A/N: Awwww, I feel so loved!
Foxy: To your first; because the inspiration for it beat me over the head. To your second; I agree. To your third; IDEK dude (I call everyone dude, so if you're a girl don't get offended plz) like I've said before, the stories just aggressively write themselves as long as there's feedback. It's fucking weird.
Thor94: dude, Konan was beating the shit out of Jiraiya in Canon before Pain got involved. If she's fast enough (because the paper she uses is equal to her own speed) to nail Jiraiya to a wall, and Naruto admits that Jiraiya is faster than he is, wouldn't it stand to reason she's faster than Naruto? You can say a lot about my writing, but never let it be said that I disrespect logic.
LavenderMYSTery: First, nice pen name. Second, yeaah, I realize it's disjointed, but I firmly believe someone's art reflects their state of mind, so I'm pretty fucked up, huh? For a full analysis of my twisted little brain without wanting to throw yourself from a thirtieth-story window (my fourth psychiatrist did that...) check out my Darksiders story "Redemption". So far, it explains like... two or three of my issues.
TigrezzTail: she was trying to beat him unconscious, and considering jinchuuriki are notoriously hard to beat down, it was understandable.
Codybob: My take on it was that because Naruto was affected by Kurama's chakra while inside Kushina, he had some Kyuubi DNA, and Kurama sensed it. Plus, the seal was cannonically designed to integrate Kurama's chakra into Naruto's own, effectively changing his DNA so he wouldn't be hurt by the corrosiveness. It made sense that Kurama would be able to alter Naruto's DNA for the better. To me, at least.
SSJ3 Kyuubi Gohan: First, yeah, I know, and I was ignoring them at first, but I was having a really bad week with those particular ones, so I lost my temper. Second, I know the initial ideas weren't that original, but I've always liked the idea, so I decided to make one, and being teamed with Itachi just for some reason makes sense. Third, I'm not really a fan of OC's either, but for some reason (as I've stated previously) my stories mostly write themselves, and the self-inserts just sort of happened. And honestly? When I do a self-insert (this is only my second), I base it on how I actually view myself, instead of how I want to be. Flaws are important for any character, in my opinion.
Now, no-one has complained about how quickly Nagato changed his views after listening to Naruto. Good. Literally, the EXACT same thing happened in Canon. Foxy also asked me how he knew Nagato was family from just hearing about him, and I really don't have an explanation. Gut instinct? The Uzu scrolls? Who the fuck even knows? I'm just the physical medium for the shit.
Chapter 31: Back in the Village
"Naruto-sama, you should know,"
"Nagato, I'm thirteen, not thirty, stop with the 'sama'." Nagato frowned.
"It's impolite to address one's clan head informally." Naruto shrugged.
"Far as I care, a clan is just a massive family. Family are allowed to address each other informally."
"The Sarutobi clan must love that," Konan shot from the corner, where she was still glaring distrustfully at the blond.
"Actually, the Sarutobi believe it to be true as well. We've always been informal to each other." Konan's jaw dropped. "Anyway, what did you want to tell me, Nagato?"
"One of our previous members,"
"Orochimaru of the Sannin."
"Yes, him. He had one of ours under his thumb apparently. He seemed a great braggart, and likely to exaggerate greatly or even outright lie, but I believe it's worth investigating." Naruto stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Judging from the fact that he stole the Kusanagi from Kusagakure, that seems the most likely option. Have someone check it out."
"Hai," Nagato said respectfully. "But he was talking about a direct subordinate. I suspect one of his Elite Guards?"
"Damn... alright, see if you can find anything on them as well." Nagato nodded.
"One of my Akatsuki has a spy within Orochimaru's ranks. I'll ask him." Naruto nodded, then clicked his tongue.
"I should be heading back to Konoha soon. I'm sure Jiji will be waiting to tear me a new one."
"Why?"
"Oh, I convinced a A-Rank Nukenin to join Konoha. I'll probably amend the invitation at some point, but for now, It's Konoha."
Konoha, The Hokage's Office
"Why do I get the feeling this situation has 'Uzumaki Naruto' written all over it?" Hiruzen sighed as Kakshi walked in without said blonde, but with three other people, one of whom was a registered Nukenin, trailing in behind him.
"Because it does," smirked Jozun as he guided Inari to the side.
"These three, plus the two my ANBU found earlier this week..."
"Two? Who were they?" Kakashi asked in mild interest.
"The Demon Brothers, probably," Zabuza snipped.
"You are correct, Momochi. I suspect Naruto-kun gave you the same option?"
His answer was a nod as he sighed tiredly.
Back in Ame
"Only you..." Nagato sighed. "Who was it?"
"Hm? Oh, Momochi Zabuza."
"The Demon of the Bloody Mist?"
"The same. Funny, isn't it? Now, I have two of the Seven Mist Swordsman under my thumb..."
"Yes, it is slightly amusing. Now, if you must go, I should return to this paperwork. Running a Village isn't as easy as it seems."
"Alright. Later," Naruto said as he turneed and left, waving his hand over his shoulder. He sensed Konan following him. "I'm sure I can make it to the border without an escort, Konan-san." the woman growled, but returned to her seat.
Naruto was grinning as he left thee building, back into the rain. He made immediately for the border, at his fastest speed, heading back to Konoha. He also mentally removed the muzzle from Kurama.
Okay, next time, I'm biting you.
No, you aren't. You did kind of deserve it.
Whatever. Anyway, now what?
Now, we have a week of down time before people start pouring in for the Chuunin Exams.
The blond traveled in silence until he made it to Konoha, the gates standing open. He made his way to the check-in station.
"You're back already? Thought you were gonna be gone until next week," Kotetsu said. Naruto shrugged.
"Meh, I got bored." the gate guard smirked, then waved the blond through. He didn't make it ten feet before he was almost squished by mayhem.
"I SAID I WAS SORRY!" Kiba screamed as he ran by, followed closely b y an irate-looking Ino and Hinata.
"PERVERT! GET BACK HERE AND FACE YOUR PUNISHMENT LIKE A MAN!" Hinata, to Naruto's surprise, shouted after the Inuzuka. He'd never seen the bluenette get mad before. Irritated, yes. Visibly angry? no. Ino stopped when she saw Naruto, and smiled at him sweetly.
"Naruto-kun, could you catch Kiba for us?" Hinata also stopped at the suggestion and looked at the male blond with wide, begging eyes. Naruto almost flinched. Almost.
"Okay, first, Hinata, I have the begging eyes on lock, they won't work against me," the girl snapped her fingers in disappointment. "Second, what did he do to make you two angry?"
"He grabbed Hinata's boob. He said it wan accident, but Shino agrees that it wasn't, then he smacked my ass as he ran away." Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment, before he vanished in a gust of wind, and reappeared almost instantly, Kiba being held by his jacket collar.
"Dude... I thought we were friends!"
"We are."
"Then why?!"
"There's a fine line between bro code and suicidal diversions, Kiba. Two pissed Kunoichi is where I draw it."
"It's not like you couldn't take both of them!"
"That's beside the point, you idiot. I generally try to avoid having women angry at me, regardless of whether or not they can kick my ass. Ever here the phrase 'Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned'?" Kiba whimpered as the two teenage girls smiled menacingly and cracked their knuckles. Naruto didn't feel any sympathy for him.
"Enjoy yourselves, girls. But make sure he's fit enough for training later," here, not only Kiba, but the girls blanched as well, before Naruto tossed him lightly towards the two and continued on his way. He heard behind him the pained screams of a young man going through possibly the worst torture ever, and he grinned.
Kit, you once had six Kunoichi pissed at you at once. Six Jonin-level Kunoichi.
That wasn't my fault, Jiraiya directed the blame on me by acting like he was dropping a henge when he was putting one on.
Oh, yeah. I forgot that point. Naruto was grinning as he walked into the Hokage Tower, and right past the glowering secretary in front of Hiruzen's office door.
"Jiji, I'm baaaack~" he sang lightly as he traipsed in, only to go rigid as he saw three people talking to the Hokage. He calmed once again when he saw a familiar mop of crimson hair and a brown gourd.
"Gaara!" he smiled as the boy turned to face him, inclining his head slightly.
"Naruto," the boy kept his arms crossed over his chest, causing the blond boy to frown.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Gaara. Is that any way to greet a friend?" Naruto tutted as he held out a hand. Gaara hesitantly reached out to shake it, but was pulled into a hug against his will. Naruto relished the shocked looks on the other two's faces as he released the redhead.
"You... touched Gaara?" Naruto grinned at the older teens, particularly the one who had spoken, the boy with make-up on his face and wearing a cat bodysuit.
"What? You've never tried hugging him before? His sand only reacts when the attempted contact is violent."
"I refrained from explaining this to them, Naruto. I was afraid Kankuro would push the limits of what I was comfortable with. Like you evidently have made it your life's mission to do." Naruto shrugged and scratched his cheek lightly.
"You're never gonna get more comfortable with anything unless you push it, Gaara."
The Suna Genin just Hmm'd and gestured at his two companions.
"My brother, Kankuro, and my sister, Temari." Naruto immediately stuck his hand out to the girl now known as Temari.
"Hey!" Kankuro said indignantly. Naruto leveled a deadpan stare at him.
"Not only is she older, she's also a lady." Kankuro snerked at that, causing Temari to glare at him and reach slowly for the fan on her back. Naruto rolled his eyes and retracted his hand, then turned to the Hokage, who was watching the goings on with some amusement, as the two older sand siblings began to scuffle.
"So, Naruto-kun, what was so important that you had to leave the others behind?"
"I found another Uzumaki, Jiji." Hiruzen's jaw dropped, but he quickly recovered, and smiled brilliantly.
"That's wonderful! Where are they?
"I left him in Ame. He's not exactly the kind of guy I can parade through Konoha." Hiruzen caught the subtle meaning. "However, it seems Ero-sennin's intel of that one group is no longer relevent." Hiruzen shook his head in mild wonder.
"Only you, Naruto. Only you. Anyway, young Gaara here was just explaining about an interesting encounter he had earlier this year, and felt we should know as Suna's allies." both Konoha nin turned to the redhead, who was holding his siblings at either end of arm's length from each other.
"Yes," he said in his monotone voice, showing no signs of a scuffle like his brother and sister did. "Orochimaru of the Sannin came to the the Kazekage shortly after I graduated from the Academy, and put forth the plan that we help him in an Invasion of Konoha during the Chuunin Exams." Naruto and Hiruzen stiffened, but remained quiet. "We, ultimately decided not to aid him, or I did anyway, I'm not sure about the Kazekage or Suna as a whole, but I felt you should know that an Invasion could very well still happen."
"Well... that certainly explains Iwa," Naruto put in, looking at his grandfather, who nodded.
"Yes, Onoki wouldn't pass up the chance to take a shot at the Yondaime's face on the monument, and I'm fairly sure Kumo might be in on it for another shot at the Byakugan."
"Oh, they'll have a fit when they see my Rinnegan, then," Naruto smirked, drawing the sand siblings' attentions to his eyes for the first time. They, naturally gaped. Well, the older two gaped, Gaara merely stared.
"You didn't have that last time I saw you."
"No, no I didn't. Now!" Naruto said jovially, clapping his hands together quickly. "I promised you ice-cream, didn't I? C'mon, I'm buying."
"Naruto..."
"Eh, it's your job to worry about that stuff, Jiji. My job is to be a gracious host to my friend!" Hiruzen grumbled, but technically, the blond was right. The small group of teenagers left the office, Kankuro and Temari badgering Naruto with questions about Konoha and what he apparently knew about Gaara that they didn't. The ice-cream parlor Hiruzen knew they were headed to, the only one that allowed Naruto as a patron, despite his connection to the Hokage himself, was only about three or four blocks from the tower. Surely even Naruto could avoid trouble for that long?
With Naruto and the others
They made it a block and a half.
"Why were you so informal with your Hokage? He could imprison you for insubordination!" Temari said, her eyebrows up in her hairline, causing Naruto to snort out a laugh.
"He's my grandfather. I'm not big on formality anyway, but the Sarutobi clan especially don't like it."
"You're part of the Sarutobi clan?" Kankuro asked, causing the Rinnegan wielder to nod.
"Yeah, Jiji's son Asuma is my tou-chan."
"Then... why is your last name Uzumaki?" Kankuro said with his usual tact. The blond froze and stiffened a moment, long enough for all three sand siblings to notice, and ground out his answer.
"I'm adopted." he could feel the two older teens blanch at his response. "My birth parents died the night of the Kyuubi attack almost fourteen years ago. I was a street rat for close to five years, before Tou-chan adopted me. Any other stupid questions?"
"N-no..." Kankuro said fearfully, sensing the KI radiating from the blond. It was much more potent than even the Kazekage's! Naruto resumed walking, not caring if they followed, which they did, before a blur came screaming down the alley they were passing, slamming into Kankuro.
"Watch it runt!"
"Kankuro," Temari sighed. "You're making us look bad."
"This shrimp needs a lesson in respect!"
"You were in my way!" as soon as he heard the voice, Naruto whipped around, his Katana unsealed faster than ever before, and had the tip resting at the base of the older boy's throat.
"Put. My. Cousin. Down." Kankuro turned even paler than he had previously and slowly lowered the child to the ground, backing away slowly with his hands up in surrender,
"Kona," Naruto said flatly, causing the boy to flinch slightly, as he continued glowering at the painted teen. "Why were you running so fast down an alley you know if frequently used?"
"I was running from that pink-haired billboard broad!" Naruto snapped his intense gaze from the Suna Genin to his cousin with a questioning glance.
"Sakura?"
"GET BACK HERE YOU GAKI!" his answer came in the form of said female careening down the same alley Konohamaru had previously bolted down, causing the blond jinchuuriki's hardened reflexes to act before he could process the actions he took. In an instant, he had his blade resealed and did a low sweep kick, swiping Sakura's feet from under her, catching her arm as it flailed trying to regain her lost balance, and roughly shoulder-threw her over onto her back, a loud whap following her impact, and he was positioned in a crouch over her chest, a kunai at her throat.. All faster than anyone could blink. It took him a moment to realize the situation, but when he did, he rose without a word and backed away a few steps, looking around with wild eyes. Konohamaru had seen his Aniki like this before, right after he'd joined the ANBU Black-Ops.
"Naru-nii?" but the blond didn't see, hear or sense him. His mind was thrown back to some his worst missions, where he'd lost comrades. Friends.
He saw fourty Iwa Jounin ambush his squad, slaughtering the others ruthlessly.
He saw the forward scout get incinerated by a trap he'd missed as he entered the Kiri Nukenin hideout.
He saw over and over, the blood of young children splatter the walls of Uchiha homes.
He saw the pool of it as his own hand slit the throat of the only woman to ever show him kindness.
Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" He roared as he lashed out at the two who had come close to him. Only when he heard the sickening crunch of broken bones and the cry of pain did he escape the hell he thought he'd left behind. He was able to focus his sight, only to see Konohamru cradling a mangled right arm, and Gaara staring wide-eyed at him as his sand fell away from his face. Naruto knew that look.
WHY WAS IT ALWAYS THAT FUCKING LOOK?! Only then did he realize he'd hurt Kono. As he moved forward to help his cousin, the boy flinched back violently, fear in his eyes as he looked up at the blond from the ground. Naruto felt bile rise in his throat and tears prick at his eyes.
"No..." he whimpered, then he jumped away and did the only thing he knew how to do.
He ran.