Disclaimer:i do not own Naruto or Ranma half. I make no claims in any sense to the property or materials relateing to the aforementioned
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The same auburn hair.
The same cocky smile.
The same confident demeanor
There was no mistaking it, one of Ranma's Kage-Bunshin's had turned into his female form. But how? He thought his Jusenkyo curse to be gone once and for all.
"Ho...w, how the hell can you be here?" Ranma said agape as he continued staring at the smiling redhead.
"Well, that's a though one, lets see, you unlocked a new type of internal energy after coming here, right? That's the chakra, when you use any chakra-based body splitting technique your other energy; the ki, needs a vessel. That's where I come in. I am that ki; I am the corporeal form of that energy. So basically, when you use this technique you are going far beyond its restraints, you are creating, in a sense, a full copy of yourself. So you will not be able to use ki. Cool, no?" the redhead explained.
"So what the hell has all that…?" Ranma stopped short as she suddenly disappeared into a cloud of smoke and Ranma all of a sudden felt his legs buckle as he fell to the ground.
"Chakra depletion, better relax for a while and you could explain this situation to us while you're at it, Ranma-kun", an obviously annoyed Sakura said as she helped Ranma into a sitting position.
Ranma looked at his two teammates and knew that he would not be able to escape their questioning so he took a deep breathe and told them everything. Everything. He told them of Jusenkyo, about the Tendo's, his fiancées and he even told them about Akane.
It took a full hour to recount everything, Ranma even started to tear as he described his leaving. As soon as he finished and Ranma had sworn them to secrecy Sakura got up and did something totally unexpected. She hugged Ranma. As Sakura rubbed her eyes and walked off, Ranma was doing a good imitation of a tomato.
Naruto just watched the whole scene bug-eyed. Why don't I get a hug?
"What was that for" Ranma asked Naruto who just shrugged and said 'women'.
"Well now that that's over, lets calm our spirits over Ramen; I have a coupon for today"
"Sure, I got notin' else planned, but I am not treating you today"
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"What do you want Jiraiya, I am busy", said the godaime as she was alerted to a presence hanging around outside her window.
"Why would you think I want something from you, can't you and me just have a chat as friends, you wound me deeply"
"What do you want", she repeated obviously annoyed at the toad sannin.
"I just want information, firstly who is that new kid on Hatake's team and secondly I would like to take Naruto with me to the Stone for an investigation"
"Firstly that new kid is strictly classified business, and sure you can take Naruto and team seven with you, they need the training"
"Wha...t, all of them?"
"Yes all of them, the new kid included. Oh yeah, by the way we have reports of strange activity in the hierarchy of Akatsuki so try to be on you guard."
"Yeah I heard, you really don't he's back do you?"
"I can't say, I just can't say. Anyway, you got what you want so GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE YOU LECHER", she sounded obviously irritated be the sannin's wandering eyes.
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Back in Nerima:
"Akane-Chan, time for school, you don't want to be late do you", Kasumi Tendo said to the sleeping form of her 17 year old sister.
As she saw Akane stir, she couldn't help but shake her head in desperation. She was not the same girl ever since Ranma had left. Kasumi, more than anybody else understood the boy's reasoning for leaving; multiple fiancées, an ignorant fool of a father. But Kasumi knew it was more the events of that failed wedding more than anything else that triggered Ranma's departure. Many times she had told Akane to get on with her life, to forget about the past, anything just to lift that permanent shadow that had taken residence on what was once such a bright face. She sighed as she walked to the kitchen intent on making a meal that would hopefully lift the gloominess of her sister's face if but only for a moment.
"Thanks Kasumi-ne-chan, I have got to head out now", Akane said as she grabbed her bag and ran along to Furninkan high. But she really could not help look at that fence….. "Wow, it had been one year since that idiot left, well serves him right", she tried to reason with herself but she also could not explain the sudden feeling that enveloped her when she though about all the times, she could not explain why her comments sounded so hollow, even to her and most of all, she could not explain why he was on her mind, tucked away, during every moment.
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Naruto received the steaming bowl of noodles with thanks before placing it on the table with reverence.
"It's just food you know"
"JUST food! Its more then that Ranma, it is a gift from the gods to help poor hungry ninja's all over the world.
"Oooook, just eat it", an annoyed and slightly frightened Ranma said.
"Hey Naruto, we got a mission, lets get moving", the frog sannin, Jiraiya, said as he slapped Naruto on the back.
"What the…I could not sense him, who is this guy?"
"Go Naruto and get your stuff, we meet outside the gates in an hour. New kid, we need to talk", Jiraiya said in a rare serious tone as Naruto scampered off.
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"So how do you find Konoha?" Jiraiya just asked out of the blue.
"Its fine", a hesitant Ranma replied.
"Hmm, seems I will have to get straight to the point. I have looked through all the information we have about you and I want to just know one thing; where are you really from?"
"I am from the hidden stone; I thought I told the Hokage already"
"Do not lie to me kid, I need to be sure of my charges before I take them out on missions and lying is a sure way to piss me off."
Ranma, not knowing why, found himself being able to open up to the man and then everything came spilling out, everything.
"Hmm, interesting story. How much of it is to be believed I am not sure of. Anyway its now my turn to tell you something"
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"Ero-Sennin, you are late, me and Sakura-Chan have been waiting here for almost ten minutes"
"Hmm, the great Jiraiya-Sama, can take a few extra minutes if he needs to", Jiraya boasted as Naruto and Sakura shook their heads.
"Lets, see, I got Kuno the second as team leader, a noisy Ryouga and violent Ukyo as team mates, this cant get any better", Ranma said inwardly as he realized that people would always have similarities.
"Ok team Jiraiya---"
Team Jiraiya? Definitely Kuno the second.
"---lets go"
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A/N: Firslty, its good to see you isah. Secondly, i have reached a point in this fic where i have painted myself into the corner. I re-read everything i have written and frankly i am very dissapointed with it. If anyone has any suggestions or if you guys think it will be better for me to re-do this ifc,please please let me know. My other story is doing better becasue i have not designed a inear storyline as i had intended for this one.So if you guys read this far, i thank you. My mind is in such a quandry as i believe this story to be totall sub-quality.Thanks again.