Chapter 8: A Strange Man In The Bathhouse
It had been a long strenuous year for Naruto. He had nearly trained himself to death to reach his goal. Kabuto put Naruto on a strict training regimen and diet with his workout. Naruto body made drastic changes, he was now more muscular and his height had increased by four inches and his hair now reached down to the middle of his back. Kabuto and Orochimaru were so impressed by Naruto and his abilities that he became very essential to their future plans. Orochimaru had put some of the vilest and cruelest ninjas and mercenaries against Naruto and none could overcome his skills and determination in battle. Orochimaru knew that Naruto would be his greatest asset next to Kabuto against the Akatsuki. Although he never told Naruto about the organization that would be after him, he would eventually tell him after they destroyed the Leaf village together. Kabuto had seen how much Naruto had grown in all of his jutsu's but his arrogance and hatred grew more every passing day. Kabuto was the only ninja that Naruto could spar with and not hold back, but Kabuto knew that Naruto's strength and the power of the Kyuubi was something no mere ninja could match.
"So this is Orochimaru's number two guy now? I can't believe he chosen him over one of us, he doesn't even have the curse seal so maybe Orochimaru don't trust him or he's just a weak ninja?" As Tayuya watched Naruto lift the barbells over his head and back to his chest.
"Yeah, you don't look so tough! You still have milk on your breath; I bet if you and I would have a little match I would kick your ass all over the place." Said Sakon as he got up in Naruto's face.
"Yeah show me these skills that Orochimaru think in time you will be famous for."
Naruto just ignored them and smiled an evil grin.
"Come on or are you terrified of all four of us standing here? You're just a snot nose kid who Orochimaru is taking on a charity case..."
Naruto threw the barbell down on Kidōmaru's foot and quickly punched Tayuya in her mid-section and threw a well-placed uppercut to her face as she bent over from the blow to the stomach. He quickly grabbed Sakon by his hair and threw him into the wall knocking out three of his teeth. Kidōmaru spit out some webs at Naruto, Naruto quickly evaded and struck him in his Adams apple. Kidōmaru backed up from being hit in his Adams apple; he recovered and quickly made a spear out of his web from his mouth. He quickly rushed Naruto with the spear he made to impale him for striking him and his teammates. Naruto pulled out his kunai and countered ever move he made.
"You won't be able to hurt me boy! I coated my body with my webs and you can't penetrate it with a mere kunai."
Naruto focused some of the Kyuubi's chakra into his kunai and slashed Kidōmaru's body making him drop to both knees, bleeding from his chest profusely. Naruto grabbed Kidōmaru's hair and pulled it back exposing his throat, as he came down with a forward thrust his hand was caught by Orochimaru.
"Now, now Naruto-kun what did I tell you? I don't want any blood splattered in my home, you made your point now let him live. Good ninjas are hard to find and I don't feel like looking for a replacement so soon." As Orochimaru released Naruto's hand.
"You bastard I'm a woman! What the fuck man, you split my lip in two and broke my nose and damn near made me throw up my own stomach from that punch! We were just having a little fun with you, no need to be all serious!" As Tayuya was helped up by Kabuto as she continued to curse at Naruto.
Naruto walked away and grabbed the barbell and continued to work out without saying another word. As the freaky five the name Naruto gave them to be funny pulled themselves off the floor, they left Orochimaru with his two trusted allies. As Orochimaru and Kabuto walked over to Naruto, they could tell that he wasn't in the mood to talk only training to get stronger was his only motivation.
"Naruto-kun it's time for yourself journey to learn new jutsu from other masters and lands. When you return I will have big plans for your future. "As Orochimaru gave a hideous smile at Naruto.
"I will fulfill my end of the agreement and I will come back here in four months' time but my future is different from your plans!" As Naruto kept exercising ignoring the two completely.
"Why you arrogant little gnat how dare you be so rude to your master, show some respect or I will cut out your tongue and hand it to Orochimaru personally!" As Kabuto walked up on Naruto.
"Relax Kabuto." As Orochimaru put out his arm to stop his advancement toward Naruto. "Naruto bring back new jutsu's and make your master proud."
"I have one question this Rasengan it's so powerful that I believe no man can stand against it. I need to learn it, if I can learn this I can modify it to be the perfect offensive weapon ever made!" As he looked in his hand.
"I told you to forget about that jutsu, there have only been two alive that actually completed that jutsu and many have failed in disgrace on trying to complete it. Now I need you to take these papers and identification you will need them when you go to other villages. Read them and make sure you know all the false information on it "as Orochimaru handed the papers to Naruto.
As Naruto read the papers his eyes grew in astonishment.
"What the hell is this? You have me listed as a Konoha ninja and as a Genin? I went to the academy with some students there and the teachers they will never believe that someone with a new name could slip past their attention." Said Naruto with rage beyond belief.
"Don't worry your part of the Leaf from the other academy located in the south of the Fire country. It only produce about five Genin every three years or so and the trainer is on my payroll. He gave you a background story and false missions just like Kabuto. All you have to do is use this information and you will be fine, make sure you use the Konoha headband all the time in the villages." As Orochimaru and Kabuto walked away.
"This could be a good thing cub; we will have access to get into the Leaf village without being suspected of anything. We have improved so much over the last year that I know that Orochimaru can't defeat us!" The Kyuubi tried to build up Naruto's abilities compared to Orochimaru.
"I'm not so sure, and when are you going to stop calling me cub?"
"When you live to be two hundred years old." As the Kyuubi howled in Naruto's mind.
As Naruto had all of his basics packed for a four month quest to learn more jutsu's. He wasn't sad to leave Orochimaru's lair but ecstatic to find strong opponents to test his mettle against. As Naruto started his long journey on foot he wondered about Hinata and what she looked like now since they were both about to turn fifteen soon. Naruto could not understand why he thought of her, maybe it was those papers that said Konoha that made him reminisce about her. He tried not thinking about it, but the more he said he wouldn't the more he did. Even asking himself if he had stayed would they still be friends. He finally started to train to get her off his mind.
Back in the Konoha
"Well Hinata we finally are able to apply for Chunin status, aren't you proud? I mean we had a rough mission in the Land of Waves but we survived and people are talking about it?" Said Sakura as she smiled at her friend.
"I'm proud but in these Chunin exams we will face other ninjas that are good if not better so we have to practice. We have to think like Chunins or otherwise we will fail" Hinata tried to hurry and get away from her friend.
"Cheer up we will do great, I seen how you and Sasuke defeated that Haku on the bridge. He surrounded you two in ice and you use your Byakugan to help defeat him." As Sakura just smiled.
"Thank you Sakura but I must be off I need to look into something if you don't mind." As Hinata started to walk away once again from Sakura as she blocked her path.
"You know you won't find anything new? Naruto is gone, you need to move on it's not fair you look for him and give up on your social life. Their plenty of young ninjas that are interested in you but you won't give them a chance to get to know you." Said Sakura as she continued to grill Hinata about giving up her life for dead boy no one cares for.
Hinata smiled at Sakura and walked away feeling hurt inside her chest from that statement. As Hinata headed to the public ninja mission request office to look at the forms and reports made by the Konoha ninjas, she look for any information of any type of ninja matching Naruto's description. As she set out all the files she heard someone behind her.
"Relax it's just an old Hokage just checking to see how you're doing? Do you mind if I join you?" He asked as his smile warmed her heart that was hurting.
"No I don't mind." As she looked in his kind eyes and smiled.
"I see your still looking, that's good. May I ask why do you care so much for this young man, he's nearly been gone over two years? He would be fourteen going on fifteen soon just like you." As the Hokage looked at all the information on the desk with Hinata.
"B –because if it was me and I was missing I know that he wouldn't give up on me. I feel deep down in my heart that he is alive, I just can't explain it to you." As her eyes darted down.
"I understand continue your investigation, I hope you see some results." As he stood up and left the room to leave the young heiress to her thoughts.
As Hinata looked through the papers, she read about ten files and she came to something interesting. An assassin was defeated in and underground tournament. The assassin name was Shindo he was defeated by the Shadow Clone Explosion and the Shadow Clone Jutsu technique. The one who defeated him was named Saddler. He used many Konoha techniques to battle Shindo. We question Shindo who now is missing an arm and both legs because of his assailant attacks. To where this Saddler might be at, we were not able to come up with any solid leads but someone might be selling Konoha's secrets. The boy described is about twelve or thirteen years old dark black hair, dark eyes and wearing a mask that covered most of his face. This young man should be considered very dangerous since he defeated an S-class criminal.
Hinata stood up she knew it was Naruto. She remembered that Mizuki said he learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu and there were reports before saying that Naruto was in the Sand country. For the first time in nearly two years she felt relief knowing Naruto might be alive. Now she would go home and practice and look for more information to come next week.
A Month Has Passed
As Naruto wondered from village to village fighting for money and learning new jutsu from certain masters, he decided to relax for just a little bit at a bath house. As he laid there enjoying himself he could not think about a care in the world. As he got up to leave he put on his clothes and started to head out. He decided to head through the back way to get to his hotel quicker. As he turned around the corner he saw a tall well-built man in his fifties staring at the women in the bathhouse.
"Hey you pervert what the hell are you doing? Get away from there you depraved freak!" As Naruto approached him to take the pervert out.
"I'm doing my research so keep it down Junior, I'm a writer and you're really starting to cause too much noise and causing unwanted attention is very bad for disrupting my creative thinking." Said the long white hair pervert as he continued to spy on the women in the bath house.
"Whatever I know a freak when I see one and believe me you're a freak in every way and form!"
Naruto was ready to attack the old goat and take him out.
As Naruto approached the perverted older man, the long haired man pointed his finger to Naruto to tell him to look around. As he did, there were about twenty women with sticks and brooms staring at Naruto. As they swung at Naruto, he tried explaining that he was trying to stop the old pervert from peeping that it was all a misunderstanding. Although he could have hurt the women but then the villagers would had attacked him for hurting them, plus it looked as if he was peeping with the old man.
"Get him ladies, one so young shouldn't be as perverted as him give him a couple a blows for me!" As the old pervert made a hand sign and a toad appeared. As he jumped on the summoning toad's back, the toad leaped him to safety.
Naruto quickly evaded all the sticks and brooms and ran after that pervert but could not catch up; he decided that he would leave the village after that bizarre incident that took place. As he headed out onto the road he was warned of danger by bandits by fellow travelers. Naruto didn't care he needed the work out so he was looking forward to a little action. As Naruto looked up at the night sky he wondered just who was that pervert at the bathhouse. He figured he would just let it go and move on to the next village in the morning. As he was half asleep he was awaken by evil chakra that he sensed through the ground, it was about twenty- six signatures. As Naruto ran to the chakra signatures at top speed, he could not wait to release his new jutsu he learned on the thieves. As he approached he saw an older man surrounded by the thieves, Naruto decided to do the old man a favor and get rid of all the bandits. As he walked up to the bandits he gave them all a stare that back them off.
"Well it seems that you cowards want to rob and kill this old man, well it won't happen when I'm here so either run or feel my power!" Said Naruto looking ready to destroy in an instant.
"You tell them squirt, show them your stuff!" As the old man decided to sit Indian style on the ground and watch the youngster do his thing.
As Naruto turned around to see what kind of remark like that came from and old man, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"The old pervert from the bath house! What the hell are you doing here! I should kick the shit out of you myself!" As Naruto started get even louder as he remembered the events at the village.
"I would concentrate on the matter at hand; they seem to really be pissed off and want to put you in the grave for interfering in their business. This should be interesting I haven't seen one of my countrymen from the village in years. Don't disappointment me squirt show them the power of Konoha's youth!" The old pervert began to yawn and point to his adversaries to let him know they were about to attack.
"Wait you're from the Konoha too? Hey you old pervert just what did you do to piss off all these bandits and why the hell should I take care of your dirty work? You probably spied on one of their wives, that's probably the reason they want to beat the shit out of you!" Naruto wish now he would've let the bandits kill the old pervert. But the bandits weren't going to listen to him now since he made that big speech about feel his power and flee.
"Eyes front you idiot, here they come!" Said the pervert as he pulled a jug of wine out to watch the fight as he drunk some sake.
As Naruto attacked the bandits with great speed, he was able to disarm many of the bandits within seconds. Naruto noticed that these bandits were very well organized and skilled. As he noticed two would attack with swords and the other two would attack bare handed hoping to grab him. The old pervert noticed that Naruto was well trained and that it was something so familiar about him but he couldn't put his finger on it. The old pervert looked at the speed and the tenacity of this boy and thought of the Fourth Hokage for some reason, he didn't know why but it felt as though he was looking at the young boy's exact copy of Minato skills and determination. As Naruto kept fighting he was down to thirteen bandits defeated and it seemed that they were pushing themselves to take Naruto out completely. As Naruto defeated the last of the bandits he looked over at old pervert sitting down drinking.
"Why you old decrepit perverted freak, how dare you just sit there and watch me and take care of your dirty work and even more how could you blame me for your voyeurism in the village! If I wasn't so tired right now I would put my foot so far up your ass… "As Naruto anger started to rise on how the old pervert just sat there and smiled and kept telling him to shut up.
As Naruto blinked the old pervert quickly jumped up with a spiral whirlwind in his hand and struck the bandit behind him. As the bandit went spinning against the rocks. Naruto looked at the old pervert.
"Show me that jutsu again" Said Naruto as he looked at the old man as he stood there smiling.
As the old pervert help out his hand, a wind mixed with chakra started to circling and spinning in the palm of his hands. Naruto stared in amazement, he only knew two people who could perform that jutsu and one was dead.
"My name is Jiraiya and this technique is called the…"
"Rasengan" Naruto finished his sentence and looked at him in awe.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto and wonder just how a Chunin would know this technique.
"So you know this technique? Well I see you're very skilled but then again we Konoha ninjas are the most talented when it comes to the ways of the shinobi." As Jiraiya smiled at Naruto.
"Can you teach me that jutsu? I heard about how powerful it was but I had no idea the magnitude of power it holds in one hand." Naruto looked at the bandit smashed against the rocks.
"I don't think so. This is for Jounin of the leaf your just what a Chunin?" Said Jiraiya looking at Naruto as he got his things together to leave.
"I'm a Genin "Naruto started feeling really embarrassed on telling the old pervert this.
"No way can a Genin move the way you do. So if you're going to lie about your status you can get to walking, I got better things to do than be lied to."
Naruto grabbed his back pack and reached in his bag and handed Jiraiya his false papers.
As Jiraiya looked at the papers he started to laugh.
"So this is why you're so good and can't make Chunin, this part of the Fire country doesn't need ninjas all like that. You're mostly used for border patrol and security. What is it three Genins down there now." Inquired Jiraiya as he began to laugh?
"Five now." Said Naruto feeling so ashamed at being considered less than a ninja.
"Tell you what travel with me for a while and I will consider training you to do the Rasengan, it's the least I could do for you taking out these bandits." As Jiraiya began to pack his bags and move away from the outlaws.
Naruto thought about it and he could train with this old pervert and learn a thing or two from him. As Naruto gave a nod to say alright.
"Question? How did an old pervert like you manage to perform the Rasengan? I mean you don't act like a ninja should, you're perverted, a drinker and the way you carry yourself I would also say you're very whorish with women. "Said Naruto looking at him skeptically as if he really wasn't Jiraiya the Toad Mountain Sage.
"I'm one of the three Legendary Sennin of the Leaf my name brings fear in the strongest ninja, my skills make mountains crumble like paper and women faint at the sight of my greatness, I am the Sage Mountain Toad Jiraiya bow down to my awesomeness." As he made a pose showing his muscles off.
Naruto could not believe it, was this really the sensei of the Fourth Hokage and rival of Orochimaru? He had always thought that he would be somewhat different than the man standing in front of him.
"Alright Pervy Sage just where are we supposed to be heading to?" As Naruto started to rub the back of his head.
Jiraiya frowned upon hearing that name but none the less they started to walk toward a safer place away from the scattered bodies of the bandits.
"So your name is Mikado Tae Shin? Funny you don't fit that name at all; it seems you should have been named something else."
As the two walked in the dead of the night, Naruto's fate was once again about to change.
