Disclaimer: I don't own squat.
Now on to the fic...
–
Chapter 11: Change, the Past, and Healing of the Soul
"Alright team." Kurenai said. "You have the rest of today and tomorrow off. Dismissed." and she disappeared to go turn in the results of their D ranked missions.
Naruto looked to Shino, and said, "Come with us, Shino-san."
Shino nodded, and they took off.
The reached a training ground that had several trees knocked over, or blown up.
"What is it you wanted to talk about with me, Naruto-san?" Shino asked.
Naruto looked over to Hinata, they both nodded. "We talked it over, and decided you should be in on the secret." she said.
"What secret, might I ask?" Shino was genuinely curious.
Hinata did three hand signs, and held out her hands. A kitten appeared on Hinata's hand.
The fox, Kina, looked at Shino pointedly. She really didn't know if they should tell him, but they had already decided, and now they would tell.
"Shino-san." Naruto started. "Do you know what happened almost 14 years ago?"
"Yes, the village was attack by the demon Kyuubi no kitsune. One day, the Yondaime Hokage went and defeated the demon. He sacrificed his life in the process though." Shino said.
Naruto nodded. "As I expected from the book worm of our group. Yes, that's exactly what they said. But that not exactly what happened. You see, they didn't tell you the whole story. What happened was this."
Naruto said the whole story, how he was a Jinchuriki, how Hinata was in the same boat.
The whole time, Shino just sat there, silent. The two were a little scared. They couldn't read his emotions much.
"And finally, meet the kyuubi no kitsune, and the nibi no Bakeneko themselves." The kitten and the fox stepped forward, shyly.
Shino looked at them, and then at Naruto. He saw the serious face the two teammates had in front of him. Shino let his hand go forward. He brushed Kina on the head, in a petting fashion. "I don't know why you four are scared." he said finally. "I have never seen you attack anyone once, without Naruto's permission." he said to Kina. "And you, Nibi, or should I say Hiraku-sama, have not attacked anyone either. I have seen you up and about with Hinata-san. I don't think that you are dangerous to friends."
Naruto and Hinata sighed in relief. Hinata looked up, she needed an answer to her question. "Why do you accept us so readily?"
"Even if these two were evil, and you two told me about yourselves, I would have still seen you for who you are. Remember, my enter clan is shunned, because of what's inside of us. Yet our bugs help and do good, more then bad. How could I do the same to you?" Shino asked.
And with that, they became closer friends. Shino felt happy he was in on the secret. And he finally understood what was with Fu. She was one as well. But whenever he thought of her, he felt a longing feeling for the girl. He didn't voice it, but the other's sensed it when they mentioned her.
–
Four months. That's the amount of time until the next chuunin exams start. Four months, and Naruto will be start the next step towards Hokage.
Naruto tensed. He focused his chakra across his entire body. He was starting to work on hardening all his chakra pathways. His right and left hands could now withstand his entire chakra reserves, and his feet were now hardened as well.
The pain he felt the first time he tried this was beyond excruciating. In fact, he couldn't move for an entire day.
The second day was worse. He had accidentally ripped open one of the pathways in his leg wide open. It took Kina and Nelrim a bit, but they managed to fix it.
This was day three of focusing the chakra in his body's pathways.
He started to move the chakra in his body around. Speeding it up to impressive amounts. He could feel it move in his body.
"That's it, Naruto. Push the concentrated chakra all throughout your body." Nelrim said. "More. You need to push yourself."
Naruto complied. He moved the chakra faster, and his body felt a new wave of pain pass over him. Chakra burns started to appear on his exposed chest.
"Keep that level Naruto. No more, no less." Nelrim said.
Kina was standing by, waiting for the right moment to send her healing energy to spread across his body.
"Just a little longer, Naruto."
His arms started to get black marks. His neck and forehead were burned now as well.
"Now, release it!"
Waves of chakra went out of Naruto's various tenketsu points. The chakra acted like slicing blades, destroying trees around him, and making the clearing a bit bigger.
Immediately, Kina sent her yokou into the boy, attempting to heal him.
Naruto still felt the pain convulse across his body. He screamed, and passed out.
"That was try number two today." Kina said. "This part really does hurt the humans."
"Yes." Nelrim said. "It might not be painful for chi users, or yokou users, but chakra, when focused, can burn the human. Even with the fact that Naruto doesn't have a fire affinity, he'll still get burned."
"You know, I still find that strange. He has a wind affinity from birth. That I can understand. But how did he get a water affinity with me inside of him?" Kina asked.
"There are things that even us immortals are to not understand. Kami and Yami must've given him the water affinity, because if he had a fire affinity, Naruto would have been much worse when he lost control yesterday."
Kina nodded. "He still got one thing from me though. The lightning affinity."
Nelrim nodded. "Wind being his main. Water and lightning a close second." he paused. "How did you teach him sage only jutsu when he doesn't have a fire affinity?"
"Wanna know something really strange?" She asked, with a bad feeling laced in the words.
"It can't be that bad." Nelrim said.
"It is. I've never seen it happen before. When Naruto enters sage mode completely, his affinity for water disappears, like it was never there. In it's place is a fire affinity." Kina said. "Nothing, across all the contracts, has ever happened like that before."
Nelrim was surprised at this.
Now why is changing affinities so surprising? Well, because of three reasons. One, chakra affinity is determined by one or all of three things. Personality, hereditary, or exposure to element. The exposure to the element has to be a long time, like almost their entire life time. Two, in order to change an affinity, the chakra has to become completely different. That can't happen instantly. The chakra has to be remixed, and the old chakra has to be expelled. Three, when a chakra affinity changes, it's almost always permanent. Only a few humans have ever changed their elements completely, and it took them an entire lifetime to do it. Once the change happens it, it wont go back. It has been known to drive humans insane.
"So, you're saying he can change his affinity from water to fire by entering sage mode?" Nelrim asked.
Kina nodded.
Nelrim thought about it for a minute. "How does he handle the techniques?"
"He handles the beginner ones quite well, but I have yet to teach him more advanced ones. I was afraid that his affinity might change completely from over exposure to sage mode." Kina said.
Nelrim nodded, understanding the reason.
Naruto stirred from blissful sleep, and back to painful reality. Literally. Naruto scrunched his face up in pain, but managed to open his eyes.
"Welcome back, lad." Nelrim said. "You get a few hours of rest, and we'll head right back in."
Naruto moaned in hate, but nodded in understanding. He got back into a meditative state. Except for the boxers he had on, he was otherwise without clothes. The reason for this, was that if he released the chakra with his clothes on, it would rip them to pieces. As it was, his boxers were barely holding on.
"Tell me, if I use the technique in battle like that, would my clothes rip to pieces?" Naruto asked.
"Not really. You're using all your chakra to do this part. In battle you'll only use a small fraction of your chakra, and it'll be to the same effect, but without ripping your clothes apart." Nelrim said. "The only real difference is the range in which this attack goes. Look around you."
Naruto did, seeing the destruction go around him for about 30 meters.
"That is the distance that this attack goes, when using all your chakra. The actual distance will only be five feet. That might not seem like much, but trust me, it's more then enough." Nelrim said.
Kina decided to add her two cents. "Remember, this technique we are teaching you is a close range taijutsu mixed with short range ninjutsu. That five feet is part of your short range. Remember the fist technique we showed you?"
Naruto remembered. When he completed his hand training, they showed him a by product of the hardening. A technique called 'Impact.' Impact was just a short 6 feet range. Naruto would focus a small concentrated amount to his knuckles, and release the chakra when he punched. If it was inside of the range, it would make a steady impact with his strength as the power to it. However strong he was, the Impact copied at a range. The same could be said for his legs in a sweep. This was called 'Slice,' as it would make slicing motion through the air. Again, however strong his kick was, it was copied at a range of 7 feet or less.
"Same product there as well." Kina said. "Oh, and we forgot to add. If you have more concentration, you can make the skills go farther."
Naruto nodded. He felt the yokou withdraw from his body.
"There, you're all healed now, but don't try anything drastic, or you might pass out." Kina said.
"We'll be back in 3 hours time." with that they disappeared.
Naruto was left with three hours to do something. His body still felt like hell, but at least he could move around. He decided to walk around town.
–
Naruto had entered the village and was just passing over a bridge that crossed over a river. Ahead of him, he saw a strange sight.
10 people were arguing. 5 on each side of the argument. On one side, it was Anko, Tenten, Haku, Hana, and Cat ANBU. On the other side, surprisingly, it was Iruka, Kakashi, a guy wearing a green spandex outfit, and two ANBU. A dragon masked one, and the other a hawk. Naruto could also hear the conversation, due to his advanced hearing.
"...Is precise in all it's ways! You cannot deny the reason the Log exists!" Iruka yelled.
"But the pointy objects of doom are better! They kill your enemies with quick precision!" Anko yelled back.
"Preposterous!" Kakashi yelled back. "The Log can, and will, save us all from doom!"
"The Log is nothing against my sword!" Tenten yelled back.
"Those small pointy things you call weapons will be stopped by our Log deity!" Hawk yelled out.
"My pointy senbon can pierce straight through your measly little Log!" Haku yelled back.
"THE FLAMES OF YOUTH IN THE LOG CAN HELP YOU TRAIN AND MOVE FASTER THEN YOUR MEASLY LITTLE WEAPONS!" The guy in green spandex yelled back.
Hana yelled back, "My dogs, with their pointy fangs and claws, can rip through your Log like it was nothing!"
Dragon spoke up, "Yes, but can those pointy objects save you from doom?"
Cat held up her sword. "YES! My sword has saved me multiple times, and has turned the tide of my battles in a single second!"
The argument continued on, in that matter. Naruto quickly turned around to leave, but it was too late. Tenten had sensed him.
"I know! We'll get Naruto-kun to decide once and for all which one wins!" Tenten yelled back.
Naruto tensed. 'Shit...'
He quickly ran for it. "Kina," he thought. "Let me release the gravity seals!"
"If you do, you might pass out. What possible trouble could you have gotten into this time?"
"I didn't do anything I swear!" Naruto yelled back in his mind. He sent a mental image of what happened.
"..." Silence on the other side. He then heard laughing in his mind. Naruto, at that point, knew he was screwed. He released what he could of the gravity seals, and ran for it. It was no use.
Naruto turned a corner. There was the green spandex guy from earlier. "YOSH! SHOW ME YOUR YOUTHFULNESS BY COMING TO THE SIDE OF THE LOG!"
Naruto turned and ran. At another corner. Kakashi stood there. "Join the Log, or else you will feel pain."
Naruto turned to run down another street.
Cat was standing in his way. "Join the way of the pointy!"
Naruto turned and ran down another alley. The hawk suddenly showed up, "Join the log!"
Then a smell caught his nose. He followed it to Ichiruka's the only safe haven from the peanut gang.
He sat down, thinking he'd lost them.
"Oh, Na-ru-to-kun." Naruto tensed, and looked to his left. Sure enough, there was Tenten, and Anko sitting at the counter with him. "We'll buy you ramen if you join the dark pointy side."
Naruto's mouth watered. How could he turn down ladies who offered him ramen?
"NOOOO!" Dragon yelled out. "That's cheating!"
Anko laughed, "All's fair in love and war."
"Don't listen to them, Naruto! Stay with the light of the Log!" Dragon kept yelling.
"But they have raaaaameeeeen." Naruto said.
Dragon thought quickly. "Naruto, if you stay with the light, I'll buy you an entire month's worth of ramen."
Naruto's mouth watered even more. He opened his mouth to accept, when someone else cut him off. "Naruto-kun" Tenten said. "We'll buy you two months worth of ramen, plus two extra surprises." she smiled slyly.
Dragon tensed. He didn't think that he could equal that two month ramen quota. "Naruto, one month of ramen, plus sword training!"
Naruto looked back to the girls. He raised an eyebrow. He always wanted to try out a sword.
Tenten still smiled. "One of my surprises is sword training, and a free sword to boot." Naruto raised another eyebrow. "Besides, those log lover boys wont even train you properly, I with my pointy wisdom, can train you in the ways of sharpness."
Naruto looked back to the Dragon, and the other members that had shown up. "YOSH! I CAN TRAIN YOU TO BE SUPER FAST!"
Naruto knew that would be hard to beat. He looked back to Tenten. She was still smiling. "Fine, you made me bring out my ultimate weapon!" She raised a storage scroll, and released some of the contents. "Who wants cookies?"
"I've decided!" Naruto yelled. "I shall join th-"
"Naruto, your three hours of goofing off are up." Nelrim said, as he appeared on Naruto's shoulder. "Time to head back."
"NOOO-" Naruto yelled, then disappeared.
"Where did he go?" everyone asked.
Tenten spoke up. "That's proves it! Naruto-kun was going to join us!"
"Oh no you don't. It doesn't count until he's said it himself!" Kakashi yelled back.
"Fine, whoever gets Naruto into their group shall win!" Teuchi said. Everyone looked to him. "I shall be the referee. Once Naruto tells me, then that side has won."
Everyone agreed.
Poor Naruto.
–
"The pointier the object, the smoother it goes in." Hinata reveled. "I was never really allowed to train with shuriken and kunai. I guess it's time I caught up."
She was playing in her free time. She was given two hours around lunch time to relax and rest, before she started training with Hiraku. She really enjoyed this time.
One day, she had noticed a stray kunai on the ground, and had picked it up. She didn't know why, but the kunai was so alluring. It was shaped differently then most kunai. It had three prongs, one long and two short. The handle had a strange seal on it. The metal was silver colored instead of the usual black. It was so shiny, and pretty. She didn't know why she was drawn to it. Then she noticed it. "It shines, just like Naruto-kun." Hinata had said that day.
Since then, she's grown fonder of the kunai, and she's always kept it on her on a necklace.
She started training with weapons in her spare time, growing used to a katana the most. She liked how the blade seemed to dance in her control. She would show that she could shine, just like Naruto.
"Okay, Kitten, time to start training."
Hinata nodded, and summoned the kitten out.
"Alright, first up, I've got a little something for you Hinata-chan." A scroll appeared near her. "Do you know what a summoning contract is?"
–
"-OOOOO!" Naruto yelled out, as he appeared back in the clearing. He looked around. "Damn you, you stupid cat! I was about to get the deal of a lifetime!"
"Well, you can go back, and see if you can get it later. You're going to start the next set of body pulse now." Nelrim said.
Naruto grumbled, and got undressed to get started.
–
The hokage was grumbling as he did paper work for the day. He would watch Naruto, but the damned glass wasn't seeing anything close to him. The cat, Nelrim, must be with him.
'Speaking of which, I still have to get those forms for Nelrim done. As with all undead treaties, the major kages must be told.' The hokage thought.
–
The tow cults... err... I mean groups of people who have a scary level of affiliation for inanimate objects were searching high and low for our hero. They were determined to win, and in the process, gain a follower.
It was growing dark, and they had almost given up on searching. Anko saw a flash of silver hair. She smiled.
She ran after it, and pounced on the source of silver light. "I got you, Naruto-kun."
"It's nice to be hugged by a maniac, and all." Kakashi started. "But could you get off me, you dark pointy weapon lover."
"Darn you and your silver hair." Anko said.
"Right." Kakashi said, and sped off.
Anko was left standing there, trying to think of where Naruto goes to train. She bopped herself in the head. "Why didn't I think of that?!" and she sped off towards training ground 13.
–
Anko was humming lightly to herself, as she approached training ground 13 at a leisure shinobi pace. And by that, I mean running through the trees at speeds that could kill humans with her eyes closed.
She felt a pulse of heavy chakra, and then Naruto screaming.
Anko quickened her pace. She reached the grounds, just in time to watch Naruto, who was almost completely burned from chakra, fall back and pass out. "What happened to him?"
Nelrim spoke up. "Training. This is not something for you to know. Sorry, Anko."
And then she passed out from the mental pressure Nelrim put onto her mind. He teleported her back to the village, where she would wake up without the knowledge of the past hour.
–
Anko woke up on a roof of the local sake bar.
"Oops, must've passed out from too much sake. Now where was I? Oh yes. I was chasing down Naruto so that I could make him join our group. Now where could he be?" Anko thought.
–
"That's the fifth one I sent back today." Nelrim said. "How are they finding us?"
"ANBU and jounin have their ways." Kina said. "They felt the pulse of chakra from Naruto-kun here, and followed it."
"I didn't know they could follow pulses." Nelrim said.
"Yeap, it's somewhat similar how you latch onto your kind of power." Kina said.
"Oh, so maybe that's why I don't know of it." Nelrim said. "It's a power conduit that I don't understand."
"Something like that." Kina said. "So, how far along is he?"
Nelrim looked back to Naruto. "I don't know. Each of these pulses are painful. His chakra coils are hardening, but not enough. Chakra is still seeping out. The less chakra burns he has in the end, the closer we get to the end of step one."
Kina looked thoughtful. "If chakra is this painful at only step one. How will he survive steps three and five?"
"He's survived his line awakening ability, and that has less of a chance of survival then them." Nelrim said.
"I hope we aren't killing the poor boy." Kina said.
"He's the number one unpredictable knuckle head ninja in the entire village. He'll live. He has to." Nelrim said. "And besides, the gods of this realm had told us to teach him it. If they have faith in him, we should as well." he paused. "Besides, I could always use that on him to force his survival."
Kina looked wide eyed. "Don't you dare turn him. We have one demon turned blood frenzy, we don't need another."
Nelrim nodded, he knew that would get her protective side out, which would increase the healing rate of Naruto.
Nelrim smiled. 'I can't manipulate people like Hiraku-sama, but I still go it, baby.'
–
Two months remaining.
Naruto pulsed the chakra in his body once more. It was now easy for him to do it. All he needed was a couple seconds of rest, and he could do the body pulse again. It didn't even burn him anymore.
"Good job, Naruto." Nelrim said. "With that, you have officially mastered the first step of the Mizu Kanryuu."
Naruto jumped for joy. "WOOHOO!"
"But that doesn't mean you can fight using it yet. Welcome to step two. Learning the katas to control this ability." Naruto said.
Naruto calmed down. He would finally start learning the taijutsu portion of this set.
"As you could have figured it out, this taijutsu set is all about fighting from a set and short distance. Too far, and you can't hit them. Too close, and they can hit you. This style has no defense. Only offensive." Nelrim said.
Naruto nodded in understanding.
Kina spoke up, "Right, the first kata to learn is the arch. This will make up most of your attacks, as it requires the least amount of chakra, concentration, and energy to use, but still hurts your enemy a lot. First off, chakra hops you'll be using it to start most of these. You will use the it to launch yourself in the air and a bit forward. You will come come using a side kick or an axe kick to the ground, using the slice in the process. This will strengthen your attack, and send it farther then normal. Once you hit the ground, you will push off again, doing a back flip, and use the slice once more at the right time. If you do it right, you can actually focus for a ninjutsu during the arch."
Naruto nodded.
"Right, the second kata is..."
–
Hiashi was getting worried. His daughter had asked if she could go on a one month training trip last month. Hiashi was against it at first, but when Hinata had yelled at him for keeping her weak, Hiashi couldn't disagree. 'She's finally getting stronger.' He thought.
The door to his office suddenly opened. "Hiashi-sama." The branch member that was asked to go with her said. "Hinata-sama has returned."
"Good, send her in." Hiashi said in his usual passiveness.
"Hai, Hiashi-sama." and the branch member disappeared.
A few moments passed, and Hinata opened the door. She was wearing her normal attire, but a light blue long coat was covering her up, then her usual coat. A hood adorned her head.
Hiashi used his Byakugan to see the back of it. He was surprised to see a symbol for sage on her back.
"S-sage?" Hiashi asked.
Hinata smiled, and nodded. "Hai, father. I'm a sage now."
"Of which contract?" He asked, already having a hint at what it was.
"Cat contract." she said.
Hiashi sighed. "I know you can hear this, Hiraku-sama. If you change my daughter into what her mother was, then we will have problems."
"Oops." was all Hinata heard in her mind.
Hinata's eyes must have told him that the cat had heard. "What did she say?"
"'Oops.'" Hinata answered.
Hiashi paled, and for the first time in many many years, he passed out.
"Wow, is that what I look like when I pass out?" Hinata said.
"A little, only you're cuter." Hiraku said back.
Hinata giggled. "Neji-kun. Can you come in here please?" she yelled out.
The door opened. "You needed me, Hinata-sama?"
"Yes, my dear fathered seems to have passed out. Could you be a dear and grab me some tea and smelling salts?" Hinata asked all lady like.
"Hai, Hinata-sama." Neji said, and walked out.
"We need to get rid of the ten foot pole that's in his ass." Hiraku said.
Hinata looked confused. "What do you mean, Hiraku-chan?"
"He's got a stuck up personality, and we have to get rid of that. We need to dislodge the stick in his personality." Hiraku said.
"Oh. So why is it up his ass?" Hinata asked.
Hiraku sighed. "Never mind, Hinata-chan."
–
One month to the chuunin exams.
Naruto was getting itchy for a fight. He had a whole new fighting style that he could use. The fox kata style was temporarily banned, due to 'Complications with the body.' Don't get Naruto wrong, he's remastered Sage mode once more. It's just that they didn't want him to use it.
The style he CAN use is step 2 of Mizu Kanryuu. It had come along nicely, if a bit short. Apparently he couldn't go into the more advanced katas until he completed step 3.
He couldn't wait for the exams.
Naruto also learned about his bloodline abilities. Nelrim had finally gotten around to talking about it three days ago.
Flashback
Nelrim had just said that Naruto was done for the day.
"Hey, Nelrim." Naruto said, panting from the katas he did.
"Yes?"
"I want to know something. What does my bloodline do?"
Nelrim sighed. "I guess we couldn't avoid it for very long." He paused, thinking about how he would say it. "Kagedoushinkai. A sub form of the King's Soul bloodline."
"Huh, what's that?"
"Shut up, and I'll tell you. Now, The King's Soul bloodline belongs to a race of beings called the Triste. Essentially, these people live forever, and has gained power to control things through telekinesis and telepathy. Some even show the ability to use elements with their minds. Mind you, I'm not talking about the elements you know. No, these are the elements that make up matter. Atoms. You might not be able to imagine it, but every single thing is made up of atoms. The mix of different types of atoms make up life as we know it. Back on subject, this bloodline comes at a cost though. Your humanity, and the need to suck life out of people to continue living. Sure you can eat and drink, but for you to truly live, you need the souls of people around you." Nelrim said.
"I... I wont become this.. will I?" Naruto said, not wanting to lose his humanity.
"No, luckily, it seems you have a very watered down version of it. You use up the chakra in your body to continue living. In turn it will give you two things. One, special chakra. This golden colored chakra essentially makes you invulnerable to massive damage for a short period of time. Do not be mistaken, you can still die. The reason for this chakra is the second thing I will say. It will allow you to move faster then any other human alive, at the cost of you using your special chakra. It will increase the rate at which your mind processes, acting, and reaction times. It will also add more to your senses to heighten them."
"Okay, what's the second thing?"
"I don't know," Nelrim said.
"How do you know the first part?" Naruto asked.
"I learned it all from Hiraku-sama. She has the most knowledge on it." Nelrim said. "Ask her for further details. I have a feeling she only gave me a light explanation."
"How do I activate it?"
"That, you must learn on your own."
End flashback
Since then, Naruto has spent time trying to feel out the chakra once more, but he just couldn't reach for it. It was always just beyond his grasp. He could feel it, but not. It was frustrating.
Today was a Sunday. Yesterday, all of his chakra suppression seals, and gravity seals were completely let go, like always on Saturdays, so he could get used to feeling fast and light. It did no good to do all that training, and not be used to it when you finally needed it. He trained on all his katas, even the academy ones. He ran around the village faster then most people could see. Naruto always felt great like this.
And like always, it wore Naruto out. He always needed a day off.
Today, Naruto was walking towards the hot springs, wanting to soothe his aching muscles. Just as he crossed the bridge to get to the springs, he heard a perverted giggle. Naruto wandered of to the left side, the women's side, and peered around the edge.
Sitting there, was a man in a red cloak, grey pants, wooden sandals, and his headband was different. He couldn't see it clearly though. (It's Jiraiya. I'm too lazy to describe him mostly.) Naruto, not for the first time, had an evil idea. He snuck behind the perverted man, and stood exactly 4 feet away from him. Naruto charged some chakra, as discreetly as he could, and launched his fist straight at the man.
The man was promptly blown through the fence, and what made it worse, is that the Dark Togatta clan was having a meeting there. You know what happens next.
Needless to say, the man would have scars on his back for the rest of his life. Naruto was on the sidelines laughing.
When they were close to killing the poor man, Naruto spoke up. "Hey girls, I'll turn him in for you. You can continue your hot springs bath."
"Oh, hey, Naruto-kun." Anko said. "Were you the one who launched him into the fence?"
"I kicked him in when I found him giggling... pervertedly."
Several of the girls made a death glare at the man.
"Okay, we'll let you drag the idiot back to the hokage for us." Anko said. "We were hard on him, but we kind of had to be."
"I know, he was peeking on you." Naruto said.
"Not that, this is Jiraiya of the sannin." Anko said, which got the attention of everyone there. "I wonder why he was in the village? Most of the time, he's maintaining his spy network."
"Wait, wait... you're telling me I snuck up on a sannin? Much more, THE TOAD SANNIN!?" Naruto yelled. He read about the three legendary sannin.
"Yeap, you could always sneak past the ANBU no problem. An old sannin like this man should be nothing." Anko said. "Now, I'm going to get dressed, being only in a towel leaves a nice draft and all, but it's better in clothes." The other girls nodded agreement. "See ya later, Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded. (SEE! SEE! He didn't have a nose bleed, he's not perverted. Take that you perverted Naruto loving freaks.) He went, grabbed the man by his feet, and left to drag the idiot to the hokage.
Naruto dragging the old man across town by one foot got people looking at him weird. Most were wondering why the 'demon' was dragging someone through town, and the ANBU weren't doing a thing.
Naruto walked into the hokage's tower, and up to the secretary. "I have Jiraiya here. He needs to see the Hokage."
The secretary nodded, and told him to go up.
Naruto walked up the stairs slowly, making sure the old man's head hit each and every step along the way. He knocked on the door, and a muffled 'come' was heard through the door.
–
Sarutobi was having a meeting with Kakashi. "Now, tell me why you want to enter your team again in the chuunin exams?"
"The first time was a flunk. I think it would be good for them to try it this time." Kakashi said.
"Alright, I'll let them in. But if Sasuke goes and almost gets his team killed again, I'm pulling him out of the chuunin exams for the next three years." Sarutobi said.
Kakashi nodded in understanding.
A knock was heard at the door. "Come." the man in the red hat said.
Naruto opened the door with Jiraiya in tow.
To say that the hokage was a bit surprised was an understatement. He had been EXPECTING this to happen. Just, not by Naruto.
"Hey, oji-san. I caught a pervert. Can I keep him?" Naruto said jokingly.
Kakashi and Sartuobi chuckled. "No, I'm sorry, we'll have to throw him back out onto the streets."
"Darn." Naruto said jokingly.
"Caught him at the hot springs?" Kakashi asked.
"Yeap. How did you know?"
Sarutobi took a puff of smoke. "He's Jiraiya of the sannin. He's known the world round for two other things. The Toad Sage.... and The Super Pervert."
Naruto looked surprised. "I didn't know that."
"That you were dragging a sannin all the way across the village?"
"No, I knew that. I didn't know he was the super pervert." Naruto looked at the man in disgust a little. "This guy can actually teach me something? I mean, he was pretty easy to sneak up on."
"What do you mean, teach you something?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto looked to the Hokage. The man nodded, giving Naruto the go ahead to discuss something. "In a scroll I got from someone high in the system, it told me to learn the rasengan from the super pervert."
Kakashi looked surprised at this. "Who gave you this scroll?"
Sarutobi broke in at that moment. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Kakashi got the hint to not ask. "So, shall we wake him up?"
"Um, that would be nice, but how? I've dragged him all the way across town, and he didn't wake up."
The hokage chuckled. "Simple." He stood up, and walked over to Jiraiya. He lowered his head to Jiraiya's ear, took a deep breath in. "BOOBIES!"
What happened next, Naruto will never know. All he knew was that the hokage was back at his desk, and Jiraiya was hanging off the ceiling, and somehow, Naruto was as well. The difference between them was that Jiraiya was looking around excitedly for something, and Naruto was in his defensive position for his fox kata. He was crouched on all fours, his coat hanging down from his body. His two tails wagged wildly in the air behind him.
"Stand down, Naruto." the hokage said.
Naruto caught himself, as did Jiraiya.
They both went back down to the floor.
"How did I get here? The last thing I remember, I was researching for my next book, and then I was launched into the hot springs." Jiraiya said.
Sarutobi chuckled. "Naruto happened."
"Naruto?" Jiraiya looked surprised.
The silver haired boy chuckled, "The one and only."
Jiraiya did a double take on the boy. "Fox tails, fox ears, I can understand. Silver hair? What happened to your blond hair?"
Now Naruto was surprised. "How did you know I had blond hair?"
"Because, Uzumaki Naruto, I'm your godfather of course." Jiraiya said.
Naruto passed out.
–
"-uto. Naruto!" a voice yelled out, as Naruto opened his eyes. "Good you're back with us." It was Jiraiya.
Naruto reflexively got out of Jiraiya's hold, and to the other side of the room, behind the Hokage.
"What's wrong Naruto?"
The Hokage didn't turn around. He didn't need to, to know what was going on. Naruto was deep in his mind.
Sarutobi sighed. "He's shocked."
"What? Why? I've visited him a couple times. He knows me already." Jiraiya said.
"Oh yea? How come I don't remember you!" Naruto yelled back.
"I visited you on your third birthday. I trained you some in the arts of stealth in your fourth summer. I even told you I would be back this year to cheer you on in the chuunin exams. How do you not know me?" Jiraiya said.
That stopped Naruto. He tried to think back. "I don't remember that."
Sarutobi sighed. "He suffered from an attack just before he turned five. He suffered from great mental strain, and he couldn't talk for 3 years afterwards."
"Mental strain? You mean he almost died!?" Jiraiya almost yelled out. Kakashi put his hand on the sannin's shoulder to calm him down.
Sarutobi looked down sadly, "Yes."
Jiraiya, seeing that the hokage was in grief over it, knew it wasn't the old man's fault. He had little control over the boy as it was.
Naruto was still wracking his mind for that memory. Now that he thought about it, the man did seem familiar somehow.
"Naruto must have lost some of his memories, due to the great mental strain of the attack."
"What happened exactly?" Jiraiya asked.
"His throat was slit by an ANBU. Of course, as soon as I heard, I immediately had the man dishonorably discharged from ANBU and gave him to Ibiki."
Jiraiya nodded. That was a fate worse then death. From the talks he had with the head of the torture and investigations portion of the ANBU, the man had a liking of the little boy, as Ibiki had raised Naruto the first two years of the orphan's life.
Jiraiya looked down. 'I should've known that Naruto would need my help. But maintaining my spy network had to of been dealt with.' He spoke up. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I should have been there for you."
Naruto looked at the man. His faith in the world looked shattered at the way he let his shoulders sag. Naruto knew he could trust the man. He just needed something to help him remember. "Do you remember telling me anything? Like a saying, or a promise?" he blurted out. "I need something to trigger my memories, if I still have them."
Jiraiya smiled, he knew that he had hope in regaining the boy's trust. "I have something better. Come with me."
Jiraiya put his hand on the boy's shoulder, and they shunshin'd away.
Kakashi, who had been silent, asked, "Where did they go?"
Sarutobi smiled peacefully. "The one place where they can talk quietly."
–
A poof of smoke appeared in the middle of a clearing. Naruto looked around, when the smoke cleared.
Flashback
Naruto was running through a field of leaves and flowers. The flowers were always pretty to him.
"Naruto. Come in for dinner." A man, Jiraiya, yelled from a cabin nearby. The cabin was small, but it could comfortably hold a small family.
"Alright, Ero-ji-san" Naruto yelled back.
The man sighed. He would have to break the kid out of that habit. "So," Jiraiya started as they sat down at a table for ramen dinner. "How did you like your stealth training?"
"It's great, Ero-ji-san." Naruto smiled. "I moved all the way across town without being noticed by villagers."
"That's great, Naruto!" Jiraiya laughed whole heartedly. "Listen, I have to leave town for a few years." Naruto looked sad at that. "Don't worry, work hard, and become a ninja. If you do, I'll come visit you when you enter the chuunin exams."
Naruto looked happy. "ALRIGHT! I'll train hard, so I can see you sooner!"
Jiraiya smiled, "Now, on to ramen!"
And they both dug in.
End flashback
Naruto smiled. A true genuine smile. "I remember you now, Ero-ji-san."
At that, Jiraiya face faulted. He had watched the boy take in the small personal training area, meant just for him. It had taken the boy 10 minutes before he came back to reality. It wasn't really the sight that brought the memory back. It was the smell. Smell of the flowers, The old wood, the water fall nearby, and the leaves of the trees in the air. Jiraiya got back up. "Glad to have you back, gaki."
Naruto's smile got broader. "Sorry, for ever doubting you."
"No, it's I who has to be sorry. I should've come back sooner." Jiraiya sad sadly.
"I know how you can make it up to me!" Naruto said.
"Oh, how's that?" Jiraiya said, eager to get on the boy's good side.
"Teach me. You said that you were a seal master. I want to learn fuinjutsu. It's very intriguing what you can do with it. I want to try something, but I need to know more about seals before I can do anything." Naruto said.
"Is that all?" Jiraiya asked, feeling something extra to be asked.
"Nope. I also want to learn this technique called rasengan." Naruto said.
Jiraiya looked surprised. "How do you know about that technique?"
Naruto pondered. "You know what's inside me, right?"
Jiraiya looked sad. "How could I not? I helped Minato himself develop the seal."
Naruto nodded, understanding. They were sensei and student. "It's complicated, but..." Naruto went silent. "She's on her way here now."
"Who is?"
"Just wait."
2 minutes later, a little orange fox with black tips rushed out of the brush, and onto Naruto's shoulder.
"Kina?" Jiraiya said.
"Hello, Jiraiya-kun. Good to see you again."
"H-how are you out of the seal? It was made so that only Minato and I could release you, though only temporarily." Jiraiya said.
Naruto spoke up. "Kami-sama and Yami-sama let her out."
Jiraiya looked ready to piss his pants. "The gods of this realm!?"
"Hai. They set her free, even though her soul and energy still exist inside of me. They also gave me this scroll." Naruto took it out.
"Let me see that." Jiraiya said. Naruto handed it to him, and he opened it. "Hm, interesting. They had you learn many different elemental jutsu. They also gave you a simple gravity seal. It doesn't make you any heavier, but you feel it. What? You signed the fox contract? I guess that sage cloak of yours is real then. Mizu Kanryuu? What the hell is that?" Jiraiya looked at Naruto.
Naruto just shrugged. "I don't know, All I know is that the first step is the most painful thing I ever knew."
Jiraiya nodded, and looked back at the scroll. "'Learn the rasengan from 'the super pervert'.'" Jiraiya nodded. "Yeap, that's me. I'm the only guy alive who goes by that title," Naruto face planted, "and even knows how to use the rasengan." He paused. "Who's Nelrim?"
Naruto deadpanned. "An evil enigma."
"Thats exactly what I am. Thanks for summing it up for the man, lad." Nelrim said as he appeared on Naruto's other shoulder.
"A cat?" Jiraiya asked. "That can talk?"
"I wouldn't ask too many questions. It just gets confusing as we ask more." Naruto deadpanned.
"Alright, I wont. I'll take your word for it." Jiraiya said. "So, you two were training him?"
"Yes, and we still are." Nelrim said.
Jiraiya bowed. "I thank both of you for looking after the boy."
"Don't bow. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for Yami-sama as a favor." Nelrim said.
"Uh, right. Still, thanks." Jiraiya smiled. "So, how are you training him already?"
"Well, currently. He's up to the point balancing. He doesn't seem to get it." Nelrim started.
"Hey! I'm using lots of shadow clones to learn it. It's hard!" Naruto yelled back.
Nelrim continued like he wasn't interrupted. "He's mastered Sage mode. His bloodline has awakened-"
"What?" Jiraiya interrupted.
"Yes he has a bloodline." Nelrim said.
"No, no. I knew he had one. It shouldn't have awakened this soon though." Jiraiya said.
"You knew about it?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, it's in your heritage, from your father's side." Jiraiya said.
"Why didn't you tell me you knew who my parents were?" Naruto asked.
Jiraiya got serious. "I can't tell you who he is, until you reach chuunin. Your father made me promise that. What I can tell you is about your mother. I'll tell you after Nelrim here is done."
Naruto nodded, finally able to learn something about his parents. He stayed quiet, and hoped Nelrim would finish faster.
"As I was saying. His bloodline awakened. He has more then a kage in chakra capacity. Almost super kage."
"That's understandable. Though a bit more then I thought it would be."
"We've just recently started him in training fuinjutsu, seventh sense, and Mizu Kanryuu. He still doesn't know about his elemental chakra affinities. So he has yet to begin that. He recently learned a high A rank water jutsu, and has two B ranked wind jutsu in his belt. He has low level jutsu's from all the other elements, and he has learned two of the academy three." Kina said.
"The bushin, he had trouble on, right?" Jiraiya asked, knowingly. Hell he had trouble himself with it.
"Yes, and he learned Kage bushin in it's place. He also knows of the benefit that the clones can give. He's also mastered 100 percent clones even with a mental link." Nelrim said.
"How's his Taijutsu?"
Kina spoke up. "Right now? Mizu Kanryuu wise, he's only just started learning. He's still mastering all of the basic katas. Fox sage mode wise, he's mastered the basic katas, and even started some of the more advanced ones. We've banned him temporarily from using sage mode though."
"Too dangerous?" Jiraiya asked, knowing about his own sage mode.
"No, something unheard of before, has happened in his sage mode. We'll tell you later. Other then that, he knows the academy taijutsu, and only has the upper hand due to the major speed he has, even with the gravity seals. He has major endurance, and can keep up the high speeds for a long time. Without his gravity seals, he can even leave an afterimage behind."
Jiraiya whistled. Leaving behind an afterimage was tough, but you don't move at the speed of light to do it. No, the basics of it is just to move fast, and leave a small trail of chakra behind, holding the light there for a split second.
"How's his genjutsu?" Jiraiya asked.
Nelrim and Kina both deadpanned. "He can do a Perfect Henge. But other then that, it's almost non-existent." Nelrim said.
"How does he do in breaking them?"
Nelrim looked to Kina. Kina spoke up. "In the first years I taught him, I made him learn how to break genjutsu with ease. He has so much chakra, that he can push away any genjutsu through brute force."
Jiraiya nodded. He did the same thing.
Naruto kept quiet, but not do it out of respect, but out of glee. He was finally going to learning something about his parents!
Jiraiya thought for a second. "What times are open for me to train him? Can I have the original? Because the rasengan takes a lot of practice and chakra, even with 100 percent clones they wouldn't have enough for the training."
Nelrim and Kina both looked at each other, and smiled. "Well, he does have the rest of the month off to train for the chuunin exams. Kurenai has given them the go ahead to enter, and even gave them the forms. He can practice in the mornings, while we train him in the afternoons. You can have reading clones for in the afternoon, so he can brush up on fuinjutsu(Sealing techniques)."
"Alright, I can live with that." Jiraiya said. "Now, can I have some alone time with the boy? I need to talk with him for a bit."
"Sure." Nelrim said, and they both disappeared. Nelrim just vanished. No smoke, no blur. Just gone. Kina blurred though.
Naruto looked up, being hopeful. "Alright, gaki. I said I would talk about your mom, so get the wax out of your ears. You've got a lot to listen to."
Naruto chuckled, and sat down in the fields. Jiraiya followed.
Jiraiya always loved this field. It always smelled nice. "Alright. Your mom. How to start describing her? Ah, I got it. One word. Tomboy. Uzumaki Kushina was her name. She had red hair that always danced, blue eyes that always held mischief and smiled. Her laugh could bring you out of the most depressing moments." Jiraiya said that last part as if he had personal experience. "She was wild. Out of all the women your father could've picked, he picked the tomboy prank master of the village."
"Wait, Prank master?" Naruto smiled. Already he felt a connection with Kushina. He and Kina had been pranking each other back and forth throughout the months. Hell it got to the point that they had to inspect everything in the home, in hopes of catching the prank before hand. Even the god damned door knob.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Yes, she was often called 'The number one unpredictable knuckle headed ninja.'"
Naruto laughed at that. He had somehow earned his mother's title.
"Yes, Naruto, you got her personality. Put some red hair on your head, and the whole village would shit themselves." Jiraiya said. "Hell, one of the most outstanding part of her, was that she was the head of the dark pointy weapon cult called Togatta."
At that, Naruto stopped. 'Oh, hell no.'
In heaven
"Oh, hell yes, Naruto."
Back on earth
Jiraiya laughed when he saw the look on the kids face. "Luckily, the cult died many years ago."
Naruto chuckled nervously. "Uh, Ero-ji-san. I hate to break it to you, but the cult is still alive."
"I told you to stop call-... Wait. Who leads it now?"
"Anko-nee-chan." Naruto deadpanned.
"Anko.. as in Mitarashi Anko!?"
"Yea. You know her?"
"Oh god, why am I alive?"
"Huh?"
"You kicked me into their meeting session. Remember?"
Naruto thought back. "Oh, yea."
Jiraiya shivered. "I … I think I'll stay away from the hot springs for a while." Jiraiya said meekly. "And I thought my only threat was Tsunade."
"Tsunade? As in your teammate?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, she hates perverts more then the cult, and she has brute strength to back it up." Jiraiya said.
"Sounds like someone I want to meet." Naruto smiled darkly.
Jiraiya gulped, and went to change the subject. "Back to your mother. There is one thing you absolutely have to know. And it's about both of your parents. I can't stress how much I mean this, so I'll tell you just plain straight. They love you, Naruto. Even in death, I bet Kushina is looking down on you, and watching you at all times. They love you. Not loved. Love. Present tense. They aren't alive, but, and I don't know if I can EVER stress this enough, but they love you. Don't feel alone in the world, Naruto."
At the first sentence, the first word of love, Naruto's usual emotional mask had begun to crack. When Jiraiya finished, Naruto's mask had crumbled into tiny bits, and what was left was a crying Naruto.
Jiraiya pulled Naruto into a hug. "It's okay, Naruto. Let your tears run. I know how much you needed to hear that. Even if it's only for this short period of time, let your feelings run."
–
Hours later, Naruto had stopped crying. He wasn't asleep, or anything, but felt safe in his surrogate's father hold. Jiraiya just continued to hold the boy in his arms.
Naruto slowly got out of Jiraiya's hug. "Thanks, Oji-san." he said, while wiping his eyes of water.
"You feel better now?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yes. A lot better. I needed that." Naruto said.
"Don't worry, gaki. If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to kick me in the butt into a hot spring."
At that Naruto chuckled.
"Come on, Naruto. I want to show you something." Jiraiya said.
They walked out of the clearing. A short distance later, they had somehow ended up on top of the fourth hokage's head on the mountain.
"Look, Naruto. Do you remember this sight?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto looked out to see a sunset off in the distance.
Flashback
Naruto and Jiraiya sat side by side on the fourth hokage's head. The little kid didn't really know why, but he felt safe here. Safe from everything in the world.
"If you ever need to get away from things, always come here on the hokage mountain. The sunset can put you at ease."
"It feels good here." The wind blew in Naruto's face. "I feel safe."
Jiraiya chuckled. "So we've sat on all the heads, which one do you like the most?"
Naruto smiled. "This one!"
Jiraiya made a knowing smile.
End flashback
Naruto instantly moved, and sat down on the Fourth's head. He closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. The wind blew in his face, just like he remembered it. He felt safe, just like all those years ago. A new feeling registered in his mind. The special chakra. He could grasp it now. He could feel it come closer to him, and make him glow with warmth. Another feeling registered to Naruto. The natural energy around him. He could feel it come to him naturally. He didn't need to force the energy to move. Then he felt the yokou come into the mix, and mixed naturally with the other energies. At that, his own chakra seemed to want to mix as well, and he let it flow.
Jiraiya saw the power in the air shift around Naruto. Naruto's body started to glow. At first it was Golden energy, that of the bloodline. Jiraiya knew that. The energy he saw next was white. Completely white. Whiter then snow. He felt Kina's power shift as well. Red yokou energy had also mixed into it, but this time it felt calm, and relaxing. Blue energy, signifying Naruto's normal chakra, started swirling around Naruto as well.
Naruto opened his eyes. He didn't know if it was an illusion, or something, but he saw a blond haired man with a smile across his face look down at him from the clear sky that burned red from the sunset. The smile brought comfort to Naruto, like he's never felt before.
Jiraiya didn't know what was going on, but when Naruto opened his eyes, it was slitted with green pupils with red around the iris. They glowed a with a golden light though. The energy around Naruto suddenly mixed completely with one another, and the power shift felt good. Relaxing. Like this was the most powerful being in existence, but somehow it felt like it would protect him in any way necessary. The energy turned into a completely solid bright silver glow with a golden tint to it. Naruto's hair went from dull silver to a milky white color. Naruto's fur shined a bright silver, and the tips went from white to black.
The man's face disappeared before Naruto's eyes, a smile still adorned on his face. Naruto slowly closed his eyes, and let the energies fall back into their places. "Too bad, you wont remember this, until the time is right." A man's voice whispered in the air. The voice sounded soothing to Naruto.
Naruto opened his eyes. They were slightly watered. He smiled, not the genuine smile, not the masked smile. No, this smile showed that he had smiled at his heart, and his soul. He opened his mouth and whispered. "Thanks, dad." And he passed out.
Jiraiya caught the boy, after he whispered something. Jiraiya didn't know what had happened, but whatever it was, it seemed to do some good to Naruto's mind, if the way he smiled during the process had any say in it. Jiraiya picked the teenage boy up, cradle style, and walked to the cabin nearby.
Tbc...
–
That moment on the hokage's head. Mine... mine mine mine mine mine. I created that a long time ago, when I was just starting the series. This is what I've been working up to. This is just a taste of what's to come.
This series started roughly, and I thank all of those who made it this far and have stuck with me. From this point on, you will not be disappointed in how things will turn out.
Next up, the beginning of the chuunin exams, and how this moment will effect Naruto for the rest of his life.
A/N: About that sentence whispered in the air. No, Naruto will still remember this moment. That whisper actually happened, though incomplete, in chapter 9. Figure it out for yourselves.
Comments anyone? Please tell me how it's going.
PM me if you see any mistakes.
To Godo. I know exactly what the bloodline is, but I'm making Hiraku the one to fully explain it. Hope you don't mind that I give it it's own history.
I found him peeking into the fence