Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be getting a glimpse to see what Naruko will be doing during the month break and what she'll be training in. We'll also be seeing the new personality Naruko has gained as a result of merging with Esdeath. So, without further ado.
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Not long after leaving the tower, Kakashi had told his students to meet him at Training Ground Seven in two days, at nine o'clock, to go over a training plan for the month-long break, until the Finals.
Well, both Sasuke and Sakura had arrived, and they were now annoyed at, once again, having to wait for three hours for their sensei to shown up. And to make matters worse, it seems that Naruko had caught the tardy bug from their sensei, since she hasn't shown up yet, either.
"Where the hell are they?!" Sakura shouted, annoyed that it wasn't just Kakashi, who was late, but Naruko as well, this time.
Sasuke grunted in annoyance, also wanting to know where they were, so he could start actually training. Instead, he was just standing here, doing nothing.
"I don't even know why you two bother showing up on time." Said Naruko as she walked into the Training Ground, getting her teammates' attention.
"I mean, how many times has Kakashi shown up three hours late? Barring missions outside the village, he always shows up three hours later. Honestly, it wouldn't be a surprise if he showed up late to his own funeral." Naruko stated, crossing her arms, while looking at them with a deadpan expression.
Hearing this made Sakura blushed in embarrassment and tried coming up with a retort, but couldn't think of one, knowing Naruko was right. They should have known by now that Kakashi would always show up three hour late, and yet they still show up at the assigned times. Even Sasuke looked down to hide his own embarrassment.
They both made a mental note that after this, they won't waste three hours of their life waiting for Kakashi to arrive to team meetings.
'And speak of the devil.' Naruko thought, seeing Kakashi appear in a swirl of leaves.
"Yo!" Kakashi greeted with an eye smile.
Though he did raise a brow, when Naruko and Sakura didn't yell at him for arriving late, like they usually would.
Naruko, instead, looked at him boredly, while Sakura seemed like she wanted to shout at him, before taking a breath and just settled for glaring at him. Now aware that it was more their fault, for not learning from all the other times Kakashi arrive late.
"Alright, first, I want to congratulate you all for passing the Second Exam and moving onto the Finals. Now then, we'll be working out training schedules for you three, given we have a month to prepare. And given we don't know who you'll be matched-up against, you'll all be training separately, so as to not give the other two an advantage." Said Kakashi, before seeing Naruko walking away.
"Uh, Naruko, where are you going?" Kakashi asked.
"What does it look like? I'm going to go train; I already have my own plans for the month." Replied Naruko, with Kakashi raising a brow at this, not knowing Naruko already had her own training plan.
"And what exactly will you be training in?" Questioned Kakashi, with Naruko simply smirking at his question.
"Sorry, but you'll just have to wait until the Finals, like everyone else." Naruko stated, before exiting the Training Ground.
Once she left Training Ground Seven, Naruko made her way back to the Forest of Death. Not long after she arrived, several of her Shadow Clones appeared and handed her various scrolls, which Naruko knew contained the items she sent them to retrieve for her training.
All the scrolls contained information on Chakra Control, Elemental Manipulation, Meditation, Elemental Ninjutsu, mostly Water and Wind Ninjutsu, along with a few other elements for some variety, Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, Dispelling Genjutsu, and Fuinjutsu. She also received a scroll from Karin, her newly found cousin, that contained the secret of their Clan's Mind's Eye of Kagura, something which will definitely prove useful.
There were also a few supplies Naruko will use, but not a lot, only enough until she can set up a proper training area. Given she plans to survive off the wildlife in the forest, rather than having to go back and forth to get more supplies. Along with ensuring that no one will spy on her training, as who'd think to train in the Forest of Death for an entire month.
Though another reason Naruko was isolating herself for the entire month, is so she can properly sort out her thoughts and merge her old personality with Esdeath's. While she and Esdeath have fully merged together, their personalities were still on completely opposite sides of the spectrum, leading to Naruko sometimes acting like her old self, while other times she would act like Esdeath.
So, Naruko figured she'd need to isolate herself for a while, in order to find a perfect balance in who she is now or run the risk of developing a split personality.
Plus, Naruko will admit that it'll also be nice to get back to both hers and Esdeath's roots, given both lived off the land and hunted when they were younger.
'It's just a shame the creatures here are inferior to the Danger Beasts Esdeath hunted as a child, since it'd make for a better challenge. But if that woman was right, then the creatures here are the closest I'll get for a good exercise.' Naruko thought, smirking, before jumping over the gate and proceeding into the forest, intent to make the most of this month.
*Timeskip – One Month*
A month has passed since the end of the Second Exam, with the Chunin Exams Finals now being underway. The stadium was filled with people, all eager to watch the matches, along with the Jonin senseis, who will be watching their students, and seen how much they have progressed.
While down in the arena, the twelve finalists, eleven as Sasuke has yet to show up, stood waiting for the matches to start. Among them was Naruko, who had ditched her orange jumpsuit, which quite a few people noticed, and was instead wearing something more befitting of her new self.
Naruko now wore a black long-sleeved, spandex bodysuit that hugged her body nicely, while over it she wore thigh-high red heeled boots; red opera-gloves that stopped at the middle of her upper-arm; a red frilly miniskirt with light-gray highlights; a red and dark-gray crop top with a cleavage window, that shows the Uzumaki swirl on the portion of the bodysuit shown in it; along with a red generals hat with a black visor on her head, that had a tuff of white on the front of it, in a spiked-up design. She also had a katana sword strapped to her side, one of the many weapons she stole from Tenten, after looting Teams Nine and Ten. Her hair had also grown out, matching the length Esdeath had in life.
The outfit was something Naruko had custom made, along with several copies, and were inspired by Esdeath's attire she wore when she served the Empire, with Naruko's own spin on it. With the most notable example being the coloring of it.
Not only that, but Naruko had also inscribed seals to the outfit, and all the copies that she had made, making it so the clothes can clean and repair themselves, as well as grow with her. Saving her time from having fix and clean them, while also saving her the trouble of having to buy more if she outgrows them, or if any of them are damaged beyond repair. Making them a literal one-stop-shop and one-size fits all.
"Nice outfit, but it's not going to help you win, deadlast." Kiba said, smirking.
"Oh, that's adorable. Sorry, but my outfit isn't the reason I'll win. It'll be by beating all my opponents within an inch of their lives." Stated Naruko, smiling wickedly, while Kiba scoffed at her words.
"Yeah right, like you'd have the guts to do that!" Retorted Kiba, only to shiver, when Naruko giggled sadistically.
"You're right. I wouldn't beat them within an inch of their lives, I'd torture them within an inch of their lives, and savor their sweet screams. Don't believe me, just ask Team Ten what I did to the Oto Team. Remembering their screams always help lull me to sleep." Said Naruko, with an evil gleam in her eyes, unnerving most of the Genin, aside from the Suna Team, given they were used to death and Gaara enjoyed killing.
Of course, Naruko wasn't saying this in a threatening manner, but she loved unnerving people with her new personality. It also made them more wary of messing with her, as they rightly should be.
During her month training in the Forest of Death, Naruko had finally managed to find a balance between the personality of who she used to be and Esdeath's own personality. Now she no longer had to worry about randomly switching between the two personalities caused from the merge, while also having developed a more gray, borderline dark, personality as a result.
She still had the same kindness, compassion, empathy, and loyalty to her friends and loved ones, along with having Esdeath's sadism, ruthlessness, and "survival of the fittest" views.
Though the latter is more towards her enemies and people she just doesn't like.
'Of course, I'll still have no problem showing any partners I'll take just how dominate I can be, even if I have to break them.' Naruko thought, while licking her lips at the idea of letting her sadism out, when she's intimate.
Meanwhile, all across the world, several girls and women all felt a terrifying, and even arousing, shiver run up their spines.
Naruko also no longer possessed the same diehard loyalty and love for Konoha she once had, let alone its population of sheep and pigs. Now she only had a select few individuals she actually cares about, and should anything happen to them, or if they end leaving the village for one reason or another, then she'll have nothing tying her to this damn village.
Those people being Iruka, the Konohamaru Corps, Team Seven, the Ichiraku Family, and even Karin, Kin, as well as the Proctor of the Second Exam, Anko Mitarashi. She had gotten to know Kin and Karin during the times she came out of the Forest of Death, not wanting to become an isolationist. While having met and gotten to know Anko during the few times she entered the Forest of Death to take a break from hunting her former sensei.
She didn't count the rest of the Rookies, as while she did occasionally skip class with Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji, they were all acquaintances at best, and nuisances at worse. So, they wouldn't be able to keep her in the village, if she did decide to leave.
Naruko was pulled from her thoughts when the Proctor, Genma Shiranui, appeared in front of them.
"Alright, the Chunin Exams Finals are officially underway." Genma announced, before pulling out a pouch and walking up to the competitors.
"Now then, all of you will take a number out of here, your opponent will be determined on the number you receive. Once you all receive a number, read it out, and whoever has One and Two will be the first match up, then Three and Four, and so on." Explained Genma, as all the Genin took out a number.
"One." Kankuro said.
"Two." Said Misumi, while locking eyes with Kankuro, who smirked.
"Three." Naruko said.
"Four." Stated Gaara, with Naruko smirking gleefully at the opponent she'll be facing.
"Five." Temari said, relieved she won't be fighting Gaara.
"Six." Shino said, neutrally.
"Seven." Kabuto said.
"Eight." Said Kiba, relieved he wasn't facing that crazy Suna Genin, and instead facing who he thought would be an easy opponent.
"N-Nine." Hinata said.
"Ten." Said Sakura.
"Eleven." Yoroi said.
"Okay. Due to Sasuke Uchiha not being present, he gets Twelve. Now the first match up is Kankuro vs Misumi. The rest of you, please head up to the booth and await your match." Genma instructed, with all the Genin, besides Kankuro and Misumi, heading up to the booth.
"Alright, if both competitors are ready. Hajime!" Genma said, jumping away as the match started.
"Tell you what, I'm gonna do you a favor and end this quickly alright." Kankuro said, smirking, while taking the wrapped bundle off his back.
Originally, he was just going to forfeit the Finals, not wanting to risk showing off Crow's weapons. But given who his opponent is, Kankuro figured he wouldn't even need to use any of Crow's weapons to take him out.
"Tsk. You won't get the chance, because I'm taking you out, right now!" Shouted Misumi, charging towards Kankuro and threw a punch at the Suna Ninja, which was blocked easily.
Though Kankuro was surprised, when Misumi's arm suddenly wrapped around his, as if it was made of rubber. Even more so, as the rest of his body wrapped around him, restraining his movements, with one arm also wrapped around Kankuro's neck.
"What the hell is this?!" Kankuro demanded, with Misumi smirking beneath his face cloth.
"It's my Soft Physique Modification. By dislocating the joints of my body and using my Chakra, I can stretch and bend my body, however I like. I can squeeze you until your bones break, or simply snap your neck, right now. So, give up or die." Misumi said, tightening his grip to emphasize his threat, with Kankuro grunting at the strain, before he smirked.
"Buddy, you don't even realize, you're already dead." Stated Kankuro as his head immediately turned completely around, while six wooden arms shot out of his clothes, and wrapped around Misumi.
"What?!" Misumi shouted, shocked at the sudden reverse hold, before seeing the wrapped bundle on the ground, as the bandages unraveled, revealing Kankuro himself.
'He's a Puppet Master.' Naruko thought, as the Kankuro holding Misumi was revealed to be a puppet, while seeing the Chakra Strings emerging from Kankuro's hands.
"So, what was that about breaking my bones?" Kankuro mockingly asked, while flexing his fingers, tightening Crows grip on Misumi to a painful level.
"AAAAH! Wa-wait, I give up, I give up!" Misumi said.
"Ah, but if your bones are broken, you'll be able to move so much more." Stated Kankuro, before with another flex of the Chakra Strings, Crows grip tightened further, until he heard several cracks from Misumi's body, before he went limp.
"Winner Kankuro!" Genma announced, as Medic Ninja came out to collect Misumi's body, while Kankuro went up to the booth.
"Would Naruko Uzumaki and Gaara enter the arena for the second match!" Said Genma, with Gaara appearing in the arena in a swirl of sand, while Naruko jumped down with a wicked smile on her face.
"You, Uzumaki, you've changed since last time. Mother now wants your blood!" Gaara said, gaining a psychotic smile on his face, with Naruko own smile growing, as well.
"Oh, so Shukaku wants my blood? Then come and take it!" Said Naruko, drawing her sword, while now knowing that Gaara was a Jinchūriki like her.
Genma looked between the two, seeing sand swirling around Gaara and an icy mist coming off of Naruko.
"The second match between Naruko Uzumaki and Gaara! Hajime!" Said Genma, before jumping out of the arena, not wanting to get caught between these two.
Not a moment later, sand shot out of Gaara's gourd, while ice spread out around Naruko, as the battle between Ice and Sand started.
So, what did you think, good. Yep Naruko has changed a lot in the month break, both physically and mentally, now having found the perfect balance between her old self and Esdeath, along with learning everything she trained in for the month. We then go straight to the Finals with Naruko having a new outfit (the same one Warden Medb from FGO wears for a better visual), with the competitors drawing numbers to determine the matches. The Kankuro/Misumi match is the same as Canon, with Naruko and Gaara now getting ready to face off. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out