Alright, I've slacked off long enough. Time for my next update.

The current Bloodline poll are as follows:

Bloodlines - 6
No Bloodlines - 2 (Yes, I was the second one who said no. I await the bricks to come flying through my window any day now.)

So bloodlines are currently in the lead. Looking into the review board, (Which I thank to those who reviewed) I have seen the following bloodline ideas:

- A 'Mutated' version of the Sharingan, which is apparently able to copy other bloodlines. (I'll count II for this idea)
- Is able to stop other bloodline limits. (I)
- Physical enhancing bloodline limit. (I)
- Able to talk to animals. (I)
- 'Any will do' (I)

So currently the copying idea is in the lead. The kekkei genkai of Naruto's shall be revealed soon... but not in this chapter.

Now, on with the show!

Disclaimer: Please tell me that I can stop writing these things. You guys should know by now that if Naruto was mine I would've screwed up aeons ago.

Chapter 10

Naruto cursed at his misfortune while the three were hopping through the forest, Sasuke and Hinata tailing him very closely, as if he would run at the first chance.

Which he most likely would have done.

He knew that he really shouldn't have copied the scroll word for word. Especially if that scroll said in giant letters "Secret Forbidden scroll of sealing. Do not steal."

Which it had. And which was why he was paying the price by coming up with some kind of excuse.

"I told you to take your bullshitting lessons more seriously, but nooo, you thought that you didn't need it. I'm disappointed in you brat. The most feared vessel of the most strongest summon is afraid of his team mates and can't bullshit. I could just die in shame," sobbed Kyuubi in his chibi fox form again. He was sitting in one of the corners of his cage and was sulking.

'Cry me a river. I know I should've done it. It's too late to repair the damage, though.' Naruto retorted with a small sigh.

"Well, now that you mention it... You could, of course go back in time aga-"

'No. There is no way in hell I'm doing that timetravelling jutsu again. You tell me to do it and I will make sure to give "Karin-chan" to Rin to keep. And you know you can't poof out of there without my permission.'

Silence.

Satified with the distance they managed to go, Naruto nodded towards his friends and said, "Alright, this should be far enough. Now what do you want out of me?"

"I suppose we should start with your summon. Since when were you able to do that?" asked Sasuke curiously. Naruto pondered over what he should tell.

Finally he decided to summon again.

"Here. I'll summon the fox again. He can explain," he said, smiling evilly inwardly.

"Thanks a lot for getting me to explain, kit. Thanks very fuckin' much."

'No, no... It's my pleasure, oh great and powerful Kyuubi-chan.' Biting his thumb and getting it to bleed, he started to make the seals again.

"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" He shouted, slamming his palm onto the ground. Smoke billowed forth, and out came... A small sign.

"Gone to recover internal bleeding. If that Rin person is there, tell her I'm dead. Do not disturb or summon me. Ever again," read Hinata out loud. "Naruto-kun, I don't think the little fox is going to come out."

Furiously, Naruto punched the sign. "Come out of there, you bastard!"

The sign transformed into the little fox the two saw. It seemed that "Karin-chan" was still alive. And can use henge, apparently.

"You didn't have to punch me so hard, dammit!" Yapped the fox angrily, "It was just a joke!"

"Riiight. You just didn't want to be out here, you ass. Now, explain about the summoning business or else I'll give you to Rin-nee chan dressed like a samurai," he said, crossing his arms.

"Fine," said the fox with a huff. "No need to be so grumpy about it. Anyway, why Naruto has us foxes is for one simple reason," he cleared his throat dramatically. "The reason was... That we have no clue."

The three collapsed in a small heap, twitching at the answer. This guy was no better than Kakashi's attitude, if not worse!

"Karin-chan..." muttered Naruto with a cold, quiet anger, using Rin's name for Kyuubi. "I am one miniscule step closer from giving you to Rin with you wearing a Kataginu(1) and a matching Hakama(2)." The others sweatdropped.

"Uh... the... information is classified?" He tried to say weakly.

"With a tiny katana to match. And I will personally make more outfits for her to dress you up in, especially pink, frilly dresses."

"Alright! I'll talk! Just not the frilly dresses, anything but that!" the fox yapped and involuntarily shuddered. "The reason why ol' blondie here can summon me is that found me injured in the forest by hunters that aren't so fond of foxes. My last summoner, who's name I shall not mention, was abandoned by my clan for a crime that will never be forgiven. This information is classified and not even the threat of Rin can I give it. Anyways, he managed to nurse me back to health, and luckily for him, I was the one who was able to give the responsibility to anyone as a summoner. In other words, I was the one who carried the blood contract.
Needless to say, Naruto was excited at this and signed right after I explained that to him. So, there you go. There's your explanation. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm due for some well-deserved rest from the damage that Rin gave me."

With a poof the fox disappeared. Naruto stared at Hinata and Sasuke, wanting their judgement.

"So... That a good enough explanation?" The two nodded, but Sasuke wasn't completely satisfied.

"Alright, so you were able to explain about the summon. But what about the scroll? How did you manage to pass the genin exam anyway?" Naruto sighed at this question. This was something he slightly dreaded.

"Like I said before, it's an S-ranked secret. But I'll tell you," he breathed in and out deeply, then began his explanation.

"You remember Mizuki-sensei, our other Academy instructor? Apparently, he wanted the scroll and decided to use me to get it. As you might have seen, I'm not exactly well-liked by the villagers and he was no different. So I, being the gullible idiot as always, fell for his trick and managed to steal the scroll. It seems that Hokage-jii chan's a pervert," he said, smirking at the thought. (3)

"Anyway, I decided to copy the scroll out mainly because there are a lot of cool techniques in there. I focused on learning the first technique, then Iruka-sensei showed up, where we were attacked by Mizuki-sensei. Iruka-sensei was injured, so I used Kage bunshin no jutsu and kicked his ass. The original scroll is back where it is, but the copy I hid in the base of a tree trunk. And... yeah, that's about it, really," he finished. He then added sarcastically, "Anything else, oh humble master and mistress?"

"Actually, yes. Why are you disliked so much by the villagers? Do you know the answer?" asked Hinata. Naruto paused at this.

"That, my dear friends, is classified. I'm serious. Ask the Hokage for me to be able to freely tell you. But for now, let's just think of it as... a misunderstood bloodline. I'm giving you guys one last question before we h-" he was cut short by an eager Sasuke.

"So, you going to let us learn the scroll as well? If not, I'm going to tell Hokage-sama for telling the S-ranked secret and the pervert remark," he asked smugly.

"What! That's blackmail!" spluttered the blond hotly.

"It's strategy."

Dumbfounded, Naruto opened his mouth and closed it, similar to a gaping fish.

"F... Fine! But I'm not going to be held responsible for this!"

Hinata smiled faintly at the small grin Naruto hid beneath his bemused expression.

"The so-called Demon of the Mist can't even be brave enough to face a couple of kids? How pathetic! You're not even a demon! You're just a baby!" A small man in a business laughed histerically at his tasteless joke. The two ronin (4) that stood beside him laughed weakly along with him.

His laughter was cut short by the swing of a gargantuan sword. The wielder glared at him, his killing intent strong to unnerve the other men in the room save for a smaller figure in a mask.

"Don't worry. Trust me, I'll kill those little babies they call ninja and the bridge builder. Just make sure to pay up when I'm done."

The businessman, also known as Gatou, cursed at him before leaving the room, bodyguards following faithfully. The smaller figure spoke up.

"Zabuza-san, I do not trust that man. I'm not even sure he will pay us."

"Neither do I, Haku. But it's not like we have anywhere else to go, do we? The Mist certainly ain't going to welcome me back with open arms without an executioner, and I highly doubt the other villages would accept us," replied the man nonchalantly.

Haku stared into the sky, almost in wonder at the stars and longing for something.

'Maybe someday we can be accepted,' he thought. 'Maybe someday we could live somewhere we could truely call home...'

Notes:

(1) Katagunu - A sleeveless vest-like thing that was worn by traditional Samurai in the Feudal Era.

(2) Hakama - The pants that go with the Kataginu.

(3) In the manga and the anime, Naruto used the Orioke no jutsu to give the Sandaime a nosebleed, knocking him out. Still is damn funny.

(4) Ronin - Wandering samurai who have no master to serve. Apparently it is a very shameful thing to be.

...And we are done in this chapter! Finally!

By the way, I'm sure that most of you guys are aware that Naruto fillers are still going. Now, I don't mean to be offensive to anyone or anything, but I hate them. They're driving me to the point of insanity now.

Someone posted a note that I feel represents most in the Naruto community watching these fillers.

And I feel your pain, buddy, I feel your pain.