AN: Time for a story that involves one of my favorite games that is sorely underappreciated with the most unique combat system I've encountered. One with a very Power Ranger color-coded Characters. In truth, I have taken inspiration from a good friend of mine and amazing author, MercenaryGrax, and his story Naruto – Life of a Dragoon Ninja. So, do me a favor and go give his stories a read. Also, I had inspiration from a concept from another great Author by the name of VFSNAKE and his story Push Comes to Shove.
Note that this will have slight Kakashi and Sakura bashing but Jiraiya and Sasuke are gonna be bashed into bloody pulps and left hanging by their end trails. And as many of you know how I write, Naruto is going to have a no-bullshit attitude. So don't expect to take shit from anyone or be anyone's punching bag. The Genin Teams 7 – 10 have all been aged up to 16/17.
As said in the summary, Kushina is alive, however, you will find out her reasons for leaving this chapter. Without further ado... ONWARDS TO THE STORY!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Summons"
"Kurama/Dragoon Spirits"
Jutsu/Kekkai Genkai/Spell
A Dragoon's Maelstrom
Chapter 1: The Reawakening of the Dragoons
[Land of Hot-springs]
It has been 6 months since Naruto started his training journey with the Toad Sage Jiraiya, they have been staying in the one place where the perverted Sannin was in his heyday for the last month. And all that time, the only thing Naruto was being taught was how to break Genjutsu and Chakra Control exercises. This is all have been working on when they were in populated areas, but on the road, Jiraiya had been focusing on getting the blonde to focus on trying to control the Nine-tailed fox's Chakra, even if using it hurt him and felt like it was tearing him apart after 3 tails worth of Chakra.
There had been no other kind of training, and Naruto has had enough. Especially since every time they were in town, Jiraiya gave him instructions on what to do, sealing his money saying it was his "apprentice fee" and running off the brothels, or in this case, the hot-springs to peep on women for the old man's smut.
Both were currently getting ready to settle in for the night when the Jinchūriki decided to confront his so-called sensei. "Hey, Pervy Sage. When are you going to help me improve my other skills, like my Taijutsu, increasing my jutsu arsenal, hell teach me some Fūinjutsu?"
"I told you brat... it's far more important to learn how to control the fox's chakra and your general control. We'll get your Taijutsu up to snuff once you get everything else caught up." Jiraiya said dismissively. "You need to get you to improve your Rasengan so you can do it without Shadow Clones before I even consider teaching you anything other Jutsu, thus you need to improve your Chakra Control. Now go to bed, We have a full day tomorrow."
"Yeah right, by full day you mean stealing my money to spend the day at the brothel while simply telling me what to do without any guidance and advice! How am I supposed to figure out I'm doing wrong if you don't act like an actual sensei!?" Naruto rebuked angrily.
"You should be happy I even considered training you." The pervert scoffed. "And remember, the other reason for this three-year trip is to keep the Akatsuki off your trail."
"And Granny Tsunade is expecting you to improve ALL my skill so I can fight back against them! What would she say if she knew that you've spent half the time at brothels instead of doing your damn job!?" the blonde retorted.
"Like she'd believe you over me..." The Sannin shrugged. "Besides, I'd just tell her that you're a pathetic student that can't grasp what I'm trying to teach you and are not worth my time."
"The only pathetic one here is you!" Naruto screamed as he clenched his fist. "Who takes money from their pupil to go get drunk and sleep around with whores infected with multiple STDs. I'm actually surprised you haven't caught anything with how often you visit them! What's worse is that you're trying to get me to join you!"
"Listen you little prick, leave my vices out of this! Those girls could teach you how to pleasure a woman in the unlikely event you ever get a girlfriend!" Jiraiya growled. "And don't think that blonde bombshell of a Yamanaka is going stay single while we're away even if she's your childhood friend. A girl like that will have men tripping over themselves to be with her."
"Ino isn't that kind of girl!" the blonde said, restraining himself from attacking the pervert. "You know as well as I do that her father wouldn't approve. Not to mention being Granny's second apprentice, do you really think she'll have time to pay attention to guys?"
"Whatever kid, don't blame me when we get back and end up with one of her teammates or some other guy and pregnant with his child." The white-haired old man said getting into his bed for the night. 'Damn brat... I need to keep him from getting too strong while keeping him on course to fulfilling the Prophecy so I can live off the fame and glory of training the savior of the world.'
'Tch, I know Ino will wait, she promised me she would before we left.' Naruto thought thinking back on the day they left.
[Flashback – 6 months prior at the gates of Konoha]
Naruto was at the village gates ready to depart with Jiraiya for the next 3 years, he was surprised by the people there to see him off. He suspected that Ino, Tsunade, Shizune, and the Ichiraku's may have shown up, but he wasn't excepting all the Konoha 11, minus the few still in the hospital to be there. Hell even if he and Ino have been friends since childhood, he wasn't excepting Ino's father there or even Shikaku and Choza there.
"Talk about a send-off eh kid?" Jiraiya said while internally sheathing. 'Damn it, I was hoping no one other than Tsunade and Shizune would show up so I could be his sole support... I wasn't excepting the InoShikaCho Families to be here! I thought Danzo was supposed to keep him isolated... how did he befriend those three?'
"Yeah, honestly I wasn't excepting so many to show up." Naruto nodded with a wistful smile.
"Everyone here cares for and respects you Naruto." Tsunade said with a wry smirk.
"What you think I'd let you leave without saying goodbye?" Ino grinned.
"What a drag... Ino dragged me here when I wanted to stay by Choji's side." Shikamaru grumbled.
"You have other responsibilities, Chunin Nara." The Hokage chided earning the trademark "Troublesome" from the younger Nara.
"When Ino told us you were leaving for 3 years, she made sure we'd all be here to see you off since you're our friend." Kiba said exuberantly with Akamaru yipping in agreement and nods from the other Genin, albeit shyly from Hinata.
"And we're here as members of the council to validate what Tsunade wishes to do before you leave." Shikaku said with a nod from Choza.
"Even if I wasn't here on official business, you've been friends with my daughter since you were 5, of course, I'd be here to see you off." Inoichi responded with a grin before deciding to tease both younger blondes. "After all, you may end up being my son-in-law one day."
However, if they were expecting Ino to blush and cause a scene, they were sorely mistaken. She merely walked up to the blonde male with confidence and purpose, grabbed the collar of his tracksuit, and kissed him with every ounce of emotion she had been keeping pent up for most of her life. Naruto was shocked at first but seconds later he wrapped his arms around her waist and he kissed her back with equal passion.
Everyone was shocked for a moment before almost everyone but Jiraiya celebrated, albeit reluctantly with a certain indigo-haired girl who had a resigned smile on her face. She knew it was only a matter of time before this happened and therefore she didn't stand a chance with her crush.
"Come back safe you hear me... I'll be waiting for you." The platinum blonde said in a husky voice after pulling away from the kiss, keeping her forehead pressed against his.
"You got it. I'll train hard and come back so much stronger to keep both of us safe." the Jinchūriki said quietly.
"Don't you worry, I'll train her hard so you two can walk together side by side when you come back in 3 years." Tsunade said with a big smile. "Jiraiya, you had better train him into the ground as well or I will remove what makes you a man."
"Of course." Jiraiya said, faking his fear already planning to say that Naruto just couldn't grasp what he was planning on teaching the weapon.
"Now, before you leave Naruto, I have another surprise for you." The Hokage said. "For your efforts during the Invasion, bringing me back to the village, by my authority as Hokage, I hereby promote you to Chunin. Congratulations."
And once again everyone was celebrating causing the civilians walking by to wonder what was going on.
Teuchi stepped up with a big smile. "With these two big events normally I'd offer you a free bowl or two of ramen in celebration but that will have to wait for the next time you come back to the village."
"Congratulations Naruto and Ino for finally getting together!" Ayame said cheerfully. "And Congratulations on making Chunin you big lug!"
"Thanks, sis." Naruto said having moved to Ino's side with his right arm around her waist holding her close with her head resting on his shoulder.
"Hate to break this touching moment, but we should get going. I'd like to get to the next town before nightfall." Jiraiya said hiding his irritation at the genuine affection towards who he viewed as nothing more than a tool to further his fame.
"See you all in 3 years." The Jinchūriki said, reluctantly letting of his childhood friend turned future lover before walking off with his supposed sensei.
[Flashback End]
'I'll contact Granny in the morning and tell her what is happening and see if I can't go off on my own, I'm not really learning anything from him anyhow.' Naruto thought before settling in for the night.
The next morning Jiraiya took off to do his "research", only he didn't take his student's money, mainly due to his froggy wallet being empty, not knowing that Naruto was hiding his money at night in his nightcap. Once Naruto was sure he was alone, he got to work on writing the letter to Tsunade and summoned Gamakichi.
"Yo, what's up Naruto?" The small toad asked.
"I need you to deliver this Granny Tsunade. It's really important." The blonde said seriously.
"Alright, but you owe me some snacks by the time I come back with the response that I'm assuming you're going to want to wait for." Gamakichi grumbled.
"You got it." The Jinchūriki nodded in agreement to both points.
"See you in a bit." The red toad said before dispersing.
[Konoha – Hokage's Office]
Tsunade had just got into her office with Shizune, and neither could shake the feeling that today was going to bring trouble. And almost on cue, Naruto's personal summon popped on her desk with a scroll on his back.
"Gamakichi? What are you doing here?" The busty blonde asked curiously.
"Naruto wanted me to give you this, said it was important." Gamakichi said holding out the scroll.
Suddenly that feeling of impending trouble intensified as Tsunade took the scroll and started to read it. As she read the letter, which stated exactly what Jiraiya had been teaching her distant cousin in or lack-there-of, the Slug Sannin grew increasingly angry, especially when she reached the part of them having spent the last month in Hot-spring Country with her perverted teammate taking money from his charge so he could do his "research."
"Lady Tsunade, what's wrong?" Shizune asked hesitantly.
"I'm going to castrate that fucking pervert... They've been in the Land of Hot-springs for the past month teaching Naruto nothing useful outside of how to break a Genjutsu alone... for the last 6 months Jiraiya has been training get him to harness the fox's chakra when they are on the road, but in towns, it's chakra control and Genjutsu training... no Taijutsu, no adding to Naruto's arsenal of jutsu, and certainly not checking his chakra nature!" The Hokage raged.
"Something tells me that's not all that's in that letter knowing Naruto..." The black-haired young woman sighed.
"You're right." Tsunade nodded before sitting down. "He is requesting to be able to go out on his own to train and avoid the Akatsuki by keeping on the move."
"Isn't that dangerous? I know they've been quiet since their last attempt but they could go after him at any time!" Shizune protested.
"I know, but what is the point of Naruto sticking around if the one in charge of his training and protection is not doing his job on both fronts?" The busty blonde asked seriously causing her assistant to relent. "I want you to grab some Chakra Paper and standard supplies."
As Shizune ran off to do that, Tsunade turned to Gamakichi. "When I send him my response, can you make a detour and have Ma and Pa come visit me?"
"After hearing that? I was gonna inform Pops and the elders so yeah, I can do that on the way. Naruto is probably trying to work on doing the Rasengan one-handed anyway." Gamakichi nodded with an angry look on his face.
"Hmmm. I will have to include some information that will help his training since he doesn't seem to have figured it out yet." She said as started on her response letter.
Just as Shizune returned, Ino happened to walk in for her training for the day only to see Gamakichi on her mentor's desk.
"Kichi?" She asked before getting frantic. "What's going on? Did something happen to Naruto?! Is he ok?!"
"Relax Ino... He's alright. Jiraiya's just not doing either of his jobs." The Hokage said trying to pacify her apprentice.
"When that 'Super Pervert' gets back I am going to turn his mind to mush!" The platinum blonde growled. "Is Naruto coming back then?"
"No, he wants to continue to train on his own with me sending him stuff on occasion to help with his training." The Slug Sannin sighed earning a sigh from her youngest apprentice knowing how stubborn her promised love was.
"Damned stubborn idiot." Ino sighed but had a wistful smile. "Kichi can you let him know that I miss him and that he had better stay safe out there."
As Tsunade handed him the response letter, Gamakichi nodded and flashed a froggy smile. "You got it! I'll even wave my candy fee since I'm so pissed at Jiraiya."
With that, the red toad reversed summoned himself back to Mount Myōboku to fulfill his tasks. However, the feeling of dread only increased, as if the gates of hell were going to open and unleash its fiercest demon upon them.
[with Naruto – 1 hour later]
Naruto was taking time to relax while he waits for Gamakichi to get back. He had already gone to the store to grab his friend the promised bag of candy. He wasn't sure what was taking so long but he was starting to get bored and started tossing one of many rubber balls he also purchased for his Rasengan re-training against the wall.
When the Chief Toad's son appeared in a plume of smoke. "Yo! Sorry, it took so long, Lady Tsunade needed to gather a few things for me to give to you that are included in this letter."
"I understand. Though I wasn't expecting anything other than the permission to train on my own I guess I should have excepted her to send some training methods for me." The blonde merely shrugged as he took the scroll.
"Naruto, your request to leave the protection and tutelage under Jiraiya is hereby granted as long as you keep in contact at least once a week. So that there is no chance of him hunting you down or him attempting to use the toads to track you down I've included a separate letter for that old pervert along with some Chakra Paper to help with your training along with training methods for each element to cover all 5 bases.
Also, if you haven't figured it out by now, Shadow Clones were originally used for espionage because whatever they learn is returned to the caster, and while it wasn't originally made for it, someone with your chakra levels could theoretically use it for training. Just be careful of the memory backlash since it could overload your brain and kill you, so dispel them in small numbers.
If anything comes up that needs your immediate attention I will send Katsuya or a Messenger Hawk. Stay safe out there kid and train hard.
The 5th Hokage
Tsunade Senju"
"Oh, your girlfriend says she misses you and says that you better stay safe out there." Gamakichi said with a grin.
"Thanks, Kichi. Here's your promised candy." Naruto responded with a smile handing his friend the bag of candy.
"Thanks, bro. I'll be off now. See ya around!" The red toad said with a salute before returning home.
"Alright!" The Jinchūriki exclaimed as he got up. "I better unseal that letter for Pervy Sage and get out here before the girls get tired of him."
Thankfully he paid enough attention to Jiraiya that he knew how to unseal things at the very least, so he unsealed to letter, leaving the supplies Tsunade sent him within and left it on the pervert's bedroll. He then grabbed his bag and made a run for it. Little did he know that his freedom and time alone would be short-lived and his entire world was about to be turned on its head.
[1 day later — Konoha]
Lord Fukasaku and Lady Shima, elders of the Toads were sitting on Tsunade's desk with the Hokage sitting at her desk and Shizune standing at her side.
"So, Jiraiya boy doesn't wish to train Naruto boy seriously." Fukasaku said seriously.
"Indeed, from what Naruto said in his letter, Jiraiya seems to believe that he needs the foxes chakra to become strong despite Grandmother Mito, nor Kushina using it at all and were still feared far and wide due to their personal strength." Tsunade nodded grimly.
Shima was about to chime in when a fierce, overwhelming wave of killing intent washed over the entire village. One so malicious that it felt as if the Nine-tailed fox was out of Naruto's seal. It was only when the 4 individuals heard the angry roar of a voice belonging to someone they were told was dead.
"HIRUZEN! WHERE IS MY SON!?" the figure sounded as it stormed through the village and made its way to the Hokage Tower with everyone, civilian and shinobi alike giving them a wide-berth out of a mix of fear and shock.
Kakashi and Ino ran into the Hokage's Office, one in shock, the other in worry. "Lady Tsunade... could it really be?" The masked Jonin asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I'd recognize that voice anywhere... but Jiraiya told us...she was dead." The older blonde said starting to realize there was a scheme going on. 'Oh, what have you done...?'
5 minutes later a very angry red-haired kunoichi stormed in, her hair flailing around in the form of 9 nine tails, her fists clenched so tightly they were sheet white. She looked around the office seeing Tsunade where the old monkey should have been, she calmed ever so slightly.
"Tsunade, where is the old monkey...?" She asked deathly calm.
"Before that Kushina, where the hell have you been all these years!? We were told you died that night!" The busty blonde asked in return.
"Where have I been...?" Kushina asked as her temper started raising again. "AN ANBU TOLD ME THAT THE SEALING FAILED, KILLING MY NARUTO! NOW, WHERE IS HIRUZEN!? WHERE IS MY SON!?"
"Sensei was killed during a joint invasion between Suna and a village lead by Orochimaru 9 months ago by Orochimaru himself." Tsunade grounded out solemnly. "As for where Naruto is... he's out on a training journey."
"Lady Kushina... What did this ANBU look like?" Kakashi said hesitantly. 'I'm so dead if she hears that wasn't there for Naruto growing up...'
Kushina snapped her head at her fallen Husband's last remaining student. "A bird mask with green and red markings."
"There was no Bird ANBU back then..." He responded grimly. "Not in the official ANBU ranks at least."
"Danzo..." Tsunade growled. "That was likely a ROOT ANBU posing as the real deal..."
"Hold on..." Ino said piping up. "If Jiraiya told everyone here that this lady who claims to be Naruto's mother was dead... and she claims that Bird ANBU told her that Naruto died that night..." She paused turning the red-head. "Why the hell didn't you confront Lord 3rd right away rather than just leave, taking the word of an ANBU at face value?!"
"I JUST LOST MY HUSBAND AND THOUGHT I LOST MY SON! FORGIVE ME FOR NOT THINKING CLEARLY WHILE WAS IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF AND DESPAIR!" Kushina roared. "AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO QUESTION MY MOTIVES!?"
"I'm his girlfriend and childhood friend!" The platinum blonde yelled back. "The name's Ino Yamanaka!"
"ENOUGH!" Tsunade roared. "We're getting off track... It's clear something is going on and that Jiraiya and Danzo are involved, possibly working together. However, without physical evidence, we can't make a move on either of them. What more is that Jiraiya will be very hard to find when he doesn't want to be found, especially since by this time he knows of my displeasure about his training methods and plans for Naruto."
"What do you mean...?" The angry mother asked.
"Perhaps we should have Naruto Boy here... I think he deserves to know what's going on and can tell us everything in person." Fukasaku said. "I can reverse summon him here. However, we've tried this with Jiraiya Boy, but he seemed to have developed an anti-reverse summoning seal. And with him knowing that Tsunade Girl is pissed at him, he's going to be impossible to find until he summons one of our clan."
Hearing this, Kushina gave a look of desperation. "Please, I need to see my baby boy!"
Shima nodded understanding a mother's love, hopped down from the desk, flipped through the signs, and slammed her webbed hand on the floor. "Reverse Summoning Jutsu!"
In a plume of smoke, Naruto appeared and looked confused, thankfully dressed in his shinobi attire. "What's going on? Why am I back home? How did I get here?!"
"N-Naruto..." The widowed Uzumaki croaked out in a shaky voice, tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached out for her son. "My baby boy..."
"Wh-what...?" The blonde Uzumaki blanked. "What did you say...?"
"Naruto... this is your mother... Kushina Uzumaki. Until just moments ago, we thought she died the night of your birth, and from what she said, she thought you died that night alongside your father." Tsunade said softly, knowing how much of a shock this must be for him. She smiled seeing Ino immediately at his side holding him gently. "However, she has yet to explain when she figured out you were in fact alive."
"Y-yeah... I guess I should before I hear my son's side of the story..." Kushina said sheepishly, knowing her son was in shock. "Ever since I heard the two most important people in my life died, I traveled around getting my skills back up what they were before I married and got pregnant... taking on the odd job as a freelance mercenary.
Anyway, during my travels 4 months ago, I started hearing multiple stories of a genin of this village with blonde hair and blue eyes using my son's name, saving multiple places with various forms of the Rasengan.
So I traveled to these places... My first stop was Degarashi Port and got confirmation that a Genin matching the description was indeed part of a team that helped save them. Then I got a ride to the Land of the Moon, where the new King and Prince once again confirmed the tale. You'd think after two confirmations that'd be enough, but I still needed to hear everything... so I went to the Land of Spring where the Feudal Lord and Actress Koyuki sang his praises, that not only did he save her country, but gave her back her confidence and drive to do both jobs." She paused and looked at Naruto. "So with 3 confirmations from the places that you've saved... I started racing back here, but on the way, I heard another tale... One that you were the one to reignite the spark of hope in the Land of Waves... and sure enough, they not only named that bridge after you... they built a statue in your honor... you are their hero, hell they practically worship you...
Anyway... that was what finally made me snap... I stormed here directly ready to rip apart anyone who got in my way."
Tsunade nodded in understanding, as did everyone but Naruto who was still processing everything. However, now it was his turn, so reluctantly, the eldest blonde spoke up. "Naruto. I know you're probably having a hard time processing everything, but we need to hear everything... your life up to this point."
"Before that..." The Jinchūriki said almost above a whisper. "As long as we're shattering my reality... Who was father?"
'Oh, shit...' Kakashi thought knowing he was in deep shit once Naruto learned his connection to him.
"Are you sure you want to know that now hun...? I can tell you're barely keeping your cool now..." Ino asked, clearly concerned.
"I need to get it out the way..." Her boyfriend nodded slowly.
"How much wasn't he told...?" His mother growled.
'Oh, dear...' Shizune thought knowing the Uzumaki Temper and with two of them there, this was going to get messy very quickly.
"Your father was the same person who sealed the fox into your gut... the Yellow Flash of the Leaf and 4th Hokage, Minato Namikaze." Tsunade said plainly, waiting for the fallout.
"...what?" Naruto growled as his whiskers thickened as his eyes bleed red. "My life was made a living hell by the very person I've idolized all my life?! The beatings from mobs formed of civilian and shinobi alike, the sabotage at the academy, the being charged 3 times the normal amount for groceries and stationary things...!
I was alone until the age of 5 when became friends with Ino and get the backing of her family as well the Nara's and the Akimichi's it didn't stop! Sure it was less frequent, but it still happened! When I asked who my parents were, the old man would say that he couldn't tell me but that they were powerful ninjas, heroes, that I'd be told when I was older! I had to learn I was the Jailor for the fox from a traitor who tried to use me to get the Forbidden Scroll! Now I learn that not only do I have a mom who thought I was dead but that my goddamned father is the reason for my shit life!? What else don't I know?!"
"...You don't know about our clan? The Uzumaki Clan?" The Red-Hot Habanero asked with a growl getting a negative shake of her son's head.
"We didn't learn anything about the Uzumaki Clan in the academy." Ino said, now starting to feel scared. "Even when talking Lord Hashirama we didn't learn that he was married to Lady Mito Uzumaki."
Now even Tsunade was pissed. "I'm going to kill those old bats and the civilian council... Sensei let them have too much leeway."
However, Kushina realized something her son said. "You said you were alone till you were 5?"
Upon getting a nod she snarled and pinned Kakashi to the nearest wall. "WHY THE HELL WEREN'T YOU THERE FOR HIM KAKASHI!? YOU PROMISED ME AND MINATO YOU WOULD TREAT HIM LIKE YOUR OWN BROTHER!" She roared before looking back at Tsunade and Naruto. "And where was Jiraiya...? He was your godfather after all! He should have been here to raise you from the start!"
'I'm dead...' The one-eyed Jonin thought before shakily trying to explain himself. "I-I was busy with my ANBU responsibilities and out of the village of most the time... However, that doesn't excuse me for the lack of training I gave you and the rest of team 7... I trained Sasuke because I saw so much of myself in him... and I thought Ebisu and Jiraiya would train you properly, better than I could, however, it seems I was wrong and I apologize."
"No Kakashi Sensei, you told us we were the first team you ever passed, so I can understand you're not being able to train us as a team. However, I can't forgive you for choosing to run from your responsibilities by focusing on your ANBU duties. You've got a lot to make up for... but I'm willing to give one single chance to do so." Naruto growled. "But Jiraiya doesn't have that chance. He acted like he didn't even know who I was, and not once did he even hint that he cared about me. He was reluctant to even train me, even then he just gave me instructions, then fucked off to peep on women or go to a brothel to get laid. The last 6 months it was training how to break Genjutsu, chakra control, and forcing me to use the Fox's chakra so I could try to learn to control it no matter how much I said it hurt!"
"That damned pervert had better hope I don't find him anytime soon or he's dead..." The red-head grounded out getting a nod from Tsunade. "As for you Kakashi... Since he's willing to give a chance, I will too, however, you fuck up, and you had better hope I'm in a merciful mood."
The former ANBU nodded getting his sensei's widow to drop him on the floor harshly. She then turned the platinum blonde that hasn't left Naruto's side with a motherly smile. "As for you, I'd be honored to call you my daughter-in-law should you two progress to that point. Thank you for being there for my baby boy for most of his life."
"You don't have to thank me, Mrs. Uzumaki. Having Naruto in my life saved me from a potential life as an Uchiha Fangirl... He was there for me just as much as I was there for him." Ino said with a slight blush at getting her boyfriend's mom's blessing for marriage, even if that was a very long way off. The Sun-kissed blonde blushed as well but put his arm around her and pulled her closer, now mostly calmed down.
"Now then, care to tell me why Naruto needed to be on a training trip instead of staying within the safety of these walls to do this?" Kushina asked with a tone that made many in the room shiver.
"Well mom, there's a group of S-rank criminals calling themselves the Akatsuki, and they are after those like me, or rather what we carry within. We just don't know what they want with the tailed beasts, but whatever it is, it can't be good." The male Uzumaki explained what he knew.
"And why he was of the village is because two of their members, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, entered the village undetected looking for Naruto shortly after the Suna/Oto invasion. Asuma, Kurenai, Guy, and I fought them off, although I was left in rough shape..." Kakashi he explained.
"...I..heard about the Uchiha Massacre... but I still can't believe Itachi would do that without good reason. I knew his parents, and while Fugaku was a hard ass, but his wife, one of my best friends, was always there to keep him grounded." The red-head said solemnly before realizing something. "What happened after the Fox was sealed within Naruto and me?"
"Wait, you have the fox as well?" Ino asked what everyone else in the room was shocked to hear.
"...that's right. I didn't explain that." Kushina said, rubbing the back of her head familiarly. "Minato split up the fox's chakra in half knowing I wasn't strong enough at that time to hold the entirety of its chakra again but even with my longevity I'd die without some of its chakra within me. He wanted at least one of us to be around to raise our son... but apparently, there were other plans that we didn't know about." She scowled before getting back to the matter at hand. "So, since Mikoto's boy is out there with the Monster of the Hidden Mist wanting the fox's chakra, you figure it would be better to have him on the move until he's trained up and strong enough to fight back against them, is that right?"
"That was the plan, yes." Tsunade nodded. "Though something tells me you're going to want to make up for lost time and train Naruto yourself from now on."
"You're damn right." The red-head said with a familiar foxy grin. "In fact, once we're finished here I plan to take him to Higurashi's and buy him a sword. No son of mine is going go on without learning Kenjutsu or Fūinjutsu ya know!"
'They really are Mother and son...' Everyone thought seeing who Naruto took after. 'Replace the blonde hair and blue eyes with red and violet, and you have a male Kushina.'
"Alright then. I'll leave Naruto's training in your more than capable hands. Do you have an idea where you will head?" The Hokage asked her distant cousins.
"Sorry, but if The Akatsuki were able to get into the village undetected before, even if was Itachi, they may have spies within the village." The widow said seriously. "While you may trust everyone here, even the ANBU hidden here for your protection, I don't and I will not risk my son's safety any farther."
"Lady Kushina, aren't you being a bit paranoid?" Shizune asked cautiously.
"I've lived off the radar for the last 16 years... Not to mention being paranoid keeps us alive in the field." Kushina said seriously.
"She has a point Shizune... if Danzo is involved in whatever plot that separated this family, we can't be too careful." The busty blonde nodded in agreement. "Alright, but I still want occasional updates. I may not be his godmother... but we have gotten close since he brought me back to the village."
"I can agree to that." The red-head nodded.
"Come on! Now that I'm back home, there is no way in hell I'm leaving without getting my ramen fix from Ichiraku's ya know!" Naruto exclaimed with his big foxy smile.
"Same ol' Naruto..." Ino giggled. "Besides, I do believe they promised you two free bowls."
"Ichiraku Ramen eh?" Kushina asked fondly. "I'm very glad they haven't gone out of business. They have the best ramen in all of the Elemental Nations and I should know. It's been 16 years since I last saw Teuchi and little Ayame."
"I wonder, did they know who I was related to? Or have they been genuinely supportive of me?" Naruto pondered aloud.
"Naruto Uzumaki!" Ino reprimanded. "Never doubt that they genuinely care about you! For the last 6 months, they have been asking if we've heard anything about you. They have been worried sick!"
"Well I appreciate you keeping my son in line, I'd like to get back on the road by nightfall, so why don't the three of us go get some ramen and spend time as a potential family." The Uzumaki Matriarch said with a smirk causing the two teens to blush a bit.
"Naruto boy, Kushina girl." Fukasaku said getting their attention. "Before you go, I'd like to offer Naruto boy to train with us at some point to train in Senjutsu to become a sage. We will be putting our support behind you and slowly pulling away from Jiraiya. He has become too absorbed by a 'prophecy' told by a senile old fool that has been alive since the time of Sage of Six Paths. I suspect that is part of whatever kept you two apart for so long."
"And what is this prophecy?" Tsunade asked sternly.
"That old fool said that pervert would train the Child of Prophecy, who would either destroy the known world or bring it into an everlasting peace." Shima scoffed before gasping. "Wait! That's it!"
"You can't mean to say that he wanted his favorite student's son to grow up the way he did so that he could come by and impart his ideals onto the boy... so that if the prophecy does come to pass that he could live off the glory of training the savior of the world!?" Her husband said in disbelief even if it made sense with Jiraiya currently coasting off the knowledge of training Minato.
"That perverted son of a bitch!" The Red-Hot Habanero growled. "He knew I wouldn't allow that kind of shit and worked with Danzo to get me out of my son's life!" She took a moment to calm herself. "Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the idea of even-lasting peace, but there is too much animosity and hatred. It would take something pretty extraordinary for everyone to work together and live in peace."
"And Danzo has always wanted to train Naruto into an emotionless weapon" The busty blonde growled. "Unfortunately, as I said before we can't do anything without physical evidence. Just be careful, once it gets out that you're back, both of them will attempt to separate the two of you again."
The Uzumaki's nodded with a scowl before turning to leave with the platinum blonde causing the Hokage to slump into her chair. Kakashi took that as his cue to head out and get some training in knowing that with Kushina alive he'd need to get back into shape or get his ass chewed out.
"Well Tsunade Girl, we'll be off. Once Naruto Boy and Kushina Girl cool off, I assume he'll start using our infiltration abilities to start gathering evidence on Danzo at the very least. Jiraiya never leaves any trace of his activities to do his role as spymaster." Fukasaku said tiredly. "We'll be off now. If you need anything, feel free to send Katsuya Girl."
With that, the Toad Elders returned home causing Tsunade to look at her assistant. "Shizune... get me some Sake..."
[Ichiraku Ramen Shop]
The trio's walk to the ramen stand was met with the villagers giving the three of them a wide-berth out of fear of what the Red-Hot Habanero would do, especially since it was easy to piece together that the "Demon Brat" was her son. The Uzumaki didn't seem to care as Naruto shared some of his more infamous pranks such as painting the Hokage Monument in broad daylight, putting sneezing powder into the ANBU's masks, and dying the Hyuuga's pristine white robes neon pink. All of which cause Kushina to laugh hysterically while Ino giggled at the memories.
"How did you manage to sneak into not only the ANBU headquarters but into the Hyuuga compound?" His mother asked between breaths. "Those tightwads are so proud of their 'all-seeing eyes,' I can't imagine their reaction to that prank!"
"What can I say... I was only proving the village was vulnerable." He said with a shrug. "That's probably the only reason why I didn't get into major trouble. Can you imagine what would have happened if someone who had malicious intent had managed to do what I did with lethal tools? Hell, if Trap Masters got their hands on my Book of Pranks, they'd probably cream themselves and consider it the Holy Grail."
"I don't doubt it." She said with a proud smirk. "I'm so glad you took after me rather than your father. I was quite the hellion myself in my youth. Just wait till I start training you in the sacred art of Fūinjutsu that made our clan so feared."
Hearing that, Ino and the entire village felt as if someone walked over their graves... the sheer dread they all felt was enough for many to run off to make sure their wills were up to date.
'As if Naruto's pranks weren't bad enough... let's include the sealing arts into the mix.' The platinum blonde thought tiredly but couldn't stop the fond smile that formed.
Once they reached Ichiraku's, Naruto didn't waste any time and sat down in his usual spot with his Mom taking the seat to his left and his girlfriend taking the one to his right. "AYAME! OLD MAN TEUCHI! I'm home!"
"Naruto! It's good...to..." Teuchi said coming out of the back before stalling upon seeing the familiar red silky hair. "K-Kushina... I heard that roar, but I thought it was my head playing tricks on me. Where have you been for the last 16 years?"
The Uzumaki Matriarch sighed and retold her story only for Teuchi to growl in response. "Well you're back and that's all that matters. And as usual, any friends of the Uzumaki family are welcome here. Those who mean you harm will be barred."
"I must thank you Teuchi... You cared for my son while most of the village scorned and hated him. You've always been good to us..." Kushina said tearfully. "Anyway, where is little Ayame?"
"She's out of the village at the moment. Team...8 I believe is escorting her while she is on a supply run." The ramen chef said thoughtfully.
"You mean Kurenai Sensei's team with Kiba, Shino, and Hinata?" Ino asked helping the kind middle-aged man, getting a nod in thanks.
"That's too bad. I was hoping sis would be here." Naruto frowned.
"Don't worry kid. Given the circumstances of your unexpected return, I'm sure she'll understand." Teuchi said with a smile. "Now then, what can I get you, folks? First 3 bowls on the house, we have some celebrating to do!"
As they shared their meal, they all shared more positive events that have happened in the last 16 years while just enjoying each other's company. Naruto did complain about his time with Team 7 and how Sasuke had a holier-than-thou attitude while Sakura only started to take her career seriously after the Chunin Exams where she was almost killed by Gaara.
Ino slightly complained about her team's lack of motivation most of the time outside of missions. She did say that Shikamaru was the truest Nara, lazy-ass bastard but probably the smartest person she knew outside of his father. Choji was the definition of a Gentle Giant, he was reluctant to spare with his team due to his clan's overwhelming strength, and the only time he actively uses it is when his friends are getting hurt. Then there was their smokestack of a sensei who was almost just as lazy as Shikamaru but he did train them in at least tree walking and water walking before leaving the village on missions.
"Hey Mom, while we're traveling do you mind if we stop in Wave? I'd like to check in with Tsunami, Tazuna, and Inari. Not to mention I'd like to pay my respects to some very important people." Naruto asked as he finished his third free bowl.
"You mean Haku and Zabuza right?" Ino asked solemnly, knowing how important they were to him.
"Wait... Zabuza? As in the Demon of the Bloody Mist?" His mother asked incredibly getting a nod from both teenagers. "I heard that you saved Wave from Gato and that you fought a Rogue Shinobi and his apprentice but for you have fought and survived again one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist is very impressive."
"Well, technically Kakashi Sensei fought him both times... Sasuke and I helped the first time to free Sensei from a Water Prison Jutsu. The second time we fought Haku." The sun-kissed blonde said solemnly.
"If you fought them... Why are they so important to you?" Kushina asked curiously.
Naruto sighed with his girlfriend putting her hand on his back for support causing his mother to frown. "I met Haku before we fought in a meadow after I lost my cool towards Inari and spend the night training. She taught me probably the most important lesson anyone can learn that has actually been proven. 'When a person has something important they want to protect… That's when they can become truly strong.'
It wasn't till the fight on the bridge that I learned that Haku's precious person, her person to protect, was Zabuza. She took Kakashi's Lightning Blade in place of her Master after I beat her using the fox's chakra. And after a heated exchange with Zabuza... he realized how important Haku was to him, and slaughter a good many of Gato's goons while carving a path to the fat bastard, ultimately ending his life... but at the cost of his own life. His final wish was to lay next to her when he died, so Kakashi helped him... and in his final moments... it started snowing... Almost as if Haku was crying."
"She had a Kekkei Genkai didn't she?" His mother asked quietly getting a nod.
"She had Ice Style..." Ino responded for her boyfriend.
"...I see. From Kiri, I suspect and not related to those Shinobi you faced in the former Land of Snow." Kushina theorized solemnly. 'That must of been Naruto's first encounter with death... And if I had to guess, this girl Haku became fast friends with him, making it hit even harder. No wonder the two of them are so important to him.'
"Yeah, we can make a stop there eventually. But first, there is something I want to collect somewhere else that will help in your training." She said with a soft smile getting a slow nod from her son. "Now, come on, let's go get you a sword from the best shop in the village."
"It was good to see you both again. You both take care out on the road." Teuchi said with a smile. "Ino, come back at any time."
The trio nodded, thanked the ramen chef, and moved towards the weapons shop. And once again the villagers gave them a wide berth, only this time they were being followed by a teenage girl with purple hair and black pupilless eyes. Her face, arms, and legs are wrapped in bandages and she wore a sleeveless tunic-blouse with brown shorts and a simple yellow sash around her waist.
Just outside of their destination, Kushina had enough pretending she didn't notice. "Alright, you can come out now. I know you've been following us since Ichiraku's."
"I-I'm sorry for following you, but when I heard Naruto was back and I wanted to see him before he left again." The girl said shyly. "I haven't seen him since his mission with Anko and Ino in the Land of Water where they saved me from being used to intercept sailors leaving the port."
"Isaribi? What are you doing out of the hospital?" Ino asked with concern. "Aren't our medics researching a way to cure your condition?"
"Yeah right..." Isaribi grumbled. "They treat me almost as bad as they do Naruto because of my former affiliation with Orochimaru. Even Anko is treated better due to her influence in the T&I."
"Why haven't you said anything to Lady Tsunade? It's been 8 months since we brought you back!" The platinum blonde asked incredibly.
"She's busy with her duties as the Hokage and training you and the other medics. I didn't want to add to her workload by forcing the staff to do their work." The purple-haired girl responded with a shrug.
"I sense that you have some training... Am I right?" The red-head asked seriously.
"Yes, Ma'am... It was necessary while working for Orochimaru's subordinate, Dr. Amachi. Basic Taijutsu, Surface and Water walking, and Water Chakra Nature." Isabiri said softly. "And due to the experiments... I have the ability to transform into a humanoid Sea Monster."
"I see... and may I ask why you wear those bandages?" The Uzumaki Matriarch asked with a softer tone knowing it was probably a sensitive topic.
"I-it's to hide my scales... the side effects of the experiments done on me." The bandaged girl said in a pained voice. "Every time they take one of them, it causes unbelievable pain, and all while having sick grins under their masks."
"I'll bring it up with Lady Tsunade after we're done here..." Ino scowled. "Taking enjoyment from a patient's suffering goes against the oath they took as Doctors."
"Tch. Right, since when has that stopped them when it involves pariahs and outcasts." Naruto scoffed. "Yeah, it's gotten better since Granny Tsunade has come back and taken over, but unless she fires them it won't change... and that's something the village can't afford."
"I hate to admit it Ino, but he's right... It looks like the village is still recovering from the invasion." Kushina said seriously before turning her attention to the traumatized girl. "How would you like to come with us? I sense great potential in you. And while I may not be able to fix what was done to you, I can come up with a seal to hide your scales, maybe even suppress your transformation."
"I will accept the cosmetic seal if only so I don't have to walk around looking like a leper." Isaribi answered seriously. "As for my transformation... I have given up trying to get rid of it. If I can use it to protect rather than harm people. I guess what I'm trying to say is please train me to be a proper Kunoichi."
"You think I was just gonna let you tag along and not train you?" The red-head said with a foxy grin earning a sheepish smile from the girl.
"Well, she isn't a registered Kunoichi, so she's free to leave when she wants." The platinum-haired girl sighed. "And it's her right to check herself out of the hospital... But I am still running the abuse and mistreatment you went through by Lady Tsunade!"
"Suit yourself." The purple-haired girl said with a shrug. "Now, shall we do what we came here to do? I'll need supplies of my own if I'm gonna be trained."
Inside Kushina bought two pairs of weighted training wristbands and legwarmers for both her students while Naruto was drawn to a beautiful one-handed longsword. A sword of black and white with the hilt being black led to a half guard that was part of the black. The guard is as if it was a cross missing one arm and the top with the longest part holding the blade and has a half-moon blade curve on the arms. The blade was black in the center with the edge of the blade colored white. Near the tip of the blade is a white templar-like cross.
Isaribi got mesh armor and standard kunai and shuriken set along with a new outfit. A long aqua blue turtle neck one-piece dress that reached her ankles that had a long slit on the right that ended at her hip, with it not having a right sleeve while the left one would have ended just below her elbow but she had it tucked under a small black slip-on sleeve that was held in place with a metal pad over her elbow, with another slip-on sleeve and metal elbow pad on her other arm. Around her waist was a large white cloth tied as a belt and she also had a white clothe draped on her shoulders and held up by a pair of clips connected by a smaller piece of cloth. On her hands, she wore a pair of black gloves that cut just above her thumb knuckle, and on her feet were a pair of simple black boots.
Naruto also got a new outfit. While it remained the same style, he changed up the color scheme... Instead of dominating Orange and Black, his jacket was now white with black and some orange and his pants being white with blue highlights running down the sides, keeping the blue shinobi sandals, putting his sword on his left hip, the 1st Hokage's necklace safely tucked away under his mesh armor.
"Wow Isaribi, trying to impress someone by showing that much leg?" Ino teased knowing the former lab rat had a crush on her boyfriend.
"W-what?! No, I just like the outfit." The purple-haired denied it while blushing fiercely earning a "yeah huh" from her friend.
Kushina leaned in to whisper into the platinum blonde's ear. "You do realize that once the council and the rest of the village learn who his parents are, they will want him to have multiple wives as part of the CRA."
"Yeah, I know, but I am not going to share with just anyone." Ino nodded.
"Well, we should get going... I'm surprised Danzo hasn't sent his blank-face freaks to keep us in the village yet." The red-head said seriously.
"I'll see you in 2 and a half years Ino." Naruto said softly as he pulled his childhood friend and girlfriend into a hug.
"Yeah. I expect you to get so strong that those Akatsuki assholes can't touch you." She said softly wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a departing kiss.
"You better become a better medic than Granny Tsunade." He teased knowing she was training hard.
"You got it. Now get going and keep in touch." The platinum blonde said pulling away from her boyfriend with a smile and getting a nod in return as the trio turned to leave while she spin on her heels to get back to training and inform her sensei of the atrocities happening at the hospital.
[1 week later – Ruins of Uzushio]
"Welcome to our ancestral home Naruto." Kushina said solemnly as she and her two students looked over the ruins of her first home.
This was the destination she had she didn't feel comfortable discussing within the village. Hell, she didn't tell them where they were going for a couple of days into their journey once she was sure that they weren't being followed. Naruto wasn't too pleased when they heard they were headed toward the Land of Hotsprings, especially since he knew that's where Jiraiya would be looking for him first. However, his mother waved him off saying that the old pervert likely already got a message from Tsunade voicing her displeasure and has gone into hiding.
"So... this is the result of so many nations coming together to annihilate a common foe. Doesn't look like they had an easy time of it though." Naruto said looking around and seeing the assortment of village headbands hanging off corpses.
"If they were anything like you two, I can imagine how stubborn and fierce they were." Isaribi said dryly.
Despite only traveling with them for a week, she already knew all she needed to know: Uzumaki's could be either your best friend or your worse nightmare. It all depended on how you treat them. Do so with kindness and respect, they will go to the ends of the earth to protect you. Piss them off and you had better hope they are feeling merciful. Calling them stubborn as mules would be high praise to the mule. And if that weren't enough, their knowledge in Fūinjutsu and skill in Kenjutsu were absolutely terrifying.
In the last week, Naruto took to both subjects like a fish to water. Whenever they stopped for the night Kushina drilled the importance of proper Calligraphy into his head and taught him the rare one-handed version of their clan. His right foot angled back in a wide stance with his center of gravity lowered with his torso leaned a bit forward. Sword in his right hand in a reverse grip with his left hand positioned in front, poised to strike or deflect at the slightest movement.
"You're right. Three-quarters of the opposing forces were wiped out before my family was killed. Even then they were so demoralized that even to this day our family is still feared throughout the 5 Great Nations." The older woman said with a fond smile.
"So what is here that is so important? There are only a few buildings intact." Naruto said, ignoring the strange pull he was feeling off in the distance.
"Mortal with the soul of one of the two Children of Prophecy, come and face my test." An ancient, dragonic voice spoke in his mind. "Prove that you are worthy of the power to deny fate."
Meanwhile, his two female companions heard a similar voice calling them, but chose to ignore it for the time being.
"What we are looking for will be in the kage-like building." Kushina responded. "Our clan's vault will have everything I need to turn you into a Fūinjutsu practitioner even greater than Lady Mito. Not to mention the family tree seal that will help us find our family if any remain out there."
"Hey... well that sounds all well and good..." Isaribi said hesitantly. "Tell me someone else heard that voice in their head."
"Yeah... some really old dragon calling me for a test." The blonde said with a sigh. "And been feeling a pull towards the forest to the north."
"While I'm not feeling the pull... I did hear the voice in my head. However, I want to make sure the vault is intake before we go investigate these voices." The red-head said, concerned about what could be beckoning the three of them.
So when they did reach the Kage building, they followed Kushina to the back where she channels her chakra into a swirl patterned seal on a heavy iron door.
As it creaked open, she spoke up. "Only those with our blood and chakra can open this door."
"What do you mean our blood?" Naruto asked.
"Before the fall of our village and clan... my father was the leader of the village. We were close to being labeled the 6th great nation so took to calling himself the Uzukage..." His mother sighed. "But he was also the clan head, which was passed to me when he was killed."
"So I'm practically the prince of two villages..." the blonde said mused in amusement. "Oh, the ass-kissing I'm gonna get when Granny Tsunade announces my heritage."
"Wait, couldn't you two cripple Konoha's identity considering they are using your family's crest in their headbands and vests?" Isaribi asked planting a devious thought into the Uzumaki's head for later.
"Hmm, we'll keep that in mind if things don't shape up back there." The Matriarch said with a smirk. "Now let's seal up everything and head out to where we're being called to."
[Elsewhere on the Island]
"Rose, the other Spirits are stirring. It's time." A dragonic voice called out from a shining dark blue orb that looked like an eye with a reptilian black iris.
"So, the time Charle spoke of has arrived... After 6 millennia of solitude and guarding the spirits, Dragoons are needed once more." A woman hidden in the darkness of the cave responded to the orb fixated on her chest. "What world-ending evil requires us once again..."
"I don't know, but what is intriguing is that out of all the Spirits, the Divine Dragoon Spirit was the first to awaken." The Darkness Dragoon spirit mused.
"That is intriguing." She said thoughtfully. "Only someone with an incredibly strong spirit and will could have piqued the Divine Dragon's interest."
"Yes, and I suspect the individual with two others will be here shortly. Blue Sea and Red-Eyed Dragoons are also stirring." Her Dragoon spirit said seriously causing her to nod.
"Then I'd better get ready to test them." The woman said sternly, grabbing her rapier.
[Meanwhile with the Trio outside the Cave]
"Here..." Naruto said tensely. "This is where I've been drawn to. I can sense whatever was calling us is inside."
"Right. Be ready for anything but don't draw your weapons unless we're attacked first. We don't know who or what is in there." Kushina said sternly.
Both of the teenagers nodded, albeit with Isaribi extremely nervous. Sure she has been training for the last week, but she wasn't ready for real combat yet.
"It will be fine." The Blonde Uzumaki said putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Even if it comes down to a fight, I won't let you get hurt."
With the purple-haired girl nodding and calming down, they ended the cave slowly. The Uzumaki's reached for their weapons when torch's lit on their own, lighting the cave revealing seven different colored orb-like eyeballs with reptilian irises on an alter. But what had them on guard was the woman in the middle of the room with her weapon drawn. She was a beautiful young woman with long black hair with long fringes on each side, pale skin, and charcoal gray eyes. She wears a dark blue dragon circlet with horns on each side and a choker on her neck which she was given by Charle Frahma to keep her from aging. Her usual outfit is a dark blue high-neck long-sleeved armor short dress with gold accents and matching boots with gold accents on different sides as the right boot appears as thigh-high and her left boot is short. She also wears matching gloves with gold accents.
'Wow, she's beautiful.' The blonde Jinchūriki thought only slightly lowering his guard.
"Who are you? What are you doing on our family's island?" The red-haired Uzumaki asked ready to unleash the Red Death at the slightest movement.
"I am going to assume you are what is left of this island's inhabitants." The dark-clad warrior mused. "You're family settled here only a few hundred years ago and called it their own when in reality it was home to an extinct race known as the Winglies... I have called this island home long before then. It is my duty to protect the orbs behind me."
"Listen..." Naruto said stepping forward and releasing his grip on his sword. "We came here because we were called by three separate dragonic voices. One called me one of the two children of prophecy."
"You were summoned here?" The woman said in shock. "I knew they were stirring... but for them to actually call out and bring you three here..."
"Indeed, most peculiar..." The dark blue orb on her chest said as it lit up shocking the trio.
"Ok, who exactly are you?! WHAT are you?!" Kushina said drawing her katana. "There is no way what you said is true! If you have been here since before my clan settled here, why was there no mention of you, no rumor of this cave and we would have scoured this island from coast to coast!"
"Indeed they did. However, this cave is sealed most of the time and only opens if I do it myself." The dark-haired woman said. "As for who I am... My name is Rose, and I am over 17 thousand years old. How is something you don't need to know right now."
"The hell we don't!" The red-head growled.
"Mom, relax." Naruto said putting a hand on her shoulder. "We won't get anywhere while being hostile."
He then turned to Rose. "You seemed ready to attack us until you heard we were called here. Why the change of heart?"
Seeing what the blonde was trying to do, she sheathed her rapier. "Because it wasn't until 2000 or so years ago that those orbs started gaining more intelligence and the ability to communicate. For them to call out to you three is astonishing. More so since one of them is a very... unruly type that has only accepted one other as worthy of its power."
The Darkness Dragoon then stepped aside. "Now, step forward and pick up the orbs you were called by. You will know which one that is."
The Matriarch scowled while sheathing her blade before making her way to the altar with her son and other student following close behind. Rose watched closely to see which of the three was chosen by the Divine Dragon, and for some reason, she wasn't surprised by the answer. The quick-tempered redhead had walked straight up to her twice fallen loves Dragoon Spirit, the Red-Eyed stone, the shy purple-haired girl walked up to Blue Sea Dragoon spirit, which had interesting tastes in hosts in the past, and the young man that had stopped a fight walked straight to the Spirit with only one other host in the past, the Divine Dragoon.
When the trio had hold of their Spirits, all four awakened stones shone with a brilliant light, startling them slightly but at the same time, they felt at ease and so much stronger. Knowledge of the spells they had at their disposal filled their minds.
"What is this...?" Naruto asked while shielding his eyes from the light.
"This light is proof that you are Dragoons – Dragon Knights, with the power to command the power of dragons. You are now beyond human. Even if two of you already had internal power, this is even greater than what you hold." The dark-haired woman said plainly.
"So my host is not only one-half of the children of prophecy but a human sacrifice. And here I thought my last host's willpower and strength of spirit was commendable." The Divine Dragoon Spirit sounded with an air of authority.
"How interesting. This is the first time I have been held by a female host, however, I can tell we will get along just fine, especially that fiery personality of yours." The Red-Eyed Dragoon Spirit spoke to Kushina, who didn't know whether to feel insulted or not.
"You have an interesting ability young one... but your strength of will is commendable. You remind me of my first wielder. Let us work together to defy fate." The Blue Sea Dragoon Spirit said softly to Isaribi.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked for everyone.
"You are not the first Dragoons to have walked this earth. In fact, you are the third set of Dragoons." Rose answered for the Spirits. "The first fought during a grueling and bloody war. Seven of us fought together to defeat the Wingly oppression who sought to enslave all other species. The second Dragoons emerged after 11 thousand years... after I failed my mission to kill the soul of the God of Destruction, what was known as the Moon Child.
It was during the second time that the Divine Dragon broke free of the seal that the Winglies placed him under. The seven of us fought him to save the lives of the humans living in the city where the sealing device was kept after he razed it. However, it was our arch-nemesis at the time, that dealt the final blow and claimed the last spark of the Divine Dragon's soul, which crystallized into a Dragoon Spirit.
It wasn't until just before our final battle that Dart, who was once the wielder of the Red-Eyed Dragoon, received the Dragoon Spirit from Lloyd after he was struck down by our true enemy, Melbu Frahma."
"You've been through so much... How are you still sane?" Isaribi asked in shock.
"It is because of my previous companions... the last seven Dragoons, who helped heal my heart." The dark-haired woman said softly. "In fact, I was starting to lose my immortality by the end of my last journey and should have died after our battle with Melbu Frahma, but the lingering magic of my choker saved my life. His sister and my friend found me long after my fellow Dragoon had left the area after it exploded as a result of our fight."
"I see so your friends thought you died.. but after you were found and healed... why didn't you go find them, let them know you were alive?" The blonde asked curiously.
Rose merely shrugged. "They had their own lives to lead. Besides, Charle asked me if I would renew my immortality to gather the Dragoon Spirits after my friends had passed on to guide the eventual next generation of Dragoons, you three and whoever else is recognized by the remaining spirits."
"I see. What are the elements of the remaining Spirits? We might people who would fit the bill." Kushina asked curiously.
"The Violet Dragoon is Lightning Elemental, the White Silver Dragoon is a Light Elemental filled with healing magic, The Golden Dragoon is Earth Elemental, and the Jade Dragoon is Wind Elemental." The Darkness Dragoon explained.
"Hmm. Kakashi Sensei might fit the Violet Dragoon and Ino might fit the White Silver... She is training with Granny Tsunade." The Divine Dragoon mused getting a nod from his mother. "Actually... I think I know someone who might fit the Jade Dragoon spirit but we'd need to head to Suna to check."
"Alright, we can check there while we're traveling and training." The redhead nodded once more.
"I will accompany you. We Dragoons must stay together... in fact our jobs as Dragoons trump any allegiances you might have. It is our bond and strength together that will overcome whatever great evil or calamity that is threatening this world." Rose said seriously.
"Well, it's my dream to become Hokage, the leader of our village." Naruto stated. "That and I leave the village, I'll be hunted down because of what I hold."
"Send a message back to Tsunade and explain what has happened. It is time for us to send a report anyhow." His mother ordered getting a nod in return. "Now, let's spend some time training here on the island. It's the safest place that I know of since no one but an Uzumaki can get passed the whirlpools."
"I can train you how to fight as Dragoons." The Darkness Dragoon offered to get nods of thanks in return.
However, before Naruto finished writing his report, Katsuya appeared in a plume of smoke with a scroll on her back. "I have a message for Miss Isaribi."
"Oh, Lady Katsuya! Good timing! Can you give Granny Tsunade this report? I was just about to summon a toad when you showed up." The blonde said with a big smile holding out the scroll.
"Yes, of course. I'd be happy to assist." The slug responded with a bob of her head as she accepted the scroll and dispelled.
"So what did Tsunade send you?" Kushina asked curiously.
"It seems those doctors and nurses that were mistreating me have been suspended without pay and fined for forsaking their Oath. She's included the money they were fined in this letter since I was the offended!" Isaribi said excitedly.
"That's great! I only wish the same could be done about my mistreatment, but that would likely bankrupt the village." The blonde responded, happy for his friend.
"Would you be willing for that money to help during our travels?" The Matriarch asked reluctantly.
"Of course. In fact, Lady Tsunade suggested I do the same so that we can remain out of the public eye as much as possible to avoid the Akatsuki." The purple-haired girl said with a smile getting a nod from everyone there.
"Now, let's get to training!" Naruto exclaimed.
AN: That's it for the opening chapter of this story! I hope you enjoyed it! Who might the other Dragoons turn out to be? Will Tsunade agree with Rose's opinion on the Dragoons' responsibilities and priority to each other? If you'd like insider knowledge or even have some input on my stories, please send me a PM to be invited to the Discord server I am the most active on. Let me know what you think of the new format for linebreaks/scene changes.