Ohayou, peoples of people village! Idk, really, what village are you all from?
I read through some other stories and there is one thing I really forgot about…
DISCLAIMERS!
I will put disclaimers in my following chapters, starting with this one!
Here is now my address to my newest reviewer:
"redlox2" says: "This sounds like a great idea so far!"
Why, thank you good sir! There will be a handful of timeskips until we get to Naruto's graduation period, so keep in mind that everything right now is pre-graduation, mostly showing the bond growing between Naruto, Kurama and Hinata.
I do appreciate the love from the reviews I get… like, uh…
4 reviewers out of 1000+! Yay… That's actually pretty good from what I've seen :P
I won't hold you back now, here's your chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Naruto, that goes to the god known as Masashi Kishimoto
Bold = Demonic Speech, Italics = Human Thought, emphasis, Bold Italics = Demon Thought, emphasis
Chapter 4: The Growing Bond
*Timeskip: Hyuuga compound, Naruto/Hinata age 10*
Konohagakure was slowly returning to its former glory that it had before the Kyuubi attack. Most would say the village is 90% there, and others would even say the village is in its prime. Everything was being worked on, some finished and some lengthy. The village seemed so peaceful.
Not like the crap that was going on at the Hyuuga compound, though.
In the Hyuuga dojo, two small figures were currently going at it, meeting strike for strike… or that's what a certain boy wanted to think. In reality, one side was cleanly overpowering the other.
Naruto watched helplessly as Hinata was getting overpowered. Whom was it, you may ask?
It definitely wasn't Hiashi, since he was sitting next to Naruto, a calculated look on his face.
It couldn't be Naruto himself, since he's watching them.
It was Neji Hyuuga of the Branch Family. Ever since his father "mysteriously disappeared", as Neji put it, he had held dangerously high levels of contempt for the main family. He stuck to his stick-up-the-ass belief of fate and how fate was predetermined at birth, a conclusion he came up with when he realized that all the branch family members would live to serve the main house.
With one fluid stroke, Neji moved gracefully past Hinata's clumsy, rigid attack and forcefully palmed her away, resulting in her soaring halfway across the dojo and landing on the floor, struggling to rise.
Neji stared at the "weak form" with hate evident in his eyes.
"You are destined to be weak. Look at you, the Hyuuga Heiress, trying to be high and mighty. You have no chance against a prodigy like me; unlike you, I was born with a predetermined fate of being stronger. You should just give up and stop trying to be strong, Hinata-sama." Neji sneered at the shaking form, and shook his head. He turned to leave the dojo after getting a nod from Hiashi, when he heard her speak.
"D-d-d-don't… doubt me for… a second, Ne…Neji-niisan. You will watch… as I get stronger from… this training…" She knew, however, this was not going to change his view of her. Words mean nothing, and actions speak louder.
"Hmph, you don't know what you're speaking of. Fate has determined you to be weak, and you cannot defeat fate." With that, he left the dojo, and Hiashi followed shortly after, a disappointed look on his face; not directed to Neji, however, but to Hinata's pitiful performance.
Once Naruto was sure that the two Hyuugas had left at least a half mile radius from the dojo, he picked himself up and went to his surrogate sister.
"Hime, let's get you some help. Don't try to bullshit you way out of this one either, we all know what happened to you a few years ago and I know how you're feeling, Kura-chan can feel it too." Naruto picked the "hime" up by the shoulders and felt a sudden urge of déjà vu, like as if someone was about to kidnap his sister all over again. However, this time, he was prepared… and so was she.
*Flashback, right after kidnapping incident*
Naruto was sleeping peacefully next to Hinata in the infirmary. Hiashi oversaw their recovery, worry clearly evident in his facial features. What he didn't know, however, was that so much more was going on.
*Scene Change: Naruto's Mindscape*
Naruto sat before the towering form of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. His face was one of relief and joy. The Kyuubi's, however, was one of many mixed emotions.
"Kyuubi, what was that you just did to me? I felt… really really angry all of a sudden… then it went away, then I felt something weird, then I fell asleep, and now I'm here, and Hina-hime's okay, an-" Naruto was interrupted by a loud growl from the fox, and he became silent as Kyuubi began to speak.
"Naruto, I know you have many concerns about what I did to your body and what you've felt just now. I'll answer them now." She raised a paw, and then raised a nail.
"The first question you asked is what I've done to you. Simply put, when we connected fists I channeled an iota of my chakra into your body straight through your mindscape. This allowed you to be in touch with my chakra, however it didn't go so well."
She raised a second nail.
"The second question you implied is why you felt so angry. My chakra is demonic, as you have learned from your lessons with that clan leader."
Naruto nodded. Hiashi was the only one willing to teach him the history of Konohagakure, since the other people who could teach him were busy with clan matters. Those outside of the compound simply wouldn't dare teach anything to the "demon".
"My chakra is filled with the emotions of hatred and anger; because it was your first time being exposed to my chakra, you've been overtaken by it. This lead to your hissy fit over the Kumo man attacking and planning a kidnapping on the girl."
She raised a third nail.
"Finally, when you said you felt something weird, you actually completed the process of adapting to my chakra. You were stopped from going on a murderous rampage by that clan head you call your tou-san, and when you recognized him, the chakra that was flowing through your pathways slowed down dramatically and flowed in sync with your body. This allowed you, even for a split second, to control my chakra. Of course, if I didn't allow you to do it in the first place, you probably would have released me and destroyed most of Konoha." she explained.
Naruto had his head tilted, deep in thought, until he asked another question.
"Kyuubi, I was just about to ask… why are you even inside my mind? How can you do this?"
"Perfect. This is just the opening I needed to reveal everything to him."
"Kit, this is something you're going to have to process for a while, and it's a long story."
"Bring it on! I can take anything you throw at me, dattebayo!"
Suddenly, memories of Kushina flooded back to the Kyuubi, mostly her with the same exact attitude. The only difference was that Naruto used –ttebayo and Kushina had used –ttebane.
"… You were chosen personally by the Yondaime Hokage to have me sealed inside your body as an infant. You were a newborn, released into the world the very day I was stopped from rampaging on your village." Kyuubi waited for the reaction… but it never came.
Naruto looked at her and flashed a giant splitting smile. "So then I'm a hero to the village! I was part of a plan to stop you from destroying Konoha!" He pumped his fist into the air.
"Not so fast, Naruto. I still haven't finished explaining." At this, Naruto lowered his hand and took a more serious look, one that Hiashi had dubbed the "I'm-listening-continue-until-you're-finished-so-I -can-learn" look.
"You were a special baby to the Yondaime, because…"
Naruto leaned forward, excitement marring his features.
"… you were his child."
Naruto stared at her until he finally realized what she said. "Wha-wha-wha-what?! Muh-muh-muh-muh-me? I'm the son of the Yondaime? The Kiroi Senko? The best ninja ever?!" Naruto was no idiot, but he was ecstatic at this idea.
Kyuubi sighed… she hoped this wouldn't get to his head, but once again, she got the wrong idea.
"I'll have to live up to his legacy! I'll work harder to prove myself, and I'll become greater than he was! I'll be the greatest Hokage to ever live!" Once again, he pumped his fist into the air, and let out a great big laugh.
"Kit. Shut up."
Naruto stopped again, and looked at the seriousness in her eyes. He mimicked the facial expression, and opened his ears once more.
"You were the newborn child of the Yondaime and Kushina Uzumaki, the Red-Hot Habanero, as your village called her. Your mother was my previous carrier, and she died while I was being extracted from her body by an unknown, masked man. This man used… something to take control of me, and I was forced to destroy your village. It was only dumb luck that your father managed to save your village in time after defeating the masked man. Your father died in the process of sealing me into your body. He originally intended for you to be, as you put it, a "hero to the village". As you can pretty much tell from your surroundings outside the compound… you really aren't. People see you as me instead of you as you. They see you as the demon instead of the jailor."
This was a lot to process for Naruto. In one sitting, he learned that the Kyuubi was forced to destroy the village, his mom previously held the Kyuubi like he was, his dad was the Yondaime and that his dad died during the sealing.
"Now, I know you'll think about this during other times, but for now we have to discuss your training in the future."
Upon hearing the word "training", Naruto snapped his head up, sparkles evident in his eyes. "Please teach me so I can protect my precious people, Kyuubi! I want to be able to protect everybody!"
She chuckled. "Kit, let's get formalities out of the way beforehand. Don't call me Kyuubi. I have a name."
Naruto was surprised. "I thought they just called all the bijuu by their tails, like the Ichibi, Nibi, Sanbi…"
"No. We all have names, and I expect you to memorize them soon. The Ichibi's name is Shukaku, the tanuki. The Nibi's name is Matatabi, the cat. Sanbi is Isobu, the turtle. Yonbi is Son Goku, the monkey. Next is Kokuo, the five-tailed horse. (A.N: Gobi's species has not been revealed, and since he looks like a horse, I'm making him a horse. When his species is revealed, I will edit this out.) Saiken is the Rokubi, the slug. Next is Chomei, the seven-tailed rhinoceros beetle. The Hachibi is a giant octopus by the name of Gyuki. Finally, we have me. I am the Kyuubi, and my name is Kurama." The now-identified Kurama let out a deep sigh.
Naruto was silent once more.
"Kurama-san, let me ask a question. Do bijuu have genders?"
She contemplated even telling him this, since she told him so much, but figured "Why not?" and decided to.
"Me, Matatabi, Saiken and Chomei are all females. Shukaku, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo and Gyuki are all male." She wondered why he asked her, until…
"That's so cool! Now I can properly call you by what you deserve to be called, Kura-chan!"
She grew a tick mark.
"It'll be a while until I get used to that again. Kushina used to say the same exact thing."
She sighed once more.
"Kit, it's now time for training scheduling."
Naruto stood up and patiently waited for instructions.
"One thing that only I can do out of all the bijuu is share a powerful mental link with you. Gyuki can do this as well, but to a lesser extent. Unlike him, I can facilitate physical changes through the mindscape, which will directly transfer to your body in the real world. Do you understand this significance?"
The jinchuriki thought for a long time, but then it hit him.
"At times where I sleep or rest, I can just enter my mind and train, right?" Naruto questioned.
Kurama nodded. "I knew you would understand. The problem is, you can't train in the real world since the Hyuugas will get suspicious. You will have to train every day from now on while you sleep at night to day… in your own mind. All the Hyuugas will see is your muscle mass and body structure mature, but they will probably pass it off as age." She could not find a fault in this plan. It was perfect to her.
"Ne, Kura-chan, what about Hina-hime? I don't want her to be called "weak" anymore by her clan members. Is there a way for her to be in this too?" he asked. He really cared for his sister, it seemed.
"If all is correct, then…"
Kurama gazed at Naruto for a minute, and she finally came to a conclusion.
"Kit, do you really want the girl to be strong?"
It didn't take a genius to see Naruto's overwhelming care for her, but she wanted express confirmation from the boy himself. As expected, he nodded hard and quickly, eyes wide.
"…Very well. Due to your strong mental link with the Hyuuga, if you manage to get her to enter here, she can train with you also. I have a vast knowledge of ninjutsu and taijutsu, and I have heard of Juuken training." Kurama knew this would be the only way for Naruto and Hinata to both get stronger.
Naruto was ecstatic. He was about to receive training from one of the most powerful bijuu on the planet; the one that had to be stopped by the most well-rounded shinobi in the world, but at the cost of that man's life. However, Naruto wanted more information.
"Ne, Kura-chan… what training will I be receiving instead?"
Kurama let out a breath. What she was about to say would send Naruto reeling.
"… You will learn how to control my chakra and utilize it to its fullest extent. You will learn how to use the chakra cloak as well as the "golden cloak" that you've dubbed in your memories. We will first work on your physical features, in order to make it so that you can be fit with as much of my chakra as possible without dying or releasing me."
As Kurama expected, Naruto was silent. His face became one of shock, to one of excitement, to one of sadness, then one of deep thought. He then faced Kurama once more.
"Kura-chan, I think I understand now. I understand everything you've told me so far. You told me that I'm the son of the Yondaime, but I won't tell that to everyone because of his natural enemies in Iwa, plus the fact that the crabby council probably wouldn't believe me. You told me that all the bijuu have names, but that's pretty much common sense now that I think about it. You told me I can control your chakra to the point where my body would react with it in harmony. You ended by telling me that me and Hina-hime would be able to train in my mindscape for god knows how long."
Kurama reviewed his explanation, then nodded carefully.
"Hai, Naruto. That is what we've been discussing. Are you prepared for what's to come?"
"Ne, Kura-chan, why are you even asking me that? Of course I am! How else do you think I'll get stronger? I have to try my best, for Hina-hime and for my parents! His legacy lives on through me and I will take it up to when I take the hat from jiji!" Naruto threw both fists up in the air and laughed harder than he had before, joy evident in his eyes. His world just opened up a new dimension to him, and he was in the center of it.
Kurama chuckled once more.
"Your training will start later tonight, while you are asleep."
*Scene and time change: one year later, Hyuuga dojo*
Two people sat in the dojo, speaking with each other. One was a boy, eight years old, whose body and muscle mass had increased noticeably throughout the year. The other was a small girl, also eight years old, whose father was greatly disappointed in most of the time. Both pretended to be weak, but what the village didn't know was that it was all a façade.
Currently, it seemed the boy was touching the girl on the forehead, but both were unconscious.
It was serene on the outside, but on the inside the children were sparring with each other in the boy's mindscape.
Naruto was in his Kyuubi Chakra mode, something he had learned to keep up for as long as four hours. Hinata, on the other hand, had learned much from Kurama.
*Flashback in a flashback : Hinata's first day*
"Hinata." Kurama asked gently, something Naruto didn't think the bijuu could do. "Take the Juuken stance for me, please."
Hinata did so, and Kurama immediately noticed what was wrong.
"Hinata, I know what's wrong. Your body is extremely flexible and nimble, but the stance you are trying to learn is rigid and rocky. I will teach you another way to use the Juuken, one more powerful than the one you are trying to learn. This way will fit you best."
*End flashback-ception*
Kurama let out a roar, signifying the two children to stop sparring.
"You both have grown exponentially since the last time. You, Naruto, can control my chakra for extensive periods of time without draining your OWN reserves, which is important since you can still fight with your already-immense amounts of chakra after you run out of mine. Hinata, you have learned how to be much more fluid with the Juuken. I have taught you the Hakke : Rokujuu Yonshou and the Hakkesho Kaiten. With these tools and your training in the future, you will surpass your generation, and even be stronger than the previous generation. I believe in you two."
*Flashback end*
Naruto recalled everything that happened on the way to the medic tent, but Hinata stopped him.
"Naruto-nii, I'm fine. I can walk on my own…"
He stared at her, as if expecting her to take back her words, but sighed and let go. Hinata stumbled a bit, but stood tall.
"Arigato, Naruto-nii…"
He shook his head at her, and grinned. "Hina-hime, give it three years. We're in the academy right now, but we have to look weak. In three years, we'll be graduating ,and when we do, we can drop the mask."
Hinata nodded and stuck out her hand. Even though this could be many things, Naruto immediately understood. He reached out and grabbed her hand. He proceeded to channel some positive energy from the Kyuubi into her, which healed all her wounds and sores. Hinata proceeded to stretch and crack a few bones in her back, and looked at Naruto with a beaming smile.
"I think I'm getting addicted to Kurama-sensei's chakra, you know. It feels so great when it starts to heal me."
Naruto returned the smile wholeheartedly.
"Soon, hime, soon. Soon we can show the village that we aren't weak at all. They won't be ready for what's to come…"
Aaaaaaand cut! How do you like that? The entire chapter was practically a flashback, but it's the only way I can combine two chapters into one, since I really want to get into the Naruto-is-a-badass-at-the-academy section. I just love making powerful characters even more powerfuuuuuuuul.
Thanks for reading, by the way. The view count rose incredibly over the week, and I can't do anything but be grateful to you all. It's the fans that make me want to write.
As always, please review!
Ja ne!
~HDN-Lunar