Chapter II: Re-emergence
Sitting on a stump worn from years of being sat on; a youth no older than fifteen sat staring at the ground with sharp narrow wolf like eyes housing piercing violet fluorite orbs that hold a sense of wild brutality and bitterness about them. His face; narrow and haunting, fangs poking out over his bottom lip. Cheek bones high and a pair of long scars running down the left side of his face down onto his neck and chest. A parting gift from a Tiger he slew. Stubble covered chin.
He watched as a mamushi slithered along the ground towards him. He knew it meant him no harm, after all this was his forest and he resided as king in it. Reaching out with a claws hand he tickled the underside of the mamushi's chin having known this juvenile female since she was a hatchling, she was a meter long and still growing. Stopping his ministrations on her scaly chin, he allowed the snake to slither and coil its way up his arm before hissing menacingly in his ear as she began weaving in and out of his hair. Which dragged along the ground as he sat on the ground.
As the mamushi he had taken to naming Au, finished hissing he slowly turned his head towards where now that he thought about it sensed a lot of humans gathering. As he did so he let off a large amount of blood lust and killing intent, making the animals of the forest stir in fear at what had troubled their king so much. It was kind of fortunate that his skin was quite tough so much so that mamushi in her fright had accidentally tried to bite down on his shoulder only for her venom dripping fangs to not pierce the skin, not that it would matter he, had an immunity to the poison now.
Standing from his spot he looked around his clearing that he had at the base of a tree, his stump seat, bed of leaves and furs from his kills, carcasses of dead animals hanging from trees by vines, bones stabbed into the ground to signify his home, smaller bones also hung in clumps in the tree branches and bushes that would rattle should they be disturbed. Allowing mamushi to stay coiled about him.
The youth rubbed the head of a bear who was curled up on the ground nearby not once being fazed by the Blood lust and killing intent that had emanated from it's master. "Come Kingo..." he then walked out the ring of bones and tilted his head back and howled loudly echoing around the forest having amplified his voice with his chakra which he learned to channel all those years ago.
It was time to hunt. As he thought that he patted his bone knives before flexing his fingers and channelling chakra to his claw like nails and making them grow long before shortening them. He did the same with his fangs.
! #$%^&*()
Standing outside the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, Anko couldn't help but shiver a little as she felt as if the forest were watching her and the Genin who were pissing themselves. She wouldn't admit it herself but while she loved training in the forest there were certain places that even she would dare step pass and they had become horribly notorious for shinobi to go missing in and never be seen again.
She honestly couldn't help but wonder what the Hokage was thinking by allowing the second stage of the Chunin exams be held in here. The wild life became a hell of a lot more agitated with trespassers especially in the last four years. She doubted half the people here would make it to the centre tower after five days.
Well she had allowed them to stew in their nervousness for long enough she reckoned, heck the Uchiha brat was looking apprehensive about entering the forest but then again, all Leaf Ninja present were looking incredibly apprehensive at this point. She couldn't wait to see what would happen to the other villages Genin that entered with a false bravado.
"I got to hand it to Ibiki bolstering up all your courage by passing you guys like that. But this exam, it's on a whole new level... they call this place the Forest of Death, and your all about to find out why."
As she said that there was a whole load of people not wanting to find out that was for sure, it also didn't help that she nearly froze half way through when such an oppressive wave of blood lust and killing intent washed out of the forest accompanied by the sound of the forest inhabitants becoming agitated. Anko then mumbled under her breath "Yeah, this is gonna be fun."
! #$%^&*()
Roaming through his forest for the last two days Naruto had been told on the second day by one of Au's siblings that had been at the fence line what was going. Giving a fanged smirk at the information he had learnt, Naruto had gone around looking for the little Genin teams and taking them out one by one. it was very simple he could smell the fear off of everyone, the smell was ripe and putrid. A symbolism of weakness, you didn't live long in the Forest of Death with any form of weakness.
He had come across Ninja from what he assumed were other villages due to their head bands not having the infamous leaf symbol of the Hidden Leaf Village. Looking around he heard a roar of anger and judging by who it was it sounded like Koki, one of the giant bears that came from the same sire as Kingo.
Koki was somewhat of a bully and probably had gone out in search for one of the human teams in order to assert his dominance. Narrowing his eyes, he charged off in the direction of the roaring as well as the shouts of alarm that had rung out immediately following the bear attack.
Getting to the scene with ease, Naruto saw that Koki in his surprise attack had killed two of the Genin. 'the big brute.' Scenting the air cause the third member had gone and hidden, froze when he caught her scent. Having grown up in the animal kingdom had allowed him to pick up on what various scents denoted such as fear. But he could also tell if two animals were related or mated to one another. The same principle applied to humans after all it was Au's mother who had taught him as a hatchling "Humans and Beasts, there is no need to make a distinction. We are all creatures of this land, the only difference they are at the top of the food chain."
Well he was still learning the tongue of snakes at that point, so he was pretty sure that was the literal translation, he'd have to ask Hisako at a later date if that was the case. It seemed he had a pack member, 'what's the human term for pack...? Oh, yeah that's right.' It seemed he had a family member in the forest distantly related of course but it would be nice not being a lone wolf anymore.
Sniffing her out, he whistled to Kingo, who was the same size as Koki and roared. At that point Koki had paused at the sound of the roar which echoed around the whole forest area around him. Although Koki had time to brace himself as he heard and saw his litter mate Kingo storm through some underbrush and lunge at him forcing them both to stand on their hindlegs and start biting and batting at each other with their large paws and wicked claws. While bellowing and roaring at each other.
Naruto who had watched the crazed berserker charge of Kingo whooped encouragement to his big furry partner. Which caused the red headed girl he had snuck up on to jump and scream in fright at his appearance.
Laughing at her reaction Naruto crouched down in front of the girl "You smell like me."
As the girl started to turn bright red at Naruto's declaration she felt a sudden impact on her head making her black out and slump on the ground unconsciously. He then heard snuffling and snorting, looking up he saw his wolf buddy Thoki.
Hearing what the wolf had said to him Naruto glared at him and growled and grunted back at the large roan and grey wolf. He was not stupid or an idiot it just made it easier to take her back to his den. He said as much to Thoki who snorted and reached down and grabbed her by the collar, standing up straight Naruto was glad to notice that only the girls toe dragged along the ground.
He watched as Thoki and the girl disappeared. It was then he noticed that everything had gone quite quiet behind him. Looking out from behind the tree the girl had hid behind saw that Kingo had managed to drive Koki off and with only one scratch on his shoulder, it was better than the last time which had given his big black furry friend a lovely scar on his face.
Deciding to leave the big fella to recover and then return to the den with Thoki who said he would look after the girl who smelt like him. Jumping into the treetops with only Au at his side Naruto got to the top of one of the trees and decided to hunker down for the night seeing as though it was early evening and it was smarter to rest up high.
! #$%^&*()
Kneeling and rifling through the pockets of a corpse that belonged to a ninja from a village that had four lines in a row. Was Naruto looking for a scroll thing that everyone was trying to get. The ninja died in their sleep which took the thrill of the hunting them away, but it was early in the morning and he was a little stiff and sleepy, Au had been on edge all night and for most of the morning. Finding another heaven scroll, well he hoped it was the heaven one, he knew how to read and stuff it was just that he hadn't had to read in, how long was it, years now he guessed he lost track of time living in the forest. All he knew was that he arrived in the forest when he was six and before that he was born on the day of the Nine Tails attack or whatever that was.
Adding the scroll into his vine and fur nap sack that was on his back along with the bear fur cloak that only covered his right shoulder and arm, while his trousers were than tattered trousers that he had pilfered off of some ninja that had tried picking a fight with him two years prior. They used to be blue he thinks but they were so ripped, ragged and faded that he could hardly tell anymore.
Standing and wiping the blood off of his bone knives Naruto heard the sounds of fighting not to far off from where he was, as well as his keen hearing picking up faint voices that were talking. It also sounded like someone was crying almost.
Jumping off in the direction of the voices Naruto made it pretty quickly, man these ninjas weren't good at sensing each other, there was easy prey not 1000 metres to their left and they decided to fight each other ridicules. Wait he a second he recognised those people, well they looked bigger than when he last saw them. What were their names again?
Spikey pineapple haired kid messing around with shadows and looking shaken...Shikamaru? Possibly it was so long ago that he might be right. That fat kid was Chōji he remembered that much you only receive an Akimichi beat down once and remember not to call them that. The pink haired girl with the massive forehead was Sakura, I mean give it a shine and it would be a mirror it was perfect. Annoying screeching blonde was Ino he thinks. Lying under a tree was a pair of guys one he didn't recognise at all he was pale and dark haired the other bought a fanged smirk to his lips his old academy rival Sasuke Uchiha. Oh, there was one more guy some weirdo wearing green and with a turtle shell on his head he was out cold having fought against one of the musical ninja.
All of whom seemed to fine. Sneaking around he got so he was above the female of the musical note ninja and dropped down stealthily hitting her on the back of the head with the hilt of his bone knife causing everyone to gasp at his appearance while the two-musical note ninja growled in annoyance. Looking up from his victim he sent a violet eyed glare at the two-sound ninja before activating his Nukiashi or better yet his trackless step. He then appeared in front of Zaku and drove both his bone knives into his shoulders disabling them before turning and kicking Dosu in the chest with such power that the bandaged wearing ninja was sent skidding across the ground.
Ignoring Zaku's cries of pain behind him, Naruto allowed his scarred visage to glare intently at Dosu while allowing small traces of chakra to leak out making it look like wisps of smoke coming from his body. He then added chakra to his fangs making them grow in length "take your team and leave. Unless you want to fight, in that case make it interesting for me. I'm in need of some entertainment." Was all he said before picking the crying Zaku up and tossing him over at Dosu with ease.
Dosu who was getting up looked at Naruto with fear 'this change's everything, his chakra is to big, to powerful, we can't fight that.' Getting to his feet he looked at Zaku "such speed, you took us down in no time." Now quivering in fear Dosu began to back away as Naruto slowly advanced on him.
Seeing no other alternative other than to retreat, Dosu dropped the scroll and picked up Kin and Zaku before running away.
Naruto who was glaring in the direction of their retreat looked back at the Leaf Genin momentarily before taking off into the woods again.
! #$%^&*()
Centre Tower of the Forest of Death was a hive of activity, Anko had just been bought in by some Anbu having found her in a bad way after she had confronted Orochimaru by herself. She was currently sitting in a chair on the top most floor in a room with the Hokage and Ibiki off to one side along with Anbu Squad Phantom whom had found her. "So, tell me Anko what exactly did Orochimaru say to you."
Gripping the mark on her shoulder at her Hokages question, Anko sighed as a mild pulse of pain reverberated through her body "He told me, to make sure the Chunin exams weren't cancelled, because he wanted to see the Uchiha's potential now that he's been bestowed the curse mark. That is if he survives the night..."
"Was that all he said, was there anything else, anything you can think of?" ask the Hokage as he puffed on his pipe.
Looking towards the ground Anko nodded "Yeah, there was. He said it was intriguing, he could feel a third curse mark in the area. A curse mark...that he hasn't thought about in nine years..." she then looked up at the Hokage noticing the look of dawning on his face. "There's only one other curse mark that I know of that was bestowed upon someone in the village. And he went missing nine years ago."
"Naruto." Was all Hiruzen breathed out. He then looked at the Phantom Anbu Squad members and was about to issue an order to them when someone knocked on the door. Looking up he sighed. "Please come in."
As the door opened he was surprised to see Shikamaru Nara standing in the door way. Smiling gently at the boy he placed his pipe down "Ah, Shikamaru. What can I do for you hmm."
"My Lord Hokage, Squad Seven and my own Squad Ten. We met Naruto in the forest, he saved us from some sound ninja." The lazy Genin said while slouched and with his hands in his pockets.
Sitting up straighter at the declaration of the Genin, the Hokage nodded "Weasel, fetch me an Inuzuka. Snake, Bat, Rat. Prepare for a recovery mission. Anko, you'll accompany them. Shikamaru can you lead my ninja back to where you saw Naruto?" the authority in the old mans voice was immense that all the ninja nodded and, weasel instantly disappeared to go about his mission.
Nodding Shikamaru sighed "As troublesome as it would be I'm probably the only one in my squad who could do it. And squad seven hasn't come back yet, last I saw Sai and Sasuke were out cold. Ah this is gonna be such a drag."
Chuckling at the lazy Genin's commentary on the manner he saw Anko pat the Nara on the back "Ah, don't be a stick in the mud brat. How hard can it be to bring one brat in for questioning and make sure he re-joins the village properly?"
Scratching his head Shikamaru groaned "he defeated a high level Genin team in under thirty seconds it was insane. If you blinked, you would've missed it happen."
The Hokage thought he would chip in his two cents worth "He also escaped the hospital while under Anbu guard, knocking out a jonin level medical shinobi and doing the same with a Anbu who was in pursuit when he was six years old."
Sweat dropping at that and laughing nervously at both comments Anko kept smiling "but we're taking a whole squad of Anbu, one Genin, and either a Chunin or jonin Inuzuka and myself a Special Jonin, that's eight verses one including the ninken."
Breathing out a cloud of smoke Hiruzen looked at his Anbu who were gearing up in the corner and going through their supplies "He's Uzumaki, and the son of the Fourth Hokage. You all know this; his potential is limitless and there's a chance he has axe to grind against the villages treatment of him all those years ago."
Groaning at what a troublesome mission this was going to be Shikamaru raised his hand "Hey the second exams going to finish tomorrow in the evening, what if I'm not back from this mission Lord Hokage?"
"Don't Shikamaru, if we end up having to do a preliminary round for the third exam, I'll make sure you fight if you haven't returned by then. Otherwise you'll automatically pass the preliminary round and advance to the third round." Was all the Hokage said.
Just as he finished speaking a cloud of smoke appeared in the room. Denoting the return of Anbu Weasel and the Inuzuka. When the smoke filtered out of the window that was open in the office that was in the centre tower of the forest of death on the top floor. It revealed the Anbu was heading towards his squad mates to sort himself out while the Inuzuka who was chosen was Hana Inuzuka a Chunin level ninja. "Lord Hokage, you summoned me for a mission?"
"Indeed, I did Hana, we need you nose to help track down Naruto Uzumaki whose somewhere in the Forest of Death. Shikamaru here is going to lead you to where he was last physically seen and I hope you and your dogs will be able to pick up his scent. The trial is a couple of hours old and it is fine weather the scent should still be there." Was all he said before looking at everyone in the room. "Because of who this person is. This mission is A-rank. Naruto is a high-profile citizen of the Leaf Village, he is the son of our beloved Fourth Hokage. He is the future clan head of one of our great clans and there is the matter of his Uzumaki kekkei genkai. I don't need to tell you all how important this mission is. There is a chance you'll all have to fight, but I need you to bring him back by whatever means necessary. Now go!"
As he said that the seven shinobi and three ninja hounds jumped out the open window.
! #$%^&*()
Naruto, having spread his scent all over in random places knowing full well that one of his old academy class mates would report his presence to the Old Man Hokage, arrived back at his den where he saw the red headed girl sat on his bed of furs looking wearily at Thoki every now and then, who was laid on the ground nearby napping.
Landing on the ground in front of her she screamed out in surprise before shouting "DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT AND WHY DID YOU KIDNAP ME!?"
Rubbing one of his ears after her outburst Naruto, gazed at her before reaching out and touching her red hair before comparing it to his own long red-tresses "same hair, hmm what's your name?"
Being taken a back by the question and how similar the shades of red their hair was now that she saw him in proper light and not the gloom of the shade shook her head as she gazed at him, violet eyes, not to far off from her own red and purple tinted orbs, the same red hair. She then activated her sensing ninjutsu and couldn't help but look in wonder at how vast and wild his chakra was but at the same time it was so bright and warm making her feel happy and safe, it felt like family. Opening her mouth, she answered his question "Karin Uzumaki." It felt so strange saying her last name after so long, having just gone with simply her first name, her mother before her death had warned her about revealing her Uzumaki heritage to strangers because there were still rumours that the hidden rock village hunted down the survivors of the legendary clan still to this day.
Eyes widening at her last name Naruto who by no means was a genius, but he had observed the people of the village from afar, so he knew what many of the customs were like for people. And out of pure impulse he lunged forwards and hugged Karin close "I'm not the only one. For so long I thought I had no one, but I have family. My names Naruto Uzumaki."
Returning the hug for a moment, Naruto then pulled away. And sat cross-legged in front of her "it's a shame you're from another village."
Giggling at that Karin shook her head "The second exam finishes tomorrow. My sensei's a callous man, if we haven't finished by now, he probably thinks I'm dead and has returned home. Besides Kusagakure only sent my team to show that they had a small presence on the world stage."
Narrowing his eyes, he noted the bite marks on her arm as her sleeve bunched up "You're not telling me something..." was all he said as he looked at her.
Squirming a little under the older boy's gaze Karin relented "The Hidden Grass, treated me and my mother when she was alive as outsiders although it didn't stop them from monopolising on my mother special ability to instantly heal those who feed off her chakra. They made her overuse ability and she was sucked dry of chakra which killed her. They now do the same with me, they just see me as a tool, someone expendable. They'll be more upset at the loss of my ability than losing me."
Frowning at her answer Naruto sat next to her and held her in a hug with her head rested against his chest. "What will you do now, now you don't have to go back to the Hidden Grass. You could stay here with me, or in the Hidden Leaf Village. They'd welcome you with open arms."
Shrugging Karin pursed her lips. "Before my mother died we were basically glorified prisoners in the Hidden Grass but she was able to receive and send letters. And she was in contact with a coven of Uzumaki Clan members somewhere hidden in the elemental nations. Actually, I remember mum telling me that there were many small Uzumaki covens all over the elemental nations. After our clan's downfall which sparked the second shinobi world war. The survivors spread out across the nations and went into hiding. Other than that, I'm not too sure. But if they're out there I'll find them. Hey, you could come with me Naruto, we could find them together."
Going wide eyed at the proposition Naruto hesitated "I haven't left the forest since I came here when I was six, I don't know how many years have passed actually, I've lost all concept of time in the forest."
"Well when were you born you know that much at least right?" Karin asked as she stared at her currently closest family member.
"Yeah, I could never forget the day I was born. It was the day of the Nine Tails attack, the day both my parents died. The day I was branded a demon, the day I was given the fate of being tormented by the village for the rest of my life. But guess what I became the demon of the forest, I became their worst fear. The sole reason why everyone is afraid of this forest. They created what I am today..." he then paused and looked at his cousin who was looking at him intently "your the first person I've had a proper conversation with since I've come here, all the others came looking to kill the demon of the forest not knowing it was me lying in wait, wanting to take revenge for what they put me through. I don't know if it's a good idea for me to leave, I'm a dangerous man after all."
"well the Nine Tails attack was fifteen years ago..." she then paused and looked at Naruto's face before beginning to trace his scar with her small hand. "I don't think you're dangerous, you haven't hurt me yet. I don't see a demon either, I see my cousin, my family. And if there's one thing my mother taught me, it's family always sticks together." She said as she traced the scar down the side of his face "did one of the people who came to kill you give you this?"
"No, it was before my body mutated I hesitated for split second and the tiger I was hunting got a lucky shot. It's a reminder, never hesitate in the face of an enemy." Was his answer as he shifted the fur cloak on his right shoulder to allow her to see that it ended just above his right nipple.
"what do you mean when your body mutated?" she asked curiously.
Smiling he pointed to the tree they were next to "There's a hollow in the tree, in there's a chest. It has scrolls in it. I had some of my animal friends steal various scrolls for me, so I could continue what I had started at the academy. One of my friends a rat actually named Bakin bought scroll written by the First Hokage himself, the ever-changing ebb and flow of Chakra. At first dismissed it, but when I was...it must have seven or eight, I was incapacitated for months, fortunately I had friends Au, Thoki, Kingo, Bakin, Tsuru, Au mother. They cared for. When my fever broke, my skin was as hard as the hide of the rhino's in this forest not easily pierced. My nails had become claws, my teeth fangs. It became easier to speak to the animals, it also gave me enhanced agility, speed, senses and strength...
I then decided to read Hashirama's scroll on chakra, he hypothesises that like nature and time itself it is ever-changing, like when a child transforms over time to an adult. He believed that chakra was much the same, that like time it was always changing, but because it is a mixture of two natural energies created by the body and nature itself it has the potential to adapt and survive in situation. He believes that's kekkei genkai came to be through the mutation of one's chakra changing the body. My chakra did much but at an accelerated rate. So much so that it has changed my genetic marker to some degree and given me what I like to call the Shihai kekkei genkai (domination bloodline) cause not only did my body change, but it gave me an oppressive aura that exudes power, this power allows me to exert my dominance over all wildlife, Thoki sleeping over there refers to me as alpha. That's how I ended up like this. You can take and read the scroll if you want, I've read it four or five time."
Nodding Karin ended up looking at his claws and examining his skin closer as he spoke "my goodness, that is incredible, you would be a medical ninja's dream to look at. There hasn't been an appearance of a new kekkei genkai in years not since the end of the warring states era."
"I know. Would you like to get back to the village now?" he asked all of a sudden as he sensed a large body of chakra moving towards his general location.
Frowning a little Karin nodded "Sure, actually I might stick around the village for a while, so we can get to know each other and so I can coax you into coming and finding an Uzumaki coven with me Hehehe."
"I'd like that. Au, will keep you safe. She's the right hand of the animal king, with her around you will not be harmed in this forest..." he then points to the left as he stood and walked with Karin "Travel that way, the edge of the forest is about five kilometres away. I can't wait to see you again." As he said that Au, slithered and coiled herself loosely around Karin's neck and right arm.
Not being frightened of Au, who she had watched slither out from her cousin's hair and around her gave Naruto a quick hug, I'll come by tomorrow and visit. I'm sure Au will show me the way."
Nodding he watched as Karin jumped off into the trees.
! #$%^&*()
Running along a long tree branch Naruto watched as two kunai and shuriken came from his right hitting him in the neck making him fall on his back. As he fell Anbu Squad Phantom, Anko, Hana, Shikamaru and the Haimaru triplets landed on the branch just as the body burst into smoke revealing a log.
"Shit he used a substitution." Anko exclaimed. As she looked around.
Shikamaru then boredly pointed out "Probably a good thing you aimed for his neck and head, didn't lord Hokage want Naruto alive."
Grumbling about smart ass brats as she tried to find Naruto. Hana who didn't know Naruto well other than he used to be an acquaintance to her little brother Kiba when they were in the academy, and the fact he was the Fourth Hokages son, which the Hokage had informed the whole village on so as to motivate them to find the kid nine years ago. "Question, how does he know any jutsu. He only went to the academy for what ten months."
Shikamaru who was still unnerved by the Anbu who were staying completely silent shrugged "they teach us all the basics and bare minimum jutsu wise in the first ten months, Iruka-sensei was really thorough and strict, I wouldn't be surprised if that troublesome red-haired tomato extrapolated and experimented."
At that point Kage one of Hana's ninja hounds whipped his head around and looked up at a branch opposite them as Naruto stepped out from behind the trunk "Well Shikamaru, long time no see. hmhmhehehe" he chuckled a little as the three dogs growled lowly in his general direction.
"Hey Naruto, nice to see you remember me, you remember the others as well?" it was a simple question. Meanwhile Hana was gawping at what she was looking at, this fifteen-year-old kid was the same height as her easily, his bright red hair fluttering about him which was rather dramatic considering it fell to his ankles, his purple eyes seemed to shine in the gloom of the forest, and the large scar was helping with the intimidation factor to no end. Her senses being closely linked to her ninja hounds could feel their apprehension at even going against Naruto in combat, his aura was oppressive and otherworldly. Her senses were conflicted, they were telling her to attack and subdue as per her leader's orders. But they were also telling her to bow and obey this being, this, this King before her she was so conflicted.
"Yeah, I remember them, although if what I saw in the forest was all the power you guys accumulated in the last nine years sadly I'm unimpressed, what I saw was pathetic. Now tell me Anbu, does the Hokage wish for me to return to the village proper." Naruto said as he fingered the hilts of his bone knives.
It was then Bat the leader of Anbu Squad Phantom spoke up. "he does, he also advised us to use whatever means necessary to bring you back."
"I thought as much, but would the shinobi body want a demon living in their midst. After all that is what I am isn't it, a demon, a monster, an abomination. I remember what they called me before I disappeared The Demon the Hidden Leaf, the Monster of the Hidden Leaf, the Abomination of the Hidden Leaf and The First Coming of The Demon. I remember them all, I have one more to add to that list. The Murderer of the Hidden Leaf..."
He said all of that with a sneer on his face as he spoke his voice dripping with loathing and hate. "Tell me how many shinobi have gone missing in this forest since my legend, the legend of the Demon of the Forest of Death come in to existence? To many if you ask me, I am a creation of the villages abuse and hate. I became the demon that they feared. You can thank them for what is about to happen to you."
Before he could attack Shikamaru spoke up "Naruto, come with us peacefully please. You only killed in self defence no one will condemn you for that, no one will. Please come with us peacefully."
"Get it through your head Shikamaru, I'm not coming. This is my domain, where I reign supreme as king of the forest. You're on my turf now." He said spreading his arms before crossing them back over his chest.
Anko at this point grinned "King is it?"
Naruto at that narrowed his purple fluorite eyes "Indeed."
"Alright then, how about a wager then your highness. Hmm, surely you could humour us with your graciousness." She said at this point a grin was threatening to break out on her face.
Smirking at Anko maliciously Naruto nodded. "Now this is interesting, very interesting. What is this wager?"
Everyone in Anko's team looked at her like she had gone mad before gawping at Naruto who was so openly offering to listen to her bet. "We'll fight, you verse all of us. We win you come back to the village and agree to become a ninja. But if we lose, well make your demands."
Looking down upon them, Naruto was feeling confident right now, he had fought over fifty shinobi battles in the last four years and hadn't lost one of them, this would just be another tally to add to his record. "You and the other woman have to stay in the forest here with me."
"Done"
"What, Anko!? No, I did not sign up for this at all, no-way."
Before she could rant any further Shikamaru who had been standing behind her tapped her on the shoulder whispered in her ear. After a second Hana sighed "Fine alright I agree to the terms." 'Kurenai, Asuma, Gai & Kakashi better hurry up and get here.'
"Excellent, I haven't been beaten in combat yet. As a King I'll allow you the first attack." He said as he crossed his arms.
Hana wanting to smack Naruto around for what he wanted if he won the fight thought she would draw some blood, no-way was she going to be some self-proclaimed king's concubine lover. "Arashi, Kage, Blitz; sick him."
As she said that she charged Naruto with her triplets. Naruto smirked at her straight forward attack "Foolish, now bow!" as he said that he exerted his Shihai kekkei genkai which halted Arashi, Kage and Blitz in their tracks making them lower themselves onto the ground. Hana seeing this was shocked and growled out at Naruto who stood there impassively gazing at her. "Now Arashi, Kage, Blitz; come to me."
Shocking her even further, her triplets whom she had bonded with since she was six got up and dutifully padded up to Naruto and stood either side of him, growling Hana shouted at him while her teammates stood shocked at what was happening. "What did you do to my Kids." Yes, she called them kids, she had always done so since she had gotten them.
"It's always a sad day when a child leaves his mothers side. But you can thank my kekkei genkai for this, your beloved children are mine to control for now. Right lets even the numbers up a little, Arashi, Kage, Blitz, savage the Anbu go." As he said that he pointed at the Anbu, he always knew they would be the largest threat in the group.
Watching the three hounds take off and engage the Anbu, broke Hana's heart. Weasel who managed to get a slight reprieve shouted to his teammates "Fight to incapacitate them don't kill."
Hana hearing that while thoroughly upset at what her babies were doing knew they wouldn't be to badly hurt. Turning her attention back to Naruto who was still standing their glance at her, and she was sure she saw a look of sadness flash across his eyes before he savagely crushed all trace of it as he sidestepped a pair of kunai Anko had thrown. Skipping out the way he made direct eye contact with Anko.
Anko who was watching Naruto, was surprised when he appeared in front of her and kneed her in the gut throwing her backwards making spit fly from her mouth. 'what the hell how is he that fast.'
Shikamaru while he was watching Anko get kneed sent his shadow possession jutsu at Naruto and caught him for a short second before he felt Naruto flare his chakra and break it giving him enough time to dodge out the way of Hana's own fang over fang which drilled a hole in the tree branch. Looking at the hounds he saw they had made the Anbu retreat a little bit from them leaving him to fight Anko, Hana and Shikamaru. While he was dodging Hana's attack he had dropped to the ground and found himself facing off against the three. "You can take a hit, that's good."
"It'll take a lot more to get rid of me pretty boy." Anko shot back.
"You said Kekkei Genkai before Naruto, I don't remember learning about a kekkei genkai that controls animals excluding the Aburame, Kamizuru, Amagiri and Inuzuka clans and three of those specialise in insects while the other is exclusively dogs. What's it called?"
Smiling a little "My body mutated while living in this forest, you can thank my chakra and my environment. I call it the Shihai kekkei genkai, it allows me to exert my will and dominance over any animal and bend them to my will. I haven't tried it with a summoning creature yet, but I'm interested to see what happens." Was all he said as he pulled out one of his nine bone knives and threw it at Shikamaru making him leap to the side "Enough let's fight!"
And before they could even register it Naruto had appeared in front of them giving them enough time to put up a weak defence, but they were still throw back and left stinging from the vicious and solid punches that he had landed on their bodies.
"He's so fast, how can we keep up with that, argh" Hana moaned.
Shikamaru got to one knee "We hold out."
"Yeah but we can't let him attack first, he's just proved he could kill us without trying. From now on we're all on offence. Let's go! Shikamaru try catch him in your Shadow Possession again it slowed him down, Hana you're with me!" Anko said as she charged at Naruto with Hana.
'this is truly admirable, but it's to late for them, they are already victim of my technique.' As he thought that he dodged and weaved before delivering a stinging punch to Hana's forearm while ducking a punch from Anko before grabbing Hana by the hair and using his naturally enhanced strength and what he had accumulated from years of being in the forest tossed Hana away while kneeing Anko in the gut only to find himself trapped again.
"Shadow possession success got you now Naruto."
As Naruto was about to flare his chakra the Anko he kneed went up in smoke while the real one appeared behind him and slugged him in the face at the same time he broke the Shadow Possession. Making him roll across the ground.
Standing up Naruto was grinning like a mad man "Now this is a fight, I'm so sick of not being hit. Now I'm interested more than ever before. Show me more, show me much more!"
As he said that he calmed his breathing and settled his footwork before appearing in front of Anko again and slugging her in the face and sending her rolling along the ground and then had to dodge Hana whose hair had been removed from her pony tail making her look wilder than ever. Smirking he spun around her kick and axe kick combo before sweeping her feet from under her and grabbing her flak jacket and throwing her towards Shikamaru who had to break his jutsu to catch Hana.
Making them fall back only to be caught by a brawny figure who appeared with three others. "Need hand Shikamaru hnm"
Shikamaru looking up sighed "Asuma-sensei, man am I glad to see you and the others."
Getting off the ground Anko stalked over to the other Jonin "okay this makes it easier."
It was then Gai beamed and smiled at Naruto "for one to show so much youth and come out on top against three skilled Shinobi is amazing young man, your flames of youth surely burn bright indeed!"
Naruto who was now standing opposite the four new threats with his three original targets whistled lowly. "Looks like I'm going to need some allies of my own." As he finished saying that Arashi, Kage and Blitz appeared at his side panting and looking a little frazzled.
This surprised the newly arrived shinobi and Kurenai looked at Hana "Aren't they?"
"Don't ask, I'm not in the mood." Was the curt reply from the upset Inuzuka.
As they appeared the four Anbu also appeared with them looking a little worse for wear. Smirking he saw the jonin regard him wearily before tilting his head back and howling like a wolf, which was soon repeated by a second lone wolf. He then as soon as he finished gave a loud Roar that sounded like a bear which was also repeated.
"So, who are these people who would interrupt the fight between us. Well then Shikamaru are you going to tell me?"
Panting himself he nodded "I don't see the problem with it, I called for back-up while you were making your kingly wager with Anko-sensei. This is Asuma my sensei, the grey haired one is Kakashi, the sensei of Sakura and Sasuke. The green clad guy is the sensei of squad nine Maito Gai. The woman is Kurenai, Kiba, Hinata and Shino's sensei, all of them elite jonin."
Kakashi at this point could see the uncanny resemblance of his sensei the Fourth Hokage in Naruto despite him taking after his mother more in appearance "Come on Naruto, come peacefully and we won't have to hurt you, the people want to see the son of the Fourth Hokage return home."
Smirking Naruto crouched suddenly just as a large roan and black wolf twice the size of the Haimaru Triplets landed in front of Naruto and barked with hackles raised and growling while spit and foam leaked out of his mouth. A bear then appeared behind Naruto and rest his snout on the shoulder of the again standing Naruto who reached up and rubbed his muzzle. "Now do you see the power of my kekkei genkai. Hmm Kage, Arashi, attack Hana, Thoki attack Kurenai, Blitz go for Gai, Kingo the Anbu and feel free to call the other bears same with you Thoki..."
Before they could attack Kakashi spoke again "A new you wager, you still get what you wanted before, we still get what we wanted, but only us two fight everyone else watches. How's that, and to sweeten the deal I'm the strongest in my group and one of the strongest in the village after the Hokage."
"Alright you guys stand down and watch. Actually, Arashi, Kage, Blitz I release you from my service return to Hana." As he said that the dogs ran back to Hana and started pining over her and whining. "I am truly sorry for doing that, but I needed allies and I didn't want to reveal Thoki or Kingo right away..." he then looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi, you're interesting I accept your wager. You win I come back to the village, I win Anko and Hana become mine by right of conquest. For I am the king of this forest."
"Accepted."
Thoki at that point along with Kingo moved to just behind Naruto while the other ninja in the area, jumped onto the nearest tree branch to watch from a vantage point that if push came to shove they would intervene and surprise Naruto and take him back by force.
Naruto seeing Kakashi grinned ferally as he lengthened his claws surprising a few people "alright Kakashi lets do this." Naruto then stood there for a second while looking at his opponent before attacking.
Kakashi not having lost eye contact once was shocked when Naruto appeared in front of him attempting to stab him with his bone knife, acting quickly Kakashi substituted with a log and appeared twenty meters away from Naruto who had turned and was looking at him again. 'I don't understand, I never lost eye contact with him. Did I zone out thinking this would be easy? Impossible he's sensei's son! Either way, that is bad. I have to make sure not lose si...' as he thought that while staring at Naruto the whole time making sure not to blink he found himself not having enough to substitute but having to block with his own kunai and only thanks to years of experience did he managed to jump back with only his sleeve being slightly teared. 'I can't see it, I can't read his moves what's going on here?'
As he thought it he was finding himself on the defensive again having to dodge a slash from the bone knife coming his way. 'this is a dangerous technique, whatever this is. I can see why Anko and the others were having such a hard time.'
Up in the trees Gai began grinning like a mad man "Yosh, he is truly youthful."
"Are you going to tell us Gai because this is painful to watch Naruto's moving normally but it's like Kakashi is constantly distracted and can't see him like he's being taken by surprise" asked Asuma as he breathed out some smoke.
Smirking as he watched Kakashi struggle against Naruto in taijutsu "That's it exactly, Kakashi can't see Naruto moving, I've never seen anything like it. It's amazing this puts a pure taijutsu user on an even playing field with ninjutsu and genjutsu capable shinobi more so than before..."
"That's all well and good Gai, but what is he doing to take Kakashi by surprise and should we tell him what's happening, so he can counter?" Anko asked, purely so she could know for future reference if she had the unlucky chance of ever having to fight Naruto again in taijutsu.
Watching Naruto intently as he attacked Kakashi he nodded "if anything I would call this technique the Nukiashi a trackless step. It's nothing fancy, once you know what to look for. It's a series of stealthy steps and breathing techniques."
Looking at the elder shinobi Shikamaru frowned "could you explain that with more detail Gai sensei?" this really was turning into a troublesome A-rank mission, well at least it was in his home village.
"Basically, the way that our brains operate, we don't obtain every detail of what we experience with our senses this is especially apparent for taijutsu users it's something we try and enhance to the physical maximum. Some of the information we process goes to our sub conscious with the Nukiashi you can basically from what I've observed conceal your presence in the unconscious mind of your opponent that's basically what Naruto's doing. Kakashi's looking right at him but he can't process the image. His eyes are following Naruto's every move. But the Nukiashi is tricking the brain into categorising that information as unnecessary, Naruto's able to do this right up to the moment he makes an attack. At this moment Kakashi won't be able to break free of the influence on his unconscious mind."
Anko at that point looked shocked this was indeed a powerful jutsu "But Kakashi has the sharingan surely he could use that to counter the effects of this Nukiashi right."
Humming in thought Gai shrugged "there's the possibility the sharingan could help but there's also the possibility that it would send even more information and confuse Kakashi even more. Kakashi has probably already figured this out, that's why he's hesitant to reveal his sharingan eye. Unless he figures out how to counteract the effects of the Nukiashi then this fight is going to end in a draw."
Kakashi and Naruto who were opposite each other again were panting slightly. Kakashi thanks to his better than normal hearing was able to hear Gai's explanation and was happy his original thoughts on the jutsu Naruto was using after the fourth and fifth time he found himself caught by surprise was accurate 'alright then need to break the eye contact and somehow make it so his stealthy steps aren't so stealthy and upset his breathing pattern.'
"How, annoying you figured out my technique. Now what should I do? Open the Gates or use the same power I did the night that I escaped the hospital, what do you think Kakashi? Of all my opponents you have survived the longest against the Nukiashi. I quite like that name, I think I'll keep it." Naruto asked as he flipped one his knives and threw it at Kakashi who ducked.
Lifting up his head band and revealing his Sharingan, Kakashi gained a serious look in his eye. "You not be as fast as your father, but with the Nukiashi you don't need to be that much is clear, it is also clear to me you are just as dangerous as the Fourth Hokage. Now I shall take you seriously."
Naruto at that point smirked "This is interesting very interesting. Now you've truly got my attention, last time I saw those eyes I was five years old and looking at a true inheritor of the sharingan hehehnhnhm. Yes, I don't have much jutsu this is true but earnt my respect and in return you will go full power to with everything I have to defeat you Kakashi!"
As Naruto said that he forced open the Gates of Opening, Healing and Life without even trying, allowing him to be engulfed in an aura of murky black and blue chakra with his shroud oddly taking a demonic appearance "Let us begin."
This time Naruto didn't need the Nukiashi, since with his natural enhanced speed with opening the gates he simply appeared behind Kakashi who was ready and blocked a sweeping kick that was aimed at his midriff pushing him off to the side a little. Jumping into action Kakashi was able to keep pace with Naruto for a while thanks to his experience and sharingan before he landed a solid mutual blow to Naruto's chin while he copped a knee to the gut throwing them away from each other.
Getting back to their feet Naruto growled "I will not lose, I refuse to lose." As he said that the tomoe pattern spread across the right half of his body before continuing until his entire body was covered in the marks.
He again disappeared and landed a Haymaker against Kakashi who went up in smoke revealing it to be a shadow clone "Tch a dam clone."
"Earth Release: Head Hunter Jutsu." Naruto hearing that found himself being dragged underground.
He then saw Kakashi appear in front of him a second later. Using his strength Naruto bulldozed his way out of the jutsu he was trapped in and lunging at Kakashi lengthening his claw hands intent on ripping the man's throat out.
Anko who tensed at the sight of the Curse mark frowned a little as she held a hand sign "Wait that's no ordinary Curse Mark. So that's what Orochimaru meant by failed."
Looking at her friend from her crouched spot with her ninja hounds Anko looked at her funny "What do you mean Anko, how is that not an ordinary one. his chakra has gone through the roof increasing already bloody huge reserves to begin with, it's monstrous!"
"Orochimaru injects a little of his will and soul into the curse mark so as to manipulate the wielders of the power, by sealing his soul into fragments he can never truly die even if his body is destroyed. This however, I'm not feeling any traces of Orochimaru at all. His chakra doesn't feel corrupt or foul, this is all Naruto. Somehow his chakra overpowered the snakes and destroyed the rot and decay of the mark only giving the benefits and not the downsides, the Uzumaki clans vitality and lifeforce is something to behold" she explained as she watched Naruto and Kakashi battle it out like two tanks. 'if Kakashi pulls this off and we take him back I'm so telling the Hokage to make him a Special Jonin as a minimum, he would be utterly wasted as a Genin, and with the Nukiashi if he wanted he could have killed Shikamaru, Hana and I before hunting down the Anbu while they were distracted. Man, I'm happy the brat called for backup.'
Growling at not being able to land a decisive blow against the grey-haired man before him with their last bout leaving them both panting and quite tired and Naruto could feel him coming to his limit with the gates and if they wore out the curse mark would only be able to heal so much of the damage before fatigue would hit him. Unless he went to Level two of the Curse Mark, but that was dangerous not only to his body but to his mind. It always made him feel less human and people if they saw it would be even more frightened of him.
"I'm not going to lose here, I am a King. This is my home and you're all trespassing. RWAR!" As he roared in defiance he lunged and in mid air did two hand signs before turning into a mammoth sized wolf and snapping his jaws at Kakashi who was about to stab him in the back with the kunai in an attempt to wound him but as the bladed tool descended he transformed into a bear the size of Kingo surprising Kakashi and batting him away with a large paw. Reverting back to his human form Naruto was breathing quite hard, they were solid transformation basically being the opposite of the Inuzuka clans man beast clone.
"Good shot Naruto, you really surprised me with that one. but you're at your limit opening the gates burns through your chakra quickly and used in conjunction with the curse mark even more so, and those transformations must have been horribly taxing on your chakra" Kakashi said as he stepped out from behind a tree having used a substitution jutsu to evade the bear paw. Kakashi then did some hand signs
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu" as he said that the Kakashi opposite Naruto disappeared as the Kakashi behind Naruto having hidden under the ground caught him in a water prison sphere.
Naruto at this point was really tempted to go curse mark level two but he hated to do that. Looking at Kakashi he sighed "I give, you win."
As he said that the prison disappeared and an Anbu promptly placed chakra cuffs on his wrists stopping him from attacking. "We'll take it from here Kakashi, thanks for the help."
Nodding Kakashi dropped to one knee "Yeah, well that fight took a lot out of me he forced me to use Sharingan, take him to lord Hokage."
The Anbu nodded and Squad Phantom disappeared with Naruto.
! #$%^&*()
Appearing outside the Centre tower in the Forest of Death Naruto sighed in exasperation "You guys know that Old Man Hokages chakra isn't in that tower anymore right." He finished with a wolfish grin.
Anbu rat who was opening the door at the bottom paused and turned to Naruto before silently urging the sensor in his team to do his thing. Bat being the team sensor formed a hand sign for a second before nodding "He's right Lord Hokage isn't here, he must've thought it would take longer to capture Naruto. We should head for the Hokage Tower."
As the Anbu operative finished Naruto felt himself riding shot gun in a body flicker again which he had to admit played havoc with his stomach. As he was being forced to travel at immense speeds so suddenly and via the chakra expense of another, he thought it was probably best that he doesn't try to strike a conversation with them. Although given the first opportunity to he would slip his cuffs and make a run for it. That was for sure.
Getting to within sight of the Hokages office he was sure when he looked at the window he remembered looking out of a few times as a child when he still had the wild fantasy of becoming Hokage all those years ago, he was sure he saw the Old Man watching their advance. Thanks to his enhanced senses as well as the fact he was a natural sensor in of itself, Naruto picked up someone's aura and scent that he hadn't smelt in years; Rubbing Alcohol, Jasmine with an undertone of cigarette smoke. Aunt Tsugi was close. And he kind of had to apologise for socking her in the head nine years ago. Probably should apologise to the orderly that he had pushed and the Anbu he had knocked out and left in the middle of the street.
Using his enhanced strength gifted via his physically manifested kekkei genkai Naruto without using any chakra snapped the cuffs that had a chain in the centre connecting the two sealing arrays which allowed the cuffs to function properly and tripped the Anbu that was holding his shoulder in one easy motion. Making the Bat fall into a pile of rubbish bags in a back alleyway.
Grinning at his accomplishment Naruto dashed towards the hospital with amazing grace and speed that it staggered the Anbu momentarily as they got over how easily Naruto had broke his bindings and tripped Bat up who was pulling himself out of the pile of rubbish "That's it, Fourth Hokages son or not I'm going to kick his ass before teaching that little brat some proper respect."
The other Anbu in the team other than laughing silently at their teammates declaration of petty revenge had charged off in pursuit of the errant boy.
Naruto grinning and doing a spin in the air saw his pursuers and flipped them off before accelerating a little bit more. Landing and skidding to a halt outside the hospital entrance Naruto sniffed the air again before picking up the scent of cigarettes again and pushing the doors open making everyone who was inside shy away from him. Ignoring there looks of fear for now Naruto ignored the receptionist "Can I help you sir."
Finding the trail that the cigarette scent was coming from Naruto dashed down a hallway just as the four Anbu appeared with Lizard shouting as he saw him disappearing around a corner "Naruto, get back here the Hokage still needs to talk with you!"
He then realised where he was and looked around as he saw people begin to gossip excitedly at hearing who had returned to the village. Looking at his teammates Lizard sighed, "I'll go tell the Hokage where Naruto is."
Weasel at that point just patted him on the shoulder "Yeah, you do that." As lizard left, Bat arrived and got a joking remark from weasel "Ah, nice of you to join us."
"Jog on weasel." Was the only reply he got.
! #$%^&*()
Naruto came to a halt outside a wooden door that had a name tag on 'Dr Tsugi Watanuki' grabbing the handle Naruto opened the door silently and crept in the room only to have to duck a kunai that embedded itself in the wall where his head had been mere seconds before hand.
He then heard the squeaking of a chair and looked up only to see the back of Tsugi's high backed leather chair and her voice reach his ears from the other side "Someone's in so much trouble it's not funny Naruto."
Gulping at the tone of voice he heard Tsugi using, one that he only heard when she spent an entire day tracking him down so as to give him a vaccine shot when he was five, yeah, she was pissed right about now.
Standing and moving into the room a bit more he heard her speak again which was accompanied by a plume of smoke rising up from the chair "but..." he then felt himself be pulled into a hug from behind by a taller figure "I missed you Naruto, where have you been hiding all these years."
Feeling like a toddler again being wrapped in a hug by the only person he knew of other than the Hokage that liked him way back when, Naruto for the first time in years cried a little as he felt Tsugi rest her head on his shoulder.
After a moment Tsugi pulls away and bonks Naruto on the head. "Idiot you had me so worried" she said, before leading Naruto over to a couch in the corner of her office and sat him down before she pulled her chair out from behind her desk and sat opposite him with a clipboard, she then pressed a button on the side of her chair and made a couple trays pop out the arms with an array of tools that would be used for a normal check-up. "Alright it's been nine years since your last check-up so while I have you. I'm giving you a once over."
Groaning Naruto glanced at the window slightly something that Tsugi caught and said in a chiding and warning tone "Don't even think about it Naruto." She then lent forwards with her Otoscope in hand and moved Naruto's long out of the way of his ear and placed it in the ear cavity and watched as her screen gave off some readings that made her frown somewhat "Strange I don't ever remember you having hearing levels similar to the Inuzuka clan and canines."
Naruto at that shrugged "Well my body mutated in the forest and gave me a physical passive kekkei genkai."
Blinking at his statement at what he said looked at him ignoring the large scar that marred his face and chest "Naruto a body doesn't just mutate and give someone a kekkei genkai, I've had shinobi channel chakra in their ears to cheat on their hearing tests, your giving me similar results as they do."
Shrugging Naruto asked her about the First Hokages scroll his rat friend had pilfered for him "Auntie, have you ever read The Ever-Changing Ebb and Flow of Chakra written by the First Hokage?"
"So that's where my scroll went, I always wondered what had happened to it I thought I had just misplaced it. Anyway of course I have read it...Lord Hashirama hypothesises that like nature and time chakra is the same ever-changing. Which makes sense with it living inside a human body. Are you trying to tell me your hearing isn't the only thing that has changed." She said gaining a shocked look at what Naruto was telling her. He was a medical miracle.
Smiling bitterly at the thought that the only reason he gained his abilities was because of what the village had done to him Naruto nodded "That's exactly what I'm saying, my senses all of them enhanced, my nails turned to claws, my teeth became fangs, it became easier to speak with animals, my strength enhanced along with my agility and speed. And the biggest change..." he then for emphasis grabbed one of his bone blades and stabbed his forearm making Tsugi go wide eyed not at the fact he stabbed himself but because the blade hadn't even pierced the skin. "My skin as tough as the hide of the rhino's that reside in training ground zero and the Forest of Death. My body it proved Hashirama's hypothesises right."
He paused allowing Tsugi to note down all he said seeing as though she was his doctor and all. "My genetic marker and code has completely changed. I've called my collective mutations the Shihai kekkei genkai because while I have physical changes my chakra now carries the power to exert my will and dominance over all wildlife."
Tsugi at this nodded and placed her clipboard down and gazed intently at her young charge before her "Nine years you've been gone, now you suddenly turn up in my office with an unidentified physical kekkei genkai, a large scar and I know that dead look in your eyes, I see that look enough from shinobi who have killed and lost people dear to them. Where have you been. And why are you back now after so long being away."
Smiling awkwardly Naruto looked away. "I lived the last nine years in the Forest of Death, four of those was spent as the Demon of the Forest. I came because I met someone in the forest. But to do so I needed an escort to get me this far, so I purposely lost a fight to Kakashi and the ninja with him who were sent by the Hokage to retrieve me. I gave the Anbu who were taking me to the Hokage tower the slip and came straight here following the smell of rubbing alcohol, jasmine and cigarettes."
Nodding Tsugi smiled, she knew that Naruto knew there were a team of Anbu outside her office listening in on what they were talking about. "I understand. There is something I want to tell you though...on the day you were to wake up from your coma, you weren't going to go back to the orphanage that much was certain, Village council be dammed. I was going to take you home with me. I didn't get the chance to tell you then so I'm telling you now, I officially adopted you Naruto. All those years ago."
Smiling a little at what she said, Naruto hugged the elder woman "Thank you for caring about me both back then and now. But right, all matters, all that's really important is that I get stronger to protect what little family I have left. Will you help me with that?"
"Are you prepared to make the sacrifices and restrictions that come with getting stronger. Are you willing to risk it all just to have the chance at protecting your loved ones?" Tsugi asked as she stood up, there was still time for Hiruzen to train Naruto as his apprentice and successor. And hey she had trained and sparred with Tsunade back in the day and hold her own, so she could teach her kid a thing or two about taijutsu.
Nodding with a dangerous glint in his eye "Even if I have to become a shinobi of the village that scorns me, even if descend further into darkness and become more demon than human I will sacrifice it all or die trying. And I'm a tough guy and I can assure you I'm not easy to kill."
Smirking at the boy who stood up showing he wasn't to much shorter than her and relatively tall for his age patted him on the head and pointed to a door near the back of her office "Good go wash up thoroughly, I had a fully furnished bathroom installed for when I pull all-nighters. Use it."
Nodding Naruto walked off to the bathroom. As the door closed and the sound of running water could be heard Tsugi looked in the corner of the room "Well Hiruzen, your hunch was spot on he came to me first. I must admit I'm flattered that he came to me before you. You heard him didn't you he'll do everything in his power to protect his family, even become a shinobi of the Village he believes still hates him."
Sarutobi appearing out of the shadows tilted his hat forwards "There won't be any need for me to take him on as an apprentice, I'll have Jiraiya take care of that much. Which of course will take Naruto out of the Village, which will be good for him. Besides I don't think having him in the Village will be good for him. He has come out of that forest believing he is a demon and monster and that the people of the village still hate him. I don't think he personally would be able to just cope with, to him the sudden change in people's attitudes. Remember he never realised that we thought he was the Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails, an oversight on my part. He also doesn't understand that the Village Council decided that a harsher treatment of him would toughen him mentally, so he would be up to the task of wielding the vile power of the Nine Tails." The old Kage said as he placed a head band on Tsugi's desk "For Naruto. As of this moment because of what I witnessed while he fought against my ninja in the forest he is a probationary Special Jonin, whom I shall test in the Chunin Exam Preliminary round tomorrow and in the finals a month from then. Should he win his fights then he will gain Special Jonin rank."
"Was he really that strong, did he impress you so much with his fight against whomever you sent to retrieve him?" asked Tsugi challengingly.
"The head band is his fathers, and he exceeded all expectations. Opening the Gates, fighting on par with Kakashi for an entire fight, forcing my best and brightest to reveal his sharingan before so. I admit his learning has holes in it, but I'm counting on you and Jiraiya to patch them up a little over the month break." Was all the Kage said with his head bowed as he left the room.
Smirking she pulled out a cigarette and lit it 'A ninja with no formal training, and all you're all but a Special Jonin, who has impressed his Hokage with a performance that has that old bag of bones kicking himself for ever letting harm befall you. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.' She thought as she heard the water in the shower stop.
Turning she saw Naruto standing in the doorway clad in only a towel struggling with his long hair "Can I have some help, Au usually helps me with all of this."
Laughing silently at the sight she was looking at nodded 'Still my boy grew up to be a fine young man, if any of the girls his age gets the same view as me at the moment they would be going gaga over him.' Getting behind him she began to gather all of his hair before pulling the hair tie out of her hair along with her bobby pins 'yeah this may take a while.'
! #$%^&*()
So, answering reviews as best I can; first time I'm doing this so yeah, anyway; oh, before I forget I'm not going to bother with answering "Guest" Reviews, while the guys who reviewed were nice and constructive, I find "Guests" to be assholes when they review being quite abusive in some cases. Not pointing any fingers or anything so yeah. Here we go.
Awesome3257edge: Yeah sorry to say Mikoto died like cannon, she isn't coming back unless in a Kushina flashback or a Sasuke flashback. But yeah, she isn't going to be a part of this story.
Azrael810: they are both fairly rare I agree, I mean ever since I put the potential list up I've been thinking Mabui would be a great idea for a few months fling while training in the Land of Lightning or something like that. Samui might just become a close friend or something, but yeah definitely thinking about this one.
Hennessyswagg83: well yeah, I realised my mistake on that one, but most of the rookies when they graduate are 12 going on 13 or 14 I think in the case of Shino, but anyway. He's kinda like the Leaf version of Temari if we go age wise at least, so no harm. As for his relationship with the Rookie Nine, he isn't going to have much to do with them other than odd instances where he is placed on a mission with them like with Ino, Shino and Anko for the land of Sea arc, or accompanying Sakura and Jiraiya to the land of Rice Fields to scout out the Hidden Sound Village. He won't have much to do with them until the Shippuden era but even then, it will mainly be strictly professional and as their superior in some cases. Um, ok have to ask if I did go with one of the girls you said you hated would that stop you from reading my story? But yeah ordering the pairings like that is giving me some thoughts on what to do. But yeah Naruto isn't going to settle down with one girl until after the 4th War. So, plenty of time to think.
Bongoloman: Thank you I quite like the idea when I was randomly talking to a friend about what if's and all that and he blurted it out and kinda just went with it you know, Naruto x Mabui seems to be a popular choice so far, I'll keep it in mind.
Blakeho123: While I hate outright rejecting idea's I've thought about it and I no longer feel Anko would be a good pairing for Naruto, but rather a better Mentor figure with them both having Curse Marks and all. She might even try and get him to be a snake summoner possibly considering his strong affinity to Au a highly poisonous mamushi Japanese snake which is over a meter long. Hope that's all good with you.
Plums: Well yeah, but there all professionals. I mean while the anime has made most of the characters massive whiners in many occasions, this just isn't the case. And besides Sarutobi and Jiraiya kinda know that the Nine Tails is sealed within Minato who is sealed inside the Reaper, they just don't know the jutsu well enough to feel comfortable trying to release Minato to try and transfer the Nine Tails to someone else. Furthermore, it will be explained but Hiruzen told a lie to the village populace and placed seals on the entire shinobi and civilian governing bodies to prevent them from telling people the truth basically he did a Danzo with the most influential people in the village. The Jonin's are kept on a need to know bases and quite frankly Hiruzen decided they don't need to know anything other than what he has revealed to them.
Livelikeme123: Thank you, your words are so kind. I honestly wasn't sure how people would receive this story as it is quite unconventional in theory and hella interesting to write so far.
Right those are the Reviews done. Onto some other things
Should Naruto learn to summon both Toads and Snakes and possibly steal that Salamander Scroll from that haunted castle.
Should Naruto pick up a sword or not, anything I should add to his taijutsu which I'll put a disclaimer here stolen from Chivalry of a Failed Knight Nene and Touka's fighting style.
Naruto is going to have a third bloodline on top of his Uzumaki Vitality and Longevity, and his Shihai, and it will be Lava style, so just a heads up.
Thought I'd do a tally on the pairings; with a slight change removing Anko and Samui, I've decided on what I'm doing with them, I hate to do this to Shikamaru, but I'm putting Temari up for voting as well. Might even do Konan but that's a big if even if she gets lots of votes
Naruto x Hana
Naruto x Temari
Naruto x Shion – 1 vote
Naruto x Ayame – 1 vote
Naruto x Fuka – 1 vote
Naruto x Guren
Naruto x Koyuki Kazehana – 1 vote
Naruto x Kohada – 1 vote
Naruto x Kotohime – 1 vote
Naruto x Mabui (She'd be de aged a little a lot to maybe 20 for part II) – 3 votes
Naruto x Otoha – 1 vote
Naruto x Ryuzetsu – 1 vote
Naruto x Konan
Naruto x Shizuka
Naruto x Ino – 3 votes
No, this story will NEVER become a HAREM.
As always constructive criticism is always helpful and nice comments, no flaming otherwise well I'll just leave that threat hanging.
COMMENT! Please oh God comment.