Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. Never did, never will.
Sorry for the slow update. I had problems with my Internet line. Didn't really write anything much. Rate and review!
"How did the dead last become one of the strongest shinobis in the world?" was the question that ran through Naruto's mind at the moment. His body was actually jumping off tree branches following Sasuke as they moved on towards the Team 7 training grounds. The Sand-nins including Gaara were right behind him, while Tsunade, Shizune, Kakashi, Sai, and Sakura were beside Sasuke. Tsunade knew the training grounds personally, since the three famous Sannin were always trained by Sandaime Sarutobi back when they were mere Gennins. Well, Naruto and Asami just had to play dumb even though the both of them just went there.
The ex-Konoha shinobi was drifting off in his mind, while Kyuubi took partial control in moving his vessel's body. Naruto thought about how the fight could play out, how totally huge the gap of power he had attained ever since he was taken in by the Akatsuki. He was taught many things, techniques, battle strategies, weaknesses, and advices were kept in heart. All of them proved to be useful ever since he got them. Few of them tend to link to one another like a chain. Vital ones such as:
'Knowledge is power.' was one.
Yet another one was 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely.'
--Begin Flashback—
"What do you mean all five of you are going to train me?" demanded Naruto as he stood in front of three Akatsuki members and Asami.
Out of the three Akatsuki members, he hated Itachi the most. Kisame was just plain annoying, really annoying. While Asami's father was just neutral at the moment, he didn't upset Naruto in any way yet.
Naruto was directing the question to the four shinobis and a demon that was currently there in the recess of his mind. Though, Kyuubi was still behind the bars, much the other four's relief. It was their first time in Naruto's mindscape, one that they'll soon be getting used too to being there. He was standing there with only his dirty, rugged pants and badly worn shinobi boots in the very sewers and prison held the nine-tailed fox demon.
He wasn't even wearing his Konoha forehead protector, as he stood not too far away from the huge grand prison gates with the paper, that wrote seal, plastered as a padlock. It was quite odd how Kyuubi could pull people's mind into Naruto's mindscape. That was, if the person was willing to have their minds sucked into a Bijuu (tailed-demon) and Jinchuuriki's mind. Of course, Asami and the three Akatsuki members had to really get used to standing on one side of the prison while the greatest tailed-demon was on the other side.
"Geez, what part of the sentence didn't you understand? You're one really dumb brat, aren't you?" asked Kisame as he leaned on of the gray tunnel walls.
"I understood every word, fish face." Replied Naruto as he scratched the back of his head, "But it wouldn't do any good if I have approximately one whole year only to train even under the teachings of crazy S-Ranked missing-nins and a demon."
"Then we'll just have to beat as much informations and teachings as we can for that whole time period," stated Kisame back. True, the three of them had agreed upon training him, but to make him even capable of handling a S-Ranked shinobi was something but miracles could do.
Raetsu, Itachi, Asami, and Kyuubi just remained quiet the whole time ever since Naruto pointed out the whole problem. They had settled in training him since he was their only hope at the moment of fighting the other six Akatsuki members. They were really much surprised when Kyuubi wanted to join in teaching him, which really was something anybody would expect. What will the Jinchuuriki be learning from his own Chiibi? Everyone there was powerful, yet the Akatsuki members just never battled it out to see who was the strongest. Though they did manage to rank Deidara as the weakest. The three of them including Asami just weren't even close enough in defeating all six of them in an all out brawl.
"May be not," said Asami.
Everyone turned their attentions towards Asami; even the Kyuubi was looking down at her from the spaces of the bars.
"Naruto, you once told me that Jiraiya had thrown you off a cliff just to teach you how to access Kyuubi's chakra at will, right?" pointed out Asami.
"Yeah, but he didn't really taught how to actually tap into this demon's chakra over here." answered Naruto as he looked at Kyuubi.
"I lend him my chakra, not just give him permission to take it like it was his at will." corrected Kyuubi. He didn't like the humans in front of him talking in such a way bout him.
Though Raetsu seemed hesitant, he finally asked. "Lend...? What do you actually get in return?"
"The brat here came and told me that I was like some free loader for being imprisoned in his body. I was to pay in chakra. Heck, like I could even choose the human to be sealed in. I don't even want to remove from my own body in the first place. It's just seemed pretty amusing for the brat to have the courage to talk to me like that, even on first glance.
Raetsu looked impressed at Naruto, though he didn't really show it. He really had to admit it. After hearing about it from his own daughter and the greatest tailed demon, the boy was really interesting. Itachi just remained expressionless upon the comment. Kisame wasn't bothered about what Kyuubi had said, he was still thinking upon Naruto's fall off the cliff.
"The Sannin actually threw you down a cliff?" asked Kisame in confirmation.
"He didn't actually threw me, more like push me through a bush where there was a deep, huge crack or pit behind it." explained Naruto.
"Either way," stated Kisame as he tapped his feet in the water that totally submerged his feet, "You fell down."
Naruto nodded but didn't know where Asami was going with this. Kisame in a way liked the perverted Sannin in his crazy ways of teachings. Though the Swordsman of the Mist really had to say that the Sannin was really off his head. Making silly introductions right where he and Itachi stood, as they were about to take in Naruto a few months earlier.
"Jiraiya already had the idea of how Naruto gains access to Kyuubi's chakra, it was either through intense emotion fluctuations like anger, hatred, or fear of death." pondered Raetsu upon the thought with his eyes closed.
"Even birds have to push their chicks off a branch just to teach them how to fly. Of course those who didn't manage, well they made a pretty decent meals for awaiting foxes." remembered Kyuubi behind the cage. "Fond memories of my days as a young kittling... scrapping off dead chicks from the forest floor. Nothing stays young forever, even foxes."
The three Akatsuki members and kunoichi shuddered again upon hearing his voice. Asami, Raetsu, Itachi, and Kisame would have a chill run down their spine every time the demon lord spoke. They still weren't used to hearing a demon talk, and were curious how Naruto could put up with such a presence of power and destruction.
"You were eating off baby birds? They must be huge..." asked Naruto. "As big as a house?"
" I wasn't born this huge," answered Kyuubi as he looked down upon Naruto with a vein popping in his forehead. The first thing Kyuubi was definitely going to teach him what common sense was all about.
"Idiot," chorused Kyuubi, Itachi, Kisame, Raetsu, and even Asami all together. All of them had something in common, even between humans and a demon. The Jinchuuriki (vessel) was slow and stupid, and they definitely have to change that.
"We're drifting away from the subject," pointed out Itachi. He looked at Raetsu's daughter, "What did you have in mind?"
"You told me that you actually talked to Kyuubi, asking him to lend his chakra for a few minutes while falling down. Right?" pointed out Asami.
"Yeah, So what?" asked back Naruto.
"Look, you had a mild conversation with a demon when you were falling off a cliff." Explained Asami as she began looking around the walls and sewers. "I'm surprised you didn't fall splat on the bottom of the pit by the time you woke up from this mindscape thing. What I'm trying to say is that may be time passed much faster here than out there. If it that's true, may be we could use that to our advantage in training the Genin over here longer than just one whole year."
"Chuunin," corrected Naruto with an annoyed face, "Why do you keep forgetting? Tsunade-obachan, I mean the Godaime Hokage, promoted me to Chuunin right after I brought back Sasuke's sorry ass back to Konoha. You'd think Tsunade would just say congratulations on a job well done to six Gennins who had actually performed an A-Ranked mission? Six Gennins of the Leaf, each walking away with their lives after fighting off the snake bastard's own personnel bodyguards. Not that it really matters to me anymore…"
"Orochimaru has his own personnel bodyguards now?" asked Kisame as he just took out his Samehada and let it rest on his shoulder. "The Snake must be far weaker than I thought."
Itachi seemed to be interested upon his brother's first attempt of leaving the village. But then he reminded himself, "You're drifting off the subject again. Tell us whether that's true or any means possible."
Naruto tried to remember the moments back when he was falling off the cliff. He tried to explain himself upon everything that happened. The pit was really deep, true, yet the conversation was just too short to even come to conclusion that time passes much faster here than out in reality. It was deep enough that he managed to summoned Gamabunta right there, and the frog boss still looked idly small compared the huge crack of earth. He turned and looked at Kyuubi, see if the demon lord had anything to say.
"May be one of us should return back to our bodies. See if there really is a difference in time period in here and back in reality." Suggested Raetsu. He gave a thought and said, "Asami, just count up to five minutes when you're out."
"Yeah, sure. Otou-san." Obeyed Asami.
"I'll try to time out the whole time you're out. See the difference even if it is by a few seconds," explained Raetsu. "We'll need all the time we can get."
Asami turned around to walk down the sewer line as though it was leading to an exit. She came to realize there was no exit in this mindscape. "Though I don't really know how to get back. Ano…Kyu…Kyubi-sama?"
Kyuubi was definitely satisfied that at least there were some humans in this world that would show respect, whether it was merely out of fear or true understanding. All the other humans he had meet before kept shouting curses or shout in fear. Then again, he was killing them off so that he could destroy their village or whatever place they would call it. The nine tails just sat there behind the bars doing nothing, however Asami began to faze out like she was slowly disappearing into thin air.
"Let's say there is this so called difference in the time period," pondered Naruto as he locked at what remained of three shinobis and a demon. "What exactly would all of you be teaching me?"
"Everything there is to be in order, for the four of us to kill off those back stabbers." Answered Kisame. "After all these years…"
Kisame was just wondering why the hell this was happening. An agreement ever since the ten missing-nins got together, which had been for over years. Back when Itachi was only a fourteen-year-old boy, and now the Uchiha clan killer was already nineteen. Things happened, how Orochimaru cowardly withdrew from Akatsuki a year after that. Of all the things Kisame had been through, and this was the least thing that he thought off that would be possible. In truth, all of them had betrayed their own Hidden villages.
"What are the techniques that you know?" asked Itachi, straight to the point.
This brought back to Kisame's attention. Kyuubi tried to adjust himself to the beast position he could be while sitting in a cramped prison. Raetsu and Kisame were also curious to what the boy was capable off. What techniques could he actually do with that seemingly limitless supply of chakra?
"Why? So you could just copy them off with your Sharingan?" fought back Naruto. He narrowed his eyes into the cold red and back eyes that were the Sharingan.
Itachi was definitely his least favourite person in Akatsuki right after Sakai. The nineteen year old Uchiha reminded him too much off about Sasuke, the family resemblance was just too obvious. Bastard geniuses simply because they could copy almost all shinobi techniques there is with their stupid Sharingan. The scratched hitae headband wasn't even helping: it just made it even worse. How Naruto had scratched Sasuke's forehead with the red chakra Kyuubi claw, and break all four joints Sasuke had. Dragging his sorry ass back to Konohagakure and in turn remembered him about Sakura. How her words could later be related to the annoying stares the villagers gave him for the past twelve whole years of his life. That could be linked about how Kyuubi was really telling the truth, and that lead to his realization of how pathetic and useless his dream was. How all he ever wanted was nothing more than a lie. Which really was the least thing he wanted to be reminded about.
All of those painful and idle memories simply because of a shinobi wearing a scratched Konoha forehead protector.
"No, so all three of us know what set up on. It would be useless and wasting our time if we're busy trying to teach or perfect anything you already know." Answered Itachi.
"I'm sure Kyu…Kyubi-sama already know what you're capable of," added Raetsu.
"Yes, but only recently." Spoke Kyuubi lazily. But he had slight tinge of joy as he said, "I think I'll personally pay my thanks to that seal crazed vermin."
The three Akatsuki members didn't even feel sorry or guilt for what awaits Sakai later on. Raetsu wasn't going to miss that, the missing Rain-nin was just as mad as Orochimaru. He was all over seals much like how Orochimaru was all over immortality.
"Well, I know the basic henge, kawarimi (replacement), Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, summoning, Rasengan…" Thought up Naruto. He didn't even have to try and check by counting with his fingers and marking them off. All of that was just enough for all five fingers on his hand.
Meanwhile Kisame, Raetsu, and Itachi looked as though they were expecting the boy to keep on talking for at least a few more techniques. But he just remained quiet and puzzled upon their awaiting faces.
"I think that's about it…" finished Naruto as he finally caught on.
"Just that?" asked Raetsu in puzzlement.
"Stop bluffing and fooling around, brat. You're the student of that Copy Kakashi." Commented Kisame as he looked seriously at Naruto. "Man of a thousand Jutsus."
"Only five techniques….and two of them are the basics in becoming a henge." Stated Itachi as he gave a full assessment.
"You're sure? May be you just forgot to mention some other techniques like the simple Bunshin?" asked Raetsu in doubt.
"Nope, I got everything down. I can't perform a simple Bunshin." Answered Naruto.
"Believe me, that's about it." Chimed in Kyuubi as he felt amused watching the four humans talk to one another.
"Yet you could perform Kage Bunshin?" said Kisame, "Just what the heck is wrong with you?"
"Rasengan?" suddenly realized Itachi as he counted down the techniques again. "Show it to me, if what you say is true."
Naruto wasn't liking this one bit, and the Uchiha was going to copy off his prized technique because of the stupid Sharingan. He felt that those accursed Doujutsu was the most unfair thing that ever existed in the shinobi world. Simply copying down techniques and movements where each shinobi probably worked their ass off learning and training each Jutsu. That was something really unfair. He didn't want to waste anytime since Kyuubi, Kisame, Itachi and Raetsu had their attentions on him. Naruto held out his right hand and began to concentrate chakra.
The blue chakra swirled in his right palm, taking shape into a sphere without any help of a Kage Bunshin to mould it with its two hands. All three Akatsuki members were intrigued by such technique, they knew this was one of the few trademark techniques of the famous Konoha Yellow Flash. Naruto was able to master the Rasengan using only one hand under the teachings of Erro Sennin. He had left Konohagakure, with the Toad Hermit, and spent only two months out there before the Akatsuki members came in. Naruto wasn't even sure why he was practicing the Rasengan during the whole time. He wasn't interested in anything else ever since his breakdown except the idea of leaving Konoha.
The Kyuubi vessel looked at Itachi and expected him to performing the Rasengan in his hand. But it never came, Itachi merely gazed it like it a woman watching a huge chunk of diamond. There it was, the technique of the great Konoha Yellow Flash. Naruto was puzzled, and voiced out his thought.
"Aren't you going to do the Rasengan with your own hand?"
Itachi had his third leveled Sharingan activated, but kept silent. Kisame and Raetsu had a smug look on their faces.
"He can't." answered Raetsu with crossed arms. "He can't even copy it."
"Huh?" was the only thing that Naruto could say upon Raetsu's words.
"The Sharingan can't actually copy every Jutsu there is." Explained Kisame. "There are certain requirements that have to be met before the Sharingan can actually aid the user in performing the exact Jutsu."
"The so called Sharingan can only copy techniques that have seals in order to be activated. They can't copy other bloodline techniques, the Kekkai Genkai as you call it, summonings since the shinobi user has to sign a contract, and mostly S-Rated Jutsus.".
explained Raetsu knowledgably.
Itachi didn't seem pleased as his teammates began explaining the weaknesses of the Sharingan. In truth, he never expected the Uchiha's prized Doujutsu (Eye Technique) would have numerous flaws. One that could prove to be a very big disadvantage when someone else knows about it.
Naruto had the all-usual confused face as he heard Raetsu and Kisame began taking turns in talking. Raetsu saw this and further explained.
"Pay attention to every word that I say," started off Raetsu like a teacher. Out of the three of them, he had the best teaching skills since he had trained his own daughter like a student.
"Over all, there are four types of Jutsus (techniques) in the shinobi world, got it?" uttered Raetsu. Naruto gave a nod, it was like back in the ninja Academy all over again. But this he actually had a teachers whose purpose is only teaching him and him only.
"Those techniques are Ninjutsu, Taijutsu (Physical technique), Genjutsu (Illusionary technique), and Haijutsu (Blood limit technique). Now, these four Jutsus can be sorted out into levels. There are only six level of Jutsus: E level, D level, C level, B level, A level, and finally the S level."
Asami's father could see the deep concentration and eagerness in the boy's eyes. He definitely had the vessel's full attention.
"The E level Jutsus are the all basic moves that each shinobi from any village should know. The simple henge(transformation), Bunshin(clone), and Kawarimi(replacement).
D level Jutsus are those that are used to further enhance once abilities with the aid of chakra concentrated in them. For example focusing the chakra in the ears for better hearing and in the nose for better smelling." Tutored Raetsu.
"Hey brat, the human-beast transformation that mutt wannabe and his whelp used is one fine example." Interrupted Kyuubi all of a sudden.
Naruto then remembered back his fight with Kiba and Akamaru back in the Chuunin exam. Raetsu didn't seem frustrated upon the halt, since he couldn't really do anything about it. Itachi took note that the nine tailed fox was probably talking about some member of the Inuzuka clan. Naruto then tried to remember other techniques he could place as a D level Jutsu.
"And don't forget the pink haired bitch when she used chakra to speed up her movements." Continued Kyuubi.
Naruto couldn't help having Kyuubi ransacking his memories; it was troublesome since the demon could even remember the very memories he had like it was his own.
"C level techniques are the all usual techniques that all Chuunins are capable of. Summonings could be taken as a C level technique, even the weakest of Chuunins can perform a simple summon if they can obtain a contract that is. Now summonings are a completely whole different topic, I'm not going to talk about it at the moment." Continued Raetsu.
"B level techniques are the techniques that a Jounin could possibly perform with some exceptions in Chuunins and Gennins. Most of the Chuunins or Gennins that could do these techniques usually are from clans with blood line-limits. Yet even they have to take a long time in learning a B level technique. If they could even do it, perfecting that Jutsu would be another agenda in their hands.
"The Kage Bunshin is a B level technique." Stated Itachi who looked just as bored as Kisame. The two were wondering when the hell Asami was going to return, if this things were right, this definitely will prove to be useful in training Naruto for what seem to be only one year on the outside world.
Kyuubi was all happy inside in his own mind, because Naruto could sense or actually feel it himself as it came around. Though the Jinchuuriki didn't know why and was too busy paying attention to Raetsu.
"I'm going to finish things up," said Raetsu, "The A level techniques are those that Kage level shinobis and S-Ranked missing-nins are capable of. Most of them are Kinjutsus (Forbidden Techniques). They tend to have too much destructive power, and it comes with huge disadvantages such as huge amounts of chakra that would probably kill them off themselves. Of course we S-Ranked shinobis are aware of the danger from the Jutsus learned or develop by ourselves. Now, the final one: S level techniques. These techniques are rare since they're the best out of all the other five. They are created out of scratch by one shinobi for example, and no other shinobi can ever copy it even if it's studied or put under the Sharingan. Destructive powers, no side effects what so ever, and few of them don't even need seals at all, but chakra usage may vary. The Rasengan you just performed and the Magenkyou Sharingan are somewhere between A and S level. All of us here in the Akatsuki have a range of S-Rated Jutsus that is a fact. Though none of us has ever shown to one another except Itachi."
Naruto and Kyuubi turned and looked at Itachi. Sasuke's brother didn't seem to like the attention one bit as he turned his back towards their faces.
"The Amaterasu, something that looks like a black flame, is one of the strongest Katon you could probably find around. It can simply be sealed off like it was nothing more like than an exploded Bunshin (clone) however." Said Raetsu.
"Man, I'll never forget that face, Itachi. The day Sakai just took in and sealed away your Amaterasu into one of his scrolls." Laughed Kisame as a tear fell out.
"That, was you're first lesson." Finally Raetsu finished.
'Man, that guy sure can jabber when he wants to.' Thought Kisame as he looked at Naruto and Raetsu.
When Asami did come back into the mindscape, it was Kyuubi whom actually timed the whole place in the recess of his mind. The time gap wasn't really big like how Asami thought, though it was just enough. 15 minutes compared to the 5 minutes outside. A simple minute out side was equivalent to three minutes in the mindscape. A whole year would only mean three years of training, and the Akatsuki members and Asami were only convinced that they could only draw in a possible fight.
"Then, we'll just have to add the numbers then." Suggested Naruto who was now sitting cross-legged in the sewer line mindscape. "Outnumber them by at least two on one."
"What are you suggesting, we call in reinforcements?" joked Kisame.
"Even if we did, they should be just as strong as any of us." Added Asami.
"Look, we'll solve this agenda later on. If we can't train you to be just as strong as we want you to be, then we'll ponder about asking for other's help." Stated Itachi.
"Looks like some of us just have to make some sacrifices then," said Kyuubi all of a sudden that startled all five shinobis in their place.
"Brat, when I meant you'll be training for three years. I mean three whole years straight. I won't have you stupidly waste your time sleeping, shitting, or anything else."
Naruto paled upon the thought, what was the demon up to. Heck, no toilets?
"Wha……not even a trip to the toilet?"
"I'll spend every human so called seconds there is, in training you with or without these so called cultists. The only time I'll let out from here is when you go eat or drink, don't even think of pissing or shitting off. I'm going to make your body absorb everything there is your food, even if it means burning them off using chakra. The only thing you'll be getting rid of wastes is the air that you breathe out. Got it? You humans always say train for this long or that long, yet then sleep off wasting precious time by at least a third of the whole time." Said Kyuubi.
"So the brat is not even going to shit?" repeated Kisame as he looked at the Kyuubi vessel.
"No, what is it with you humans and shits anyway?" pondered Kyuubi on the topic. Definitely disgusting wretches you humans are turning out to be, "You don't see any of the tailed demons leaving a huge pile of shit around."
The five humans that were right in front of the cage had their thoughts bubbled out like a typical cartoon, forming one huge thought. A humongous pile of shit the size of the Hokage tower just laying there in a wrecked village. The bubble thought popped out as all five of them violently shook their heads.
"We'll take turns in teaching him, since we don't want to raise suspicions. Don't want Raiha being all paranoid than he already is. All of us won't be here all the time, so the turns may change from time to time. If any of us aren't here, the others will replace him while the absentee will replace back his lesson later on. Of course, Kyuubi will be teaching him at all times."
"Just to let you know, he completely learned the Kage Bunshin off a forbidden scroll under six hours. Plus, he made probably around fifty or so on his first trial run in battle." Stated Kyuubi.
The Akatsuki members thought this definitely would speed things up, unlike copying it off with the Sharingan. Little did they know, the Kyuubi vessel would do more than just that. Kyuubi already had plans on what was in store for the boy when none of these cultists were around. All the Jutsus he had ever encountered from past shinobis when he wrecked hell upon the surface of the earth, the demonic knowledge he could consider possible for a human to be passed off, and not to mention to go down memory lane. The memory when Naruto opened the Forbidden scroll, and simply scanned through for what was the easiest Jutsu available until he met his eyes on the Kage Bunshin. He may not remember, but as long as he had seen a glimpse of it, Kyuubi could search the memory no matter where it was. Memories don't just disappear like how some humans put it as forgotten, they just aren't accessible when it was to be recalled in remembrance.
As Naruto began fazing out into the real world, he just realized something. He tapped Raetsu on the shoulders.
"I still get to take a bath right?" asked Naruto.
"If you don't, I know there's a certain kunoichi that would love give you a bath even though you're much like in a coma state." began Kisame as he gave a glance at Asami.
Both father and daughter gave a hard punch on Kisame's shoulders from both sides. Even Naruto and Itachi gave a slight wince from watching how Kisame yelped in pain. After the situation was clear, the nine tails fox demon let out a sigh of relief.
'Rest all you can, brat. Cause by the time we're done with you, you'll understand the true definition of pain and a glimpse of what Hell really is. Since you're definitely not the type that will rot in there forever or even go there for that matter. Just going to show the things that what you'll be missing…' thought Kyuubi as by himself as the five humans vanished out from the mindscape.
--End Flashback--
"Oi, brat! We're here!" shouted Kyuubi out loud in Naruto's head, instantly snapping him out of the trip down memory lane.
Naruto stood once more at the training grounds of Team 7, though the skies above were starting to get darker as time passed by. Gaara had his eyes on the memorial stone while the other Sand-nins kept theirs on Sasuke. Kisame, Kabuto, and Asami wouldn't even notice if Kyuubi took partial control without a note. Baki and his students were standing not too far away from their Kazekage. The Leaf ANBU guards stationed their places beside Tsunade and Shizune. They felt a little inferior since Naruto's action of blocking Lady Chiyo's attack earlier before. Perhaps that's why there were only four of them being the Kazekage's personnel guards.
"Are you sure you want to go through this? You have a Jounin exam tomorrow next thing in the morning." Reminded Sakura.
"It's just going to be a spar. Besides, if I get hurt, I have three of the best medic-nins in the whole wide world." Replied Sasuke with a smirk.
Sakura wasn't really surprised upon Sasuke's action; he did open up a little when he was with the pink hair kunoichi. She gave a light pat on the back of the Uchiha's Chuunin vest. Sai just remained emotionless as he can. The guy tried to act the usual 'I don't have feelings' things, but it some how began to change bit by bit without him realizing. Kakashi kept observing Kabuto, Kisame, Asami, and Naruto from a distance since they left from the grounds. There was something wrong or weird about them, he just couldn't pinpoint what it was. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling.
"Do me a favour. Don't end the fun too early, will you?" asked Kankurou. "It's been one heck of a boring day with the usual walking with no action whatsoever. "I don't want to return to the inn and go to sleep just yet. Baki probably wants you to make Sasuke over there show a little bit more of his Jutsus and tricks for his student."
Naruto just remained silent just as Asami, Kabuto, and Kisame had been. All four of them knew that the ANBU guards already heard Kankurou's words. Probably because of enhanced hearings or by watching Kankurou's lips move about forming words. Naruto gave a grunt and startedto move into the middle of the open, as Sasuke did the same. The spectators stood out like a line all the way from the three wooden poles towards the memorial stone.
"You watch yourself, you're like a completely whole different person when you're fighting. Especially this is your first time fighting a Leaf-nin." Advised Gaara with no worry of blowing his bodyguard's cover.
Naruto stopped in his tracks, turning around to have a look on the Sand-nins. He gave slight gesture at Asami by giving his own punch to the side of the arms. She was relieved that Naruto knew what their Kazekage meant.
Kabuto took note to just keep his mouth shut even after they would return back to the inn. He already knew the consequences when it came to joking around both Asami and Naruto at the same time. Watching Kisame fool around for only a month, he already got the message. However, the mist-nin or now ANBU Sand-nin, was just plain stubborn even after those harsh comebacks. He couldn't help it really, it was plain fun ticking off that couple.
The leaf-nins thought this was peculiar, especially Tsunade. The Kazekage never talked much. That advice was the longest saying they had ever heard coming from the Shukaku vessel. The Sand captain was creepy as it is, just how would join into a fight change him?
'Let's just see how things will turn out. May be he'll turn out to be Itachi if I'm lucky.' said Sasuke all to himself.
Sasuke started off with the usual shuriken toss as around eight of them zoomed their way towards Naruto. Naruto already took out a double-edged kunai with his left hand and blocked off each of them easily. The thin metal shurikens were reflected off the kunai, and were scattered off all over the earth soil. Sasuke crouched down in a running position and took off. The Uchiha prodigy seemed to have disappeared in an instant, sped off really fast, and was already behind the ANBU captain.
"Too bad," breathed Sasuke at the cloaked figure as he moved in for a fast roundhouse kick at the back of the head.
Of course Gaara, Kankurou, Baki, and the rest of the Leaf-nins already knew this was the usual technique he had copied off Lee. Though they had to say, this was truly a bit faster than he usually was. The kick simply cut through the air where the head was supposed to be, though Sasuke wasn't really expecting the attack to even connect. The Sand captain was really fast, he already knew this when he saw Naruto took in Lady Chiyo's kunai. Sasuke just wanted to see if he could match or surpass that speed.
Sasuke turned around to see Naruto: already standing fifteen feet away when the ANBU captain launched several more shurikens than Sasuke had thrown a few seconds before. Sasuke did the same thing as he took out a kunai, though with his right hand, and blocked off the incoming shurikens. The Uchiha could have simply dodged or ran away, but he just wanted to show off that he was just as good as the Naruto.
'Still the same arrogant and show off teme (bastard) you are,' commented Naruto in his head as he released four more shurikens.
Sasuke was completely taken by surprise when the last four shurikens had grazed through the skin of his right arm and left thigh. He managed to block off all the other shurikens that came after him, why wasn't he able to block off the other four? He winced in pain as the cold metallic weapons passed away, struck and embedded themselves into one of the tall trees that surrounded the training area.
"What the hell…." Cursed Sasuke as briefly looked down at the minor cuts. He expected the ANBU to attack but he wasn't even trying anything.
"That guy's really fast," stated a Leaf ANBU guard who was wearing a hazel brown decorated frog mask.
The captain of the Leaf ANBU team who was wearing a dark blue eagle mask looked at the ground. "Not just that. You should look at the ground between those two."
Everyone else including Tsunade heard the comment and easily followed. It wasn't really dark yet; they could still see clearly what was around.
"The Sand-nin took all of Sasuke's discarded shurikens and threw it along with his own set of shurikens," implied Sai as he caught on.
Kakashi made his way to the tree had been struck by the shurikens, and pulled one off. He wasn't afraid of missing any action since the two competitors just stood there on the guard. The son of the Konoha White Fang then made his way to one of Baki's students, Hirami.
"If you would be so kind, may I borrow one of your shurikens?" asked Kakashi politely with a happy expression that can be seen through his eyes.
The Chuunin kunoichi looked at Baki whom agreed. She took out a shuriken from her small pocket bag at the back of her waist.
"Arigato," thanked Kakashi with a slight bow as he held it in the other hand.
He gave a close inspection on the metal projectile on his right hand with his right eye, the normal one, and was impressed. He took out one of his own, then compared the three shurikens altogether.
"Yep, this shuriken is Sasuke's alright. You can tell the difference between ours and the Sand's from the slight alterations."
Each village even had their own style of kunai and shuriken designing. It wasn't really a big deal; there were just minor alterations such as in terms of weight or length. It's not something that other villages would go crazy if they could get their hands on another's. Longer handles, blade tips, or materials weren't much of a bother. These things were meant to be thrown around and mostly left to rust. Nothing special.
"So he dodged the incoming attack, had the time to pick off all the scattered shurikens, and stand like nothing happened several feet away?" questioned Sakura as Naruto stood still.
The Kyuubi vessel didn't even move after releasing the last four shurikens at Sasuke. All of them took this as a sign that he wasn't rushing into things, holding out a defensive pose, and probably analyzing every move. They just felt uneasy when the Sand ANBU elite, who was Kisame, was actually chuckling in delight. The other two with just didn't make any sound, or even bother control their comrade. Gaara, Kankurou, and Baki didn't have anything to say for the matter. 'Probably this was how the he would react when their captain wasn't there to control him?'
Sasuke was now very excited, fighting of a much stronger opponent much like how he fought all of Zabuza's Mizu Bunshin (Water Clones) on the bridge. He finally activated the Uchiha blood-lined Doujutsu, the Sharingan.
"I bet you already know what these eyes can do," said Sasuke as he flexed his fingers. His hands quickly and smoothly began making hand seals and started off again with the all too familiar technique. "Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu! (Fire Element: Grand Fire Ball Technique)
Naruto made his own set of seals, under the cloak, and slammed both palms on the ground. His fingers then clawed their way into the earth like their were just grains of sand. He never mentioned the technique at all, though Kisame, Asami, and Kabuto already knew what it was.
'Doton: Doroku Gaeshi (Earth Element: Upside-down Mud wall)' all three of them voiced out in their minds. They knew he was testing off most of the techniques he had acquired from Orochimaru's scroll. This was one of the techniques that belonged to Jiroubo, a Sound Five member. Naruto just couldn't vomit a wall of mud out of his mouth with the mask on.
A huge wall of rock and dirt was pulled out, after chakra sipped through Naruto's fingers into the ground. It had spread out and collected the rocks and dirt together from the ground, and only waited to be pulled out by the two hands. Naruto pulled the huge slab of earth that soon would be acting as a barrier between him and the attack. The compact wall of earth easily took the direct heat of the fire.
"Clever. Very clever indeed," complimented one of the Leaf ANBU guards.
Sakura gave a snort, "Heh, he just blocked a Sasuke-kun's Katon. What's so great about that?"
"You're failing too see it, Sakura." warned Tsunade. Eenher assistant, Shizune had to agree. This was one tone she used every time Sakura got too cocky while learning Medical Jutsu.
"The Sharingan is famous for the ability to copy off Jutsus. That's one of the reasons why the Uchiha are well known. But the Sand ANBU already solved the problem of preventing his Jutsu from being copied down by Sasuke." explained Kakashi.
Sai had his eyes on the battlefield but said, "His cloak totally covers his hands and body. The Sharingan can't see through that cloak of his to copy down the chain of seals in setting off the Jutsu. It's really simple."
Since Naruto couldn't see what was happening behind the wall, Sasuke took the advantage performed a few more seals and finally ended. His right hand with the index and middle finger pointed out, resting on the back of his left hand. He then slammed his right palm on the ground. 'Earth Element: Earthquake Pulse'. The ground quickly began collapsed in a line as it made its way right at Naruto. The wall of rocks and dirt collapsed right on top of Naruto while the earth beneath him cracked away taking him in along with the chunks of earth on top of him.
"Isn't that a bit too much for a spar?" Chiro directed the question at Baki.
Baki simply answered, "Just watch. You'll learn a thing or two."
Just when Baki finished off, the earth continued to shake even after Sasuke held back his hands and began looking around for Naruto. Knowing the ANBU captain, he had probably run several feet away already. The rumble began to grow more violent as time passed by each minute.
'Crap, he's going to use that thing.' thought Kabuto as he looked back between Kabuto and Asami.
'He's the one that's going too much for a simple spar,' thought Kisame with a shark grin under the bone white ANBU mask.
'Show off,' was the only thing that ran through Asami.
The ground where Naruto had fell rose up, and suddenly snaked its way up in a serpent like manner. It shot out clouds of dust and debris as the earth continued growing out of the hole. The pillar of earth began to bend into a serpent like figure, with pieces of rocks as its scales. Naruto could clearly be seen on top of its head, looking down on the shock stricken Uchiha. He averted his attention through the spectators and finally ended on the
Memorial Stone.
"What in Kami-sama's name is that?" awed three of Baki's students.
"Don't know, never seen it before." Answered Baki. Even he didn't see this one coming, it's just that he wanted to keep his composure in check for the benefit of students.
The Leaf-nins including Tsunade were speechless, none of them ever heard or seen such technique back when Earth and Leaf waged wars ten years ago. It seemed powerful, why wasn't it used back then. Perhaps it was a newly developed Jutsu.
'Doton: Doryuudan no Jutsu (Earth Element: Dragon Blast Technique)' chorused all four Sand ANBU elites together in their minds. Of course, they didn't actually knew they were saying this altogether.
Kakashi raised his slanted Konoha headband, revealing the transplanted Sharingan on his left eye. He observed every part of the solid rock dragon that eyed down Sasuke like a prey. "It's a variant of the Suiryuudan no Jutsu (Water Dragon Blast Technique). What I'm interested in is his how he got those chakra path ways in that body of his…."
A Leaf ANBU, whom just happened to be a Hyuuga, activated his Byakugan in order to understand what Kakashi was talking about. Both Byakugan and Sharingan had the ability to see the human chakra system like an X-Ray scan. He could just rub his eyes in disbelief if it weren't for the ANBU mask, but just settled with a violent shake of the head. The Hyuuga ANBU said, "I don't even want to know how he got those chakra path ways. It's like he's got several different networks of chakra pathways linked altogether with all usual normal chakra system. But they're just empty for now, there's no chakra flowing through any of the separate paths at the moment."
The chakra system can't simply just change as soon as it had developed. That's one of the reasons why a newborn baby such as Naruto and Gaara were used as containers of the demons. Babies don't even have chakra pathways, so it doesn't cause conflicts, malfunctions and complications between the Chiibi and the Jinchuuriki. As the young Jinchuuriki grows, the chakra system develops and connects automatically to the alternate source. Once it's developed, it's almost impossible to have the chakra coils altered in any way.
Almost.
Orochimaru had been known to surgically alter the chakra pathways within a person's body. This was discovered when the ANBU scout team brought back the dead bodies of the Sound five, Orochimaru's personnel guards. It was obvious from the moment they laid their eyes on Kindoumaru, the Sound-nin with the spider like abilities. From all six hands and two legs making eight, the spider summonings, chakra induced spider threads and webs. How Orochimaru had managed to join up the extra four hands, give a third eye on the forehead, with chakra pathways in them, they didn't want to know.
The Leaf-nins were actually discussing while watching the whole spar play out before them. At the same time, the Sand-nins were eavesdropping on what their allies could come out with about their proud Sand ANBU elites.
Shizune suggested, "May be it's like some sort of back up pathways, in case he got his Tenketsus (Chakra holes where chakra is released from the body) sealed away like a Hyuuga gentle fist style or something. Then he could relay the chakra to flow through the empty path ways."
"Or may be there's a possibility of too much chakra flowing in his body, the empty chakra pathways just act as a different means of passage. Not to overload the body like how Lee once did when opened his gates in fighting back in the Chuunin exams." Added Sakura.
"Possibly both," concluded Tsunade with a slight worry. She caught the weird faces of Shizune and Sakura staring at her. "That ANBU captain has the highest chakra reserve between all the Sand-nins, even including Gaara. The one with the huge sword strapped at his back also has quite a chakra reserve. Both monstrously high for an average Jounin, these two seem to surpass their own Kazekage. What bothers me the most is that the two of them are suppressing them."
"Now that is a bit too much for a spar," quoted Kankurou.
'I should have brought a bag of popcorn….' Sighed Gaara in his mind.
"Sugoii (Amazing)..." breathed Chiro and Hirami. Takagi couldn't utter a word. Baki definitely agreed that taking them was one of the best things that happened in Suna.
Even after serving Suna for over a year, there weren't much rumors on how really strong their special task force ANBU were. The identity of ANBU members were kept secret, well except for those four. Their identities were only well known to the whole council, some of the ANBU, Jounins, and Chuunins of Sunagakure. The citizens of Suna that didn't knew their identities, knew they were previous missing-nins. But that didn't matter, they managed to accept and acknowledge a Jinchuuriki as their Kazekage. So why bother who they were? It's just what their real capabilities were, they had wondered. They did bring a drastic change ever since they set foot on Wind Country.
"Oh yeah? Let see how that thing favor against this," challenged Sasuke as he made the next chain of different hand seals. "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!"
The near by river where Naruto was sent off by back in the bell test, rose up much like Naruto's dragon with glowing red eyes. Both elemental dragons gave a loud roar to each other as they clashed head on. Of course, the water dragon just splashed way after impact, flooding down on the grass below. The result was clear, it was like shooting a water gun at a concrete wall. Naruto was still on earth dragon's head, escaped with nothing more than having nothing more but drenched clothes. Sasuke clenched his teeth and fist altogether in complete rage and anger. Even if Naruto couldn't see it from high above, he could already guess what the Uchiha was probably doing.
Naruto was took all his opponents seriously, he was completely beaten to remember almost everything he had ever been taught. Never underestimate an opponent it was. But this just was ridiculous.
'Tough luck, Sasuke-teme (bastard). Don't worry, the night is still young,' thought Naruto. 'Guess this fox will play around a little with the bat, snake or whatever that is you've become before settling back into his den. Got a big snake to catch and torture tomorrow.'
His sand brown cloak swayed a little by the cold night breeze. This was a spar, and Naruto always did play around in sparring. Of course, the term playing could completely taken into a whole new level. Much like how fox cubs would play around with one another, yet unconsciously developing the instincts of killing in the hunting trips to come.
He was going to do just that. Play around with the Chuunin Uchiha, and go hunting for Orochimaru the next day.
Sorry, I'm real sorry ! If the latest update turn up to be really boring. I've tried reading and edit it over and over again. Somehow this chapter just sucks in my opinion. Guess I'm still trying to fill in the loopholes. I promise I'll try my best in the next one. It's been one crappy month, no Internet access and stuff. Rate and Review, People! Please?