Chapter Ten

A/N: I've wanted to update, but Fanfiction(dot)net has been having technical glitches with the Log In... In that instance of this little problem, I have been going much further in the story. Re-watching old Naruto episodes helps me, that and also reading the various volumes of the manga I've bought. Though, don't expect to see much of the original reacted. Since I have placed little twists here and there, things will be much different.

"So, Orochimaru-sama... this Tsunade; she's a medical kunoichi?" Kabuto questioningly asked his master. Both were traveling in disguise, to the destination where they had last heard of the blonde woman. The destination was a town, which was also the sight of what remained of a large impressive castle in slight ruins. Of course, if it was in larger ruins, the tag natural disaster would fit the bill.

The snake user smile deviously. "Yes Kabuto, she's the most experience medical-nin and she is the only that can heal my arms after what the wretched old fool did," Orochimaru said with a venomous tone. He still ha snot forgotten how he had nearly lost his life to the Death God, and paid his escape with the lost of his arms.

"I see," Kabuto said as he readjusts his glasses.

=0=0=

"So, why are we doing this again?"

"Because Naruto-kun had basically saved half the village from that monster," Hinata replied to Kiba, blushing a bit. Teams Eight, Nine, and Ten were all doing some repairs to Naruto's apartment, after it was shown that it was not up to standards. Plus, it was now becoming a two-story apartment.

"Oh yeah, that masked freak that attacked Naruto two months ago..."

"Hinata is right," Kurenai spoke up to Kiba, "while we have been busy fighting off the invading shinobi, Naruto had basically fought against the Gaara kid who that masked man basically transformed into a demonic monster by himself with no help. He is one of the heroes of the village."

"Imagine if Naruto had not been able to fight that monster head-on," Asuma says, "we'd all be in some pretty deep shit right now."

"But what about that girl from Oto?" Sakura asks the team senseis.

"Well, that is up to the Hokage to decide, which is why Naruto isn't here. I heard from father that Jiraiya-sama left the village to look for the Slug Sannin, Lady Tsunade," Shikamaru said, lazily hammering some plywood down with Choji's help, "only father knew that Jiraiya was planning on taking Naruto out of the village to travel with him... and Naruto must have taken that troublesome girl with him."

"As far as anyone knows, the Oto girl is a Nuke-nin because she abandoned her own village. Naruto may not know it, but he manages to make friends in just about anybody," Kurenai said with a spoken smile, "although I don't particularly agree that he kept her a secret from everyone else. He must have his reasons though..."

Hinata blushed, agreeing with the logic. Tenten as well.

"Naruto-kun will be surprised to see his home fixed up and brand new," Tenten giggled. Neji, who was recovering, had taken Naruto's words to heart, and was trying to change for the better good. Which explains why he's here. Lee would have been there, but since he's confined to the hospital...

=0=0=

"Fuuton: Rasengufuu (Spiraling Tornado)!" Naruto with the Master Sword, began channeling chakra around, and only managed to get a whirlwind to form before it dispersed, leaving him to fall onto his rear.

"Damn it," he swore, as he got back up. Kin was watching before she ran up to him.

"You okay?"

"Yeah Kin-chan, I just... don't know what I'm doing wrong."

"Fuuton jutsus are the hardest to use and even the easiest can be quite complicated to use. Have you ever heard of a Chakra Slip?"

"A what?"

"A special paper slip which when you channel a portion of chakra into it, it can show you what type of elemental affinity you may possess. Mine was water, but before you had saved me from a dark fate, I had mostly focused on brute actions and my bells. Now, I just wish to focus on using a completely different style all my own."

"So, what would this paper show you what elements you can use?" Naruto asks the raven-haired beauty.

"Wind splits, water wets, electricity crinkles, fire burns, and earth crumbles. As you already know, we have five main elements: Ho (Fire), Mizu (Water), Rai (Lightning), Tsuchi (Earth), and Kaze (Wind). Not many ninjas have al elemental affinity, and even if they do, it's just one type. It's rare for a ninja to have two, or even possibly three. Though it's not possible for a ninja to know all four elemental type jutsus and have no affinity..."

"Well... when we get back to Konoha, I'll ask Kakashi-sensei about these Chakra Slips."

Kin nodded, looking a bit down all of a sudden. "Yeah, about that... do you think I'll even be allowed? I mean, I was once the enemy to your village..."

Naruto pulled Kin into a comforting hug. "I know they will... you didn't participate in the invasion, you fought for us... for me... if anyone tries to harm you I'll protect you, okay?"

Kin closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, as Naruto gently pulls her towards the ground under the tree she stayed by.

Why are you being so nice to her, Naruto? Midna asks the boy.

Because she has gone through a rough life just like I had. I can understand her type of pain Midna... before I had known about the Kyuubi I was an attention seeker, always causing trouble because all I ever wanted was someone to acknowledge me. I had very few friends... we both have no family, we're both orphans...

Midna stayed quiet.

"Naruto-kun..." Naruto looked down, and Kin leaned up and gently kissed him, "Thank you... for being there for me when no one else would." Naruto was surprised by the small kiss, as evident by the blush that had formed, but he nodded and she rested against his chest again, eyes closed. Midna didn't like that this girl was the first to make the initial move into the battlefield called Naruto's Heart. Wait, why was she getting jealous over a small innocent kiss? It's not like she loves Naruto... right? Back in Konoha and in Suna, three girls suddenly felt as if something important had occurred. The blonde hero in green came to mind.

=0=0=

Kin and Naruto were surprised at first them a toad landed on top of Kin, who had in her surprised state knocked her elbow into Naruto's face. The toad was really Gamakichi, who told them that Jiraiya had found Tsunade at a local bar. They were following Gamakichi, who for some reason, was accompanied by Gamatatsu. It looked odd to see a kunoichi, and a boy wearing a green tunic with a shield and sword like some sort of age-old knight of some sort, following two different colored toads. Around ten minutes, and a short stop when Naruto saw something interesting at a local shop, the two toads stopped by a small pub. The two toads bid their goodbyes to Naruto and the "pretty girl" before poofing away in clouds of smoke. Inside the pub were Jiraiya and the woman named Tsunade. And damn did she have big assets. She didn't even look like Jiraiya's age; nah, she looked like she's in her mid twenties. Sitting next to the woman was a black haired lady who appeared to be in her twenties, and on the ground by her feet was... a pig?

"That's the old hag you were searching for?" Naruto asks Jiraiya.

Naruto got a flick on the forehead, causing him to yelp in pain. The "old hag" scowled at him.

"And what are you? You look more like some sort of knight than a shinobi."

"I AM a ninja... I just wear this because it's better than my old orange jumpsuit..."

That and I told you to buy it when we saw the tunic two months ago, Midna reminds Naruto.

Tsunade then noticed the hitai-ate plate in the boy's green hat, which the plate matches the hat's green color. "Feh, whatever. And no means no, Jiraiya, I will not become Hokage. It is a worthless title."

"What?" Naruto said in a cold whisper.

"After all, only fools would dare take the title. In the end they will just die..."

Her sake bottle was sliced, spilling the liquid all over. Naruto had drawn the Master Sword, and was holding it. Kin backed away from Naruto, because she was feeling the KI that was starting to come off from the blonde hero.

"How dare you... how dare you say those words..."

"It's true you brat," Tsunade said, annoyed that she wasted 100 ryo on an expensive drink which was now waste on the counter and the floor, "that's why the old man is dead."

Wrong thing to say. Before Naruto could kill her, someone grabbed him, preventing the sword from piercing her chest. It was Midna, who materialized herself in physical form. "Stop it right now!" She yelled not caring that she had just attracted the attention of the ninja, and the few drinkers of the pub, bartender included.

"No! This bitch dared to insult Sarutobi's memory, the man I call my grandfather!" Tears were falling from his eyes. When Sarutobi died, he was hurt the most. He saw him as a grandfather. The way the blonde Sannin was talking, disrespecting Sarutobi's memory of his sacrifice to stop Orochimaru... it was too much for him to take.

"Still! No reason to give in to your anger and just freaking kill her!" Midna yelled yanking Naruto back with her hair and now both Twilight Princess and Hero were glaring at one another, "if I haven't had stopped you, that sword really would have pierced her chest, and killed her! Besides, weren't you and the pervert over there on a mission to bring her back to Konoha?" No one understood what she said as in her anger she had slipped to her native tongue.

"Not if the mother fucker disrespects the man I love so dearly as family," he told her coldly.

She slaps him across the face. "Snap out of it! If you want to be pig-headed, go right ahead!"

Naruto calmed himself down; however ignoring the sting from the slap he turned to face the woman. "Outside, you teme... I'll teach you to never disrespect the dead."

"Fine," she said, getting up, much to the black haired woman's protests, "I just need one finger to beat you anyway."

Jiraiya groaned. This was going to end badly. But then he turned to look at the strange floating... imp with sunset eye, fiery hair tied as a ponytail, and a strange metal helmet that flew, actually flew, out the open door. Jiraiya, Kin, and Shizune followed out as well. The bartender muttered under his breath, and went to clean up the mess. Outside, Tsunade stood across from Naruto, who decided to not use his main weapons. He grabs the scroll from his left hip, and in a plume of smoke, hefted up the Kubikiri Hocho.

"Wait, isn't that?"

"Yes Shizune," Jiraiya answers, "From all I know is that Naruto had become a Kiri Swordsman taking Momochi Zubuza's place, which explains him wielding the Kubikiri Hocho."

"Naruto...?" Shizune whispered, finding the name familiar.

"Shougekiha!" He slams the blade, launching the chakra shockwave. Tsunade countered with stomping her foot, causing a quake and tripping everyone in the vicinity, plus all of the drinks and anything made of glass or ceramics shattered to the floor in the bar. Tsunade crossed the distance and with her finger, knocked Naruto across the forehead, sending him flying and crashing into a nearby vendor cart. The sword was left discarded, which Tsunade kicked to the side.

Naruto's Ninpod had gotten knocked of his person, which Midna had caught with her hair. Naruto got up, as Tsunade stood there, arms crossed. "See? It's a fool's dream... being Hokage means nothing."

"I'll show you fool, you old hag," Naruto coughed out, "before I would wish to be Hokage, but after everything that has happened to me, my new dream is to protect the people I cherish, and be a hero to those who have no heroes to look up to... and to help Midna."

Jiraiya, Kin, and Shizune looked at Midna, which the floating imp-like creature smiled warmly.

"I'll beat your old ass down!" Naruto yelled as he charges Tsunade, right hand poised as chakra flickers, and forms a sphere. However incomplete it was, Tsunade recognized that technique.

"Rasengan (Spiral Sphere)..." At that moment, she looked at the boy's face, and saw someone else in his place. Minato...

"TAKE THIS!" He yelled, and leapt into the air. However Tsunade caught him, and sent him flying with an arm drag which also dispersed the jutsu. He crashed through a fence, and Midna cried out, flying towards him.

"Jiraiya! Did you teach him that technique!?" She yelled.

"Yes, because he IS my apprentice. Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto? The Jinchuuriki of the fox? Minato's son...

Midna was helping Naruto up, as he groaned in pain.

"Naruto, are you okay. Damn it, if only potions still existed today," she cursed softly, having slipped into Twili.

Naruto seemed to understand her, as he had asked her what potions were.

"I'll tell you everything over drinks, just for old times sake?" Jiraiya questioned.

Tsunade grunted. "Fine... however, I would like to propose a bet. Besides, Naruto interests me..."

Jiraiya blinked.

Shizune blinked.

Tonton blinked.

Kin just stood there looking confused.

Naruto sat up, wincing while Midna was hovering over him, worried that he may have injured himself again, in a similar manner as the Sabaku no Shukaku incident.

"You, gaki, let's make a bet."

"What kind of bet, old hag?"

Eye twitch, she however lets the comment slide. "One jutsu... the Rasengan. Jiraiya had told me before you and your girlfriend here showed up about the mission the Village Council gave him."

"I'm not his/her boyfriend/girlfriend!" They yelled. Then they blushed a bit.

"Whatever, anyway, if you can complete a functioning Rasengan, I'll come back and become the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, plus I will give you my necklace."

"But Tsunade-sama!" Shizune gasped.

"I know what I'm doing, Shizune! However gaki, if I win, I take that fancy shield and both of your swords so I can pawn them for money."

"What!? No deal!" Midna yelled, "The Master Sword is too important to be pawned off for petty cash!"

"I accept," Naruto cuts her off.

Midna now rounded on Naruto. "What!? Naruto! Are you insane? If you lose, the Master Sword would be gone forever! You NEED that sword to take out the bastard who imprisoned me centuries ago!"

"Don't worry Midna-chan, I won't lose to Baachan here," he said, and she (Tsunade) gained another eye twitch, "I just need three days! Three days and I'll win that fancy necklace of hers!"

"Then we have a deal," Tsunade says, "I'll even be lenient on you. Seven days, kid."

"Naruto... idiot... look, you and Kin go back to the hotel and take Shizune with you. I'm going to go drink with my old friend."

Kin waked over, and helped Naruto off the ground, and before the girls' eyes, Midna shifted into a dark mass and melted away, hiding now in Naruto's shadow.

=0=0=

"Who is she?"

"Midna, the Twilight Princess... all I know is that I'm the reincarnation of a hero centuries ago who had faced off against an evil man. You remember Hyuuga Hinata, right Kin?"

Kin nods. "Of course I do, she's the one who displayed that unknown defense jutsu during the Chunnin Exams... from what I had heard of course."

"She's the reincarnation of a princess, while I am the reincarnation of a hero. Both of us when we were born in different fates were tied because of this mark on our left hands." Naruto pulled off his fingerless gloves and showed Kin and Shizune the Triforce mark that was on his hand.

"My ancestor, named Link, held the Triforce of Courage. Hinata's ancestor, Princess Zelda, holds the Triforce of Wisdom. As their descendants, I hold the power of Courage, and Hinata holds the power of Wisdom. However, there is the third power... which is the namesake, Triforce of Power. The person who held it last was an evil king named Ganondorf, but in this day and age, Midna and I are confused as to who would hold it, since Midna had witnessed Ganondorf's death..."

"Naruto... if what that... imp girl, said about your sword you always carry... why would you risk it...?"

"Because he's stubborn, even if he did change for the better, he's still holding some of his old traits." Midna morphed from his shadow, and hovered in the air laying back as if she was relaxing in a beach chair, "Naruto saved me from my imprisonment, and since I had caught a glimpse of his left hand, I knew that somehow, history will repeat itself. He's going to be a champion, a her, just like Link... Link and I stopped Zant long ago, and today, somehow, we'll do the same to that man with the pumpkin colored mask."

Elsewhere, Tsunade and Jiraiya had found another bar, since the last one had to close shop for property damage they refused to pay. At another bar, which was a small stand much like the ramen shop Jiraiya once saw Naruto hang out at, the two ordered their drinks before the bartender headed to the back.

"So, what's the deal?"

"Naruto is not merged with his demon if that's what you want to know. No, from what Sarutobi-sensei told me before Orochimaru had killed him during the invasion, on the day of the Team Placements, an unknown man wearing a pumpkin colored mask with a silver metal tongue appeared in the classroom quite suddenly, and then attacked Naruto." Jiraiya took a sip of his sake, "Naruto was battered around like a kid would with a soccer ball, before in full view of many ANBU, Sarutobi, and the Jounin who were to pick up their future students, watched as the Kyuubi was extracted right tout from Naruto in a painful manner, all inside a scroll, before tossing Naruto away like garbage. He was out for a week, but the seal ceased to exist, and the marks on the boy's cheeks also vanished when the fox was ripped from him. For all we know, that man still has the Kyuubi in his collection, and I imagine Akatsuki found out the hard way, after our encounter with Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame."

Tsunade drained her drink, and poured herself another cup.

"He looks like Minato at his age..."

"Tell me about it. The gaki used this henge jutsu to stun me, before he shrieked and gotten me assaulted by women and kunoichi."

Tsunade snorted. "Perverted old man..."

"I'm not just a pervert, but a Super Pervert!" He exclaims, and gets blasted over the head. Tsunade drank her cup, and pours a third shot.

"That isn't all. The next time I encountered him, he ran off, and dodged one of my toad's tongues. He then led me on a wild chase throughout the rest of the afternoon on a stallion he stolen indirectly from the Fire Daimyo. Gamarudo was completely exhausted when Naruto stopped in front of his apartment once night came around... he not only had me chasing him, but a group of ANBU led by Neko, Maito Gai and his team when we rushed past them at the gates, and some Hyuugas when he swept Hyuuga Hinata off her feet and into his lap."

While Jiraiya looked off to look at the time on the wall, Tsunade slipped something into his drink. It was enough to knock him out. Once he had drunk the cup, he soon thumps to the ground. She sighed, getting up, and left, remembering the words Orochimaru shared with her. However, there was this lingering doubt in her mind...

=0=0=

Itachi ducked as a log head shaped of the former target they were sent to capture smashed into the wall. Kisame has been like this, and Itachi wondered why Kisame would still wish to go after the former Jinchuuriki. Now, as he stands there watching, snacking on a carton of Pocky he pulled from his sleeve, Kisame was tearing through the field of Training Puppets, armed with cheap replicas of the Kubikiri Hocho, and their heads modeled after the non-whiskered blonde Uzumaki Naruto to come after Kisame in any way possible.

No way in hell I will see that brat as a brother! I'll prove that he is nothing when I kill him and take the Kubikiri Hocho!

He swung upward, slicing a puppet that leapt at him in a vertical line.

Mendokuse, Itachi thinks, before he snacks on three triple fudge coated Pocky sticks, stuffed with strawberry filling.

In his room, Tobi had successfully completed his task, along with the assistance of Deidara, they had captured Sanbi. Of course, there was the time where at one point, Sanbi had been within a host, which was revealed to be a female with short blonde hair, pink eyes, clad in a green cloak with fishnet clothing for a shirt and black leather skirt. However, Sanbi was in the wild, so it's assumed it escaped the dead host. However, the demon was weak and couldn't control its powers, which allowed them to successfully capture it. Now, it rested within the statue. So far, the demons captured, sealed, and deaths of the Jinchuuriki was Gobi, Rokubi, and now Sanbi. There would be a fourth, had Tobi given up the Kyuubi as well. However, it would remain his until the rest have been found and captured...

All there is left is Shukaku, Nibi, Yonbi, Shichibi, and Hachibi... The evil man then looked at the Komori Dragon that he in his Tobi disguise brought back to the base as a "pet." This "pet" was going to be unleashed upon Naruto, then the gates will unlock, bringing forth his evil power back into the world once again...

=0=0=

Kotetsu and Izumo. They were guarding the gate, which had been repaired at last. They weren't alone though. They had two other Chunnin by the name of Biggs and Wedge. Odd names, but these two young men actually came from the western continent. Of course if they were guarding the gates, then they would be doing a stand-up job. Nope, instead the four were playing Ninja-Shikumi (Texas Hold 'em) Poker. They never noticed that some foreign fellow had snuck into the village two hours ago, and just now left carrying a classical bandit sack filled with Icha Icha Paradise books... yeah...

=0=0=

Naruto woke up the next morning. Yawning, he found himself sleeping on the couch, and Midna was snug on top of his chest, her helmet on the floor. He as discreetly as he could, created a Kage Bunshin, and then used the Kawarimi technique. Sneaky, yes, but as long as he got free... the clone was left to "sleep" with Midna. So, he headed to do his morning business, and then go into the kitchen, and nabbed some bars of candy from the hotel mini bar. He then headed off to train on the Second Stage, like he did all last night... only to see Ero-Sennen trying to crawl up the stairs. Naruto immediately rushed over.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Poisoned... paralyzing agent... and knock out..."

"Shit!" He drops Jiraiya, ignoring his cry of pain and shook Shizune awake.

=0=0=

"So, you're going to accept my deal?"

Tsunade walked up to Orochimaru, hands bathed in chakra. All of a sudden before she could touch him, she leapt back as Kabuto was about to strike her with a kunai.

"Liar... you never wished to help Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto threatened.

"Arrogant prick... of course I was going to help him... help him go to hell, that is!"

"Well then, I guess we have to dispose of your corpse, hime," Orochimaru says with a sick drawl of a hiss.

Tsunade could hold herself off well, as she was one of the Sannin. However, Orochimaru's handicap is not being able to use his arms at all. But with Kabuto at his side, where Orochimaru would us his legs, his arms were in the form of the silver-haired medical ninja. Kabuto launched himself using his chakra to form his scalpels, but Tsunade proved why she was sometimes called the Megaton Woman, by punching him in the gut and sending him crashing into a nearby boulder. Then Orochimaru descended upon her, his neck stretched to impossible limits.

=0=0=

Tonton squealed, as the group all followed the pig with the heightened senses. As they got close they could already head the sounds of a fight going on. Jiraiya had been cured of his little problem, but he was sluggish. Shizune, Jiraiya, Kin, and Naruto soon arrived on the scene fifteen minutes into the fight. They were some yards away from the battle. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he caught sight of the silver-haired boy standing next to the snake Sennin. Tsunade was frozen, covered in blood not her own.

"Kabuto," Naruto growled.

The silver-haired boy smiled sweetly. "My, my, Naruto-kun," Kabuto drawled, "a surprise to see you here... and Kin as well."

Kin glared. "Naruto-kun saved my life, and I repaid him by serving his village now!"

Orochimaru scowled. "Because of you, Naruto, my use of the Edo Tensei was foiled with only one Hokage resurrected... no matter, all of you will perish soon enough!"

Kabuto leapt next to his master, and bit his thumb before wiping it across his master's tattoo, before grabbing it and slamming it down. He also gathered chakra, thus completing the summon. Soon, towering over them all was a giant purple horned-like snake: Manda.

"C'mon old hag!" Naruto yelled, as she was still paralyzed by her fear of blood. Kabuto smiled sinisterly, as he leaps off Manda, ready to strike down Tsunade. However, Naruto go tin his way, and surprised everyone by forming a Rasengan. Without even thinking, he shoved the technique into Kabuto, who was sent crashing into yet another boulder this time bleeding a lot from the tearing wound in his stomach. He then realized what he just did...

"What is the meaning of this?" Manda demanded the Snake Sannin.

"Manda, I require your services! You can eat whoever gets in our way!"

"Hmph! Fine!"

Tsunade saw Naruto turn around, as he wiped some blood from her forehead. "I win the bet... apparently..."

She smiled a bit, before she concentrated on her chakra. The crystal mark on her forehead glowed, healing her battle damage. Also it dissolved the blood that was spilt on her, leaving her no longer injured, or covered in the red liquid. Now there was the problem with Manda, as Tsunade summoned the Boss of the Slugs... while Jiraiya summoned Gamakichi trying to summon Bunta.

Naruto turned to look at Kabuto, who was getting back up, running a glowing hand around his stomach to lessen the wound damage. "Impressive, Naruto-kun... the Fourth's signature technique..." Naruto glared at the traitor. He was itching to use the sword, but settled for Kagura, as he unfolds the metal battle fan.

"Take this!" He swung, releasing several boomerang shaped sickles of white energy. Kabuto leapt away, as the cutters sliced the ground and made gashes into the boulder. While the fight between Katsuyu and Manda commenced, and Naruto and Kin double teamed against the ever-crafty Kabuto, Jiraiya was waiting for the antidote to fully purge the poison from his system to he could actually summon the Toad Boss. Kin was borrowing Naruto's Kaitouken, which the giant shuriken has sliced a statue from the nearby castle wall in half. She rushed to reclaim it while Naruto released more cutters from the fan. Kabuto was still trying to heal himself, but he was forced to go defense.

"Kyuchiyose no jutsu!" A plume of smoke and the Toad Boss finally makes his appearance.

"Well, this is quite a reunion here," Gamabunta compliments, as he readied his sword. Katsuyu was next to the toad, and both were facing off against Manda, who hissed at them.

"Toad and Slug sound good for dinner," Manda hissed, licking his scaly lips.

"Ya know, I always needed a new wallet. Snakeskin doesn't sound too bad right now."

"Hmhmhmhm, well, you people are quite noisy," spoke the Twilight King, as he appeared hovering between the Clan Bosses of the Snake, the Toad, and the Slug. His appearance had effectively halted the battle between the Sannins, and the fight between Kabuto and the tag-team of Naruto and Kin.

"You!" Naruto yelled, dragging out the sword and shield he didn't use when fighting Kabuto. Kabuto was surprised when a shadow flew from Naruto's own, and emerged revealing some sort of imp creature wearing a strange metal headgear, with long fiery hair in a ponytail.

The Twilight King chuckled sinisterly. "Naruto... the Marked Hero... so, you survived your last encounter. Not surprised at all... you're becoming very interesting boy to Akatsuki. Being the Boy Who Lived, after all, must be a pain, to be compared to the main character of Mahou no Hari."

Naruto simply glared.

"Who is that?" Katsuyu questioned.

"Oh, who am I? Well, I am the Twilight King. I am the one who ripped the Kyuubi no Youko's energies from Naruto down there."

Now Orochimaru was interested. This was the person who made him force his hand for the invasion. True, he had learned from Kabuto that Naruto was the Jinchuuriki of the Kitsune, but to meet the person who had ripped the energies of the fox from the host and somehow leaving that host alive, was something he suddenly felt threatened by. This Twilight King, as he calls himself, could very well be a possible enemy if he doesn't become an ally to him.

"Naruto... you may have survived a sand giant, and an ice user, but I highly doubt no one can survive a dragon..." He smiled, as he held a Komori Dragon suspended by his magic. He lifted up another object, a black rose with glowing orange and red petals, and sunk it like a dagger into the neck of the dragon-like lizard, thus allowing it to hit the ground.

"You and Midna shall die!" He laughed manically as he vanished in a wave of Twilight, as a pulse of power ripples through the general area.

The dragon was changing, as it began to grow larger. The scales of its tough skin grew thicker, changing into fish-styled scales along most of its body but the legs and underside. The rose began to bloom, as nature began to wrap itself around, mutating around the growing dragon. Wings made of fused flesh and botanicals emerged, as a ring of flower petals formed around the neck. The tip of the tail exploded, revealing that a tree had grown out from it, filled with tropical bulbs that had tips of a stinger barb within the cocooned flesh.

The Toad, the Slug, and the Snake, backed away a bit as the dragon grew to its desired height, matching Gamabunta's height. Thick roots cross crossed portions of the skin, forming as armor around the wing joints, its lower legs, and lining the underside of its jaw forming a bulldog-like mouth with fanged roots jutting down. The eyes glow a fierce yellow and the pupils were a vivid green. Completing the dragon's transformation, a set of large horns in a curved formation sprouted from the sides of the head. It let out a loud roar, heard by the rest of the town nearby.

Twilit Ryuu: Kuronobara

The dragon roared, launching several thick vines from its tail, and ensnaring the three summoned bosses. Manda hissed and spit with rage, as Gamabunta and Katsuyu tried to get free themselves. In the end, only Katsuyu escaped when she suddenly exploded into miniature slugs, slipped away, and reformed back again. Orochimaru was freeing Manda with the sword he expelled from his stomach, and Jiraiya using the Rasengan to buzzsaw the vines away. Gamabunta when he had enough freedom of movement swung his katana and sliced the rest of the vines that were trying to constrict him. The dragon roars, flapping its wings as each flap released a shower of sakura petals. It took high into the sky, as in the distance, was gathering storm clouds.

Manda, pissed off, lunges with a cry, but the purple serpent was swatted away by its tail. It had also knocked Orochimaru clear off his serpent's head. Manda was suddenly speared by the tail, which from the tree tip was a thick wooden spike. The serpent was sent packing back to the Summoning Realm. Orochimaru swore, and decided to do it anyway. His mouth suddenly expanded, as if someone was stretching it far past human expectations. And then, Orochimaru crawled out from his shed skin, drenched in saliva and whatever unidentifiable liquid it was, as he managed to kick his old skin away. However so, it had left him weakened very much. The dragon however caught Orochimaru and from the tail, fired several stingers at him. Kabuto appeared, and Shunshin away, taking his master with him. Those two decided at that moment to cut their losses and escape. Orochimaru would leave that demonic dragon to deal with the rest of the Leaf ninja, and the traitor Kin as well.

The dragon roared in pain, when Gamabunta managed to swing his blade, and slice the tree portion of the tail off. The thing disintegrated away in a flash of fire. However, brown roots began to form over the wound, sealing off the blood and "clotting" the damage. The dragon unleashes a fierce roar as it flaps its wings in a rapid motion. The gesture also generated a strong wind that was even pushing the giant toad and slug back, however sending those on the ground tumbling away faster, like tumbleweed in the desert. On the last fold, it released large petals that acted like Fumma Shuriken. Katsuyu and Gamabunta dodged the attacks, but Naruto got struck by one, and was sent crashing into a boulder. Had it not been for the shield, the petal may have been imbedded into Naruto's back. The shield however was showing a small gash across the surface. That had to hurt though...

"Suiton: Teppodama (Gunshot)!" Gamabunta expelled a large sphere of water from his mouth, and it smashed, faltering the flight of the botanical/flesh fused dragon. However, the water seemed to give it increased strength, as leaves began to grow along its underbelly. The dragon opened its mouth, and to their surprise, expelled an explosive ball of flames. Gamabunta countered with another gunshot which caused steam to blanket the battlefield.

Shizune was helping Naruto up, as she applied what healing jutsus she knew, enough for Naruto to get back in action. "Kin, stay with Shizune-chan, okay?"

"Don't get yourself killed, Naruto," she told him. Midna by now vanished into Naruto's shadow.

He gave her his patented smile. "Don't worry about me Kin-chan." He gave her a chaste kiss, and then leapt back, running across the field over to Gamabunta, sword and shield ready. She blushed a bit at the brief kiss, but when more sakura petals began to rain down, they had quickly left the battlefield to a safer area. Gamabunta felt someone hop onto his head.

"Hey! Throw me up to that dragon!"

"What the heck are you thinking?"

"Something suicidal, now throw me!" he replied. He leapt off, and Gamabunta caught him, and threw him high into the air. Naruto managed to land on the dragon, but all of a sudden, the grassy back of the dragon which acted as a coat of fur shifted, as several clumps formed, and emerged were wood warriors with spikes for hands. He cursed as the dragon flew in its pattern, now trying to shake Naruto off. Naruto of course was using chakra to stick to the surface, while his sword was slicing down the wood targets with ease. He grabbed three Senbon, and attached three Nin-ombs on them before launching the three needles. Explosions reign, destroying a cluster of them.

When the last wood man was taken out, he turned to see something stuck in the neck. He wondered how a tree stump could grow there like some sort of hard pimple. He ran to it, dodging spike traps that would pop up to skewer him, and clung to the overgrown ivy. He began to climb up, feeling the dragon avoiding attacks from below if the hissing and screeching was anything to content. Once he climbed to the top, there in the center was a leaf bush, with some sort of object glowing ominously. He rushed it and stabbed his sword into it. Gamabunta, Katsuyu, Jiraiya, and Tsunade heard the painful screech the dragon released, as Naruto now repeatedly stabbed the identified target. The dragon lost its will to fly and was falling out of the sky. Naruto got bumped off when he tried for one more stab by a swatting leaf-covered tentacle, and a loud boom echoes across the battlefield, as Naruto was flying... and caught by Tsunade when he nearly crashed into one of Katsuyu's eye stalks.

The dragon growled softly, before waking up, and leaping back. It roared at them, before spreading its rose wings, and took flight once again. They felt rain drops, and then the tell sing of thunder roared across the skies. The sun had vanished and now storm clouds blanketed over the town. The few rain drops soon increased, and before long, it began to pour. The dragon roars as lightning flashed across the cloudy gray skies, followed by the clap of thunder.

"Yo, Baachan! Toss me over to Pervy Sage!"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at her friend's nickname, but grabbed Naruto and threw him across the field with her strength, where he landed on Gamabunta. Once again, Gamabunta was ready to throw Naruto once he explained that the weak spot for the dragon was at the back of its neck. But, the dragon roared as it flew down in a dive-bomb motion, and then rips past them. The wind shear that quickly followed blew the humans off the toad and slug, while the creatures themselves were blown back a couple of inches (in their perspective of course). Many trees in the vicinity were sent flying, snapped form their foundations, as nearby buildings suffered heavy wind damages. The dragon had taken flight high above again, and initiated a new attack. It expelled from its mouth hundreds of large seeds, which were no bigger than the statue of the Will of Fire back in Konoha. Because of the rain, it began to grow constricting piles of thorny tentacles that attacked the two animal summons. Katsuyu unleashed her acid attacks, and Gamabunta, tossing his cod pipe to the side, grappled with several of the vines with his blade.

One Gamabunta wrestled himself free, he sheathed the blade. "Jiraiya!" Jiraiya already was on it, as he finished the last sign, announced the jutsu, and then unleashed a blast of fire from his mouth the same time Gamabunta expelled a blast of oil. A sea of fire washed the vines away, but the dragon flew to another part of the landscape, roaring at them. Naruto was picked up by Bunta, who launched him towards the dragon. He landed on its snout. It roars, causing Naruto to wince at the screech as it flapped its wings again, sending more of the leafy shuriken to bombard the land again. He used the short time limit it remained stationary to climb over the scaly mountain that wa the head, and towards the neck area, slicing down any wood men that got in his way. He was nearly shaken off, but he held on as it took flight to try and get rid of its passenger.

"Katsuyu! More acid!" She ordered, and the slug took a deep breath, and unleashed bullets of her burning acid. The dragon was flying in at this time, so getting showered by the acid caused it to fly away, screaming in pain. Naruto was thankful the attacks were focused on the head and the underside of the fused dragon. As he made it, this time there was vines blocking his way, so he used Kagura to slice them away, before thrusting his blade into the weakness again. It screamed, as he repeatedly stabbed it.

"Rasengan!" He yells, forming the technique once again. The sphere was slammed into it, ripping through. The dragon gave its death cry as it was flying sluggishly towards the castle. It was finished, as Naruto somersaults away, and landed on Gamabunta as the dragon flew off and then crashed against the castle walls, exploding. Naruto leapt to the ground, rolled to prevent injury, and ran off towards the destruction.

Kin followed, and so did Tsunade, Shizune carrying Tonton, and Jiraiya. Gamabunta and Katsuyu dismissed themselves, seeing that there was no reason for them to remain. At the remains of the destruction, there on the ground was the same rose; however it was no longer covered by Twili magic. What remained was what looked like the handle of the fabled weapon a Jounin named Aoi stolen from Konoha. Around the base however was a ring of flower petals, which was made out of metal and was as red as blood, with a sharp red pointed gem topping this odd one-handed item. Naruto bends down and picks it up, before he looked at it. He swung it, and Jiraiya had to leap out of the way as a whip made of pinkish red chakra lashed out.

Naruto, I think you may have acquired another item for use...

Hm... I think I'll call this the Chakra Grapple. He channeled some chakra, and lashed out at the nearby gargoyle statue, and managed to grapple a lock around the head, before releasing the energy stream.

(Naruto obtains the Chakra Grapple. This is a chakra-based weapon, which Naruto can focus his chakra to form the energy whip to attack from a distance, or to grapple objects or targets.)

He smashes the mirror he used to watch the fight. "Damn that boy..." He closed his eyes, willing down the anger that threatened to explode from his body. No need for that, or else his cover may be blown. He heard a knock on his door, so he fixed his spiral orange mask back on again, and walked to the door, getting rid of the mirror.

It was Deidara when he opens the door. Deidara would rather work with the mostly silent Sasori, and not the cheerful young man with the spiral orange mask.

"Let's go, Leader-sama wishes for us to scout again."

"Tobi understands," he said cheerfully, as he skips out.

"Oh Kami, please kill me now," Deidara sighed, unaware that a red mark was now focused on his forehead.

High above in the clouds, Kami was ready to pull the trigger on the laser-mounted Sniper Rifle, when the phone begins to ring. He releases his finger on the trigger and drops the gun to the cloudy floor as he heads to the phone, and answers the call.

"Hello? Heheheh, Karin!"

=0=0=

As they left, traveling down the path which would take them back to Konoha, Tsunade stopped Naruto, and gently took off her necklace. "A promise is a promise... I hope you keep the people you care for safe." She then kissed Naruto's cheek, causing him to blush a bit, and Kin and Midna to giggle softly. However, the necklace slowly began to glow bright, and caused Tsunade to release it as a vivid aura emerged around it. At the same time, Naruto's sword began to react, as he pulls it out from its sheath on his back, and looked at the blade which it too was now under a white aura of its own.

Kin, Shizune, Tonton, Jiraiya, and Midna watched as Naruto lifted the blade to the air as the aura that surrounded the necklace, more importantly the stone it held, shot out and engulfs the sword. After a few intense moments the necklace drops to the ground, and the aura that surrounded the blade faded. However, they could all tell that somehow, in some unknown and mysterious way, the Master Sword had gained a small increase in power and strength. Naruto bends down and picks up the fallen necklace. The stone still held its beautiful shine, as he now placed it around his neck.

(Naruto obtains Tsunade's Necklace. This necklace apparently had the power to settle the youkai of demons. However... with this necklace, the Master Sword has reacted to it, and apparently absorbed its mystical energies.)

Just then, they heard someone yell out to them, "HEEEEEEEEEY!" forcing Midna to hide in Naruto's shadow. Hopping from tree to tree was a ninja. The ninja drops down, and stands to attention. "Uzumaki-san?" The weird ninja addresses Naruto.

"Uh, yes?"

"Ah, good I found you. I am what you call a Post-nin. A mail delivery guy, but ninjafied. Get it...?" Everyone blinks but the adults, having known about their existence.

"... Anyway, I got a letter addressed to you, two in fact. The first is from an Inari from Nami no Kuni, and the second one is from a Higurashi Tankou from Konohagakure no Sato of Hi no Kuni." The Post-nin pulls out a civilian envelope with his name written on the front. Naruto slowly accepts the letter, and the guy does some sort of military salute, but in a lazy manner, "Delivery Complete! I got more mail to deliver, no time to dawdle."

"Wait a minute, what's the difference between a regular mail person and a ninja one?"

"Well... you see mail has to be delivered of course for ninjas around the world. While the non-shinobi men and women have regular couriers and delivery people, for the shinobi variety, you have Post-nin. We're treated as neutral shinobi by all Hidden Villages, though there are at times we must fight if we're encountered by the wrong crowds, if you catch my drift."

He then takes to the trees and bounds out of sight.

Well, talk about odd...

The item that Naruto bought is that giant shuriken that we have seen in the anime of the series: The Kaitouken (Phantom Blade), which is sealed in a carryable small summoning scroll. I DO know the names of the elements, and I think Hyoton means Ice Release. Kishimoto never did give an official name for Haku's bloodline control to create ice out of nothing (though with a mix of wind and water), though he does just tag Hyoton over it and moves on, and thus I gave it one. Besides, there are few others who have given Haku fanon names for his Kekkai Genkai (I'm not the first after all).

And I don't think it matters with who died before the invasion bit, all it matters is that the female member of the Oto Genin Team survived. Plus, Midna stopped Naruto from killing Tsunade, thus revealing herself to the small group. The people that know of Midna's existence is Hinata and now adding to that list is Kin, Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya. I don't know whether or not to have the Oocca Tribe to still exist this far, and if they do, then Ooccoo and Ooccoo Jr. will not be around, but their descendants into their... uh... race... or maybe late descendants of the two.

-- Naruto's Status --

Collection: [Men's Wallet - 0 Total Ryo] [Midna's Headgear] [Naruto's Ninpod] [Tsunade's Necklace] [Letters - 02]
Sword: [Kubikiri Hocho] [Master Sword]
Shield: [Konoha Shield]
Costume: [Hero's Clothes]
Ninja Inventory: [Ninja Pack - Kunai x16] [Ninja Pack - Senbon x24] [Ninja Pack - Nin-ombs x02] [Toad Summon Contract] [Kaitouken]
Other Inventory: [Relic Spinner] [Kagura] [Chakra Grapple]
Hidden Skills Learned: [Gokumonken] [Mikazuki no Mai]
Jutsu Skills Learned: Kage Bunshin, Sennen Goroshi, Kawarimi, Oroke, Harem, Shougekiha, Uzumaki Naruto Rendan, Fuuton: Rasengufuu, Ichi Ni Ko Rendan, Rasengan

Letter 01

Naruto-niisan,

I miss you a lot. I still remember the words you told me when you saved me and kaasan from those thugs, and I strive to do my best. If I ever become a ninja, it's so that I can protect the people I care for the most. We finally managed to scrap up the money for the dangerous mission you and your team took despite the lie to save us from Gatou. If you can, it's possibly going to be just a simple mission. I wouldn't know much about ninja affairs, but I hope you come by.

Inari

Letter 02

Naruto,

It's Tankou from the Higurashi Shop. Hey, I managed to spend enough time to construct a bigger supply of Nin-ombs, so if you need more you know where to buy them.

Tankou