Chapter Fourteen

Naruto collapsed on the couch, not even caring about his house guests... which would be Kurenai's team, Asuma's team, Kin, Temari who had returned from Suna, Gai's team, and a reluctant Sakura.

"Uh, Naruto, are you alright?"

"Pain..."

Sanosuke walked in, and booted Naruto off the couch. "C'mon kid. This is the same training my old man put me through and onto Shinji when he was a kenjutsu specialist! Don't slack off!"

Naruto cursed and headed out the door to perform more laps, while Sanosuke followed, making sure Naruto was doing his exercises. It was confirmed by Malik that Sanosuke had permission to train another ninja, which Tsunade reluctantly gave her permission as well. Not highly known about, but there was a rumor about Tsunade once meeting Malik's wife some years ago back when she was still a Genin. But anyway, one would find a humorous (if you did of course) scene of the blonde former Jinchuuriki, who was down to but a pair of green shorts, running for his life while the foreign Kane ninja, named Taosu Sanosuke, would wave his Halberd, yelling at Naruto that if he doesn't speed up he'll get nicked by the blade. Some would call this an attack and ANBU would call it assault and would attack the Kane-nin. The truth: it's training for Naruto.

Blackjack looked off to the side, and the people he was playing against, all smirked as the dealer shuffle the cards silently.

"Huh... hope Sanosuke takes it careful with the halberd..." He taps the table, and the dealer sets out a card for Blackjack, as calls were made, or folds were dealt in. Blackjack grabs the card, shifts it into his hand, and then lay the cards out. He's won again, and everyone was swearing as the man with black and white hair calmly leaves the open pub with five men's paychecks up to a month's pay.

"So... how do we win our money back?" one of the idiots question. Said idiot gets smacked upside the head.

=0=0=

"Good, good... now, tomorrow, we're going to start on the technique practice. Oh, and bring that giant sword of yours, it's the only sword you'll need to use tomorrow." And Sanosuke left Naruto as he heads to his rented room, and closes the door, leaving Naruto's face planted down into the couch, not moving.

"Is he dead?"

Tenten smacked Kiba's hand when he poked him in the face with a stick.

"Stop that," she hissed.

In the kitchen, Ayame, the ramen girl as Naruto nicknamed her, was cooking up some miso ramen, before having the bowl sealed up. She headed out, and looked at the other Genin. What she was doing at Naruto's home was that she missed the blonde blue-eyed bow, and wanted to see him. Perfect excuse, as she already saw him as a little brother.

"I know what will wake him up. Trust me..."

She unseals the paper lid.

Naruto's eyes snap open and he bolts straight up off the couch. Everyone around him had leapt back, staring wide-eyed at him, as Naruto's sharp eyes slowly relaxed, sniffs the air, and then turns to Ayame who had the bowl of hot miso ramen. He snatches it and begins to eat calmly. The rest of the Rookie 9, Team Gai, Kin, Temari, and Midna slowly relax, and in this case, returns Lee back to his youthful position.

Midna floated over to the blonde, once he was finished with the ramen bowl, and with her hair grabs the bowl and chucks it into the kitchen sink sailing past Ayame. How it remained intact when colliding with the ceramic sink was anybody's guess. Of course, what caused Hinata, Tenten, Kin, and Temari to instantly gain dark looks was Midna cuddles up in Naruto's embrace, sitting in his lap in a suggestive way.

"You okay?"

"Exhausted yes, but the ramen helped a bit. Thanks Ayame-neechan."

Ayame smiled. "No problem Naruto-kun..." She sweatdropped as Naruto collapsed in the couch again, this time snoring lightly. "I'm going to head home... bye everyone, and come by Ichiraku's if you feel like it. A friend of Naruto's is always welcomed at the booth." With her departure, the others soon leave as well, except the girls who had lived at the apartment complex still. And Naruto... he's still asleep. And Midna... she's enjoying her sleep tonight.

=0=0=

"Now Naruto... it's only two more days so we have to keep working. You got everything down to a near T; just your strength needs to be built a bit more so you can wield it with flawlessness. Thankfully, you do have another copy of that outfit of yours for weight inserts."

Naruto was wearing the weighted Hero's Clothes today, in the mid day. He was also wielding the Kubikiri Hocho. Sitting under a tree off a wooden bench bought for the outdoor garden, was Blackjack, finding a form of entertainment in this.

"Never thought I'd see Sanosuke pass this trait off... Normally he would never do such a thing." Blackjack remembered the day after Sanosuke made Naruto run around his entire village, that he watched the man train, and finished his training with Kenjutsu: Hasakikinan (Climhazzard). Naruto wanted to try it out, and managed to do an emulated form of it... just not enough strength to do the upward slash of the Hasakikinan.

"Again!"

Naruto swore, and performed the same technique that Sanosuke performed: leaping up into the air (unlike the vertical leap that Sanosuke uses, Naruto implemented a spiral motion) and then smashing the blade towards the ground as if chopping down a tree stump cleanly in half. This time, only a bit of chakra rushed upward... but it was more less a ripple effect.

"You got it right, however focus more chakra into the attack, Naruto."

And Naruto listened. He wouldn't quit until he had learned this new skill...

At least there would be a good D-Rank Mission for some unfortunate Genin Team to repair his garden.

=0=0=

"A downed airship off the coastline of Cha no Kuni?"

Airships were not that common in the eastern continent, and the only airship known was in Yuki no Kuni. No, most airships, if any, were more common in the west. It had been three weeks since the two Kane-nins left Konoha to return to the west. Three weeks since Naruto had to an extent mastered another Hidden Skill.

"Yes. Reports state that demons attacked the airship, and made off with stolen goods of refined ore metal. However most of these demons vanished in swirls of tiny black squares." Team Kakashi, with Kin as Sasuke's replacement, all tensed up. Tsunade nodded, "Which is why I called for you. You will also be joined by Kurenai's team. Since it's not much of a secret between all of us and involving Midna, I would like for you all to investigate. Naruto, don't do anything foolish, alright?"

"Sure, sure, baachan." He was used to the disrespecting names to Tsunade, but it was in truth their form of family affection. The punch to the head was done by Sakura, of course.

=0=0=

Airship Valhalla. It was an airship that came from Nikeikoku no Kuni (Red Canyon Country), and upon arrival in one week, they could clearly see the airship... its remaining wreckage, floating there in the ocean like some sort of mechanical island. It was unnaturally creepy, especially since it gotten cloudy, to the point that thunderstorms were a possibility.

"Return back home Epona, I'll be fine."

Epona whinnies softly, but then turns around and soon she disappears, galloping her way back home.

"Is she going to be alright, Naruto?" Kakashi questions his student.

"Yes, she will be..."

Not only were there dark clouds in the sky, a haunted chill in the air, and kami knows what that may be lurking within the wrecked airship, but there were also giant... coconuts entangled with thick roots around the coconut. It had large leaves that were spinning wildly like some sort of fan propeller, and flying in irregular patterns.

"Those things look weird," said Kiba.

"Who here knows how to use the Water Walking technique?" Kurenai speaks up to the Genin. All but Naruto raise their hands.

Naruto, you see those flying plants, right? Midna asks the boy, who was looking at the things.

Yeah, what about them?

They existed in the far past as well... don't really know what to call them, but back then, they were useful to getting around places in high areas with Link's Clawshots. Use your Chakra Grapple.

"Naruto... Naruto!" Kakashi called out, but he and the others saw the Twilight Princess vanish back into Naruto's shadow, while the boy himself was using one of his unique items. The chakra beam shot out, and manages a good grapple on one of the floating plants, before Naruto swings, and times his jumps as he soon crosses the ocean water, going to the downed airship. The silver-haired Jounin cursed under his breath and ran after Naruto via the Water Walk. Kurenai quickly instructed the others to follow, and they did, with albeit some difficulty.

Naruto made it first as he releases the whip and lands on a floating piece of thick steel that buckled a bit from the sudden jolts of movement, but stilled again. Kakashi caught up and grabbed him by the collar. "Naruto, don't do anything that reckless again, okay? What if they were planted there by the enemy?"

"Midna told me they could be of use for my Grapple," Naruto argued back, forcing Kakashi to let go.

Everyone else had caught up, but Naruto jumped across the wrecked paneling of ship walls and towards the entrance, which was a large gash into the side... as a clap of thunder roared across the darkened clouds.

A/N: Listening to "Aboard the GFS Valhalla" and "The Valhalla's Depths" does well for background music.

The entire vessel groaned ominously, shuddering lightly as in the distance, falling debris dislodged and struck solid surfaces, or water due to minor splashes that echoed. There was a chain and a hook nearby, and across from the entrance of the wide hallway was a hole. There was still electricity buzzing through, but with many broken electronics, sparks danced about through broken cable wire. They all knew that electricity and water doesn't mix well. Naruto takes out the Chakra Grapple again.

"Something tells me much of the areas will force us on foot..."

He then takes a leap as the beam is extended out. Naruto grapples the hook and is swinging on the chain and hook. Kakashi then realized what Naruto was doing as he stuck his hand out for someone to grab. He jumped, and Naruto grunted as he held the heavier man before managing to swing to the other side where Kakashi leaps off. Naruto swung the others across, before the strain nearly made him loose grip. He gave out to exhausting after swinging Hinata over and lost his grip. Thanks to Midna however, and her ability to magick her ponytail, she caught him and with little effort brought the boy with the others on solid ground. As they turned the corner, they saw the hallway ended to an open cabin with its room nearly torn. A large shadow had just then crossed the bit of light from the outside. In fact... two shadows. Shino's bugs buzzed with worry, and Akamaru whimpered a bit. Kin and Hinata stayed close to Naruto who had instantly drawn the Master Sword. Kakashi and Kurenai tensed up, as the silver-haired man was considering revealing his Sharingan.

"Hinata-chan... your Byakugan..."

She nodded, and activated her bloodline, as little clusters of veins formed around her eyes. She scanned around their immediate area. Other than some fish swimming around having gotten in form outside, and some birds that have taken refuge in some of the areas... she couldn't find these two shadows that had seen.

"Nothing... Wait... I see something. It looks like a... trunk, or something. Like some sort of pirate treasure chest."

"Where?"

"In the next room to our left... but the floor is missing... there's a shark in the water though... a Great White Shark... with glowing red eyes."

"Damn," Naruto cursed.

On he went, with Midna following intently. Kakashi and Kurenai led the back while the others followed the green-clad swordsman ninja. Suddenly a flock of crows flew through the area, squawking their annoying cries. Of course they did not attack, but merely flew from one area to another somewhere on this creepy vessel. And upon reaching the turn, there indeed the missing floor. The water appeared to be electrified due to the broken live wires spilling into this part of the water. The shark swam quietly, not bothered by the electrical buzz, but this Great White had what looked like four kunai in a diamond mark on its head, glowing with reddish orange lines in odd patterns. Up ahead, was the treasure chest Hinata talked about... And to make things worse, the walls had the iron ripped out, and sparks flew from ripped or damaged cables.

Naruto looked around, and saw chains that fell loose, or some that were still bolted to the ceiling. He uses the grapple to lasso himself up to the ceiling, before grabbing hold of the chains. Slowly, he began to inch farther away from the shinobi team, and steadily over the water where below, one slip and he could possibly die. The sound of shrieks echoed, and in came two bats, or what Midna called them, Keese. Naruto held tight before striking both of the bats with the beam of the Chakra Grapple. They flew down to the water where the shark came upon the two tiny snacks with bloodlust. The chain unfortunately gave out, but he saved himself by grappling another nearby bolted chain, while the first one fell into the water and sunk into its depths. He soon made it to the other side... where the chains had fallen as well. Now he had no way of getting back.

"Naruto's stuck on the other side..."

"Great," Kakashi groaned. Now they had to think of a way to help the boy, without getting themselves electrocuted or devoured by a shark that looks like it's under a Cursed Seal or something along the lines. Naruto found that a lock was on this thing, so, Naruto gabbled a Senbon, fiddled with the lock, until he heard a click. He had picked the lock, though it is a bust rusty, kicked it off... and took out the items that were within the chest.

[Naruto obtained Double Clawshots, and someone's stash of Ryo. Unlike the Hyrule standard, these Clawshots were made by Nikeikoku standards, and whoever owned this ryo now belongs to Naruto.]

The four clawed metal hand was folded up into a spike formation. The devices looked bulky, and reminded Naruto of Chouji's forearms whenever he used his family jutsus to enlarge the muscle. Naruto slips on the two mechanical devices, before grasping the palm handle within, his index finger pressing on the trigger he felt. The sounds of the clawshots extending open, and then twisting into a ready state was heard across the inner chasm. Naruto had his thumb against the firing trigger inside the devices as he took aim at the wall, where a mass of chains were, and released the claw. It flew across the air, the chain extending from the outer chamber holding the reinforced small chains, before it grasped the mass of chains. And with a swift yank, he's pulled off his feet and flying clear across the air until he stopped at his position. He was giving it a test, and found another trigger set, which allowed him to lower himself, or bring himself to a higher height. Once he got low enough, he fires the other Clawshot, and it strikes a panel of mesh wiring. He flies over, and lands against the wall, now back with the others. He disengages the Clawshots, takes them off now on his feet again, and packs them away into a small scroll which he slips into his Inventory Pack.

Midna forms beside him. "Well, this is very interesting. I never would have thought to see these again."

"What do you mean, Midna-chan?" Naruto questioned.

"Link. He found a Clawshot within the Lakebed Temple a long time ago, after he had managed to defeat the Deku Toad. The second Clawshot he found was high in the skies. Trust me, these things are very useful. Unlike your Chakra Grapple which can lasso sturdy items for a quick flight in the air, these Clawshots can grapple fencings, things that look like you can fasten hooks with. However, the downside is that they're not useful for everywhere travel; you can't grapple solid surfaces because the claws of the item won't have enough piercing force. If it could get a good enough grip, you can grapple things such as animals... like that shark... don't try it though."

Then she smiled that brought a bit of glow into her sunset eyes. "Though... they look ninjafied, much like my helmet..."

"Say... what does your helmet symbolize, anyway?"

"Well... it was really one of the shattered pieces of the Fused Shadows... a power that no longer exists today. It got used to wearing it the first time around, that... well... I asked of you to find me one... and you were kind enough to make a replica of it."

"Fuuton: Fuuryudan (Wind Release: Wind Dragon Strike)!"

Everyone ducked out of the way as a dragon made of wind raged through, and drilled a hole into the side, creaking and groaning before a bulge remained, with cracks. Oh, and did I mention the untimely clap of eerie thunder when a dark laugh echoed from all around them.

"Fool..."

And just like that, the voice was gone, and that presence of someone nearby disappeared. They were not alone...

"Something just screams danger here," Midna muttered. The sudden groan of the airship rocking in the slowly churning waves of the raging storm outside punctuated her point.

Naruto unsheathed the sword, and went for his shield. Hinata looked at the crack with her bloodline switched don, and frowned. "Naruto-kun... there's something behind that wall... I think it leads to the staircase."

Naruto grabbed one of his Nin-Ombs before flicking the fuse, and throwing the now-lit bomb. It explodes upon collision with the wall, expelling the weakened metal into shrapnel that covered portions of the stairs. All of a sudden several... goblin-like creatures emerged, all wielding crudely-made cleavers. They were the same creatures that Kakashi remembered from the castle incident, in their mission to rescue Naruto when he was captured by that Kumo Darknut person. Naruto however had already rushed din attacking with the Master Sword. Then they surrounded him, he let out a yell as he spun around, releasing a wave of energy from the sword. They all fell... and to their surprise but Midna's, exploded into coal black dust and burning embers which quickly vanished.

"Great... it would seem he's managed to bring back only a few creatures of the dark army... this will be troublesome," Midna said.

And then, out came a spider from the hole in the staircase hallway. It was one of the large native spiders of Kusa, only now this spider looked hungry, and pounded at Naruto. He however launched a Needle Bomb, and it screeched as it reeled back from the fiery flash. Naruto leapt forward, and stabbed the sword down. Midna blinked twice as the spider gave out one last screech, before it slumped... dead. Naruto back flips away and swung the blade once, releasing the blood that coated it. The spider bled, as Kakashi burned it with a Katon jutsu.

"What of this dark army about anyway?"

"In the years before, there were the more common creatures that are a bit of an annoyance, but then... whenever evil comes around so does creatures of darkness... those goblins we fought are one of them. And if Lansing can control the grunts of the dark creatures..."

"Then it's possible for him to revive Hyrule's more dangerous creatures from the shadows," Naruto realized.

Midna nods. "Exactly. Which is why we need to split up. Naruto, as a hero, heroes can do well alone, though you do have back-up. I suggest Hinata comes with Naruto."

"And do what?"

"Whatever the mission is to investigate, would do better splitting up. Naruto will do fine on his own; he has me. Hinata's safe because she's also tied with the Triforce business, being marked at birth."

Naruto sighed. "Midna, what about those two shadows we saw?"

"Not good... if anything, they could be someone sent by the Twilight King..." She growled a bit.

Kakashi sighed. "If you say so... I'll take Kiba and Shino. Only fair Kurenai gets the girls."

"Agreed," Kurenai says.

=0=0=

And so, it was just Naruto and Hinata on what they pegged the second floor of this dungeon-like airship. Midna with them of course, but otherwise... just two humans alone... you would get some ideas on what two teenagers of opposite genders can do, but being in a place where danger lurks, and you have unknown enemies lurking in the airship...

"Something feels off..."

Naruto stayed close to Hinata. "Don't worry... I'll protect you, princess." A bit of a sly smile formed over Naruto's lips, and the Hyuuga Princess smiled, blushing a bit.

They entered into a large expansive room, where they figured was the mess hall. Of course, the place was half submerged and below, they could see a cracked hole that fed into the underwater first floor of the airship (remember, wrecked, and half of it's tipped and submerged completely). They also suspect water life has made a home here as well. There were a few metal tables that have buoyancy, but Hinata did not like the look of the dark murky depths. All of a sudden, the way they came through creaked, and the iron doors slammed down, dislodged from the roof locks... they were trapped. Up ahead, the hallway was blocked by a bunch of debris. The water bubbled, before a large spray erupts, bringing forth the appearance of... what looked like some sort of mutant squid crossbred with a jellyfish. However, the tentacles had large fanged teeth against the base of the humanoid hands. There was some sort of beaked mouth, and the nuclei within the semi-clear cocoon of a head pulsed with an eerie orange light. It actually roared at them. The mutant seafood then floated about in the air before lashing at them with the spiked tentacles, the hand tentacles keeping close. The duo dodged. When one of the fanged hands came close, Naruto released the Spinning Attack, and the thing hissed with pain as it floated away from them. The bulbous brain-like nuclei lit up like a light bulb, before electricity surged down the whips of the fanged hand tentacles fires twin bolts of lightning. The water was now electrified.

"Damn it... this is going to be hard to do now. Hinata!"

She dodged an attack that came at her. The mutant seafood monster just continued trying to impale them with its spiked tentacles. This time, Hinata decided to release a new skill she had learned, implemented with fire.

"Hinata no Hi (Hinata's Fire)!"

She spun wildly as burning bright flames encircled her hands before expelling forth like long flowing ribbons. The beats that rushed her screeched with pain as parts of its body caught fire. The thing was screaming as it tried to fly. The fire had knocked it clear out of the air and it had landed on a floating slab of metal. Naruto jumped across table to table, before stabbing the sword into the bulbous head, easily piercing through the fatty flesh. Black blood pooled, spurting forth in gushes with each pulse of power that went through. Then, he implemented his new kenjutsu he learned, and rips the blade in an uppercut motion. It was dead. The gate that locked them in the room creaked and groaned, but then the gate froze. The metal slab was still in the crevice of the door, so basically they were trapped inside. Midna appeared and looked at the mutant seafood, as it turned black... and exploded into embers and smoke.

Naruto looked around, as did the chibified imp.

"Hm... Naruto, do you see that door up there?" Midna asks, pointing to the door that extended on a small iron patio.

"Yeah, but I have a feeling my Clawshots won't reach that high..."

"Find another way then..."

And Naruto did, twenty minutes later, both Hinata and Naruto had opened the door, and walked into a hallway which the only light came from behind them. There was the occasional spark of electricity from frayed wires in walls, or from a broken bulb still short-circuiting.

"I hate this..."

Hinata then did something incredibly brave: grasping Naruto's hand... tightly. Both Hero and Princesses knew they had to find the others... there was still the danger of that unknown voice, or the two dark shadows they saw sometime back upon entering this doomed vessel. The trio headed into the unknown...

Hidden Skill) Morigari no Kanketsusen / Uprush of the Geyser: This technique generates a large geyser of chakra energy that springs up in a rush of rising air from all around Naruto. Naruto first generates chakra into his Kubikiri Hocho, before leaping into the air and then unleashing a powerful chop towards the ground. Taught by: Taosu Sanosuke

Now, I thank the good reviews I get so far for this story (and all my other ones). If you visited my Profile, you may have noticed I had gone through a bit of a internet situation, one which has finally been solved, so I will be able to continue my normal updating scheduals once more.

-- Hinata's Status --

Collection: [Kaasan's Necklace] [Women's Wallet - 4,768 Total Ryo] [Key to Naruto's Home]
Sword: [Short Iron Sword]
Costume: [Shinobi Outfit]
Ninja Inventory: [Ninja Pack - Kunai x10] [Ninja Pack - Explosive Tag x4]
Hidden Skills Learned: [Hinata no Ai] [Hinata no Hi]
Jutsu Skills Learned: Kawarimi, Bunshin, Henge, Hakke Rokujuuyonshou, Suiton: Suinomi

-- Naruto's Status --

Collection: [Men's Wallet - 23,413 Total Ryo] [Midna's Headgear] [Naruto's Ninpod] [Tsunade's Necklace] [Horse Call] [Letters - 02]
Sword: [Kubikiri Hocho] [Master Sword]
Shield: [Konoha Shield]
Costume: [Hero's Clothes]
Ninja Inventory: [Ninja Pack - Kunai x24] [Ninja Pack - Senbon x26] [Ninja Pack - Nin-ombs x17] [Toad Summon Contract]
Inventory Pack: [Relic Spinner] [Kagura] [Kaitouken] [Chakra Grapple] [Double Clawshots]
Hidden Skills Learned: [Gokumonken] [Mikazuki no Mai] [Morigari no Kanketsusen]
Jutsu Skills Learned: Kage Bunshin, Sennen Goroshi, Kawarimi, Oroke, Harem, Shougekiha, Uzumaki Naruto Rendan, Fuuton: Rasengufuu, Ichi Ni Ko Rendan, Rasengan, Kenjutsu: Hasakikinan