Author's Notes: Well… not as much reviews for the last chapter, but I do want to clarify
Sakura received the Rinnegan only on the request of Naruto, but that doesn't mean she will actually use it. In this story, she is at least smart enough to know what she can use effectively compared to what she probably shouldn't use, like the Rinnegan. The only reason she has it is so that Naruto can leave without much problems, and she knows it. Does she like it? Hell no. Will she accept? She just did, all for her nii-san.
Disclaimer: Naruto and Warcraft is not owned by me, plain and simple. Period.
Chapter 21: The Legendary Beasts
Last time, in
"What is that?" Jaina asked fearfully as Naruto, his Rinnegan flashing, formed seals for the Phoenix summoning.
"A dragon," Naruto growled as he thrusts his palm out, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A pillar of flame erupted as Ichigo appeared, "Naruto? What are you… I see, you've met your other destiny?"
"My what?" Naruto asked, confused, as Ichigo cocked his head.
"Your original affinity was not with us; it was due to your personality that caused our affinity to emerge. Supposedly, everyone has an affinity for all animals, it just depended on how great that affinity is. With your signing of the Toad Contract and your spirit regarding the Demon Fox, you increased your affinity to us; your original affinity lies with…"
"Us," the dragon breathed out, "That is why you were not sent to another place."
"Whoa…" Naruto breathed out, "So, both me and Jaina-chan have the same affinity?"
"Yes," the dragon replied. Naruto looked at Jaina.
"Well…" Jaina said weakly, "That was unexpected… what do I do now?"
"A trial," Naruto replied, "I had a trial against Gamabunta, as well as a trial of faith and loyalty with the Phoenix. It's time to see what they want. Speaking of which… what's your name?"
"Ryusei, lord of dragons," the dragon replied, "And now… it is time for your trials to begin."
"And what is that?" Naruto asked as Rysei began a technique, and a vortex appeared.
"A test of devotion, and the ability to battle your inner darkness," Ryusei replied Naruto cocked his eyebrow.
"Like the test at the Falls of Truth?" Naruto asked as Ryusei coiled back, clearly surprised. In the vortex, the very image of the falls appeared.
"So you have done the test? For what purpose" Ryusei asked, confused, as Ichigo teleported his father in.
"For controlling the Kyubi," Naruto replied, "I need to face my inner darkness. I presume you don't want me to tell Jaina-chan the test, right?"
"Correct, doing so will automatically forfeit her chances of a summon priviledge," Ryusei.
"Can I give her a hint then?" Naruto asked as Ryusei cocked his head back. Naruto walked forward and embraced Jaina.
"Believe, Jaina-chan. Just believe," Naruto said as Jaina embraced him back, before letting go.
"You ought to take his consideration into heart, young Jaina," Ryusei chuckled, "For he gave out a very good advice."
"Alright…" Jaina said dubiously as they stepped through the vortex and into the island.
"Sit on the center stone, Jaina-chan," Naruto instructed, "Relax, and meditate. Focus into yourself."
Jaina did just as told, and her perception of the world changed. All the while, she was chanting inside her head what Naruto had told her.
Believe… believe… but, believe in what? Myself? Jaina asked herself as a shadow appeared behind the curtain of water.
"Hatred…" the voice said, sounding like a distorted version of her own voice. Jaina stared back resolutely, "You hate and love Arthas still, and wish he had never turned out this way… correct?"
"Who are you?" Jaina asked, all thoughts forgotten. The curtains were stopped by a figure, and as it emerged, Jaina gasped. It was an image of herself.
"I'm the real you, of course," dark Jaina replied, giggling darkly as Jaina steeled herself for a fight. They stared each other down, even as they casted the same blizzard, at the same time. Giant blocks of ice stabbed down even as Jaina charged at her dark self and attempted a weak punch, but her attack was drawn away. Dark Jaina, on the other hand, enhanced by the falls, retaliated with a quick punch that forced Jaina tumbling away.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" dark Jaina taunted, "You only picked Naruto because of how he resembles Arthas, didn't you? You just don't want to admit it, Naruto is simply a replacement. And what's more, had you kept to Arthas… perhaps Dalaraan would not have been destroyed. Perhaps, if you had really loved Arthas that way and, perhaps he will be attached to you more, and will not have destroyed Lordaeron."
"No," Jaina replied back, her head low, and her hair clinging to her face, creating a shadow, "Don't you dare call Naruto a replacement. I've accepted Arthas' fate and the fate of Dalaraan… but Naruto has told me one thing… Arthas chose his path, and regardless of if I have done such a feat, he would still have chosen it. But my path… I shall choose myself!"
With that, Jaina suddenly charged and head butted dark Jaina in the stomach, driving both of them back.
"Good…" dark Jaina giggled again as Jaina stood back, panting, "Strike me down then… if you do not think you are me. You know you are… you still love Arthas, deep inside."
Jaina was about to do just that, before she remembered Naruto's call.
Believe… I think I know what you mean now, Naruto… Jaina thought solemnly as she recalled what he said. Dark Jaina was essentially a manifestation of her inner darkness, the thought she never wanted to reveal. As much as she deny it, she can't ignore it.
"You're wrong," Jaina declared after five minutes, before deactivating her spell, "You're both wrong and right. I am you… and you are me. We're two sides of a coin… we are the same."
"You really think so?" dark Jaina asked, before a blast of wind blasted Jaina down, "Poor you then… thinking such absurd thoughts."
"You've said it yourself, remember?" Jaina panted, "Maybe I don't want to accept such thoughts, but I know they're mine… I can't run away from it. I will destroy Arthas to save the Alliance if I must… even if I still do love him in some way. Naruto, however… we've only accepted each other fully a few days ago… it's true perhaps that at first I thought he resembled Arthas… so much, that it's painful, but I know… I know they're different people, and I have accepted that too. And now, I'll accept too, that you are a part of me, and I am a part of you."
"You…" dark Jaina began, before laughing out loud, "You wish to end me like this? You wish to end me as if I was a part of you? You're wrong!"
"No… I'm not asking you to be a part of me," Jaina replied, "I'm asking the two halves of a whole… be rejoined together."
With that, Jaina, rather than charging forward and delivering any attack, walked forward and embraced her dark self, eye closed, and at dark Jaina, who looked stunned, before a small smile crossed her face, and she dissolved. At the moment she opened her eyes, however, she noticed that she had been sitting on the rock the whole time. She began to stand up, but noticed that her legs were completely stiff. Naruto was over by her side in an instant.
"So… how did it go?" he asked as Jaina recalled what happened. Tears came to the corner of her eyes as she cried slightly, holding onto Naruto's waist as Naruto hoisted her up and held her, bridal style, walking across the water.
"I feel so stupid right now…" she mumbled as she held onto Naruto, who simply smiled back and held her tighter to himself.
"Whatever was in there is over… you've embraced your darkness," Naruto replied soothingly as Jaina's sobs began to subside. Ryusei hovered nearby with Ichigo and Hikaru.
"She made it," he replied as Jaina fell asleep from the exertion, "I don't think she was completely ready for her trial though. Still, she got it faster than I did."
"Perhaps, perhaps not," Ryusei replied, "But no one will be completely ready unless they've accepted it already, which is a rare case."
With that, Ryusei breathed out a warm breath, and it condensed, again, to form a scroll. Naruto pulled it open and bit through his thumb, signing his name, before taking the scroll and rolling it back.
"Should I hold onto it until Jaina reawakens?" Naruto asked as Ryusei did an imitation of a shrug despite having no shoulders to begin with.
"You know, Naruto," Hikaru began, "You are truly a special one…"
"How so?" Naruto asked.
"You're the only person to have ever received the Phoenix and Dragon Contract," Ryusei replied for Hikaru, "Barely anyone ever has an affinity for a legendary contract already… yet you have two. What's more curious is that you will stick to the Toads rather than pick us for any fight."
"Perhaps I am just lucky then, and quite frankly, that's why you picked me. Isn't it?" Naruto said as he held Jaina and focused on the pendant on Lina's neck, before ready himself for teleporting. Before he did that, however, he looked at the legendary animals.
"Thank you," he said as he bowed deeply, "For giving me the chance to sign the contract."
With that, he disappeared in a bright yellow flash, only to reappear in the middle of a dojo, about to be hit by a water dragon as well as a giant ball of flame.
"Naruto!/Naruto-kun!" Lina and Mei screamed out as Naruto looked at the two attacks.
"Shinra Tensei!" Naruto yelled as the two attacks instantly dispersed, "What are you two doing?"
"A friendly spar?" Lina suggested as Naruto glared at them both, Jaina still in his arms. Hiashi looked at him.
"I suppose the trial was tiring?" he inquired as Naruto bowed slightly.
"It has tired her out before she could sign it, Hiashi-sama. Is it possible to lend a room for her until she recovers?" Naruto asked as Hiashi nodded, gesturing for Naruto to follow. On the way, Hiashi asked, "So, which contract did she… and I presume, by extension you, sign?"
"The contract of the dragons," Naruto replied as Hiashi stood stiff.
"You. Are. Kidding. Me," Hiashi said rigidly, "Who are you, Naruto?"
"Me?" Naruto asked, "I am Namikaze Naruto, simply that."
With that, Naruto headed into the room Hiashi stopped at, before softly depositing Jaina on the bed. She was unwilling to let go, however, and forced Naruto to sit on the bed as well, watching her sleep peacefully. Mei and Lina moved in, watching Naruto, who looked back.
"Now, will one of you tell me what that last thing was really about?" Naruto asked.
"We… ran into a little dispute," Mei replied as Naruto looked.
"Explain. You're the Godaime Mizukage, Mei-chan… couldn't you have solved this diplomatically instead of through fighting?" Naruto asked as Mei looked down sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… I didn't mean to do it," Lina began, "I said something I shouldn't have, and…"
"You're both jealous of something," Naruto ended her sentence. Mei didn't react, but Lina did as she blushed red.
"Lina-chan," Naruto began as he sighed, "You said you would stay nice while in here… I've told you about Mei-chan, so why?"
"I don't know… when I see her, I just feel left out… you liked Jaina so much, and you've been seeing Mei longer than I have too… I just feel jealous of them whether I want to or not," Lina admitted as Naruto gestured for them both to come closer.
"And this," Naruto said, "Was why I don't really like stuff like this in the first place. I want you to all be happy, and that I'm willing to compromise. But you… you have to work this out yourselves as well, I'm not going to interfere. In any case, you should all rest now, it's been a long day as well. Lina-chan, here are my keys if you need them."
As Naruto talked, he tossed his keys via Shinra Tensei as Lina, even as she caught it by surprise. Mei, however, just stood there.
"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. I guess I was kind of jealous too…" Mei replied as she moved closer and hugged Naruto as well. Lina moved closer.
"Can I stay by your side for tonight too?" Lina asked as Naruto softened.
"Fine," he said finally as he moved Jaina back a bit and allowed room for both Lina and Mei to sit. They did so as they took each of Naruto's shoulders, taking care not to awaken Jaina.
"I thought you would've been glad this happened, though, Mei-chan," Naruto said quietly as Lina looked over.
"Just… why is that?" Lina asked as Mei flushed with color.
"Don't you dare, Naruto-kun," she said softly as Naruto mock glared back.
"Let's just say…" Naruto never got to finish his sentence as Mei enveloped his mouth in a kiss. After almost a minute, she let go of him.
"That worth keeping the secret for now?" Mei asked meekly as Naruto nodded, smirking.
"For now I guess… but I need you to do one more thing," Naruto said, "Keep them safe while I go after someone. My final mission in Konoha…"
"No," Mei said stubbornly, "I'm going with you."
"Mei-chan, no," Naruto said, "You don't know who I'm facing."
"I do, I requested the S-ranked mission to take down Yakushi Kabuto," Mei said softly, "And it's within my rights to travel as well to make sure Kabuto is really dead. Like it or not, if you want me to protect them, they're coming as well. I'm not that big of a hindrance, Naruto-kun. Please don't think I am."
"You're not," Naruto replied, "It's just much faster and easier to track him down alone, and not only that… he's also dangerous, but you won't listen to those kinds of excuses once you've made up your mind…"
"You're right," Mei smiled as she kissed him on the cheek, before reclining on his shoulder, "Now let me have me plushy."
"Hey!" Lina exclaimed, "I want my plushy too!"
Naruto could only sigh at their antics before they reclined on his shoulders as he reclined on the bed. Soon, all of them were asleep as the night dragged on.
Next morning
Jaina, of the four, was the first to wake, up, feeling someone's arms wrapped around him, and as she took a deep breath, she realized that it was Naruto. She snuggled in, not wanting to bring up the memories of the day before, before her actions stirred Naruto up.
Oops, she reflected, as she looked up and saw Naruto opening his eyes, the Rinnegan strangely active.
Naruto, on the other hand, wondered why everything was clearer as he looked down and saw Jaina. She was looking curiously up at him, before he noticed, through her clear blue eyes, that his eyes were in the ripple patterns of the Rinnegan.
"Oops," Naruto commented lightly as he cleared chakra from his eyes. The sound woke both Mei and Lina as they looked at Naruto, before looking at Jaina.
"Morning, everyone," Naruto muttered sleepily as he tried to untangle himself from the three women, who cleared some room for him. He stood and stretched as he looked out the window. The sun had barely broke from the mountains, though Naruto walked out the room to ready himself. He needed to train. As he walked down the corridor, however, me met Neji as well, who looked surprised.
"Ohayo, Neji," Naruto greeted as Neji simply stared.
"Did you stay here the whole night?" he asked as Naruto nodded, embarrassed.
"Jaina-chan passed out after her trials to get a contract," he replied as Neji relaxed at that.
"I see… good day then, Naruto," Neji replied as they left each other to their own devices. Naruto left the compounds to first get his gears, and after the retrieval which took five minutes as his room was quite messy, he departed to training ground 5, where he knew Lee and Gai would be at that time, if they weren't out on missions. He quickly located them as he greeted them.
"Ohayo Lee, Gai-sensei!" he said cheerfully as he walked out. Lee and Gai were currently sparring, as seen by the number of craters around the grounds. "Training?"
"Ohayo Naruto-kun! Today is quite the youthful day is it not?" Gai greeted back in his loud boisterous voice. Naruto ignored the youth bit as he walked up, "Have you come to train with us again?"
"Yeah," he admitted, "I need to catch up on my speed, fast. I'm off assassinating Kabuto whenever I'm ready, and I need to be ready as soon as possible."
"I see," Gai said, serious now, "We met him about half a month ago in Ta no Kuni, where he was conducting experiments. We managed to shut him down, though he disappeared quite quickly. That's the last lead I think anyone has on him."
"Hmm…" Naruto said thoughtfully for a moment, "Did you manage to get any information then?"
"Unfortunately, he destroyed everything instants before we overwhelmed the Akatsuki forces," Gai said, "Though he mentioned Madara contacting him."
"Madara contacted him?" Naruto said disbelievingly, "That… is so not good."
"Indeed it is not," Gai replied, "Though we must have faith that we may defeat them one day."
"That's not what I mean Gai-sensei," Naruto explained, "I'll tell you the story from the beginning."
And with that, Naruto began to narrate what he had gone through while in the other world, taking care to describe the undead in high detail, as well as Madara's association with Arthas and the Lich King. After the tale, Gai looked at Naruto.
"If this is what you think it may be…" Gai began, "Then you need to tell Hokage-sama immediately. Not even Kakashi nor I can take on that many numbers at one time. Godaime-sama could perhaps do it, but the chances, if Kabuto were to actually do what we suspect, then invade… then…"
"We would have already lost," Naruto ended for Gai, "But although I think that… I actually doubt it."
"Why would that be the case?" Gai asked, curious.
"The undead is simply a term. What most of their forces really are… are simply mindless creatures driven mad by a parasite invading their bodies and mind. They are not truly dead… and from what you told me… I think Madara wants Kabuto in order to capture me, and I doubt he knows I'm in Konoha right now."
"This is getting serious…" Gai commented, "Though, we should dwell on the present for now."
"Yes, I agree," Lee said out loud, "We mustn't let things like this hamper our flames of youth! We shall begin our training at once!"
"So… normal routine?" Naruto asked dryly as Gai nodded, before Gai ushered them out.
"Fifty laps around Konoha in one hour! No chakra Naruto!" Gai said as Naruto laughed.
"After training with you for so long Gai-sensei, I would know," Naruto replied as they set off. Meanwhile, Mei appeared in a swirl of water at the training ground, looking for Naruto.
"Where… I swear I felt his signature here just a minute ago…" Mei wondered as Jaina teleported in with Lina. They looked around the empty clearing.
"I thought you said Naruto would be here?" Jaina asked, confused, as Mei nodded.
"I did feel his signature here just a minute ago… not even actually, then he just disappeared," Mei admitted before feeling another signature. Kakashi appeared in a whirl of leaf and wind as he stood there.
"Oh, hello," Kakashi greeted, "I guess I missed Naruto."
"So he actually trains here?" Mei asked as Kakashi nodded.
"But he's off on his morning run with Gai now," Kakashi said, smiling, as Jaina and Lina looked confused. Kakashi decided to clarify.
"Maito Gai and Rock Lee are our resident taijutsu specialists, and Naruto trains with them occasionally in his form or just for sparring when he has the chance to improve. In a straight out taijutsu only fight only those two plus Hiashi-sama could defeat him in a one-on-one fight. In terms of including ninjutsu then only Gai with his gates open and Hiashi-sama stand any chance of winning. Tsunade-sama might be able to scrape a lucky win, but that depends on what Naruto would use," Kakashi explained, "Of course, no Rasenshuriken."
"They saw the Rasenshuriken?" Mei asked as she pouted, "I kept pestering Naruto about it and he never showed me…"
"Just to clarify, it was a last ditch technique," Kakashi said quickly not wanting to get partially melted again. He shuddered. That did not feel nice, "We were on the way to losing had Naruto not unleashed the attack, and then he was exhausted to the point where he had to rest, unconscious, for three days."
"I thought he had enough chakra to fire four of those?" Mei asked as Kakashi nodded.
"Expenditure of chakra prior to the attack – it didn't help that he pumped almost five times as much chakra into that attack then normal," Kakashi replied, "Better check on them, they should have completed their first lap already."
"First lap?" Lina asked, "Then where are they? I don't see them at all in the training grounds…"
"Who said they used the boundary of the training grounds?" Kakashi asked, smiling, "They actually used the outer walls of Konoha."
Mei, Jaina, and Lina were shell shocked at that information. Kakashi continued, as if it was an everyday occurrence, "They need to complete one lap in a little over a whole minute, so I guess they should be finished with the first lap. Of course, it's complete speculation – they might add more today."
"That is just insane," Jaina deadpanned as Kakashi smiled.
"I guess I'll join them for old time's sake… I need to catch up on speed again anyways," Kakashi said as he disappeared in a burst of speed. Mei looked around.
"Get to the top of the walls and check them out?" Mei suggested as they nodded, and disappeared each in their own techniques. They reappeared on top of the wall, searching for any signs of Naruto. Mei , being more experienced with tracking fast objects, was the first to find the four blurs that were streaking down the wall and nudged the other two women, who then proceeded to watch with wide eyes as the four blurs, one silver one lagging a tiny little bit behind, as well as a yellow one lagging a bit more behind than the two green blurs which were going at a crazy speed. All the three women could do was stare dumbfounded even as the sentries walked up.
"Hey! What are you… Oh, Mizukage-sama, forgive my intrusion!" the ninja apologized as he bowed and left, looking at the blurs, "Looks like Naruto's gone training with Gai again…"
"This happens a lot?" Lina asked incredulously as the ninja shrugged.
"They're known as the taijutsu beasts of Konoha sometimes, though they like to refer to themselves as the Green Beasts," the ninja replied, "Personally, I'm impressed at anyone who can match up their stamina, especially Kakashi there. Sure, he's probably the strongest jonin… but Gai surpasses him easily in terms of speed and raw hitting power."
"Their training is insane…" Jaina whispered to herself as the group passed by again, even faster. This continued for several more minutes until Gai and Lee began to stop, and Naruto and Kakashi with them. It was then that Jaina and Lina got a good look at Gai and Lee. It was surprising to say the least.
Are those eyebrows… real? Jaina thought mentally, shuddering at the thick eyebrows, even as Lina's eyebrow twitched at the green spandex suits.
Eww… was all she could think of as Naruto spotted them and bounded up in a single leap, shining in the sun because of the light sheen of sweat covering his body.
"Morning!" he said cheerfully as Kakashi also leapt up, though panting.
"I… am… so… out of shape…" Kakashi panted out as Naruto smiled.
"You trained more in technique execution more than taijutsu, Kakashi-sensei, no wonder you're so tired," Naruto smirked, "Spar?"
"No thanks," Kakashi replied, "With your stamina you could just stand there and win… I'm ready to collapse any moment."
"Well… you need to work on stamina then," Naruto replied as he suddenly remembered something.
"Here, Jaina-chan," Naruto said as he summoned the scroll from one of his seals, "Sign it in blood, just like Lina-chan did with the Phoenix."
"Alright," Jaina said uneasily as she bit through her thumb again, wincing at the sensation as she signed her name, before Naruto rolled it up and leapt away.
"When I give this back… better I do it far away as not to frighten Konoha," Naruto said as he disappeared in a yellow flash. In a few minutes, he came back again, this time empty handed.
"Yeah… Jaina-chan, Lina-chan, you're going to be summoning soon," Naruto said seriously, "And do take note of this: The first summon you successfully… well… summon, will be your personal companion. He or she will not dispel, and will stay by your side, much like Er'ryl. Speaking of Er'ryl… where is he?"
"You mean your little pet?" Hiashi said out of nowhere as he came up the walls, the cub safely tucked into his arms. The cub growled lightly at the pet mentioning though he did nothing else. Naruto looked sheepish.
"Did he wander around?" Naruto asked as he took Er'ryl and stroked his fur lightly. Hiashi smirked at that.
"He was sent back from Hokage-sama this morning, claiming that she needs to see you as well, Naruto," Hiashi said, "I'm just here to deliver the message as well as making sure this guy isn't lost."
"Thank you, Hiashi-sama," Naruto bowed before looking at Jaina, Mei, and Lina, "I'll be back soon, just need to make sure Er'ryl is okay."
With that he disappeared in a vortex of wind while Mei looked baffled.
"Was that a tiger? I thought the tiger contract lies with Iwa?" Mei asked curiously as Lina laughed.
"No, it was his personal companion, called Er'ryl, but we sometimes like to call him Maelstrom… well…" Lina trailed off as Kakashi spoke up.
"I call him Donut," Kakashi said proudly. Mei turned to look at Kakashi, who simply smiled back.
"I was eating a donut while they were discussing what to name him, then I just called him donut," Kakashi replied easily as Mei could only do what she normally did. She smiled slightly at that, though still with a sigh.
"What? Er'ryl didn't complain or bite my head off at that," Kakashi replied.
How Naruto turned out normal with this person as a sensei is beyond me… Mei thought. Jaina and Lina had the same thought too, though Jaina was more active to it. She kicked Kakashi in the nuts as Lina stared. And then stared some more. Finally, she let out a comment.
"Is that going to happen to every guy you meet Jaina?" Lina asked as Jaina looked sheepish.
"Not on Naruto?" she offered as Lina sighed. Mei just looked dumbfounded.
"She kicks guys in the nuts?" she wondered out loud as Naruto reappeared. He had an unreadable expression on his face as Jaina saw it.
"Is there… anything wrong with Er'ryl?" Jaina asked tentatively.
"Not really…" Naruto said, "Er'ryl's exposure to chakra did a number on his body though… he's no longer a normal frostsaber…"
"What do you mean?" Jaina asked, alarmed as Naruto finally split a small smile.
"He has a chakra circulatory system," Naruto informed them, "What's more, the excess chakra actually allows him to, while not transform, change his size at will. Once he understands me, we can begin to work on combinations as well as understanding each other."
"So, in the end, what's the main benefit?" Lina asked.
"He can use techniques that require chakra," Naruto finally answered, "Meaning he can actually fight better than most other frostsabers."
"Wow…" Lina breathed out, surprised even as Gai and Lee jumped up.
"Have you finished your stretches yet, Naruto?" Gai asked as Naruto turned.
"Suimasen, Gai-sensei," Naruto apologized, "But Tsunade-sama required me just then, and I had just come back. Please give me a few minutes to stretch before we spar."
"It is no problem, my youthful student!" Gai yelled exuberantly as Naruto simply shook his head before stretching. From the two women's point of view, Naruto's stretches seemed incredibly painful. What kind of person would do a bridge, then force his hand to touch his feet? The splits were quite normal, but the rest were just insane for Jaina and Lina to watch. However, only Jaina watched, interested, while Lina was conversing with Mei about the world, in order to know most of it, since she was also curious about the workings of where Naruto had came from. Naruto then started on his pushups, though he asked Jaina, Lina, and Mei to sit on him while he did one-handed pushups.
"Are you sure?" Jaina asked dubiously as Naruto laughed.
"You're light, Jaina-chan, Lina-chan, Mei-chan," Naruto replied, "Light enough that even if all of you were to sit on me it won't matter too much… not unless I turn my seals on higher that is."
"Okay then," Jaina said as they simply sat on Naruto as he began his pushups. While it was somewhat resemblance, it was more a mixture of one-handed pushups and ballistics, as he alternated hands between each pushup even as he jumped to switch. The three women were surprised at his workout as he counted all the way to one thousand on both hands before dusting himself off. That was the cue for them to get off his back as he stood up and stretched his muscles some more, before looking at Gai.
"I'm ready, Gai-sensei," Naruto replied as they leapt away, though Naruto made three clones which picked up the women, much to their embarrassment and delight as they sped through the village and arrived at the training ground. Mei was astounded at his speed – three years ago, he was slower than her, way slower, yet now he was at least four times faster. The three Naruto's set their women down as they watched from the sidelines. Mei looked curiously.
"Don't Naruto need the chakra?" Mei inquired, not knowing about Naruto's total capacity as one of the clones laughed.
"Mei-chan, I have enough chakra to rival that of the Sanbi… depending on how much it grows it might surpass the Yonbi by the end of this year," Naruto replied as Mei just look dumbfounded.
Yonbi no Saru? Mei thought nervously, That is a lot of chakra… I'll bet that it's more then even Kisame's… I remember he only had up to the Sanbi in terms of power.
Meanwhile, Lee and Gai stood on one side of the field as Naruto and Kakashi stood on the other. As the wind rustled, a leaf detached. Even though none of the fighters noticed, at the moment the leaf touched the ground, all of them disappeared, only to crash together in a powerful brawl. Lee sent an uppercut at Naruto which Kakashi blocked while Naruto swerved under Kakashi's jump as he swept Gai's leg, only to have him do a cartwheel and strike down at Kakashi. Naruto twirled as if doing a flare as he kicked up and intersected Gai's axe kick, though the resulting force sent a small shockwave bouncing forward as Kakashi used the momentum from his block to leap over Lee to try an axe kick of him own. Lee blocked it with his forearms and used the pressure to lower himself as he prepared to kick upwards, though a surprise attack from Naruto broke his concentration as he had to twist into a one-handed handstand to avoid the attack, before Gai joined in again with a uppercut kick which Kakashi met with his own. They leapt apart again.
All that took place under five seconds. Kakashi wasted no time as he revealed his Sharingan.
"I'm going to need to take this seriously," Kakashi replied as Naruto simply looked at them. Lee was confused this time.
"Naruto, why are you not activating your Rinnegan?" Lee asked as Naruto charged forward.
"I've become too dependent on the eye. It's only a tool, after all – better not rely on it too much," Naruto replied as he conjured up a clone as he transformed, Naruto throwing the clone shuriken at Gai. Gai leapt straight up before flipping down with an axe kick at Kakashi, who rolled away as he sent a bolt of lightning at Lee, who dodged the shot easily before charging forward, Gai creating a crater in the meantime with his powerful kick. Using the time, Naruto rolled forward as he used his own momentum to flip into the air, trying to land a punch which Gai returned, but Naruto crisscrossed his arm with Gai's as he used the tension to flip around and nearly connected with his outstretched foot, but it was blocked by Lee, and Gai followed up and twisting and throwing Naruto away, who back flipped and landed, before jumping and twisting to avoid the barrage of kicks sent by Lee even as Gai and Kakashi took it up the next level as they opened their first gate. Shockwaves reverberated from points of impact as Kakashi and Gai intersected each other with kicks, punches, and occasionally even techniques exchanged. Roars of flames erupted from Kakashi's side as blades of water erupted from Gai's movements. Neither was gaining the upper hand as Naruto exchanged attacks with Lee, Lee managing to get hits in from time to time, though Naruto was much tougher than Lee was.
The match ending almost came when Lee, exploiting the weakness that Naruto produced, smashed his foot against the left rib, but realized that he had left his flank open, which was exactly what Naruto wanted. Since Naruto could take a lot of punishment, he would use himself as bait to strike back, and launched an insanely powerful right hook into Lee's chest, launching them both back. Lee coughed up blood as Naruto held his side tentatively. Lee looked at Naruto.
"You have gotten more powerful, Naruto," Lee said before backflipping to the top of a tree, "However, I too have gotten stronger."
With that, Lee held up his weights as Naruto widened his eyes as he quickly undid his seals. The weights moved in slow motion as they dropped.
"How much is that weight going to help?" Jaina asked, unsure of exactly how much weight there were. Lina was unimpressed.
"Naruto is fast, and I doubt a little extra speed would…" Lina trailed off. The weights had just impacted the ground, and a gigantic cloud of dust flew up.
"Never mind," Jaina concluded, truly worried for Naruto now.
Naruto, on the other hand, was resisting his urge to simply use the Hiraishin and teleport to places in order to strike Lee, and had to flip away just in time when Lee's foot appeared where his head was milliseconds ago. Naruto sped up as well as they smashed against each other. Tough or no, one hit from Lee at that speed and Naruto would all but be done for. He could only take two or three hits at that sort of power, but the advantage was that Lee would also be more vulnerable having no weights to support himself. Seizing an opening, however, Lee delivered a crushing kick to Naruto's chin. Kakashi saw and tried to intervene, though Gai stopped him as they fought again.
"Naruto is the only one who could survive that, other wise I would've just copied your move, countered, and ran over, you know that right?" Kakashi deadpanned as Gai laughed.
"Of course!" Gai replied out loud as Naruto soared through the air, Lee appearing behind Naruto.
"Kage Buyo…" Mei commented softly, "The match is over… Naruto lost."
"Naruto lost?" Lina asked incredulously, "What do you mean by that? And what's Kage Buyo?"
"A move executed by taijutsu masters in Konoha, it involves hiding in the shadows of the enemy while in the air," Mei explained as Lee opened the first gate, "It is one of the most versatile taijutsu move in the world, where you can branch off into anything you want."
"Gomen nasai, Naruto," Lee said as bandages wrapped around Naruto, "But this is over! Omote Renge!"
With that, Lee began to spin rapidly to the ground, creating a tornado of power as Kakashi sent a powerful burst of lightning at Gai, who narrowly dodged before smashing into Kakashi at full force. Kakashi flew back, stunned, before Gai advanced on him and performed the exact same thing, launching him into the air, though he let Kakashi sail back onto the ground alone. The impact knocked Kakashi out as Gai closed Kakashi's headband.
At the same time, Lee impacted onto the ground, creating a powerful crater which shook the earth, forcing Jaina and Lina to hold onto the clones. Once the smoke cleared, Naruto was seen, legs dangling in the air limply as Lee stood over him, panting yet holding a victorious grin.
"We win…" no sooner had Lee began did Naruto vanish in a cloud of smoke. Kage Bunshin! Oh no!
Lee had no time to react as Naruto charged straight up from the ground, smashing Lee's jaws in as Lee sailed over the air and impacted against a tree, out cold. Naruto stood against Gai.
"When did we get to using ninjutsu…?" Naruto wondered as Gai laughed more.
"It did present a good challenge against Lee," Gai offered as Naruto looked down.
"Had I not used it I would've lost…" Naruto mumbled, "But… a shinobi never fights fair, do we?"
"No, Naruto," Gai said as he appeared behind Naruto, ready to knock him out, "We don't."
But Gai had no time to react as Naruto disappeared in a blinding yellow flash, appearing by the crater of Omote Renge.
"Sorry Gai-sensei…" Naruto said, "But… you already lost in that case."
"Hiraishin no Jutsu… I see…" Gai replied, "If you can get a seal on me first, that is."
"I don't need to," Naruto said as he disappeared, only to appear behind Gai, way faster than he could react, with a kunai at his throat, "When the seal is already made."
"I see…" Gai replied, "It appears that with ninjutsu you would easily outpace us in a spar… you truly have improved Naruto."
"Not really," Naruto replied, "But… ninjutsu was my specialty… I was hoping for a pure taijutsu match until Lee charged up his first gate."
"Yet it helped him as well to deal with ninjutsu users as well," Gai pointed out, "To him, this match would've been a great advice on how to deal with the unexpected."
"He's already unpredictable…" Naruto replied, before wincing as he felt the pulled shoulder, before the ache kicked in. Lee had sprung up from nowhere as he stood, proudly but bruised.
"That was a most youthful match, Naruto!" Lee said loudly but turned to Gai, "I'm sorry, Gai-sensei… if only I had tried harder…"
"It's okay, my boy, if you try harder next time, we can definitely do it…" Gai said, beginning to tear up. Naruto noticed and turned to the three women.
"Lee…"
"Gai-sensei…"
"Turn around now!" Naruto yelled out desperately as Lee and Gai stared at each other tears coming out of their eyes.
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
Then they hugged, and the nightmarish genjutsu appeared. The three women did not have time to process nor heed Naruto's warnings, and were struck with the genjutsu.
"Kai! Kai! KAI! KAI!" Mei screamed out desperately as she tried to cancel the genjutsu as the other two women simply lay, dazed, on the ground.
"What… was… that?" Lina asked, a serious twitch on her eyebrow clearly seen.
"Horrible… horrible..." Jaina commented as Naruto coughed, causing the two to break up.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… I forgot it was inappropriate in public…" Lee said as he scratched the back of his head, much like how Naruto did it.
"You've disturbed three more people… the Godaime Mizukage included…" Naruto commented as Mei sighed in relief. Jaina and Lina didn't get up. Naruto began to get concerned.
"Jaina-chan? Lina-chan?" Naruto asked as he neared the two women, before they responded.
"That was scary…" Lina commented as Naruto held them both up, Lina's feet barely touching the ground while Jaina was actually dangling a foot or two off.
"Do you think we could bring that against Kabuto?" Mei asked, back on topic. Naruto thought for a moment.
"As in, get a team with those two on it?" Naruto asked as he shuddered a bit, "No thanks, the assassination is my job anyways, they won't get in the way but they'll only be standing by the side when I engage him. Kabuto is too sneaky. If he sees only me he might try and engage… add those two and he'll just run away faster than I can catch up with Hiraishin, kunai or no."
"Kunai or no, Naruto-kun?" Mei asked as Naruto smirked, before flashing over to her.
"Yep," Naruto said happily, scaring Mei who knew there was no kunai or seal nearby.
"So you've mastered your father's technique, and made it your own…" Mei commented lightly, but inside she was furiously thinking.
Naruto-kun has mastered the Hiraishin no Jutsu beyond even what his father has… just how far will he go? Mei wondered to herself as Naruto got serious.
"Mei-chan, you'll need to train too," Naruto said as Mei turned, confused.
"They'll let me here?" Mei inquired, doubting the possibility.
"You'll be learning from Yamato-taichou once I get him to agree," Naruto said as Mei processed the information. Finally, what he said finally registered in.
"Mokuton no jutsu?" Mei exclaimed, surprised, "But isn't that a village secret?"
"I'm resigning after this mission, it can't technically be counted as such anymore can it?" Naruto replied with another question as Mei's eyes gleamed. She had always wanted to learn Wood techniques but due to the restriction she never got to it, especially when she learnt she had the two elements which combined to create the sub-element.
However, Naruto wanted her to learn Mokuton for another reason. He looked back at the three women as he began to seal himself up with gravity seals again. He didn't want to lose control to the fox in case he got to 6-tailed state… not ever again. He would have to complete the training soon, and by himself.
"Stay here Mei-chan, Lina-chan, Jaina-chan," Naruto said, "I'll be right back."
And with that, he disappeared in a bright yellow flash.
Whew, this chapter's finished. Gimme a review if you think this is good, give me a review if you think this is bad.