Naruto: the mask.
Prologue
Betrayal... That is what Naruto felt the day he was made Genin by Iruka, he felt honored to be a Ninja of Konoha, but deep inside he felt betrayed that he was never told that he had a fox inside of him. His hero, the Yondaime had sealed the fox inside him. He decided to keep his goofiness as a mask. He was pulled into team 7, he secretly studied hard in Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, Fuin jutsu and Ninjutsu theories by making shadow clones read many scrolls in his apartment before going to do these missions with his team. He learned that his affinity were a very strong Suiton affinity with a Futon. He secretly train in Water style techniques in an unused training ground away from prying eyes while a shadow clone was doing D rank mission and pretending to be an idiot most of the time. He is forced to hold on his training when his stupid clone is able to get them a C-rank mission to the waves. He put the Orange Jumpsuit he hadn't used for weeks just for this mission. They succeeded but he had to show that he was stronger when they faced Haku with her ice techniques but he learned an important lesson from Haku that day, 'what is the point of fighting and getting stronger if we have no one to protect'. She was right, he had no one who he loved enough that needed to protect. Iruka just started to be nice to him a year ago, he suspected it was out of pity, Kakashi doesn't even acknowledge him and usually ignore him and Sakura for Sasuke. No, he has no one here. He needed to get away, there was an island which used to be part of his clan... Yes another secret he stumbled while reading history books and fuin jutsu scrolls. He was not a clanless orphan like most kids and adults told him when he was younger. He came from a powerful clan of Fuinjutsu user in the land of Uzu, cousin to the Senju.
Chapter 1: Naruto defection...
Sasuke was thinking, it's has been a long day, he first fought again Naruto in the hospital roof, almost killing him, yet he almost killed him as well. He was stronger, then after he tried to went home, he had a lecture from Kakashi which made him think then the sound four came in offering him a chance to power to get his revenge to Itachi. He was about to head home and pick up his things when he saw Naruto from the side of his eye. The boy was wearing a black jacket with a plain white T-shirt, no headband and black pants. What surprised him was when he placed several explosives tags on his apartment. The blond boy then shunshinned away, Sasuke decided to tail him. Sakura was walking in the park, she wanted to see Sasuke, but maybe she came at the wrong time. Then he saw Naruto with a black vest jumping from roof to roof, Sakura was confused, why was Naruto not in his orange jumpsuit? He also seemed angry when an explosion came off. She looked where it came from, she immediately saw Naruto apartment on fire. Many Ninja went there, that would distract them from Naruto.
"Wait Naruto!" yelled Sasuke jumping roof to roof, Sakura was even more confused. She decided to follow them.
Izumo and Kotetsu were not at the entrance, they went to see what was going on. Naruto smirked it was perfect, he could go now.
"Naruto what are you doing" said Sasuke who finally made it to him. Naruto looked on his shoulder.
"I'm leaving" said Naruto shocking Sasuke.
"What?! You can't leave! What about your dream of being a Hokage!" yelled Sasuke, Sakura is hiding behind a building listening to them.
"Petty dreams from a child, I woke up Sasuke" said Naruto, he was not the goofy blond boy he knew. Sakura was shocked hearing that from Naruto.
"What about Sakura? Don't you love her?" tried Sasuke, Sakura stood there shocked, yes she knew that Naruto asked her to date, but she always though that were just annoying pranks on her.
"I told you Sasuke, I woke up. That girl only see you, I'm nothing to her. Just a dead weight like what the rest of the village think" said Naruto. Sasuke flared his Sharingan.
"I won't let you go" said Sasuke he was preparing his Chidori, it would be his last one since he already did it twice today.
"There is nothing for me here Sasuke. I know Orochimaru came here with an offer and you were about to desert Konoha yourself. Why trying to stop me from going?" asked Naruto
"I refuse to give on my anger toward what my brother did" said Sasuke, Naruto eyebrow rose.
"That's a big wakeup call from someone who snarled about killing Itachi since we were a team" said Naruto, he saw movement behind Sasuke. There stood Sakura watching them.
"You will stay here! I won't let you go! I will kill you if you try to defect" said Sasuke activating the Chidori.
"Kill me if you want. But I'm still going" said Naruto walking away.
"At least tell me why!" yelled Sasuke as the Chidori died due to his chakra being too depleted to sustain the jutsu.
"I'm the demon fox" said Naruto walking away without looking at them "Or that's what the village see since I have the demon sealed in me"
Sasuke was shocked to hear that and so did Sakura, now she felt bad for all the bad treatment she had done to the boy over the last few years.
"If you are still curious on how my life went. Go to the hospital sneak behind the counter in the main office and look for my medical files and wait for the news of my defection tomorrow you will see how the village really think of me. Despise that I saved them from Gaara" with that Naruto disappeared in a shunshin. Sasuke tried to run after him but fell on the ground from chakra exhaustion. Sakura quickly got out of her hiding spot and went to Sasuke but then decided to run after Naruto, she jumped from tree to tree trying to locate him.
Naruto was about to use the shadow clone technique to distract the follower when he looked above his shoulder seeing Sakura. He shunshinned and landed behind her.
"What are you doing" asked Naruto, Sakura froze on the spot she had landed.
"Why are you going" she said trying to win some time
"You heard everything" said Naruto as he did a thousands of shadow clones quickly spreading on the forest to disturb any way to pinpoint him. His scent would all over the forest, the Inuzuka wouldn't be able to follow, the clones would easily fool the Hyuuga, not that he expect to be followed but just in case they see him as a weapon.
"Where are you going?" she asked trying to get some information from him.
"Not Konoha" he said. 'Damn he is smart... please don't go...' thought Sakura
"Will you come back?" asked Sakura.
"No" said Naruto
"Please don't go..." pleaded Sakura as tears started to leak from her eyes.
Naruto frowned 'quit your acting Haruno' though the blond boy. Then he jumped from the tree and headed west to the wave country.
Sakura stayed there crying. "forgive me..." she whispered. She couldn't stop Naruto from abandoning her. She screamed one last time before she lost consciousness as well due to her emotions and fatigue. Naruto sighed, that scream would attract attention from the gate guards.
Kakashi was away, a mission on securing the border, the village was weak and Kumo and Iwa were sending scout to probe the defenses. A Chunin came in Hokage office with bad news.
"HOKAGE-SAMA!" yelled a Chunin panting due to his running.
"What it is?" asked Tsunade she hadn't heard the explosion.
"There was an explosion... Uzumaki Naruto apartment..." panted the Chunin.
"Seize the one who did it! Where is the boy?!"
"Nowhere. We don't know where he is" then another Chunin came in this time it was Kotetsu
"We found Sasuke on the entrance unconscious, Izumo is taking him to the hospital"
"What is going?" said Tsunade "Try to locate Uzumaki Naruto. Find the one who did that to Naruto apartment. Dismissed!" The two Chunin bowed. What was happening now?
It was close to morning now, the sun started to rise when another Chunin came.
"We found Sakura Haruno in the outskirt of the village!" he said, Tsunade massaged her head.
"Can this get worse?" she said but soon regretted saying that.
"Sasuke just woke up, he told us that Naruto defected" said Izumo
"Godamnit! Call Shikamaru!" said Tsunade, the newly appointed Chunin came 15 minutes later.
"What is it Godaime-sama" said Shikamaru
"Mission Rank B, Uzumaki Naruto defected in the middle of the night. We suspect him to have bombed his own house to attract attention there so no one would be there to stop him. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno tried to stop him but they failed" Shikamaru eyes widened, Naruto? Why would he do that?!
"I need a team of Jonin or your best Chunin to pursuit him" said Shikamaru
"All of the Jonin are out securing our borders along with the Chunin... We only have a few genin available for the mission" said Tsunade facing the window. "Choose whoever want to go, you have half an hour"
Shikamaru quickly went out of the office and went for the available Genin who could help him locate Naruto. He went for Choji first, the boy answered half-asleep but when he heard that Naruto defected that awoken him due to the shock. Then went for Neji, Kiba and shino. Lee was there, he wanted to go and assist them but he couldn't due to his wound, he was still recovering from the Chunin exam. All of them answered the call and were getting ready for their mission when a girl stopped them.
"Please bring him back" pleaded Sakura, she couldn't forgive herself for what she did to him, and she needed to hear that he forgave her.
"Bring him back to us" said a lavender girl, she was not supposed to get out of the hospital, and she was still recovering from that strike in the exam. She started coughing blood.
"Hinata-sama!" said Neji, Sakura went to her.
"I'll get her back to the hospital" she said. They nodded, they jumped in the forest and went to the east. "You love him don't you?"
Hinata nodded, she started to tear up, she couldn't found the courage to tell him that and she loved him, she cursed herself for it. Sakura picked her up so she would not overwork her weak body. Lee stayed at the gate.
"Naruto-kun..." he said looking at the forest... He cursed his wound, in his anger he throw his cane. He then walked, there was no pain just a sore feeling. He jumped to see if it was alright for him, there was no pain. He quickly dashed out of the village just behind the 4-man cell.
Konoha Hospital.
Sakura helped Hinata to go back to her room, a nurse quickly went to stabilize her. She decided to go look for Sasuke, when he opened the door, he found Sasuke with a huge dossier, the file was about Naruto, he had read the entire thing with his Sharingan every information were imprinted in his eyes. The photos, the broken bones, the shattered muscles, the mutilated body of a young child no older than 5. Sasuke was crying, his Sharingan had matured during the reading.
"How could they..." he hissed angrily while tears leaked from his eyes. Sakura put her hand on her mouth, she saw just how much Naruto had it bad in his life. Shizune entered the room then seen the scene, she didn't know why Sasuke had a huge file.
"What are you doing its confidential" said Shizune, but when she saw what was inside she felt on the ground completely shocked. "This... This... Tsunade-sama..."
A nurse came in...
"Call the Godaime Hokage here now!" yelled Sasuke, the nurse was startled by the outburst but quickly complied. Ten minute later, Tsunade came in. She was surprised to see Shizune on the ground looking aghast. Sasuke was nowhere to be seen and Sakura was on a chair looking like she just seen a ghost. The Godaime went to the file and quickly saw it. She was startled by it, she picked up a picture of a young boy mutilated body. His clothes were ripped and had many burns all over his body. She let out a massive killing intent startling everyone in the hospital. Shizune stood and stepped back to the wall. Sakura did the same.
Sasuke went outside of the building and started walking in the street being listening to the whispers and comment.
"Did you hear? The demon brat apartment exploded"
"I hope the bastard died hehehehehe"
"Mom? Why is there a large column of smoke over there?"
"It's nothing, just good news sweetie"
Sasuke couldn't help but flare his sharingan angrily... He couldn't believe these... these... animals. He jumped to Naruto apartment, no one was there, and he was infuriated when he saw a graffiti with the letter 'Die Fox kid'. He went inside looking around, there was the remains of a broken bed. The apartment was small, he then saw a framed picture on the ground, and it was team 7. Naruto was smiling there, he knew that smile was fake. Then he saw a glint of metal on the ground, he pushed the rubbles the ashes... It was the metal plate from the headband. He pocketed it, he would give it back to Naruto.
Emergency meeting – Hokage palace.
Tsunade was looking at her desk, trying to hide her massive bloodlust for everyone in the room. The clan heads were sweating, they could feel the KI leaking from Tsunade, and the civilians didn't feel it. They just waited for the meeting to begin.
"I would ask you one thing... Who was responsible for Naruto safety?" asked calmly the Godaime Hokage.
"Sandaime, when the boy was 9, an ANBU saved him from a mob" said Shikaku
"Before that?"
"No one, the boy was in the orphanage" said a civilian
"Ah! I see no one... Was he kicked out?"
"He was kicked from the orphanage at the age of three, but no one informed the Sandaime until the boy was 9" said the same civilian
"I see... The civilian council didn't think it was important to inform the Sandaime about the boy situation"
"Why do you care? He is just a demon brat" said a civilian smugly, Tsunade lifted her head and glared at the smug civilians who felt the KI.
"I hereby decree that the civilian council is disbanded, every single one of you will be interrogated by the T&I department, and if I find out that anyone of you were responsible for the boy... YOU WILL WISH THAT YOU WERE KILLED DURING THE INVASION!" said Tsunade her massive bloodlust could be seen in her eyes. The ANBU went in the room and quickly scuffed the civilian councillors, Danzo included.
Fire country forest... border with the wave's country.
Naruto stood at the shore of the continent, he looked at the bridge name... His name was on it. He didn't smile. 'The great Naruto Bridge' he would have to wear his mask one last time here. He would need some supplies, food and maybe a boat for whirlpool country. The 4-man cell quickly went to the border, they were stopped by a bunch of shadow clones. Naruto was half way to the bridge. Neji eliminated a clone, the memories quickly went to the original who couldn't believe it. They had tailed him! He quickly went to a very long series of hand signs.
They were about to get out of the forest when Naruto yelled...
"KIRI GAKURE NO JUTSU!" a large mist started to rose and envelope the bridge and the surrounding waters. He decided to skip Tazuna and headed north on the water.
The 4-man cell stared at the bridge...
"I can't believe that guy as a bridge with his name on it" said Kiba
"The fog is laced with Chakra" said Neji his Byakugan activated
"Tch... he know we are behind him" said Shikamaru, the 4-man cell entered the fog and dashed to the other side of the bridge. They saw a village with frightened civilians who quickly entered their homes. Fearing it was another attack from these mercenaries or someone new who wanted to take advantages of them.
"I can't pick up his smell..." said Kiba... "Wait... He dashed north through the water!"
"Troublesome... After him!" said Shikamaru
Back at Konoha.
Kakashi was walking toward the village, he was surprised to see a large group of Chunin heading east. Izumo and Kotetsu were keeping the gate.
"What is going on?" asked Kakashi
"Naruto defected" said Izumo
"WHAT!?" said Kakashi who his left eye widened. Kakashi shunshinned to the Hokage office to get full report on what is happening.
"Yes, Kakashi the boy... he defected, I sent a 4-man cell after Naruto, but I doubt they find him. So I sent these who came here to report after them"
"What's going on? I thought Sasuke was the risky one" said Kakashi, he was confused.
Tsunade tossed a medical file to Kakashi who eyes widened, he got sick watching the pictures and the x-rays. Tsunade picked up a basket then handed it to Kakashi who throw up in it. Kakashi quickly shunshinned out of the village and headed east. That was the only direction he could go, he would go to the waves then, if he was able to go past that, they would lose him... He doubled his speed sending chakra on his legs. Leaving a trail of leaves behind him.
'Naruto... Damnit!' thought Kakashi
92 kilometer north of the waves – deep sea.
Naruto was facing the 4-man cell, they were starting to sink on the sea. Wasting their chakra. He mentally sighed, he made 4 clones who picked up the exhausted genins and tossed them on the shores. The clone dispelled and Naruto continued his journey to the whirlpool country.
3 hours later...
A group of Chunin arrived at the border, startled when they saw the bridge name. They were told that a group of young ninja headed north. They thanked the locals and quickly headed north. They found the boys on the shores exhausted.
"I found them! They are just exhausted!" said a chunin
"We need to evacuate them" said a chunin
"No... Naruto... He... headed toward... the sea" panted Shikamaru pointing where he had last seen him.
Kakashi was next to them, he used his sharingan to locate the boy, but there was no trace.
"Tch... Take the kids back" said Kakashi
"And you Kakashi-san?" said a Chunin, Kakashi remained silent before pulling his headband down. He then started to run toward where Shikamaru had pointed leaving the kids.
Naruto was on the shore of Whirlpool country... The whirlpools around the island were very dangerous to cross, he was able to cross them thanks to his massive reserves of chakra. He explored the island, when he stumbled upon the ruins of his former clan compound. Massive buildings, columns and walls were destroyed, his clan crest carved on most of the columns. He explored the ruins.
Kakashi was in the middle of the ocean, but felt like his chakra would deplete soon. He cursed his chakra reserves, there was a fisherman boat there who was fishing.
"Can I come in?" asked Kakashi to the fisherman
"Y...yes of course" said the fisherman startled to see a ninja.
Kakashi literally felt unconscious once he stepped in, the fisherman kept fishing, he would woke him up once he had finished. He wondered why a Ninja of Konoha was so close of the lightning country shores.
Naruto found the Uzukage palace, it was still intact somehow, he decided to walk in, he was pulled in by some strong attraction force, the door closed behind him then the pull stopped, and he was in the middle of the room. He looked everywhere, but there was no one.
Marking started to appear on the wall of the big room, Naruto recognized these marking, they were for sealing art. A blue laced Chakra looking like dragons started to rise from them when they enveloped Naruto, he started to scream when a red chakra started to leak from his belly. All the red chakra was extracted from him, he felt weak when a purple one started to leak from the same marking and entered his belly... His felt reenergized then the marking disappeared a fox mask formed in the middle of the room and felt on the ground.
"What the hell just happened?" said Naruto, when a spectral form made an apparition just in front of him, the boy gulped.
"We freed you from the demon fox and we granted you the chakra of our elders" said the spectral from, he was an old man wearing a whirlpool headband, a battle armor, grey long sleeved shirt and pants with the same color.
"Who are you?" asked Naruto
"I'm the Yondaime Uzukage or more what's remain of him. I always knew that at least one of my children or grandchildren would come here. Your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto" said the blond boy
"You don't have red hairs, you must be a half-blood" said the man "Who is your mother?"
"I don't know, I am an orphan for all I know"
"Hmph... Only a member of the main branch would able to enter the palace without burning" said the Uzukage, Naruto gulped. "Well, let's find out"
A scroll emerged in front of the open, the scroll opened there was many writings on it a square on the center. The spectral apparition ordered Naruto to let a drop of blood on it. A drop of blood landed on the square and writings started to form all around, the old man started readings. The spectral form smiled reading the scroll.
"It's appear that you are my grandson" Naruto was shocked
"You're my Jiji?" said Naruto
"Asano Uzumaki, my daughter was Kushina Uzumaki. You're also the great grandson of Tobirama Senju" said Asano, he withhold the information about his father, fearing that the boy would be angered that his father was the Yondaime Hokage the very same that imprisoned the fox demon in him.
"The Nidaime Hokage was my Jiji too?" said Naruto, the spectral form laughed.
"So Naruto... Do you want to train under the Uzukage?" smiled the old man, Naruto nodded eagerly.
Chapter 2: Training under the Uzukage
It's been 3 month since Naruto started to train under his grandfather Uzumaki Asano, the training was... Hellish...
"345...346...347...348...349...350..." panted Naruto, he just finished his push up under gravitational seals strengthened to level 7. That was like lifting a 3 ton rock now. Asano smiled, his grandson was a monster in itself without the Biju, even if he was a half-blood. He was a true Uzumaki inside. Naruto lifted the seals and got up wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Good, now let's see if you can stop the strength of the Yondaime Uzukage" smirked the old man, there was a boom when he dashed to Naruto followed by a white flash due to his hairs, and the boy caught his fist. Naruto smirked when he disappeared in a yellow flash followed by boom sound. They were breaking the sound barrier.
"I have a question Asano-Jiji" asked Naruto
"Ask" said the old man blocking punches and kicks.
"If you were so fast, how come Uzu was destroyed?"
"We were betrayed, two Ninja of the leaf poisoned me before the invasion, rendering me useless like a genin" said Asano who lost his smirk.
"Who was these men names?" asked Naruto.
"Shimura Danzo and his associate, Orochimaru" Naruto stopped his attack for a moment. "I'm sure you are planning to get revenge on them. Don't worry, I learned with time that everyone pay the price of their sins"
The old smirked when he throw a wild axe kick to Naruto, the boy blocked it but the sheer strength of the attack cracked the ground around him. "You kick like a mule, Jiji" said Naruto massing his arms.
"Hmph... You will have my strength in no time Grandson" smiled the old man. The old man made the ram seal two popped out in existence. "Pick up Benihime, I'll teach you how to wield it"
Naruto picked up the red-hilt double edged sword. He felt a pull in his chakra that made him wince. He tightened his grip until the pain faded, he then breath, he didn't know he held it.
"Be careful. Benihime is rather capricious with her wielder. Seems she accepted you" said the old man. Naruto swung it, the sword felt very light the feeling the sword gave him made him smile.
"This sword is awesome" said Naruto, he made the stance of the roaring tiger then he frowned... the sword disapproved of this stance.
"What's wrong?" asked Asano seeing his grandson frown.
"My sword doesn't like the Kenjutsu style I use" said Naruto, how come a sword doesn't like a Kenjutsu style?
"Maybe, you should listen to her" said Asano, Naruto stared at the sword when he reverse gripped it. The old man frowned, that stance his grandson was using was lost since the time of the Shodaime Uzukage. He picked up a Chokuto making his own stance. "Come!"
Naruto dashed twirled attempting to behead the old man with the sword, the old man blocked it but the power behind the attack tossed him to a wall making it crack. The old man smiled, the boy was impressive. Naruto tossed the sword at him, the old man evaded the attack. The sword getting stuck on the wall. He then jumped away evading a kick from Naruto, the boy landed next to his sword, picked up and went to the offensive again. Both sword clashed, the chokuto losing part of the blade, while the Benihime was still intact.
"Uzumaki Kenjutsu: Beheading cut!" said Asano disappearing in a white slash, Naruto ducked, side stepped, back flipped, jumped then stopped the Chokuto with the Benihime stopping the technique from going. Asano smiled. "You're good"
"That's was dangerous! I'm lucky that you improved my speed first, I would be headless if we were doing the Kenjutsu first" said Naruto who sweated.
"Legends are forged in battle, students are formed in training grounds. You Naruto will be a legend, we are not training right now, we fighting to the death" said the old man. Naruto gulped, he knew that old timer had different training than now, but this is just insane. The old man sword popped out. Asano tossed sheath to him, which had the same color as Benihime handle. He sheathed the sword and straddled it on his back. "We will continue the fight when you have finished reading the Shodaime scroll of the stance you were using"
The old man popped out a scroll, Naruto caught it.
"What do I do in the meantime?" asked the blond boy
"You pick up skills that you don't have. I would suggest you to go to the fifth floor and pick up an instrument. We Uzumaki can't use genjutsu like other due to the sheer size of our chakra, but we found a trick that bypass it. Music or Sound genjutsu as we call it" said the old man.
Naruto bowed, then apparition vanished, he went upstairs to the fifth floor, the door was sealed. He bite on his thumbs then tossed some blood on it, the seal hissed before it turned to ashes. The room inside was full of different instrument, Shamisen, flutes, Kotos and biwas. His eyes caught a flute, he picked it up, and it was made from a type of wood he had never seen. Brown almost black, he didn't know how to use it. He was never the musician type of person.
He was so absorbed by the instrument that he didn't notice the apparition behind him.
"Found what you liked?" asked a feminine voice.
"AHHH!" yelled Naruto startled, the woman giggled watching the blond boy fell on his butt. She had a battle Kimono in red colors, red hairs and a geisha make up.
"Sorry, my name is Asami Uzumaki. I'm the Sandaime Uzukage wife" smiled the woman, Naruto got up dusting his pant.
"Uzumaki Naruto, a pleasure" said Naruto bowing.
"Asano taught you manners"
"Yes, he beat me up when I messed up" said Naruto
"Can you read music sheets?" asked Asami, the boy shook his head in negative "I'll teach you, you will be a genjutsu specialist in no time. The instrument you picked up is a ryūteki, a dragon flute, this one is made in Blackwood"
"Is it good?" asked Naruto
"Yes, it is good. A versatile one. Good for capture and neutralization. Hand it to me, I'll show you" she said, Naruto handed the flute, Asami instructed Naruto on how to hold the ryūteki, how you hold the flute was important, if you hold it wrong, the genjutsu will not work and you will waste chakra. Then she started playing (Guren theme), Naruto listened, he loved this song. It held something... He couldn't put a name to it, love maybe? Lost? He then started to remember his time with team 7, how they started, and the uneasiness of the two bells test. Their mission with the D rank mission, the C-rank turned A-rank thanks to Zabuza. The Chunin exam, the loss of the Sandaime which saddened him. His first real friend, Sabaku no Gaara. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Is it wise to use that one Asami-sama?" asked Asano, referring to the happy memories inducing genjutsu.
"He need to let go of the past pain and remember the good time" said Asami.
"Sometime, it's better to forget it and keep walking" said Asano looking at the sleeping form of his grandson.
"He is no warrior, Asano-san. Not yet, he need to be at peace with his past" said Asami, she bowed and caressed the boy hairs.
"You already taken a liking to him" said Asano
"Of course, how could I not. He is my great grandson" said Asami picking up the boy then going to the master bedroom in the ninth floor. Asano sat next to the window, he was saddened on seeing the state of his village he was supposed to defend. He died in battle facing the Sandaime Tsuchikage with his Dust release. There was nothing left of him. Only the seals of this palace with his soul tied to it.
"I should have invoked the Shinigami" said Asano
"You can't change the past, what's done is done. You said it yourself" said Asami.
"This is my greatest failure..." said Asano looking at the window. Both apparition vanished...
It's been a month since Naruto started learning how to use the ryūteki, he could play easy songs now, but there was room to improvement. He wanted to learn the song that Asami had played when she introduced him to the flute. He was on the rooftop of the Uzukage palace, playing a song (Childhood memory flute), it was one of the song he learned under Asami. The song had a long range due to the
A fisherman was close to the shore when he heard the song coming from an area full of whirlpool. He decided to get closer listening to the song, getting closer, he stumbled upon the dangerous sea and the shores of whirlpool country. He stayed there listened the song, until it was over then returned to fishing, rumours would run in the continent that someone is living in the whirlpool country...
Naruto let himself fall on the tiles, then stared at the cloudless sky. He was told by Asano and Asami that there was many things the main branch of the family held inside the castle. Secret that made their enemies wary of them. He learned the clan history, descendant of Ashura Otsutsuki, one of the son of the sage of the six path. He learned about the Shodaime Uzukage named Ashina Uzumaki, his son Ryota Uzumaki, the Nidaime Uzukage. His nephew Hisao Uzumaki, the Sandaime Uzukage then came his grandfather Asano Uzumaki, the Yondaime Uzukage. Asano told him that one day, if the village is rebuilt, they would need a Godaime Uzukage. Something Naruto was not interested in.
Konoha
It's been 4 months since Naruto deserted Konoha, there were tension between the Ninjas and the civilians. The treatment of the civilians toward Naruto was made public and his status of being the son of the Yondaime seriously hit them hard. A few of these who had beaten the boy at a young age committed suicide because they couldn't live with the guilt of doing something this inhumane to the son of their savior. While the other demanded that the kid was brought back to Konoha. Half of the civilian's councillors were imprisoned with one of them, who had leaked about the boy status as a Jinchuriki, executed publicly. Danzo... Danzo was innocent which surprised the Hokage. The civilian council was reinstated with the innocent.
With their main deterrent toward hostilities gone, Iwa and Kumo were getting bold with the fire country borders. Suna broke the alliance with Konoha. Wave, Waterfall and Spring countries broke trade agreement with the leaf. Cutting in half their budget. The daimyo is visiting the village to know what was going on.
"So the boy was mistreated... Despise that the same boy had protected the village holding the demon fox at bay and against the hidden sand Jinchuriki?" The Daimyo was very displeased with the way the civilians had acted against the son of the Yondaime.
"Yes, this is the dossier containing all of the crimes committed against the boy" Tsunade handed it to the Daimyo who opened it. He was seriously shocked by the content of the dossier.
"What happened to the perpetrator?" asked the Daimyo.
"Held in jail, the one who leaked the information about the boy was executed" said Tsunade, the man was pleased with how Tsunade had taken care of them.
"It's a shame that the boy is gone. He was truly a jewel, saved the people who despised him. They finally drove him out"
"We are still looking for him" said Tsunade, Jiraya at first was surprised then furious when he was shown the dossier. He almost went rogue the same day, but Tsunade was able to stop him from going berserk.
"When you find him, please send him to the capital I want to see the fiance of my daughter" said the Daimyo getting up followed by his body guard. Tsunade was gaping like a fish... Naruto had a fiancee? Why no one told her!?
Kakashi came in the office to do his report.
"Is everything alright?" asked Kakashi seeing Tsunade mouth opened with a shocked look.
"Yes... Hmm hmm... Report Kakashi"
"Iwa sending Ninja in their borders, there are some skirmish along the border but no forces building up suggesting an invasion" said Kakashi.
"This is like the second shinobi war... First there was skirmish in borders testing the defenses then alliances were made then everything went to hell" said Tsunade.
"I heard it was hell" said Kakashi holding his smut novel book and reading it.
"It's the war that stole me everything" said Tsunade grimly "Anything else?"
"My spy in Iwa and Kumo re saying that they will hold meeting for a possible alliance" said Jiraya who entered by the window. "This can't be good. Suna won't enter in an alliance with us and Kiri is still in their civil war"
"How's the training with your team Kakashi?" asked Jiraya
"Sasuke is ready for the exams, Sakura... Well, she is in depression after... you know. Saï is not really helping"
"Any news on Naruto?" asked Tsunade to Jiraya
"No, nothing on the boy. There is just a strange rumour going on. Spirit singing in the Whirlpool country" said Jiraya "Probably nothing"
"If this is all, I should go" said Kakashi getting up, Tsunade nodded.
"Orochimaru was seen in the rice country, I'm going there to scout and try to find his bases" said Jiraya.
At the same time... Whirlpool Country.
Naruto was preparing to go outside, he was given an artifact, a crystal cube that could help him locate Uzumaki members and reunite them it was Asami-sama last wish. His first destination would be the land of hot water then head to land of the rice fields. He wanted to learn what was going on in the main continent and with luck find some Uzumaki. He was wearing a black trenchcoat, a dark grey T-shirt, black ANBU pants, black sandals, an Oni mask to hide his identity, Benihime and his flute. Asami-san waved at him, when he was out of the palace.
"Be careful! Naruto-Chan!" yelled Asami
"I will! Asami-sama!" yelled back Naruto.
He crossed the whirlpools in a flash and started walking to the hot water country. He didn't need to attract attention toward himself, he would keep his power hidden until it was necessary. At the shore country a group of civilians were playing, they stopped what they were doing when they saw Naruto casually walking on the water then entering the forest.
There was fighting ahead, two group ninja were fighting, one of them had a prisoner, Naruto recognized the blonde girl, Yamanaka Ino was held prisoner. Naruto didn't know what to do, he wanted to help them, but... He had no relation with them anymore.
"Surrender or we kill the girl!" yelled a Ninja from Kumo
"Tch... bastard..." said Asuma throwing his trench knife on the ground, Choji and Shikamaru doing the same.
"That's better" said the Ninja from Kumo, he was about to slice the girl throat when they heard a flute, the high pitch noise follow by low noise started to make them dizzy.
"What's going on?" said one of them.
"Genjutsu! KAI!!" said a blonde Kumo Jonin, but he soon felt again in since the flute was still playing. The noise started to change, there was a very fast two note playing then shifting to slow pace. (Like Tayuya flute playing)
They started to see masked people emerging from the shadows. They started to panic, this genjutsu touched everyone, the ninja from Kumo and the one from Konoha. Shikamaru was trying to come up with something to get out of the genjutsu. Choji was scared, Asuma was sweating. Naruto approached the ninja from Kumo, he knocked them out then stopped playing ending the genjutsu. Naruto kneeled and checked her vital, she was okay, just unconscious. Naruto then was paralysed, Shikamaru was holding him in the Kagemane no jutsu.
"Shadow imitation... completed" he said, but he soon felt a cold metal next to his throat.
"Shikamaru!" said Choji, it was a shadow clone of the masked man with a sword.
"For your own safety, you better release me" said a distorted voice. Shikamaru gulped and released the original. The sword was withdrawn, but the shadow clone kept staring at him.
"She is alright, she just need some rest" said the original masked man before jumping down to the ground and walking away, the shadow clone dispersed soon after.
"Hey wait! Thanks for saving my genin!" said Asuma, the masked man nodded.
"I've never seen Genjutsu like that" said Shikamaru
"Me neither" said Asuma "come we need to report this to the Hokage"
"What do we do with them?" asked Choji at the Knocked out Ninja.
"Let them rot here" said Asuma, they retreated to Konoha.
Chapter 3: Infiltration
Naruto was inside a civilian village, he was making a stop to a restaurant and he ordered a deep fried shrimp Ramen. He listened...
"Did you hear? Kumo and Iwa are preparing for war against Konoha" said a civilian low enough
"War? These ninja bastard... we will go through shit again... the third was hell already"
"The third? You didn't see the second shinobi war" said an old man with short white hairs and a goatee.
"Huh? Did you say something you old fart?"
"I'm saying that you seen nothing kid" smirked the old man drinking his saké.
Two Ninja from Kumo entered the restaurant. They scouted the area, their gazes stopped on Naruto who was drinking some tea waiting for his order.
"Hey you! Where you're from?" asked the taller of the two.
"Nowhere, I'm just a traveller from the eastern continent" said Naruto
"What country?" asked the other ninja.
"Swamp country" the two Ninja frowned
"And what does a Swamp countrymen is doing in the elemental countries?"
"Travelling, maybe find job and settle somewhere" said Naruto
"It's time to go Masui. It's not him." said the smaller one looking at his watch.
"I heard, Eni. Hmmm." said Masui, both went out of the restaurant.
The waitress came with his order, Naruto lifted his mask only showing his mouth, nose and cheeks. Ho yes I forgot to say the whiskers he had are gone, they are on the fox mask now. The waitress blush before going away, Naruto saw that and frown but shrug it he keep slurping his noddle. It's been a long-time since he had them. The rumours wanted that Kumo and Iwa were preparing for war against Konoha, well... the rumour might be true since he had saved his ex-comrade from a dire situation the Kumo ninja. A man with white hair was listening he had glasses and huge eyebrows. Naruto stared at him for moment, literally seeing Jiraya. No that can't be him... He is not that obvious isn't he?
Naruto finished his shrimp ramen, he didn't do it like how he used to, finishing it one shot. He took the time to savour the taste and the tastiest were the seafood. He went to the waitress at the counter and paid for his food, he thanked them then went out of the restaurant. Jiraya had seen everything and heard everything, he suspected that boy to be Naruto... But he was too well-mannered to be him. He shrugged it and waited for his spy to come...
It's been a week since he had come here, finding nothing in the Hot water country. Naruto decided to cross the border to the rice field country. There the crystal cubes emitted a light, following the crystal glow, he went to a dense forest where many sound ninja were patrolling, and he sealed the crystal cube and silently bypassed the patrols. When he couldn't, he killed them by putting a hand on their mouth so they can't shoot. He found it... An entrance to some base underground, two Sound Ninja were guarding it, he tossed a senbon with a bell on the east side. The noise attracted both guards who went there to see. He silently went inside the base without a noise...
Somewhere in Orochimaru base...
"So the foul mouthed girl displeased Orochimaru with a mission failure... You know what's that mean? Right?" smirked a Sound Ninja with a Kunai.
"Shut up, you ball-less bastard. I'll fucking kill you once I'm out!" yelled Tayuya
"I doubt that you will be going out. Once we take care of you... I will go visit your friend Karin" laughed the man.
"If you dare touch her..."
"You will what? Kill us? Hahahahahaha. I doubt you will do anything" he said.
"I'm one of the sound four you idiot!"
"I heard he selected new candidates, after he dispatched the other three, you are the next one for Kabuto-san experiments" chuckled the man madly, Tayuya gulped. Kabuto was a mad scientist when it came to experiments... The man then started to convulse, Tayuya saw a hand covering the Sound Ninja the man throat sliced. The sound ninja stopped moving, his eyes half lidded. Naruto let the man fell, his sword was bloodied, his Oni mask made him look very dangerous.
"W...What do you want!?" tried Tayuya trying not to sound scared.
The masked man lifted his hand, a crystal cube was glowing, Tayuya was freaked out now, and this man was coming for him. Was it because she was an Uzumaki?
"Your name?" asked the masked man.
"Tayuya..." she said shivering due to the man voice. The man slashed the bars of the cell, freeing her. But she still had chains on her ankles and arms. He sliced them quickly. "Why are you doing this?"
"Do you wish to stay here? I'm searching for my clansmen and reunite them in our country" said the man walking away.
"Are you nuts? Uzu was destroyed!" said Tayuya
"I intend to rebuild it" said the masked man, his crystal was picking up another Uzumaki in the base. "Where is the other?"
"She is probably in the main hall with the others ninja, awaiting instructions" said Tayuya who picked up her flute and her gear.
"Then let's grab her and let's go" said the masked man, she didn't reply. They run to the main hall, Naruto slightly opened the door, the room was full of people. He located Karin, he was surrounded by a group of Sound Ninja in a corner.
"The bastards!" whispered Tayuya, she was about to unleash her flute when she heard Naruto Flute playing. Her eyes widened to see another practitioner of her art. Everyone in the room started to get dizzy, they couldn't pin point where it came from they all soon fell on the ground knocked out. Tayuya was next to Naruto completely asleep, he sweat dropped before releasing her from the genjutsu. Tayuya went to Karin and release her, Naruto was staring at the main hall. It was full of monitor.
"Tayuya! Thank you, they wanted to..." she started
"Shhh, it's alright, I'm here. I didn't save you, he did" said Tayuya pointing at the masked Ninja.
"Who's that?" said Karin wary
"He is one of us. An Uzumaki" said Tayuya.
"No kidding!" said Karin
"If you could held the chat, we better go. They will unleash the alarm soon" said Naruto.
"That's one bossy Uzumaki" said Karin adjusting her glasses. The three dashed through the long corridors and went outside. The guards were surprised, they about to shoot when they got beheaded by Naruto. Tayuya and Karin were gapping like fish upon seeing the flash.
"No way! You're the yellow flash?!" said Karin
"I ain't no Yellow Flash. Now hurry!" said Naruto.
Orochimaru was very irritated, someone had infiltrated his base and had killed some of his men, kidnapped one of his medic and freed that failure of Tayuya.
"Sound the alarm, I want that man head on a platter!" yelled Orochimaru to the new sound four. They bowed and searched for this man in the base. Not knowing that they were already out. Orochimaru was looking at the dead body of Kimimaro, he died from his illness.
"A shame... But we can learn a lot with his body... kukukukukukukukuku" smirked the Snake Sannin. He then went to the computer, and started to look at the security cameras... What he found froze his blood... The yellow flash...
"Impossible... He is dead... That bastard is dead!" said Orochimaru. Kabuto was next to him, he had the same expression as the snake sannin. Horror.
They made it out of the country, they were resting behind a tree.
"Now... who the hell are you!?" said Karin staring at Naruto.
"Uzumaki..."he lifted his mask letting them see his smiling face "Naruto. A pleasure"
Karin blushed, he looked exactly like the Yondaime, the face, and the eyes even the hairs...
"W... w... W... why did you save us?" said Karin, while Tayuya eyed the blond like a piece of meat. "Wait... did you say Naruto? You're the one who defected from Konoha?!"
Naruto frowned "How do you know I defected from Konoha?"
"Everyone know that you deserted Konoha! It's a world news everywhere! Konoha is in deep shit because of you!" said a heated Karin but then relaxed before giving him a thumbs up "Good job!"
Naruto sweat dropped, these girls were nuts.
During that time in Konoha...
Konohamaru was in a foul mood since Naruto defection. He admired Naruto a lot, hearing about the boy desertion hit him pretty hard. He had let go of the goggles he had to copy him. He trained seriously to one fight him. Iruka sensei was in his usual behavior and instructed the students. Moegi had tried to cheer Konohamaru over the past few months, but it didn't work. Udon started to get better than Konohamaru in Taijutsu practices.
Sasuke was training hard in his clan compound, the seal was broken thanks to Jiraya who cracked the many layers of Orochimaru cursed seal.