AN: Hello all. Please enjoy.
I don't know how Kishimoto is allowed to own Naruto given how he slaughtered the ending but whatever, the fact is he does.
"What do you want to do today?"
Naruto hated little more than that question right now. Not a month ago, if Kakashi-sensei had asked him that, he would have screamed ninjutsu at the top of his lungs and with a spring in his steps. Except Kakashi-sensei had never offered that. In fact, the lanky man who had been his teacher and team captain in the last six months or so had never offered anything.
Since then, everything had gone wrong. The one he thought was his best friend betrayed Konoha, endangering many comrades by doing so and Naruto had not been able to bring him back.
Sasuke had always been better, stronger, faster. Naruto had thought he was catching up, that his powers could rival that of the Uchiha. When finally they had matched their physical strength, however, Sasuke prevailed still when he struck Naruto down without hesitation.
Naruto knew he had faltered. Bringing his teammate back had been his mission, his duty, his promise. Yet when the only solution had been to strike the one he considered a brother with a Rasengan, he had wavered. His resolve was weak, contrary to Sasuke's.
Then Toad-gramps had torn through him. Even his strength was fake, wobbly, smoke and mirrors. He knew of course. Every fight he ever won, it was because of the Kyuubi. Haku, Kiba, Neji, Gaara: without the tailed fox in his guts, he would have lost each one of these.
His power was borrowed from another. It was no wonder; he was an idiot after all. All those people calling him that through his life could not be all wrong. Even Iruka-sensei used to call him a baka. Maybe Kakashi simply knew he was too dumb to learn.
Hence, he could not understand why Jiraiya and Fukasaku kept insisting he told them what he wanted to do. They knew better so why couldn't they show him? Why did they force him to contemplate his inadequacy when they could have pointed out what to do to him?
Maybe it was because they were worried that he wouldn't listen to them. He did not pay attention to Fukasaku at first and the toad had to punch him into oblivion.
He had never paid attention to any of his teachers actually, even in the Academy. At the time, he thought it was fair because they weren't paying him any mind either. Yet rather than learn, he had prefered to grab their attention with pranks and tomfoolery.
Because it hurt so much when he had an answer and all they did was ignore him. Because it hurt so much when they mocked him for something he did wrong. Because it hurt so much when he was denied the right to participate and was ousted from class.
Iruka had been different but by then, Naruto was a prankster through and through.
Because he had been so afraid Iruka would ignore him like all the others if he were to stop.
So when Jiraiya once again asked him the dreaded question, Naruto shrugged. "I don't know," he answered, glancing downward with a scowl.
He did not miss the Toad Sage sending a helpless look at Fukasaku. The elderly toad had shared breakfast with them, eating a lot of candied treats the boy recognized.
He had given those to Gamakichi.
"Walk with me Naruto."
Hearing in the toad's voice that it was not a suggestion, Naruto rose to his feet and braced for when the talking batrachian jumped on his shoulder.
"Let us explore the woods, shall we?"
Naruto nodded and walked straight ahead in the forest, leaving Jiraiya behind as his teacher was cleaning.
The strange pair meandered under the massive trees of Fire Country in silence for a while before Fukasaku broke it.
"See this butterfly? It is called a monarch. It uses is bright colours to seduce potential partners."
Naruto looked at the red, orange, and black insect fluttering around.
"Partners?"
"To leave behind the next generation before they go. They live for a brief summer only you know."
"That's sad," commented the boy. "Their short life is all about leaving their kids behind?" He winced. That resonated weirdly within him.
"Not really. You see, they feed on the nectar of flowers. As they go from one meal to another, they carry the seeds necessary for the next generation of plants to grow. They have an important mission."
That silenced the blond. Did everything around them have a similar task? What about him?
"Do you know what this tree is?" The toad asked suddenly, pointing a palmed hand towards a great trunk.
The answer escaped the blond's lips before he could think. "It's an iron-oak." Naruto glanced down.
"How did you know?"
Naruto felt his eyes prickle and blinked several times. "Jiji," he began, his voice hoarse. He coughed. "Jiji used to show me. When I was little and when he wasn't too busy." Naruto explained in a shuddering whisper.
"You miss him."
Naruto could only nod, his lips pursed tightly.
"It is fine Naruto," Fukasaku said warmly. "To mourn those close to us when they pass is only natural. You and me, we are creatures with feelings. We cannot ignore them."
"I'd… I'd like it sometimes. It would be easier." Naruto breathed out.
"Then would we be living truly? Loss is the price of love, Naruto but would you forgo the chance to love?"
The boy's shoulders sagged. What was love when there was none to share it with you? Did the butterfly have the same considerations? "No one loves me," whispered Naruto, suddenly wishing he was one of the stupid insect fluttering around. "I'm just an idiot, a joke of a ninja. Incapable to do anything right."
"You might believe that my boy but it is not true. Tsunade holds great affection for you, so does Jiraiya."
Naruto scoffed. "He called me an idiot, threw me off a cliff, and won't teach me. He doesn't like me, he is just… just…" the boy lost his voice.
Why was Jiraiya training him exactly? To defeat Akatsuki? Why would the man bother though?
"Wherever these thoughts are taking you, it is not true."
Naruto felt anger suddenly welling inside him like a devouring fire. He swatted his hand over his right shoulder and whirled, forcing Fukasaku to jump away.
"What do you know huh?!" The boy hurled. "I've been called an idiot all my life, I'm too dumb to be a good ninja! The only thing about me is the stupid Kyuubi!"
Naruto's eyes went wide with realization, rage, then fear. "That's why the old pervert is training me," he whispered in a trembling voice. "He wants me to use the Kyuubi," the blond mumbled in defeat, "He thinks I'm no good too."
Naruto fell on his bottom, tears rolling down his cheeks, and sighed from exhaustion.
Fukasaku coughed, attracting the boy's eyes to him. The toad had an eyebrow cocked up and was watching him with scepticism.
"Who are you and what have you done to Naruto Uzumaki?" the toad said in a no-nonsense voice.
"Huh?" Naruto asked eloquently.
"What have you done to Naruto Uzumaki, the son of the Red-hot Habanero, the boy who never gives up?"
Naruto glared. "A whole lot of good it did to me!" The boy spat. "I banged my head against obstacles so much it made me stupid!"
"It might be true but it kept you going forward."
"To where?" The boy scoffed. "Mediocrity, that's where."
The toad elder hummed and his throat gave a grave croak as he did.
"Do you know how much time it took Jiraiya to learn the Rasengan?"
Naruto shrugged and looked away.
"Five months," said Fukasaku, ignoring the boy's blatant attempt at disrespecting him. "It took you one if I'm not mistaken."
Naruto snorted. "I can't do it by myself you know?"
"Perfection comes with practice. The fact is, you know how to perform one. It took you five times less than Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Densetsu no Shinobi. That is a great testament to your abilities as a ninja Naruto."
The blond glared at the toad. "You said I was useless in ninjutsu!"
"Now do not deform my words, my boy. I did say you haven't mastered your ninjutsu and that it was useless to teach you more. I did say you currently lack many things. I never said, however, that you did not have potential. I believe you can be a great ninja Naruto."
"And so do I," said Jiraiya, appearing suddenly by Naruto's side, startling the boy. "A great ninja without the Kyuubi."
The blond starred alternatively at his master and the elderly toad, shame slowly heating his face, relief rolling down from his wet eyes.
"I'm sorry," he croaked. "It's just… I don't know. I feel so tired. It's…"
Jiraiya gave the boy's shoulder a squeeze. "A lot to take in. I'm sorry, we should have taken things slowly. Fukasaku and I both believe you can be great but the most important thing is for you to believe so too."
Naruto scowled but there was no real heat behind it, only tiredness. "What did you throw me off that cliff then?"
The Toad Sage sighed and sat beside the boy. "Because I am a cretin."
The blond was too flabbergasted to be annoyed anymore and Jiraiya chuckled ruthfully. "I wanted to arm you, kid. I knew about Gaara, I had no idea where I'd be needed and I knew Sensei…" The Sage sighed again. "I knew you'd be in the arena. Ready to pounce. So I needed to be sure you could access the Fox' chakra. Was it the worst way to go at it? Yes. I'll admit I panicked when getting you to summon Bunta wasn't enough so I reacted like an idiot."
Naruto stared at Jiraiya with wide eyes. "You knew?" He mumbled, disoriented. "You knew? But then… then why? Why weren't you with Jiji?" He exclaimed, his tone one of reproach which made Jiraiya wince.
"Because it was his duty, Naruto-boy." Fukasaku interrupted. "The Hokage himself ordered Jiraiya to keep the enemy forces behind the wall and that is what Jiraiya did. When he reported the presence of Gaara to Sarutobi, it was the Hokage himself who encouraged him to get you to access the Kyuubi's power."
"But… but… why not train me?!"
Jiraiya rubbed his eyes tiredly. "It was the easy shortcut Naruto. The one way I was sure you'd be ready in such a short time to face another unstable jinchuuriki. I know it is hard for you to hear that Naruto but you… you had almost no foundation when we first met. Your taijutsu was correct at best."
The blond scowled and the Toad Sage rose his hand in a peaceful motion. "I'm not saying it is your fault but it is the truth."
Naruto gave his two teachers a humourless smile. "Kakashi-sensei really didn't teach much did he." It was not a question, more a simple constatation.
"He taught you the values of teamwork and to cherish your comrades," pointed Fukasaku.
Naruto scoffed. "Nearly got me killed."
"Because he failed to establish boundaries but it is still a powerful lesson, one I encourage you to follow… If with a bit more restraint. Nonetheless, he indeed neglected your personal skills and he has no excuses for that. I'm sure your Hokage will remind him of his duty if Jiraiya writes her to."
The blond shrugged. "I guess it'd be cool. I mean, Sakura-chan still counts on him for her training so Kakashi-sensei needs to get things going."
"See? Even now, you think of your teammate. I believe you Konohan call it the Will of Fire. Correct, Jiraiya?"
The Toad Sage nodded and Naruto fell in a second of silent contemplation. The Sandaime used to talk about it, saying it was the belief of the founding fathers of the village. Did he really have it? He closed his fist and squeezed with strength. It was a good thing, right?
"Beliefs are powerful things, Naruto-boy, and loyalty is answered by loyalty most of the time, creating a bond that goes beyond duty. It does not stop you from exerting caution, for there are always those without honour or too lost to consider such things."
"Sasuke," whispered Naruto. "He isn't without honour." The blond protested. The Uchiha might have never truly been his friend but they had at least shared a bond of comradeship. It was Sasuke who had saved him from Haku, Sasuke who had done his best against Gaara to defend Sakura, Sasuke who had spared him ultimately.
"Maybe not but ultimately he answered your friendship with spite and jealousy."
"The seal he got from the Snake didn't help," remarked Naruto. There was no heat or passion in his voice. "And the genjutsu from Itachi Uchiha probably didn't help."
"They didn't, that's for sure, but it's irrelevant," Jiraiya said with a sigh. "When he betrayed Konoha, he did not leave to confront Itachi. He left to join another known traitor to receive training. If he is reasonable enough to do that, he is reasonable enough to be held accountable for his actions. All of them."
The blond nodded; those were the facts too. He sighed. "I just wish he had gotten some help long before that. It could have gone differently."
"I suppose," answered Fukasaku, "but it is of little use to dwell on what could have been."
Naruto nodded again, resolutely this time. "I can only keep going forward, eh?" He said with an amused snort toward the elderly toad who smiled.
"Precisely. Now, Naruto-boy, what do you want to do today?"
The blond teenager took a deep breath and tightened his fists. When he looked at his teachers, his eyes were unsure yet they held a flame that had not been there in the past few days.
"I don't know where to begin," said Naruto truthfully, looking at his now relaxed hands before glancing up at the two sages. "Can you help me?"
Jiraiya chuckled. "Good answer."
Naruto beamed with one of his true smiles and it looked like he was alive again for the first time in a few days.
The next day, the boy was pushed through a ringer of physical exercises that left him panting. He paled when he was told this would become his routine every other day but when Jiraiya punched a hole in a tree through sheer brute strength and promised him the same, Naruto swallowed his protests and steeled his resolve.
He would do his damned best to become strong. He was Naruto Uzumaki, the boy who never gave up.
After he took a bath, the boy was told to work on his Rasengan, as the Toad Sage revealed it was an excellent chakra control exercise, while they were on the road. When he asked Jiraiya for their destination, the sage answered with a smile.
"It's a secret. You're free to ask me anything but this for now."
And so Naruto asked, both of his teachers, everything that passed through his mind, from chakra theory to hunting to the reason the sky was blue - a question that was actually answered by Fukasaku, whose response left Naruto with more questions than he thought possible. The boy asked relentlessly, exploring the vast wealth of experience and knowledge the two sages possessed.
The days passed as the group trailed through the forest, Fukasaku going at his own convenience and frequently called back by Jiraiya. A routine settled for the boy: every other day, he would push his body to its limit by going through a regimen devised by Jiraiya himself before sparring with a Bunshin of the Toad Sage, with the objective to dispel it. Naruto had only gotten himself trashed for now but he could tell he was learning, his teacher frequently halting the fight to show him tricks and techniques.
The least of them were the various ways to throw an efficient punch with one's maximum bodyweight behind. Naruto had solid muscles already but once Jiraiya explained to the boy the concept of momentum in a way the blond could understand, it had been like enlightenment. The blond's brand of taijutsu was chaotic and already full of motions: the goal was now to make each movement as useful and hurtful as possible.
Fukasaku was insistent for Naruto to practise his katas. According to the little old toad, they were a good solution to get him the discipline he sorely needed. Constating quickly that the simple way would not work, the blond failing to muster any enthusiasm, Fukasaku made him do it while sticking on a tree trunk while the elderly sage peppered him with little rocks that Naruto was supposed to intercept or escape according to each motion.
Those were the days they would not move. While they were on the road, however, they were not idle. Naruto would make two clones to whom Fukasaku gave scrolls and books - after forbidding Jiraiya from giving them one of his little orange books. They had tested his abilities to efficiently remember information and apparently, two replicas was his limit for now. The clones would then proceed to pester Jiraiya with questions about their reading materials.
The blonds had been hesitant at first, considering it was mainly complicated vocabulary that the original did not know but once Jiraiya ordered them to speak, they complied. Naruto was certain he had seen something dark flash in the Toad Sage's eyes but it had been too fast.
The boy himself would work on his Rasengan, trying his hardest to do it one-handed. The swirling, miniature maelstrom of chakra really was eluding him. He could not wrap his head around how to control the chaotic tides of his chakra within such a tight sphere all the while keeping the multiple rotations going at a pace sufficient to generate destruction.
Two weeks went by when the duo finally reached the place Jiraiya had in mind. It was a small village hidden in the forest. The first signs Naruto could recognize were the various trails his increased knowledge allowed him to pick up. A few of them looked worn, used, and clean, all signs of humans passage. Then, the smell of the ambient woods changed and Naruto actually climbed up a tree when he recognized the scent of smoke. From his position, he saw two tall chimneys puffing cloud of grey smoke.
Eventually, they reached the first houses and the boy realized the village was barely bigger than the Hyuuga compound in Konoha. It was in a clearing of a sort, surrounded by walls of wooden spikes - more to keep prowlers outside than a real defensive measure. There were still a few tall trees within the walls, five very imposing iron-oaks, and Naruto could see there was some sort of house-like structures high up in the branches.
The cry of a migrating hawk was heard and Naruto's eyes caught the forms of guards roosted in the trees. They had been spotted.
"Welcome to the halls of the Fuuma clan, Naruto," said Jiraiya with a smile.
"Fuuma clan?"
"One of the very few shinobi clans not part of any shinobi village thought they swore loyalty to Fire Country and they have a treaty with Konoha."
"Really? How does that work?"
The blond's questioning was stopped when two men approached them. They were both tall and their sleeveless attire revealed strong arms marred with scars. Their eyes were the colour of hazelnut and their hair was dark.
"Lord Jiraiya." One of the guards greeted. "Welcome to Mori no Goten."
The Toad Sage returned the greeting with a nod. "Good day to you, Fuuma-san."
"May I announce you to Lord Fuuma?"
"Yes. Tell him I'm here for Konoha usual business as well as a favour."
"It shall be done."
Naruto and his teacher were then escorted to the largest house in the middle of the village, next to which the two chimneys the blond had spotted earlier were standing. Long before they neared the longhouse, a rumour buzzed in the boy's ears: a heavy, metallic sound and a hum that resonated within his chest.
When they finally approached, he understood better. A dozen of smiths were gathered at around the two chimneys, busying themselves with red, scalding hot ingots of steel which they were moulding with great strength and precision into weapons.
"Does the fuuma shuriken comes from them, sensei?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Good deduction Naruto. Yes, they invented it. The Fuuma are excellent metal workers."
Naruto smiled excitedly. He had never been allowed to visit any of the forges in Konoha. He knew they were all gathered along the Naka river to stave off arson risk. "I've never been near a smithy."
"The ones in Konoha are closed off to the public. We can't allow possible enemies to sabotage them, they are a vital part of our business you know. That's also why the Hokage Tower owns them."
Naruto glanced at his teacher uncomprehendingly. "Really? Why?"
"Well, without a steady stream of good weapons, we couldn't properly fight, right? And if the forges were owned by a private party, they could decide to just leave at any time and we can't have that. That's why Konoha owns them."
The boy's mouth formed an "o" of comprehension. "I get it," he said, nodding happily. "It makes sense."
"Can you guess what else is under the village control in Konoha?"
It took a minute for the boy to rack his brain for an answer. "The hospital, I guess? I'd also say all electricity production maybe?"
"Why?"
"Well, the hospital 'cause us ninjas need to be healed for not too much money and we also need some supplies like chakra and blood pills, right?" The blond answered, throwing an uncertain yet hopeful glance at his teacher.
Jiraiya only motioned for Naruto to continue.
"As for the electricity, well, the hospital needs to work properly so we can't be short. Also, I think the Tower uses a lot of it," explained the boy hesitantly. "Oh, and there are the emergency bunkers also: they need air conditioning or something."
The Toad Sage nodded proudly and ruffled the boy's locks, earning him a look of mixed annoyance and satisfaction as well as a grin. "You're completely correct. For your information, parts of the farmlands around the village are also supervised by the Akimichi clan in the name of the Hokage to ensure a consistent food source and the Nara clan ensure the wells and the Naka river aren't polluted."
"Those lazy asses?" Naruto exclaimed but before his teacher could answer him, they were standing in front of two large doors, reinforced with iron. Two guards pushed the heavy panels and the one Fuuma shinobi accompanying them stepped inside the great hall.
"Lord Jiraiya of Konoha and his escort."
The Toad Sage glanced towards his student. "Hanzaki, their leader, is very insistent on etiquette so please, let me talk and stay silent," whispered Jiraiya with his eyes bulging out of their sockets and staring intensely at the blond boy. beside him.
Naruto swallowed and nodded frantically.
"And bow!" His teacher whisper-shouted as his last recommendation.
They entered the hall proper. It was a long rectangular room, with both sides decorated by painted panels of rice paper. They featured men and women alike fighting, forging, and building the very house they were in right now. The one common element to all the paintings was the easily recognizable sword held each time by a different person.
The same sword that now stood sheathed next to a throne, upon which a tall, intimidating dark-haired man was seated. Behind him was one last painting. A man with hair the colour of fire was tearing from the maws of a dragon a single sharp tooth.
Naruto glanced from the painting above the Fuuma leader to the sword next to him, back to the panel and back to the sword. The blond boy paled before his eyes widened in excitement. Was the sword really what he thought it was?
How absolutely awesome was that?
"Good day to you, Fuuma-dono. May you live long and be prosperous." Jiraiya greeted with a nod, elbowing Naruto for the boy to bow.
"Good day to you, Sannin no Jiraiya. What brings you here today?"
"I'm here to conclude business with the esteemed Fuuma clan, both in the name of my village Konoha and in mine."
Hanzaki nodded. "Very well, you shall state your demands soon. But first, who is this companion of yours?"
"He is Naruto Uzumaki and he is my apprentice, as well as the reason I ask you to return the favour you owe me, Fuuma-dono."
AN: I hope you enjoyed. Before you protest about something, keep in mind that this chapter was about how Naruto sees himself. The kid simply needed a "pick-me-up" speech. Because he is not indestructible yet the only one he ever gets is the encouragement from Hinata before the chuunin final exam. I'll stop here before I rant.
So it is the place where I tell you that jutsu and action come next chapter except I can't really promise it. It is very likely though. It will be the beginning of an original arc taking place with the people of the Fuuma clan. Yes, you know, those guys from the fillers. Fillers that I have never watched so I went to Narutopedia to fish some random characters because nobody likes OCs.
It is also here that I tell you some (read: nearly all) jutsu will NOT work like in the manga. Henge and Kawarimi will have actual, properly defined limits and mechanisms. Because as of right now, nothing keeps Naruto from turning himself into a giant diamond wall to make himself invulnerable and Kawarimi is a freaking teleportation technique. Everything will be set straight in the coming chapters.
Don't forget to send a review my way. If you want to dissert about Henge and Kawarimi, send a PM. Best,