Altered course
Training schedule
Thoughts
Demon/Inner Self
"Speech"
Naruto's speech
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or get any profit from writing this story. I do this for my own purpose of having fun.
Last time in altered course
Turning his back and looking out the window he looked over the village he wished to one day guide… "I had to do the step across the line I never though I would or could pass"
"Meaning?" the 3rd Inuzuka barked
"I gave up my humanity to the demon…"
"Meaning!?"
Pulling off his hood and fanning his tail he turned around "I… became the demon
All that was heard were a chorus of gasps fists clenching in anger and a loud "Thud!"
NOW TIME FOR THE STORY
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE A DEOMN"
"BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR YOU'RE JUST…"
"AH HINATA PASSED OUT"
"Guys (grunt)"
"WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN"
"BUT-…"
"WAIT GUYS HELP HER SAKURA PLEASE!"
"Guys please!"
"STOP SCREAMING AND HELP HER COMEON!"
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!"
"…"
"Sorry… it's hard to control my voice now" still faking a smile "and my ears are pretty sensitive so um no yelling please!"
'How can he smile after all that's happened? I was with him when he woke up so I know how angry he is so how can he even care if his friends are sad… it's something I couldn't do at least'
"Sorry" came a few murmured replies from most of the group and a groggy Hinata.
"Ha no problem"
Tsunade didn't waste a moment getting off the subject and on to more pressing maters
"Back to business, now there are a number of topics I would like to talk to you all about, first off, as most of you are clan heads I would like to talk to you about your future plans as clan heads before your own "heads" are filled with your clansmen's words. And second I need to plan out Naruto's new training schedule which you will all be a helping hand of."
"… What?"
"We can talk about it later for now I think you should go outside your clothes are dry and starting to catch fire"
Looking at his shoulder to where the Hokage was pointing he started making his way running to the door "Huh? AHH! Ok ill see you later!"
"BE AT TRAINING GROUND 7 PRACTICING YOUR CHAKRA CONTROL OK NARUTO!"
"Ok baa-Chan!"
Running out screaming from the 5th's rage for the "Ba-Chan" he ran out of the room. Breaking through the giggles circulating in the room someone with a little less emotion "Sai" brought everyone back to the subject at hand "so as you were saying Hokage-Sama
"Um yes first I need to talk to you about Naruto and his future with you and then I need to talk to you about the training you'll be doing with Naruto."
"That's just it Hokage-Sama… why are we training Naruto?"
"Because everything Naruto has learned as a shinobi is essentially shot, earlier in the day I asked him to make a Kage bunshin and he almost killed himself, but that's for later, right now I want to know about your opinions of Naruto."
With the varied emotions to hearing the news on naruto's skills they almost missed the last part of the sentence which was by all means confusing "excuse us hokage-dono?"
"I want to know how you feel about naruto's changes"
Without missing a beat Kiba voiced his… opinion "…the new voice is freaky along with the tails"
Hinata not liking to hear naruto talked down on tried to be more forceful with a small "Kiba kun!"
"Well it is Hinata! You can't say that his appearance doesn't disturb you?"
The men all nodded a yes while the girls had a slightly different thought
'Hell you're just jealous' 'I don't know what you see' 'N-naruto-kun got… cuter' '...Sasuke-kun is still beter'
Uncaring to last comment –having felt the same way earlier Tsunade tried to move it along-"Ok well besides the physical changes what about his personality? We can go team by team if that helps, ok? Team Gai you're up first. How do you feel about Naruto Gai jr.?"
With eyes full of joy at his own common nickname he let down a stream of tears in front of sunset back-ground started off screaming at the top of his lungs "OH MY THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT TSUNADE SAMA TO JUST BE COMPARED TO THE GREAT GAI-SENSEI MY FLAMES OF YOUTH ARE-"
"The way we feel as a team about Naruto now has not changed right lee, right Neji?" ten-ten thankfully asked, and with a firm nod from Neji and an ear-busting shout from Lee the rooms gaze shifted to a new team.
"Ok well that's settled and thank you Ten-ten. Now how about your team Shikamaru?"
"My opinion hasn't changed it would be too troublesome to actually care about something like that."
"Ino?"
"Well… after I found out about Asuma's death I really did see Naruto as a monster b–but not any more. After meeting with him and seeing he feels bad for what happened and that his personality is the same I can accept him"
Accepting the statement she turned to final group, member of the group "ok Chouji go ahead"
"I… I wasn't here for the fight I was on the mission to cloud with Sai and Shino, so I don't know I'm still not sure. He is a demon now right?"
"Yes but that's just his body!" Hinata defended once again
"All the same Chouji raises a valid point, Hinata san"
"Yeah but still Shino-"Ten-ten interrupted
"That's enough! I don't want any more fighting in here I just want your honest opinions, thank you Chouji"
"Yosh… Tsunade-Sama"
"Now it's your turn, team Kurenai" she stated with a stern gaze at Shino for him to go ahead
"I withhold my judgment until I have talked with him myself, Hokage-Sama" with that she turned to the next Chunnin. "Kiba?"
"I… don't know… I walked in here with a lot of anger, but after seeing him it slipped away so I'm at a cross roads as well, but-" He answered a bit warily
"But?" Tsunade asked confused
"I-It's hard to fight my instincts and look past the smell, appearance, and movements he gives off… it's hard to explain to someone outside of the clan."
"You do raise a good point Kiba-san." Tsunade assured Kiba and then turned to acknowledge the entire crowd of the room "Someone without extremely fine tuned senses will not notice but, although Naruto-kun's underlying personality hasn't changed his new demonic energy is in-fact changing it slightly as he becomes more attune to it. His will is too strong to completely change, but like his body there will be noticeable differences. Kiba's blood just makes the difference more noticeable, where you all notice how he looks, Kiba's natural instincts just show how naruto looks more frightening, his walk is more animalistic and his smell I suppose dangerous am I correct?"
"H-Hai…"
Tsunade shifted into a more comfortable position and turned a face to Hinata "Well I don't suppose I need to ask you how you feel seeing as have already defended naruto" which was responded with a large blush.
Tsunade took a deep breath and leaned forward onto a hand resting her head giving a slightly childish look. The people around her stood and waited for her to continue not sure what to say. Until the white eyed new edition to the main branch spoke his mind. "Ok I doubt we need to ask team 7 there opinion." receiving to head nod's he continued on "so now that you know none of us hold "too" harsh of feelings to naruto I would like to ask what the clan heads are needed for"
"The troublesome seal?"
"Not exactly Shikamaru"
Everyone knew of the seals placed on naruto's body as a precaution and thought back with guilty hearts as they remembered agreeing to the idea
"The bird seal of the Hyuga clan. The shadow pool of the Nara clan. The parasite's of The Abarumes. The collar's of the Inuzuka's and the "nameless" clan. And finally the Yamanka mind's cage seal were all placed onto naruto's body after I declared for naruto not to be killed.
(A/N: the nameless clan is Ten-tens clan "I didn't want to put a real name in")
A gasp was heard around the group as they realized to what extent or precautions were taken. Even Neji was shaken by the news only thinking the bird cage was being put on and finally spoke his mind.
"7 SEALS? No one has ever had more then 3 I thought they were only doing the bird seal?"
Unmoved by the outburst Tsunade continued in her normal banter "Well it would be 8 but with naruto's muscle growth the Akamichi muscle bind was activated and completely overridden during naruto's transformation."
Hearing another round of gasps she smiled to herself and continued on while looking around the room.
"The bird seal was public knowledge too assure people of no future trouble but we have the problem that over half of our shinobi populous can use these seals to out right torture naruto which I do not want and which I fear I have no say in the mater… So I would like to ask you all if you can find someone within your clan who can change the seal to only be effective while naruto is possessed. This will not be given a mission class being more of, a favor for naruto. No answer is needed right now as it is definatly a difficult decision with the risk of your name stake in your own separate clans."
"The next favor im about is mandatory, being you are to inform naruto your selves on the seals, im not as knowledgeable so- ."
"How does he not know of the seals yet!" Sakrua yelled a bit like naruto
"I haven't told him and he can't really see the seals. Ten-tens/ Kiba's are on his neck the Hyuga's is on his forehead the Yamanaka's the base of his spine and the Nara's have each shoulder blade. He actually hasn't seen a mirror all he knows is that he grew taller has longer hair 5 fox tails and the ears I think his appearance isn't his main priority by the way."
"The ears are really cute" "so is the tail" "it looks so cuddly" "or like a fur coat" "you want to wear him?" "He really does have that wild look that just makes you think about –"
"Uh-hem…" Tsunade spoke up. Giving a death glare to Ino – the leader of the fan girls- small pack disbanded – Hinata was too embarrassed to join but was standing behind shaking her head in agreement.
"Moving on before you make the men here feel any lower about them selves lets move on to Naruto's training."
Else where
The rain had slowed into a light drizzle keeping things moist but not soaked. The village was finally starting to bustle in the late afternoon breeze and everything seemed to be normal… seemed... Training ground number 7 if seen from far away would look very suspicious. The lush grassy fields which by all means should be wet from the rain was, if anything dieing as if it was the summer. A red mist was constantly collecting and precipitating as the villages' new demon boy continued to concentrate. Holes meters wide graced the landscape and the boy was unsurprisingly shirtless after the remains of his smoldering shirt fell off. A few feet away stood his Jounin teachers Kakashi reading icha-icha paradise and the still injured Yamato holding out his arm in a hand sign surrounded by totem poles.
"Even though you have got the chakra to recede enough that people can touch you finally it still requires Yamato's help and extreme concentration," Kakashi said
"Ugh- I know" naruto said back
"I know chakra control isn't something you ever cared about but now its important Jiraiya will not be here for at least a couple of week's so your going to have to listen beter under my orders once again"
"I know."
"You learned chakra control to the highest level consciously which was needed for the Kaze Rasengan and now we need your control to be sub-conscious and that of habi-
"I know already stop distracting me!"
"Someone developing a temper really should watch it or they are going to give those around him a bad impression.
"Shut up!"
He couldn't take it any more the concentration was hurting his head and Kakashi's pestering - yet necessary distractions –were making it hard nearly impossible. Yamato's technique was weaker then usual with his injuries it let an almost unnoticeable effect, but like Kakashi had said "every bit counts" and naruto definatly needed all the help he can get.
"Your anger is getting out of control, when Naruto trained for the futon: Rasengan I could see your frustration with your lack of process but this is pathetic." Kakashi said
"You know what Kakashi-sempai is doing but yet you still fight and yell at him" Yamato said trying to calm down Naruto
"Its hard enough with out his constant talking don't get angry AND don't talk like im two different people from before and now!"
"Yamato isn't mad he is just worried, and I can call you and your self from before two different people because you act like it. This isn't the student I trained. Bottling up your emotions is just going to have the same result with you needlessly protecting people from seeing you hurt when it isn't bad to show friends your pain." Kakashi said
"If your friends truly forgave you then you should know how they truly care for you." Yamato said
Apparently these weren't the best choice of words as naruto's chakra died down and his head lowered. "…if they forgave me…"
Realizing the mistake Kakashi gave Yamato a smack to the head and a small whisper "I take it back you are definatly my kohai" (A/N: that joke only makes sense if you read the manga)
"While he does have a point there no reason to focus on it but, at least we found out a bit more about your chakra" Kakashi said cheerfully while putting away his "reading material" and walking out his shelter from the rain, tree
"What do you mean Kakashi sensei?" his chakra instantly a bit more positive
"When you heard Yamato's comment your chakra out put went down and be came more self conflicted like it was fighting itself, with my sharingan I could actually see you body being damaged as from your chakra."
"Nani?"
"Oh it means your chakra is controlled more by your emotions then your body now. Right now you're really frustrated with the world so in theory your chakra may just be in relation angry because you are. The damaging chakra might not just natural that destructive." Kakashi concluded
"I see what you mean so if he wants to control his chakra he would need to have put this ordeal behind himself" Yamato said
"Soooo think happy thoughts?"
The two Jounin's gave each other an unsure look followed by an unsure shrug
"Who knows it's only a theory your chakra may have 100 to no change"
"Ok… I'll try" Merely listening to the promise of success had the red foul chakra seeping out at a calmer rate.
'Ha- if my theory is correct then it also shows how childish Naruto can be, going from morbidly depressed to hopeful in an instant, sounds bad being called childish but I wouldn't mind being like that.' Kakashi thought, until.
A twitch of a tail and a cringe in pain was all the warning the two Jounin could receive before Naruto's body exploded out in his own chakra. Kakashi could only yell out "Naruto" before he and Yamato were both thrown a short distance into nearby shrubbery and tree's. Naruto simply sat as if nothing had happened looking down in his lap looking as depressed as ever, no tears, just a burying sense so hopelessness. His Chakra was lashing out in anger and then turn around rapping itself around his body as if it was about to kill him. His mind was a battle field between himself and the Kyubi two on one and no fighting back.
'I did it all I killed so many… would anyone be willing to forgive me?'
Ha what do you think, would you be willing to forgive a "mindless demon" who killed someone you cared about.
Im not mindless!
Well then I would like to see it! Even when we fought and you were saving the village you fought like an idiot. By the way im glad you've accepted being a demon already seeing as you didn't get mad about me calling you one
Go to hell you're the bastard who mad me a demon in the first place! Why do you even exist? At least I can honestly say no one hates you more then me!
Well I would like to say the same thing to you but I haven't been able to meet your ENTIRE village to compare myself.
You fu-
"NARUTO!"
(BOOM)
There it was. After minutes of trying to wake up naruto they finally got to him. Kakashi was yelling and punching with all his might using his numb hands to wake up the boy, Yamato was still unconscious and all that he could see was Kakashi's angry face.
"GAH! Um sorry sensei's"
Naruto's tails were tucked in between his legs as stood up giving a childish pout. Kakashi was replacing his head band over his empty left eye socket while walking over to check out the now unconscious Yamato.
"What happened" Kakashi asked looking away from sad Naruto. It was all he could do from yelling and taking it out on the boy – the chakra had made him angry himself through his open wounds and was now causing him a lot of pain
Turning away his head naruto looked to the memorial stone's in the immediate area thinking back to the other day. "I got distracted in my thoughts of good times and the fox shoved in some of his own thoughts and feelings I-I think"
Picking up Yamato over his shoulder Kakashi turned to naruto with a hateful glare from his one eye and said "Then you are to never contact the Kyubi from this point on no mater the circumstances" waiting for it to sink in to Naruto's head he stood in the mist "you don't want another disaster do you, two days ago was the 2nd coming, no one wants a third…"
"…Hai …"
Naruto's chakra continued to slowly eat away at his skin until the pain distracted him from his thoughts. Kakashi lifted Yamato on to his shoulder and turned towards the village giving a head a shake indicating Naruto to come on.
"… Gomen Kakashi sensei…"
"…"
"So when is Ero-sennin coming back?"
"No one knows how to contact him so it all depends on how fast word travels"
"…Wait how- wouldn't Ba-Chan keep this as a secret from the other villages?"
"Yes but first off we had to explain to the villages providing assistance what happened, and all though the smartest idea between counties is to keep it secret stipulations between the villages similar to the Chunnin exams exist one, being that all jinchurki activity shall be noted which has been going on before you were born the only reason we did not know about Garra was because the sand played through a loophole being that he was holding the demon within him before his birth"
"But Why! Isn't it enough this village hates me! Why does the whole world need to know im a monster!"
"Because of the treaties, not informing any one of those hidden villages is considered treasonous; usually it's kept to only the top brass of each daimyo but see as you are now the demon the final clause of the treaty allows for all secured maters on the specific Jirinchunki open for public safely."
Naruto came to a halt at this point, having a hard time controlling his emotions "What?"
"By the end of months time your face will be spread throughout all of the hidden villages, im sorry to say it but you're going to be famous throughout the whole world soon"
The three men had finally made it back to the village stopping after naruto's abrupt halt.
"How can you say that so calmly?"
"I can say it so calmly because I already know there is nothing we can do about it and I have already accepted that"
"Well how am I supposed to accept something like that I'm going to seen as some natural disaster"
"Well it's not something I can fix! I may be a teacher but that doesn't mean I have all the answers, and you should also know by now not every problem has an answer."
"BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR! Life was tough enough before but what now. My entire life I had been hated and treated as if I hadn't existed for 12 years. But now I have this terrible guilt of destroying half his village and to add on top of that. The rest of the world is going to treat me like the monster I'm not." Honestly… I know what I have to do and that is control my power, but, but what am I supposed to work for, I want to say Hokage and I plan to not quit on that path but any back up plans now? Can you at least answer me that?"
Kakashi was still to distraught from the red chakra in his system
"You destroyed half your village and put all the blame on yourself, your entire life you wanted to be Hokage… I don't have an answer for that either, there are other ways to gain respect other then Hokage and even if you became Hokage do you think everyone would look past your birth! The answer is mainly no, most of the people that will ever respect are the ones who don't go out of there way to cause you misery being the small minority."
"So you trying to say I should just give up huh!"
"Not necessarily but I don't have all the answers! And-" a bird flew over at that moment which Kakashi recognized as a message for naruto to return.
"You beter go off back to the Hokage's office I will drop off Yamato by myself"
Watching Kakashi's retreating back naruto couldn't help but feel betrayed but at the same time ashamed with himself for being such a child. "gomen Kakashi" which stopped Kakashi for a moment before he continued to walk off to the hosptial
"So that's the schedule group that's what you are all going to help him with ok?"
So with a chorus of "hai's" the group looked back at the sound of a door opening and thought of the future they would all soon share