Hey guys! Clouds here and I've just had the best day of my life! Last day of school, yes! And ontop of that, my school hired a hypnotist to preform a show for us, the most funniest show I have ever seen in my entire life! He would just snap his fingers, and people would just fall asleep right away! It was funny cause they would lean over and end up sleeping on someone else's lap or something. Plus he made this one girl dance like Brittany Spears and my English teacher think he was Barbie Girl and dance with the princepal! TOTALLY AWESOME! Anyways, thanks for waiting for my new chapter, here it is!
Five Months later...
"Shichi's a slave driver," Naruto complained after a typical day of training with Shichi, he laid sprawled on the ground, covered in a layer of sweat and dirt. As usual, he would be forced to do laps around the island, something made relatively easy with his huge stamina. But soon, Shichi started adding weights and seals to slow him down, making it hard even for someone like himself. After running, he would have a spar with Shichi in which Shichi would criticize and correct him. Most of the time, Naruto would finish the spar with several dozen scrapes, bruises and cuts.
"I've heard," Laughing sat down next to him in the shade of a tree nearby, a double popsicle in his hands. (AN: I don't know what you call those popsicles where there's two in one and you can break them apart) He swiftly broke them apart and offered half to Naruto, who grabbed his greedily. There was several moments of slurping and licking as they hurriedly finished their cold treat before it melted into a sticky mess.
"You've come pretty far Naruto, I think it might be time for you to move on to the next stage," Laughing commented casually as he finished off his popsicle. Planting the stick into the ground, he brought up a sphere of water from the well that was in the middle of the courtyard. He used the water to wash his hands and waited patiently for Naruto to finish washing his before letting the water splash over some of the flowers in the garden.
"What is the next stage?" Naruto asked absentmindedly, chewing on the popsicle stick. He was curious, he had spent five months here, hidden, isolated from the outside world. He didn't know much of what happened outside of Crescent Moon Island, only little bits and pieces from visitors from inland.
"Oh, that's easy, make a name for yourself," Laughing grinned, this was his favorite part. It was fairly simple to make a good reputation. You get a trademark outfit or symbol, like his mask. Go do something insane, well not insane...heroic...brave...crazy...just start picking up difficult missions and stuff that pays well and is pretty darn near impossible. Then make the impossible possible.
"I'll tell Shichi to go get you ready, you have a week here on this island to prepare and buy any necessary supplies like weapons and such, Shichi will take you to this guy I know who will make you a mask. That will become your trademark symbol. I on the other hand, will go inland and find some of my older clients and stuff and pick us up a job. It'll be your first job so I'll make it relatively easy, after a bit, we'll start moving up the ladder onto more difficult and harder jobs."
"Yes! Finally something exciting!" Naruto grinned widely, finally something to do other than training day and night. He was trembling with anticipation and excitement, dispite being all worn out from training with Shichi. Finally, he could prove to Konoha what he was made of.
A bell sounded out in the distance signalling it was almost dinner time, the shuffle of feet could be heard as monks who were out training, hurried to the baths to wash up before they ate. "Go wash up and eat Naruto, I'll make arrangements with Shichi and Grandmaster." Laughing waved him off. Naruto was off in a blur, hoping to get a good spot at the table so he would get some of the ramen first. Laughing sighed and got up, heading in the other direction, where Grandmaster's room was located. He was sure he would find Shichi around somewhere...
"Wake up Naruto, wake up, WAKE UP!" Naruto was jolted out of his bed by the loud voice. He hit the ground with a loud thump, completely tangled up in his blankets and drool dried on his face.
"Argh...what the heck!? I was sleeping!" Naruto looked up, blinking the sleep futilely out of his eyes. When he could finally see straight, he was met by the sight of a very smug looking Shichi staring down at him. "It's not a training day, go away," Naruto mumbled sleepily and tried to clamber back onto the bed.
"So, I still have to take you to see Kenji to make your mask don't I?" Shichi whacked Naruto over the head. He grinned sadistically, he knew the blonde could not resist the offer, and he was right. The blonde was up in a flash, hurriedly grabbing his clothes and shoes as he ran off towards the baths to get dressed.
Several minutes and a lot of cursing later....
Naruto arrived at the front gates, breakfast clutched in one hand and the other hand was busily trying to tame his unruly hair. Shichi rolled his eyes and unlocked the squeaky gate, yelling to Roku that they would be back later. The two walked down the trail, where already several monks were out and about with brooms and sweeping off any debris that may have fallen onto the path during the night.
Instead of heading towards the area that was slowly but steadily filling with tourists wanting to get the first grabs on items at shops. Shichi headed towards a more quieter part of town. The regular middle size houses were replaced with little homey cottages, each with an elaborate garden in front of them. Naruto was so caught up in the scenery, he didn't even notice that Shichi had stopped until he crashed right into him.
"You baka, watch where you're going!" Shich grumbled, rubbing his sore head, "Either way, we're here, this is Kenji's place," Shichi unlatched the wooden gate which was the only entrance to the fence surounded area which opened smoothly on well oiled hinges. Inside were tons of statues, carvings and such, all of them laid out all over the front yard. It was like a garden of statues and carvings.
"Who goes there?" an old man shuffled out of the house at the back onto the front porch. He used a carved cane to steady himself as he walked somewhat unsteadily down the stairs. The old man had scars all over his arms and legs, there was even a nice diagonal slash on his right cheek. He had graying hair that was already turning a light shade of white but his piercing green eyes still had a spark in them.
"It's Shichi, Laughing wanted me to bring his friend and my student Naruto here to make himself a mask," Shichi walked calmly right up to the old man with Naruto tagging not to far behind. At the mention of his name, Naruto waved and grinned meekly.
"Another mask then, well then come in, another legend has to be born then," Kenji waved his cane about before turning around and headed back to the house. "Help yourself to some breakfast, there's food on the table and the tea's on the stove," Kenji shuffled into another room, which seemed to be his work room, looking for something.
Shrugging, Naruto munched away on some of the pastries on the plate in front of him while Shich poured three cups of tea and set them on the table. Several moments passed until Kenji returned with what seemed to be a stone. He set the stone on the table in which Naruto studied very carefully. It was pure black and glittered, almost like a precious gem. It was also a peculiar stone, perfectly circular, and it had never stopped spinning since the moment Kenji set it down.
"I want you to pick the stone up and focus some chakra into it," were the simple directions given to him by the old man. Frowning slightly at this odd order, but deciding he had nothing to lose, Naruto did as told. The stone didn't stop spinning while he held it in his hand. No matter how tight he held it, it never stopped moving. At last, the stone stopped moving and easily floated out of Naruto's grip, hovering in mid-air.
"Interesting young one, your's seemed to have changed as well,"
There it is! I will update Crouching Fox Hidden Dragon later and then Haven in the sky after that! Please R&R my pairings are largely undecided and suggestions would be great! ~AnimeClouds~