A/N: STILL NEED A BETA!
YOOO! WAS LOOKING THROUGH ONE OF MY FEW FAVORITE AUTHORS' FAVORITE LIST AND THIS STORY IS ON THERE! HAZELEYES180! So doooope. If you haven't read his stories already which you should have by now… then you guys are missing out. Top three writers on fanfic man! Thanks for the favorite!
Anyways! Sup mother fu- nope, kidding! Still looking for a beta for my Naruto stories. Someone that can help me with details and grammar and discuss ideas with!
Posted a Fairy Tail X Naruto crossover if you're interested! "Team Uzumaki!" is the title. Do go check it out if you haven't already!
Anyways, unto the reviewers!
Zeusthordain: Normally in under any other society and whatnot, I would consider it vulgar but at a young age, they're being trained to kill by the time they hit the age 12.
Devilsummoner666: Sorry for the pace! I'll be rewriting this story when my skills as a writer get better.
Hdzulfikar: Sharingan is in the left!
Batman1998: I didn't want to make him too OP so he's only worked on his Taijutsu for the most part. He will be training soon enough though.
YuNaru19: That's my mistake. When I rewrite, I'll be fixing that. Just an error on my part. I really need a beta for these kind of mistakes lol.
Archleone: lmao your review is perfectly sound, especially with Hiruzen. I am not too fond of the Sandaime either in this story. Less dumb Naruto incoming at the end of next chap.
Holy balls everyone, Thanks for the reviews/votes! I've arranged for the voting in order at the bottom. Anko, Kurenai, Ino are for sure in I think. To be honest, I don't really want to add too much more to the harem. So I think four is the max. MAYBE five. Next chapter will be the last voting chapter.
Anyways, Tayuya, Mei, Yugito, and Temari got a huge jump in votes!
Next chapter will finally be closing in unto canon.
"Speech"
'thought'
"Jutsu: in use"
'Kyuubi/Summon thought'
"Kyuubi/Summon speech"
Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto, wouldn't be posting stories on here. Nope, I'd be revising Naruto the canon to fit much better like this story! Well, not that this story is good but something along the lines like this! BUT I DON'T OWN NARUTO. ALL RIGHT GOES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNER.
Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself
Chapter 7: Awakening.
X
IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER:
Sounds of twigs being crushed crackled upon the evening sky.
"That is a very bold claim… Naruto-kun."
Emotions ran wild as the jinchuuriki instantly recognized the voice.
Sadness...
Rage…
Betrayal…
Naruto whispered response was low with barely suppressed anger as his sapphire-blue eyes met an impassive charcoal gaze.
"Itachi."
X
Naruto stood defiantly with a hardened face. Despite trying to keep himself calm and collected, the jinchuuriki couldn't help but clench his fist and shake with rage. With his other hand, he kept Saki-chan inside his vest with a firm grip in hopes that she would stay quiet.
It seemed to be working
"I see you still haven't activated the Sharingan… meaning you either can't or you haven't."
Naruto ignored that statement and snarled at the other surviving Uchiha with a myriad of negative emotions, "What do you want traitor!?"
Itachi stared at Naruto impassively for several long uncomfortable moments.
"Well?!" Naruto demanded.
"Hn… I see Sandaime-sama hasn't told you anything; past, present, nor future."
"What the hell are you talking about you scum!"
"You are coming with me tonight, whether you like it or not."
"Like hell I am-"
"kukuku… looks like you found him Itachi-kun."
Naruto felt an intense unpleasant shiver rack his body at the new voice that slithered into the conversation. Slick, cunning, snake-like were the words he'd use to describe the voice.
Almost to back up Naruto's descriptive words, a tall, pale skinned man seemingly slithered out of the shadows to stand next to the traitorous Uchiha. Almost instinctively, the jinchuuriki jumped back with a guard up.
This action seemed to have amused the snake Sannin. The pale skinned shinobi chuckled gleefully, "Look Itachi-kun! Such great instincts… our dear Naruto-kun has so much potential for one so young, wouldn't you agree?"
Itachi shrugged, "It does not matter much to me Orochimaru, we have our orders."
aruto growled deeply, "I'm not going with any of you freaks!" the blonde brought his fingers together in 't' formation, "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu (Shadow Clone Jutsu)!" Puffs of clouds formed and out came twelve Kage Bunshins.
However, instead of being intimidated or even a hint of worriedness, Orochimaru licked his lips and leaned forward with anticipation, "Excellent Naruto-kun! Show me more!"
Naruto knew he was outmatched but what could he do? He couldn't run away; they'd capture him. If Orochimaru was anything like Itachi, that would mean he was strong and faster than most, if not all ninjas.
There was no way he could get away from Orochimaru much less Itachi. So he decided that he would settle for the idea of attracting as much attention to himself as possible. Hopefully, creating enough ruckus would bring help to his situation.
How the hell did these two even get into Konoha anyways?! Was it really that easy for the enemies to enter the village just like that?! Kami, he was gonna have to scold the old man for that if he ever got out of this mess.
"Orochimaru, do not deviate from the plan. We are here to simply extract him and evac." Itachi frowned, 'This is not fortunate. At this rate, Naruto will be in the hands of death by the end of the minute… I don't think the leader would like that too much.'
"Oh, but I wonder why our dear Naruto-kun created clones… perhaps to cause enough ruckus to alert reinforcement?" At Naruto's nervous gulp at being found out, the snake sage grinned deviously, "Looks like we should subdue the jinchuuriki a bit, ne Itachi-kun?" Orochimaru hissed out excitedly.
'Damn it! They found out super fast… guess I'll have to adapt- wait, what did he call me?' Naruto quirked an eyebrow, 'Jinchuuriki? What is that? power of the human sacrifice…?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes, "Do not get reckless Orochimaru, the objective is not to kill him, but to extract him."
The pale Sannin scoffed, "Whatever, now, let's take care of the twelve clones-" Orochimaru paused and his eyes widened; he had counted, on instinct, how many shadow clones the boy produced and-
"Where is the twelfth clone?!"
Immediately, Orochimaru vanished in a blur and along with his movement came the distinct popping that indicated all of Naruto's Kage Bunshins had been ended all in half a second.
Well all the Kage Bunshins in the vicinity. He had discreetly sent one to get reinforcement, preferably the hokage or some jounin that was hopefully patriotic enough to aide the village. After all, the two traitors in Konoha that stemmed the leaf was obviously a threat to Konoha and her people.
Hopefully, the Kage Bunshin had enough sense to Henge into someone else. He didn't want the risk of no one helping simply cause it was him…
Naruto gritted his teeth as his clones were dispelled instantaneously, 'Even after all that training, I can't hold my own for a few seconds- HUGH'
As soon as the eleventh pop was heard, Naruto found himself gasping for air as he was hoisted by the throat against a tree.
"WHERE DID YOU SEND THE LAST CLONE?!" Orochimaru hissed angrily. So caught up in his excitement at such a potential filled experiment, he didn't pay attention to the clone that escaped.
Naruto chuckled despite the gravity of his situation, "Heh, w-whats wrong? Snake g-got your t-tongue, Hebi-teme?"
Instead of getting a riled up response like he expected, he was dropped suddenly onto the hard ground. Naruto immediately scrambled himself upright into a hastily made guard. The pale-skinned Sannin roared with a demented laugh, "Kukukuku…" He threw his head back, "YES NARUTO-KUN, YOU ARE WONDERFUL!" The creepy long-haired shinobi then leaned forward, "ENTERTAIN ME!"
Eyes gleaming with excited malice, Orochimaru extended his tongue into his cloak and brought out a kunai. Without warning, Orochimaru lunged forward at a speed that Naruto could not even hope to comprehend. However, the sannin's action with obvious intent was in vain for it was only to be met with another steel kunai.
Itachi stood in front of the jinchuuriki with narrowed eyes glaring at the pale-faced man, "Control yourself Orochimaru, or I will be forced to for you."
In response, the Sannin chuckled darkly, "Do you truly think you would be able to stop me from what I want Itachi-kun? No, I am a Sannin who went on par with the great salamander of-" He paused midsentence and sharply glanced over his shoulder and jumped to the side just as a barrage of kunais and shuriken sailed by him. Itachi, also foreseeing the attack, grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and forced him to lay on the ground as the sharp weapons flew overhead safely.
Orochimaru tilted his head in curiosity before a nasty wide grin showed itself on his face, "Kukuku… It's been a while Anko-chan."
The purple-haired kunoichi came out the shadows with an unveiled expression of utter hatred marring her face, "I don't know why you came Orochimaru, but you die today!"
Orochimaru laughed loudly, "So this is what your clone sent for Naruto-kun?" He licked his lips and redirected his attention toward his ex-apprentice's neck, "I wonder, what effects the seal had on you Anko-chan… maybe I will take you back with me…"
"You're not gonna be taking me anywhere if you die fucker!" Anko snarled before lunging at the Sannin.
Itachi watched briefly before turning to Naruto, only to find the spot he had thrown the boy for cover was empty. Activating his Doujutsu, his eyes followed the distinct trail that was left by the boy in his haste to escape.
He shook his head and calmly Shunshined out the clearing.
'Always making things difficult otouto…'
X
As he ran, angry tears fell without restraint. Seeing the elder Uchiha brought raw emotions that Naruto didn't want to feel. In addition to that, he was running away from the help he had gotten.
This situation was all too familiar.
'Kuso! I need to get help fast-'
THUD!
Yelping from what he ran into, Naruto fell backwards unto his butt and rubbed his now bruised nose soothingly. Immediately realizing that he ran into something that felt like clothed flesh, the downed boy jumped up and glared at whoever-
'Huh?' Naruto looked around, 'There's no one around?' He felt something brush his legs and on instinct cocked his leg back for a savage kick only to stop when he noticed the cute hazel eyes of Saki-chan looking at him.
"Oh shoot! Saki-chan! I'm sorry! You must've fell out when I bumped into whatever!" He bent down and put the puppy back into his jacket, "Now you have to stay there and I promise everything will be okay!"
Saki wagged her tail and looked at him with her innocent eyes and gave him a lick before snuggling back into the jacket.
Naruto instantly relaxed, "good girl-"
"You have obtained a companion I see."
The jinchuuriki felt his blood run cold at the monotonous voice he was oh so familiar with. He leapt an impressively far distance for a ten year old and turned around with a glare. Holding a kunai he had plucked from the assault on Orochimaru, he went into a defensive stance.
"Why are you here Itachi!" There was no sense in running, if Itachi caught him this fast, it meant that Naruto was way too slow, even with all of Gai-sensei's training.
That thought made his body tighten with anger.
A small smile twitched on the elder Uchiha's lip that served to irk Naruto even more. Gritting his teeth, Naruto was about to yell before Itachi spoke.
"I told you Naruto-kun, you are to come with me."
"And why the hell would I do that?! So you can kill me?!" Naruto sneered.
Itachi shrugged, "If you do not come with me," The charcoal eyes turned red with three tomoes spinning around them, "I will kill her." With that said he brought out a small black Tibetan Mastiff pup out.
"I believe you called her Saki-chan."
"Wh-What!?" Naruto ripped his jacked off and saw 'Saki-chan' dissipate into several dark crows. "When?!" He whispered.
"When you fell." He said simply. "I'm sure you can piece together the rest; you are an intelligent boy after all-"
"GIVE HER BACK!" Naruto roared.
"Come with me and she'll be safe… otherwise I will kill her."
"D-Don't you dare!" Naruto growled out, "Don't you dare take away the one of the few things I have left to love."
"Then do not resist." Came the monotonous reply.
'That stupid voice! ALWAYS LIKE THAT!' The dull tone of the Uchiha infuriated Naruto to no end. So much, in fact, that red chakra started seeping out of his pores.
"GIVE HER BACK!" Naruto roared as his facial feature began to attain more feral and blood-lustered attributes. The whiskers on his cheeks darkened and became rougher as his eyes took on a bloody-red color. In addition to this, his hair became spikier and his nails elongated into claws.
Itachi narrowed his eyes, 'looks like the eye is not activating. A lost cause perhaps… I wonder…' he glanced at the puppy he was holding by the tuft of fur on the back of her neck.
Feeling the incredibly surplus of chakra coursing through his network, Naruto settled onto all fours; it just felt… right. The new sense of high gave Naruto a sense of high.
'I can do this! I've never felt this powerful before!' He glared at the man he once held a high regard to, 'I will kill him.'
"I will not ask again Naruto-kun; come, or lose her."
Naruto narrowed his red eyes, "You won't be doing anything like that!" as soon as the words finished, the kyuubified blonde launched himself from position astounding speed.
So astounding, it caused Itachi to widen his eyes in surprise, 'Fast! He's been training!' However, even despite the fact that Naruto had been training, the boy's attempt at lunging at the Uchiha had been in vain.
Itachi, after all, is an S-ranked missing nin.
The traitorous Uchiha sidestepped the blonde and brought out a kunai just as the boy turned around for another attack.
Naruto froze.
"You have been warned."
SLICK!
A pained whimper escaped Saki as Itachi sliced her stomach open.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING YOU SICK FU-"
It happened in the slowest of motions. His eyes were locked on the pure eyes of his puppy. The pained gaze that she returned did nothing to ease his soul. But for a split second, just as it seemed she was about wag her tail happily…
SLICK!
A sickening fountain of blood squirted out unto a horrified face of the whiskered child. Immediately, Itachi flung the carcass of the dead puppy directly at Naruto.
The body of Saki-chan skidded to a halt at his feet.
The initial shock broke Naruto out of his slight demonic transformation.
A demented Hysteria fell upon the boy.
"N-No! T-This can't be r-r-real! There's no- No! NO! IT CAN'T-" He looked up for anything that would reaffirm in his hopeless belief of her being alive. His eyes darted wildly as he scratched at his neck, drawing blood.
Suddenly, he looked up with a triumphant maniacal gleam in his eyes, "A genjutsu! It has to be!"
He only knew of one way to break out of a genjutsu.
Raising the Kunai, he prepared to plunge it into his stomach.
Right as the kunai was about to penetrate, Itachi appeared in front of him and shoved the body of the dog that Naruto had grown to love in a short amount of time.
"She is dead."
There was no remorse in his voice.
That's when an excruciating pain fell upon Naruto's face, to be precise, pain was felt in his right eye.
Familiar howls of pain accompanied the night once again.
X
Itachi looked on calmly as the jinchuuriki writhed in pain. He didn't want it to resort to this but… the elder Uchiha knew the pain was necessary, especially since the eye was so powerful. Putting Naruto through the pup's death was the catalyst needed.
He approached the boy only to leap back as three bodies Shunshin'd in front of Naruto. Immediately, the three new people to the scene were already a tense defensive stance.
He stated their names respectively, "Kakashi-sempai, Gai-sempai, Kurenai-san. It seems as if Naruto's clone managed to garner some reinforcements."
Kakashi was the first to speak, though not at the traitorous Uchiha, "Kurenai-san, I believe that is Anko's signature over there, please go to her and once you see an opportunity; retreat, immediately."
Kurenai nodded, more than antsy to go help her best friend.
She again performed a Shunshin towards the two clashing chakra signature.
He turned towards the Gai, "Perhaps you should too?"
"Nonsense! Itachi is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than Orochimaru! It would be unyouthful for me to not aide you! Besides! The youthfulness shines brightly within Anko-san and Kurenai-san!"
"Gai, please, go."
Gai frowned, "Kakashi, you know Itachi is the more dangerous enemy here and Naruto is the priority."
The rival of Gai cursed inwardly. Anko, Kurenai and Gai were supposed to back each other up. Technically, Gai shouldn't even be here.
Itachi cleared his throat to retrieve their attention, Gai-sempai would not be too big of an obstacle at the moment.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the Uchiha, "The moon is bright tonight."
Gai looked at his rival confusingly, "What are you saying Kakashi?! That makes no sense-"
Itachi spoke without regards to Gai, "If only the red clouds weren't wayward tonight."
Kakashi instantly relaxed, "I'm surprised you are the seed Hokage-sama mentioned."
Itachi nodded.
Gai stared confusingly at his rival, "What is going on?"
The silver-haired jounin glanced at his fellow jounin, "Recall how Hokage-sama requested a new mastership over Naruto? Well it wasn't exactly me- well, it was me initially but plans changed and he needed a new sense and uh…" He gestured at Itachi, "Well, you're looking at him."
Gai frowned, "But that makes no sense! How is an unyouthful person like Itachi in charge of-"
Kakashi held a hand up, "I do not know the details Gai, but this is an SS-ranked mission, no one outside of you, me, Itachi, Jiraiya-sama, and the Hokage-sama know of this. However, I will tell you this; Itachi is one of the good guys."
Gai remained silent at this.
The son of the 'White Fang' turned a curious eye towards the other Doujutsu wielding person, "Though I am curious how this came to be given the discrepancy of the past events…"
"I am not privy to share any information." Itachi simply replied and moved onto the next topic, "Although I suspect who will journey with me, I should still ask, which of you will be accompanying me?"
Gai broke his silence, "This makes no sense! Why would you be one to train my student? And why the hell would one of us accompany you? Kakashi, this must be a ploy, I do not trust Itachi enough to hand over Naruto-kun!"
Kakashi shook his head, "Gai, I personally talked to Hokage-sama about this mission and the phrase he responded with aligns exactly within mission parameters of which we were subjected to."
Gai glared at Itachi, "Still! I do not believe that… that…" Suddenly Gai felt himself losing consciousness, "What did… you… do…" the 'Green Beast of Konoha' fell in a forward motion unto his knees into a slumped posture.
Wordlessly, Kakashi placed his rival in a more comfortable position.
"Now that he is out of the picture Kakashi-sempai, please undo the genjutsu placed upon Naruto-kun. And do not worry about Gai-sempai, he will wake within fifteen minutes."
'Naruto was under a genjutsu the whole time?'
Quickly forming the required hand seal, Kakashi gathered chakra and overrode surrounding illusion. Instead of the still and lying boy he saw on the ground, he saw same boy crying with pain all the while writhing and shaking with pain.
Eyes widened with shock, The Konoha jounin turned to Itachi with noticeable KI (Killer Intent), "What's going on?! What did you do!"
Never one to betray emotions, Itachi replied stoically with the same impassive face, "The Sharingan, it seems to be awakening."
Kakashi shook his head already knowing how Naruto obtained the Uchiha Doujutsu, "That doesn't make any sense! My Sharingan had no trouble adjusting!"
"You did not have a demon sealed inside you," Itachi pointed out bluntly.
"I suppose…" Kakashi conceded, he looked at his sensei's son briefly before looking back at Itachi, "How do we go about this now?"
Itachi stared back impassively.
"I do not know."
… … …
"What." Kakashi closed his eyes and took deep breaths lest he lashed out at the Uchiha, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Again, I do not know."
"How the hell do you not-"
"There was an… unforeseen variable."
Kakashi understood immediately, "Orochimaru."
Itachi nodded, "I thought out various options but I could not think of one that would not compromise my position."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I am not privy to share any information."
"Kami this is frustrating."
"I apologize sempai."
Kakashi waved him off, "We need to do something about Naruto but Orochimaru is a problem we need to tend to first-"
"Kukukuku, no need to worry about that, I'll be gone on my own accord," the aforementioned pale Sannin stepped out of the shadows with two bodies slumped over his shoulder. With a sadistic glint in his eyes, he aimed a predatory smile towards a jinchuuriki and Uchiha.
Two perfect experiments for him.
Speaking of the jinchuuriki, the Sannin suddenly became malicious. The snake sage hissed at Itachi with anger, "What is the wrong with my perfect experiment!? What did you do to him?!"
Kakashi found himself cursing again as he recognized the form of one Anko Mitarashi and Kurenai Yuuhi on the pale faced traitor.
At this point, the Sannin was becoming hysterical.
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY PERFECT EXPERIMENT?!" Orochimaru bit his thumb and hissed out, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!" A giant thirty feet in length and four feet wide appeared. Orochimaru handed the two experiments he had obtained in his ex-apprentice and her friend to the snake, "Keep them for a bit at hideout 1209 until I come by."
Before Kakashi could do anything, the snake poof'd out of existence.
The Sannin's eyes blazed with anger at the two Sharingan users, "Looks like I'll just have to replace Naruto-kun with you Hatake."
At this, Kakashi's Sharingan activated.
Orochimaru smirked, "Yes, you will be a fine substitute Hatake-" Suddenly, Orochimaru cursed as he felt a familiar signature stir in the clearing they were situated in. His looked around and saw a patch of air that seemed to be shimmying and distorting..
The patch of 'air' revealed itself to be a blinking Maito Gai.
"Unyouthful that genjutsu…" Gai muttered blearily.
The traitorous sannin cursed his luck; the extraction was to go without a hitch, but Kakashi and Gai were no ordinary jounins- no, they were strong; especially Gai. Himself and Itachi were supposed to be out of here in a blink of an eye with the jinchuuriki then they would go on their way. Itachi would've carried the boy then Orochimaru would strike.
So why was their plan going to shit? Itachi's information was never faulty-
It all clicked for the snake Sannin.
His eyes widened with murderous anger, "Itachi! You betrayed us?!"
Orochimaru knew when to cut his loss and made to flee instantly. However, he knew that he couldn't return to the hideout of Akatsuki; already he was a suspicious recruit to the group, no one seemed to have trusted him. In addition to the suspicion that was brewing within the organization, there was another probable cause to not return. Knowing Itachi, the Uchiha probably had already taken precaution to ensure Orochimaru as a traitor to the organization's agenda.
Before he left the scene however, he took one glance at Naruto before making a "tsk" noise, 'such potential wasted. Oh well, there would surely be more opportunities in the future.'
Kakashi let out a breath of relief before turning a cautious glance towards Itachi, "was it okay for him to be let go?"
Itachi nodded, "Indeed. I have set up the necessary steps for the day he would turn against us."
Kakashi nodded, he looked at 'Gai', "Are you going to dispel that genjutsu now?"
Without a word, the Uchiha looked at the pseudo-Gai and the image of the Taijutsu master disappeared. Moments after, an area not too far away revealed a still sleeping Gai where Kakashi had left him.
"With Orochimaru out the way sempai, are you ready to leave?"
The silver-haired jounin sent two clone to inform of the events of today and carry Gai to safety. With everything set and out of the way, he nodded and sighed.
Including what had happened to Kurenai and Anko. Needless to say, the hokage was not going to be happy. Itachi walked over the now still and unconscious blonde jinchuuriki.
"Let us be on our way Sempai."
Kakashi agreed, "Lets."
The wielders of the Uchiha's famous doujutsu Shunshined out of the area.
It was time begin Naruto's training anew.
X
Naruto felt a wet sensation applied to the posterior of his back. For a second, he panicked thinking it was blood but the liquid was way too thin to be blood. So he relaxed for a few minutes; the feeling was a stark contrast the stinging sensation in his eyes. The water provided a cool floating feeling that dulled the pain in his eyes.
Hesitantly and very, very slowly, Naruto lifted his eyelids in a painstakingly slow manner. As soon as half a nanometer was lifted, the boy clenched his eyes shut in fear that opening his eyes would bring about a new set of pain.
He took deep calming breaths and focused on the cool liquid sensation upon his back and felt the darkness around him. That was good, it wasn't bright and blinding.
Increasing his pace of breathing he clenched his eyes even more so and decided that he would do it fast. There would be no time to think, otherwise he'd go back on his words and remain a blind rat.
He sat up and seized his breathing and opened his eyes wide and gasped.
His gasp, however, didn't stem from pain, but rather, clarity.
Everything was so sharply clear to him. It was if life's resolution had been cloudiness up until now.
Realizing only now that he was in the confines of what seemed to be best described as sewer like, Naruto turned his head behind to see the exact same setting.
The boy frowned, 'This place looks never ending…'
Regardless of his thought, Naruto decided that sitting in place would get him nowhere; literally.
Standing up, the blonde straightened his clothes and noted that his clothes were dry. Brows furrowed, Naruto went into a crouch and dipped his finger into the shallow layer of water.
'Interesting… my finger stays wet but my clothes doesn't… that's… cool.'
Naruto saw something odd within the water and peered closer. Just as the water was about to still and allow him to see the anomaly, a powerful ancient voice boomed.
"Youkoso, ningen (Welcome, human)."
The blonde had to strain his neck to look up at the giant pair of red eyes.
"Who- no, what are you?"
The Kyuubi No Kitsune gave a malicious smile, "Don't pretend you impudent fool, I know you know boy." The smile on the fox's face grew even wider, "Too bad you're being drawn away... We'll continue this later."
Naruto remained silent as he was being drawn towards reality.
The Uzumaki's eyes never left the gaze of the ancient entity's sadistic glare.
X
Naruto willed the constant bop of his the surface he felt against his body to still with no avail. The rough movement of whatever the hell finally jerked the boy awake when he fell over unto another surface.
It slowly dawned unto him that his face was a bit wet and part of shirt that was close to his collar bone.
He blinked and the blurriness suddenly dripped away showing that tears were waiting in his eyes.
'Why am I crying…?'
Like a broken dam, the memories flooded through his mind and he clenched his eyes with his jaws clenched at the torturing and agonizing memories.
'Why… would he…'
Naruto couldn't keep his stomach content down and released everything onto the surface of the floor. He rotated his body and curled his legs up into a fetal position. He whimpered and cried himself to sleep.
Hours later, another particular rough bump in the road startled Naruto into consciousness.
He sat up and glared before blinking rapidly due to the dryness of his eyes. In an attempt to get the crust that formed at the edge of his eyes, Naruto raised his arms.
He tried to at least.
However, his attempts fell short because his arms were firmly tied against his sides. He struggled against the restraining ropes but it wouldn't budge. Naruto began sending chakra throughout his body only to feel it being absorbed into the ropes.
A frustrated growl ripped loose from his throat as he began thrashing violently against the restraints.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. By the way, those are chakra restraining ropes."
Naruto shot up and turned to the corner of what he now assumed to be the inside of a carriage. His puffy eyes fell upon a familiar white-haired man casually reading an orange book.
"You!"
"Me."
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Reading."
Naruto narrowed his eyes, "Are you working for Itachi?!"
"You're sort of idiotic, did you know that?"
Anger coursed through the jinchuuriki's veins as he snarled, "Let me out of here!"
Kakashi finally dropped his book and looked at the boy with his one eye. He in a cool tone, "Oh? and what would you do? Run back to Konoha to be weak, again?"
"Let me out and I'll show you how 'weak' I am you bastard!"
The silver haired jounin let out an annoyed sigh. How in the world was he going to convince this stubborn-muled boy that he was on his side?
"Naruto, you need to listen to me."
"Go to hell!"
"The only way you even getting a remote possibility of getting out those chakra-absorbing ropes is if you be cooperative."
Naruto shutted up, albeit with a fierce glare.
Kakashi eye smiled at the blonde, "Okay! Now, You will now be training under my tutelage for about a year and a half. Understand? Okay good." Without waiting for his response, the jounin opened the carriage door and jumped out.
The jinchuuriki blinked owlishly at that statement.
Waiting despairingly, Naruto cursed every once in a while when the method of transport hit a rough bump on the road. There was no way for him to escape.
Hours later, Naruto found himself scowling while staying eerily still. There was nothing for him to do but contemplate on recent events and slowly, he's felt a rising anger.
Anger at not being able to save Saki-chan.
Anger at not being able to make a difference
Anger at being weak.
'Why is it that I can't ever do anything?'
Suddenly, the carriage stopped and the door opened.
Kakashi poked his head in, "We're here!" he made a hand seal and the ropes that tied his legs together were dropped.
With a moderate amount of struggle, Naruto finally managed to get up on his legs. He took small steps to the door and peered down. The drop wasn't that big–maybe two to three feet –but there was practically no lighting. Once he hopped off the carriage, he felt much better on solid ground. The constant rumbling and tumbling of being inside the carriage gave him a new sense of hatred for confined mobile transports.
it was only then, after he finished appreciating the solid ground he stood on, did he realize the gravity of his situation. He carefully peered around and realized that he was in a vast cavern that seemed to stretch three hundred yards in a radius. He looked up and noted that the ceiling was way up; perhaps around four hundred yards. There were few torches that gave the cavern an ominous lighting.
He nervously looked around noticed there was no one around. He gulped and walked around in hopes of finding an exit. After walking for what seemed to be hours, Naruto came across a door. Thankfully it was a door that was opened via push and not knob.
The only problem was that the door was more like a gate.
He looked up in awe; the size similar to the barred cell that held the entity inside him.
The Kyuubi no Kitsune.
Naruto sighed; So much mystery revolved around him. As soon as he saw the giant chakra beast, he immediately understood why he was so hated. More than likely, the Kyuubi was sealed inside of him.
Tales of the Yondaime stated that he had defeated the giant beast. Why would they lie?
Naruto gritted his teeth, why would the Yondaime pick him, an orphan of all people? Was it because he already had no one? Was it a random coincidence?
'Ha. Probably thought that a giant demon wouldn't affect an orphan's already shitty life.' Naruto bitterly thought.
He shook his head, he would have to find the answers after this… situation he was currently in. Deciding he already spent long enough thinking, he attempted to push the door open.
He grunted as he exerted as much possible force against the door while being limited in terms of mobility.
The door didn't budge.
Naruto growled in annoyance. He took several steps back and prepared to charge at the door when it suddenly opened. His eyes immediately took in the light in what he hoped to be outside. Soon, however, the light provided at the end was blocked by a silhouette.
"Yo! You found it."
Naruto charged at the silver haired jounin without a second thought. Kakashi easily sidestepped the tackle attempt. Kakashi chuckled but stopped when he noticed that Naruto had a smirk on his face.
The Uzumaki's intention wasn't to hit him, but it was to run to the exit.
Kakashi blinked after the boy before pulling out his orange book. He began a carefree walk after the boy.
X
As he approached the end. He speeded up and burst through the exit and looked around in astonishment. He was on a green slab of land that stopped at a large turquoise-body of still water.
That, though, was not what made him look around in astonishment and he was surrounded by what seemed to be the interior of the waterfall. At the edge of liquid curtain, there were various beds of boulders. The waterfall itself was a magical Alantis-blue.
He was literally looking at the flow of the waterfall inside out.
It was so tranquil and serene.
Realizing he spent too much time admiring the scenery, he cursed; there was no time to be wasted on enjoying the damn view.
He looked around for a piece of wood or boat. Anything that could serve as a floating device for him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Kakashi approaching casually. He cursed and stepped into the water and prepared to drown trying to escape.
Kakashi paused.
"Naruto, I promise I am not here to harm you. There is a greater harm out there and you need to understand that."
Naruto bit his lip in hesitance and glanced into the shallow water his ankles were submerged in.
Kakashi jumped at the opportunity to drive in his point, "Naruto, take this into consideration, if my wishes were to truly harm you, you'd be harmed by now."
Naruto chewed his inner cheeks in great thoughts, Kakashi's statement did make sense. But…
"But… why?"
The jounin sighed. He sat down and patted a spot near him. The whiskered blonde reluctantly walked over and plopped down cross-legged, though, it was a bit far from where Kakashi originally patted.
"Can you take the ropes off me at least?"
The silver-haired Sharingan user eye smiled, "Maybe if you're good."
In response, the boy grumbled about dumb ninja cyclops and stupid silver haired people.
"Okay, explain."
Being serious for once, Kakashi put down his orange book once more.
"It all started a decade ago…"
Naruto locked eyes with the jounin, "I presume it started with the Kyuubi's attack."
Said jounin's visage became shocked, "How did you know?! Did someone tell you?! What do you know? Tell me now Naruto!"
Naruto let out an annoyed sigh, "Maybe if you stop blasting me questions, I can tell you… Now, first off, no one told me. Second of all, I just guessed. Third of all, I know that I'm in a situation that I don't want to be because of Uchihas and the Kyuubi. Since I was born on the day of the attack It's really not that hard to piece together some things. The only thing I don't know is how I'm connected to all this."
That was a lie, somewhat. As soon as he encountered the fox in what he assumed to be his subconscious, he knew that he contained the fox somehow, or part of the fox. He just didn't know how the hell it got there and why he was picked.
Kakashi looked at the boy shrewdly before nodding, "Okay. Anyways. As you said, Leading to the day of the Kyuubi attack, there seemed to be some seeds of dissent in Konoha. Nearly everyone was aware of the tenseness of the atmosphere when it started. The animosity was directed at the Uchihas; a clan known for its… confidence, so to speak."
At this Naruto scoffed, confidence? More like bull-headed douche-baggery-
Kakshi continued, unaware of Naruto's thought process, "Apparently, the Uchihas were not happy with their prestige and power status in the village. Regardless, the Yondaime was able to keep their greed at bay. Unfortunately, the Yondaime died the night the Kyuubi attacked. However, the next day, we realized we didn't provoke the beast into attacking. So that begged the question, why did the Kyuubi no Kitsune attack?
"Almost immediately, suspicion fell upon the Uchihas due to their ocular abilities of their Doujutsu. Hushed whispers here and there circulated around the village. The Sharingan users became even more reserved. Tensions increased and the village found wind of a coup d'état via ANBU. To be precise, a certain Uchiha."
Naruto's mental gears wheeled liked crazy; ANBU, a certain Uchiha.
"Itachi Uchiha," Naruto whispered.
Kakashi nodded, "The councils needed to take action so they tasked a mission to him." he coughed, "You know what happened next."
"Forced to kill his family? That sucks. But you know what? I think that bastard deserved it."
Kakashi smiled sadly, "Do you really?"
"I…" Naruto really wanted to. The man killed innocent people and her, his companion of a short time that he grew to love. He couldn't even bring himself to say his puppy's name, "I-i want to… but I can't. It's terrible of the council to force him to do that… no one deserves that."
The elder man looked at him with a calculating gaze.
Shifting a bit uncomfortably under the man's stare, the whiskered child pondered aloud, "Erm. So, uh, why did he come back?"
"A group or someone may or may not be after you for unknown reasons-"
"Oh, probably because of the Kyuubi inside me."
"Right, cause of the Ky- Naruto, how do you know of that?"
Naruto then explained to the elder man about him meeting him in the subconscious of his mind.
"Interesting." Was all the jounin had to say, 'Looks like I'll have to inform Kakashi and the village…'
Naruto shifted awkwardly as the silver-haired man stared off into the space.
"So… where do you fit into all of this?"
"I will be training you."
"I have to ask one more time. Itachi was forced into the massacre mission?"
Kakashi nodded.
"But t-that doesn't make s-sense. If he's not the b-bad guy," Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat and spoke in a small voice, "W-why would h-he k-k-kill…" Naruto trailed off as unbidden memories rushed back.
Kakashi sighed, "I did not kill your ninken. She is still very much alive."
Naruto shot him a confused look, "Huh? I didn't say you, I said Itachi!"
Kakashi ignored him, "The ropes tied around you functions to cease flow between your tenketsus. That is including everything; from your feet, to your legs, to your head. This, obviously, I am sure you can infer, includes the eyes."
"The eyes? Why would that matter?"
"The Sharingan sees through everything, something I will show you now."
Kakashi sliced the rope with a simple slash of his kunai.
Much like the experience in his mindscape, everything became so clear. Naruto gasped at the clarity around him. Strangely, the upgraded resolution extended to both eyes. Everything was more sharper, but there was no actual change in the settings itself.
He turned his gaze to Itachi and-
Itachi?!
"WHAT THE! WHERE THE HELL IS KAKASHI?!"
"The Kakashi you were talking to was a genjutsu. The real Kakashi is setting traps around the perimeter because he is not privy to the information I just told you."
"He was just talking to me- No screw that! Prepare to die you sick-"
"Naruto! As I informed you, Saki-chan is not dead. The horrible experience I set on you was done through genjutsu, one that was so strong that only Uchihas with active Sharingans and few powerful individuals can break through it. I am sincere when I say this Naruto; I never wanted to harm you, but that was the only way for things to proceed and I apologize."
Itachi lowered his head and bowed.
"I am sorry… Otouto."
The jinchuuriki hesitated for a few moments before his face hardened, "Where is she then? Give her back first, that's the only way you'll have a chance of earning any type of forgiveness."
"That is… fair." Itachi let held out a hand sign and muttered something that Naruto wasn't able to pick up. The Uchiha turned to Naruto and explained, "I lifted a genjutsu in which she was in playing constantly with other puppies."
Naruto nodded, satisfied at his explanation but he offered no verbal response. He wasn't going to say jack diddly squat until he saw his damn-
"BARK!"
Several barks were heard from the distance. With each bark, it seemed to be drawing closer to his position. Naruto waited with impassively but he couldn't help the feeling of desperate hope from welling up from inside of him. He saw hit his precious companion and cried out with happiness before the little ball of black fur tackled him.
After several minutes of happiness and lots of licking, doubt reared its ugly head in Naruto's mind.
'What if this is still a genjutsu?! This could be a trick to-'
"Naruto, it is not a genjutsu. This, I assure you."
Naruto placed his puppy aside and stood up, "And how would I know that? you yourself just said that Uchihas and strong individuals could break free of your genjutsu. I train hard but I know I'm nowhere near your level and I am certainly not an Uchiha."
Itachi smiled, "Do not sell yourself short Naruto-kun, you are strong. But you are right, your strength does not, yet, compare to mine." The Uchiha let out an amused quirk of the lips as he saw the boy's annoyance, "I suppose you're not an Uchiha by birth but, since, you do possess the clan's doujutsu…" he trailed off.
Naruto's mind clicked and he rushed over to the still water.
His eyes widened as he focused on his left eye.
His Sharingan was…
Blazing.
X
A/N: Man I can't wait to rewrite the story… gonna fuse some chapters and what not, make better chapter endings, flow and blah blah. But I definitely gotta up my writing skills before I can revamp the story. Experience though, right?!
Shoot! That's why I really need a beta!
Anyways, please, leave a review? Leave another vote perhaps?
Flame me, anything, just REVIEW :D thanks!
Current poll votes via reviews:
Anko: 17
Kurenai: 15
Ino: 15
Hana: 12
Temari: 12
Tayuya: 10
Yugito: 9
Mei: 8
Fu: 8
TenTen: 3
Karin: 3
Hinata: 2
Yugao: 2
Sakura: 2
Konan: 1