today.
With the three soon getting ready for bed, before going to sleep.
*Timeskip-One Day*
The next day Naruto, Raven, and Illyana headed back to Training Ground Seven to begin Naruto's training, starting out with basic meditation.
"Why do we have to meditate?" Naruto asked, a little annoyed at having to sit still for so long, learning something that seemed useless, at least to him anyway.
"Meditation helps to focus your mind and control the flow of energy going through you. It's also a good way to learn to control your emotions; something that could get the better of you sometimes and make you reckless, or lash out." Said Raven, having learned to keep her powers and emotions in check through daily meditation, otherwise she could end up succumbing to her demon-half.
"Agreed, meditation is also a good beginning step to learning astral projection, to block out everything around you, while still being able to sense everything. To leave behind your physical body to see so much more than what's around you." Illyana added, knowing meditation would help him better understand and learn their abilities.
Their words made Naruto sigh, as he couldn't exactly argue against those explanations. Knowing that meditation would be useful when they put it that way.
After meditating for two hours, they moved onto Naruto's hand-to-hand combat training with Illyana. With Raven also giving her own advice, since she's had some hand-to-hand training as well, though not as much as Magik. Leading to Naruto sparring with Illyana, so they could see what he already knew about fighting.
"Naruto, do you have an actual fighting style?" Questioned Magik, after seeing how he didn't seem to have any set movements, only seeming to react to her attacks with rather unpredictable movements.
"Uh…not really, since I usually just use Shadow Clones to overwhelm opponents. And when I can't use clones, I just try my best to avoid being hit and attack in unexpected ways. Most of my former classmates all had training with their families and clans, so they'd already have Taijutsu Styles to use." Naruto replied, knowing he didn't have training like most of the other Genin had before and during the Academy.
"Well, while it's good to be unpredictable in your style, as then it'd keep your opponents' guessing on what you'll do next. It's still good to have a style to better improve how you train." Raven said, since it wouldn't be good for Naruto to just rely on unpredictable movements, which could end up working against him if he starts becoming predictable in his attacks.
"Agreed. Is there anyone we would be able to speak to, that could help you on ways to improve your training and start on learning a fighting style?" Magik asked, with Naruto frowning, since there was someone, but he wasn't sure if they could, or would, help.
"There is someone, he's the Jōnin Sensei of Team Nine, Might Gai, but his student is my opponent in the finals. So I'm not sure if he'd be willing to help with my training." Answered Naruto, making the girls hum in thought.
"It couldn't hurt to ask. And even if he cannot help you, perhaps he would be willing to at least give some advice." Said Magik with a shrug, with Raven nodding in agreement since it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"Okay, then let's see if we can find him. He may be visiting Lee at the hospital, so we should check there first. And if not there, then probably at Training Ground Nine." Naruto said, with the girls nodding at this, before the three headed for the hospital.
Though on their way there, Illyana and Raven couldn't help but notice again how the villagers seemed to glare at Naruto in hatred or fear. With Raven not even needing to be an Empath to sense the hatred everyone seemed to have for Naruto, but she couldn't pinpoint the reason for it, as if they hated him simply for existing. Before the two noticed how some glares were soon directed towards them, along with hearing some whispers.
"Who would want to hand around that thing?"
"I bet they're freaks just like him."
"They're probably more monsters it summoned."
"What if they're here to free the d-"
"Shhh! We aren't supposed to talk about it!"
The whispers made both girls frown, before they looked at Naruto, who simply sighed and kept his head down.
"Naruto?" Raven said, seeing his posture, showing that this seemed to be a regular thing for him, one he seemed to have unfortunately gotten used to.
"I'm sorry, I should have told you both. I'm not exactly…liked by everyone. And seeing you two hanging around me, along with you both being foreigners, that's probably going to extend to the two of you, too. Sorry, I should have told you, before you offered to train me." Said Naruto, knowing that they'll likely not want to associate with him, now that they know they'll be hated for being around him.
Only for Magik to scoff and purposefully walk right beside him, with Raven doing the same on his other side.
"As if I would care for the feelings or thoughts of the petty and foolish. If they choose to hate me for associating with you, let them. Their feelings mean nothing to me, nor do their opinions." Illyana stated, having dealt with being hated for being a mutant on Earth and for many other reasons in Limbo, she couldn't care less about what the people of this world thought of her.
"Yeah, I wasn't a very sociable person to begin with, so I've never really cared what others thought of me to begin with." Said Raven with a shrug, never really caring what others thought of her before.
"So…you're not going to leave?" Naruto asked slowly, having expected they'd leave.
"Sorry Naruto, you can't get rid of us that easily." Said Magik with a smirk, while Raven nodded in agreement.
"We said we'd help you, and we will." Raven added, not going back on her word to help the Uzumaki.
With Naruto looking at them in surprise that they'd still be willing to help him train, even knowing how the villagers would treat them by associating with him.
"Thanks." Said Naruto lowly, with Raven and Illyana looking at him, wondering if he's ever had someone say that to him, or if he's had anyone to rely on to begin with.
The trio soon arrived at the hospital, and were lucky enough to see Gai walking out just as they arrived, with Magik and Raven looking at the Jōnin in disbelief at his appearance. Not expecting a high-ranking member of the villages military force to look…like that. Yet they could sense the power he had, and knew that he definitely wasn't someone that should be underestimated.
"Gai-sensei!" Naruto called out to the Jōnin, making Gai stop and look at them, curious when he saw Naruto and the two strangely dressed girls with him.
"Ahh Naruto, what can I do for you on this youthful day?" Gai said with his good guy pose, though not with his usual fire after visiting Lee, who was still unconscious after his fight with Gaara and having his arm and leg crushed.
"I was actually hoping that you could…help me with my Taijutsu Training. Not anything big or important, just some advice on how I could improve." Said Naruto, not wanting him to think he's asking for a lot of help against Neji, only some advice that could give him a good starting point.
The request made Gai frown, since something like that he would normally reject, on the principle that Naruto would be facing his student in the finals. But he did ask only for some advice, and Gai couldn't deny that Neji's actions against his cousin were very unyouthful, even more so that he actually tried killing her. So, perhaps if Naruto could push him far enough in their match, maybe even defeat him, it would help give Neji the wakeup call he needs to start being better.
"Hmm, well I can't give you any actual training. But I can tell you that a good way to start learning Taijutsu is to build up your strength, speed, stamina, and agility. To start, you could set up a basic exercise regimen of pushups, sit ups, pullups, laps, and a set number of punches and kicks with each arms and leg, that you can perform each day; increasing it each time you start getting used to it, or it becomes too easy. Training weights are also a good way to build up your speed and strength, wearing them around your arms and legs. Finally, Tenten had taken to throwing blunted kunai and shuriken at Lee and Neji during training, as a means to increase their awareness and agility. That way, they'd always be ready for attacks and being able to dodge them from any direction." Gai explained, with Naruto nodding at the advice, knowing how useful it'd be to get started on improving his Taijutsu.
"Okay, thanks Gai-sensei, that should help me on my training." Said Naruto, the Jōnin nodding in response and giving another good guy pose.
"Of course Naruto, and good luck in the finals." Replied Gai, before Naruto, Magik, and Raven left to get started on making an exercise regimen for the whiskered blonde, and to get some training weights for him.
*Timeskip-Three Days*
Three days have passed since Naruto started training with Raven and Magik, along with getting some advice from Gai on how to start improving his Taijutsu. With them having gone to a Ninja-only store. One that couldn't refuse to sell to Ninja, even if that Ninja was Naruto, to get the training weights; with them being adjustable and currently set to ten pounds, each. Along with getting a set of blunted kunai and shuriken that the girls would throw at Naruto randomly during his training, to help build up his awareness and agility.
While the training regimen they developed had Naruto running ten laps around the village, a hundred sit ups, pullups, pushups, and two hundred punches and kicks with each arm and leg. All the while Raven and Magik threw the weapons at Naruto, and they didn't hold back with their strength either, so he tended to walk away with more than a few bruises. With Naruto having already begun to show improvements in his training, while being able to dodge the kunai and shuriken.
With the rest of his training, Naruto was improving the most with Empathy and Sensing, finding it surprisingly easy to sense a person's Chakra and even their emotions. Along with getting better at meditating and sensing everything around him. As well as his Taijutsu Training with Magik improving, with the mutant now having to try more with how fast Naruto's been improving.
The two had also begun explaining more about their magic and abilities, as a means to better help Naruto learn them himself, when the time comes to begin teaching him those abilities.
Though when they weren't training, Naruto was showing them around the village, so they'd be able to get around on their own without him guiding them. With the villager's treatment of Raven and Illyana not improving. In fact, it seemed to only get worse the more they saw the girls hanging out with Naruto. Which did nothing to improve their opinion of Konoha, with even Naruto starting to become disillusioned with the village at how they're treating Raven and Magik, just for interacting with him.
Currently, the three were inside Naruto's apartment, resting after another day of training, only for them to hear someone banging on the door. The sound making Naruto sigh, knowing only one person who'd knock on his door like that, before he got up and went to the door, opening to see his landlord.
"Pay up runt, now!" Demanded the landlord, having come to collect Naruto's month of rent.
"Yeah, yeah, here." Naruto said, handing him the rent money he saved up from his missions, having had to start setting some aside since he stopped getting his monthly stipend after becoming a Ninja.
"And where's the rest?" The landlord said, making Naruto frown, since he made sure to always pay the exact amount, fully knowing any slipup would just be an excuse for the asshole to kick him out.
"That's all of it, just like it is every other month." Stated Naruto, only for the landlord to gain a smug smirk.
"Not anymore, as from what I've heard you let two other brats move in. Meaning you now have to pay triple the amount, to compensate for the new additions." Said the landlord, making the Uzumaki scowl that the bastard was actually doing this, since he could barely pay the regular rent.
"Well they aren't permanent residents, only staying until they're able to find somewhere else." Naruto retorted, with the landlord simply shrugging uncaringly.
"Too bad. If they're staying here for an extended period of time, then you'll pay me triple the amount. Either that, or get out of my building." The landlord said with a smirk, while Naruto scowled before immediately taking his money back.
"Then I'm taking this back, and you can wait until I get more money asshole." Said Naruto, which wiped the smirk off the landlords face as he glared at Naruto, before grabbing his collar.
"Listen hear, you little-AAAH!" The landlord cried out, when Naruto headbutted him in the face, the whiskered blonde hearing a satisfying crunch as he broke his nose.
"No you listen dick, I put up with a lot of shit from you and the rest of this village, now you want to push me even more. Well then, get ready for me to start pushing back!" Naruto said, glaring at the man as he got up and held his bleeding nose.
"You little bastard! You and your freak, outsider friends can get the fuck out of my-" The landlord said, only to yelp, when he was suddenly surrounded by black energy and lifted into the air as Magik and Raven stepped out, having been willing to let Naruto handle this, but now they weren't going to stand aside.
"You know, I was raised in a nonviolent society that believed there was always a peaceful solution, but you are making me reconsider that belief." Stated Raven, moving him over the edge of the balcony, making the landlord pale at seeing how far the fall was.
"Yo-you w-w-w-wo-wo-wou-wouldn't d-d-d-da-dare!" Stuttered the man, with Illyana smirking as she walked over to the railing and shook it a few times, until she broke off a piece.
"I don't know, this building does seem rather unsafe, what with this weak and unstable railing. It'd certainly be a shame if someone were to be leaning against it, only to end up falling to an unfortunate end." Illyana said with her smirk gaining a dark edge, while the landlord turned deathly pale.
"O-o-o-o-okay! Okay, yo-yo-yo-you d-d-don't owe anything this month! Pl-please just let me down!" Begged the landlord, only to scream in horror when Raven immediately released him over the ledge, with Magik catching him before he could fall to the ground.
"Very poor choice of words. Next time, I may not catch you in time. Remember that, the next time you wish to extort our friend." Magik said, tossing the landlord across the walkway as he scrambled up and glared at the three, now that he wasn't in immediate danger.
"Worthless freaks and monsters, all of you! Especially you, demon brat! You won't get away with this!" Shouted the landlord, before quickly running away when Magik summoned her Soulsword, while Naruto and Raven both flinched at the "demon brat" remark.
"Should we worry about him?" Raven asked, after they went back into the apartment.
"No, the guy's a bastard, but he's also a coward. And after that display, he'll complain for a while, probably spread some rumors, but nothing we need to worry about." Replied Naruto, since this wasn't the first time he tried increasing his rent, but a mention of the Hokage was enough to convince him, otherwise.
The fact he actually tried tripling it this time really angered Naruto, especially since it involved Raven and Magik. While he can deal with the villagers hating him, he wasn't going to let them do anything to the first people, who've been nice and helpful to him from the very beginning.
"And sorry about that; that you both had to get involved." Naruto said, which they both waved off.
"Do not be sorry, we're used to such people believing we are below them, or that we do not belong. But they are always just talk or gather together in groups to appear strong, until they quickly learn they're not. It does not change how annoying they can be, though." Said Illyana, her accent getting thicker in response to her annoyance.
"It's usually best to ignore people like that, since they aren't going to change their opinions any time soon, especially if they have a very narrow view of things. Better to just let them live in their own little worlds than waste your time." Raven added knowing it's pointless to try and change those that are too set in their ways, finding it quicker to just move on than waste time trying to change them
Naruto frowned at their words, since while his opinion of Konoha has started going down, it was still his home and he did want to earn the villagers recognition. The Jinchūriki trying to ignore the growing voice in the back of his mind telling him that they were right and he should stop wasting his time.
"Still, perhaps it would be best if we left the village and continue the rest of your training outside. Less chance of any disturbance, in the event anyone tries something foolish. Along with ensuring the competition will not know what you will be capable of doing." Said Illyana while crossing her arms, thinking it'd be better if they left the village to continue Naruto's training away from prying eyes
Raven nodded in agreement with this, seeing it would be a safer option, while Naruto frowned at this before sighing.
"Yeah, maybe that'd be better." Naruto replied, while mentally noting it'd be good to be away for the rest of the month and let the villagers cool off from whatever rumors his landlord will undoubtedly spread about them.
"Good. Though before we go, is there anything that would be able to help you with your Ninjutsu? To help you learn more?" Raven asked, since while they could help Naruto learn new things, it'd be better if he had a bigger variety of abilities to use against opponents, so they won't know what to expect.
"Uh…maybe. But we'd probably get in trouble." Said Naruto, knowing one thing that could help them.
"What is it?" Questioned Magik, curious of what it was.
"It's called the Forbidden Scroll of Seals, it's where I learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu from. Apparently, it also has every Jutsu ever known in Konoha, even Clan Ninjutsu are written down in it." Naruto answered, having learned this after returning the scroll to the Hokage, now seeing why it was so bad that he stole it, if it had that many Jutsu inside it, along with explaining why it was so big.
"Well that's simple then. We'll borrow this Forbidden Scroll, with Raven and I using our magic to ensure no one knows it's missing. Then we'll return it, when we return to the village, with no one the wiser." Magik stated with Raven nodding, while Naruto seemed unsure.
"I'm not sure, I already got in trouble for stealing it for a single night, I doubt having it for an entire month will be any better." Said Naruto, since he didn't want to give the villagers even more reasons to hate him.
"Relax Naruto. If it makes you feel better, then we can just make a copy of it and take that instead, that way you'll still have access to all the Jutsu inside and won't have to worry about getting in trouble." Raven said, offering a compromise where they still get the scroll, so he can learn from it and not get in trouble for taking it.
Naruto still looked unsure at doing this, on the chance they'll get caught, but had to admit they both made good points. The Forbidden Scroll would be useful in his training, and they'd be able to make it look like it's still there. Plus, from what he saw, the Hokage had put it back in the same place as before. Likely believing no one would try stealing it again, though he may have put up some other safety measures around it, so they'd need to time it perfectly to take it.
"Alright. Though we'll need to wait until the old mans out of his office, before we can take it. Just in case we need time to get past any security measures he's put around it. It'd also be good to tell him after we take it, that I'll be training outside the village. That way, I won't get in trouble for suddenly vanishing or be labelled a Missing-Nin." Said Naruto, with both girls nodding in agreement with this plan.
*Timeskip-Two Days*
It took two days, before the trio were able to make their move to take the Forbidden Scroll and make a copy of it. With either Magik or Raven monitoring the Hokage's Office, while the other was training with Naruto, waiting until they couldn't sense anyone in the office before making their move. And like Naruto predicted, the scroll was in the same place as it was, when he last took it.
But surprisingly, there were no added protections around the scroll, allowing them to simply grab it.
"That…was easier than I thought it'd be." Naruto stated, not expecting it to be as easy as last time, making him wonder how no one could have stolen it, before he did.
'Why did that bastard Mizuki even need to trick me to steal it?' Thought Naruto, now wondering why Mizuki didn't just steal the scroll himself if it was this easy, before realizing the bastard just wanted an excuse to kill him or pin the blame on him.
"Agreed. But if there was one thing I have learned, it's that people tend to become complacent in times of peace, never expecting something bad to happen or hoping nothing happens. A foolish mistake, that leaves one open and vulnerable." Said Illyana, having learned in Limbo to always be on guard and ready for anything.
Raven nodded in agreement with her words, before they began opening up the scroll to start creating a copy of it and all the Jutsu inside. Only for both girls to suddenly tense as they felt the Hokage was returning, much earlier than they expected he would, and he wasn't alone.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, seeing them tense, before Magik quickly rolled up the scroll while Raven grabbed Naruto.
"We need to hide, now!" Said Raven as the three of them huddled against a corner in the office, while making sure everything was exactly as it was, before they arrived.
With the half-demon quickly shrouding them in shadows, which soon blended in with their surroundings, leaving them completely invisible and unseen. Illyana putting up extra protections to ensure they can't be sensed either, knowing they couldn't be too safe with the village leader arriving.
Not a moment later, the office doors swung open as the Hokage entered, dragging Jiraiya by his collar along with him, surprising and annoying Naruto at seeing the old pervert again.
"Ah, come on Sarutobi-sensei! Did you really have to interrupt me? I was getting some of my best research done." Jiraiya whined, only to immediately fall silent, when Hiruzen all but threw him into a chair and fixed him with a glare.
'Wait this guy was one of the old man's students? He's a Sannin?!' Naruto thought in disbelief, not believing Jiraiya was a Sannin, one of the strongest Ninja in the world.
Comparing him to when his team encountered Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, finding it difficult that the two had the same title and reputation, especially with how Naruto encountered them both.
"You've been avoiding the Anbu I've been sending to bring you to my office for the past week Jiraiya, I am in no mood for your whining! And be thankful I don't have you locked up for purposefully ignoring a summons from your commanding officer!" Said Sarutobi, making the Toad Sage shrink under his anger, knowing it isn't a good idea to annoy his former teacher.
"I swear, I was gonna come see you and give you my latest report, I just figured I could take a few days to relax and get refamiliarized with the village. And I didn't avoid the Anbu on purpose, it's just a habit to keep moving when I sense someone approaching me." Jiraiya said, with the Hokage not looking amused at his excuse.
"Oh really? Your first instinct isn't to, say, summon a toad and attack them. As I recently heard from Ebisu that he caught you peeking in the hot spring before you attacked him, when he tried stopping you. Funny that you didn't do the same to the Anbu, and instead ran away." Sarutobi stated, with Jiraiya shrinking further at this.
"Oh uh…you heard about that, huh? Well I didn't do anything bad, I just knocked him out so he wouldn't get us caught." Replied Jiraiya in his defense.
"You mean so you wouldn't get caught, given the fact at the time Ebisu was in charge of training Naruto Uzumaki for the finals in a month. Training that ended when you knocked out his instructor, then pushed him aside and refused to take up training him!" Said Sarutobi, his voice getting progressively louder until he was shouting at his perverted student, having learned what Jiraiya did and said to Naruto from his Anbu that had heard the commotion and went to investigate.
"Wait, is that what this is about? Because I wasn't going to waste my time training some brat?" Jiraiya asked in disbelief, having thought this was important to be dragged away from his peeking.
"That "brat", as you so eloquently called him, is supposed to be fighting in the finals against Neji Hyūga. A prodigy of the Hyūga Clan, and someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill his own cousin, let alone someone he sees as a failure. The least you could have done, after knocking out his instructor, is help train him to be prepared." Sarutobi retorted, with Jiraiya actually scoffing at this, along with looking bored at now knowing the purpose of this meeting.
"So what? The proctor will jump in to stop the Hyūga before he could kill the brat, like he and the Jōnin did in the preliminaries. Besides, maybe it'd do the brat some good to be knocked around a little, probably make him less spoiled and arrogant to demand things, if he thinks winning the Chūnin Exams is that important." Said Jiraiya while rolling his eyes, much to the Sandaime's growing anger, along with Naruto's own anger, with Illyana and Raven also frowning at how casually he was dismissing the whiskered blonde.
Not only that, but with both girls sensing abilities, along with Naruto's own growing empathy sensory abilities, they could see that the Sannin's emotions just seemed rather…off. Not in the way they were being controlled or forced, but just the simple annoyance and uncaring feeling they got from him, all of which were directed at Naruto himself. Something they found strange given as far they knew; he'd only met the Uzumaki once.
"The only thing he was doing, was trying to make you take responsibility and pick up his training, not simply push him aside." Said Hiruzen, reaching the limits of his patience, while the Toad Sage let out an annoyed sigh.
"Look sensei, while I'd love nothing more than sit hear bickering like I'm a Genin again, I have other things to do. Besides if it's that important, then find someone else to train the brat." Jiraiya replied, not interested in hearing any more of what he feels was nonsense.
"And here I was hoping that his godfather would be willing to take the time to train him, or at the very least interact with his godson. Who he's never bothered visiting or asking about in the past thirteen years." Stated Hiruzen, pulling one of his tricks to try and get through to his student.
While the hidden Naruto, Raven, and Magik's eyes widened in shock at hearing this, the former being the most shocked as he looked at Jiraiya in disbelief.
'He's…he's my godfather? He knew my parents? And he never tried meeting me?! The old man never told me?!' Thought Naruto feeling shock, anger, and hurt go through him that he not only had a godfather that never bothered to check up on him, but that the Hokage knew this and never told him either.
With his anger and hurt only growing, when Jiraiya scoffed again and looked at his teacher.
"So what? You think some pretty title's going to change my mind? Like you said, I never even met the kid until almost a week ago, and from what I saw, I'm not really impressed if he's turned out like this. Maybe after he learns some respect, then I'll see about visiting." Retorted Jiraiya, his words only hurting and angering Naruto further, learning that he actually had family and he wanted nothing to do with him, with Illyana and Raven both getting angry at his dismissal as well.
"Do you even hear yourself right now, Jiraiya? Naruto's parents trusted you to look after him and the first time you meet him, you push him aside." Said Sarutobi, not believing what he was hearing from his student.
"Yeah, he also had a godmother right here in this village, that was more than willing to take him in. But who's fault is that sensei? Not like it matters since she's dead." Jiraiya said accusingly.
'I had a godmother to?!' Thought Naruto looking at the Hokage in further shock, that he also had a godmother, one who was apparently willing to take him in, but it seems the Hokage stopped her.
So the Sandaime not only knew he had family and didn't tell him, he prevented the one person who would have actually taken in him from doing that. And he'll never even get the chance to know who she is, if she's dead.
"Don't even try to turn this on me, Jiraiya! You know that it would have only done more harm than good, given the state of the village at the time! Especially should his Jinchūriki Status get leaked, something that ultimately ended up happening four-to-five-years into his life! But you had more than your fair share of chances to simply meet Naruto, or at least leave something to show him that he had someone that could have raised him! But instead, you simply ran, like you do from everything else!" Retorted the Hokage, further shocking Naruto that there had been a point in time where he wasn't hated, from the sound of things.
"And I have such a stellar track record when it comes to taking care of kids, don't I? Let's see, those orphans from Ame, dead; two of my students, dead; and my apprentice, dead! You really wanna make it seven?!" Jiraiya demanded.
"Well at least I know you can make excuses! Those all happened during wartimes and you know it! And Minato's death was his own choice, nothing anyone did could have stopped him!" Said Hiruzen, knowing he's just making excuses now.
"Face it Jiraiya, you can make as many excuses as you want. But at the end of it, you simply didn't want the "burden" of taking care of a child." Sarutobi said, with Jiraiya not saying anything in response to this, something that only angered and hurt Naruto more.
'That's all he sees me as, a burden?' Naruto thought while looking down, making Raven and Illyana look at him in worry.
"Are you done?" Questioned Jiraiya, simply wanting to leave and get back to his research, while the Hokage could only look at him, unable to recognize his former student.
"Minato and Kushina would both be ashamed of you, for betraying their trust and abandoning their son." Sarutobi said, hoping that would get a reaction out of the Toad Sage, while Naruto went completely numb at hearing those names.
'Minato and…Kushina? Those…those are my parents' names? Minato…Namikaze…my Tou-san is…the Yondaime Hokage?' Naruto thought as he started feeling faint at realizing his father was the Yondaime Hokage, the man who sealed the Kyūbi inside of him.
"Who cares what they'd think! They're dead and I'm alive, so I'll be the one to decide when I train the stupid brat!" Jiraiya shouted, with the Sandaime looking at him with wide eyes, not believing what he just heard.
"You don't get to tell me when I train the brat, I do and I'll decide when he deserves it! Because without me, then the brat won't be anything, if he even deserves to be trained by me! Since I'm the one who chooses who will bring peace to the Ninja world, not you or anyone else! I'm the one destined to train the Child of Prophecy, so I can finally get the credit I deserve! After I had to put up with your precious favoritism towards Orochimaru, and even Tsunade with her damn clan! Even my own damn student overshadowed me, everyone loves talking about the Yondaime Hokage, but ignores who trained him! But I'll get the credit for being the one who trained the one who'll save the world and bring peace! Without me to start the prophecy, then no one will bring peace!" Yelled Jiraiya while glaring at the Hokage, who looked at him with wide eyes before schooling his expression.
'And there it is.' Hiruzen thought, seeing just why Jiraiya refuses to be around Naruto and instead focus on his vices, he didn't care about Naruto, or that Minato and Kushina would be ashamed of him, he only cared about his prophecy.
Sarutobi learned about the prophecy that Jiraiya had received from the Great Toad Sage, his old student having been too eager to brag about the fact he's destined to train the one who'd bring peace to the world. First thinking it was a child he trained in the Land of Rain, then thinking it was Minato, and then passing the position onto Naruto. But now he sees Jiraiya doesn't care who the Child of Prophecy is, only caring about getting the credit for training them, after being overshadowed by his teammates and then by his own student.
'Could I have stopped this from happening?' Sarutobi thought, wondering if this was his fault for focusing so much on Orochimaru and his natural talent, rather than his other students.
Though Tsunade at the time had her own clan to help train her, while Jiraiya had no one, always being in their shadows. Even when he got his Summoning Contract with the Toads, Orochimaru and Tsunade soon got their own contracts with the Snakes and Slugs as well, once again putting him behind them.
Then after taking on a team and losing two of his students, he took Minato as his apprentice, only to once again be overshadowed by Minato's talent and power. Not only learning the Hiraishin and creating the Rasengan, and while he hadn't mastered it, he still achieved a higher form of Sage Mode than Jiraiya as well.
'I suppose this is just another one of my failures.' Thought Hiruzen, knowing if he focused more on Jiraiya as well, he could have stopped him from turning out like this, seeing it was too late to get through to his student with how obsessed he is.
Along with making a mental note to have his Anbu keep a closer watch on Jiraiya, in case he ends up snapping, not wanting to have another Orochimaru on his hands.
Before either of them could say anything else, an Anbu Shunshined into the office.
"Hokage-sama! We've just discovered the bodies of Dosu Kinuta and Hayate Gekkō!" Said the Anbu, making the Hokage's eyes widen at hearing this, before looking at Jiraiya.
"Don't think this is over, Jiraiya." Warned Sarutobi before Shunshining away with the Anbu, while Jiraiya scoffed before Shunshining away as well.
After they were certain that no one was in the office anymore, Raven and Illyana dropped their spells and looked at Naruto. Who stood completely frozen in shock at everything they just heard.
"Naruto?" Raven said in concern.
"Are…are you alright?" Questioned Magik, knowing it was probably a foolish question, but still wanted to ask.
"Let's just…let's just go." Muttered Naruto before grabbing the Forbidden Scroll, not caring about making a copy of it anymore, only wanting to get back to his apartment.
Raven and Magik nodded, before the three left the office, though not before the two created a temporary fake scroll to put in place of the real one.
*Later*
After arriving back at his apartment, the trio simply sat around each other, Naruto having stayed silent the entire time, while Raven and Illyana weren't sure to say. Given he not only learned he had godparents, his godmother having been refused from raising him and was dead. While his godfather apparently only saw him as a burden and only cared about some prophecy, whatever that was, and getting credit for training some "Child of Prophecy".
Not to mention, learning who his parents were as well, which was only another secret that the Hokage had kept from him.
"The day I was born, the village was attacked by a creature known as the Kyūbi no Yōko, one of nine Bijū, creatures made of pure Chakra, with the Kyūbi being the strongest. The fox was comparable to a living force of nature. No one could stop it, and it probably would have destroyed Konoha, if not for the Yondaime Hokage arriving and stopping it at the cost of his life. Everyone believed he took the Kyūbi down with him, but that was a lie; the truth is that he sealed the fox away into a newborn infant, me. He sealed the Kyūbi into me, his own son." Naruto revealed before looking up at Illyana and Raven, who looked at him in shock to hear this, even more so that his father was the one to seal the Kyūbi into him.
"That's why everyone hates me, they see me as a reminder of that night, with some even seeing me as the Kyūbi itself, as a monster and a demon. All because my Tou-san sealed it into me." Said Naruto, still processing everything he's learned.
'He really is like me.' Magik and Raven thought, seeing Naruto was more similar to them than they originally believed.
"I told you before that mutants have powers unlike regular people, what I didn't tell you was how they were treated. Mutants in my world are seen as monsters, freaks, abominations, whether out of hatred or fear for the power we have. Even my brother and the rest of the X-Men were hated, despite how they help protect people, they're still hated simply for being seen as different. I was no different, both on Earth and in Limbo." Magik said, getting up and sitting beside Naruto, before putting a hand on the Jinchūriki's shoulder.
"I know the feeling of being hated for something out of my control. It's terrible, but I had to learn that there would always be those who hate what they don't, or refuse to, understand. What matters is finding those that will care, no matter what, and I care Naruto." Said Illyana, with Raven nodding in agreement and sitting on his other side.
"I know what it's like too. My father, he wasn't just a bad person, he was an inter-dimensional demon, an actual demon. I was only born to be used as his key and doorway to other worlds for him to conquer, and my mother was…not exactly a willing participant. It's also why I had to leave Azarath, I had confronted my father only for it to backfire. The only reason he didn't kill me, was because of his belief that I would join him willingly. The monks weren't willing to take the risk and I overheard them discussing how to deal with me, so I ran, both to protect myself and my home from my father. So, no matter how these people see you Naruto, they don't know what a real demon's like, until they've met me or my father." Said Raven, with Naruto looking at them both in surprise to hear what they went through and how similar their lives have been to his own.
"You're not a freak, Illyana, and you're not a demon, Raven. Being a mutant doesn't make you a monster, and just because your father was a demon, it doesn't make you one in anything, but blood. Both of you have been nice to me, even when you had no reason to, even offering to train me, and sticking with me despite how the villagers treat you for associating with me. So, thank you for helping me, and for being my friends." Said Naruto, making both girls smile at his word.
"You don't have to thank us, Naruto. And we should thank you for helping us get better settled in this world, even when you didn't know us." Raven replied, thankful for Naruto's help in getting them settled in this world and giving them a place to stay.
"Agreed, and like I said before, we do not care for the opinions of fools. If they choose to hate you for this Kyūbi creature, and us for choosing to be your friends, then that's their problem." Added Magik, also thankful for his help, knowing the villagers chose to simply hate Naruto for something he had no choice in, rather than taking the time to get to know him as a person.
Naruto smiled at them, thankful to hear that, and to have gotten the chance to meet them as well.
Though suddenly, the three tensed when they sensed several people approaching the apartment, recognizing one of them as the landlord. While the other three were definitely Ninja judging by the amount of Chakra they had. And strangely enough, they couldn't get a read on their emotions, they simply felt…blank, as if they didn't have emotions to begin with.
"Looks like he didn't learn his lesson, time for a permanent reminder." Stated Illyana, summoning her Soulsword, only for Naruto to stop her.
"Wait! If he's bringing Ninja, then we have to be careful. If we draw any attention, then they'll try spinning it to make it seem like we're the ones at fault; which really won't help, if they see that." Naruto said, motioning to the Forbidden Scroll, making Magik frown but nod in agreement.
"Do you have a plan?" Raven asked, knowing this was going to end in a fight, whether they liked it or not, the only question being how long it'll last.
"Yeah, you two just need to hide us again, like you did before." Said Naruto, grabbing the Forbidden Scroll before creating three Shadow Clones, with two of them using Transformations to turn into Raven and Magik.
The clones then made themselves look to be sleeping, while Naruto turned off the lights before he, Illyana, and Raven hid in a corner of the room. The latter two cloaking them before they began waiting. The three soon sensing the landlord and Ninja arrive at the apartment, all of them staying quiet when they began speaking.
"Even better, looks like the demon brat and those foreign bitches are asleep. While I'd enjoy them awake and see each other die, it would be probably better to not take the chance with their freak powers." Said the landlord, making the three scowl.
"Just open the door, we'll handle the rest." One of the Ninja said in a blank tone, with them soon hearing a key being inserted into the lock, before the door was slowly opened.
Seeing the landlord accompanied by three Ninja, foreign ones by their attire, with Naruto recognizing them as the Ame Team from the Forest of Death.
'Asshole, probably wanted to make sure nothing could be traced to him.' Naruto thought, seeing he hired foreign Ninja rather than risk getting any Konoha ones that hated him.
The Ame Ninja each approached one of the Shadow Clones, while the landlord stayed back with a wicked smirk as his face, pleased to finally see the demon get what's coming. Only for all of them to quickly turn around, when the door suddenly slammed shut behind them, followed by the clones dispelling, enveloping the apartment in smoke.
The landlord screaming in fear, when he heard the sound of heavy objects hitting the ground, before he suddenly found himself pinned to the ground and something sharp digging into his cheek. His fear only growing when the smoke cleared, revealing the Ame Ninja lying dead on the ground, one having a kunai buried in his neck, the second being decapitated, and the third had a large hole in his chest. While Magik stood above him, with her foot planted on his back and her sword digging into his cheek.
"You know, it really makes me wonder if humans just have no sense of self-preservation, when they do something foolish such as this. We clearly warned you already to leave us alone, and yet you still do something foolish. Do you see the problem here?" Illyana asked, with the landlord shaking in terror at being left helpless.
"Pl-ple-" The landlords begging was immediately cutoff, when Illyana buried her sword in his head.
"Oh look at that, the problem is solved." Stated Magik, before looking at Naruto and Raven, only to see them standing frozen and looking at the Ninja they had killed, making her frown at realizing these were their first kills.
"I know you both must be horrified at what you've done, but they came here with the intent to kill us. It would be best if we left, before anyone can arrive to see us like this. Once we're out of the village, then you both can take a few moments to recover, alright." Said Illyana, knowing they needed to hurry, with Naruto and Raven nodding shakily; knowing she was right.
Though before they left, Magik noticed the masks on the Ninja had broken or fallen off, making her frown when she noticed something in their mouths. The mutant checking, only to instead see they were marking on their tongues.
"Naruto, do Ninja tend to get tattoos on their tongues?" Magik asked, getting the twos attention as they saw the markings.
"No…at least not in Konoha, I don't know about the other villages. But I think those are seals, which can do a lot of different things, depending on where they're placed." Replied Naruto, with Raven looking at them as well.
"Given where they are, it's likely that these seals are meant to keep them from revealing certain information. And with how we couldn't really sense emotions from these guys, I don't think these were regular Ninja." Raven stated, with Illyana nodding in agreement.
"Then all the more reason to be out of the village for a while, if these three were sent after us by someone here." Said Illyana, with Naruto and Raven nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, and probably would be good to make sure no one knows we're leaving. I'll leave a reinforced Shadow Clone, so no one knows I'm gone. While I doubt anyone would notice, or care, that you two are gone." Naruto said before creating a reinforced Shadow Clone, which the girls further reinforced with magic, along with a few others to deal with the bodies.
With that done, the three quickly made their way out of the village before anyone else could show up, looking for them. Though they now knew Konoha that wasn't as safe as they originally believed, if someone would send Ninja disguised as a foreign team after them; potentially after killing said team.
The trio just hoping that whoever it was, their now dead subordinates would discourage them from trying anything further. But something told them that wouldn't be the end of it, and that they would have to be ready.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto learning what Magik and Raven can do, along with what they'll be able to teach him, as well as getting some advice from Gai. Then we see the progress Naruto's made in his training, and seeing his opinion of Konoha going down with how the villagers were treating Magik and Raven simply for being around him and being foreigners. Along with his landlord attempting to triple his rent for having them stay with him, leading to Naruto standing up for once with Illyana and Raven helping him, before making a plan to train outside the village and steal the Forbidden Scroll for Naruto to use. But when they make a move for it, they're interrupted by the arrival of the Hokage and Jiraiya, where they learn plenty of secrets that were kept from Naruto, along with Jiraiya's obsession with the prophecy, leading to Naruto telling them why he's hated with Raven and Magik sharing their own reasons. Finally the landlord returns with a Ninja team to kill the trio, with them sensing something off about them, leading to them ambushing their would-be killers and killing them instead as well as the landlord, with Magik taking notice of a familiar seal on their tongues, before Naruto creates a reinforced Shadow Clone to stay in his place with the three then leaving the village. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out