Naruto's POV
"Ok, I'm done," I sat back and sighed contentedly. I looked at the eleven empty bowls in front of me. I glanced over at my companions. Miharu was currently working on her sixth bowl and John was savoring his second still. Kumiko had her head in her hands something about eating her out of house and home.
"Finally…" Everyone looked at Kumiko and laughed. She pointed to me and Miharu. "The two of you need to learn some restraint like John here. And Miharu, it's unseemly for a lady to consume that much."
"Sorry," Miharu mumbled. "I eat as little as possible without feeling hungry only a couple hours later."
"Hey, I have the same problem. Why do you think I eat so much?" I respond. "John, you're a growing boy, you should eat a few more bowls as well." Kumiko suddenly grabbed me and covered my mouth.
"No, you don't need any more, John. Don't believe what this idiot says." I tried to struggle, failing. Miharu giggled at my position. John just finished his bowl and stood up.
"That's alright. I never got much food in my cell. This is more than I usually eat for a week." I stopped struggling. "I just don't need much food I guess. They tried to reduce my food at random times, even not feed me for days. He was pissed when I never lost any weight from it though. But I do like ramen and I'd like to try other foods too. Don't worry about me, Naruto-nii-san." My jaw dropped, stunned. Kumiko had released me during John's speech and inched over to comfort the kid. Miharu was covering her mouth with her hand. I heard something else entirely.
"B…br…brother?" I looked at him. "You think of me as…your brother?"
"Yep, if you don't mind though," he looked at the ground. "I've always wanted a big brother who could teach me stuff and protect me. All I've ever know are the old people from the place." I tackled him. We rolled along the ground for a bit till we ended up in a standing position again. I was hugging him desperately. I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. Brother…he wants to be…my brother…
"Naruto-kun, as touching as this is, didn't Jiraiya-sama tell you to train sometime today?" I let go of John and turned.
"Oh yeah, he did. Hey, Miharu, want to come too? I've kinda wanted to spar with someone from Mist after fighting Zabuza and Haku."
"I'm not sure…I don't want to fight right now," her eyes lowered to the ground. "I should get back to the hospital. I'll see you later, Naruto-kun." She waved and headed back towards the hospital.
"Could I come with you, Naruto-nii -san? I would like to learn how to control my power and maybe do some things like you do." I grinned at the kid.
"Sure, I have to work on a jutsu that Jiraiya taught me, but I can work with you later. Hey, Kumiko-san, you think when we get there you could teach John the basics of chakra control?"
"I think I could do that," she smiled. "It's been years since I've helped to train anyone even though I really liked it. Well let's go guys!"
Jiraiya's POV
I put down the report. I looked over at Shimizu. He was looking out his office window at the village. I walk over and stand next to him.
"You think you can protect Naruto for a few days? I'd like to take a team of ANBU and find that complex he was at." He turns to look at me.
"Yes, I think we can. There is a team waiting outside. Good luck, Jiraiya." He turns to face the window. "I'll tell Kumiko-chan to take him in while you're gone. If anyone in the village can protect Naruto, it's her."
"I understand. I'll be back shortly." I walked out of his office. Five Mist ANBU were waiting for me.
"Jiraiya-sama, your orders?" a shark-masked one asked.
"North gate, now." We all vanished and appeared at the gate. I summoned a large travel frog and motioned the ANBU to mount it with me and ordered him to take off. The frog leapt into the air. Judging the height and length of the jump we should be near the compound by sunset. Perfect timing.
Naruto's POV
"Underworld Swamp!" I yell as I watch as a small puddle swamp forms. I drop to my knees and pant. Stupid Jiraiya, making me do this without using Kyuubi's chakra. Oh well, he probably has a point. I might use too much chakra. I stand up and cancel the swamp and wanders over see how John is doing. I walk into the field he's in and listen in.
"So, you're saying I need to use these hand seal things to mold my chakra," John at Kumiko. He was slowly forming a random assortment of hand seals. "If that's the case, how can I do this?" he points his hand at a tree and it lights instantly lights alight. Kumiko's eyes widen.
"How…never mind. I've seen things that have appeared to be unbelievable but there is always an explanation for it. You might have what's called an Advanced Bloodline," Kumiko shook her head. "I've never heard of or seen someone who has some innate affinity for fire though. But I have no idea how you have a Byakugan eye too."
"He also has some kind of weird Sharingan too," I walked from the trees, surprising John. Kumiko didn't even look at me.
"Nice of you to join us, Naruto-kun. How's the work on your jutsu coming."
"Not too good, I can't get the swamp to be any larger than about a meter in width. This is the hardest jutsu Ero-sennin has taught me since the Rasengan." I walk over to John to see what he learned from Kumiko.
"So, Jiraiya taught you one of the Fourth Hokage's signature techniques has he." I look over and see the Mizukage come from the forest. I also see Kumiko looking at me with her jaw gaping like a fish. "So, how long do you have left to master it?"
"I've mastered it a while ago, during my fight with Kabuto. He was one of Orochimaru's spies in Leaf. I'm going to kill the traitorous bastard."
"Umm, excuse me for being uninformed, but who is this Orochimaru guy? He sounds as bad as He is."
"From what Jiraiya told me, Orochimaru is on the same level on what you said 'He' is at," John looked at the Mizukage. "Why do you call the man who kept you prisoner 'He' anyways?"
"I never knew his name and I got beat harder whenever I mentioned it." I saw tears start to well up in his eyes. "I…I don't want to talk about it anymore, ok? Kumiko-sensei, could you explain molding chakra to me again?" Kumiko shifted her gaze to John.
"Oh, yeah, sure. Actually, we might want to go find Jiraiya-sama so you two can get some sleep." She started to walk away. The Mizukage put his hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
"No, I'll take care of them. Jiraiya left on a mission for me. As a favor though, John, Naruto, you can stay at my place. John, I can get a few people to tutor you in the basics of being a ninja. Naruto, if you want, I can get some people to work with you on your Taijutsu. Jiraiya told me he can't teach you well on that because of the style you seem to be most adept towards." He looks over at the burning tree. "I assume that was your work, John. Well, now may be the best time to tell you that you are a Moeagaru. It was thought to be an extinct bloodline. That is probably what explains your ability to use fire without the necessary chakra control. You will find that you will be easily able to master almost any fire-based jutsu. I've sent a messenger to Tsunade-chan about possible getting at least copies of the Moeagaru scrolls so you can learn about your bloodline."
"Why would Tsunade-baa-chan have scrolls belonging to an extinct bloodline?" I looked at the Mizukage, scratching the side of my head.
"Well, there is a reason Konoha is called the Village of Fire even though it's in the middle of a huge forest? The First Hokage thought that, due to the Moeagaru sacrificing their entire clan to secure the land that it he would honor them by naming the village after them. I don't think he expected the entire country to be named after them too. But anyways, if you would mind coming with me we can get you settled into rooms in my place." The Mizukage started to leave but stopped next to Kumiko. He whispered something into her ear causing her to gasp, cover her mouth with her hand, and tears to well up in her eyes. She looked heartbroken at the Mizukage before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"What was that all about?" I ask, stepping up behind the Mizukage. I heard John step up behind me.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Come on, let's go."
Jiraiya's POV
One of the ANBU appeared next to me. Dusk had settled. He quietly informed me that they had located the complex. I nodded and followed him. The entrance was surrounded by the other four ANBU disposing of two guards. I inspected one of the bodies. It appeared to have different color arm grafted to it surgically. I moved towards then entrance, instructing two of the ANBU to assume guard. They nodded and changed to look like the two guards who were just killed. I led the other three inside. We slowly made our way deeper into the complex.
After descending what I felt was a few hundred feet we saw a door on the right side. We surrounded the door and entered, taking out three ninjas that were playing cards inside. I found a set of keys on one of the guards and took it. Inspecting the rest of the room, I found two different ledgers. One appeared to be an inmate list. The other was a transport cargo list. I put them in my pocket and left the room. Looking through the next few rooms, I found a dozen cells. At the end of the hall, there was a door and a stairway going down another floor. I posted two of the ANBU as guards and entered the door. There were five people in the room. Three were performing what appeared to be surgery on two of them. The three performing the surgery looked up at me entering. They scowled at me before falling to the floor, limp.
I rush over to them. I checked each of the five. They were all dead. I checked to see what the surgery they were performing was. One of the bodies that were being operated on was similar to John and had the evidence of about a dozen different Bloodlines. It appeared that they were removing parts of his body to fuse it to the other, older body. I left the room. Who ever was doing this is sick, raising children like cattle to give his own soldiers multiple bloodlines themselves. I leave the room. The ANBU who came with me aren't present. I quickly make my way outside the complex. I get almost to the door and I see the bodies of the five ANBU twisted and broken before me. I cringe. I slowly make my way to the door. Who ever did this is waiting on the other side and knows I'm here. I mentally analyze all my ways to escape. I chose what I think are the best five and open the door, stepping outside.
"I never thought I'd meet the great Jiraiya when he was coming out of one of my strongholds, what a surprise." I look at the voice. The speaker is a good two meters tall. His upper body is only covered by a vest revealing what I assume to be a hundreds fusion marks of other Bloodliners. His right eye also revealed an active Byakugan. Getting away from him might be harder than I anticipated. "But, I assume your being here with five Mist ANBU isn't just a simple coincidence is it? You found my runaway and I'd like him back."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I heard there was a hot springs around here and I was looking for it. I thought it would be a great spot for my research."
"I doubt that. The boy is my property and I want him back!" I watch as he forms a ball of fire in his left hand, a ball of lightning in his right, a typhoon of wind around him, and a small earthquake beneath him.
"You'll never get away with raising children as cattle, whoever you are."
"Just as Orochimaru will never get away with finally securing his Sharingan? How sorry for you, because he has it and I'll get it myself. That boy…is my dream. With him and all the other…enhancements I've gotten for myself I'll be unsurpassable. All I need is the Mangekyou Sharingan he has. Because the lack of Sharingan users currently, I have been unable to get access to the blood to farm it in Bloodliners. Thanks to my appropriation of the Hyuuga body years ago, I was able to get a hold of this eye. It was more difficult than I had thought it would be. Because they eyes of the body I acquired were sealed, I had to extract the blood and farm. Unfortunately, only two specimens had it upon birth. One had it in two eyes. The other was the boy I'm looking for. I suspected that the introduction of the Hyuuga blood brought out the latent connection between the two bloodlines. It seemed that my suspicion was correct."
"How did you get access to a Bloodliner? They sacrificed themselves so what you're doing couldn't happen!"
"I don't have to tell you all my secrets. But I'll tell you this; I have an army under my command. If you don't return my property to me I will be forced to hunt him down. And there is nothing you can do to stop me…"
"But I can." I look up at the nearby tree. Itachi!
"Uchiha Itachi…have you finally come to your senses to willingly surrender your eye to me?" I use the distraction to slowly inch away from the door. I stop when a giant, bandage-wrapped sword imbeds itself in the ground in front of me.
"I'm sorry but I can't let you pass," Kisame says. Just my luck.
"Let him go, Kisame. You know our orders." I glance over at Itachi. "We are still after Naruto-kun but dealing with this…situation is more important to our organization." Kisame removes his sword and ushers me along.
"If I were you, I'd take the boy and Naruto and leave Mufun ASAP," Kisame says. "I'm not even sure Itachi can kill this man now."
"At least tell me who he is?" I ask, desperate for some shred of information.
"His name is Namami." I nodded as thanks and ran. I soon heard explosions behind me. I shudder at the fight that could be going on. Whoever Namami is if he is powerful enough to cause the Akatsuki to drop what they're doing to deal with him, he is probably more powerful than Orochimaru. I have to get Naruto and John. I have to inform all of the Kages. Inter-village rivalry is secondary to this new threat. I never though I would hear myself say this but I hope Itachi and Kisame get rid of him for us, for the world.
