"So how do we actually go about getting in?" Anders asked the air.
"Uhhh…" Sora stalled. "...Hey, Z, can you guys feel chakra or whatever still or naw?" She whispered.
"No never had any skills as a Sensor?" Zabuza replied with Haku nodding in agreement. "Well it's easy to detect large blasts of it like whatever the brat was unleashing, but actually sense it in people when it is not being used? That is a pretty advanced technique and not many have the talents."
"Why are you asking Sora-sama?" Haku asked.
Sora's response was to indicate her face with one hand, as if the answer was obvious (it was).
"Well, it is pretty easy for civilians to get in, I've got a pass that allows me to go in and out to deliver my wares," Their chauffeur spoke, a man by the name of Dan. "Though you Blue are going to have a bit harder time going in than your bro here," He said as he pointed at Anders.
"Yeah, that is what I am worrying about," Anders said as the lie she had told to Tazuna and his family that it was due to a Bloodline Limit which it kinda was if you thought about Quirks that way.
"Do you like, have a bag or something that wouldn't be too closely inspected I could get into?" Sora suggested.
"Nope, and I wouldn't go along with that, if you got found they would probably put me in prison. Ninjas and all that."
"Maybe you could be in my shadow?" Anders whispered.
"I thought you said there was no air in there?" Sora whispered back.
"But as long as you're touching Dog?" Anders said back.
"...Yeah, let's do that then." Sora said, holding out her hand. "Gimme the thing… or should we get out of sight first?"
"Well guards aren't in view yet, so maybe we should jump off and I just walk and say I am here to just see the Chunin exams to see if there are promising ninjas to be hired? As I do kinda look like a rich person?" Anders suggested.
"Yeah, yeah that seems like a good plan, let's do that." Sora agreed.
So they did after thanking Dan and the caravan for the ride.
Though before they did it long term they did test it out to see if it would work before they did it and not accidentally killing Sora while he waited to be let through.
Thankfully, it did work, Sora looking fine (if a bit shaken), so he shoved her back in and rejoined the caravan.
Only to realize as the caravan slowed to a near stop that the line was rather large.
Though thankfully there were two lines, one for carriages and caravans, and the other for people on foot.
And that line was still rather long.
Which just confirmed for Anders that the Chunin Exams were happening, as there would not be this many people coming to Leaf for any other reason at once.
And it took about thirty minutes by Anders' internal clock and the clock on his phone.
"Purpose for visiting?" One of Chunins asked Anders it was finally his turn.
"To view the Chunin Exams to scout for prospecting Ninja to hire," Anders answered as he was patted down by another one.
"That is the usual reason, name?" He asked.
"Anders S. Viking," He answered.
"Unusual name," He responded as he wrote it down on a piece of paper.
"Yeah, my town has always been a bit non-standard," He responded.
"Oh? And which town would that be?" The chunin asked.
"Mt. Ibuki in Demon Country," Anders answered.
"Far from home," He said.
"Yeah, but you know how it is, someone has to go and do this just in case." Anders said. "Though it will probably be worth it as I've heard a lot of good things about Konoha Shinobi."
"We do our best," He said back in his monotone voice. "Is he clear?"
"He is," The Chunin that had been searching Anders said as he stopped. "Nothing besides fancier clothes."
"And his chakra levels are very low even for a civilian," The chunin that had been writing said. "Here is your pass, welcome to Konoha, it lasts till a week after the Exams are over, after that you must leave."
"Understood," Anders said as he took the piece of written on wood that he had been given as he was led through the gates.
"Then enjoy yourself, though training ground nine and up are not allowed to be visited by civilians," The Leaf Shinobi said.
And once again Anders just replied with an "Understood."
After that he went into the village, and found a place he could pull Sora out of his shadow.
Who was curled up into a ball, hands over her ears, face pressed into her knees.
And she was shaking something fierce.
"Sora, are you okay? I am so sorry I didn't think it would take that long," Anders apologised as he kneeled down besides her.
No response.
"Sora," Anders said as he touched her blue hand.
"You can't have them!" Sora said hoarsely. "They're mine!"
"Sora, Sora, there is nothing, you're out nobody is going to take anything," Anders said.
"Well she went cuckoo," Zabuza commented. "Well, congratulations on infiltrating the Hidden Leaf, not many can say they have done that."
"Zabuza now is not the time, Sora spent way too long in there," Nana said, being the only 'adult' in the room.
"Come on, Sora, you are not in my shadow any longer, I am sorry for making you go through with this," Anders apologized as he removed her hands from her ears.
"No! You aren't allowed to eat my brains!" Sora said, struggling. Did she hallucinate? Or was the inside of his shadow really fucked up?
"Sora open your eyes," Anders said as he removed the Dog Talisman from her pocket, and she immediately passed out.
But, going off the rise and fall of her chest, she was at least breathing again.
"Great now what Boss?" Zabuza asked, beginning to believe he had signed up with a pair of idiots.
Anders just gave him the finger and pressed the Dog Talisman against Sora's blue skin.
Immediately, she gasped and uncurled, looking around defensively, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted. "Who-wha-where-my eyes- Anders?"
"I am right here, so you're never going back in there," Anders said.
"Yeah, fuck that!" Sora exclaimed, not looking at him as she spoke. "There were like these, these little snake...worm...leech...things in there that kept trying to eat my eyes and crawl in my ears and ewagghg." She explained frantically, gesticulating wildly as she did. "Don't ever put anything that's alive in there, that sucked."
"I...I think you were just starting to hallucinate," Anders said. "And then just straight up hallucinated."
"But I could feel them biting at my skin and trying to dig into my body and into my eyes and in my ears and in my nose and-" Oh god she was crying now.
"Damn that is an effective torture technique," Zabuza said in amazement.
"Zabuza!" Nana said scandalised.
"Hey, hey it's okay now Sora, your face is fine," Anders said as he rubbed her back in circles. Yeah this had definitely not been one of their smartest ideas, maybe they should have just bitten the bullet and just walked her up to the gate.
Sora continued to blubber and bawl. She was saying something under her breath, maybe, but he couldn't really make out what with her current breakdown.
And it took about twenty minutes for the self-proclaimed Oni to calm down.
"You better now?" Anders asked as they still were within the alley, thankfully no one had stumbled upon them and Sora's breakdown.
Sora sniffled. "Yeah. As good as I can be. I don't I'd- I don't think I'd- I… oh god." Sora said as she shakily got to her feet. "Can we go somewhere really bright for a bit?"
"Yeah, put your hoodie over so none notices your horns," Anders said as they began to walk out of the alley.
"Yeah, yeah." Sora agreed easily, pulling up her hood and staying close to him, clinging tightly to his hand.
"Let's go and find a nice place," Anders said.
Xxx
Sora stared at the sun.
She knew she shouldn't.
But right now, after that… issue (waking nightmare) had resolved (had it?), there was something so comforting about it.
The light beaming down on her, warming her (it was cold, so cold, why was it so cold?) was welcomed with open arms.
The light summer breeze blowing through her hair (crawling, snaking, writhing across her skin, scrambling for purchase) was welcomed.
The sound of idle living all around, hustle and bustle of the village (violent screeching silence that tore at her ears) was welcomed.
The arm she was still holding tightly to like a lifeline (pain, pain, pain, pain) was welcomed.
"You're going to go blind if you continue to stare at the sun like that," Anders spoke trying to inject some humor and untense her emotions, but it really wasn't working.
"...Right. Sorry." Sora said, lowering her head and drawing her hood down more.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, I am the one who should be, I should never have suggested that idea," Anders apologized. "I didn't think, I didn't think it would be that bad."
"No, no it's fine, I'm… I'm the one who decided to go in." Sora said, shaking like a leaf. "It's… are you sure that thing doesn't lead to Hell?"
"The Shadow Realm maybe but that is just diet-hell," Anders said.
"Pfft." Sora chuckled.
"Yeah, in trying to not show death to kids they just created a fate than death," Anders said.
"Hah, yeah, speaking from experience of both now?" Sora said, a shaky grin on her face. "Yeah. It's worse than death. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
"Yeah," Anders agreed.
"The fuck you talking about? You have a guaranteed instant kill move! It's shoving people into a storage seal but even better, better for you anyway worse for them," Zabuza said.
"...Oh god, he's right." Sora said, since she knew for a fact the only reason she survived that long was because the Dog kept her alive (why, why, why wouldn't it just stop? Why wouldn't it let her die?).
"Oh yeah, he is," Anders said in realistion, if somebody jumped and he activated his Quirk before they landed on his shadow, they would just fall right in.
"And I say no using that except the worst of people and even then," Nana said. "Except for All for One he can just stay down there for eternity."
"I don't think anyone deserves that." Sora said, sounding like she was going to start crying again. "It… you don't understand, it was…"
Everywhere.
They had been everywhere.
Trying to get in.
She knew they were trying to get inside her.
To take her apart piece by piece.
The only thing that had kept her alive was the Dog Talisman.
She knew that.
"Holy crap your skin is blue!" A young male voice spoke. And everyone's eyes looked up to see a blond haired kid dressed in an orange and blue tracksuit. "That is awesome."
And right behind him stood a ghost, well floated a ghost. She was a woman with bright dark-red hair.
Who was looking at Haku, Zabuza and even Nana with a rather scrutinized expression.
"Uh, yeah." Sora said, brought out of her reverie by the sight of The Chosen One, Konoha's Favorite Idiot, Naruto Uzu-fucking-maki. Though, he was very obviously Pre-Konoha Crush. The blue on the jumpsuit and the fact he was only a few inches taller than she was right now. "You're orange. That's my favorite color." Sora said, her brain currently having turned off.
"Hey, that's my favorite color too," Naruto said back excitedly. "I haven't seen you around before, were you some of those guys that didn't beat the second test?"
"No, we're just here to see the Final Round of the exam," Anders said.
"Oh so you guys aren't Shinobi then?" Naruto asked, while Kushina as that was obviously who it was continued to give them the weird look, while Zabuza was now also starting to cold sweat a bit.
"I mean, teeeechnically not?" Sora said. "We're still pretty cool though."
"So, you're a...Samurai, yeah that is what those guys are called," Naruto said as he slammed his fist into his palm and Kushina just let out a sigh.
"Yes." Sora said, looking around to see if there was anyone else around, and she couldn't see anyone else out here near the forest. Wait, how did they get to a forest? Man, she was really out of it on the way here.
"No, they aren't Naruto dear," Kushina said. "So why are you two here?"
"I don't have to answer to you," Zabuza replied as he knew he shouldn't give out his new boss' secrets. And this was why Ander's wished he had a proper medium to store his Guardian Ghosts.
"Cool where is your sword?" Naruto asked.
Sora grinned as she commanded a Samurai Khan to rise up out of Naruto's shadow behind him, the sight immediately alarming Kushina. "Right behind you."
"Whaaa what is that?" Naruto asked after he turned around and saw the Samurai Khan, and immediately jumped back and pulled out a Kunai.
"That's my sword." Sora said. "Well, one of them." With minimal prompting, the Samurai waved awkwardly at Naruto.
"What is that? That thing is not alive?" Kushina said in a shocked tone.
"Cooooool!" Naruto said as he excitedly looked at the Samurai. "Is it like a summon? Like the toads?"
"...Yes." Sora said in the exact same inflection as before. "Secret family pact though, no sharing, sorry."
"Aww," Naruto said in disappointment. "So… who are you guys?"
"Sora-doji." Sora answered immediately, not even needing to think on 'give my name to Naruto or not'.
"And I am her friend Anders S. Viking," Anders said. "And I am this idiot's friend."
"Oioi, as if you're not an idiot too." Sora said defensively.
"Weird names, but my name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I am going to be Hokage, believe it!" Naruto declared to them.
"Okay, I believe it." Sora accepted.
"Really?" Naruto asked, sounding surprised by the acceptance.
"Still going strong on that aren't you Naruto-kun?" Haku said.
"Of course he is, my son would never give up his dream," Kushina said. "Believe it."
"Son?" Zabuza asked. "You're the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, shit the kid is a genuine Uzumaki."
"Yeah, so you're going to tell me why you're with those two with abysmally low chakra reserves?" Kushina asked.
"Yeah, sure." Sora said, ignoring the peanut gallery. "You seem like a pretty hard working kid. Good taste in fashion, too, and we all know that is essential for any good leader."
"And you already started making a name for yourself kid," Anders said.
"Huh?" Naruto said.
"Oh, right!" Sora said, suddenly remembering. "Tazuna told us to tell you that Inari wants you to visit sometime!"
"You know the old man and Inari?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"Yeah, they took care of us while we rested in Wave," Anders said.
"That's great, and I will be sure to do that, believe it," Naruto said. "So are you a samurai as well?" Naruto asked Anders.
Sora took that as her cue to dismiss her Khan as she looked around worriedly for any onlookers. Still nothing, at least as far as she could see.
"Well you could call me that, but I am a special kind of samurai," Anders said. "We both are."
"So you can do that summon thing as well?" Naruto asked, sounding even more excited than before. God, he really was just a little kid. How fucked up was this world that he was being trained to be a super soldier? And how fucked up was it that this was better than previous generations?
"I can summon a different kind of thing, but that is not our main thing," Anders said. "So Sora you think we should tell him? There is nobody nearby, and he seems like a trustworthy kid?"
"Are you sure there's no one else here?" Sora said, looking around. "This is a pretty big secret."
"Please tell, please tell me," Naruto begged. "I can keep secrets."
"You little shit, you're playing him right into your hands." Kushina said angrily. "I swear, if you try to hurt him, there won't be enough blue left of you for a berry."
"Okay, that's really creative but really rude." Sora said.
"Huh?" Naruto said.
"Huh?" Kushina also said.
"The coast is clear," Zabuza spoke.
"The red haired lady who's been following you is threatening to do horrible things to me." Sora said.
"Red lady?" Naruto asked as he spun around trying to find said person.
"Wh- you can see me? You can hear me?" Kushina asked in shock.
"Yeah, yeah they can," Nana said. "Surprised me the first time around too. Name is Nana Shimura," She introduced herself.
"Uhh, Kushina Uzumaki, but how?" Kushina asked.
"Oh, your name's Uzumaki too? You must be Naruto's big sister then, right?" Sora said, now speaking directly to Kushina.
"Well I am not that young, and you heard me earlier, I am his mother."
"Who are you talking to?" Naruto asked. "And do you mean they're name's Uzumaki? Are you crazy? Blue lady?"
"No, I see dead people." Sora said.
"Me as well," Anders said.
"There, is a G-g-ghost behind me?" Naruto asked in fear while Kushina got a panicked look on her face.
"Yup. And it looks like you're being haunted by your mom." Sora said.
"My… my mom?" Naruto repeated, the fear draining away and replaced with shock, and a bit of hope mixed with sorrow.
"Yeah, I am here Naruto, I have always been by your side, I could never leave you, believe it," Kushina said the last with a great deal of sadness in her voice.
"Yeah, she's… actually…" Sora thought for a moment. "Kushina-san, can you give me your hand for a second?" Sora said, holding her hand out.
"Kushina…?" Naruto repeated.
"Uh, sure?" Kushina said, giving Sora her hand, only to be surprised when Sora actually gripped it "Oh, you can actually… okay."
"Okay, so then… I just focus on 'Kushina'..." Sora said, eyes losing focus as she gripped Kushina's hand in one hand and her cross in the other. "And… combine…" She brought Kushina's hand to her necklace, which began to shine with red and gold light. "Oversoul: Manifestation." She said as she let go, before leaning back and focusing on her breathing.
Kushina looked at her hands in confusion. "Did that… do something?"
And then she heard the gasp from Naruto, and turned around to see him looking at her in awe.
Kushina reached out to her son, slowly, as if she didn't believe this was happening, and slowly caressed his face, shocking both when she actually touched it. "Naruto…" She said in awe, before drawing Naruto into a hug.
"M-mom?" he said quietly, reverently, fearfully, hopefully.
Kushina immediately pulled him into a hug.
"I, I didn't know you could do that," Ander said as he turned his head to look at Sora and not the emotional scene that was happening in front of them.
"I… didn't… either…" Sora said slowly as she stared into nothingness, her eyes completely unfocused, her breath shallow but very clearly controlled.
"That must have drained you a lot," Anders said as he continued to hold her hand.
"Still… is… " Sora said, her eyes still unfocused, her muscles still slack. "Worth… it…"
"Yeah," Anders said as they heard the tearful reunion -was it a reunion if they'd technically never met before?- going on.
The two shamans sat there for a moment, trying to tune out the quiet words of parent and child to give them as much privacy as possible, given the circumstances.
"Okay…" Sora said after a few minutes. "Time's… almost… up…" She said, though the Uzumaki's didn't seem to hear her.
"Sorry you two but Sora has to end the technique as it is very draining," Anders told them.
And the two immediately turned towards them.
"Really?" Naruto asked, while Kushina looked accepting. But as soon as he saw Sora he seemed to understand, even if he didn't like it.
"Can still… do it… again… y'knoh god." Sora said, grabbing her head in pain as Kushina's form began to flicker.
"Mom!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Don't worry, I will always be with you," Kushina said as she became transparent and ghostly again.
"Mom…" Naruto said morosely.
"She's still there, just… oh god…" Sora said in pain. "Not doing that too often…"
"Well, you just have to practice, the more it is used the less Furyoku is used, and more is gained if we continue like we have," Anders said as he patted Sora on the back.
"Yeah… sure…" Sora said. It wasn't quite as bad as when she'd been shot, but the pain was all over instead of concentrated into one clear line of destruction, and it hurt. And she felt like she could eat a horse. "Can we food?"
"Oh, I know a great place," Naruto said with a forced smile returning to his face.
"Epic." Sora said. "By the way, you can still talk with her, I'll just tell you what she's saying. Or he will."
"Really?" He asked.
"Yeah, I can, as said I am a Shaman as well," Anders said as he stood up pulling Sora with him and keeping her stable.
"Shaman?" Naruto asked.
"The specific title for samurai that can do what we do," He told him.
"That's a cool title, but Hokage is still more awesome, believe it," Naruto said.
"Hokage fits you a lot better." Sora agreed. "Like a certain square shaped hat." She was about to say more, but her stomach then growled, causing her face to heat up. "Uh."
Naruto's and Anders' stomach rumbled in response.
"Guess all three of you need food," Nana said.
"Yeah, Naruto just got finished training for the day and he has yet to refuel," Kushina said.
"I'll show you the way to Ichiraku Ramen," Naruto said.
"Raaaameeen." Sora echoed hungrily.
Ten minutes later they were all sitting on the stools of the Ramen Shop.
"Ah, hello Naruto," The owner spoke. "I see you brought some more customers this time around. I prepare the usual for you, so what do you two want?" He asked, not even questioning Sora's blue skin and horns, because Ninja Village probably.
"Spicy pork ramen, please." Sora ordered.
"I'll take the house special," Ander said as he looked up at the menu.
"Yeah, I ran into them on my way back from training. They are really cool Teuchi-san, believe it," Naruto said.
"I do, I do, Ayame three bowls, Spicy Pork, Miso Pork, and the House Special," Teuchi said as he began to prepare.
"I am coming dad," Ayame said as she joined her father in preparing the meal.
"So, Naruto you made it all the way to the finale?" Anders asked.
"Yeah, and now I am being trained by pervy-sage so that I can beat that bastard Neji into the ground," He answered.
"Pervy-sage? He is not talking about Hatake is he?" Zabuza asked Kushina.
"No, he is talking about Jiraya," Kushina answered.
"Ah, that makes sense… wait what?" The Mist Swordsman asked.
"Whose Neji?" Sora asked. "And why do you sound like you want to rip his throat out?"
"He's a Hyuga bastard, he almost killed Hinata for stupid and petty reasons. So I am going to pull that stick out his ass and show him he is wrong by beating him with it."
"That's my son!" Kushina yelled in joy. "Show that little shit who is the best."
"Wow." Sora said, surprised at the vitriol. "...Well, I think you can do it, you seem pretty strong."
"You think so?" Naruto asked. "Even though he is a bastard, Neji is really strong, and he has those eyes of his."
"Eyes, schmeyes." Sora said dismissively. "Just cuz you got fancy magic eyes doesn't mean you're automatically going to win or whatever. I can shoot beams out of my eyes, but a well placed kunai?" She mimed her head lolling back with an "Ech" sound.
"You can shoot beams? That is so cool, and yeah that is true Sasuke got shown up by Lee, he was too fast for his Sharingan to see him coming," Naruto said.
"The Sharingan, huh… so you're friends with whatever's left of the Uchiha?" Sora asked.
"Well we're more rivals than friends," Naruto said. "He is an ass, but I am starting to think he is starting open up."
"Yeah, but I am concerned about what Orochimaru did to him," Kushina said in a concerned tone.
"Orochimaru? Shit did freaky snake guy show up?" Zabuza asked.
"Yeah, he showed up during the second exam and did something to Sasuke, poor Makoto, she must be tearing her hair out," Kushina said.
"Well that's good at least." Sora said to Naruto, thinking on how that actually went in canon. "Maybe you can introduce us sometime."
"Yeah, I'll do that after the exams, as he is being trained by Kakashi-sensei to fight Gaara," Naruto said.
"Gaara of the Sand, huh?" Sora asked. "Already heard of him. Poor kid, having to go through all that."
"Huh what do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"Well, let's just say you two have a lot in common," Anders said.
"Huh how? I am nothing like that guy," Naruto said, sounding almost offended.
"Wait? You know? Is he?" Kushina asked realising what Anders was hinting at.
"Well, I don't know about you two being similar, but I heard his own dad, the Kazekage, tried to kill him a bunch of times for 'being a demon' or something stupid like that." Sora explained in hushed tones. "Like, that's gonna fuck anyone up, let alone someone your age."
"Wait you're shorter than me," Naruto responded.
"I'm 21." Sora stated.
"EHHHHHHH?" Naruto exclaimed.
"Whaaa!" The rest of the local ghosts said in response.
"Wow you're a short one aren't you then?" Teuchi said as he and his daughter placed the bowls in front of them.
"Side effect of being blue." Sora said with a shrug, before clapping her hands together and saying a silent prayer. "Itadakimasu." She said before taking the chopsticks and getting a bit of noodle to try it- "...Oh. My god."
"Oh shit this is good," Anders said as he began to say.
"Yeah Ramen is the best, bahlav at," Naruto said around a mouthful of said ambrosia.
"Ah two more have been converted to the church of Ramen," Kushina said.
"How is that the most terrifying thing you have said so far?" Zabuza asked while Haku and Nana just slightly chuckled.
The conversation ground to a halt as the three indulged in the glory that was Ichiraku Ramen. While Naruto ordered several more bowls as expected, both Sora and Anders ordered seconds and third bowls, Sora going so far as getting a fourth bowl.
It was just that good, and they were that hungry.
"Oh… oh man…" Sora said, leaning on Anders due to having nothing else to lean on. "That was the best meal of my life."
Teuchi chuckled. "Glad to hear it."
"Yeah, the first time I've ever had the proper stuff," Anders said with tears running down his eyes. "And it is truly the food of the gods."
"You poor thing," Kushina said.
"Well I am glad that mine could be your first, but it might just have ruined you for anyone elses Ramen," Teuchi said with a chuckle.
"Dad don't phrase it like that," Ayame said as she hit him with a towel.
"Ah, excuse my phrasing then."
"I wanna lay down and sleep now…" Sora mumbled into Anders' side. "Oh god...I just realized I don't know where we're supposed to stay…"
"Right, not enough money to buy a hotel room," Anders said.
"And we don't have camping stuff…" Sora mumbled. "And I'm too tired to fake something up…"
"Ah, you don't have a place to stay?" Naruto asked in shock.
"Yeah," Anders said. "We're wanderers so we don't have a lot of money on us, thought we could go and gamble a bit but Sora is looking like she is about to collapse."
"You're gonna collapse." She blearily shot back.
"Well, if that is the case you can stay in my place, there is a room I don't use," Naruto suggested. "For you did help, with, you know."
"You better take my son's offer or I will show my fist so far up your asses you will taste my nail polish," Kushina threatened.
Sora turned and looked at Kushina in confusion and fear. "Why would we not? That's great, thank you, you are too kind Naruto-kun."
"Hmm," Naruto said with a slight blush. "Then just follow me, here is the money Teuchi-san."
"And here is ours," Anders said as he took out the ryu that they had gotten from the caravan and helping out in Uzi Village.
"Thank you, I'm sure I'll be seeing you all again." Teuchi said as they left, Sora having to be carried by Anders on his back, her legs giving out a few steps out the bar.
"My place isn't very far from here," Naruto said and the two Shamans and all the ghosts followed the kid to their destination.
And Naruto's place was surprisingly sizable but it was a mess that looked like it had not been cleaned in months, with instant ramen cups all over the place.
"Riboflavin…" Sora mumbled into Anders' shoulder.
"Yeah, it is a bit of a mess," Kushina said.
"Did nobody teach him to be tidy?" Nana asked.
"No, no one did," Kushina in a tone of slight anger.
"My room is down there, I've got some futons and sleeping bags when we go on missions," Naruto said.
"Hemoglobin…" Sora muttered.
"Let's go and get some sleep," Anders said, as they went fully inside and they all got to bed after cleaning up some trash so that there was room for them.
Xxx
Anders whistled to himself as he threw various empty cups into trash bags, having woken up a bit before Sora did for once, and had started to clean up. Though Naruto was still out cold in his bed.
"Oh, god, this place is filthy." Sora said to herself in horror as she looked around and cleaned up the room they'd stayed in overnight. "I wanna talk to whoever thought it was a good idea to give a pre-teen his own apartment with no guardian, maybe wring their neck a bit…" She grumbled.
"That would probably have been the matriarch of the Orphanage, Hiruzen doesn't really have time for that kind of stuff, and Iruka hasn't actually been over and seen what it looks like," Kushina said as she floated by their side while they were now in full cleaning mode.
"You know for the 'God of Shinobi' this whole thing seems like a really poor tactical decision." Sora said. "Like, I saw the way people were looking at him, does he want Naruto to explode?"
"So you have figured out what Naruto is?" Kushina asked. "I didn't misunderstand his words last night?"
"No you did not," Anders said. "And we didn't even need that to know. As Shamans our entire ordeal is dealing with spirits, and the Kyuubi very much is one, I don't if you can feel it Sora but when I touched Naruto I could sense that hatred." And that was true. It had shocked Anders a bit at first, when he touched Naruto's shoulder. He hadn't realised what it was at first, but at the second touch Anders knew he had sensed Kurama inside of him, and that was one angry fox.
"Nah, I didn't touch him." Sora said. "Or feel it...But I did dream about foxes."
And Anders was glad that she didn't have nightmares about her experience in his shadow.
"Wait, the kid is also a freaking Jinchuriki?" Zabuza asked in shock. "That was what I felt."
"Yes, it was quite a shock to me when Naruto-kun unleashed that chakra after he thought I had killed the Uchiha," Haku said.
"I don't know his thought process, but I think he didn't want Naruto to be a weapon like the other villages treat theirs, but to just be a normal child and Shinobi, but that plan went down the drain when it leaked," Kushina said.
And it was Danzo that did that. Anders thought as he tied picked up more garbage, and the list of reasons as to why the man should just die just kept increasing.
"Did he at least give the kid a single tutor? Or caretaker? Or something?" Sora asked, aghast. And Anders was pretty sure she grew a little as she did.
"No such thing, he just gave him this place and pays for all the utilities and rent," Kushina said. "He is really starting to get too old for the job."
"Maybe we should put Tsunade in the chair." Sora said. "Since the next best fit, i.e., you, is currently dead."
"Yeah like that is ever going to happen," Kushina said while Anders faked a cough so as to not laugh.
"Moving on from the topic of the elderly-" Sora stopped and looked around as if she was expecting Tsunade herself to bust in and hit them. "...What do we do now?"
"Well, clean this place up," Anders said. "And train, train a lot."
"Yeah, I suppose that is the smartest thing to do." Sora agreed easily. "I know I could definitely go for learning the Henshin. Transformation? I'm saying the same thing aren't I?"
"Yeah, same word," Nana said.
"Yeah, so learning that would be cool." Sora said. "Or Fuinjutsu. Ooh, ooh, or we could go full Rock Lee!"
"I was more thinking about mastering our Shaman abilities, because remember no Chakra Network," Anders said, and that was pretty true while they had the base energies probably they could not mold chakra.
"Awww." Sora groaned.
"What do you mean, you don't have a Chakra Network?" Kushina asked. "Everyone does. That's like saying you don't have bones or veins."
"At one point people didn't have them," Anders said. "And people not from this universe don't either."
"Wait what?" Kushina said.
"Yeah apparently they are like interdimensional Shamans," Zabuza said, sounding like he still had a hard time believing the same thing.
"That is absurd, for both of those things," Kushina said.
"Lady, I'm blue." Sora said, and Anders could tell she was starting to grow.
"That is just a Bloodline Effect right?" She asked.
"I mean, in a sense?" Sora asked as she reached her normal height for the first time in a while. "Like, you didn't feel any chakra from what I just did, right?"
"...No I didn't… I don't actually feel much, like it's comparable to insects, like you just have physical and mental energies, and they are barely mixing to make chakra inside of your stomach," Kushina said, which really went to show how fucking skilled she was she could determine that even as a ghost.
"Yeah, the energy we use is called Furyoku which is probably what you call mental energy," As that did make sense as mental energy was made by the mind, and Furyoku was said to be spiritual energy from the soul but it was the main generator of memories.
"Maybe we can figure out how to fake some stuff with it?" Sora suggested. "If it's close enough."
"If we Over Soul'd or even just had them possess us they could fake ninjutsu with Furyoku as it can generate matter that is how the Elemental Spirits works," Anders said.
"Ooh." Sora said, before looking at Kushina. "Hey, you wanna test that out?"
"Sure why not, I know a place we can test without people finding out, me and Minato used to train here all the time," Kushina said. "Do what you promised first and clean up my son's apartment as payment for staying here."
"Promised?" Sora asked. "What are you talking about? I was just doing it cause it was filthy, no kid deserves to live like this."
"Oh, I thought you did, since you began doing it," Kushina said with a slight blush.
"Naw, naw, I was just doing it." Sora denied.
"Yeah, I am surprised there aren't rats or cockroaches just running around the place," Anders said, though when he said 'cockroaches' Sora's entire body shuddered.
"Don't. Don't mention those hellbugs." Sora said. "Don't. I don't want there to be ninja c-words Anders. Worst nightmare come true."
"Well actually," Kushina said. "I think a few Aburame have cultivated some."
"Nopenopenopenopenope lalala I'm not listening." Sora said, covering her ears and talking over her as soon as she said 'Aburame'.
"Does somebody have a fear of bugs?" Kushina asked.
"No!" Sora denied far too quickly to be telling the truth. "I think spiders are cool."
"Spiders aren't insects, they are Arachnids," Anders said, responding in the same way Peter Parker did every time somebody said he was a bug.
"..." Sora distinctly was not looking at anyone in the room. "Then… yeah…"
"That's nothing to be ashamed of." Nana said. "Everyone's afraid of something."
"That is the thing I can't disagree on," Zabuza said.
"Anyway, lets finish cleaning so we can try out some sick-ass jutsu." Sora said, unintentionally sounding like Naruto.
"Yeah, and let's see what kinds of Over Soul you can make with your blade," Anders said.
"Actually have you even swung a sword before boss?" Zabuza asked.
"No," Anders answered sheepishly.
"Ha!" Sora, who had, laughed.
"Then I am going to do the possessing thing until your body knows exactly how to swing my sword, especially if you use it with Haku," Zabuza said.
"That is understandable," Anders replied, he was perfectly fine with that, as that would be the best way to do it. As he was sure that was how Yoh, properly learned to use his sword.
"Good," Zabuza said back.
"Okay then back to cleaning," Anders said as they continued their thing until it was like eight in the morning and the heavy sleeper that was Naruto Uzumaki finally woke up.
"Ahh, man… so yesterday did happen," Anders and Sora heard him say as they prepped proper breakfast for him in the now almost spotless kitchen.
"That it did Naruto," Anders said from the kitchen.
"Man you guys are already up… oh what happened to my place everything is so shiny and it smells like citrus," Naruto said in wonder as he entered the kitchen.
"Yeah, that's called 'clean'." Sora said, currently not wearing her hoodie but instead a white tank top, as she cooked breakfast. "We can teach you how to do it yourself, cause it's really nice, right?"
"Ah, who are you?" Naruto asked as he pointed at the now much, much taller Sora who had grown to normal height.
"Right, sorry." Sora said, turning around to face him. "I'm still Sora, I can grow and shrink and stuff. The 'me' you saw yesterday is basically my 'travel size' cause it doesn't draw as much attention."
"Oh, so it's like a transformation jutsu?" Naruto asked.
"...Kind of? More like the Akimichi thing, it's just size." Sora said.
"Yeah, Choji turned into a really big ball," Naruto said.
"They can get huge as, like, people-shaped people, too." Sora noted. "That Choji you mentioned is gonna be able to punch a Bijuu."
"Seriously?" He asked.
"Yeah, properly utilised Yang Chakra Techniques are powerful," Anders said. "Especially their kind."
"Yang Chakra?" Naruto asked in confusion. "What is that?"
"Wh- how do you-" Sora stuttered, apparently forgetting Naruto and education went together like flies and vinegar. "Every chakra-based technique that isn't Elemental is either Yin, Yang, or both."
"Technically that is not true, there is a lot of minutiae to how it works," Kushina said. "Like don't even get me started on Space-Time stuff, that just makes my brain melt."
"It's advanced stuff you really don't learn unless you're a part of a clan that specialises in it, or when you become a Chunin," Anders said. "So don't worry about it for now."
"Ah okay," Naruto said back, accepting the answer. "But since you know the cool stuff can't you teach me a bit?" He asked as he sat down at the table as they placed the finished food down.
"Well…" Sora drew the word out as she looked at Anders questioningly.
"We can give you a few tips, as you do have a teacher you can ask," Anders said. "And he knows what to teach you better than we do."
"I get that," Naruto said.
"So what are you working on?" Anders asked.
"Right now we're bringing my chakra control up to snuff, how to do summoning properly, and also fixing up my Taijutsu and making plans on how to fight Neji," Naruto explained.
"That sounds reasonable, what techniques do you know?" Anders asked.
"Transformation, Substitute, Shadow Clone, Summoning, and my ultimate technique," Naruto said.
"Ultimate Technique?" Sora asked, clearly leading him to explain. And Anders could see Kushina facepalm behind her son.
"Yeah, I call it the Sexy Jutsu, it can one-hit ko any pervert, and most men," Naruto explained.
"Really." Sora said in clear disbelief. "I don't believe it."
"I'll show you," Naruto said as he did the hand sign and exploded in a cloud of smoke which revealed a naked Naruko, barely covered by strings of smoke. "What do you think?"
Anders watched Nana, Zabuza and even Haku facepalm at that, Kushina's however was still on going.
"Okay, so, good start, but that only works if you're using it on someone who's into little blonde girls." Sora criticized. "You gotta tailor the form to the audience, base it on what they like for maximum effect. As an example, if used on, I think Sakura you said her name was, it would probably be better to use your other teammate's form, right?"
"I see, I see." Naruto said, nodding and paying rapt attention, ending the technique.
"Oh my god don't encourage him," Kushina begged while her hands were still on her face.
"Plus, outfits can totally make or break it too." Sora continued unabated. "The smoke's good, but sometimes it's better if there's something tangible there, teasing at what's beneath, or begging to be torn away-" She was interrupted by a sudden cough. "Ahem, in the pervert's mind, of course."
"That is great, I didn't even think of that," Naruto said as he began to actually write it down.
"You could use it against Neji, infiltrate his room with some of your clones, and find his porn stash and see what he likes," Anders explained getting it on as well.
"Wait why would I use clones?" Naruto asked.
"You don't know? Shadow Clones send back their memories to the user then they pop," Anders explained.
"They do...? They do!" Naruto said in realization.
"Admittedly this is better for his development but why focus on that part?" Kushina asked in horror.
"Motivation." Sora answered.
"Huh?" Naruto asked
"Sorry, Kushina-san asked a question." Sora explained.
Immediately Naruto's face turned tomato red. "I forgot she was here…" Naruto said in a voice that sounded like a low whine.
"Don't worry, she fully supports you developing your skills." Sora said.
"Really?" Naturto asked.
"Come here you little shit," Kushina said as she lunged at Sora and pushed down to the ground as enacted actual momentum on the blue woman.
"No," Anders said. "She just said it to piss her off." He said as they watched Sora get manhandled by Kushina's ghost.
"Ac- I- meant the infiltration training." Sora croaked out as Kushina very much so strangled her. "He's practicing transformation, stealth, info gathering, it's perfffffeeeaagjghelp."
"Okay Kushina I think that is enough," Anders said as he grabbed the enraged mother by her ghostly clothes and pulled her off Sora, Nana assisting.
"I am not done yet," Kushina said as she got dragged away.
"Hellwomanhellwomanhellwomanhellwoman." Sora repeated croakily on loop as she massaged her rather clearly crushed throat. "Ghosts hurt?"
"Yeah, we can interact with them, they can interact with us, and many who had powers in life keep them," Anders said.
"Mom and ghosts are scary," Naruto said in fear.
"I would never do that to you my precious baby boy," Kushina said as she failed to hug Naruto.
"Now you know how she got her epithet," Zabuza said.
"Well, how come you didn't notice before Naruto?" Anders asked the blond ninja.
"Probably because I make so many and they don't stay around for long," He answered.
"How many can you make?" Anders asked.
"A little over a hundred at once," He answered casually.
Zabuza actually choked at that, while Haku seemed to prevent himself from doing that.
"Is that impressive?" Nana asked.
"If one-" Sora's answer was cut off by her coughing up blood. "Fuck she's strong… Hokage make like five at most." She said, words truncated and voice hoarse.
"Yeah, at any given time, as they cut the users chakra reserves basically in half, and when it is broken not a lot returns alongside the information they have learnt," Anders said.
"100? Absolute madness." Sora added. "Chakra of the gods."
"Wow," Naruto said as he looked at his hands. Just realising that fact.
"You might not have special eyes, or a bloodline that gives you ability to easily combine chakra natures. But you have what matters the most in this world," Anders said.
"Heart!" Sora finished.
"No, Chakra," Anders said. "You can just keep on going when many Jonin would have kneeled over an hour ago."
"Heart's still good tho." Sora said. "Need that for Kage."
"Well, the important thing is that it can allow you to cut down training by a lot, as you can do many things at once," Anders said.
"Oh fuck you are right," Kushina said only now just realising that implication alongside Zabuza.
"That kid is going to be a monster," He said. "Should definitely feel proud losing to him Haku."
"I do."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, not putting it together.
"Info come back. Jutsu is info. You can train while you train so you can jutsu while you jutsu." Sora said, before violently hacking up more blood. "Fuck, ugh, fuck…"
"Do you need the Dog?" Anders asked.
"Might help." Sora said, holding out her hand.
"Here," Anders said as he reached into the shadow his arm made on the table and pulled the Talisman out, handing it over to Sora.
"Thanks." She said as she took it.
"Woah!" Naruto said in awe.
"Yeah, Sora can grow smaller and larger, I can store stuff in my shadow," Anders said.
"That is so cool, it's like having a backpack without the whole backpack part," Naruto stated.
"You can learn to do something like it." Sora said, voice still sounding hoarse and croaky but powering through it. "There's this thing called Fuinjutsu. Not sure where you'd be able to learn it, since the best masters of it are the Sannin and no one knows where they are, but it could let you do stuff like that."
"Though there are probably some books you can read, and again ask your teacher as I am pretty sure most Shinobi knows how to at least make explosive tags and storage seals," Anders said.
"I will be sure to do that," Naruto said. "Ah, it's getting late, I have to go soon," Naruto said as he saw the clock and began to gulf down the food.
"Okay, have fun…" Sora said, still rubbing her throat. "I think I need medical attention."
"Try changing size, see if that fixes stuff," Anders suggested as when she changed size everything shifted around so it would maybe heal stuff like that up. And it was not like they actually could go to a hospital as he had smuggled her in.
"Ooh, yeah, maybe…" Sora said as she began to shrink back down to her minimum form, rubbing her throat the whole time. "La la la la la laaa, huh. Still a bit sore, but you were right." Sora said, looking up at him in surprise. "How'd you figure I could do that?"
"Stuff shifts around then you change size, so I figured some stuff would heal up, especially throat related things as that changes a lot," Anders explained.
"That… makes a lot of sense, actually." Sora said. "Huh. Maybe I'll look into that later… oh, but what are we doing today?"
"Like I said before, training," Anders said.
"And I am going to do that as well, see you two later," Naruto said as he rushed out of the door. "There is a second key underneath the frog outside."
"There he goes, well I did promise to show you mine and Minato's training place, and do that Over Soul thing," Kushina said. "So finish eating."
"And whose fault is it that I'm not done yet?" Sora asked, glaring at the red headed ghost.
"Well you shouldn't have said that," She responded back.
And as the two continued Anders just finished his food while the three other ghosts watched with amusement at the argument that was happening.
Red vs Blue.
A universal constant.
Xxx
"So, this is where you trained?" Sora asked, looking around the relatively standard looking training field. Didn't look very special, though it had been a pain to get to. "Doesn't look like much."
"Yep, this is just an abandoned place that used to be owned by the Uzumaki, and now no one really goes here, our old shrine is like a few hundred meters that way," Kushina explained. "So how does the whole possession, Over Soul thing actually work?"
"Ask him, he gets it better." Sora said, pointing at her partner in crime.
"Well us Shamans work with Spirits to get things done," Anders began to give his lecture regarding Shamans. "The Over Soul is what is created when a spirit is either put into an object or a person though that is just a lesser one. Though the best results are gained then Over Soul is created using an object the Spirit or the Shaman has an affinity with. Fire Spirit with Oxygen, an Ice one with a Snowboard."
"Ah," Kushina said in understanding.
"Me and the Kubikiribocho," Zabuza said.
"And Haku would too considering his connection with you," Anders said back.
"I don't think I have anything that would have a big connection for you, Kushina, but I have some stuff that I'm really attached to if you're willing to try." Sora said.
"I suggest your hair?" Anders said.
Sora's hands immediately flew to her head. "Why my hair? I like my hair." She said worriedly, not seeing why it would fit.
"Actually I think it would be a good fit," Kushina said. "I was... am very attached to my own hair."
"And if that doesn't work, try a possession to see if you can use Ninjutsu," Anders added.
"Alright, I guess." Sora said, holding out a hand to Kushina. "Alright, take my hand, and… I just shove her into my hair?"
"Yeah, just focus on compressing her into a Spirit Ball, and focus on your hand and not your body," Anders said.
"Spirit Ball?" Sora asked. "Like Goku?"
"You didn't?" Anders said while Nana let out a snort. "Ahhh, like this," He said as he placed his hand on Zabuza's arm and in a split second there was a bloody red orb in Anders hand with Hidden Mist Headband and bandages around the mouth area.
"Ah, Zabuza-sama is cute like this," Haku said.
"I am not cute," Zabuza grumbled as his small ball form turned around to look at Anders. "So we going to to try as well?"
"I am actually going to Over Soul Haku into Kubikiribocho first, and then have you possess me," Anders said as Zabuza's form returned to normal.
"Wait, you're gonna have Zabuza possess you?" Sora asked incredulously.
"I am going to have to learn how to swing Kubikiribocho around somehow, so what better way than to have the guy who used it prolifically engrain it into my body and soul, I am pretty sure that is how Yoh learned to fight," Anders explained himself.
"And, you're gonna be able to stop that any time you want, right?" Sora asked, worried for her best friend.
"Yeah, the benefit of being a Shaman unwilling possession is not possible, that is how you can keep wearing Ikazuki without worry," He said as he pointed at her face.
"Ikazuki?" Sora asked confusedly, missing what he was pointing at. The only thing with a name she was wearing was Azrael, right?
"...I... Did you forget you are currently wearing a Shadowkhan General on your face?" Anders asked disbelief obvious in his voice.
"Oni General." Sora corrected, doing her best to cover up the fact that yes, she had forgotten. "How do you remember his name? He only had like, one episode."
"I am a nerd," He answered. "But in all seriousness it has been rather easy for me to recall stuff, like I am surprised I remember this much about the mechanics of Shaman King," Anders said as he scratched his neck.
"Huh. Maybe it has to do with whatever's doing…" She motioned to the air to indicate 'everything' "All this?"
"Maybe," Anders said back.
"Okay a little out of the loop here, who is doing what to all of this and what do you mean episode and mechanics of Shaman King?" Kushina asked.
"Okay, so do you know Multiverse Theory?" Sora asked.
"No," Came the response from the native ghosts. "I mean I know that there now exists other universes thanks to you but what is the Multiverse Theory precisely?" Kushina asked.
"Okay, so, it's simple." Sora started to explain. "For every possible action or outcome of any given choice, there's another universe you did that. So, there's probably a bunch where you survived getting attacked and letting out Kurama, but Naruto died instead."
"Wait how do you know that? And who is Kurama?" Kushina asked.
Sora looked at her in confusion, before realizing. "Oh, right he only told Naruto that. Sorry, I'm talking about your former prisoner that your son is currently keeping watch over, so to speak." She said, not stating it outright just in case but in a way Kushina would likely understand.
"Wait, the angry fur ball has a name?" Kushina asked in surprise.
"Yeah, they all do." Sora said. "Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyuki, Kurama, from least tailage to greatest. Most of which was found out- will be found out? Ugh, future tense- by your boy once he becomes the Host of all of them, however temporarily that ends up being."
"What?" Kushina asked. "How? Future? What?"
"So you're clairvoyant as well?" Zabuza asked.
"Well, Shamans can divine the future, but our knowledge doesn't come from our race," Anders said.
"Looping back around to the point?" Sora said. "If every single possible outcome exists, there also exists worlds where this universe is recorded as fiction. Fiction we read. Pretty popular manga too, people love your idiot son."
"Wait so are we not real?" Haku asked.
"No, you are real, everything is real and not at the same time," Anders said.
"I mean, yeah, by what I just said, we probably have our story being told as fiction somewhere in the multiverse, too." Sora said.
"Basically don't think about it," Nana said. "Same deal for my universe."
"Yeah." Sora agreed. "Anyway, get in my hair, I want to see what happens."
"What is my life coming to?" Kushina asked, looking like her understanding of the world had been destroyed. Which it had been.
"Don't you mean afterlife?" Sora asked, a massive grin on her face.
"I will choke you again, believe it," Kushina said, her catchphrase sounding more like a threat than a statement.
"I believe it!" Sora said squeakily, before willing Kushina (who she was already grabbing) into a ball, actually succeeding in doing so, turning into a red one with her red hair. "Now let's Over Soul!" She said, before shoving the ball into her head.
Sora felt like she was being pulled by the hair for a moment, before shaking her head. "Oof. Did it work?" She asked, not seeing any immediate difference.
"Yeah, yeah, I think it did," Anders said.
"Really? What did it… oh my god that's cool." Sora said as she looked back to try and see, which is when she glimpsed that her hair had split into nine distinct tails, her own natural pink hair going as far as it could before Kushina's red extended further, going down almost to the ground before curving up to a distinctly brush-like tip nearly level with her head, meaning they were at least a solid few meters long since she was at her normal size. "You feeling okay back there Kushina?"
"Wow, I actually feel alive, not as much as what you did before," Kushina's voice said emanating from her hair.
"Huh." Sora said excitedly. "So, these look like brushes. Do you think that means you can do your thing?"
"Do you mean Fuinjutsu?" Kushina asked.
"Yeah, that." Sora said eagerly.
"I think so." Kushina said, before one of the 'tails' moved and began to draw on the ground, leaving behind a distinct red ink on the dirt as she began with slow, sweeping movements that quickly accelerated until a moment later there was a seal drawn on the ground. "And if I'm doing this right, then…" Kushina mumbled, before pressing the 'tail' into it, causing the seal to shine before there was a loud woomph as the air visibly shuddered. "Ha! I can do my thing like this!"
"And what, specifically, did you just do?" Sora asked, looking at the seal in confusion.
"It's just a storage seal, that I made store the air above it to see if I could." Kushina explained.
"Oh. What else can you do?" Sora asked excitedly, before her attention was drawn to Anders swinging around the giant ice sword like a maniac. "Hold that thought, you okay over there?"
"Simply puting Boss' body through the Kata's though this body is not up to speed at all, god he is like me then I was six, and the different build is also making it harder to adapt," Zabuza's voice answered.
"Well good luck with that!" Sora said, before focusing on herself (when was she not?) and Kushina. "Okay, so, like I was saying, what else can you do now?"
"I'm not sure…" Kushina said. "I've never been like this before. Let's find out."
And so they spent the next few hours before Sora ran out of energy (she was just going to call it mana, she couldn't pronounce the word Anders kept saying) and the Over Soul stopped, Anders' own having broken a few moments prior as he was catching his breath, so they had gone and grabbed lunch.
And then came back and kept going until they got exhausted again before heading back to Naruto's apartment, thankfully a good hour before Naruto was supposed to come home, so they'd gotten to work making a nice, healthy dinner with the groceries they'd gotten -Sora needed to ask Anders where he got so much money, she hadn't gotten anywhere near as much as he did on the Caravan- that was a bit more western styled due to their own cooking abilities, but still pretty good.
And of course, Sora had decided to do so since she thought the kid deserved to come home to have dinner waiting for him.
Give him a bit of normalcy, for once.
As such, she was finishing setting the table (which she had also cleaned), Anders having had to take a seat a bit ago due to his bones hurting, when the door was unlocked, so Sora turned with a smile for Naruto.
"Welcome home Narrrrrrrrrrrr" Sora's greeting was ruined as she laid eyes on not just Naruto, but a man with long, spiky white hair, red lines under his eyes, and a horned headband that could only be Jiraiya of the Sannin.
"Naruto? Whose this?" She asked squeakily. Even Sora, who was notoriously bad at reading people, could tell Jiraiya had read her reaction and knew that she knew exactly who he was.
"This is Pervy-sage Sora, he is the sensei I told you about, he wanted to come and meet you and Anders when I told you about him," Naruto answered, and Sora heard Anders let out a groan and Kushina a sigh.
"Yes, I got very interested in people who told my student about advanced Shinobi knowledge," Jiraya said.
"Wow you made dinner?" Naruto asked as he came fully inside, oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
"Yes, we made dinner, why don't you join us Sage-sama." Sora said, sounding like she was three micrometers from a breakdown at Jiraiya's presence.
"That sounds lovely," He said as he entered, his long hair swinging behind him. "And the name's Jiraiya."
Xxx
A/N: If you like this or any other of my stories, you can donate to my Sub scribe Star . Adult (slash) StreamingViking and read commissioned stories And chapters before they are released here. Along with voting for which stories will be updated next via Polls