Grim24: You are absolutely right. I've noticed that (many people have stated it), and I promise you I'm trying to get better at portraying it. I've never been bipolar so I don't really know exactly what it's like, but from all my research I can tell that I haven't been portraying it as well as I need to be. I'd also like to mention that the story isn't OC infested. None of the characters (bar Danzo's group) I've introduced have been OCs. At worst there are some filler (maybe a game character if my knowledge is on point but I don't think so) characters in the story. But there are no OCs other than Danzo's group. It's a crossover with Magi, which is probably why you think that there are OCs, but there aren't.

Marquis: Eh, the Hyuga Clan can easily be explained really. We didn't know where the Hyuga came before we knew about Hamura, we just thought they were some Clan. Hamura isn't really critical to the story because I have no intention of talking about space-people, bar the times it's required because of Magi (although even then I might not. Still deciding certain aspects of Magi to keep O.G. or blend).

Guest: Fair point, and I agree. I presume that it is very different to the description. I have to get better at writing Naruto's emotions in a much more realistic way, kinda like what I said with Grim. Don't worry though, that crying session and mama talk isn't going to be the end of it.

The Spirit of the Fox

Sasuke walked in front of his team, a hard look in his eyes as he saw the upcoming room. "This is it," he muttered, a smirk on his face. As he reached to open the door handle he turned, his eyes widening as he noticed a puff of smoke to his side. He turned, his eyes widening as Kakashi appeared.

"Yo," Kakashi said. His team looked at him, confusion written all over their faces. "Why are you here Kakashi-sensei," Sakura asked, looking at her teacher earnestly. Kakashi smiled. "I just wanted to see my students off and wish them luck."

The girl blushed before she nodded, a pleasant look on her face. Kakashi only wished that it would stay there for a longer period of time. He turned to his two male students, smiling at them, but focusing on Sai. This would the first time the pale child would be around Sasuke and Sakura without his supervision. That was worrisome. The spy would likely try and convert Sasuke to joining Danzo. He wouldn't do anything too brazen, like attack him when he knew he couldn't escape the village, but the child was still a threat. The proctors had already been warned to keep their eye on him, for fear of him acting unnaturally. Although, when it came to Sai every action was unnatural, so they would have to be extra careful.

Kakashi's lone eye then turned to Sasuke, a curious look on his face. The child had become suspicious ever since Naruto had been banished, wondering why Naruto had to be banished for the Kyuubi. He wished he could tell the young Genin what the real problem at hand was, to be wary of Sai, but he couldn't afford to. The Chunin Exams were no joke, especially not this year with the tough foreign competition, and his team would need their shoddy teamwork if they were to have any chance of surviving these exams. He would just have to hope that Sasuke could resist Sai's temptation and not poke the wrong person with that curiosity of his. He was lucky Sakura wasn't in on it also. She would be smart enough to likely put the dots together, or at least some of them.

"Good luck," Kakashi said, not revealing his thoughts before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sasuke turned, opening the door once again, frowning at the distinct lack of people in the room. His team was slightly early, but so far there were only a few teams in the room, standing separated from everyone else. Sasuke frowned, glancing around the room to see that all the corner spaces were already taken. He couldn't very well slink off to the side.

So he did the next best thing.

Much to the shock of Sakura and Sai, Sasuke walked right to the center of the room and plopped down on one of the seats, a smirk on his face. The reaction he got was what he wanted. Two of the teams, specifically the ones from Iwa and Kumo bristled at his brazenness, sending glares his way. The Uchiha merely looked them both down, his confident showing. He was determined to prove that he was the strongest person here, and no one would get in his way. He had a goal to achieve. His brother passed the Chunin Exams on his first try, and Sasuke was not going to fall short of that. He was already lagging behind his brother in the achievements department. Excitement boiled in his veins as he stared down the foreign shinobi.

"Are you sure you wanna sit in the middle, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke turned to Sakura, a smirk on his face. He spoke loudly, being sure to attract the attention of everyone in the room, even the Konoha team sitting in the corner. "Of course. I'm not worried about any of them."

"What was that you bastard!"

The team turned, a smirk on Sasuke's face as a black-haired Iwa kunoichi glared at him, her fists clenched as she shook with rage. "Let's see you say that to my face Uchiha! I'll kick your ass!"

Sasuke opened his mouth, but Sai beat him to the punch. "Well Dickless, it looks like another flat chested girl wants you, although this time it's not to jump your bones."

Sakura blushed at the brazen insult to three people and suddenly felt a very deep desire to punch Sai in the face for commenting about her subliminally. "What the fuck did you say!" the Iwa kunoichi cried. "I'll beat you so bad they'll be wondering if you got a tan damn it!"

Before the Iwa kunoichi could continue her rant she was dragged away by her teammates, one of them clamping a hand over her mouth to prevent her from talking. Sakura looked at both of her teammates. "Did you two really have to antagonize them? Iwa already hates Konoha enough as it is."

The duo merely shrugged.

It was at that moment that the door opened again, another team walking in. That seemed to be the signal for other teams to start walking in, a steady stream of teams walking into the examination room. "And so it begins," Sasuke stated, taking in all the competition. Sai watched the Uchiha, a detached look in his eye.

'He seems to be excited. Competition is his driving motive, not surprising considering the incident with his brother. I shall report that to Danzo-sama. It will be a good motivator to get him to join our side if we can persuade him that we are his best bet at becoming stronger.'

Terra frowned as he looked over the nearby walls, his eyes narrowed. His Sharingan was searching the area, looking for any potential traps that Orochimaru was attempting to step up in an attempt to kill him, yet there was nothing. That alone was suspicious. Sure Orochimaru likely wouldn't risk attempting to assassinate him when the attack on Konoha was so close, but it was still a definite possibility. That was why Hypnos and Namtar stood back in the distance, slightly away from the meeting point of the building. If Orochimaru attempted anything the three of them, with their new Sharingan, should be capable of defeating him.

Should be.

Terra turned as he heard footsteps, coming face-to-mask with the gray-haired messenger. "Kabuto Yakushi."

"Ah, I assume you are Terra then?"

Terra was silent, merely nodding towards the messenger, getting a smile from him. "Good. I thought I should inform you of Orochimaru-sama's plans. He has decided to take on the Hokage, alone. He will not be requiring your assistance."

Terra merely tilted his head, akin to a puppy. "Orochimaru is going against the terms of the engagement. The Sandaime was to die by the ROOTs of the Tree. Orochimaru's duty is to handle the Sannin should they return, nothing more, nothing less. He will see Konoha burn in return."

Kabuto smiled. "I'm afraid that those are not the terms anymore, unless we are coming to a misunderstanding." Terra narrowed his eyes, wondering how quickly he could put Kabuto under a genjutsu and how subtle he could make it. He couldn't allow Orochimaru to go against Danzo's plans. However, even putting Kabuto under a genjutsu would be useless, as Orochimaru would simply do his plan regardless. The man was a lose cannon and completely irreconcilable.

"Fine," Terra stated. Danzo-sama would use this to his advantage, as he always did. "Orochimaru may be permitted this luxury. However, the ROOT requires something in return."

"Such as?"

"The Uchiha boy."

Kabuto's eyes widened before they narrowed. A chuckle escaped the spy's lips as he darkly glared at Terra. "Now, now, Terra-san, surely you don't think you're in such a position to be making demands of such gravity?" Kabuto's hands twitched, and Terra frowned, moving his hand closer to the tanto on his person. "This is not up for debate or council. These are the terms."

Kabuto suddenly did a complete 180, a smile breaking out on his face. "Deal!" he cried, before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Terra frowned, moving his hands from his tanto.

He glanced outside the window and nodded, causing his two subordinates to nod in return, the two dashing into the trees. Terra looked at the ceiling before he disappeared in a haze of black dust.

Amemasu frowned as she watched the blonde brat, the Kyuubi Jinchuriki walk away from the side of the ship. This was her only chance to truly get her shot at the boy, having sent Meri back to Danzo to report where the boy was headed.

The Rukh Continent.

Not much was known about the Continent. The Elemental Nations had discovered it during the Warring States Period and had refused to ever venture to it ever again, going as far as to forbid any mention of it. It was the first time that all the clans had universally agreed to something. The Uchiha and Senju, both in a fit of arrogance, had tried to expand their power worldwife, and ended up stumbling across the continent and what followed could only be considered a massacre. While the Uchiha and Senju fought valiantly, even managing to destroy quite a few empires they were ultimately overwhelmed. Those humans on the other side of the world carried with them a mysterious power that made them far more versatile than the average shinobi, and those people had transformations that were foreign to shinobi. Without proper information, it was only natural that they were defeated.

Of course, just because it had been outlawed to speak of didn't mean those on the fringes area of the Great Shinobi Villages did not know of the continent and trade with them. The Wave Country was quite wealthy because of the fact that they traded with the almost mythical country of Kou. The metals and wealth brought in from the Kou Empire had made Wave quite a lucrative country, likely why Gato had been so interested in it. With Gato no longer in control of the country it would likely only grow in wealth. But that was beyond the point.

No one truly knew what the Rukh Continent was truly like. There had been no explorations of the continent ever since the Senju and Uchiha failed intheir attempts to conquer it. Even Danzo had no plans to conquer the continent, due to the lack of knowledge on the continent. Yet here she was, preparing to venture into the wilds of another continent all for one lone Jinchuriki.

Amemasu knew that Danzo would expect something more than just the capture of a Jinchuriki. Perhaps one of the redheaded specimens would be worth it as well. They seemed to posses strength similar if not outstripping Tsunade's own strength, and they were far faster than she was. Yes, there were many things that she would have to take back with her when she returned to Danzo. It was only natural. If he got knowledge on this Rukh Continent, there was a possibility that he would be able to conquer it.

Amemasu turned her head towards the ocean, her snow white hair billowing in the breeze. She would accomplish her mission, because that was her duty. There was no other option. She was ROOT operative, she needed to be strong so that the village could be strong.

All for the sake of Konohagakure.

Naruto opened up the door he knew Masrur was in, eyes widening as he saw the man looking over papers. Naruto frowned, glancing at the man with a curious look on his face. "You called for me?"

Masrur looked up, a smile forming on his face. "Ah, Naruto. Yes. Please, sit, I would like to talk with you about something."

Naruto nodded, closing the door behind him before sitting in the chair in front of Masrur's desk. The blonde was completely confused. How had the Fanalis man been able to get a room such as this when they had just barely been able to board the ship? It made no sense. Did the redheaded man know the ship captain and get a favor from him? This was a lot. Even his room didn't look this impressive.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

Masrur frowned. "Well," the man stated, sitting down across the table from Naruto, a sigh on his face. "I wanted to ask you how much you knew about the Rukh Continent. Where we are going is a very dangerous place, and it is not merely a place that I can allow children to go without some form of protection."

Naruto frowned, his chains shooting from his hands as if to prove a point. Masrur laughed as they disappeared. "Right, you are dangerous as well. Forgive me." Naruto frowned at the man's lax attitude. He reminded him of the old man in Konoha. Naruto clenched his fist, rage boiling over causing Masrur to raise an eyebrow. However, the leader of the Fanalis did not comment, merely continuing with his train of thought. "I just thought I should inform you that you do not have to stay with us when we are in the Continent. You are free to join any of the empires, such as Kou or Reim. You are not required to stay with us."

Naruto nodded, thinking on topic. He wasn't comfortable with these people, and from what he could tell they were definitely not comfortable with him being here bar Morgiana. It was likely better for him to leave than to stay, but he would not state so in front of Masrur. He did not know how the man would take it. When they landed he would disappear, and that would be that. Naruto nodded, standing from the seat. "Is that all?"

Masrur smiled. "You are free to talk with me whenever you want Naruto. I hold you no ill will."

Naruto walked out the room, slamming the door behind him. Masrur could only stare at the door, a frown on his face. "A child such as him, how did he end up in such a way?"

Naruto walked out of the room, an irritated look on his face. He sat down on a nearby bench, looking over at the ocean. "So this is the little human staying with us."

Naruto turned, annoyance written all over his face as he stared at the red headed girl before him. "If you're here to voice your dislike of me save it. I know when I'm not welcome. I understand that many Fanalis don't want me here." The girl laughed, her red hair blowing in the breeze. "No I'm not here to insult you. It would be amusing though I admit. No I'm here to inquire about why someone like you would be allowed to travel with us." Naruto frowned. "That is very similar to what I was saying."

"It's different," the girl stated. "You know what I mean. You're weak. Incapable. Practically useless honestly. Yet Masrur allowed you to move with us. It can't just be that you saved Morgiana, although I do respect you for that. You're hardly capable of keeping up with us."

"I think you've overthought this," Naruto muttered, irritation in his voice. He did not want to talk about this with someone smartass Fanalis. "Someone's emotional," the girl stated, smirking. "And here I thought that was a girls trait."

Naruto snarled, whirling on the girl, only for her to smirk, before she pushed him hard. Naruto flew backwards, smashing into a wall, getting the attention of some sailors. They rushed over but Naruto shrugged them off. "Who the hell do you think you are!" Naruto roared, his eyes a burning crimson as he called on the Spirit of the Fox.

"Myron Alexius, at your service," the girl stated, a cocky smirk on her face. "I hope you see my point now. You're weak. Ineffective. I don't see what Masrur saw in you. So far, I think you're pretty bad. Of course if you care to prove me wrong you're free to."

With that the girl turned, walking away. Naruto watched her go, rage boiling in his body. The boy was prepared to leap after her only for a hand to rest on his shoulder. "I wouldn't recommend that."

Naruto whirled on Lo'lo, anger on his face despite the fact that he was still very much so terrified of this man. "She's begging you to fight her. She's likely bored being on the ship and wants to hit something. You're her target for venting because you're weaker than her and she finds you interesting because you saved Morgiana. As much as I love to see a good fight, we can't anger those who do us favors," Lo'lo stated, gesturing to the sailors around them. Naruto growled but did as the Fanalis asked, his eyes reverting to their natural color.

"She'd best hope we don't see each other when we land. Otherwise she'll see just how wrong she is." Lo'lo laughed. "Can't wait!"

Sasuke frowned as the written exam finally ended. It had been extremely difficult to navigate, but he had managed to persevere. The raven-haired Uchiha did admit that the test had become far easier once he discovered that the point of the test was to cheat, but even then it wasn't easy. The proctors knew he was an Uchiha, and he noticed a few smirking when they looked at him. They had caught on to the fact that he was using his Sharingan for cheating, but apparently he hadn't got enough points from his team deducted that they were kicked out.

That was when Ibiki Morino revealed the last question. It had thrown everyone for a loop, even the people who had successfully managed to pass it. The question alone had gotten rid of over half of the teams that were in the exams. Currently only 60 of the 150 teams that arrived to take the exams had successfully managed to move onto the second stage.

As the spiked ball smashed through the window and the purple-haired kunoichi began to introduce herself Sasuke eyed the competition, his eyes narrowed. There weren't many people who looked particularly impressive to him, but he knew enough about the competition to keep his eyes on a couple interesting candidates. The girl from Iwa who had yelled at him had made it through, proving that she at least was somewhat intelligent. He'd see if she could actually back up her loud mouth soon enough. The kid with the gourd from Suna had made it, and as they followed the purple-haired proctor to the next area he swore he saw the redhead smile when she said murder was allowed. That was worrisome. Otherwise no one truly noteworthy had passed, beyond perhaps Neji Hyuga.

As the group of Genin arrived at the testing area Sasuke could only frown. What exactly what he looking at? He hadn't been paying attention much throughout her explanation. "Sakura," he asked. "What exactly are we supposed to be doing?"

Sakura turned to her broody teammate, surprised he was talking to her. He had a scowl on his face ever since the First Exam ended. "Well Mitarashi-sensei said that for our Second Exam will take place in the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, the Forest of Death. Every team will get a scroll, either Heaven or Earth and our goal is to get both scrolls and make it to the tower in the center of the forests. The only rule is that we cannot look at the scroll and the time limit is five days."

"Remember to sign your liability waivers!" Anko cried, a smile on her face. As all the teams signed the liability waivers they came out of the booth where scrolls were handed out, talking in hushed voices. As Team 7 returned from the booth Sakura glanced at Sasuke. "Sasuke I think you should hold it. You're pretty much the team leader and the strongest on the team. It only makes sense for you to hold it."

Sasuke shook his head. "Exactly. They'll be expecting me to hold it, and if I'm not then they'll go to the weakest one on the team, you." Sakura flinched at Sasuke's claim but couldn't deny it nodding. Sai's eyes widened in mild shock as the two looked at him. "You want me to hold the scroll? Neither of you trust me."

"It isn't a matter of trust," Sasuke stated plainly. "It's a matter of practicality. Hold onto this Heaven Scroll." Sai merely smiled, grabbing the scroll and stashing it on his person. "Understood...dickless."

Sasuke clenched his fist, tempted to ram his fist into Sai's gut but resisted, walking over to the gate they were assigned, only for their eyes to widen as they saw another team there, another team from Konohagakure.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sasuke rubbed his forehead as Ino leapt onto him, holding him tightly. "I'm so glad I get to see you again! It seems even fate acknowledges that you must share a gate with me! It must feel bad for you because you have to be on a team with someone with such a big forehead!"

"Shut up Ino-pig!" Sakura screeched. "Sasuke-kun has no desire to be with you right Sasuke?" Sasuke just groaned, attempting to get away from the fighting girls only to fail. Shikamaru and Choji could only watch in amusement. "Well this is interesting. We're at the same gate, that doesn't make much sense."

Choji looked at his teammate, nodding as he was unable to respond due to the food in his mouth. When he eventually swallowed he talked, "Yeah. It's weird I wonder why."

"Hello everyone!" the two teams heard from the loud speaker, Anko's voice getting Shikamaru to wince. "As some of you may have noticed, you're sharing a gate with another team! That's because we weren't expecting so many people to participate in these exams! This training ground only has forty-four entrances, and there are 60 teams! You guys can do the math I'm sure!"

Shikamaru's eyes widened. "So we just got paired up then. That's some rotten luck depending. It's quite possible to get paired with an enemy." Sasuke glared at the Nara, his eyes cold. "We're all enemies here. I came here for the competition, nothing more nothing less. Don't think you're not on that list. You were a slacker, but you're interesting nonetheless."

Shikamaru sighed, unsure whether to take Sasuke's declaration as a compliment or an insult. "Troublesome. I mean the fact that we're both from the same village. It would be much better for us to just work together so both of us make it to the tower." Sakura nodded. "Yeah Shikamaru that does make a lot of sense. Combining our strengths would be beneficial for all of us!"

"Sure," Ino stated, ogling Sasuke. Clearly she had other reasons for wanting to join up. Sasuke huffed, noticing he had been overruled but remained silent. "What scroll do you guys have," Sakura asked. "Heaven," Shikamaru muttered, an annoyed look on his face. "So do we!" Sakura said. "At least now we know it would be pointless to fight one another. We both need the same scroll!"

"Unless we were needed to eliminate the competition," Sai stated, a smile on his face. Ino looked at the pale boy strangely. "Who are you?" Sai raised an eyebrow. "Sai. Their teammate."

"Teammate? What happened to Naruto? I thought he was your teammate Sakura? What, did he drop out already," she laughed. Sasuke clenched his fist, his eyes blazing as he glared at Ino, but the blonde girls eyes were closed so she didn't notice it. Shikamaru however did and quickly changed the subject. "It doesn't matter. Let's just focus on a strategy for now."

"Ready, set, go!" Anko yelled abruptly, getting the two teams to jump as the gate swung open. After a brief gulp the two teams leapt into the forest to whatever awaited them.

"So what's the strategy," Sakura called as the two teams suddenly stopped moving to strategize, standing in the trees to be less visible. "How about we lay a trap near the tower? People will likely have all the scrolls if they're headed to the tower, so it would be our best bet to get the scrolls with little conflict," she suggested.

"Except for the fact that that's the obvious plan so a lot of people will be doing it," Shikamaru stated, a sigh on his face. "How troublesome," he muttered. "The least amount of effort would likely be to stay high in the trees and attack a team that was already exhausted from battling, especially with our superior numbers. The issue is tracking. None of us have that capability."

Sai raised his hand, a smirk on his face as he whipped out a scroll and pen, quickly drawing something before six birds made of ink large enough to carry the two teams appeared. "We can just soar above the competition. It's not tracking, but it's still quite good, and will put us out of range of most attacks."

The six nodded, each hopping on a bird before they took over above the canopy into the skies to watch down on the competing teams.

Hinata could not believe her rotten luck. Her team would be paired against foreign shinobi in the very beginning, having shared a gate with the foreign team. And to top it all off they would be foreign shinobi that she had no idea how to combat. These Genin were interesting to say the least. They didn't fight in a normal way.

"Kiba be careful," Hinata stated, her eyes bulging due to the use of her Kekkei Genkai. "The chakra that is emitting from their bodies is unnatural. I've never seen anything like it."

Kiba nodded, Akamaru already having transformed into a clone of him. The two Inuzuka members stared down the Hoshigakure Genin who were shrouded in strange pink chakra.

"I'll take care of them. We don't have time for this," a boy stated. "Be careful Sumaru!" the girl called, letting her chakra die down. "We can't afford to be to reckless with our techniques. We only have a limited amount of pills on us!"

Sumaru nodded, turning to glare at the three Konoha Genin. "Only sending one person to fight us? Overconfident. Why? Because we hold the numbers advantage and quite proficient-"

"Shut up," Sumaru stated, interrupting Shino. "I know plenty about all of your clans and I don't need to be worried. You all can't defeat me."

Kiba growled, clearly irritated by the Genin's claims. "Enough of this! No Genin from a two-bit village like Hoshi is gonna talk down to me," Kiba roared, rushing forwards. Kiba slashed at Sumaru only for him to jump in the air, the pink chakra shooting from his waist to form a pair of wings that he used to fly above the trio.

"No way," Hinata muttered, her eyes wide. "I've never seen chakra like this before!"

"It won't stop me!" Kiba roared, leaping from branch to branch to reach Sumaru. Akamaru wasted no time to mimic Kiba the two shooting through the air towards Sumaru. "Gatsuga (Fang Over Fang)!"

Two drills of flesh careened through the air like rockets towards Sumaru who frowned at the approaching attack. 'I definitely wasn't expecting this.' The Hoshigakure Genin quickly transformed his wings into a thin chakra rope he used to wrap around a nearby branch, swinging out of the way of the two attacks. Kiba and Akamaru stopped spinning midair, glaring at the Genin who landed on the branch, sticking to it as he looked down on them from its underside. Their eyes widened as he whipped out a crossbow, a smirk on his face.

"Can't dodge in midair can you mutts?"

Kiba frowned as he noticed the bolt that was already loaded. Sumaru fired, quickly loading another bolt before firing it at Akamaru. The Inuzuka cursed, trying to think a way out of this predicament, as the bolts would hit him if he couldn't before they were shattered by two swift palm strikes. "Hinata," he cried out in shock. The Hyuga frowned as they landed on the ground.

"Don't rush in without support," she stated, irritation in her voice. Kiba paused, a little shocked at her outburst but nodded nonetheless. "Y-yeah. Won't happen again."

Hinata nodded before she turned to stare at Sumaru. "He's strong," she muttered. "Tch. He's nothing I can't handle," Kiba stated, still confident, yet a single look from Hinata shut him up. Sumaru watched the exchange with annoyance, not taking pleasure at being ignored before his eyes widened as he saw the bugs crawling up his arm. "What the hell," he muttered, losing control of his chakra and quickly falling. He managed to land on his feet, but Hinata was immediately there, a smirk on her face. Sumaru cursed, struggling to defend himself from Hinata's onslaught of palm strikes, his taijutsu sloppy. To many of her blows were slipping through his guard for him to do anything.

'Think! Think!'

Sumaru stumbled again, a brief wave of exhaustion taking over him, leaving an opening that Hinata immediately capitalized on. With a single palm strike she sent him flying, the teen coughing up blood from the power of her attack. Kiba and Akamaru capitalized to finish the teams assault. "Gatsuga (Fang Over Fang)!" Sumaru could only watch in horror as the two drills of death appeared over his head, only for them to be sent flying away, smacked away from pink chakra. Sumaru turned, his eyes widening as he saw his teammate, Mizura, using the pink chakra, sweat pouring down his face. "Stop acting cocky Sumaru! I won't allow you to die!"

Sumaru's eyes widened as he saw the form Mizura's chakra took, "Kemono (Beast)," Sumaru stated, his eyes wide from Mizura's power. That was not an easy form to create and maintain. He had thought Mizura only capable of forming the basic feathers, but clearly Mizura had been practicing when he wasn't around. That form took quite a bit of energy to maintain, especially for someone as inexperienced as Mizura.

"Sorry," Sumaru stated, shaking his head. "Help would be appreciated," he muttered trying to stand but stumbling once more. He frowned cursing. "Feeling drained," Shino asked. "It's simple really. Why? My kikaichu are draining you of your chakra. Those are no mere bugs on your body."

Sumaru frowned, irritation on his face as he tried to sweep the bugs off of him, only to fail.

"It is not that simple. Once the kikaichu have found someone to drain they will not stop until you are dead or I mandate it. Surrender your scroll," Shino stated, staring at the other Hoshigakure members. "Or your teammate dies."

In order to make sure that his point was clear Shino's clothing expanded rapidly, black clouds of kikaichu swarming the area. Mizura growled, drawing back his dog-shaped chakra entity to make sure that his chakra wasn't siphoned, but the girl stepped forwards, raising an Earth scroll. "Here," she said, placing the scroll on the ground. "I have no intention of fighting you when you have our teammate hostage. I just want him returned alive."

Shino nodded, taking the scroll. "Much appreciated," Hinata stated.

"No!" The Konoha team turned towards Sumaru whose eyes burned with rage. "Hokuto what are you doing? We need that scroll to pass!"

"We can find a different one," the girl countered. "We can't pass if you're dead remember? Besides, it's only the first day and Mizura needs treatment!" Sumaru turned, his eyes widening as he saw his friends sweating intensify, labored breaths escaping his mouth.

'The idiot! He did to much on a simple defensive maneuver. He didn't have to try that much to save me!'

Sumaru frowned, nodding, and upon doing so the kikaichu on his body left, the swarm flooding back into Shino's clothing. Kiba stared at his teammate with awe, and a slight bit of fear. "Good going Shino! We've already got the scroll we need! We can just head straight on to the tower now!"

"Indeed," Shino muttered, leaping into the trees, followed by his teammates.

The Hoshigakure team immediately rushed over to help their teammate with his radiation.

Naruto frowned as he out of his room, walking away from the group of Fanalis he saw sitting on the deck, laughing with each other and talking about something. He thought he overheard them talking about killing an animal on a hunt but he wasn't positive. The blonde walked over to the front of the ship, staring forwards as the ocean parted for the massive ship. The blonde boy held his right hand out, flexing it briefly before the flame like marking on his hand swirled, a black shakujo appearing in it no long after. Naruto grasped the shakujo with his other hand, breathing deeply before he let his mind rest.

He opened his eyes in the same area he met Hagoromo before, Kurama standing behind him like last time. Hagoromo stood before the duo, a curious look on his face. "You called?"

"What is the Spirit of The Fox?"

Hagoromo tilted his head. "I thought Kurama explained this to you?" Kurama frowned, his deep voice resonating. "I tried. It's not exactly easy for me to understand. Even I don't know that much about it, and it used to be a part of me for Kami's-sake." Hagoromo laughed, before nodding. "I see. Well I suppose I can explain to you what it is. Where did you leave off?"

"The part where Solomon split the Bijuu's power, and what Asura described as seeing the life force."

Hagoromo nodded, before he sat down, sighing, a serious look covering his face. Naruto raised an eyebrow, sitting down before the man, interested in what he had to say. "The Spirit of the Fox is...an energy source so-to-speak."

"So-to-speak," Naruto questioned. Hagoromo brushed a hand through his hair, a frown on his face. "It is exactly as Asura described it. I guess it would be best to explain what Rukh is, or at least how I perceive it and how Solomon explained it to me."

The Bijuu and young teen nodded.

"Well, as I perceive it Rukh is an energy source. In fact, it's not unlike chakra. It is however more ancient." Naruto interrupted there, eyes wide. "More ancient than chakra!" Hagoromo nodded. "Yes. I know it sounds strange to you in all likelihood but it is possible. After all I was around when chakra was first discovered, but that is a story for another day. Just know that chakra did not always exist in humanity, but there was one natural phenomenon that has always existed. The Rukh. For those who have a way to access this energy, such as Magicians like Solomon, it is incredibly powerful. It is the source of Magoi."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, so Hagoromo continued. "Think of it as power. Pure energy. All living beings have Magoi in their body, even humans on the Elemental Continent who for the most part seem to have never learned how to use its abilities. In fact, most of the world is like this, even the Rukh Continent. Only select people can call upon the Magoi inside of them. That's all I really know about it. I can use it, but only at a very rudimentary level. I never bothered trying to master it, preferring chakra instead. Solomon was the one who understood it. He said it was...in simplistic terms fate."

"Fate," Naruto asked, confused. Hagoromo nodded, frowning. He noticed the look of annoyance on Naruto's face. "Yes, much like you I detested the idea. All of my hard work meant nothing if what Solomon said was true, but I had to acknowledge that it was. You see, when Life was born and lives within the flow to move forwards one must accept the Rukh's guidance, fate. That is what Rukh is."

"Fate," Naruto muttered. "So the Spirit's allow people the power to mold fate then?" Hagoromo shook his head. "Not in the way you are thinking. You see there are types of Rukh, Black Rukh and White Rukh. The one I just described to you was White Rukh. The Rukh that is used in the Spirit is..."

"Black Rukh," Kurama muttered, finishing Hagoromo's statement. Hagoromo nodded. "Black Rukh is different than Rukh. In fact it is its polar opposite. It is created when one tries to go against destiny. It is created from and fueled by hatred and malice. The Juubi was a creature of hatred and malice, along with chakra, so it could use Black Rukh. I gained my ability to use it when I became the first Jinchuriki, as you can see from my shakujo. Having Black Rukh allows one to change fate."

"The power to change fate," Naruto muttered. "That's what the Spirit is. It's Black Rukh. The ability to change fate." Hagoromo nodded. "In a sense. However I would not recommend using this power. As powerful as the Spirit is, it is not a good thing. It means the degeneration of evolution. Existence becomes nothing. You Fall Into Depravity."

Naruto frowned. "I will not be manipulated by a power." Hagoromo raised an eyebrow. "Really? What about when you fought that Haku boy on the bridge. Kurama manipulated you into using his power. Is that any different?" Kurama growled. "Low blow tou-san."

"A necessary one," Hagoromo muttered, seeing Naruto's eyes widen. However Naruto snarled back at his grandfather. "It's not the same! Kurama actually has a mind, an intelligence. He as a will behind the power."

"Are you really so naive to believe that Rukh does not have a will?"

Naruto's eyes widened, almost incapable of responding. "W-What?"

"Rukh is not just some power source boy! It is the very order of life! Even in death it effects me! The Black Rukh I learned how to harness drove me to a dark place Naruto. You wonder why the Uchiha Clan is so insane? I am your culprit! You wonder why the Rukh Continent is as politically split as it is? Me again!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. Clearly he did not know what those things meant, causing Hagoromo to sigh. "I suppose you shall see soon enough, and then you shall run back to me and beg to stop learning about this power. I warned Asura not to use it, and Kurama I think you remember what happened to him." Kurama winced. "I never thought that was due to the Spirit!"

Hagoromo shook his head. "You thought the degeneration of evolution was meant philosophically? No. It is quite literal. People change when they use this power. It is an all-encompassing darkness. I agreed to not train him under the assumption that the Spirit would be his last resort, but if you really intend to use it Naruto I will force you to learn the ways of the Shinigami to stop you!"

Naruto snarled. "I will not be corrupted by some damn power. I am me and no one else!"

"It is not that simple," Hagoromo hissed. Naruto growled, his eyes glowing with rage. "It is! I am not a child anymore! I can stop it."

"Do you think it is a surprise that you can use genjutsu?" Naruto paused at the question, confused. Hagoromo sighed. "You, a child who had no talent for the art, with monstrous chakra reserves and no control can use genjutsu powerful enough to briefly fool an ANBU member?" Before Naruto could even respond Hagoromo continued.

"It was the Spirit," Hagoromo hissed. "It was you utilizing Black Rukh! Kurama do you think it is some sort of coincidence that you can sense negative emotions? That you are based on a creature known for deception. It is not. Both of you are influenced by the Black Rukh and it is why both of you are so prone to hatred. Naruto you hate your old village, it is quickly becoming an all-encompassing hate. Kurama...do I even need to begin? Genjutsu manipulates the senses. It changes perception. It is merely a way Black Rukh can go into chakra! It can amplify it! Rukh existed before chakra remember! It has always been capable of making chakra more potent! Black Rukh lets you use genjutsu because it allows you to challenge fate."

Naruto and Kurama stood there stunned, almost unbelieving of this revelation. Hagoromo would not them rest however. "Genjutsu itself is not corrupted, but for people such as yourself, creatures such as yourself. Black Rukh is the only reason you can use genjutsu. When you do it you're not manipulating chakra, but Black Rukh. So far the channel has been through you Kurama, but that isn't your fault. You yourself can't access your Black Rukh without someone inheriting the Spirit. It was unfortunately a product of luck that led to to two of you being united, or perhaps a Disaster even. But with Naruto being your Jinchuriki both of you have access to abilities you previously never had. The red energy you utilize Naruto is not Kurama's power. It manifests itself to look like it because that is what you perceived the Spirit to be. Now that you know what it is it will change appearance once more, because that is what Black Rukh does! It disguises itself even to those who utilize it!"

Naruto growled. "No. I will control it. I will utilize it and no one will stop me. The Spirit is the only reason I've survived this long! It is what has allowed me to live that long in the forest without me dying. It allowed me to face Goltas and Morgiana in combat. It has saved my life. What exactly have you done?"

Naruto saw stars as Hagoromo slapped him, the blonde falling to the ground. Hagoromo had risen now, his eyes glowing with barely restrained power, the rippling pattern in them terrifying. The very air around Naruto was coated in his power. Naruto struggled as he reached forwards, unable to grasp air to fuel him. Hagoromo glared down on the boy like a God looking down on an insect. Naruto silently screamed, a blazing inferno rushing through his system as he felt his organs liquefying under the pressure before everything disappeared, and he could breathe again, organs back to their normal state.

"Mind your tongue," Hagoromo stated. Naruto could only stare at the ground, a cold sweat pouring down his face. Kurama looked at the boy with shock, before turning to Hagoromo with no small semblance of fear. He was glad that had not been directed at himself but it was surprising to see his father like that. Unusual. The man was almost always kind. For him to snap on Naruto.

He must have struck a nerve. Even Hagoromo was once human.

"Leave my sight," Hagoromo muttered. Before either the Bijuu or young boy could protest they were forcefully ejected from the area.

Naruto awoke on the ship deck, the sky dark shakujo back in its sealed state, a cold sweat pouring down his body. The boy slowly stood on shaky legs, before he clenched his fist, tight enough to draw blood. He had enough. He was not staying.

With that Naruto Uzumaki leapt over the railing.

A late New Year's gift, but here is the second part of the New Year's gift. Hope you enjoy. I gave you the knowledge of what the Spirit of the Fox is and for those of you who don't read Magi hopefully I explained it good enough for you to understand just how serious of a problem it is for Naruto. For those of you who do, well I'm sure you already realize. I should note however that there is more to the Spirit than just being able to cast genjutsu. That will be explored in the next chapter. It was supposed to be explored in this once, but I found this to be a perfect ending. This chapter was going to be really long if I kept it going to where I initially wanted it to end, and I think that argument with Hagoromo and Naruto gives you all enough information to theorize about future events. Especially between Naruto, Kurama, and Hagoromo, along with other characters as I did drop some hints for the future. Yeah, but hopefully many of you can tell that this story won't be like my other ones.

It's gonna be darker. Much, much darker, if you haven't already realized.

Also hope you guys enjoyed how I portrayed Myron. It's gonna be an interesting challenge for me to write those two slowly becoming a thing, something I'm excited for. I already know how I'll do it, but how I translate that into words will be interesting. Also hope you guys enjoy how powerful I made Hagoromo, and that was just him touching the surface.

Naruto's got a long ways to go.