"Speech"'Thought'
I will refer to Ranma in male or female terms depending on his/her form at the time.
Life was the same for Ranma Saotome where ever he or she went. Misunderstandings were commonplace.
Location Little inn in rock country.
"Who are YOU to PROPOSITION ME PERVERT!!" A loud yell and crash came from inside the inn. None of the displaced patrons wished to investigate and left to find less... dangerous entertainment.
Inside the inn Ranma was staring at her hand in wonder.
'The divine hammer of 'Righteous' Wrath????' Thought Ranma as she looked at the hammer dissipating from her hand to the ninja, who was, in fact, laying unconscious two rooms away. It should be noted that in the land of Earth buildings were mostly constructed out of the ample stone in the area.
"Wow, and Cologne said I'd never figure out that technique." Ranma said clearly proud of herself.
Elsewhere in the multi-verse several meddling old individuals felt a very real sense of dread run up their proverbial spines.
Naruto stared at his mama distracted from braiding the hair on the back of the bad ninja's head, while said ninja was distracted from the setting glue on his hammer. Both had wide eyes for the scene. Naruto's were in awe, while Akumo seemed both intimidated and facinated with the disappearing hammer.
Standing up quickly from his kneeling position he raised his hammer into the air and let loose a war cry.
"I would date you!!" Cried the hammer happy ninja.
Elsewhere a delusional idiot felt a great deal of indignation for an unknown reason.
Unfortunately, or fortunately for some, Akumo's hammer hadn't quite been repaired.
'Thump!' And the poor fool was Knocked out by his own weapon falling apart.
Looking at the scened and the damages Ranma sighed. Considering the situation and the likely repercussions she made an important decision.
"Naruto?"
Said blonde looked at his mother curiously.
"We begin your practical training now. Get the packs from up stairs." Ranma began searching the unconcious forms of the ninjas on the ground.
Nodding like a bobble-head doll the kid race up to their room and brought his and his mother's packs to the bottom floor. After a bit of rummaging Ranma pulled out several lengths of rope and indicated he pay close attention.
"This is the best way to securely tie your captives. First you loop this around...
Thus began the training of Naruto in basic knots and handling of captives.
Shortly after securing the ninjas Naruto was being quizzed about what he'd learned.
"Now why is it important that they not be wearing any clothing?" Asked Ranma as she sorted the possessions of the ninja. She'd tossed the old man who owned the inn a bag of money taken off Restin to keep quiet. He was after all knocked out in all the ruckus.
"So they don't have any concealed weapons they can use to escape?" Naruto hesitantly answered.
"Correct. Now why would we need to tape their fingers together?" She question indicating the athletic tape she'd used to bind the ninjas hands uncomfortably together.
Naruto had a look of concentration on his little face as he considered it.
"So they can't use any ninja tricks?" He looked positively giddy when she indicated he was correct.
"Okay, last question before we pack up and leave." Ranma indicated the array of items on the floor. "Why are we taking these things from them."
Naruto looked at the items and quickly recited what his mama had explained to him.
"Ninjas use what things they have available to do what they need to do, leaving anything with them would provide enemy ninjas advantage over us, by taking their stuff they can't use it against us." Naruto explained in a very long breath.
"Exactly, you got it." Looking at the stirring forms of the two ninja they gathered the items up quickly and left through the inn's front door. Walking down the street with Naruto, now struggling with his new slightly damaged battle hammer, Ranma examined a card she'd gotten off of Restin.
'Ninja library card. Access card to Hidden Stone ninja archives. Expires, according to the current calender, next year.'
"This might come in handy." Ranma said they made their way out of town toward the area rumored to hide Hidden stone village.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaa Two weeks later. Hidden Stone village.
Naruto was bored. His mama had told him to stay at the hotel and meditate, but he was so bored. Finally, he decided he'd try climb the wall like his mama had when she left through the window. Watching her run down the sheer wall that was the exterior building was so cool. It was just like those old guy ninjas when they walked up and down the trees back home. Of course old was roughly twelve or thirteen for our young friend, and likely recent graduates of the academy.
Closing his eyes and concentrating hard, on what he was still unsure but concentrating all the same, and forming a rather inaccurate ram seal Naruto made a mad dash at the wall. Of course, opening his eyes would have helped a lot. As it was he hit the wall and bounced off in a heavy daze before slumping down into the land of dreams.
Missing the arrival of his guardian and the confused expression on said guardian's face.
'Maybe he wanted to work on endurance training?' Ranma thought as he set his satchel on the table and moved little Naruto into a more comfortable position to examine.
'Hmmm, just a little bump on the head and it's already healing right up.' It was, in fact, healing at nearly his own rate of regeneration. Come to think of it, that was pretty telling for a kid Naruto's age.
Deciding to investigate Ranma charged his hand with ki and started mapping the boy's being. This was a much more concentrated and telling medical ability that Doc Tofu had demonstrated for him when she'd visited him in his new, clinic in the Minato ward of Tokyo. He'd been training under old master Genkai when Ranma'd showed up battered and bruised after the failed wedding.
She'd stayed with the doc for a week until the crew in Nerima had settled down somewhat. Considering her nature it wasn't a suprise to find that Genkai had learned of Ranma in one way or another. Genkai had given her a week to recuperate and a few scrolls to read and then kicked her out of her shrine.
That was pretty much due to the fact that all of her protective wards had to be redone after that incident with the dragon and a drunken Norn. It is better to forget any such incident involving Urd when they happened.
Back to the present. After examining the quickly recovering Naruto Ranma pondered what he now knew of the boy.
The severe malnutrition was being repaired at an incredible rate. While the boy's system was running at an incredibley efficient rate. It seemed that feeding the boy large and varied quantities of food was repairing much of the damage inflicted upon the child.
From the information gathered Naruto ate mostly Ramen from a very kind vendor in his old village. He'd go on and on about how wonderful it was, but would looked at the ground when Ranma had asked what else he liked to eat. That was pretty telling if the boy couldn't seem to remember eating anything else before leaving with Ranma.
The seal on the Naruto's stomach was rather... unsettling though. It was obvious something strong was sealed into the boy and typically such things were dangerous. The power was restrained but steadily leaching into the boys complicated energy pathways and assisting in the healing process.
That was another thing to consider. The complexity of this worlds energy pathways was mind boggling to his senses. his own ki pathways were incredibly simplified in comparison. It would take some time, but the concept of altering his pathways and adapting to mix ki and chi into a unified energy would be challenging at the very least.
She nearly salivated at the thought of new techniques she could learn. She could convert chi to ki and ki to chi, but had never considered combining the two before. Looking at the satchel she'd brought back with her she gather the nearly healed boy into her arms and prepared him for bed.
Alarms wouldn't likely be raised until Monday as the library wasn't open on the weekends in this village.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Hidden Leaf Village - outskirts
Two Anbu with masks were following a ninja and her very large dog. The Anbu were different as physically possible. One was wearing a weasel mask and was barely in his preteens while the other was a well endowed teenage woman wearing a hawk mask.
"This is taking forever. Why can't we go any fast than this?" Asked the older of the two while the younger was silent but impatient as well.
"It will take sometime to filter out the scents and determine what direction the kidnapper left in. As potent as the scent and chakra are it has been nearly a month since Uzumaki was here." This came from the dog as it sniffed the ground carefully.
"It doesn't help that it rained recently." Commented the Inuzuka ninja as they walked slowly behind the dog. "Is it true that Old Lady Jinai is under suspicion?"
The question was straight forward, but the Anbu weren't suprised to hear that. News traveled fast among ninja. Unless it was classified but most of the civilians were aware that, "that boy", was taken from the village. Quiet celebration was found in scattered parts of the village, but most just passed it off as good riddance and went on with their lives.
"Ibiki is likely to find the truth of the matter. If she is to be questioned we have no need to be concerned about it. Our mission is to locate and return the child to the Hokage." Weasel boy stated to the slightly animal like female ninja.
"Yeah, yeah, just trying to make conversation Itachi. You weren't this sulky when you two weren't Anbu." The Inuzuka complained as they moved still further out of the village.
Sighing the two Anbu decide that the formalities weren't worth the hassle. Removing their masks the two sighed in annoyance.
"Miku and I had no intention of joining the Anbu you know. Parents are such a pain." Itachi complained as he stashed away his mask.
"Hah! You only have to deal with parents. I have to deal with the entire council of Hyuuga elders. May they all turn to dust before I see them next." Said the older and now revealed Hyuuga branch member.
"My clan isn't a picnic either. It's genius this, do better in that. Train, train, train. They had the gall to try and ban me from my pocky when I failed to complete a mission in half the time that was necessary. Not to mention I have to deal with the clan services next year. Some kind of rite of passage ceremony and all that rot." Itachi shuddered at having to deal with all his relatives gushing about him becoming a man.
"Yeah, well your cousin Shisui isn't so bad."
"Oh, come on Marin. You only say that because he seems to have fallen head over heals for you. And you still won't give him the time of day." Came Miku's fast retort.
Marin blushed at the statement and was saved by Chichen's sudden stop. The dog, had gotten a whiff of incredibly potent life force. Not chakra but pure Ki. It couldn't imagine the kind of being that had so much vitality to still be detectable after a months time. Even the nine-tails chakra had disipated quickly over a few months time those many years ago.
"We might have a problem..." With that lead in Chichen began explaining what she'd found.
TBC Sorry for the long delay in posting, but this was the first bout of inspiration i've had in a while and i'm tired now. must sleep.