As much as I liked living at the Uchiha safe house, it wasn't going to last. It was basically a stock, bare bones dwelling. It was far away from everything and always seemed like everything was too small.
Only one burner for the stove.
Small sink.
Bed that was stiff and came down from the wall.
Small table.
No bathtub. I hope you like taking showers. Outdoor showers.
It was a safehouse for a reason. Have the essentials but nothing else. Not exactly all that nice for someone who has an obsession for cooking. It did have a microwave. Living the cup ramen dream. Yip-pee.
Though, being far away from the center of the village did have its merits. My tree hopping skills have improved immensely. It was a twenty-minute walk on the trail back to the village, or a few minutes through the trees. This has helped immensely with my chakra control. Knowing how much chakra to put into a jump for the next branch helped me completely master the tree walking technique. The nearby pond helped with my water walking training as well. Ponds are the best because the water is calm. I go there to fish occasionally as well.
There is one big problem to the whole situation. I don't like being in debt to others. I was getting money every week. I suspected from Mikoto, but it could be from Itachi too at this point. I would try to at least pay them back with banana bread or spaghetti. Spaghetti night was fun the first night. People have never seen a fork before. They know how to use chopsticks and spoons, but forks. God help them. Garlic bread was also something they never had before. Unfortunately, the next week I received a little bit more to my stipend. Reimbursement for dinner.
I wouldn't doubt if Minato was putting pressure on them to reveal where I've been staying. I can't confirm it, but it does feel like I'm being watched sometimes. Which coincides with Mikoto offering me to stay the night.
"Time to do some more experimenting."
I headed to one of the many trees. I am beginning the stages of using my 'superior intellect from another world.' Some of the laws of motion still apply here. Stopping on water after running is very difficult because the water doesn't push back as hard as land will. Resist my input in other words. Therefore, when I am trying to replicate Tsunade's super strength, chakra control is just one part of the equation.
If it was, then anyone who can tree hop can punch and make craters just as easily. Only reason why that is not the case, the leg bones are a lot stronger than your arm bones. Its not as simple as pushing a little bit of chakra from your knuckle chakra points and then releasing it. You must strengthen your fingers so they don't break. You must reinforce your wrist so you don't roll it. You must reinforce your elbow, fore arm, upper arm, and your shoulder. All of this, on top of releasing the amount of chakra precisely from your knuckles.
Yeah. That's why only Tsunade has mastered it. Well, Sakura will too if she ends up being her apprentice.
As noticed by the divots in my practice tree, I've gotten the reinforcement and strengthening down, next is the power delivery. Working early on the tree and water walking exercise has done wonders for my chakra control. I thought I was screwed for a second. You know, having the 'soul of Kurama' and everything. But nope, literally just having a second conscious back there. It doesn't talk much either, just content to sleep most of the time. That's fine with me. At least he can't go poking around in my head all at all. It would blow its mind if Kurama knew I was from a completely different world. Then again, wasn't the Otsutsuki clan also technically aliens. And I am the alien here?
After practice runs, I try my first time of channeling chakra through my knuckles. I punch the tree. My fist hits the tree and bark is shot up in lots of places. On an adrenaline high for all of naught point oh two seconds before the pain sets in.
"FUUUCKKK!" I try to unclench my fist but that just makes it hurt more. Fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck. Coincidence that the people who learned this technique were also medics. I THINK NOT.
"Gotta find Karin. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This hurts like a son of a bitch." Studies have shown that cursing while in pain does numb it slightly. "Okay, new plan. Karin watches all my damn training with this. Shit, god fucking damnit this hurts."
"Why is it that anytime we meet, you're completely fucked? Hospitals exist for this very reason."
Karin was not amused. I started coming to her pretty regularly after spars with Menma. I was getting better, but Menma still never took it easy on me. Trying his damnedest to leave me with at least something broken. Although, his class rank was dropping slightly. No chance of 'Rookie of the Year' honors.
"I tried to replicate Tsunade's uber strength." No doubt hiding anything from her.
"Stop it. Get some help. Not from me." She was in the process of closing her door when I did yet another stupid thing. I put my hand out to stop it. My right hand. The one that I just injured.
Thinking clearly was definitely not my strong point right now.
Hissing I offered a bargain. "I'll bake you banana bread." She opened her door back up.
"Fine. Come on in. No biting this time, just healing jutsu. I need to practice so you'll be my live experiment."
I sat down on her tatami mat floor. She had a modest little apartment, provided for by Kushina. She respected Karin's decision to live by herself, but still trying to be apart of her life. There has been one question on my mind. And with a comfortable silence washing over the two of us, now or never.
"It's been bugging me ever since I left, but why?"
"Huh? What are you talking about."
Fine, being a bit defensive. I reiterated. "Why'd you leave after just a couple of days? We're the same age, you were barely five."
"Listen. I like you. You're fun to talk to. You make me delicious food when you're hurt. Don't make me not like you."
My hand was feeling better. The bones were getting reset and the stiffness and pain was going away. I heard her sigh.
"It was you. Okay?"
"Huh?" I'm confused.
"The way they treated you. I saw it as soon as I got there. If they were like that with you, their own son. What would that mean for me? Sure, I am an Uzumaki, but not directly related to them."
"You noticed that quickly huh."
"Yup." She replied. "We went out to Ichiraku's for lunch. Everyone, even Hokage-sama. I noticed you were up in your room... as we were leaving. I asked if we should get you. Kushina just responded that you were busy and Menma commented on how unmotivated and lazy you were. When we got back, you were eating lunch. By yourself. And Naruko was angry with you for eating some of her things. Kushina sided with her."
She trailed off before starting again.
"It just was something that didn't make sense. It still doesn't. Then it happened at dinner too. And then the next day. By the third day, I realized I didn't like this."
"And here I thought it was because Kushina wanted you to call her mom."
She lowered her voice a bit. "Certainly didn't help at all."
Sensitivity and trauma were somethings that were never handled with care in this world. Karin had just lost her mother. Was present as the Grass ninja were sucking her dry because of her healing chakra. Taken by Jiraiya to a place she had no one to support her. And yet, it was a place that she learned from her teachers as a place that was their enemy. Taken in by people claiming to be her family. Yet treated their own family disdainfully. Cherry on top being encouraged to call Kushina mother. Not auntie, mother.
The pain in my knuckles had completely subsided now. "Good as new?"
"Good as new." She confirmed. "Still completely stupid of what you're trying to do."
"Let's go get the bananas then. We'll have to wait for -"
"I have some already." She had a smug grin.
I gave her a dry look. She set me up.
"You have everything else I'm assuming?"
"Of course, now get busy baking." She finished with a pat on my arm.
It was mid afternoon by the time I finished with my baking. Karin had nothing better to do so we made our way back to the training field so that she could observe my attempts and heal the subsequent failures. The path we took led us right by the entrance to the Hokage's private training grounds. Also known as, where Naruko and Menma train. Today was no different, they were walking out of it as Karin and I were casually walking by.
Now, usually it was no problem with just me. I couldn't care less what they thought of me. I knew just how good I was and I can give Menma a run for his money, not both of them. And there is no Iruka-sensei to separate the two of them from ganging up on me. This time I have Karin with me. She isn't a fighter though. But she doesn't like taking crap either.
It was inevitable really. Menma would insult me, Karin would defend me. Menma would insult her as well. Then Naruko would try to calm everyone down while saying it was my fault. Usually it would be just words. The two of them would usually be drained from training and with my recent improvement, I wasn't an easy target anymore. This time was different it seemed like, Menma still had energy to burn and went towards me.
I side stepped and he flew past me. "We don't have to do this, just go back home Menma."
"No, we really do. I'm tired of Iruka holding us back."
Oh brilliant. He came at me once again. I looked over to Karin. Thankfully, Naruko was a bit more tired and was just in a verbal spar with Karin. Switching my attention back to Menma, I did something I'd never done to that point. I always fought on the defensive, reacting because Menma was generally a bit faster. And a lot more aggressive. I preferred defense and counter attacks.
He might still have energy after training but he is a bit slower than usual.
I charged right back at him. He wasn't expecting it and his reaction was not as sharp. I landed a good gut shot to his rib and followed with a jab at his jaw. It connected, but was only a glancing blow.
Menma backed up to reassess the situation. I got back into my usual defensive stance.
Menma made a cross with his index fingers. God damnit. One of the advantages of spars at the academy is that ninjutsu is not allowed. Taijutsu only. And with those reserves I can assume this won't be just a two versus one.
"Shadow clone jutsu." Three clones poofed into existence, with kunai drawn. Not tired enough from training!
All four charged me from the sides, front, and above. My only option was to retreat and draw my own kunai. Make the shadow clones disappear. I reached down for my pouch as I chakra stepped back.
It's not there. I reach again. Still not there. I didn't leave with my ninja tools this morning. I went directly to Karin's after I injured myself. Fuck.
What now? One of these things is not like the other. If I didn't have my own kunai, I'd just have to take one of Menma's. Easier said than done. He didn't like to throw them all that often. One of the Menma doppelgangers has some mud caked in his hair. Sticks out like a sore thumb in his yellow hair. That one must be the original.
I charged at the one currently to my left. I grab his forearm and with a little chakra enhancement, force him to drop his kunai. I grabbed the falling ninja tool and parried the next strike from a clone. I released Menma and kicked him back, enhancing that as well. He flew back twenty feet. I myself was shocked.
Karin gasped a little. That's right, I have a peanut gallery watching. "Kick his ass!"
I dealt with the clones. Luckily they still go 'poof' in one swipe. One down, two to go.
One left. 'Poof.'
All that was left was Menma who was still recovering from that kick. He was clutching his stomach. Must be sore from training and the kick aggravated it.
His index fingers made a ram seal and a red chakra wisped around him. Or not. Hacks. Bullshit hacks.
He charged back towards me with speed back to where it should have been. A flurry of punches put me on the defensive of either redirecting them or dodging them. Attempting to dodge them. I may have some endurance to take a pounding but these were not ordinary punches. Enhanced by the nine tails chakra, they hurt.
"What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
It startled me so much, I took a heavy blow from Menma.
NOT HELPING.
"I can't help it. I noticed you were taking in some of my chakra."
At least it doesn't burn me anymore. I thought back my reply.
It was true, ironically. The more Menma would punch me with Kurama's unfiltered chakra, the more that returned to the soul. Every punch that connected. A little bit of chakra was syphoned off. It would never completely drain Menma, but it did mean I would be getting more attuned and stronger.
Do I get the enhanced healing from your chakra as well now?
"Perhaps."
Time to find out.
Another chakra enhanced step back getting my feet set. Deep breath. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
Chakra reinforcing my right shoulder.
Upper arm.
Elbow.
Fore arm.
Wrist.
Knuckles.
Fingers.
I charged back at Menma. He must have been surprised because his mouth was slightly open. My punch connected with his abdomen, similar to the kick before. I released a precise amount of chakra.
Once again, Menma was flung back at incredible speed. He flew back twice the distance. Immediately I was down on my knee clutching my right arm. I could move my fingers, so there was a slight improvement from this morning, but it still hurt like a bitch.
"Perhaps not."
I felt a rush of cool chakra coming in. It was Karin. She came over to me and started healing my arm again.
"More banana bread, please, and thank you."
Naruko had taken off back to where Menma came to a stop. He was downright furious now. "THAT'S IT. SHADOW CLONE JUTSU."
I was expecting an army of shadow clones. Something to like the first chapter I remembered reading about. Thousands upon thousands of clones. Instead. It was just one. Though, what is that whirling sound.
Oh.
Fuck.
A blue ball formed in Menma's hand. He and his shadow clone were charging at us. Karin was frozen in place. Killing intent actually being directed at the both of us.
His temper is going to actually be the death of him. I don't know how he can explain this one away.
My right fingers were sloppy, I normally didn't struggle through the substitution jutsu. Use it on his clone for Karin and I to switch places with it. It wasn't fast enough though.
Hello darkness my old friend.
I suddenly saw a white robe in front of me. Darkness, not white...with red flames? Kanji for 'Fourth Hokage?'
My brain stopped working once again.
"Dad?" Menma said before being teleported away.
"Fights are not permitted not inside training grounds and with a supervisor." Minato turned to face me, "You know that Naruto."
"I didn't start it!"
"I don't care who started it. I'm finishing it." He sighed and teleported away, most likely to talk to Menma. Bastard deserves to get ramen taken away until he dies.
I heard a mumble next to me. "Hmm?"
"Sorry." She paused for a few seconds. Her voice was very quiet. Barely above a whisper. "I froze." Still very quiet. I could barely hear it above my heavy panting. The exhaustion was finally catching up to me. It was a hot day.
Minato teleported back to the kunai he left on the ground. "I got the story from Naruko. Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze. I'm ashamed of you. I know you've been staying with the Uchiha's but that has done you no favors. You will come back and live with us."
That instantly got me to clam up. No. No. No nonononono. I don't want to go back. YOU WON'T MAKE ME GO BACK. No NO NO NO!
"He's been living with me!" I heard the red head shout next to me.
"Really now?" Minato seemed skeptical.
I appreciate the effort Karin. I do. But you can't exactly bullshit your way out of this.
"Yes! Yes he has...he...he...I'm the reason why he's been doing so well in school lately! You've noticed how his grades have improved. I've been tutoring him. He comes over. When you see him at the Uchiha's its because he's been training with Itachi. He has been making improvements in all areas!"
If you're going to try to bullshit him. I guess it doesn't hurt to build it upon what he knows. He's definitely noticed my improvement. Menma's no doubt complained about it at every dinner.
Minato paused. "That still doesn't excuse your behavior. Your poor mom is heartbroken."
If I hear her call me sochi. Nopety, nope, nope, nope. There's going to be blood.
"But, as long as you two are staying together. I'll allow it. No more unauthorized spars though. Especially without supervision."
He teleported away back towards Naruko and Menma.
The sun was setting and we were still seated. I was still shaking. This time from a breeze that had picked up out of nowhere. Karin still next to me.
"You owe me so much banana bread."
"Thanks."
"You were shaking. Badly. It reminded me of how I felt when I needed to leave."
We walked back to the Uchiha safe house.
"Wait a fucking minute." I stopped walking. Replaying Minato's conversation.
"Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze?" I turned to Karin. "What the fuck is that supposed to be?"
"What are you looking at me for? I have no idea."
"But like, what the fuck? That's not how naming works."
"Maybe he just hates you? Not going to make you heir of either clan but you're gonna be a part of both of them."
It just doesn't make any sense. So, is Boruto now Boruto Uzumaki-Hyuga? No, he's just fucking Boruto Uzumaki. Or for instance Sarada. She has the Sharingan sure, but her strength comes from Sakura's chakra control. This is so fucking dumb.
"And when they call my attendance, its only Naruto Namikaze."
Engrossed in my 'what the fuck is this supposed to be' mentality, we approached the genjutsu trap. I deactivated it.
"This is the little shack is where you've been staying for the past five months?"
"Yeah, not much...Let me get all my stuff into some scrolls and we'll head back."
I didn't have too much. I left some of the non-perishable food there. Whoever needed to use it next could have it. Sealed my clothing. I'd get the perishable food some other time. I was exhausted. Truthfully, I wanted to just crash here. But Karin was here, and there wasn't any space unless we shared sleep places. Not wanting to step on that landmine, we walked out. I tapped the genjutsu trap for it to reinitiate.
"Say. Karin. Have you ever heard of snickerdoodles?"