Author's Notes: Well, this story has grown far larger than what I thought it ever would, I thank you all for the support and hope you all continue to enjoy the story. Quick statement: I'm only bringing this up because I think it would be confusing otherwise, this story will be retconning Naruto's general setting, hence why Naruto doesn't mention any of the forms of advanced technology.
Q&A Section(As well as other responses)
SolSparda369: Respectfully, that comment made me smile when I first read it, thank you, good sir. :)
Beastyd22: Thanks!
With that out of the way... Let's get back to this tale!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"'Kyuubi or Naruto(berserk) talking or thinking'"
"So, Young Naruto..." Kyojuro began to say, "Any stories to tell while we go along?"
"Ooh! I love stories!" Mitsuri chimed in, "Do tell us!"
"Um, well..." Naruto began, stumbling slightly in his voice, "Where do I start?"
"How about... Where you're from?" Mitsuri asked.
"I'm from a village called Konoha," Naruto replied, before continuing in the way he felt most natural. "I was a shinobi, my parents were murdered by an entity composed of pure energy which is now sealed within me. About two days ago, or well, five hundred years ago for you guys, I fought my best friend at a large valley. Long story short, he stabbed me with lightning, and I found myself in a forest with the tip of Rengoku-sensei's sword pressed onto my throat, that's the abridged version of it."
"That's interesting..." Mitsuri replied, attempting to process all the information given.
"Now, am I allowed to ask a question?" Naruto requested.
"Of course, Naruto-Kun," Mitsuri replied with a jovial smile.
"Why, um, if you don't mind me asking," Naruto began to ask, "Why does your uniform have that hole in front of your chest?"
Mitsuri's face flushed with a crimson tone, as Kyojuro tried his best to hold back a laugh.
"Well, one of the Kakushi gave me this uniform... And it came with the hole..." Mitsuri explained somewhat shyly, "They said that this was the standard type of uniform... But Shinobu-chan burnt hers!" Mitsuri turned to Naruto, "Why? Does the fact that I am wearing this uniform make you feel uncomfortable?"
"Well, no..." Naruto began, "I think you look really good in it..."
"Wow, smooth one, kit," Kyuubi suddenly stated within Naruto's mind, "Since when could you flirt?"
'Be quiet Kyuubi,' Naruto thought.
"Awww, thanks," Mitsuri replied, "That means a lot, more than you can ever imagine..."
"Anyways..." Naruto began to ask, asking in a slightly louder voice, as if posing the question to both Kyojuro and Mitsuri, "Who is this Shinobu you mentioned?"
"Perhaps it's time I introduce you to our colleagues..." Kyojuro began to say. "I'll start now, you already know both of us, the Flame Hashira and the Love Hashira respectively... But there are seven others, and as I told you before, we serve as the most powerful Demon Slayers of the entire corps, serving as the pillars to the corps, literally giving meaning to the referring to us as 'Pillars'," Kyojuro paused to take a breather before continuing, "Shinobu, or Shinobu Kocho, is the Insect Hashira, the inventor of the form known as Insect Breathing."
"Wait... How many forms are there?" Naruto asked.
"In theory, there can be an infinite amount of possibilities of breathing forms, all of which would suit a certain individual's needs," Kyojuro stated, "Take Kanroji-san here, for example, she utilizes Love Breathing, a form altered from Flame Breathing. Anyways, on this topic, the three other Hashiras besides me who use the 'Basic Five' breathing forms are Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, who is currently the most powerful user of Water Breathing... And then there's Sanemi Shinazugawa... An aggressive but powerful Hashira who uses Wind Breathing."
"How aggressive are we talking?" Naruto asked.
"He's so aggressive, that he would likely comment about your hair and call you a foreigner, and would most likely physically attempt to attack you," Mitsuri chimed in.
"Sounds a little racist..." Naruto commented.
"Oh no, he's not racist... That's just his character," Kyojuro explained, "He could care less about what you look like, anyways... Probably a good idea not to tell him about that large Demon Fox inside of you."
"Un-Understood," Naruto replied, a slight bit of fear in his voice.
"Young Naruto, be aware," Kyojuro began to say with an advisory tone, "If he does insult you, or physically harm you... Try not to retaliate physically, and try to talk to him."
"I- I'm sorry, Rengoku-sensei, but," Naruto began, "But I can't bring myself to talk to an aggressor. The last time I did that... I got stabbed in the chest and had a punctured lung... From my experience... Violence is the answer sometimes... And it has never failed where words have."
Noticing from Naruto's different tone of speech that he was slightly upset, Mitsuri immediately moved to switch the topic of conversation. "Anyways! The Hashira that wanted to meet you was Tengen Uzui! The Sound Hashira and a former Shinobi!"
At the mentioning of the word 'shinobi', Naruto's features brightened slightly. "Really?"
"Yup! And he comes from a family whose history dates back before your time... About seven hundred years..." Mitsuri replied. "He wanted to meet you... Also, the two other Hashiras are Iguro Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, and last but not least, Muichiro Tokito, the quiet Mist Hashira."
"We're here," Kyojuro stated, as the three came across a large gate. "Remember Naruto, do not use that orange energy! Even if all the Hashiras attack you!"
"No promises," Naruto replied, "But I'll try my best."
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown..." Kyuubi stated, "Seems that it's your responsibility now..."
'For once, Kyuubi,' Naruto thought, 'It seems we agree on something.'
-Inside the Building(Ten Minutes Later)-
"So, Kyojuro... Who the hell is this?!" Sanemi demanded, holding Naruto's face down to the ground.
"Perhaps... A lost boy?" Shinobu suggested.
"I can explain..." Kyojuro began.
Giyu stared at Naruto with a somewhat emotionless look, staying silent the entire time.
'What is that Shinazugawa-san has in his hand?' Muichiro asked himself, completely lost to the situation. 'A sunflower?'
'That symbol on his forehead...' Tengen thought, 'I've never seen such a symbol...'
"Why have we not tied him up?" Iguro questioned, lying on top of a tree branch. "I simply detest people who have a blatant disregard for rules..."
"Poor, poor boy..." Gyomei thought, tears flowing out of his blinded eyes, "To have no one to protect him..."
"If that's the case, I'll do it!" Mitsuri declared, "This is Naruto Uzumaki! He's both Kyojuro-san's new student and the shinobi Uzui-san wanted to meet!"
'What?!' Tengen thought, 'He looks nothing like a shinobi... How... Flamboyant.'
"That doesn't matter at the moment," Sanemi stated, holding Naruto up by his collar. "How dare you barge into a Pillar Meeting, boy?!"
Naruto remained silent.
"Playing silent, eh?" Sanemi sneered, throwing Naruto onto the ground. "You're a shinobi, aren't you? In that regard... You should have no problem holding your own in a fight!"
"Wait!" Kyojuro yelled, but it was too late.
Sanemi dashed towards Naruto, kicking the blonde in the head and sending him flying into a tree. Undeterred, Naruto stood up and stared at Sanemi.
"Oh?" Sanemi asked, "Finally ready to talk?"
"I answer not to you, bastard," Naruto replied, greatly enraging Sanemi.
'Oh my...' Shinobu thought.
'That was ballsy...' Mitsuri thought.
'My, my, how flamboyant!' Tengen thought.
'That was absolutely... A mistake,' Kyojuro thought, as Sanemi dashed towards Naruto.
"Insolent..." Sanemi began, punching Naruto square in the ace, "Little..." Sanemi continued, kneeing Naruto in the chin, "Brat!" Sanemi finished, landing a blow on the back of Naruto's head, knocking him to the ground before he unsheathed his sword.
"That's enough!" Giyu yelled, breaking his silence, shocking everyone.
'To see Tomioka-san react with such emotion...' Shinobu thought, 'It's rather unnatural...'
"Be quiet," Sanemi stated, plunging the blade into the right side of Naruto's chest, before dangling Naruto above the ground.
Above his suspension into mid-air, the memories of that night began to flood back into Naruto's mind, as he clenched his fist and grit his teeth, continuing to glare at his violent, scarred assailant.
"Let me ask you this, boy..." Sanemi asked, dropping Naruto onto the ground and withdrawing his blade. "Do you know what fear is?"
To the shock of everyone, Naruto's newfound wound began to patch itself up, before Naruto himself stood up once more.
"Fear?" Naruto asked back, "Do not attempt to lecture me on that subject..." Naruto stated as the familiar orange aura began to surround him. "I have stared fear in the eyes, and have become too used to it."
-Unknown Location-
As Muzan stood before the Upper and Lower Moons, his eyes widened, before beginning his statement.
"And old adversary has re-emerged..." Muzan began to say, "One with an essence more ominous than mine..."
-Present Location-
"Be quiet," Sanemi replied, contradicting himself, "You are no Hashira, and as one, I have every right to now punish you in any way I see fit. So tell me... Are you a Demon Slayer?"
"He will be," Kyojuro stated.
"Not if I kill him now," Sanemi stated, as he began to walk towards Naruto.
Naruto turned to Kyojuro, waiting for a few minutes before Kyojuro nodded reluctantly, giving Naruto his approval.
"Alright then..." Naruto murmured, "Let's do this."
Naruto pulled a kunai from his pocket, before blocking Sanemi's oncoming slash. After struggling for a few moments, Naruto formed a clone, one which snuck up behind Sanemi. As if on instinct, Sanemi back-kicked the clone, dispersing it with ease, before once again placing his attention onto the real Naruto. Suddenly, Sanemi broke up their struggle, confusing Naruto.
"If... If you are Kyojuro's student..." Sanemi began, pointing towards a training dummy. "Prove it."
Naruto shuddered slightly, before walking towards Kyojuro.
"Can I?" Naruto began to ask.
"Of course, Young Naruto," Kyojuro replied, passing Naruto his sword. "You can do it, I believe in you."
Now reinvigorated by his sensei's encouragement, Naruto held Kyojuro's sword in his hands, his grip tightening more and more as he walked towards the intended starting location.
'This all seems familiar...' Kyojuro thought.
-Not Too Long Ago-
Standing in the center of a barren forest, with the rest of the Hashiras observing his actions, Kyojuro stared at a training dummy, his grip around his sword's handle tightening.
"If you do intend to succeed your father..." Sanemi stated, "Show us, then, that technique your family had invented, and was oh, so proud of."
Kyojuro remained silent, lifting the blade next to his face, as an orange, fire-like aura slowly gathered at his feet. Kyojuro took a step back, before dashing forward with blinding speed, leaving a deep trench in his path, the front of his technique taking the silhouette of a large dragon composed of great flames. Reaching his target, Kyojuro plunged his blade into the torso of the training dummy, before slashing upwards, tearing the dummy directly in half.
-Present Time-
'You got this, Naruto-Kun!' Mitsuri thought.
'This ought to be interesting...' Iguro thought.
'Um... Where am I?' Muichiro asked himself.
'If anything... This will help us gauge the true extent of his abilities!' Sanemi thought as Naruto took a deep breath.
'Flame Breathing First Form...' Naruto thought, 'Unknowing Flame!'
Naruto took a step back, before dashing forwards, leaving behind a small trail of flames and beheading the training dummy with a horizontal slash, leaving a shocked Sanemi standing in place.
"Now that he's proved yourself in your eyes..." Kyojuro began to say, "Allow me to explain our situation."
-Twenty Minutes Later-
"I-I believe I owe you an apology," Sanemi began to say with a degree of respectfulness, "Naruto Uzumaki."
"Nah, it's alright," Naruto replied.
"Be prepared... Naruto," Tengen began, "To become a Demon Slayer, you will need to pass the Final Selection. You will need to survive in a forest infested with demons for five days, with no help."
'Alright, so basically Forest of Death but solo, got it,' Naruto thought. "When is it?"
"The next one's next year!" Mitsuri replied.
"Say, Kyojuro-san..." Shinobu began to say, "A certain... Resident within my manor also intends to complete the Final Selection soon..."
"You want a bet?" Kyojuro predicted, "To see whether Naruto or your student will complete the test first?"
"How about it?" Shinobu suggested.
"I'm game!" Kyojuro agreed.
-[Mitsuri's Home(Night)]-
"Apologies for the inconvenience, Kanroji-san!" Kyojuro stated.
"It's alright..." Mitsuri assured, "You always let me stay over anyways..."
"Good work today, Young Naruto!" Kyojuro congratulated.
"Thanks, but..." Naruto began to ask, "How did I do it? You never taught me how to..."
"That's because... You've discovered the better way of training," Kyojuro stated, "By following your heart! Keep up the hard work! You'll master this form in no time..."
"Um, if I may..." Naruto began to say, "Do you mind, if like, I mix my shinobi techniques with the forms?"
Kyojuro thought about it for a moment, before replying. "Of course not, Young Naruto! In fact... You may be able to create an entirely new form... Who knows? But you should take the rest of the day off... You took quite the beating just then."
"Ummm... Kyojuro-san, Naruto-kun..." Mitsuri began to say, "Do you two not want to eat?"
"We're coming right away!" Kyojuro stated.
-Midnight-
Naruto sat on the platform on the outside of Mitsuri's home, staring into the sky littered with endless stars, as well as a fully round silver sphere. Naruto placed a few fingers on his temple, an old adversary's old words ringing in his ears.
'What makes you think everyone else will accept you? Just face it... You've always just been alone in this world...' Naruto recalled, before smashing his fist into the ground, leaving a deep indent.
Upon the introduction of quick footsteps, Naruto composed himself.
"You alright, Naruto-Kun?" Mitsuri asked, walking out.
"... Not really..." Naruto admitted as Mitsuri took a seat next to him.
"What's on your mind?" Mitsuri asked.
"When Sanemi-san stabbed me this morning..." Naruto began to explain... "It wasn't the first time I was stabbed there... The last time I ever opened up to someone... That same person told me that I would never be accepted... My father once said, that with great power, comes great responsibility... At this point, the Kyuubi would say something poetic... But, who am I, exactly? What do I want to be?"
"You're hurting..." Mitsuri identified, touching Naruto's face.
"In my old village, people hated me..." Naruto revealed, "They hated me for what I couldn't do, what I had inside me, what I represented..."
"And what's important is that you did your best," Mitsuri assured.
"But what if... What if my best wasn't good enough?" Naruto asked. "Before I came here... No one accepted me for who I was..." Naruto stated, turning the other way.
"I see..." Mitsuri identified. "It isn't until you feel that little bit of love... That you realize just how large and empty that hole is..." Mitsuri turned to Naruto, noticing his silence. "Naruto?"
Mitsuri stood up, stepping in front of Naruto before noticing the sleeping Naruto. She giggled slightly, before placing her cloak over Naruto, all while Kyojuro watched from the open door.
Author Notes 2: Again, thanks for reading!