Author's Note: Wow this story is really coming along and I've loved all of the e-mails that say people are favoriting and reviewing. Wow, 61 reviews! I'm impressed! I'm so happy you are all reviewing and it makes me want to write more! It really does make my day and I hope you all enjoy this next chapter when you get to find out whether Jiraiya survived the trip to the X-Men world and his possible reunion with his favorite student. Enjoy!!!
The poll is closed for Naruto's pairing and sorry for those of you who didn't get to voice your opinion, but I gave you plenty of time.
Going between dimensions Gamakichi poofed into existence next to the statue at the X-Men's front driveway, where Charles awaited his return. Gamakichi looked to his right to find Jeraiya was definitely still there.
"Why did that feel weirder than usual?" Jiraiya groaned.
"Maybe because we went to an entirely new world," Gamakichi suggested.
Charles looked somewhat surprised by the appearance of the Sannin.
"Welcome back Gamakichi and who might this be?" Charles inquired.
"A pervert who likes to peek into bath houses when girls are bathing," Gamakichi said.
Jiraiya punched Gamakichi away from him, "You little liar it's called research for the best book series in our world, Make Out Tactics. You and Naruto just don't have good taste is all."
Charles raised an eyebrow at the two ninjas as Gamakichi got back up rubbing his arm.
"Ouch Jiraiya that hurt and do you want to see Naruto or what?"
"Of course I want to see my star pupil. Do you think I trained him for nothing??"
Gamakichi replied, "Then how about you introduce yourself and we'll go see the little fox."
Jiraiya nodded, "Sounds Good." Turning to Charles he gave a small bow, "Hello nice to meet you. I'm one of the Legendary Sanin the Toad Sage and I am also one of Naruto's teachers. It's a pleasure to meet you…uh…"
"Professor Charles Xavier," Charles filled in, "And it's nice to meet one of Naruto's teachers."
"Can we see Naruto? I'm a little concerned over this Kyuubi business as the last time I saw him with the fox cloak he nearly killed me," Jiraiya asked suddenly serious.
"Yes, come inside and I'll show you the way," Charles invited.
Charles led them to a door that Beast had just come out of when he turned and saw them.
"Aah Charles he's asleep so don't wake him." Seeing Jiraiya he asked, "Are you one of Naruto's fellow ninja?"
Jiraiya nodded, "How is he?"
"He's perfectly healed. His body just took on a lot of strain is all so he's very weak at the moment. I'll let you talk to him later, but if you just want to see him. Go right on ahead," Beast invited and opened the door.
Jiraiya went past Charles and Beast into the room where he stopped by Naruto's bedside and looked down at his pupil. He spotted the fox ears that were now on Naruto's head and he reached out and stroked one.
"You've really come a long way. I'm proud of you."
He pulled up a chair and sat down next to his bedside to wait for when Naruto woke up again. Outside the room Charles and Beast had watched the shinobi sit down next to Naruto and the two mutants and Gamakichi quietly left the two alone.
When they were down in the infirmary Beast commented on the pair, "They must have a strong bond as a teacher and pupil."
Gamakichi smiled, "You have no idea."
"What do you mean, Gamakichi?" Charles asked.
"Naruto has been training with Jiraiya for a little over three years since they met."
"Really?" Beast asked. Gamakichi nodded still smiling.
"And like Jiraiya said out front, he's been trying to help Naruto learn to control the Kyuubi's chakra so he may use it as his own and the fact that Naruto has accomplished that finally after all this time, signals a great achievement. Also I believe he is relieved that the Kyuubi didn't kill or take over Naruto as it tried to do when Naruto used the Fox cloak for the first time," Gamakichi explained.
"Man, so Naruto could have easily turned on us or been killed two weeks ago," Beast pointed out.
"Yeah, it could have gone either way. I was worried sick when I felt the Kyuubi's chakra start to leak out of his body. For us it's always been a bad sign that the seal keeping the Kyuubi in Naruto was weakening."
"This is all starting to make sense now. Of course the whole decision that the Kyuubi is cooperation now surprised us all," Charles said.
Gamakichi chuckled, "Yep. You could say that again."
Naruto, wake up. You might want to see who's next to you.
What's up? Why won't you let me sleep?
Just trust me on this.
Naruto stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes to see the ceiling of the room he was staying in. He looked towards the other wall away from the door and saw no one there. He turned over onto his other side to see Jiraiya sitting there with a smile etched on his face.
"Pervy Sage?"
"Good to see you again Naruto. I hear you've had some interesting adventures while you've been here," Jiraiya joked.
"Yeah, no kidding, it's taking some getting used to with the Kyuubi talking to me now," Naruto smiled
Jiraiya frowned, "The Kyuubi is talking to you?"
"Yeah it woke me up just now," Naruto commented.
"Well that is an interesting new feature along with your ears and the so called tails I've yet to see."
Naruto grinned, "Yeah that's also taking a little getting used to." He moved a tail out from under the covers to show Jiraiya. Jiraiya took it in his hand.
"That is the weirdest thing ever."
Naruto nodded in agreement, "Hey could you hand me that cup?"
Jiraiya picked up the cup on the bedside table and gave it to Naruto who sat up leaning against his pillow and the wall and he drank some broth.
"Healer not allowing you solid food yet?" Jiraiya asked.
"hmm mm," Naruto made out while still drinking broth. Handing the cup back to Jiraiya he said, "I'm getting stronger with rest, but before I couldn't even lift my arm more than a few inches off the bed. Now I think I could get up and maybe walk around a bit."
Jiraiya threw his covers off, "Then how about you try, but hold onto my arm until you're sure your muscles can take it."
Naruto nodded and slipped his legs and feet off the bed and gently onto the floor, taking his mentor's arm he pulled himself up onto his feet. At first he was a little wobbly getting his feet under him and once he steadied himself he put less weight on Jiraiya's arm. He took a step away his hand leaving Jiraiya's arm and taking slow steps a couple feet away and back. He lowered himself onto his bed with a grunt.
"That's still exhausting," Naruto huffed.
Jiraiya smiled, "I'm sure your strength will return with time. Now what does the Kyuubi have to say about all of this if it will endulge its thoughts to me?"
Well, what are your…
I heard him! Tell him I still don't like being in a human but I will cooperate with you for now.
Anything else?
No
Naruto repeated the Kyuubi's words to Jiraiya.
"Well that's better than I thought it would say," Jiraiya sighed in relief.
"What were you expecting?"
"I wasn't sure what to expect."
"Hey I didn't ask before, but how did you get here. How did you get here and is there a way back?"
"Well it was Shikamaru's idea. He suggested that I go with Gamakichi when he returned here and so we tried it and it worked," Jiraiya explained. "And here I am with you."
"How long have you been here?"
"When the Professor brought us to your room and the blue guy came out and told us you'd just fallen asleep, if that helps."
"Oh. And the blue guy, his name is Beast or you can call him Dr. Hank McCoy. He is the Healer or Doctor as they call them here."
"Oh, well." Jiraiya grew serious, "So Tsunade, Kakashi, Yamamoto, Gamakichi, and I decided that you are going to stay here until we are sure we know of any mutant powers you have and that you can control them. All right? Any problems?"
"Not that I can think of…" Naruto said. "Actually, what are you going to do during the time we're here?"
"I'll help train you and protect you seeing as we are the only two ninjas here and the X-Men also need training on how to fight ninja," Jiraiya said.
"Sounds good, can I help?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Jiraiya chuckled, "Focus on getting better first and then we'll talk about it."
Naruto groaned, "Fine, but I'll make sure I'm training in three days. I've got to be ready to fight if Itachi and Kisame come back."
Don't forget to mention that I will take a part in your training considering you need to get used to using my powers as well as your own.
Heh, I'll tell him that then.
"Kyuubi would like me to tell you that it is going to participate in my training to help me learn to use its powers," Naruto relayed.
Jiraiya grimaced, "Just as long as it doesn't plan to turn on you or us later on I would welcome its help with your training."
He has nothing to worry about. I've practically merged with you since that last fight, so even if the seal is undone. I don't think I'd be able to go anywhere even if I wanted to.
Don't worry unlike him I've learned to trust my inner tailed beast.
…
Did I just strike you speechless?
Yeah, you did actually.
Naruto laughed at the comment with a puzzled Jiraiya in the room.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, I struck Kyuubi speechless," Naruto filled him in.
He still looked confused, but didn't say anything. "Come on; get back in bed before Doctor McCoy yells at me for letting you walk around."
"What's that about me?" Beast walked in.
"Nothing," Naruto lied.
Beast smirked, "I don't mind if you walk around a little as long as you don't tire yourself out to much."
"He heard me apparently," Jiraiya commented.
Beast chuckled, "That I did and I would ask that neither of you starts up with the training until you are totally up to strength."
"Okay," Naruto answered. "I can't guarantee what the Kyuubi will do though."
"Try to control it," Beast suggested.
Good luck with that. You never had any luck in the past.
You wouldn't.
Who knows, I've got a mind of my own. Of course I wouldn't! Not now that our powers have practically fused together!
Oh.
Get some sleep like the Doc says and I'll wake you if anything happens.
Promise?
Yeah I promise. Go to sleep.
Beast gave Naruto a pill that he swallowed. Naruto lay back down in his bed and closed his eyes, falling asleep with the help of the pill and the Kyuubi.
When Beast was sure Naruto had fallen asleep he pulled Jiraiya out of the room.
Jiraiya nodded, "Yeah I'll let him sleep for now."
"Good. I realize that you two are close and that you're only concerned for your student, but he's going to need our help if he really does have mutant powers," Beast told him.
"I understand that Dr. McCoy. I'm just a little worried about Naruto and the Kyuubi working together," Jiraiya grimaced. "I'm not sure what to think seeing as my experience with Naruto and the Fox Cloak."
"What do you mean?" Beast asked.
Jiraiya sighed and he described how he had tried to help Naruto control the Kyuubi's chakra, use it as his own and discovered the fox cloak and its destructive power. Beast listened to the story in horror as Jiraiya described his tale.
"So the fact that Naruto can now, possibly, summon up the Fox Cloak makes you wonder whether this is temporary or permanent," Beast speculated.
"That about sums it all up, as well as the fact that I need to find the Akatsuki and keep them away from Naruto and the Nine-tailed beast and if possible kill them or get them back to our world so they can't bother Naruto again."
"Will you let us help you? It is our specialty to deal with those who have powers."
"Yes I know and yes I will teach you guys how to fight a ninja so you may be effective against the Akatsuki when they come looking again," Jiraiya told him.
"Why wait. Until Naruto is well rested he's staying bed, so I'll have Charles call everyone together and introduce you to the team," Beast suggested.
"Sounds good, I get to train some newbies and have some fun," Jiraiya joked.
Beast chuckled, "Let's go then, shall we?"
Jiraiya followed Beast down to the infirmary where Charles was talking with Storm.
"Hey Charles, you want to round up the team? Jiraiya's going to show everyone how to fight the Akatsuki."
"I'll call the team now then," Charles said.
Jiraiya startled when the mental message went out to all of them. X-Men assemble in the Danger Room.
"Was that your mutant power?" Jiraiya asked Charles.
"Yes, I'm a telepath," he confirmed.
"That will take some getting used to as well as everyone else's powers," Jiraiya mentioned. "Well, lead the way to this Danger room," Jiraiya said.
Jiraiya waited with Gamakichi, Charles, Beast, and Storm as the rest of the X-Men made their way into the room. Jiraiya studied each one of them as they came in, noting how they walked and how they came into the room casually. Logan came in and joined the Professor and Beast.
Heh, this should be fun. They've never gone up against ninjas huh. Well they're going to have to learn quickly it has already been too long between now and the last attack. They'll be coming any day now.
"Good afternoon everyone," the Professor greeted, "I'm sure you've all noticed we have a guest here. Well since the Akatsuki decided to attack two weeks ago, Naruto only woke up today as some of you know and with some quick thinking the people of Konoha were able to figure out a way to get someone here without casualty. So I would like to introduce you all to your new teacher, Jiraiya."
"How about we have everyone introduce themselves before we get started," Beast suggested.
The group nodded and came forward one by one introducing themselves as Kitty (Shadowcat), Kurt (Nightcrawler), Bobby (Ice Man), Scott (Cyclops), Jean, and Rogue. He already knew Logan, Storm, and Beast.
Jiraiya studied the group once more as each stepped forward. "Could I get each of you to demonstrate to me your mutant power so I know what I'm working with?" he asked.
Kitty phased through the floor and back up into the room, Kurt teleported in front of him and back to his spot, Bobby made an ice path and wall, Scott shot a beam at a target on the wall, Jean flew into the air and said she could also lift other things and was a telepath like the Professor, Rogue said if she touched someone with her bare hand she absorbed memories, energy, and their powers if they had any, Logan showed him his claws and told him about his regeneration, Storm told him she could control the weather, and Beast told him his mutant gene gave him his physical appearance. Jiraiya made mental notes about each power.
"All right everyone, one at a time I want you to attack me so I can see what we need to work on for the ninja training," he instructed.
The session continued like that as Jiraiya brought each X-Men down with minimal force. He continued after the sparring sessions with showing them what a jutsu was and how a ninja would use it.
"A ninja may use his chakra or energy source to draw on to perform jutsus that can do almost anything such as making clones of yourself, hurting your opponent, defending yourself, illusion and even healing. Now Itachi uses genjutsu which is the art of illusion. He'll make an illusion where you are unable to protect yourself, if any of you come into that position where you are trapped in a genjutsu. Someone needs to hurt that person to break it or if I'm around I'll help you out. If you find yourself trapped just remember it only hurts if you think it does, illusions can't hurt you. Another side note on Itachi is his eyes; he contains a kekei genkai that is called a sharingan. There are multiple levels of the sharingan. The first is the red eye with a circle containing three curved tear drops, the second is the Mangekyo which he uses to create a very real illusion of which time has no factor and you could be his prisoner for weeks and time would still be the same when he lets go of you. There are possibly others we don't know about yet that he has yet to show us so be careful and don't look him in the eyes. Kisame on the other hand uses water jutsus which can do any number of things. I understand he drew you out of this very room using water that flooded all of the lower levels of this facility. He also wields a sword that will draw away energy that you would otherwise use for attacking and defending and that sword doesn't just slice it shreds anything in its path…" Jiraiya went on to explain everything he knew about the two Akatsuki.
Once finished he summoned up multiple toads of Gamakichi's size. "Would you fellows help me out with teaching them how to defend themselves against ninja and how best to attack?"
The toads all replied, "Sure thing Jiraiya."
They got about with everyone fighting and learning about the ninja. Jiraiya walked around watching each one with the fighting. Logan came with him.
"This is good for them. They haven't had challenges like this for a good chunk of time. I've already trained with Naruto before the attack and so I've got an idea of how you ninja fight, but could I see how a master does it?" Logan requested.
"Sure, you ready?"
"Always."
Jiraiya pulled out kunai and threw them at Logan who dodged…
The next day the X-Men fought against Jiraiya getting the feel of how a ninja could do anything with Taijutsu, Genjutsu, or Ninjutsu. They fought well and Jiraiya was pleased with the results and went to talk with Naruto after the session.
Knocking on the door he heard Naruto call come in.
"Hey, Pervy sage," Naruto greeted.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched in frustration, "Would you stop calling me that?"
"So you haven't peeped into the girls bathrooms yet?" Naruto asked.
"Only because I still don't know where they are," he mumbled in response.
Naruto laughed, "I'd be careful around this bunch if I were you. Some of their powers you probably don't want to mess with, especially Rogue. Her power is god awful from the looks of it."
"You would know with that jutsu of yours," Jiraiya smirked.
Naruto protested, "I haven't used the sexy jutsu since I got here!"
"Sure, kid," Jiraiya teased.
"Like you haven't peeked into a ladies bath house since I left Konoha," he accused.
"That's different! That's my research!" Jiraiya reasoned.
"What for those Make Out Tactics books. I really don't see what you and Kakashi sensei see in them," Naruto commented.
Jiraiya cried, "Just because you've got a brain too small to find the best part of my books doesn't mean that they aren't good. Maybe you read it when you were still too young."
"Oh give me a break! I…"
Gamakichi burst in, "Will you two ever give that old argument a rest???"
Both shinobi looked over and answered together, "No!"
They continued bickering as Gamakichi gave up and left the room.
"What's all the racket in there?" Beast asked him.
"Let's just say Naruto is definitely feeling better if he's able to argue with Jiraiya about Jiraiya's Make Out Tactic series," Gamakichi sighed.
"Wow. That's some heated argument," Beast commented as he cracked the door open to find the two nose to nose with steam rising from their heads.
Gamakichi laughed, "Don't worry. They'll stop soon." The room quieted down from the raucous that had previously waged war in there before. "There, see? They always make up about it in minutes."
Beast looked back in and found that instead of the two male ninjas in the room there was Jiraiya googly eyed and drooling staring at a blonde female with fox ears and tails naked and surrounded by clouds. He pulled back out embarrassed at the sight.
"That is something I never want to see again," Beast stated in embarrassment.
Gamakichi looked puzzled and looked inside the room. "Oh…" pulling back away from the door he explained, "That is Naruto's "Sexy Jutsu." It's quite an effective jutsu actually when you're against a male enemy and you just need to baffle him long enough to knock him out and tie him up. The first time Naruto ever defended the village he used that jutsu on a deserting ninja who had just stolen a scroll of Forbidden Jutsu. Beast burst out laughing at the thought.
"And I see it's also a good way to get Jiraiya to stop talking. So that must be why Naruto calls him a "Pervy Sage"" Beast concluded.
Gamakichi nodded, "That's another good use for it sometimes."
Gamakichi and Beast walked away from the odd scene in the bedroom to find another room they could talk about the weird things Jiraiya and Naruto did.
Author's Note: For those who missed the note above I'm going to try and draw a picture of Naruto with his fox ears and nine tails so you get a better picture of what I'm seeing in my head. And for those of you who think reverse summoning is the only way to get to and from dimensions, I would like to remind you of Sasuke's and Deidara's battle at the end when Sasuke uses the Snake summoning to get away from the battle. Cool, now that that is taken care of I will fill you all in on my decision once I update the chapter with the crushing and yeah you know the drill. So until next time, please review and look for the next chapter of Mutant Fox! Hope you all like my choice for Naruto's pairing! Review!