Episode 45: Jiriaya
After about an hour, the Leaf, Steel, and Sand Ninja had wiped almost the quarters of them out. The other quarter weren't there to start with, or they ran away.
Kenpachi was covered in blood, and he was leaning on Nozarashi. The blood was not his, but from the Shipata.
Tatsuzo had a bruise on his cheek, but other than that he was fine. He was sitting down on the ground trying to catch his breath.
Rinji was unharmed, and he had his hand on the wall, also trying to catch his breath.
Kakashi, Guy, and the old Ino-Shika-Cho Formation walked back. "Well, we're done here. We'll be heading back to our village." Kakashi told them.
"Thanks for your help." Said Rinji.
Kakashi nodded, and then he took his group and then they left.
The Sand Shinobi left without saying a single word.
"Are you ready to go, Kenpachi?" Asked Tatsuzo.
Kenpachi wiped the blood from his face. Nozarashi turned back to it's original form.
"Yeah. Let's go."
The Kinkage was sitting in his office, looking down at a letter from Tsunade.
Sasuke Uchiha- a rogue Leaf Ninja has finally achieved his goal as to kill his older brother- Itachi Uchiha- an Akatsuki. In the process Sasuke killed Orochimaru, a legendary Sanin- who was Sasuke's previous master. We are unsure of what Sasuke will do next.
As we had Shinobi wipe out the Shipata, a strong Leaf Ninja left to attack the Akatsuki by himself. That was Jiriaya. He is now dead- killed by Pain- the leader of the Akatsuki. He left a message, but none of the Leaf Ninja know who it is. We would like you to show this message to Naruto Uzumaki, as he might be able to decode it.
It showed a picture of a frog, with a strange looking nine, thirty one, eight, one hundred and six, seven, two hundred and seven, and finally fifteen.
The Kinkage took a deep breath. "Rest in piece, Master Jiriaya."
Naruto and Sakura were both sitting on a bench. Both of them were beat up, quite a bit.
Naruto had his sword at his back.
"So how was your training, Sakura?"
"Well... my master is scarier than even Lady Tsunade. He's also a medic, and a fighter... she had me increase my speed and strength. What about you?"
"I got trained by Ikkaku. We've been slashing about at each other for several hours. He told me to copy his style. And I did. He said that I was pretty good- but he said that he didn't want me to take his entire style, so I need to incorporate my own movements."
"Master Unohana told me that I needed to strike hard, dodge fast, and think little during a fight. That's what I needed to work on."
The Kinkage ran over to the two.
"What's wrong?" Asked Naruto.
The Kinkage looked sadly at Naruto. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Your Master... has been killed. I didn't want to tell you this in such a way..."
Naruto's eyes widened. "No... you're lying..."
"I'm not lying, Naruto. I'm very sorry."
Naruto stood up. He punched him in the face. "You son of a bitch! Master Jiriaya would never die!"
"NARUTO!" Growled Sakura.
Kuma shook his head. "If it helps, you can punch me again if you want. But that's not going to solve your problem." He put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I'll give you some time to think about this."
As he walked by Sakura, he handed her the letter. "Give this to him when he's ready."
Sakura nodded.
Kuma walked away.
"Naruto, if Lord Kinkage was anyone else... then the Leaf would be in great trouble right now." Sakura told him.
"Sakura." Naruto was facing away from her.
"Yes?"
"Leave me alone." Naruto walked away.
Naruto was sitting up on the roof of a building. He was thinking about his late master. Tears streamed down his cheeks. For that moment, he was glad that he wasn't in the Leaf. That way no one he knew would be able to see him crying.
"Master... I should have been there... I should have..." He started sobbing uncontrollably.
Kenpachi, Tatsuzo, and Rinji were standing in front of the Kinkage.
"Naruto will be sad. Kenpachi... don't be an ass with him."
Kenpachi nodded.
"Rinji, can you go talk to him?"
"Yeah." Rinji then teleported away.
Kenpachi went home.
"Kenny!" Yachiru called.
"Yachiru. When Naruto gets back, be as nice to him as possible."
Yachiru was very confused by this. "Why?"
"His master has been murdered by an Akatsuki."
"Oh..." Yachiru's eyes lowered a little.
`Rinji sat down next to Naruto.
"Hey, Rinji-sensei..." Naruto wiped his face.
"You don't need to call me Sensei. I heard about your Master. It's very sad, and I'm sorry for you. But I really don't know what it's like."
"You never had someone that you looked up to that got killed?"
"My sensei... was the previous Kenpachi. He was much like the one that you know, but he was a lot lazier. I really didn't like him. Tatsuzo, Kenpachi, and I... we had nothing in common. But we were forced to work together because our sensei didn't help us."
Naruto imagined what would have happened during the battles with Zabuza if Kakashi hadn't done anything.
"We soon took the Chunin Exams, and we all passed. Kenpachi went off and trained, while Tatsuzo and I stayed in the village- training and doing missions. We both became Jonin. After a while, the Kenpachi that you know came here and killed his predecessor to take the name of Kenpachi."
"That's awful."
"The point I'm trying to make is that I don't know what you're going through. But Kenpachi does."
"What? How?"
"Sorry, I didn't explain that very well. Kenpachi had no name. I grew up in a terrible area. It was kill or be killed. He didn't know his parents. As a Genin and a Chunin he had no name. The name Kenpachi- is not a normal name. It's a title. The title is given to the strongest ninja from this village. He wanted a name. He wanted that name."
"I thought I had it bad because I had no parents. But that's awful."
"Kenpachi had to harden his heart to where he feels nothing when killing people. I've seen the way he fights. He enjoys fighting, but not killing people. He'll often let people live if they deserve it. But he spares no mercy to those who need to die."
Naruto said nothing.
"The point I'm making, is that if you need to talk to someone- dispite what he may seem like- Kenpachi knows pain. He knows the pain of being alone, and having to kill. He has a hard exterior, but on the inside he's all fluff."
"Thank you, Rinji-sensei. I think I'm going to go back to Kenpachi's house now."
`The Akatsuki were back in their base. One of their members was missing.
"Itachi Uchiha is dead. We have up to the Five Tails." Said the orange haired shinobi.
"And we have encountered a problem." Said a purple haired female Shinobi.
"Yes. The Steel, Sand, and Leaf have sent Shinobi to attack the Shipata while they where having a meeting. Only about a quarter of them are alive. They obviously have some informants in the Akatsuki. But we have no idea who it is."
"Hmm. There's no way to find out who it is..." Said Kisame. "So let's just kill them all and start over."
"No, that is not the correct course of action." Said Kaname. "We can just keep a close eye on one an other. Killing all of them will only cause unnessisary bloodshed."
"This is the best course of action that we could take." Said the orange haired shinobi. "But being as Itachi is dead... that means two things. We need another member to join the Akatsuki. And now we can attack the Hidden Leaf."
"Uh... Pain..." Said a ninja with black hair and an orange mask with swirls and one eye. He had a high pitched voice.
"What, Tobi?"
"I have a confession to make." His voice suddenly turned extremely deep and serious. He took off his mask, showing his face to them.
Kisame smiled. "I never expected that..."
He put his mask back on. "Sasuke Uchiha, Jugo, Karin, and Suigetsu Hozuki- The four of them are going to join the Shipata. And who should take Itachi's place?"
"We have... Coyote Starrk, Tier Harribel, Ulquiorra Cifer, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Nnoitra Gilga, Zommari Rureaux, Luppi Antenor, Szayelaporro Granz, Aaroniero Arruruerie, and recently Gin Ichimaru joined. Their members are also lacking. They only have half of their normal amount." Said Pain.
"As of right now, Starrk can't join us because he runs the Takdesu. The second strongest is-" Konan went on to say.
"We don't need to listen to that." Said Tobi. "My vote goes for Gin Ichimaru."
"So it is going to be Gin that fills Itachi's position." Said Pain.
"I don't trust him. I think it was too convenient that he was just thrown off to the side by the Shinobi but not killed. He was the only survivor." Said Kisame.
"Like Pain said the last time. Unless you can offer someone stronger, then keep your mouth shut." Said Barragan.
"I suggest Harribel." Said Konan.
"Harribel or Gin." Said White Zetsu. "Two completely different people with completely different sets of abilities."
"Shut up." Growled Black Zetsu.
"Then we'll have a vote." Said Pain. "All in favor of Gin Ichimaru?"
Notes: I was wondering if I should have Naruto become a main character. What do you guys think? If you have any objections, please tell me. And Naruto WILL NOT become God in this universe. Sage Mode does not exist in this universe because that's what lead Naruto to become overly powerful.
Please favorite and follow if you haven't done that, and one can never have too many reviews.
