Chapter 10: Halcyon Days
By the time Team 7 had reached Konoha, Team 8, Zabuza and Haku had been already debriefed. Naruto, knowing that Zabuza was a nuke-nin, used the Namikaze clan accounts to pay for their release from duty. Haku and Zabuza were given some money as well, to buy a home and live in peace, even thouth they were going to be watched for some time, just to be sure. Currently Team F.E.A.R. plus two were in their favourite training ground.
"So brat you're telling me that my Kubikiri-Honcho is WEAK? I've massacred villages for less!"
"Of course not. I'm saying it can be improved. If you let me use some seals on it..."
"My blade is not your damn toy brat!"
"I know damnit! I'm trying to help you! I really think I made a breakthrough with my seals!"
"N-Naruto-kun, w-what do you m-mean by breakthrough?"
"Well you all know Yondaime was my old man right? Well in his treatise here he had left open a wide variety of questions, ideas and possibilities. One of them was elemental seals. Its like this; ninjutsu seals can be put on written seals, which is how explosive notes are made. But its a lost art, 'cause its very hard to actually do and it takes too much time normally. I think that I kind of rediscovered it though. If I'm right I should be able to place a seal that takes any chakra you push into it and makes it elemental chakra. Of course the only one I've tried making is Fuuton chakra, as its my specialty but you get the point. It was almost complete really. I just added the finishing touches."
"So what's your little seal gonna do?"
"Well it should give you increased reach, better edge and keep stuff off your blade. Just like if you were a Fuuton user. Also I wanna use my improved storage seal."
"Another seal? Damnit brat when did you get the time for that crap?"
"Kage Bunshin multitasking hehehe. Anyway, you know how normally when you seal something and want it out it comes all out right? So if you were to say, seal some water, releasing it, would bring the whole quantity back. My improved seal fixes that. Simply put, it allows you to store more but only retrieve as much as you want. If you were to put say 20 galons, you can retrieve only the five you want instead of the entire 20 galons. If I put this on your blade you won't have to be near a water source to use Suiton jutsu. Plus think of how badass it will look like, sending a Suiryudan from your blade!"
*Grumble about sword not being weak*
"Aww come on Zabuza! I'll even add some reinforcement, sharpening and cleaning seals on top! No more sword-maintenance duty!"
"Alright kid. I'll let ya play with my sword. BUT! If you so much as scratch it..."
"No worries Zabuza. I'll also use one of dad's jutsu I completed. It allows me to disguise a seal as a mere tattoo, making it harder to read as a bonus. How does a swirling dragon pattern with an Oni figure riding on the top sound? With a huge-ass sword in hand? It'll be awesome!"
"Just get it over fast brat! I can't spar with you without my sword!"
"Alright already I'm off! Jeeze! Don't ya worry though, I'm taking care of this personally, no clones this time. I am not risking it." Naruto after, giddily, picking up Zabuza's zanbatou, left to start on the seal-inscribing process, he left some Kage-bunshin keep on learning while he was away.
Zabuza, without his sword, spent the entire day teaching Hinata about his silent killing style. After all it wouldn't be smart to make sound inside a mist. Meanwhile Shino was busy thinking about Haku. He had almost slipped up and called her -chan once. What was wrong with him. Shino sighed. Turning to Kurenai-sensei, he saw teaching Haku some basic genjutsu to supplement her style, such as Genjutsu: Heki-Bunshin (Illusion: Weapon clone, it makes illusionary copies of a thrown weapon, easily hiding where the real one is going to hit, causing enemies to not only grossly miscalculate, but to also believe their enemy is much stronger than it should be). Shino was at an impass. He felt weird when close to the kunoichi, as if his coat was a bit too warm and got this annoying urge to just look at her and smile. He really, really, needed to find out more but for some blasted reason hesitated talking to his parents. Poor boy could make neither heads nor tails of his condition. So he resolved to ask his team when he got the chance. There should be a perfectly logical explanation about this.
Meanwhile Naruto went to his 'Little Workshop Of Horrors' as he loved to call it. It was nothing much really, just a room in his apartment. It had a nice view of Konoha and the Hokage Monument, a big desk, a library and lots and lots of papers with Naruto's crazy ideas. Naruto placed the huge blade on the desk and gathered his supplies. After a breath to steady himself, Naruto started his work. He had practiced his seals hundreds of times and now it was time to put them to use. With great care, he prepared the ink and brush and in reverence started scribing the seals. Hours upon hours, Naruto worked painstakingly slow in order to not make the slightest mistake. Sure the seals were within his skills, but the tiniest mistake could destroy the whole thing. A few hours later, Naruto used his father jutsu to conceal the seals, turning them into a stylized japanese-styled dragon with an Oni figure on the top of the head, wielding a weapon looking mysteriously like Kubikiri Honcho. His work done, Naruto let the ink dry properly, cleaned up his desk and wrapped the huge Zanbatou with bandages so noone would see the seals. Slinging the weapon on his back, Naruto left for the training grounds.
Naruto arrived in the training grounds to see a fogged area 'Probably Hinata-chan and Zabuza' and Haku's trademarked Makyo Hyosho with a few hundred too many senbon flying around. Naruto lifted an eyebrow at it. Maybe he should have Haku meet up with Tenten as they both seemed to enjoy throwing lots of sharp, pointy objects. Not to mention poor Tenten would love to meet a real kunoichi as opposed to all these damn fangirls like Sakura and Ino. As he approached, Shino appeared next to him, his face as always unreadable.
"Naruto, I would like to talk to you privately after today's training is done if you don't mind."
"Sure, why not. Lemme just get this to No-brows and then we can spar for a bit. Oi no-brows! Get over here teme! I got it done!"
Zabuza came out of the mist, Hinata in tow, and marched over to the blonde.
"Finally you brat! You sure took your sweet time!"
"Gomen Zabuza but I had to be sure it's perfect. One seal wrong could take down the entire thing. Anyway its done, here you go." Naruto took the Zanbatou from his back and gave it to Zabuza, who slowly unwrapped it. With a critical eye he looked at the inscription on the sides.
"Well the inscription is nice and I don't see the seals. You said the inscription would hide them right? Anyway how does this new trick work?"
"Alright see that big boulder? Normally you either can't cut it or it takes way too darn much strength to do it right? Now if you check the hilt you'll see there is a seal with the Kaze kanji. Push some chakra into it and control it so it forms around the blade, like a coccoon. Make sure the 'business end' is as sharp as you can. After that just swing away at the rock."
Zabuza complied, taking some seconds to focus the chakra properly, because even though the seals did most of the work for him, he didn't know anything about fuuton manipulation. After the coccoon was formed, Zabuza looked at it. A blue aura covered it and extended the blade by about 30cm. He swung the blade vertically on the boulder and half-expected it to bounce off. To his immense joy however the blade cut through 50cm of the rock without slowing down. Ripping his blade off the rock he noticed that the chakra extension had also cut through the rock. Zabuza whistled.
"Now that's impressive gaki."
"Nope not really. Not comparing to what you could do if you mastered that." Naruto gave a feral grin "What you did was actually pathetic for a fuuton user, but you're a suiton user, making it rather impressive. Of course my seals did most of the work for you. Anyway it took you too long and didn't cut nearly as much as it should. If I had done it, it would have cut cleanly through the rock and stabbed hilt-deep into the ground. It's just a matter of practice though, since you know nothing about fuuton. I'll teach ya a few things though if you want. I'm sure you'll enjoy them. Besides, if you master fuuton chakra you'll be able to 'detach' the chakra blade from your sword and send it flying to any poor bastard around you. So what do you think? Are my seals awesome or what?"
"I admit it kid, you're one heck of a seal user. Anyway, I gotta go back to teaching moon-eyes here. Her excercice is not over yet." Naruto nodded as Hinata and Zabuza went back to their training. It was mainly training HInata to be able to maintain the Kirigakure no Jutsu while attacking at the same time. She was capable of it, but the chakra required for it was rather steep for the Kunoichi, since she'd also have to maintain enough chakra for her Byakugan. It really was hard for her, but every time she broke her previous record, even if for a second, it made her feel better and better.
Naruto went to Shino and the two got ready for a spar. Shino had yet to spar against Naruto's bladed arms, but he had looked at it enough to get a feel for his style. Still, knowing Naruto's... unpredictability, Shino maintained an extremely cautious approach, since Naruto was known to improvise and use attacks noone was prepared for. The two boys spent a good time sparring, with Naruto winning 6 - 4 against Shino, though both knew Naruto was holding back his full strength and speed. To him, it was't a spar to check how strong or fast he was, but instead how good his blade expertise was.
After they were done Shino dragged Naruto away from the rest in order to speak to him privately.
"Naruto lately there seems to be a problem with me and I do not know to whom else I should turn to."
"Oh? And what's that problem? You know I'll do anything to help you people."
"Ever since I first met Haku, I've felt... different. I am happier around her and when I saw you on her lap back when you were cleansing Kyubi's chakra, even though you were there so she could hold you still, I felt slightly jealous. I cannot explain it, so I need your help."
Naruto sighed before answering. "Shino it is not unnatural. What you're experiencing is called love. You my friend like Haku. And not like a friend either. Instead of running away from your emotions, I think you should embrace them really. However, you shouldn't rush in and tell Haku you like her. You need to scout out about it first. See if she likes you, as well as figure out if you really like her or are simply crushing on her."
"What do you mean Naruto? My clan never was shy on the matter of mating but they never went in depth with courting rituals."
"Baka there are no courting rituals. See if she blushes around you, or if she looks at you more than normal or if she smiles a lot when you're around or if she wants to be around you. Telling true love apart from a mere crush is harder, but I'm sure you'll be able to find the differences. However I must warn you Shino. Do not despair if she doesn't return your feelings. She may develop them later but you shouldn't push her. Even if she doesn't like you now, she could like you later ok? Don't rush it. Also it might be a good thing to speak to Hinata-chan as well. She is after all much more experienced in romance than me."
"I see. It is quite complicated but still thank you Naruto."
"Meh don't thank me yet, just my opinion on the matter really. Anyway I was thinking, since my experiment with Zabuza's blade was a success, I should make such improvements on the entire team's weaponry. Your kama will take easy to the wind blade array, but I gotta use something else for Hinata-chan. I'll try completing the rest of the elemental arrays as well as my dad's other seals. I want to see how it all develops and then we'll go to the Chuunin exams fully prepared."
"I see. Improved weaponry would drastically increase our survival chances in the field as well as provide us with alternate means of combat. I'm guessing you're aiming to become a seal master in your own right?"
"Yeah. Pops was a seal master that could imprison the Kyubi. If I can surpass him I might find a way to safely have him out temporarily. Ah well even if I never get that, I can always use this knowledge to help my friends. So its win-win for me. Besides, I like fuuinjutsu. Its fun."
With their spars and talks finished Naruto and Shino walked up to the rest of the team.
"Alright no-brows, time to get you your water jutsu working. Go to the lake over there, stab it inside and use chakra to seal it inside. Again push your chakra through the 'Seal' kanji on the hilt."
Zabuza complied and his sword seemed to suck up a large amount of water from the lake. When done, Zabuza turned to Naruto.
"So now what? You said Suiryudan jutsu through my blade and I'm holding you to it."
"Yeah I know, but that's gonna take some practice. For now just use the handseals, but make sure the chakra flows through the storage seal on the hilt. I'd stab the blade to the ground while sealing, at least until you perfect this that is."
Zabuza used the forty-something handseals for Suiton:Suiryudan No Jutsu (Water Style: Water Dragon Blast Technique), grabbed the hilt of his blade, while it was still on the ground and pushed the chakra inside. The tip of the blade glowed a chakra blue, before the ground around the blade exploded by the water surging from underneath and a dragon shaped mass of water seemed to erupt from the ground. Zabuza looked at Naruto, who gulped, right before the blonde got a shower of ice-cold water.
Naruto came up from the lake he was thrown in sputtering and cursing, while his team and the two former missing ninja laughed at him. Naruto managed to pout three whole seconds before Hinata gave him a little peck to his cheek, immidiately fixing him up. Of course that caused even more laughter for the group.
Later on as Naruto was trying to complete his father's seals, he felt so proud of his father. The man was a genious. Naruto was sure that given time he would have been able to devise a way to seal Kyubi without dieing. Well he was his son, which meant he had to complete his legacy. Naruto chuckled, it was ironic really. Returning back to his work he finished the seals to the point where he needed one thing only. Knowledge of how the chakra flowed. Naruto sighed and leaned back on his chair. It was time to go visit his adopted sister, Anko. After that who knew? Naruto rarely planned ahead. Getting up, Naruto got properly dressed, since he liked being in his pajamas while in his house, before going out.
A few minutes later, Naruto found Anko, where else, in her favourite dango stand. After greeting his friend, he sat down ordering some dango for himself.
"So what do ya want brat?"
"Well you know I'm a fuuton user right? Well I need your help learning how to use katon and raiton. I know you're a katon user and maybe you know a raiton one."
"Alright brat I'll help ya but you need to buy me some dango and sake. I'll get ya your raiton user later though."
"Thanks Anko-nee. By the way I hope you're not talking about that idiotic pervert Hatake right?"
"What him? No way. How did you get to know that jerk?"
"Long story, I'll tell ya at the training grounds later. Less chances of you actually castrating him really."
Many dango sticks, sake bottles, burns and spent chakra later, Naruto was at his team's training grounds, trying in vain to stop Anko from killing a certain one-eyed jounin.
"Lemme go damnit! I'll beat him up! I'll castrate him! I'll shove Manda up his ass! I'll *censored* and *censored* and *even more cencored*!" (Really I ran out of ideas of what Anko could do to poor Kaka-hentai)
"Jeeze calm down will ya Anko? Sheesh! You're acting as if you don't know me!"
"What do ya mean brat?"
"Anko did you foget you were the one I spent the most time with after that night? I've picked up quite a few things from you. Vengeance is one of them."
"So what are you going to do to that perv that I can't do? Huh?"
"Simple." *evil grin* "I'll tell him who I really am."
"Ooooh now that sounds fun? When when? I wanna bring my camera!"
"Hehehe at the Chuunin exams. The idiot thinks his Uchiha inbred prodigy will be ready for them. I'll just prove them all wrong."
Anko gave her outouto a noogie, before having him continue his Katon manipulation excercises. It was well into the night before Naruto started getting it, even with a dozen or so Kage Bunshins helping him. The pair broke up after Anko gave him a list of things to do the next day.
This was pretty much the team's schedule for a week. Meet up, train, get a D-rank mission, train some more, lunch, train even more and meet up the next day. It was real tiring but Naruto had finally manged to complete a few more of his father's possible arrays. Now Naruto had been working on getting a feel for Hyoton by Haku, since he wanted a freezing array in the mix as well. Shino for his part had managed to talk to his parents and Hinata about Haku, but the poor boy couldn't muster the courage to tell her, other than that he trained his taijutsu, Kama and bug jutsu as he never had enough chakra to specialize in ninjutsu or genjutsu. Hinata for her part had been working on a number of things, like her Tonfa, her Jyuken and her Iryo-jutsu trying to balance out her team properly. She had decided to start up on Genjutsu as well at some point but for now she had other things to learn first.
It was a few weeks later when Naruto gathered his team and showed them a book. At their subsequent questions he answered; "This is my seal collection. Each and every seal and array I've come across analyzed and categorized in here. Now the reason I got it here is to tell you that I've finally completed my elemental arrays, well apart from the freezing one, but that's really hard considering its a bloodline ability and I can't get a feel for it. Anyway, since I've completed them I thought I should show them to you so we can upgrade our equipment." The group looked at him with pride, they were damn proud to have such a young seal master in their team, even if he lacked a bit in years.
"Alright Hinata-chan, we need to change your tonfa. Wooden tonfa are good for starters but I think you can handle metallic ones. Now I'll improve them with a water storage seal and an shocking array. A chakra channeling seal will make sure you can Jyuken your enemies to death even with tonfa and I'll also add a chakra storage array. These ones were really hard, thankfully dad had almost finished them, but they are great for you. They let you store an amount of chakra for later use, like a hyorongan, but without the pain. I'll also add storage seals for a pair of blades on your tonfa, in case you are forced to take a life, even though I know you abhor it. Some reinforcement and maintenance seals will finish your weapon ok?"
"Hai Naruto-kun. I wish I d-didn't have to k-kill, but I m-may have to."
"Alright next up is Shino. For you I'll add my wind blade array like I did for Zabuza as well as chakra storage seals. This way you'll be able to use a couple of ninjutsu if you're in a tight spot. Lastly I'll use a chakra tracing seal connected to your glasses. It'll let you track any enemy by marking them with a bit of your own chakra so they will never be able to hide, which considering your kikai-chu will be rather lethal. I really don't know how else to improve them really but any idea is welcome. If you want I can place a storage seal on your coat for easier transportation."
"I see. That will be sufficient Naruto, I thank you."
"Now let's see, I got some ideas for you Kurenai-sense, like a magnetic shield to protect you from all things metallic, as well as a prototype flight array consisting of artificial wings with wind seals on them, but its still experimental. I could use some chakra storage seals on an amulet or something though, since being a genjutsu specialist usually means having little in amount of chakra. Oh and since Anko-nee is here I'll get down to hers as well. Alright here's what I've got planned for you. I'll replace your gauntlets with new ones carrying storage seals for wrist mounted blades as well as a variety of small things from smokebombs to poisons and explosives. On the underside will be the storage for the real weapons though. Don't worry I've already bought them and I'm sure you'll love 'em. Anyway I'm going to add a multitude of advanced storage seals for poisons on top of the blade, so you'll be able to poison your daggers in the midst of combat. A pair of shocking and wind blade arrays for the times you just have to go berserk on an idiot as well as chakra storing seals to make sure you can keep going. So what do you think?"
Kurenai was first to answer, saying she'd like the planned seals since they would help her in melee, while Anko grabbed Naruto and started constricting him in her, rather generous, bosom. It lasted all of five seconds before Anko released him. Hinata never looked so terrifying before... Anko chuckled nervously a bit before backing off.
Now with the added help of the Snake Charmer, team F.E.A.R. went deep into their training. The exams were coming soon and they had to be ready for them. Naruto looked to the sky. 'Mom, dad, would you be proud of me? Sometimes I wonder... what should I do? Guess I'll go with the flow. Just like you did.' Naruto remembered a talk he had with Anko a few months back.
Flashback - 3 months ago
Anko and Naruto were sitting on a tree, enjoying some dango. Even Naruto had to eat something other than ramen or meat once in a while and it was as good a food as any.
"Ne, Anko, what's that seal on your neck anyway? Kyu says it stinks of snake and corruption."
Anko glanced at Naruto and attempted to change the conversation. "Maa Naru-chan, its nothing. Just a memento. Anyway how's life treating you lately?"
"Good but you haven't answered. What the heck is that seal?"
"You won't let it go will you?" Sigh "Very well, if you must know it's a gift. From my old sensei. Fucking bastard marked me with something that screwed me up royally. Hurts from time to time, eats up my chakra, messes my control and worst of it, binds me to that bastard."
"Can I see it Anko-nee? Maybe Kyu can help or something."
"Whatever... Do as you like."
Naruto took a long hard look on the seal, probing it with a variety of seal-related jutsu before stopping.
"Damn this seal's the work of an idiot savant. It's bound to your coils, constantly trying to overcome your chakra. You subconsciously form a shell of chakra around it in order to protect yourself. Also it sends chakra signals to your brain from what I saw. Kyu said it reminds him of a mating mark, just altered so it can also affect your body. Looks like Oro-teme got his hands on quite a few things to make this piece of work. Wouldn't surprise me if that traitor Manda gave him a hand as well. There might be a way to undo it but... its hard."
"Eh? Undo it? What do I have to do?"
"Unfortunately you can't do anything about it. And even with our idea, its still a gamble. In the ancient laws, if a male defeats another male, he can lay claim to the defeated's mates. In other words, someone would have to defeat Oro-teme to be able to remove that mark. But that's not all. Its quite possible the snake foresaw that and added a suicide seal, so in case he dies, you die as well. So someone must defeat Oro-teme without killing him, in other words going half-arsed against him. But that's not all. Damn hebi got his hands on some youkai. How I dunno but that's the corruption I sensed. Seems he mixed it with normal chakra creating a mix of the two. Now if he was a Jinchuuriki that mix would be an extremely potent human-like chakra. But he isn't so he doesn't mix it quite as well. Instead it posseses an immense amount of youkai in comparison to the amount of human chakra, making it a very potent,corrosive and unstable mix. But here's the complication. Thanks to that youkai, you're somewhat of a jinchuuriki yourself. Do you know why a Jinchuuriki would die if you remove the demon? Its because by doing so, the jinchuuriki loses the demon's youkai unless the demon cares enough to leave a storage of it behind. Needless to say most don't. Because of that the jinchuuriki goes through a sort of withdrawal phase and dies. Very, very painfully too. Kyu said it should feel like a constant youkai overload and saying it hurts is the understatement of the decade. I experienced it once and it almost shattered my mind. Yeah I'm serious, it hurts that much. Now the problem with you is that even if I somehow break the seal, your body has become adjusted to the pedophile's corrupted chakra, which means you'll die if I remove it."
"Well... shit..."
"Yeah I know. However not everything's bad. You see, thankfully you have never activated it. In other words, you never sealed the deal with him or breaking it would be impossible. Kyu says your willpower is almsot as strong as mine and that's saying something. Anyway, demon's compliments aside, we need to find a way to break it. Now here's the biggest problem of all. Only I can defeat Oro-teme in order to free you. If anyone else does... you're screwed. Before going nuts about it here's why; you need youkai to survive. If the seal breaks, the youkai in it will disperse and you will die. So the one that breaks it must infuse you with his own youkai. Something that noone else has in this village. So in short, I gotta beat up Oro-teme, without killing him, analyze and break your seal and place a new one with youkai in its place. Just peachy ne? Good thing is that we found a way around marking you as my mate. I'll adopt you. Now before you scream, here's what will happen if it all goes according to plan. I'll share some of my blood with you, which considering what I've done, will transfer some of Kyubi's power into you. In essense you'll become a pseudo-jinchuuriki, just like all my children will be, only the law will consider you my sister. Good things will include access to Kyu's youkai as well as making it impossible for that jackass to mark you ever again."
"Well shit one more time. Damn snake is next to immortal. I should know. The teme is incredibly powerful, with immmense jutsu and the chakra to make use of them. Not to mention some jutsu that would make even Kyubi puke. You just can't beat him Naruto. Guess I'll be that bastard's 'mate' forever huh..."
"Like hell you are. Even if I'm not strong enough right now, I will become. And I'm gonna beat up that snake bastard for hurting my nee-chan. Noone hurts my family and lives! That's the promise of a lifetime. I'll free you from that bastard Anko. No matter what."
"Naruto... thanks but don't go dieing for me."
"Who said anything about dieing huh? Like hell I will. Besides its not like I'm gonna go at him right now. I gotta get stronger, much stronger in order to have a chance. Besides, waiting to build up your strength and ensure victory is not a shame. I will win. Heh its not like I have to kill the asshole or anything. I just gotta make him surrender or flee. If I can do that, then by the laws I win the bout and can claim you, freeing you from the bastard's clutches. So don't ya worry about me. I just have to make him believe I'm too strong for him."
"Naruto, please don't go killing yourself over me. If you do, who am I gonna share my dango with huh?"
"Bah I said I'm not gonna die. Its just that you'll have to wait a bit, but I will free you. Kanarazu da (for certain)!" Naruto pumped his hands. Anko just looked at him with worry and a bit of hope. Kyubi just chuckled.
The two could-be siblings finished their food and went back to training. Ever since that day Naruto thrust himself head first into his training regime. Noone messes with his family or friends. Noone. Not even Kami himself will save the poor bastard to hurt the few, so few prescious people in his life. As for Anko? She thrust herself into training as well. If her otouto (not that she ever called him that) ever went to fight Orochimaru, he'd need help both before and after the fight. Help she'll be there to deliver.
End Flashback
A few days later Naruto showed up with the results of his sealing. Hinata got a pair of perfectly balanced metallic tonfa, with inscriptions of waves and lightnings with the Kanji Raijin's Touch on striking end. Shino got his new Kama, a beautifully made pair, with inscriptions of a preying mantis in mid-strike as well as the Kanji for Mantis Blades on the start of the blade. On the butt of the wooden part he placed seals so that Shino could combine them in a single two bladed Kama weapon. The idea came when he thought how destructive it would be for shino to simply rotate them above his head while activating the wind blade seal. Also it made for an unorthodox but very effective weapon. Kurenai got a pendant with a ruby flower in the center. Naruto had decreed that testing his prototype flight system and magnetic seals would take more time than he had at the time, but he had to give something to his sensei so he settled for chakra storage seals on the pendant.
Poor boy though didn't miss Hinata's pout at the gift. She was the only one Naruto should be buying jewelry for damnit! The entire team laughed at Naruto's expence when he started sweating bullets at Hinata's glare.
Anko got a new set of bracers and shin guards. They had coiling snake depictions but Naruto had taken great care in making them look noble rather than slimy. The shin guards were outfitted with an assortment of protective seals as well as a few hidden surprises here and there, like a few kunai and explosives in storage seals. The bracers were the peak of it though and a point of pride for the seal master. They had numerous storage seals, that let Anko carry enough firepower on her to take down a small battalion. Another storage seal hid a pair of wrist mounted blades for quick assassinations. But the pride of Naruto was something many seal users never could do; a storage seal inside a storage seal. He had managed to place the entire thing inside a simple looking wrist band that could be hidden by anything. Of course Anko's main dish were her new blades. A pair of slender curved, double edge long daggers, perfect for both assassinations as well as prolonged combat, stored under the gauntlets themselves, they had their own tricks. More than ten tiny seals carried a large amount of different poisons, from neurotoxins to snake venom, for many different results, from pain to knockout to paralysis to death. The blades' wind blade and shocking arrays were arranged to make short work in case of direct confrontation. The blades were obviously of master craftsmanship, the hilt made of bone wrapped in soft leather and the guard being a snake's mouth open at 180degrees, two fangs protruding at each side of the main blade. On the center of the guard, before the snake's head there was a small emerald on each side. The orb on the bottom of the hilt had the Kanji for Snake Fangs. Upon seeing them Anko squealed like a little girl and wrapped her little brother in a bear-hug. Naruto for his part scratched his head and looked apologetically toward's Hinata.
Despite the groups happiness though, they all knew why they were getting these works of art. The chuunin exams were ahead. New dangers were emerging. But most importantly noone forgot that even though these gifts looked beautiful, they were made with one thing in mind; taking another being's life. Naruto's thoughts were rather bitter on that part. 'No matter what I do, I can't escape this my destiny. Seems these hands of mine were made only for taking life. No matter. I shall defend them all and use this curse to protect them. I will not fail.' Hinata took note of Naruto's determined look and sighed slightly. He'd be there for everyone. She knew it. She just wished that sometimes he wasn't that selfless... Then she gave a sad smile. It was after all what made Naruto... Naruto. He was himself and she loved him for it.
As the sun set slowly, the team slowly went their separate ways, a deep feeling in their hearts. Unknowingly, they all made the same thought. 'The time of peace is coming at an end. Now we have to fight, with everything we have.'
A/N: Alright this chappie is done finally. Took me some time but finally its here. Next chapter are the begginings of the Chuunin exams as well as some encounters. Thanks to everyone that has voted on the poll, it really helps. Also thanks to my reviewers for their kind words and help. Glad to see there are no flamers in here, well till now that is. Hopefully it will stay so.
P.S. Woot chapter 10! First milestone! I must say though, when I started, I half expected I'd put this up for adoption at one point or other. Glad to not have done that mistake :D
Today, on this 9/6/2012, I, Soulblazer87, do hereby leave this site, possibly forever.
I shall not update this, or any other story.
I shall leave them on, however. Should you desire to follow my stories, do so in my new site of residence: www dot yourfanfiction dot com.