Alright, here is the new chapter! Naruto's decision has been made.
Due to an overwhelming amount of votes I made the decision to do this. So do not get angry at me. Sorry to all of those who did not get their opinion chosen.
Naruto looked over his shoulder at the Kiri-nin standing behind him, waiting for his answer. Zabuzza was being supported by Haku, though he was still as attentive as ever due to the importance of Naruto's decision. Naruto turned his eyes back over to his head band. It was not a matter if he would leave, it was simply was he ready? Did he really want to go and help the rebels? He feared that he would be tethered to another village, another people. He spent everyday trying to not make bonds with people after he discovered Kodachi. He would out-live them anyway. And when he went after the Phoenixes of the world, he would have people to keep alive due to his bond with them. While, yes, he could mark them to make them immortal like him, it still wouldn't do him any good.
But the things that Yagura was doing, and the man's ideals, clashed heavily with Naruto's own opinions and goals. Someone should never be treated differently. While Naruto knew that this ideal would never happen, due to the clashing opinions and thoughts of everyone around the world, it still was his opinion. One that influenced his thoughts largely due to his childhood. He was treated like trash because he did not hold the weakling that is the Nine-Tails. His idiot sisters, the ones that were supposedly better than him due to something out of his control. Naruto made up his mind.
The kiri-nin saw orange flames slowly come to life behind Naruto, growing as rage became apparent in Naruto. The Kiri-nin were afraid that Naruto had rejected their offer, before he rose and faced them, the flames suddenly latching onto something on the floor. When they looked at his face, they saw a grim look as a warm glowed licked across his face due to the flames creating a sporadic light source. His eyes were shadowed, and his bangs were hanging in front of his face. Free from the bindings and restriction of his headband. Just like Naruto was free from the restriction of his old home. A home that hated him anyway. A home that forgot about him. He pivoted slightly, and looked at the flames.
In the middle of the dull, orange flames was a slowly melting Konoha metal plate. The Leaf symbol stretched and slowly became liquid in his vision. Naruto decided that it symbolized Konoha in his heart. The flames at his control and command had burned away any thought of the Leaf in his heart. And in his mind. While Naruto did not know where he would go after he slayed Yagura, he did know one thing. No village would hold his loyalty anymore. He would lend his flames to the waters of Kiri, and burn away the oil that was tainting the pure waters. Not even Yagura's powerful water affinity would stop Naruto's flames. Not even the Sanbi would extinguish Naruto's flames.
When Naruto's team would go to Gato's hideout in search of both him and Zabuzza, all they would find is the man's charred remains, and a smoldering remains of a Konoha headband. Naruto made sure that his scent was still on it, and that the Leaf symbol was at least recognizable. His Father needed to know that he left on his own will. The blatant show of disrespect would no doubt infuriate the council. Danzo would call for the boy's head, the council would agree, and hopefully Minato had found the seal Naruto left on the mask. It wouldn't reveal that it was Naruto, but it would confuse Minato anyway.
Kiri.
Naruto was pissed. Why? Because when he entered Kiri with Zabuzza and Haku, they immediately had to fight off two squads of Kiri Loyalists. That alone pissed Naruto off. And with the fact that he had to get used to creating fire in the middle of mist, which is just water particles, it infuriated him. He could do it, but he wasn't used to it. Kodachi ran through an explanation on the skill, before suddenly Naruto found himself bound and gagged. He looked up, to find Zabuzza surrounded by Kiri rebels. "Sorry kid, but until she thinks your loyal, your basically a prisoner." Zabuzza explained. Naruto glared, flames coming to life behind him. The rebels got the idea, and knocked him out.
So here he was, darkly staring at an empty tent with his eyes shadowed by his bangs. He was beginning to think he should've just killed Zabuzza and Haku. This wasn't worth his time. He had a human race to prepare to save in the future! He needed to train in his new abilities with Kodachi while he merged with the Phoenix! He sighed. He was beginning to feel like an Uchiha because of his attitude. He remembered when he cared about nothing except his family. And then Minato decided to start the girl's training. And Naruto became withdrawn, and secretive. And then Kodachi, the light in his darkness, showed up. And then suddenly the responsibility of literally every human was thrust onto his shoulders. It changed him. He needed to have a day where he could just relax. And he just had to realize that when he threw himself into a fucking civil war. Whoever this bitch that Zabuzza talked about better trust him fast, so that he could just go and get the Yagura business done with.
Suddenly, a man with blue hair walked in. He had an eyepatch on, with two signs hanging off of each of his ears. Naruto faintly noticed that they meant 'to hear'. He was glaring at Naruto with killing intent leaking off him in waves. "Is that supposed to intimidate me Teme-san? Or is it supposed to make me sweat? Either way, it's not working. Now, if you would wish for a proper demonstration on killing intent, I'll be happy to oblige." Before the man could react, the most killing intent he had ever felt forced him to fall onto his knees under the pressure. He barely was able to look up, just in time to see Naruto burn the metal chains holding him. The heated/melted metal didn't even burn Naruto's clothes as he got up and kneeled in front of the man, the Killing Intent Increasing every second.
Naruto began to speak when the Killing Intent reached Biju levels. "I'm surprised no-one has come to help you yet. Or perhaps my Killing Intent has forced them to their knees like it has to you. I should probably stop increasing it so that you don't die of a heart attack. Frankly, I'm surprised an Old As Shit man like you hasn't died from this as it is, but I digress. Now," Naruto gripped the Man's throat and lifted him up, not even fazed that the man was still a foot and a half taller then him. "Tell whoever she is, that I don't offer my help lightly. I have my own reasons for helping, and they will stay my own reasons. I came here to kill Yagura, and end this pitiful civil war. This whole, earning her trust shit, is fucking stupid and not worth my god damn time. So crawl to whoever this woman is, and fucking tell her that if she doesn' trust me, I'm gonna' burn this whole god damn place down before I burn down everything that is Kiri-related." Naruto growled out, before his killing intent ceased and he dropped the man roughly.
The man ran away pitifully, allowing Naruto to calmly leave the tent. He noticed that he was underground, in a deep cavern lit up by torches. All around him were panting shinobi who were trying to regain their breath after the pressure of his KI. Naruto merely eyed them before continuing on. There was a long river running through the left side of it, probably a channel to the ocean due to how blue and deep it was. Naruto noticed that all of the shinobi were tensed, ready for him to strike. He chuckled lightly. He loved it when people were afraid of him. It made him feel superior to this sisters.
But all that ended when he saw a large blob of lava rush towards him, with a loud feminine scream of, "YOU CALLED MY TRUST STUPID AND NOT WORTH YOUR GOD DAMN TIME!?" Naruto sighed and rubbed his temples as the lava enveloped him.
Konoha.
Minato was so close to cracking the seal and figuring out what it was, when Kushina burst into his office with the twins in tow. At first Minato thought that it was anger that was on her face, but upon further inspection, he found that it was actually despair on her face. "Kushina-hime, what's wrong?" Minato questioned his wife, seeing his twin girls hug each other whilst crying heavily. "He's gone Mina-kun! Naru-chan's gone!" Kushina cried out before diving into his chest and crying into it. Minato's face was in an 'O' expression, his face paling. "What?..."
Kiri.
Naruto sighed as he jumped to his left to avoid another lava blob. The woman that was so angry with him was wearing a blue dress that showed off a lot of her cleavage. She had ankle-length, wavy auburn hair with a bang covering one of her eyes. She had green eyes, and full, supple lips with blue lipstick. She had two very powerful bloodlines, something that Naruto learnt the hard way. Lava and Boil release. So, she was a Terumi. And if his information on the Rebels was correct, this was their leader. Mei Terumi. Very sexy woman indeed.
"I'M GOING TO BURN YOUR BALLS OFF YOU DIS-RESPECTFUL FUCKING BRAT!" A very angry, sexy woman. "Can we at least talk about this over dinner!?" Naruto yelled back, grinning when he saw that she faltered and almost fell on her face due to her dashing towards him. She looked up at him in shock, and… Was that hope in her eyes? Before she suddenly saw red and ran through hand-signs. She launched a sea of Lava at Naruto. 'I guess this is the best time to see if my fire is hotter/stronger than Lava.' Everyone watching Naruto was shocked when brilliant, intense white flames suddenly sprouted out behind him, growing rapidly, before they rushed forward and met the lava wave head on.
The white flames met the lava, somehow gaining density and pushing the lava back. The flames enveloped the lava, and everyone watched in fascination as it burned and melted the earth inside the lava. Before long, the lava was suddenly a part of the flames. Mei watched in fascination and awe as Naruto walked forward, the flames bending around in him circles as he just folded his arms over his chest. "It seems I was right, the flames are stronger than Lava. Now, it's your turn to run Terumi-chan." Naruto spoke, chuckling slightly when Mei blushed heavily before his face got serious. He unfolded his hands, before pushing one out with an open palm. Everyone was confused, until the flames wrapped around his hand in a fast, intense flaming vortex.
"Run, Terumi-chan. I still wish to take you out to dinner." Naruto spoke. Mei didn't have time to react, as the vortex surrounding Naruto's hand suddenly grew and flew incredibly fast towards Mei. Of course Naruto was holding back, as he did not want to harm the beautiful woman. Mei dodged to the left, and smirked thinking that the flames would just hit the rock wall. But, her smirk turned into a dropped jaw when instead of continuing on it's path, the flames bent quickly and charged even faster towards her. Mei was too stuck in her awe that she forgot to move. Quickly, Naruto willed the flames to cease their exsistance.
Mei quickly jogged over to Naruto, awe and fascination written all over her face with a deep smile. "What was that?" She questioned with intense curiosity. "You could call it a bloodline, but it's not a natural one." Naruto answered, with his answer being very cryptic. "What do you mean?" Mei asked lightly, noticing how Naruto's eyes glazed over for a second before he sighed and sat down in a chair. Mei vaguely noticed that they had made their way to her tent. "I don't know why I'm going to tell you this, but understand that you are the only one that I've told alright?" Naruto stated, looking up at her with a worried emotion in his eyes.
Mei nodded slowly, realizing that this was a deep moment between the two. "I don't know why he's telling me that I should tell you, or even why I want to tell you. But all I know, is that he knows something I don't. Anyway, before I tell you, you need to know a few things." Naruto told her, and after seeing her slow and unsure nod, he continued. "I am the son of the Yondaime Hokage and the Red Hot Habenaro." Naruto heard Mei gasp after he finished. "On the night of the Kyuubi attack, I'm sure everyone in the Elemental Nations knows that my sisters had the Kyuubi sealed into them. Well, I was on the alter during the sealing. And an ancient being was flying in the forests by the Kyuubi during this time. Something more powerful than all of the Tailed Beasts combined. Something that dwarfs the Kyuubi in size. And, my best friend."
Mei was shocked that such a being even existed without anyone knowing. And the fact that no-one noticed it during the attack. Naruto laughed. "I know. I don't know how no one noticed him either. Especially since he's always on fire." That little tidbit of information surprised Mei. Now she thought that Konoha was just a stupid country for not noticing it. "Anyway, his name is Kodachi. He is a Phoenix. The legendary, ancient birds that are reborn from the ashes of their dead selves. I do not know how most were killed, but I know that Kodachi is just withholding that information from me for a good reason. And another thing…" Naruto looked down, staring at the floor. "Me and him are merging every second. He says that the speed we merge accelerates during stressful experiences. If I don't have any of those, I will fully merge with him when I am 21."
"Anyway, Kodachi is the strongest Phoenix that is currently known. Every time he mentions it, I feel unworthy. He says he could've easily avoided the sealing. And technically he really isn't even sealed in me. But I am his chosen. I do not know the full explanation of what a Chosen means, but Kodachi said it is one of the most important things with Phoenixes. But something even worse troubles me and Kodachi." "What is it?" Mei questioned. Naruto sighed heavily, before standing up and staring into her eyes. "There are other Pheonixes around the world. They were here before the humans were. Kodachi says that he can only sense 5 others. Now, they are dormant. But when Kodachi's intense presence wakes them, they will be angered. They hate humans. And not even Kodachi's rank with Phoenixes will stop them. They will not attack him due to their honor system, but they will try to kill me as well. While it will pain them to do so because I am his chosen, they will do it because they believe that Humans are filth on this planet."
Mei clasped a hand over her mouth. This young boy, no older than 13, had to protect his race without a choice. She thought Jinchuriki had hard lives, but this boy even had to do it alone. While, yes the strongest being currently not a god was merging with him, he still needed to buy time and train with whatever abilities he gets gifted with to stop the Phoenixes. Suddenly, her respect soured for this boy. She kneeled in front of him, and hugged him with as much care as she could.
All right. Done. However, I really want to show you guys the idea I have for the other Phoenixes awakening. I'm just going to write it here so I don't forget. I don't believe that they will awaken anytime soon.
5 incredibly powerful beings were lying dormant in a long forgotten inactive volcano. They were covered in yellow flames, burning nothing around them. They weren't breathing, as they didn't need to oxygen currently, (which is why their flames were so weak.) But, the strongest one felt something he had longed to feel for such a long time. A glowing red eye snapped open, only one. He could feel it. He could feel the man he had respected even after he left to find his chosen. Every one of his kind wished him luck. But, something that he could not remember had wiped most of his kind out. Wait, his memories were flooding him.
He would've growled if his body weren't still almost completely dormant still. That women, when she partook of the forbidden tree, the sudden overload of chakra to the planet killed off most of the Phoenixes. Their bodies weren't used to it. And the chakra had prevented them from reforming. He was angry. He brought up his right wing, the one that wasn't pressed to the floor, and brought it down heavily. The sudden force of oxygen brought his flames to life. And it awoke the others. His flames slowly heated, going from yellow to orange, orange to light blue, light blue to dark blue, before it settled on a deep red. No one other than Kodachi had achieved the legendary white flames. He was still powerful, and he had the most powerful red flame.
He stretched his wings as he rose. His feathers around the round part of his head rose and fluffed out. It made his head look fuller. It was the unique look that he had inherited from his father. It looked like a mane of a male lion. The flames licked his vision, which didn't bother him at all. It made him feel powerful. He wasn't arrogant, quite the contrary. But his hate for the humans flooded his mind and clouded his thoughts. It was good that there were two males in is group including him, and 3 females. They could always switch their gender if needed, but it was something that wasn't very honorable in their culture. It was only used as a last resort to be used if their race was nearly extinct and two of the same gender lived. And with three females, once Kodachi joined, it would be even.
He rose to his full height, and over looked those who had lived with him. They were his squad, his platoon. He was the leader, being the strongest of the group. He watched as they all settled on the deep blue flames, the color that most Phoenixes achieved. Only Kodachi had achieved the highest level, and he himself had achieved the second strongest. Kodachi and him shared most of the same views. They hated politics, and opted instead to remain in the military. The councils were to be respected, but they lost their physical power over the years. He faintly remembered that the oldest council member had been reduced to the yellow flames. The harmless flames. That's why he had a guard who had achieved light red flames.
He shook his head slightly to rid him of memories that would pain his heart. He would rebuild the Phoenix population. Kodachi would lead them to salvation. And he, Madai, The Chi no akai kagayaki, Blood Red Brilliance, would happily serve the original Brilliance. He turned, and watched his platoon stretch and raise to their full heights.
"Rise! Get your flames to their fullest potential you can accomplish! The vile, disgusting humans will be eradicated! Their filthy chakra must be cleansed from this beautiful planet. Kodachi, the White Brilliance, has risen! He will lead us to salvation!" Madai called out.
"But what if his chosen is human?" Komei, one of the females, questioned. Madai looked down, pain and disgust with himself easily seen. "It pains me to say, but if that is the cost of our salvation, then I along with Kodachi will bear that pain! Kodachi will understand! And if he doesn't we will kill his chosen! With nothing tethering him to the humans, he will be tethered to his race! To his planet!" Madai shouted. His platoon all squawked in agreement. Their shouts would forever mark the beginning of the Phoenix's rise. Their culture would be reborn, their lives restored. While they would not outright attack Kodachi, every Phoenix knew that if they lost one tether to something, they would go to the one that mattered the most next. Even if it pained Kodachi, he would do it.
Like It? Did I get you excited for the Phoenix uprising? I know their culture might seem odd, but they need a reason to attack Naruto. If not, they would just give up because Kodachi is the strongest Phoenix ever known. So they will need this. Plus, I thought the culture idea was cool. Anyway, review please. P.M me if you have ideas or questions.