AN: Here is where the current polls stand.
Fem. Orochimaru: 8 votes
Hanabi: 5 votes
Kurenai: 3 votes
Yugito: 3 votes
Anko: 3 votes
Fu: 3 votes
Tsunade: 2 votes
Hana: 1 vote
Kurotsuchi: 1 vote
Yakumo: 1 vote
Hinata: 1 vote
Shuzuka: 0 votes
Amaru: 0 Votes
Remember to continue voting on who you want to be paired with Naruto.
"Talking"
"Thinking"
"Demonic Talking"
"Demonic Talking"
"Jutsu"
Chapter 6
Previously
"All you have to do is promise me that you'll follow me where ever I go and to never abandon our goal." Naruto said. Sasuke looked at Naruto's hand for a moment contemplating what he said before he firmly shook Naruto's hand.
"I promise." Sasuke said with a look of determination on his face. From that moment onward, Naruto gained his first and most valuable follower on his quest for revenge and power.
Present
Naruto dodged another fury of attacks from his attacker before he threw several smoke bombs down to mask his retreat. Naruto landed ran until he was sure he was a distance away from his attacker. Naruto coughed up blood as he looked at the damage.
His trench coat was reduced to nothing as only strands of it remained on his blooded torso. His pants were not any better. Before they covered his entire lower body, now they were shorts as burn marks and blood covered it. His body was covered with cuts, bruises and burn marks, he was sure he also had several broken bone too. This wouldn't be a problem due to his amazing healing capabilities, but for some reason it wasn't working.
"This isn't going as well as I thought it would. Shit, he could've finished it a while ago. Now he's just playing with me, the fucking prick." Naruto would've said more curse words but he had to jump out of the way from a giant fire ball heading his way. But while he was midair a large figure jumped behind him and kicked him towards to massive tree.
"Well, shit." Naruto said as he collided into the tree, destroying it on contact. When the dust cleared Naruto was shown lying on his back breathing heavily.
"Remind me again Krampus. Why are we doing this again?" Naruto asked in a raspy voice due to the damage done to him.
"This is to help you Young Master. You need to learn not to depend on your healing, chakra or anything else. You need to learn how to use just your body to be prepared for a situation that calls for it." Krampus said in his teacher voice as he revealed himself.
"So kicking my ass is now a lesson. You know, you should become a teacher if you retire I'm sure the kids will love you." Naruto said sarcastically as he struggled to get back on his feet. After a couple of tries he managed to succeed, but he did stager a bit.
"So when do we get to practice on the demon chakra?" Naruto asked. He recently gained enough demon chakra to use it reliably in battle. It was harder to control then normal chakra so normal exercises wouldn't work.
"Another time, but it seems you should wake up." Krampus said as the world around Naruto started to fade away.
Reality
Naruto's eyes fluttered open as he look around only to notice that Sasuke was approaching him. It was 4 days ago that Sasuke made the deal with him and Naruto had to admit that Sasuke had potential. So far they only worked on Taijutsu and chakra control.
"Hey Naruto-sensei, how's it going?" Sasuke said with a smile. In between training sessions they've been hanging out like friends would. Sasuke really thought Naruto as his best friend. He was helping him train so he can surpass his brother and he hangs out with him not because of his last name, but because he saw him as a friend.
This was exactly what Naruto wanted to happen. He knew Sasuke looked up to him and he'll do anything to help him. While he had no idea how he'll get Sasuke to help him destroy the village, but he'll solve that problem when it comes to it.
"Hey Sasuke, nothing's going on." Naruto said rather tiredly. For the last week he was training with Krampus in his mindscape whenever he had the chance. Since then he improved a lot, but as a side effect he was tired due to the mental strain it caused.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke said concerned for Naruto's health.
"Nothing, how about we take a break from training for today and get something to eat." Naruto said wanting to rest. Sasuke simply shrugged.
"Sure." Sasuke said as they left to the nearest food stand. They decided on the barbeque place.
"Hello and welcome to …" The receptionist stopped when she saw Naruto. She heard the stories about what he has done. She thought about turning him away, but she didn't for two reasons. One he was with the heir of the Uchina with him and she didn't want the heir to be angry at her for turning away his 'friend'. And two was Naruto's cold stare that promised pain and death of she cross him.
"Can you show us an available table?" Naruto asked still staring at her while Sasuke was blissfully oblivious to what was going on.
"S-Sure, it's this way." The receptionist stuttered as she led the pair to their table. After being seated Sasuke asked the question that plagued him for a while now.
"Naruto-sensei, why do the villagers act that way when they see you?" Sasuke asked with childlike curiosity. Naruto almost growled at the 'innocence' that Sasuke was showing. Sasuke had no idea how innocence can get you killed in the real world. He would have to beat that out of him later on. But for now he had to play the 'good friend' to Sasuke to improve relations with him.
Then an idea shined in Naruto's head. He knew that Sasuke was friends with Naruko; while not best of friends they were close. He needed to sever that bond so that it would be easier to manipulate him against the Namikaze-Uzumaki family. All he had to do is say the right words and act the part.
"Sasuke, what I'm about to tell you is a secret. You need to promise me that you won't tell anyone." Naruto said in a half serious half desperate tone. This got Sasuke's attention. Usually Naruto was calm and laid back attitude whenever they were together, so for Naruto to act like this was surprising.
"I promise." Sasuke said after a moment of thought.
"Listen carefully, my sister Naruko isn't what she appears to be. Underneath that kind smile is a vicious and hateful person. S-She'll do anything to get attention, so when she thought I was going to steal that away from her she spread this horrible rumor about me. She's saying that I killed those four Chunins." Naruto said as he made it sound as if he was going to sob at the end.
When he looked at Sasuke's face he smirked. Sasuke looked at Naruto with an expression of disbelief and anger. Sasuke couldn't believe what he was told. Before he this thought that Naruko was a nice person and a good friend. But after hearing what Naruto told him, he started to question his every interaction with Naruko.
He never noticed it before but Naruko always seemed to beam whenever she is praised and that bright smile lessened when some wasn't paying attention to her. Maybe Naruto was right about his sister. There was still the possibility Naruto was lying to him.
"No. Naruto would never do that to me. He's my best friend and best friends never lie to each other." Sasuke thought in conviction. His disbelief turned to anger towards Naruko. Sasuke never liked to be lied to. So for Naruko to lie to him for so long and ruin her own brother's reputation like that, she was now one of Sasuke's lest liked people.
"I'm sorry Naruto-Sensai. Don't worry; I'll stand by your side through anything." Sasuke said with unwavering determination. Naruto smiled a fake kind smile towards Sasuke.
"Thank you, I appreciate it. Now let's have a calm night huh." Naruto said as they prepared to order.
Several Hours later
Naruto walked to the estate under the cold night sky. After having lunch with Sasuke the two talked and did simple exercises for a while. After dark they went their separate ways. Naruto was contemplating whether or not to continue training in his mindscape until he felt an aura of anger and vengeance coming from the nearest training grounds.
Intrigued by this, Naruto went towards the area. When he arrived he saw a boy who seemed to be a year older than him practicing a very familiar taijutsu style that was known throughout Konoha.
"What is a Hyuga member doing here?" Naruto thought to himself as he watched the Hyuga hit the target dummy with such precision that Naruto was impressed. Sensing the Hyuga's potential Naruto approached the boy in a calmly matter. The Hyuga turned and was about to attack Naruto when he heard Naruto coming. But he was stopped when Naruto suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Don't do anything foolish I'm just here to talk." Naruto said as he held his hands up to show he wasn't armed. The Hyuga just grunted as he looked at Naruto with a cautious yet curious gleam in his lavender eyes.
"How did you do that?" The young Hyuga as he sized up Naruto, trying to determine if he can take the younger boy down.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you're training this late." Naruto asked suspecting that the Hyuga will give an answer that involves him saying how the Hyugas are superior then any one and how he needs to live up to the expectations. But the answer he received wasn't what he expected.
"I'm here to gain strength to avenge my father who died due to the hands of the Main House." Naruto heard about the incident were Kumo had tried to kidnap Hinata. The kidnapper was killed by Hiashi within minutes of the act. Unfortunately Kumo threatened war if Konoha didn't give them the killer's body in returned. Konoha did give Kumo a body but not the one they wanted. They were given Hiashi's brother's body who was a member of the Branch House. Thanks to the Caged Bird seal the Byakugan was safe from enemy's hands.
"What makes you think you can take on the Main House by yourself?" Naruto asked since he wanted to know how this boy planned to destroy the Main House.
"Simple. Fate has already dictated it to be true." The Hyuga boy said with unquestionable conviction. Naruto frowned at the boy's statement. He didn't believe in fate, but he knew that the Hyuga would deny his attempts in saying otherwise.
"And you're going to do this by yourself? You do realize it's impossible to do such a feat alone. Maybe I can help" Naruto said hoping to convince the Hyuga to join him.
"Hah, you think you can compete with the likes of a Hyuga? You would be defeated easily." The boy said in an arrogant voice. Sighing Naruto tried a different angle.
"You would be surprised at what I'm capable of. You talk a lot about fate, but maybe it was fate that led me here to meet you. This encounter may have been a product of fate leading you to achieve your goal. If you join me, I'll remove your seal and help you get revenge for your father." Naruto said as he used Temptation to 'motivate' the Hyuga to make the right choice.
"Very well, I will join you and your goals will become mines as long as you help me avenge my father." The Hyuga bowed to his new leader. Naruto just smirked, everything was going as planned.
"Rise, tell me your name."
"My name is Neji Hyuga."
AN: That's another chapter done. Thanks for all of your support, I appreciate it. But I have serious question to ask you guys.
Do you think the story's moving too slowly or too fast?
Also I apologize if I didn't write Neji's character right. Remember to follow, favorite and review.
Until next time,
Hidden-Within-The-Darkness