Ok, sorry for the delay but here's the next chapter, it's a little short but hopefully you, my glorious readers, won't hate me for it. And now, on to fan mail!
andysanime: thank you for the praise my friend.
ddcj1990: thank you.
LIghtningblade49: I'm glad you like Naruto's log to book idea and I do plan on keeping the POV going.
Ryo no Kitsune: I'll explain gokai in the next chapter, not really planning on the inheritance thing, and the souvenirs will come into play much MUCH later in the story.
Ultimate-Zelda-fan: I honestly hadn't thought of that but I will take it into consideration.
soulofdragon1: thank you.
Darkness-Over-Evil: grow up.
DragonFire Princess: thanks, I'll keep it going.
Guest who reviewed on 7/4/12: I'm trying to keep them blended well and no need to thanks me for writing, it's my passion.
All right now, I don't own a damn thing and on with the story.
The vegetable trio led the Straw Hats to the beach. They looked around and found Luffy…sleeping…on his head.
"Is he ok?" Zoro asked.
"He's not," Nami started. Naruto squatted down and poked Luffy with a nearby stick. In response, Luffy snored.
"Out cold." He said. Everyone else did an anime fall. Naruto unfolded the unconscious captain and started slapping his face.
"It doesn't look like that's working." Zoro said.
"Well, then, there's only one thing to do." Naruto said. "Hey Luffy, I've got some fresh meat here." Luffy's eyes snapped open and he sprang to his feet.
"Meat!" he shouted and looked around. "Hey what's going on?"
"That's what we'd like to know." Nami said.
"Well I was talking with Usopp and we saw that butt-ler and some weird guy talking about how there was some plan to kill Miss Kaya." Luffy said. "They said they were bringing in a whole pirate crew to do it. They also said his name was Captain Kuro or something."
"What?" Carrot screamed.
"Miss Kaya's going to be killed?" asked Pepper.
"Really Mr. Straw Hat Man?" asked Onion. "Are Pirates really going to attack the village?"
"Yep!" said Luffy. "That's what they said."
"Kind of an odd place for a nap though doesn't you think?" Zoro asked Luffy.
"It's weird though," Luffy said. "I thought I was at the top of the cliff."
"Hang on, that guy talking to Klahadore, did he wear heart-shaped glasses and have a stripped beard?" asked Naruto.
"Now that you mention it," Luffy said.
It must have been that hypnotist, he somehow hypnotized Luffy and he fell off the cliff. Naruto thought and looked up. Good thing he's a rubber man, or else he'd probably be dead. While Naruto was thinking, Nami was saying about how Usopp's warning would be enough of a heads up for the people to leave town. Naruto looked at Nami after the kids had taken off.
"You're forgetting one thing Nami." he told her. "Usopp is the town liar; most people probably aren't going to believe him."
"Oh no!" shouted Luffy. "I've got to get some meat from the butcher before he leaves!" Nami smacked Luffy while Naruto smacked himself. The Straw Hats all ran to catch up with the kids. When they caught up with them, they also found Usopp up the road. When Naruto saw him, he saw that he was rubbing tears out of his eyes, and Naruto could smell blood.
"Hey guys." Usopp said when they came into view. Then he went bug-eyed at the sight of Luffy. "You're alive?" he asked.
"Of course," Luffy said. "I must have just dozed off."
"He took a long nap." Pepper said. "Captain we heard about the pirate invasion! We've got to warn everyone!"
"Warn everyone," Usopp muttered. Naruto could see the indecision dancing on his face before he suddenly started laughing. "I just made it all up as usual. I just got so mad at that butler I made up a story about him being a pirate!"
"Huh?" The Straw Hats all looked at one another. The kids all muttered to each other about their captain's lies trying to hurt Klahador and about how he 'fooled' Luffy before they started wandering home. Usopp meanwhile lead the Straw Hats back to the beach. Usopp dropped down onto a rock and the others stood around him.
"It's because I'm a liar. I should have known that no one would believe me." Usopp said, more to himself than the others.
"But the facts are that pirates are going to attack the village tomorrow." Nami said.
"They sure are." Usopp confirmed. "And no one will believe me! They'll all think that tomorrow is just another peaceful day…" Usopp sprang to his feet, determination blazing in his eyes. "So it's up to me to meet those pirates and fight them off! Then I'll have a real tall tale to tell!" despite the seriousness, Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. Nami looked at him accusingly.
"Sorry, but tall tale to tell, try saying that five times fast." He said with a shrug. Nami just shook her head.
"They can shoot me in the arm and chase me with brooms but this village is my home." Usopp said, clutching his arm. "I love this village! I've got to protect my neighbors!" His head fell into his hands as tears began to fall. "There's not much time to plan, but refuse to let everyone get murdered."
"You've got a noble heart." Zoro told him. "You sent your crew away so that you could face this danger alone."
"The kind of dedication you have to your home, my people had a name for it Usopp." Naruto said. "They called it the Will of Fire. And it clearly burns brightly in you."
"And now, we're gonna help you protect your home." Luffy declared, stretching out his arm.
"I'm telling you know, their treasure's all mine." Nami said.
"Really Nami?" asked Naruto with a raised eyebrow. "The fate of a village hangs in the balance and you're worried about who gets the treasure." Usopp was just looking at them all in shock.
"You guys would be willing to fight beside me?" he asked. "Why?"
"You're hopelessly outnumbered right?" asked Luffy, stretching the kinks out his arm.
"And you look pretty scared." Zoro pointed out.
"Me? Scared? Th-That's a la-laugh! Outnumbered or not, I'll be fine!" Usop said. "I'm Captain Usopp, brave warrior of the sea!" Naruto cleared his throat and glanced down at Usopp's shaking legs. "Damnit!" he shouted and started pounding on his legs. "What are you looking at? I'm going up against Captain Kuro's Pirates! Of course I'm scared! So what? I don't want your pity! You guys and stop laughing! Leave!" The Straw Hats stood looking at Usopp.
"You done?" asked Naruto, slightly annoyed.
"We're not laughing at you." Zoro said. "We're impressed. That's why we're going to help you."
"Who'd risk their life out of pity anyway?" demanded Luffy.
"The kind of people who fall for the sob stories," Naruto said with a smirk. "We however, are kinds of people who are willing to fight for men who believe in what they're doing."
"Y-You guys," Usopp said, tears falling from his eyes. Naruto smirked and slapped his shoulder.
"Stop the waterworks Usopp." Naruto said. "You got any kind of plan on how to beat these guys. Our crew's usual plan is just start hitting the guys when the show up."
"Yeah, I have an idea." Usopp said. "They'll attack from this beach with this being the only rout to the village." Usopp explained and looked back at the trail. "They'll have to come up this pass. Everywhere else there are just sheer cliffs. So if we can defend this path, the village will be safe."
"Wow, piece of cake." Luffy said.
"Somehow I doubt that Captain." Naruto said.
"He's right." Usopp said. "We're practically going up against an army. So what can you guys do?"
"I cut." Zoro said.
"I stretch." Luffy continued.
"I steal." Nami added.
"I clone myself." Naruto finished.
"I run and hide." Usopp said.
"You've got to fight!" the straw hats shouted at him.
"Well at the very least, I guess I could plan." Usopp said. For the rest of the night, Usopp and the Straw Hats poured oil down the slope.
"It's perfect!" Usopp declared when they finished. "There's no way those pirates can get up the hill now. Not with all the oil we've poured down it."
"I've got to admit, it would be difficult for anyone to get up this hill now." Naruto said.
"Now here's the plan: We attack them while they're slipping and sliding around on the oil." Usopp said. "No matter what happens, we have to hold this pass."
"I just hope we don't end up slipping and sliding ourselves." Nami said. "It'd be pretty dumb if we got caught in our own trap!"
"You sure came up with a slick plan." Luffy laughed.
"Nice one Captain." Naruto laughed.
"Naturally!" shouted Usopp. "When it comes to daring ideas and slingshot I have absolute confidence!" Slowly, the sun rose over the ocean.
"And so comes the dawn." Zoro said.
"And for Usopp's village, another peaceful day in paradise," Naruto said. And so the Straw Hats waited. And waited. And waited.
"Where are they?" Luffy complained. "It's already dawn!"
"Maybe they overslept." Zoro suggested. Naruto looked Zoro.
"Zoro their boss has been planning this thing for years." He said. "I doubt they'd have over slept."
"It was just a thought." Zoro shrugged. Naruto shook his head at the swordsman. He noticed Nami with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Nami?" he asked.
"Maybe it's just me," she said, cupping her hand around her ear, "but does anyone else hear someone yelling "yarrr" to the north of us?"
"North!" Usopp shouted. Naruto focused on his hearing as well and thought he heard it too.
"I definitely hear something." Nami said.
"She's right." Naruto agreed.
"Hey, what is it?" asked Zoro.
"There's another landing on the north beach." Usopp admitted.
"You mean we're at the wrong beach?" Luffy demanded.
"But the pirates had their secret meeting here." Usopp defended himself. "So I just assumed,"
"We got to get to them before they reach the village!" Luffy cut him off. "Which way should we go?"
"If we run strait north we should be able to get there in about 3 minutes!" Usopp determined. "There's another pass there almost exactly like this on. We can stop them there!"
"Oh no! Our ships are at the north beach!" Nami screamed. "They'll take our treasure!"
"Priorities Nami, seriously!" Naruto snapped before he took off and started jumping through the trees. As he leapt through the trees, he spotted Usopp running under him.
Commercial Break
With his new power, Kamen Rider Kurama finishes his battle with the Mist Demon Zabuza and brings peace to the Land of Waves. And after some calming time back at home, a new battle starts to rise upon the horizon and it is going to be rocking.
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"Wow, speedy son of a bitch." Naruto muttered as he watched Usopp shoot off. Naruto reached the North Beach just as Usopp declared he had 10,000,000 men waiting to fight. Naruto smirked and made a cross with his fingers. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" all along the ridges of the ravine, smoke appeared and from it, an army of Narutos.
"What the?" asked Usopp gapping at the site of the so many Narutos.
"I told you I could clone myself." Naruto said as he walked up to Usopp. "I'm not sure if it's 10 million, but I can only make so many. Down at the bottom of the hill, the captain, Django was wide eyed.
"What the hell is this guy?" he whispered.
"Captain Django, it's amazing!" one of the pirates shouted.
"What is it? What's the trouble?" Django asked.
"Not trouble sir, treasure." The pirate said. "We found treasure on those suspicious ships. It's a king's ransom, 4, maybe 5 million berries."
"What?" Django shouted.
"You guys carry all that with you?" Usopp asked Naruto.
"Blame Nami," Naruto muttered. "Yo! That treasure is the property of the Straw Hat Pirates!" he shouted before adding in a whisper, "or at least the navigator who's traveling with us." He raised his voice again. "Anyway, touch that treasure and I will personally beat you within an inch of your lives!"
"Why Naruto, how kind of you to defend my treasure." Nami said as she approached the group from behind.
"I just don't want to hear you bitching about losing it all the way to the Grand Line." Naruto waved his hand. "Anyway, let's get down to business. Attack!" Naruto shouted and his clones jumped down, summoning their weapons. "Usopp, if you're actually good with that slingshot, the keep us covered. Nami, I trust you and your staff to get any pirates that would happen to get past."
"And what are you gonna do?" asked Nami.
"What do you expect?" Naruto asked with a smile. He summoned his spear and charged into battle shouting, "Banzi!"
"Why does he get to boss us around?" Usopp groaned as he loaded his slingshot.
"Well he is Luffy's first mate." Nami pointed out and assembled her staff.
Down in the battlefield, the Naruto Army was clashing with the Black Cat Pirates. Narutos who had both their sword and gun were like tornados on the battlefield, their blades sliced through anyone who got too close and those that were farther away were blasted by Naruto's guns.
The Narutos who had two swords each used a different fighting style. The first batched were a rather straightforward style. They could easily stand in the middle of a crowd and defend an attack coming from one side and slash at an opponent coming in from a different side. And if they don't attack at close range, then they were fighting at mid-range. They attached their swords to chakra strings and threw them around themselves. Any pirate too close was either slashed or disarmed by the strings.
The other Narutos, the ones with a pair of guns were using two completely different styles. One batch seemed to be staggering around, tripping and stumbling, but still shooting off perfect shots, blasting away any Black Cat Pirate. The other style was a lot more fluid. Sliding through the pirates like water and blowing them away with their pistols.
The Narutos who were using spears, like the original, were fighting at both close and midrange, taking out pirates with either quick stabs or with wide sweeps. Few, if any pirates could get close to him. Just like Naruto had instructed, Usopp fired off shots from his slingshots, nailing pirates and throwing them off balance. This made them easy targets for the Narutos. However, there were several pirates that got past the Narutos, but then they had to deal with Nami and her staff. But several pirates managed to get past her too and were able to injure Nami and Usopp.
"Nami! Usopp!" several Naruto's called. Those who were distracted were dispelled by the still attacking pirates.
"What are you all doing?" Django demanded. "If we take too much time dealing with these kids then Captain Kuro will surely kill us all for messing up his plan."
"He's right!" a Black Cat Pirate shouted. The pirates rushed past, despite Usopp trying to hold them back.
No! Naruto thought. I can't let this happen! Naruto could feel the Kyubi's power start to fill his body. His eyes were beginning to shift back and forth between bright blue to blood red slits. However, the Black Cat Pirates were sent flying over the Straw Hats' heads.
"Nice timing guys." Naruto said as he ran up to Luffy and Zoro. However when he got there, Luffy was yelling at Usopp for not giving him good directions and Zoro was yelling at Nami about pulling him down onto the oily cliff.
"Luffy, you never asked for directions remember?" Naruto snapped at his captain. "And Nami, please tell me you had a good reason for leaving Zoro on the oil slick."
"I had to make sure my treasure was safe." Nami said firmly. Naruto smack his forehead with the heel of his palm.
"When his is over Nami, we're having a talk about your priorities." Naruto said. "Until then we've, hey, what are they doing?" Naruto asked as he saw Django waving his pendulum in front of the other Black Cats.
"It looks like he's trying to hypnotize them into being stronger." Nami said. This was actually dead on as the Black Cat Pirates suddenly sprung to life with renewed vigor. One of them even managed to shatter the Cliffside with a single punch. However, they weren't the only ones to be hypnotized. Luffy charged into the crowd of pirates unleashing a rapid fire barrage of punches he'd dubbed "Gum-Gum Gatling Gun!"
"Whoa," Usopp gasped.
"Yeah, Luffy's strong, right Naruto?" Nami said. Naruto however, was shaking, his spear clattering to the ground and his remaining clones disappearing into smoke. "Naruto, what's wrong?" Naruto's eyes snapped open, revealing blood red eyes with slit pupils. His hair seemed to become spikier. His incisors and fingernails lengthened and sharpened into fangs and claws and the whisker marks on his cheeks darkened as well. Naruto released a roar backed by the Kyubi's chakra creating a shockwave that knocked the Black Cat Pirates, and Luffy, out of the hypnotized states.
"Hey what's," Luffy started but froze when he saw Naruto. "Oh no,"
"Luffy, what's going on?" Zoro asked.
"Naruto's got…a power inside him." Luffy said carefully. "It's a power that he can't control. And whenever it's unleashed, it turns him into something just short of a wild animal." They looked up at Naruto and saw that red chakra was starting to swirl around him and take shape, that shape being of a fox. The fox leapt through the crowd making a b-line path to Django. But he was blocked by a pirate in a black and gold uniform with the kanji for King tattooed on his forehead wielding a staff.
"I'm not sure what kind of beast you are boy." The pirate said. "But I, Riki the King will be your opponent." Naruto growled at Riki and jumped back. They two stared at each other before they jumped up the side of the cliff. When they landed, Naruto took no time in charging at Riki. Riki countered by firing off a beam from his staff. Naruto jumped back and growled.
"You have quick reflexes boy I'll give you that, but you could not hope to match the power of my staff." Riki boasted. Naruto responded by attacking again. He threw his arm out in a claw slash motion. Riki jumped back, but was still struck as Naruto's chakra arm extended and scratched Riki across the chest. "What?" Riki gasped and clutched his chest. "What are you?"
Naruto didn't answer. Instead he held his hand out as chakra started to swirl around it, forming a Rasengan. With a powerful roar he charged again at Riki. "Stay back!" Riki screamed and fired another blast at Naruto. The blast hit him square in the chest and made him stop. Naruto was pushed back, his rasengan faded away. Naruto in response started growling again.
Riki's eyes widened as the power from his staff started increasing the aura around Naruto. With a roar, Naruto charged, another Rasengan forming in his hand. Riki started pleading for his life as Naruto bore down one him with a Rasengan the size of a small house. The force of the attack created a small explosion and a mushroom cloud. When the smoke faded, all that was left of Riki was a smothering husk of a body and his staff. Naruto meanwhile lost his fox aura and stagger forward.
"Hey…souvenir…" He said picking up the staff before he passed out.
OK, that's the end of this short chap. Well short as compared to what I've been putting out. Anyway, I'll get the next chap out when I can, It's already about half done, I'm just stuck at where Yousako and Johnny are introduced. Anyway, I'll get back to you all later.
Read and Review!
Life in Konoha
Lee was staggering to his feet. He, and his team from what he heard, was fighting against clones of themselves that were just as strong as the originals. And it didn't sound like Teams Kurenai and Asuma weren't having much more luck.
It sounded like Team Kurenai, along with an elder from Suna named Chiyo, was fighting her long lost grandson Chiyo the Puppet Master and it wasn't going well. Chiyo was able fight back with her own puppets, but Kurinai's genjutsu was useless against the puppet man and so where Hinata's Gentle Fist strikes since the puppets didn't have any chakra. Shino and Kiba however were having much more luck. Shino's insects were able to dissolve the strings and Kiba and Akamaru's forceful attacks shattered the puppets.
Meanwhile, Team Asuma was tracking down the Mad Bomber Dederia who had Garra's body in the mouth of a giant clay bird. It was a fast and the bird's movements were erratic. Shikamaru couldn't pinpoint his moves with his Shadow Possession Jutsu and Ino couldn't properly aim her Mind Transfer Jutsu. He also kept out of Choji's reach so that the Akamichi and his giant limbs. Asura might have been able to take it down with a jutsu, but since the clay was explosive, he couldn't be sure the attack would cause he bird and Gaara could explode.
"I don't like how this is going." Asuma said.
"You and me both Asuma," Kurenai agreed through their radios.
"These copies are most unyoutuful." Gai said.
"We can't give up!" Lee shouted, grabbing everyone's attention. "He selected us by name for this mission! And I refuse to fall here!"
"He's right." Kiba agreed. "If we get beat here, I know I won't be able to face him."
"It's troublesome, but they're right." Shikamaru said. "And we know he'd never let us live it down."
"Who are they talking about?" Chiyo asked Hinata who was smiling.
"They're talking about the greatest hero Konoha had ever know." She told the Suna Elder. "A man who could light a fire in any heart and who never gave up. The hero that the fools in charge had banished: Uzumaki Naruto."
With a new fire burning inside the hearts of the Konoha ninja, they fought against their respective opponents with new strength and determination.