I do not own Naruto
Zale panted hands on his knees exactly three and six days into training, and here he was in pretty in control of his manipulation ability. "This is boring we should be doing something fun." Kurumi said with a sigh flexing her legs in the air as the training ground that Zale had created repaired itself. "I'm a fun girl, and although watching you sweat is entertaining I can't say it doesn't become tiresome."
"Then go do something." Zale said raising his arm and throwing his hand down causing the trees in the surrounding area to be ripped from the ground and hit each other. "The manipulation in this body is incredibly powerful, and this chakra thing makes it even more potent than the original form."
"That reminds me, why can't people use manipulation anymore? I'm more than surprised such a powerful technique could be forgotten." Kurumi said shifting from her position leaning against a tree to standing on her hands her still rather loose pants sliding up her legs.
"I have no idea; my corpse is somewhere buried deep beneath that forest of death place. The reason for its unsightly growth is most likely the residue from my body forcing the area to change, and as for the answer to the actual question I guess that manipulation caused chakra and the chakra caused the manipulation to no longer be needed." Zale said wiping the sweat from forehead.
"Although demons seem to hold onto manipulation as their prime source of power, so I assume you at least originally descended from incredibly powerful manipulation users."
"NEH!" Kurumi yelled out causing Zale to jump and miss his target with the ice needles he manipulated. "That's it take me out already, I promised myself to you as a mate, the least you could do is take me out on a date or something."
"You really are like a thirteen year old girl aren't you?" Zale asked, and she stuck her nose in the air. "Fine then, what do you want to do?"
"Some place to eat, you're cooking is terrible and I want to eat some good food." Kurumi said standing up her pants hanging off her hips and as Zale unable to tear his eyes away started to get a nose bleed. "Or you know, we could do something really fun.
Shaking his head he stuck out his arms and threw his head back roaring fire coming out of all three points letting out any hormonal frustrations out. "I was an elite warrior the best that there was, the master of manipulation." Zale said.
"And you died at thirteen just like Naruto; therefore you never got to experience anything fun." Kurumi said.
"So I should give up on my dreams of becoming the emperor of the new world filled with peace to pursue a happy normal life?" Zale asked.
"I didn't say that, but a little living never hurt anybody." Kurumi said and Zale nodded at this he had to agree with her, he often wondered what it would have been like had he decided to indulge in that little romance he had a while ago. "Alright then, let's go to that Icharaku ramen stand. From what I remember that's the only place that would even allow Naruto in the door, or curtain really."
"Alright then I'll take you there." Zale said, and she happily wrapped her arms around one of his. "So the Uchiha is a girl?"
"I always had my suspicions, but they've never been confirmed until now." Kurumi said as they walked into the stand. "Oh boy this place smells really nice."
"Naruto how's my favorite customer doing, oh you brought a date."Ayame said walking in through the back of the restaurant to see the rather attractive girl in rather indecent clothing clinging to her favorite customer.
"Yeah Ayame, this is Kurumi." Zale said letting his head all into his hand as he stared at the bubbling pot that held a rather attractive aroma. "Can we have two bowls?"
"Only two bowls." Ayame asked looking concerned and putting her hand to his forehead, and she felt it was normal. "Well you don't seem to have a fever, but you should really get some rest. Like right now, I'm sure that your date here would understand." Ayame sent a slight glare toward Kurumi who disregarded it and buried her face in Zale's shoulder.
"Don't worry, it's just that I need to stay light since the Chunin exams are going to be here in a few days, and eating excess amounts of food will slow me down." Zale said quickly avoiding any suspicion and Ayame nodded before serving two exceptional looking bowls of ramen. "Ayame this is a little over the top, I only paid for some beef ramen."
"Don't worry Naruto; they're on the house as early congratulations on making it through to the finals of the Chunin exams." Ayame said smiling and Zale looked slightly shocked before smiling and breaking the chopsticks before eating.
'Is this what it's like to have friends?' Zale asked slightly shocked at this he had never had friends that would just give him things like this. 'This boy Naruto had people who cared for him; I never knew what that was like my own parents gave me up for a few gold pieces. Maybe this is the real way to live not gathering power, but gaining allies.'
With Hinata
"Oh who's that girl that Naruto's been spending so much time with." Hinata said worriedly tapping her fingers together her sister sitting across from her in her room.
"Well what do you expect; he can't wait for you when he doesn't even know that you're after him. I'm eight years old for pities sake, and even I know that. If you don't make your move soon big sis then he'll move on, and you're going to be left behind in the dust as that girl that always blushed when he was near." Hanabi said in front of her sister on all fours. "If you want him then you better be willing to fight for him tooth and nail."
"You're right Hanabi if I really love him then I shouldn't be scared to tell him. I'm going to go and find him right now and say that we need to go on a date right now." Hinata said not once stuttering as she said this with confidence.
"That's the spirit big sis let's go right now and find the blonde baka, and tell him how you feel about him."
"Yeah, let's go."
"So any way I heard that taking down a Hyuga in close range combat is out of the question since he has that jyuken style thing so I'll have to rely on long range attacks." the voice of Naruto said drifting into their spot right beside the compound walls where they could hear and see everything, but couldn't be seen or heard.
The sound of his voice immediately broke down Hinata's confidence causing her to deflate like a balloon, and Hanabi to sigh. "We're going to need to break you of this sooner or later." Hanabi said waving fan in front of her sister's face.
With Gaara
"I will kill him." Gaara said staring down at Naruto who walked along his arms tucked behind his head, but in his head he could hear Shukaku telling him to be wary. "Why mother, why must you do this now when the proving of my existence is most important?"
Then the girl behind Naruto staring right at him in his hiding place, but he was sure that he wasn't revealed so why did it seem like that girl could see right through his hiding place to him. The Shukakau started going insane thrashing about yelling how to stay away no matter what. "Mother I will prove that I am alive by shedding the blood of both that boy and that girl there is nothing you should fear." Gaara said with a maniacal laugh a smile of a murderer upon his lips as he stared down the back of the person's head he was planning on killing.
With Zale and Kurumi
"Hey Naruto," Kurumi said, and he turned his head to look at her, "With this Chunin exams thing coming up tomorrow and everything I wanted to give you a gift. You've never had one before have you?"
"Well the ramen that Ayame just gave I believe more than counted." Zale said.
"No I mean like a real gift with a bow and everything I mean even I've had a few." Kurumi said while at the same time thinking, 'My mother was a rather kind woman it really was a shame that I had to kill her to attain this power, especially since I can't even access it."
"No, my life was that of silence things like gifts weren't needed when you needed to survive on the battle field more than anything else." Zale said wondering where this was going.
"Well since that seems pretty unfair I suppose that it would be appropriate seeing as you are my future husband that I give you one on what you petty mortals would consider a big occasion." Kurumi said with a snarky undertone in her voice, but you could tell that she was slightly embarrassed.
"Where is this all heading?" Zale asked.
"Let's just head back to the apartment and I'll give it to you there."
So they went in silence the festival surrounding them, but neither of them paid any mind to it. When Zale locked the door behind him he turned and saw Kurumi rummaging through a small bag she had which she took a liking to. "Here." she said handing him a small scroll which expanded to a large one the second he touched it. "It's the fox summoning contract."
"Kurumi I can't take this." Zale said. "It's like I said to that pervy sage, this isn't good just to take it and not earn it.
"I'm the boss I can give it to whoever I want that includes puny mortals like you so just sign it. Besides you've proved to me that you do deserve this I mean not a lot of people are so ready to sacrifice things as quickly as you are. You even vowed to beat that boy just because he hurt a good person for no reason what so ever."
"Kurumi I literally can't take this I have no idea how to use chakra, signing would just be a waste of my energy and blood." Zale said and when he turned to look at Kurumi who looked positively angered he decided to save himself allowing a bloody smile to take over his face. "But then again having one of the world's fiercest creatures at my disposal would be more than exceptional."
"Indeed." Kurumi said matching his smile with her own before he signed and they retired in the bed.
With Jiraiya and Sarutobi
"It was odd sensei Naruto didn't want the scroll at all." Jiraiya said rubbing his chin the wart on his nose wiggling slightly as he spoke just like it always had. "From all the letters you sent me he should have been all over this, he should have been begging me to train him."
"You're sure that he did this?" Sarutobi asked.
"Yeah I remember it like it was three weeks and six days ago." Jiraiya said scratching his chin as he recalled the memory.
*Flashback*
"Alright kid you got me revealed, but how did you break my intangibility jutsu?" Jiraiya asked coming out of nowhere infuriating Kurumi who was going to kill him, but Zale held her back.
"I cast a simple release." Zale said quickly saving himself, knowing that revealing his manipulation for what it really was instead of a jutsu would cause a lot more problems.
"Well then you've earned my respect boy, for that I'll train you." Jiraiya said spinning the scroll off of his back, and dropping it unrolling it to the point where it revealed the next empty slot. "Go ahead and sign this kind and you'll be in control of the toad summons that helped defeat the mighty Kyuubi no kitsune. There is truly no greater summon than this one." Jiraiya said gloatingly and he seemed to either be oblivious to Kurumi's rage or he was ignoring it. "All you have to do is sign it in blood, and then you'll be able summon them, and we'll be able to get your training underway."
"That's something that I don't need, what can a summoning do in a real life battle?" Zale asked turning to Jiraiya who flinched at the cold eyes the boy held. "They disappear after you run out of chakra, and even a few minor hits will send them away. I need physical allies not ones that will have to do what I say because I'm their summoner."
"Kid do you know what you're talking about right?" Jiraiya asked shocked. "Summons can be great allies, and do a lot of things that you couldn't be done by oneself."
"Then I'll find a summoning contract of my own, I'll make my own allies if you give that to me then that'll be no better than the people that steal jutsu." Zale said firmly believing in this, if he had no relationship with the toads besides servant and master then how could he trust them. "Now if you please get out of here I need to get to work on my training."
"Well what if I teach you a super powerful jutsu along with the summons?" Jiraiya asked trying to tempt the boy.
"I'll sick Kurumi on you again if you don't leave me alone." Zale said and Jiraiya high tailed it out of there.
*END FLASHBACK*
"Well Naruto does not believe that power should just be given so I suppose it would make sense." Sarutobi said lighting his pipe before deciding to meet with the other Kages leaving Jiraiya to finish anything that was going to be needed for the Chunin exams. "That reminds me the Mizukage, Kazekage, Raikage, and Tsuchikage all requested the same seats as I."
"Well hello Hokage." The Mizukage Mei said her bosom bouncing.
"It's a good day for all of our villages." The Kazekage said. "This Chunin exam will be the next world peace creator, a great day indeed."
"I am sorry for being unable to submit any students, but things have been too busy lately." the Raikage said.
"I understand, I am simply glad that we can all settle our differences here and now before things get out of hand into a new great ninja war." Sarutobi said smoking his pipe. "Now onto the subject of discussing the terms of the treaty between our five villages."
"I believe that would be better to be left after the exams as to see if we like anyone for political marriages, or trading heirs to clams and such." Mei said and the others agreed so the meeting was rescheduled.
THE NEXT DAY
"What are you doing?" Kurumi asked sitting up and rubbing her eyes watching as Zale began to get dressed in a sapphire blue gi emperor shirt, and black combat pants. Both of which were hundreds of years out of style. "Come back to bed it's cold."
"The Chunin exams are today, I need to be there in about thirty minutes." Zale said stretching to get out any kinks. Just to test it he waved his hand and sure enough several crystals accumulated in the air. 'It almost feels unreal just the fact that I have a useable body, and on top of that a powerful manipulation ability.'
"Well what's up with that outfit?" Kurumi asked.
"This is the first appearance of the next emperor of the major event this is how important people used to dress therefore this is what I shall wear." Zale said adjusting the sleeve, and he turned toward Kurumi who seemed to not be getting out of bed. "Aren't you coming it seems like one of those events where friends would come to."
"I'll be there eventually I can't wait to see you kick the ass of those damn Konoha idiots, they've been pissing me off for a while so I'm certainly not going to miss watching one get pounded, but I need to nap first." Kurumi said dropping back onto the bed and Zale sighed before walking out the door his sleeves hanging three inches below his waste.
Zale walked through the training ground he had beaten into submission, and he heard a powerful strike to a piece of wood. When he walked up he saw Hinata standing there striking one of the few remaining training posts. "Hey Hinata." he said watching as she suddenly jumped and started playing with her fingers. "You're really strong, but the jyuken is too solid for you?"
"W-w-what d-do y-yo-you me-mea-mean N-Na-Naruto kun?" Hinata asked, and she almost feinted when he wrapped his arms around her and forced into a more relaxed position, bit there was something that kept her awake what she had no idea.
"You are very flexible; you should use that to your advantage." Zale said grabbing her ankle and lifting her leg high just to prove a point, and sweat dribbled down Hinata's temple she had no idea how she was still awake her face shined redder than Rudolph, but some unknown force seemed stop her from going under.
'Naruto-kun and I in this position so many possibilities." Hinata thought a slightly pervy smirk on her face, and drool escaped her mouth as she noticed they had suddenly switched to a new one with her leg bent way back, and their arms stretched for forwards.
"You know Hinata." Zale said manipulating himself away from her, and it took her a few seconds to realize this before she turned to him. "I think that you can be really strong, but you let other people's opinions get in the way too much." 'I've lost too many friends because of that.' Zale thought. "I hope that in the future that I can rely on you for any reason in the future." He turned back his head before leaving and gave her a charming smile. "Ja ne."
"Oh Naruto kun why did the Chunin exams have to be today I had so many ideas." Hinata practically screamed once he was outside of hearing range, and she ran toward the stadium.
At the stadium
"The first match will be Neji Hyuga against Naruto Uzumaki, begin." The proctor said drawing his hand down to begin the match.
"You should give up now, fate has already declared me the winner, and as such you the loser." Neji said getting into the Jyuken fighting stance. "There is no way that you can beat me, but coincidentally what is that horrible garment you are wearing.
"The last thing you will see before you pass out." Zale said shifting so he could easily flex his muscles to use manipulation. He swung his arm and immediately earth spikes shot out which Neji barely dodged.
Kage Booth
"Oh that certainly seems like an interesting jutsu." Onoki said looking at the technique with interest. "He didn't even have to cast any hand signs; it seems like an incredibly powerful technique. I did not know that Konoha had such earth techniques, perhaps a trade."
"That you will have to talk to Naruto about, he seems to have discovered these new techniques. They seem to have no affiliation, but they are incredibly powerful. I have seen them in action, and they have incredible accuracy and effects. It seems he has improved upon it though before he had to say manipulation now it seems like he only has to make a gesture."
"Oh I want, any idea what it's called?" Mei asked turning to Sarutobi.
"From what Jiraiya has told me it is called manipulation." Sarutobi said.
"I wonder how it works." A said.
Battle Ground
"It doesn't matter how many times you change your clothes it won't make you stronger just more like a girl." Neji said sneering as he tried to zero in on Naruto who didn't get mad. "I have your technique figured out, those arm swings are your hand signs of you don't have enough room to use them then that power of yours is useless."
Neji closed in and he was about to deal a strike to Naruto's shoulder when suddenly earth erupted into a pillar straight into his stomach. "You should talk; you probably spend more time taking care of your hair then most female ninja heck most female's period."
"You'll pay for that dead last." Neji said dodging another column and delivering a straight strike to his chest causing him to launch back. 'I don't understand this ability, he seems to be able to cast jutsu just by thinking about them, but that shouldn't be possible except for advanced ninja.'
"That is a powerful attack? I barely felt it." Zale said running at Neji who dodged under his fist, and delivered a strike to his shoulder leaving that arm dull and useless. "Ah, this is idiotic prepare to die!" Zale allowed a crazy smile spread over his face only noticed by Neji who flinched back. He opened his mouth and roared and blue fire came out.
"Rotation!" Neji yelled out spinning on his feet and extorting chakra from a few points creating a shield that repelled the fire burning the ground around that. "It doesn't matter what you throw at me that defense is ultimate."
"I'll break it down!" Zale yelled his smile matching Gaara's and said red head looked shocked something was up with that boy. Zale raised his hands and from the ground came balls of earth which quickly formed into spears. "These are made of the hardest minerals in the earth, they'll penetrate anything."
Neji spun once again, and as he promised they were deflected off of his chakra shield the tips were even bent. "No more chances, I will take you out." Neji said breaking through many earth spikes that Naruto had created in their fight. "Eight trigrams, two palms, four palms, eight palms, sixteen palms, thirty two palms, sixty four palms, one hundred twenty eight palms!" Neji struck all of Zale's point's nerve and chakra which should have completely shut down his body.
"What is this, why can't I move?" Zale asked barely twitching his head to look at Neji who smiled.
"I completely shut down your body, if you get back up then I will not hesitate to kill you. Proctor call the match." Neji said turning around.
'I can't believe it, but this could be a sign maybe this is a sign as to no longer try for my dream maybe it would be better if I just died.' Zale thought to himself as he tried to lift his broken body, but all he succeeded in doing was flipping himself over. 'What is that?'
What he saw was Kurumi dressed in a kimono bright red with orange and golden foxes on it. She held two fans that said go and Naruto which she waved around a pout on her face, and he thought that he couldn't lose against this boy. He would become emperor of the new world, and he would start his reign of victory here. He would become emperor and make her his empress that was a promise.
'It was the same technique used to kill me. The mind is supposed to be quicker than the body can move, yet manipulation relies on the speed of the mind. I can't manipulate my body though too complex I could lose an arm in the process, but the way the man that killed me fought. If I could only imitate that then this would be over.' Zale thought focusing on the ground beneath him and it forced him to his feet.
"How are you still standing?" Neji asked charging up some chakra into his hands truly willing to kill this nuisance.
Zale watched trying to anticipate his movements watching every little movement, and he watched as the hand came toward his face. There the drop he allowed the wind to let him fall his body dropping avoiding the jyuken strike and bending at an impossible angle.
He turned the humidity in the air into ice which allowed him to gain some distance between the two of them by sliding away on the ice. By no means was it graceful, but none the less he was able to get away, and this was the best he could do since he wasn't able to focus on an attack. "Catch me if you can." Zale said watching as Neji charged at him, and he manipulated the earth beneath his feet to allow him to move the feet becoming more fluid the more he dodged.
"How are you still moving!?" Neji demanded furiously striking Naruto who smirked, but it wasn't evil more confident. "Just lie down and die!"
"MANIPULATE THE EARTH INTO SPEARS!" Zale yelled out just to get enough focus to cause the attack.
What happened was not what he expected. Instead it was the ground erupting into spikes leaving Neji and him in a dangerous position their bodies in front of each other mere inches apart both completely suspended neither completely understanding what was going on. Zale was the first to react, and he pulled his head back and slammed it into Neji's effectively knocking him out.
"The winner is Naruto Uzumaki." the proctor said allowing the medic ninja to figure out a way to get into the field and get both boys who were stuck in the spears. "Maybe you should return the stadium to its original position to make it easier."
Zale shut his eyes shut hard, and he could feel a vein burst as he swung his hand down and the spears went down, leaving him on all fours coughing out blood. "Oh Zale kun you really should be more careful." Kurumi said quietly so no one else would hear, and she helped him up infusing some demon chakra into him to heal the burst arteries as well as open the nerve endings.
Kage Booth.
"Oh well that one sure has promise, I want that one." Mei said smiling as she stared at Naruto, but she pouted when that girl showed up. "How many girls do you think will be his limit."
'Lucky, lucky, lucky boy.' Sarutobi thought giggling perversely at the thought.
Arena
"The next match will be." The proctor was cut off by a loud bang.
"The invasion has begun." A random civilian said as the genjutsu fell over the whole crowd.