Thanks for the reviews guys, it helps. Again, I'll try to update as much as possible.
MerKitten, Sesshylovr07 : I try to keep humour in the story. Even Akatsuki's have their weaknesses (being drunk and such).
Kalis-nin : Cheers :D, Orochimaru is not going to give Orochimaru a cursed seal, though Orochimaru does want Naruto for something else... Good job pointing out the fact that the leader looks like the fourth hokage, though that doesn't mean he is...
Gaara the hated : Orochimaru is going to appear alot in this story. Tim-Tams are chocolate biscuits, depending on where you live you could probably pick them up at a local supermarket. They're boss.
Tea : I like my OC's aswell, and the idea of the Akatsuki. Ayame is one of my favorites, being the fact that she is the only female Akatsuki, and I think there should be more overpowered super kunoichi's.
I split this chapter into two parts. Firstly, Orochimaru's betrayal and Naruot's training.Cheers.
Chapter 3 : Snakes and Ladders
"So Naruto..." Orochimaru said, flashing one of his creepy smiles. Naruto wasn't really scared of Orochimaru, just really creeped out. After all right below where they were standing were the Akatsuki headquarters, so Orochimaru wouldn't dare to do anything - would he? "Try and fight me!" Orochimaru called.
"What?" Naruto blurted out. He wanted to learn a jutsu not have a fight. Even the Kyuubi inside Naruto, who was always watching, knew something was wrong with this situation.
"Just as training." Orochimaru tried to reassure Naruto. "I have never seen you fight, so I want to know what level of a jutsu I have to teach you!"
"Oh right!" Naruto replied, easily convinced by Orochimaru. But still, Naruto thought he had a creeply smile, and an even creepier laugh. "Teach me your highest level one!"
"Don't be cocky Naruto!" Orochimaru said. "If you want me to teach you the highest levelled jutsu, then you might as well try your hardest!"
"I'll warn you now Orochimaru!" The now nine year old grinned. "Don't underestimate me..." Naruto pulled out a kunai, preparing to attack Orochimaru. He ran at Orochimaru, who easily dodged the kunai, caught Naruto's left arm and tossed him into a tree.
'What the hell was that?" Naruto thought, shifting his weight to land on the ground before he hit the tree. 'Is he trying to kill me with that kind of move?' Naruto stood up straight, still wondering why Orochimaru tried to throw him into the tree. Usually for the other Akatsuki members, they would always be on the defensive against him, never try to harm him like that.
"Nice landing there!" Orochimaru smiled, the creepiness sending shivers down Naruto's spine. Naruto found this a perfect oppurtunity to utilise the technique Itachi had taught him. He picked up his dropped kunai, andwent to attack Orochimaru again. Orochimaru again dodged Naruto's right hand, and went to grab his left, but found he had a log instead of an arm. "Kawarimi No Jutsu eh Naruto?" Orochimaru looked up to see Naruto descending from the sky performing handseals.
"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" Naruto called out, splitting himself into five people. Orochimaru pulled out his sword to destroy them, but the Kage Bunshin's were performing another move. "KATON : GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU!" The five Naruto's called out, blowing out giant fireballs at Orochimaru. Contact was made, and the five Naruto's surrounded the smoke where Orochimaru was standing. The smoke left, and Orochimaru was gone. Naruto turned around to see one of his Kage Bunshin's disappear into smoke. He looked towards his left and now two more were gone.The last bushin was destroyed, and Naruto was pushed to a ground with a sword held athis neck.
"That was a nice display of jutsu's Naruto." Orochimaru sneered. "You know Naruto, you're not as strong as you think you are. You're actually quite weak." Orochimaru kicked Naruto, rolling him over so he could face him. Bending over Orochimaru stared into the eyes of Naruto. "You, my young friend, are going to help me defeat the Akatsuki."
"Like I would ever help you." Naruto spat at Orochimaru's face. Orochimaru wiped off the spit, and punched Naruto in the stomach.
"Listen up Naruto. The one thing you will help me achieve, the thing that I cannot do alone, without your help Naruto!" Orochimaru smiled, envisioning himself in the future, with the one true power he had been aiming for. "Itachi's eyes..." Naruto stared at Orochimaru, with a look of hatred. His normal, innocent blue eyes, turned to dark shade of red. His pupils were slitted, and fangs grew from his teeth. Swiping at Orochimaru's face with his claws, Naruto jumped up, to a shocked Orochimaru.
"So this is the Kyuubi?" Orochimaru said, with slight curiousity. "To me, looks kind of weak."
Kyuubi Naruto charged at Orochimaru, punching him with all the force he could muster. Orochimaru was barely able to block with his sword, kicking Naruto back, and taking a swing with his sword. Naruto had nothing to block with, so he tried his best to dodge, but was slashed on his side. Kyuubi Naruto charged again, flailing wildly at Orochimaru, who was easily able to dodge, block and parry anything Naruto threw at him. Orochimaru punched Naruto in the chest, and threw him onto the ground. He kicked Naruto repeatedly, shouting at him.
"Get up! Don't you want to learn that jutsu!" Orochimaru mocked. He picked up Naruto and threw him into another tree. Naruto was knocked out, the Kyuubi features disappearing. Orochimaru walked over to Naruto, tied him up with some rope, and opened the door to the Akatsuki headquarters.
Grinning, at the top of the staircase was Orochimaru. With the sun shining behind him his skin looked somewhat paler. At the bottom of the staircase was Kazuma, Itachi, Ayame and Shin, all shocked to see Naruto lying unconcious in front of them, tied up, with Orochimaru pointing his sword at his neck.
"This better be some sick joke Orochimaru..." Ayame growled.
"Why? So you have another excuse to hit me?" Orochimaru laughed. "If it was a joke, I'd have you all laughing by now. But seriously, give me what I want, or Naruto dies. Standard hostage situation."
"What is it you want?" Itachi asked.
"Ahh, always straight to the point, Itachi-san." Orochimaru said. "But if you must know, your Sharingan."
Ayame pulled out a kunai in anger. "Why don't you just get the hell out of here before I rip you to shreds."
"Excuse me?" Orochimaru asked. "Someone sure is moody today." As far as crazy, sadistic villains go, Orochimaru was probably the worst. Ayame prepared to throw the kunai, before Orochimaru raised up a hand to pause her. "Haven't you forgotten? Naruto dies if you make a move. And you Itachi, before you do anything, close your eyes. Don't try to pull any doujutsu tricks on me." Naruto awoke, to find Orochimaru's foot pressing into his stomach. Rage stirred inside of Naruto, but rather than try to move and let Orochimaru know he was awake, he kept still, waiting for the perfect oppurtunity.
"How long exactly have you been planningthis?" Shin asked, staring into the eyes of Orochimaru. Naruto turned to Kazuma, who was seemingly silent, but fidgeting with his hands a little too much - as if he was nervous. Naruto couldn't undesrstand why Kazuma would be nervous, except till he looked closer at his hands. Naruto noticed that Kazuma was doing a pattern. First, Kazuma would point in Naruto's direction, then he would make handseals, after that he would lift his hands to his mouth and blow in it. It took Naruto three more times to get it, as he recognized the handseals Kazuma was making.
"I haven't actually been planning it for too long. You see, for a group who was supposed to "break" all bonds, you still have one weakness." Orochimaru grinned, pressing the heel of his foot further into Naruto's body. "This little blonde brat. You guys have pretty much neglected him, you were supposed to train him, make him strong, teach him something useful. But no, he is weak. He is a burden on you people, he can't even defend himself." Orochimaru let out a loud laugh, angering Naruto, who more than anything wanted to kill this Shinobi - if only Orochimaru wasn't stronger than him. Looking back up at Kazuma for the signal, Kazuma stared him into Naruto's eyes, and winked. Naruto nodded in return.
Orochimaru was never good at a hostage situation, or capturing nins. The first step, making sure they were unconcious - he failed. The second step, tie them up - he succeeded. Sort of. Orochimaru had made two mistakes, and Kazuma and Naruto noticed them both. The first of these was that Naruto's hands were bound together. By binding the hands together, they were able to clasp together, therefore form handseals. Secondly, his mouth had not been shut, making him able to call out the jutsu.
Naruto turned his head so he was facing Orochimaru. Concentrating deeply he did the handseals, and when he completed it, he called out the jutsu.
"KATON : GOUKAKYUU NO JUTSU!" Naruto yelled at the top of his voice, gaining attention of everyone in the head quarters, and Orochimaru. Naruto tried with all his might to produced his largest fireball yet, and damage Orochimaru as much as possible. In the midst of the fire, Orochimaru was thrown back, Kazuma managed to grab Naruto to safety and untie him and all the other Akatsukis were gathered in front of the staircase.
"You better have a pretty good escape plan Orochimaru, or your dead." Ayame cracked her knuckles, ready to beat up Orochimaru.
"And I do..." Orochimaru grinned. "Because you see, outside of the headquarters are ANBU and Hunter-nins from the villages of Sand and Leaf, all looking for you guys by the way." Orochimaru performed the handseals to open the door, and just as he said, outside were squads of Shinobi's from thetwo villages. "I'll be off then..."Orochimaru prepared his handseals. "Kuchiyose No Jutsu!" Orochimaru called, as a giant snake appeared from the ground. "Have fun, my fellow Akatsuki's." Orochimaru jumped onto the snake, and both left down a hole in the ground.
"Don't try to follow him Itachi..." Kazuma stopped his friend. "We'll have to take care of the ANBU problem first."
"I'll take care of it, not all of us need to go." Itachi volunteered himself. "Plus, I need to blow off some steam."
"I'll come aswell..." Shin said, lighting up a cigarette.
"Okay!" Kazuma nodded. "That's good, that's all we need. Before we go though, remember to leave one Shinobi from the Leaf and one from the Sand."
"Why?" Shin asked.
"So they can tell their Kage's how strong we really are..." Kazuma, proceeded to walk out into the squads of ANBU nins, with Itachi and Shin closely behind. Shin took off the large iron hammer from his back, to reveal a chain, running from the hilt of the hammer to his wrist. Itachi brought out his own sword while Kazuma just cracked his knuckles.
10 minutes later...
"That was rather disappointing..." Shin commented, as the three walked back into the headquarters, leaving behind the forest filled with dead bodies and puddles of blood. Shin began wipinghis iron hammer, while Kazuma was just washing the blood from his hands.
"Why?" Ayame asked.
"They were Chunin level at best!" Kazuma complained.
"What do you expect." Itachi commented. "They didn't know whether to take Orochimaru's information seriously, so they sent what they thought was good enough for the job."
"Well your not the one complaining, you had a strong opponent! And you sent her back as well!" Shin shook his head. "And it was all because you knew her..."
"Wait, you knew one of those Chunins sent to kill us?" Ayame raised a eyebrow.
"Firstly, she's Jounin level, and secondly -" Itachi started.
"You like her?" Ikkaku said.
"She was my former team mate..." Itachi sighed. "And the one that took my spot as ANBU captain when I left..."
"Hiryuu Asuka." Kazuma said, removing a book from his pocket.
"How did you know that?" Itachi asked, before noticing the book. "Hey! Get your hands off my diary!"
"Itachi-chan has a diary?" Kisame laughed.
"He also has a stamp collection, a book on Origami and his Genin academy yearbook..." Kazuma smiled slyly as he pulled out three more books.
"What's this?" Kisame gasped, looking into the diary before he started reading out the passage. "Dear Diary, Today I thought Ayame rather looked fat... Interesting there Itachi..." Ayame immediately began to advance on Itachi, when Naruto walked into the room. The slash he recieved from Orochimaru's sword had been dressed, and bandaged by Ikkaku.
"Don't walk around too much Naruto!" Ikkaku said. "You'll open the wound."
"I'm sorry." Naurto said sadly."It was my fault that he got us all into this mess. Now we're going to have to move places, and Itachi's Sharingan almost was stolen..."
"The innocent mind of a ten year old..." Deidara shook his head.
"Naruto it's not your fault." Kazuma replied. "Instead of walking around acting disappointed, do what I always do!"
"And that is..." Naruto asked.
"Train Naruto. Become stronger. Once you are strong enough you can protect all of the people precious to you." Kazuma said. "Because once you are protecting your precious ones, you can become as strong as you need to!"
"Really?" Naruto smiled, changing emotions rather quickly. "I, Uzumaki Naruto, vow never to lose again!"
"That's a pretty big promise..." Itachi said.
"Can I have one request, though?" Naruto asked, to which Kazuma nodded. "I want a sword."
"Why?" Kazuma asked, even though behind Kazuma, Kisame was already thinking up a million possibilities for making Naruto a sword.
"When Orochimaru attacked me, his sword was too powerful for any of my kunai or blocks!" Naruto replied.
"I guess your right... We'll get you a sword, Kisame looks ever so pleased to make you one..." Kazuma said.
"Kazuma-kun, he was right before about one thing." Zetsu butted in.
"Yeah, we really do need to change location." Sasori said. "Deidara can take care of the demolition of this headquarters."
"I've already set up the clay explosions around the place. They have been there from the start to pull pranks on Itachi... So we better start moving, otherwise we'll explode with the headquarters." Deidara said.
"Alright then, let's go." Kazuma said. "I'll miss this place, so many unfinished rooms..."
"Oh I forgot to ask!" Zetsu said. "What happens to Orochimaru's spot? Because there's this guy named Tobi..."
"That, will be filled up very shortly." Kazuma said, as the rest of the Akatsukis turned for his answer. "This little guy gets the ring! He'll become one of us, officially."
"I thought I already am!" Naruto replied.
"Well you are now," Kazuma said, slipping on Orochimaru's Akatsuki ring onto Naruto's hands. The ten Akatsuki members begun to walk out of the headquarters, and towards a new home.
1 Year Later - The New Akatsuki Headquarters
"Naruto!" Kisame yelled at the blonde boy. "Stop shaking your legs in that stance!" Kisame gestured to the way his legs were while holding the sword. Naruto on the other hand was holding the sword right, but was barely holding the stance.
"It's hard, Kisame-kun!" Naruto complained.
"Well someone quits early..." Kisame replied, to which Naruto immediately straightened his stance, and was able to hold it perfectly. "See kid, that's all you need, motivation!" Naruto's sword was less than four feet, in the shape ofa standard Katana.
"I've got it!" Naruto grinned, to which Kisame nodded, while Itachi just looked on from the rock he was sitting on. They were in a forest - again - but if you were ever to venture inside the forest, you would notice the large three-story house right in the middle of it. After countless complaints of the underground headquarters being too "stuffy" Kazuma built the house, and the Akatsukis cloaked it with countless Genjutsus, and of course a couple of traps laying about.
"Times up Kisame!" Itachi said, before getting off the rock and walking towards Naruto. The Akatsukis had developed a roster of when Naruto needed training, so they could circulate between missions, training themselves, training Naruto and their own personal "free time". Kisame and Ayame were in charge of weapons and the use of his sword, Itachi and Kazuma were in charge of his Ninjutsu and Genjutsu training, Ikkaku and Shin covered Taijutsu with him, Sasori taught him all about traps, poisons and others, while Deidara showed him explosives. Zetsu wasn't included in the training sessions much due to the fact that Naruto was allergic to his head. "Today Naruto, we will cover cloaking jutsus, one that Kisame will help me demonstrate today!"
"Kirigakure No Jutsu!"Kisame called, as a large shroud of mist covered the entire area.
"Holy crap..." Naruto said, as he lost himself within the shroud of mist. Out of nowhere, Kisame had grabbed him from behind, holding him down against the ground. "Okay... I really need to know that jutsu!" Kisame laughed at the remark, as he slowly began to retract the chakra used for the jutsu, and the mist disappeared shortly. Itachi approached Naruto with a bucket of water. "What's this?" Naruto asked.
"A bucket of water." Itachi replied, as cooly as he always did.
"That is pretty obvious, but why do I need a bucket of water?" Naruto asked.
"Kisame is special, in the way he can create water out of the elements in the air..." Itachi replied. "He is one of few people that can do that, and since you most likely are not one specialized in water, and since it takes a long time of training to do that, you need a water source. So, repeat these handseals after me." Itachi said, beginning the handseals slowly, which Naruto copied. Slowly Naruto began the handseals, before he got it at the right speed.
"KIRIGAKURE NO JUTSU!" Naruto shouted, as a small portion of the large bucket of water turned into mist, covering only the spot where Naruto was standing.
"I didn't think you'd be that bad at water jutsus..." Kisame said, for as soon as Naruto created the small patch of mist, it disappeared.
"The cloaking mist jutsu is important Naruto... You need to practice it!" Itachi said.
"But I don't really like using it, it doesn't seem useful to me since I don't use water jutsus!" Naruto replied. "I can already create fire, so water just seems silly!"
"Do you really want to see how useful it is?" Kisame smiled, beforebeginning the handseals."Kirigakure No Jutsu!" Kisame called, he used so much chakra in the jutsu, that it covered the whole forest. "If you can defend yourself like this Naruto! Then I will admit it isn't that useful for you!"
Naruto was scared now, when Kisame wanted to prove a point, he would. He couldn't see where he was andhe barely dodged the flying shuriken as it whizzed past his ear, normally Kisame would've thrown it faster. Another slow shuriken almost hit him as he blocked it with his sword. "Ready to give up Naruto?" Kisame asked, to which Naruto just backed away from the spot the shuriken was thrown at him, trying to hide behind a tree. "You cannot hide in my mist..." Suddenly Naruto felt his belly rumble.
"Seriously kid..." The voice of the Kyuubi inside him said. "Are you really going to let yourself lose so easily?" The Kyuubi cackled.
"I'm not going to lose! I promised!" Naruto replied, yelling inside of his mind.
"I'll give you a tip Naruto, he can create water out of the air, with my help, you can create fire..." Kyuubi replied.
"So what?" Naruto asked.
"Water is to mist, as fire is to..." Kyuubi begun.
"Smoke..." Naruto muttered. He knew it was going to take a lot of work, so he requested the Kyuubi helped him with it. Concentrating, he began handseals. "Katon : Gokakyuu No Jutsu!" Naruto called, released a large fireball onto the ground, creating fire.
"That's not going to help Naruto..." Kisame said, obviously getting overconfident. "Water puts out fire Naruto, remember that!" Naruto was grinning, even though the fire was dying down, Naruto had a chance to utilise the jutsu he and Kyuubi just thought up.
"Kemurigakure No Jutsu!" Naruto said, as slowly the fire turned into smoke, covering the area in which Naruto, Kisame and Itachi were standing. Using the Kyuubi's chakra, he was able to replace all the mist with his own smoke."Thanks Kyuubi..."
"Congratulations kid, you just made your own jutsu..." Naruto could feel Kyuubi smiling inside of him. Using the smoke, Naruto knew where Kisame was, and walked up right beside him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Admit it." Naruto smiled, as the smoke died away.
"You gotta hand it to the kid Kisame," Itachi said. "He sort of outsmarted you with the smoke."
"Fine. But still! Mist is better than Smoke! Water's better than fire!" Kisame replied, like a grumpy little boy. Out of nowhere, Kazuma appeared, apparently to congratulate Naruto. He walked over to Naruto to ask him a question.
"Naruto, did you get any help with the jutsu?" Kazuma asked.
"What do you mean?" Naruto replied, to which Kazuma gestured at his stomach. "Oh that..."
"Naruto, touch this paper for me..." Kazuma held out a piece of paper, and as soon as Naruto touched it, it sliced in half. As the two halves of the paper fell to the ground though, they lit on fire and turned to ash.
"What does that mean?" Itachi said. "Two different chakra's in one..."
"When Naruto is relying on his own chakra, it is wind, that is why the paper chopped in half." Kazuma said. "But, when Naruto is using the Kyuubi's chakra, it is fire, so the paper lit up."
"So what does that mean?" Kisame asked.
"Things are going to get interesting..." Kazuma smirked.
Next chapter awaits! Includes - What is really going on in Konoha? What has happened to everybody else? Who took Naruto's spot in Team 7? And how has Naruto's training changed him at 13?
