I
Time faded away as quickly as it should have, and since time waits for no man, much time is often wasted to human laziness or distractions.
Naruto read the book cuddled in his arms in the times when no customer came to visit the shop he works for, and with that he found some activity in the unsatisfying and uneventful job. His boss, an old lady watched him from the cashier with some curiosity, but it was gone the moment a customer waltzed through the door.
The air was hot, and it disconcerted his emotions. The wind came constantly, a boon that came with sea, and it helped ease the hot air slightly. But only slightly under the afternoon sun that blasts the countryside, so he is still forced to endure the gruelling heat. Then, he flipped the page again, and his eyes danced across the simple piece of paper filled with words collected together into a book.
Such emotions and power that runs between the words! Although he found it difficult to understand, he had a scholar by his side, and it had made all the difference from confusion to enjoyment.
"A game of chess, Naruto?"
'...Why not?' He answered inside, but a part of him smiled. Over those days of journeys he had quickly learned the game, and it was a game of intellect and conspiracies.
II
The forest, with it's evergreen trees and shrubs blurred momentarily, and Naruto felt his head twist.
"What the hell wat that, Kyubi?"
"It happens, because your body has yet to accustomize itself to the speed. Or more exactly, your eyes have yet to accustomize to it. Stupid useless brat."
"Shut up and tell me what to do."
"Fine, you idiot. Take those stones and throw them into the bag. Then were the bag and climb up the cliff over and over again until you are tired, simple, but I hope your lousy mind won't complicate the simple task."
Without much left to be said, Naruto only did as he was told, and he picked up the rocks littered throughout the riverside. He stopped a while in between to catch a breath and admire the water. Then, he began to do as he was told.
The cliff itself would not prove to be a daunting task whatsoever for a seasoned ninja, and with Naruto's stamina, it would not even be a problem. But the rocks was weighted down with something other than gravity, and it is Kyubi's chakra. Kyubi forced his chakra to press down on the rocks, making it extremely heavy.
"Why do I have to do this?"
"Idiot."
"A fighting style's most important part in control, no matter what style, either controlling your opponent's movements, to controlling your stamina. This training primarily trains your balance, stamina and strength." Kyubi continued.
The first few runs was rather easy, but the difficulty climbed quickly when Kyubi pressed more chakra onto the rocks. Quickly, he found himself tired and panting for air.
'This... hard.'
"What the hell are you stopping for? Go at it again, you pathetic little wimp."Kyubi scowled within Naruto's mind.
"Hey. I am trying...!"
"Never said you wasn't, but you ain't putting enough." Kyubi said.
'If I could, I want to tear you up into a million pieces right now.' Naruto thought.
"If you could, but you can't. So shut up and go at the cliff!"
He climbed slowly up the steep cliff, gasping for breath frequently. He could feel his muscles stretch and his flesh twist in pain, the hot sweat running down his skin. His clothes was no protection here, and instead, it became a large oven of sorts, generating heat much to his dismay.
'Next step...' He stared at the next rock.
III
A small hut, inconspicous in itself, but more so when it is located in the woods. Leaves have fallen, leaving the towering trees almost bare, save the persistent few leaves and drained of it's natural green. The floor, covered in thick foliage consisting of leaves, twigs and small branches, is now a magnificient carpet of yellow, orange and red. The forest would seem to be on fire should it be viewed from afar, but it is a matter of little consequences.
Itachi and Kisame arrived outside the hut, and they waited patiently.
The wind came, thus giving the leaves wings, and thus they flew like firesparks.
"Hello, what is so important that you need my presence?" A man emerged from the natural cloak of leaves and trees. He was a person with a large straw hat, and a long yellow draping cloak that flows from his shoulders, covering his body and feet.
Itachi spoke first, "The vessel of Kyubi offered to join us."
And the man was silent, and perhaps that was his reply. Then, he finally asked. "And you are afraid that he might be a spy for Konoha?"
"Exactly."
"Never mind. We will play counter intelligence, then. Let him in. But watch him 24/7." He paused momentarily. "And whenever you hear any other members spreading false information, know that we also intend to lead Konoha off our trail."
Itachi smiled darkly. "Give wrong information to Konoha through him... I see."
"Any more, Itachi?"
"No."
"Be gone. Be careful with the kid, though."
"Of course."
Then, the man seemed to vanish right before their eyes.
"We should get going."
IV
The memorial stood alone, surrounded by woods. The memorial, a stone tablet of sorts to commemorate and remember those who fell in honor of Konoha, and one of them include his friend.
Kakashi quietly stared at it, without caring for anything but that.
Anger, it welled inside neverendingly. A part of him wanted to curse everything in existence, another wanted to curse himself for his uselessness back then. There was a reason why he wore the mask, yet nobody else knew what it was. he had worn it since he was a mere child, a mask that hides his emotions away.
Should a person dive into the crevices of his mind, one would find anger, and hatred, albeit managed in a more sensible way.
Everytime he had seen himself fail to estimate the possibilities, the day Naruto and Sasuke fought was also one of them. He had failed to see the true colors of their emotions, the possible outcomes that should arise from such turmulous personalities.
Thankfully Sasuke managed to come back to alive, or else he would have cursed his own inability even further. Perhaps in a way, he sees himself in Sasuke, and perhaps that is also why he seem to dedicate a lot of his time to give him power, so he would not feel incapable as he did. Perhaps....
But to those who observe, it would seem the Kakashi had failed to give him the real power that he needed, the mental strength to determine good and evil.
Staring at the plate which the names of peoples past are carved and etched, he felt sorry, he felt angry, he felt everything. But most important, he felt loss.
V
Naruto was miles from the town, and he was alone.
Kagizume, reappeared from his body, and it began to speak.
"To defeat fear, face fear itself."
Then, he roared with a boom unrivalled by the call of a thousand predators, a call that sends more fear that anything known to man.
Fear beyond the reaches of man.
He could not feel his feet, a certain something swirled inside him, paralyzing and petrifying him. Neither could he move, nor could he talk, and he could also not think. It seemed that his mind was blank, and his heart had stopped.
It was a full half an hour, before he regained his will.
Then, Kagizume seemed to shatter into green dust, and the dust entered him.
"Much there is to learn, young human. But your mind will adapt to fear in time, in time..."
Kyubi snarled. "Hah! That's all you got?"
Naruto, countered, "Hey! I am only human."
"He performed well for a human of his age." Kagizume defended.
Kyubi sighed "Whatever. Just continue practice... Idiotic weaking."
Naruto looked around, and there was still some fear in him. It was still there, paralyzing small spots on his body, and some places. It causes dizziness, and he sat down on the floor to calm himself down. For once, in the confusion and distorted visions, the ground seemed to be very very welcoming, and he actually savoured the smell of the fresh forest air. It would have been an abrupt change if he came here directly from Konoha, but the passed days at the monastery had made him used to the fresh, seemingly minted air.
"Kyubi, did Naruto go through meditation?"
"No."
(As you can see, this would indicate that this part will be a slight replay of the times in 'HOTB'.)
VI
A fine day it would have been if not for the mist that always covered the place. Mist was busy, following increased trade from neighbouring nations, but he knew that it was because of Mist's immense pressure on the nations. Strolling down the streets, Mist is also well known for the incredible seafood, and the many restaurants along it was the testament to such cooking prowess that the nation possess. If food is power, Mist would be very powerful.
The sky held the misty sun in it's embrace, the soft light is comfortable to both the eye and the body.
He knew once more, that he as a ninja of the Mist, has a destiny to uphold. He had heard many tales of the demons of sand, Gaara, and there are times that he wished he could meet him in person. He lifted his head to offer a glance at the Mizukage tower, and he felt pain. In fact, he felt pain whenever someone looks at him.
His identity is unknown, and to everyone else, he would have been an ordinary ninja. But he came to the world with a purpose. A purpose not given by divine forces, but the acts of man. Like Gaara, he is a bearer of demons. It never spoke, forever silent nomatter how he tried. A secret defense of sorts, Mist would rely on him for it's defence, should any outside force comes to offend Mist.
Yet, he hated the purpose he was given. Although Mist gave him wealth, power and perhaps influence, he wished for a better purpose, something other than a weapon.
Again, he wished to meet with Gaara. Perhaps with another demon, he could change his purpose, overwrite the codes given to him, bypass the written orders.
Somehow, he also knew that the destiny will come soon enough.
(New character? Maybe...)
VII
The forest blurred, and the shimmering blade slashed through flesh easily, as if the bodies themselves offer no form of resistance. The bamboos seemed to spin around him, and again, blood flew all over, tainting the blade and the trees around him. The ten ninja around him sped towards him, brandishing their weapons, and readying their jutsus whatsoever.
Again, the whole scene seemed to blur, and a flash of light sliced through the shadows. With it, three more bodies fall. Then, his blade, darkened by blood, flashed in an eerie red, and another three bodies fall to the hard floor.
Four remain, but not for long.
To the four poor ninjas, he seemed to vanish from sight.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Another flash restored the silence of nature.
The four ninjas, once alive are all dead. So are the other ten. The bamboos swaying to the wind are the only voices that now dare to speak, bloody of all the dead slowly soaked into the ground, leaves and trees. Nobody left, nobody remains... But him.
He stared at his reddish blade with a dark grin on his face.
"... Am I not ready to do your task, master?" He said.
"Yes, you are. You are." A voice came, and it was a voice unlike any other. It was many voices, merged into one.
"So when will my task begin."
"Eight years."
"... What shall I do in between? And which is the world that will soon feel the wrath of a reborn?"
".... The world where Kyubi is." The voice replied.
VIII
Light, ever so welcoming, came down onto the desert, blasting and heating anything that should be in it's unwavering path. Such lands are always hostile, to the body, and the mind of men. The heat is like acid, slowly eating and devouring sanity and intelligence, and so it was, that a method Sand used to torment it's prisoners, is to leave many poor and unfortunate criminals in the vast sandy expanses. Prolonged stay within the deserts embrace has always had a negative effect on man's consciousness.
Temari looked at Baki silently, while pondering the purpose of being dragged out into the desert without both Kankurou or Gaara.
"Sensei, what am I doing here?"
"Gaara went missing..."
"WHAT!!!!" Temari screamed in surprise, but the desert muted her voice. "I thought he said he went on a mission with you?"
"He said that?"
"Yes."
"..."
IIIIIIIII
So, I end this chapter here with the hopes of your review. Thanks and many thanks again.
Time faded away as quickly as it should have, and since time waits for no man, much time is often wasted to human laziness or distractions.
Naruto read the book cuddled in his arms in the times when no customer came to visit the shop he works for, and with that he found some activity in the unsatisfying and uneventful job. His boss, an old lady watched him from the cashier with some curiosity, but it was gone the moment a customer waltzed through the door.
The air was hot, and it disconcerted his emotions. The wind came constantly, a boon that came with sea, and it helped ease the hot air slightly. But only slightly under the afternoon sun that blasts the countryside, so he is still forced to endure the gruelling heat. Then, he flipped the page again, and his eyes danced across the simple piece of paper filled with words collected together into a book.
Such emotions and power that runs between the words! Although he found it difficult to understand, he had a scholar by his side, and it had made all the difference from confusion to enjoyment.
"A game of chess, Naruto?"
'...Why not?' He answered inside, but a part of him smiled. Over those days of journeys he had quickly learned the game, and it was a game of intellect and conspiracies.
II
The forest, with it's evergreen trees and shrubs blurred momentarily, and Naruto felt his head twist.
"What the hell wat that, Kyubi?"
"It happens, because your body has yet to accustomize itself to the speed. Or more exactly, your eyes have yet to accustomize to it. Stupid useless brat."
"Shut up and tell me what to do."
"Fine, you idiot. Take those stones and throw them into the bag. Then were the bag and climb up the cliff over and over again until you are tired, simple, but I hope your lousy mind won't complicate the simple task."
Without much left to be said, Naruto only did as he was told, and he picked up the rocks littered throughout the riverside. He stopped a while in between to catch a breath and admire the water. Then, he began to do as he was told.
The cliff itself would not prove to be a daunting task whatsoever for a seasoned ninja, and with Naruto's stamina, it would not even be a problem. But the rocks was weighted down with something other than gravity, and it is Kyubi's chakra. Kyubi forced his chakra to press down on the rocks, making it extremely heavy.
"Why do I have to do this?"
"Idiot."
"A fighting style's most important part in control, no matter what style, either controlling your opponent's movements, to controlling your stamina. This training primarily trains your balance, stamina and strength." Kyubi continued.
The first few runs was rather easy, but the difficulty climbed quickly when Kyubi pressed more chakra onto the rocks. Quickly, he found himself tired and panting for air.
'This... hard.'
"What the hell are you stopping for? Go at it again, you pathetic little wimp."Kyubi scowled within Naruto's mind.
"Hey. I am trying...!"
"Never said you wasn't, but you ain't putting enough." Kyubi said.
'If I could, I want to tear you up into a million pieces right now.' Naruto thought.
"If you could, but you can't. So shut up and go at the cliff!"
He climbed slowly up the steep cliff, gasping for breath frequently. He could feel his muscles stretch and his flesh twist in pain, the hot sweat running down his skin. His clothes was no protection here, and instead, it became a large oven of sorts, generating heat much to his dismay.
'Next step...' He stared at the next rock.
III
A small hut, inconspicous in itself, but more so when it is located in the woods. Leaves have fallen, leaving the towering trees almost bare, save the persistent few leaves and drained of it's natural green. The floor, covered in thick foliage consisting of leaves, twigs and small branches, is now a magnificient carpet of yellow, orange and red. The forest would seem to be on fire should it be viewed from afar, but it is a matter of little consequences.
Itachi and Kisame arrived outside the hut, and they waited patiently.
The wind came, thus giving the leaves wings, and thus they flew like firesparks.
"Hello, what is so important that you need my presence?" A man emerged from the natural cloak of leaves and trees. He was a person with a large straw hat, and a long yellow draping cloak that flows from his shoulders, covering his body and feet.
Itachi spoke first, "The vessel of Kyubi offered to join us."
And the man was silent, and perhaps that was his reply. Then, he finally asked. "And you are afraid that he might be a spy for Konoha?"
"Exactly."
"Never mind. We will play counter intelligence, then. Let him in. But watch him 24/7." He paused momentarily. "And whenever you hear any other members spreading false information, know that we also intend to lead Konoha off our trail."
Itachi smiled darkly. "Give wrong information to Konoha through him... I see."
"Any more, Itachi?"
"No."
"Be gone. Be careful with the kid, though."
"Of course."
Then, the man seemed to vanish right before their eyes.
"We should get going."
IV
The memorial stood alone, surrounded by woods. The memorial, a stone tablet of sorts to commemorate and remember those who fell in honor of Konoha, and one of them include his friend.
Kakashi quietly stared at it, without caring for anything but that.
Anger, it welled inside neverendingly. A part of him wanted to curse everything in existence, another wanted to curse himself for his uselessness back then. There was a reason why he wore the mask, yet nobody else knew what it was. he had worn it since he was a mere child, a mask that hides his emotions away.
Should a person dive into the crevices of his mind, one would find anger, and hatred, albeit managed in a more sensible way.
Everytime he had seen himself fail to estimate the possibilities, the day Naruto and Sasuke fought was also one of them. He had failed to see the true colors of their emotions, the possible outcomes that should arise from such turmulous personalities.
Thankfully Sasuke managed to come back to alive, or else he would have cursed his own inability even further. Perhaps in a way, he sees himself in Sasuke, and perhaps that is also why he seem to dedicate a lot of his time to give him power, so he would not feel incapable as he did. Perhaps....
But to those who observe, it would seem the Kakashi had failed to give him the real power that he needed, the mental strength to determine good and evil.
Staring at the plate which the names of peoples past are carved and etched, he felt sorry, he felt angry, he felt everything. But most important, he felt loss.
V
Naruto was miles from the town, and he was alone.
Kagizume, reappeared from his body, and it began to speak.
"To defeat fear, face fear itself."
Then, he roared with a boom unrivalled by the call of a thousand predators, a call that sends more fear that anything known to man.
Fear beyond the reaches of man.
He could not feel his feet, a certain something swirled inside him, paralyzing and petrifying him. Neither could he move, nor could he talk, and he could also not think. It seemed that his mind was blank, and his heart had stopped.
It was a full half an hour, before he regained his will.
Then, Kagizume seemed to shatter into green dust, and the dust entered him.
"Much there is to learn, young human. But your mind will adapt to fear in time, in time..."
Kyubi snarled. "Hah! That's all you got?"
Naruto, countered, "Hey! I am only human."
"He performed well for a human of his age." Kagizume defended.
Kyubi sighed "Whatever. Just continue practice... Idiotic weaking."
Naruto looked around, and there was still some fear in him. It was still there, paralyzing small spots on his body, and some places. It causes dizziness, and he sat down on the floor to calm himself down. For once, in the confusion and distorted visions, the ground seemed to be very very welcoming, and he actually savoured the smell of the fresh forest air. It would have been an abrupt change if he came here directly from Konoha, but the passed days at the monastery had made him used to the fresh, seemingly minted air.
"Kyubi, did Naruto go through meditation?"
"No."
(As you can see, this would indicate that this part will be a slight replay of the times in 'HOTB'.)
VI
A fine day it would have been if not for the mist that always covered the place. Mist was busy, following increased trade from neighbouring nations, but he knew that it was because of Mist's immense pressure on the nations. Strolling down the streets, Mist is also well known for the incredible seafood, and the many restaurants along it was the testament to such cooking prowess that the nation possess. If food is power, Mist would be very powerful.
The sky held the misty sun in it's embrace, the soft light is comfortable to both the eye and the body.
He knew once more, that he as a ninja of the Mist, has a destiny to uphold. He had heard many tales of the demons of sand, Gaara, and there are times that he wished he could meet him in person. He lifted his head to offer a glance at the Mizukage tower, and he felt pain. In fact, he felt pain whenever someone looks at him.
His identity is unknown, and to everyone else, he would have been an ordinary ninja. But he came to the world with a purpose. A purpose not given by divine forces, but the acts of man. Like Gaara, he is a bearer of demons. It never spoke, forever silent nomatter how he tried. A secret defense of sorts, Mist would rely on him for it's defence, should any outside force comes to offend Mist.
Yet, he hated the purpose he was given. Although Mist gave him wealth, power and perhaps influence, he wished for a better purpose, something other than a weapon.
Again, he wished to meet with Gaara. Perhaps with another demon, he could change his purpose, overwrite the codes given to him, bypass the written orders.
Somehow, he also knew that the destiny will come soon enough.
(New character? Maybe...)
VII
The forest blurred, and the shimmering blade slashed through flesh easily, as if the bodies themselves offer no form of resistance. The bamboos seemed to spin around him, and again, blood flew all over, tainting the blade and the trees around him. The ten ninja around him sped towards him, brandishing their weapons, and readying their jutsus whatsoever.
Again, the whole scene seemed to blur, and a flash of light sliced through the shadows. With it, three more bodies fall. Then, his blade, darkened by blood, flashed in an eerie red, and another three bodies fall to the hard floor.
Four remain, but not for long.
To the four poor ninjas, he seemed to vanish from sight.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Another flash restored the silence of nature.
The four ninjas, once alive are all dead. So are the other ten. The bamboos swaying to the wind are the only voices that now dare to speak, bloody of all the dead slowly soaked into the ground, leaves and trees. Nobody left, nobody remains... But him.
He stared at his reddish blade with a dark grin on his face.
"... Am I not ready to do your task, master?" He said.
"Yes, you are. You are." A voice came, and it was a voice unlike any other. It was many voices, merged into one.
"So when will my task begin."
"Eight years."
"... What shall I do in between? And which is the world that will soon feel the wrath of a reborn?"
".... The world where Kyubi is." The voice replied.
VIII
Light, ever so welcoming, came down onto the desert, blasting and heating anything that should be in it's unwavering path. Such lands are always hostile, to the body, and the mind of men. The heat is like acid, slowly eating and devouring sanity and intelligence, and so it was, that a method Sand used to torment it's prisoners, is to leave many poor and unfortunate criminals in the vast sandy expanses. Prolonged stay within the deserts embrace has always had a negative effect on man's consciousness.
Temari looked at Baki silently, while pondering the purpose of being dragged out into the desert without both Kankurou or Gaara.
"Sensei, what am I doing here?"
"Gaara went missing..."
"WHAT!!!!" Temari screamed in surprise, but the desert muted her voice. "I thought he said he went on a mission with you?"
"He said that?"
"Yes."
"..."
IIIIIIIII
So, I end this chapter here with the hopes of your review. Thanks and many thanks again.