The Silver Flash

by Snipa

Discontinued. Please read "Silver Fox: Redux." This one will be deleted later.

10. Chapter 9 and 10: Beginnings of Reality

Hey everyone. Snipa here. I'm in the car traveling to my ski trip. So excuse me if some of my typing is off. I was riding along in the back seat of the van when some of my music made me want to write. SOOOOO, I thought 'Why not work on my fanfic' so here it is.

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Chapter 9: Beginnings of Reality

Naruto's consciousness slowly drifted into reality. The first thing he felt was pain. Massive pain. Everywhere throughout his body.

"Good he's made it through the first stage." Said an eerily deep voice. Naruto couldn't tell who it was. He was having trouble just thinking straight. "Naruto, I need to ask you something. I know you're in pain, but concentrate on your arms. Specifically, your shoulders and elbows." Naruto found it hard to think ANYTHING, but he tried to comply. He felt a cold sensation in his elbows, but a hot sensation in his shoulders. "Good. Anko, I want you to place hot water bags on his shoulders, and ice packs on his elbows. Next up, Naruto, I want you to concentrate on your legs, and like before, mostly your joints." Naruto felt something being placed on his arms, but moved on to his legs. He felt cold sensation in his knees, and hot in his hip joints. "Anko, place hot water bags on his knees, and cold packs on his hip sockets." He felt soothing temperatures on his legs. "Now, this will be the most painful part, Naruto." wave of pain swept throughout his body. "Shit, pain medicine now!" He felt a sting in his arm. "Naruto, whatever you do, do NOT pass out. You must stay awake as long as you can. The longer you stay awake the better you have of living. Now, I want you to try and flex your left hand." Naruto complied, and as soon as he did, he felt pain arch through his hand. "Okay, apply some ice to his left hand. Flex your other hand, Naruto." He flexed his right hand, oddly enough, he couldn't feel it. "Crap, his right hand has almost neutralized itself. Some heat on the hand should fix it up. Now, wiggle your toes." Naruto tried, but he couldn't feel them at all. "Get some heat on his feet right now. I'll try to keep them alive with my power." Naruto felt a massive burning and prickling sensation run through his feet and up his shins. It was so painful he almost blacked out, but he hung on for dear life. "Naurto, live with it, my boy. To take your mind off your body. I'm going to tell you what's happening. Your body is changing itself. How you have the Forbidden bloodline, I have no clue."

''Wait, forbidden bloodline?' Thought everyone in the cave.

"Yes, It's the forbidden bloodline, and it's very fatal, even with all our precautions. Heck, we could have better equipment, but his survival rate would only reach 32 percent. As such, I think a 31 percent is what it's at right now."

"So, what's happening to him?" Asked a feminine but harsh voice.

"Well... The bloodline change consists of four stages. First stage always has a 100 percent survival rate, but that's also the longest part, and would've taken several years to do, if Naruto didn't use it so early. It hardens the vital organs, like the heart, the lungs the digestive track for higher gravity states, such as moving at around twice the speed of sound. At the end of the process, the user would have been knocked out painlessly for three days."

Silence. Naruto thought they all looked at the source of the deep voice like it was crazy. Hell, he would. Too, if he weren't in pain.

"Is... is it really that much?" Said the women. Naruto still couldn't think straight.

"Yes. Now the second part is where the being will awaken to a semi-conscious state. I pulled him the rest of the way to consciousness so that we could find out how his joints will harden. That's what second stage is about. It hardens the bones, massages the muscles forcibly to wear them down to a point and then rebuild them, thus making them much stronger. Now if only the bones and muscles hardened, which, let me tell you is painless compared to the joints, then the joints would break under pressure. Thus the joints reconstruct themselves, and harden, depending on how the body has experienced life thus far. His elbows and knees are hardening to a point of near steel like state. They will still have the flexibility, and motion as they had before, just VERY hard to break. His shoulder's and hips, though, is quite different. They've become even more flexible. He will be able to move them in a wider range before, and have more strength in them."

"So, in short, his body is getting a major reconstruction?" asked the female voice.

"Yes, and it seems to be calming down. His body is almost done with this set." Naruto thought this true, as he could make whole thoughts, he even identified the voices. Nelrim and Anko.

"So, what's the next stage, and how many are there?"

"To answer the latter, four. To answer the former, well," There was a pause in the air, "His senses are going to get a major boost. And what I mean major, is that he'll surpass even your senses Kina."

There was another pregnant pause. "When will it happen?"

"In about 30 minutes, if Naruto manages to stay awake that long. If he doesn't, well, the next stage will begin immediately. The survival rate of stage three depends on how long he can stay awake. Right now, if he manages, he'll have a 56% survival rate."

'How long?' Naruto thought, knowing the answer will be given.

"About 7 hours. Remember it's all your senses, even touch, and, as some of you humans call it, guts."

Now this brought along a funny atmosphere. Anko giggled, "Wait, you're telling us that our 'gut feeling' is real?"

"Yes, but sadly, even you ninja, have a watered down version that all other beings have easily. Why do you think it's so hard to kill a deer? Make even one wrong move, and it's gone."

Another pregnant pause. "So, when he says 'get down' you would trust his senses... wouldn't you?"

"Correct once again, Anko. You're such a bright girl."

…

"Okay, that might've pushed things." Nelrim deadpanned.

"You think?" Anko retorted. "Um, what's the last stage?"

Another pause. "His brain will completely shutdown to rewire his synapses."

Anko spoke up, "Smaller more meaningful words, please."

Nelrim sighed. "Meaning, that his brain will go silent, and reconstruct itself so that he can think faster. During this process, he will die, but his body should restart itself once the stage is complete. During this time, his bloodline's chakra will keep his body fresh. That's not the problem. No the problem occurs when the special chakra leaves his body, to to be replaced by normal chakra, and restart. It's during this time, that his well being, and soul will be in danger. As you know, chakra is your people's life source. And as such, it is the binder of your soul to your body. It literally is made of both your body's energies. Since there is no chakra in parts of his body, his soul could slip away, and he will die in a true sense." There was a pause in the air, and Naruto didn't know what to think.

"Could... could I force my energy into him when this.. special.. chakra is receding?" Kina spoke up for the first time.

Nelrim sighed, "As with several things, that's a big fat 'I wish.'" Nelrim said. "Remember, your energy is yokou, or demonic spiritual energy. His soul isn't demonic, even if he is a hanyou."

Anko spoke up, "What about my chakra?"

Nelrim kept it short and sweet... "It's corrupted by a snake." ….with a side of harshness. "No, the chakra has to be his chakra, it has to be."

"How lo-" Anko started.

"About 5 hours in the final stage, thus becoming three days, counting the past two and a half days for the entire process. Since Naruto decided to make it short and painful, it'll be short and painful."

"Ouch," was all Anko stated.

Kina spoke up, "I feel the chakra shifting."

"Okay, he's entering stage three, everyone, preparations like I said?"

Anko and Kina called out, "Hai!"

And Naruto didn't hear anything, anymore.

–

Hinata woke up slowly. Her talk with the demon, Nibi, left her thinking deeply about what the cat said. In all sense, everything the cat talked about was true, every bit of it. Even though the cat was harsh about it.

Flashback

Hinata rubbed her ears out, just to make sure she heard right. "Could you say your name again?" she asked.

"Certainly, my name is Hiraku."

Now, this name might not mean much to many people, but then again, many people weren't Hyuuga. "As in, my mother?" she asked, being too hopeful.

"No, sorry kitten. I am not your mother, although, your mother was a very sweet woman. I liked her a lot." The Nibi said.

"You knew my mother?"

"Yes, she was quite outgoing, even for a Hyuuga. Then again, with the way I raised her practically on my own, she was going to be that way." Hiraku said cheerfully. She noticed the down mood of the kitten. "Hey, don't be like that. You wont get your mate-to-be's attention being all sad."

Hinata face went tomato red. How she had blood run to her head even in her mind, Nibi will never know. She chuckled. "Hinata," she started, and rapped a furry tail around the girl, and dragged her closer, "It's okay to be embarrassed, but if you always pass out, how will you tell the boy you love him?"

Hinata looked down.

"Wow, and I thought your father had confidence issues."

At this Hinata stared disbelieving at the cat.

"What? You don't believe me? Your father was quite the shy kid. He couldn't get near your mother before he stuttered, and then passed out in embarrassment."

"A-are you telling me that my father could blush!?" with that the quiet Hinata was gone, and in her place was a normal girl. Of course, with all normal little girls, they had devious thought about how to annoy their fathers. "Could.. could you tell me if I could, um... make him pass out?"

Hiraku blinked once, then once more before getting a sly grin. "Weeelll... If I remember correctly, his greatest weakness was always sexual innuendos."

"Um, what's a 'sexual innuendo?'" Hinata said.

The cat chuckled. "We'll get to that later, but first, I have to give you a bit of thought food. How much effort does Naruto put into his training?"

"A lot. He trains until he drops everyday, from the way I have seen him when I well... follow him home." Hinata said shyly.

Hiraku made a sly grin. "And, even though he is young, what would he look for in a girl when he starts noticing the females?"

Hinata didn't need to think about it much. "He would want someone who could dedicate herself to her life's goals?"

"Absolutely, kitten. Now, how are you going to show him that you are dedicated to him?" she asked, pushing the girl's thoughts in the right direction.

"I would need to show that I could train myself, that I can hold myself, yet look to him in times of need. I would be... dependent, yet independent?"

The cat smiled. "Welcome to the world of your element kitten. The element of water..."

End flashback

Hinata then thought about what Hiraku said. That water is, in a way, a contradiction.

"To be calm at some moments, and then rushing at the next. To be a smooth calming sensation, and then a torrent. To move gracefully, and then fiercely. Water is, in itself, a contradiction of nature." Hiraku's voice echoed through her mind. Hinata jerked and looked around.

'Huh? Hiraku-dono, where are you?' Hinata thought.

"Tee-hee, I'm in your mind, little kitten. Oh, and quit the formalities, just call me Raku-chan. You can talk to me anytime, although I might be taking a cat nap at the time, unless we're in a battle. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Oh, I feel someone coming into the room."

Hinata looked to the door, and sure enough, Kurenai came in.

"Oh, Hinata-chan. You're up. That's a relief." Kurenai closed the door behind and sat on the bed Hinata was in. "You've been asleep for three days."

"Uno, what happened? Raku-sama" "Sigh, I said chan." "I mean Raku-chan," she said it as if it was weird, "told me about herself."

Kurenai looked at Hinata seriously. "You've met her? She talked to you?"

"Kurenai-sensei, do you know about Raku-chan?" Hinata asked.

"Yes, when you were assigned to my team, I was given the full profiles on all three of you." Kurenai said. "You know, you all have something inside each of you. The Aburame have their bugs, but that is widely known. Then you have yourself, you have Hikaru, the two tailed cat, inside of you. The there is Naruto, but I can't discuss about him, due to a law."

"You mean about who Kina-chan really is?" Hinata asked knowingly.

"Ho-... Hiraku told you, didn't she?" Kurenai asked.

"Hai."

"Well, that's why this team was formed. You could all relate to one another. Naruto doesn't exactly know about other jinchuurikis, and I don't know if Kina knows either. It's up to you to tell him, if he doesn't know." Kurenai said.

"What happened at the bridge?" Hinata asked again.

"To be blunt, you went crazy. You killed Gato by ripping him apart." Kurenai said.

Hinata looked a little green. "I... I did that?"

"Yes. It's okay, he deserved worse actually." Kurenai said.

"It still doesn't change th-that I killed someone." she looked at her hands, and then back up at Kurenai. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Kurenai did the motherly thing at that moment, and brought Hinata into a hug, and let the girl cry. After about half an hour's worth of crying, the girl calmed down. "There, Hinata-chan. If it makes you feel better, you weren't in control at the time. It wasn't you that really did it."

Hinata nodded numbly, but still felt bad. But there was still something that Hinata needed to know.

Hinata looked back up. "Um, could you tell me how Raku-chan knows my mother, and how she even knows my father as well?" she asked. "I mean, Raku-chan was avoiding it whenever I brought is up."

"You know, you haven't stuttered once during this conversation." Kurenai winged right by the subject and posted a new one. Luckily it worked.

Hinata blushed a little and looked to her feet that were still under the covers.

"Don't worry, Hinata-chan. That's a good thing. Try to do that more, and I'm sure you can be better friends with Naruto-san."

When she said that, Hinata went beet red, but didn't faint. "Do... do you think so?"

"I know so." 'Yes! I avoided it, now she'll just ask her father, and we can all live a little longer.' Kurenai was jumping up and down in joy in her head. 'Just mention her crush once, and she goes onto a one track mind.'

"O-okay, I'll try more." A look of confidence showed in her eyes.

"That's my girl. But for now you should rest up."

"Thanks, Kurenai-sensei." she smiled, a true smile. It dazzled Kurenai for a second, and then did something neither would have expected.

Kurenai pounced Hinata.

"Sooo, cute! Smile like that more often, Hinata-chan, and Naruto will be all over you." Only then did a logical thought hit her head.. 'Uh, oh.' Hinata passed out. 'Damn, a relapse... Oh, well. She did show some confidence today. That's a start.' Kurenai got up, tucked the girl in, and then walked out of the room. She heard someone say something about a log, and called out "AMEN!"

As she was walking down the hall, she ran into Kiba. "Kurenai-sensei. Naruto is back, he's outside the front door. How is Hinata-chan?"

"She's woken up, but she went back to sleep. Tough day in her head."

"Oooookaaay.... Whatever, I'll be relaxing in my room. Oh, and before I forget, Kakashi-sensei wanted to talk to you about something." With that Kiba walked off.

–

Naruto came into consciousness. He woke up slowly, his body no longer in pain, but it felt... different. He opened his eyes slowly. He shut his eyes, and then opened them slowly once more, getting used to the light. Funny thing is, there was almost no light in the cave.

'Wait, cave?' Naruto thought. 'How did I get here?'

"That's simple, Naruto. I brought you here for your bloodline awakening." Nelrim's voice rang through the cave. "You almost died on us Naruto. Your soul almost slipped away."

"Ah, Nii-chan woke up?" Anko said. She walked over to him. "Good to see you alive squirt." she said as she looked him in the eyes. "Is it me, or did your eyes become slightly less blue, and slightly more silverish?" she asked.

"My eyes?" Naruto asked.

"She's right." Kina said.

A voice echoed through the air. "Too bad, you wont remember this."

"Huh?" he asked. "Did you guy hear that?"

"Hear what?" Kina asked. Nelrim's eyes were wide.

'It couldn't be.' he thought. He quickly brought himself back to the world, and said, "Naruto, go ahead and try to get up, but take it easy."

He slowly got up, tensing his muscles in just the right way. 'Wait, how did I... nevermind, that thought later.' Naruto looked around him. The cave was simple, just a one way with a dead end at the other. In the dead end was a bed that he was on. At the foot of the bed, was a table lined with several bags and chemicals... and needles. Naruto shivered at the sight of them. He went to put his feet on the ground.

When his foot touched the ground, something felt different. He flexed the muscles in his legs for a second.

"That's good Naruto. Let your mind get used to your body. One step at a time. How are you feeling?" Nelrim asked.

"Good." he responded. "Actually, better then good. I've never felt better in my entire life!" he yelled out. 'Wait, I yelled.' He took in a deep breath, then yelled at the top of his lungs. "THIS FEELS GREAT!" His voice didn't crack, his throat didn't hurt. He was starting to get exited. He put his other foot on the ground, and stood up. He over balanced, and almost fell. He re-corrected his balance, and stood tall. His tail wagged out from behind him. His ears danced on his head, listening to all the new sounds he could pick up, and then deciphering them. He hopped on his feet a couple of times, and then made to walk. He took one step. Then another. It was like being in a better body.

"That's great, Naruto-kun." Anko said. "Looks like you'll be up and running in no time. Naruto, take it easy. Don't jog out of the cave... don't run into the forest!"

"Don't worry, I'll get him when he's tired." Nelrim said, and disappeared.

–

Naruto was running at full speed. He could calculate where he was going to run 10 steps ahead of himself. He quickened his pace even more, pushing his own limits. He saw a lake up ahead and smiled.

When he reached the lake, he didn't stop, he just kept on running. He turned and started to go upriver. About a mile later, Naruto was starting to slow down. When he stopped he was at the islands only mountain... maybe it should be classified as a big hill. Either way, He chucked, and then went into a joyful laughter.

"It's good to see you running again, my boy." Nelrim said, as he appeared on Naruto's shoulder. "Now, let's head back to the cave."

"Ah, ok-"

–

Back in the cave.

Anko was getting worried about the little brat, when Nelrim and Naruto poofed back in.

"-ay. Please ruin my..." Naruto looked at the cat. "Sometimes, I hate you."

Anko smiled, "Heya, squirt. Have a nice run?"

"YEA!" Naruto yelled out in joy, "It felt wonderful."

"Well, consider that your only fun, because now that you have an upgraded body, we're going to train you a whole lot more. Isn't that right, Anko?" Kina said.

"Oh, the pointy things must fly at fox boy. They WILL fly at fox boy." Anko said evilly.

Naruto could only gulp. He tried to change the subject. "You and Tenten-san would get along nicely." Naruto said. He's known about the weapon lover for 2 years now, but only on fleeting glances, and the occasional rave about pointy weapons.

Anko kept on her evil grin. "I'll have to meet this girl when we get back. Now, on to more serious matters, I think Nelrim has a few tests for you to run."

Kina added her two cents. "Naruto-kun, Be careful on these tests. Though we will control them, you can still die. These tests are to see if you have fully awakened your bloodline."

"Quite right, Kina-san. Are you up for a few test runs?" Nelrim asked.

Naruto smirked. "How hard could they be?"

"Well... for the first test, we'll be pushing you to about 5 Gs, then we'll max out those gravity seals, and the final test will be a secret." Kina explained.

"Doesn't sound too hard."

All three of the others just smirked. "We'll see, my boy. We'll see. You ready?" Nelrim asked.

"About as ready as I'll ever beeeEEEEEEE!" Kina had grown to 5 tails form behind Naruto, and then picked him up on her back, and took off into the woods.

"He's screwed, isn't he?" Anko said more then asked.

"Yeap." Nelrim answered anyways. About two seconds later a gigantic sonic boom was heard, along with what sounded like a yell in joy or for help. Neither could figure it out.

About 10 minutes later, Kina came back with a dizzy Naruto on her back. "Well, he lasted 7 minutes at 3 times the speed of sound (That's 2142 miles per hour for you non-math lovers), but he still has a good grip."

"That's good, he only needed to last 3 minutes." Nelrim said. "Now let him rest up. Kina could you go ahead and start bumping up the gravity seals to 22.5x gravity each?" he asked.

"Are you sure he wont break? I mean... it is kinda pushing it." Kina asked. "With 5 seals on him and all."

"Wait," Anko interjected. "He has 5 seals on him? How much each?"

"Well, currently... he's at 4.5 gravity each. We have to go 5 times higher then that to test him." Nelrim said.

"Can he-" Anko started.

"No, he can only release the seals halfway on his own. He needs either Kina's or my permission to fully release them." Nelrim said.

"Ah, okay." Anko said.

A few minutes later, Naruto woke up. "Who got the number on that fox?" he said shaken.

"Welcome back, Naruto." Nelrim said. "Are you ready for you next test?"

"In a minute, I can't move anything." Naruto said.

Nelrim laughed. "We've already bumped up your gravity seals."

"Oh, I was wondering why I felt a weight crushing my chest." Naruto said. He took it slowly, but he managed to stand up... okay he was slouching and his arms were about to drag on the ground. His tail was dragging as well. "Damn. This is heavy."

"Welcome to about 20 times your body weight, and 5 times what you normally wear. This next test is all about strength and endurance. Mainly, you're going to jog. For 5 miles, if you can make it more then that, then you're good. The reason why I say 5 miles, is because that's how far away from Tazuna's house is." Nelrim said.

"You know something, Nelrim?"

"You hate me?"

"Yeap."

"Good, catch me if you can, pipsqueak." Nelrim said.

"ARE YOU CALLING ME SMALLER THEN A CUPCAKE!?" Naruto said.

Anko and Kina were laughing behind Naruto, both knowing that Nelrim was getting Naruto riled up.

"Actually I was calling you smaller then that." Nelrim said. He popped about 5 feet away when Naruto lunged for him. "Come on, small fry. I thought you were fast." Naruto started running for him. Nelrim always blinked about 5 feet ahead of him, 'encouraging' the boy on.

Anko spoke up, "50 ryo says Naruto can't catch the little kitty before they get to Tazuna's house."

Kina looked at her like she was nuts. "Normally, I wouldn't EVER bet against that, but I'm feeling lucky. 50 ryo says that he catches the cat before they get to Tazuna's house him." Kina held out her paw.

Anko shook it, "Deal."

–

Kakashi was on the porch, just reading along, when a cat popped into existence right next to him.

Kakashi noted the cat, but kept reading.

About 5 minutes later, a half dead Naruto, crawling on all fours, with his tail dragging behind him, made a death glare at the cat. "I'm gonna getcha, you stupid cat."

"Oh come now, Naruto. You can catch me. Or are you just to short to keep up with those stubby little legs?" The cat said in a eerily deep voice.

Now, Kakashi loves to read, but at that moment, he couldn't help but stare at the sight before him.

Naruto got up on two feet, and took a step forward. "What did you say about stubby legs?"

"That you have them?" Nelrim asked sarcastically.

Naruto ran forward, or tried to. He looked like he was in slow motion. All of a sudden, Naruto's eyes glowed a little, and he sped up to a normal running speed. He lunged at the cat, and caught him.

"Hah! I got you know, you little rascal." Naruto said.

Sasuke came out at that exact moment. He looked to Kakashi first, and then at Naruto, who looked happy to be holding something down. Sasuke looked a little more closely, then said, "Uh, Dobe?"

"Yea, teme?"

"Uh, why are you holding down a log?"

Naruto looked down, and indeed it was a log.

Nelrim's voice popped out behind Sasuke, "Behold. The mighty log. It is holy in all its ways, and forever be engraved in our hearts."

Kakashi spoke up, "Amen." and a distant one was heard by Kurenai in the back.

Naruto looked at the log, then at Kakashi. "Okay, that was a little freaky."

"Hold up the mighty log, Naruto, and your second test shall be completed." Nelrim said, in a deep righteous like voice, losing the creepiness, and then regaining it in a different way.

"Right." Naruto said, and he struggled, but he finally managed to stand up straight, with a 50 pound log over his head. In the heat of the moment, he couldn't help himself. "BEHOLD, THE ALMIGHTY LOG!"

With that, Sasuke walked right back into the house, mumbling something about circus clowns.

"Good job, Naruto." Nelrim said, "Your second test is complete. Tomorrow will be your final test, and the hardest of the three."

"Uh, Not to be rude or anything, but um... How do you know Naruto?" Kakashi asked the cat.

"Ah, sorry about that, Kakashi." Nelrim started, "My name is Gin Nelrim, Secondary Successor to Siete. I'm here on a favor helping Naruto."

"Ah, okay. Hatake Kakashi. Most just call me the copy ninja." he responded.

"Who's Siete?" Naruto asked.

"Later, boy. Much, much later." Nelrim answered. "And to answer your next question, Kakashi, yes, I am a dangerously powerful cat who could wipe out civilization as we know it."

Kakashi went wide eyed. His mind racing, and danger alarms went up.

"Oh, and no, we're not in a Gnejutsu, since I can't do those exactly, but I can read your mind. It's like an open book." Nelrim stopped for a second. "No, I wont be telling any village secrets out to anyone... okay maybe Naruto, but no one else, as I am barely allowed inside the borders of the elemental countries as it is."

Naruto spoke up, "Aaaaaaand that's about how far I got, before Nelrim stops answering questions."

"Same here." Anko said, as she showed up behind Naruto with Kina on her shoulder.

"Anko, what are you doing out here?" Kakashi asked.

"Well, I was on my way to my house, when suddenly I was teleported here by Nelrim to help the brat out with his bloodline awakening."

Kiba walked out at that moment, "Oh, look. It's the dead last. I'm surprised you aren't dead. I mean your fox went ballistic then took off with you."

Kakashi spoke up, "Kiba, go get Kurenai-san, I need to talk to her for a second."

Kiba nodded, and went back in. A few seconds later, Kurenai came out. She saw the silver-haired boy, and then pulled him up into a hug.

"Good to see you back, Naruto-kun. I knew you'd be back." Kurenai said.

"Can't breathe."

"Oops, sorry." Kurenai said.

Naruto looked back to Kina, "It's great to have this crushing feeling and all, but could you... um.. well.." Kina nodded, glowed red for a second, and Naruto took in a deep breath, "Thanks, Kina-chan."

Kakashi spoke up then, "Now, what was it you were talking about... a bloodline of sorts? And Naruto having one?"

Nelrim just looked at Kakashi for a second, and then said, "That is not something that we can disclose, and neither can Naruto, since he doesn't know what it is yet."

"Alright," Kurenai started, "Can you at least give us the basics on it? Like is it dangerous, or..."

"Well, the awakening process is fatal, but he should be fine now."

"So, back on the bridge, was that his bloodline waking up?" Kurenai asked.

"Well, yes and no. Yes, that was the start of it. No, because he had used his bloodline before it awakened. Don't ask, it's complicated. All I can tell you is the name given to it in my world. The Forbidden Bloodline. The Queen's Blood. The King's Soul. The Shadow's Release. It has many other names, but those are the main ones. Although his runs on chakra, so I think it's a sub-category type."

"What do you mean, 'runs on chakra?'" Kakashi asked.

"Well, as the earliest three names suggest, life force or blood. The most powerful of them running on blood with life force as a second. I have the bloodline myself, the blood version, which is quite a bit deadlier and comes at a horrible price. I wonder how Naruto's will turn out. There are so many differences as it is."

"Why do people call it The Shadow's Release?" Kakashi asked.

"Because, most of the users of the bloodline, the blood version, walk in the shadows of society. We are not welcomed among the general populace." Nelrim said. "Here in the elemental countries, we are almost unheard of, so we can walk around more in the open. If we can get in, that is."

"Okay, sooo, what's for dinner?" Naruto asked. He knew that Nerlim wouldn't want to talk anymore. The cat barely ever talks that much.

Kakashi and Kurenai got the hint, and Kurenai spoke up, "Well, let's go ask Tsunami." Kina perked up, and hopped off Anko's shoulder, and into Naruto's arms.

Anko looked a bit sad, but then got happier. "Kina, you owe me 50 Ryo."

Kina put her nose under her paw, as a sign of depression.

As they were walking in, Naruto had to ask, "Oh, what happened on the bridge after I left?"

"Well, Hinata-chan went off, and killed Gato. Brutally, might I add." Kurenai said.

"Then the villagers came by to fight off the already destroyed by Kina army." Kakashi said.

"What about Zabuza, and Haku?" Naruto asked. "And, is Hinata-chan alright?"

"Well, we brought both Haku and her father Zabuza to the house. At first we kept an eye on them, but now we think they don't really care." Kakashi said.

"Hinata-chan is alright, if a bit depressed, when she learned about it." Kurenai said.

"Wait, Zabuza.. as in Momochi Zabuza?" Anko asked.

"The same." Kakashi answered.

Anko had stars in her eyes. "He's here!?" and then rushed off to pounce the swordsman.

"Uh, why did she run off like that?" Kurenai asked.

Naruto mumbled. "It's more for his sword then him." Naruto pricked his ears up. "Wait for iiit. Now."

Sure enough, a loud bang was heard, and Zabuza walked into the hallway in front of the group, he had Anko over his shoulder.

"Hey, brat. Nice to see you." he gestured to Anko, "This belong to you?"

"Um," Naruto said, deciding the pros and cons. He sighed, "Yea, she's somewhat my older surrogate sister."

"Okay, she looked really happy to see me though. Could you tell me why?"

Naruto thought about the right way to say it. "Um, ever met any of those girls who like shiny, sharp, and/or pointy things?" he asked.

"Yea, A few back in my old village and my daughter... Wait..." he deadpanned, "This is one, isn't she?"

"Yeap, she's your problem now, sucka." With that Naruto ran into the kitchen as Anko was stirring.

"Shit." Zabuza said.

"WHERE'S THE SHARP SWORD!" Anko yelled out.

Zabuza chuckled, "You and Haku would get along nicely."

"Yes, I get that a lot. Now give me the sword." she said in a 'no joke' business.

Zabuza slowly put down the girl, walked into the living room, and said slowly, "Haku, meet your new friend. No, not another pointy thing. It's a playmate of sorts, she likes sharp pointy things, too."

Anko walked into the room, and saw that Haku was cleaning and hugging Zabuza's sword. Anko immediately jumped onto the couch, and got her face up as close as she could to study it in fine detail.

"Hello," Haku said. "My name is Haku, what's yours?"

"Mitarashi Anko. Just Anko from you though... Do you like Dangos?" She asked.

Haku's mouth watered for a second. "Oh, Dangos are good."

"Hello, my new best friend." Anko said in a joyful voice, and smiled.

Kakashi and Kurenai both deadpanned. "Those two would get along nicely with Kushina."

Up in heaven.

"HELL YES, I WOULD, RED!"

Back down at earth.

Kakashi patted his ear for a second. "Did you hear something?"

"Say what?" Kurenai asked.

"Nothing."

–

The next day.

Hinata stirred from her blissful sleep as the sun woke her up. Hinata grumbled for a bit, but succumbed to consciousness. She got up, and gathered her supplies for the day. She left the room, and headed downstairs to get some breakfast.

"Oh, hello Hinata-chan!" Naruto greeted her.

"Hello, Naruto-kun." Hinata said, She saw Kina on Naruto's lap. "Hello, Kina-chan." She went to pet the fox, and said to her. "Hiraku-chan told me to tell you that I know who you are."

With that Kina stopped, and starred straight into Hinata's eyes. The fox looked deep, and then saw what she was looking for. Two very, very faint blue slits where her pupils would be. 'Naruto, forget breakfast. Grab the girl, and go up into a private room.'

Naruto almost choked. 'Why should I do that?' He thought back. He set his bowl of cereal down.

'Just do it.'

"Fine, fine." he said aloud, and he put his bowl in the sink, and dragged Hinata to a room upstairs. She was a little red at the feeling of his hand on hers, but before they knew it, they were in a private room. The door locked.

Kina glowed for a second, and then the room glowed. "Okay, we can talk now." she said, "The room is sealed."

"What's the big idea, Kina-chan?" Naruto asked.

"Well, for one, Naruto-kun. You aren't the only Jinchuuriki in Konoha. Meet the other one, Hyuuga Hinata, jinchuuriki of the Nibi no Bakeneko, Also known as Hiraku." Kina said aloud.

Naruto just let his jaw drop open, while his eyes almost popped out. After a few seconds he gained control again and said, "I'm... not the only one." He said aloud.

Kina nodded.

"I just can't believe it. There was another in the town. When did you find out?" he asked her.

"Well, I can't remember all that much, all I knew was that on the bridge during the fight, My vision was getting hazy and dark bluish. After that, I woke up in my mind, and met her." Hinata said.

"Huh? You can meet your demon in your.. mind?" Naruto asked. "How does that work?"

"Well, we would, too, Naruto-kun, but I'm out here. Sure my power may be in you, but I'm out here. Otherwise, to talk to you, I would've called you into your mind to talk to you, or set up a mental link to your mind, just like the one we have, right now."

"Like what I'm doing." Raku said in Hinata's mind.

"So how would I go into my mind like that?" Naruto asked.

"Well, it's different for you yourself for going in, but we demons can call our container's minds to the inside." Kina said, "But that's on two conditions. One, is that if we sealed ourselves in. Or, two Are forcibly sealed in, but some yokou can leak out, and mix refreshingly with the container's. Luckily, the fourth hokage was able to create such an advanced seal, or else I'd probably still be stuck in there with no light."

"Um, a question." Hinata spoke up. "Can... Can I bring Raku-chan out here?"

"Yes, and no. Yes if both parties are willing, no if she doesn't want to come out, of which wont be likely." Kina said.

"So, how do I?"

"I'll let her tell you, as each demon has their own way of being summoned out, even if completely sealed."

"She's right. Just do what I tell you to do, and hurry, I wanna greet my master." Hiraku said.

A few seconds later, Hinata did three handsigns, and then placed her hand straight out, palm up. "Kuchiyose: Nekomato." A poof appeared on her hand. Once the little cloud cleared, there stood in her hand was a little kitten. The little kitten went into a striking position, tail in the air, and pounced onto Kina, who knew it was coming.

"KINA-SAMA!" The kitten, then snuggled up to the fox. The kitten was a dark blue, with mixed light blue, and black strips all over her body, or was it the other way around?

Kina chuckled at the kitten's antics. "Hello there Raku-chan. Good to see you too."

If Sakura, Ino, or Kurenai walked in on that moment, they would have proclaimed it the cutest thing in the world.

"I missed you, master." Raku said, and soundly went to sleep curled up against Kina. Kina wrapped her tail around the kitten.

Hinata, by this time, was struggling to not disrupt the scene by hugging the two of them. Naruto was just plain laughing in the back. Hinata looked to Naruto, and then back at the two animals. Then back at Naruto. "Ah, what the heck." She pounced the fox boy.

"My, my. You seem to have worked Hinata out of her shell. Nice job." Kina said.

"Yea, the girl was just too shy for me, so I kinda changed some of her mind around a bit. Not enough to change her completely, but enough to get rid of the shyness." Raku said, looking up to see Naruto struggle out of a bear hug of doom. The girl was blushing madly, but she couldn't stop herself.

"That wont have any adverse side-effects... would it?" Kina asked, really worried, and for good reason, too. Whenever you mess with someone's mind to change their personality, something unintended will happen.

"Well, she might grow fonder of certain things, and she might just kill Naruto in a death hug, but it shouldn't be all that bad. Oh, and before I forget, I already started weaving 'that' on her." Raku said.

"Oh? So you'll actually bind yourself to the girl permanently?" Kina asked.

The kitten shrugged somehow, "Might as well. You're bound with Naruto for the rest of his life, and I know you started weaving it as well. I started the day you did."

"So, when she's 18?" Kina asked.

"Yea. Now, onto more important things." The kitten with a small girl voice pounced Kina again, and went to sleep against her.

Naruto... he passed out.

Kina spoke up. "Hinata-chan, you dear girl. I would let up on the hugging. You might kill him."

Hinata's eyes flew open to check the silver-haired boy. Sure enough, he had swirly eyes, that were on the verge of going into X's.

"Oh, Naruto!" Hinata said, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it."

"'sokay, Hinata-chan. Just.. let me catch my breath." Naruto said still a little out of it.

Hinata just went into a nice smile, and snuggled up to Naruto.

About three hours later, Kurenai walked up to the room, and knocked on the door. No one answered, and Kurenai was getting worried. She slowly opened up the door and peeked in.

The first thing she saw was a sleeping Naruto, and a Hinata snuggled up to him. She smiled at the sight. 'About damn time. I wonder who won the bet?'

Downstairs

Anko sneezed.

Upstairs

Then she looked down, closer to the door. Now, Kurenai is a jounin, and as such, she should have great control over her motions. See the 'should' in the last sentence? Yea, you know where I'm going with this. Let's just say this much. Kurenai likes kittens... a lot.

–

A few hours even later. Nelrim popped into the room.

"Okay, Naru-..." Nelrim started, but stopped short at the sight. He saw Naruto and Hinata, but that was no surprise to Nelrim. No, what surprised the cat was how Kurenai was holding two animals, one Kina, and the other.. 'Is that Hiraku!?' kitten sleeping on top of a sleeping Kurenai holding the two animals down with her arms.

"Oh, good." Kina said. "You're here. Can you pop us out of this lady's hold? She has a death grip."

"Um... sure." Nelrim said. Both popped out of the latters hold, and Kurenai's smile disappeared.

"Thanks, Nelrim." Hiraku said.

"N-no problem, Hiraku-sama." Nelrim smiled a little weakly.

"So, how's un-life, treating you?" The kitten asked.

"N-not that bad. Tell your otherworldly master I said, hi." Nelrim said meekly.

"Oki-doki!" The kitten said.

"Am I missing something?" Kina asked.

"Why, whatever do you mean?" Nelrim asked innocently.

"It's nothing, master. He's just scared that I'm the Shinigami's pet and all." The kitten said.

"Oh. Right, why didn't I remember that?" Kina said.

"Wait, you referred to Kina as 'master.'" Nelrim said. "Does that mean she's?"

"No, I just have two masters, Shinigami-sama, and Kina-sama. Shinigami, because I escort the dead for him sometimes... mostly the particularly the nasty ones, he doesn't like dealing with headaches. And Kina-sama for taking care of me when I got injured once while on this plain." The kitten explained. "And because she's cute."

Nelrim got a big sweat drop. "Right. Anyways, time to wake up, fox boy." Nelrim said. He hopped up onto Naruto's stomach, and let his claws go out.

–

"Hinata-chan. I couldn't tell you this earlier, because I was scared at how you might've reacted, but now I'm sure." Naruto said, as he put his hand over hers.

"Yes, Naruto-kun?" She asked shyly.

"Well, I don't know how to say this easily, but after this wonderful date that we had tonight, I just have to tell you."

"What is it, Naruto-kun?" she was getting her hopes up.

"Well, I wanted to tell you, that I l-"

–

"YEOUCH!"

Hinata went into high alert, and looked around to see what happened. It was Nartuo yelling out when he got claws stuck straight into him by a cat. The cat disappeared when Naruto tried to hit it. He looked down at his shirt, and it was torn up by claws.

"Ah, that's ANOTHER shirt you ruined, you stupid cat. And that was such a nice dream, too." Naruto said sadly.

"I know, and I timed it juuuuust right so that I could piss you off." the cat said.

"Haha, very funny, Nelrim." Naruto said sarcastically.

"Yea, I'm evil like that. Anywho, It's nice to meet you finally, Hinata." Nelrim said.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Nelrim-san." Hinata still a little mad herself for her dream being ruined

"Please, just Nelrim. No honorifics. I don't like them."

"Okay, Nelrim-san." she said.

A tick mark appeared on Nelrims head. "Like father, like daughter."

"I think you mean, like mother like daughter." Raku said.

"Ah, you know what I mean." Nelrim said.

"Yea, I do." Raku said affirmatively.

Nelrim then turned to Naruto. "Okay, like I was saying before, would you like to start your next and final test?"

Naruto nodded.

"What does he mean by test, and who is this cat, exactly?" Hinata asked.

"I'll fill ya in later, Hinata-chan." he said, and looked at her. He blushed a little, and then turned back to the cat. "So, when do we start?"

"Oh, in... 3... 2*crash*... 1." When Nelrim said 2, Naruto was flung out of the window.

"Naruto!" Hinata cried out.

"It's okay, kitten. It's just a test." Raku said.

"I hope he's okay."

–

Down on the ground was a stunned Naruto who had his butt up in the air, and over his head. His tail flopped over him.

"I always love doing that." Nelrim said.

Naruto grumbled as he got up.

"Okay, boy. This final test is a test for your reflexes. It's to see if you can stand up to me."

"So what? I dodge both you and Anko at the same time everyday."

"Oh, but I was holding back. You see, I've only been throwing chi spears at you once every 5 seconds with fire and forget thoughts. Do you want to know what I'm going to do now?" Nelrim said.

"Um, Do I want to know?"

"Actually, yes you do. With your gravity seals set to 300 each, and your chakra seals increased, I'm going to throw chi spears at you 5 times per second with a control of each spear's direction, meaning that it will be much harder to dodge. They'll hurt. A lot. So.." a few dozens pits appeared around Naruto. "If you don't mind, I'm going to start now, you might want to as well."

Naruto's eyes widened as he started moving.

"Sometimes," Nelrim said, as he started the spears up, "I love this job."

A grand trail of spears was heading after Naruto, as he dodged left and right.

"You didn't say that he only had to last 30 minutes." Kina said, as she walked right up next to Nelrim.

"Whoops, I think I forgot about that. Should I tell him?" he asked her.

…

"Nah." They both watched as Naruto got chased around.

Anko came out. "My, 'Naruto is going to get pummeled, grab popcorn.' senses were tingling."

"Ah, I figured you would." Nelrim said, a couple box's of popcorn appeared out of nowhere. "You want some?"

Anko grab a box, as Kina and Nelrim shared another.

"Oh, that had to hurt." Anko said. "Try to get him in the jewels."

"What do you think I'm aiming for?" Nelrim said.

"You know, you're an evil cat." Anko asked.

"Heard it a million times." Nelrim said.

"Who says that?" Anko asked.

"Oh, my roommate for starters." Nelrim said.

–

In a nice big house somewhere in New York, a teenager with silver hair was lounging around. He sneezed.

"Huh... I wonder what Merlin is up to? Can't be any good seeing as he's evil and all." the teenager said, and continued to drink a red liquid out of a wine glass.

–

"How is Mekami, anyways, Nelrim?" Kina asked.

"Oh, he's been waiting around. The Game is going to start soon." Nelrim said.

"Ah, okay." Kina said.

"Dare I ask?" Anko asked.

"No." they both said simultaneously.

A sudden scream of pain was heard. Anko smirked. "Didja get 'im?"

"Yeap." Nelrim responded. Naruto appeared in front of Nelrim. "Neh," Nelrim munched on some popcorn, "What's up, doc?"

"You, sir, are disthhhhpicable." Naruto said in a squeaky voice.

"I am, aren't I?" Nelrim said.

Naruto dodged, and hopped a few times using chakra. "Of course," he said between jumps, "You know," jump, "This," jump, "Means war!" Naruto said, as he flung several kunai from several directions, using clones. All the kunai stopped in mid-air around Nelrim.

"Ah, ah, ah, Naruto. This is a test for you." Nelrim said, as the kunai did a 180 and killed off all the clones.

Of course, where was Anko and Kina during all this? Laughing, of course.

–

Hinata was doing the dishes with Tsunami, when the door was flung open. Hinata quickly rushed to it. She gasped at the sight.

Naruto's clothes were in rages, torn to tiny, tiny pieces. Though the strangest thing was, was that Hinata couldn't see a single scratch on Naruto.

"Naruto, what happened to your clothes?" Hinata asked.

"Do you know Tenten?" Naruto asked lazily.

"Um, the girl on my cousin's team? Yes, I've met her a couple times." Hinata said, as she grabbed Naruto before he could fall.

"Imagine her pms'ing."

"Oh." Was all Hinata could respond. She helped the boy into the house, and led him upstairs into one of the bedrooms. She helped him get into a bed, and she took off his shoes. The poor boy fell asleep as soon as the second one was off.

Hinata smiled at the peaceful look that was on his face.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Raku said, as she appeared on Hinata's shoulder.

"Oh, nothing much." she said as she got a blush. She quickly tried to think of something else to say. "Do you think I could get a tail and ears, since I'm a jinchuuriki as well?" Hinata asked, before she could think it over.

The kitten sighed. "I wish. You would be sooo much cuter if you could. The problem is, is that our seal is much different then Naruto's and Kina's."

Hinata looked a little sad at that. "I wish I could get a tail and ears, so That I could be just like him."

"Hinata," Hiraku said in a serious tone. "Be careful for what you wish for." She stopped for a second. "Do you know why you were shunned by most of your clan, and that the elders were so hard on you?"

Hinata, for all her life, could never figure it out. The only one who was easy on her was Hiashi, her father. Even then, he had high hopes for her, and pushed her, too.

"It's because they knew you were a jinchuuriki." Hiraku said. "They knew. You can't hide a seal from a Byakugan's eye. You just can't. And when they saw the seal on your stomach, they knew what you were."

"So, why can't I?" she asked.

"Do you want to get the entire village to kill you?" she asked.

She looked over at the boy, "For him? Yes." She said, a little blush playing out.

"I knew I picked the right one, when I sealed myself away." She said. "Okay, I'll think about a tail and ears, but I get to pick out how they look."

Hinata looked happy for a second, but a question popped into her head. "So, because you're inside me, does that mean that I have too much chakra in me to learn the jyuuken?" Hinata asked.

"No, even with my added reserves to yours, you still have near perfect chakra control."

"It doesn't explain why I can't learn the Jyuuken, though." Hinata said.

"What do most people in you clan have for their elements?" Hiruka asked.

"Earth, why do you ask?"

"Because, with me being inside of you, your main element went from earth, to water and lightning." she said flat out. "The jyuuken is based on the fact that you have a rock hard stance, hence earth. But you, you my dear, are special. You can learn the more advanced and deadlier version since your main element is water."

"How does elements affect your fighting style?" Hinata asked.

"Well, a person's elemental type affects how their chakra flows, and how your body is built. An earth style, for instance, makes the chakra tougher, and harder, while your water and lighting elements makes the chakra flow smoothly and quicker. You couldn't master the earth style version even if you spent your entire life on it. The Jyuuken is too earth chakra heavy. No, you will not learn their styles, I will teach you the long lost water style." The kitten said.

"Hai! When will I start?" Hinata asked eagerly.

"Why do you want to learn it so badly?" Hiraku asked, with a knowing smile.

Hinata looked over to the sleeping boy, "Because, I want to support him. I want to help him shoulder his choices. I want to be with him, and not run him down, because I'm weak."

'Perfect. Almost no backlashes to the changes in her personality. Wow, Shinigami-sama must be proud that I did this one perfectly.' The kitten thought.

In Purgatory

A big figure wearing torn ended black cloak was watching a portal.

"Hehe, almost, Raku-chan. Almost. You missed one teensy little detail." The shinigami laughed a little bit. "Hey, Minato."

A blond man got up from his paper work. "Yes, Shinigami-sama?"

"Your son is going to be in for a real treat."

"Why do you say that?" Minato asked.

"Well, let's just say the girl that caught his eye will be crazy about two things. Him, and an extra something that my favorite pet missed."

Minato sighed, "What did you do this time?"

The Shinigami laughed evilly in answer.

Back on earth

The kitten suddenly got a bad feeling, but shook it off. "So, Nelrim. Did he pass?"

The cat had walked in after Naruto, as well as Kina and Anko. Anko, who doesn't have any control on her emotions, saw the kitten. Do I need to type out what happens?

"Yes, he did." Nelrim said, as Anko cuddled the kitten. "He actually passed 30 minutes into the test, I just kept going."

"That's the evil cat I've come to know and love." Anko said, as she scratched Raku's ears. "So, your Raku, huh?" The kitten looked up at Anko in surprise. "Don't worry, I'm incohoots with nii-kun over there. I wont tell anyone. Oh, and Nelrim was the one who told me, while Naruto was getting his butt chased."

"Ah, okay." The kitten relaxed even more, as Anko scratched her ears. "So, is it official? Has his bloodline awakened?"

"Yes, but sadly, he wont be able to use it to it's full potential for a few years."

"Ah, and, um which bloodline is it?" Hinata asked.

Nelrim stared straight at her. "A chakra version of The Shadow Release."

"H-how!?" The kitten asked. "I thought that the Kagedoushinkai died a long time ago."

"Oh? So that's it's name. How do you know of it?" Nelrim asked.

"You don't drag a few dozen thousand souls to their doom without learning anything." The kitten answered. "But I will tell you this much. Yes, the creator of the bloodline was born from a male Triste and a human female, and yes, the awakening process is exactly the same as a Triste, but that's where it ends. Naruto, is in every way, still alive and kicking. Down to the very fact that his brain is still running at full potential. Not like the forbidden bloodlines where your brain isn't even alive, like yours. He still has a normal human life span as well. He's not immortal."

Nelrim nodded, fully understanding what she meant.

Hinata and Anko were thoroughly confused.

"How... who... nevermind, you're too cute." Anko said.

'Like putty in my hands.' Hiraku thought.

'I must learn how she does that. I can't seem to do that with these chakra infused humans.' Nelrim thought.

Hinata, forgetting everything again when she saw Naruto's face, crawled up onto the bed, and cuddled up to him.

–

The bridge took little over a week to repair and then finish, all thanks due to Naruto and his clones for getting it done earlier then expected. Haku and Zabuza decided to part. Haku would go with the group, while Zabuza would look over the wave country as a shadow, maybe even start a hidden village.

'Yea, I like the sound of that. The shodaime kage of the wave country.' he thought.

When asked why this was arranged Zabuza sighed and said, "Haku, I want you to go, and make real friends with these people. I'm sure you can, since you're an unregistered ninja. Why I can't come? It would start a war if I went to Konoha, as the kirigakure village would see it as allowing their missing nin into the village."

The group understood, even if Haku protested somewhat.

"What will we do about her name?" Kakashi asked. "I mean we can't just pop into the village and say 'hi we brought Momochi Haku here, daughter of the traitorous swordsman.'"

"He's got a point." Kurenai said. "What do we do?"

"Well," Zabuza started, "Her family name is Salentine."

"Salentine Haku?" Naruto asked. It didn't seem to fit right.

Haku nodded. "But I hate it, as that was my father's family name. I want to use my mother's which is Hyosenra."

"Hyosenra Haku." Naruto said. "Nice name." he smiled.

"Well, this is goodbye, my daughter. Maybe we'll see each other soon." Zabuza said.

"Goodbye, dad." She smiled back.

–

Halfway to Konohagakure, a strange girl with neon green hair was walking the opposite way that the group was. She had a bubbily atmosphere around her, and she looked to be of someone sweet. She had an Iwagakure symbol on her headband.

Naruto and the girl caught eyes, a strange pause occurred. Naruto looked to Kina, and nodded his head. He looked back at the girl, and said. "Hello, number 7, I'm number 9, Uzumaki Naruto."

"Hello," she answered back. "It's good to know there are others. I'm number 7, Fu."

"Nice to meet you, too." He raised his hand to wards Hinata. "This is number 2."

Hinata caught on, "Hello, I'm Hyuuga Hinata, Nice to meet you Fu."

"A silver haired fox kid, and a Hyuuga. Nice to know there is variety." she said sarcastically.

"Ah, if green were only better." Naruto said back, just as sarcastically. "Have you met others?"

"Yes, number 8 and 1. Beware, 1 is bloodthirsty."

"Thanks," Naruto pointed to Kina, "Meet 9 herself, Kina." The fox jumped off Naruto's shoulders.

"Is it okay to let her out?" Fu asked.

"Yea, she's sweet, if a bit cold at times." Naruto answered.

"So, is that number 2?" she pointed to the kitten, whom Hinata just summoned.

"Yes. This is Hiraku." Hinata answered.

"Hey dobe." Sasuke said as he walked up, Sakura close behind. "I don't want to know what you're up to, and I probably am glad that I don't, but could we please get going?"

"YEA, WHAT HE SAID!" ...

"Alright, alright, teme." Naruto pointed at Sasuke with his thumb. "Stick-up-ass-avenger."

"Ouch, your teammate?"

"Nope, and I'm glad for it. I would shiver if that reality actually existed. Oh well, I gotta go. Maybe we can meet on friendly terms again someday."

"That would be nice." Fu said. "Goodbye."

They departed.

–

The konoha gates

The entire group, minus Anko who was teleported in by Nelrim, met up with the guards.

"Ah, teams 7 and 8. Right on schedule as always." he said sarcastically.

"Yea, yea." Kakashi said, not looking up form his book.

"Okay, and who's the extra?"

"Hyosenra Haku. She needs to see the Hokage about something." Hinata spoke up.

The two guards looked at each other, and nodded. One left off rushing to the hokage.

"I'm going to have to ask Haku-san here to relieve herself of all weapons and gear. Standard procedure for all incoming guest Shinobi." The guard with a bandage on his face said.

"I understand." she took off her belt, that was just under her kimono. The senbon holders around her ankles, and wrists. She took out the two senbon in her hair.

The guard took all of them. "Is that all?"

Haku sighed. She took of her necklace which had another two senbon imbedded in the string. She took off the bracer around her thigh, which was embarrassing to get, and one last senbon up each sleave.

"Come on, I know you're holding out." The guard said.

Haku got teary eyed. She pulled out another necklace, which this one had a smaller then usual senbon. "My precious, first senbon." she rubbed it affectionately.

"Don't worry. You'll get it back when you're cleared. I promise." The guard said.

"Take care of it. It's my favorite." she said.

Naruto chuckled. "You need to meet Tenten."

"We'll do that after I see the hokage. I want my precious back." Haku said.

"Okay, move it along you two." Kakashi said.

–

Hokage's office

The hokage was just notified that team 7 and 8 were back from the mission plus one. The guard notified that the plus one was a kunoichi, and as thus dangerous.

'Can't possibly be more dangerous then Anko or Tsunade.' he thought.

The group walked into the office, and Kakashi stepped forward.

"Teams 7 and 8 have completed C rank turned A rank mission. We will receive payment from Wave once they are back on their feet." Kakashi said in report mode.

"Okay, give me your verbal report." The hokage said.

Kakashi and Kurenai took turns explaining what happened, leaving out a few parts of course.

"So this is Hyosenra Haku, surrogate daughter of Momochi Zabuza, and the last wielder of the ice bloodline. Correct?" The hokage said.

"Correct, Hokage-sama." Haku said.

"Well, don't just stand there, tell me about yourself."

..."How?"

"Well, your likes... dislikes... you can be vague or direct, just as long as I have something for your profile." Sarutobi said.

"Well, My name is Hyosenra Haku. I like dangos," the hokage sat up straighter, "learning new ways to use my ice techniques, Sharp pointy things, my precious people, and of course my ice ability to make sharp pointy things. My dislikes are perverts, dull people, and people who just don't understand the true meaning to be strong." Haku stopped. "Anything else?"

"Uh.. um... dreams, and goals."

"Hmm, my dream is to make my friends happy, and to make a clan just for sharp pointy things. My goals is to make lots of friends, and make my surrogate father proud of me."

Everyone stared at Haku.

The collective thought was, 'Oh god, not another one.'

The hokage coughed to bring the attention back to himself, the attention hogger, and said, "Hyosenra Haku. You will go through the Precautions and Execution of Trouble act. Basically, you will be allowed in as a citizen, and after a year you will be allowed to join the ranks of ninjas. You will go through a weekly examination by Mitarashi Anko or Morino Ibiki, to see if you're telling the truth in wanting to join our ranks. If you make it past that first year, and no slip ups, then you will be a true shinobi in Konohagakure."

"I feel as if you're leaving something out." Haku said.

"Ah, yes. How could I forget. You will have a 24/7watch on you by ANBU, until you make it too 2 years inside, and no trouble."

"I understand... now can I please have my precious back?" Haku asked.

The hokage stopped to think for a moment. "Precious? I thought your friends were precious to you."

"Oh, they are. But 'My Precious' is the name of my first senbon."

Naruto deadpanned. 'Just like Tenten.'

"Oh, sure." The hokage waved his hand over a seal. "Here you go." the seal popped, and the earlier senbon on a necklace popped into existence.

Haku grabbed it, and held it close. "My precious."

"Have fun making that cult, err I mean clan." The hokage said. "You're all dismissed, but Hinata, Naruto and Kurenai."

The rest of the group left, and the three looked at the Hokage. "You needed us, Hokage-sama?" Kurenai asked.

"Yes, I'm sure you were leaving something out. Now, what would you like to tell me?" he asked.

"Well, um... how to put this. Hinata, can you please summon her? And Kina, can you come out here?"

Hinata summoned the kitten, and Kina jumped out from Naruto's pack. As soon as the Hokage saw them, he performed a seal, and the room glowed blue for a second.

"You needed us, Kurenai-san?" Kina asked.

"Yes, The Hokage would have eventually found out, anyways." Kurenai said. She then told the Hokage about how Hinata went off, how Naruto had somehow awakened a bloodline, and the weird meeting between Naruto, Hinata, and Fu.

The hokage chuckled. "So, that's what happened. I'll cover up how it really went to keep you four safe. By the way, you mentioned a cat?"

"He's an enigma." Kurenai said.

"An evil enigma." Naruto added.

"Uh, right. Name?" Sarutobi asked.

"Gin Nelrim." Naruto said.

The hokage stood up suddenly. He dropped his pipe, forgetting it on the floor. Several things were pushed off the desk, as he put his hands on the table. "Nelrim. As in Merlin spelt backwards?" The hokage asked.

Naruto thought about it for a second, "Yea, I guess. Why do you ask?" Merlin didn't mean anything to Naruto, Kurenai or Hinata.

"Tell me, how did he get in?" The Hokage asked.

"He said something about 'A favor for Kami' but that's about it." Naruto answered.

The hokage sat down weakly. "Boy, you are in one hell for a ride. And you were right about evil enigma thing." The hokage took a pause to pick up his pipe. "Alright, seeing as how Nelrim is in the elemental countries, I'll have some paperwork to do. That also answers why I can't see you sometimes with my all seeing eye glass." The hokage said. "Dismissed."

"Hai!" and the group left the room.

–

Naruto and Hinata walked out the Hokage's tower. Kurenai said she had something to do.

"So, Hinata. Wanna try a date?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. But I can't. I have to be back at the clan compounds. Maybe later though." she said with a smile.

"Okay, Hinata-chan." Naruto took three steps away from the tower,when Nelrim popped up on the opposite shoulder of Kina.

"Meet me at the usual training ground tomorrow, usual time. You have today off." And disappeared.

Naruto just shrugged his shoulders. "So, ichiruka's?" he asked Kina.

"I need some meat."Kina thought to him.

"Okay."

–

Ten bowls later, and 2 destroyed and eaten steaks, the two left off, and went home to sleep. Even if it was only late afternoon. Naruto felt a little tired from the entire week, and was looking to sleep in a nice cozy bed.

–

The next day

Naruto got up, and when he put his foot down, he noticed several wires laced all over the floor. Now normally, Naruto not being a morning person, would have fallen for such a trap. He smiled. Ever since that change it had been easier to go longer periods without sleep, and even wake up each morning not feeling groggy.

Naruto nimbly stepped over all the traps, and made it to the bathroom. He took a quick shower, and got ready for the day. He nimbly stepped over a few dozen more trap wires, and made it to the kitchen.

"You'll have to be better then that, Kina-chan." Naruto said. 'hehe, I outsmarted her.'

Naruto took a box of cereal out, and a bowl. He placed them on the table, and went to the fridge, avoiding yet more traps. Naruto just smirked. 'Too easy.' He opened the fridge, and yogurt was sprayed all over his face, blinding him. He took a step back and set off a few of the wires. A tub of tar was poured onto him. Then two bombs went off to cover him in feathers.

"Ah, the simple tar and feather trap. Good try, gaki. But not good enough." Kina said, hanging form the ceiling above Naruto.

"Why can't I wake up like a normal kid? Is it that hard to ask for?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, it takes a great deal of strain for me to simplify these traps to this point. Learn to live with a fox, Na-ru-to-kun" and she disappeared.

"I hate you when you do that." Naruto said. So he went back, took ANOTHER shower. Naruto had to get on his second outfit, as his favorite grey was ruined. He picked out a simple black shirt with with light blue pants. Over the shirt he put on a light blue shinobi jacket.

He went back to the fridge, and opened it slowly this time. He grabbed the milk, and went to eat breakfast.

After he had eaten, Naruto grabbed his ninja gear which included two scrolls, his Kunai pouch, and a shuriken pouch belted to his back.

"Okay, I'm off." he said to no one in the house.

–

At the training ground 13

Nelrim and Kina were talking about general things. Kina, over time has gotten used to the cat's presence, albeit grudgingly.

Naruto showed up.

"Okay, Nelrim. You said I would be learning new things when we got back from the mission. I've been training long and hard for this sooo. Gimme." He said in a childish attitude.

Nelrim chuckled. "Okay, but first check the scroll that Yami gave you."

Naruto nodded, and opened it up. He moved passed the gravity seals, and training for speed.

"Ah, here's some new things, five actually." Naruto said. "One, learn the Fūton: Daitoppa(Wind style: Great breakthrough), and Suiton: Shouheki Zettai Kounitsu no jutsu(Water: Barrier of Absolute Density Jutsu) from scroll. Two, learn Mizu Kanryuu from Nelrim. Three, Learn seventh sense made by The Third Fang from Nelrim. Four, learn the Rasengan from the super pervert." Naruto paused. "Who's the super pervert?"

Both Kina and Nelrim shrugged.

"Five, learn the kuchiyose no jutsu(summoning jutsu) from Kina and sign the fox contract, then learn about sage mode."

"Ohhhh, I wanted to wait till you were older before I taught you that. But if they insist, I'll teach ya, Naruto-kun." Kina said.

"Okay, I'll leave learning the wind and water techniques up to you in your spare time, Naruto. I'm going to teach you the beginning steps for the seventh sense first." Nelrim paused. "First, let me see if you completed the leaf balancing technique."

Naruto nodded. He gathered several leaves, and went to balance them. "I figured it out while we were finishing the bridge." He had leaves on all his tenketsu points, and began to move them all. Not dropping one leaf.

"Very good, Naruto. Move them faster." Naruto complied. The leaves were moving rapidly across his body. "Perfect. Now, what was the lesson in this exercise?"

"To be able to manipulate all the tenketsu so that you can control how much chakra leaves each point. Too much or too little at any given point and the leaves start falling off. When done properly the chakra flow will act like a magnet moving the leaves, pushing and pulling from one tenketsu to another."

"Correct. That technique will serve for the two techniques you're going to learn." Nelrim said. "First one is called the seventh sense. This one is the simpler of the two in description, but it's not easier. You will be releasing a constant stream of chakra to leave your body from all your tenketsu. You will be, essentially, creating a cloud of chakra around you. With it, you will be able to sense the air around you through it. Similar to how water users can see using chakra infused water, but much harder. You will be unconsciously leaking chakra at all times for this to work. It gets a lot more advanced as you learn this technique. But for starters, we'll start it nice and easy. Create three 100 percent clones."

Naruto nodded, and formed five handsigns, the last being the familiar cross. "Kage bushin no jutsu."

Three clones popped into existence.

"Alright, you three. With me." Nelrim hopped into the brush with the clones soon after him.

"Alright, Naruto-kun." Kina said, as a beautifully designed scroll popped in next to her. "Sign this contract with the blood from the hand of your choice, then make a hand print below it using the blood again."

"A blood signature sealing?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, you have been learning about seals, correct?" Kina said.

"Yea, but not enough to match jounins yet. I just can't grasp it." Naruto rolled out the scroll, and bit his thumb.

"Have you tried learning after the change?" Kina said, as Naruto put down his name.

"No, Why is there only one other name in here? And who's this Namikaze Henryuuko."

"Well, try now. You might be surprised. And to answer your question, he was the founder of the Namikaze family. I think that was 200 years ago. I only let him sign it, due to the fact he showed cunning with his techniques. Now hurry up and finish."

He made the hand print. There was a burning sensation in his right hand's thumb, the one he bit. It closed up, but left a fox face where the wound was. "Wow, I never knew that would happen."

"It's the ultimate blood signature, Naruto. Most contracts don't make them on the user. Allowing them to sign multiple contracts, but if you have an ultimate signature, you can't sign more then one more, and that's using your left hand. This seal require less chakra to use then the kuchiyose normally needs, and you wouldn't need to perform hand signs either. Just offer some blood, and throw down your hand. Go ahead and try."

Naruto did just that. He didn't even call out the name. Cloudlessly, a fox fazed into existence. The fox had 6 tails, silver fur, and was about the size of a big cat, like a lion. The fox opened it's eyes blue eyes, and looked directly at Naruto. The fox then looked at Kina, who was on his shoulder.

The new fox spoke up with a male voice. "Kina-sama." he said, "Am I to assume that this is the next summoner?"

"Yes, and you will be his master summon. He will have me mostly, but when he needs you, answer to him."

"Understood, Kina-sama." The fox looked back at the fox boy in the eyes. "Hello, Nidaime Kitsune Kuchiyose. My name is Kinyou."

"Kinyou. Nice name. Mine is Uzumaki Naruto. Glad to meet you." Naruto answered the fox.

"I'm humbled to be picked as your main summon, Naruto-sama."

"Main summon?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, each summoning clan has several members in it with a boss summon as the head. In this case, Kina-sama. Each member has a soul mate that will be able to summon them more easily then others. Hence, you summoned me on your first try, I am your main summon. If you ever need us, just give us a call. I expect that you can explain the rest, Kina-sama?"

"Yes, I can. Just tell the kitsune clan that I have been sealed, and that the next head should be Kinbu. I'll be there in a bit, after I explain somethings to Naruto."

"Hai, Kina-sama. We were wondering where you were." he said, then fazed out of existence.

"Kina-chan."

"Yes, Naruto?"

"How come he didn't poof, just fazed."

"As I said before you have an ultimate signature, and it will only take what it needs to summon. The poof that usually happens with most sealing, and movements, is that extra chakra was used, causing the louder bang."

"Sooo, I'll know if I'm using The shadow clones correctly if they just faze into existence, and not poof?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, Naruto." Kina said. "Oh, and before I lose track, just know that if you have a summoning type in particular, you just call out the type or the name of who during the summoning."

"Alright... I've been wasting chakra this whole time?" he asked no one.

"Yes," Kina answered anyways, "You have been wasting lots."

Naruto grumble as he performed a kage bunshin, and it puffed into existence. "Wasting chakra. Must do less."

"Um, you can work on that later, I have to teach you sage mode now, in order to solidify the contract."

"Okay, what's sage mode?"

"You know how you mix body energy, and spiritual energy to make chakra, right?" Kina asked.

"Yea, it's the basics we all learn."

"Sage mode is adding a third energy to the mix. Natural energy. Each and every contract mixes the nature's energy type and amount in different ways."

"So, all summoning contracts have a sage mode?"

"Yes," Kina answered, "Every one that has a boss summon."

"Okay, how do I mix this natural energy into my chakra?" Naruto asked.

"Well, that's the tough part."

"And how's that?"

"We need to go to the Kitsune clan grounds. There, we will move to the volcanic storm area just 30 miles from the clan grounds."

"How long will it take us to get there?"

"Well, we would never be able to get there, because the Kitsune clan grounds exist on a different world altogether."

"Sooo, I'm screwed, right?" Naruto asked.

"Not necessarily. I need you to make a summoning circle here in the grass. I'll be right back after tell-"

"I already know." Nelrim said. "Make another clone, this time with a mental link."

Naruto nodded, and did the five signs. A clone poofed into existence. Naruto loved this new addition to the clone technique. Apparently, if you create a clone, and constantly make a link from your head to the clone, it will be able to send back memories continuously. Heck, he had an extra pair of eyes this way. The problem was, is that it continuously drains chakra out of the user. An upside is that it will last forever, as long as the user keeps up the chakra drain. Luckily for Naruto, he can make more chakra then one needs. However, it will take him longer to regain chakra.

"This needs time getting used to, having 2 pairs of eyes and all." Naruto said. Another thing is that it only sends memories to the original, not other clones, but Naruto can send mental commands to the clone if needed.

"Kina, go ahead and do the reverse summon, I'll have the summoning circle here in 4 weeks time. That should be more then enough on your world." Nelrim said.

Kina nodded. A seal appeared around Naruto and Kina, and branched off. A loud bang was heard, and the area was burnt from the fiery bang.

"Now, off to torture 3 clones." Nelrim smiled, and went back to the other training ground. The Naruto left there, went to meet team 8 for normal duties.

–

To be continued...

Holy s*** that was long. This must be, easily, the longest chapter I have EVER written. With an end note of over thirteen thousand words, this one is a dozy. Well, anyways. Signing off.

Need: final read.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello all, Snipa here. Day 2 of my ski trip, and I'm too tired to ski, but to tense to relax. I thought that writing this second chapter would help me out.

Now, on to the story.

–

Chapter 10

The land was clean, as if no human has ever lived here. The fir trees were covered in snow. The land looked pure, the snow had a bluish tint to it. Deep in this forest, a mountain stood tall. The mountain had a snowy peak. If you were to look past this mountain you would see a cut off of the forest surrounded by dead trees. This darker mountain had black clouds over it, and fire spewed out of the top of it, signifying that this was a volcano.

At the base of the snowy mountain, a fiery bang was heard. When the smoke cleared, our hero, Naruto the silver fox boy, stood in the center, with Kina, the Kyuubi no kitsune on his right shoulder. Naruto wore a dark blue outfit made of ANBU pants and a jacket. Under his unzipped jacket was a white T-shirt.

Kina's colors changed. Instead of the redish orangish coat with black tips, she was snow white, with grey tips.

Naruto looked around, the forest seemed off. The trees weren't green. They were red. Like autumn leaf red, but on fir. He noticed the snow on the ground. How could he not, he was up to his thighs in snow. That's when he noticed the different clothes, and the color change in Kina.

"Why... am I wearing something different? And why are your fur colors different?" Naruto asked.

"That's what happens when you skip dimensions." Kina said. "Right now, we're in a different one, specifically my dimension."

"How... wha..." Naruto couldn't think of what to ask first.

"I'll answer your questions later, but first change into your fox form." Kina said.

Naruto complied. When the smoke cleared his fur was black, with silver tips on his two tails and ears. "Whoa, did NOT expect that. I have two tails!" Naruto stopped for a second. "I can talk in fox form? And why am I all black?"

"As I said, I'll answer later. Just for now, follow me." Kina said. Naruto nodded, and followed the now White fox into the brush.

Naruto always loved the fox form, but now it seemed even better. He could see things he normally couldn't. His nose picked up scents of other foxes in the area.

Just ahead, two foxes stood in their way.

"Kina?" said one of the foxes.

"I can't explain much, but I have a new contractor here. I need to see Kinbu as well."

The two foxes nodded, and Kina leaped over the two 5 tailed foxes with ease. Naruto followed over calculating the jump though, and almost hit a branch. He ducked just in time, and kept following Kina.

"When we reach our destination, shut up, and follow me. This is a no deal business. We will be surrounded by foxes that could easily kill you." Kina said.

About 3 minutes later, the two came to a cave at the base of the snowy mountain. A lot of foxes were standing by, all different kinds of colors, from jet black to snow white, to even purple and pink. The foxes had anywhere from 1 tail to 7 tails. The two foxes then entered the cave. Sitting inside was about 30 more foxes all the same as earlier. The only different ones were the 3 foxes sitting at the back of the cave over a fire. The fire wasn't normal though. The fire burned with a greenish bluish tint. And what was even more surprising there wasn't even wood. Hell there wasn't anything under the fire.

The three 8 tailed foxes saw them come in, and watched them come up to the fire. The size of these foxes were enormous. They were almost 2 stories tall.

"Kina, Former 9 tailed head of the Kitsune clan." said the middle one. She had a black coat with orange tips. A grey scar was going down the left eye of this fox.

"Council of the 8 tailed foxes." Kina bowed. "I've come here to train a new summoner, and if you haven't heard it from Kinyou, I have been sealed into a human."

"We had heard, and we were just talking about that. But, how are you outside, and who is this pup?" The fox on the right asked. He had a purple coat with brown tips.

"Well, Kami and Yami saw that I was sealed against my will, and the cause of that seal against my will as well." Kina said.

"What do you mean?" Said the one on the left. She had a green coat with pink tips.

"Our enemy of the Uchiha clan, Madara, tried to place me under a genjutsu. It failed, but I was left in a state of mind that made me go beyond control."

Several people gasped when she said Madara.

"Okay, and who is this pup?" The middle asked.

"This is my container, Uzumaki Naruto. Though he was born from two shinobi humans, the seal placed on him allowed my chakra to leak out and change him." Kina looked to him, "Go ahead and show your true form."

Naruto nodded and poofed.

"He's a hanyou?" asked the purple fox. "I haven't seen one of those in a while." she said it with some disgust.

"I know. Do not look down upon him. He's half human, and half demon fox, yes, but as I said earlier, two humans conceived him." Kina said.

"Alright, and I assume you wish to train him at the Storm Volcano?" Said the black fox.

"If it is alright with the council." Kina said.

"Okay, but there is one more thing. Even though you had told Kinyou to tell me, but we have to hear it from you, Kina. Who is the next head?" The black one in the middle asked.

"I, former head of the kitsune clan, Kina, hereby name you, Kinbu the next head of the clan." Kina said formally.

"Then it is done. I'll have to train at the volcano then to get my final tail." Kinbu the black fox said. "We're going to miss you Kina."

"If it makes you all feel better, even though I lead it, you all did your jobs well. I'm sure the clan wont miss me that much. Who are you going to ask to become 8 tailed?" Kina asked.

"Well, We were thinking of Kinya. She's got a level head, but will need some ironing out." The brown fox said.

"Alright then, I leave this clan up to you four then. If you need my help, just come to the Shinobi's world. May you run with the fire and race the lightning." Kina said. She turned to Naruto, "Alright, Naruto, transform back to fox form, and let's go."

Naruto nodded, still heading the 'shut up' order from earlier.

The two ran out of the camp, and went towards the black sky in the distance. Beside them, Kinbu was running as well. "I thought I might as well earn my ninth tail soon. Don't want a headless clan for too long."

"I knew I picked the right fox." Kina said.

"Can I talk now?" Naruto asked.

"Sure, gaki."

"Great, I hate shutting up." Naruto said.

"You have one interesting container, Kina. Black with grey tips. Two tails. How old are you?"

"Um... 13, turning 14 in a couple of months."

The older black fox just starred at the little black one. Then smiled. "Yes, one very interesting container."

"So, do the colors of fur mean anything?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, very much so. Black fur means a firm standing in life, and too stubborn to change much, and the grey tips can mean several things, most of the time it's an unsure future."

"What do orange tips mean?" Naruto asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Well, you have to understand. The fur color represents your standing on life at that moment. The tips represent the future. My orange tips mean that I will take a hold of a great responsibility. I guess becoming the head meant that." Kinbu said with a shrug.

Naruto looked over to Kina. "White fur?"

"It means innocence." Kina said shortly, looking quickly at Kinbu.

Kinbu nodded, getting the hint.

"Look up, Gaki." Kina said.

Naruto looked up. He hadn't realized it, but they were at the foot of the volcanic mountain. Lightning streaked the sky in the dark clouds.

"Well, this is where we split off, if you ever need backup, don't hesitate to call." With that Kinbu jumped up the mountain nimbly towards the top. After a few second she disappeared into the dark clouds.

"How long will she stay up there?" Naruto asked.

"As long as she needs to gain her tail. Each tail trial is a test, and no two foxes have the exact same test." Kina said.

"Will I have to take these tests?" Naruto asked.

"No. You'll gain power like I the first 9 tailed did. Each tail will be given to you when you receive enough power." Kina said.

"Okay, so what do I do to train for sage mode then?" Naruto asked.

"First, I need you in Hanyou form." Kina said.

Naruto poofed, and when the smoke cleared, a two tailed Naruto stood. "Okay, one tail wasn't bad, but two?"

Kina chuckled, "Don't worry about it. I'll show you how to limit it."

"Okay, but, um, can you answer my earlier questions. About why my fur changed, your fur changed, and my clothes changed?"

"Well, to put it simply, we aren't in your dimension anymore, Naruto. Here Yokou is the dominate force, and Chakra is the rarity. Since you're a Hanyou, you can easily access both energies. Hence the grey tips on your ears, because we can't get an accurate reading on you. There is more to fur reading then anyone knows. Only I know, and soon Kinbu will, too."

"So, how does being in a different dimension change my clothes?" Naruto asked.

"Well, when you switch dimensions, you switch probabilities. The probability for you getting the set you have now was higher in this dimension then the light blue one in the other. It's kind of confusing, but over time you learn to accept it." Kina said.

"Okay, but," Naruto started, "how do you travel across dimensions?"

"That, is for something only 9 tailed foxes should know. I can't tell you. Sorry." Kina looked sheepish. "Anyways, I need you to get naked."

Naruto blushed madly, "Why should I?"

"So you can learn how to channel natural energy more. 'Sides, wont be the first time I've seen you naked. Just do it."

Naruto complied, blushing the entire time. "There, now what?"

"Grab your clothes, and make a seat out of them on top of this rock." Kina said.

Naruto nodded, and made a nice comfy seat on top of the nice pointy and sharp volcanic rock.

"Now, here comes the hard part. Breathe." Kina said.

"Wha...what do you mean?"

"Meditate, close your eyes, and focus on the air around you. Breath in deeply, and feel it enter you body. Mix the energy into your chakra slowly." Kina said.

Naruto took in a deep breath, and close his eyes.

"That's it, feel your surroundings. Let your spirit fly, and your body mingle with the earth."

Naruto took in 5 more breaths, he could feel the energy, but it was just beyond his grasp.

"I'll come back in an hour to see how you're doing. And no clones. This has to be learned by the original." Kina said, and she hopped up the mountain, to disappear into the clouds.

An hour later, Kina returned from the mountain top looking refreshed, and relaxed, if a little tired. She saw Naruto sitting perfectly still. Breathing slowly.

Kina smiled, 'He's got the right idea. I guess I overestimated the time frame. He should be able to do it in 2 weeks.'

Kina slowly, and quietly walked up next to Naruto, and laid down beside him. 'At least I can rest easier here. Home is always where you have the most fond memories.' Kina drifted off to sleep.

–

Meanwhile, back in Konoha.

The 3 Naruto clones were frustrated. No they were more then that. They were almost pissed. They had to create a literal friggin' cloud of chakra surrounding them by 5 feet. In that cloud, they had to support leaves in random places and keep them up. It wasn't the exercise that pissed them off. Nope.

It was Nelrim, who kept blowing the leaves out of there chakra zones, and then telling them to reach out and grab another with chakra only.

Nelrim had them do this everyday. Not even letting them pop. Making them sleep, and meditate to gather chakra for themselves at night. This kept up until They could hold 30 leaves inside the zone indefinitely. Then Nelrim asked them to expand the fields to 10 feet. After that 20 feet. The three weeks took a toll on the clones. They had just been asked to bump up to 25 feet of chakra around them, and that was pushing the limits on their reserves. Clones can only hold so much. Not only that, but Nelrim doubled the amount from 30 to 60, and he pushed even more leaves out even faster. It was driving them nuts, but one of the clones realized something. They didn't have to look to feel the leaves leave the chakra zones. In fact, they had their eyes closed. Out of the three, he was doing the best. Able to hold a constant 60 more easily then the other two.

At the beginning of the fourth week, Nelrim had asked them to stop, and start forming the summoning circle that the real one would need. The three complied, and started forming the circle.

The final clone with the mental link ability, was also there. He was to help tell them when the original was ready.

On the third day of the fourth week, the clone received a mental note from the original, and nodded to the other three. They nodded, put blood on the symbol, and pushed chakra into the circle.

A big burn sounded out, and in the middle of the field stood our Naruto.

This Naruto differed a lot more. He now had two tails behind him, and he wore black ANBU pants and jacket with a navy blue underneath. However, instead of his normal grey overcoat, another was in place. He had a long black trench coat with a hood over his head. At the bottom of the coat, it was designed with grey flames. On the back of the coat was the kanji symbol for Sage. His two tails peeked out at the bottom of the coat. They were now silver with a white tip again. On his face was a black chakra reinforced mask that covered the bottom half of his face. He had black fingerless gloves on as well. All in all, he turned into a black figure. (A/N:What? I like black... a lot... no he wont turn into a goth.. that would be just creepy.)

Naruto took off the hood, and looked around. "You three look like hell. Don't tell me, constant training?" They nodded. "Shit, that's going to be a nice headache."

"Indeed, but how did your sage training go, Naruto?" Nelrim asked.

"Alright." Naruto smirked, "I seemed to have mastered the basic katas for it as well. Kina here also had me learn a few jutsu that will only work in sage mode."

"Good. I assume the coat is to hide what you look like in sage mode, then?" Nelrim asked.

"Yes, but also to signify that I've mastered sage mode. Not many people will know this anyways, so I might as well wear what I have earned."

"Indeed. I also sense that your mind is not so easily read, either."

Naruto looked at Nelrim in surprise.

"What, learning how to blend with nature will do that. You have started to create your own mind paths, of which I cannot read. Don't get cocky though. A fully trained Yamanaka will tear your mind apart. I would have to relearn how you think, before I could read your mind again."

Naruto thought over what Nelrim said, 'Make random mind paths, and mind readers can't read?' Naruto thought some more. 'Heck, why not. I need some variety anyways.'

"Now," Naruto started, "Who should I burst first?" Naruto looked at the four clones. He looked to the one with the mind link. "You first." It nodded, and burst. Naruto got a slight nagging, but the clone was sending the data anyways. The clone learned how to do the two new jutsus he got from the scroll, but not perfectly. He was having trouble keeping the water one up, but considering it's classified as an A rank elemental jutsu, he would just have to work a bit more on it.

"I'll pop them in order now." Nelrim said. He walked over to the one that did the worst first. "Pop" it burst, "goes the weasel."

Naruto almost collapsed onto the ground from the headache as the memories streamed into him. "God, he made my clones do a lot."

"It's okay," Kina said, "Just meditate like you did for training."

Naruto nodded, and sat in the cent of the blast zone. After 10 minutes, he nodded to Nelrim, who popped the clone that was in second.

The headache wasn't so bad that time, since most of the memories were the same, only that this time, he figured out what the first did wrong.

He nodded once more to the last clone, who popped himself. The headache this time wasn't as bad as the first, but still worse then the second. He knew how to make a perfect 20 foot zone, and how the chakra laced air made it easier to detect something. He also had an idea for creating a bigger zone with less chakra, but it would be a long time before he could precisely sense something inside that enlarged zone.

"Good. You seem to be able to absorb more then you usually did. That first pop would've knocked you out cold." Nelrim said.

Kina walked back over to the meditating Naruto. "I forgot to tell you back there, Naruto, but don't use sage mode here until you retrain it. Yes you mastered it in my dimension, but here, the air is a lot different."

Naruto nodded, understanding somewhat.

"Okay, Naruto. I'll meet you back here for early training tomorrow, and then you'll go off to see Kurenai." Nelrim said, "While it would be good to have you here, and place a clone in the team instead, you would lose trust if they found out you weren't with them."

"Alright. God I hate D ranked missions though. By the way, what day is it today? I lost track." Naruto asked.

"It's December first. The Chuunin exams in Kumogakure just ended yesterday." Nelrim said.

"Okay, now I know my clones weren't wrong. Only four weeks passed by here?" Naruto asked. "I was gone for 7 weeks!"

Nelrim looked over at Kina. "I'm not the only one forgetting to mention things. Time passes differently in between dimensions." Naruto looked to Kina.

Kina sighed. "He's right. For everyday that passes by here, a day and a half passes by in my dimension."

Naruto just sighed, and pushed it into the box called 'ask later' in his mind. The box was getting big. "Alright." was all Naruto said, "I'm gonna catch some food at Ichiruka's place, and then head home. I miss my bed."

Nelrim nodded and disappeared.

–

The next day

Naruto got up earlier then usual. He wanted to beat the fox out of the room. Kina was sleeping soundly, but Naruto still wasn't sure or not. If it turned out there were no traps, he would place his own, and then run for it.

Naruto performed his morning wake up schedule, and ate breakfast in silence.

About 10 minutes later, Naruto left the place, and quickly ran to the thirteenth training ground. He sat in the center, and tried to focus the natural energy into his body. He learned that you don't wait for it, or grab for it. You will the natural energy into your body. Naruto could feel it just fine, the problem was, is that the energy isn't as dense here as it was in the other dimension. He would have to learn how to remix the energies together, or he would turn into flames.

That's another thing Naruto hated about the sage training. If he got it wrong, he would've been turned into a nice roasted hanyou. About a week in, Kina started hitting him, so that he wouldn't burn up. He still had bruises on his head from that encounter.

He slowly started mixing the chakra into himself. He had to make sure it was just right. His right hand burst into flames, and he quickly put it out. 'Damn, too little.' He went back, and focused more.

"As much as I want to watch you sit all day, boy, but we have training to work on." Nelrim's voice called out.

Naruto opened his eyes, and let the energy leave him. He felt colder without it. "So, what do you want me to do now?" he asked.

"Well, today, we're going to try fuinjutsu again, as well as continue where we left off for your seventh sense training." Nelrim said.

A sudden feeling of killer intent filled the air. Kina wandered into the clearing. She had silly putty all over her fur, and her face was covered in pie. Naruto was laughing. Nelrim just stared in disbelief.

"A fox got outsmarted?" was all Nelrim could say.

"I hate you right now, Naruto-kun." Kina said.

"I know, but that was payback for all the times you got me." Naruto smiled.

"Of course, you know, that you have officially started a prank war." Kina said. Naruto gulped.

"As much as I would like to see that, try to make sure he doesn't get hurt." Nelrim said.

"I know," Kina said, "I wont hurt him in any way. That's the true meaning of a prank war. To prank the crap out of someone, and then wait for the rival to fight back. The one rule between contestants is that no one is ever harmed. The target doesn't always have to be the rival either. You could do a major city wide prank, and wait for your rival to one up you. I don't think a winner is ever declared, it's always called into a draw, but mark my words Naruto, I will win this one." Kina said.

Naruto could only nod. Outside he was shivering, inside his mind he was creating more devious pranks.

"Please warn me whenever you two start the battle, I have a feeling I don't want to be around." Nelrim said.

"Tomorrow morning." Kina said, and then looked to Naruto. "Create a bunch of low level clones for me, I'm going to have them work on point balancing, chakra hops, and your jutsus." Naruto nodded, and created 400 clones. They all fazed into existence, and Naruto smiled.

"Perfect amount." was all he said, proud of himself.

"Great, means you have extra chakra to make five 100 percent clones." Nelrim said.

Five clones also fazed into existence. Naruto was beaming. "I learned that in my spare time."

"Good, now create 100 more clones all low level. They will be reading, so you don't have to use too much." Nelrim said.

Naruto complied, and more clones showed up, and went to gather reading materials.

"You five, follow me." Nelrim said, and vanished into the brush.

"What about me?" Naruto asked.

"Well, Anko should be around here somewhere. I told her you would be ready for training again. She will bring a few friends along as well." Nelrim's voice echoed out.

Naruto gulped. When he said 'friends' he put an extra meaning to it. Naruto tensed and looked around.

'Okay think Naruto. Anko always likes ambushes. How to stop them? Knwoing where they are. How do I do that, she's a special jounin... My seventh sense? Maybe. If I could hold it long enough.' He started to push chakra out of his body, and slowly created the field around him. 'I gotta make this automatic.'

Two minutes later, his 20 foot field was up, and the chakra was dispersing into a larger cloud of less concentrated chakra. This was the idea he had earlier, and he knew he wouldn't have much else.

He felt three pings enter his field, and he moved. Sure enough, three kunai would have pierced him if he stood still.

"Drat." said a girl.

"Who's there?" he called out.

Anko's voice rang out. "It's time for your morning training, Nii-kun."

More pings, and Naruto moved once more. He slid to a stop. He looked around.

"Awh, how am I going to get you if you keep moving?" the girl's voice rang out. It sounded so familiar to Naruto, but he couldn't quite place it.

He moved several more times, as a line of kunai and shuriken nailed where he was a second ago. Naruto kept up the chakra leak. He was thankful for it. He would've been pierced meat by now. His field of chakra was getting bigger, and soon it was at 25 feet perfect control, and an extra 50 feet beyond that with less chakra concentration. He could feel the presence of two people, but he couldn't pinpoint their location.

He kept up the dodging as more rained down on him from all directions. He wasn't given a single second to breath. The field was now littered with pointy weapons.

'Wait, pointy weapons. Anko said she would meet someone to my clone. High class aiming skills. A girl.' Naruto was not freaking out, as he dodged even faster. 'Only one girl by that description. Tenten.'

As if a response to his assumption, thousands of kunai were thrown at him. Naruto had to think quickly, and brought out a single kunai. 'Where the hell do they get all these weapons?' He dodged as many as he could, and deflected some with his kunai when he couldn't. One made it through his defense, and scraped his pants, inflicting a small wound on his legs.

"GOT HIM!" Tenten cried out.

"I thought this was training, not killing me, Onee-chan, Tenten-san." He called out.

"I guess he figured it out." Tenten said, and she came into the clearing, holding two swords.

"I guess we'll have to reward him then." Anko said, as she came down as well. She was holding several kunai and shuriken.

Naruto chuckled nervously. He suddenly looked in a random direction. "Look, A shiny, pointy something."

The two looked, and saw nothing. "Hey, there isn-" Tenten said as she turned back. When she couldn't see Naruto, she just shrugged. "I guess that's it for the day." she put her katanas away. "And I was going to give him a nice sword for being a good dodger."

"Meh, we'll get him tomorrow."

"I noticed that he never ran out of breath." Tenten said, as they left the training field.

"Yea, he has good endurance."

"I wonder if he would join our clan?"

"Why? I thought it would be girls only."

"Yes, but I sensed something about him, that would make him an excellent member." Tenten said.

–

At training ground 8

Hinata, Shino, and Kurenai were getting worried. Naruto hasn't shown up yet, and he's never been late.

Just when Kurenai was about to go look form him, he showed up.

"God, I thought one was girl enough." he was breathing harshly. "I couldn't keep up. But then that girl had to call another over to play. They pushed me to my limits. When I called them out, they wanted to give me a present. I don't know what it was, I probably don't wanna know. I quickly distracted them, and pulled out of there."

The two girls stopped. Shino, thinking logically, already assumed it was a training battle. Unfortunately, the two females didn't have that much control over their thoughts. One of them being Anko's friend. The other... well... when you have an eye that has X-ray abilities, and a crush of a life time... well you put two and two together.

Hiraku was laughing in her seal. "That, my kitten, is a sexual innuendo." She thought to her container.

Hinata quickly figured what she meant. "Oh... and you said it was my father's secret weakness?"

Hiraku stopped. "You're not seriously going to do it, are you?"

"... I don't know..."

"Wrong, the correct answer was, hell yes." Hiraku thought back. "I guess we still need to work on your confidence. So, we'll add learning sexual innuendos, and confidence training to your current set. I'm already teaching you Ryuuken. Hell, we should add some battle scenario training as well. Can't have a good body, but no mind to match. Just simply wont work that way."

Somewhere along Konoha's running track around it

Lee had just gotten back from the chuunin exams in Kirigakure. His team had failed it miserably, and Neji blamed it all on his teammates. Lee had just recently promised to run 200 laps on his hands around Konoha in a step to get stronger.

Currently he was on lap 198, and he sneezed. He fell onto his stomach. He got back up on his feet. "Alright, since I couldn't do the 200 laps, as promised, I will climb the hokage mountain 1000 times. If I cannot do that, I will do 3000 push up. If I cannot do that, I will..." You get the picture.

Back at training ground 8

"Nope, simply wont work."

Kurenai shook herself out of the dirty thoughts, and thought more logically about it. Sometimes, she cursed her friend Anko for making her think about sex half the time. "Good to see you make it Naruto-san. I like the new outfit." She walked around him. "Though it looks a bit hot to wear."

"I know, but hey, when you work hard to earn something, you want to show off in some way." Shino and Hinata just nodded.

When Kurenai saw the symbol on his back, she smiled. 'Sage, huh? I wont call him on it. He's got to have some secrets.' "Congratulations, Naruto. That's not something easily earned." Kurenai said.

"Thanks, but I have to re-master it. It's kind of hard when the energy where is less then where you learn it." Naruto said.

"I can understand, but that's on your own time." Kurenai said.

"Alright."

Hinata didn't know what they were talking about, but she did say, "I like it Naruto. Makes you look dangerous." She said slyly before she caught herself. 'Why am I saying these things?'

"Thanks, Hinata-chan... why are you so red?" He looked up. "Is it because of the heat?"

Hinata couldn't talk.

Shino's first line in forever was, "Naruto-san. You seem to be making her uncomfortable again."

"Oops, Sorry about that Hinata-chan."

"N-no, it wasn't that. I just..."

Kurenai decided to save the poor girl. "That's enough of that. I want to talk to you three about something." That got the attention on all three of them. "I was asked to see if I could let you three into the next chuunin exams that will begin in 6 months."

"Where will it be located, Kurenai-sensei." Shino asked.

"Here in Konoha. It's a great chance to get you used to the exams." Kurenai said.

"Which teams from Konoha were sent to the one in Kumogakure?" Naruto asked.

"Team Gai, team Yamakuto, team 3, and team 7. Kakashi really messed up that time. Their team got wiped in the first exam. Team Gai made it to the second exam before they were wiped out. Both team's Yamakuto and team 3 made it to the finals, and three of the gennin were promoted to chuunin."

"So, only 4 teams sent?" Naruto asked. "From the ones that Anko-nee-chan talked about there are hundreds of teams each time."

"Wait, you know Anko? And you act like a brother and sister?" Kurenai asked. Several times, Anko would talk about her surrogate brother she was training, she didn't know that it was Naruto though. "Tell me, do you know what a sexual innuendo is?"

"Uh... what's a sexual innuendo?" Naruto asked. At that, Kina fell off Naruto's shoulder laughing.

"Never mind. Anyways, back on topic. I was going to tell you that the exams coming up, I was asked to let you in. But honestly, I don't know if I should let you in. The chuunin exams are very dangerous." Kurenai stopped when she saw some sad faces, particularly Kina's puppy dog eye technique. It was powerful. "Alright, I'll let you in." They cheered. "But, you have to show to me that you have earned the right to enter the exams."

"That's sounds like a fair deal." Naruto said, "What do you think Shino?"

"I agree with Naruto-san. We will show you that we are more then ready." They all looked to Hinata.

"Um. I agree with shino-san, and Naruto-kun. W-we will show you that we are ready by the time the next exams start." Hinata said.

"Okay, but I have pretty high standards. I expect all three of you to work hard, and help each other in training." Kurenai said. "But for now, D ranked missions. Maybe a C ranked one if we can handle it."

The team looked down at D rank, but looked happy at the chance for a C rank. Each for their own reasons.

–

After weeding a couple of gardens, and babysitting a few kids, the team was dismissed for the day. Naruto ran back to training ground 13 once they were let go.

"I need some time to unwind. Those kids can really make a knot out of you." Naruto said. He started some of the fox style katas. He worked through the ones he knew, making sure he doesn't forget them. Kina had burned them into his mind, yes, but it was still good to practice them. That, and they made some damn good stretches as well. Naruto felt a clone pop, giving him the warning that the remaining ones would pop soon. As always, more then half had already popped, and he absorbed the memories throughout the morning. They all popped, and Naruto got a slight headache from the remaining ones. The five special clones also popped in that mess. They were still working on 30 feet, but they were getting there. Naruto also found out that Kina was right. Sealing was coming easier to him. He could now understand elemental sealing, which was the last of the basics sealing. He would have to find a more advanced book somehow.

When he was thinking over the memories, Kina and Nelrim appeared in the training field. "Good afternoon, Naruto." Nelrim said.

"Yo."

Kina spoke up. "We are now going to train you in Mizu Kanryuu."

"We?" Naruto asked. "For as long as I can remember, you always split up to train me in your own thing. Since when do you two work together?"

Nelrim looked to Kina, "You know, he's got a point."

Kina sighed. "Yes, but we need to work together to teach him this one. Out of everything he's learned so far, this one is the most dangerous. One slip up, and he could die, or worse, lose his ability to become a shinobi altogether."

Naruto was stumped. "Harder then point balancing?" They nodded. "Harder then sage training?" Kina nodded. "Deadlier then outrunning a mob of angry and stupid villagers?" They both nodded. Naruto giggled. Then laughed a little harder. The laughed outright. "Alright, I'll do it!"

They both looked at Naruto like he was crazy.

"Hey, if it's this hard to master, then it HAS to be worth it in the end."

Nelrim laughed a good hearty laugh. "He has a point, Kina. The harder you work for something, the better the feeling is in the end."

Kina nodded, agreeing to it in her own way mentally.

Nelrim looked to Naruto, regaining his seriousness. "Alright, Naruto. I want you to be dead serious about this. As we said earlier, one wrong move, and you could end up up in the hospital for years, or end up crippled for life. This is no laughing matter. The amount of work we will have you go through will be insanely tough, and you will feel like quitting. But I will tell you this, once we start, we can't stop." Nelrim said, a cold atmosphere to add to effect. "We shall train you in the afternoons, right after team missions. This time of day, you have the most mental concentration. When we do this, you cannot use any clones, because the sheer pressure this will put you under great stress and will hurt, badly, and pop them before they can do do anything. Kina and I are taking the utmost concentration in ensuring you don't get hurt, but every problem that can occur you can avoid if you do it right the first time. This is no trial and error lesson. This is a do it right, or fail miserably. So, after hearing all that, are you still in?"

Naruto nodded, knowing he might regret it later, but with all these precautions, it has to be something worth it.

"I need to hear your voice, Naruto. What is your answer?"

"I'll do it. I swear on my nindo that I will do it the right way, no buts about it." Naruto said.

Both Kina and Nelrim smiled, knowing that they got the point across.

"Alright," Kina started. "Mizu Kanryuu is both a ninjutsu style, and a taijutsu style tied into one. It involves a large amount of energy being pushed into a tiny area, like the size of a needle, and forcing it out slowly. If you do this correctly, you will have mastered the first step of the Mizu Kanryuu."

"What do you mean, concentrated energy?" Naruto asked.

"It's better shown then explained first." Nelrim said. "Kina, if you will." Kina nodded.

She nodded, and looked at a nearby tree. Naruto could feel yokou move throughout the air. Suddenly, it all swirled to her right paw. She lifted it up, and a small thin stream of yokou that looked deep red, much deeper then he was used to seeing, come out of her paw and hit the tree. At first nothing happened, but the tree suddenly the tree exploded around the point of contact, and fell to the ground.

"Whoa." was all Naruto could say.

Nelrim spoke up, "Yes, whoa. This is the first lesson in Mizu Kanryuu. Remember chakra hops?"

"You mean the exercise to take the same amount of chakra, and force it out at different concentrations?"

"Exactly." Nelrim said. "But this time, you will be concentrating it so much, that it will hurt, and it will feel like your hand will burst. After you can perform the technique for the first time, you will do it over and over again until your chakra channels harden till it can handle it. Then we work on your left hand. From there, you will work on all the tenketsu until they can handle the strain and harden."

"Alright. Give me an estimate on how much chakra I'm pushing into a small space." Naruto asked.

Nelrim calculated it, as with Kina. "How much would you say?" she asked. Nelrim looked thoughtful for a second more. "Seeing as how his chakra has a healing factor, is denser then normal, has three elemental affinities."

"Wait, I have what!?" Naruto asked.

"Not now, Naruto." Kina said. He stored it in the 'ask later' box, and continued listening.

"Chakra tunnels made to withstand both yokou and his special chakra." Nelrim continued. "I would say... how much do you use when you create a 100 percent chakra clone?"

"I don't really know, all I know is that I can make 23 now, and then I pass out."

"Right, we need half of that. So about how much it would take to make about 12 of those clones." Nelrim said.

"Ha-half!?" Naruto said.

"Remember, the first step is to strengthen your chakra tunnels. You wont need half of your chakra to actually use the abilities."

Naruto nodded.

"Now, sit down, and start focusing." Kina said.

"We'll stop you if you go over that limit." Nelrim said.

Naruto sat down in a meditation stance, and started concentrating. He put his right hand forward, and started channeling chakra to it.

"More, Naruto. More." Nelrim said.

He channeled more into his hand, and the coils in it started to hurt from pressure.

"That's it, Naruto. Push more into your hand." Kina said.

Naruto's hand hurt more, as he put more pressure in his hand.

"That's it Naruto, push more into your hand, and start making it smaller. Keep it in the palm of your hand. Don't let it stream into your fingers. Make it smaller, more concentrated." Nelrim said. "Okay, when I when 'now' I want you to release it from your hand in as small a stream as you can, but slowly, not all at once. Keep it up... now."

A stream of chakra much darker then normal, came out of his hand. It wasn't as small as Kina's was. It was about the size of a pencil. When it hit the tree, the chakra 'splashed' out, and covered the area in highly concentrated chakra. Nelrim acted fast, and covered all of them in a shield. Naruto kept it up for 30 seconds. When the chakra cleared, Nelrim let the shield down.

Naruto grabbed the wrist of his right hand with his left, and curled into a fetal position around it. He held back the scream of pain, but still grunted as he tried to control the pain.

"Right. That was the first time. It always hurts the most." Nelrim said. "Now, you'll get 20 minutes of rest, and we'll do it again. We need to do it 10 times today."

"Ten times? Are you sure?" Kina said.

"Yes. He can handle it. If not, we'll call it off at number 6." Nelrim said.

"You weren't kidding. It fucking HURTS!" Naruto finally able to make a sentence... if a little vulgar.

–

Hinata, after the meeting, went off to a secluded garden just outside of the village. It was a small training ground with plenty of flowers at her feet. Hinata had fond memories of this place. Her mother used to take her here. Hinata never learned how she went from the compound to the garden, just that she would wake up under the stars in her mother's hold.

After she had gotten back from Wave, Hiraku told her to go outside the village, and down a secluded path. When Hinata first came back, she cried, and she couldn't stop. The memories flooded her mind from it.

It took a couple of days, but she could finally come to the garden without crying. Now, she used her mother's special area, to train in her new taijutsu that Hiraku was teaching her in.

Currently, she was flying through all the katas. And I mean all of them, even the most advanced ones, it had only taken her 1 week to unlearn the Jyuuken, and 3 weeks to fully learn Ryuuken. Hinata had such a bright mind, the fact that she couldn't use Jyuuken did not mean that she wasn't smart.

Hiraku was off to the side, watching her container with a trained eye. "Okay, that's enough kitten. You've done wonderfully. Now, I'm going to teach you the techniques to use with them. If you work hard enough, you might completely master the style by the time the chuunin exams roll around."

Hinata was happy to hear that, but knew she had a lot of work ahead of her.

"The first technique is actually the opposite of the eight trigrams 64 palm technique. It is the ultimate defensive and offensive technique, and even beats the Kaiton right out."

Hinata was serious. The Kaiton was one of the clans major specialties. If this technique could beat the Kaiton(Rotation) then it would have to be something powerful.

"Alright, the first step is.."

–

Kurenai was stalking through town. She was looking for her target. Anko. She had heard that she was trainng someone, but Naruto of all people?!

Then again, she shouldn't be surprised. Naruto had the knack for meeting the strangest of people, and getting along well with them.

Kurenai found the women she was looking for, and saw her sitting with three other people in the dango shop.

'That's new. Usually it's only Hana and me who hang around Anko.' Kurenai thinks. She enters the dango shop.

Anko looks up with a dango stick hanging from her mouth. "Yo, what's up, Nai-chan?"

Kurenai's eye twitched. "I'll tell you what's up... I just found out who your Nii-kun is."

The stick in Anko's mouth falls out. She caught the stick, and threw it into a tree nearby. "So, did you like him?"

There, sitting with Anko, was Haku, Hana, and Tenten as well. Hana's three dogs, the triplets were sitting right under the table at Hana's feet. Inuzuka Hana. Kiba's older brother.

Kurenai's mouth twitched. "You know, you could have told me."

"Awh, but that would've ruined the fun." Said Anko happily.

Kurenai's hand twitched. "HELL, YES I WOULD! Do you know how impressionable Naruto is!? Hell, he just used a sexual innuendo in front of Hinata-chan!"

All four at the table just looked at Kurenai like she was crazy.

Anko spoke slowly, "And, what does that have to do with me?"

"You use more sexual innuendos then anyone else in the village, and you train Naruto as his older sister. Yea, I put 2 and 2 together."

"Okay fine. You caught me. But it wasn't on purpose." Anko said.

"Uno." Tenten spoke up. "Who is this?"

Anko spoke up. "Ah, this is my friend, Kurenai-chan. She's sweet, but beware. She's a mother hen. And her chicks? Her squad." … '3.... 2... 1...'

"I know, right?" Kurenai said, in a childish voice. Now, most people would just burst in anger from hearing this, but.. um.. Ah what the hell... She already admitted to being a mother hen a long time ago.

Two of the other members face faulted. Hana, already being a friend of Anko's for quite a while now, has already heard this story. Unfortunately, the other two weren't warned.

As Tenten got up, she looked at Kurenai dead in the eye, and said, "You wont make it into the clan with that attitude."

"Clan? What clan?" Kurenai asked.

Haku spoke up, "Remember the one I talked about while in the Hokage's tower?"

Kurenai paled. "Wh-what's the clan's name?"

"Togatta." Haku answered.

"Who are the member's so far?" Kurenai asked, this time genuinely curious.

"So far, it's only us four. We were considering other memebers." Tenten said.

Anko spoke up, "So far, we have six positions open up for joining. We will be known as the Juutogatta(Ten points)."

"So, who are you considering?" Kurenai asked.

"Weeeell... We were thinking of adding in Naruto-kun. We just have to bring out his inner pointy." Anko said with a devilish smile.

"Oh, the mental imaging scares that brought up." Kurenai said.

"It just shows that you're just as perverted as us, Kurenai-chan." Hana said.

"Hana-chan. Not you, too?" Kurenai asked.

"Yeap, I've been turned to the darkside. How could I resist? They had cookies." Hana said. (Oh, the backlash I will be getting from that line. Oh well, it's my fic, and it was worth it.)

Kurenai's eye twitched. She brought her emotions under control, and sighed. "Fine, just promise you wont be too wild, Okay?"

None of them spoke up.

"You're going to pretend you didn't hear that, and go ahead and be wild, aren't you?"

"Oh, yea." Anko and Hana said together.

Kurenai sighed, shoulders dropped in defeat, and walked off. The members continued their dar- Uh, I mean, fruitful plans.

–

Shino was having a hard day. Why? On contrary to popular belief, the Aburame did have emotions. It was just so bottled up, that they couldn't feel much.

They had to do this, so that they could control their bugs.

So, why was Shino have a bad day? He felt left out. He felt that Hinata and Naruto had a big secret. His logical side said that if they did, it wouldn't be a secret if they told everyone. So why was he so down?

He thought back the the mission just three weeks ago.

Flashback

A girl with neon green hair had just started talking to Naruto and Hinata. All three looked so friendly. But what bothered him, is what Naruto Hinata and this 'Fu' girl had in common. They all talked about numbers.

Whenever he looked at 'Fu' his bugs would calm down, and start telling him to approach the girl. He fought down the urge made by the bugs, but still watched.

Fu glanced in his direction, and he could have sworn his heart missed a beat. The three ended their conversation, and Fu walked away.

Shino turned around, and followed his fellow Konoha teammates home.

End flashback

'Just what secret are they holding from me?' Shino thought. He sighed in defeat. 'And why do I keep thinking of that girl?'

"-ino-san. Shino-san."

"Hm, what? What is it Naruto?" Shino had seen that it was Naruto.

"I finished training for the day, and was on my way to Ichiruka's. You were walking right down the path I was using, and called out to you. You were fazed out or something." Naruto said.

"My apologies, Naruto-san." Shino said. "I was just thinking."

"Since when did, 'just thinking,' ever make you unaware of your surroundings?" Said Naruto. He was being slightly more thoughtful then usual.

"You are correct in saying that, Naruto-san." Shino said.

Naruto thought for a moment, "Hey, c'mon, join me for a ramen. I was just heading there anyways. My treat, since you seem to be out of it."

Shino thought it over. He didn't have any clan meetings for the day, and it would be a great moment to ask his ever present question. "Thank you, Naruto-san. I will gladly take up your offer." Shino said with more happiness then he intended.

"Great!" Naruto almost yelled out. The two walked into the store, and sat down.

"Hello, Naruto." Teuchi looked closely at Shino. "And who is this, might I add?"

"This is my Teammate, Shino-san." Naruto said. "I'll be paying for whatever he eats today. He seems out of it."

"Of course, of course. So what can I get you two?"

"3 beef ramen, please." Naruto said, and looked to Shino.

"1 miso for me." Shino said.

"Alrighty, 3 beef, and one miso to start. Do you want me to keep the noodles warm for more?" Teuchi asked.

"Sure, I might add more." Naruto said.

"Coming right up." Teuchi said. He turned to walk to the door. "Oh, by the way. Where's Kina-chan?"

"She had to go home to," He put his fingers in the air, " quote on quote, 'plan something.' I have no clue what she's up to, but I don't want to find out."

"Living with a fox will do that, Naruto. I'll be back in 3 minutes." Tecuhi saluted the gennin, and walked into the kitchen.

"So, Shino-san. What's on your mind?" Naruto asked.

'Blunt as always.' "Well. Do you remember our meeting with that girl named Fu?" Shino asked.

"Yea, what about her?"

"Well, I felt something strange when I looked at her." Shino said.

Naruo gulped. 'Can her feel yokou? That girl was pouring it out like no one's business. I mean, that's why Kina knew who it was, but I didn't think anyone else would feel it.' "What do you mean by, felt something?"

"I don't know, my bugs just kept telling me to get closer to her, to feel her presence. It was overwhelming."

"You mean you wanted to get closer to her?" Naruto said.

"Yes, very much so." Shino said.

Naruto sighed. 'So I guess his bugs felt the alluring chakra of the 7 tailed horned beetle. A bug type demon would call out for other bugs to be friendly.' "Well, what do your bugs tell you about me and Hinata-chan?"

Shino thought a moment. "They tell me you both are an ally with amazing hidden power locked away."

Naruto thought seriously a moment. "How do YOU feel about Hinata-chan and me?"

"Teammates. Companions. Friends. People who wont look away from me, just because of what's inside of me." Shino said truthfully.

Naruto nodded.

"Alright. 3 beef ramen, and 1 miso ramen." Teuchi said as he came out of the kitchen. He put the platter down, and served the bowls, and went back into the kitchen.

They both ate in silence. Well, as silent as Naruto is while slurping ramen. After eating his third bowl, Teuchi came back out with 3 more. "Anymore for you, Shino-san?"

Shino looked up. "I would like 2 more. These are good."

"I know, right?" Naruto said. "I worship these more then the log." Naruto stopped right when he said that. He got a worried face, and looked outside.

"BLASPHEMY!" Several ninja yelled out.

"Hey, I still worship the log!" Naruto said.

The group of ninja. Anyone older then 16 chuunin to jounin to ANBU alike had shown up. ANBU more so then others.

"Prove it!" They chanted.

"I held up a holy log to finish a test!"

"Prove it!" They continued.

"Fine!" He used some chakra, and clones came into existence without a poof and a handsign. "GO!"

"YES SIR!" And they all kawarimi with logs.

"BEHOLD THE MIGHTY LO-" BANG!

"Not. In front. Of my store." Teuchi said. He had thrown a pot at Naruto, luckily it was empty.

"Oh, fine. Ruin our fun." Naruto said, he looked back to the other ninja. "We'll try again tomorrow, guys."

They all nodded, and Shunshin'd out of there.

He sat back down, and continued eating his ramen like nothing happened. When he put down bowl number four, he asked Teuchi, "Where's Ayame-nee-chan?"

"Oh, she was sick, so I sent her home." He said.

"Okay. Tell her to get well soon."

"Consider it done." Teuchi said. He looked to Shino. "Shino-san. You going to finish your ramen?"

"Huh? Oh right." Shino said.

"Don't tell me you blanked all of it." Naruto said after bowl number 5.

"No, I saw it all. Nice performance if I might add. Logically, though, it could use some work." Shino said.

Naruto sighed. "You figured it out, huh?"

"How in time they were. How they seemed to be keeping their right hand down, like you, and how they all 'shunshin'd' at the same time." Shino said. "In short, clones."

Naruto sighed. "Drat, got to work on that."

"Speaking of which, you seem to be using your right hand less then normal. What happened?"

"Training." Naruto said, and started bowl 7, after he finished it, he put it down, and looked at Shino. "Meet Hinata-chan and me after practice tomorrow at training ground 13."

Shino just finsihed his third bowl, and he was full. "Alright." He got up. "Am I to assume you are still paying?"

"Yeap, I'll finish up here and head home." Naruto said.

"Goodnight, Naruto-san." And shino walked back toward the Aburame clan compound.

–

Date started chapter 9, December 28, 2009. My nineteenth b-day.

Date finished chapter 9, December 29, 2009.

Date started chapter 10, December 30, 2009.

Date finished chapter 10, January 1, 2010.

Date did first reread, January 2, 2010.

Date rechecked sources, January 3, 2010.

Date did final read, January 4, 2010.

As you can see, I did this all in a short amount of time. I did do a final read, but if you see something that was off, please tell me. If anything seems wrong, please tell me. I didn't have my resources when I wrote these chapters, and as such, I could be off on a few things. Please PM me if you see something wrong.

PHEW! I had gone and written up a monster XD Tell me how you guys liked it.

To Third Fang. No I'm not copying you with the log thing. I was reading it in another fanfic, and went to watch Naruto abridged on Youtube again. I wont use the log joke as much as this chapter... only when I need to break up a solemn mood.