CH 20
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
The next day saw Naruto getting up to do his normal, unaccompanied training routine. He did only three laps around the village because he'd gotten up just a little later than normal. He'd been studying one of the Water scrolls, a B Level spell that altered the water density by the castor's will. He already had a few of those as D Level spells because they were limited in size and liquid specific, for example: Water Style: Grape Juice by Three, which produced a water based juice, flavour specific in a three foot diameter sphere or three foot squared cube. He also had them in orange juice, chlorinated water, water paint, and cherry juice.
The B Level spell will allow him to choose the density, which he suspected was how Zabuza's water prison worked. However if this one worked, it could change the water to act like thick mud, which afterwards could further manipulated by the lower level spells that he knew could be used to form the water to be used like hands, ropes, and even form it into throwing weapons that may seem harmless, but worked close enough to the real thing and could cause severe damage.
Another reason he only did three laps around the village was because he needed to pick a few wild herbs to add to the meal that he was being made to cook for his teammates. He knew that he didn't have to, but it was kind of fun to show off that particular skill. Also he knew that if his senseis found out about it they'd invite themselves for the very same reason that his teammates were expecting him to cook. He had drenched them all yesterday with an untried spell.
"Ooh, berries," he said as he spotted them and immediately picked a couple of small bushels to bring back with him. He placed them in his lightly chilled scroll in order for them, plus the herbs he'd gathered, to keep their freshness.
He returned in time to shower. He changed, prepared Risa's bound Henge to protect against Cursed Seals and then headed to Sasuke's compound. A good thing he'd gotten there slightly early because he caught the Uchiha in time to say, "Test the bound Henge."
Sasuke activated his Sharingan, "Well, is it working?"
Naruto sighed and nodded, "I was worried because every time I did it was to also change your eyes to dark blue, but your eyes are still black and nothing can be seen." He took out some money and gave it to the other boy saying, "You'd better buy extras, in case you encounter our senseis."
"You think that they'd…" Sasuke began to ask and then said, "Of course they would. It's your own fault you know."
"I know, it's because I drenched you," the blond replied.
"Not only that, it was the way you talked about the food made it sound too good," Sasuke said. "I'm meeting Risa at the market. Do what you need to do and feel free to harvest from the new orchard. Ja!"
"Ja," Naruto said and went into the kitchen. He noted that the other boy had taken out some dishes, but they'd need more, so he hunted for those and found them. Then he set the table to include their Jounin-sensei and a place for the dog too.
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
The three from Team Seventeen were looking at the official Chunin recommendation forms with glee. Their senseis had joined them for the meal, as predicted. Then they left the kids after handing them the official invitation to the exams. All three felt that they were ready for this.
"This time we're passing phase one and two," Risa said. "I'll not hold you back."
"We won't hold you back either," Naruto told her with a grin. "Speaking of which, I did have a long conversation with Uncle Whitey, who said that you can pick your hour and go visit him. However I will warn you that you need to be packed with the basics for camping because your bonding time may last longer than just the minimum six months."
"That's not really fair Naruto," Sasuke said. "You said you were gone for a year, but didn't you learn anything in there."
"I learned some spells unique to foxes," Naruto confessed. "Uncle Whitey being a snow fox knew a lot of snow based spells. I also learned that I don't really like the cold, but if I ever lose my coat or clothes I won't ever freeze to death. That was not a fun lesson."
"But Naruto what do you mean," Risa said.
"Uncle Whitey will take you to the training field in the place of summons," Naruto explained. "Time runs differently there, he'll be your supervisor or watcher and allow you and Akoba to have the time you need to cement your bond. It will seem and be a long time in there, but only about an hour will pass out here."
Akoba barked, yipped and wagged his tale. Risa gasped and looked him so hopefully. "Today," she said. "Please…"
"Go get your gear and anything that you need," Naruto told her. She picked her ninja-dog and was out of the door so fast that the boys wondered if she had a third wind-based element instead of just having done the Shunsin technique.
"I'd like to meet him," Sasuke said.
"All right," Naruto said. "Can I give him the extra fish that you bought?"
"Sure," the blacked haired boy said.
Naruto moved out into the compound's main yard and said, "It's probably best if I summon him out here." He bit his thumb and said, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Uncle Whitey."
A puff of white and cold feeling preceded the summoning smoke that appeared. "Calling me out now boyo," Uncle Whitey said. A white fox just sat down in front of Naruto, curling his two black tipped tails around his front paws. "What would you have me do?"
"Uncle Whitey," Naruto said. "This is Sasuke, one of my teammates."
"Not the one with the dog then," the white fox stated.
"She's gone to get her gear and will be arriving soon," Naruto said. "I think she really needs that bonding time with her Akoba, because once I said that you'd agreed to help, she was willing to go without gear."
"I see," the white fox said. "Do I smell fish?"
"Yes," Sasuke told him. "Snapper, would you like them." He held up two on a string.
"Did you catch them," the fox asked.
"No," the black haired boy replied honestly, as he remembered the blond telling him to reply honestly every time the fox asked him any kind of question.
"Where did they come from," Uncle Whitey asked.
"The market," Sasuke said.
"I'll take them," the white fox said, after of moment of sniffing them.
Before he could take hold of them, he was knocked over by a small, red fox kit shouting, "Uncle Whitey. Did you come to play with me?"
"Kita, you've grown," the old white softy said. "I see that Blondie's treating all right."
"He treats me fine," Kita said.
"So when are you going to start eating solid foods," the white fox asked.
"Gran'pa says not for a few more months," the kit said.
Risa arrived back with her normal mission backpack that she used time and again for any mission outside of Konoha. This time it was a mission for her. "Oh my," she looked at the white fox. "You're beautiful."
The white fox preened at the complement. Then he said, "Let me see your pup." Akoba was set down and the white fox walked up to it. The young pup looked up at him defiantly. "Good, you're not afraid of me."
Akoba barked and yipped his reply.
"That's excellent thinking," the white fox said. "Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, sir," Risa replied picking up her ninja-dog. "I believe so."
Naruto handed her a scroll that he'd prepared in advance. "Medicine kit for your hand," he said. "You'll be coming back today, but you'll see what I mean about the time."
"Thank you," Risa said, tucking the scroll into her pouch. She looked to the white fox who brushed her leg with one of his tails and they all disappeared in a flash of white.
Sasuke didn't look happy, but there was nothing that he could do about the fact that he didn't have a contract to summon a creature and he knew that he didn't want some kind of pet or familiar. 'Maybe it's that I don't want to get too attached,' he thought. 'Maybe it's just that those summons are not for me.'
"Maybe you should reflect on your personality and then figure out which 'Creature Summon' would really suit you best," Naruto suggested, cutting into the other boy's thoughts. "Having a contract for summoning animals is fine, but you have to know that most times it'll be personal to you and the animal you choose or the animal that chooses you."
"How did you…"
"You have a look about you when you think we might know more than you or something," Naruto said. "It's almost like you think that having a contract is a great thing. Let me tell you that sometimes it's not because even though it gives you power, it's also has a cost."
"What do you mean," Sasuke asked.
"Did you know that your summons can summon you," Naruto said. "Unless it's written on the scroll, that they can't. So beware of the older scrolls before signing them."
"Oh," Sasuke said. "Do you want to spar while we wait for Risa to get back?"
"It might be a good idea to pass the time," Naruto said. "I'm worried, but I do hope that this will help with the unease she's been having."
"Ne," Sasuke hesitated with a scratch to his cheek. "What animal would suit me?"
"Well there are some that are associated by personality," Naruto said. "Others are by elemental affinity sometimes."
"Why foxes," Sasuke asked.
"Other than the fact that I have a king-sized grand-daddy one living in my gut," Naruto said. "I kinda always thought that they were interesting to look at. Plus I read somewhere that there were two types in the world, trickster ones usually called Yako and celestial or benevolent ones called Zenko."
"Let me guess you liked the tricksters," Sasuke said. "That why you like pranks?"
"Should you really be talking to me about pranks," Naruto said with a wry grin. "Fluorescent colours should be outlawed you know."
"Heh," Sasuke honestly grinned. "That was fun. Besides it wasn't really a prank, it was... a mission to test the practicality of the devices I'd built."
"Riii-iiight," Naruto said. "I believe you, really." He grinned mischievously. "I've got one that I need to set up, but first I need to find out the names of the Proctors for the first part of the exam. So I'll be using that excuse too, if they catch me."
"Why," Sasuke said.
"Hi…mi...tsu," Naruto said and the black haired boy just rolled his eyes. "So did you want to spar or look up comparative animal personality traits in conjunction with ninja summonings and chakra elemental compatibility?"
Sasuke just looked at him open mouthed and asked, "Is that for real?"
Naruto grinned and then laughed, "Sounded real didn't it?"
"Dobe," Sasuke muttered, scowled, but couldn't hold it and grinned back.
"Come on sometimes you don't have to think about it so much," Naruto told him. "Psychologically speaking, and yes this is for real, there is a word-association game that will allow you figure out the animal you're most likely to have a good summons compatibility with. I have a scroll back at my apartment that has the steps for how-to, do it."
"Go get it," Sasuke said. "It'll pass the time."
"All right give me about five minutes," Naruto said and then his Shunsinned away. He located the scroll, took out an empty summons scroll and brought everything his teammate needed to create his own summoning contract. 'I knew that this was going to happen, but at least I know for sure that his animal affinity will not be snakes. That Seal I placed on him, should protect him from Orochimaru's bite, if the snake even gets the chance to do it nothing will happen. I do know I'll do my best to stop that from happening.'
They did the test a couple of times and the results were similar. A bird of prey either eagle or hawk came up. Basically because they were beautiful, intelligent, self-confident, not prone to putting up with the bullshit of those they believe to be weaker (for both). They diversified in that the Eagle had the added element of 'impatience' and the Hawk had the added condition of 'being somewhat sly'.
Then they reviewed the generic traits for birds of prey (…i…) who're deemed attractive and have showoffy attitudes that sometimes put people off. They're also deemed to be mysterious or enigmatic and those that have tried to dissociate from everyday issues or things that they deem 'boring'.
Naruto was still grinning and said, "You know that you're kind of like that too." Then he turned serious. "How do you feel about those creatures?"
"I think that they're great and lucky," Sasuke told him seriously. "I like how free they are, but we can't create a summon contract because of the Chunin Exams. I won't have the time to be tested."
"You're right," the blond said. "You won't know if they'll test you or how long it will take for you to be tested. So, what would you like to do while we wait for Risa to come back?"
"Kenjutsu training," Sasuke said. "We haven't done that together in a while and we can use the weighted Bokken sets that we bought on our last mission."
Naruto nodded and pulled out the scroll that he used to carry his practice weapons.
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
Risa looked around the landscape and was glad that she'd packed several things in order to camp out. Akoba growled at her that Uncle Whitey was waiting for her to follow. "Thank you for this sir," she said. "We truly appreciate it."
"Well there's another reason for allowing you this time," the white fox said. "You see we may belong to a new summons scroll, but older summons that have existed, but have no claimant may come to you in order to offer you or your teammates their scrolls for signing."
Risa's face fell at that because it sounded like they were about to be disturbed.
"Don't worry young lady," the white fox told her. "I put up a barrier as soon as we arrived here," he said. "It'll last the six months limit that you mentioned you needed and if you need more private time, just let me know and I can extend it."
"Will we grow older while we're here," she asked out of curiosity.
"No you will not," Uncle Whitey told her. "Come, the den is warm and I have a private nook for you and your pup."
Akoba barked his thanks at the two-tailed white fox.
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
Naruto and Sasuke were practicing the Kenjustu forms that they'd been taught. There were a couple moves that the black haired boy knew were no longer comfortable to do.
"Naruto," the Uchiha said, getting the blond's attention. "Form twelve is not correct is it?"
"Do it again," Naruto said and watched the darker youth go through the forms. "What are you thinking about when you're doing them?"
Sasuke paused and then said, "I'm doing the forms from memory, but every time I reach this one I'm thinking of my elements."
"Which one," Naruto asked.
"Lightning," Sasuke said. "Why?"
"Watch me go through the first twelve without thinking making the moves perfect," Naruto said. "I'm only going to think of Wind. Tell me if any of the forms change." The first five were performed correctly, but the sixth to ninth had altered slightly with a shift of the boy's wrist. Ten to twelve had marked differences that even the blond could sense the changes.
Sasuke watched the changes with wide-eyed speculation. The forms the blond did while thinking of his Wind element changed to look like Wind based moves. "Do you think this is what Zabuza meant when he said 'the Kenjutsu technique will change as you grow'?"
"Hm," Naruto stopped to think about it. "Kenjutsu can't be confused by other sword styles because it virtually is a shifting technique that can be learned or taught and no two will ever be fully the same." He thought about the basic thirty-one katas (...ii...). Thirty-one was a number considered lucky in many and this came from the books that he'd read in his past life. "Why thirty-one base katas for a single Kenjutsu style?"
"My mother's journal has that same question," Sasuke said. "Thirty-one base forms are taught and she couldn't understand why. Personally I don't either. Taijutsu has many forms and more than thirty-one base forms, plus many different styles, so why would Kenjutsu only have thirty-one?"
"It doesn't!" Naruto said with just a hint of dawning realization. "It felt like I just did three new forms."
Sasuke's eyes widened and then he dug out his mother's old journal and read an excerpt, "Today when I practiced my forms I noticed that I was following my father's style, but I do not understand how that could be. I do my forms twice daily, but today it was different. There's something about Kenjutsu that changes forms the more you practice the known Katas. My brother does not have this difficulty because he is studying the Kendo forms..."
"That rogue knew," Naruto said. "That...that... he knew that this would happen..."
"Of course he knew," Sasuke said. "He told us that it would change. Well maybe not so much change forms because we can do the thirty-one without thought."
"But maybe it's when we're thinking of our elements that it changes to suit what we know would fit for a form that can be chakra charged," Naruto finished in a questioning tone.
"I think that is it," Sasuke said. "She didn't write much more, but did say that sometimes she thought about her fire element when going through her katas for Kenjutsu practice and that some forms felt weird like she did them wrong after that."
"Now that's something to think about," Naruto said. "I can understand that it wouldn't make any sense to write down a personal form unless it can be taught to someone with the same elemental affinity and even then..."
"There's no way that the style would ever be exactly the same," Sasuke finished. "Well it looks like we've found something new to study."
Naruto nodded excitedly. "I'm curious about the form differences between my elements."
"Yes, that will be interesting," Sasuke said and wondered how their sparring would change because of it. "I'm looking forward to testing it after I've gotten a few new forms down."
"Believe it," Naruto said and then he picked up his Bokkan practice swords to go through the base thirty-one forms of Kenjutsu before fully dropping into thoughts of his chakra elements. His teammate did the same, while they waited for their other teammate to come back from her seclusion period in the land of summons.
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
Risa was surprised when a huge hawk landed nearby and looked at her. "Are you another summon creature," she asked. "You're like the third one to seek me out."
"True," the Hawk replied. "I was hoping that you had the ability to create a summoning contract scroll."
"One of my teammates does," she said. "I'm going to bring him two requests for those that had approached me. Did you want me to do the same?"
"Is he Lightning based," the Hawk replied.
"No," she answered. "He's Wind and Water. I'm sure that there's also Fire, but he's not admitted it because he believes it to belongs to someone else."
"I'd prefer to contract with Lightning," the Hawk said.
"I'm Lightning and so is my other teammate," Risa told the bird of prey.
"I do sense a little of it in you," Hawk said.
Risa looked at the bird and asked, "Could you tell me why the creatures are seeking me out?"
"Opportunity," the Hawk replied. "You're not here to train and the barrier that Old Whitey had placed here was lifted. He was new and so we figured out that someone can create scrolls."
"I see," she said. "I was told that there was testing for those that created scrolls. I'm sure that my teammate with the Lightning would be a good match for you, but I know that he won't do it any time soon."
"Why not," the Hawk asked.
"He'd be afraid of missing his chance to participate in the rank exams that we have coming up in six days, human world time," she said. "Unless you'd be testing him in here and returning him the same day like I'll be doing."
"If he creates the scroll, then his primary test would be done here in the world of summons," the Hawk said. "The scroll would be for me and my four kin only. Although if created, they'd have the right to name us, we would prefer to maintain our old names though."
Risa pulled out the scroll that she'd been using to keep track of the summons that were seeking a created scroll or a contract with humans in the outer world, as they called the place outside the land of summons. "Your name and that of your kin," she asked. "Will he need to activate the scroll in order to call you forth?"
"He'll need all of our names to be added to the scroll, but only after he's been tested," the Hawk said. "We would like to limit the number of Hawks for this new scroll to be that of myself and my four kin. Should we have offspring then we'd allow them to be added, if your teammate agrees."
"I guess that will depend on whether he'll want to do this or not," Risa said and stopped making notes. "May I ask why you want a scroll created? I would have thought that with several of you, you'd already be contracted."
The Hawk looked at her and said, "Some scrolls do get destroyed over time or are forgotten. Those of us living here know when their contract has been destroyed."
"Yours was destroyed," Risa stated.
"The land was in turmoil and we later learned that a volcano had erupted near the village where our scroll was last stored," the Hawk told her. "We all felt the destruction of it."
"I'll ask them to make the contract scroll, but not activate it," Risa said. "I make no promises to any being that approaches because I do not know what my teammates will say when I return."
"If the decision is a positive one in favour of my kin and the scroll is formed," the Hawk said. "Have the one that calls on the Fox to call for Uncle Whitey request that he bring along Ukko. I will bring the one that creates the scroll here for testing. The 'time' will be the same as yours in this place." The Hawk spread his wings and flew back to his nest.
Risa looked at Akoba and asked, "What do you think about that one?"
The pup looked up and told her that it might be a good match for last Uchiha. The girl nodded and said, "I agree."
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
The boys were going through another set of Kenjutsu forms, when a blue light appeared in the centre of the compound. They looked in that direction and then ran to greet their teammate.
"Risa," they shouted, glad that she was back.
"How was it," Naruto asked.
Sasuke was there eager to hear about her experience too. "I can prepare you some tea?"
"That would actually be marvelous," she said. "I ran out a month ago."
"Heh, heh," Naruto chuckled. "I understand what you mean. But at least you were lucky that you weren't being tested."
"Speaking of which," Risa said. "The number of creatures living there without a summoning contract is surprising."
"I know," Naruto said. "There are a lot that I turned down because they didn't feel right and I never made a promise in there. You didn't either, did you?"
"All I said was that I'd bring a list to my friend, but that I wouldn't make any promises," Risa said. She pulled out a scroll. "I wrote down the creatures and my impressions of them, but that if this scroll was burnt that they were to forget it."
Naruto took the scroll and read through the creatures. "I think they were attracted to your chakra elements or that of Akoba's."
"Why do you think that," Risa asked.
"I never met these ones," Naruto explained. "At least it's a small list and... wait a minute," he looked at her pointed at the word Hawk. "Is this for real?"
"Yes," she said. "That one was very different because he gave me his name."
"Really," Naruto muttered. "I wonder why."
"He had the hope, that 'someone' would create a contract for him and his kin," she explained and looked pointedly at Sasuke, who looked back with curiosity and interest. "He also stated that it would be of similar duration in 'time' like what I'd just had. If Naruto calls Uncle Whitey, then the leader could be invited along, that it'd be beneficial to the one creating the scroll, especially with a strong elemental affinity matching theirs."
"Time will be the same," Naruto said. "One hour or more here, a year or so there, perhaps you should consider it?" He looked at Sasuke and then pointed at the word Hawk. The black haired boy couldn't deny his interest.
"What affinity do they have," Sasuke asked.
"Lightning," Risa said.
"You didn't want to do it," the Uchiha asked.
"Not enough Lightning to hold their interest," she said. "I'm more interested in one of the others, but I'm willing to wait until after the Chunin exams are over."
"I can see that," Naruto said. "Up to you, Teme? I still have the scrolls and everything with me, but you'll have to pack what you think you'll need. My only advice is not to bring any live blades in there."
"What did you bring," Sasuke asked.
"Whatever I was carrying at the time," Naruto said. "I had the brass knuckles, but never used them or else they'd have stuck to my hands because of the cold. Speaking of hands, how is yours, Risa?"
"It's much better, see," she said, flexing it and holding her full cup in that hand. "It's only when I'm tired that I notice little slips and shakes, but it's still a hundred time better than it was."
"That's good," Sasuke said and then he looked at Naruto and said. "I want it."
"All right," the blond said. "Go pack and I'll get out things you'll need to use in order to write up the contract. You can follow the formula on my FOX scroll up to a point, but I'll show you where to stop and start. I'll wait until everything's ready before calling up Uncle Whitey."
Naruto - New, Yet So Old - Naruto - New, Yet So Old
TBC…(…i…) animalinyou dot com/ birds dot php (remove the space and change the word dot) – found this nifty sight and a couple of others that have the quizzes to see which type of animal best suits who you are. Be honest if you do the quiz, it was sad and funny at the same time because I got Walrus!
(...ii...) Lucky Prime - en dot Wikipedia dot org/ wiki/ Lucky_number (remove the space and change the word dot)