Story Title: Apprentice of a Hero
Crossover: Disgaea 3/Phantom Brave/Naruto
Disclaimer: I do not own any story, plots or characters taken from Phantom Brave PS2 game, Disgaea 3 PS3 game and Naruto Anime/ Manga
Chapter 5: The prize of the C-rank bloodline limits
Iruka woke up the next day wondering where he was as he looked at the unfamiliar ceiling. In a flash, memories of what had happened the last few hours ago stomped through his head. He looked at his timer which he had placed beside his belongings. From what the timer showed, it seemed that five hours had passed. He had one hour of time left before meeting the Hokage and the rest outside the house.
Iruka opened the door to his room and glanced down the corridor. Tenzo had made the house quite spacious, enough for everyone to have a room to themselves with a few spare rooms to store their cargo. Iruka had been unable to talk to Naruto last night especially since the Hokage had left instructions that Naruto was not to be disturbed in his own room. It was difficult for Iruka to twist his head around the idea that his favorite and most mischievous student had somehow awakened a powerful and mysterious bloodline limit. Kakashi had also seemed disturbed by that fact though the man had seemed willing to let that matter pass for the moment.
He made his way to the room assigned to Naruto and knock on the door softly, fearing that Naruto might still be asleep.
"Come in." Naruto's voice said sleepily through the wooden door.
Iruka slide open the door to find Naruto trying to untangle himself from his blanket.
"Iruka sensei!" Naruto said excitedly once he saw Iruka, tossing the blankets to one side. "What do you think? Pretty cool mission huh?"
Iruka smiled at Naruto's loud and blusterous attitude. This was still the same Naruto he had known since Academy days, though he looked a bit more settled down and confident of his own abilities.
"Yes, this is an amazing training mission." Iruka said with a smile. "But about your bloodline limit, when did it awaken?"
"Actually a few days before the genin exams. I was mostly exploring on my own then." Naruto said as he moved to pick up a small pouch from beside his bed. "The Hokage asked me to keep it a secret when I told him, and when he told me he want to use my ability for training missions, I asked for you at once."
"That's very thoughtful of you, but I'm afraid my combat skills are nothing compared to the rest of the jonins." Iruka said as he looked at Naruto scrambling about for his shoes.
"That's exactly why I asked Hokage to add you into this mission." Naruto said as he found his missing shoes and triumphantly put them on. "What's the point of a training mission if you're only going to help powerful ninjas get even more powerful? Anyway, the Hokage also trusted you a lot so he agreed to include you in as well."
"I see." Iruka said, for a moment brimming with silent pride at the unspoken praise. "Well then, how about we see if we can get something for breakfast."
"Hmm you'll lose the sense of time if you stay here a few more days." Naruto said helpfully as they left the room and walked downstairs. "It's always bright in the sub-reality, so it's difficult to tell night or day. It might be better to call each interval rest time or meal time."
As they climbed down the stairs, the two of them froze at the sight of the dining area that Tenzo had created in the house. Slices of smoking ham lay on the wooden plates on top the large round wooden table, Seated at one corner of the table wolfing down the meal was Anko while Yugao, Hayate and the Hokage were moving about preparing the food in the kitchen area.
"Hokage sama." Iruka said in a horrified tone of voice. "I'll take over the cooking, why don't you go and sit down."
"Iruka just go and enjoy the meal. As I have told Yugao and Hayate, I happened to be quite a great cook. My grandson in particular likes my smoking ham." The Hokage said calmly as he pushed Iruka back into the dinning area. "Go sit down."
"Oh stop been wishy washy." Anko said as Iruka bumped into her. She grabbed him and pushed him into the chair besides her. "The Hokage offered to cook so let him. We can wash the dishes later in return."
"I didn't notice yesterday." Naruto said as he looked around the dining room. "But everything is made of wood."
"You expect metal, kid?" Anko asked dryly. "Tenzo has the Wood Release bloodline, everything he creates is wood."
"The Wood Release bloodline?" Iruka froze as he stared at Anko in shock. "Like the First Hokage?"
"Yes it is not a well known fact in Konoha because I asked Tenzo to keep a low profile." The Hokage said as he appeared behind them setting down several plates of fried vegetables. "But since you'll be working with him for a month's period, it will be good for you to know, just don't tell it to everyone else when you get back."
"Yes Hokage sama." Iruka said with a quick nod.
"Now Naruto, take a plate of the food and come with me. We need to discuss the next event." The Hokage said as he walked out of the room.
Naruto followed soon after and Iruka looked at their retreating backs wandering what they were planning. Anko gave him a poke in his ribs, surprising him.
"Don't be nosy. Eat your food, chunin level school teacher." Anko said looking at him askance. "Or do you need me to feed them to you?"
Iruka glared at Anko with pursed lips as he huffed indignantly.
OoooO
"The Flora Beast Petal that I powered up yesterday unlocked three D-rank skills and one C-rank bloodline. The D-rank skills are nothing worth while, but the C-rank bloodline limit is the Sweet Aroma ability. According to the book, the user will constantly emit a sweet smell that heals those who breathe it in." Naruto explained. "Though it's a C-rank skill, its support capability is listed as B-rank in power. Those with advanced control of it are able to heal only those that they want instead of everyone around them."
"Ah that sounds interesting. I am sure that it would fit some of the kunoichi, but right now there's only Anko and Yugao. I doubt Anko would want such a… feminine bloodline, and as for Yugao, we'll stick to the plan of passing her the sword skills first. We can keep the petal for later." Sarutobi said as he took a sheet of paper Naruto had passed to him. "Thank you Naruto for your time in listing out all the skills you've unlocked from other objects in the past. You are sure that you don't want anything in return for implanting those skills into the ninjas currently with us?"
"You're already giving me S-rank pay for this mission. Just count it in as part of the package." Naruto said with a shrug. "It's not as if I need those skills yet, I still need to master the sword skills I've implanted into myself before I start on any new ones. I've powered up those objects during the training session with Almaz sensei, and most are not quite suitable for me yet, so I might as well pass them to those that can use them. But I can only implant four C-rank bloodline abilities, or several C-rank skill techniques every twelve hours with my current level of chakra reserves. So the rest of the teams would have to wait till the next cycle before they get their new skills."
"That will be alright. Hmm… It appears the highest level of bloodlines and skills you have is C-rank." Sarutobi said as he looked through the list of skills Naruto currently had unlocked. "In this case let's chose the five ninjas who will get their new C-rank bloodlines or skills today."
"I've got some cool skills for Iruka sensei." Naruto exclaimed. "Let's list him down as one of the first five ninjas."
"Alright then." Sarutobi said with a nod. "I've decided, Iruka, Yugao, Raido, Ibiki, and Hayate will get their C-rank bloodlines and skills first. Now these are the bloodlines and skills I need for you to pass to them…"
OoooO
As the sixth hour ended, all the Konoha ninjas gathered by the three wagons outside the house. They found the Hokage and Naruto already waiting there. Naruto was seated on the ground, three swords, a maple wood bow, and a leather bound book laid out in a fan shape in front of him.
"Do you want us to unload the wagons into the house now?" Asuma asked as he took in the strange scene.
"Actually not at the moment. Yugao, Hayate and Raido sit yourself in front of one of the swords." Sarutobi called out in a firm voice. "Ibiki sit in front of the bow and Iruka in front the book."
Asuma looked at his father with a frown, his old man had been acting quite strange since they came into this sub-reality training ground. It was understandable given the magnitude of Naruto's rare bloodline, but he was getting tired of the mystery act that his old man was putting up.
Looking around the group he saw that Anko was also shifting her body in slight agitation. There was some movement among the group as the five ninjas that were singled out made their way forward and sat down in front of Naruto.
Sarutobi turned to Naruto who nodded. Asuma watched as Naruto waved his hand at the objects in front of him. There was a wave of strong chakra presence as the five objects dissolved into globes of lights which streamed into Raido, Hayate, Yugao, Ibiki and Iruka.
Asuma's eyes widened as the five ninjas began to jerk backwards as the light struck them. As the last orbs of lights disappeared into the five ninjas, Asuma glared hard at his father.
"No more games father." Asuma said darkly. Sarutobi looked up at his son in surprise, it was the first time Asuma had dropped protocol and not call Sarutobi by his position in public. "Stop hiding things from us. What did that child do to them?"
"I believe Naruto has just passed each of them either an unique bloodline ability or several skill techniques." Sarutobi said simply.
Asuma gaped at Sarutobi's words before turning to look at the five ninjas who had begun to get up jerkily. Iruka in particular seemed to be shivering slightly, his whole body swaying as if he had too much to drink.
"How can a child pass a bloodline limit to anyone?" Anko demanded from the side of the crowd.
"This is one aspect of Naruto's bloodline limit. He is able to infuse chakra into inanimate objects which can raise the powers of the objects to unbelievable levels. This process will unlock the hidden potential in each objects which he can then implant into any person as a specialized bloodline limit or unique skill techniques." Sarutobi said looking at the stunned ninjas gathered before him. "Why do you think I declare knowledge of his bloodline a SS rank secret? It's not just his ability to create dungeons outside of time and space. What do you think will happen if the world knew that Konoha have a bloodline which can create other bloodlines?"
There was a thump as Ebisu sat down onto the ground, his legs giving out under him. Iruka who was standing at the side held onto his head, looking a bit green in the face.
"I've this knowledge in my head." Iruka said looking like he was a bit drunk. He pointed into the distance. "It's telling me if I channel my chakra to my finger…"
A blinding white beam of light shot out from Iruka's finger blasting a smoking crater in the ground where Naruto used to be standing. Naruto himself had already jumped out of the way, with an extremely guilty look on his face.
"Some bloodlines or skills might not be totally compatible with some people. They either didn't work for them, or they will leave the person quite sick for a few hours after the implantation process." Naruto explained looking abashed. "I think Iruka might be the latter case."
"Shit." Anko cursed as Iruka wobbly turned around and pointed at the group.
She dashed forward, pressing the pressure points on Iruka's neck as he slumped to the ground unconscious. She then shot a suspicious look at the other four who had gone through the implantation process. Yugao looked quite dazed, but the other three looked alert and normal.
"The little guy's going to take a long nap." Anko said as she set Iruka onto the ground with surprising gentleness. "Hayate, check if your girlfriend needs a doze off as well."
"I'm alright." Yugao shook her head. "Just a bit dizzy."
"This is incredible." Ibiki said observing Naruto keenly. "I have this knowledge of how to use an ice genjutsu and ninjutsu combination technique in my head. I was not even aware that there's a way to use ice techniques outside of a specialized bloodline limit. Now all I need to do is to channel my chakra in accordance to the memory to execute the move. To be able to impart skills and bloodlines to others, I've never heard of such a gift."
"And you wouldn't." Sarutobi said firmly. "To the outside world, Naruto's bloodline limit does not exist because I expect all of you to keep it a secret. To those that break this SS-rank secret, you know the consequences."
The gathered ninjas nodded though Asuma was looking at Naruto intensely.
"Naruto can only implant a few bloodlines or skills every twelve hours. The next batch will have to wait until the next cycle. Yugao, Hayate and Raido, Naruto had passed to the three of you five powerful sword techniques ranging from D to C ranks, including two that Hayate has already encountered, the Slayer's Descent move and the Hurricane slash. I expect the three of you to train these sword techniques to their full potential during your time here." Sarutobi said sternly.
Kakashi who had been standing silently in the crowd suddenly looked up, as the puzzle of Naruto's sword skills was revealed.
"That's how Naruto got all his sword techniques isn't it?" Kakashi said, a look of understanding in his eyes. "Those sword techniques that suddenly made Naruto so powerful came from his own ability to implant those skills into himself."
"You've guess rightly Kakashi. After Naruto implanted those sword techniques into himself, he had also spent months' worth of time in the sub-reality training his skills to the current level." Sarutobi said with a nod. "Iruka has the Blast Finger bloodline limit which allows him to shoot beams of concentrated chakra from his fingers.
Ibiki has been given the Psycho Mirage skill which is a powerful and specialized genjutsu and ninjutsu combination technique, allowing him to create ice to be used for attacks. Once you mastered this technique, you could effectively teach other ninjas this skill as well. The only difference is that they have to learn it the hard way instead of having the technique instantly activated with the usage of chakra."
"All these are techniques and bloodlines that I've never heard before. How do you even know their names and the way that they work?" Asuma asked as he looked at his father.
"Naruto uncovered a book listing all known skills and bloodlines from the body of a monster during the time he spent training by himself." Sarutobi explained. "Using it, he was able to understand the skills and bloodlines he had unlocked in powered up objects with the aid of the book. That book is under my safe keeping right now and is also considered a SS rank artifact.
Also, since you are all now aware of the full limits of Naruto's bloodline, I will reveal my plan to all of you. I am going to make sure each of you gathered here gained at least one bloodline limit or several unique and powerful skills before this one month's worth of time is up. I will also expect all of you to train all your bloodlines and skills to their full potential. Explore the bloodlines and skills given to you on your own and incorporate ways to use it in battles.
Now then, I need someone to carry Iruka to his room, while the rest of us unload the wagons. Yugao, you can go and rest as well. The next monster fighting session will begin in three hours' time."
As everyone dispersed to help unload the wagons, Anko walked up to Naruto with a smile that sends shivers down his spine.
"Now, Naruto is it?" Anko said with a predatory smile. "Since you'll be giving me bloodlines and skills, try to give me those that can do a lot of destruction will you? It'll make me ever so happy."
Naruto gulped as Anko leaned forward, revealing her set of well shaped cleavage.
"Ah… ok?" Naruto said in a horrified high pitched squeak.
"Good." Anko said straightening herself with a pleased smile. "Just don't give me any sissy bloodline. If you do, I'll cut your balls off."
Naruto paled as he watched Anko walking to the wagons to help out.
"No puny skills for the psycho lady. Got it." Naruto said weakly as he walked back towards the house.
OoooO
Five hours later, after all the items were unloaded into the house, Naruto begun handing out the weapons that he had already powered up with his chakra to all the gathered ninjas. Just by having skin contact with the weapons allowed them to access the unique skills hidden within the weapons and have knowledge on how to access it. Naruto had added that with time they would learn how to use the skills without having to touch the powered up weapons, but it would be easier for everyone if the skills were directly implanted into them.
Most of the gathered ninjas had taken a set of powered up kunai or daggers except for Yugao, Hayate and Raido who took a sword each. They had begun the next training session with a team short. Kakashi was assigned to Asuma's team with the mission to clear the monsters on land, while Raido was assigned to Yugao's team where they were supposed to battle the monsters in the water. Iruka was still out of commission though Naruto had stated that he should be fine with rest.
Naruto had then proceeded to create mid-level monsters for this round. This time, several powerful sea serpents had appeared in the water while a horde of humans wearing gleaming white armor appeared on land wielding swords and shields. No sense of humanity could be found in these soulless human clones as the armored humans immediately charged forward to where Asuma's team was positioned.
Though not ninjas, the human clones were highly skilled with swords and also unbelievably fast even though they were wearing heavy armor. There was also a small group of human clones that did not wear any armor but were dressed in robes lingering at the back of the soulless army. Each of them carried a thick tome in each of their hands as they somehow rained lightning, sharp blades of wind and fireballs at Team Asuma as well as any armored humans clones caught in the path.
Ebisu was struck by a stray bolt of lightning and was out of commission while Kakashi was forced to reveal his Sharingan to keep track of the fast movements of the armored targets and aid in the fight. At an unspoken command, Ibiki guarded Ebisu's injured body while Kakashi dealt with the army of armored swordsmen. With a large water dragon, Kakashi opened a path for Asuma to strike at the robed figures at the back of the army who continued casting their dangerous elemental techniques.
The tides turned when Tenzo had joined the inland battle, apparently sent by the Hokage once he saw that Ebisu was in no condition to fight. It took another half an hour before all the soulless human clones were killed. Team Asuma had trudged back to the house which had become their base, weary and suffering bruises and cuts on their bodies. Team Yugao was already gathered at the base, bodies of the giant serpents that they had slay floating on the water.
"We'll rest for half an hour before going out to scavenge items that might be precious and of use to us." Sarutobi said as Naruto began healing Ebisu's injured arm which had been struck by a lightning bolt.
"It suddenly occur to me that one can amass quite a lot of wealth battling monsters in the sub-reality." Raido suddenly spoke up slowly.
"That's true, and that's one of the purposes of us training here." Sarutobi said confirming Raido's statement. "Not all the items could be sold back in our world, but of those that could be sold, all the gathered ninjas would gain a percentage of the profits. You'll also be allowed to take any equipment found as loot if it is of use to you, provided they are confirmed to be not potentially dangerous to anyone."
"Though Naruto's bloodline is not offensive, its enormous support capabilities are unimaginable." Yugao said slowly. "Training and amassing wealth at the same time, while not aging even though a long time might have passed, this bloodline is incredibly powerful in a pure support type of way."
"Yes, that's why I've entrusted all of you with his secret while giving you further training in this reality at the same time." Sarutobi said with a nod. "If this training exercise proves useful to us after a month's time had ended, I might include more of my trusted ninjas into these training sessions."
"Then I'd like to volunteer myself for all the training sessions!" Anko called out, a grin on her face.
"Wouldn't including more people increase the risk of everyone finding out about Naruto's bloodline?" Kakashi asked with a frown.
"It is something I've considered, which is why only a few more others would be joining us in these training exercises." Sarutobi said nodding at Kakashi. "The training sessions will occur once every week, so let me know before hand if any of you wish to join us. Each training sessions will be counted as S-rank missions, as well as the chance to take a percentage of the loot we've gathered.
We will be doing team rotations after fifteen worth of days have passed. I want all of you to get to know how to work with each other as there may come a time when you need to team up in the real world. You are my elites and the most trusted ninjas of Konoha's corp. There's a reason why I've chosen all of you. In the meantime, rest up before we begin looting the bodies."
As the gathered ninjas drifted away, Kakashi looked in Naruto's direction. After the events of the past few hours, it seemed that Naruto was more than the bumbling idiot he had seemed at first. He'll have to keep a close eye on this surprising student of his.
OoooO
By the time of the next cycle, almost everyone had grown used to the sub-reality training. This time round, of the ninjas gathered around Naruto, another five were singled out and were asked to sit in front of Naruto. Anko, Tenzo, Ebisu, Asuma and Kakashi all sat in front of a book each.
"Alright Kakashi and Tenzo, I am going to pass you what is known as the Ice spell skills. These are skills that let's you instantly tap into your spiritual energies to create bolts of ice without any handseals." Naruto explained to the five ninjas before him. "Ebisu will get the Wind spell skill while Asuma and Anko will gain the Lightning spell skills. All of which serves the same function, just of a different element. From what the book says, these skills will also instantly give you elemental affinity of their individual elements."
"Though Konoha has no knowledge of any ice elemental techniques. It's my hope that those with the new elemental affinity can create your own ice manipulation techniques." Sarutobi said as he nodded to Kakashi and Tenzo.
"Lightning sounds destructive enough." Anko added in a blood curling chuckle.
Naruto shuddered slightly at being seated in front of the psychotic woman before waving his hands at the items. The five books dissolved into balls of chakra which streamed into the five ninjas seated in front of each of the items. This time round, there seemed to be no ill effects from the five ninjas.
Kakashi blinked as he held out his right hand. The air instantly cooled above his hand, forming a ball of ice.
"This is amazing." Iruka commented as he watched the hovering ball of ice. He had only just woken up from a long nap before being told of the events that had passed in his sleep. Appearance wise, Iruka had seemingly recovered from his skill implantation process.
Lightning crackled in Anko's hands as she activated her new skill. She turned and gave Naruto a grin that chilled his blood.
"Thanks for the gift boy. So when will our next training mission starts?" Anko asked, with a hint of maniac glee in her eyes.
"Since all of you didn't seem to have any ill effects from the skill implantation process, we will begin in fifteen minutes' time. As per normal, Team Sarutobi will be guarding the house, Team Yugao will be dealing with the water base monsters this time round while Team Kakashi and Team Asuma will be dealing with the land base monsters." Sarutobi said as he assigned out the duties to the gathered ninjas. "Remember that constant usage of your skills or new bloodline will continually make them more powerful, so I encourage you to use your new abilities in battle."
"Understood Hokage sama." The gathered ninjas spoke as one as they stood in front of Sarutobi.
"You may now go and prepare. Meet back in fifteen minutes' time." Sarutobi instructed. "I will need to talk to Naruto, you are all dismissed."
Naruto turned to face the Hokage as he gave a grin.
"So what else do you need me for?" Naruto asked curiously.
"You may have all those powerful implanted skills and bloodlines." Sarutobi said as he eyed Naruto with an impartial look. "But one thing I've noticed in the training sessions is that your ninja skills are still academy level. You can use the shadow clone and replacement techniques with great effect, most probably a result of your long period of solo training, but you lack even the most basic genin skills such as tree walking, which I am now going to remedy."
"You mean you're going to be teaching me tree walking?" Naruto said as his eyes light up at the thought of learning new techniques.
"Yes. While the others are fighting monsters, I'll begin teaching you the basic genin skills. We'll start with tree walking." Sarutobi explained. "Since there's a distinct lack of tall trees in this sub reality, you shall practice walking up the walls of the house until I can get Tenzo to grow a few trees for your training. But that can wait until the next training session."
"But what about protecting the house from monsters?" Naruto asked with a frown.
"I am sure Tenzo and I can handle anything that comes our way." Sarutobi said with a smile as he led Naruto towards the house, before planting a feet on the outer walls of the house and began walking up, to the amazed look of Naruto. "Now listen carefully to my instruction. You will need to focus your chakra to the soles of your feet. Use them to grip the walls of the house as you walk up. Remember that you have to keep a fine balance in how much chakra force you exert to grip the walls or this will happen."
Naruto watched as part of the wooden wall under Sarutobi's feet crunched into a small crater at the extra chakra force.
"I can get Tenzo to repair the walls after the training is over, but try to make as few mistakes as possible." Sarutobi said as Naruto grinned excitedly. "We'll keep up this training exercise for every monster fighting training. Once you manage to walk up to the top of the house or tree without any mishap, I'll proceed to teach you other new techniques."
"That's so cool! Thanks old man!" Naruto said with excitement.
"Good, then I think it is now time to begin the training exercise." Sarutobi said smiling as he pointed to the gathered ninjas behind Naruto. "Give us something a bit higher level this time round."
"Yes! Old man Hokage!" Naruto said as he frowned in concentration and the members of the four teams readied their weapons.
Black mist swept the land and sea as monsters took physical form. In the water, creatures of what looked like many snakes fused into a single large body hissed as they made their way towards the ninjas. On land, a horde of large dogs each with three heads ran towards the humans with blood curling howls, fire erupting at their feet and flames escaping from their mouths.
"Hydras and Cerberus." Naruto said as he quickly identified the two species of creatures. "The many snake heads of the Hydras attack in all direction so they are very strong in retaliation. The Cerberus' three dog heads can attack at once, in large hordes, they could do a lot of damage. Ice attacks work best on them."
"You heard Naruto." Sarutobi said as he leapt off the wall of the house, landing beside Naruto. "Everyone move out!"
"Yes Hokage sama!" The gathered ninjas spoke in unity as they ran towards their opponents at top speed, launching their attacks. In moments, only Sarutobi, Naruto and Tenzo were left near the house.
"Alright Naruto, do the wall exercise until all the monsters have been slayed." Sarutobi said as he eyed a small splinter of the Cerberus horde that managed to break away from Team Kakashi and Team Asuma. "Tenzo, get ready, it seemed that the battle has come to us early this time round…"
OoooO