Chapter 3
Time in Wave and Meeting with the Toads
Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331
Naruto had spent at least three months in Wave.
Nothing but training on his mind, spending time with Tazuna's family, and admiring the surrounding area and the changes Wave had gone through.
Wave had exploded economically but meeting some of the warriors who came from foreign lands was interesting to him too.
Naruto discovered that one of them was able to move water as easy as tilting his wrist and even managed to create ice with just a simple clenching of his fist. He quickly learned that this is what he called Bending, a technique that was practiced in their continent, but most water users had either fled the lands or were in hiding in one two major locations. The South and North Pole as they call them, stating that it is the only safe place for them and at the same time, it was only the North Pole. When asked, he just said there is a reason and asked him not to expect elaboration and Naruto shrugged, everyone had their reasons.
Spending a week with the Water Bender, he learned that there were others that could manipulate the earth, fire, and even wind. He was interested in bending and so was Sukuna as it seemed like they were using a different form of chakra but he was not sure what.
His theory is that possibly that humanity had the ability to use these same powers ages ago but each continent developed them differently. In the case of the Elemental Nations, it was developed in a way through chakra and using all internal energy to fight while bending was more about spiritual alignment and mastering movement while going with the flow of combat.
But hearing that some are born without bending and that it is rare for someone to even have the bending skills outside of their main element is unheard of except for one figure that they referenced as the Avatar who was said to be intuned with the spirits and that they can use all four elements.
The last one disappeared over a hundred years ago and stated to be still gone and expected to be dead since all air users were wiped out by the Fire Nation.
Sukuna scoffed and said it sounded like there was more to the story but it was clear that the history would not be told by those that were wiped out or those that were attackers.
"History is written by the victors and life remembers the victors as they are portrayed."
Naruto didn't fully grasp this at first but he did understand after looking at the history of the elemental nations and the situation with his old village and how they are made out to be heroes and god like people.
He quickly realized that humanity is seemingly capable of great evil and corruption even with the most honest intentions and he had no issue dealing with those who dare get in his way.
But he still wasn't sure what his alignment is; dark chakra is corrupting as Sukuna drilled into his head.
So if this is true that means it be like using the Kyuubi's power again but this time it be his own and it could drive him mad or even change him. The last thing he wanted was to hurt the people around him but Sukuna informed him that he would stop him if that happened.
However he knew Sukuna wouldn't stop it forever so he had to make sure he is ready for when it does come and he is on his own again.
Studies in light chakra however were progressing. He found that learning the chakra control exercises easier and that he was starting to find his own 'groove' as he said and starting to flourish under his teachings.
Sukuna explained to him that Light chakra is always easier to master as this is the one that most people are exposed to the most while dark is harder to master and more times than not twists people and their minds.
Naruto understood and thanks to Sukuna not only was his control better but he even started progressing on his elemental studies.
He studied fire and wind first, Sukuna stated those are probably the most flexible elements that they can study as earth is rare and harder to master without a solid foundation while water and lighting are more chaotic and dangerous if not controlled properly. So using fire while alone he only risks hurting himself or burning down a tree while wind is more about cutting and dicing people.
During this time he learned to call on the flames without doing hand signs but it takes more concentration but with one hand sign he can breath out the flames and the technique can spread into wider ranges.
Wind on the other hand was a different matter and something he was having difficulty mastering.
That was until he met someone who was a master of manipulating the air.
Flash back
A man dressed up as a monk in a orange robe and red sash stood there with a smile on his face.
"Your control of the wind is abysmal."
"I know."
The man laughed before he did a small movement with his hand and formed a ball of air in his hand.
"You know, your trying to control something that can't be controlled. Nothing can dictate the wind, nothing can stop the air, and nothing can make it bend or break. Much like water, but wind can't be contained in anything. Even the greatest techniques can't completely suppress the power of the wind."
Naruto sighed and turned to the monk,
"Then what do you suggest? How should I look at this?"
He smiled and with a swipe of his hand the ball of wind left his hand and slammed through a tree leaving a good size hole.
"You must learn to let go of the need of control."
Naruto frowned.
"I don't get it."
He smiled,
"You will, come and see me when you figure it out." The man began walking off and Naruto just rubbed his eyes,
"That was no fucking help. Sukuna told me the same thing but this is just so confusing."
Naruto collapsed to the ground and looked up at the sky that was starting to change from blue to orange to match the setting sun. He felt the cool breeze on his face and noticed that it had the smell of the sea in it.
'You can't control the wind? I guess it makes sense, I mean the scent of the sea is carried on the wave of the wi,'
Naruto sat up and his eyes widened.
"How stupid, why didn't I think of that before."
He stood to his feet, taking a deep breath, he then focused on wind release with his hand in a ram sign.
The wind soon started moving around the tip of his fingers, before he raised up his fingers and slashed it at the tree.
The wind dashed to the tree and it cut through just enough to make it fall over.
"I did it!" Naruto ran off from the training field and planned to go and talk to the monk as he owed him for helping him see what he was missing.
Flash back
Naruto after thanking the monk he started studying more diligently on his manipulation skills and learning that sometimes he needs to relax and take breaks in between training to help clear up his mind.
If something isn't working then you have to step back and come back to it later.
After all this training Naruto was confident that if he fought Sasuke again with his curse mark in pure ninjutsu he could win and prove his strength against him without relying on Kyuubi chakra.
However, the problem now was training in hand to hand and while Sukuna gave some tips he didn't have a good sparring partner outside the benders.
They didn't want to get involved for fear of being found out by potential spies and enemies and just wanting quiet lives.
Naruto decided then to find someone in the village that was a better fighter than him and it turned out to be this young woman that was about her 20's and had long black hair tied in a braid going down her back. She had a smile on her face when he asked for her help hearing she was good in hand to hand and some weapons.
The woman was going to charge him but hearing that he was the hero of this nation and just wanting to better himself to protect himself and those that he is close to, she reluctantly agreed but did ask that he pay for his lessons when he gets the money.
Naruto agreed and soon started his taijutsu training.
He learned the woman specialized in a fighting style that focused on specific points of the body and can leave someone immobilized no matter how much muscle they have to bypass.
Naruto was curious and asked her the origin of the fighting style.
"It was designed to take down benders. Since they are troublesome to deal with this style focuses on the point of the body that would allow them the most flexibility and mobility in a fight. But at the same time, they even took it a step forward and found ways to remove people's ability to move and fight and even talk. If one is talented enough, they could even stop someone's heart or their brain from processing information."
Naruto had come quickly to learn this after she flatten him quite a few times in their sessions.
When not working on his elements he was sparring and learning this new style and how to make it his own as he wasn't sure he can fight like her. She stated that was fine and that others have found ways to use this style against benders in different formats. He just had to figure out how he can use it.
Naruto did for the most part still using two fingers to hit someone's nerves and the points on the body that produce both chi and chakra.
But he still hadn't mastered enough to deal with his teacher without eating dirt for it.
Ultimately; his training was proving fruitful.
On the sixth month that is when something happened.
A new crisis emerged in Wave.
Naruto was sitting at home with Tazuna's family and he came in sighing.
"What happened Tazuna?"
"Bandits, they are becoming a problem again."
Naruto frowned,
"Have you put in a request for help?"
He nodded his head but growled,
"Some of the nations are demanding better trade deals and us to cut out other traders and give up people of prominence in order to ascertain their help. I told them no and they turned me away stating they wouldn't come to our aid."
Naruto frowned.
"Is this a big bandit threat?"
"Yes. Some of the scouts have reported at least 200 of them and while I'm confident worried."
Naruto figured that be the case. Missing Nin can run the gambit of being just minor threats that no one takes seriously to those that can be a legit threat to the village and other nations if left alone long enough.
He only knew about three, four if counting Sasuke. Itachi Uchiha the older brother of Sasuke and the man that came after him with Kisame Hoshigaki. The Monster of the mist as Jiraiya called him.
Finally he knew of Orochimaru, the snake that attacked Konoha and murdered the 3rd out of pure spite, Naruto wanted to kill him more than anyone but Sukuna told him in time he will.
Naruto pulled his thoughts away,
"Any reports on who the missing nin is?"
He nodded his head,
"Yeah some guy from a minor village they say he can use some kind of earth style of ninja arts and has killed two Chunin Ninja from Kumo and one from Iwa."
Naruto sighed,
'So the guy is at least as strong as a Chunin if not a Jounin thoughts?'
"If it comes down to it we can handle someone like that the bandits are the issue. That many gathered together under one banner? It makes me you wonder what he is promising them and what their united goal is."
'True who knows what they are aiming after?'
"It doesn't matter in the end; they are coming for Wave and if they take this country it will just be a repeat of that Gato figure all over again."
Naruto sighed.
'Yeah not doing that again.'
From here, Naruto stood up,
"Well the best thing we can do is try to deal with the problem before it reaches the bridge. Do you know where they are?"
Tazuna frowned,
"Naruto look your training hard and I don't doubt your strength but-,"
"Tazuna, I won't be fighting alone."
"Huh?"
Naruto smiled,
"Trust me."
Two hours later
Naruto made it past the bridge and was heading south, he was told that is where their encampment was.
He knew that if he could take out a few without them getting close that would be good but he needed something to even the odds and it hit him; summons.
Naruto had signed the Toad contract and he was still on the contract last he checked. So that meant he could deal with this matter with their help but then a problem came up.
They had Jiraiya as their summoner and he was loyal to the Leaf.
He didn't want to go back, he never wanted to go back to the Leaf after everything but he knew that he couldn't fight this battle alone.
If he did summon them, he has to find a way to keep them from contacting the old man.
Naruto sighed and quickly went through the hand signs and slammed it on the ground and a small puff appeared.
Out of it came an orange toad, he is wearing a blue haori on his back with the title of oil written.
"Naruto!"
"Hey Gamakichi."
He smiled at the toad who quickly jumped onto his shoulder and smacked him on the head.
"Your alive! Pa said you were but everyone in the clan is worried. We heard from Jiraiya you disappeared but I'm glad we know where you are."
Naruto frowned.
"Gamakichi listen there is a favor I need to ask."
"Sure anything!"
"I don't want you telling Jiraiya where I am."
Gamakichi frowned and jumped off his shoulder.
"Naruto we can't do that he is the head of the contract meaning that we have to have some loyalty to him over you."
Naruto growled,
"Yeah well, that asshole hasn't done shit for me. After everything that happened he didn't once bother come looking for me!"
Gamakichi frowned and he disappeared in a blur of smoke.
"Gamakichi! Damn it now what?"
"Looks like we are going to need a Plan B."
'Yeah well plan B is us going in there with you in control and killing them all but you told me-'
"I know my dark chakra will have a corrosive effect if it is prolonged too long and if the situation calls for it, it might even change you."
'Meaning we can't risk it. We don't know how powerful this guy is and how may of them there are and if anyone new has joined since the last scouting.'
A plump of smoke appeared again and Naruto saw Gamikichi standing there with two more toads.
An elderly green toad holding a staff with a beard going down his face and a female elderly toad with purple and white coating and carrying a staff.
"Gamikichi what the-"
"Relax bro, I brought the Elders to talk to you. I think it is best to tell them why you don't want anyone contacting you."
The green one hopped over,
"My look at you Naru-chan you look strikingly like the 4th."
Naruto frowned,
"Never heard that before." He shook his head, "Look I don't have time to give my life story as I'm kinda in the middle of trying to save a village from being attacked by an unknown amount of enemies without Jiraiya finding out I'm here."
"Gamakichi mentioned that." The green toad frowned, "Why is it you don't want him finding you or the Leaf knowing where you are?"
"Look-"
"Naru-chan please." He smiled, "I promise on the title of Elder of Toad Mountain I shall not speak a word of this to Jiraiya but I need a reason that is sound. If you do this we the Toads will help in your attack on these bandits."
Naruto frowned,
"It is going to need to be the short one I don't know when they are moving and they'll be coming this way."
The Toad nodded.
"Please tell us quickly."
Naruto then recited everything; his time in the leaf, his lack of training from Kakashi and Jiraiya, how he only learned one move from the latter after the summoning, his capturing of Sasuke, his banishment and imprisonment, and his ventures into the box and everything that happened in between.
The toads were horrified; this young boy, no young man, he went through the worst horrors the world could possibly go through. He had seen the depravity of the world and still, he was willing to fight for those in need. Not caring about his own wellbeing and wishing others to have a fruitful life.
That was astounding to them and they couldn't help but admire this resolve.
However they were furious Jiraiya failed to really train the boy outside of the Rasengan and the summoning skill. Even then, he didn't bother helping him refine anything he needed to refine.
They would be having words with him.
But hearing what he went through and even the lost of the Kyuubi for something else, they knew there was more to the story but he was tight lip about it. Something they understood given he had seen their loyalty was to Jiraiya and not to him. But hearing this they realized he was just trying to live his life without someone over his shoulder.
So, against tradition, the elders nodded,
"Naru-chan rest assured we shall not tell Jiraiya of your location. We will forbid him from using us to track you, and we will make sure the Leaf summons know of this disgraceful action performed by Konoha."
Naruto bowed his head,
"Thank you."
"Now then," The elder smiled, "Shall we discuss our strategy in attacking the nearby bandit camp?"
Naruto smiled, going over his thoughts and strategies, the toads agreed and reversed themselves to the mountain and summoned some of the larger but not titan size toads to his side. They each had weapons and skills of their own and quickly proceeded to follow Naruto's instructions and head out to the forest.
Naruto sighed and smiled at Gamakichi,
"Thanks what would I do without you buddy?"
The orange toad smiled and hopped on his shoulder,
"Something stupid?"
Naruto laughed,
"Yeah your right about that."
Naruto proceeded into the forest and could hear one of the toads approaching. There he saw it motioning to the nearby open space and raised an eyebrow,
"What do you mean there is no movement?"
He croaked.
"Wait you mean there is no one there?"
It nodded his head and he frowned.
"Okay stay nearby, I'm going to check this out, Gamikichi head home. I don't want you getting hurt okay?"
The orange toad looked offended but sighed,
"Okay but summon me when you safe."
Naruto nodded and he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Slowly, he approached the camp, careful not to disturb the shrubbery and not to alert the sentries if they were hiding.
But the closer he got the more he noticed that something was really wrong.
Walking over to one of the tents he about barfed when he saw one of the bandits inside.
His inside were ripped out, he was dead there with his eyes plucked out.
'What the fuck?'
"Naruto, there is a large amount of residual of Dark Chakra here be careful I think that it is still in the camp."
Naruto nodded and slowly began trekking deeper into the center of the camp, there he saw nothing but bodies left and right. People strung up, bodies obliterated and their guts sprayed all over the ground, and even he swore he saw dark marks all over the place. As if something was just dragging itself across the ground but he wasn't sure.
Reaching the center, he saw that the main camp built around this bigger tent but he saw it was torn to shreds and on fire while the rest of them nearby were in similar conditions. Blood was smeared all over the ground and he made out some of them being the men leading the group that were described by the scouts.
"What the fuck-"
"Impressive no?"
Naruto stood up straight and turned around seeing a man emerging from one of the burning tents holding one of the bandits by his throat.
He gave a small smile,
"Sorry, let me deal with this first." He gripped his hand tightly snapping the man's neck. He dropped the body and walked slower to Naruto.
He quickly took a stance,
"Who are you and why did you wipe out everyone here?"
He smiled,
"I'm no one. Just a man traveling the land for a solution to my problem. As for why I killed them all; they were simply in my way."
Naruto frowned harder and could sense the dark chakra around him.
'It, its so immense! It is like a dark cloud just suffocating everything around him! What the fuck is he!'
"You never told me your name."
"Don't have one. Parents disowned me when I couldn't do that special thing like the rest of them but I was taken in by a pale skin man who lost interest in me when he couldn't control me."
Naruto frowned.
"Orochimaru."
"Yep that's him but now that I look at you maybe you can grant me my desire?"
"That would be?"
He held his hands out,
"Kill me, end my suffering."
Chapter End