Yo! Chapter Twelve.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 12: So Close Yet So Far
"Why did you spare my life?"
A question posed by Naruto to his best friend, Sasuke. Well, Sasuke wasn't really his best friend but, he was the Jinchuriki's teammate. The two of them shared the curse of loneliness. Naruto never knowing his family and Sasuke getting his taken away.
There was a camaraderie there. A bond forged. Forged off attempted one-ups that Sasuke had won since childhood. A one-up was about to happen soon with their fight but, Naruto wanted to know something first.
"When we fought at the Valley of the End, you walked away from the final clash," said Naruto meeting Sasuke's gaze with his. He wasn't worried about Genjutsu right now. He was curious and Sasuke needed to answer him first. "You could've killed me. You said you were trying to. So, why didn't you?"
"Hn, I spared your life, on a whim," said Sasuke with his patented scoff. He was looking down at Naruto and ignoring the two kunoichis in the area. An ethereal glow came from his Sharingan as he continued. "I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing I gained power his way. However..." continued Sasuke now standing with a hand on Naruto's shoulder. Naruto clocked him the whole way but, only brought his head forward to parallel Sasuke's. "If you had time to come chase me, you should've been training. I heard you had with Jiraiya of the Toads."
"I did." Sakura gasped finally noticing Sasuke's newest position.
"Good because this time, I will kill you. On my whim." Sasuke slid his chokuto out of its sheath while he spoke. Naruto didn't move even as Sasuke primed the sword to end his life. "You won't survive this time. Guess you won't become Hokage like you'd hoped?"
"What are you doing Naruto-kun?!" thought Shizuka panicking. She'd kept up with Sasuke's shunshin and she knew Naruto did too. He should have knocked the guy's block off but, he wasn't doing anything. "Fight him already! Isn't this what you were training to do?"
"Hokage huh?" Naruto let out a chuckle. Sakura and Shizuka didn't make a move. They couldn't, Naruto was in a bad spot. Naruto opened his eyes and stared forward before speaking again. "How can I be the Hokage if I can't save one of my friends?"
Sasuke twitched. It was a tiny twitch but, Sakura and Shizuka caught it. Seems Naruto might have struck a chord with the Uchiha. Apparently not since Sasuke continued with his plan and swung his sword. Naruto didn't make a move to stop it getting Sakura to yell.
"Sasuke-kun! Naruto!"
Why was Naruto not doing anything? He was really about to let Sasuke stab him so easily? Time slowed down as Sasuke's sword neared Naruto. Naruto was making no move to stop it. Shizuka had had enough.
"Stop it already. You're not good with mind games," said Shizuka clashing a kunai against Sasuke's sword. She narrowed her eyes at Naruto getting him to turn his eyes to her. "Let's kick his ass and go home Kyandikon-kun(candy corn)." Naruto, who'd yet to move, perked up hearing the nickname and tilted his head. "Ugh, that's worst than earlier. I'm going to figure this nickname out."
"I believe in you hime." Naruto laughed as Sasuke rose an eyebrow at Shizuka.
"Hn, is she supposed to be my replacement?" questioned Sasuke seeing the girl turn her glare to him. He did try to kill her boyfriend after all. The look was justified. "You all could have done better in my opinion. She could have blocked that better."
Sasuke channeled lightning chakra through his sword saying that. Shizuka was unprepared for it as Sasuke sliced through her kunai. The sword restarted its journey to Naruto again.
"Hime's right, I'm going to kick your ass instead," said Naruto moving his hand. Naruto caught Sasuke's wrist as the sword stopped before gutting him. A power struggle between the two occurred but, Sasuke's sword never advanced closer. Naruto's and Sasuke's faces never showed they were exerting effort even as they fought for dominance. "As if I'd make it that easy to beat me. You should know better teme."
"Wouldn't have it any other way dobe," said Sasuke smirking before noticing Naruto overpowering him.
He was winning their power struggle but it was cut off since Sasuke had to move his head back. Shizuka had moved to cleave it off. Sasuke scoffed at the girl's attempt to hit him but, he'd forgotten about Naruto. Naruto grabbed his non-sword wielding arm and gripped it tight to partially immobilize him. Tomoe of his Sharingan spinning in a quick rotation, Sasuke prepped a counter when Shizuka tried to cut him again.
Sasuke sidestepped the forward stab while flipping Naruto over the arm the Jinchuriki held. He'd turned Naruto head over heels but didn't lose his ex-teammate who remained glued to his arm. Shizuka came once more so, Sasuke decided to end the two's pestering.
"Chidori Ngashi (Chidori Current)"
Sasuke sparked with a chidori that covered him completely. The lightning would paralyze Naruto since he was attached to him. It would also nullify whatever Shizuka was trying to do. It didn't work out like he planned though. He didn't know Naruto and Shizuka were both wind users. Shizuka didn't need to alter her course because Naruto was already stopping Sasuke's jutsu with his.
"Kaze no Tate (Wind Shield)" said Naruto activating his shield. Wind, being a natural electrical insulator, caused Sasuke's lightning current to fail. Sasuke brought his other arm up to defend but found that arm tied down by golden chains from Naruto. "Light him up hime!"
Shizuka did as asked with something better than the kunai she held. Her arm coated with wind chakra and Sasuke couldn't block this. Shizuka stabbed right through Sasuke's shoulder with ease.
"Nadeshiko-Ryu Koha Reppuken (Nadeshiko-Style Hardliner Gale Fist)." Shizuka used the Nadeshiko variant, much stronger than the one she taught Naruto, as she shoved her arm up to her shoulder through Sasuke.
Sasuke grunted in pain as Naruto's eyes widened. There was something wrong with Sasuke and he'd realized it too late. Sasuke grew a smirk as Naruto's chain moved Shizuka away from the two of them. The girl was confused until Sasuke poofed away into a log. The log had a hole through it but, more importantly, there was a burning explosive note attached.
"Damn, teme's good," said Naruto as the log exploded.
BOOM!
The explosion was muffled as Naruto contained it in a chakra barrier. His chain was around the log and it was nothing to contain it from there. Shizuka slid back to Sakura and finally, the medic did something. Even though it was only checking on Shizuka.
"You okay Shizuka?" questioned Sakura glancing the girl over. Shizuka was unscathed thanks to Naruto so, the girl nodded. Shizuka turned her eyes back to the fight as Sakura thought about what she'd seen. "That's the second person Sasuke-kun almost killed today. Why is he like this?"
Naruto didn't have to wait long for Sasuke to return. Ryuka activated, Naruto felt Sasuke in his blind spot and dodged the Uchiha's sword slash. Naruto ducked a follow-up swing and countered this time. He'd twisted in his duck and spun into a rising roundhouse kick.
Sadly, Sasuke's Sharingan was much better than Naruto's Ryuka. At least as far as countering the opponent's moves went. Sasuke brought his sword up and blocked Naruto's kick. Though it was a sword so it sliced through Naruto instead. Naruto's eyes widened seeing his leg fall off before he dispelled in a smoke cloud.
"When did he make that clone?" thought Sasuke having watched Naruto the whole way. It didn't take him long to figure out the only opportunity Naruto had to make one. "Only time he could have was when I swung him over my arm. I wasn't paying attention to him. Dobe's gotten better at misdirection." The real Naruto was behind him as Sasuke swung his sword again. This time, Naruto's Ryuka won the exchange. "He was closer than I thought!"
Naruto ducked the swing again and slid one arm around Sasuke's waist. Naruto's other arm hooked Sasuke's sword arm and sat behind the Uchiha's neck. Sasuke was helpless as Naruto bent backward and slammed the Uchiha on his neck violently. Sasuke tumbled back head over heels from the move as Naruto kipped up and turned to him.
A small crater formed from the powerful slam as dust fluttered up along with it. Sasuke couldn't be seen because of it so, Naruto blew the dust away. He didn't want the Uchiha out of his sight. That wouldn't do anybody any good. Especially since it didn't do Sasuke good to lose track of him.
"You trained better than I thought. My mistake for downplaying it," said Sasuke standing up slowly.
Naruto could see the signs of Sasuke's Curse Seal being activated. The black markings across his skin were all the evidence needed. Sasuke's quick power up managed to keep Naruto's move from ending the fight prematurely. Blood seeped from Sasuke's hairline as he smiled.
"Your power, it's the Kyubi right? I gotta see this."
Locking eyes with Naruto when he tilted his head up, Sasuke entered Naruto's mind. Naruto blinked because he arrived in his mind too and saw Sasuke standing there. A large bubbled version of Kurama sat beside Naruto that Sasuke was looking at.
"His eyes have grown powerful enough to come here," said Kurama wary of the young Uchiha. If he could come here, then his eyes were powerful enough to suppress him. "You might be on your own boy. I hate the Uchiha."
"So, this is the source of your power? All this time," said Sasuke as his eyes took in the Kyubi. Its power was magnificent. "You've had this inside of you for how long?"
"Since birth pretty much," said Naruto in a nonchalant tone. Naruto was panicking but tried to play it cool with Sasuke there. He knew the Sharingan was Kurama's weakness. "I can kind of see what you mean about Uchihas now. I can feel the sinisterness. Roachy's pedo mark really brought it out."
"It's indeed something awful. Chakra and eyes more ominous than my own," said Kurama staring down Sasuke. "Same feel as Uchiha Madara's."
At that name of Uchiha Madara, Sasuke gripped Kurama's nose as he squeezed down. Kurama burst like the bubble he projected to be as Sasuke stood in the wake of Kurama's dissolving. Naruto grunted as his red eyes turned blue. Sasuke did what he figured he could and suppressed his Bijuu.
"As if I'm supposed to know who that is," said Sasuke in the real world.
Sakura and Shizuka were confused by that since not a lot of time passed in the real world. Then they remembered Sasuke made eye contact with Naruto. Genjutsu was Naruto's major weakness and it was proved when he twitched and fell to a knee.
The Kyubi's oppressive chakra disappeared when he did. That wasn't good. Sasuke must have suppressed the Kyubi with his Sharingan. Shizuka moved to intercept Sasuke but, she wouldn't make it in time. The Uchiha was already upon Naruto.
"You should be easy without that thing powering you up. You're nothing to me without it."
Sasuke's sword descended and Shizuka's eyes widened. Naruto wasn't moving to defend himself. And not because he was trying to play mind games. Shizuka breathed a sigh of relief though when an adamantine chain rose from his neck. The chain blocked the sword as Naruto's chakra amped up again.
"Did you know that a Bijuu can take its host out of a Genjutsu?" questioned Naruto getting Sasuke's eyebrow to raise. Naruto looked back up at Sasuke as his eyes bled red again. Naruto's pupils slit as he grinned widely. "I found that out not too long ago. Itachi caught me in quite the Genjutsu."
"What? You saw Itachi?!"
"Yeah, defeated him too," continued Naruto not letting Sasuke know it'd been a clone. Defeating Uchiha Itachi was quite the feat and Naruto liked that on his resume. Plus, it doubled down with angering Sasuke. Pfft, and Shizuka said he wasn't good with mind games. "Anyway, I found out from him when the fox broke it for me. And thanks to you, I know a Jinchuriki can stop his Bijuu from being suppressed. At least with you, your eyes must suck."
Sasuke was angry at the slight and even madder that Naruto saw his brother before he. He'd even defeated Itachi? There was no way Naruto was telling the truth. But, Sasuke's Sharingan would have known if he didn't.
Sasuke smirked to his rival and could feel it. This was going to be an actual fight. Naruto had trained well to be able to match him so far. And that was making his blood boil in excitement.
"Bring it on Dobe."
"If you insist Teme."
The two started up again. It was getting even more destructive between the two.
(With Kakashi)
"Almost lost you there," said Kakashi with an eye smile. He was speaking to Kabuto who'd regained consciousness just now. The Oto medic looked down to see his wounds treated. "I'm not the best but, I can keep people alive at least."
Kabuto grunted feeling the pain in his abdomen. It hurt badly. Kakashi didn't have anything for his pain so, Kabuto grit his teeth as he was lifted up. He noticed he was strapped to the back of one of Kakashi's ninken.
"Please enjoy your ride to Konoha and keep your hands and feet as still as possible. Wouldn't want you to fall off now," spoke Kakashi with a wave to Kabuto. Kakashi's wave ended though when a snake burst from the ground and swallowed his ninja pup whole. Kakashi rose an eyebrow and turned to see Orochimaru behind him. "That wasn't very nice."
"Apologies but, I need him," said the snake Sannin looking at Kakashi.
"Hmm, well, I need him too. I'd like Naruto to succeed his first mission," said Kakashi as the snake burst open. A large claw of wind chakra sliced the snake into pieces as Kakashi's dog walked out toward Konoha once more. Kakashi stood in front of Orochimaru and readied for a fight. "You know, I disagreed with him about who we should fight. I didn't think he was ready to fight someone like you."
"And I'm to assume he changed your mind?"
"Yes, indeed he did. My cute little Genin has grown up so well."
"I noticed in my fight earlier. He is impressive," spoke Orochimaru thinking of the Jinchuriki.
Orochimaru wasn't that prideful. He would admit when he was wrong. And he was very wrong about Naruto. That boy had become a monster. Plus, he still had plenty of room to grow which was the truly scary part. Already bad enough to tangle with the likes of him and years from becoming an adult.
"I'd say very impressive. His plan was to capture the spy and head back home. He could have gone about it better but, you showed up anyway so the plan was moot from the start," said Kakashi alluding to Naruto's capture the spy plan falling short. Kakashi smiled as Naruto adapted beautifully. "And his audible was perfect. You wouldn't be easy to capture by either himself or me. Kabuto would be so, he made sure that would happen."
"Mhmm, and Naruto-kun decided it'd be best for him to fight me rather than you?"
"No, he wanted to fight you to prove something to himself. He's been rather down since Sasori stabbed him in the chest," said Kakashi with a shrug. He could understand Naruto's melancholy. He'd been winning easily until that point. "Either of us would have captured Kabuto. One of us just had to distract you and, he decided to handle it. He knew he could take you."
"Well, he's the Jinchuriki of the Kyubi. That beast makes regular shinobi elite. All Bijuu do."
"The Kyubi does make him strong. Even still, I'm stronger than him," said Kakashi getting Orochimaru to quirk an eyebrow.
"Kakashi, you're not stronger than Naruto-kun. I know you lost an eye but you're not that blind are you?"
"Of course not, Naruto was the one to say I'm stronger, not I. I think he's better than me too," said Kakashi thinking of his student. It'd be a hell of a fight but, Kakashi felt Naruto would outlast him in the end. They'd never go that hard but, Kakashi could hypothesize. "But, unlike Naruto, I'm going to use my full potential against you. Hope you don't mind."
Kakashi's Sharingan shifted to the Mangekyo and Orochimaru's eyes widened. That was not good.
(Naruto v Sasuke)
"Sakura, you okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay. Why?"
"You haven't moved or done anything," said Shizuka holding several kunai. She'd been throwing them to aid Naruto in his fight. They were moving too fast for her to jump in again. Kyubi Naruto was above her and Cursed Seal Sasuke was too. "You've only moved out of the way if their fight came near us. I thought you wanted to get Sasuke back?"
Sakura looked at Shizuka and saw her staring back. Shizuka waited for an answer before turning her head back. Sakura said nothing in return and looked back at Naruto and Sasuke. The two had cranked it up another level.
"This is what Sasuke-kun's Cursed Seal looks like." thought Sakura seeing his darkened skin and body changes. The boy had wings and an interesting black mark on his nose. Sakura turned to Naruto and saw him cloaked in one-tail of the Kyubi's chakra. "And Naruto's using that cloak again. He said one was as far as he could go without his control slipping."
She'd been there when Naruto told Team Guy about his Jinchuriki status. The walk back to Suna after they'd rescued Gaara gave him plenty of time to let them know. He told them everything about the Kyubi. Including how much of it he could control.
They needed to know these things since Naruto planned to use it as necessary. One-tail, he was Naruto still. Any further, he'd slowly turn into a berserker that couldn't distinguish friend from foe. Sakura didn't want that because she'd rather Sasuke come back alive if Naruto could manage it. It looked like he was trying but, Sasuke had been going for the kill the entire time.
"I hate that guy so much! Kill him back Naruto-kun!" shouted Shizuka tired of seeing her boyfriend fight to capture. She could understand why he wouldn't want to kill but, this wouldn't cut it. He wasn't fighting to win like this. And if you weren't winning, you were losing. "C'mon! He can take it with that stupid cursed seal, can't he?"
"He probably could, couldn't he?" thought Naruto standing in his mesh shirt. There were slashes all across the shirt as Naruto didn't know where his flak jacket had gotten to. Sasuke diced that thing up and he'd lost it a while ago. "He diced me up too." continued Naruto in his head looking down at the slashes all across him. His latest cuts were healing as Naruto answered his girlfriend. "I'm trying hime. Teme's tough to hit. Always has been dattebayo."
Sasuke stood across from Naruto looking a little better than he did. Sasuke had a few bruises littering his body that affected him even in his Cursed Seal state. Naruto hit very hard. A line of blood still trailed from his hairline down his body from Naruto's first suplex but, outside of that, the Uchiha looked fine.
"Kage Bunshin."
Naruto's favorite move reared its wonderful head in this fight too. One Naruto poofed into existence that needed to move quickly. The clone was cloaked in Kurama's chakra too. The chakra was volatile and would dispel it in a few seconds. But, that was all the time it needed to do what Naruto wanted. The clone tossed him at Sasuke before dispelling.
Naruto reached Sasuke quickly and ran right into a sword strike. Naruto put his forearm up to block the sword and they clanged loudly upon meeting. Adamantine chains for the win. Naruto created a forearm bracer out of his chains and slid it down Sasuke's sword. Sparks fluttered into the air as Naruto vanished with the distraction.
Sasuke was tired of Naruto vanishing. His misdirection had been annoying earlier this fight and led to Sasuke's only real wound. Unlucky for Naruto, he'd made eye contact with Sasuke during his block. Sasuke didn't use a Genjutsu since Naruto could break them with the Kyubi's help and vice-versa. Instead, Sasuke merely gave Naruto a suggestion.
"Futon: Kami Oroshi (Wind Style: Godly Wind from the Mountains)," Sasuke suggested Naruto use a wind style jutsu.
"Perfect." thought Sasuke turning with his chest puffed out. Fire beats wind unlike lightning. "Katon: Gokakyu (Fire Style: Grand Fireball)."
"Oh right, he uses fire too. Why did I use Wind? I'm an idiot." thought Naruto cursing his stupidity. Sasuke's jutsu overtook Naruto's own as Naruto shot two chains out of his gut. Naruto put a guard up with his arms as his chains stabbed into the ground. "Uzumakigaeshi (Uzumaki Reflection)."
The wind-assisted fire blasted into Naruto's hastily put up chakra wall. Naruto's Kyubi amp made the wall last against the powerful fire torrent as it glowed brightly. Naruto looked to see he was fine before putting his hands in the boar seal. A ram seal followed as Naruto released the energy stored within the wall.
Sasuke dodged left to avoid a golden wave of chakra flying back at him. The wave of chakra continued on past him to destroy more of the hideout. The power behind the chakra wave shook the area as Sasuke scoffed. Naruto managed to survive again.
"Just die already dobe." thought Sasuke before being reminded that Naruto had help. "I'd forgotten she was here. Doesn't matter when I'm like this though."
Sasuke flicked his wing out to nail the approaching Shizuka. Shizuka took the strike but, the smirk on her face was foreboding. Sasuke's eyes widened when Sakura arrived in his face with a hand cocked back. He'd forgotten completely about her.
"Lights out!" thought Shizuka knowing Sakura's punch would end the fight. Unless she stopped and didn't follow through. "Why'd you stop?!"
"..." Sakura sat shaking slightly with her fist inches from Sasuke's chin. "I can't do it. Why can't I do it?!"
Sasuke didn't hesitate like Sakura. He grabbed the girl's outstretched arm and charged up a Chidori in his other hand. Sasuke thrust the Chidori at Sakura who couldn't block it. Luckily, Naruto arrived and did. His Ryuka flashing its brilliance once again.
Wind pushed Sasuke's forearm away. That opened Sasuke's guard too as Naruto was on him. Naruto's fist caught fire and he brought it to Sasuke's chin. Thanks to the one-tailed cloak, his move got a bigger boost as the fire shifted to a dragon.
"Katon: Goshoryu (Fire Style: Grand Rising Dragon)." Naruto's fist rocked Sasuke's chin as it launched him through the air.
The uppercut would have knocked him out but, Naruto couldn't jump to fully finish it. Sasuke had extended his Chidori and stabbed it through Naruto's thigh the moment the jinchuriki's fist touched him. That took some of the pepper off Naruto's finisher and kept him from following all the way through to end the fight. Naruto grunted at the injury as Sasuke went flying to the top of the destroyed hideout.
"You okay Sakura-chan?" questioned Naruto feeling his wound begin to heal.
"..." Sakura said nothing as Naruto looked at her. Naruto put a comforting hand on her shoulder as he got the girl to look at him. "I'm sorry. I thought I was ready but, I don't think-"
"It's okay, I understand," said Naruto as Shizuka landed next to them. Naruto saw the marks on her from Sasuke's winged attack and had to ask. "You okay too hime?"
"I'm fine. Is she okay?" questioned Shizuka rudely looking at Sakura. Sakura hadn't done anything this entire time. And the chance she had to do something, she stopped. "She could have ended this."
"Not now hime."
"She had him though!"
"I agree but, not now. Sasuke's coming back," said Naruto pointing to where he'd punched Sasuke. The Uchiha was standing up angrily as Naruto pointed to Sakura. "Get her away right now. She's a liability." Sakura's eyes widened as she looked at Naruto. Naruto looked at her and shook his head. Shizuka did as Naruto asked while Naruto turned to look at the recovered Sasuke. "How's the chin?"
"Fractured. How's the thigh?"
"Just finished healing." Sasuke had always hated Naruto's healing ability.
"I won't last like this. He just keeps coming." thought Sasuke running to engage Naruto again. The boy's Ryuka let him keep pace with Sasuke and his Sharingan. The Uchiha couldn't find an opening. "This is getting annoying."
It was now or never for Sasuke as he timed Naruto. Bracing for impact, Sasuke caught Naruto's next kick and held it to his side. Naruto felt Sasuke's ribs give from the blow but, he was now in the teen's clutches. A well-placed sweep of Naruto's other leg and a spin by Sasuke sent Naruto into the air. Righting himself in midair, Naruto looked down to see Sasuke holding the tiger seal.
"Katon: Goryuka no jutsu (Fire Style: Grand Dragon Fire Technique)," said Sasuke launching a huge fire dragon.
"Kage Bunshin."
A clone poofed into existence that nabbed Naruto's arm. Naruto's clone pulled Naruto out of harm's way as it took the fire dragon for its creator. Another fire dragon was coming as Naruto repeated that same sequence. Four more fire dragons flew at Naruto as he managed to avoid them all.
Naruto rocketed a chain to the ground as Sasuke sent one more toward him. Naruto reeled himself in, dodging the fireball, and pulled himself back level with Sasuke. Naruto looked over to his friend to see the Uchiha smirking at him.
"This was why I wanted to fight you the most during the Chunin Exams. You've always been my only competition," said Sasuke smirking at Naruto. Naruto always considered Sasuke his rival. Well, Sasuke was feeling the same way in return finally. "Nobody else grows leaps and bounds like you or I. I'm sure you feel the same."
"Little bit. We've definitely passed the rest of the Rookie 12. And a lot of the chunin and Jonin in Konoha."
"Exactly, probably Kakashi too considering how we are now," said Sasuke getting Naruto to nod. He could probably take Kakashi on and win. If you discounted the man's Mangekyo. That thing was ridiculous from what Shizuka said. "Your ability to grow leaps and bounds is the same as mine. Our potential is undeniable. But this next move is where you will fall short, again."
"You sound confident," said Naruto getting on edge as he saw Sasuke charge up a Chidori. Ready to fire up a Rasengan, Naruto was surprised when he saw Sasuke leap onto the edge of the destroyed roof. Naruto finally took notice of the storm clouds above and he tilted his head. "When did those come? Did Sasuke make them?"
"This move is for my brother but, I'll test it on you first." Sasuke's Chidori rocketed off his hand into the clouds.
"There's no way." Naruto didn't believe what he was seeing.
Sasuke's bloodied smirk made Naruto realize it was true. Sasuke had done something unimaginable. He'd tamed lightning. Normally in this circumstance, one would be panicking like how Shizuka and Sakura were but, Naruto couldn't help but grin with envy.
"It's never enough. Everything I do you somehow manage to pull off something better," said Naruto hearing the lightning dragon roar in the sky above him. Naruto closed his eyes as he slowly went through hand seals. He even said them as he did. "Snake, Horse, Rat, Ram, and-"
"It's too late. Die," said Sasuke bringing his hand down. A poof of smoke covered Naruto before Sasuke's dragon flashed down. "Kirin."
Sasuke knew it was over. His technique harnessed natural lightning. He'd created the storm clouds with his earlier fire dragons and then controlled where the lightning landed. It was his ultimate technique. A perfect one meant to kill his brother.
It was to kill Naruto too since there was no way Naruto avoided it. Except, Sasuke didn't see an explosion. That was odd. And when the Uchiha looked down, his blood began to boil again. Naruto stood calmly with a sword in his hand.
It was a golden sword crafted out of the adamantine from Naruto's chakra chains. It had a red guard and shined even in the low light. A shine created from something special Naruto did to the sword. Sasuke watched Naruto flip the sword over before stabbing it into the ground.
"Hiraishin: Dorai (Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder)"
BOOM
Sasuke heard the explosion he thought would kill Naruto occur about half a mile away. Did Naruto just teleport a lightning bolt? There was no way Sasuke was seeing that correctly. He watched as Naruto's lips curled upward.
"Wow, I caught it," said Naruto not believing he'd done what he just did.
Who doesn't love Fuinjutsu? If Naruto knew someone that didn't like it, he would repeatedly slap them hard enough to knock out a few teeth. When they asked why he did that, Naruto would tell them the story of how he teleported a bolt of lightning. A bolt of actual lightning! Fuinjutsu was awesome.
The Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) was a beautiful thing. Teleportation through seals. Well, technique formulas but seals nonetheless. Naruto's particular use created a barrier that dragged Sasuke's Kirin into a dimensional void. Naruto then could teleport it to one of the marks he'd created earlier just for an instance such as this.
It came in handy so, he was glad he did it. The true Hirashin would allow Naruto to teleport himself between the markings. He couldn't figure that part out though. Anytime he let a clone teleport, drastic things happened to it.
"Gives me chills thinking about it." thought Naruto with a shiver. Naruto looked at the seal on his sword and smiled at it. It was an Uzumaki swirl surrounded by a circle of kanji that resembled the fourth's own Hiraishin seal. His own formula and it'd worked beautifully. "That solves it. I'm spending all my energy on trying to teleport myself. I need that in my life too."
"A jikukan kekkai (Space-time barrier). Naruto can use the Fourth's Hiraishin?!" gawked Sakura in her mind. She couldn't believe what she'd just seen. Naruto picked up the red and gold sword before cheering loudly. "What did Jiraiya-sama teach him? How much more could they have done on that training trip?"
Sakura's thoughts were shared by Sasuke. He couldn't believe Naruto still had something like that up his sleeve. Shizuka had seen Naruto do this before so she wasn't surprised. She was actually kind of mad that Naruto decided now was time to whip out his sword.
How helpful it would have been when Sasuke was hacking away at him. She'd let him have it over that later. For now, she'd let him finish off Sasuke. Sasuke's chakra must have been low as he'd lost his cursed seal and Sharingan. He was finished. Something Naruto grinned at seeing.
"That's...Naruto...that's..." stammered out Sasuke before a glare formed. Nothing but fury was in the Uchiha's eyes. "That should've ended it all. There's no way. Why won't you die?!"
"Because my dreams are things that I can't die on yet," said Naruto slowly walking to Sasuke. He was going to milk this. "Completing my promise to Sakura-chan, becoming Hokage, bringing peace to the world for Ero-Sennin, and having a bunch of babies with someone to make my own family." Naruto nonchalantly pointed to Shizuka with the sword in his hand. Shizuka smiled as Naruto continued. She'd liked where this was going. "Hopefully with hime there. I should be able to as long as I don't mess it up. I'm not ready for a child now but, maybe she'll want to practice soon, you know? I'm looking forward to that."
"Me too stud. Now finish him already." thought Shizuka watching a Rasengan form in Naruto's other hand.
"If I die now, my dreams would never come true. And since I didn't, I take it as proof my dreams outweigh your ambition of killing your brother." Naruto began walking up to the stagnant Uchiha who couldn't move. He'd fought brilliantly but, this was Naruto's win. "I'm taking you back home teme."
"No, I haven't killed Itachi yet." thought Sasuke watching Naruto get closer and closer. There was nothing he could do. "All that I've done means nothing now. All because of the dobe."
Naruto's Rasengan filled Sasuke's vision as the Uchiha's eyes closed. Naruto had gotten him.
"Sen'ei Jashu (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
"Oh come on!" thought Naruto.
Orochimaru, missing an arm, arrived to save Sasuke. Naruto turned to the dozen snakes coming out of Orochimaru's sleeve. He blasted three with his Rasengan and cut the heads off five with his sword. There were still four more that tangled him up. Naruto flexed and let out a burst of Kurama's chakra that disintegrated the snakes.
When he turned back to Sasuke, Naruto frowned seeing Orochimaru next to him. Orochimaru slammed a palm to the ground and summoned a snake. A snake that swallowed the Sannin and Sasuke whole before dispelling. Naruto couldn't believe it.
"I failed...again." thought Naruto losing his Kyubi cloak. He felt defeated. He'd won but, he really didn't for the second time today. Sasuke was gone again. "I had him. I had him."
Naruto fell to his back. He'd lost Sasuke again. Naruto stared at the sky even as Shizuka and Sakura made it to his location. Before the two of them could say anything, Kakashi arrived with his Sharingan closed.
"Kamui is harder to connect with solo," said Kakashi knowing Orochimaru stopped Naruto. He could see the distress on his student and walked to him. He patted the Jinchuriki on the head and offered comforting words. "There will be another chance. For now, let's return home. We have Kabuto."
Hmm, well that was a bit of a silver lining. Sucked they didn't get Sasuke or Orochimaru but, Kabuto was good enough.
(2 weeks later)
"I'm sorry again hime," said Naruto to the girl draped over him in his bed.
The reason for Naruto being sorry happened to be because it was 4:02 in the morning. The time wasn't the issue. It was the two shinobi standing outside of his door that was. And they were looking for Naruto.
"YOSH! NARUTO-KUN! IT'S TIME FOR THE SPRINGTIME OF OUR YOUTH!" shouted two voices in synchronized harmony.
Gai and Rock Lee were outside waiting for Naruto to join them for training. Shizuka didn't let Naruto leave because she didn't want her human pillow to go. She'd been trying to ignore the two but, they'd been screaming for the past 2 minutes. It was becoming too much.
As much as she wanted him to stay, Naruto needed to leave. He needed to get Gai and Lee away from here with all that noise because Shizuka couldn't sleep anyway. Why did her boyfriend decide to train with them? They were way too eccentric for her tastes.
"Oh right, they're helping him with his physical training." thought Shizuka remembering the reason.
Everyone knew Gai and Rock Lee were monsters at training the body. It was the two's trademark and Naruto loved learning from masters. It was the fastest way to get better.
So, when Naruto asked the two if he could train with them, he was met with resounding roars of 'Youth'. Apparently, that was a yes as any day they'd been free, the three of them would train together. Their training happened to be before the sun rose as Shizuka frowned when Naruto moved after she finally allowed him to. When he left, the cold replaced his warmth and that was not okay.
"Don't miss me too much hime," said Naruto after giving Shizuka a sweet kiss.
"I will." Shizuka made him give her another kiss by dragging Naruto atop her. Shizuka smiled when Naruto gave her the impromptu makeout session she wanted. "Mmm, your lips feel really good," Naruto grunted in response to Shizuka who began to run her hands through his hair. She liked where this was going and she didn't want Naruto to leave. Another shout from Gai and Rock Lee got Shizuka to let Naruto go a second time. "Ugh, I can't take that anymore. Go, go. Come back soon."
"Yes ma'am," Naruto spoke before hopping to get his gear and clothes.
"I could watch this every day for the rest of my life," said Shizuka watching Naruto get dressed. The moonlight gleaming through the window was enough to give her a visual. "His muscles look bigger. That training must be paying off."
Naruto threw on a pair of pants not caring that Shizuka was eying him. Who was he to deny her return looks? He'd eyed her repeatedly doing the same. Fair one way should be fair the other way.
Naruto added a sleeveless, black turtleneck to his pants before he grabbed his sword. He no longer had reason to hide it. It wouldn't surprise anyone in Konoha anymore after his use against Sasuke. Naruto's usage of the Fourth Hokage's jutsu was the best gossip going around Konoha at the moment. Plus, he planned to train with it after his workout with Gai and Lee.
"Stay beautiful hime."
"I will...uh..." started Shizuka drawing a blank. Naruto turned to see the girl shrug. "I don't have a nickname. My brain isn't working since it's so early."
"I'll see you later," said Naruto giving Shizuka a short kiss. Another shout from Rock Lee and Gai got Naruto moving. He left his room, grabbed an apple, and walked over to his front door. And there the two Taijutsu specialists stood behind the door after Naruto opened it. "Sup Gai-sensei. Sup Lee."
"YOSH!" shouted Lee and Gai while Naruto polished off his apple quickly.
It'd been like this since Naruto returned from the Tenchi Bridge mission. Any day he or they didn't have a mission, Naruto would train early in the morning with Gai and Lee. Naruto was fast and strong, but that was augmented by chakra use truly. And even then, he still wasn't as fast as Lee unless he used the Kyubi's chakra.
Lee was purely fast and strong through his intense workout regiment. And Naruto decided there was no better way to get better physically than to train with the boy. Naruto's own physical ability would increase because of it. And when he amplified those gains with chakra, he'd only be that much faster and stronger.
Naruto finished his apple before nodding. At the nod, all three shinobi took off in a sprint. A sprint that turned into twenty laps around Konoha.
A light warm-up for the three of them.
(Sometime later)
Clashes of metal against metal could be heard coming from a training ground near the outskirts of Konoha's village walls. The clashes were caused by a deeply concentrating Naruto going blow for blow with a graceful Tenten.
"You're pretty good Naruto. I never knew you used Kenjutsu," said Tenten admiring the skill with which Naruto used his weapon. He'd never shown an aptitude for Kenjutsu. She didn't think he used any weapons outside the standard kunai and shuriken. "Where did you get lessons? You couldn't have learned this on your own."
"Samurai-jiji. Think his actual name is Mi...uh, Mifu? Mi-"
"Wait, Mifune-dono?! The head samurai in Tetsu no Kuni?"
"Yeah! Mifune is his name. That's the guy who helped me," said Naruto watching Tenten's mouth drop. Naruto perked up seeing that. "You know samurai-jiji?"
"Know him? He's the most famous swordsman in the world. You have to tell me about your training with him!" shouted Tenten as her pace quickened with her excitement.
Naruto almost wasn't prepared for that and nearly lost his head. A few strands of hair was all he lost as he rose an eyebrow at Tenten. She apologized for getting too excited as the two of them continued their light spar. He figured he could speak about his time in Iron country to appease the girl.
"So, Ero-Sennin and I were around Iron Country. And there, I met a few samurai," said Naruto remembering the time. Naruto managed to spar with Mifune and the thought of it got Naruto to shiver. "Samurai-jiji is as advertised. I couldn't do anything to him. He diced me up pretty bad and didn't break a sweat doing it." continued Naruto slashing away at Tenten who parried each strike. The butt-whooping and the following ones from Mifune's Samurai got Naruto to realize he needed better defense against Kenjutsu users. "I'm not one for swords, to be honest. But, after getting my butt kicked by them I figured I needed to have something to combat them. Samurai-jiji helped me forge my sword and then he gave me a few basic lessons."
From the numerous cuts he received and potential severed limbs, Naruto decided at least having basic knowledge of Kenjutsu would be good to have. He would never specialize in it. He liked using his fists and ninjutsu more than hacking away at somebody. But being at least passing in it could help him someday. Nothing wrong with being well-rounded, was it?
"I learned an appreciation for the art and they were nice enough to train me while we were there."
Sparks fluttered from the passing of Tenten and Naruto's blades as the swordswoman smiled. She was glad someone saw how impressive one of her favorite shinobi arts was. She'd have spoken back but, she had her hands full. Naruto was a monster in close range.
He may have spent some time with the other Shinobi arts but, Tenten knew a specialist when she saw one. Her sensei and teammates were all close-range specialists and Naruto was no different. The Jinchuriki was so much faster and stronger than her it was ridiculous. And this was a Naruto who was carrying weights on his person to boot.
"Even with all those extra pounds on each limb and the super-heavyweight vest, he's still that much faster than me? I'm better at Kenjutsu and that's the only reason I can contend with his monstrous speed and power." thought Tenten seeing what Neji meant by Naruto being a league above them. He was probably not able to defeat their Jonin senseis, but he was definitely above any of their students. It wasn't even close. "I can see why he's about to be promoted to Jonin. And now that I think about it, he could probably beat our senseis if he tapped into the Kyubi's chakra. What did Jiraiya and you do during those years you were away?"
"Hah, man...you're good," said Naruto frozen as Tenten's blade sat placed above his heart. Tenten smiled tiredly and withdrew her sword as Naruto let out a breath. He could have outclassed Tenten with his obvious physical advantages but, what would've been the fun in that? "I'll have to keep coming back here. I don't know why I didn't think of seeking you out for sparring before."
"Because you usually leave too fast after training with Gai-sensei and Rock Lee," informed Tenten resealing her sword.
"Today did go a little longer than usual. They wouldn't stop."
"You kept challenging them. They weren't going to quit until you did," said Tenten getting Naruto to grin. He indeed tried to outlast Gai and Rock Lee. He didn't but, it'd been fun. And that's how Tenten was able to catch him. "I saw you laid out breathing heavily. I was just going to say hi until I saw your sword. I had to make sure you were competent with it."
"Did I impress?" questioned Naruto getting a nod. Naruto smiled before unstrapping the weights on his person. "I could get better though. You sure proved that."
"Yeah me too. I'm not as good close-up than I am from afar."
"No worries, we can make each other better."
"How? I only kept up today because you were tired and still had those weights on." thought Tenten with a frown. She saw Naruto sigh in relief as his body was freed of the weights. She couldn't imagine trying to fight with Naruto again. "You didn't even use the Kyubi either. I can't compete with you."
Tenten knew Naruto could beat her. Tenten knew Naruto knew he could beat her too. She'd won this spar but, would she be able to keep up next time? Would he notice that she couldn't keep up? Would he go somewhere else to train? Naruto was too strong for-
"Stop that," said Naruto getting Tenten to snap out of her thoughts. She'd been staring at him and could see him frowning now. "I know what you're thinking and please stop. You're perfect for helping me Tenten. Or are you not the Weapons Mistress of Konoha?" Tenten's eyes widened. She was. She'd been acknowledged by everyone by that title. "You're good and you know you're good. I know you're good. It's why I proposed we keep sparring. You're much better than me at Kenjutsu and I'd like to learn from you if you'll allow it."
Hmm, Naruto was right. Tenten was better than Naruto. Naruto was faster and stronger than her but, her technique was immaculate. Even if Naruto wasn't tired or weighed down, she'd still have won. Her skill shined and she'd totally neglected it in awe of Naruto's speed and power.
"I will. And next time, I'm not going so easy on you."
"That's more like it. See you around!" said Naruto joyfully waving to Tenten.
Naruto vanished in a shunshin as Tenten stood smiling. That was nice of Naruto. His humility was refreshing considering who he was years ago. Something her teammate said as he made his presence known.
"It's hard to believe that he's the loudmouthed dead last from the Chunin Exams all those years ago," said Neji with admiration to his soon-to-be fellow Jonin. "It was hard to spot his potential back then. But now, it's plain to see. Naruto's going to be really special one of these days. And not just to us, but to the whole village. I hope to help him on that journey."
His thoughts were shared equally with Tenten. She couldn't match Naruto's growth but, she could help him continue growing. Neji could and wanted to as well.
For some reason, Naruto made you want to.
(With Naruto)
Arriving back home from his extended training session, Naruto walked in his apartment before shutting the door. It was almost 11 am and Naruto figured Shizuka to still be in bed. Hime loved her sleep. Her late-rising didn't diminish from her increasing strength or her accomplishing any goals she had to do that day. His baby was efficient so Naruto never bothered her about her morning laziness.
Stepping into his room, Naruto was surprised to find Shizuka not sprawled out over his bed.
"Hmm, wonder where she could be?" questioned Naruto lifting his shirt over his head.
Naruto flung the shirt in his hamper before hooking a hand in his pants. The front door opened though and paused Naruto's stripping. Naruto turned to his door and spotted Shizuka entering it. A sweaty Shizuka as his senses overloaded.
Perks of being the Kyubi's Jinchuriki, Naruto was gifted with senses sharper than most normal humans. His eyesight was sharper. His hearing was better. And his sense of smell was only outdone by Kiba's and Kakashi's that he knew. His sense of smell and sight were the ones mainly assaulted by Shizuka's presence.
"Kami she's so hot." thought Naruto not taking his eyes off of his girlfriend. She looked very good in her shorts and tank top. She also smelled good even after whatever she'd done to work up that sweat. The sweat made her scent intoxicating as she walked up to Naruto. "Hey beautiful."
"Hey handsome," said Shizuka getting on her tiptoes to kiss Naruto. She'd placed her hand on his stomach in doing so and marveled at the boy's body. "Looking good."
"Thanks, you look better," said Naruto earning another kiss as Shizuka walked past him into his room. Naruto had plans to shower but, he was a gentleman. He'd let Shizuka go first. He did wonder something though. "Do your own training today hime? You could have come with me if you wanted."
"No thank you. Yours are too intense now," said Shizuka alluding to the things she'd heard Naruto say. There was no way she was going to handstand walk through every street in Konoha for a workout. That was insane. "Anko-chan came by earlier. I went with her instead."
"Have a nice time?"
"Yes, it was nice. She's great and right at my speed," said Shizuka grabbing a change of clothes. They were in the bottom of the dresser as she bent to open the drawer. "Was your training nice too?"
"Nice view," Naruto spoke while looking at Shizuka's butt.
"Huh?" Shizuka stood and turned to see Naruto's eyes rising to look at her.
"I said 'Nice too'."
"Mhmm, staring at my butt again, weren't you?" questioned Shizuka getting a grin from Naruto. That grin got Shizuka to shake her head before she headed to the bathroom. "I bet you were. But you wouldn't tell me if you did, would you?"
"I wouldn't lie," said Naruto getting Shizuka to smile. He wouldn't lie but he wouldn't necessarily tell her either. Since he had her attention, Naruto had a thought. "Hey hime, do you remember what I said earlier? About making this morning up to you?"
"Mhmm."
"Well, I could always help you in the shower. Wash your back for you or something," said Naruto wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. A very lecherous grin rose to Naruto's face as he held Shizuka's gaze. "Or your front. Whichever side works best for you."
"Ah, so that's what he looks like." Naruto blinked hearing himself say that. His inner-pervert had taken control and come out fully. And Shizuka had finally caught it redhanded. "I knew you were a pervert. You'll be giving Jiraiya-sama a run for his money in no time. Guess your nickname can be ero-deshi (pervy pupil)." continued Shizuka watching Naruto's head drop. There was no more denying it, he was a pervert. Jiraiya had gotten him and Shizuka aimed to further his descent into perversion. "After you finish my back, be sure to get my front. You have to do both sides since there were two of them shouting."
Naruto's head snapped up hearing that. He saw Shizuka's tank top land in his hamper before he turned to his bathroom. And there Naruto saw his topless girlfriend pulling off her pants. Then the door closed. A glimpse, Naruto caught only a glimpse.
"I'm the luckiest dude alive." thought Naruto as his brain shut down.
Naruto's brain rebooted as he tripped over himself getting to the bathroom. He had a job to do.
Jiraiya had been right, the dark side was much better.
Thanks for Reading. Enjoy the Omake if you continue :)
Omake: Training Trip - A Documentary by Uzumaki Naruto
(6 months until return)
"You sure you don't want to talk about it."
"Nope."
"Naruto-kun."
"Nope."
"Naruto-kun, we should talk about it sometime. It'll help us get past this awkwardness," said Shizuka sitting on a ledge overlooking a training area. Standing in front of her was Naruto who had his eyes on his work. He couldn't look at her from what happened this morning. "It's natural, right? It's not like you haven't had one of those before."
"Nope."
"I'm fine it happened. I'd actually thought you didn't like me or find me attractive," said Shizuka with a wistful sigh. She then smirked and looked at the Jinchuriki. "But this morning disproved that. You were poking me in my-"
"Shizuka-chan! I will talk to you, I promise. But this, this right here, is going to be awesome. I think I've perfected it," said Naruto turning to the left to see his cameratoad, Gamakichi, giving him the thumbs up. He'd been recording this whole time as Naruto turned to the amphibian. "Hello world. Uzumaki Naruto here again. About to jump a Rasengan ten feet in an instant!" continued Naruto showing the intricate seal. He'd been drawing it the whole time Shizuka had been pestering him. Luckily, he didn't mess up any of the lines. Only when he turned to it, Naruto frowned. "You're going to make this hard on me, aren't you?"
"Oh it was plenty hard alright," said Shizuka grinning slyly. She'd moved her legs on either side of Naruto's drawing and was making it hard on Naruto to concentrate. She'd been doing this over and over since Naruto's kiss fake out a few months prior. And this morning, she'd finally gotten him. "We were sparring and you grabbed me. I was only trying to get loose."
"Yeah, get loose huh? All you did was grind your-Stop! She's trying to get you again." thought Naruto ignoring Shizuka while trying to move her. The girl wouldn't budge and Naruto couldn't take it. She was sitting spread eagle in front of him. She must have known his inner-pervert would keep sneaking glances. "Shizuka-chan..."
"Yes, Naruto-kun?" Why did she have to purr his name like that?
"Bro, stop letting her own you!"
"You stay out of this!" shouted Naruto finally having enough. Naruto turned to Shizuka and saw a shit-eating grin on her face. He'd had it. "Clone?"
"Yes, Boss?!" shouted a clone standing ten feet from Naruto holding his sword.
"This may hurt if it works. If not, I'm going to blow the hell out of this fence," said Naruto getting Shizuka's eyes to widen.
"What?" He wasn't serious about trying this with her sitting there still.
A bright blue ball of chakra pulsed in Naruto's hand as he had a deranged look in his eyes. He was dead serious and Shizuka couldn't get to safety in time. Her eyes bugged out of her head when Naruto thrust the chakra ball right between her legs.
"Hiraishin: Dorai (Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder)," said Naruto as the Rasengan smacked into the fence. Rather than blowing it to pieces and sending Shizuka to the hospital, Naruto only got the memory of himself taking a Rasengan to the chest. Exactly where the exit seal sat on his sword that clattered to the ground from the dispelled clone. "Huh, it worked. I honestly didn't think it would."
"Did you just teleport a Rasengan?" asked Shizuka not even mad. Sure, Naruto could have failed and blown her to hell. But he didn't and Shizuka couldn't believe it. "You can really use the Yondaime's jutsu?!"
"Looks like it! At least that part. I don't know about teleporting myself though," said Naruto creating another clone. The clone frowned at Naruto as he understood. "I'm sorry. I know."
"Can I at least get a kiss from Shizuka-chan before I do this? I'm not chicken like you," said the clone getting Naruto to glare at him. The clone didn't care as Shizuka indeed kissed him. On the cheek though. The original smirked as the duplicate frowned. "Ah, the friend zone. Oh, the pain...my chest, it hurts. Let's get on with this. Hiraishin no Ju-AAAAHHH!"
"Oh, oh no! Oh, Kami-sama no!" shouted Naruto as Shizuka cringed. Gamakichi turned his head and vomited as Naruto could only grimace. "His skin. His skin flipped inside-out. That's about as bad as getting friend-zoned."
The clone dispelled from its unfortunate death as Naruto shivered. The memory hit him and it made his skin crawl. That was such a weird feeling. He definitely couldn't do the actual Hiraishin yet and he would not be trying again anytime soon. Naruto saw the camera still rolling and shook his head.
"Definitely removing that from the final edit." Naruto took out a marker and began writing on his hand.
"Dorai, good. Hiraishin, bad," said Shizuka reading what Naruto wrote. She saw him nod before she posed a question. "Why'd you write that Naruto-kun?"
"Do you want to remember what just happened to my clone?" questioned Naruto getting Shizuka to shake her head. Naruto turned to Gamakichi and saw him shaking his head too. "Me either. I just needed to remember that I could use Dorai at least." Naruto held the tiger seal before putting his palm to the ground. A seal spread to cover the area before glowing white. "Metsu."
Naruto erased the memory of his clone's unfortunate death. No one needed to ever have that image in their head. Too bad for him, he'd see it when he went over his film later.
Another Metsu would be needed after that.
(End)