Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Warnings: Violence , Gore and Lemons(Much Later)

Chapter 15

Mei and Sakiko along with Tsunade and Shizune were sitting in the hall of their home, listening to the sound of loud bangs and crumbling boulders that were coming from the basement that had the training room. Tsunade cast an enquiring look at the three girls and asked, "Do you girls have any idea what brought this on?" Naruto had gone straight to the training grounds as soon as he had come home after delivering their Mission report.

Mei and Yugao shook their heads negatively. Tsunade noticed that Sakiko didn't reply and asked her, "Do you know something about this?"

"I'm not sure but I talked to him after the mission, and he said that he needed to train to get stronger. So do I, for that matter." Sakiko said, muttering at the end. They sat around there hearing to the sounds for some time. Not being able to take sitting around any longer, she got up.

"Tsunade-sensei, I am having a bit of trouble with my speed in warping Chakra, could you help me with it?" Sakiko asked with a determined expression adorning her face.

"Now?" Tsunade asked with a sigh. She had been looking forward to a relaxing evening. Sakiko nodded firmly.

"Fine, but you better get it right this time." Tsunade said

"Yes. Thank you, Sensei." Sakiko said and got up to follow Tsunade towards a Training ground. Their regular training ground was sealed off by Naruto right now.

Mei immediately looked towards Yugao as soon as Sakiko left with Tsunade, a pleading expression on her face.

"No. You aren't training today; your body is still healing." Yugao put her foot down on the matter.

Mei pouted.

(Break)

Naruto and Yami were staring at each other, maintaining the same distance between them as they continued changing positions, going around in a perfect circle. A malevolent grin on his opponents face was all the warning he had before he was hit in the gut, hard. He instinctively tried to right himself, controlling his urge to clutch a his battered stomach, and blocked he kick to his back and punched Yami in the side of his chest, sending him flying away from him a few feet.

Yami stood up and glared at his other self. He immediately began making handseals rapidly and snarled out his jutsu, placing his hands, palm open on the ground.

Raiton:Kaminari sāji (Lightning Release: Lightning Surge).

Naruto, who had spotted him making the handseals immediately, and recognizing the jutsu that he was about to use, started his own handsigns. He saw astonished, as instead of the electric blue colour of the Lightning Element, black lightning made a perfect circle around Yami's hands before jagging towards his location. Just as he was about to be trapped within the technique, he called out his own Jutsu.

Fūton: Rasen bōgyo (Wind Release: Spiralling Defence)

Winds picked up around him, before it solidified visibly, swirling around him in a perfect sphere, tearing he ground underneath it due to its ferocity. He saw, encased in his defence as the lightning reacted to his shield and to his horror, his defence crumbled under the relentless onslaught of the attack. He bit back the scream hat wanted to tear away at his throat, not wanting o give his opponent the satisfaction. He dropped to his knees, as he caught his breath.

He stood up shakily, jerking his fingers and hands rapidly, hastening to bring back feeling to them. If it weren't for his high affinity for Lightning Chakra, he was sure that he would have been numb from the pain of having his nerves fried.

"What's wrong? Can't handle a dosage of your own pill?" Yami mocked a cackling grin on his face. No waiting for Naruto's response, he charged at him. In retaliation, Naruto called Tensa Zangetsu to him, and utilizing Shunpo, tried slashing Yami in half. He was shocked to see Tensa Zangetsu in Yami's hands as well, albeit it was pure white in colour. Backing away, he analyzed his opponent again. Him being able to use his sword as well required that he would need to change his plans slightly.

"Surprised? Don't be. I can to whatever you can do, only ten times better. You will never be able to beat me." Yami laughed at Naruto.

"Why are you doing this? What do you hope to accomplish?" Naruto asked. He had deduced that they had the same ability, same strength, same attacks, but still he was better than him. He couldn't figure out what was going on. If they were the same, he shouldn't be losing.

"Why? You are asking me why?" Yami asked snarling. "It is because you are weak, too weak to accomplish your goals, too weak to protect our precious people. I will defeat you, and then no one will be able to harm our family." Yami said.

Naruto was surprised to hear that. He had thought that Yami was a murdering sociopath, but after hearing that he had his doubts. Regardless, he couldn't allow their talk to distract him. He got into a ready stance.

Naruto again tried to get behind him, but his sword was blocked by Yami's and they continued clashing for a long time. Seeing an opening, Naruto took the chance and grabbing Yami's sword in his hands, slashed at his open torso. Instead of seeing Yami's blood, he was shocked when all that he saw was his blade blocked by Yami's. He was too stunned to react, and stared apprehensively the blade that was going to pierce his heart.

Suddenly, just as Yami's blade was poised to pierce his torso, Yami disappeared in a vibrant display of light. Naruto collapsed to the ground, hands holding his body away from the ground, his face staring blankly at the ground beneath him. He was dimly aware of Zangetsu who had again appeared in his sights.

He caught his breath, and shook himself. Staring resolutely at Zangetsu, he uttered only one word, "Again."

(Break)

Naruto climbed back up to the hall of his house from his training grounds tiredly, his whole body hurt. He had face against Yami, three more times and he third time he had come close to stabbing him, but it was not meant to be. Zangetsu had halted the training, and advised him against using his blade in battle, not until he had dealt with Yami. Walking around the empty house, his mind was working furiously, trying to find a way for him to defeat his other self. And here was the other bi of information that Zangetsu had supplied him with. Zangetsu knew of Naruto's efforts to release Kyuubi from her seal, and had told him to visit the birthplace of the Uzumaki clan, Uzushiogakure. All that he told him was that he might find what he needed there. When he had asked why he hadn't told him earlier, and more importantly, how he knew, Zangetsu had simply replied that he would tell him his reasons someday.

Naruto took out a packet of juice from the fridge and drained it quickly; taking out another he walked up the stairs towards his bedroom. He checked Mei and Sakiko's rooms, and finding them asleep left them, vowing o tell them about what was going on with him tomorrow. He knew that he had confused them with his actions this day, and felt bad for it. They deserved better than that.

He trudged his tired feet to his room, and was surprised to see that it was not unoccupied. Tsunade was sitting on his bed and as soon as she saw him, pated the bed beside her, indicating that he should take a seat.

He sat down silently beside her and Tsunade immediately began running a diagnostic Jutsu on him, finding a few scrapes and bruises, she promptly healed them.

"What's bothering you Naruto-kun?, and don't try to deny it, I know you better than that. Was it something that happened on the mission?" Tsunade asked gently.

Naruto sighed, he had o tell them anyway and it would be better to tell Tsunade first and gauge her reaction and tell the others an abridged version, if required. Tsunade didn't react as badly as he had expected, she just asked him if he needed any help, and Naruto told her that this was one thing that he would have to deal with on his own. Tsunade hugged him, and left him to catch up on his sleep.

(Break)

"So . . . basically you have an Evil Naruto inside your soul that wants to kill you and take over your body?" Sakiko said calmly as she sipped her morning tea.

Naruto sweatdropped slightly at the way that Sakiko had correctly shortened his situation into a single sentence.

"You know, if it were anyone else other than you, I would simply dismiss it as a bad dream." Mei said with Yugao nodding along.

"Do you think that you can beat him Naruto-kun?" Yugao asked. As per usual, she had arrived early that morning, to have breakfast with her team at her fiancé's house.

Naruto sighed. "I'm not sure; he is not a regular opponent. Essentially I'm fighting against myself, the stronger that I get, his strength increases by the same amount. If I train, he will also reap the benefits."

Mei whistled. "That's harsh."

"Tell me about it." Naruto grumbled.

"So what do you plan to do?" Sakiko asked after taking another sip of her tea.

"Train, Obviously." Naruto said.

"Huh? But I thought you said he will grow stronger with you training." Mei said.

"I can't afford to let up on my training, the last mission has taught me as much. And while we are on this matter, Yugao-chan, do you know a good place where I can get a sword forged? Zangetsu has advised against using him until I get rid of Yami. Also I need to visit Uzushiogakure, he told me there might be some information that might help in freeing Kyuu-chan over there." Naruto said.

The gazes of the three girls softened. After a short time, Yugao asked a question that she had been meaning to ask him, ever since she had known of his training methods.

"Naruto-kun, could you apply the Resistance and Chakra seals on me?" Yugao asked, blushing faintly. She knew that Naruto would get an eyeful of her body while he applied the seals, and truthfully the thought thrilled her. Naruto was being way too reserved with them, and after having a frank discussion with the other girls, she knew that they felt the same way as well. Seal Masters were very rare and the only other Master she knew wouldn't be getting anywhere near her in her undressed state.

Naruto himself was blushing at Yugao's request. Mei and Sakiko had begged and pleaded with him to apply the seals on them but Naruto had told them, honestly, that their Chakra reserves just weren't big enough to handle the seal. But the same couldn't be said about Yugao. He had no other option, and judging by the amount of Chakra that he felt from Mei and Sakiko, he knew that they were ready as well.

"Sure, I can do that for you, Mei-chan and Sakiko-chan as well. We have a break from missions this week, it would be the best time for you to get used to the seal's effects. How about this evening?" Naruto asked receiving embarrassed nods from the three girls.

That evening, Naruto could be seen carrying the sleeping and exhausted forms of Mei, Sakiko and Yugao up to their rooms, a furious blush adorning his cheeks.

(Break)

It took the girls a week to get adjusted to the seals that had been placed on them, although Yugao took only half a week, even she was struggling with the seal. They were much different than the training weights with which she had trained before.

Naruto had fought against Yami almost 3-4 times every day and was no closer to figuring out how to defeat him, but he felt that he was able to last longer against him. There was another thing that he had figured out, the reason that he was slightly weaker than him. Yami was able to utilize Kyuu-Chan's chakra, thus increasing his fighting prowess. He hadn't told Kyuubi about this as he was aware that she would unnecessarily blame herself for his predicament.

Naruto had told them, in no uncertain terms to take off their seals, at least the Resistance Seal if they were to go on a mission where they had a chance of fighting an opponent. But they had told them that they could keep the Chakra Seal on, as he had tweaked the seal to dispel on a mental command, and it was useful as a distraction in a pinch. After another week of doing D-Ranks and getting used to the seals, they approached the Hokage asking for another C-Rank mission.

"Hm . . . very well. You are to escort a bridge builder to the Land of Waves, and protect him until he completes his bridge. Prepare for a month long mission, you will be meeting the client at the East Gate in an hour. Good luck on your mission." Sarutobi said.

All the girls caught Naruto's gaze at the mission details, and Naruto smiled.

And coincidently, the mission parameters required them to travel to wave country, which was conveniently near Uzushiogakure. Naruto grinned. 'Soon Kyuu-chan, I may be able to free you from the seal.'

(End Chapter)

A/N:- Sorry for the short chapter, but I have not been able to write Naruto stories recently, dunoo why though. Anyway, tell me how I got Yami's character . . . good? Bad? Tell me!