Yo, sorry I'm late again. I've rushed this out over the span of two days just for you when I realized the doc manager has no documents!
I've also been working on a ffxiii/Naruto crossover story that I hope to get to you sometime within the month. Yami-like Anbu Naruto dropped in the world at the beginning of the game. Any help on the subject would be appreciated.
So if this chapter is sub-par, don't hesitate to point it out in a review. If you like it, don't be stingy with your review, but don't just be like "Awesome chapter!". Give me some pointers people!
Chapter four
"Greetings, Leader-sama," the two ethereal-looking beings bowed their heads before their superior.
Deidara and Sasori, the two Akatsuki agents that had launched the attack on Naruto and his entourage of Kumo ninja were now reporting to their leader. Their method of communication was a unique one, in that it could be carried out over long distances and it manifested their bodies to appear as dull-rainbow coloured figures on the opposite end. They at the moment were on one of Kumo's many hills, far away from any type of civilisation.
"I take it you failed," the leader observed.
"Indeed," Sasori agreed, "Our plan was to attack once the biggest threat, Jiraiya of the Sannin, was absent. Kumo Anbu managed to hold us off until he arrived."
"We would have caught him, if you had let us walk in there ourselves instead of hiding, yeah." Deidara added.
Their leader stared at them impassively. "Allowing the hidden villages to gather information on us at such a time is foolhardy. Either way, I did not expect you to succeed. Jiraiya is too much of a threat. In the mean time, head for the land of tea. There is a mission there that requires your...talents."
"Understood Leader-sama."
"Are you serious, mmmhhh!? That's like on the other side of the-!"
Deidara's outburst was promptly cut off when the leader cancelled the technique.
"Two mistakes? In less than two weeks? You are not usually this reckless Nagato."
The leader turned to face his "guest". A man of equal height stood before him clad in a dark robe with a hood. An orange mask with a swirl design on it and one eyehole stared back at him.
Nagato's answer was quick. "I do not expect you to understand my methods."
"I do not need to understand your methods. I only need to understand you and for someone that has seen what I have seen, an open book hides its contents better than you." Said the Masked man in a low voice.
"What do you need, Madara?" Nagato snapped, quickly losing patience with the man.
In an agonizingly slow pace, Madara walked towards one of the walls of the large chamber they stood in. Nagato's legendary purple ringed eyes followed him every step of the way, gauging the man's chakra, waiting for the one motion that would signify betrayal.
Madara leaned against the wall nonchalantly, "Akatsuki needs to lay low for a while. Fill our coffers and bolster our ranks. I understand Kakuzu killed another partner."
Nagato gave a slight nod.
"Well, I know of one ninja who might be able to weather his rage. I'll let Zetsu tell you the details. However, there is still too much heat on us. The world needs to focus on something else for the moment."
"What will suffice? Another Shinobi world war?"
Madara shook his head. "I would rather Kiri comes into play when we use that card, but we don't have the tree-tails yet. No, for this we will look to forces seen during the days of the clan wars. Ask Sasori to activate that asset."
"Zetsu!" Nagato called out.
A strange humanoid plant creature rose from the floor. One of the tallest nin in Akatsuki, Zetsu was a man of two sides, literally. His body has two halves, the left which is completely white and his right which was entirely black. On his head sat a mop of green hair and his eyes which are yellow, almost glowed. On either side of his head, two venus-fly trap-like extensions rose from underneath his Akastuki robe. Those extensions were what made him one of Akatsuki's tallest.
"Yes, leader-sama." Nagato found it slightly disconcerting when only the half of the mouth on the white side moved.
"Inform Sasori that he is to contact me now."
The black half spoke this time, and Nagato had no way to tell if it's mouth was moving, not even if it had a mouth.
"Didn't you just talk to him now?" it said in a raspy voice.
Nagato glanced at Madara, who was absent-mindedly staring at the ceiling.
Did he really live for a century with..."this" as his only companion?
"Just do it Zetsu."
The plant-man disappeared back into the floor without another word.
After five minutes of contemplative silence from both men, the chamber lit up when Sasori's ethereal form appeared once more.
"Leader-sama?" Sasori prodded.
Nagato didn't need to look to know that Madara had already successfully blended with the shadows.
"Sasori, we need the Hidden Villages to focus on something other than Akatsuki for the time being. You know what to do. Your mission in the land of tea is hereby cancelled."
The meaning behind the statement was conveyed immediately. Sasori nodded. "It shall be done, Leader-sama." His figure flickered out.
Madara seemingly melted out of the shadows. "Be careful Nagato. You are powerful but your position in this world is more fragile than you believe." With those parting words, Nagato was alone in his chamber once more.
Calm, confident steps took him to the chamber's only opening, designed to look like some beast's large mouth roaring into the rain. He stepped onto the tongue and stared out over his village. The rain poured with a vengeance just like it always did. The drops that struck his face did not bother him in the slightest.
He gazed down at a puddle, to find his own reflection gazing back at him. His was a worn face, his fair skin becoming paler by the day. A bang of his chin-length red hair fell over the right side of his face covering one of his purple-ringed eyes and half of the Ame hitai-ate.
"Yahiko...what would you think of me if you saw me now?"
Konoha's Kage stood right at his village gates, flanked by his advisors and clan heads, coal eyes staring out onto the horizon where the sky met the tops of trees.
The sun shone at an unusual intensity making his robes more than a little stifling but he did not care for it. Another matter took precedence.
Today he would let a jinchuriki, from another village, who he himself had fought and knocked out on one occasion into the heart of his village.
That fact nagged him to no end and it was frustrating the hell out of him.
He was old and his lifetime had been filled with battles such that the smallest moment of piece was heaven to him. He should be eager to get this alliance underway, shouldn't he?
Yet the feeling did not go away. His mind flashed from one image to another; images of Kumo's two-tailed jinchuriki suddenly flipping out on them, destroying a quarter of his village with one of her tailed beast bombs.
A bitter smile found its way onto Sarutobi's old features. He now knew that however much he embraced peace, war was a part of him now. He would be forever on guard, ever watchful, ever vigilant.
Yet for Naruto's sake and his village's sake and peace's sake, he would strive to make this alliance happen and fulfil Minato's plan.
So he stood there with his welcoming party. All clan heads were present except for the Aburame clan head, Aburame Shibi and the Inuzuka clan head, Inuzuka Tsume. Being the youngest clan heads of Konoha's major clans they took on the most missions of all the clan heads.
It was not an issue really. Aburame's were downright unpleasant to be around if one was not used to them with their cold and aloof personalities while the Inuzuka were downright unpleasant to those who had attacked their pack before. Valuing loyalty more than anything else, the Inuzuka were a tough crowd to please.
(the Hyuga incident did not happen here so yes Neji still has a dad. The incident where they kidnapped Kushina still happened though because that was definitely not during the Fourth Raikage's reign)
His advisors, Homura and Koharu, stood to his right, their faces perfectly controlled masks of apathy. Typical, that they would see this as just another chance to make Konoha stronger.
Danzo was to his left, his expression as neutral as ever, but if he knew Danzo (and he pretty damn well did), he could only hope that his friend and rival would not try anything.
A breeze rushed across the path before them and as if heralding their arrival, specks appeared on the horizon.
When they were close enough for Sarutobi's eyes to pick out, he did a quick count. So, all his Anbu had survived then. That meant Akatsuki did not attack, a fact which put him at ease.
They either knew they were outmatched by this squad, or did not want to draw further attention to themselves. When it came down to matters like these, Sarutobi was a tad bit pessimistic so he would bet the latter.
He prayed to whatever higher power existed that Naruto's trip had gone just as smoothly.
In almost no time at all, Sarutobi stood face to face with the blonde-haired jinchuriki of Kumogakure. She gazed at him with undisguised contempt, definitely not happy to see him.
Sarutobi couldn't argue with her. Many people hated him after he gave them a good whack on the head with Enma's unbelievably hard staff form. Many more feared him because he could knock out a jinchuriki with brute force.
"Nii Yugito and Mabui of Kumo, welcome to Konohagakure no sato," Sarutobi greeted with a small bow.
Mabui bowed back, not at all disturbed by the fact that the Hokage already knew her name. Sarutobi had to admire her professionalism.
Yugito followed, though hers was a bit stiff.
Sarutobi got the impression he was not the only one disturbed by this while arrangement.
"Hokage-sama, it is an honour to be here. The alliance between Kumo and Konoha will be a great one indeed," Mabui responded smoothly.
"I trust your journey was not filled with too many hiccups?"
Mabui shook her head with a perfectly practised smile. "Not at all. You have fine ninja Hokage-sama," the Raikage's assistant praised.
Sarutobi did notice however that, Yugito was trying hard and failing, not to glare at something at the corner of her vision. It was easy enough to follow her gaze to find it land on the Anbu with the dog-mask who he recognized instantly as Kakashi.
Said Anbu had noticed her ire and was pushing a something deeper into his pocket. An Icha Icha no doubt, if Sarutobi knew Kakashi well (he pretty damn well knew Kakashi too). Kumo's jinchuriki cared little for perverts apparently.
Sarutobi's plan suddenly looked all the more entertaining.
"Thank you Mabui. You are too kind," Sarutobi said graciously, "Before you stand my advisors and our clan heads." Sarutobi went on to introduce Koharu, Homura, Danzo, Hiashi, Shikaku, Inoichi and Chouza.
"You are awfully quiet, Nii Yugito."
Sarutobi turned to owner of the voice, surprised that Danzo had actually deemed it necessary to open his mouth.
The heavily bandaged man appeared nonchalant, uncaring, as if he had not even said anything in the first place.
Yugito's stare was flat. "What would you have me say?" she replied.
At that, Mabui's smile became slightly strained while several of Sarutobi's people raised their eyebrows. Chouza might have been chuckling.
Sarutobi's mouth moved on instinct utilizing years of experience on the political field to save the situation.
"Very wise. To talk is cheap. To listen is priceless. You are indeed a valuable asset to your village, Yugito-san."
Yugito turned towards the Hokage curiously but nodded all the same.
"Shall we be off then?" Sarutobi turned and led the way into his village, with Yugito and Mabui behind him and the rest bringing up the rear.
Yugito knew that Kumo had a greater economic and military strength than Konoha at the moment, but she had to admit that even though they had demilitarised since the war, Konoha was damn well close.
Civilians swarmed the streets around them while Ninja dashed from rooftop to rooftop above them. Most stayed to watch the procession, others gave a quick look before going back to their own business.
Of those who did stay, Yugito's cat-like ears were more than capable of catching their mutterings.
"Damn, can you believe that? Kumo's jinchuriki is within our walls and she's not blowing shit up!"
"Is that her? She's so pretty! And so is her friend!"
"Who knew Kumo's babes were so hot. I need to get me some of that."
"Dude, I think your girlfriend heard you."
"You know I fought her in the last war. Gave her the ol' one-two!"
Other comments were not so...polite.
"It's said that she can control her beast. A might fine trade if I say so myself."
"Konoha actually came out on top in this exchange. We finally got rid f the demon brat. I hope he never sets foot in here again."
"Good riddance. We do not need trash like him in our home."
Yugito frowned. Is this how Konoha saw their jinchuriki? As a curse? No wonder her fellow blonde had been so meek.
She visibly snapped out of her musings when the Hokage spoke.
"So Yugito and Mabui, there is the question of your lodgings during your stay in Konoha."
Yugito gave her own opinion for the first time. "Not to be rude, Hokage-sama but I would prefer someplace...private?"
Sarutobi smiled as if he had expected nothing less. "I thought you would ask for such, so I took the liberty of preparing the Hatake clan compound."
The dog-masked Anbu stiffened before continuing his pace at a slightly more brisk pace.
"The last Hatake, Hatake Kakashi has so very nicely volunteered his...well other home. You will find it to be very accommodating."
The dog-masked Anbu's fingers began to twitch.
"Kakashi, would you please remove your mask?" The Hokage commanded more than asked without turning round.
Yugito blinked at the implications of that sentence before her head swivelled round sharply. Mabui was to her left leaving the space to her right unoccupied. Well it was occupied now because the dog-masked Anbu walked beside her, taking off his mask with a shaking hand.
Mismatched eyes stared into her own.
"Introduce yourself Kakashi. You are their guide after all."
Yugito would have been blind not to catch the way his eyes widened.
"Hatake Kakashi," he said with a nod, "at your service."
The procession arrived at the largest tower in the hidden leaf: the Hokage tower.
The clan heads and Anbu bowed before leaving while Kakashi and the advisors remained. "As your guide Kakashi will be responsible for you during these six months. He is also supposed to be the leader of a genin squad today but I'm sure he can juggle both duties at the same time. Am I right Kakashi?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama," he said with a sigh.
The Hokage clapped his hands cheerfully. "Well then, now that that's been settled, kindly step into my office to discuss the terms of your stay."
He was not ready.
He had dreamed of this for years, fantasized about it, acted it out standing on the Hokage monument, proclaimed to almost everyone who was close to him how he could not wait for the day when this happened.
Yet, as hundreds of ninja roared their acknowledgement of him, Naruto came to the realization that...he was just not ready.
"NARUTO!"
"NARUTO!"
They thought him someone else, these Kumo Shinobi. They thought he was someone who had defeated the demon, bended its will and used its power for his own purposes.
They thought he was someone of unbelievable strength. With the greatest of the nine sealed within his own body, they thought he could move mountains.
Naruto almost laughed at the irony of it all. During his journey to this place, he'd been told of the other jinchuriki by Jiraiya. He'd been told of how the jinchuriki of the one-tailed beast struck fear into the heart of his village.
He was the complete opposite. Where that jinchuriki dished out fear like it was a hobby, Naruto was its slave.
With panic attacks that gripped him almost every time he heard a strange noise, Naruto had no idea how he would ever get past this.
Jiraiya, who stood beside the boy, noticed the way Naruto's gloved hand curled into a fist, shaking all the while. For everyone's sake, especially Naruto's he hoped the young Namikaze found a way past this.
His gaze returned to the village of Kumo.
It was humongous, though maybe that was because of the many mountains that dotted the landscape.
Whoever thought that this would be a good place to build a hidden village was either amazingly brilliant or batshit crazy enough to try.
Built right in a mountain range, Kumogakure was literally hidden in the clouds. Looking over the railing, he watched as one floated lazily right past them.
The village infrastructure was built right into the mountains with most of them hollowed out. Use of the streets below them was usually limited to civilians as most ninja preferred to use the rooftops...or mountaintops to get to their destination.
The Raikage's tower, which they stood on now, was built into the largest mountain, conveniently located at the village's centre. It was a large blue structure with Kami knows how many rooms. Jiraiya got tired even just thinking of the flights of stairs he had been forced to climb.
This was why Jiraiya had never liked infiltrating this village. Kumo nin had this crazy love of heights.
But all in all, it made for a fantastic view. He could not deny that. It would be even better when the Kumo Shinobi all went back to their business. They practically blanketed the roofs they stood on. Jiraiya couldn't remember a time when Konoha had this big a force of ninja within the village.
Just another reason why this treaty is a good idea.
"Uzumaki Naruto!" The Raikage called, finally turning to face him.
With as much courage as he could muster, Naruto faced the Raikage, having to tilt his head all the way back just to look into the man's eyes. Tall, dark and just generally gigantic, the Raikage was a man designed to make you feel tiny. With a robe that barely hid the muscles and a golden belt with the face of a roaring boar, he cut an intimidating figure. It did not help that the man forever had his face set in a scowl.
His brother behind him was not much different, in terms of muscular physique, except he wore more of the Kumo jounin attire. Naruto did not have an eye for detail but he would have been blind not to notice the seven swords sheathed on the man's back. Naruto had no idea what a man could do with seven swords, but childish curiosity had dictated he ask and so he did. The reply he got was a little strange.
"Already with tha' questions I see, but Mr. Nine, just leave them be. Not to be rude dude, but you'll see them soon and then they might not be so cool."
Naruto was confused at first. Rhyming? Really? And why wouldn't he find them cool?
Then the Raikage had on the way up here told him to stop scaring the smaller jinchuriki. Naruto got the impression he was going to be given first-hand knowledge on how the blades worked.
Naruto was scared of his new sensei already.
"This hitai-ate is yours!"
Naruto's eyes travelled to the man's outstretched hand. In it was what the Raikage had said; a shiny brand new, white-clothed hitai-ate with the symbol for Kumo, the two clouds, proudly staring back at him.
Naruto did what was wanted of him. With a bit of reluctance he took off his own leaf hitai-ate. The wind brushed against his forehead and his hair tickled his skin. Naruto frowned, already missing the warmth.
His hand shook slightly as he picked up the Kumo hitai-ate and the beginnings of another cheer spread slowly throughout the crowd.
When he tied the knot at the back of his head, the effect was similar to the explosion of a high-grade explosive tag. The yells, shouts and cheers were deafening and he had to fight from flinching.
"You see this! The Kyuubi's jinchuriki fights for Kumo now!" Naruto marvelled at the Raikage's ability to make himself heard.
Naruto's new sensei, the jinchuriki to the eight-tailed ox-octopus, Killer Bee, approached Naruto and let his fist hover before Naruto's face.
The blonde just stared at it cluelessly, embarrassed that he had no idea what he was meant to do. Fortunately Bee was not one to be left hanging.
"Don't take too long. Bump fists with me, to form our unbreakable bond."
Understanding shone in Naruto's eyes and slowly he curled his fingers into a fist and reached out.
Unbreakable bond?
The blonde looked up to find the man smiling at him, a cheeky little expression that promised Naruto he would be in for a ride.
Can I trust this man?
The roars of the crowd which Naruto had tuned out for a second reached his ears again.
Not like I have a choice, do I?
Their fists met.
Naruto remembered little after that. If possible, the Kumo ninja were even more hyped up at the apparent acceptance and cheered even louder. Naruto remembered his god-father's reassuring smile, Killer Bee's grin and the Raikage's pleased nod.
A few more words and suddenly they were leaping from rooftop to rooftop, the Raikage, Killer Bee, Jiraiya and him, carving a path through the Kumo nin. So many faces, young and old, ninja and kunoichi, all of whom had anything but ill intent towards him.
Naruto just followed along blindly, tossing out fake smiles and nods like they were going out of style.
He just wished. He just hoped he could live up to all their expectations.
"I suppose it doesn't get any better than this."
"No, it really doesn't," Kakashi replied dryly.
The trio; Kakashi, Mabui and Yugito stood outside the Hatake clan compound, which stood on the outskirts of Konoha. Once belonging to famed but small Hatake clan, the compound had slowly been on the path to being claimed by Mother Nature, at least, until Sarutobi had let the genin loose upon it through D-rank missions.
During Konoha's founding, when clans came to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, to be part of the village, the Hatake clan's venture into this new age had not been as seamless as say the Aburame or the Inuzuka. A large part of the clan had wanted to settle down and abandon the life of a Shinobi. The leader, Hatake Kakashi's grandfather, thought otherwise. They were one of the top tier clans in the elemental nations, right under the Senju and Uchiha. He was not prepared to throw away all the blood, sweat, tears and hard work.
The others apparently were.
The Hatake clan therefore entered Konoha as a clan with only two families, that of the clan head and his brother, not recognized as a true clan but respected like one if only for the feats the head had accomplished. It was enough to get them their own tiny compound.
The brother's family died out in the first Shinobi World War, due to unfortunate circumstances, leaving only Sakumo.
Their home had been built on the outskirts, almost directly in the forests surrounding Konoha. A small natural clearing had been selected for the main houses since the head had been loath to cut them down just for room. It was still a big house. The rest; the dojo, library and stores had been built up above in the trees, interconnected by a series of wooden bridges.
Overall, it was a nice place, once the genin cleaned it up.
Kakashi silently glared at the treehouses. He hadn't been here for a while. After his father had done the unthinkable, abandoning him just like that, Kakashi had moved out. He had come back, after Obito, after he learnt to forgive and accept his father's deeds, but it still hurt so his visits were brief with as much time as he could cram in between.
He had been pushing on a year before today.
And the old man had the audacity to clean it up, then drop everything on him just today?! 'You wait old man, it's only a matter of time before the rumours about our 'beloved Hokage' being an avid closet pervert fan of Icha Icha begin to spread, only a matter of time.'
Mabui and Yugito inched slowly away from the cycloptic jounin/Anbu when he let loose an evil laugh that came across more as a girlish giggle.
It took a few seconds but Kakashi finally noticed the freaked out looks the women gave him. He sighed. The damage had already been done. He could kiss goodbye any respect they had thought of giving him.
"Please," he said in the most gentlemanly way possible while ushering them forward with his hand.
They crossed the distance to the door faster than Kakashi would have liked. The door of the traditionally styled home slid to the side easily and Kakashi had to blink away images of his father moving about the house.
They took off their ninja boots and heels (in Mabui's case) and Kakashi's tour officially began.
"So that's the living room, kitchen, dining room, study, mini-library, the main library is in one of the treehouses and bedrooms are in the back, if you'll follow me."
Yugito rolled her eyes. Wasn't there a rule against being so casual?
Kakashi drawled on as he led them around the house, "So, there will be cook to make your food but he'll report in tomorrow, I guess. Tonight, you'll eat out. Wherever you wanna go, the village is paying, I'm sure. There's this nice ramen place I could show you girls."
"Ramen? Really?" Mabui giggled. "Aren't you supposed to, I don't know...impress us?" she asked jokingly.
Kakashi gasped, or gave a poor impersonation of a one, "Lady Mabui, I assure you, Konoha's ramen, Ichiraku ramen, is a fine delicacy that was bestowed upon us by the gods. You simply cannot enjoy all Konoha has to offer without even tasting the broth."
Mabui laughed, "I think I'll pass."
"We could go to the Akimichi owned restaurants, though only the bravest women or those completely comfortable with their weight dare venture there." Kakashi stopped abruptly and turned round to face them. He studied Mabui before declaring, "You fit the bill." And she beamed at him. He studied Yugito and he took his precious time here.
Yugito raised her eyebrow.
"You know, I think it would be better if we just go to the civilian-owned restaurants."
An unholy fire from the depths of hell lit up in the jinchuriki's eyes.
Mabui tried, she tried so hard but she couldn't stop the snort that escaped her.
"You think I'm not comfortable with my own weight!"
"I said nothing of the sort." Kakashi replied calmly.
"You implied it!"
"I implied nothing of the sort."
"You! I'm going to-"
"Hatake Akashi...is this your grandfather?" Mabui asked quickly, changing the subject so that Yugito wouldn't level half the village trying to kill one man.
They had stopped in the hallway just before the bedrooms, before his grandfather's painting. It depicted the man, grim faced as he always was, seated on a chair with his katana across his lap, and his silver hair falling freely around his face. He was the only Hatake who apparently liked his facial hair to exist.
Kakashi cursed mentally. That whole conversation had been so that they would pass his father's bedroom without incident. No way was he going to open that door.
Now her question, although it might have saved him from an untimely death, it might lead something he didn't want to face alive.
"Yes, he is."
"He looks just like you."
He couldn't help but give a small smile at the joke. They were already trying to get him to remove his mask. How cute. "Strong genes," was his reply.
"What about your father's portrait?" Yugito finally spoke.
The copy nin sighed imperceptibly, the smile vanished, in its place the most neutral of expressions.
"The story is that he failed a mission to save his comrades. Took his own life 'cause he couldn't bear the shame. I guess that's why you never bothered to put it up?"
Kakashi kept his silence, hoping she would get the message and back-off. Mental pleas weren't working however.
"I respect the choice to rescue his comrades."
Kakashi was stunned speechless. Could this be one of those rare moments when he wouldn't have to argue or punch someone on the topic of his father?
"But the suicide was an act of a coward."
The dam broke. Kakashi knew it was too good to be true. But these were foreign dignitaries, or something close to that, so for Konoha he would shut his mouth and weather the storm.
"I mean, so he was dishonoured. Was his will and character so weak that he ran away to a knife?"
All right, this girl was pushing it. Kakashi opened his mouth...
Only for Mabui to come to the rescue again.
"We would both so very much like to know where our rooms are. Could we get something in the trees? Us Kumo-nin like to be in high places. We think better up there." She said with forced emphasis on the 'think better' part. Yugito glared at her with unrepentant eyes as she rubbed her sore side where Mabui's elbow had done its best to dig a hole.
Kakashi's shoulders dipped imperceptibly, the only sign he had been tensed. "Sure," he said cheerfully with his trademark smile. There are bedrooms there I know you'll like."
Fifteen minutes later and Yugito stood before the front door after seeing Kakashi out. He had showed them their rooms and then proceeded to show them the rest of the tree-houses.
Mabui had obviously become enamoured with the library, the bookworm that she was. Yugito wondered if she'd find anything interesting to read. While they had formed a treaty, Konoha would doubtless still keep some secrets to itself just like Kumo would.
She herself had fallen in love with the armoury. Darts, senbon, shuriken, kunai, swords, naginatas, staffs, bows and all the great variations of those weapons. Sure some weapons were in terrible condition after being neglected for so long but she could already tell where she'd be spending most of her time. While she herself didn't fight with any specific weapon, Kumo nin were notorious for their fascination with any conventional weapon. You could find the master of almost any weapon in Kumo. She wondered how that would influence the Kyuubi jinchuriki.
Kakashi had told them he was supposed to be testing a team of children to see if they were ready to become genin. Mabui had rejected the offer to tag along citing that she needed a hot shower and sleep in a real bed and a real bathroom, not necessarily in that order.
Yugito accepted, curious to the workings of Konoha. Kakashi had told her he would go home to change into jounin attire then he would pop back in to pick her up.
In the meantime, Yugito wandered the house to learn more of its layout. A possible escape point, a distraction point or a weakness where someone might easily slip in. She wondered how many Anbu were watching the house right now. Was there a Hyuga among them?
She came across a picture in a frame in the living room. Dust covered the picture like a thin blanket. Perhaps someone had forgotten to clean it?
She used the material if her glove to brush aside the dirt easily, uncaring of the ugly brown stain on purple. Instead she focused on the image of father and son both of whom were smiling widely. She assumed Kakashi was smiling because even as the toddler he was in the picture he wore a mask.
Chubby cheeks that strained against the mask were her only clue.
Yugito wondered if she should apologize for her harsh words.
It was a bad habit developed back in Kumo, when she wanted to prove to everyone how good a jinchuriki she was despite being a girl.
It seemed like the right thing to do, to apologize. That was until she remembered how he called her fat.
There are just some lines you do not cross, nevermind that it was probably impossible for her to get fat since the Nibi's chakra practically burnt away her calories.
Even better, he was going to test his brats. That meant a training field which meant a spar was possible.
This would give her a legal reason to kick his ass.
Yugito let loose her own evil giggle.
Some lines, you just do not cross.
Unraikyo valley: the valley of Clouds and Lightning. Also Kumogakure's training ground no.2, Killer Bee's personal training ground.
Naruto was impressed with the place. Located somewhere within Hidden Cloud's many mountain ranges, it was a water-filled valley with great mounds of rock jutting out of the water like icebergs.
The mountain he stood on now had been cut in half (how, Naruto had no idea) for a flat surface for the nin to stand on. A small dojo stood on the end opposite to Naruto, with Killer Bee between him and it.
"No time like the present. We start right now to get an idea of what you're missing."
Naruto turned helplessly to Jiraiya, who stood off to the side with A, pleading for some kind of assistance. He had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Jiraiya, the sadist that he was, only gave him a thumbs-up.
When the large hand fell on his head, Naruto flinched. B had somehow covered the distance between him and Naruto without the boy's knowledge. Was he that fast, or was Naruto just that slow?
When Naruto realized there was no danger he consoled himself saying his flinch was more of a reflex to take out a kunai and stab, not a 'jump into the air like a coward' flinch.
Fear was all in the mind.
"So will you help?"
Naruto blinked. Was he hearing voices? In his head?
"You must be joking. You want me to willingly aid my 'prison' in taming my power?" This voice was ancient and deep, deeper than Naruto had ever heard. It boasted confidence with the power to back it up, but Naruto would have been deaf not to detect the bitterness every word had been dipped in.
"It's better than just sitting here day in and day out. You know that if you somehow became free of him, someone else would just hunt you down and time has shown that even you are not immune to being captured and sealed." This voice, while not as deep, still felt as if it had experienced all time had to offer. Its calmness sharply contrasted the other, with acceptance and wisdom at its core.
"Leave," it growled, apparently already tired with the conversation.
"I'm right, you know I am. It's probably why I can't even sense your yin half right?"
"Leave!" the other voice lashed out and a terrible pressure spread through Naruto's mind.
He gasped, and for a second he swore he saw his breath escape him as a blood-red mist.
B took his hand off Naruto's head, shaking his own all the while.
"Aiit, my training ain't gonna work for you, so we're gonna have to switch to option number two," Killer Bee explained.
"What is option number two?" Naruto dared to ask.
B's grin was not encouraging, not encouraging at all.
"If ya can't tame the beast, you tame its chakra. As you are now, that chakra has too much hate for you to handle, so we'll raise you to a level you can handle."
Naruto digested all this as fast as he could. "Ok, I think I get it. So how are we doing this?"
His answer was a backhand that made pain flare across his cheek like a forest fire in the summer. Naruto flew across the air, rolled across the ground and had to reach out and grab onto the edge jsut before he fell off the training ground, leaving him dangling dangerously.
The pain in his arm flared. His injury from the shuriken had healed, such that his skin was unblemished but the meat was still a little sore.
Once the stars cleared from his eyes, he dragged himself back up.
"I'm gonna kick your ass and you'll develop mentally and physically because of it. That's jinchuriki training 101 for dimwits." Killer Bee gleefully announced with a pose where his hand was thrust in the air, the index and little fingers extended, rockstar-style.
So as you've noticed, the story's AU with a few changes. Hizashi lives, Nagato is a one-man rinnegan army (he's more badass this way) and I've added a Hatake clan compound complete with backstory.
The story will focus on both Jinchuriki's times in their respective village. The coming arc is from one of the old Naruto games, 'Chronicles 2' puppet guys with my own personal tweaks to it.
Point out any mistakes you find. Such reviews are welcome. God knows I just wanted to get something out so it's kind of a rush job on a filler chapter.