Naruto Fanfiction

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Author's Note: Hmmm... I suppose I have been bashing characters a bit, huh? Well, only Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. But the way I see it is: Naruto would have gotten more powerful in a faster way if those three weren't acting like obstacles too much. So there... But the bashing stops now, don't worry. I've done enough of that, hehe...

---

It was always so peaceful here, even after harsh wars, cold battles and massacres of many kinds. Konoha always breathed serenity, it seemed. It made him feel at ease and it really took a lot to make him feel at ease.

"Kazekage-dono."

"Hokage-dono." He reacted to the sudden greeting from behind him.

"I didn't expect you to still be in Konoha." Tsunade started. "I assume it's because of your... half-brother?"

Gaara nodded his head. He did consider Naruto his half-brother. "I worry. He has become an important part of the stability between our alliances. Perhaps even the most important one."

Tsunade responded with a sigh. "He now knows more than a thousand Jutsus... He has surpassed me and all other Konoha Shinobis by far and makes even the Fourth look... like an average Shinobi."

Gaara's eyes were widened. "You..." He then smiled. "Before it's too late?"

Tsunade shook her head. "No, I have waited too long with this. Even the Council admitted his superiority years ago, when he became the most powerful ANBU Captain. I waited, because... His attitude was just so different from the way it was before."

Gaara shrugged... a bit. "People grow up, mature. Naruto has turned out for the better. A Village has no need for a fool as its leader."

"Perhaps you're a bit late with this, after all." A third voice came from behind them. "Naruto might die this year."

"Jiraiya-sama." Gaara greeted. "I will not allow him to die such an early death. I have already prepared a Suna Missing-nin who knows the Forbidden Revival Technique."

Tsunade chuckled shortly. "You think Naruto would allow this? He values life, but he would never let another sacrifice his or her life for himself. No matter who the other is."

"He doesn't have to know." Gaara let out.

"I didn't expect the Kazekage to be selfish." Jiraiya let out. "But it won't be possible anyway. Naruto's body is special and it's not just because he's a Jinchuuriki, or was, for that matter. He is the son to Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. A deadly combination. His Chakra is special, over-protective and humongous in amount. You will probably need at least ten of those Missing-nins just to recover the amount of Chakra he owns, but that's also impossible, because... He's the last one with this kind of Chakra. He won't survive with somebody else's Chakra."

Gaara's eyes widened. "Then, the Chakra in my body..."

Tsunade nodded. "It's Chiyo-baa-sama's."

Gaara bowed his head. "I see."

Jiraiya shrugged. "We can't do anything. You can make him Hokage if you want, but... He won't be one for long. I'm not even sure he wants to be Hokage anymore, Tsunade."

Tsunade sighed and everyone fell silent as they were standing at Konoha's Graveyard.

"I know."

---

Walking the Road
Chapter 7: The Road Ahead

---

He had that annoying frown on his face since this morning and it was really starting to tick her off. She knew of his situation, but that just didn't work for her anymore. And something that both gladdened and worried her, was that he didn't wear his mask anymore. "Taichou!!"

Naruto's frown didn't disappear as he looked up from a book he was reading and considered his purple-haired subordinate. "Ah, Ami-chan." He responded calmly. "Something wrong?"

Ami put her hands on her hips and removed her Jounin Mask, something her Captain thought of as being... cool. "Well, you could join in on training, you know. Just because you're considered as the second Fourth Hokage doesn't mean you can slack off. Also, all of us here are ready to surpass you anytime!"

Naruto didn't even flinch as a Kunai was suddenly touching the base of his neck. "She's right, Uzumaki-taichou..." Came the sweet voice of another subordinate of his, her lips close to his ear.

"You do realize you're talking to a Shadow Clone, right?" The Kage Bunshin said.

Anko shrugged. "Who cares?"

The Shadow Clone shuddered, before he poofed out of existence, letting the real Naruto know what's going on. It didn't take two seconds before Naruto was there, a small smile on his face. "So, bored, I assume?" The blonde Jounin said as he shot a glance at the sparring Ino and Hanabi. "Seems like those two are still at it. You two tired or something?"

"Hm, mind explaining why you are taking the day off and letting a Shadow Clone do all the work?" Ami complained. "You have really become a slacker these last few days, Taichou."

Naruto shrugged and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I've been busy developing a new Technique of mine. You curious?"

Anko and Ami both smiled at the sudden display of enthusiasm on Naruto's face and nodded their heads. Ino and Hanabi had heard as well and were approaching.

"Before I do that, I have something to explain to you about my body." Naruto started. "You are my team, and I know all of your abilities, even your trump cards. I think it's only fair if you know mine."

His team nodded.

Naruto then proceeded with a single handseal, which immediately created a massive amount of Chakra around his body. "Don't be afraid... The Chakra is lethal, but I won't let it harm you..." He started.

Anko's eyes widened as many seals appeared on his arms, neck and face. Hanabi had her Byakugan activated, but for the others, Naruto removed his shirt to let them see more of the seals on his body.

"These Seals are called Blood Seals. Keppan no Jutsu, a highly forbidden Technique not even listed in Forbidden Scroll located in our Hokage Tower. It's too lethal for the average human, but I, apparently, am not one of those." He grinned. "These seals take a massive toll on me. Shortening my lifespan and delivering me blows you can't even imagine. I thank the regenerative skills I inherited from the Kyuubi to deal with the internal damage." He frowned again. "You can compare the cost somewhat with the Opening of the Gates, actually. But this is taking it a step further."

"This will kill you, huh? Neji-san said you had thirteen of those seals and Jiraiya-sama explained that one seal is already extremely lethal." Hanabi spoke up. "You have been too greedy, if you ask me."

Naruto shook his head. "I did it out of desperation, not for some kind of lust for power. I was abandoned by someone very precious to me, and before that, I was abandoned by more people. I was at my limit and nothing could help me. I wasn't a person to abandon other people, but at that time, it was all I could do to keep... sane."

"So... what you did to us... is also Keppan no Jutsu?" Ino asked as she showed a small seal on her right shoulder. "But this seal stays on it without having to do that handseal you just did."

Naruto smirked. "True. The Seal I gave all four of you is part of the Keppan no Jutsu, but it's something that's a part of me, for you. It's not yours, but it's actually mine. One of my Blood Seals allows me to pour permanent Chakra into someone else's body. It's really helpful."

"So, what do the other eleven do?" Anko asked.

Naruto sighed. "Not eleven, the other nineteen. Twenty, actually, when I show you my latest Technique."

Suddenly, his team just turned more worried instead of excited. "Taichou! It's dangerous!!" Surprisingly, it was Hanabi who spoke up first. "You've become a lot more powerful than anyone in this Village, but at the cost of your own life..."

"Yeah! You have to stop doing this!!" Ino added.

"You really are an idiot, Naruto." Anko started. "To experiment so much with Kinjutsu..."

Naruto's frown returned. "You make me sound like Orochimaru..." he whined. "Don't worry so much! I know my body better than anyone! Anyway, let me explain to you my Blood Seals..."

All of the seals on his face, arms, hands, neck, chest and probably also on his legs and feet were dark red. The seals looked weird. Some were like the Curse Seal, Anko noted. Others were like the stripes on the cheeks of the Inuzuka Clan, the swirling symbol of the Akimichi Clan, but... Anko was sure every single one of them meant something big. "The small butterfly-shaped Blood Seal on the back of my neck stands for Pain Limit Removal, I have another one on my stomach, as you can see. The two-striped one on the left side of my forehead stands for the, uh, Intelligence Seal. I use it quite often, hehe. On the right of my forehead you see the three-striped Seal, which stands for Fazing, or walking through something vast. The Seal that goes from between my eyebrows through my left eye to my ear lets me have better eyesight, sharper or something like that."

They could tell Naruto was lying a bit; that seal improved his eyesight on levels they just couldn't fathom, probably.

Naruto continued. "The half circle going through my right eye stands for Telepathy, something that I'd rather not use, because it's after-effect puts me to sleep for more than two days. Then the one on the front of my neck allows me to... breathe everywhere. The swirl-shaped seal on the left side my chest protects my heart when it is in danger and puts it to rest when necessary. For example, when I am in desperate need of a Medic-nin who I can not reach in at least three days... It lets me slip into a fake-death 'something', you know? The rectangle seal on the right side of my chest allows me to do the Hiraishin no Jutsu, or Teleportation."

"There are two small dots on my nose and under my mouth, and you can barely see them, but they enhance my smell and taste. I have two other seals on the back of my ears, that of course, enhance my hearing."

"The seal on my stomach is not the seal that kept the Kyuubi contained. If you look closer, there are four seals on there. The butterfly, which I explained earlier, a seal that looks a lot like Anko's and Sasuke's Curse Seal, a stripe similar to that of one of Kiba's marks on his cheeks and another swirl. They allow me to... fly, defy gravity. I needed four for this one. The Curse-Seal-like one is the one that lets me fly. There's one under my hair, on the back of my head. One, obviously on my stomach and two on each of my ankles on the back. The swirling one represents... a Chakra Eating Seal, it protects me while eating my Chakra away. If I need it, just like Tsunade's seal on her forehead, I release all of my Chakra at once and it works like a super soldier pill."

"The one that looks like Kiba's marks on his cheeks allows me to handle any speed I travel in. I am sure the Fourth also had this one on his stomach, to deal with the after-effect the Hiraishin gives."

"I think I covered all twenty of them, then, huh? Well, I'm working on my Speed Limiters, two seals on my legs. I didn't count them with it, because they were still incomplete. I could use them already, otherwise I couldn't so freaking fast, but... the after-effect of using these Blood Seals is too damn annoying. Every time I use is for more than two minutes, both my legs break. So this gives me in total... Twenty-two seals, huh? Damn, I miscounted, hehe." He scratched the back of his head, while the other sweatdropped.

"But I have to invent another one, to keep my legs from breaking every damn time."

"I think you're fast enough already without those damn seals, Taichou." Ami voiced. "But you're writing your own death sentence, so be my guest."

"Aw, don't be like that, Ami-chan!" Naruto whined. "Besides, even though I use them only when I really need to, I wouldn't worry too much. After all, I really do know my own body better than anyone..."

---

Naruto teleported inside of his house and was happy to see that both Neji and Kiba were sleeping with their women. He hesitated in his step as he felt a faint Chakra Signature just outside.

'Hm, not bad. He almost caught me off guard.'

Opening the door, Naruto greeted the other with a sigh. "How did you know I lived here?"

The other returned the sigh and unfolded his arms as he was leaning against the wall. "Kakashi smelled your scent here in the morning and assumed you lived here. He assumed right."

"I guess he did." Naruto shot him a long look, before he relented. "Alright, come in. I guess it's time to fix all of this."

The other followed and closed the door behind him. "Not bad."

"How's Tayuya?" Naruto asked. "She a Konoha Jounin yet?"

Sasuke snorted. "She became it a year ago, Naruto. You don't keep track of anything?" Years ago, Sasuke had betrayed Orochimaru and Kabuto and had returned to Konoha, along with Tayuya, a Sound Jounin.

"No, not anymore. What happens in Konoha doesn't concern me anymore." Naruto commented. "But let's skip this silly intro and skip to the part where you tell me what you want."

Sasuke snorted. "This doesn't suit you at all, Naruto. The way you are. Not like me years ago, but close enough. I know what happened to Iruka-sensei-"

"Save it, Sasuke. I won't ever be in the mood for that talk and believe me what I say that." Naruto calmly warned. "What was it you wanted again?"

Sasuke chuckled. "Touché... There are survivors from the Sound, Hunter-nins. They are after me for some kind of reason and I'm not even sure if they're hostile. I see them as obstacles to my revenge on Uchiha Itachi. I want to get to him and I need your help."

Naruto chuckled shortly. "I can do something for you."

Sasuke frowned at the sudden gentle tone of voice.

"I am a Seal Specialist, Sasuke, and you always wanted power, right? How about I strengthen that Sharingan of yours up?" Naruto said and Sasuke could see tiredness in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"A Blood Seal, like this one..." Naruto did two seals and a Blood Seal appeared on his face, running from between his eyebrows to his left ear, through his left eye.

Sasuke was intrigued and he didn't get intrigued easily. "It's only for your left eye?"

Naruto shook his head. "It doesn't work that way, with this one. But I understand your assumption. Usually, it's actually exactly like it, but this seal is an exception. Question is, are you willing to pay the price for better eyes?"

Sasuke folded his arms as he finally sat down on the couch, which Naruto had done the second they walked into the room. "What's the downside, then?"

"You'll be blind the next day, all day, a bit more even. And... every time you use it, it takes up a bit of your lifespan." Naruto explained. "But the advantage is... Probably with you, a better Sharingan and... and what's a definite fact is that when using it, it won't take any Chakra at all..."

Sasuke's eyes widened. He then closed his eyes and bowed his head. "I... Please, Naruto. Doing this would definitely grant me the power to kill my brother. To help me achieve it... at long last."

Naruto considered it for a few seconds, before he rose from the couch. "Well, you want a drink?"

Sasuke looked up, his eyes almost looking like question marks.

"It's gonna be a long night, Sasuke... You're body will have to become accustomed to the Unsealing. You're going to experience a Pain you don't ever want to feel again. You'll be immobile for a week..."

Sasuke's eyes widened again. "Yeah... I want a drink."

---

A week later, Sasuke woke up in a Hospital, with a major hang-over. "Ughh..." He realized then he could only use his vocal cords. Anything else was out of the question. "Damn, Naruto wasn't kidding when he said I would be immobile for a week..." He mumbled.

"Naruto did?"

Sasuke couldn't look up, left or right. Hell, he couldn't even open his eyes. But he recognised the voice anyway. "Kakashi?"

"What did you do, Sasuke? Did you fight with Naruto?"

Sasuke winced. Powerful as he had become, this scenario was very possible after picking a fight with the blonde Jounin Captain. "No..." He managed to let out.

"You were dropped here a week ago, with severe Blood Loss and a Chakra exhaustion that shouldn't even be possible. What happened? Do you remember?"

"Keppan... no Jutsu." Sasuke let out. "I am now officially, as Naruto said, one of the Unsealed."

Kakashi's eye had widened. "I don't know what that means, but I think I have an idea about it. Naruto gave you one of those seals, huh?"

Sasuke chuckled. "When will I be able to move again?"

Kakashi snorted. "It's gonna take you a whole month to recover from this one. Probably more."

Sasuke wanted to scream, but didn't find the power. "But... Naruto said-"

"Naruto's body is a lot different than yours, Sasuke. He probably thought it would be the same with you."

"Damn... that... dead-last."

"What was that?" Another voice came from the other side of his bed.

Naruto.

"Heh, here I come all the way from the Wind Country just to hear an insult again, huh? You haven't changed one bit, bastard." Naruto took a look at Kakashi. "Yo." He greeted. "Sorry I'm late, a few girls asked me for directions in between Suna and Konoha. It even disrupted my Hiraishin..."

Sasuke wanted to groan while Kakashi merely smiled. "Well, I'm glad you're taking the time to see us again."

"Don't get used to it." Sasuke heard Naruto say. "Heh, but I'm impressed with your analytical skills, Kakashi. To think you would know I was involved with hospitalizing Sasuke."

"Isn't it obvious?" Kakashi responded. "I was the one who told Sasuke where you lived. And then to find him the next day in the hospital and you gone on a mission for a whole week... It's kind of like one and one equals two, hm?"

Naruto ignored him and observed Sasuke. "You can't move yet, Sasuke? Man, I could move after three days. You sure you're not just being a baby?"

Kakashi had to admit it, this felt good. The old tension between Sasuke and Naruto was returning. The old friendship these two had was strong and he felt that it was slowly returning thanks to this.

"Damn... you." Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying his hardest to move anything, but completely nothing moved even an inch, making Naruto snicker.

"Best not move, Sasuke." Kakashi scolded. "It's going to take longer to recover." He then turned to Naruto. "You and I need to talk."

Naruto regarded Kakashi with a cool gaze. "We do? What makes you think I even want to, Kakashi?"

Kakashi shrugged.

"Man, you're lucky I'm in a good mood."

The two Jounins said their goodbyes to the helpless Sasuke and opened the door.

Kakashi smiled while Naruto remained indifferent as Sakura was on the other side of the door. "Ah, N-Naruto! You're visiting Sasuke-kun?!"

"Apparently." Naruto answered as he gave Kakashi a glance. "Mind moving already, Kakashi? I still have a team to train, but I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, huh?"

Everyone in the room winced.

Kakashi nervously scratched the back of his head. "Well, we're off, Sakura, Sasuke. Later." With that, both Naruto and Kakashi disappeared.

Sakura threw one last sad look on the spot where Naruto was standing, before walking over to the bed where Sasuke was in. "So... How's Naruto doing, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke pretended he was asleep.

---

"You know I don't care, right?" Naruto started as they were both seated in a tree. Looking through the leafs, Naruto could see the Five Hokages carved into the mountain.

Long ago, he wanted his face there as well. But times change.

"Care about what?" Kakashi asked. "I haven't said anything yet."

"Yeah, well, you're worried about Sasuke's safety, right? Whether he can survive a Blood Seal while not having the same blood of the Namikaze Clan." Naruto implied.

"Well, I AM worried, but that's not what's bothering me." Kakashi started. "I've seen the Fourth have trouble with the Hiraishin before, but he could handle it. You kids are just as good as him, so I'm not THAT worried. What's troubling me is you."

"Hm. That's odd, coming from you." Naruto frowned as he seated himself on a tree branch. "But spill, I've got a few minutes to spare."

Kakashi nodded his head. "You've really surprised me, Naruto. To think you've become that good with seals. Not even the Fourth was this good. But you have on you twenty seals."

Naruto sighed. "I lied. I have twenty-two, but two of them aren't completed yet. My body isn't used to the usage. It takes a bit of time."

"Well, my advice is quit while you're ahead. You've already thrown away a lot of days, so make the best of it. Perhaps you should try reuniting with the old team Seven?" Kakashi offered. "We did a lot of things wrong and I know you feel like it's unforgivable, but your time is running out."

"Yeah, I'm trying." Naruto said. "To make it go faster."

'He's become suicidal?' Kakashi wondered.

"But I just really don't feel like it. There's nothing to be done about it anyway. And I have already become a Legend, just like the Fourth. Though I don't have a cool nickname like him."

"Oh, Uzumaki Naruto is a nickname in itself, if you ask me." Kakashi said. "To think that the brat that you were when you were young would become the most powerful one in the Leaf."

Naruto shook his head. "You must have another reason then just trying to let me fix things between me and team 7, right?"

Kakashi nodded his head with a smile on his face. "Correct. Remember the Kage Bunshin training?" On seeing Naruto nod, the Copy-nin continued. "Well, imagine the opposite, like with healing. Perhaps there's something you can do about the cellular breakdown using Taijuu Kage Bunshin?"

Naruto snorted. "What do you mean? Like performing some kind of Seal Suppressor on every Clone? That would make me fall into a coma, Kakashi. Don't you know anything about Seals?"

Kakashi smiled sheepishly. "Well, I'm offering a start. Your usage of Kage Bunshin is unique and only you can do it. So I'm counting on you to find a solution."

Naruto shook his head. "You're still that lazy, huh? But just give it up, I taught myself the Keppan Techniques just so I can stand in my father's footsteps. Now that I have surpassed him I feel like I've reached the pinnacle already. There's nothing for me here in Konoha anymore. I don't want to be the Hokage of such an ungrateful Village."

Kakashi moved his head to the left as Shinobis were approaching them. "Think about it. I'll try to come up with something and Sakura's doing her best to find a cure or something for you in her free time. Even during work she's researching on Seals, trying to get on the same level as you."

"That's rather... pointless, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I told her the same thing, but... she's stubborn like that. Perhaps you could talk to her?"

Naruto smiled. "Talk to Sakura? We've hurt each other even more times than Sasuke and I have hurt each other. I think it's enough for the hurting, don't you agree?"

Kakashi shrugged. "Mind if I join you today? I want to see how your team is doing."

Naruto smiled at his former sensei. "Ah, you want to see what a real teacher looks like, huh?"

Kakashi didn't respond as Naruto's subordinates came into view.

---

Naruto sighed as he was approaching his home, the scent in the air familiar. "So I guess they told you where I live as well, huh? Those two are too much like women these days."

"Well... they missed you."

"Yeah, it can't be helped, I guess."

"Ah..."

"Don't bother." Naruto interrupted. "I'm just not in the mood."

Sakura dropped her head and prepared to turn around.

Naruto sighed at her and opened his door. "You want to come in, Sakura?"

---

TBC

A/N: Man, I've been sooooo freaking busy!! But I'm back in this game! I'm going to continue writing my fics as of now!! I'm first going to finish this fic, after that Melancholy's Smile and The Clashing and then I'm going to upload the next chapter of There Where When is Now... Book 3. It's been such a long time with that one, huh?

It can't be helped... Life is a puzzle and I still haven't found a single piece, damn it!!!

Best of luck to you and yeah, I know... This Chapter was a bit on the downside... But Naruto's going to die, this is a Sad Romance Fic, after all. Because, People who die when they're in their prime, will have the best funeral ever. And people will talk about them for ages to come.

I mean, look at the White Fang, The Fourth, the Sannin and so on and so on.

In the next Chapter: Gaara and Naruto talk. Tayuya makes an appearance and... Team 7 reunites and they have a mission together!!!

And a certain trio is chasing Sasuke... Hm, hm...

Well, later!!