Another Path

Chapter 6

I hate viruses...i had 3 trojans so i reinstalled everything...AGAIN! Remember kids...Hacking and Porn kills...

After finally getting back to Konoha, they reported to the Hokage that the mission had turned into at least a B rank. The Hokage agreed after reading the report his son had given him. These Hollows were nothing to be messed with; they were in fact very dangerous.

Naruto noticed that Ino had been nicer to him then she was in the academy. One day, it clicked that she had a crush on him and it seemed that when he back back, so did hinata. He sweatdropped at that, it seemed that he was gaining a fan club. It seemed nice, but he just hoped it did not get out of hand like it did with Sasuke.

After all that, he went back to his teachers and learned a few more sword attacks. They even told him that it would be good to learn how to use another type of weapon and choose some odd weapon that was a chain that was attached to a dagger of sorts. After about two weeks of trying to get the hand of it, he had become pretty proficient with it. He also decided to learn all about seals so if he ever need to use one or help someone out with it, well, he would be able to do so.

Now, two months later he had become stronger in the ninja art but is still mediocre with his shinigami arts. He could not for the life of him, gain the name of that Titan! That and the scroll that he had bought had a few attacks, like a white lightning attack. It was awesome in his eyes.

At the moment, he was eating ramen like there was no tomorrow at his favorite ramen stand. The old man could not help but chuckle madly as Naruto was eating more food today than usual because he was in an eating contest with Choji. Him and Team 10 hung out more after their mission and the blond found that Shikamaru love to play a game called shogi, so he tired it. He lost horribly in the beginning, but got a little better each time he played with the lazy Nara. Since Naruto was hanging out with the boys, he would help out Ino when she trained or kept her company at her family's store, to which she loved since it got boring at times.

So after eating this last bowl he fell out his chair dramatically and said, "Man…I can't eat any more."

Choji actually did the same and said, "You win this time Naruto…argh!" The large boy said as he held his stomach in pain.

"Yeah, that was 60 bowls to 58 bowls….I honestly thought you were going to win." Naruto said as he slowly got up and paid for his bowls while Choji did the same. They shook hand and were about to go when Kiba and Shino appeared.

"Naruto, the hokage needs us." Kiba said, a little miffed about why they needed Naruto. Shino knew but he, like usual, said nothing.

"Right." Naruto said as he followed the two boys to the Hokage tower, but the Hokage called him back for some reason.

Hokage Tower…

"Good to see that you found him." The old Hokage said with a smile.

"Wasn't hard, the idiot was gorging himself with Choji." Kida replied. The dog boy was curious as to who the guy in the corner was.

"It was a Ramen eating contest Kiba." Naruto said with a twitch in his eye.

"Yes well, I have a mission for you all." The old man cut in before a fight broke out.

"Huh, then where is Hinata?" Naruto asked, curious as why Hinata would not be on this mission as well.

"He is sick in the hospital, some jack ass poisoned her during out first C rank mission." Kiba growled.

"Unfortunate but we have another mission and this must be a high ranking one to have you on the team." Shino reasoned.

Before Kiba could say anything, the Hokage spoke again, "Correct Shino, Naruto's last mission with Team 10 turned out to be a B rank. Naruto was the one to take out the leader of those creatures you were supposed to have learned about in the academy…..the Hollows." Kiba's eyes widened and he looked to Naruto and could not help but smirk. "So, he is the strongest genin I have to spare for this mission. This will be a C rank escort mission but could turn into a B rank if those creatures decide to attack."

"Sounds like a plan, who are we guarding?" asked Naruto.

"Me, my name is Shibuki and I am the leader of Taki." The man in the counter said as he decided to speak. "So meet me at the gates in one hour." The man then left.

Sarutobi sighed and said, "Might as well get ready." They nodded and left. Naruto got ready in 15 minutes and decided to do something nice, so he went to the flower shop and since he knew more about flowers since he helped out there with Ino, he got some get well soon flowers.

Ino noticed this and asked, "So, who are those flowers for Naruto?"

"Oh, I just heard that Hinata was sick in the hospital. So I decided to be nice get these."

Ino smiled as he paid for the flowers and walked out. Hinata better get him soon….or else me or someone else will. Any girl would be lucky to get him.

Hospital…

Naruto found the room for Hinata and noticed that she was sleep. He smiled and he ad to be quick about this since he need to get back to the gates. He looked at her and thought, Why does she like me? He quickly shook it off and placed the flowers on the table next to her and a note. He then leapt out the window.

Hinata woke up just as he left and noticed the flowers. She intantly thought they were from kiba and rolled her eyes, but she had to be nice so she pick up the note and her eyes widened.

Heard you got hurt…get well soon Hinata-chan!

Naruto.

She instantly fainted after that with a big smile on her face.

The Gates…

Naruto arrived just as Kurenai appeared and they set off without a word. Kiba had gained a respect for Naruto after Shino told him about Naruto's mission. The silent boy somehow heard the story from another shinobi who was talking about the mission. That ninja was freaking out about hollows that were not supposed to be around anymore….at least to their knowledge anyway.

When they finally got the a huge waterfall with some kids nearby, they were relieved because this so called leader was chicken as he got scared over stupid things like a bird flying away. It was rather annoying.

"WHOA! Now that's what I call a waterfall!" Naruto shouted while Kiba smirked.

"Yes quite impressive isn't it?" Kerunai said with a smile.

"I take it we have arrived." Shino stated.

As they walked around the edge of the waterfall, they noticed all the trash in the water. Before Naruto or Kiba could say anything about it, they heard the voice of a little girl. "Lord Shibuki!"

Shibuki chuckled and said, "Now now, keep your distance. Show a little respect for your village leader." The kids just gave him a sad look. "I am sorry I don't have time to play with you right now."

"But that is not why we are here." The little boy said. "We are supposed to clean up the trash by the shore.

"Mother's making us pick up every piece." The little girl said.

"I see." Shibuki said as then turned to his escorts with a smile and said, "Well look, I brought you some help! These ninja have come from the hidden leaf village." Naruto and Kiba started to protest but Shibuki ignore them and said, "We will pay you for your time."

Kiba complain but the kids came up to Naruto and said their thanks because the current was a little strong. Kurenai smiled and said that it was a good idea.

While they did the dirty work of cleaning up the waters, Kurenai and Shibuki were talking about rumors of rogue ninjas and such. That did not sit well with the village leader. They would be after the Hero's Water or….her. I won't let them get either of them. The water is scared to my village and she is my half sister! As he thought that he was caught off guard by a messenger bird that had a note for Kurenai. She was needed back in the village so she left and told the team to follow her when they were finshed.

Kiba made some comments that the others could leave while he did the rest and somehow mocked Shibuki. That got the kids mad and they pushed him away, which a bad thing for dog boy as he stepped in some dog shit. Naruto could not help but laugh his ass off at that.

After a bit, they were done and Naruto was complaining about being hungry. Shibuki would not have any of that and told them to go home. Shino nodded and started walking only to stop as the girl shrieked as her mother came stumbling toward them with a kunai in her back. She told them that they had been attacked.

Naruto then told Shino to take the kids and their mother to a safe place while he, Kiba, and Shibuki were to go inside the village to save them. Shibuki was reluctant at first but he needed help in with this, since he was not strong enough. But before anything could be done, some shinobi came out of the water fall and attacked them. Kiba smirked as he and Akamaru took them out with his Piercing Fang Jutsu. It was pretty easy in his eyes.

"Heh, looks like we got a new mission. Three in a row, now let's get in there!" Naruto said as he turned to Shibuki. "Show us the way man."

"Let me make one thing clear, don't reveal the secret location to anyone."

"I promise." Naruto said as they enter the cave behind the waterfall. Shibuki then jumped into a small puddle and didn't surface. "Ok….i guess that is the entrance."

"You think….let's go and kick some ass!" Kiba yelled as he jumped in and Naruto follow right after. That small puddle turned out to be an underwater pathway.

Once inside, they saw a small village…..under a giant tree! It was impressive to say the least. The only problem was that there was one even out. It looked like a dead town. They never noticed Shibuki was gone and when Kiba noticed this, he pushed Naruto back into the water while he had Akamaru dealt with some ninja that attacked. Naruto never knew that the dog duo got captured like their friend Shino.

Naruto didn't know where the waterfall leader even went, so he went with his guts and swam to the big tree in the middle. In the large roots of the tree, Naruto saw Shibuki swim to some island with in the tree. The guy went to a cabinet of some sort and pulled out a small vile of water. He wondered if that was the Hero's Water. He followed the leader to the hole in the tree where they saw Kiba and Shino all tied up with the rest of the villagers.

"No!"

"What?" asked Naruto as he jumped down out of nowhere….scaring the crap out of Shibuki.

"DON'T DO THAT!" the leader hissed out. Anyway, I can't believe my old teacher is the one leading the attack! By the way, how did you get here?"

"I followed my gut tto find you so I poked around the roots of this giant tree. Now who is that nut job?"

"Suien….my old teacher. He is their leader….he is probably here of this….the Hero's Water."

"HEY SHIBUKI! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE! DON'T BE SHY! COME ON OUT RIGHT NOW AND BRING THE HERO'S WATER WITH YOU!" The man said.

Naruto noticed that Shibuki was shaking all over the place. He must be very scared of this guy.

"DON'T MAKE THIS VILLAGE SUFFER ANYMORE BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"Ok….what is so great about that jug of water that he wants?" asked Naruto.

"This water is only drawn from the trunk of the tree every 100 years. It allows the one who drinks it have 10 times their normal chakra, but at a price, it shortens their life span. It could make one as strong as your hokage." Shibuki said as he explained to Naruto what happened in the last war and its affects on those who drink the guys father drunk it and he died. Shibuki called him a fool for doing so.

"No, you're the fool. He died to protect you and the village. He is ok in my books." Naruto said as he went to the hole in the tree to see that the old guy was going to kill a kid. "I don't know why you think it is useless but I am going to kick his ass…..even if I have to die." With that, Naruto jumped out the hole to find a good way to attack.

Just as the old man was going to kill the little girl, Naruto made his presence known. "HEY! NARUTO UZUMAKI IS HERE!"

"IT IS ABOUT TIME YOU IDIOT!" Kiba yelled from his hanging spot.

"Yeah yeah." The blond commented as he took a vine from the tree and swung down. "I am going to kick your…" he didn't get to say much else as the vine broke and he belly flopped in the water.

Kiba would have face palmed himself if he could while the attackers sweatdropped. "Huh? What was that?" asked a guy with wild white hair and green face paint.

"Just an idiot." Kiba grumbled.

"Heh, tough luck kid." said a masked man.

"Heh, whose playing?" Naruto said as he surface only to smirk and poof away as the real Naruto rushed out of the water, pushed the little girl away because the man thought it was time for her to die…..Naruto got stabbed in the back. The blond played dead till they were upon him. He sprung up and attacked the masked man.

While the two of them were fighting, the old dude picked up the little girl, muttering about trying this again. Soon, after some more fight and talking, Shibuki finally came down to fight. It seemed the guy drank some of the water because he fought with a lot of power. Of course that was not enough because of the older man's experience.

That is when Naruto stepped back in the fight. He did his best but Suien drank the water as well and was now fast and power hungry. Dranking that water was bad because it attracted attention of an unwanted a guest.

"Sure power…..you have more power than before and it is delicious!" a dark voice echoed as a giant creature with a white mask jumped on the water.

"Damn….a hollow." Naruto growled out. This was not just any hollow, it was a Menos! The mack on this thing was that of a horn beetle.

"WHAT THE HELL!" shouted Suien as the Hollow came up to him and the chakra over took the Hollow and fused the two freaks together, making the Hollow stronger. "Heh, seems I got more power…..time to die kid!"

"No….I don't think so" Naruto said as he took his sword out and called out, "Come from the void of nothingness, Xemnas!" The blade turned into its cannonblade form and before the Hollow could even move, Naruto called, "Vortex Wave!" A vortex of pure wind energy charged toward the freakish hollow and tore off its left arm. Before the hollow could recover, Naruto was on him and sent the blade right into its face, leapt over and brought the blade down, slicing the creature in half. "Don't mess with me." Naruto said as the creature disappeared to leaving a dead Suien in its place.

A few hours later…

"Well I am glad to be getting out of this village." Kiba said a little annoyed. Shino just nodded to that sentiment.

"Well, I will see you back in Konoha then, I have a mission from the Hokage I have to take." Naruto said.

"Yeah yeah, see you then." Kiba waved off.

"Search us out when you get back, it would be good for us to train together." Shino replied.

"You got it!"

Once the two left, Shibuki, still in his bandages, said, "If you need to rest for your next mission, I would like it if you stayed here, you saved us after all. It would be the least we could do."

"I would like that Shibuki."

"HOLY CRAP! WHAT HAPPENED HERE!" yelled a female voice.

Shibuki cringed and Naruto turned around to see a real beauty. She had green hair, pink eyes, a tank top of sorts with a headband on her shoulder like Shikamaru's, a skirt, arm warmers, and tanned skin. The blond blush and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Fu…Shibuki's half sister."

Cliffy! I hope you liked my shortened version of what happened in that episode. Next chapter, Fu and Naruto get to know each other. Maybe go on a date…..festival? I might make the quincy either Lee or Sai….vote! REVIEW!