Disclaimer: Naruto does not own Naruto or Final Fantasy XIII or any other references to other official works. They all belong to their respective creators.
Naruto Uzumaki knew something was going on today, and the news that he heard from it made him wonder what the big deal was, as a bunch of kids and grownups alike were crying in some childish way, like their candy was stolen from them or something. "You know Naruto-sama; I've never seen such behavior from Konoha people before." Jaken commented as he joined his master on his way to the Hokage's office. "You're telling me, and I've never seen the likes of this for the last 13 years of my life." The Shinobi L'Cie replied as he really wished that they would be more mature about whatever happened to them. He felt embarrassed by being a member of the same village with them all. All he hoped was that his mission wouldn't be involved with whatever happened with these people.
*One explanation on the mission later*
"I curse both the Root and Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg and even Anko herself for making me do such a mission." Naruto growled. The mission was to figure out why the Tamasaburo was out of stock, since Anko and become ill without it, and needed to get one to help her feel better. He didn't know what to think, but he was seriously going to kill someone, namely the asshole responsible for the mess in the first place, and take out the rest of his frustration on a new victim of his newly discovered sadism. "W-well Naruto-sama, if we could hurry and find out why then the better the day will end, right?" Jaken asked nervously as Leo and Elo hung themselves over Naruto's shoulders. "Gao, Gao, Gao?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, I'll never figure out how Anko became ill without a simple sweet like that will never be understood." Naruto replied as he recalled that lady as the examiner for the Forests of Death part of the Chūnin exams. "So, our destination is the East Town right? So once we get there Jaken, start looking for information." He told his loyal servant who saluted him. Jaken nodded as the two humans and two sentient weapons left Konoha to the town to find clues on where to find some Tamasaburo.
*Half an hour later-East Town*
"Wow, call me impressed, but there isn't any Tamasaburo in any shop at all." Naruto whistled as Jaken panted from exhaustion, they had split up and traveled to every shop in the area to see if there was any Tamasaburo being sold and all ended up in failure. "If that's the case Naruto-sama, maybe we should go find the maker?" Jaken asked. Naruto looked at his servant and smiled. "Brilliant idea Jaken, but the problem is where is he?" he asked with a wry smile, they were both stuck at a dead end. "…Maybe we should check another town?" Jaken suggested sheepishly as Naruto merely nodded. Off onto another hunt for a mere sweet, Naruto was ready to kill someone right now.
*Tanzaku Town*
"You know, I've been here a few times already that I might as well buy a house here then." Naruto mused as they walked through the big city as the casinos were full of people as usual. One thing about Tanzaku Town is that it had many things from shops to casinos and hotels of all kinds. "You might as well when you have saved up enough money Naruto-sama, with your luck, you'll be a millionaire before you know it." Jaken agreed as they decided to be more direct with the search for Tamasaburo. Asking the nearest pedestrian, they've learned that the maker of Tamasaburo had stopped making it all of the sudden; which as a result, gained Naruto's irritation as they heard he lived in the South Town. Faster than anyone could expect, Naruto dashed towards the next destination as Jaken tried his best to keep up with his master.
/
One thing Jaken was grateful for, was working for a guy like Naruto. Sure he defected from Iwa to survive, but since he was only an orphan and he hated the constant annoyances of his former home, he kinda enjoyed his new lord. He treats him like an equal and puts his faith and trust with important errands. He would be damned if he made a pathetic vassal if he didn't show how useful he was as a ninja. While his jutsu arsenal was limited, he could still use them to help change the tide of battle for his master. But as of now, he was impressed by the sight he beheld as he round Naruto currently snapping at the maker of Tamasaburo.
/
"So you're telling me that some ninja bandits have made Honeydew Mountain their hideout and are forcing you to pay your hard earned money just too even visit the place or to gather the ingredients? No wonder why you stopped making the Tamasaburo. But next time, send a request to Konoha if something like this happens. I've seen things from sweet-tooth people that make it embarrassing to look at." Naruto told the Tamasaburo maker. "Alright, I'll be sure to keep that in mind then. Just take care of those ruffians and then gather the ingredients. Then I can make some Tamasaburo." The maker told him as he nodded and walked towards Jaken.
"Knowing the situation, we'll need extra muscle, or should I say big-boned muscle." Naruto told his servant with a knowing look. Jaken looked at him questioningly as Choji ran towards them. "Let me help out!" Choji blurted out as Jaken looked at the…pleasantly plumped boy questioningly. "Why do you want to help?" the servant asked as Choji looked like he was on the verge of crying. "I'm a huge fan of Tamasaburo…and the sudden disappearance really hit me. So I decided to go on an investigation of my own until I found and heard of the situation. So please, let me help!" Choji explained as Jaken looked at his master as they shared a dry smile as Leo and Elo sweat dropped at the reason. Only Choji would be serious when it comes to the sake of food. "You're in." they replied in union.
*Honeydew Mountain*
"I think it's a fitting name for the mountain don't you think Jaken?" Naruto asked his servant who nodded his head with agreement. "Yes, for the ingredient we need is honeydew and this mountain is the source that provides it." Jaken told him as Choji looked at the master and servant duo. "The maker said that the Honeydew is located near the top of this mountain. Once we can get it, we can get the Tamasaburo…!" Choji told them as drool dripped from his mouth. "I'm willing to bet he'll try something just to get his hands on Tamasaburo." Naruto thought as he knew the chubby boy before him after all the years in the Academy. "How about knocking him out if he tries anything to get the Tamasaburo?" Tenryū asked. "Oh, what a good idea, then we can explain why we did it to him once the mission is over." Naruto mentally replied.
"Gao…" Elo spoke up, causing Naruto to stop in his tracks, gaining the others attention, "We're not alone." He said as a ninja bandit jumped down. "Hey kids, you want to get through here, you'll have to pay a toll." The man told them as Naruto merely took Elo from his shoulder as the cub transformed into its gunblade form and turned to gun mode as Naruto fired one bullet right to the bandit's head. Needless to say, the bandit fell on his back dead. "That's for causing this headache of a mission in the first place asshole." Naruto stated as Leo transformed as well as Naruto held his two gunblades, Leoedge and Eloedge in synch. "Get ready guys, beat the crap out of them, tie them up, and leave them to me to take care of." He ordered them. Choji, for once, had the urge to pity the bandits for some reason as Jaken knew full well why he should feel some sympathy for the idiots taking up residents here on the mountain.
Suddenly, a whole bunch of them appeared and surrounded the group, which was what Jaken needed as he flipped through some hand signs. "Earth Style: Earth Flow Divide!" Jaken shouted as the mountain side moved violently, parts of the cliff they were standing on began to fall apart as the ninja bandits near the edge fell to their dooms as the cliff fell apart. "Get them!" one of the bandits shouted. "Partial Expansion Jutsu…!" Choji roared with anger as his right arm literally expanded as he swung it with pure rage as it knocked more bandits around as they were sent flying, some crashing into walls as a result of it. "W-what are these kids?!" one of the remaining bandits asked in fear as he felt a foot on the back of his head, thanks to Naruto landing on him as he used the bandit's body as a surf board as he fired bullets at the other legs of the other ninja bandits before making the one he was riding on crash into another bandit.
"Konoha ninja delivering retribution for the crimes of making Tamasaburo go out of service!" Choji replied as he used the Human Boulder to knock down a gathering group of bandits. "A perfect strike…!" Jaken announced humorously as Naruto deflected kunai with Eloedge and slashed down another bandit with Leoedge. "Retreat!" the bandits shouted as the remaining ones ran off. "They're heading deeper into the mountains, after them!" Choji shouted as he ran after them. Naruto looked amazed at how serious Choji was in this mission. "You know, if it wasn't for the Tamasaburo, I would be downright amazed by Choji's attitude." Naruto muttered as he heard Naraku laughing inside his mind.
"Ahahahahaha, that glutton is always following that stomach of his. So if we were to bribe him with good food, maybe he'll join you in the cause for the revolution you're planning." He joked. "Very funny; next thing you'll know, Shikamaru will stop being a lazy ass and take things seriously." Naruto thought as they trio headed towards the summit. "Nice job with the jutsu Jaken, very useful with that Earth jutsu." He praised as Jaken looked sheepish, "Gao…!" Elo called out in its gunblade form as Naruto looked up ahead. "Reinforcements and they're using Kunoichi this time…" he sighed. He was going to watch, because Choji's eyes were on fire as he began to use his clan's techniques. Needless to say, the Kunoichi were scarred for life by how a big boned boy defeated them all by himself.
"Master…" Jaken spoke up in a very tiny voice at the carnage he was witnessing. "What's up?" Naruto asked calmly as he eyed the mayhem Choji wrought upon the enemy bandits. "Remind me not to get on his bad side." The servant told his master who nodded sagely. "A wise choice, for destruction waits for the idiot who dares to provoke the Akimichi's wrath." Naruto replied as they watched Choji's rampage with mild awe and terror and a bit of amusement in the end. The end result of Choji's rampage, a mountain side full of rubble and beaten up bodies of bandits. "You went too far Choji." Naruto told his friend bluntly who smiled and whistled innocently. While going past the carnage made by Choji, they traveled towards a closed off area of the mountain and saw an interesting flower there.
"Choji, is that the…?" Naruto trailed off as the food expert nodded his head. "The Honeydew plant, from the looks of it, the bandits had torn up the area, so it'll take a while for any more to grow." Choji replied. "Those assholes…When I get my hands on them, I'll rip them anew with them screaming for a death that'll never come." Naruto growled, and he had a good reason too, for he'll be stuck dealing with the whining of Tamasaburo fans for quite a while. "…That won't be, urgh…a problem…" one of the bandits replied as he stood up and nursed his wounds. "Thanks too you…we're pulling out…" he told them as they watched as the ones who survived Choji's rampage fled with their wounds as Naruto sighed at the thought of traumatized idiots running around. But hey, what could he do?
*Some time later in the South Town*
After delivering the Honeydew plant to the Tamasaburo maker, they waited as they caught a whiff of a sweet smell in the air as Naruto was impressed with the scent as Jaken never thought of something probably tasting deliciously sweet before. Choji on the other hand, was sweating like crazy, the hunger for Tamasaburo was beginning to overrun his mind. "Here it is boys, with the amount I had, I could only make one." The Tamasaburo maker told them as he handed Naruto the candy. "Ooh, so this is what makes sugar lovers go crazy, might taste good too." Naruto commented as Choji's drool was beginning to leak out of his mouth. He wanted it, he wanted it so badly. "Next is to deliver this to this Anko person Naruto-sama." Jaken recalled as Naruto nodded. "Right, let's go!" Naruto announced as the trio made their way to Konoha.
/
Leo and Elo knew something was up with Choji, their animal instincts sensed the burning hunger in the fat boy's stomach, of how it wanted the Tamasaburo. They knew it was a matter of time before the fat boy snapped, but they did not worry. Their father knew what he's doing, he'll know what to do with the fat boy and show how much of an Alpha he is. It is only a matter of time, so they can finally taste the blood of a warrior in the making.
/
"…Hey Naruto…How about I carry the Tamasaburo." Choji suggested as he gained the attention of both Naruto and Jaken who were conversing on what to cook for dinner tonight for the Uzumaki household. "No can do Choji, for it is part of my mission to carry it back. But knowing you and your appetite, you want to eat it, don't you?" Naruto stated with narrowed eyes with the keen eyes of a ruthless killer in them as he glared at Choji. "Just hand it over!" Choji shouted as his stomach had taken full control of his mind as Naruto wielded Leoedge and Eloedge in synch as Naruto clicked his teeth in annoyance. "Damn it, fat ass had finally snapped. Jaken, do your best in support." He ordered as Jaken nodded and prepared to gather chakra to make any jutsu to help his master in any way he can.
Naruto leapt back instantly as Choji threw a Flash Bomb at him, he began analyzing Choji with memory and current status with the Libra spell. "I see he's improved since the Chūnin Exams, at least by a little." Naruto thought as he read Choji's status. "Partial Expansion Jutsu, left arm!" Choji shouted as his left arm became the raging fist of a giant as it made its way towards Naruto. "Earth Style: Fortress Barrier Jutsu!" Jaken's voice rang out as a massive wall fit for a fortress rose up and blocked Choji's fist as Naruto whistled in impression as Choji's fist was halfway through the wall.
"Thanks!" Naruto called out as he leapt over the wall, shifting into Commando and casted Ruin at Choji. That was then; Naruto could see the stagger energy inside of Choji. It was a small speck at first, but he'll be able to build it up sooner once he changes roles. Quickly shifting into Ravager, he unleashed a flurry of Thunder spells, since Choji's weight reduces speed; it makes it easier for swift attacks like a mere Thunder spell. "Snap out of it Choji, or else I will come at you with the intent to kill!" Naruto shouted as he fired bullets from Eloedge as Choji clumsily dodged them. "There is no way I'm giving up on Tamasaburo!" Choji shouted as Naruto really hated this situation he was in right now. "Jaken, catch!" he shouted as he tossed his servant a good amount of explosive tags and looked at his master questioningly.
"Bring the house down!" Naruto shouted as Jaken knew what it meant. "I'm right on it!" Jaken called out as he used the Hidden Mole Jutsu to go underground and prepare for his master's plans. Naruto fired a few Fire spells before charging in and slashed at Choji with a Sparkstrike with Leoedge and gave Choji a kick to the face while doing so. "Snap out of it Choji, learn to control that appetite of yours or you'll regret it!" Naruto told his friend as was burnt, slashed, and partially paralyzed from the Sparkstrike attack as he glared at the Shinobi L'Cie. "I will never give up, not until I have devoured that Tamasaburo!" Choji yelled as Jaken popped up near his master with thumbs up. "Well, gotta blast!" Naruto told his enraged friend as he made a one handed hand sign as explosions erupted from the ground below Choji as he was taken in by the rubble as the ground caved in.
"That should keep him down for a bit till we get some help digging him up. Nice job Jaken." Naruto praised as Jaken took the praise with gratitude. That was when the ground shook as a giant Choji erupted from the ground, and it was way bigger than the Human Bolder technique Choji was well known for using. "…Run." Naruto ordered as the two ninja dodged a giant fist heading towards them as they dashed towards Konoha that was several miles away. "You're not getting away Naruto!" Choji yelled as Naruto flipped the bird at his fat friend while still running. This only served to make Choji angrier as he began to follow the two ninja. "Jaken, more tags, more cave ins!" Naruto ordered as Jaken nodded. Using the Hidden Mole Jutsu again, Jaken disappeared underground and began making tunnels and setting up explosives ahead as Naruto casted Libra on Choji again and was really taken back. The Stagger Point for him was none; he was completely immune to it.
"What is he, Titan?" Naruto muttered to himself as he began running around in circles around the giant Choji and proceeded to fire bullets at his feet. He was surprised at how the 9mm bullets bounced off the skin and gritted his teeth. "Damn it, looks like I'll have to use that gun then." Naruto thought as his two gunblades transformed back into Leo and Elo as they followed their master's mental commands to stay on his shoulder till he needed them. From a hidden holster on his belt, he pulled out the Thompson Contender and from the pouch on his thigh he pulled out one .30-06 Springfield bullet he requested Lightning to make before he went for the mission he was on now, and he was grateful. Plus, he'll probably have to try the special «Crystal Origin Bullet» he had Lightning made as a last resort if the Springfield bullets won't work.
Loading the bullet in, he aimed and fired at Choji's giant ankle and watched as the destructive power of the weapon pierced the flesh and got right into the bone as Choji screamed out in pain. "You'll pay for that Naruto!" Choji snapped as he lifted his giant leg upwards as he prepared to squash Naruto. "If this was a movie, people will be amazed." Naruto muttered. "Kyuubi, you know what to do!" Naruto thought as he felt the red chakra of the Nine-Tails surging through his body.
*Fate Zero Soundtrack: Emiya-Time Alter-*
Naruto felt his body grow lighter, faster, stronger, now he had the advantage. Faster than they eye could blink, Naruto reloaded the old gun and took aim at the foot still standing and fired. The bullet ripped through the air as it pierced the other foot, causing Choji to lose balance from the stinging pain of the powerful bullet as he fell backwards. Naruto felt the burst of power end as he placed the Contender away as he charged at the down Akimichi and had his gunblades out in an instant as he stabbed the giant in the stomach and ran upwards, tearing flesh as Choji tried to stop him as he dodged all the swipes as Naruto did a heel drop kick on Choji's massive head as he flinched.
He ran, dashing towards Konoha as Choji got up and chased him, never reverting to his normal size as he crushed anything in his path to get Naruto. "Triple the acceleration!" Naruto shouted as Kyuubi gave him the necessary surge as he dashed through the forests of Konoha with inhumane speed as Jaken was further up ahead waving at him. "Fire in the hole…!" Jaken shouted as he set lose the explosives as the ground shook violently. Choji was in the middle of a minefield that was beginning to explode as the many tunnels Jaken dug up with his jutsu made the giant fall.
"Fira!" a familiar voice rang out as Lightning's fireball scorched the cuts on the giant's belly as Choji cried out in pain. Naruto charged forward, his decision to teach his friend a painful lesson was needed as he got to Choji's face and slashed at his face. Then everything was engulfed in smoke as Choji was back in his normal size as Naruto gave the Akimichi a good knuckle sandwich before he noticed as Choji was thrown back the enhanced L'Cie strength of Naruto. Choji had not refused to give up, his desire for the Tamasaburo was so great, and he'd resort to using those. Pulling out a capsule with three large food pills in it and Naruto's Libra alerted him of the dangers if Choji ate any of them as the boy already ate the green one. Before he could blink, Choji was already in front of him and delivered a destructive punch into his stomach that launched Naruto all the way into a tree's trunk as his body left an imprint on it as he fell off.
"The hell…?! When did he get that fast…The pill!" Naruto quickly realized as he shifted to Medic and started healing himself. He eyed Choji wearily as he prepared to shift into Sentinel at any second. When he saw Choji begin moving, he switched roles and barely dodged the fist as the force behind the blow scratched him as he made his distance and began firing bullets at Choji. His normal size was now easily damaged by simple 9mm bullets as the clips in his gunblades ran out, and the worst part is that it'll take a while to reload in this situation and he needed to cripple Choji fast. "No choice, this hungry dumbass wants something to eat huh? Let's see how he likes my special bullet!" Naruto thought grimly. He never thought he'd be forced to use it on his own friend as he had Leo and Elo return to their cub forms as they acted as support while he pulled out the Contender again and loaded it with a bullet made of crystal and began loading it into the gun.
To enhance the already destructive power of Kiritsugu's Thompson Contender, Naruto shifted into Commando as Choji pulled out the yellow pill. Sensing the danger if the fat boy ate it, Leo and Elo charged at him and latched their jaws onto his left arm and right shoulder as Naruto finished loading the gun. As he took aim, Choji shook of Leo and Elo and consumed the yellow food pill and a massive surge of chakra erupted from his body. Narrowing his eyes, Naruto aimed his gun with the eyes of an emotionless killer as Choji charged at him with his right arm expanded and reeled back into a fist.
Naruto and Choji locked eyes, the eyes of an emotionless killer and the eyes of a hungry beast.
The pull of the trigger, and the pressure of a heavy step on the ground, the two friends were about to exchange the final blows with their respective choice of weapons.
Determination filled their eyes as time came slowing down, as Naruto's eyes became silted and blood red like a demons.
The gun of a forgotten hero and the reeling fist of a titan exchange the final words as they battle had met its conclusion.
*Konoha Hospital*
"Why the hell did you do that to him?!" Shikamaru demanded as Naruto grunted in anger. "He started it. He was interfering with my mission and he attacked a fellow Konoha Shinobi, what else was I supposed to do, let him eat the Tamasaburo and ruin the mission while I have broken bones?" Naruto asked as Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "You really have changed, you…You're not the Naruto I knew, are you?" he asked as Naruto nodded, "I'm not. That child woke up to reality, though parts of him are still trapped in the dream that seek to reign in control and to follow a flawed ideal knowing the consequences in the end. After all, it is still a beautiful dream to pursue." Naruto replied as he walked past Shikamaru and towards Lightning.
"Thanks for showing up, but why cast the Fira spell on Choji?" he asked as Lightning looked at him. "He was getting ready to do a feint on you." She replied cleanly as he nodded. One thing Lightning knew that Naruto learned the hard way was that she could read her opponent's moves by looking at their eyes, for it is the window of the soul as the expressions are written in them. "I've got the Tamasaburo delivered to Anko, which is good news for her as she's back to torturing the ninja that worked for Orochimaru. I've been given a day off tomorrow after Choji's little stunt back there, want to hang out tomorrow?" he asked. Lightning looked at her student, it had been a while since she bonded with him, and it is important for a teacher to bond with her student to understand them better and help them achieve the goal they are pursuing. "Alright, but to avoid your friends with our L'Cie status, I'm going as Éclair." She replied as Naruto nodded.
*Hospital Room*
Tsunade observed the damage Choji had taken from both the pills, and the bullet in the right shoulder from Naruto's mysterious weapon as she saw the internal damage that special bullet caused. The damage was horrifying. Choji's Chakra System was downright destroyed. The analysis showed that the «Crystal Origin Bullet» Naruto used had crystalized Choji's Chakra System once it made contact with it, and then afterwards, shattered into multiple fragments that were scattered throughout the body and is currently being extracted from the body. This combined damage was fatal as it had placed Choji in cardiac arrest as the damage got worse. Naruto had developed a weapon that is the ultimate nightmare to any ninja, a weapon that could cripple a ninja who had used chakra for his entire life, only for it to be taken away in just a mere pull of a trigger. Naruto had become a monster that ninjas will fear the minute they see him, making him a powerful asset to the village, and at the same time, a threat to it.
From her sense of judgment, Naruto is an unstable being, first the situation where his body is going under. First, his muscle fibers are changing into swords and also going under crystallization from his L'Cie powers (not the 'good' version of course) that will slowly kill him as he constantly regenerates from his wounds, and now this. If it keeps up, Naruto will be a danger to everyone around him. Plus, she also needed to know of his mentality, to see if she would have no choice but to lock him up for his own safety, or do something even more drastic to save him. She won't allow her family to die while she was still breathing and will be damned if that'll ever happen!
Preview:
Naruto and Éclair enjoy a nice peaceful day with each other, not knowing about a group of stalkers following them. Tenten seeks the secrets of Naruto's skills with forging such unique weapons as she tries to hunt the two Heirs of the Twilight Jungle Leo and Elo and look into the secrets within them.
Next Time: Evening Calm
Stay tuned for some romance of Naruto and Eclair as the Rookies struggle to find out who is Éclair in the next chapter!