AN: I finally and officially give up on a posting schedule:) I will post whenever the chapter is ready. I will try to update whenever weekly or at least every other week.Okay Chapter 7 :)
Naruto sat in library's Uzumaki room, like the librarian calls it ,with many scrolls sprawled around him.
'There are none',Naruto groaned.
'There is nothing here that mentions about making the chains stronger',Naruto plopped on his back in the floor, facing the roof.
'I already told you it is something just gets better over time',Kurama said.
'My first host's could withstand my bijuu bombs but your mother's could not',Kurama said,'Maybe it's just the experience'
Naruto just hummed non chalantly.
'But still for sensei to just cut them like that?',Naruto said frustrated.
Naruto got up and shoved the scrolls aside to leave.
At first Naruto was glad to have a room all by himself but spending hours cooped up in a dim lit room with very poor ventilation didn't help his frustrations every time he couldn't understand something.
The lack of mentoring and guidance was catching up to him.
'Should I ask help from one of my academy teachers?',Naruto asked.
'I don't know a single thing about it. I don't even know what you people consider legible and what passes as doodles',Kurama deadpanned.
Naruto chucked,'Didn't your first host raise like 5 children?'
'It would have helped a lot if you had learnt from her',Naruto joked.
Kurama just huffed and shut Naruto out to doze off.
Naruto, now from personal experience knew for a fact that hearing the wails wasn't the most ideal thing and on top of being imprisoned. What would have Kurama gone through having to experience raising five kids?
And OH! how could he forget the grandchildren?! She lived a 'long' life.
Naruto was just glad that Kurama didn't kill babies on sight and most importantly him...
Naruto did a double take seeing the moon instead of the sun, stepping out of the library.
It was night already! He had been there since afternoon. Naruto now really decided to get that clock he had planned to buy for library.
He had so much to do today! He had to go grocery shopping, do laundry, pick up clothes that he commissioned. What time was it? Seeing barely anybody was in the library it looked like past midnight.
And more importantly Kakashi sensei had asked him to come at his best tomorrow. Guess he really didn't like that one time he showed up all sleepy and red eyed. How was he supposed to get "adequate" sleep now?
He had said it was for training properly with his chains. Like he knew anything about them! That...
"Chain Cutting Monster!",Naruto said dramatically.
'Are you still going on about that?',Kurama tsked.
'It's no fair. I train so hard, and then he comes with his glowing hand and cuts them like butter?',Naruto pouted.
'Oh. We are out of that as well. Add that to the grocery list',Kurama said uncaring about Naruto's rants.
'Hah?!',Naruto said offended.
Naruto punched his navel in his futile attempt to get back at Kurama, much to his amusement.
No one other than Kurama knew why Naruto walked home holding his stomach and an annoyed frown on his face.
'I'll only buy spicy ramen this time',Naruto planned with a evil smirk on his face,'He hates spicy right?'
He didn't know how he would have Kurama switch with him and try those though.
next day
'WAKE UP BRAT! YOU WILL DROWN',Kurama screamed.
Naruto was in his bathtub, well Naruto's body was, with Kurama inhabiting it.
'A little longer?',Naruto said groggily as he lay in the waters of the sewer of his mind, half submerged.
'No!',Kurama said.
'If you don't wake up, I'll walk outside on four limbs like this',Kurama threatened.
'Don't. Just Switch',Naruto yawned sleepily.
Naruto took hold of his body and dried off and clothed himself and headed to the kitchen to make himself breakfast.
"We are out of ramen as well?!",Naruto said waking up completely.
" I really need to go shopping today!",Naruto said deciding to drop breakfast.
"Who trains this early anyways?!",Naruto said frowning at the clock indicating five in the morning.
'Ichiraku wouldn't be open now',Naruto thought sadly.
Deciding to visit Ichiraku after training, Naruto started walking out of his apartment.
'Shouldn't you wear a torn shirt today?',Kurama interjected.
'Huh? Why?',Naruto asked confused.
'Oh! I am training with my chains today!',Naruto remembered.
'There it is',Kurama rolled his eyes.
'Thanks',Naruto thanked him and got a spare shirt before heading out.
training ground
Kakashi was as usual late but it was for the better as Naruto got some sleep before Kakashi arrived.
"I hope you all are at your best today",Kakashi said.
He got three hesitant nods as an answer.
'So sensei asked all of us to be prepared?',Naruto thought.
Kakashi ran through some hand signs and produced three bunshins.
" Today you will be showing me whatever you have learned and upto what levels ",Kakashi said.
" So like summarize our skills?",Sakura asked.
"Exactly",Kakashi said,"But I will point out your weaknesses and then we will work on them"
"The real me would occasionally drop by each of you",Kakashi said.
"Now start",Kakashi commanded them as one clone for each led them far away from each other to get some space.
" Do you know anything except the basic three and the chains?",Kakashi asked him.
"If you are asking about jutsu or anything combative then no",Naruto answered.
" And I weren't?",Kakashi asked slightly amused.
"Some seals but nothing of use to fight. Like door lock seals, chakra storing seals and I am working on a fire talisman to replace the candles in the library as well",Naruto listed off the top of his head.
" Fire talismans?",Kakashi asked.
"Like a paper but the paper would burn very slowly, which would last longer and produce more light than candles",Naruto said.
Kakashi nodded at the new information, slightly in awe.
" So you have pretty much mastered the basic three",Kakashi began, already moving on,"All you have to focus on is the chains"
"My control isn't perfect but it's good enough. I just panicked last time",Naruto defended himself.
" And there isn't a way to make them stronger than they already are",Naruto said,"I checked so I don't think there js anything to work on there"
"Where do you feel, you stand in terms of Tai jutsu?",Kakashi asked suddenly.
Naruto was confused with the sudden change in topic but he answered anyways.
" huh?..tai jutsu?..uhm..two or three out of a five?",Naruto said unsure.
"Show me",Kakashi said just as he attacked him.
" Whaaaa",Naruto said as he jumped back, avoiding the kick to his chin.
Naruto adapted the pace quickly, blocking, dodging, attacking relentlessly.
He and his team had sparred with Kakashi many times, almost every training session but Naruto knew this time was different. Kakashi was never this ruthless.
Other times, Kakashi was sparring to train them but this time he was sparring to defeat him, Naruto could feel that in the punches. The skill level was so vast that Naruto knew he didn't have a chance and Kakashi knew it too, he was just playing with him, humiliating him.
Kakashi held back his kick inches before his face as Naruto lay in his knees, exhausted.
'Is he trying to say that I'm overestimating my skills?',Naruto asked.
Kurama tsked,'Let me just bijuu bomb that smug look off his face',dangerously.
'You will wipe him off from the face if the earth before wiping off his expression from his face',Naruto said.
Kakashi offered Naruto his hand to stand up.
"Again",Kakashi said.
" What?!",Naruto exclaimed.
"This time use your chains",Kakashi said.
" Huh?",Naruto said confused.
But Kakashi was already attacking him. Naruto being already exhausted didn't jump away or dodge but blocked the attack with his chains.
Naruto was a lot slower now but the help from the adamantine chains made up for it. He used two of them to keep Kakashi's hands occupied while he attacked with his own hands and kept the last chain free to defend against Kakashi's kicks and any surprise attacks.
"Do you understand now?",Kakashi began.
" You can hold out against a superior opponent with these",Kakashi said,"Think of them as extra limbs"
"They are the greatest asset any tai user can want",Kakashi said," They are more sturdy than any opponent's fist"
"I am asking you to create your own tai jutsu style involving the chains. I will help you out wherever you need my help. I have a few 'acquaintances' as well",Kakashi said.
Naruto pulled back his chains and looked at Kakashi scrunching his nose, as if he was disgusted by something.
"You couldn't have just said so?",Naruto asked massaging his sore muscles.
" I wanted to check if you lost control if you were overwhelmed ",Kakashi said.
" At the cost of my shirt?",Naruto pouted,"I even brought a spare one but now thanks to you this one is ruined as well"
Kakashi suddenly popped!
"What happened?!",Naruto asked frantically.
'It was a clone. Stop shouting',Kurama said.
'Oh yeah, I forgot',Naruto said somewhat calm.
Naruto looked to see the Sakura and Sasuke's Kakashi-clones had disappeared as well. Sasuke was demonstrating some Uchiha fire jutsu, Naruto assumed to no one and Sakura was somehow walking straight on a tree without falling.
The real Kakashi walked up to them and said,"I have been urgently summoned by the hokage"
"We would have to stop here today",Kakashi said.
" Naruto, how did things go with Tazuna?",Kakashi asked.
"It worked out fine. Jiji drafted the contract and he signed it and everything",Naruto answered.
" The mission began a few days ago",Naruto said.
"So it's not that",Kakashi said contemplating," I'll see you guys later"
Kakashi vanished instantly.
'We can go shopping now',Naruto said and turned to leave but was blocked.
"Spar with me",Sasuke said looking at him.
"With the chains",Sasuke added.
So Sasuke seemed to have noticed that. It was a normal request but the glint in Sasuke's eye made Naruto rethink.
"You are all beat up. What did sensei make you do anyways?",Sakura asked.
"Tai jutsu",Naruto answered Sakura.
"I can't. I have things to do",Naruto said to Sasuke," It's kinda urgent "
"This was the last one I had",Naruto said showing Sasuke the back of his shirt.
" Next time",Sasuke told him which sounded much like a warning.
'What's up with him?',Naruto asked as he left.
'He is just like his ancestor, power hungry',Kurama said with.
'I don't think wanting to spar warrants comparison with Madara',Naruto rolled his eyes.
'You will see one day, his downfall will be his hunger for power',Kurama said, most serious Naruto has ever seen him.
'People like them aren't meant to be befriended or made enemies against',Kurama said.
Naruto didn't say anything and just listened to Kurama. He was better at judging people's intentions anyways.
Naruto quickly made a stop by Ichiraku and then his house to grab his purse, gama chan.
The first place he visited was to retrieve his clothes. He was supposed to get them yesterday but things happened and here he was walking through the complex compound.
Naruto knocked politely on the door and waited. Soon enough the lady he had met opened the door.
"Ah..Naruto kun. Your order is ready, I have been waiting for you",she said smiling.
" Sorry, I couldn't come yesterday ",Naruto apologized.
" No worries. Please enter",she said welcoming Naruto inside.
It was the second most fancy house Naruto had ever seen, first being the one he saw on that baby sitting mission. Although he had seen and entered the house the previous time but still he couldn't help but look around. The hallway, guest room, the courtyard, the Shikamaru.
"Wait Shikamaru?!",Naruto said looking dumbly where Shikamaru was laying on his back.
" He is my son why?",she asked and then turned where Naruto was looking
"So that's where he is",the lady said dangerously and walked up to him and woke him up by his ear.
The lady was Shikamaru's mother?
" What did I ask you to do?",she pinched his ear,"This is how you get watermelon for guests?"
"Troublesome",Shikamaru muttered
" Now go get them",she said
Shikamaru lazily walked past and then turned back,"Naruto?"
"What are you doing here?",Shikamaru asked.
" He is my customer. Now go get the watermelons",Ashino said.
"So his are the ones you couldn't't shut up about?",Shikamaru asked.
" I don't see any watermelons ",Ashino said in a warning tone.
Shikamaru grunted and walked away.
" Sorry, he doesn't listen normally. He is a bit lazy",she told him,"Follow me"
'A bit?',Naruto almost choked out in laughter.
Naruto was led to the small room where he was taken last time but this time there were a lot more people.
Chouji and Ino too?
"Hey Naruto",Chouji said," What are you doing here?"
" Hey",Naruto replied uncomfortably under the gazes of many.
"I can come later if you are busy",Naruto said.
" No need",a woman with blonde hair said,"We were just looking through Ashino's designs "
She looked a lot like Ino. Was she Ino's mother?
Shikamaru's mother as he knew her now went and came back with a bag.
"You can try them in the next room",she told him pointing at the said room.
Naruto took it and went to see the fit, wanting to get this over with quickly and leave.
On touching the shirt, he could feel that the material was more superior than anything he had ever owned but it was also more expensive than anything he had ever owned.
It was just a plain white T shirt with the Uzumaki insignia on the back but made with chakra strings! Well just the stitching of the formula was. Naruto was unsure if his idea would work out but after talking with Shikamaru's mother he had some hope.
It was just a ordinary looking shirt on the outside but it was laden with füinjutsu seals and formula.
Firstly, the modified version of the storage scroll which would allow him to use his chains freely without having to worry about his shirt. Secondly was a chakra seal would store the chakra of the strings and prevent it from dispersing if ever he was exhausted and saved him from having to constantly provide chakra to hold the strings. Third was one which hid the other ones so it didn't look like a shirt with doodling and writting on it. Fourth was a suppressant which suppressed the chakra so he wouldn't be immediately snuffed out by sensors.
Naruto quickly put it on. It was a little bigger than his fit, as requested. Reason being Kurama being uncomfortable with tight clothes and also so that Naruto could use them longer and wouldn't grow out of it quickly.
Naruto tried using the chains. The black border of the Uzumaki insignia darkenedand shifted as all the formula and kanji moved across his entire back like slithering snakes until the back of his shirt was show cased the dark inked formula when the his chains were brought out.
To be honest he was a bit surprised that Shikamaru's mother pulled it off. He obviously provided the designs, written and drawn neatly on a scroll to copy from but still it was a different thing to sew them perfectly. It didn't look messy at all! Instead it was kind of cool. Even better and beautiful than he could write them.
Naruto happily made his way out with the bag of clothes. Naruto had ordered six more of the same identical shirts and then Shikamaru's mother had fussed about how it wouldn't match with the orange at all and had prodded him into buying some dull coloured shinobi pants like greys and blacks but those didn't matter. What mattered was the shirt.
'It's perfect',Naruto told Kurama.
'Looks like we didn't get cheated this time',Kurama hummed.
Naruto went back to see expecting eyes and one lazy Shikamaru who had apparently been back with watermelons.
"Ehh?",Ino said looking him up and down with a scrunched nose.
" Ashino, it's kind of a let down from how excited you were",Ino's mother deadpanned.
"Let down? You don't know what you are talking about",she huffed and walked upto Naruto with fire glazing in her eyes.
" May I use one for demonstration, Naruto kun?",she asked.
Something told Naruto to oblige quietly. Maybe it was Kurama, maybe the fear, maybe the sight of sweat dropping Shikamaru.
Ashino took out a knife and stabbed into the shirt with force he had never used a kunai with.
Where did she even get that?! It was not the one they were using to cut the watermelon. She just summoned it out of thin air!
She continued stabbing it mercilessly with vigour and passion until she tired and sweat was glistening off on her forehead.
Then she held up the shirt with a sweet smile and showed that nothing had happened, wiping the sweat with knife still in hand
"These are made from chakra strings",Ashino said," These would last longer than your husban--
"Aheemm",Ino's mother interrupted,.
"We get it Ashino",she said indicating around them with her eyes for some reason.
" Uhmm",Ashino cleared her voice with a nervous laughter.
"Naruto kun, why don't you join us?",Ashino asked.
Like he would stay and eat at the knife summoning stabbing lady's.
" I have to go",Naruto said extending his hand to take the shirt back, a little unsure if he should just let it be.
Ashino quickly folded the shirt and put it back for him.
Naruto brought out his gama chan to pay. Making small talk as Ashino got him the change.
"Was your sensei called in too?",Naruto asked Chouji.
" He is away on some 'very important mission' but all the jonins were called in",Ino answered him making air quotes.
"It was a gathering of all Ino Shika Cho trios until our dads and Chouji's mother were called in",Shikamaru said.
"I'm assuming your sensei was called in too?",Shikamaru asked.
Naruto took back his change and nodded to Shikamaru his answer and left swiftly ending the conversation akward yet quickly.
'Weird people',Naruto said.
'Scary people',Naruto muttered remembering everything,I'm not going back like ever!'
'You should have seen your mother',Kurama said huffing.
Now Naruto really didn't want to.
Naruto kept walking to his last destination to buy groceries. He kept walking but something felt off to him. Everything was normal and nothing out of ordinary was happening but he got this forebonding sense that he should be careful.
'Kurama, watch the back. I get this bad feeling for some reason'
Naruto went about his normal routine. Henge into a unsuspecting get up of a reasonable age to be buying particular things that he did and also be old enough for there to be a reason to be shopping alone for the entire household and get started.
'Vegetables-check
ramen-check
spicy ramen-check
fruits--'
'I want to eat watermelon now',Naruto said.
'You haven't tasted that one right?',Naruto asked.
'There's a man looking at you',Kurama warned instead.
Naruto turned around to see the man he had sometimes seen at academy parent teacher meeting with the Hyuuga girl. So he must be the head of the Hyuuga clan. Did Naruto do something? Was this about that day with the Hyuuga boy, Neji? Was he not supposed to say those things to him?
The man even had his byakugan activated! But the tension in Naruto's body doubled when the man sped towards him in full speed with intent to attack.
No matter how much Naruto wanted to assure himself that he wouldn't kill him because he was the jinchüriki and hence important enough to the village, it didn't help.
He was just recently showed that his chains could do nothing against superior skills and that was Kakashi's clone! which wasn't even trying to kill him.
But suddenly Naruto felt cold metal to his neck and saw the man halt.
Naruto peeked to see behind him and saw an elderly man holding a kunai against his neck.
"One more step and I kill him",he said as he puffed in smoke and revealed...
"Mizuki sensei?!",Naruto asked wide eyed dropping his own henge.
Did he mistakenly henge as a criminal?
He saw a greedy smile appear on Mizuki's face.
" I couldn't get luckier ",Mizuki said.
" You can't escape this",the Hyuuga man said.
"Leave the boy and surrender with the forbidden scroll",he said.
Wait! What was going on?
'Your teacher seems to be betraying the village by stealing some forbidden scroll',Kurama said.
'So this is why Sensei and all the jonins were called in?',Naruto guessed.
'Makes sense, a Hyuuga found him first',Kurama said.
'So this is why I felt something off. Everything was too normal for a shinobi village',Naruto said,'They were trying to stay under cover and trying to act normal'
'This must be big if they can't let the public know',Naruto said.
'Stop speculating and do something or want me to go wild?',Kurama said.
Want to use the chakra cloak or the bijuu bomb?',Kurama asked.
'Neither',Naruto said,'They will find out about me being a perfect jinchüriki'
Naruto in a flash produced his chains. Mizuki's body was pressed against Naruto's so the only way was to stab Mizuki in the process.
He had apparently stolen something and had the information on it so they must need him alive. Naruto had to make sure that wouldn't kill him and target the non vital spots.
Mizuki spit out blood as Naruto's chain entered his stomach and loosened his grip on his neck so Naruto took the opportunity and slammed him away and then quickly tied Mizuki tight with his chains in mid air and the third one's sparp end was pressed against his adam's apple threatening to bleed.
"Mo..monst..er",Mizuki choked out as Naruto pressed further.
Naruto turned to look at the Hyuuga who was now gawking at him although with a straight face.
"Come with me",he said," To the hokage. I need to report everything and you have gotten involved "
"This will not result in any problems for you I promise",he said.
Naruto nodded and walked out. He turned back to see the man still standing there. He visibly shook himself started walking as well.
That's how he found himself walking by a respected clan head while man handling a Konoha shinobi with his chains, and the said respected clan head holding his grocery bag with a stoic face ignoring the whispers of the demon fox manipulating and enchanting the Hyuuga head.
AN: This chapter is longer than all the other ones. I really didn't want to post half of this chapter and the other half later so it's a little late. Hope the length makes up for it.So I hadn't just put Mizuki aside. He had to do things the hard way here and still got wrecked.And the female Ino Shika Cho crack jokes on adultery in my AU. Where do think Ino got her personality from? Hehe...See you next time ヾ(-)ノ