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"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Demon Speech"
'Demon Thoughts/Telepathy'
Radio/TV/Singing/Writing
"Headset/Flashback"
-Scene Shift-
Chapter 2: Progress
It's been three days since Naruto met and began his training with Kurumi and Aku. They were very impressed with his progress, while though it was just torture.
On the day he met them, the walk to Konoha took two hours; which was one hundred and twenty days in his mindscape. He spent that time and the rest of the day learning different jutsu. And it took even less time when he learned he could gain more experience with Kage Bunshin.
He also worked on his physical abilities and taijutsu with Kurumi having him do intense exercises consisting of 1000 sit-ups, 2000 push-ups, and so on. Aku was enjoying himself saying it was nothing compared to the training yet to come. Kurumi also made him wear gravity and chakra seals while they sparred. Naruto had to dodge, fight, and use jutsu with them on; but through all the pain the results were worth it. From what Kurumi told him, his chakra control level now was between that of a Jonin and Tokubetsu Jonin, and his taijutsu level was close to a certain pair of Green Beasts.
The next day, Naruto's transformation was complete and he was a Hanyo. He didn't sprout horns or anything like that, only having some minor subtle changes and felt much stronger.
Shortly after this, Aku began Naruto's demon training and explained that he had his powers; but \ not all of them and they weren't as strong, but would grow over time. Aku also told him that even though he would be strong enough to stand almost anything -except his sword Hikari- he won't be pseudo-immortal until he became a full-fledged demon, but all that would come later.
Naruto had a hard time using Aku's powers -at first- but after a while it became easy he could use shape shifting, telekinesis, and pyrokinesis like a natural. His second tenant told him to just focus on those for now and they would practice the others later.
On the second day, Naruto began his kenjutsu and elemental training. Kurumi taught him what kenjutsu she knew and Aku summoned a manifestation he called Mad Jack to help teach him. With elemental training, Naruto learned he could use fuuton (wind), suiton (water), and katon (fire). He learned a few jutsu with those affinities and learned to boost his katon jutsu with his pyrokinesis abilities.
During his kenjutsu training, Naruto was able to combine his elements with his sword styles, Aku thought he might become even better than Jack was, while Mad Jack argued and said he was not even close. The Master of Evil told Naruto that his sword -Yami- came from his body and was able to transform according to Naruto's will. The young shinobi used its transformation ability to master other weaponry and the styles that came with them, but mostly stuck with its sword form.
Today was the third day, but Aku said he would tell Naruto what they would be doing later. Naruto remembered Kakashi wanted to see them today before the team took the Chunin Exams four days from now.
He was about to put on his favorite orange jumpsuit when he heard Aku speak. 'Boy, it's time to begin practicing object materialization. And what better way than to change your horrible wardrobe. Hell, you might as well write 'kill me' on it.' Naruto could hear both Mad Jack and Kurumi laughing in his mind. Naruto hated it when people talked about his jumpsuit, but it was time for change so what better start with this. 'Just focus on what you want and then use your youki to bring it into existence. Kurumi told me of an ability called the Yin Release and how it uses spiritual energy to create things out of nothing. I think it would work better on your first try if you used demonic energy.'
Naruto nodded and concentrated on the clothes he wanted, pictured them on him, and after five minutes his demonic energy surrounded him and formed into clothes.
Checking himself out, Naruto now wore a black Anbu style shirt with the red swirl from his jumpsuit on the back, dark blue pants, and blue sandals. Over his clothes he wore a short sleeve, black hooded cloak with its bottom -which reached his knees- moved subtly as if it were alive. He noticed the way it moved was similar to Aku's tentacles and figured he could make use of it. After strapping Yami and Hikari to his side, he looked in a mirror to see how he looked. His body had changed due to his training and transformation, being more muscular and a little taller, and his blonde hair had faint black tips on the end.
Naruto saw the time and decided it was time to go, he smiled, ready to show the world the new him.
After several minutes, Naruto made it to Training Ground 7 and saw his so-called teammates. Sasuke was brooding like always and Sakura was trying to ask him out on a date, but was being ignored. Naruto thanked Kami, he didn't have to wear the mask of a goofy idiot and was gladder he didn't have to fawn over a girl that only saw him as a punching bag when he tried to be nice to her.
Said girl was also the first to notice he was there.
"What's with the new clothes, Naruto-baka?" Sakura said, looking him up and down. She thought he looked amazing with his new look and tried to hide a rising blush. "No matter what you wear, you're still not as cool as Sasuke-kun." She said, trying to shake the thought of Naruto looking handsome to her out of her mind.
Naruto didn't pay her any attention as he waited for Kakashi. Sakura was angry but mostly shocked that Naruto was ignoring her. She was about to speak again until Sasuke opened his mouth.
"Dobe, where did you get those swords?" Sasuke said, demanding to know.
Naruto didn't want to talk to him, but figured he would keep bothering him whether or not he said something. "I got them from my last mission."
"Give them to me."
"No." Was Naruto's immediate response.
"I am an Uchiha, I deserve swords like those more than a dead last like you!"
Naruto was getting annoyed and also ignoring Mad Jack telling him to 'silence that brat'. Sakura could feel the anger rolling off both of her teammates. She was surprised at how calm Naruto had remained and was shocked by how demanding and arrogant Sasuke sounded.
Took her long enough to notice.
"Come on Sasuke-kun, I'm sure we could find better swords than these in the village." Sakura said trying to calm Sasuke down and perhaps get a date too.
"You stay out of this!" Sasuke shouted at her while still glaring at Naruto.
Sakura was shocked that her crush would yell at her like that. She was on the verge of tears when Naruto handed her a tissue. The pinkette wondered where he got it from, but was too sad to care. "Thank you, Naruto." She smiled at him through tear stained eyelashes and wiped her eyes with the tissue he handed her.
Naruto glared at Sasuke, annoying him was one thing but making Sakura cry was going too far. Even though he didn't like her anymore -in a romantic sense- seeing someone close to him get insulted made his blood boil.
Naruto then smiled, getting an idea. "Alright, Sasuke, if you want my swords so damn bad, spar with me" Naruto said, catching Sasuke's attention. "If you win, you get my swords; but if I win you better apologize to Sakura."
Sakura was surprised that Naruto would stand up for her like that and got her thinking that maybe she had been wrong to be so unkind to him. The blonde figured he could use this to test his abilities and make a fool out of Sasuke.
"This is going to be easy." Sasuke said like he had already won.
Naruto rolled his eyes and sighed. "Don't look so smug until after you 'attempt' to beat me."
In a puff of smoke, their sensei arrived reading his favorite orange book. "I came to ask how you all have progressed in your training, but I guess I'll see firsthand how much." Kakashi said, closing his book. "I will be the referee, so get into position."
Naruto and Sasuke went to opposite sides of the field with the Uchiha getting into his fighting stance while the Uzumaki just stood there.
'I wonder what he's up to.' Kakashi thought as he saw Naruto being a bit too lax. Shrugging to himself, the 'scarecrow' figured he would soon see why. "Hajime!"
Sasuke pulled three shuriken out and threw them at Naruto, who didn't dodge at all, making Kakashi worry a bit. Naruto smirked as a part of his cloak turned into a tentacle and took the impact of the shuriken. Everyone was shocked when the shuriken got absorbed into the cloak before they were shot back out heading straight for Sasuke, who was barely able to dodge them.
Naruto looked at the tentacle, it was moving according to his will. 'I knew it was too easy to make something like this, you helped me earlier Aku-sensei!'
Aku smiled in Naruto's mindscape. 'Just with the cloak, everything else you did is on your own. The cloak is just like Yami, it came from me, so it can transform according to your will.' He explained. 'It also absorbs your opponent's attack and uses them as against them. Yami and the cloak are like a pair: one is used for offense and the other for defense. I will have Mad train you in a style to use them together later.' Naruto could hear Mad Jack give a simple 'humph' in the background. 'Naruto, as weak as this boy is, this is your chance to test your powers outside of your mind. A challenge to be exact. To make it interesting you can only use my powers. The cloak and one jutsu and you can't use your swords. Agreed?'
Naruto agreed to the terms as he noticed Sasuke running toward him and threw a punch. Naruto materialized a metal shield and blocked Sasuke's punch causing the Uchiha winced in pain. Naruto then used telekinesis and lifted Sasuke into the air. Naruto hadn't practiced telekinesis as much as he should have, but Aku told him as long as his mental strength was at a high level he could even lift a mountain. Naruto decided to have some fun and began spinning Sasuke around in the air and moved his legs as though he were dancing. Kakashi, while unable to grasp how Naruto was doing that, couldn't help but laugh. Sakura covered her mouth to hold the laughter in.
"PUT… ME… DOWN… DOBE!" Sasuke shouted each time he was spun around to face Naruto, looking as if he were turning green.
Naruto chuckled, noticing his color, causing a grin to form. "But this is my favorite game, spin the emo-teme. But~ if you insist."
Naruto sent Sasuke flying across the field. Sasuke laid on the ground catching his breath and letting his lunch go back down. When he got up, he glared at Naruto and went through a few hand signs. The Uzumaki noticed the tiger sign at the end and was ready for what was coming.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu! (Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!)" Sasuke shot a large fireball at Naruto.
Kakashi was about to intervene until he saw the smile on Naruto's face. Naruto held out his hand and the fireball stopped in front of him. Everyone's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as they couldn't even imagine that Naruto could do such a thing.
Sasuke was seething inside and thought in anger. 'How can that dobe have so much power? It should be mine!'
The others then watched Naruto make a circle motion with his hand, making the fireball turn into a stream of fire and encircled Sasuke which gave him no way out.
"Too hot for you, teme" Naruto said with a smirk. Sasuke tried to glare at him but had to evade the fire as it got closer. "Well let me help you out." Naruto went through some hand signs. "Suiton: Mizurappa! (Water Style: Raging Waves!)" Naruto yelled as he shot a wave of water from his mouth, putting out the fire and washing Sasuke into the river.
As Sasuke got out of the river, Naruto saw he was glaring at him intensely with his Sharingan activated. The Uzumaki grinned and got ready to attack again until Kakashi got in the middle of them.
"Alright that's enough." Kakashi said as he looked over to Sasuke who still looked ready to fight. "Sasuke calm down, the match is over." Sasuke scowled as he deactivated his Sharingan and began to walk off.
"Hold it teme!" Naruto called out getting another glare from Sasuke before pointing to Sakura. "Remember our deal."
"You didn't win. Another minute and I would have won." Sasuke walked off, gritting his teeth at the fact that he wouldn't have won at all. 'How did that dobe get so powerful? I must find out so that I can have that kind of power.'
Naruto figured Sasuke would pull something and was about to use his cloak to drag him back, until Sakura came up to him with a light smile. "It's alright Naruto, figured he wouldn't." She said, shocking Naruto that she didn't try and go after him. "Thanks for standing up for me."
"No problem, Sakura. Were friends after all." Naruto said with a smile.
Sakura nodded happily that he still considered him a friend after all she had done to him. But she was a little sad that he didn't use the '-chan' in her name anymore.
Naruto noticed the look Kakashi was giving him. "I know I got a lot of explaining to do, Kakashi-sensei, but for right now all I can say is I have unlocked a few bloodlines while I was training. So can we leave it at that."
Kakashi raised his eyebrow. "A few? You have more than one?" Kakashi asked, Naruto nodded in response. 'I don't remember Minato-sensei having any bloodlines or Kushina having any additional ones. Not to mention his swords and cloak.' Their sensei thought for a moment and then sighed. "Ok Naruto, I'll leave it at that for now. But I hope you tell me what they are soon or at least the Hokage. I -at least- want to know where you got those swords and cloak from and when you learned an elemental jutsu."
Naruto nodded, figuring he could at least tell him that much. "I got the swords and cloak as a gift from a friend I met on my recent mission outside of the village." It wasn't a lie, so he was telling the truth in a manner of speaking. "Also since the Chunin Exams are soon, I decided I need to get stronger. So I eventually learned what elemental affinities I had and learned a few jutsu for them." Naruto said, causing Kakashi to raise an eyebrow again.
"And what elements can you use?"
"Futon is my strongest, Katon is my second strongest, and Suiton needs more work."
Both Kakashi and Sakura were in a state of shock both wondering how Naruto could get so strong so fast. Composing himself, their sensei spoke. "Alright I guess that's enough for today. You both can leave if you want." Naruto nodded and said his goodbyes to both of them. 'His growth is impressive, he will become a great shinobi one day.' Kakashi thought as he watched Naruto leave, he then left himself in a Shunshin.
Standing there all by herself, Sakura thought of how strong Naruto had become. Both he and Sasuke were miles ahead of her and she only had herself to blame for chasing after Sasuke all the time. "Am I that pathetic?" She asked herself as she decided to leave.
Currently walking through the village, Naruto wondered what he should do next. "Your village reminds me of Feudal Japan." Voiced Aku, but not in Naruto's mind causing him to look around in confusion. "But it was much bigger, yet the warriors were not as strong as you ninjas." Naruto looked down to see a large dog with black fur on its back, green on its underbelly and red flame-like fur over its eyes.
"Aku-sensei?" Naruto asked, the dog nodded. The Uzumaki held in a laugh, never thinking of ever seeing Aku in such a form. Yet he wondered how his second tenant was now out. "I thought you had to stay inside my mind like Kurumi-chan."
"For a while, I did." Aku said while stretching. "I was weak when you freed me, but after these few days I became strong enough to materialize in the real world. However, the rules still apply: if you die, I turn back into a tree. But I doubt there will be any chances of that happening anytime soon." Aku smirked at Naruto, who returned it as they resumed walking. "Naruto-san, you still have four days till your exam, correct? So for today and the next three days, we are going on a trip to further your training."
"A trip to where?" Naruto asked, curious as to where they could go and be able to train in the open instead of his mindscape.
"The Underworld. Well, my section of it to be exact."
Naruto was shocked. Aku told him about the Underworld and how it was divided into sections, each ruled by different demon lords. Aku didn't tell him anything else besides that since he said Naruto would go there soon. Well… sooner than he expected.
Aku looked up at Naruto. "Naruto-san, before we go show me around your village. I haven't got to see much of it since we began your training. Also it would be best if we spoke telepathically so people don't think you're entirely crazy for talking to a dog."
Naruto showed Aku most of his favorite spots from Ichiraku Ramen to the Hokage Monument. He then showed his sensei the shopping district until seeing someone he had not expected to see: a Suna kunoichi who was competing with her team for the Chunin exam with her team consisting of her brother and sister.
Naruto had met them when he played with the Hokage's grandson -Konohamaru- and his two friends, Udon and Moegi…
-Flashback Start-
Team Seven was standing on the opposite side of the Suna team. How this happened was when Sakura chased Konohamaru -due to some teasing- when he ran into the two in the back.
One was a guy wearing a black baggy bodysuit with face paint on and something wrapped in bandages on his back. Next to him was a girl with blonde hair in four pigtails, wearing a single light purple off-the-shoulders garment that extended to halfway down her thighs, with a scarlet sash around her waist and a giant iron fan strap to her back.
And the one in the front was a girl who appeared when Sasuke did, having red hair that came to her back, blue eyes with black lines around them, and the kanji for 'love' seemed tattooed on the left side of her forehead. She wore a black shirt with mesh underneath, a white cloth around her waist and black shorts, and a brown sash that kept a gourd on her back.
"Kankuro you are an embarrassment to Suna." The red haired girl said to the guy in the back. Both of her teammates flinched when she spoke.
Kankuro was trembling as he tried to speak "S-sorry Gaia, but they…"
"Shut up or I'll kill you." She coldly said, quickly silencing him. She then turned her attention to Team Seven. "Please forgive my siblings, I am Sabaku no Gaia. These two are my siblings, Kankuro and Temari."
Naruto didn't take his eyes off of her. He could feel the killer intent coming from her and the look in her eyes felt familiar to him. 'Those eyes they are like mine.'
The Suna team began to walk away until Sakura opened her mouth. "Hey, why is Suna in Konoha anyway?"
Temari turned to her and looked at her like she was crazy. "Where have you been lately? Under a rock?" She asked, causing Sakura to get angry. "We're here for the Chunin Exams like everyone else."
"What's your name?" Gaia asked looking over her shoulder.
"It's Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke said smugly.
Gaia looked at him for a moment and then looked over at Naruto, who had noticed. She saw the same familiar look in his eyes, but pushed it aside as she and her siblings were left by Shunshin. Sasuke left next with Sakura following behind him all the while Naruto just stood there, still wondering what the familiar look in her eyes were. Yet he mostly trembled, remembering how strong her killer intent was she could have killed them in an instant if she wanted to.
'I have to get stronger.' He thought as he balled up his fist so tight it almost bleed.
"Hey boss, you ok?" Konohamaru asked.
Naruto came out of his thoughts to see Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon all with worried looks on their faces. "Yeah, I'm fine." He lied, putting on a smile. "Now let's go play."
Believing he was alright, they cheered and ran with Naruto right behind them with worries still in his mind.
-Flashback End-
Naruto was much stronger now and he was sure he could stand up to anything that comes his way, but the familiar look in Gaia's eyes still bothered him. It was if he was looking in a mirror.
Naruto pushed his thoughts aside and walked towards the girl with Aku beside him. "Hey, your Temari, right?" He asked, getting her attention. She turned around and raised an eyebrow as if wondering who he was. "You don't remember me? I'm hurt~" He said in a fake hurt tone. "And after your team met mine a few days ago."
Temari was still looking at him -with a confused look on her face- until it dawned on her. "Oh you're that blonde kid who was with the Uchiha." Naruto nodded. "Sorry, you look so different from that day. I didn't recognize you." Temari smiled and waved her hand in an apologizing fashion. Her eyes then looked him up and down and blushed little. 'He's become quite handsome'.
"What are you doing here exactly?" Naruto asked, missing the blush on her face.
Aku, on the other hand, did along with noticing the look in her eyes while seeing the lack of reaction from Naruto. 'I'm gonna have to work on his skills with girls as well.' Aku thought to himself while sighing.
Temari shook the thought out of her head before answering. "I was looking for the local weapons shop, but I don't know my way around Konoha just yet."
"I'll show you where it is." Naruto said with a smile, he was always willing to help someone who needed it and this would be a good way to find out about Gaia.
Temari was hesitant at first, but figured what was the harm in letting him help her. "Ok, lead the way."
Naruto nodded and showed her the way with Aku right behind them. As they walked Temari saw the villagers glaring at Naruto. She looked at Naruto and saw that it wasn't bothering him.
'He's tough, I'll give him that.' Temari thought as she continued to look at the villagers as they glared at him. 'These looks their giving him are so full of hate. These are the same as the look everyone in Suna gives Gaia.' She then looked back at Naruto. 'Could they be the same?'
Naruto already figured out she notices the villagers glares, looked back at her and then saw the expression on her. "So am guessing you know my life story now, huh?" Naruto said in a serious tone.
"Yes, I know these glares all too well." Temari said with sympathy in her voice. "You're a Jinchuuriki just like Gaia."
Naruto stopped and turned to her with a shocked expression. "Gaia's a Jinchuuriki?" He asked and Temari nodded. That explained everything, why he felt the look in Gaia's eyes was so familiar because they were the same as his. Because they both knew the pain and sorrow of being a Jinchuuriki. "Which one does she have within her?"
"She possesses the one tailed raccoon, Suna no Shukaku." Temari answered and then pointed at him. "So which one do you have?" Naruto smiled and responded by holding up nine fingers. Temari's eyes widened, not expecting him to hold the mightiest of the Bijuu.
Naruto then adopted a sad look on his face. "I can tell by the look in your sister's eyes that she has had much pain in her life."
Temari nodded with her own sad expression. "Yeah, I'm guessing you know how a village treats a Jinchuuriki." Temari said, earning a sad nod in return. "Gaia closed her heart off to anyone and anything, including me and Kankuro. That monster inside her has turned her into a killer, slowly turning her insane. She can't even go to sleep without it taking over and going on a rampage." Temari looked down on the ground. "I wish there was something we could do to help her before we lose our sister."
Temari was wondering why she was telling someone she just met a few days ago secrets about her sister and her personal feelings. But the look in his eyes made her feel she could trust him especially since he knew the same pain as Gaia he understood what it was like.
Naruto felt sorry for Temari and wanted to help her out. 'Kurumi-chan, is there any way I can help Gaia with the Ichibi?' Naruto asked Kurumi who was currently thinking about the situation.
'Something's not right Naruto-kun.' Kurumi said through their telepathic link. 'My youngest sister may be crazy and destructive in her own way, but she doesn't destroy without a reason. Also I believe if she ever found herself sealed inside a human, she would try to help that human like me; not turn them insane and try to take over.'
Naruto wasn't sure what to say, but he trusted Kurumi as she said that her sister wouldn't do such a thing. 'Then what could it be, that's making her act like that?'
'It could be because of the seal that contains her.' Was Kurumi's guess. 'Something could be wrong with it.'
'Is there anything I can do to fix it?' Naruto asked, hoping there was a way he could help.
Kurumi thought for a second before answering. 'Well I was going to train you to use fuinjutsu during or after your trip with Aku-san and I don't know how far you will go in it. But if you learn it with Kage Bunshin, you should be good enough to fix her seal by hopefully in the middle of the exams. Only time will tell if you can.'
Naruto smiled, furthering his drive to train so he could help those like him; people who knew the same sorrow as he did. 'Thanks Kurumi-chan, I owe you a lot.' Kurumi blushed thinking of the way she would get Naruto to repay her. "Temari, what if I told you I can help Gaia with the Ichibi."
Temari's eyes widened. "You really think you can help her?" Temari asked since this all sounded too good to be true.
"I know I can, dattebayo!" Naruto said, Aku grinned at his will to help others. "All I need is for you and Gaia to trust me and give me at least till the middle of the Exams. By then, I'm sure I can help her."
Temari was conflicting inside. She wanted her sister to get better, but she was putting her trust in a total stranger and she didn't know what to do. But the look on Naruto's face told her he really wanted to help and if he was who he said he was, then he was the right person to help.
She sighed and smiled at him. "All right, I'll trust you on this. I don't know how I'll convince Gaia to trust you, but I'll try." She then smirked and gripped the handle of her fan. "But if you try anything, I'll send you flying across the Elemental Nations. Got it?"
"Got it." He sweat dropped, knowing she could do it. Aku was trying to hold in his laughter. After Temari had her fun scaring Naruto, they continued their walk to the weapon shop. And once there, he gave his farewell. "See ya at the exams Temari, I promise I will help Gaia."
As Temari watched Naruto leave she saw the kanji on the back of his cloak. 'Shinobi of Sorrow?' She thought while re-reading it. The Suna kunoichi wondered what it meant, but shrugged it off and smiled as she walked into the shop. 'I'm trusting a strange person, but I believe he can do.'
Naruto told Aku their last top was some of the nearby training grounds. Along the way, Aku noticed the kanji on his back and smiled. 'So you decided to finally use your title.' He said telepathically, to which Naruto nodded. 'Very good, but may I ask what made you decide to use it now?'
Naruto got a serious look on his face. 'My life has been filled with nothing but sorrow.' He then formed a smile on his face. 'But I was able to change that, thanks to the people precious in my life; like you and Kurumi.' Aku and Kurumi smiled and were glad they could turn things around for him. 'I know there are other people like me who still feel sorrow. People like Gaia who have no one. I want to help them find something precious to them, something to help turn their sorrow into strength. The title stands for where I began, the origin of my strength, and my will to save people from their sorrows.'
Aku and Kurumi saw the determination in his eyes, believing he could do it and would give him as much support as they could.
Naruto had shown Aku most of the training ground and when they got to the last one, the whiskered Uzumaki saw someone he knew with an all too familiar pup lying on his head.
"Hey, Kiba!" Naruto called out.
Kiba turned around to see Naruto, waved and walked to the Uzumaki.
'Naruto-san, who is this Kiba?' Aku asked.
'His name is Kiba Inuzuka.' Naruto answered. 'He was my friend during the academy. We pulled a lot of pranks together -along with a few others- and got in trouble a lot too. The dog on his head is his partner, Akamaru. Together they're very strong.' Naruto thought about the times he had with his friends in the academy, they were good times even when he had his mask on.
"Hey Naruto, long time no see." Kiba said, smiling at him once standing nearby in which Naruto smiled back. Kiba looked him up and down and noticed his changes. "Liking the new duds, man."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head and told him 'thanks'.
"Hey Naruto, is that your dog?" Kiba asked, finally noticing Aku. Said 'dog' looked over at Naruto telling him to think of something, who already had a story in mind.
"Yeah I saved him from being tied down to a tree." Naruto lied, figuring she would buy it. "After that he came back with me and it's like we were joined at the hip."
Aku mentally chuckled. 'More like at the soul.'
"That's nice of you, Naruto." Said the Inuzuka, believing his story. He then got an idea and smiled. "Hey, why don't you two spar with me and Akamaru." Naruto raised an eyebrow at him "Think about it, your little friend is going to be with you from now on right?" He asked, Naruto nodded in response. "So what better way to build up your teamwork than through training. Akamaru and I are the best tag team you could ever meet, so who better than us to teach you how to work with a ninken than us." He said with a happy yet proud smile on his face with Akamaru barking in agreement.
Naruto was about to tell her Aku wasn't a ninken until he heard Aku speak in his head. 'Why not. I wanna see if I'm back at full power. Until I find a way to walk around in a human form, I will have to stay like this. So I might as well get used to fighting in this form for a while.' Aku then smirked at Naruto who returned it. "So try not to get in my way.'
'Same to you.' Naruto told him before smiling at Kiba. "Alright, Kiba. We'll do it and we're ready whenever you two are." The Inuzuka smiled and went to the other side of the field, he nodded telling Naruto he was ready. "Hajime!"
Kiba began the spar by throwing four shuriken at him, but Naruto easily dodged. As he raised his arm, it turned black and stretched out towards Kiba -who was surprised- but quickly dodged as Naruto's hand embedded itself in the ground. Aku jumped on Naruto's arm and ran down it's length towards the Inuzuka. When he noticed him, he pulled out a kunai and slashed at him with it. But to his surprise, Aku caught it in his mouth and shattered it with his fangs.
Kiba jumped back and got on all fours. "Gijū Ninpō: Shikyaku no Jutsu! (Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique!)" His appearance soon became more feral-like as nails and fangs lengthened. Akamaru then jumped off his head and landed on his back. The Inuzuka then made a hand sign. "Gijū Ninpō: Jūjin Bunshin! (Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Man Beast Clone!)" In a puff of smoke, Akamaru turned into a copy of Kiba. Naruto was already right beside Aku when they were done. Knowing their pattern of attack, he knew what was next and was ready for it. Kiba and Akamaru jumped up into the air and began spinning at a ferocious speed "Gatsūga (Fang Over Fang)" Soon enough, they launched themselves at Naruto and Aku.
Naruto was about to use a jutsu until Aku put his tail in front of him stopping him. 'Allow me.' The Master of Evil looked up at the two coming down at them. He then unleashed a powerful roar that stopped their opponents, sending them back a bit.
Naruto was impressed with Aku's power and figured he was back to full strength since he could tell he was holding back with that last attack. The Uzumaki was about to say something until Aku jumped back a bit and landed on Naruto's back, knocking him down on all fours. "What the hell are you doing!?" Naruto asked while glaring at Aku who was smirking at him.
'Be quiet and listen. I have a way to assume human form without suspicion.' Aku said getting Naruto's attention. 'Just do what she did earlier with the pup.'
Naruto was confused for a second until he saw Akamaru change back and realized he was talking about the clone jutsu the Inuzuka used. Naruto wondered if he could use it, but figured if Aku thought he could then he would give it a try.
The Uzumaki made the same hand sign Kiba did and shouted "Gijū Ninpō: Jūjin Bunshin!"
This caught Ayame's attention and watched as a black puff of smoke surrounded Aku and in his place was a copy of Naruto, but it was very easy to tell them apart. The Aku-Naruto had green skin and black hair, his clothes were all black and the kanji on his back read 'Shogun of Sorrow'. Naruto figured out Aku's plan, using the jutsu as a cover so he could transform and since it was Naruto's first using the jutsu Aku's skin and hair would be blamed on his lack of knowledge of the jutsu. 'I don't know whether to be impressed that he came up with this or angry that he used my inexperience as an excuse.'
Aku jumped off Naruto's back and stretched his body. "It's nice to be able to stretch my legs." Aku said in a voice similar to Naruto's.
Naruto stood up straight and raised an eyebrow at him. "What's with the voice?"
Aku smirked and shrugged. "Well this body is a copy of yours, so why not copy the voice."
Naruto rolled his eyes, but stopped when he noticed Kiba and Akamaru coming over.
"Naruto, how were you able to do my jutsu and how can Aku talk?" Kiba asked while pointing at Aku.
"I have lived a lot longer than any animal and was able to learn human speech over the years." Aku lied, while trying out Naruto's foxy grin. "I was only able to talk when I asked Naruto to use your jutsu and gain human form."
Kiba nodded understanding what he was saying since there are some animals that learn to talk in human language, like the animal summons for instance. He looked over at Naruto and smiled. "Well I'm impressed that you were able to do the Jūjin Bunshin on your first try." Naruto smiled back at him, chuckling a bit from the complement until the Inuzuka spoke. "But you may want to work on it so you can make Aku a perfect copy of you."
Naruto sighed, but couldn't say anything since he really didn't do anything; Aku did the transformation himself and couldn't fix his color scheme. Naruto noticed that about Aku's transformations, they were always limited by the color of Aku's true body. When Naruto told him about it and asked if he could fix it, Aku told him he was working on it. Naruto didn't know what he meant, but left it at that.
Naruto saw how late it was getting and figured they should leave soon. "Sorry Kiba, but it's time for us to go. I have a few D rank missions I want to do before the exam." He said smiling at his friend. "And I'm sorry about trying out your family's jutsu with your permission."
Kiba merely waved him off. "It's alright, Naruto. If you could do that, then maybe I can ask kaa-san if she can help train you in the Inuzuka style." Kiba picked Akamaru up and placed him on his head. "We got to go too. Kaa-san wants us to help Hana-onee-san take care of some of the clan dogs. I'll ask mom if you could train with us sometime. Bye!" He then ran off and was out of sight before Naruto could tell him not to ask her mother.
Naruto sighed and decided he would figure out how to solve this later. "Alright shall we go?" Naruto asked, turning towards Aku, but noticed his sensei was on the other side of the training ground. Aku clapped his hand together and a wave of youki surrounded the area. The Uzumaki looked around to see a barrier around them "What are you doing, Aku-sensei?"
"Now no one can interfere with your final test." Aku said with his own demonic voice. "Naruto-san, you have shown me you are worthy enough to be my student. In this final test, you must face me in combat. I will not hold back, nor should you. I want to see if you are strong enough to protect the one thing most precious to me in all the realms." Aku held out his hand and Naruto noticed Yami was shaking at his hip until it flew from his side and into Aku's hand. Aku was now back in his original form, but in a more human height. "Are you ready boy?" Aku asked as he unsheathed Yami and pointed it at Naruto.
Naruto wasn't sure what this was all about. 'Whatever Aku-sensei wanted me to protect must be truly important to him to go this far to see if I can protect it. But what could it be?' Naruto wondered. He shook his head, deciding he would ask later. Aku was his friend and sensei, so if he wanted to see if he was strong enough. Unsheathing Hikari, Naruto got into a stance. "It's time to show you just how strong I am, Aku-sensei."
Aku smiled, feeling he made the right choice for an apprentice and a friend, but still wanted to test him. "Hajime!" Aku shouted, slammed his hand through the ground. Naruto quickly moved from one spot to the next, dodging black spikes shooting out of the ground and got in close to slash at him. Aku blocked Naruto's sword and changed into a giant scorpion and began trying to impale Naruto with his tail. The whiskered blonde blocked all of his strikes and jumped back avoiding getting snapped in half by Aku's pincer, only to be sent back a bit by the other one. "Is that all I have taught you, boy?" Aku asked as he turned into a billy goat and rushed at Naruto.
As he did, he noticed Naruto put Hikari in his mouth and ran at Aku. When they collided Naruto grabbed Aku's horns in a test of strength. The Master of Evil was more powerful and began to push Naruto back, until Naruto began drawing on both his chakra and youki, making it almost look even.
"I may not be as powerful as you, Aku-sensei," Naruto smiled while looking Aku straight in the eyes, "but when it comes to proving I can do something -especially protecting something precious to me or my friends- that's when I become unstoppable."
Using all his strength Naruto tossed Aku into the air. He then released the gravity seals he had on him and grew a pair of black feathered wings on his back. Putting Hikari back in his hand, he flew into the air after Aku who had already turned into his original form. Aku raised his hand to the sky and it began to darken and thunder could be heard. Throwing his hand down, bolts of lightning shot towards Naruto who dodged all of them with his inhuman speed until he was within range of Aku. As his student got close, Aku shot a fireball at him.
"Suiton: Teppōdama! (Water Style: Liquid Bullets!)" Naruto said, countering Aku's fireball with a water ball. When they collided, steam filled the sky. Aku couldn't see Naruto until he heard him shout "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!)" and a hundred clones burst through the steam, ready to slash Aku.
Aku sent out a wave of youki destroying most of the clones, but some survived and were able to hit Aku, making cutting small parts of his body. Aku wrenched in pain before regenerating. 'It's been so long since I've felt the sting of that blade. Oh how much it hurts me.' Aku thought in annoyance. His eyes then glowed white as he shot a laser beam from them, finishing off the rest of the clones.
Finally sensing the original, Aku looked up to see Naruto putting both his chakra and Kurumi's into Hikari. Aku mirrored the act, putting his youki into Yami. When they both were done, they unleashed a wave of chakra and youki at each other. Even though Aku had used less energy than Naruto, his attack was easily pushing Naruto's attack back. The blonde shinobi was using everything he had to keep himself going.
'Damn, he's not even trying and he's still stronger.' Naruto thought as he began to add some of his youki to Hikari, only for it to be rejected. Naruto wondered what happened until he remembered Hikari is a holy sword and even though it accepts his pure heart, it won't accept his youki like Yami did. 'I have to release my youki a different way.'
Suddenly, Naruto felt something happening inside him. His body shifted on its own, making two serpent-like heads on his shoulders. Each of them had glowing red fangs, eyes, and lines on their heads. 'What the hell are these? I didn't make them.' He thought, watching the serpent heads as they looked at where Naruto and Aku's attacks were colliding. They opened their fanged maws and using Naruto's youki, they shot two black beams into Naruto's recent attack turning it black. And in a few seconds, it was able to destroy Aku's attack and head for him.
Aku saw what happened and raised his hand and caught the wave in his hand. He was pushed back farther than he thought he would, but released a great amount of youki and destroyed it. Aku looked at the smoke coming from his hand and back at Naruto who had finally been able to send the serpents away. 'So it has awakened earlier than I expected.' Aku thought.
Floating down to the ground, Naruto landed soon after ready to continue, Aku smiled at him as he threw Yami to Naruto and brought down the barrier. "Congratulations Naruto-san, you passed." Aku said, causing Naruto to become confused as he sheathed Yami. "Even though you could never defeat me, you were able to cut me with your sword and push me back. That is something only one human has been able to do and I am glad you are the second. You have proven yourself worthy of protecting what I treasure the most." Aku slashed one of his claw fingers through the air, tearing open a portal. "Now I have been away from home far too long, it's time to be on our way."
Naruto was glad that he was able to prove himself, but still wondering what had happened to cause his body to manifest those snakeheads. He walked over to Aku as he stood in front of the portal with a thought on his mind. "Say, Aku-sensei. What is it I'm supposed to protect anyway and why is it precious to you?"
"Oh didn't tell you?" Aku asked while smirking and stroking his goatee. Naruto raised an eyebrow and shook his head more curious now knowing Aku only stroked his goatee when he was thinking, when something amused him, or when he was going to cause trouble like when he would mess Naruto during his training. Aku looked over towards Naruto, still smirking. "The thing most precious to a father is his children. So what I'm trusting you with is my daughter."
Naruto's mouth was wide open with a shocked look on his face. "Y-your daughter! You have a daughter!?" Naruto shouted, wondering how Aku had a daughter and more importantly wondering what Aku meant by trusting her with him.
Aku began to laugh and gave his answer. "Yes I do." The Master of Evil raised his hand behind Naruto and patted his back. "And don't worry I'm sure you two will get along just fine." Yet the last pat was strong enough to knock his apprentice into the portal. Aku was still laughing as he heard Naruto screaming the deeper he went. "Oh the trouble I will cause for my successor." He said, disappearing into the portal with his laughter could still be heard as it closed behind him.
-Somewhere in the Underworld-
"It's a good thing I made plans to visit the City of Aku." A mysterious figure said, smiling while stroking his beard with his claw hand. "It seems my old friend has finally returned."
-End Chapter-
AN:
Now here are some things I'll be doing differently for starters. In the original story, LightDarknessReborn was doing several genderbend characters. The first was fem Kurama or Kurami, then femGaara or Gaia and the other was femKiba or Ayame. There was one more he had done later in the story, but she'll be introduced later.
With the terms of genderbending, I'm fine with genderbend characters only if they function properly and work with the essential plot. Other times they seem really unnecessary. Now I wouldn't have much problem working with genderbend characters only if they have more than one appearance in a story.
In this story adaptation, gonna be keeping a few genderbent characters as they are still gonna still serve the essential plot as a whole later on. Others will go back to their canonized selves… such as Kiba. Reason being is that while LighDarknessReborn and I had discussed plot and all, I don't really remember us actually much talking about what to do with certain genderbent characters. Then again the original writer had his own thoughts and no doubt wouldn't share them with me unless the time presented them much like most writers these days.
For me, the whole femKiba/Ayame thing wasn't going to serve much purpose given what was originally published so far on the site. So I have to go back to the regular Kiba Inuzuka.
Anyways, be sure to review this story guys! Would like the criticisms. Please and thank you!
R&R