Legend of the Beast
I don't own naruto or any of its money making goodness so don't sue me.
(anime spoilers - don't like it, don't read it)
I have had this idea to write a fan fiction of Naruto since most stories I read are naruto related. This story takes place after the timeskip and Naruto returns home to find himself in the middle of 2 wars. His first priority is to protect himself and others from the Akatsuki, but with his secret in the open, can they trust him? And when it comes down to it, which side does naruto's heart truely ly? It should be pretty good, I hope anyway.
Prologue - Old Friends and New Mission
It was hot, real hot. To say it was muggy was an understatement, but that was the whether during the summers. It was so hot you could almost see the humidity rise through the air. It was obvious that training would have to be cut short to avoid a heat stroke. Well, I think I would have said this three years ago, but not now. Living outside of grass country while training with Ero-Sennin has pushed my body to its limit. The weather conditions here change so often I can hardly keep track of the seasons. It has been a little under three years since I last saw Konoha and I long to return.
"I wonder how the rest have been over these last few years. I wonder how strong they are." Naruto ponders as a massive gust of anticipation makes his heart beat fast. Laying here in the center of the jungle surrounded by scattered weapons and torn scrolls reminds him of the first time he trained with Jiraiya and his constant scolding for only summoning a tadpole, not that he was helping much… He was too busy looking at girls a little older then I am now. "What a pervert.." He utters aloud to himself as he lies back on the scorched dirt laughing to him self.
"Naruto-kun"
"Ero-Sennin…. Glad to see you finally made it." Naruto says with a big smile, his face exhausted and burnt from the relentless rays of the sun. His complexion had turned to a dark tan and his hair grew to his shoulders. The more Jiraiya stared at the boy, the more he confused himself with his old apprentice.
"You would think after 3 years, you wouldn't still call me that."
Naruto only smiles as he watches his teacher slump his shoulders in defeat.
"Its time Naruto, I have heard rumors of mysterious shinobi fitting the descriptions of the Akatsuki, popping up all over fire country, not to mention, the kazekage of the mist has been missing for over 2 weeks now. Stories spoke of him rivaling the power of Sabaku no Gaara."
"Gaara…." Naruto utters to himself as he remembers seeing him in the hospital after his mission to bring back Sasuke. Lying in bed, I could hear the sound of sand softly moving across the tile floor beside me. As I peek my eye open through my bandage, I see what looked like a gourd move through the doorway out of sight. "He was there….why I wonder."
"You listening Naruto?"
"Yes Ero-Sennin, I heard you." Naruto snaps back as Jiraiya scowls at the boy who looked so much older then the boy he met in Konoha.
They gathered the weapons sprawled across the field and packed their bags in preparations for Konoha.
"Listen Naruto, I pushed you hard because it was necessary, you realize this right?" Jiraiya asked as he looked to the sky trying not to make things feel uncomfortable.
After a quick glance to his teacher. "Ah"
"Okay then, you also understand….. That jutsu is not to be used unless absolutely necessary." He is instantly cut off as Naruto quickly snaps back.
"Yes, I know. I just hope I never have to use it."
The Sennin looks over his pupil for a moment as he takes a bite of his thumb. "Kuchiyose no jutsu."
A massive cloud of smoke blasted across the tree's as a frog about half the size as Gamabunta appeared with a light coat of armor and two legs that were larger then any frog he had seen before. The two were perched on top of his head as its eyes rolled to meet their gaze.
"Jiraiya… you've aged, he he he." The frog uttered in a high, almost eerie voice.
"Galanta, you always say that, besides, it's only been about five years."
"So, is this the Uzamaki kid I have been hearing so much about lately?"
"You hear that Ero-Sennin, he heard of me."
"Yes I have, I heard that you are an untalented moron who always calls on us frogs to save you."
Naruto's eyes narrowed in a shot of anger. "Who said that?"
"Gamachi is who I heard it from, he he. You don't look like much."
Naruto's anger rose even higher as he eyes turned a solid white. "Stupid Gamachi, like he is ever any help!"
"He he, so what have I been summoned here for?"
"Its urgent we get to Konoha as fast as possible, could you get us there?"
"Sure, he he." And like a flash, the frog lunged across the forest like dog after a bone. This frog was obviously the fastest creature Naruto had ever seen. It took all their energy to keep from falling off.
"Waahhooo, we'll be there in no time eh, Ero-Sennin?"
"He he, he calls you ero-sennin too eh, Jiraiya?" The frog asks as it continues laughing to itself.
"I guess it can't be helped." Jiraiya answers with a soft sigh.
Within a few hours, the frog comes to a screeching halt as the walls of Konoha could be seen just over the forest line.
"Thank you Galanta."
"Don't mention it old man" the frog says as he watches them jump from his nose to a nearby tree.
"He looks just like him…" the frog whispers to himself as a puff of smoke surrounds where he was once standing leaving an open area of broken limbs and squashed trees.
They made their way up the gates as a couple chunnins appeared in front of them.
"Hello travelers, welcome to Konoha." One said with a smile as he looked over the two. The other focused on the boy before finally asking.
"Have we met?" After brushing the long hair from his eyes, the surprised Chunnin declared.
"Naruto…your back." As Naruto smiled back.
"What about me?" the Sennin asked in a sad whinny tone.
"Who are you?" The chunnin asks curious to know where Naruto's been.
"Well, I'm glad you asked…….. I am the beautiful frog hermit…turns in circles and bows his head…known by all as the top ladies man..tilts his head back and keeps his eyes closed.. The great jira….." He trails off as Naruto and the chunnins have already walked away from the gloating Sennin leaving him in tears.
"Wow, I'm home" naruto says as he sprints up the buildings to the tallest building where he stood on highest point and yells. "IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME!" As the chunnins leave to go back to their posts.
"So many options, what first…" Naruto ponders as his stomach growls like the kyuubi.
"Ramen it is!" He says with a large smile across his face. Hoping down from the building he lands next to his teacher who was walking towards the Hokage tower.
"Ero-Sennin……" Naruto says in a sincere voice while the Sennin only glances from the corner of his eye baring a suspicious look.
"ERO-SENNIN!"
"STOP CALLING ME ERO-SENNIN!"
"How about you treat me to Ramen for once?" Naruto asks peaking up at him out of the corner of his eye awaiting his answer. The Sennin ponders the question as he places his hand to his chin when Naruto see's a grey haired jounin leaning against a nearby building.
"Long time no see stranger, I was wondering if you would ever come back."
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Did Jiraiya come back with you?" The Jounin asks as he scours the street ways. Naruto turns around as he realizes the perverted sennin bolted and stiffed him out of yet another bowl or ramen. "I'll get you back Ero-Sennin!" He says under his breath.
"So how was training? I hope you improved a lot if you plan to compete with the rest of the rookie nine." Kakashi says expecting to hear the same boast that usually comes from Naruto when his strength is challenged.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge."
"It's too bad your still a genin though, even Konohamaru's team is fixing to take the chunnin exam in about six months." Kakashi says as he watch's Naruto's jaw drop. "Genin, but I was training with Ero-Sennin!"
"You still have to take the test like everyone else." Kakashi says with a broad smile that was hidden from the boy.
"This is bull, you mean I have to take the test with the brat pack?" Naruto bickers to himself as Kakashi tries to hold back his laughter.
"Naruto…Is that you?" A soft yet familiar voice calls from behind as he turns to face her.
"It is you; it's so good to see you again." The pink haired woman says as she latches on to his neck choking the life from him.
"Sakura-chan…it hurts…le let go…" Naruto muffles under the smiling woman's arms. She loosens her grip.
"Let me get a look at you… Your hair is so long…"
"Yeah, I need a haircut alright, he he." Naruto responds trying not to blush too much in front of his old crush.
"Nice vest Sakura, you made chunnin I see." Naruto happily says as he looks over her custom green vest. She had low cut shorts to accentuate her legs and boots that stretched to her calves. Her hair was a little longer then he remembered though she was now wearing gloves.
"Actually, I just got promoted to Jounin a few weeks ago." She responds as Naruto's jaw just drops. Kakashi still holding back his laughter as Naruto looks like he just got slugged by his pink haired teammate.
"Um… What about the other rookie nine?" Naruto asks as if he didn't really want to know.
"Hmm, let's see here; Ino, Chouji, Kiba, and Hinata are all chunnins, while Lee, Ten Ten, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji, and I have become Jounins."
"Jounins huh…. I see." Naruto replies as his eyes loose a bit of the spark and intensity as they just had. "I am happy for you all, just wait till you see me in action." He boasts as he laughs to himself again.
Their conversation is suddenly cut short as they notice a pack of birds circling above.
"It seems the hakage would like to see you." Kakashi says in his common soft voice while Naruto just grins.
"Tsunade-baba!" naruto yells as he pushes the doorway open to see an almost shocked look on the hokage's face.
"I am the Hokage, address me properly you little brat." Tsunade says with veins on the verge of bursting from her head. "With that hair, it sure is like seeing a ghost." She thinks to herself.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" He asks as the numerous doubletakes begins to eat at him.
"I'm not staring."
"Yes you were!"
"I was not, now shut up and listen. Jiraiya has reported that Akatsuki is on the move and rumors indicate they plan to attack suna-village soon. The kazekage was here to discuss a new trade agreement with us and we fear he will be ambushed on his journey back. Naruto… I am giving your old team of Kakashi, Sakura, Temari who also came along for the journey, and you the mission of escorting the Kazekage back to sand village."
"A mission, YESSS." Naruto says as fire flames from his eyes.
"I believe you have already met, shall I present to you, the Kazekage….Sabaku no Gaara."
"WHAT! Kazekage……Gaara…. When did this happen?" Naruto yells as Gaara appears from a swirl of sand in the back corner.
Naruto and Gaara stare at each other for a moment as the sandy blond ninja gives a nod of respect to his former foe. Gaara looked back as if he wanted to smile but the sand would not allow it. His red hair had grown a bit and his gourd of sand was nearly twice the size it was when they were genins. His height was significantly taller as he was nearly Kakashi's size now and looking flat out dangerous.
"We are leaving as soon as you can pack your things, I want to be there if they attack the village." Gaara says in his emotionless, monotone voice."
"Ah." The others respond as Naruto stares at the redhead not quite understanding this new attitude of his.
"It was you Naruto, who taught me what it truly means to be strong, to be more then just a monster nobody wants. For that, I thank you." Gaara thinks to himself as he looks over the energetic blond.
As they pass through the doors of the hokage tower, Naruto suddenly stops abruptly as he realizes he can't move a muscle. "What the…"
"Naruto…." A voice calls from behind him. "You don't plan on taking off again without saying anything…are you?" The man asks as a smile creeps across the blond's face.
"Shikamaru……" Naruto says as the binding jutsu is released.
"As a shinobi, you should really be more aware of your surroundings." The pony tailed jounin says as he smiles at his friend.
"Nah, I have Gaara here, what would have to worry about." He responds as Gaara shows once again, he has no sense of humor.
"Where are you all headed?"
"Sand village, did you want to come?" Naruto asks as if it's a nature walk.
"Sand village, that's too far for me, besides, I have a new mission for tomorrow so I need to stick around." He responds while still looking at how much the blond moron he once knew had changed. Even Sakura seemed to be taken back as she continued to sneak looks at her old teammate.
"Well, we are in a hurry so we will have to catch up another time, see ya shikamaru." Naruto replies as the group parts from the pony tailed chunnin.
"Not much has changed, that's for sure." Naruto says as he walks down the street with his arms behind his head like usual.
"Hold it Naruto-kun!" A voice calls out as he scours the area for the mysterious, yet familiar voice. Suddenly a kunai flies from behind a tree while Naruto quickly knocks it away with his own drawn weapon when the voice appears ten meters behind him. "Over here."
The group quickly glace to the source of the voice, when he yells. "Henge!" A naked woman appears with smoke clouds floating around the private areas.
"Take that, sexy ninjutsu." Kakashi's eyes bulge as blood spewed from his nose. Gaara gave a look of confusion with a hint of blush. Like a bolt of lightning, Sakura's eyes flared as she waited for naruto's response.
"That's not a good technique to use Konohamaru-chan." Naruto says with a straight face as Sakura's eyes softened. "He really has changed." As a soft sigh comes from within.
"Now this is the technique to use!" Naruto yells with a big smile as his two index fingers press together.
"NARUTO YOU MORON!" Sakura yells as she slugs him across the top of the head squashing him into the pavement.
"Sa…sa…Sakura-chan….that hurt." He says as trys to pick his beaten body off the ground.
"Huh, and I thought you changed.' She says lifting her nose in the air.
"Enough… We must leave now, Suna-village is unprotected. They could be attacked at any moment." A soft voice says as the speaker walks by dressed in a heavy black robe as if he's floating on air.
"Alright, lets go!" Naruto yells as they reach the gates to Konoha."
This is my prologue, I no some changes were made as many more will. The story will be my own, but I wanted the manga readers to not feel betrayed when reading. Please tell my your opinions good or bad. Thanks.