Mortal Mind
Previously, Naruto dreamt of being killed countless times then met a strange girl who fought miraculously. He confronted her to save his acquaintances but end up getting poisoned himself at the cost of his own hand.
Chapter 2 Eat and Sleep
36 Hours ago
In a temple surrounded by hills and limitless woodland, a black haired girl straightened up from a bowed position after hearing a familiar name. "The Ninth Paradigm?" She spoke with interest to her superiors hidden behind the wooden curtains. "He is said to be the final remnant of the most powerful tailed beast known to man, possessing no human morals and principles."
"Have you heard of him, Amena Uchiha?" One of the female saint inquired.
She had never truly seen him but known only by falsified reports and hoaxes. "Only in rumours."
An aged male saint 'hum' in thought. "In this world inhabited by both humans and nature, why do demons, the greatest enemy of mankind, exist alongside us?"
"Because we formed the sacred treaty." Amena immediately answered, understanding the discrimination and tolerance, along with the great power these great beings hold.
The saint concurred. "Indeed. With the deadlock between the 5 elemental nations, each has their own Bijus, we were able to come to an agreement."
The female saint continued. "However, with The Fire Nation in the bleeding edge, should the fusion of the 9 Paradigms is absolute, the balance will be disrupted and mankind would be once again plunge in a war of massive scale." She finished in a passive tone, hoping the outcome will never happen. She formed a handsign and a picture glides out to Amena. "Look at this."
She examined the picture with curiosity of a young blonde whiskered-teenager. "Who is…?"
"Is he your type?" She teased passively earning a curious look from her. "He is Uzumaki Naruto, the one we have recognized as the 9th Paradigm." She examined once again, thinking that this man might be a material of great interest. "Bring out the item we discussed." Their servant nodded and a long metal case was placed before Amena. Behind the curtains, the saints formed countless gestures simultaneously, opening the case from its complex lock. The content lay within earned a wide look from the Uchiha. "This is one of the Class-S assault weapon known as Teigu. Its name is Murasame. It is all we can offer as a parting gift to you." She was slightly taken aback to be gifted of such a phenomenal weapon. "Amena Uchiha, in the name of the Three Saints of the Raion Organization. I command you to do everything in your power to approach Uzumaki Naruto, the 9th Paradigm, and observe his actions. And if you determined that he is a threat to the world, you are to eliminate him."
"Eliminate?" She muttered.
"We trust you will carry out your duties as a Sword Shaman in an exemplary fashion."
"Understood." She bowed to the floor before the Three Saints, leaving with the parting gift for her next destination.
Now (Night) Naruto's apartment
Naruto's eyes flutter, his vision blurred to the familiar ceiling. He could feel moist drenching down his forehead, cooling his head to the bare minimum. Warm blanket over bare chest, he sighed feeling a foreign presence in the room. He glanced to the side and there she was, that insane girl, sat in a sleeping position against the wall, head wobbling back and forth, saliva seeping down. 'She looked cute though.' He then saw the bucket of water at the bedside, still cool.
'She's been taking care of me? Damn, what did I get myself into?' In a side note at least he didn't get any nightmares. He raised his formerly dismembered hand. 'Yeah...Hello ...' He peered at the window and the night was still young. He sat up straight and the rustling of the bedsheets instantly woke her up.
She grasp her sword and lean the blade close to his neck, mortifying the blonde completely. "Why are you in my room?!"
She demanded sternly and Naruto waved his hands around frantically. "HOLD UP HOLD UP HOLD UP! DON'T MURDER ME IN MY OWN HOUSE!"
Realization dawned over her to the perpetrator. "Oh? It's you." She blankly said in a passive tone.
"YES IT'S ME! GET THAT THING AWAY FROM ME DAMNED GORILLA!" Purple marks appeared on his head, feeling a tingling sensation that the blade was mere fingerbreatdth from his lump.
"Why did you call me a gorilla?" A menacing purple aura was looming and manifesting behind her, freezing the blonde to the core.
"COME ON! GIVE ME A BREAK!"
"You've had enough!" Brrrggggrrrggghhhh. The earth shattering sound broke the tension, provoking the girl to turn away in embarrassment.
Naruto stared at her blankly, her aggressive aura washed away turning into an innocent girl. He scratched his head and approached her. "Um, are you hungry? You haven't been eating since you were looking out for me? Do you live alone by any chance?"
She irritatedly glare at him, "Wh-What if I do?" He crouched down and grinned. "Huh?"
"At least let me butter some food. It's the least I can for the girl who took care of me, right?" He spoke purely on gratitude, causing her to flutter her eyes, courtesy to someone who almost killed him.
Later. She stared curiously at the relaxed blonde, brewing up some tea and frying up the pan. "Ano...May I ask a question?" He motioned to her as he microwaved a pack of red bean cake. "Why are you so laid-back? I mean right after committing self-amputation on your hand?"
"Oh? You saw it?" She nodded, remembering all flesh and blood he had lost receded back to its host, especially the hand. "Well when I was a kid, I got lost in a forest and a wolf came out of the bush then WHAM!" He startled her with animalistic gestures. "We fought in a tug-o-war and it ripped my hand off. Long story short, I wrestled the damn wolf and tamed it under my command. That's how I got got of the forest."
"Really?!" She gaped in disbelief.
Naruto laughed jokingly. "Nah I made that up!" She was slightly disappointed but giggled nonetheless. "But in all seriousness, I got my hand stuck between two great golden valleys during a trip to the museum. Turns out, they don't want to risk millions of yen just to break the statue, so they amputate it." Naruto ended with a chopping effect using a cleaver startling her once again.
"Seriously?!" She gawked in skepticism.
Naruto turned to her with shit-eating grin. "Nope, just kidding! You see what I did there?" She giggled melodiously at his antics, never thought she would fall for it twice. "If I happen to lost a limb, it dosent grow without its former. It simply reattach itself.' The blonde stated then-TING! The microwave tinkered indicating the end of its period. "Oh! It's ready!"
"Do you need a hand?" She asked pressing the final word.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Naruto held back his laughter at her attempt. "Yes, please." He accepted her request as he got his hands full with tea on the other and cakes on the latter.
CLAP
CLAP
CLAP
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto was laughing hysterically but was losing balance holding up the meal. Luckily, she got the tray letting the blonde to calm down across from her. "Man..my sides hurt. I haven't laughed like this for quite a while." Naruto mused aloud then address to his flustered guest. "Tea?"
"Yes, please." She nodded politely motioning him to pour separately. When the peaceful aroma trailed to her nose, she raised the teaspoon into the tea and stir it tenderly. "Which hand should you stir your tea?" She nonchalantly beamed at the whiskered blond.
He shined a smirk lifting up the teacup. "Neither-you should use a spoon!"
They shared a series of laughter cracking up stupid jokes every now and then with amusing comebacks. A moment later, the atmosphere thins when Naruto spat out blood, coughing violently onto the floor trembling on his knees. His throat was hoarse and raspy, forcing him to jab his lungs repeatedly. "Uzumaki Naruto!" She got up in distressed for the demoralized blonde.
"NO! Don't concern yourself with me. (COUGH)(COUGH)(COUGH)." He repulsively ward her off from her aid causing the lights in the household to flicker ominously. He took a deep breath, slowly and calmly regaining back to his usual state. "Sorry you had to see that." He said apologetically leaning back against the wall.
"Sorry?" She muttered bitterly away from his ears,
"It happens every night. No one was supposed to know and you're the first. May I ask you a favour?" He asked nonchalantly paying no less attention to his sorry state.
"What is it?"
"Don't tell anyone about this. No eyes and ears should have witnessed or heard of any of this." Naruto stated seriously, concealing his counteractive facade.
The charcoal-eyed girl sighed then put her hands on her hips and gave him an irritated look. "You think it'll too much trouble for anyone to know? You're so selfish…"
Naruto stared at the floor dejectedly. "I mean it'll be too much trouble for anyone to deal with. Maybe I am...I know it's stupid but in return, I'll let you off the hook and keep it a secret about what happened in the park." Naruto persuaded earning a faint expression from the raven.
"F-Fine! We have a deal…" She hid her blush behind her bangs, concluding the end of the rope.
"That's a relief." Realization dawned into him putting himself in a state of a rattling bottle. "Woah! I didn't get your name!" The whiskered and the warrior shared the same reaction, gaping and baffled.
"Oh?! That's right!" She sat down politely before him and smiles with a red tinge on her cheeks. "U-um...My name is Uchiha Amena. Pleased to meet your acquaintance!" She bowed her head slightly as Naruto soon followed by.
He ':o' in amazement at the surname "Uzumaki Naruto...I'm obviously sure you know already."
"Ano...what should I call you?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Decide that for yourself...Amena-chan."
She blushed at the suffix but beamed nonetheless. "A-Alright..."
They shared an awkward silence as the crickets of the night could be heard cricking. Naruto glanced to the clock to find it was way beyond midnight and he felt sleep could be another time. "We still have ample time, anything you want to talk about?"
"Don't you have school tomorrow?" Or should it be this morning?
Naruto shrugged boredly. "Yeah but I hate sleeping again after a long nap, especially at night."
Her eyes lost all of its casual manner replaced by a passive expression. "Alright then, what you should kno-!"
"HOLD UP!" Naruto hovered a hand over her face.
"Eh?!"
"There's a re-aired episode of DragonballZ coming up in a few minutes!" The whiskered teenager exclaimed in distressed with his hands wavering around like a fright chicken. He stood up in a battle stand posing as an army general. "GET TO THE SOFA! I'LL HEAT THE RAMEN AND BEAN SOUP!"
Amena deadpanned staring at the hasty blonde of the kitchen, then switched on the television and within a moment, he appeared beside her grinning like an idiot and snacks magically arose into view on the table. She didn't get to tell him but supposedly it can wait during advertisements.
Next morning
The morning rays shone through the sheets into the eyelids of the raven-haired. She hears the faint beating call of drums and the tender surface of which her head was laying upon, rosing and receding steadily. The warmness was not from the morning rays but the embrace of the surface she was resting on. She could hear and feel a distant but faint blow onto the top of her head, puffing her hair gently. Her eyelids opened timid to an unfamiliar blurred sight of a radiant living room. She peered her eyes around then it all came into mind and she recalled that they were watching an anniversary marathon or some kind which led to an overnight stay. The television was still active but the volume was kept to a minimum, muffled in her ears. Seeing nothing of interest she closed her eyes with the intention of going back to a warm and peaceful slumber.
"Ngah...don't eat me Bakemono Ramen." She heard a groaning mumble within the vicinity and it was her natural instinct to investigate. She grouchily rose her head from her precious pillow seeping saliva from her lips. "Ngahdid you change flavour? You smell like lavender…" The voice was closer than she thought and turns her head to the source.
Naruto was cowering away from a Ramen Monster for slaughtering and eating her delicious children. The monster was giving off a different vibe than usual, it felt peace and welcoming but Naruto knew better that it was a trap leading to inevitable death. But the Ramen Monster had a trick up its...noodle? It unleashes an aroma never smell before and it immediately took control over Naruto. He cursed his fate but at least he knew he will die happy. He walked surly towards the deceptive giant bowl of noodles, seeping saliva from his watery mouth. When the blonde draws near, the Ramen monster opens it jaws wide and devoured him in a bloody massacre.
Naruto startly woke up from the uneventful outcome. His eyes ware blurry and he could feel a heavy weight on his chest. His awareness wasn't the best and so he stare of what's over him for as long as he could imagined. He leisurely gazed at the beauty before him. Her raven hair was messy in all places but he could still see her charcoaled eyes. Sleeveless black shirt exposing her soft radiant arms and the fabric endowed her well developed chest. He then peered to her collarbone, narrow and exposed. He never knew why it appealed to him so much but it was for another thought when he recognized his subject.
"Oh? It's you…" Her face was glowing red as the Sun and the next thing Naruto knew that he was face first on the floor.
SLAP!
The burning sensation etched into his cheek but he smiled nonetheless. "Good morning, Amena-chaaaaan." He greeted her in a sleepy daze.
"HENTAI!"
Later at the Academy
The Uzumaki caressed his cheek from a tight slap he got this morning for walking into his own bathroom without knocking. The view was misty and smudge so he wasn't sure what he saw but he went to school without bathing. Sat at the top corner of the class near the window, he peered over the classroom with a dazed look. It was minutes before period and students were still coming and cluttering around, ready for the time passing. These are common folks, born and raised through ordinary means with no particular nature of bond from a dynamic clan or an influential individual. No strings attached and developed through conventional means.
His was brought off from his train of thought when a plaster was taped over his scraping wound on his cheek. He glanced to the applier and there she was, standing over him concerned of his state. "Tenten?"
She was timidly blushing while making final adjustments to the plaster. "You don't seemed to be doing too good these past weeks. Is there something wrong?"
"NOTHING'S WRONG!" Naruto stood his ground and shouted at her face silencing the cluttered class for they looked at him with peering eyes. He sat back down in embarrassment but eventually they lost interest and minded their own business.
"Really Naruto? There's nothing bothering you?" She said in a passive tone and Naruto shamed himself for doing something so reckless.
He got up from his seat to blow himself out of his guilty trip and faced her like a man. He pulled her to the academy's rooftop and turned to her. "S-sorry about that. Please forgive me!" He bowed down out of sheer will and respect. He waited for her response for what it seems like minutes staring at the floor. 'Come on...let's get this over with!'
"Apology accepted…" The graduated genin accepted his plea and the blonde straighten in relief. She crossed her arms and gave an earnest look. "Naruto, I respect your privacy but hiding away in the corner isn't going to do you any good."
"But-!"
"You're too obvious." She cut him off. "...I'm aware of what you're going through and as your childhood friend, I feel responsible that I should take care of you as you did countless times for me. You've always been there but you couldn't even take care of yourself. Don't you remember what happened?"
Naruto sighed and looked away. "Don't remind me…"
"That's right!" She confirmed with her index finger. "It was a critical lesson and does it not apply to you today?" He didn't answer not like she expected to. "I have no intent to entitle you to me but Naruto.." She called out for him, touching his wound for their eyes met longingly. "...no matter what happens, don't be too hard on yourself."
They shared a moment of comfortable silence under each other's company. As time passed, Naruto held her hand. "I understand. But the time of revelation isn't today. When I wish for it, you will be the first to be granted."
The bun-haired girl smiled kindly to him with a quirk of her head. "That's a relief...don't think you can leave me out in the dark."
Naruto mused. "You always find your way through. By the way, what are you doing here?"
She pretended to look hurt and whined. "Ehhhhh? Don't you feel glad that your good 'ol girlfriend came to see you." She inwardly thanked Iruka in advance for notifying her though she was aware of it the whole time. What took her seconds to realize until she replayed a quadrillion times of what she had said earlier. Her face grew red from the sudden realization and she couldn't even look at him the same way.
"We was that?" He figured he said something wrong when she turned 180 away from her glowing face. "You' okay?"
"NO! I MEAN YES!" She exclaimed in denial and acceptance but hid her wavering sense of embarrassment. 'There's no way i could say something as trivial as that! This is Naruto!'
Naruto decided putting it in thought is unimportant but still confused as a rock. 'Women...' "Class is starting soon...would you mind as to accompany me back?"
She turned back to him and stood firm with a red tinge across her cheeks. "N-not at all!" As they walk towards their destination, Tenten talked about her past three months with her squadmates and overly active leader. In the corridors, they exchanged hand gestures and fist bumps indicating their parting for the next meeting. As Tenten head her way, she walked passed a raven-haired and their presence did not go unacknowledged.
Iruka addressed his class when all is accounted for. "As for today, class. We have a new transferred student. She will be attending class until graduation so get to know her as much as you can. Come in." Iruka motioned for the student to come in and Naruto thought in what tarnation would a student be transferred at this particular point of time? This means serious business.
The boys of the class awed and whistled in amazement while the girls blushed in envy of her appearance and body language. She was a spectacular beauty of the eyes and a figure to be dealt with. "My name is Uchiha Amena. Let this be our first encounter and never the last reunion." The sentenced swayed hearts of Men and the class turned into a market festival, loud and bolstering for her undivided attention.
Iruka thought this girl was a gimmick to a scheme but he got a plan of his own. "Don't be hasty, class. She'll be here temporarily so don't cross your fingers just yet. Amena-san, why don't you take a seat beside Uzumaki Naruto in the right corner." She bowed to the class and head up to her destined seat. She sat cheekily beside the irritatedly annoyed blonde whom narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"What are you plotting? Slap me again?" He bitterly muttered as Iruka started the lesson with his understandably preoccupied student.
She leaned her head closer and whispered. "Something like that. Now pay attention!"
After school
They sat side by side on a counter stool of a small sushi stand. Their meals were before them and Amena started eating but Naruto was still in an exasperate state. He simply watched her joyously eating sushis but it was an odd reaction for Naruto. "So you eat sushis like a normal person, huh?"
She swallowed her food and looked at him strangely. "What does that mean?"
"You just didn't seem like the type of person who'd come to a place like this." Naruto stated remembering the huge charade at class, boys and girls wooing over her. In perspective, she was titled as a popular girl.
Her eyes narrowed slightly and she sounded a tad bit annoyed. "Are you making fun of me? Yeah, the High God Forest's village might be a bit on the small side, but you can still get sushis and the like there."
Naruto peeked interest of the location. "High God Forest? Formerly Kusagakure?(Village Hidden In the Grass) Is that the school you came from?"
She confirmed earnestly. "Yes, or rather a front for it. Inside, it's actually a training academy for the Rairon Organization. Just like here. You do know about the Rairon Organization, right?" She asked expectantly but the blonde blinked.
"Nope, not really." He mildly replied staring at something on the corner of her lips.
She was slightly taken-aback. "How can you not know?"
The whiskered blonde shrugged nonchalantly. "How am I supposed to answer that? I've never heard the name before." He picked up a tissue paper and gestured the sauce on her face.
She blushed in realization and wipes it off. "The Rairon Organization is a secret service agency which is part of the National Public Safety Commission and works to prevent large-scale disasters and terrorism. "I'm a Sword Shaman, I was sent here to Konohagakure to observe you-"
Naruto cut her off. "Hold up a moment. Observe me? Why?"
She quirked her head. "Why"? Well...you really don't know?"
"Know what?" He asked bewilderedly.
"The Jinchurikis and Paradigms themselves are considered to be on equal footing with an entire nation's military force. Naturally, that includes someone such as yourself. In other words, your very presence is treated the same as an act of terror or war." She stated with seriousness straight to his gaping face.
"So not only am I considered human, I'm not even considered a living thing anymore?" He felt like hiding in the corner but the only solution was to slump exasperatedly on the counter.
"Senpai…" She leaned closer with the intention retrieve information or expect results. "What do you intend to do here? Isn't there some reason you're concealing your identity and hiding in plain sight?" He raised his brow. "For example, using the Leaf Village as a foothold towards building your own dominion?"
"Now, wait a minute! I'm not hiding. I was born and raised on this village since before I became a demon." He clearly stated with a frown.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I've lived on this village since before I became-"
She stood up and slammed the table. "That can't be true!" She injected in differ of his claim. "For a normal human to become a demon-and a Paradigm, no less-they would have to gain immortality through the forbidden arts of the lost void, or…" Her exclamation was overheard causing the people around to glance at her. She sat back down and Naruto waved them off. "Don't tell me…" She continued once again pertaining his undivided attention. "You didn't consume a Paradigm to become one yourself, did you?"
He scratched his whiskers in thought, his expression solemn. "I don't understand it too well myself. I just know that fool forced this irritating condition onto me."
"What fool?"
"The original 9th Paradigm. The previous vessel of the Nine Blood." He muttered loud enough for only her to hear remembering a distant memory.
"Why did the 9th Paradigm choose you as an heir? How did you even meet a Paradigm in the first place?" More questions surfaces the less he answers.
"Well…" A metallic distortion disrupt his vision and he could feel a blade piercing down his head. Naruto gritted his teeth in immense pain, sweat beading down his head. His grip on his mug broke in pieces and he was trembling violently.
"What's wrong?!" She stood hovering her hands over him.
The blonde in turmoil answered, his voice raspy and clinging for life. "Sorry, Amena. I can't remember what happened back then…If I try, I become wracked with pain."
She sighed in relief, her head bowed in acceptance. "I understand."
He was in the edge of recovery and looked at her disorientedly. "Huh...You believe me?"
She looked back at him with an assuring smile. "Yes. I feel like I can tell whether you're lying or not." She switched her gaze to the fluid staining his left pants. "Turn this way, I'll wipe off your leg."
"Oh no, It's fine."
She voluntarily intended to do it just that and took a napkin. "It'll stain. Come on." She motioned him with her finger and he reluctantly did just as told. He blinked nervously as she wipe the stain gently. "I was ordered by the Rairon Organization to eliminate you if you deemed dangerous.
The blue eyed stutter. "E-Eliminate me?!"
"I think I understand why now…" She pieced everything together and their eyes was in contact. "...You don't realize what you are. I feel like you're in a very precarious position." Naruto sighed in defeat, accepting her statement but she gave him a confident look. "But don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take care of it with Murasame."
Naruto panicked. "You mean the thing that almost killed me?! NO THANKS!"
She placed a hand on his shoulder to relax him. "I know-I know. I have other tricks up my sleeves. What are you doing after this, Senpai?"
"U-Uh...I was planning to go to the library and do my long overdue homework." He hitched his breath of doing such trivial matters but he would rather not risk his academics.
"The library? Got it." She confirmed and turned back on her seat.
"You're...going to come with me?"
She looked at the corner of her eyes intently. "Yes. Is that a problem?"
He shook his head. "Well, I wouldn't say it's a problem, but…" Realization dawned over him. "Wait, you're gonna stick around forever?"
She faced him fully with a quirk. "Of course. I'm here to observe you."
He stared at her in disbelieve. 'Maybe this means I should try harder to come to terms with the fact that I've become the 9th Paradigm.' She simply smiled at him as he deadpans and slumped back staring at the ceiling. "Dammit. Gimme a break-dattebayo."
AAAAAnnnndd there you have it! If you noticed any critical mistakes please PM me immediately! English isn't the best so please don't criticism me for it, let the hate flow through the story.
If you have any questions about this chapter please feel free to review.
If you're still unsure of what Amena looks like, check out my profile and you'll find the link.
There's also a Fanfic with PICS from the internet that might relate to the situation.
That is all! Review, Fav, Follow my ass!