The Paths they took Chapter 7: Diverging Paths, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters

"Normal speech"

"Normal thought"

"Demonic speech/or someone extremely pissed off"

"Demonic thought"

Jutsu/technique

The Paths they took.

Chapter 7:

Diverging Paths

Naruto has been running for some time. Making sure to stop only when needed.

The fight with Jiraiya disoriented him as he was not even sure in what direction he run and he should really get a map and ask for advice.

Therefore, Naruto was currently lost into the forest.

"This sucks…"

"A-HOW!" A black bird said while flying over him.

Some hours later

"A-HOW!" The same black bird flew over Naruto again.

"I'm starting to think that bird is mocking me..." Naruto mumbled to himself.

He had already eat all the food he had left. So far, he was full but tomorrow he should make resources before he continued his travelling to the Land of Waves.

Naruto stopped in his track when he finally saw a city not far away from him.

Maybe it will be better if he rest this night in an apartment at least this way no one will take him by surprise. He still had enough money.

But the problem was who was going to let a kid to borrow a room for a night?

'What am I going to do?' wondered Naruto to himself but then he remembered the advice the old man gave him.

"I think you know how to use Henge no Jutsu, to change your appearance in public when we get back, right?" asked the Sanin.

With that jutsu… could help with this as long as he was capable to maintain the transformation and the voice as well.

Naruto ran forward. Glancing around the place the blonde wondered where he would be staying.

The sun was soon going to fade away.

Off away in the distance there were towering buildings with many windows that were what Naruto guessed to be apartment buildings.

Naruto's eyes eventually wandered to where a park was.

In the park, there were kids, which seems to be the same age as him or with some years younger or older then him.

Maybe now he could make some friends!

This time there was no one who know about the Fox sealed inside of him.

He could make a lot of friends in the park!

And no one will tell their kids to stay away from him.

He could talk with kids who were his age.

Running at speeds that should be impossible for his age, Naruto disappeared into the playground.

"Hey guys!"

Naruto shouted, as all kids were surprised to see a boy made his way near them so fast.

Everyone had their eyes on the boy. Based on his attire he did not look like he was from the area.

"Who are you?" asked an older boy.

"My name is Nar…" the Naruto stopped himself from finishing his answer.

If he gave away his name then later someone like Jiraiya or someone else could track him from this place.

He was not supposed to say his name but… these were just kids, "My name is Naruto and I want to play with you guys," he said with excitement.

A younger girl smiled, curious about the boy, but the rest did not share the same feelings as her.

They could see he was some sort of shinobi in training by the gears he was wearing. Most of them were jealous but did not want to admit it.

"Naruto?" Another boy scoffed. "What kind of parents would name their kids after food…?"

Naruto felt his smile vanish at these words.

"And look at his face, did you draw those whiskers on yourself or what?" another older girl laughed as she pointed at the boy. "What a weirdo."

"They aren't drawn on… they're real," Naruto said with a frown.

All the kids blinked at this.

"Yep, he's definitely a weirdo," A girl mused. "Or just a loser."

"I'm not a loser," Naruto defended himself, losing his cool.

"Loser, loser, loser!" all the kids except the youngest girl chanted tauntingly, though she still placed a hand over her mouth, trying not to giggle.

"I said, I'm not a loser!" Naruto yelled in annoyance.

"Look at this loser, what kind of weirdo wears orange clothes?"

"Hah, his face is going red. What, are you getting embarrassed?"

The kids continued to make fun of him while he stood there fuming, what was wrong with these people?

He only asked if they wanted to play with him, why were they being so mean?

They didn't even know about what the fox...

It seems that… not everyone was very kind in these places…in this world...

Why wouldn't they want to play with him…

Kids could be so cruel these days…

At first, he thought that this was only happening in Konoha but it seems that was not the chase.

All he wanted was to play with them. Was it really too much to ask?

Naruto could feel his idealism slowly starting to crumble as he locked to the ground.

"Leave us alone, loser." Said one of the kids who scoffed before walking away. "Come on guys, let's go somewhere else."

The other kids looked at one another before following their leader after a few stuck their tongues out at Naruto, who continued to lock at the ground.

The last to follow the kids was the little girl who gave Naruto a sad and apologetic lock before following them. However, Naruto didn't seems to notice it.

"A-HOW!" The same bird from this day flew over Naruto again.

Yep, that bird was definitely mocking him.

The Sun was going down so Naruto decided to return and find a place to stay for this night.

When he was sad he occasionally had Iruka-sensei to take him to ramen or even the sometimes when Hokage-jiji took him on the roof of the Hokage office and they watched the Sun fade away.

Is true they weren't always there for him but they did care.

He could go for some ramen but it he did not feel like it will help at all. Teuchi and Ayame were not there so he can share his day with them.

As… now that he was sad there was no one there for him, no one to save him and take some of the sadness away.

Maybe this is what is like to belong in the darkness of the Shinobi world. That was where his path lies and that is where he must walk now.

'Maybe am meant to be alone.' Naruto thought to himself.

Using Henge no Jutsu to transform into a man, he paid a room for the night and here he was now standing in this room.

After making sure the door was close, Naruto dispelled the Henge.

After putting the scrolls that contained his gears on the table, Naruto put on the bed and he covered himself with a blanket, it felt like a suit of armor against the cruel reality.

As he tried to sleep a memory, come into his mind.

"Is a 'persona' I fabricated."

"A persona?" asked Naruto.

"Yes, sometime on missions you have to be someone you are not in order to complete the mission…"

'To be someone else…' Naruto thought to himself, if he used the Henge no Jutsu and become someone else he could maybe try again to play with some kids in the park…

Eventually it did not matter; he should just focus to get to the Land of Waves next thing in the morning when he wakes up. It was better to leave before someone got the chance to find him.

Kakashi had a hard time connecting to someone, emotionally too.

After the Kyuuby attack, the death toll on the civilian and shinobi populations was high. The village had to put up a strong front while rebuilding their forces and keeping enemy nations from attacking them.

Being in Anbu it helped him deal with the pain. And after becoming a captain it left him with very little time for anything else, as he was send to missions to protect Konoha and get his mind off from anything else.

Kakashi felt cursed, it was as if every close bond he ever made ended up dying and that is why he stopped making friends. In Anbu he didn't have to deal with this problem at least as they were teach to have no emotions.

Eventually after years, it was Sandaime Hokage who had removed him from the Anbu and assigned him with various teams as tests, and in the end he was assigned to team 7.

After finishing another day of missions with his team, he was again face to face with the memorial stone.

Kakashi's steps slowed as guilt weighed down on him.

Every bond and friends he ever made or he was making ended up dying with the names on this memorial stones. Kakashi felt like all of this was his fault and If not for Sandaime Hokage, being there for him, he probably would have followed in his father' footsteps.

Now his Sensei's son had left Konoha and Kakashi felt like it was his fault again.

Another person who was probably now dead because of him not being there.

Kakashi stood before the stone, His experienced eyes tracing the name on the shiny stone surface.

Namikaze Minato.

"I'm sorry, sensei." He stood, his head bowed in shame. "I failed you." His eyes went to another name.

Uchiha Obito.

"I'm sorry, Obito."

For years, he had internalized every part of Obito's advice, his ideals of teamwork and friendship. He had viewed every situation through the lens of, "What would Obito have done?" and every failure with the shameful knowledge that, "Obito wouldn't have failed."

'If only he was here instead of me…'

Obito wouldn't have let Rin die...

Obito wouldn't have let Naruto leave Konoha...

Obito wouldn't have let Naruto grow up alone...

His eye eventually traced the name of the last member of his Team.

Nohara Rin.

"I'm Sorry, Rin." He said.

How long Kakashi stood there, he did not know.

For so long, this Memorial Stone had formed the cornerstone of his existence.

The sky turned grey and then black as night descended on Konoha.

As next day in the morning come Naruto was ready to go.

Meanwhile a man with skin very pale, practically white and his hair was long and black wearing a cloak with hood to hide his appearance was making his way towards the city in search of powerful shinobi for his own village.

It was then when his eyes catch a blonde kid's face. It was more surprising when the kid left the place running at speed that should be impossible for his age.

'His face… I know I'd seen him before. Heh heh… Fate is so interesting. Don't you think… Jiraiya?' He thought to himself.

The man then phased through the ground, allowing him to travel after the boy without being detected by anyone.

Naruto had been running to full speed to his destination, not wanting to encounter Shinobi this time.

Eventually his stomach make some sounds remaining the blonde that he needed to eat.

To his luck, he was close to a river containing fish.

After some of his clones got, enough they brought at the fire camp two other clones have been making it.

Eventually after waiting a little longer, it was finally ready.

As Naruto was enjoyed the fish he couldn't help but to wish he had someone here to talk with.

To his surprise the wish was granted when a man was making his way to him.

His skin was very pale, practically white and his hair was long and black. His eyes were golden with slitted pupils, like that of a snake, and surrounded by purple markings.

"Are of Hidden Leaf Village?!" asked Naruto already entering in a defense stance.

"Please, Naruto-kun, there is no need for shouting or fighting." The man gently chided, not answering his question.

"What do you want from me? And what is your name?" asked Naruto.

It seems that everyone who he had meet so far already know his name, well except for Kisame at first but still it was weird because this was already the third time.

"And how do you know me?" added Naruto.

"My name will come later. As for what I want… I don't want anything from you Naruto-kun, I want you."

Naruto shuddered dramatically and was about to respond loudly when he was interrupted, "I didn't mean it like that, I want you to join my village." He said.

Naruto looked at him suspiciously, "What kind of village would seek out a missing-nin from Konoha and risk taking them in?"

"One that is not the least bit concerned with what Konoha does in return. One that seeks out Nuke-nin that have been wronged by their former village and offers them sanctuary in its walls whether they wish to join or they just wish for a place to lay low" The Kage of an unknown village said.

"What do you know about me?" asked Naruto.

If this man know, what dangerous creature was sealed in him… then why would he risk his village by taking him in?

"I know all about you Naruto-kun." The Kage of an unknown village continued "Demon container for the Kyuubi no Kitsune."

"Why would you want to help a Jinchuuriki, me…?" asked Naruto.

"Well…because you kind of remind of me at your age..." The Kage said.

Before Naruto could ask more the Kage continued, "I too wanted to be Hokage…" He said catching Naruto off guard, "I to, was wronged by Konoha and cast aside like nothing."

"You were a Konoha Shinobi?"

"Not anymore, I am no longer affiliated with that place and Naruto-kun... I can see it in your eyes, the pain of not knowing who you are, being without an identity, you too were wondering 'Who am I?' and 'What am I supposed to do.' I too want to know who or what I am."

Naruto was speechless. This man was kind of right… he had been wondering this for a long time.

"And that is why I founded my own village, so that skilled ninja would find their purpose in life without being beholden to the fickle and warmongering priorities of the Five Great Shinobi Countries. And if the shinobi staying behind my walls wish to help out every once in a while, or even join my village who am I to complain?"

This sounded tempting, Naruto had to stop himself from immediately accepting remembering he first had another place to visit for now.

"The council…I was the frontrunner for the position of the Yondaime but it was stolen from me by that fool, Jiraiya's student. The council will never allow you to become Hokage and if you were to return to Konoha you would be locked up or taken by Danzo to be one of his emotionless tools."

Naruto didn't know who this Danzo guy was, but there was no way he'd be some emotionless tool or locked up somewhere.

"Wait, why would they do that? I mean yeah, I have the Kyuubi, but if anything, I bet the villagers are celebrating my absence." Naruto spat that last part out with some venom.

"Yes, the ignorant fools would react that way, but to the higher ups, your role is more than being a prison."

Naruto looked at him confused.

"You are not the only Jinchūriki in the world. And if other nations find out you are outside and alone then they would all try to capture you." Explained the Kage.

"Would they really do this all over me?" asked Naruto.

"Kumogakure once tried to kidnap a Hyūga girl from Konoha in order to 'study' her dōjutsu and maybe even worst things, if they did succeeded. And If they did succeeded this would have probably restarted the third great ninja war." Explained the Kage then after taking a break he continued, "They once tried to kidnap an Uzumaki girl to study her special chakra." He said specifically not mentioning the time when this happened and who she was.

At least not yet.

"An Uzumaki…" Naruto repeated the words still trying to process everything he was told.

"I can only imagine the fourth great ninja war for a Jinchūriki, especially the one with nine tails." The Kage said.

"All of this over me…but what about the Uzumaki you mentioned." Asked Naruto.

"You see, the process started when the First Hokage's wife, Mito Uzumaki sealed the fox in herself. After that, the First Hokage gathered more tailed beasts and gave them to the other hidden villages, who then sealed them into other people, some willingly and some forcibly. And the only ones not treated as outcasts were the ones who were kept secret." The Kage smirked at Naruto's reaction. "You see, you are not only a jailer, but a weapon to maintain the balance of power."

Naruto couldn't believe his ears and he didn't know what to believe anymore.

This man gave him answers about Jinchūriki but the more answers he got, more questions formed as well.

"Now, will you come with me?" asked the Kage.

"I don't know if I ever want to join another village…at least not yet." Said Naruto needing more time to think to all these new information he had been given.

The Kage merely nodded, "I understand. However, you are always welcomed."

"Your village? How did you say it was called?" Asked Naruto.

"Otogakure, The Village Hidden in the Sound." The Otokage said, giving the boy a map with notations and pointing to the map where to find the place.

"Thank you for the map... and did you do it?" Naruto wanted to know, "Did you find who and what you are? And what you want to do in this world." asked Naruto remembering what the man told him early and hoping to find an answer for himself on that regard.

"Not yet but what I want is to acquire all jutsu and grasp all of this world principles." Said the Otokage.

"That…a big goal…"

"However, in order to obtain each and every jutsu that exists, and the principles behind them, I need a long, long time…" Naruto nodded, "And he who masters all is truly worthy of the title of ultimate being…"The Otokage said.

Naruto was now confused, "What do you mean…?"

"What I mean is that if you're not satisfied with what you've had so far… Just find other things and add them to yourself from here on out. That how, I been gathering all sorts of things and store the gained knowledge and abilities within myself and then I undergo rebirth, evolving towards a new more perfect me."

"I think I understood. If I come to your village can you help me to with this? Even if I can't become Hokage I still want to become greater than the all Hokages. This would be a purpose I have."

"Greater than the Hokages." Repeated the Otokage as Naruto nodded, "I can help with that." He said.

"Cool! Then I promise I will come to see your village." Said Naruto excited.

"Excellent," The Otokage replied turning his back to leave, "Then we meet again there."

"Bye!" Naruto wavered.

After making more steps, The Otokage stopped and smiled to himself as he told the boy something that will guarantee that he doesn't forget about this.

"Your parent… would have been so proud of you. I never got the change to tell you about them, have I?" asked the Otokage as Naruto froze into place, "Perhaps another time." Said the Otokage before jumped away and vanishing into trees leaving the boy there.

He could have easily took the boy by force but it was better if he were to come on his own.

And what was the most beautiful part in all of this conversation he had with the boy was that he didn't even needed to lie.

"My parents..." Naruto whispered to himself.

Naruto's mind was in turmoil and upside down.

He desperately wanted to know who his parents were. What orphan didn't?

But now there were even more questions and answer which didn't let Naruto to think straight.

The First Hokage, one of his role models started a process that forced people into a fate where people are turned into weapons and made outcasts in their own village.

And this Mito Uzumaki, First Hokage's wife she was from his clan… and she was the one who started this...

Naruto wasn't sure what to think. Why would they do this?

The Yondaime Hokage was Jiraiya's student… unless there was another Shinobi from Konoha called Jiraiya.

And this Danzo guy wanted to make him an emotionless tool…

Naruto couldn't help but to wonder why didn't he succeeded until now…

Sandaime Hokage… maybe he was the one who protected him from this Danzo but he also keep the secret of him being a Jinchūriki away from him for so long.

Is true he is still a kid but when was he going to tell him?

And why wasn't the fact that he was a Jinchūriki kept secret from the village?

While Naruto harboured some rather angry feelings towards the Sandaime he couldn't hate him. He didn't believe that he would hide all that from him without an important reason.

He didn't leave Konoha out of anger towards the Hokage but out of temptation and anger towards the village as a whole.

Right now he needed to get to the Land of Waves, rest a while and then go to the Otogakure to find more answers.

As he was preparing to leave Naruto couldn't help but to wonder about Otokage's Philosophy.

'What a thick mist… I can't see anything.' Naruto thought while running above the water.

As he continued running he finally saw a huge bridge under construction.

After a long time he was finally here.

The Land of Waves…

After getting to the ending of the bridge, Naruto climbed the walls close to the bridge and he finally saw the place with his eyes.

The buildings were built on docks and trees could be seen grow even in water.

As he made his way into the town, he didn't feel happy as he thought he will be.

People and the town emanate... depression and fear.

There was little food in the store and most of the population had resorted to… thievery.

Naruto was took out of his thoughts when he felt someone tug on his leg.

He soon realized that it was just a child begging for food.

As a result, he gave the kid a handful of apples he got on his way. Good thing he unsummoned his backpack before he entered the city.

Eventually he remembered a deeper desire of why he come here.

Naruto went to a local store to eat and get some information; there were some people easting there. Some seems to wear hoods to hide their appearance.

Naruto eventually made his way there and commanded some food but before leaving he asked the man who served him, "Do you know anyone here having the name Uzumaki?" he asked.

"No, it doesn't sound familiar." said the man.

"Oh.. ok thank anyway." said Naruto sounding a little disappointed.

Naruto had some little hope there could be someone from his clan here but after seeing this town... maybe he should just accept the truth.

'Maybe I was meant to be alone...' Naruto thought to himself but then stopped.

No!

He can't give up yet!

He could go and ask more people!

There is still hope and even if he doesn't find anyone at least he tried.

Meanwhile a person not too far away from Naruto listened to his question and chose to folow the boy.

Naruto continued to explore the town in hopes of finding anyone who had a clue.

Night

Nothing, he found nothing...only more depressing things…

It seems that The Land of Waves is a nation located on an island near the Land of Fire. It does not have a hidden village, thus relying on seeking assistance from other hidden villages like Konohagakure..

The Land of Waves has many rivers running through it and is famous for its mangroves, which are filled with all kinds of lifeforms. Though an isolated island, relying on shipping for commerce and trade, it was prosperous.

What Naruto found out was that this changed when a man named Gatō set his sights on it, breaking the people's will and monopolizing the shipping industry.

That is why this place was so depressing…

In his search he was lucky to hear some man talking about a bridge, if this bridge was finished then the things could change for this place. This seems to be a good thing at least.

After exploring the forest he saw a giant house build on a tree but seeing it was, well guarded he chose not to go closer to the place.

Eventually he stopped in part of the forest afar of civilization.

Seeing he was alone he made some clones who continued the chakra control training.

The workouts he had done in the past seem to bear fruit as instead of only 25 clones now he has 40 clones that could mold chakra enough to be of use.

As the clones were training Naruto chose to read over some more jutsu from the forbidden scroll.

Kuchiyose: Rashōmon

(Summoning: Rashōmon)

The user summons a large gate

The gate itself is designed to look frightening, with the gate's doors having a demonic face upon them; this is to intimidate onlookers, potentially warding them off.

The gate's doors are tightly shut and solidly built, making it useful as a shield against most forms of physical attack.

The stronger the attack, the more damage the attacker will do to themselves when they try and fail to break through the gate.

There were two more better versions

Kuchiyose: Sanjū Rashōmon

(Summoning: Triple Rashōmon)

The Summoning: Triple Rashōmon is an upgrade to the standard Summoning: Rashōmon, which — as its name suggests — summons not one, but three menacing Rashōmon.

The technique requires two summoning seals to be completed, and these gates serve the same function as the single Rashōmon, but with triple the defence.

The first gate takes the attack head-on, the second reduces the attack's power and the third disperses the pressure, causing all attacks that come in contact with it to lose their power before they can be effective.

The defensive capabilities of this technique are further boosted by the lack of hand seals required to perform this technique.

Kuchiyose: Gojū Rashōmon

(Summoning: Quintuple Rashōmon)

While one already boasting enormous defensive properties, with this technique the user summons five Rashōmon gates to block an incoming attack.

The defence is quite formidable, and with five gates, the user is also able to change the trajectory of an attack as powerful as a Tailed Beast Ball equipped with a Susanoo sword. The defensive qualities of this technique are further boosted by the lack of hand seals required to perform it.

Naruto had no idea what a Susanoo sword was but this jutsu seems to be a good idea the next day. He wanted to learn at least one of these gates.

As Naruto finished reading the jutsu something caught his eye. From a distance, he caught sight of someone in the woods; something was hiding behind one of the large trees.

In that moment, the person run away.

Naruto was cable only to see the person was wearing a hood to covering the hair and face.

"Hey! Wait!" Naruto yelled then quickly his clones went after the person while he sealed the scroll back.

In the end, it seems no one had find anything.

Author Notes (warning: potential spoilers)

Im not sure if the Rashōmon counts as a summoning jutsu...

Orochimaru summons the gates but he also summons snakes. Sasuke also summons snake but he also summoned a Hawk in canon. So I believe every Shinobi can at least have two summong jutsu .

As for Tazuna escorting team it clear that the Hokage wouldn't have gave it to team 7 without Naruto's demanding it in the canon...

So what team do you guys think it would have the mission? I believe it would have been Team Guy.

But this is a fiction so who are you guys recomading to be the team that would have the land of waves mission?

Naruto's current jutsu at the moment:

Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu

Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu

Bunshin Daibakuha

Kokuangyo no Jutsu

Henge no Jutsu

Variations: Hāremu no Jutsu

Jutsu/Technique:

Henge no Jutsu = Transformation Technique

Kuchiyose: Rashōmon = Summoning: Rashōmon

Kuchiyose: Sanjū Rashōmon = Summoning: Triple Rashōmon

Kuchiyose: Gojū Rashōmon = Summoning: Quintuple Rashōmon

Deleted Scene

A tall and noticeably muscular man with light grayish skin, short spiky black hair, wearing bandages like a mask over the bottom half of his face was wandering the forest alongside his student who was wearing a white mask.

They had finish capturing some fish for the travel and now they were making their way towards the Land of Waves for a new mission.

As they were traveling, they stopped hearing someone was approaching at super speed.

When they turned back, they only saw a boy wearing an orange jumpsuit?

The boy also stopped and now they were face to face.

"Are of hidden leaf village?" asked the blonde boy holding a kunai in his right hand.

Unknown to them he was also a little paranoid from the last encounters he had.

"No…" said the tall man while his right arm was touching the sword handle from the sword on his back, ready to kill the kid if they were to fight.

Locking a little closer the blonde notice they didn't look like Shinobi from Konoha at all, "I. I see… Excuse me." Said Naruto as he run pass them at super speed.

Leaving The Demon of the Hidden Mist and the boy from Yuki Clan with a feeling of Déjà Vu from the time when they encountered that kid from Kaguya Clan.