The Fox and The Tiger
Control
"Fuin!" Naruto said bringing Rin and Yugito into total fear. They had no idea what was about to happen and Darui looked surprisingly calm given his situation. If anything he seemed to be resigning to his fate and just was awaiting what was to happen. To their surprise, Naruto began to laugh and ice cold water exploded all around Darui, drenching him head to toe. "Hahahaha Got you!" Naruto fell over laughing and Darui, although annoyed, sighed in relief. "Man, you all should have seen your faces!"
"That wasn't cool, Naruto. I thought that-"
"Of course I would never aim to kill a comrade. I'm not a monster, Yugito."
"YOU FUCKING MANIAC!" Rin said running in at Naruto, he tried to punch him but was dodged effortlessly by Naruto.
"You know? If you really want to land a strike on someone, maybe you shouldn't shout out your approach." He said lazily as he stepped towards Darui. "Fuin, Kai." the seal's array receded back to the cut then faded away. "Wouldn't be fair for future spars."
"So, you have a seal I've never seen before..." Darui said not knowing how he should speak, Naruto won in a fashion that scared everyone and he wasn't sure of what Naruto was thinking. He never did, and that was something that even had him on edge. Normally people were rather readable, varying in difficulty, but Naruto was just unreadable.
"Yeah, voodoo was something I came across...not real, but I wanted to see if you can tie Fuinjutsu to someone's blood. There's blood seals, yes, but those are more like locks, I wanted to see if you can tie a seal to someone's blood in an offensive manner and place a seal through their blood. So two steps needed to be made, one I need someone's blood, and two, a way to connect the seal. A seal can't magically appear, hence, a special kunai." He took out that kunai that he used, it looked normal, however bits of it were missing. "This kunai will crumble away as it is used, it leaves itself in the victim when cut, it is why I released the kunai, you would have broken it. How does that connect the seal? The metal of this kunai has my chakra within it, it acts like a receiver, that scroll being the messenger, once the blood of who I cut is entered into it, the rest of the seal that is written can be sent to the receiver and therefore, spread throughout the victim."
Darui whistled at that, "Damn Naruto...I'm impressed. But it sounds a little difficult to set up."
"Yes...I'm working on a way to make it more practical. For now though, if we have a hostage, we can set them free as an untraceable time bomb."
Darui now realizing just what Naruto created and the ways it could be used went wide-eyed. "Wow. Naruto you are a remarkable Fuinjutsu user. Would you like me to get you a tutor?"
Naruto shook his head, "I appreciate the offer, Darui-sensei, but I've been doing rather well without. Besides, the Kumo Fuinjutsu masters are more about Sensory Barriers, I am looking to use Fuinjutsu in fighting."
Darui nodded, it was true that Kumo's Fuinjutsu masters were mainly versed in sealing a Biju into a Jinchuriki, and the Sensory Barriers for the village. Those wouldn't be too helpful for Naruto's goals, and if he so wished, he could study those on his own like he already has within the field. Still, to be entirely self taught, and this good in Fuinjutsu, it was an insane accomplishment. Especially since this wasn't basic sealing, it was all combative and highly complex. The seals he used were pretty big and complex, but you could tell that the original made seal was definitely much larger, being more and more refined into the versions they were now. The speed and comfort in which he did his handsigns for his Fuinjutsu meant that he was always training and had great mastery in what he was doing. Darui himself knew absolutely no Fuinjutsu himself, but as an Elite Jonin, he understood the general basics of the field and how the field worked.
"We're just going to act like he didn't try to kill you!" Rin said from behind Naruto.
"Obviously he wasn't planning, nor trying to kill Sensei. It was him getting his amusement, I'm more fixated on that act he put up...that was scary convincing." Yugito said from Naruto's right.
"Relax, Rin. It's ok, sucks to be soaking wet, but he didn't try anything lethal. So take it easy."
"No Sensei, he is being too reckless, too unpredictable. Something needs to be done!"
"About what, Rin? You once relied on me back in the academy...or did you forget? It was because of me that you were able to become so popular and known. I made your success."
"You shut up!"
"Wouldn't be wise biting on the hand that made you, Rin. Things may end badly." Naruto said getting slightly serious as he dropped his lazy expression.
Yugito stepped between the two and faced Naruto, extending her arms to block him off from a potential move forward. Naruto tilt his head ever so slightly, he wasn't the one getting aggressive. Rin was the one who attacked, so why was she facing him like he was about to do something? Surely he wasn't the bad guy in this situation.
"Get out of the way, Yugito! What, are you the Demon's bitch now?" Rin said
Naruto narrowed his eyes and was about to get past her when she sent turned on a dime and sent a kick to Rin's stomach. This sent him falling back and losing his wind. "Speak to me like that again...see what happens."
When Rin finally recovered, he stood and snarled as he walked off to a tree away from them all. "Well...now that you guys are done, we have a mission today." They all looked at Darui and waited for him to continue. "It is really simple, we are patrolling Southern Sector 36. You'll be learning patrols and how to work them. Patrolling is a big aspect of village security and keeps the Land of Lightning secure from enemy forces."
They all nodded and followed Darui to the mission room where teams that were given public missions met. This was generally the low rank mission area, and civilian paid missions. No "S "Rank missions would ever be posted here. For the most part only "D "and "C" Ranked will be seen here, sometimes you'll get a "B" or even rarer an "A" Rank protection request from a travelling merchant. Normally the higher ranked missions were given by the Raikage himself, and he would summon whoever he wished to take said mission. You never would go to him requesting a mission. If you were a Genin squad under a Jonin, you never saw missions higher than "C". Most of the time, those squads were training. The "D" and "C" ranked missions were generally for Genin that couldn't make Chunin. A sort of "enticer" to become stronger so that you wouldn't need to do them anymore.
A Genin squad was expected to remain together, no more than two years. At that point, you were to enter in the Chunin Selection Exams. If you weren't promoted, you remained as a cell for no more than six more months which was generally when the next Selection Exams took place. If you failed to get promoted once more, the cell was broken and you were a Genin on your own...so to speak. You still worked in squads but they weren't permanent squads. It changed from mission to mission. You either remained a Genin, or you attempted another Selection Exam.
There were other routes of promotion though, such as recommendation. If the exams weren't going to be around, or the village didn't plan on participating at all, your Jonin leader could recommend you for Chunin to the Raikage. If the Raikage agrees, he will test you through a local test, given by other Jonin and Chunin of the village. In some ways this exam was a little harder than the world wide exams, but in others it wasn't. Such as, your life wasn't necessarily at risk in the local one. You can also receive field promotions, given only by the Raikage who deems your actions over your tenure worthy of promotion.
From there, the promotion to Jonin was generally by two ways. One, the Raikage simply deems you worthy and promotes you. The second, every two years, the Jonin will vote on all the Chunin that they think deserve promotion. They get a list of the top thirty, then vote to narrow it down to the top ten. If you make it to that top ten, then by peer selection, you can become a Jonin. There are times where they deem no Chunin fit, and no one will be promoted. The promotion to Jonin varies, and is not easy what so ever. From one two year cycle, ten might get promoted, or the next, no one, or even only three. There is a third way to be promoted, but it is extremely rare as they aren't done often at all. In times of peace between the villages, generally has to be at least five years since the last war between any of three or more potential villages, there can be held a Jonin Selection Exam. There has only ever been three, none of which were recent.
Within the mission room, there were three people seated. Mabui, Ay, and some Chunin with a stack of papers, most likely missions. It was a surprise to see the Raikage and his personal assistant here, but Naruto chalked it up to it just being the fact that it is their first mission. When they had entered, and Rin saw Ay, he immediately straitened up and puffed out his chest. Naruto shook his head and continued walking nonchalantly, while Yugito had a smile come across her face. She was always close to the Raikage and Bee, ever since she was in for the candidacy of becoming a Jinchuriki. Then afterwards, she was like an unspoken member of the family, a lot like a niece. That was something that Rin was jealous of but never outright showed it.
When they came to the center of the room, Rin stood at attention, Yugito had a smile but stood straight, Darui was serious but had a light smirk, and Naruto had his hands in his pockets, slouched and even looked like he would yawn any second. This made the Raikage smile ever so slightly, seeing the odd squad. You had the ultra serious kid, the not interested kid, and the prodigy. Mabui smiled fondly at seeing Naruto and noticed that his change in attire was pretty nice. It really suited him, while Ay felt reminiscent as to who it reminded him of.
"Team 13, reporting for their first mission. Southern Sector 36 Patrol." Darui said towards the Chunin.
The Chunin nodded grabbed the paperwork and stamped it. Ay looked at them "Darui, will you be taking a team photo?"
Darui looked down at his Genin and nodded, they came closer and took a photo. Rin wasn't happy about his proximity to Naruto, visibly showing the anger in his face. Naruto genuinely showed that he had no care for anything going on, just spacing out, while Yugito stood calm, normal and had a smirk. Darui had a hold on Rin's collar and looked like he would break out in laughter at any second.
Once the photo was taken, Rin was quick to step away from Naruto. A few minutes would pass before they were set off on their mission. In the brief amount of time, Yugito looked over to Naruto to see if there was anything she could read from him. For the most part, all she saw was that bored expression but there did seem to be a bit of anticipation. That was a bit surprising but nice to see that even he had some sort of feeling about finally taking their first mission as a squad.
They began to leave once Darui received the squad's paperwork. They were led through the village, to the main entrance of the village. It was surprising to them to be leaving the village for their first mission. But they didn't exactly realize that Kumo always keeps high security within it's land. They held no alliances, to any other village and generally didn't allow any foreign shinobi into their lands. Kumo was rather secretive on their military assets and overall skill. The main thing that the foreign villages knew was that Kumo specialized in Lighting and Water Jutsu.
"Sensei, what are the mission parameters?"
Naruto looked at Rin rather stupidly, "You brown nose, how do you not know what a patrol entail?"
"Why you-"
"To answer your question, Rin. I will be teaching you all the patrol routes and cycles. Patrolling is important to keep the village and it's lands safe and secure from threats." Darui said before leading them down the mountains.
This mission was simple and more about learning than anything else. They were told that the patrols went on thirty minute cycles. Every thirty minutes a patrol would be relieved of duty, then after thirty minutes that patrol would relieve the squad that had relieved them. Once that patrol was done, that squad was done. Pretty much a squad would patrol twice before being done for the day.
"So 36 is the closest sector to the village, right?" Yugito asked and got a nod of approval from Darui.
"That is correct, 36 is only a mile from the village. Nothing too complicated, I want you guys to be comfortable with what patrolling entails."
"Just what I'd expect from her. Surprised that Rin didn't know that bit of information himself."
"You're one to talk. You don't know any of the sectors."
"That's a choice. He is like the suck up of suck ups."
Kurama just nodded along, there wasn't much else to say. Naruto did choose to really not pay any attention to the academy really at all. If he applied himself there, how different would things have gone? That was something that they'd never truly know though.
"So how often do you patrol, Sensei?" Rin said and they all briefly stopped travelling since they were coming up to the rendezvous point.
"I generally don't. I'm normally summoned to do high ranked missions, targeting HVT's." Darui stepped forward and as he got to the front, a squad of Chunin appeared in front of him.
"You the relief team?" Darui nodded. "Patrol was quiet, see you in thirty, Darui."
"Alright guys, from here is the start point. We work in a hexagonal route. Each sector is a large hexagon and you work your way in from the outside. If a patrol is late to a rendezvous, it is a sign that something has happened. Timing is everything." Darui said before they began the route.
"Why can't our barrier corps just place a sensory boundary around our lands?"
"Do you have any idea on how Fuinjutsu actually works, Rin?" Rin looked at Naruto dumbly causing him to sigh, "First off, Fuinjutsu doesn't just cover such a massive area like Lightning Country. The one around the village is broken up. On almost all the peaks, is where a group of the Barrier Corps operate to have it up."
"So there is no Seal that could cover any distance?" Yugito asked.
Naruto sighed slightly, it didn't look like Darui was going to step in to teach and if anything was amused that Naruto was uncomfortable with having to be the teacher in this instance. This was also a chance to see the depth at which Naruto understood Fuinjutsu. "Well Barrier Seals have limits. You can't cover infinite grounds unless it is broken into multiple parts to make a whole. I can place a seal though, and activate in a different country. So it is all a matter of the type of seal that is in use. Fuinjutsu is complex to describe the limits since in some ways, there isn't a limit to Fuinjutsu."
"What do you mean there is no limit? Everything has a limit...right?"
Genuinely smiling at Yugito, he chuckled, "Well, I mean just that. In some ways, there isn't a limit. The limit is based on the user and what they try doing. You create self imposed limits, and that is with everything in life. The limit to what we can do, is solely on what we believe to be our limit."
Everyone thought solemnly at what he said. Rin was conflicted since he developed a dislike to Naruto, but at the same time, he said some of the realest things he ever heard. Darui agreed greatly since his own special abilities came because he believed that he could do it. It was why the Sandaime Raikage took him under his wing and trained him personally. Yugito thought deeply on it the most, could the limit on what was attainable be truly self imposed?
"Funny isn't it?"
"What is, Naruto?" Yugito said looking at him. He had a massive smile and was oddly pleased for once.
"The mind. How one thought can alter your entire life, your entire potential. One thought can completely ruin you, while one thought can make you the greatest. Your mind is a powerful place, dangerous as it is safety."
Yugito didn't respond, just continuing to follow Darui while thinking about what Naruto said. "Alright, we made a full cycle, now we break inwards and start another cycle. We do three cycles in total, after the third, we head to the rendezvous point."
Naruto nodded to Darui and slipped him a note that had a seal on it. Darui understood the unspoken message and stashed the note for later viewing. The rest of the day went without a hitch and their mission was complete. They were led through the village once more and enter the mission room once more. Darui handed over the paperwork from the beginning and took a step back, within the paperwork, a report was written by Darui which was currently being read.
"Hey, how about after we are released, we train?" Rin said towards Yugito.
She thought for a moment but shrugged "Sure, I guess. I'm not exactly tired at the moment."
"Sweet, meet at the training ground?"
"Sure." She looked at Naruto but he didn't seem to pay any attention. He was spaced out, looking at the ceiling. She shook her head and looked back to Rin who had a massive smile and then towards the Chunin looking over the paperwork.
"I wonder if he is taking the chance to get her on his side and despise me once more."
"I bet he's trying to ask her out and is using 'training' as an excuse."
"Seriously? Is that what your first thought was?"
"Brat...your perverted gazes...only a matter of time until you do the same as he. Only he's acting on his perverted thoughts unlike you."
"I doubt it. Wait, why are we talking about this?"
"You know."
"The hell you mean, 'I know.' that's BS. I'm wondering if Darui-sensei will give me what I asked."
"Uh huh. No jealousy that he will be alone with her?"
"Kurama, what are you grasping at?"
"Surely some part of your teen ego is pained by her being alone with someone else other than you. Wondering what they could be doing."
"Kurama...enough trying to manipulate my feelings. If she wants to go train with that moron, so be it. She's above him and if anything he is the only one that would learn anything."
"FINE. Ruin my fun. I hoped you'd be easy and it would have been amusing."
"Bastard fox." Naruto thought chuckling and glanced over at Yugito. He did notice Rin's odd grin for something that was only a training request...that was odd..."No no no, dumb fox getting in my head." He shook his head and noticed that Darui released them.
As he was walking away, Darui grabbed onto him and they disappeared in a puff of smoke. They reappeared on top of the mountain that Naruto lived within. "Naruto, this is dangerous."
"You read it already? Wow, thought it would be a couple days. Well this saves time. Yes, I am serious about the request. Annie says the library has no material on it, I want to believe that but...I highly doubt it. Please, I want to learn the extremely untested side of Fuinjutsu."
"NARUTO...Spacetime Jutsu is immensely dangerous! It is considered the pinnacle of all Jutsu, if something goes wrong...Naruto...you could die."
"I know. Darui-sensei, I will just be reading on it and see what theories have been made. I won't be trying anything until I have a great understanding of the theories."
Darui closed his eyes in thought and stood there for a bit. He groaned slightly and placed a hand behind his head. "Being out persuaded by my own student...how dull. Well I'll talk with the boss, no promises on if he'll allow me to give you the material."
"Thank you, Darui-sensei. That is all I ask."
Naruto began to turn away but was stopped. "Naruto. Just how skilled are you?"
"In what regard, Darui-sensei? If we talk solely Taijutsu, Yugito outclasses me. If we talk Kenjutsu, Bojutsu, or any weapon at that, then I outclass everyone. In Fuinjutsu, I outclass them greatly, no question. Ninjutsu, they are better because they know more and have more in their arsenal. I learn fast but I still need to catch up. Genjutsu, non-existent."
"I still feel like there is more to it than that. On our first spar, you used an explosive form of chakra."
"For one, it was explosive because it was unstable. The true form is not like that but more deadly."
"What do you mean?"
Naruto sighed, "The Uzumaki clan...my clan, have members with a special chakra. I possess that special chakra."
"Naruto, you can utilize the ADAMANTINE CHAINS?"
Naruto frowned greatly and shook his head. "I don't know how yet...But that is one half of the special chakra. The other half is to be able to create pure, physical chakra."
Darui nodded "Then why did no Uzumaki ever use a purple chakra?"
Naruto paced back and forth for a second while biting his lower lip. "Darui-sensei, can I trust you?" He nodded, wondering why Naruto doubted his ability to trust him. "I understand that your role as a Jonin sensei is to get use stronger and better. Not knowing so much halts that...you just need to understand that I don't reveal much due to my own fears."
"Naruto, I understand the burden you carry, and the result of it. I am a high-"
"I also realize that should I become a risk, it is your job to neutralize me if I cannot be calmed. Am I wrong?" Receiving no denial he sighed "I get it. After what happened three years ago...Darui-sensei, it is not just my fears, but it lets me maintain a potential edge. I look to find the weaknesses of every potential opponent and develop every counter and exploit as possible. All the while, hiding as much as possible about me..."
"I am not your enemy, Naruto."
"I know...just...it's my first instinct. I know you are probably one of the most powerful shinobi of the village, my recent 'victory' over you I know was only because you held back greatly. Since you were chosen, you must have some abilities that could counter me...something you've yet to show at all. It will be wise to not show me ever...until I can be guaranteed not a threat."
"Naruto, this sounds like more than just a Jinchuriki thing. What is going on?"
"Honestly, I am not fully sure, myself. But I'm looking to find the answers. To answer your question, the purple chakra is because I am creating the use of a new form of chakra. Negative Chakra."
Darui leaned his back against his a tree that was up there, "Naruto...you have been greatly underestimated all this time...not only are you a self taught Fuinjutsu master, who is developing their own seals, but you are creating your own form of chakra? Just...wow..."
"Please, keep this yourself. I don't want the others knowing everything yet. Yugito already knows some of the things I've done but not the complete grasp of it."
Darui nodded and kicked off the tree to step towards Naruto. "I'll ask the boss for you. Just know, that I do want the best for you and will do everything I can to get you as strong as possible."
"I appreciate it, Darui-sensei. I will see you tomorrow."
Darui nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke. He appeared in the middle of the Raikage's office, surprising him and Mabui. "Darui! What is wrong?"
"Nothing really, Boss. Naruto has made a request though."
Ay raised an eyebrow and leaned forward in his seat, resting his chin on his overlapped hands. "Oh? And what is it?"
"Naruto wishes to get the material on all theories based on Spacetime Jutsu."
Ay laughed boisterously and smiled "OK! MABUI GET DARUI THE MATERIAL FOR NARUTO!"
Mabui nodded and left to do as she was told. Darui choked slightly and regained his composure "J-Just like that, Boss?"
"YES! EVERY TIME HE IS DRAWN TO SOMETHING, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN! I CAN"T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE DEVELOPS!"
"O-ok. If you approve, then I won't doubt your decision. I have to ask you though, what is wrong with Naruto?"
Ay got serious "Explain."
"He is eluding to something else that is an issue, something that isn't about being a Jinchuriki. He said he doesn't fully understand it himself, but is searching for the answers."
"Darui, this does not leave this room." Darui nodded and stood completely straight. "He is marked."
"Marked? Marked by what?"
"Naruto is not an ordinary human. His genetic make up was altered from being a baby within a Jinchuriki. He isn't one of the Biju but is a mix in a sense. whatever the Yondaime Hokage did to seal the Kyubi within him, has allowed the God of Death, the Shinigami to mark him. A sort of...curse so to speak. To make him the harbinger of death."
"B-Boss...what are w-"
"There is nothing that we can come up with to stop whatever will or will not happen. So...that is why we haven't really talked about it. We just don't know how it will effect him. Or if it will happen. If he told you about it, then there may be some concern. How has he been acting?"
"Hmmm...Naruto is seclusive, you know this. He is puts up a façade that he is lazy and bored, but is extremely analytical. There are two versions of him when fighting though...both when he tries, the first is normal it seems and he will look for decisive and precise endings to a confrontation, luring an opponent to a trap. The other side is...more...malicious I guess is the word. More brutal, out to kill it seems more than the other style."
Ay nodded "I see. Keep an eye on that. We don't know the trigger and don't know how it will go." Mabui entered the room and handed Darui a box that contained all the material Naruto wanted. "If that is all, then you can go, Darui."
Darui nodded and left. The next morning, Naruto was walking towards the training ground but noticed Omoi. He smiled and waved "Hey Omoi!"
"Hey Naruto. YO DID YOU HEAR?"
"What?"
Omoi was shaking with excitement and jealousy it seemed. "There's a rumor saying that Rin is saying that kissed Yugito last night! HOW DID HE LAND THE PRODIGY?"
Naruto said nothing and tilt his head slightly, "Not sure...good for them, I guess."
"REALLY? THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?" Omoi punched Naruto's shoulder jokingly and was dumbfounded.
Naruto just shrugged, "Guess I just don't care about it that much...I don't know, Omoi. I do need to go meet with my team."
"Alright, might be weird if they start making out in front of you man...if they do...tell me what it was like..."
"You need to keep these thoughts to yourself, brother...Well, I gotta get going. See you around."
Omoi nodded "He called me brother...he's acting a little off though. Shouldn't he find the news interesting?"
Naruto continued on his path, gazing at the sky. His hands were rested in his pockets and he thought deeply about what he had told Darui the day before. He shook his head at himself, not believing that he was so honest to him. Maybe Omoi and...Yugito...were rubbing off on him more than he realized. He didn't feel like crap about it at all though, and oddly enough, was feeling ok. If not, a little happy about being honest. It still felt weird to be so vulnerable though and didn't entirely like it.
"You good, Kit?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Kurama said nothing and let Naruto continue on. He came to the usual tree that he laid in but what wasn't usual, was that the rest of the team was already there. "I'm late? How?"
"Bout time, Uzumaki." Yugito said annoyed at having had to wait. "Thirty minutes late!"
"S-sorry...I must have been distracted..."
"Is everything alright, Naruto? You're never late. In fact you're always the first one to arrive." Darui said giving a knowing look to Naruto, practically asking if it had anything to do with what Naruto had told him.
"Yeah, I'm all good, Darui-sensei...just a late start this morning..."
"Oh? A simple patrol get you so tired? HAHAHA WEAKLING" Rin said from directly behind Yugito.
Naruto only glanced over but didn't say a rebuttal. Instead, he kept his distance from the squad, waiting for orders. "Alright, I was thinking of taking another mission...decided that we would train instead. So shall we break into the normal pairs?"
"Sur-" Yugito started but was cut off.
"Actually, Darui-sensei, if we aren't going to be taking a mission today, may I take my leave? I'm am working on a project at home, and am not feeling too great." Naruto said and got an odd look from everybody, Rin because he was kind of glad Naruto would be gone and didn't mind, Darui because he didn't know Jinchuriki could even get sick. Bee never got sick. Yugito just didn't get what was going on and why he was trying to leave, he seemed fine yesterday.
"Uh, sure, Naruto. I guess you could go. Come with me a sec."
Naruto nodded and followed Darui as he led him a bit away. Within a bush, Darui revealed the box with what Naruto asked for. "They approved?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Darui-sensei." he took a knee and sealed the box within a scroll and placed it in his bag. As he stood up, Darui grabbed onto his shoulder lightly.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes, Darui-sensei." Darui looked at him but didn't see anything so he let him go. The two went back to the rest of the squad where as Darui stopped, Naruto kept going. Rin had a smug grin on his face as Naruto walked past, Yugito looked at him trying to get something out of him but he didn't even look at her. He just walked through.
Over the course of the week, they were focusing solely on training. Due to this, Naruto kept training on his own, always requesting to head home. He told Darui that he was working on the Spacetime material and Darui understood. Studying Fuinjutsu took a great deal of focus...let alone Spacetime Jutsu. Naruto read every piece but none of it said how to apply any of the theories whatsoever. It was frustrating since it was no better than just merely talking about a goal and never enacting a plan to obtain said goal. Just being a talker...he hated that about some Fuinjutsu "masters". The ones that only talked about a theory but never actually attempt it. It was useless to speculate, speculation gets nowhere.
He began having to develop things on his own once more and focused solely on that, the next week. Darui for some reason wasn't taking much missions, only training them. Finally after two weeks, Naruto gathered with them and sat in a tree while Rin stood close to Yugito in front of Darui, Naruto looked off to the horizon the whole time Darui talked. "Alright, let's do a progress check. Show what you've been working on and have completed."
Rin stepped first and demonstrated the Lightning Stream, earning a nod form Darui. There was no criticism to be given. Only that, with more training, he could eventually reduce the amount of signs.
Yugito came forward and showed a single sign, Fireball, as well as a four signed Fire Breath. Darui was really impressed and had absolutely nothing to critique. She showed great mastery with the reduced signs and effectiveness of her Jutsus.
Naruto came forward, "I have nothing to show."
"HAHA WHAT?" Rin said "YOU MEAN THAT YOU'VE BEEN OFF ON YOUR OWN ONLY TO HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT! AHAHAHA RIDICULOUS! EVEN FOR YOU!"
Naruto said nothing to Rin and only looked into the distance and spoke lowly "I have nothing to show, because it isn't ready yet. It would be unwise to attempt when it isn't perfected because if I make a mistake, I or someone can be killed."
"Whatever you say, Loser."
Naruto took a breath and looked up into the sky. He looked down and said, "Fine, here. I need someone to be a part of it, so why not. Rin stand up."
Darui raised an eyebrow and wondered where this was going. Yugito was looking more and more intrigued, surprisingly, Rin could rile him up enough to get him to do something. That was something that no one could normally do, what was different now? Regardless, they were all about to bare witness to what he was doing. Naruto threw a kunai that Rin dodged, "Was that it? HA WHAT A JOKE!"
"Will you just shut the hell up?" Naruto said coldly, effectively shutting the boy up. Naruto took out a large scroll and held it slightly higher than his head and it extended all the way to the ground. Darui was amazed at the seal that was there and it was beautiful, a true work of art...
"What are you doing, Naruto?" Yugito asked but gained no response from him.
"Rin, use your Lightning Stream and aim it at me." Rin smiled and did as he was told, the lightning came at Naruto who frowned when he noticed that Rin was separating two bolts to go around the scroll and hit him. So he merely turned the scroll to be horizontal at the last second and the lightning all hit the scroll's seal. For a second it just faded away into the seal then suddenly a black portal like thing appeared from the kunai behind Rin, and with it...the lightning from the attack hit Rin from behind.
Rin collapsed instantly, being knocked out. Darui went wide-eyed. He never thought he would ever witness a Spacetime Jutsu in person ever in his life. The seal array was the most beautiful he ever saw and the the Jutsu itself was really cool to watch. Yugito had her mouth wide open, never did she imagine that being possible. It was really cool in her mind and before she could praise Naruto. He visibly winced.
"Ah damn...over did it...again..." He then faceplanted into the ground, knocked out.
"NARUTO!" Yugito and Darui called out, running to him.
When Naruto was waking up, he could see Darui ahead of him a bit, and also noticed that his upper back and head was laying slanted upwards, on something really comfortable to him. He blinked a few times, looking up and noticed Yugito looking down at him with a worried look. He realized in that moment that he was laying on her thighs. He groggily reached up and barely missed her breasts as he poked her forehead. She looked at him funny when he did that but he just shook his head. "Couldn't tell if I was still unconscious. You didn't look real."
"That was a cool thing you did, Naruto. What was it?" She asked as her hands were massaging his shoulders, to release the tension in his body. She was sending her chakra through her hands which she had noticed he absorbed, quickening his recovery. She noticed that from the first spar against Darui and wanted to see if it worked again, to which it did.
"Was dabbling with the thought of 'Guiding Light'. Not sure though." Naruto stood up and walked to Darui, somewhat to Yugito's disappointment. That was the most he talked to her in the past two weeks. And he was back to being a closed door, just what changed?
"Naruto, your technique..."
"Has a long ways to go...it was reckless of me to show it. I'm lucky that exhausting my chakra was the only consequence."
"Yes, but you just created a Spacetime Jutsu of your own."
Naruto nodded, "Yes, it requires a little set up though. I can't just use it. I need to have a marked location for where the object of sealing will exit." He gestured to the kunai behind the still unconscious Rin. "It is a two part Technique."
"What would happen if you didn't have that second mark. Where would it go?"
Naruto shrugged. "Not sure honestly. I would explain it like entering a tunnel that has no real direction. The path not mattering since the exit is near instantaneous, position doesn't matter. If the exit isn't there, I suspect that whatever entered, probably stays in limbo."
Darui nodded, "And if someone went through?"
"I don't know Darui-sensei. At the moment, the seal works because I key in a certain nature that I wish to absorb. I have yet to crack the formula on a universal seal."
"I see, still, this is great. Go ahead and head home to rest. Tomorrow will be a mission, we meet at 1300."
Naruto nodded and began to walk away, "Naruto, it was cool what you did!"
Naruto didn't turn around at all to acknowledge her. He just kept moving forward. "What did you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything, Sensei. I don't get why he won't talk to me."
Darui nodded "Yeah, he also stopped training with you. I know he's been working on Fuinjutsu but...something is off. It would be best to find out, Yugito...before something bad happens and you guys can't be coordinated."
"I will Sensei. May I-"
"Go ahead. I'll wait for Rin to wake up."
She nodded and took off after Naruto. Despite him having just been walking, he was gone. She tried checking his usual spots but he was nit there. Checking the cliff he always sat at, there was no sign. It made no sense. He just seemed to disappear from the face of the Earth.
Taking a seat, she hugged her knees to her chest and thought about everything to this point. She found it laughable about how much she hated him for absolutely no reason practically. Once she got to learn more about him, that hatred subsided, in it's place was the annoyance of his secrecy. There was also the fact that recently, he's done nothing but amaze her.
Maybe, he was always great and never showed it. Outclassing everyone around him when the effort was put in, just who was better than him? Naruto repeatedly said to her that she was the superior fighter but as of recent, she was unsure. That wasn't something that she exactly liked since for the longest, she'd been regarded as the best. Now that felt to be in question.
Yugito didn't even realize how long she sat there, it wasn't until a cold breeze hit her, causing a shiver. "Would you like a sweater?"
She turned to see Naruto and she lightly nodded. He removed his sweater which to her surprise was the everything. This whole time she thought the hoodie wasn't connected to the long-sleeved shirt...maybe it was just a change done recently. When he lift up the hoodie, it pulled his shirt up, revealing a small portion of his bare stomach. From what she could see, he had defined abs but couldn't see much as the shirt fixed itself. He handed her hoodie which she took graciously and put it on. An indescribable warmth surrounded her once it was on and for a brief moment, a blush graced her face due to the kindness and fondness Naruto was showing...that and underneath the hoodie was a sleeveless compression shirt, revealing his toned upper body.
"T-thank you, Naruto."
"Sure thing. Can't have you getting sick."
"You care?"
Naruto tilt his head at her and sat beside her. "Of course I care, Yugito."
"But you've been ignoring me lately..."
Naruto looked into the horizon and frowned with a sigh. "Well, it should be obvious why."
Now was her turn to frown. She had no idea why he would. "I don't get why. Please, for once, be upfront and tell me so I can fix whatever I've done to wrong you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow "You yourself never wronged me. Your retard of a boyfriend is the one with issues against me. Figured it best not talk to you when he's around so that I could keep the peace."
"Wait, what? What boyfriend?"
Naruto looked over at her confused. "You and Rin..." She gained a stern expression demanding explanation to which he tilt his head "Omoi told me two weeks ago that Rin said you and he kissed that day he asked you to train. Then that y'all were a thing and more rumors were being said..."
She stood up quickly and stepped to him. Thinking this was escalating, Naruto stood with her and prepared to defend himself. "That BASTARD! I AM GOING TO KILL HIM FOR SAYING SUCH LIES ABOUT ME!"
"You mean?"
"Why would I ever date that fool? You serious? Gah I swear, I'm going to tear him limb from limb." Her eyes flashed into a green left eye and golden right eye.
Naruto stood stupefied, not realizing that she was gone. "KIT, GO AFTER HER NOW!"
"She...she's like me...I knew there was something...between us that was the same..."
"NOT NOW KIT! SHE'S PISSED AND IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING BAD!" Still no response from Naruto, Kurama banged against the cage. "NARUTO!"
"Huh? Kurama?"
"After her now!"
Naruto looked around and sensed a demonic aura. "Oh no...Yugito..."
The aura was much like his own, but he noticed that it was significantly weaker than his own. It was greatly weaker than his own, however, that didn't matter necessarily. It was still way too much for any single person to handle, especially for someone like Rin. Then there was the scenario of if she couldn't get enough control to regain herself. What would happen then? Not wanting to find out, he took off at his absolute top speed, so much that it was physically hurting his body, his young twelve year old body could only handle so much and it was only because of being both an Uzumaki and Jinchuriki to the Kyubi that he could survive the strain without much consequence. The pain he felt though, wasn't dulled, just healed. There was wreckage everywhere he went from the path she took, he was hoping that due to the time not many people were out to witness anything.
The screams of fear from the feeling that Yugito released and the sounds of her crashing into things was scaring everyone, though. Buildings looked ready to collapse but he needed to hurry. Her growls were finally becoming more and more clear, and when he finally arrived, he saw the building she was about to leap towards and figured that it was the one Rin lived in. Naruto did the first thing that came to mind and decided to jump and get on top of her back. The held around her neck and tried to gain control but was thrown off by her. She turned sharply and punched him into the wall behind him, making him cough up blood from the blow and gasp in surprise. She was focused on him now at least...and came at him again, sending a massive kick into his chest, making a sick crunching sound as he dropped to his knees.
"Kit, draw on-"
"No...I will take care of this..."
Naruto began to do handsigns, and Kurama began to recognize the sequence he was doing. "Kit, don't go through with that method. You have nothing to seal that chakra into after absorbing."
"Yeah I do...my own body can handle the strain of the chakra. It will naturally be burned off over time...since the Biju she possesses isn't within me, nor is it actually being sealed in me."
"THAT IS EXACTLY WHY IT IS STUPID, NARUTO! Taking a Biju's chakra like that makes it even more deadly than just when the Biju is sealed within you. Naruto there is a reason why no village just forks out Biju chakra! It is only to a Jinchuriki who is compatible and with unusually large chakra pools!"
"There's no time, Kurama. It's the only way without hurting her. Or others. Besides it is all part of the plan...just, keep me alive."
"Damn stubborn brat! Once your mind is set, there is no changing it...very well...I will keep you alive." Kurama thought as he began channeling his chakra for the regenerative properties.
Naruto snapped his eyes open and stared into hers as he narrowly dodged her attempt to stab her claws into his heart. He looped his arms underneath hers and embraced her into a sort of bear hug as tight as he could. Despite her thrashing around, his embrace never faltered. "Time to come back..." Naruto sensed people approaching and just before they turned the corner to see what was happening, he threw several smoke bombs and blocked all view in the densest smoke anyone ever saw. He took a deep breath and spread open his hands that were on her back and for the first time ever, a seal array formed from his hands solely from his chakra. Not taking the time to acknowledge the accomplishment, he inhaled deeply as he began the process of suppressing her chakra by absorbing and her chakra output while blocking it. Which was why two arrays spread rather than one single one.
From Naruto's right hand, red chakra began seeping into it and spread through his arm, giving him a slight red hue on his arm. It burned greatly, more than when he was using the Kurama's chakra. He chalked that up to the fact that it was a foreign Biju's chakra. The burn and pain shot into him rapidly and his face lifted towards the sky as he winced. He wanted nothing more than to scream in agony but was holding it all in as much as possible. Slight grunts were released every now and then but nothing more. After a small while, he noticed the chakra around her begin receding and with that, they began lowering. Finally it was over and he was panting heavily while sweating a lot. She began to groggily look around and noticed him on top of her looking worn out, while holding her in a hug practically.
"N-Naruto? W-What happened?"
"Y-You got...ang-angrier than I...have ever seen you. Entering a Biju state..."
"Oh no...Naruto...what did I do?"
Naruto gave her a weak and saddened smile. "YOU, did nothing. It was ME who...rampaged...I was the one that did...a-all this. You, s-stopped...me."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Must I...always...spell it out for you? Yugito...they, they already fear me. Y-You don't need to deal wit-"
"Naruto! No. They will-"
Naruto rolled off of her, albeit strained. "Stop, everything is already set in motion...remember? Always...have a...plan."
"Naruto. Naruto stay awake." She noticed the burns on his body and how she was surprisingly unscathed. Was that part of the plan? It would look more like he was the one to have lost control of the Biju chakra. "How did he manage to get me out of that state?" scanning his body more, she noticed the signs of having broken a few ribs due to the compression shirt. A tear escaped her eye as she was realizing the extent to which he would keep her both in a good light and safe. The tears dropped onto his chest and face.
With his eyes still shut as he was exhausted he breathed and spoke lowly. "Don't cry, Yugito. Crying doesn't suit you well. Besides, the smoke will clear shortly...and you need to stand victorious for them."
"I don't like it...Naruto...there's still time, we could-"
"No. For one, there is no time, two, I'm not able to move freely...just walk past them and...Yugito, make me a promise."
"What is it?" She said, voice breaking from crying as she held onto his hand for some sort of comfort.
"Don't look back, don't worry about anything. Just go home, ok? Promise me."
"Na-Naruto I"
"Promise me, Yugito."
"I-I-I promise, Naruto..."
Naruto wiped her cheek of the tears and smiled one last time. "Now it's time for you to show them, how strong you are. Go be the hero they know you'll be."
"Naruto why are you so fine with being the bad guy?"
He chuckled, "This is it...before the smoke fades...consider this. When you stop and look, you can always see it. If you try to touch, you will never feel it. It cannot move, but as you come closer, it gets farther. What am I?"
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"Because you know the answer. Even if you don't realize it."
The smoke began fading and she was left puzzled all the while in turmoil. She was about to let Naruto become subject to more degradation and whatever would happen now. Was it truly right to do so? To walk like a supposed perfect person and let someone else take the fall for her mistake? Naruto was being the scapegoat and only she'd know...the truth. It didn't sit well with her.
She stood, frozen, not noticing the smoke cleared due to her being deep in thought. "She stopped the demon!"
"Yugito saved us from the rampaging monster!"
The villagers cheered and paraded her around for saving them. For stopping the demon child from destroying the village. She glanced back to see a few break from the celebration and start kicking Naruto who laid helpless on the ground. just before she was carried away, Yugito noticed Rin enter the fold and start beating Naruto as well. Her eyes flashed for a second but receded.
"Not now, Kitten. You would break his wishes and make his choice be for nothing..."
"B-But-"
"But nothing. You going crazy now, makes his suffering meaningless. Calm down, do as he requested. He's a tough boy, everything will be ok."
When Naruto began to wake up, he winced and noticed that he was within the sealed portion of his house. Apparently he got taken here and locked within the most secure portion. That wasn't what he really cared about, the main issue was that he was wincing from pain still. He should have recovered by now. He asked Kurama what the deal was and wasn't pleased with the reply. The bare minimum amount of chakra was being sent to him, just enough to keep him alive. Absorbing Yugito's Biju chakra nearly killed him, if Kurama added his own, the reaction of the two mixing, would definitely kill Naruto. He was warned of the danger that followed absorbing her chakra, but it really was the only way to safely stop her.
"At least I can finally place seals with my chakra now."
"Congratulations, Kit. Now what happens next?"
"Well, now I gotta wait...but we have work to do while we wait."
"You seem to be rather fine, all things considered."
"Yugito is ok. That's what matters."
"Funny how you try so hard to act as though you don't care. It is very odd to see this side come out for once. The side that would do anything in order to ensure those around you are safe."
"As I told her. I do care...really, I just don't know how to express it."
"You certainly know how to show it."
"Yes, but it isn't just about me. Kurama, in the grand scheme of things, for better or for worse, she is the village's beacon of hope."
"What do you mean?"
"She has a way to gain the admiration, adoration, and raise the hopes of the village. In a way I never will. Yugito is important to the future of the village."
"And what about you?"
"Well. Aside from eventually being the Raikage, my role will never be in the light, amongst the people. Kurama, a Kage puts the needs of the village before their own. I am not what the village needs for hope, that is her. I am solely meant to be the protector. There is no glory to be sought, becoming a Kage only has one ending. One that she can never have, but will be my role to fulfill. In the end, all you can do is hope that what you did, ensures the future."
"What ending do you speak of?"
Naruto smirked and looked at the ceiling. "The night."