The Sage's Apprentice.
Chapter 2: Who's that kid?
"Nearly there kid, keep a look out, you'll see it any second." It had been 4 months since Naruto had left Konoha. Him and his sensei Jiraiya, had done nothing but walk in that time. It had started to annoy the 7 year old, but he just kept getting told to wait. He was tired of waiting. Though he had to admit, it wasn't all bad. They'd stayed in a lot of inns, god the beds were so comfortable! He'd been in his first hot springs, he'd tried lots of new food, even if it couldn't compare with the Ramen he'd had at Ichiraku.
"Really? We're nearly there? THANK GOD, WE'VE BEEN WALKING FOREVEEEER!" Exclaimed a now very hyperactive ninja. The road they was on was awfully generic, nothing but trees for miles, but further down the road he could see light piecing the trees, what Naruto thought was an opening. The thought of nearly reaching his destination overtaking him, he ran forward as fast as he could. When he got to the light, he stopped, and took in the view.
He was standing on the top of a hill, the path arched downwards and split into 3 different paths. In the distance to his right, he saw it. The green line of threes that made the horizon in every direction burst up to form the mountain Jiraiya had told Naruto was named Myouboku. It wasn't high enough to have snow atop its summit, but it was still the biggest thing Naruto had ever seen. And wide, colossally wide. It was so wide it went to behind the tree line Naruto was standing even with. Catching up behind him was the man who had taken him with him. Naruto was still unsure what to think of the old man, but he seemed pretty nice, he'd bought Naruto a lot of food, and was promising to train him. Yes, he decided he did like Jiraiya.
"Stay close to me kid, here's the part that gets most people." The man in question told his younger companion. Walking next to him, Naruto noticed they were heading to the path going to the left.
"Hey old man, we're supposed to go right! Why are you going left?" Naruto had stopped walking and pointed to the mountain that was to his right, angrily demanding why they were obviously going the wrong way. To his surprise, Jiraiya simply laughed and shook his hand.
"Didn't I say this part gets most people? Trust me, it's left. I practically grew up here." Which was mostly true. Growing up to Jiraiya meant being mature. And some things, he absolutely knew, he was completely immature about. Naruto raised a fist about to retort when he was cut off.
"There's immensely powerful Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, and Fuinjutsu at work here Naruto, the other roads are fakes, and contain an immense amount of lethal traps. Unless you fancy being killed, and hiking past a lot of corpses, feel free to take the other paths. But even if we make it past the traps, we'll be immensely off course. By another month or so." That shut him up.
"There's Genjutsu placed on both the middle and left paths. Genjutsu, being the ninja art of Illusion, distorts your opponents senses and allows you to influence what your enemy see's, hears, feels, thinks. This Genjutsu makes the person looking to find Myouboku find the other paths more appealing. They smell nicer, fresher, and the person who doesn't realise they are afflicted with it will subconsciously almost always pick the middle or right paths." Naruto was now completely fixated on Jiraiya. This was his first lesson, so he listened intently.
"Ninjutsu, are a ninjas bread and butter. They are techniques employed to directly hurt your enemy, or help you to hurt your enemy. This is where there is the most variation in our field. Fire style, water style, wind style, earth style, lightning style and summoning, are the most common 'types' of Ninjutsu. And even within them there is an infinite potential for variation. If you walked down the other paths you would quickly find it is extremely hot and humid. Courtesy of a Ninjutsu which distorts the atmosphere, controlling it how the user wills. It is performed once a year by one of the great Toads of Mount Myouboku. This unbearable atmosphere fatigues, and wears an enemy down, so that he is too weary to notice the traps, or dies before he makes any real progress." Naruto was practically sat down listening to him now. Smart kid, that thirst for knowledge will definitely make it easier to train him.
"Finally, there is Fuinjutsu. This is a specialty of mine, and you're descended from a fine line of Fuinjutsu users. So that will definitely be something I teach you. Fuinjutsu is the art of sealing. Sealing may not seem like a very ninja like thing, but it is invaluable to everyday ninja, and to master it is to be able to face an enemy who will in all likelihood, have no defence planned for you. Ninja's who specialise in sealing often become great ninja. The 4th Hokage, was a master of sealing. Anyone who sets foot on this path will instantly become known to the toads who keep the seal in place, alerting them of any intruders. When this does happen, an elite squad of ninja toads are dispatched to deal with the intruder before he even sets his sights on Myouboku." Naruto simply stared in awe at him. Pleased his first lesson had gone down well, he turned around, about to walk on, when he walked straight into something very big, which knocked him flat on his ass.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Hey old man! Was this one of the toads you were telling me about? Hahahahahahaha!" Bursting into a fit of laughter a second later, it was clear to Jiraiya that Naruto had not been focusing on what Jiraiya was saying. Instead, at the 3 story high toad behind him. Huge, orange, and very toad like, stood Gamabunta. The 7 year old scar across his right eye, the pipe, the blue kimono top, and the 50ft long sword on his hip, yup, that was Gamabunta.
"Jiraiya! What the hell are you doing here? You were expected a month ago! Ma and Pa were worried sick. Soon as they felt your natural energy they sent me to come get ye'." The toad's voice was deep and loud, Naruto could hardly believe it.
"The kid slowed me down a bit, he's only 7. But does this mean we can get a ride back to-"
"OH MY GOD A TALKING FROG. YOU'RE HUGE. HOW DID YOU GET SO BIG? HOW CAN YOU TALK? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I'M NARUTO AND-" Naruto was quickly cut off when Gamabunta realised what Naruto had said.
"WHO YOU CALLING A FROG KID. I'M A TOAD. A TOAD. DON'T SHOVE ME IN WITH THAT LOT!" It would be around here that, for the first (and last) time, Naruto wet himself in fear. Cowering into a ball, he was scared stiff. He hadn't meant to upset the frog, no, toad. For sure he wouldn't say that again. We put his hands over his eyes but soon felt a very large hand on his back. It felt warm. Opening his eyes, he saw Jiraiya.
"He didn't mean to scare you kid, Gamabunta just has a bit of a temper. I won't let anything happen to you." The man grinned largely at Naruto, and the kid felt safe for the first time. He'd experienced beatings before. To see a Grown up who wasn't the old man smile at him, was weird, confusing, brilliant. Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes as he stood up and puffed out his chest. He marched past Jiraiya and stood right in front of Gamabunta, looking directly up into his eye.
"BRING IT ON YOU FAT SACK OF SHIT, I'M GONNA FUCK YOU UP SO BADLY YOU'LL WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN! EAT MY DICK YOU LITTLE PISSWANK."
…..
Neither of the two fully grown adults around him had ever heard someone so small spit out suck vile language, and both of them, coincidentally, found it hilarious. Fits of laughter erupted from both Jiraiya and Bunta. Naruto was confused, but he didn't let it show, he kept his strong face up, which only spurred them on further.
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I LIKE YOU KID. NO ONE'S DARED SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO ME SINCE I STILL HAD MY TAIL! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! TELL YOU WHAT KID, I'LL MAKE YOU MY HENCHMAN IF YOU GET STRONG ENOUGH! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto had a puzzled look on his face at this. Not many people had ever told him they'd liked him, much less offered to be friend, if only of a sort, with him. He could probably count them on one hand. Nevertheless, he was excited at the prospect.
"Really? You'll be my friend? Fucking awesome!" Naruto leapt for joy, until Jiraiya brought his hand down on Naruto's head. Hitting the ground with a thump and landing flat on his back, he looked up at Jiraiya with a look of betrayal on his face.
"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR GRAMPS?" Wincing in pain as he finished, obviously being too loud for his own head to manage.
"Look kid, it was funny, but cut down on the language. You're still just a kid, and I'm not having my apprentice go back to Konoha cursing like a sailor. It'll reflect badly on me you know!" Jiraiya scolded, crossing his arms and holding his head high in pride.
"HA! Worried about your image oh 'Gallant Jiraiya'? You do enough to reflect badly on yourself already, doubt people'd be surprised if Naruto went back with a filthy mouth, with the amount of filth you put in your 'Novels'! Anyway, get on my back, Ma and Pa are expecting you, and Ma's cooked up a feast!" Bellowed the giant toad.
Looking over to Jiraiya, the 7 year old could see how Jiraiya was about to retort, but a look of horror had passed on his face. He couldn't understand why, a feast sounded like heaven to him.
Nearly 2 hours later, Naruto understood why Jiraiya had a look of horror on his face. Sitting on the table in front of him was bowls and plates stacked up to the brim with all different kinds of bugs, crickets, worms, beetles, it was a toad's heaven. Ma and Pa were in the kitchen making beverages, while Naruto was sat next to Jiraiya, who had explained to him that 'Ma and Pa' were sages even stronger in some ways than Jiraiya. The young boy had expected to see toads even bigger than Gamabunta, so when he saw a pair of frogs that were as tall as his belly button, he couldn't help but burst out in laughter and disbelief.
The fact he was nursing a bruise on his head larger than his eyes had shut him up for the time being.
"Hahaha I told you he was strong kid. Fukasaku is one of the reasons I'm as strong as I am. Between him and the old man, they were both excellent teachers. While I'm away on missions, him and Shima will be instructing you. Not just in Ninjutsu, you'll learn Taijutsu, Genjutsu, we'll teach you how to read, how to write, how to outthink your opponent. By the time you're ready to go back, I want you to be able to wipe the floor with any Genin. Except maybe the Uchiha Kid. If he's Itachi's brother, he'll be a force to be reckoned with. It's not gonna be easy kid, unless you're prepared to commit 100%, I'll drop you right back in Konoha. And you can explain to the Old man how you weren't good enough for my training.' Nonchalantly looking off into the distance, Jiraiya's comments had exactly the effect he'd wanted.
"This'll be a walk in the park old man! Just watch! I'm gonna sail through your training! Then I'm gonna go back to Konoha and pass the exam! I'll be the strongest ninja ever!" This time, the shouting wasn't as loud, but there was something in Naruto's eyes which held Jiraiya's. Determination. Fire. He was Minato's and Kushina's alright. Through and through.
"I'd expect nothing less from my student. Now come on and chow down. If you close your eyes, its not as bad as you'd think.' The kid beamed in appreciation. Compliments, and recognition were things he'd never had before. This was going to be a fun few years, both of them thought.
The next morning Naruto awoke in one of the most horrible ways he thought he ever had been. Water Straight on his face, and Jiraiya standing above him making an attempt at a scary face.
"Time to get up Kid." In a dreadfully ghoulish but incredibly calm voice.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" Screamed an incredibly irritated child.
'The face didn't work? Damn it Tenzou scares the life out of me when he does it, guess I better work on it more' Thought Jiraiya.
"It's sunrise. We're beginning your training. Every morning you'll be doing dome form of training, apart from Sundays. Dawn till dusk, 6 days a week. Breakfast is at the table, eat it, and I'll meet you outside."
After a bowl of rice, which Naruto was extremely happy about (no bugs, just rice), Jiraiya made Naruto follow him into the immense forest around him. They Finally arrived at a somewhat small clearing, surrounded by immensely tall leaves, which sprung directly from the ground. The sun was jus rising as Jiraiya spoke to his student.
"Ok. I guess the first thing I need to teach you is Chakra. You're a bit young, but I'm sure you'll be up to it. You know what chakra is Naruto?"
Naruto shook his head to answer no.
"Chakra is an energy created in a Ninja's body by combining the Spiritual energy and Physical Energy inside your body. Spiritual energy comes from your experiences, your strength, and age, it's the energy of who you are. It's what makes you, you. Physical energy is the energy present in your body, in every cell of every tissue. You don't have to understand all of that just yet, but when you start moulding your chakra, knowing where it comes from will help you a lot, and you'll be able to mould it quicker."
Naruto looked very confused, but understood the basic concept, you mix chakra together inside of you. Explaining to Jiraiya, he was glad to hear he was right.
"Basically yes, that's all you need to know right now. Chakra is used in all Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, and most Taijutsu styles. Without Chakra we'd be nothing more than hired swords. The most powerful ninja can move mountains, create forests, split oceans, decimate entire armies in a flash. Today, you're going to learn to mould chakra. But that's not something that can be taught in a conventional way. You have to mould your first chakra yourself."
Jiraiya plucked a small leaf from a nearby bush and walked over to Naruto.
"Lie down on your back Naruto." He did so. Jiraiya looked very carefully at Naruto, then placed the leaf right over the kids heart.
"Ok, what I want you to do, is mould your first chakra. You have to imagine drawing energy from every part of your body, and mixing it together in your chest. The first time you do it, it'll hurt. Normally you have a set amount of chakra naturally formed flowing through you, moulding it puts more into your body than you usually use. When you do it, the leaf will hover for as long as you keep the chakra in your chest." And with that Jiraiya sat down a little further away from Naruto, took out some empty scrolls and a brush, and started writing on them, observing Naruto as he tried to mould his first chakra.
An hour later, Naruto had gotten no where, and was verbally complaining.
"Why won't this stupid leaf move? I'm doing exactly what you told me! It's too hard!" Naruto Stood up and threw the leaf to the ground, then sat down in a hump.
Sighing, Jiraiya picked up another leaf.
"Lie back down." As Naruto was about to protest, Jiraiya simply said it again.
"Lie back down.." This time, without protest, he did so. This time though, Jiraiya put his hand over the leaf, and Naruto felt something very weird in his chest. It was warm, strong, and felt a little sad to Naruto. Jiraiya removed his hand from Naruto's chest, and sat beside him.
"That, is chakra. The smallest of amounts I think I can muster. Remember that feeling. You have to recreate that feeling in your chest. Not exactly the same, but you get the idea. That's what you have to do."
Naruto closed his eyes, and concentrated, he pulled with his head from every part of his body, and without warning, his body exploded in warmth, and then heat. He let out a cry of pain as it his whole body for a split second screamed out in agony. Then, as soon as it came, it stopped. Naruto sat up, drenched in his own sweat and wiping tears from his eyes.
"That hurt! I did just do it right?" Looking up to Jiraiya, there was a look of pure astonishment on his face.
"Kid, you just made the leaf explode." The leaf didn't explode exactly, but right now, Jiraiya was having trouble explaining his words.
"Is…that good?" Replied Naruto.
"Kid. That, is unheard of. Get up, that's enough for today." And with that, They got up, and started thr walk back to Ma and Pa's house. Jiraiya said nothing the whole way there, while Naruto was jumping around shouting about how he was the strongest ninja alive.
'Not just yet you aren't. But with a chakra reserve that big, judging by how flooded his chakra system became, you'll be well on your way soon enough. No one's ever moulded chakra that fast, even Sensei said it took him a whole day his first try. This kid's a genius. But that scream of pain, was that the Nine tails' fault? I better study Minato's seal some more, but for now, rest, I daresay the kid has earned it.'
Chapter 2: End.
Authors Notes:
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! I've had a lot of university work to do. Who knew Genetics would be so hard huh? There's going to be a few time skips next chapter, and by chapter 4 or 5 our hero will be back in the Leaf Village. Reviews are always welcome!
Oh and regarding Pairings, I can safely say I'm not doing NaruHina or NaruSaku. My Naruto has his own preference in women. Which will become clear enough by the Chunin exam.
Peace!