Chapter 14: Gathering
Just mere seconds after Naruto's fight with Temari ended, Orochimaru shunshin'ed outside, not even waiting to check up on Sasuke. To say he was pissed off would be one heck of an understatement. He was furious. Damnable brat! How dare he refuse him! How dare that insignificant, snot-nosed, foolish child refuse Him! It was unacceptable! He would pay. Oh yes Uzumaki Naruto would pay!
Orochimaru went to some of his best servants and slaughtered them. How dare they speak to him about insignificant things while the brat refused him?
Then Orochimaru's memories of what happened inside Naruto's mindscape surfaced... and Orochimaru reached new levels of fury. Entering one of his closest bases, he slaughtered everyone inside, tearing his own servants to pieces.
Finally after hours of venting, Orochimaru calmed down. The brat didn't want him? Then he wouldn't want the brat either! Sending for a messenger nin, he asked for re-inforcements. He wouldn't just kill the damn old monkey, he'd raze Konoha to the ground, salt the ground and leave it to rot! He'd erase its existence from the face of the earth! He'd remove it from the annals of history!
With visions of a burning Konoha, Orochimaru laughed darkly. He'd show them. He'd show them all. He'd make them regret not worshipping him like the god he was!
Back in Konoha, Naruto, Hinata, Anko and Shino were waiting for Lee, Tenten and Kiba in Training Ground 8. Kurenai had a small mission from Sandaime that would take a day to complete, but none of the gennin were worried about it.
It was early in the morning, as they had chosen to begin working as soon as possible. After all Shino or Naruto would come to fight Gaara and that wasn't a pleasant possibility. After all Naruto had told his team about Gaara's condition. No matter what Kakashi did, Naruto knew that Gaara would win. The point would be restricting the damage somewhat.
Naruto had a small 'talk' with his godfather last night. It was enlightening to say the least, when Naruto was told that Jiraiya didn't check on him as a kid because it would rob him of his 'research time'. That and he trusted Sarutobi to keep the villagers in line. After Jiraiya's punishment was over, he was filled in on what kind of life Naruto had led before his aquiring of his kekkei-genkai. Jiraiya's fury over it clearly told Naruto how sorry the man was over his actions. In the end Naruto forgave the old pervert, mostly thanks to Hinata pretty much ordering Naruto to. Jiraiya then made the unfortunate mistake of calling Naruto 'whipped'. A mistake that led to Hinata asking 'Naruto dear' to beat up on the pervert. Jiraiya quickly learned not to joke about Naruto and Hinata in any way, shape or form.
Thus, after Jiraiya-beating-time was over, Naruto tasked the aged Sannin to find a way to limit the Shukaku. Even if the war rumour was a mistake, seeing as Jiraiya's own spies had found little proof, a fight with the crazed Jinchuuriki was unavoidable. The pervert was overjoyed though when he learned that Naruto had taken up on sealing as one of his specialties. He was quite peeved when Naruto told him he'd have to wait before seeing the kid's own seals.
Now Naruto and his team were waiting for the latest additions to their gang. Finally they showed up, first Lee then Kiba and Tenten. Naruto greeted them giving Kiba a high-five, Lee a pat on the back and Tenten a smiling nod.
"Now that the gang's all here, I'd like to introduce ya all to our group's own headquarters. A 'pet' project of mine ever since I met Anko-nee-chan. We'll be better able to talk there. Come on follow me."
Naruto's team of course knew of the 'headquarters' but they had never actually seen it, as Naruto first finished something and then presented it to the group. The group walked towards the Forest of Death for a few minutes, going deep inside the surrounding woods. Naruto approached what seemed a rocky hill. Standing in front of one of the largest boulders he looked at the people beside him.
"Now this is the wonder of seals. You see, when I started out, I'd have to manually lift that rock. However, now I got a better way to do this. Behold." Naruto placed his hand on the boulder and sent a pulse of chakra through it. "This particular rock is a good channel for chakra. However it can't be used it weapons which is why people don't come here at all. Its got no worth after all. Not in my case. Behind the rock I've placed a simple storage array linked with a chakra recognition seal. When I pulse my chakra I can store the boulder without even touching the storage seal. The beauty of it is that you can't seal that boulder in any other way thanks to another seal I've got placed. So either you pulse your chakra or move the boulder. Since not many can do either, its pretty safe here. Granted not the best place, but its good for a change. Besides you shouldn't judge a book by its cover." True to Naruto's words, the boulder poofed away in smoke. Tenten jumped up and down in joy at the prospect of learning more seals. After all she had only two vices; sharp, pointy, dangerous and did we forget real sharp things and sealing.
The tunnel was made of stone that was cut with an extremely sharp implement, reinforced by wooden beams. Steps led down into a darker area, one that opened up merely 20ft ahead. What was in the opened up area was anyone's guess though. As the group walked down, Naruto stopped at the last step and with his right hand searched for something on the wall. As soon as he found it he pulsed his chakra once and suddenly there was light.
"I can't very well bring electricity here so I had to improvise. A chakra pulse in the right indentation activates the lights of each room in the HQ." Naruto enlightened the team.
The first room was more like a hallway, leading to other rooms in an underground minature maze. Small bulbs provided comfortable lighting, while the air seemed strangely clean.
"Alright to the right we got the dining room and kitchen while on the left we got the rooms. My team's rooms have their names on the doors, Lee, Tenten and Kiba, you three can pick any of the free rooms. Put your stuff there and come to the dining room. We got lots to discuss." Said the blonde before he and Anko went into the dining room.
As the group dispersed, they found the rooms, each with a large desk, chair, a comfortable bed and dresser. The indentations for the lighting were ever-present, not leaving a single place in shadows. As soon as the group returned they found Naruto and Anko talking animatedly inside the dining room. Naruto gestured them to sit around the central table. Naruto smiled at the mismatched group of Shinobi.
"Now I'm sure you all have questions so better ask them now and get them over with before we start the torture... I mean training. Damn Anko-nee-chan, you're rubbing off on me."
The extended Team 8 laughed at Naruto's fake pout before they allowed themselves to relax. Well mostly since Shino would never allow himself to relax with people he didn't trust explicitly around him.
Tenten was the first to speak. "So what exactly is this place? I mean you didn't make it like last summer or something. You've put a lot of thought in it."
"Hai that is correct Tenten. It originally started as a place for me and Anko to escape when the pressure from the village became too much to bear. After a while it just grew bigger and bigger as I added more and more rooms. Thanks to my Kage Bunshin, its quite easy for me to make a month's work in mere hours. After a bit of time I just got the idea of an underground Headquarters for me and my friends, just in case we need to get out of town for a bit. You know when things get tough or annoying. So far it's been quite a good place to relax."
Tenten kept up the questions. "So what else is here? And how do you have electricity in here? You yourself said it isn't easy to get it here, so how do you do it?"
Naruto smirked a bit. "Originally the indentations were for torches and stuff. I changed it just the past few weeks really. Thanks to certain circumstances, I acquired Yondaime's final works on seals. I completed some of them, which I used to improve my team's weapons. One of them in particular, allows me to make electricity from raw chakra. I linked it with a storage seal and a couple linking seals and voila. I got us electricity. I just have to charge the place up every two-three days, but its not really that much trouble. As for the place itself, I got a pair of dojo inside, a couple storage rooms and an armory. Now the first section of the armory is open to all but you are under no circumstances to enter the second section without me or Anko with you. Its my personal workshop so no going in without my permission got it? There's also a central security room, again off limits most of the time. I have placed quite a few security counter-measures in there so no touching. Lastly I'm considering starting our own underground hot springs. I accidentally found a small underwater spring, which I think I can make into a warming pool. Anything else?"
It was Lee's turn this time. "Yosh this place is filled with the power of YOUTH!" The shout caused the whole place to shake as if during an earthquake. "However I have a question Naruto-kun. What was the youthful armor you revealed during the match?"
"That Lee... was my kekkei-genkai." Naruto seemed saddened by his admission. He knew the questions would come, but it didn't mean he felt nice revealing what he was. "You're probably wondering what I mean right? I mean normally I'd have a family and stuff, I wouldn't be an orphan correct?" The two new team members, as Kiba already knew this since Wave, nodded. "It is really a long story, a story that began thirteen years ago, on the tenth of October, the night of the Kyubi's attack. Contrary to popular belief and written history, Yondaime couldn't kill the fox. Instead he sacrificed his own soul to summon the Shinigami himself, having the powerful god seal the Kyubi. However, the Kyubi was far too strong to be sealed in an adult's body or a holy relic. The only way to keep the Kyubi imprisoned was by sealing it inside a newborn baby... As luck would have it I was the child selected by the Yondaime Hokage to become the living prison to the Kyubi."
Tenten and Lee were astounded by the story. As far as they knew, Naruto was a trickster, a prankster and a respectable Shinobi when it came down to business. Heck their own experience with him, revealed him to be a steadfast friend and a courageous shinobi. Naruto never gave them time to gather their own thoughts, continuing his story.
"The Yondaime's final wish was that I be looked as a hero for keeping the demon locked away. However I was a living reminder to the people of what they had lost, loved ones, parents, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. So obviously, in their pain they never saw me as me, instead they saw the Kyubi no Yoko. When I was eight, as it was customary at that time, I was being hunted by some civilians. Most of the times I escaped, since even then I could outlast any civilian, but that time they seemed much more determined than normal. During and after the beating I received, the seal surfaced to heal my body by using the Kyubi's chakra. At that time a masked guy came and stabbed my with a chakra imbued sword right on the seal. While Shinigami-sama's seal is extremely powerful, it is also very vulnerable at certain cases. When the sword pierced me, it also pierced the seal and destroyed it." Naruto took a deep breath to let Lee and Tenten realize the weight of the situation.
"The demon could have broken free right then and there, but instead chose to fight my spirit, devour me and torture me for all eternity. Thankfully though, it was my mindscape so I had a huge advantage. Also some parts of the seal had remained somehow intact. In the end, I won, barely. However, victory would mean me absorbing Kyubi and submitting him to the same torture he would place me in. Alas though, mortals were never meant to hold Kyubi's power and knowledge in themselves. The way things were going, my mind would be obliterated while my body would explode in a burst of youkai, destroy Konoha, while Kyubi would be merely re-incarnated into something else. That never came to be however. Just split seconds before going insane myself, I used my newly acquired powers to bring the dieing Kyubi back, returning him his knowledge and power. In the meantime I sealed him again... this time in my own blood since I couldn't remake or repair the Shinigami's seal. As a result, Kyubi became mine and my family's... kekkei genkai. Thankfully, before I bound him I took care to remove certain parts from him, letting him come into contact with my spirit. I sort of cleansed him from his mindless hate and bloodlust, while letting him retain the full extent of emotions. Now Kyubi is more of a spiritual guide to me. He isn't evil any more, he is trully sorry for what happened and told me the truth behind his attack. Let's just say that while he IS partly to blame, it doesn't fall entirely on him."
With another deep breath Naruto kept up the shocking. "During my scuffle with the furball though, my body was exposed to immense amounts of youkai, demonic energy in amounts my body wasn't ready to accept yet. In return, my body began disintegrating, collapsing on itself. Being lucky in my own bad luck though, I survived but not untouched. My body became unstable, my DNA chain destroyed beyond repair. My own children will have that effect as well. Fortunately however, my instability is under my conscious and unconscious control. Whenever exposed to something damaging, my body adapts itself to survive it, whenever I tire myself out, my body adapts itself by making me stronger and tougher. It is the same way with Lee when he trains, only in my case its easier and faster. My conscious mind is in control of more 'active' abilities. I am able to shift my own form to whatever I wish, forming claws from my nails or an entire blade out of my arm. Only stipulation seems to be need. I have to need something to be able to form it for the first time, after that it is really easy. Of course there are limits to my powers but they are beside the point. Anyway, that 'youthfull armor' as you put it, Lee, was my body's reaction to so much harmful energy coursing through my body at the same time. I can manifest it any time I wish, however seeing as it shreds my clothes, I'd rather not be naked in front of the ladies." Narut finished with a lopsided smile, daring Hinata to blush. "Now you know of my secret. I will understand if you hate or distrust me. Heck I'd have problems trusting myself from your point of view, however I would ask of you to not reveal any of this to anyone. I entrusted you with my secret, I ask that you do the same."
Lee and Tenten were at a loss for words, the revelations in those last few moments were shocking. Looking at Kiba, they took notice at his sadness and lack of surprise, meaning he knew of it. If Kiba was still trusting of Naruto after the revelations, what were they supposed to be? Tenten turned to said Inuzuka heir.
"Kiba, you knew about all of this?"
"Yah, I did. Me and Akamaru were curious and quite honestly, scared at first. Especially after we learned of the fox's true fate. But, I'm an Inuzuka and I know Naruto isn't the fox, neither the current fox, nor the previous. I know Naruto's a packmember, I know I can trust him. If anything I shouldn't be loyal to the village after the shit they put him through. But if Naruto's got the heart to forgive them for all that crap, then who am I to judge. If anything Naruto has my respect and loyalty, fox or no fox."
Tenten was deep in thought, Naruto was the scroll holding the Kyubi, therefore all was fine right? However years of being told to hate Kyubi, hate Naruto, hate foxes, had been engraved deep inside her. She was having a lot of trouble making up her mind. Then she remembered Naruto's actions back when they were on a mission. She remembered him taking the blade that was meant for Hinata.
Lee on the other hand was thinking about Naruto's flames of youth. He admired the blonde powerhouse because of what shit he went through and yet still managed to forgive those that had hurt him. While creeped out by the knowledge of the fox, he still was adamant that Naruto was a good person.
Kiba was the one to break the comfortable, or uncomfortable for Naruto, silence that had ensued. "So why exactly are you teaching us? You got a plan right?"
"Yup I do. Its not just the fact that you have immense potential you're already tapping on, you also have the proper mentality. As Haku here would testify, a person becomes truly strong when they have someone they want to protect, a prescious person. However, one alone cannot protect his prescious people, no matter how strong he or she may be. I... I really want to protect some people. I am not loyal to Konoha, not after what they put me through. However, I am loyal to some people. As long they remain in Konoha, then so shall I. But I know I can't protect them at all times, I can't be there for them. That's what this group is for. We will protect each other's prescious people. The same people that accept us, without any distrust. They may be few, but for some of the people here, that's all that's keeping us from going insane. In inviting you in this group, I'm hoping you'll protect my important people as I will protect yours. That's all there is to it. Growing stronger for the few people that truly accept us, the few people that truly matter."
"What people are so important to you Naruto?" Asked a curious Tenten.
Naruto let a sad smile grace his face. "Teuchi and Ayame Ichiraku, because they were the only store to always let me in. Sandaime Hokage, because he always tried to help me. Iruka-sensei for caring for seeing past the Kyubi. Shino and Kurenai-sensei for accepting me as I am. Anko-nee-chan for showing me that the world isn't just pain. Most importantly Hinata-hime for loving me, even when everybody else would hate me. Haku and Zabuza too are important people to me, not only because they have accepted me but also because they are important to those that are important to me. I'd give everything for these people's happiness. That's why I want them to be happy and safe at all times, even when I'm not there. It's all a chain you see? Maybe, just maybe, this chain will bind the world in happiness instead of hate, as is the case now. Nowadays, people hate, feel sad, blame others. I don't like that, I want it to change. I want people to be happy, laugh and become better. I know it may never happen, but as long as my prescious people are just a little bit happier, I'm satisfied. After all they are everything to me."
Tenten was still torn, what Naruto suggested was great. A group of people that would care for each other, placing the well-being of others over their own. Still, Kyubi's reputation made it hard for her to accept it completely. After all, she had lost her own parents at that day.
Lee just yelled in his not-so-inside-voice about the flames of youth Naruto had been burning with. Turning serious he looked at Tenten. "Tenten! We must aid Naruto-kun in his youthfull quest to unite everyone under the springtime of youth! Such a burning passion should not be dismissed! We too must burn with the power of youth and protect each other's prescious people! Yosh! If I can't protect everyone, I shall run 100 laps around Konoha on my hands! If I can't do that I'll run around this hill of youth carrying a boulder on my back and double my weights for a month! And if I can't do that I'll..." And so Lee proceeded to list all the impossible things he'd do if he didn't protect everyone. Team 8 laughed good naturedly at his antics, the green clad gennin was refreshing.
Tenten soon found herself laughing alongside them. Thanks to the hyperactive shinobi, she understood the difference between the past and the presence. She had finally made up her mind.
When everyone calmed down, Anko began explaining the details to them. "Ok ya little brats, the third part is in a month, and we gotta make ya the best in that time frame. We're gonna work ya to the ground and then more. By the time we're done, you're gonna hate our guts, but you'll be kickin' names and takin' ass in no time. In other words, welcome to the BOOTCAMP FROM HELL! BWAHAHAHAHA!" Anko laughed at them, scaring Tenten and Kiba while exciting Lee (as if he'd get scared in the prospect of hellish training). "However, it ain't gonna start today, today's your free day so do what you want and enjoy life, 'cause tomorrow ITS ALL GONNA END! MWAHAHAHA!"
Naruto and his team snickered at Anko's exuberance, while Zabuza outright laughed in evil glee. Training gennin was so much fun!
After Anko's declaration, the discussion became more relaxed, discussing training over dango and cinnamon buns. How Anko and Hinata always seemed to get more out of a scroll when they had almost ended surprised all but their team. A couple of hours later Naruto turned to speak again.
"I know I'm kinda killing the mood now, but Anko... its time. We got a stupid hickey to get rid of. I would ask you to remain here except Shino and Hinata. I have need of your skills and ero-Jiraiya should be coming soon."
With that Naruto got up and left, bidding them all a good night. Anko hugged Kurenai, knowing full well the dangers of the coming operation. Then with a confident smile that perfectly hid her unease she walked outside. The atmosphere was quite somber for a bit before Zabuza broke it by beginning a discussion with Tenten on weaponry.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya came to the hidden Headquarters, to be greeted by a Kage Bunshin of Naruto. Nodding quickly, as well as noticing the seals on the entrance, the Toad Sennin went inside, following the clone. He was led to another room that seemed like a dojo before being led through to another room. This room was reinforced completely by granite and steel, making it ideal for highpowered fights underground. In the middle was a sitting Anko, this time without her trademark trenchcoat, skirt and net-like tube top. Jiraiya felt his 'inner pervert' wanting to come out and play, but he knew it was a serious time so he squashed said personality and got to work.
Hinata was busy laying out the tenketsu on Anko's body while Naruto began forming seals on Anko's naked skin. Shino on the other hand, had placed a veritable blanket of his kikaichu, ordered to cover the walls and absorb any excess chakra. Jiraiya got down to inscribing seals on steel, preparing the room for a one-of-a-kind operation. Anko for her part was trying in vain to calm herself down, emotions running rampant inside her, having very little clue as to what she should be thinking.
It took a bit of time for the preparations to be completed, at which point Hinata and Shino walked outside. Jiraiya, after completing the seals in the room, got down to helping Naruto finish up the seals on his adopted sister. It took almost an hour for the pair to finish writing the seals, seeing as the tiniest mistake could kill either or both participants at best, mutating them beyond control or imagination at worst. After making sure every seal was perfect, Jiraiya gave the green light.
Naruto stood over Anko's almost naked form, a grim visage on his face. Forming a claw on his left hand, he made a small puncture on Anko's own cursed seal. Spilling a drop of his own blood over it he intoned words whose meaning was long lost to humans, words whose translation couldn't transfer the deep meaning within.
"I Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto, Jailor of the Kyubi no Yoko, the Ancient Guardian/Lord of Fire, hereby declare the union between Mitarashi Anko and Orochimaru void and null. I hereby declare the union forced and illegal. I call upon the powers that were, are and shall forever be to undo this union, free both members from their respective duties. I call upon Kami and His Holy Servants to release this forced marriage and set Mitarashi Anko free. I call upon Kami and His Holy Servants to punish the transgressor that corrupted the sacred joy of mating with his vile intentions."
Naruto chanted for an hour in the ancient language, keeping an even tone, even as he prepared himself for the coming pain. Slowly he formed a single claw on his left hand, which he used to slit his own right wrist, holding it above Anko.
"By the Ancient Laws that were before we were conceived, I call upon the reparations of an unjust marriage. I call upon the right to call Mitarashi Anko my own sister of blood. I call upon the right of Adoption in a Demonic clan. I call upon the will of Kami to grant my wish, as reparation to an age of pain and hate. Witness our hearts and judge us both, witness our hearts and see that my plea has no wicked motives, no vileness, no hidden desires, other than our mutual desire to a family."
Slowly Naruto brought his bleeding wrist to Anko's mouth, letting her gulp and swallow the thick liquid that was his own blood. Slowly yet steadily, pain erupted within Anko, from a dull annoyance to hot pain to searing agony, Anko resisted the urge to wail in pain. Naruto felt pain too, but his was nothing in comparison. In slow motions, he withdrew his hand, before making a small incision on Anko's hand. Since the cut on his wrist had healed, he opened a new on on his palm and wrapped his hand around Anko's so their wounds overlayed each other.
"Blood is power, blood is life, blood is duty. Blood is weakness, blood is death, blood is freedom. Within my blood lies power, a blessing and a curse. Within my life lies death, a curse that set me free. This blood I bestow upon you, to set you free as I never was, to bless you as I never was, to fulfill the whole in you. Let my power wipe your weakness, let my strength become your own, let my power be added to yours. Let you be my sister, in blood, flesh and heart. Let you be free from your bonds. Let you be stronger than you ever were. Partake of my blood and have my power as your own."
Naruto raised his hand again, this time using his knife like claw to cut off a bit of his own flesh from his right arm. Quickly, while it was still warm, almost pulsating with life, he placed it in Anko's mouth, forcing her to eat it. He understood that luckily by that time Anko had no idea what was going on due to her pain, otherwise she'd never have agreed to it. Again he spoke, this time kneeling next to the shaking form of Anko, wrapping her in a hug, his chakra and youkai flaring to life, seeping out of his body and into Anko's.
"Let my sacrifice, insignificant though it may be, give you power. Let my pain, little though it may be, take your own away. Let my fury, weak though it may be shield you from your own. Let my power course through you and give you life anew. Let my life grant you life anew. Let my flesh and blood give you life anew. For I swear before Kami, before His Holy Servants, I swear I will protect you, o sister of mine, with my life, with my blood, with my flesh and with my power! I swear that you shall not die from nothing but Father Time's passing! I swear to guard and protect you to death and beyond if I have to! Break free of your former bonds and become that which you were always meant to be! By the Honor and Duty of Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto!"
The cloud of chakra grew in intencity, covering the two, obscuring them from sight, even as the seals tried to reduce and control the power coming off of them.
Anko felt her consciousness being pulled away, opening her eyes inside a new place. It was a huge forest, with trees that were taller than the eye could see, their leaves covering the sky, not day, nor night judging by the ambient light. In front of her a huge white snake slithered, its eyes a malicious yellow. Anko recognized it immidiately. That feeling belonged only to...
"Orochimaru. So this is you. Damn snake leave me alone."
The snake slithered forward, showing its true size to be several times Anko's own. "Yessss... hate me... hate meee... Anko... your hate givesss me power... Hate me..."
"Yeah I hate you, you thrice be damned snake. I hate your guts, but you ain't in control any more. You ain't got anything anymore on me. I am free of your clutches, always was."
The snake seemed to chuckle darkly. "No... you are never free... you will alwaysss be mine, as you alwaysss were..."
A booming voice sounded behind the snake as a huge shadow fell on it. "Oh? Is she now? What am I supposed to be? Chopped liver? Stupid little snake, don't you realize when you've lost?"
Anko looked up and saw something that terrified her, as much as it gave her hope. There above the white snake of Orochimaru was the towering form of the Kyubi no Yoko, a smirk on its vulpine face.
"Boo. Scared ya? You shouldn't be Anko. You, little snake, on the other hand... I suggest running. After all I do so enjoy a good workout before LUNCH!"
With a leap, Kyubi charged the snake-like representation of Orochimaru's will, jaws wide, ready to sink his teeth on a tasty morsel.
Anko looked on with something between amazement, joy and disgust as Kyubi caught the snake and proceeded to... eat it.
"Ah nothing like the taste of flesh to charge you up." *Burp* "Oops sorry 'bout that. Now that the snake bastard's out of here, let's get comfortable right? Or well I will get comfortable, 'cause you're about to get in a shitload of pain. Ja ne, chibi-hebi-chan."
Kyubi laughed at her as she started screaming in agony, the pain overriding everything she could do or think. Soon she had lost consciousness, deep in slumber. The fox sat on his haunches and aligned himself with his new pseudo-host. It was going to be fun, he surmised. Twice the hosts, twice the fun.
On the outside world, the chakra and youkai mix was finally dieing out, the seal on Anko's neck nothing more than ink, its miasma long since gone. Jiraiya walked carefully towards the pair, as Naruto carefully unwound his arms from Anko. Wordlessly, he picked her up bridal style. Opening the closed door with his left hand, he looked at the faces of his team-members.
Seeing the grim look on Naruto's face, Hinata and Shino feared the worst. They knew how much Anko meant to the blonde shinobi, loosing her would be disastrous for him.
Slowly however, the grim look on Naruto's face melted off to a happy, smile. Slowly he spoke to them.
"I present you, Mitarashi-Namikaze Anko. My nee-chan."
That was all Naruto had time to say before Hinata charged him, glomping him. Naruto faltered for a moment before dropping to his knees. Looking at her worried face, he smiled in a calming manner before kissing her.
"I'm all right. Just a bit tired. Ne, could you take her to her room? Nee-chan's pretty wiped too. Heh... I guess I overdid it again."
Hinata and Shino took the knocked-out Anko to her room, while the perverted toad sage took Naruto to his, all the while muttering about impossible blondes.
A/N: Woot, new chappie complete. I'm working on Kage's Exodus now, gotta plan it out since its so loose. An important announcement; knightstarlegend is coming back with his Shadow Strike fic, which is awesome by the way. He updated it multiple times per day before real life caught up. Give him an encore so he can provide us with more of his awesome fic.
As always, review and let me know what you think.
Now some things on this chapter.
Orochimaru might seem infatuated with Naruto to some. Which is true. There are quite a few reasons for that in fact. First of all, its the abilities that Naruto revealed, the whole wild, uncontrolled raw power he showed. It excited Orochimaru, who had always been looking for such a perfect body. Because, to Orochimaru, Naruto has a perfect body. Next is the scientific mind of Orochimaru. No matter how depraved and corrupted, Orochimaru is a scientist first, with immense IQ, capable of planning several steps ahead in anything. Lastly, Orochimaru has changed multiple bodies, something that has left him... sexually confused. He isn't gay but he isn't straight, mostly because he does not understand such concepts any more. I mean he is a man inside a woman's body, with a woman's instincts. After a point, he simply sees the world as a female. With Naruto having a perfect body, his 'female side' is attracted to him. The fact that even his 'male side' accepts Naruto as a prime example of masculinity doesn't help much. That's why Orochimaru lost it that much when Naruto rejected him.
The idea of Lee using physical and spiritual energy separately isn't original, it came from an old Highlander movie. During the movie Ramon (I think that was the name of the Spanish immortal that came back to life) gathered his energy and lifted a giant propeller without even touching it. I just thought it was cool, so I adapted it for use with Lee. I always thought Lee was special judging by what he got done. I mean seriously. The dude is awesome, he almost killed Gaara, something that Sasuke couldn't do even with his Chidori.
Lee's rants will lessen over time too. I find them very hard to write, not to mention hard to read. They will never go away, as they are part of Lee as much as Taijutsu is. Don't ya worry though, Lee's gonna be kickin' ass and taking names very soon.
Neither Naruto nor Anko are cannibals. However, as shocking a scene as it was, you should understand the spiritual importance of what Naruto did, the 'magical laws' he appealed to. Due to the connotations with life, blood and flesh are powerful mediums for any sort of mystical/arcane/magical work. Which is why I had Naruto do it, for I assure you I do not like the idea of cannibalism either. It is something I quite frankly find disgusting, but also something I can understand, even though I hate it. If you don't like the part, then skip it as there will be no mention thereof in any other part of my fic. Yes I know many parts of my fic are quite shocking, but honestly, its an M-rated fic. It is bound to happen, just like the massacre scene in Wave. I apologize to any readers who are offended by it. If it proves something that many of you can't get over I will edit it out.
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.