Chapter 12.
Team Seven's Might.
The two Konoha teams had completed a mission originally meant for a platoon of twelve teams. The fighting had been quick and dirty but also fierce. Naruto had killed the outpost's leader himself. The Iwa-nin had been fighting Kakashi, he didn't see Naruto behind him until the Chunin had already stabbed him through the heart with his ninjato. The Iwa-Jounin had died minutes later. The man had been a slippery opponent for Kakashi. Kakashi would've killed him eventually but the Iwa-nin was very good at escaping traps and was also very agile. He died all the same. Sasuke and Sakura had racked up an impressive body count, Eighty-six split evenly amongst the two Chunin. Still the mission was over and now they would make the two week long trek home.
The three Jounin were talking amongst themselves in the front of the formation as they dashed through the trees. "Your team is lethal. They killed higher ranked enemies with precision and fluidity. My team did good, but they were outdone by yours." Guy lamented. He'd watched ninja one year his team's junior outperform his Genin. Kakashi shook his head and spoke "Your team is well trained. They perform their duties excellently. Our team just trains differently is all." Might Guy was known throughout the Leaf Village to be a phenomenal teacher, if a bit un-orthodox in his methods. The three Jounin felt a shift in the air and heard metal clashing against metal, Kakashi turned to see Sakura in a fierce taijutsu fight with an Iwa-kunoichi. Sakura flashed through some one handed-hand signs. The Iwa-kunoichi's eye's glossed over and Sakura's kunai found itself buried deep in the chest of the Iwa-nin.
Naruto spawned three Kage Bushin and the four went towards an enemy attacking Sasuke. Hiro and Kakashi blurred into action as Guy engaged two enemy ninja at the same time. Naruto's Kage Bushin blitzed the enemy Sasuke was fighting from behind. The Iwa-nin, a tall Jounin was able to kick two of the clones into non-existence and used Doton:Jigoku no Haaku, hands made of rock shot up from the earth grasping at Sasuke's legs preventing him from advancing. Naruto Shunshined next to the Iwa-jounin his leg already mid-kick. It was blocked as Naruto had intended. Naruto had fooled the Iwa-nin into thinking he was the primary threat. The Iwa- Jounin paid for his mistake with his life. Kakashi had pulled the same trick Naruto had at the outpost and had snuck behind the enemy. Using Chidori to stab him through the heart. The ninja was dead before his body hit the ground.
Guy was a storm of fist, feet, knees, and elbows. He had killed one of his opponents by breaking his neck. The other ninja had not been able to stop Guy. The ninja Guy was fighting would give Lee trouble but he wasn't Lee. Guy blocked then grabbed the offending arm, thrusting his palm against the ninja's extended elbow shattering the joint. Guy blurred inside the man's guard kneeing him in the diaphragm. Guy felt the ribs break, he pushed his attack, punching the man in the throat crushing the ninja's larynx. Guy then blurred behind the man snapping his neck in one fluid motion. Guy's team had overwhelmed two enemy ninja with Tenten sinking one kunai into each of the ninja's skulls. The Leaf ninja paused taking a breath after the short but brutal fight. They didn't let their guard down for a second.
Naruto was tired, he could tell that even his immense chakra reserves were running low. Soon he would have to use the Kyuubi's chakra if he wanted to continue fighting. He made fifty Kage Bushin and had them form a perimeter around the two teams of Leaf-nin. Kakashi signaled the squad to start moving again. Naruto knew this wasn't the last time they'd be attacked on the way home and he wanted a heads-up next time.
Sasuke took a soldier pill for the second time today. The common consensus among doctors was that taking more than four in one day could give you issues but he didn't think about that. His team needed him in top form so he would be. He activated his Sharingan and searched the area for any more hidden surprises. Finding none he made to move towards Sakura was panting and looked exhausted. "Sakura do I need to carry you" he whispered. She shook her head in the negative and stated "I'm out of soldier pills. During the attack on the outpost my satchel was ripped. The pills fell out." She paused. Her chakra was low. Sasuke could see it. He reached into his pack and grabbed her one of his pills. He placed it in her hand. The pill Sasuke had taken took effect. Chakra flooded his system like a punch from Choza akimichi his senses were dialed to eleven. Holy shit these things were potent.
Hiro, Kakashi and Guy saw that the younger ninja were exhausted and needed to rest. But they couldn't stop until they were back in Hi no Kuni. Stopping now was just asking to get ambushed. "Everyone except Sasuke and Sakura, Take one Soldier pill now. We are triple timing it back to the village." Hiro ordered. He looked to see his order being followed. Naruto's eyes went wide. "Sensei! Han is here!" Kakashi felt his blood turn to ice.
Naruto had felt his clone be destroyed. He'd seen who had destroyed it before through the eyes of another clone which had dispelled itself. Naruto looked within himself….
*FlashBack Six weeks ago*
Naruto was in his room. He'd been provided with the notes of Konoha's previous Jinchuriki. Kushina Uzumaki. The woman's name had made him ask some questions to the Hokage. Naruto had a very heartwarming discovery that day. This woman had been his mother. His father's identity was still hidden from him but he took what he could get. Some of her things were then transferred into his ownership. He went on to look through the items he'd been gifted with fervor. His mother had loved the fact that she was pregnant with him and she'd looked forward to being his mother and all the things that entailed. He found out she was the previous Jinchuriki and had made detailed notes on her experience of making contact and speaking to the Kyuubi. She had noted that the Nine-Tails was highly intelligent and was easily angered. She also stated he was extremely proud. That her and the Kyuubi had come to some sort of agreement.
Naruto knew if he could the Kyuubi on his side or at the very least to work with him he would be much more dangerous to his enemies. His mother had written that the Kyuubi was found in mindscape and had detailed how she'd gotten there. So he tried to re-create it. It worked. Naruto found himself outside the village in a truly massive expanse of a field. There in the distance was a towering Fox. Nine tails lazily dancing behind it. The chunin made his way towards the creature. He got within a hundred meters when a booming voice stopped him cold.
" So you're Kushina's child. Well then. I assume you're here to talk with me." The Kyuubi stood. Naruto had never thought a animal or person could be that large without some sort of jutsu. The Kyuubi was truly massive. "Let me start with this. You have done well using what little chakra you can use from me. But my chakra has my bloodlust in it. Do not ignore it. Feel it. Experience it. I have seen that you train under a Uzumaki fuinjutsu master. This has put things into a different perspective. My original intention was to trick you so I could escape. With the other Uzumaki here… well that plan has become very unlikely. So for the last ten months I have thought of a agreement that would benefit us both." The Kyuubi stated proudly.
Naruto's mother had been correct. The Kyuubi was a prideful person,demon,creature? Well Naruto could use this agreement the Kyuubi had thought of. Naruto nodded and spoke. "Ok. I will hear this agreement you've thought of. But I will state now, I will only agree to this idea of yours if it does not have anything to hurt the village. By the way is your name Kyuubi or… what should I call you?" Naruto stated as politely as he could without sounding weak. The Kyuubi's face gained a thoughtful expression.
"For now you may call me Kurama. I do not often tell others one of my names. I know you wouldn't accept a deal that could come back and haunt your village. I will tell you this now. There is no shortcut to mastering my chakra. This endeavor will take you atleast four years. Also, your body is developing, using to much of my chakra can hurt you. The deal is this. I will train you in the mastery of my power and the secondary abilities that come with it. My chakra is not something that you can master with just brute force. You will allow me access to your sense's, private moments excluded of course, but in your normal day to day I wish to vicariously live through your experiences. Also, should you live to old age I want you to release me, far from your village. During that time, you will have to bring someone to carry you home as you will most likely die from our separation. That's if you make it that long. My third and final stipulation. You will not tell any one of the agreement to release me if you reach old age. That is my part of the deal. You may now barter for you side." Kurama stated with finality.
Naruto took his time thinking. "I will take this deal. In extreme cases I may need to use more of your chakra than my body is ready to handle. In such instances I would like for you to do what you can to negate any damage if possible. With you being allowed access to my senses I would like for some form of communication to stay open unless one of us needs some alone time. You can advise me on decisions but not try to force your will upon me in any circumstance except in the most dire of situations. Finally, I would like to start training with you as soon as possible. Do we have an agreement?"
Kurama nodded. "Naruto we have an accord. As long as we are stuck together I will abide by our accord. I swear it in blood." Kurama took one of his thumbs and bit down on it. "I will abide by our accord as well. I swear it in blood." Naruto mirrored Kurama's actions biting his own thumb. Both letting their blood mix on the ground.
*FlashBack over*
And that's a wrap for this chapter ladies and gents!