Back for another chapter!
Thank you all for the good reviews and for the favs / follows! I was honestly suprised at the amount of hits since I thought not many people would search up this pairing. Ah well, I guess that's good for you guys as it keeps me going! Oh, and by the way, this will be the last Movie Dependant chapter as I need the rest of the foundation setup for the story to become truly AU. But don't worry, there will be differences! On another note, thank you for reading this story!
Well, here's the Second Chapter of Brightest Light. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: ... Read Chapter One.
Chapter Two - The Truth about Houzukijou
For Naruto, Solitary Confinement was like a hell all upon itself. It was a small cell with only two exits, a small rectangular opening for fresh air and a small door that a prisoner would have to crawl through to even have a chance of getting out. On top of that, the size of the room was not the greatest. Sure you could stretch to your full height as long as you weren't eight feet tall and weren't over two-hundred and fifty pounds regardless of your height but it was cramped. There was barely enough room to even walk two steps and you were on the other side of the stone cell.
As a matter of fact, there was also no other way to get out other than the small metal door as the walls and flooring was all made of stone that was tightly packed in to prevent anyone for chipping and digging away at the rocks. For a person like Naruto, with nothing to do, it was hell. All he was left to do was meditate and think back on previous events.
One such memory he went through was when the Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone) puffed into smoke and the memories from it appeared even thought for the majority of the time was spent being unconscious.
XXX-XXX
Flashback - Yesterday Night
After the Kage Bunshin was knocked-out, the cloaked assailant vanished in a puff of smoke along with the clone into Mui's private office. The office itself was nice enough, with a few chairs, a fireplace, large wooden bookshelf, an old wooden desk with various writing utinsels and paperwork on it, even including a lamp on the desk. A balcony overlooking the ocean and a portion of the courtyard along with stairs leading down to the lower levels of Houzukijou as the office was one of the highest altitude rooms in the Prison itself.
The assailant left no time in studying the room he had seen so much of from helping Mui and getting into his good graces, instead, he went to the bookshelf and pushed a blue covered book that was on the third shelf out of the five there. With a loud creaking noise, a secret passage door opened up not a few feet away from the blue covered book. Inside the opening revealed a darkened, stone staircase that followed the wall going far underground with the occasional torch being lit due to several seals meant to detect chakra and lit when detected.
Once again, the claoked assailant had no time to be wasted on mindless studying of the scenery, only on the job at hand. He rushed down the numerous stone stairs, using chakra to stick to the walls and wall-jump downwards. Using this method allowed him to traverse the length of the stairs in under four minutes flat whereas if he were just walking down, it would easily take twenty or more minutes to travel the length of the staircase.
When the stone stairway was cleared, a wooden door with metal reinforcements appeared at the end of them that the assailant went through. From that point on, it was a narrow underground cavern with stalagmites, stalagtites, even a small pool of water off to the side of the rock formations. Yet again, the cloaked assailant rushed ahead and ignored the scenery. After a short time, the stone steps began to curve to the right and the rock wall to the left expanded greatly to show a cavernous room with various scientific devices including test tubes, vials, several containers with an oval-shaped top to them with lightning crackling in them and a metal table with straps on it. Yet the most disturbing sight of them all was how the cavernous room narrowed and ended not fourty yards away from the metal table, showing part of a large stone block.
Now, there wouldn't be anything disturbing at the sight of the block but it was what was ON the box that would disturb people. There was a mask depicted on it with a terrifying, full-toothed grin upon its visage. Its eyes were but horizontal slits between two slabs of the stone mask, its chin was almost like a ball in a way and in the center of its forhead was a large, crystalline-like orb that was set directly into the stone and protuded outwards from the stone and mask. There were various carvings all around the mask, yet it was from a different language, or a very much so older dialect from their own language as parts of it could be translated since it was similar to their Kanji.
Standing next to the metal table was Mui, calmly awaiting the assailant and Naruto's arrival. Within a matter of seconds, Naruto was strapped onto the table and just awakening when he heard the assailant and Mui's voices.
"You took longer than expected." Mui's voice called out to the assailant.
Naruto could almost hear the sheepish head-rub coming from the assailant's deep and scratchy voice from being muffled from the cloth he were wearing over head, "Eh-heh... It would have been faster had I been able to Shunshin (Body Flicker) into here." Clone Naruto felt hit jumpsuit jacket being lifted up an a short intake of breath from Mui, the most emotion he had shown in a long time. He heard the clinking of a kunai being picked up, then was stabbed in the chest and was dispelled.
"You messed up Maroi." Mui's voice came close to an accusing tone towards the cloaked assailant. The reason Mui knew the Kage Bunshin Naruto was a clone was the fact that it did not have the Katon: Tenrou (Heavenly Imprisonment) on it when Mui was about to take it off.
Naruto had pulled a fast one on both the cloaked assailant and Mui.
XXX-XXX
'Who could that person have been though?' Naruto thought to himself for near the hundreth time. And the same result occurred each time.
He had no clue as to who he could be.
Fortunately, or Unfortunately on how one could think about it, he was brought out of his thinking process when a voice called out from the otherside of the metal door, "I had honestly expected you to go farther than that." Yet before Naruto could send back a retort, the same gruff yet oddly feminine voice appeased him in a way, "Yet with how much chakra you used, I'm suprised you had even gotten that far. It's amazing you didn't burst into flames after you jumped out of the circular hole in the ceiling with the amount of chakra you were using."
"Who are you?" Naruto hurried to ask, putting his ear next to the metal door.
The silence pounded into Naruto's ears before the person finally responded, "I will tell you later as the very walls have ears here," He heard clothing rustling on the ground before the voice became hushed and low, "As for right now, I have important news that would benefit both you and I in regards to escaping Houzukijou and taking the Tenrou off. But for now," Another brief silence, "Do not let your resolve faulter, do not allow your will to be broken down and you will live through to see your freedom returned back to you." He heard sounds of the person's quick steps. Naruto was once again accosted by silence but as he peered down to the stone floor, he saw a green piece of cloth half underneath his side of the metal gate.
The blond then realized that the person was the effeminate inmate from not two days ago. For the first time in several days, Naruto let out a large grin at the thought of being able to escape with the Tenrou off.
XXX-XXX
Two Days Later, Last Day of Solitary
Over the past two days, Naruto had been replaying and thinking over the brief conversation with the prisoner. Yet that was blown to the side when another voice called out to him, this time from the small rectangular window when he was just awakening from sleeping.
"Anyone in there?" A quiet, old sounding voice called out, rousing Naruto from his sleep.
Naruto immediately jumped up, "Who's there?!" He asked.
"No one special." the voice replied in return, "More importantly, do you want to get out?"
Almost entirely forgetting his previous conversation with the green-clad prisoner from earlier, Naruto responded with vigor, "Can you get me out? What should I do?"
The voice then sounded somewhat amused by his questions and it showed in his voice, "If you defeat Mui, the Tenrou will disappear from your body completely."
At first naruto seemed wary of the advice, but as a few moments passed it made sense. Beat the person holding the control, and it slips. Regardless, Naruto still had to ask in a vain attempt to get the man's motives, "Why are you telling me this?"
Silence met his question, only the waves responding by lapping onto the rocks of the cliff that Houzukijou could be heard from Solitary at that point.
XXX-XXX
In the courtyard later that day when Naruto was released, Mui strolled through the area only to stop and turn around when Naruto's voice yelled out, "Oi!" The caped man gave his attention to the blond, "I heard that if you're defeated then the seal will disappear!"
An excited murmur rose through the crowd of inmates that loosely surrounded the duo. "As you are right now, you will not defeat me." Mui stated towards Naruto who narrowed his eyes in response. Naruto charged Mui, cocking his fist back and swinging when Mui was in range only for the caped man to turn out of the way and brought his leg up to kick the blond's stomach. He flew towards the ground several yards away from Mui's leg guiding the direction and onto the stone ground. "Why do you continue to fight?" Mui asked.
He recieved a growl in response as Naruto picked himsel up from the ground and charged in once again, only for the seal to began pulsating halfway to the Head of Houzukijou from unconsciously using chakra to dull the damage from Mui's kick. He fell into a bowed position of sorts in front of the Head of Houzukijou, "Is it for your village? Or something more?" Naruto felt a pang go through his heart when Mui mentioned his village. The place that had betrayed him for no reason. In response, Naruto's anger rose.
The guards who had been watching picked up the angry blond who yelled out, "Oi! Let me go so I can beat the shit out of Mui-teme!"
The rotund man with the glasses who had initally greeted the prisoners gleefuly stated, "Oh-ho ho! You must have liked Solitary Confinement a lot to want to go back after just being released! For prisoners, the second offense is a five day stint in Confinement!" They carted the blond off, leaving Mui and the crowd staring at the retreating form of the guards and Naruto leaving two of the prisoners with differing emotions in their wake. One having a self-satisfied air around him with the other shaking their head at Naruto's actions.
XXX-XXX
Fifth Day of Solitary Confinement, Morning
Over the previous five days Naruto was immersed deep thought, only rousing himself out of it to eat the food he was given and to go to the bathroom in a pot that was brought in three times a day. During those days of thought, he found he couldn't ignore his thoughts about Konoha, or more specifically, Tsunade sending him to Houzukijou without hearing his side of the story. He grew angered, saddened, depressed at the thoughts until eventually settling for anger at Tsunade and the Ninja of Konoha that hadn't at least fought for his freedom. He had helped them so much and asked so little in return.
Why couldn't they return some of that favor they owed him?
He also figured out his limits with the Tenrou, being only one Kage Bunshin per day before he lost control and the seal activated.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you're free to come out." A guard opened the metal door, allowing Naruto to crawl out and breaking him out of his thoughts. He stretched and nodded to the guards before walking out to find the smell of food, thinking of his meeting with the Kyuubi along the way.
XXX-XXX
Flashback - Two Days Ago, Naruto's Mindscape
The mindscape of Naruto was the same as it had even been. Virtually a large, narrow sewer that was somewhat cleaner than an actual one, yet that didn't matter as Naruto couldn't become dirty in there. He approached the large, intricate metal gate that held back the Kyuubi and called out for the fox.
"Furball! You there?!"
A loud growling noise came from inside the gate before a large claw crashed down onto the gate, "What the hell do you want ningen (Human)?"
"I came here to talk furball!" Naruto retorted.
"I'm already in a shitty mood ningen from that goddamn Katon: Tenrou (Fire Release: Heavenly Imprisonment) and I don't need your damn insolence on top of that!" Kyuubi roared at Naruto and slammed against the gate once again, this time with his whole body.
Naruto blinked like an owl. What did the Tenrou do to him? Naruto voice his question and the Kyuubi irritably replied, "Beacuse when you used the damned Bijuu Cloak, the Katon: Tenrou reacted on me as well, Ningen, and it burned me all to hell. If it wasn't for me taking most of the internal damage, you'd have been a crisp in mere miliseconds!" Kyuubi shifted a bit so that his stomach was not in view, but Naruto caught the view of the same seal on Kyuubi that Naruto had on himself and a good majority of his underside badly burned.
The container stared Kyuubi into his red rimmed, slitted eyes, "I'm... sorry furball. It wasn't my intention to harm you when I used the Bijuu Cloak so... Thank you."
Kyuubi stared long and hard into his container's blue eyes, "What brought this on ningen?"
Naruto sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Well, if it wasn't for you taking the hit then I'd have died along with you. I just wanted to escape this prison."
"Ah-hahaha! You think I did that just for your sake?!" Kyuubi roared in laughter, "Then how about this my container: I will help contain the damage from the seal and even give you some insight and advice... Provided that you allow me certain privledges."
"What privledges? And it better not be letting you free!" Naruto yelled in response.
"You allow me to see, hear, feel, smell and taste through your own feelings. Since this is your mind and you have... Defeated me... You have absolute power in here. All you have to do is state it as a mental command as it will happen." The Kyuubi spoke with a silver-tongue except for spitting out the word 'Defeated' as if it were a disgusting thing. It was easy to see how he managed to live for so long.
Naruto stared at the Kyuubi, pondering his words and wondering if it was a wise move to accept until a thought hit him, "Kyuubi, how would you give me advice if I was in a fight? If you sent me here in the middle of a fight, I'd get myself killed." Naruto narrowed his eyes at the large fox who snarled in response to his container's question.
"Goddamn it Ningen! Why are you looking a gift in the mouth?! For fucks sake, with mental consent from you I can assist you in setting up a mental link that would allow me to talk to you provided that you keep the link open. You'd be able to close it at will." Kyuubi growled at Naruto, angered at having to consent to a mortal's will if he wanted it.
"Alright, that's fine by me. So long as you don't overstep your bounds I'm fine with that," Naruto jovially replied, making Kyuubi wonder in the back of his mind as to whether his container was bipolar, "But if you do overstep and try to take control of my body, I will muzzle you and cut off any access to the outside world for you!"
Kyuubi growled once again, angered at the insolence that a mortal showed him but forcibly bowed his furry head. This was the only way he'd be able to get some sort of entertainment other than the memories of his container which were fun to watch, but he wanted to feel, to smell, to hear, to taste things once again rather than live in a dank sewer. "Very... well... Naruto." Kyuubi growled out.
It was a start, a rocky start at best, but it was a point none the less for Naruto and Kyuubi.
XXX-XXX
The mess hall of the Prison was nice enough, has multiple long tables, a few wooden pillars to support the roof on the side of the hall and on the other side of the room directly opposite of the door was the window where food was put through for the prisoners. This was the scene that Naruto walked in to from Solitary, only the room was filled with numerous of the inmates that leveled hard gazes at him.
He nervously strode forward, smiling widely when he saw the ramen that one person was eating, "Ahh! Kusagakure has ramen too! It's probably not better... than..." Naruto broke off mid-sentence and shook his head. Not that he was afraid of the glares, but because of the raw emotions just behind the word 'Konoha'. He walked ahead to the window and was about to get some food when a man with broad shoulders, a fairly muscled body and was fairly tall overall got up. He had black hair, a darker complexion, grey eyes, a long face with various age wrinkles on it. He wore a brown and yellow coat that was frayed when it reached his waist with green pants with a knee-guard. The man strode over to Naruto who assumed he was going to need to fight, but only started slowly clapping with a smile on his face.
Soon after the man began clapping, the rest of the prisoners joined in. After a few moments the whole room was filled with clapping and cheering that confused Naruto to no end. The man pushed the confused Naruto forward onto the table where he soaked up the attention like a sponge.
Several minutes later, the clapping died down and everyone calmed down. Naruto jumped off of the table, got his ramen and sat down at a table where several of the inmates acknowledged him by nodding their heads or smiling at him. The man then sat down opposite of Naruto who then asked, "Why is everyone so happy?"
"Because you're like a star here, albeit, a scary star, but a star nonetheless. You nearly escaped your first day here, faced Mui himself right after getting out of Solitary and let's not mention your initial power display when you first got here." The man grinned at Naruto. "The name's Maroi."
"Naruto Uzumaki *Slurp*" Naruto said as he swollowed another chunk of noodles and smiled at Maroi. Houzukijou didn't seem to be such a bad place at all from how Naruto viewed it.
XXX-XXX
Courtyard, Dusk
"ALL PRISONERS, YOUR PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS OVER. RETURN TO YOUR CELLS." Came the scratchy voice from an intercom, informing all the prisoners to go in. During such time, all guards report in to the rotund man before patrolling over having a night off depending on their hours. One such guard was not there, and currently rushing to make it as he was still in the courtyard.
"Crap! I'm going to be late!" The guard was scared, obviously. But being late became the worst of his worries when he was running through the archway to the inner walls of the Prison and a blond streek knocked him out via kick to the top of the spine.
He fell in a crumpled heap and Naruto did feel guilty but what he was doing was being practical. By taking the guard's uniform and putting it on, he had free access to walk out. And did he take that opportunity.
Naruto strolled outside until he was out of sight from prying eyes and onto the steps leading up to Houzukijou. After he reached that point, he ran with a giddy cheer. 'I'm glad I checked my limits with the Kage Bunshin!" Naruto cheerfully thought as he cleared the last few steps with a leap and onto the small, bridge. Thinking about how he was going to go from here, Naruto stopped. 'Wait... If I go overland then I'll be burnt to a crisp if I get too far away from Mui-teme. I guess it's time to go by water!' He decided while the Kyuubi actively thought in the background.
'This is going to end badly... But at least if he doesn't use the Bijuu Cloak I'll be fine for the most part.' The fox ferally grinned as he caught the scent of another human, 'Who is this? A male inmate chasing after the Ningen... But what is that scent... Ah-hahahaha!' Kyuubi snorted in his cage, ' So he isn't a he but in all actuality, a she. This deal was actually worth it...' Kyuubi grinned once again before letting the fireworks roll out. He sure as hell wasn't going to tip off his container unless it was life-threatening as the fox didn't want to die but the deal he made was already bearing interesting fruits.
Odd fruit grew just outside of Houzukijou, almost like a tomato and berry mix that Naruto noted as he ran towards the cliffs. He soon reached the cliffside and ignored the tall rock formations on the cliffs, only focusing on the roiling waters and the tall pillars of stone in the water. 'This might be harder than I thought...' Naruto sweatdropped as he stared at the whirling waters. Just as he was about to jump though, he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Are you running away from Houzukijou after you gave your word to stay? Besides," Naruto turned around to see the effeminate prisoner not a few yards away from him with a disappointed look on his face, "The seal will stay on your body and the moment you get out of the water and dry off, you will ignite into flame."
Naruto had never thought of it in those terms.
"Maybe if you actually think out your plans, you would not have been in this situation." Kyuubi snidely whispered in Naruto's ear. Naruto growled inwardly at the fox who merely smirked before quietening.
However, just as he was about to walk back to him the rocks collapsed with Naruto following. The prisoner swore violently as he rushed towards the shellshocked blond. Shock filled Naruto's system as he attempted to cling to the rock, only for them to crumble beneath his feet and hands as he attempted to stick to them using chakra. He plumeted down the tall, jagged cliffside into the water that engulfed him. Even though he was able to mould chakra in the water, in was almost impossible for Naruto. The currents were strong and required nearly all of his concentration to stay above water but when he was able mould even the smalled amount, he would get sucked under the water from losing concentration.
The prisoner quickly jumped in after the blond who had just smacked against the water, not bothering to mess with his clothes. Being a native to the land helped as he impacted against the water. He swam like a fish in the water against the currents and kept a firm eye on the bobbing blond before he went underwater and slammed against the rock pillar. The breath knocked out from his system and was about to become sucked into another current before the prisoner caught him as he firmly planted his feet onto the rocks while using the currents to keep himself in place.
Before another current could take hold of the duo, the prisoner quickly swam to the surface with a half-conscious Naruto in tow while using chakra to help propel him forward to the surface and to dry land.
XXX-XXX
"*Sniffle* Th-Thank you." Naruto shivered as he inched closer to the small fire that the prisoner had built. After hearing no response Naruto turned to find the cliff and his eyes widened. The prisoner he had assumed was a man was in all actuality a female... Or was she an it?
"Uh... Are you a transvestite?" She turned, closed the distance between her and Naruto and a resounding smack resonated throughout the small outcropping they were under. Wisely, Naruto took the harsh slap as a loud 'No' and did not push the subject.
Sometimes -like right now-, Naruto really hated the fact he was so out-spoken and couldn't hold his tongue at times.
"No, I am not a transvestite. I am a woman in case you didn't notice." She said in a slightly more feminine voice, losing the gruffness that she faked in it. She glared at him and pointed to her breasts that were wrapped tightly with medical tape. The glare lessened as she noticed it was an honest mistake but it still remained.
"Sorry, sorry." Naruto inched closer to the fire.
The woman sighed and pulled on her green shirt, pale green vest and sat next to Naruto on the otherside of the fire. At least she kept her pants on. "It's... fine. Don't say that again though." She warned him before continuing, "Now that we're at least away from prying eyes and ears, I can tell you about my mission."
Naruto stared inquisitvely at her as she continued, "My name is Ryuuzetsu, a member of the Kusagakure Anbu. My purpose for being here is to ensure that the Box of Paradise does not awaken and to kill Mui."
He absorbed her words like a sponge, but a question escaped his lips as she took a breath, "What is the Box of Paradise? And why does it invol...ve... Sorry."
A silent stare quieted Naruto and allowed Ryuuzetsu to speak again, "If you would allow me to reach that point, I will be able to explain it to you." The blond sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "The Box of Paradise is an old object dating back to the time of the Rikudo Sennin (Sage of the Six Paths). It is said that the box can grant any wish to the person that uses it and Kusagakure did use it a long time ago. However, just as Kusa was about to finish conquering the world... It was destroyed the next day. No one knows what happened, only that the Box was involved with the destruction of Kusa." She took a steadying sigh and stared at Naruto intently.
"From that point on, Kusagakure became split into two seperate factions: The Truth and The Flower. The Truth are those who wish to use the Box to restore the former glory of Kusa and continue what was nearly done all those years ago. We, the Flower," Ryuuzetsu pointed to herself, "Are those who wish that the Box should remain dormant as it will bring about another great destruction upon Kusagakure. The Head of Houzukijou, Mui," She inwardly snarled at his name, outwardly sharing her obvious displeasure of the man, "Is one of the Truth. They would do anything to awaken the dormant Box and as far as we know, the Box requires a great Chakra intake to actually awaken it. That would be where you come into the fold because of your Jinchuuriki status."
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he slowly connected the dots. They wanted the Kyuubi's chakra to meet their own ends for their country. "From what our spies have managed to gather, The Truth were already planning to drag you here within the next couple of years but when news got out that you were to be sent here... It was as if it were an early Christmas for them. That is the only reason they have been so slow to act in awakening the box, along with the fact that it would be suspicious for an inmate to go missing in the first few days."
After he connected the remaining dots he had to ask, "So you want my help in destroying the Box and killing Mui-teme?"
"It would be benefical for both of us to do so, yes. But," Ryuuzetsu narrowed her eyes, but not at Naruto, but in memory of the man who killed his own son, "When the time comes to kill Mui, the final blow will be mine." She declared with such dedication and determination that Naruto couldn't help but nod and agree to.
"If you want to take the kill, go ahead." Naruto amiably agreed before a thought had stuck Naruto about the use of chakra.
Kyuubi shook his head and snorted to himself, 'Finally the Ningen realizes it...'
"Ryuuzetsu, when will we need to get back before the guards catch us?" Naruto quickly asked as he leaned forward towards Ryuuzetsu.
"Around two hours before the patrol shifts and the Flower spies are on break." She confusedly replied, "Why?"
Naruto shifted into a meditative form with his hands on his knees after making sure he was as dry as possible and hoped that the seal wouldn't begin pulsating because of the distance between him and Mui. He felt the Natural Chakra saturated in the air and began absorbing it, slowly going into Sage Mode with the Natural Chakra fueling it.
Thirty seconds passed before a dark orange pigmentation appeared around his eyes. Ryuuzetsu stared at him in confusion at what he was doing before his eyes opened. The pupils were a rectangular bar and around the outer edge of his eyes turned orange. Before Ryuuzetsu could ask though, he vanished in the wind as one of the large stone outcrops shattered into hundreds of shards and slivers with Naruto standing right next to it wearing a red coat with black flames outlining the hems of it. His fist was outstretched and the chakra that was a part of the punch disipated from the air. He vanished in the air once again, this time leaving a noticeable wave of air in his path with rocks blowing backwards.
She stared in amazment at the blond who appeared in front of her again with several questions rolling around in her mind like a maelstrom. How did he manage to use chakra to that extent? What was up with the eye change? Was it involved with the meditation? Where did the good-looking coat come from?
"Naruto-san, how did you manage to do that feat? The Tenrou should have activated or at the least began pulsating!" Ryuuzetsu exclaimed, showing more positive emotion that he had ever seen her with... Not that he had seen her for that long anyways.
Naruto grinned widely, stretching his birthmarks as he responded, "It's called Sage Mode. I use the Natural Chakra from nature itself to give myself a huge powerup. As of right now, I could do that hundreds and hundreds of times before the absorbed Chakra goes away without using any Jutsu." He explained to her.
Slowly the dots began connecting for her. Using meditation as a medium for gathering Natural Chakra he could absorb it. When he absorbed enough he goes into Sage Mode which augmented his current skill set. Still, Ryuuzetsu had some questions about it. "Does the Natural Chakra increase the power of jutsu to be stronger than jutsu being powered by regular Chakra and how'd you get the coat?"
"Yeah it does!" Naruto then scratched his head as he wondered about the second part of the question, "I got the coat when I finished my Sage Mode training with my summons, the Toads. Everytime I do go into Sage Mode, the coat puffs into smoke and onto me... Either that or Ma and Pa put a seal on me to do that when I wasn't looking..." Naruto began checking himself for any hidden seals.
Ryuuzetsu almost chuckled at the blond, "They probably put a seal on you." Her curiousity then caught the best of her and asked, "This might be an invasion of privacy but when you say 'Ma' and 'Pa' do you mean your parents or some of the Toads?"
Naruto cracked a sad smile as he remembered the only memories he had of his parents, Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, "The toads that taught me. I'm an orphan." Ryuuzetsu felt a small pang of guilt for bringing that up but she didn't know yet Naruto caught onto her guilt rather quickly through the slight chakra flucuation and smiled at her, "It's fine Ryuuzetsu. Oh, and I can sense chakra while I'm in Sage Mode."
She blinked slowly as she realized the importance just being able to sense chakra would be in their mission, "Naruto," She began with her lips twitching upwards, "I think our mission just became a whole lot easier."
"Of course it did! I'm awesome like that dattebayo!" Naruto grinned widely once again with the same verbal tick he picked up when he was younger.
"Dattebayo?" Ryuuzetsu raised an eyebrow at the grinning blond before shrugging and becomming serious once more, "We need to have a plan setup and if all goes right with the spies gathering information without the Truth making a move on you, we'll be ready in a month."
They slowly passed the rest of the hour discussing the plan and the limit of Naruto's Sage Mode as the plan would rely heavily on it as their main ace in the sleeve. As it was right now, Ryuuzetsu and Naruto both became confident in their plan for their mission to end Mui and 'destroy' the Box.
Now it was just a matter of time before the plan would be implemented and the hammer struck the anvil.
That would be Chapter Two and I have to ask, how was it?
I tried to make Kyuubi / Kurama as close to canon as possible: A snide, prideful ass in a nutshell.
Ryuuzetsu I tried to have her slightly more open then canon but have the same personality for the most part.
The next chapter will be out by the end of the month with another chapter of my other Naruto story coming out. As a heads up, the next chapter is the precursor to the major fighting and fun scenes that you guys will hopefully enjoy.
Well, you guys know the drill: Tell me what was good, bad and what could need some improvement. I like seeing the feedback from you guys as it does help me find what I'm doing right.
Have a good day and rest of the month!
-KuyouFox