True Path of a Jinchuuriki Ch 6: Heritage (Revised)
(Italics: Thoughts/Flashbacks/Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's / Demon's / Inner Characters's Speech. Underline: Time Skips)
Naruto and the Five ANBU operatives moved swiftly in silence, Hinata had fallen asleep due to her exhaustion and Naruto carried her on his back as she laid her head against his shoulder. Naruto smiled gently to himself at how lucky he was, dismissing his thoughts as they neared the village. Naruto gently tightening his grip on Hinata as he and the five ANBU vanished in a burst of chakra-enhanced speed.
Tsunade sighed in relief as she put the letter she had just read down on her desk, she had just been informed that the ANBU unit she had sent out to retrieve Hinata and Naruto had been successful in it's mission and should arrive shortly, her hunch was also correct because she had been informed they had ran into trouble but as if by a miracle returned unscathed. They were ordered to see her the moment they entered the village so Tsunade merely sat in waiting, wondering what in the hell happened to them.
An instant later the forms of five ANBU and the forms of Naruto and Hinata manifested from oblivion. Tsunade nodded her head in confirmation and focused her gaze on the ANBU in the middle. "Good work captain, you and your unit are dismissed." All five ANBU dropped down to one knee, bowing out of respect. "As you wish Lady Hokage." The captain replied, and with those words the five ANBU vanished from sight. Naruto and Hinata walked forward and bowed slightly as they took seats in the two chairs conveniently placed in front of Tsunade's desk. Tsunade nodded and said: "I'll file the report later, just explain to me what happened."
Ten Minutes Later...
"I see so it was a trap, well regardless I'm relieved to see you're both alive and still standing, now about your payment..." "Who are my parents?" Tsunade looked up at Naruto in surprise and asked: "Where did that come from?" Tsunade asked. "It doesn't matter, just answer the question Tsunade." Naruto replied. Tsunade's gaze narrowed as she remained in eyes contact with Naruto. "Hinata could you please excuse us? Naruto and I need to have a talk." Tsunade said, not breaking eye contact. "Y-yes lady Tsunade..." She replied as she stood to leave. Before she could however Naruto gripped her hand and held her there as he gazed in Tsunade's eyes fiercely. "Anything you can say to me, you can say to her." Naruto said with a fire in his eyes.
Tsunade grinned slyly. "So that's how it is, is it? Fine she can stay but I'm still talking to you. I was going to give this to you on your next birthday when you became of age, but since you're so determined to find answers about your parents I guess it can't be helped." Tsunade said as she stood up and walked over to a book shelf in the corner of her office, she closed her eyes and put her hands together as a bright aura of chakra surrounded her body, a split second later her eyes snapped open and she struck the bookshelf with her open palm as she called out: "Genjutsu release!"The book shelf which to Naruto appeared solid began to dissolve like liquid and behind it was a dark room, Tsunade went into the room and vanished from sight, a few minutes later she returned with a single letter in her hand. And placed it down on her desk in front of Naruto, as Naruto's gaze dropped to the letter it read:To: Naruto Uzumaki.
From: Minato and Kushina Uzumaki.
Naruto immediately ripped open the envelope and began to read:
Dear Naruto, if you're reading this letter you've reached adulthood and hopefully matured into a fine shinobi. Me and your mother love you both and we won't ask for your forgiveness for not being there when you needed us most, we just one day hope you'll understand. My name is Minato, I was known as the Fourth Hokage. Your mother and I met during a mission, she had lost everything and everyone so I took her back to the village, we quickly fell in love and one year later she gave birth to you, mere hours after your birth the Kyubi appeared and began attacking the village. I got your mother and you to safety before I go to engage the accursed demon, and before that I write this letter to you, if the worst case scenario happens and I've sealed the demon in your body forgive me, your mother and I have prepared for the worst, we'll understand if you hate us. We both love you with all of our heart. We wish we could have been there for you, take care of yourself. - Your loving parents.
A whirlwind of emotions spiraled through him as he gripped the letter in a tight fist, as he did so a pendant fell onto the ground, Naruto held is up and inspected it: It appeared to be an emblem of a blue flame, realizing it may hold some significance Naruto slid it into his pocket as he trembled with rage. Tsunade, sensing his shift in moods tried to calm him down with words: "Naruto me and Sarutobi didn't tell you when you were younger because we were protecting-" "Bullshit!" Tsunade looked up at him in surprise. "So you're telling me my entire life I've had this amazing ability hidden inside of me but instead of being special like Sasuke and having my ability known by everyone and loved by everyone I was treated like shit my entire life!?"With those words he stood up and walked toward the open window, a dark look of confusion written across his facial expression. "Sorry I need to be alone for a little while..." And with those words Naruto jumped out the open window, disappearing into the proceeding darkness. "Naruto-kun..." Hinata muttered as she stood up to got after him. "Leave him be, he needs to think for a while..." Hinata bit down on her lip as she sat back down. "Hinata you have to tell me exactly what happened to Naruto during the mission."
Naruto sat atop the Fourth Hokage's, his father's monument as he gazed ahead into empty space, hugging his knees as depression and confusion overcame him. Why father? Why did you seal Kyubi in me? I don't understand... Then just as suddenly as his mood shifted before it did yet again. A fierce resolve written into his facial expression, with all his concentration he closed his eyes and began to meditate just as Jiraiya instructed him during his period of training. As the world around him came into focus the colors of his surroundings began to blur as he entered his inner realm. As he did so he took the same route he took last time, taking a right down the long, dark corridor to the circular room with the cages. As he entered, the dim light illuminated the room exposing the broken cages that were supposed to seal the other fragments of his Ego. As he moved toward the center of the room a voice spoke from behind him.
"Welcome back, we've been waiting a long time for you."
Naruto turned around suddenly, three shadowed figures coming into focus. Light Naruto, who was dressed in a plain, white robe bowed lightly to him as he stood up, his hair and even brighter golden than his own as an aura just as bright surrounded his entire body. Darkness Naruto merely snickered as he leaned against a wall, an aura of darkness-based chakra surrounding his entire body, his eyes were colored a bright crimson. The only way to describe it was looking into the eyes of the Devil himself. In the back was Kyubi Naruto, constantly bathing himself in blood-red chakra to get a rush, not paying attention to his surroundings. And in the middle of the others was Tactical Naruto, dressed in all black robe as he approached Naruto.
"Don't take this the wrong way Naruto but for as strong as you are, you lack the mental training required to reach your full potential."
Tactical Naruto said with a snickered in return and looked from Light Naruto to Dark Naruto. "With their powers I don't think I'll need it." Tactical Naruto laughed in his face, wiping away a tear from his eye. "You just don't get it, do you brat? You don't even have enough chakra control to use your own chakra to it's full potential, you try to obtain their powers now and you'd die." Naruto's eyes widened, his eyes closed as a grin appeared on his face. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy, but how can I obtain that level of chakra control? I need to get stronger!" Naruto asked himself "That's simple, I'm going to train you." His alternate self replied. Naruto grinned at the words of his alterego. "When do I begin?"
"I see so his Kekei Genkai has awakened. No wonder he wanted to know who his parents were so suddenly. I couldn't help but understand his anger on the subject though, he was lied to his entire life about the Kyubi and being deprived of such information as who someones parents were when they grew up as an orphan was unforgivable." Hinata nodded in understanding. "I see, so that's why he was in so much pain back there..." Hinata replied. "Say Hinata did anything happen between you and Naruto? You two are acting rather friendly toward one another..." Tsunade asked out of curiosity. "Umm... Well we kind of..." Tsunade grinned and brought a glass of Sake to her lips. "You don't have to go into details Hinata, congratulations I hope you make each other very happy." Hinata smiled widely and bowed her head gently. "Thank you very much Lady Tsunade."
Six Months Later...
Naruto sat in the center of the circular room in his inner realm containing the other fragments of his Ego. His body glowing a bright, pale blue as his eyes were shut in concentration. Suddenly a dark, cloaked figure appeared in front of Naruto and positioned himself to strike. A split-second later his eyes shot open and a concentrated beam of chakra shot from his palm. Naruto suddenly dropped to his hands and knees, his chakra no longer reenforcing his fatigued muscles, as he did that the shadowed figure he had shot with the beam of chakra disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Even though he was in his internal realm whatever happened in his mind happens to his body. Because whatever the mind perceives as real affects the body. Tactical Naruto walked up to Naruto and said: "Very well done brat, I didn't think I'd say this after only Twenty-four weeks but your training is complete. Come back when you wish to experiment with our power." With those words Naruto's mind snapped back to reality, his surroundings coming back into focus in a whirlwind of colors as light filled his vision.
Hinata stood in front of Naruto's door to his apartment, as she bit down on her lip nervously she walked up to the front door and proceeded to knock it. After a minute without a reply she knocked again louder. A few moments later she heard movement on the other side of the door and it creaked open. Naruto stood there in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. "Oh hey it's you Hinata-chan. Hows it going?" Naruto said with a foxy grin on his face. Hinata blushed and turned around. "Can you get dressed please?" Hinata asked, her face a deep crimson. Naruto came up behind her and pulled her into an embrace. Hinata's face looked as if it couldn't get any redder as she felt her body press against Naruto's. "Naruto-kun cut it out!" Naruto grinned and hugged her tighter. "Why so shy Hinata-chan? I know you like it, I can tell by that look on your face."
Hinata was going to protest but deep down she knew he was right. Naruto released her and smiled at her. "Sorry Hinata-chan, guess I got carried away, make yourself at home I'll go get dressed real quick." Hinata nodded and sat down on Naruto's couch, it wasn't the most comfortable but she didn't mind. A minute later Naruto came out in a plain, all black outfit: Loose fitting shinobi pants with Kunai and Shuriken holders attached, and a plain black t-shirt with the Konoha symbol on the front of it. Hinata smiled as she stood up, Naruto walked over and without hesitation gave her a quick kiss on the lips gently. Hinata smiled and kissed him back. A few moments later their lips parted. "Ready?" Hinata asked him with a happy smile on her face. Naruto nodded in response. "Ready." And with those words they walked out the front door, locking it behind them as they headed toward Ichiraku's for an early lunch.
Naruto and Hinata walked into Ichiraku's, gripping each others hand lightly out of comfort. As they sat down at the front Teuchi walked over with a sly grin on his face. "Say Naruto is that pretty girl with you your girlfriend?" Teuchi asked teasingly. Naruto blushed and scratched the back of his head as he smiled nervously in response. "It's alright I can tell, now what can I get you two?"
One Hour and Eight Bowls of Ramen Later...
"Man Ramen is the best." Naruto said with a victorious grin on his face. Hinata merely smiled warmly as she gripped his hand lightly. As they walked without a destination they ended up in Rosemary Park. Hinata smiled and pulled away from Naruto as she ran underneath the cherry-blossom trees, the beautiful pink leaves falling through the air. Naruto merely smiled and watched this beautiful girl, not wanting to do anything at the moment but observe her. A moment later Naruto grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. Hinata happily kissed him back as she pulled him into a deep embrace. After what felt like an eternity to the two lovers their lips parts and Hinata gripped his hand as they motioned to leave, before they could however a familiar voice spoke from behind them. "Is that Hinata and Naruto?"
A/N: Hey guys the quick update is a present to all those urging me on to write more. I'm trying to write this stuff as fast as I can yet at the same time I'm trying not to rush myself. Because rushing yourself doesn't help your writing one bit. Anyway if you REVIEW I know you care!
Peace! - DL5