DON'T OWN NARUTO
Author's Notes: I've talked to a dear friend of mine on the subject of Naruto/Kyuubi/Hinata and after talking with my friend, I've decided not to make the pairing during this story. This story will still be Naruto/Kyuubi, just without Hinata. I might write another story involving that paring, but I want to finish this story first, as well as Lunar: Revised and my original story Purification.
Rising Phoenix
Shino, Kurenai, Hinata, and Tazuna all ducked when the giant sword was making it near their vicinity. Naruto remained calm because he was expecting an attack by the enemy considering that things were real quiet after the events with the Demon Brothers.
The sword went flying towards Naruto now since Naruto was the only one left who was standing. Naruto extended his hand out and caught the giant sword by its hilt. Naruto started to lean forward a little and had to grab the hilt using both hands. After that, Naruto started to maintain his balance carrying the very heavy sword.
'Dang this thing is heavy. It has to be at least a hundred pounds.' Naruto complained in his thoughts.
"Impressive." A ninja said, coming down from a nearby tree.
Naruto looked at the ninja and knew who it was. Naruto placed the sword down to the ground and looked at the ninja. Kurenai also looked at the ninja when she got off of the ground.
"Who are you?" Kurenai asked.
"Be careful." Naruto warned. "This man is known as Momochi Zabuza, the Devil of the Mist. He is an upper A class missing-nin. He is also known as one of the seven swordsman of the mist."
"Oh, you know about me?" Zabuza asked.
"I learned a little about you. All I know is that you attempted a coup d'état when you were an ANBU of the mist and failed. You also killed over a hundred students at the present Genin Exams in Mist when you yourself weren't even a ninja yet."
"I don't know how a brat like you knows information like that, but I clearly see you as the greatest threat here." Zabuza proclaimed.
Kurenai was confused with what was going on but decided to keep quiet. She then heard that Zabuza thought that Naruto was a bigger threat than she was and she started to use some hand seals to use a Genjutsu.
Zabuza grabbed his sword that Naruto placed onto the grounds and moved over the water. No one except for Tazuna was surprised at this action because of the Genin test with Naruto. Zabuza started to collect a pretty fair concentration of chakra and used a technique.
"Ninja Technique: Hidden Mist." Zabuza said out loud.
A thick mist started to appear and Zabuza used the time to disappear in the mist.
"Everybody be careful, Shinobi from the mist are experts in the art of Silent Killing." Naruto shouted to everyone.
Kurenai stopped making the hand seals when she saw that Zabuza was using the hidden mist technique. The Genjutsu she was going to use required the opponent to use his eyes and the mist prevented that. She then heard Naruto's warning and moved over near Tazuna. Naruto also moved in that area and moved in front of Tazuna while Kurenai was at his back. Shino and Hinata were in a defensive position and were also on opposite sides of each other. The formation looked like this; Tazuna is facing towards the direction of the lake nearby. Naruto is in front of Tazuna while Kurenai was behind. To Tazuna's left is Shino and to the right of Tazuna is Hinata.
"There are eight targets." Zabuza said from within the mist.
"W-w-what was t-that?" Hinata asked, starting to shiver in fear.
Shino was feeling the same way but kept silent.
"Throat, Spinal Column, Lungs, Liver, the Jugular Vein, the Subclavian Artery, Kidney and Heart. So many choices, what vital place should I strike?" Zabuza said, chuckling a little.
Kurenai was feeling a little bit scared with the terrible blood thirst that's begin released but was trained to handle it. Naruto on the other hand had felt a similar feeling of bloodlust before and moved into a different defensive position. Both Shino and Hinata were deathly afraid of Zabuza at this point and wish that would die so that the suspense would end because of the fact that their lives are in their enemy's hands.
Naruto and Kurenai started to gather up some chakra and the two of them dispelled the mist that was surrounding them in a ten foot radius.
"Hinata, Shino, don't worry." Kurenai said soothingly.
"I won't let my comrades die." Naruto replied instantly after Kurenai finished.
"We'll see about that." Zabuza said, appearing right behind both Naruto and Shino.
Hinata grabbed Tazuna's hand and moved him to a different area. Shino followed the two of them.
Zabuza grabbed the sword and was about to slice Naruto in half when Kurenai stabbed Zabuza in the back with the kunai. Zabuza then turned into water and went onto the ground. Another Zabuza appeared behinds Kurenai and was about to cut her up when Naruto pushed her out of the way. Naruto got hit with the sword Zabuza carried and he too turned into vapor. Kurenai understood what happened and smiled.
'Clever, he created a water clone and used the substitution technique to hide himself until the timing was right.' Kurenai thought.
Kurenai got up quickly and moved into a defensive position. Zabuza appeared Kurenai again and this time Kurenai was ready. Kurenai took out a double bladed Kunai to repel the sword strike that Zabuza gave. The Kunai was already penetrated half way and Kurenai was forced to jump back and moved onto the lake. Naruto appeared again and used a kunai to stab Zabuza in the back. Zabuza was a little startled when Naruto managed to hit him but it was all in vain because that Zabuza was also a water clone.
"Clever brat, but not clever enough." Zabuza said as Naruto revealed himself.
Zabuza used his fast speed and went behind Kurenai. He punched her in the face and she was sent swimming down the lake. Kurenai decided to take advantage of the situation and take a small break.
'Why is the water getting so heavy?' She thought. 'It's just like that time when Naruto placed me' that's when Kurenai realized what Zabuza was going to do.
Zabuza appeared behind Kurenai and quickly did a set of hand seals.
"Water Prison Technique."
Kurenai was now stuck in a water prison exactly the same as the one Naruto used a few weeks ago.
"Fighting against the two of you could become troublesome if it lasts for a while. I'll have a few water clones defeat the rest of you." Zabuza said to Naruto, creating another single water clone.
"You're not the only one who could use that technique." Naruto said as he too started to create 5 water clones.
Naruto set the 5 water clones to attack Zabuza and moved into the bushes nearby. This confused everybody and were wondering what Naruto was planning on doing next.
'Hey Kyuubi, is it me or do you sense a second presence?' Naruto asked Kyuubi.
'I sense it too. Give me a body and I'll keep an eye on the mysterious figure.' Kyuubi answered.
Naruto created Kyuubi's body and Kyuubi went off undetected to keep an eye on the other presence.
Naruto came out of the bushes and saw that his five water clones were defeated.
"You thought that your water clones were a match against mine?" the water clone Zabuza asked.
"If water clones won't work. Then how about this! Shadow Replication Technique."
Naruto created fifteen shadow replications and all fifteen went out to attack the Zabuza water clone.
When the shadow clones were close, they all started to dog pile Zabuza.
'Almost there.' Naruto thought seeing that a few more shadow clones were still jumping on the dog pile. 'Now!'
The shadow clones that were surrounding the water clone Zabuza exploded.
"Heh, the great clone explosion technique. Gotta love it." Naruto said to Zabuza.
Kurenai as well as everyone was really shocked.
'I have to thank Itachi for teaching that move to me after I passed the Genin test Kurenai gave.' Naruto thought.
"Who are you?" Zabuza asked.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. The man who will one day become Hokage." Naruto replied.
'Uzumaki, where have I heard that name before?' Zabuza thought.
Naruto saw that Zabuza was distracted for a short time and that was all he need. Naruto started to do a few hand seals and made sure that he was close enough to the lake.
Zabuza snapped out of his thoughts and saw what Naruto was doing.
'This is bad. If I release the water prison technique, I'll be facing against two enemies. If I take on his next attack, I'll lose the water prison anyway and take in a whole lot of damage.'
Naruto finished the seals and unleashed his attack.
"Water Dragon Missile." Zabuza saw the water serpent make its way towards him and was forced to let go of the water prison to make sure that he doesn't take any damage. Kurenai moved away from Zabuza almost immediately and started to cast a Genjutsu. Zabuza moved over to dry land and recuperated for a short time.
Naruto didn't bother to attack Zabuza right now because of the Water Dragon Missile. Naruto used up most of his chakra in the attack and only has enough for one final attack.
Kurenai finished the hand seals and used her strongest Genjutsu attack.
"Illusionary Technique: Tree Bind Death"
The ground below Zabuza started to sink a little and a tree was growing from behind him. The tree also grew vines which binded Zabuza onto the tree. Zabuza was getting angry at the fact that things weren't going his way at all. Kurenai's body started to form from within the tree right above Zabuza's head. She was holding a kunai in which she was going to kill him with. Kurenai had the kunai at Zabuza's throat when three large needles pierced Zabuza's neck. The Genjutsu was cancelled immediately and Kurenai looked at the source of the needles.
A young man, similar age to Naruto and the rest of the Genins, appeared wearing a mask showing the symbol of mist. Kurenai checked Zabuza's body to see what his status was.
"He's dead." Kurenai replied out loud.
Naruto was about to reply something but collapsed for some unknown reason onto the ground.
The masked ninja came from the top of the tree down onto the ground near Kurenai.
"Thank you for your help. I hope you don't mind my interfering." The masked ninja replied.
"If I'm not mistaken, aren't you a hunter-nin of the Mist?" Kurenai asked.
"I am indeed. Now, I must dispose of the corpse lest they give up secrets to our foes." The hunter-nin answered.
The ninja grabbed Zabuza's body and teleported away. Kurenai looked at Naruto and the rest of her team. She walked over to them and started to speak.
"Shino, grab Naruto and carry him to our destination. Hinata, use you Byakugan to scout out the area to see if there are any more enemies."
"Y-y-yes." Hinata answered, as she activated her Byakugan.
Shino walked over to Naruto and picked him up. He then placed Naruto over his shoulder for the rest of the journey.
Unknown to them all, Kyuubi watched the entire scene and when Naruto wakes up, she had some interesting news to tell him. For now however, she decided to follow the group to their destination.
At Tazuna's house, Naruto finally awoken and was feeling really drained.
"What happened?" Naruto asked a little groggily.
Inside the room where Naruto's at, he was being surrounded by team 8, Tazuna, and another person he doesn't know.
"Zabuza is dead. A hunter-nin picked up the corpse and disposed of it. After that, we took you here to Tazuna's house." Kurenai answered.
"I see." Naruto replied, feeling a little bit better. "Tell me, do you know how hunter-nins operate?" Naruto asked Kurenai.
"Yes. They hunt down and dispose the corpses of missing-nin. When they dispose of the missing-nin's body, they are supposed to destroy the bodies of those they kill right…" Kurenai didn't finish because she realized something.
"Zabuza is still alive." Naruto replied.
"H-how is he s-still alive?" Hinata asked.
"Aren't you over thinking this?" Tazuna asked, afraid of what would happen if Zabuza was still alive.
"Tell me, how did the hunter-nin dispose of the corpses?" Naruto asked.
"We didn't see it. He took the body with him." Shino answered monotonously.
"Think about the weapon that the hunter-nin used. They were acupuncture needles." Kurenai asked.
Shino immediately got the point.
"W-what?" Hinata asked.
"You see, with acupuncture needles, its easy to create the illusion of death if the user has complete knowledge of the human physiology. Hunter-nins are trained to dispose of corpses using that knowledge." Naruto answered.
"Alright team. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to increase the training." Kurenai said.
Naruto nodded his head while Shino said nothing. Hinata stuttered an okay.
"Hey Shino, before you leave, did you place some bugs on Zabuza just incase something happened?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. I thought it was weird that a hunter-nin would leave that quickly so I had a couple bugs placed on that person. This way, the bugs will alert us when the two of them come next time." Shino answered.
Ounce everyone was done talking, they all left the room to make sure that Naruto gets plenty of rest for tomorrows training. When everybody left the room, Naruto looked in the direction of the ceiling.
"You can come on down now, Kyuubi." Naruto said, looking at Kyuubi as she revealed herself.
"I see that your senses are still as sharp." Kyuubi replied.
"Why did you drain all of my chakra?" Naruto asked, a little bit angry.
"That boy, he could have defeated you in the condition you were in. Also, he thinks of Zabuza as his most precious person. He would go to the extent of sacrificing his life to make sure that Zabuza was safe." Kyuubi answered, taking a look at Naruto to see if he's alright.
"I see." Naruto replied. "He probably had a life similar to mine." Naruto said quietly to himself.
Kyuubi heard what Naruto said and frowned.
"Why don't you get some rest for now? We can start learning another of your father's techniques tomorrow?" Kyuubi asked.
Naruto laid down on the futon he was on and started to fall asleep, having his back turned slightly. Kyuubi decided that she didn't want to be inside the cage for now and went under the blanket with Naruto. Naruto blushed when Kyuubi had her arms around him and her breasts were pushing against his back but didn't mind when sleep claimed his body.
An hour later, Kurenai went into the room where Naruto was at and saw that there was a foreign girl sleeping with Naruto. She didn't know who the girl was, but by the way Naruto was smiling in his sleep, she was a friend of his and decided to leave the two alone. Kurenai placed a Genjutsu called False Surrounding to give the illusion that Naruto was alone in case someone decides to visit.
Naruto woke up the next morning and saw that his head was between Kyuubi's breasts. Naruto blushed crimson red and tried to pull himself away. That however failed because Kyuubi had her hands around Naruto's back and was squeezing Naruto towards her. A minute later, Kyuubi awoke and felt a foreign object touching her breasts. When she checked to see what it was, she saw that she was holding Naruto in an erotic embrace. Kyuubi blushed and saw that Naruto was still trying to get away. Kyuubi let go of her embrace and saw that there was no one else inside the room. Kyuubi noticed that she was running low on energy and went back into the seal. When Naruto tried to contact Kyuubi about the incident, he found that he couldn't contact he and figured that she was really embarrassed at what happened.
Kurenai entered the room a few seconds later and saw that Naruto was alone in the room.
"Naruto, I need to talk to you about something?" Kurenai asked.
"What is it?" Naruto asked.
Before Kurenai could ask her question, the same person that Naruto saw yester arrived and announced that breakfast was ready.
Naruto forgot about Kurenai's question and went down to get some breakfast. At the breakfast table, Naruto found out that the person who woke him up was named Tsunami and that she was Tazuna's daughter. He also found out that Tsunami had a son name Inari. Naruto didn't like Inari because of the way he acted. Inari said that they were wasting their time because the man Gatou always gets his way no matter what.
An hour later, Kurenai brought her team over into the forest. There in the forest, Kurenai started to explain the purpose of their training.
"Today, Hinata," Kurenai said, looking at Hinata, "I will be teaching you how to walk up trees without the use of your legs. Shino," Kurenai then looked at Shino, "you are going to work on your taijutsu. I know that you fight using your bugs and all, but what would happen if you run across a taijutsu expert who uses no chakra?" Kurenai asked. "The reason why I suggest this is because since you're an Aburame, you already have perfect chakra control because if you didn't, the bugs in your body would consume your body. If you practice on you taijutsu, you would become a lot stronger."
Shino understood what she meant. The only type of bugs he has in his body right now are male and female chakra draining bugs. If he somehow was forced to fight a ninja who doesn't use chakra, all he could do is waste chakra. The only way he could face such an opponent would be to collect a species of bugs that would be effective, but that species of bugs are too powerful for Shino to control at the moment.
"And Naruto," she replied, looking at Naruto, "I'll teach you a technique that's called the Hazy Field, a technique where it distorts your body. Because of the fact that your body is distorted, it'll make it hard for your opponents to hit you vitals because of the warped space around your body." Kurenai finished.
The three of them nodded and Kurenai led Hinata over to some trees and started to teach her about tree walking. With Naruto and Shino, Naruto created a modified shadow replication and looked at Shino.
"Shino, this here is a modified shadow replication. This one can take up to five hits depending on where the hits are located at. Obviously, if this clone takes a hit on the head or any vital organ, it will disappear. This clone will also instruct you on basic taijutsu since I'm pretty confident that I'm better than Kurenai at this department." Naruto explained.
"I see. Thank you for your help." Shino replied.
"Anytime." Both Naruto and the shadow replication replied at the same time.
The shadow replication Naruto started to lead Shino into another part of the forest and train in taijutsu.
"That looked pretty interesting." Kurenai said as she watched the shadow replication Naruto leave with Shino.
"You heard what I said to him then?" Naruto asked.
"I only heard that you said that you were better at taijutsu than I was." Kurenai answered. 'Which is probably true.' Kurenai continued in her thoughts. "Naruto, why don't we go to a different area? I still need to talk to you about something."
Naruto nodded his head and Kurenai led Naruto into a different part of the forest. Naruto checked to see if the two were alone, and when they were, Naruto looked at Kurenai to see what she had to say.
"So Naruto, who was that woman that was with you last night?" Kurenai asked.
Naruto blushed and realized that Kurenai saw Kyuubi sleeping with him.
"I might as well tell you since you are my instructor and I trust you." Naruto replied.
Kurenai didn't know how to respond to that.
"The girl I was with, well," Naruto paused for a few seconds, "she's Kyuubi." Naruto finished.
"Kyuubi, as in the nine-tailed fox demon?" Kurenai asked.
"Yeah." Naruto simply replied.
"How is it that she got out of the seal?" Kurenai asked, shocked at hearing Naruto say that it was Kyuubi.
"Simple, I create the most powerful modified shadow replication I can make and she transfers her own consciousness into the modified body. Watch I'll show you." Naruto answered and before Kurenai could react, the modified shadow replication was formed and it changed into the form of Kyuubi's human form.
"Hello Kurenai. I hear a lot about you from Naruto." Kyuubi replied.
Kurenai was frozen stiff and a little jealous. Frozen stiff because the person in front of her was the demon that destroyed half of Hidden Leaf, and jealous because of the body that Naruto had given her.
"Tell me, why is the body based like that?" Kurenai asked, wondering if it came from Naruto's imagination.
'This is what my body looks like in my human form, just without the tails or the ears." Kyuubi answered.
"I see" Was all Kurenai responded.
"Why don't I get practicing on that new technique that you told me about earlier, I don't use Genjutsu a lot but this one sees like it could be vital depending on who my opponent is." Naruto said after a brief silence.
Kurenai showed Naruto the hand seals and Naruto tried out the technique. Naruto didn't do too badly the first time, but he still had a quite a way to improve.
"Hey teach, do you think that you could show me that technique?" Naruto asked.
Kurenai showed Naruto the technique and Naruto mimicked her. A few seconds later, Naruto showed that he did the technique almost perfectly.
"You see, once I see a technique, I keep the movements inside my mind and mimic what the user is doing. Since I have excellent chakra control, I see how this technique is done. Why don't you supervise Shino for now while I take a look at Hinata is doing?" Naruto asked.
Kurenai nodded and headed off to the direction Shino was at. Naruto headed over to where Hinata was at and saw that she was about a quarter of the way up the tree already.
"Not bad Hinata." Naruto said while Hinata was walking up the tree.
Hinata froze for a brief second and during that second, Hinata started to fall down onto the ground. Naruto caught Hinata right before she hit the ground. Hinata blushed when she was being held by Naruto. Naruto placed Hinata down and looked at her.
"Hinata, you need to be more confident in yourself. Why is it that you're always shy around people and are easily distracted?" Naruto asked.
Hinata looked down onto the ground and kept silent.
"Is it because of that incident several years ago with the incident with Cloud?" Naruto asked in a serious voice.
Hinata's eyes widened with shock.
"Thought so. Hinata, why don't you take advantage of that situation and become stronger. I know that you won't be as strong as Neji, from what I heard, but why don't you strengthen yourself. What would happen if Kurenai and I were killed? Tazuna would have to rely on you and because of the way you are now; you are just getting in the way. What I want you to do is become stronger so that you could protect those who are precious to you. When you think it over, come seek me somewhere in this forest and I'll help you become stronger." Naruto said to Hinata.
Naruto left and didn't notice the look of sadness that was on Hinata's face.
Back in Naruto's original training area, Kyuubi had a few things to say.
"Don't you think you went a little too far?" Kyuubi asked.
"I said what I said, the only thing we can do for now is hope that she wishes to become stronger." Naruto replied.
"I guess, but you still could have been a little gentler." Kyuubi said to Naruto.
"Why don't I start practicing the Body Flicker Technique?" Naruto asked Kyuubi.
Kyuubi looked inside of Naruto's bag and took out the scroll that had the Body Flicker Technique inside it.
Naruto read the scroll and saw that it took the fourth one year to complete the move a couple months after that to completely master it. Naruto finished reading the instructions and started to train in the technique.
Later during the day, Kurenai watch as Naruto was doing another move and went to see Hinata, thinking that this was a move that Naruto wanted to keep to himself for now.
At the area Hinata was at, Kurenai saw that Hinata was crying. Kurenai moved over to Hinata and placed her in a gentle hug.
"Hinata, what's wrong?" Kurenai asked in a soothing voice.
"I-it's Naruto. He told me that I was in the way and t-that I should bec-come stronger." Hinata answered.
Kurenai was surprised at what Hinata had said. She didn't think that Naruto was the type of person to say such things. She was also a little surprised that Hinata stuttered less then usual.
"I-I've made a de-decision." Hinata said a couple minutes later.
"N-Naruto s-said that I should b-become stronger to p-protect those who are precious to m-me. I wish to become stronger." Hinata replied, showing a bit of confidence.
NEXT CHAPTER: NARUTO TALKS WITH HAKU AND THE BATTLE AT THE BRIDGE
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