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 6: Life in the dungeon
Kakashi watched as Naruto was still struggling with water walking after one week's worth of practice. After Naruto had mastered tree walking, Sarutobi had passed the responsibility of coaching Naruto in basic genin skills to Kakashi, seeing as he was technically the sensei of Team 7. Not that he actually minded, it gave him time to bond and get to uncover the personalities of his mysterious student.
He would be the first to admit that Naruto did not leave him with much of a first impression. Though the child was able to do the high rank shadow clone technique, his skills in most areas tends to fall below academy standards. Of course, that was before his bloodline limit had awakened and Naruto had suddenly became a changed person. One thing Kakashi did have to admit though was that after the results of the bell test, he had pegged Naruto as the "Heart" of Team 7.
Sasuke might have been strong, but the path of vengeance he was going down was not the foundation of a good ninja. Sakura was a typically love struck fan girl of her age, her only reason of pursing the ninja career mostly lies with her infatuation, Sasuke. Naruto on the other hand was the only one Kakashi had seen as having the right building blocks to become a worthy ninja of Konoha. Now with the awakening of his powerful support capability bloodline, Naruto become more than a force to be reckoned with.
"Spread your chakra evenly across your feet and push against the water surface with the right amount of force." Kakashi instructed dryly from the side as Naruto sunk into the water for the hundredth time since the water walking training had begun. Naruto had improved a lot over the week though his poor chakra control was slowing his progress. Kakashi estimated that Naruto would probably master the water walking technique sometime tomorrow or the day after.
"I am doing that." Naruto grouched as he steadied himself above the water again. "But it's hard, like something is interfering with my chakra."
"We could probably get a Hyuga to look at your chakra pathways when we get back to see if there's really anything wrong." Kakashi conceded without looking up from reading his Icha Icha Paradise. "But I expect you to master water walking long before then."
"Yes Kakashi sensei!" Naruto shouted as he took a few more steady steps. Naruto's face was strained as he struggled to maintain his chakra output at a steady pace while he walked on top of the water.
Kakashi sighed, things might have changed, but it seemed that Naruto's still as loud as ever.
OoooO
Life for everyone settled in a routine as they got used to co-existing in the dungeon. By the time of the third week of training, Iruka was on friendly terms with most of the jonins. Not surprising since all of them were trapped in the place and forced to interact with each other until a month is up.
To Iruka's amazement he had also discovered that his fighting capabilities increased three fold through the three weeks of intensive combat training. He was still unable to wrap his mind around the fact that he had a legitimate bloodline, one passed to him by Naruto. But through out the weeks of constantly using that bloodline limit, his Blast Finger abilities had grown powerful enough to seriously injured or maimed low level enemies if they were hit by the concentrated chakra blast.
He had also taken this time in the dungeon to reach out to Naruto, the kinship he felt with the boy made him treat Naruto like his surrogate little brother. Naruto's personality was largely unchanged, though his skills had grown at a rapid rate, especially his sword fighting skills which were now on par with Hayate and the other swordsmen and women of Konoha. His little "brother" had also strike up a firm friendship with Hayate, Yugao and Raido, not much of a surprise as they tend to spend much of their free time in the dungeon honing their sword skills together.
The last time Iruka had heard, Naruto was chattering excitedly about coming up with a new sword style with all three sword masters, something called the Four Swordsmen of Konoha. Sarutobi had given a hearty laugh when he heard of the title, though he had encouraged the four of them to pursue in crafting their own sword style.
Team rotation had begun early on the third week and Iruka had found himself teamed with Raido as team leader and a team mate in Anko. This led him to the current crux of his problem. Anko seemed to delight in teasing him and making him uncomfortable. Iruka flushed at the thought of the skimpily dressed and attractive woman, giving a long suffering sigh. Sometimes he just don't understand the woman.
Iruka slouched as he walked back to his room after a nice long bath. The next cycle starts in nine hours so he would have time to rest. Opening the doors to his room, Iruka paused at the entrance and gaped at the sight before him. A partially undressed Anko was tangled up in his sheets. Iruka swallowed painfully as he looked in shock at Anko who opened her eyes at the sound of the doors.
"I think this is my room…" Iruka paused as he stepped out into the hall way and looked down the corridor counting the number of doors. Yup, he was pretty sure this was his room. "Anko did you… get into the wrong room?"
"Oh shut up." Anko said crossly as she sat up, the sheets falling away to reveal her bare top. "Come in and close the door."
Iruka flushed even more, but at Anko's fierce glare, he had no choice but to step into his room and close the door behind him.
"Erm…" Iruka stumbled uncomfortably, trying to look anywhere but at Anko.
"Look we've been doing the mating dance for all week, so let's skip all that part and get right down to the main thing." Anko said as she stood up, the blanket falling from her body.
"Mating dance?" Iruka coughed as he turned to look at Anko wondering what the hell she was talking about. The look turned into an ogle as Iruka realized his previous conception about Anko's partial state of undress was wrong… she was fully undressed!
Iruka stumbled backwards nervously, pressing his back against the door in part horror and part anticipation at what the woman would do to him as Anko walked up to him.
"Stop acting like a virgin or are you just not interested in women?" Anko asked snidely at the look of horror on Iruka's face.
"No I am a virgin! … I mean NO! I am not a virgin and I like women." Iruka protested weakly as Anko ran her hands down his chest, sweat rolling down his forehead. He was starting to feel very lightheaded.
"Good because you seem like a nice guy and I've always been direct about what I wanted." Anko said with a grin as she dragged Iruka down towards her.
As Iruka fell down onto the soft body of Anko, an emotion that he seldom felt swept over him… and he was lost to the world for the next nine hours.
OoooO
Yugao looked through all the loot they had gotten in the three and a half week of training. Tenzo had to create a large wooden warehouse to shelter them all. They had long discovered that the three wagons and the spare rooms were just not enough to contain all the loot. The Hokage and Kakashi were currently locked in the meeting room as they tried to come up with a storage seal powerful enough to store all the items. Creating the seal was probably going to take a few days' worth of time at least since the magnitude of what they're trying to contain was quite large and there was no urgent need for the seals to be completed within a day.
There were still three more days left of their one month training which the Hokage had declared as free and easy time for everyone. It was basically a time for everyone to recuperate from the intense training exercises before they return back to their home reality. Yugao had volunteered to do inventory for the loot, which was one reason why she was in the warehouse now as she had roped Hayate in to help.
"It's been one hell of a time here." Yugao remarked as she counted the basket of rose torn vine whips in front of her. They had been harvested from a clone army of humanoid females who was named Poison Ivy, according to the mysterious encyclopedia of monsters and skills in the Hokage's possession.
The hybrid plant and human women army had been able to manipulate plant life to an extent more incredible then what Tenzo could do with his Wood Release bloodline. Team Sarutobi actually had to intervene directly during the fight. There were some speculation what bloodline could be harvested from these whips. The encyclopedia had simply listed the ultimate bloodline able to gain from the whips as something called "The Green" an A rank plant manipulation bloodline. It seemed to be more powerful than the Wood Release bloodline which was only listed as B rank ability.
"Most of us had gained two or at least one bloodline and several unique skills." Hayate said with a nod. "I agree with you. What happened to us here, it was something I would never have imagine. All of us now have the five basic chakra affinities, something that would only be possible in the real world after long years of training. I have the magma elemental affinity as well, while you have ice. Can you imagine what elemental types our children would have?"
"Talking about children now eh." Yugao said with an amused smile as Hayate leaned forward to give her a chaste kiss on her lips. Their time in this space/time training ground had heightened their relationship to the point that the two of them were comfortable enough now to be discussing about marriage.
"We're not getting any younger Yugao." Hayate said wistfully. "And you know how I feel about you."
"As do I, but marriage is a big thing for us ninjas... Especially when we wouldn't know if we would survive the next mission." Yugao said with a distant look in her eyes.
"I am sure we can work something out with the Hokage. Especially since we're part of the few Hokage sama entrusted to keep the secret of Naruto's bloodline." Hayate said in contemplation. "I overheard the Hokage discussing with Asuma and Kakashi about setting us up as a secret Konoha squad answerable to only him. With the sole purpose of traveling into the dungeons Naruto created, to train to become elite ninjas and gather wealth for the village. They were in the midst of planning up a public cover which would hide our activities if investigated by the council."
"We'll have to wait and see what the Hokage had planned for us then." Yugao said with a smile. "Now about the new sword techniques we're trying to come up with Naruto and Raido, I was thinking of ways we can integrate our new chakra affinities into them..."
OoooO
Three days had passed by the time the team of ninjas next gathered outside the house, standing beside three empty wagons. By then they had stayed in the dungeon for a month. This time round, there had been enough time for the Hokage and Kakashi to come up with a powerful storage seal to store everything, which meant that there was no need to use the wagons for storage purposes.
Their training in the dungeon was over, and there was anticipation on everyone's faces as they wait to be returned home. Everyone were carrying packs of their belongings, as well as items they had requisite from their gathered loot. Kakashi, Iruka, Asuma, Ebisu, Ibiki and Tenzo had kept several elemental chakra kunais and daggers, Raido, Yugao and Hayate had requisite their own collections of rare powerful swords from the bounty they had gathered. Anko meanwhile had taken a selection of whips and senbons, satisfaction on her face at her new items.
"It's time to return home, but I'll like to say firstly how proud of all of you I am. In the months of training in this place, all your abilities have improved by leaps and bounds. The comradeship you all have for each other is also something that you'll take with you when you leave this place, as well as the skills and experience that you've gained." Sarutobi said with pride. "I expect all of you to keep your promise and never reveal what happened here to anyone that are not in the know. I'll be setting up an official cover and a ninja department that will oversee our dungeon training activities, with all involved as its primary members. The majority of the loot would be cashed in and you would receive your mission pay as well as a percentage of the liquidated asset in a few days' time. Get some rest when all of you return to the real world. You've all earned it. I'll call a meeting in two days' time. Naruto if you will, it's time take to take us back."
"Sure thing old man Hokage." Naruto said with a grin as a look of concentration crossed his face.
There was a familiar cascading swirl of lights that surrounded everyone as well as the sickening feeling of lurching stomachs as everyone were deposited back into training area 78. The empty wagons appearing beside them. Hayate and Anko looked at the three horses they had tied to the trees a month back, to realize the truth of the Hokage's words. Months might have passed in the sub reality, but only a minute had passed in the real world.
"It's nice to be back in Konoha." Iruka said with a relieved sigh, able to at last relax in a familiar environment.
"It is indeed." Kakashi said looking at Naruto. Both of them had built up a firm teacher and pupil relationship during the months he had spent in the sub reality coaching Naruto in the basic genin exercises. Naruto could now attempt tree walking and water walking with great skill. His chakra control had also improved greatly.
"Anko, Hayate, I need to trouble you two to help me return these wagons." Sarutobi said turning to face everyone. "Kakashi, Naruto and Asuma, I'll send an official draft to cancel the genin team meetings for your genin teams for the next two days so that the three of you can get some rest. That should be all. Everyone except Naruto are dismissed until I call for the next meeting in two days' time to discuss our future."
"And what's our future?" Naruto asked curiously looking at the Hokage.
"You're know in time." Sarutobi said with a smile. "It will be something that will further Konoha while enabling you to keep your bloodline a secret at the same time. By the way Naruto, walk with me to the Hokage's Tower, I have somethings to discuss with you... about how best to dispose the loot we've gathered."
OoooO
At the basement of Hokage's Tower...
Te'kulir of the Netherworld Rosen Queen's branch, attached to Reality 673 looked at the baskets of items spread out over a large empty storage room. His expert eyes quickly gauged the cash values of the items before him, coming up with a price for his customers.
He flapped his wings, and turned to see his two customers giving him weary looks. "You don't have much mothmen in this world I suppose?" The giant moth demon said, well used to the type of behavior he was getting from those two humans.
The netherworld denizens of Reality 673 seldom interact with the human worlds, and the rare humans from Reality 673 who had a hotline to the Rosen Queen Netherworld branch tended to be startled by Te'kulir's appearance when they saw him for the first time.
"I am afraid not." The older white haired man said in a polite voice. "Our world is quite tame in that aspect. So... regarding our business dealings..."
"You want to trade in all of these items for gold bars." Te'kulir said with a bob of his furry moth like head. "That can be easily done. I can give you a quote right now. 9,789 gold bars for the lot of them. If you agree, I can get the gold here instantly."
"That amount is more than fair." The older man said with a nod. "Aside from that, I also wish to conduct other business with you. I am aware you sell chakra weapons and armors, I would like to preview some of your selections... and do you sell manuals teaching about chakra weapons and armor crafting?..."
OoooO
A day later...
"Sarutobi! What's the meaning of this!" Koharu bristled as she entered the Hokage's office with Homura trailing behind her. As the two village elders of Konoha, the two of them held a certain degree of power in Konoha's council. The elderly woman wave a paper in her hand as she stopped in front of Sarutobi's desk.
"I see you found the new bill I've passed." Sarutobi said calmly, showing no signs of being disturbed by his old teammate, and now adviser's agitation.
"In the name of the Hokage of Konoha, you have requisite the old abandoned lumber compound of the Uchiha clan in the western forest. A sum of 78,948 ryo from the village funds was paid to the Uchiha clan account in exchange for the will to the land!" Koharu said waving the billing writing by Sarutobi in front of his face. "What do you need an abandoned wood cutters' and lumber processing compound for? And to pay such a large sum of money for it through the village funds! Are you senile?"
"I guess you did not see the other bill then." Sarutobi said dryly as he handed Koharu another piece of paper. The woman took the paper and gave it a cursory glance. She paused, her face paling as she read the paper again.
"2,237 gold bars each worth 5,070 ryo has been added to Konoha's treasury. Profits from a secret S rank mission authorized by the Hokage. 10 sets of chakra armors and their accompanying weapons are also added to Konoha's armory. All are spoils from the S rank search and explore mission into pre-catalysm ruins?" Koharu's voice increased by an octave. "Sarutobi, I thought you were more sensible than this... to go chasing after pipe dreams! To get rich over discovery of pre-catalysm artifacts!"
"I authorized that mission because I've trusted information that there were pre-catalysm knowledge in those ruins I sent our ninjas to, and I was correct. Beside the gold and chakra equipments found, tomes detailing how to create chakra armors and weapons were also there." Sarutobi said giving Koharu an unperturbed look.
"You have working knowledge of how to create chakra equipments?" Homura interrupted in a shocked voice. "That knowledge is priceless! Few hidden village had the knowledge of how to craft those equipments."
"I know, and that's why I am going to set up a special team of ninjas to uncover the knowledge on those tomes and to create Konoha's own brand of chakra armors and weaponry." Sarutobi said with a smile. "The old lumber compound I bought with the village fund would house Konoha's own weapon and armor smiths, who would create chakra equipments for Konoha. They would also house a special group of ninjas who would safeguard and protect the knowledge. These two groups would operate directly under me and would be answerable to only me. Konoha's SWAC, the Specialized Weapons and Armors Crafting department."
OoooO
A day later... Hokage's Tower...
"Let me get this straight. You're setting up a department creating Chakra weapons and armors, based on some old tomes the kid got when he first went dungeon training, and we're the guards for this department?" Anko asked incredulously as the group of ninjas who had been told of Naruto's bloodline secret gathered at the Hokage's Tower two day's later.
"It is the perfect cover to gather all of you in one place for dungeon training." Sarutobi said simply. "Naruto's presence could be included as someone who could provide chakra to power up the weapons and armors, giving an orphaned child a side income based on his high chakra reserves. After all, it is common knowledge that creating of chakra weapons and armors requires large amounts of chakra."
"But how does this work? Especially since I am currently the Head of Interrogation and Torture." Ibiki noted with a frown.
"Yugao will be reassigned from the Anbu and promoted as the new Head of Specialized Weapons and Armors Crafting department, code name SWAC." Sarutobi explained, causing Yugao to look at him in shock. "Her role is to ensure the safety of Konoha's new department of chakra weapon and armor smiths. She will be the commander of the ninja forces that are to defend the compound set up for this new department.
"Her other hidden role will be to facilitate dungeon trainings happening in future and make sure they remain secret. There will be a permanent ninja force at the compound, which will be boosted by additional rotating ninjas from Konoha's ninja corps. This will be a compulsory rotation duty for Konoha's ninjas once the department is started, from genins to jonins.
"The village elders were in agreement of this mandate as this cuts down on the cost to maintain a larger guard force, and give the genins exposure to guard duties. This is also where all of you will come in. You will be called for a rotation when there are dungeon training happening. Giving me a way to gather all of you in one place legitimately whenever there's another training."
"So we're actually going to be conducting the training in secret, behind the backs of everyone." Kakashi mused. "And with the department as a front, we'll be able to more easily funnel away the portion of our loot that are weapons and armors."
"That's correct. It will take another two weeks before the new compound for the Department of Specialized Weapons and Armors Crafting is fortified, as well as quarters build for the residential weapon and armor smiths to move in. For the time being further dungeon training activities will be on hold." Sarutobi revealed much to Anko's disappointment. "In the meantime, concentrate on honing your capabilities with your new bloodlines and skills. The new SWAC department may be a front for our activities, but I can foresee it becoming a major revolutionary force for Konoha's ninja corps. When it is announced to the public in two weeks' time, it would be a rich target for those hidden villages who can not withstand the lure of getting knowledge of chakra equipment crafting. Much will depend on your skills to counter the enemy nins."
"Yes Hokage sama." The group of gathered ninjas said in affirmation.
"I have already cashed in the loot gathered during the dungeon training. Within these envelopes are a percentage of the cash amount and your mission pay." Sarutobi said as he began distributing out the envelopes on his desk. Anko swore as she opened the envelope handed to her and saw the amount within.
"These are more than triple a normal S rank mission pay." Anko said with a grin. "Training and gathering wealth at the same time. You can definitely count me in on the next dungeon training."
"But who did you sell those weapons and items to father?" Asuma said with a frown on his face. "Many of them are very powerful chakra elemental artifacts."
"I have my sources." Sarutobi said evasively. "Do not worry, the items will not fall into enemies' hands."
"Well I for one am glad for the amount." Raido said looking at his pay with a gleam in his eyes. "It's the highest mission pay I've ever gotten."
"Always remember that the main objective of the training is to increase your ninja prowess." Sarutobi said with a smile. "The wealth we gathered is a fortunate side effect. I'll be rotating those called up for dungeon training. For the second dungeon training, I've plans to include the last batch of my trusted ninjas... Since you've offered Anko, you'll be the facilitator for the next dungeon training trip, now there are a few things we need to discuss..."
OoooO
Author's Note: And here's the end of the new chapters. Which other Konoha ninjas would you guys like to see in dungeon crawling teams? Let me know your suggestions as well as other "cross-realities" bloodlines or artifacts you'll like to see in the story. ;) After all the Netherworld merchants spans realities...