Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 12: visions and demons
One day, Naruto, Sakura, Neji and Lee received a mission: protect and escort a priestess to a shrine in Numa no Kuni. A demon sealed in Oni no Kuni was advancing its ghost army to said shrine, where its body was sealed. They were to take the priestess to the shrine and seal the part of the demon that was released. The team made their preparations and met up at the gate.
"Our mission is the complete protection of the V.I.P." Neji, being the only Jonin and the captain for the mission, said. "Sakura, stay close to the V.I.P. She must immediately be attended to if something happens."
Sakura nodded in compliance.
"Lee, you and Naruto will intercept the enemy should we be attacked."
Lee saluted and Naruto nodded.
"Let's go." Neji said before they all marched to Oni no Kuni.
When they arrived at their destination, the place was under attack.
Neji used his Byakugan. "Four people are fighting everyone else. Some soldiers are heading for a waking woman, possibly the priestess. The priestess and one of her soldiers escaped through a secret passage. It leads to the waterfall at the back of the temple. One of the enemies is heading for the priestess. I'll deal with him. You three deal with the others." He then left as Naruto, Sakura and Lee jumped toward the battlefield.
The moment they stood in front of them, the enemies retreated. The trio gave chase until all of them opposing shinobi reunited before they all left.
The next day, the Konoha team sat before the priestess, Shion, in a throne room of sorts.
Shion had light blonde hair, which falls past her waist, and pale lavender eyes. She wore a lavender kimono and a golden crown, with her hair tied back.
"This is the priestess, Shion-sama." Taruho, the soldier by Shion's side, said.
"We are Konoha's Team 7." Neji said. "I am the captain, Neji."
"I am Rock Lee." Lee saluted.
"I am Sakura Haruno." Sakura said.
"And I am Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto finished.
"We are the ones who will escort Shion-sama to the Shrine." Neji informed.
"The attack from last night caused many casualties." Taruho said. "As Shion-sama had foreseen, one of my fellow, Susuki, was one of them."
"And through their sacrifice, I survived the attack, as was predicted." Shion said.
Naruto held back a sigh. Another one who constantly believes in Fate. Neji has been out of that attitude for a long while now, thankfully, but if she legitimately has visions, she's probably even worse than he was back then.
Shion looked at the Konoha team and her gaze stopped at Naruto. She stood up and walked up to him, getting a good look at his face.
"Yes, there is no mistake." She told herself aloud before addressing Naruto. "You are the one from another one of my visions. You will die during this mission."
Sakura was horrified while the others were shocked.
Naruto kept a stoic face. "I'll simply have to do my best to prove your vision wrong, then."
Shion's eyes widened for a moment before she huffed. "The Moryo will pierce your chest. You will not survive this mission."
"That remains to be seen." Naruto said. "If you expect me to cower in fear because of your vision, that won't happen."
Shion huffed once more and left for her quarters.
Taruho bowed. "Please forgive Shion-sama. She often predicts people's deaths like that. But please don't mind it...even if her visions have been 100% accurate."
Sakura and Lee were looking at Naruto worriedly. Neji kept a cool face, but was also concerned.
Later, Taruho was gathering the soldiers willing to give their lives for Shion's safety. He insisted that they will accompany the Konoha team as Shion's escort.
"I can't believe he's making us wait." Sakura said. "Every second counts. We should be heading to the shrine now!"
"Taruho has always been stubborn." Shion said as she entered the room. She wore a different outfit for the travel. She wore a white top underneath a mustard-yellow jacket as well as red pants. "It's time to leave."
The Konoha team got up and followed Shion out.
They walked away through a secret passage in a waterfall. They left without the soldiers, at Shion's orders.
As the Konoha team travelled by tree-hopping, Shion was complaining that Sakura's back was uncomfortable.
The team landed on the ground after an arrow was shot their way. Taruho appeared before them.
"What's the meaning of this!?" Shion growled.
"No matter the time, my duty is never to be inattentive of Shion-sama." Taruho responded.
"You're just going to be a nuisance!" Shion said bluntly. "Go back to the village!"
"I'm not going back." Taruho said calmly, as if he was used to Shion's attitude.
In the end, the Konoha continued on their way, with Taruho trying his best to keep up.
The team made camp for the night atop a cliff. Sakura, Lee and Neji were guarding Shion as she slept.
Naruto handed Taruho some rice balls. "Here. You're going to need a lot of energy for tomorrow's run."
Taruho took the rice balls. "Thank you."
Both of them looked at the view the cliff gave them for a moment before Taruho broke the silence.
"It is strange." He started. "Usually, Shion-sama's visions are only about those who serve her closely. Those who have tried to avoid it have failed. But if they would have succeeded, Shion-sama would be dead by now. The people of the village are afraid of having their deaths prophesied and avoid Shion-sama altogether. While I do not know if the visions will continue to be accurate, perhaps it depends on the mindset of those who are prophesied."
The people avoid Shion because of her visions? Humans really are feeble creatures if any different detail makes them changes their minds about anything.
"With the people avoiding her, I can see why her social skills leave much to be desired." Naruto said.
"It is piteous." Taruho said.
Naruto stood up as the sun rose. When he turned around, Shion was standing there, looking at them.
"Taruho." She said.
Taruho stood up and faced Shion. "Yes?"
"Your task is finished. Go back to the village." She calmly ordered.
"I cannot leave Shion-sama's side." Taruho said diligently.
"You're just a hindrance!" Shion said before looking away.
"You had a vision." Taruho said after a moment of silence. "Please be honest."
"When my heart pounds and I hear the bell, I see an image of the future." Shion said. "Last night, I heard the bell and saw your future. If you keep following us, you will die."
"Please explain." Taruho requested.
Shion pulled Taruho away and explained everything.
Later, Team Kakashi and Shion, still on Sakura's back, travelled through the rocky regions that had multiple waterfalls. Shion was very nervous of the many gaps they jumped over and was not afraid to voice her opinion.
Eventually, they stopped and saw a water dragon aiming straight for them. The team immediately ran up the mountain to escape the Jutsu. When they reached the top, Sakura let Shion down and the team surrounded the priestess.
Neji used his Byakugan to find the enemy. "There are two enemy shinobi atop of the cliff."
The water dragon reached the mountaintop and was about to attack the team, but Naruto used a Kyuubi-enhanced Fuuton: Daitoppa to counter the Jutsu. The impact broke the dragon into rain drops.
"Shion-sama." Neji called out. When the priestess turned to him, he lightly tapped his finger on her forehead, rendering her unconscious.
"Naruto, Lee, distract our attackers while Sakura and I leave the gorge."
Naruto and Lee quickly charged to the top of the cliff. Waiting for them was a large white-haired man and an orange-haired girl. The white-haired man jumped in the air and aimed to punch Lee, who jumped backwards to dodge.
The girl lifted her foot higher than her head. Water was dripping from her foot.
"Suiton: Mizu Kamikiri!" She called out as she slammed her foot on the ground and kicked, making a wave of water that easily sliced through the rocky ground.
Naruto jumped upward to dodge before retreating into the woods.
The girl chased after him, sliding on the water she constantly created with her feet. "Are you trying to use the forest and trees as shields, boy?" She asked mockingly.
Naruto landed on a tree branch and jumped upwards to avoid two more water slicers.
"I see. You think you can escape me by having the higher ground?" She said as she sent more slicers.
Naruto dodged them by jumping to another tree. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He said as he made dozens of clones, making a large cloud of smoke. When the smoke dissipated and they were about to charge, they saw the girl make a large water sphere.
"Suiton: Suiryuben!" She called out as whips of water shot out of the sphere and attacked the mass of Naruto, destroying most of them.
The girl smirked as the rest of them tried to hide. "Suishu Gorugon!" The sphere of water turned into a dragon with a gaping maw.
Naruto charged into the Jutsu with a Fuuton: Rasengan in hand. The wind sphere easily broke through the water before Naruto turned into smoke when he was pierced by a water spike from behind.
"Bunshin!?" The girl said before she was stabbed from behind.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as the spot he stabbed shifted into water.
"Ninpo: Mizu Kawarimi." The girl said as she turned into a moving pond of water. "Well, I do believe I kept you away from the Byakugan user long enough."
"So you're finally spilling the beans." Naruto said.
"You act as though you knew all along." The girl said as her head, made of water, rose from the pond.
"That's because four of you tried to kill the priestess. Why would I believe that there were only two of you attacking us? The original snuck away when he first made the clones. We were both stalling for time." 'Naruto' said as he dispelled.
Naruto gained all of his clones' memories as he carried a drunk Lee. He had met up with Lee immediately after the Taijutsu-using Chunin finished his battle with the now-dead white-haired man. Apparently, Lee didn't drink anything. But whenever he tried to explain, he wasn't exactly accurate.
Naruto then caught up with Neji, Sakura and Shion, who were standing over...Shion's body?
"What happened?" Naruto asked as he let Lee down on his feet.
"When we go separated, Taruho appeared before me and used a jutsu to take Shion-sama's appearance. He took Shion-sama's place and sacrificed himself for her." Sakura explained.
So he died by taking Shion's place... Naruto's eyes gained realization before looking at Shion, who was looking away from Taruho. "So she doesn't predict the future, she predicts her death and has others take her place! She's got some nerves, talking about fate when she's changing it after every vision!"
Team Kakashi finished burying Taruho by nightfall.
"Naruto." Neji called out. "We will set up an ambush, for our pursuers. From now on, you will be the one bringing Shion-sama to the shrine."
"But Naruto's death has been predicted." Lee, no longer drunk, said.
"That is precisely why Naruto must go." Neji said. "By making sure Shion-sama seals the Moryo, he will prevent his death."
"So be it." Naruto said as Shion got on his back and they left for the shrine.
"We're here." Naruto said as he stood several meters away from a stone entrance.
Suddenly, stone soldiers rose from the ground, surrounding the duo.
"The ghost army." Shion said. "If they can move, then the one controlling them must be nearby."
Naruto jumped in the air to dodge a spear.
"Wrap your legs around me, I'm gonna need my arms." Naruto said as Shion did so.
Naruto unsheathed Muramasa and struck at a stone soldier. The katana cleaved right through the stone.
Naruto charged toward the entrance, cutting down every soldier that stood in his way.
Naruto landed right in front of the entrance and let Shion down. He then made some clones that would cut down any stone soldier that would try pursuing them.
"Let's go." Naruto said as he and Shion entered the shrine.
They then arrived in a large area that looked like the inside of a volcano.
"This is where you will die." Shion muttered to Naruto.
"You've grown." They looked at the source of the voice and found a seated man with long black hair. He looked quite weakened, as if something was constantly draining him of his life. "You look so much like Miroku. Let's give the priestess a warm welcome."
Naruto stood in front of Shion as some stone soldiers marched toward them.
"I am Yomi." The black-haired man, Yomi, said. "My ambition was once obstructed by your mother. What happened that day, I remember still. I almost held the Millennium Kingdom in my hands, using Moryo's revival. If it weren't for your mother, the blasted priestess..."
Naruto cut down the soldiers before he and Shion marched toward Yomi, who was seated in front of the seal.
"I have no way of killing you." Yomi admitted. "But you don't have a way to kill me either. That is because we are both originally immortal."
"I won't let your lies confuse me!" Shion said as she stood on the seal.
Naruto looked at Yomi, ready to strike him down if he tried anything.
"Do I even need to trick you?" Yomi asked. "That seal is to combine the two of us. Your mother accepted that choice."
Shion looked at Yomi in shock.
"That's right. Your mother is inside my body! To prevent herself from using the overflowing power wrongly, she split herself into two: her spirit and her consciousness. Each separated, yet longing for the other. Unknowingly, it began naming itself Moryo instead of priestess. There is no 'good and evil' or 'light and darkness' to describe us now."
Shion started using the signs for the seal.
"Hatsu! Jin! Kai!" She said, making the seal light up. She started levitating in the air as the seal made a barrier.
"A barrier, huh?" Yomi said as Shion made more signs.
"Min, Shin, Gan, Reppyou, Shouzen, Mika, Dan, Raku, Shou!" Shion said.
A gate-like platform rose from the seal.
"Fu, Sai, Dan, Gika, Ragu! Bagi!"
Yomi then charged through the barrier, shocking Naruto and scaring Shion.
"Are you worried, priestess?" Another voice, the Moryo, asked. "You should have waited until he couldn't move. Or perhaps your bodyguard lowered his guard when he saw the barrier?"
Naruto inwardly cursed.
Shion tried to run toward the platform, but a black smoke ripped itself out of Yomi's body. It created a shockwave that sent Shion into the barrier's walls. Yomi's dead body went right through the barrier and fell into the lava.
"We cannot leave through the barrier, until there is only one of us left. The deciding factor is our combined chakra. Now, return my body to me!"
The gate-like platform opened and the Moryo went inside it.
"I should thank you. Yomi couldn't break the Yachiro seal."
Naruto immediately pulled Shion away from the seal once the barrier went down.
"What have I done?" Shion muttered as tears streamed down her eyes. "What have been doing all this time?"
The ground shook as multiple serpentine heads shot out of the ground.
"Worry not, little priestess. So long as you have that bell, I can't swallow you. But this is perfect. You shall witness many events, like the world's end and the death of your companion."
Shion's eyes widened as the Moryo's heads aimed for Naruto, who jumped in the air to dodge.
"So, according to Shion's prediction, this is where I would die, huh?" Naruto asked rhetorically. "Then it's time to change fate."
He immediately activated four tails of Kyuubi's chakra.
Shion was shocked. This wasn't in her vision!
"One demon against another, Moryo!" Naruto said as he sent a massive fist at one of Moryo's heads, making it explode.
Two more heads swiped at him, sending him to the ground next to Shion.
"N-Naruto?" Shion said.
"What's with the worried face?" Naruto asked. "I have no intention of dying just yet."
He then held out a hand and pointed his tails at his hand, focusing the chakra for a Bijuudama. He was surprised when Shion held her bell close to the Bijuudama, giving it the properties of the bell.
"If we combine the two powers, we may be able to defeat Moryo without any sacrifice." Shion said before she used Naruto's own words. "I have no intention of dying just yet. I want to keep on living."
"Then this 'Mikodama' will save both of our lives." Naruto said as the sphere was completed.
He jumped high in the air until he was over the Moryo's body and shot the 'Mikodama' at the demon, causing it to wail as it was being completely destroyed.
The whole area started shaking.
"The whole place is coming down!" Shion said.
Naruto landed next to Shion, deactivated the Kyuubi's chakra and grabbed Shion before leaving the shrine.
When they made it out, the shrine had turned into a volcano.
Eventually, Naruto met up with the rest of Team Kakashi, along with a few others. He then received the memories of his just-now-dispelling clones. Kakashi, Guy, Shikamaru and Temari had joined his clones into holding off the Ghost Army.
"You can put me down, now." Shion said as she had a light blush on her face from being carried bridal style.
Naruto let her down on her feet. "I guess that means your duties as a priestess are over?" He asked.
Shion shook her head. "No, the Ways of the Priestess must continue. The Moryo is a beast made of Human's evil desires. There may be a second Moryo. I won't pay attention to fate, from now on. You taught me that it can be overcome."
Naruto chuckled as the others approached.
"However, my power needs to be passed on to the next generation of priestess." Shion said before she faced Naruto. "Could you help me?"
Everyone, Naruto included, was shocked at her request.
Kakashi cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "There may be a problem with your...request. I am sure that Naruto, like many other orphans, desires a family. If he were to...help you in such a manner, he would want to remain by your side the entire time. But he is hunted down by a group of highly-skilled criminals, making such a thing impossible."
Naruto was inwardly thanking Kakashi for the save.
"I see." Shion said, disappointed, before she turned back to Naruto. "Well, I suppose this give you plenty of time to think about it."
"Y-Yeah." Naruto said awkwardly, unsure of how to answer such a blunt request.
After escorting Shion back to Oni no Kuni, the group returned to Konoha.
A few days later, Naruto woke up from an odd dream about Kyuubi being unleashed in a temple.
Later, Kakashi requested Naruto to meet him at Training Ground 7.
"All right then." Kakashi said. "When you came back, Jiraiya-sama entrusted your training to me. And I have the perfect one in mind. Yamato told me of Sasuke's Chidori Nagashi. He managed to create his own Jutsu, based on one I taught him. I will help you improve your wind mastery, so that you may do something better than a wind version of the Rasengan."
Suddenly, Yamato appeared next to the duo. "Hello."
"Good timing, Yamato." Kakashi eye-smiled. "How about you make the preparations?"
Yamato nodded before he made some handsigns. "Doton: Doryuu Jouheki!" A large rampart rose from beneath Yamato's feet. "Suiton: Takitsubo no Jutsu!" Yamato called out as he made a huge waterfall on the rampart. He then slammed his hands together and created a wooden platform in front of the waterfall.
"Jiraiya-sama told me that you were easily able to cut a leaf, so we'll take it to the next step: cutting the waterfall. You are going to use your wind chakra to cut the waterfall."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Place your hands on the waterfall and slice it in half using your wind chakra." Yamato explained. "You will need to use a large amount of chakra in an instant. Without that, the waterfall will never be cut."
Naruto took off his trench coat and his shirt. Wouldn't want them getting soaked.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto made enough clones to have the same length as the platform as they stepped on it.
Every Naruto focused wind chakra on their hands.
"Three, two, one!" The original said as they all released the chakra at the same time. The waterfall splashed somewhat.
The clone army continued like this for a few hours, making progress little by little.
"Naruto!" Kakashi called out. "Let's stop here for now. Hokage-sama wants Team Kakashi on a mission."
Naruto sighed and dispelled his clones, gaining their memories and experience. He focused wind chakra on his hand and palmed the waterfall, cutting it for a second. He smirked. He didn't get the training down quite yet, but it was good progress.
After drying himself and putting his upper body clothes back on, Naruto received the specifics of the mission: Team Kakashi was to meet up with a group of monks from the Fire Temple to hunt down some grave-robbers. Kakashi was needed for another mission, so Yamato would replace him once more.
"Naruto-niichan!" Team Kakashi heard Konohamaru as he and his team, Udon, Moegi and Ebisu, walked up to the older team, with the Sandaime's grandson carrying a cat. "Are you going on a mission?"
"Sure am." Naruto said before he looked at the feline in Konohamaru's hands and the claw marks on the boy's face. "Another run-away cat?"
"Yup. It's the seventh one. We're becoming pros at this!" Konohamaru grinned. "Well, I'm gonna report in."
"We better head out as well." Naruto said, with the others agreeing. Team Kakashi walked out of the village.
"Yamato-taichou, why would anybody defile a grave?" Sakura asked when the team camped for the night.
"Usually, grave-robbers target the tombs of rich people for the treasures inside." Yamato explained. "In this case, however, the body and the treasures were untouched. This has been happening frequently in a 50 to 60 meter radius of the Fire Temple."
"Why so close?" Naruto asked.
"That's what I hope we will find out. There is definitely more to this mission than meets the eye." Yamato said. "There are actually four hidden tombs in the area."
"Is that what the robbers are after?" Sai asked.
Yamato nodded. "That is a strong possibility."
"How hidden are we talking about?" Sakura asked.
"Even the corpse of a shinobi keeps the information of what they have learned. That information can be valuable and dangerous. Sasori is a very good example."
Sakura's eyes widened. "He turned the Sandaime Kazekage's body into a puppet."
Yamato nodded. "That's right. The more capable a ninja is, the more uses they have. In order to prevent the bodies from being stolen or misused, barriers are created around the tombs and their locations are made secret. That is what I mean by hidden."
This had the team deep in thought. What were these robbers looking for?
The next evening, they arrived at the rendezvous point.
Yamato looked at the moon to check the time. "The other group should be here shortly." He said.
However, the team never arrived. Yamato and Sakura left to investigate while Sai and Naruto remained at the rendezvous point until the others eventually came back with the Fire Temple's group.
Among them was a young man with shoulder-length, dull blueish-grey hair in an assymetrical style, with a single bang falling in front of his face, a brown eyes. He wore sandals and the standard monk uniform, though his right sleeve was longer than his arm.
"My apologies for the delay." The lead monk apologized. "I am Chiriku of the Fire Temple."
"Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto said.
"I am Sai." Sai followed.
Chiriku nodded before he patted the head of the younger monk, to the latter's ire. "This is Sora, a monk-in-training."
"We don't need any help from Konoha." Sora said.
Suddenly, two other monks appeared and reported that one of the hidden tombs' coffin had been stolen without forced entry. The entire group then marched to the Fire Temple.
When they stood in front of the temple, Naruto recognized it as the place, in his dream, where the Kyuubi was unleashed. "Odd."
"This way." Chiriku said as he guided the Konoha team.
"Welcome back, Chiriku-sama!" The monks of the Temple said at the same time.
"Where is Shubi?" Chiriku asked.
"He is leading a group to the other hidden tombs." One of the monks reported.
"I guess we can relax for now." Chiriku sighed.
"It's too late." Sora said.
"Sora." Chiriku said disapprovingly.
Further away, Sakura leaned closer to Naruto.
"What's with his attitude?" Sakura muttered.
Naruto was about to say something, but noticed the way the monks were glaring at Sora behind his back. It was the exact same glare the civilians of Konoha gave him when he was younger. He narrowed his eyes at that. What was going on?
"I have returned with the team from Konoha." Chiriku said to the elder monk.
Yamato bowed. "I am captain Yamato. With me are Sakura, Sai and Naruto."
"It is reassuring to receive help from Konoha." The elder said.
"We are prepared for action anytime." Yamato said.
"We still have to wait for the news from our monks in the field." Chiriku said. "For now, please follow me."
Team Kakashi followed Chiriku inside the Temple.
"I wonder what the robbers want the stolen body for." Sai said.
"They either want the information within it or use the body itself, like Orochimaru once did." Yamato trailed off. "Though I imagine it will be a different Jutsu."
"How formidable were these monks to be sought out like this?" Naruto asked before he stopped walking, lest he bump into Chiriku.
"They were very powerful and good-hearted people. With the Fire Temple in the middle, the four hidden tombs in the East, West, South and North guard the bodies of Nauma, Seito, Tou'u and Kitane. They were once members of the Twelve ninja Guardians."
"The Fire Daimyo's personal bodyguards?" Naruto asked as the group entered a room and sat down.
Chiriku nodded. "I was young back then, but I was also a member when they were alive."
"So was Asuma-san." Yamato said, shocking Sakura and Naruto.
"If you and Asuma-sensei were once guardians, then this incident must be like your friends' graves being defiled." Sai said.
"The four of them gave their lives far too early." Chiriku said grimly. "A few members of the twelve guardians tried to stage a coup d'état and the resulting clash broke the group apart. Yet the conflict grew from a single wish: 'I want to protect Hi no Kuni'. Our former comrades' plan went as far as moving the Daimyo. They even prepared to attack some of the other countries. They didn't care for the peace between each of the Five Country. All that mattered to them was that Hi no Kuni unite the land under one banner."
"How selfish!" Sakura said.
Chiriku nodded in agreement. "We tried negotiation, but in the end, war is war. The Daimyo realized how far they had taken things and ordered us to kill them, which we did. Asuma and I are the only survivors of that generation of the Twelve Ninja Guardians."
"To think that such a thing happened." Sakura muttered.
They then heard noises outside.
"The men are doing their evening practice." Chiriku explained.
The group walked outside and saw the monks practicing a kata. Naruto saw that Sora was among them. During the spars, he noticed Sora's right hand was bandaged. When the practice was over, everyone was leaving. The older monks were still glaring at Sora.
Later, a report came from one of the investigating teams. Another one of the Hidden Tombs had been defiled. Team Kakashi, along with Chiriku and Sora, moved to hunt the robbers down.
"Isn't this the opposite direction to where the hidden tombs are?" Yamato asked Chiriku as the group were tree-hopping.
"The thieves are carrying heavy coffins, along with the bodies inside." Chiriku said. "With the Fire Temple at the center, only sheer cliffs lie in the realms of Genbu, Seiryuu and Byakko. The only route left is in Suzaku, the south!"
"I see!" Yamato said.
The group then landed on an open field.
"Over there." Sai pointed toward the open field.
Everyone looked and saw the four coffins.
"Those are definitely their coffins." Chiriku said.
"Why are they in the open like that?" Yamato wondered. "This must be a trap. Chiriku-san, please remain here in case we need to contact the Fire Temple."
"Very well."
"Naruto-kun, Sora-kun, head straight for the coffins. Sakura and Sai will flank from the left while I get the right."
Naruto and Sora jumped down the cliff and charged straight for the coffins.
"I don't need to be paired by with an outsider like you." Sora said.
"I don't care about your needs. I have a mission to do." Naruto countered.
As they got closer, the coffins stood up straight and started spinning like drills before digging themselves underground.
"Their presence completely vanished." Yamato said as the group joined up at the center.
Suddenly, the ground started shaking. The group jumped in the air as several rock pillars rose from the ground in rapid succession.
Naruto and Sora landed in a newly-made canyon.
"Looks like the robbers set off their trap." Sora commented.
"A ridiculously large trap." Naruto added dryly.
He then noticed Sakura and jumped toward her, with Sora following him since he didn't see any other alternatives.
"You got split up from Sai?" Naruto asked.
Sakura nodded. "I also saw Yamato-Taicho being engulfed as well. The enemy must be powerful to manipulate the land in such a manner."
"Wasn't there a valley just now?" Sora asked as the duo looked around.
The seemingly bottomless canyon had turned into a cave without them noticing.
"A Genjutsu?" Naruto wondered as he kicked a pebble on what was originally a pit. The pebble hit the ground. "How the hell-"
He couldn't finish his thought as a hole appeared beneath his feet, causing him to fall to a lower level.
Naruto immediately landed on his feet and looked up to see the hole he fell through had disappeared.
"The enemy sure knows how to split us up." He said. "Oh well, I won't accomplish anything by standing around."
He walked around until there was a fork in the road. He jumped back just in time to avoid falling in another hole.
The cave then started to shake. There was a boulder aimed straight at him.
Naruto scoffed. "Is that it?" He unsheathed Muramasa and split the boulder in half before it could crush him.
"Well, Fuen's traps never were imaginative." He turned to the direction of the voice and saw a woman walking on the ceiling. At least, she was on the ceiling until the trap changed forms once more and made him stand on the ceiling.
She was a fairly tall woman with fair skin, waist-length wavy maroon hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a dark-pink, shoulderless gi-like shirt with loose arm warmers reaching her upper arms and light-purple spandex-shorts. She also wore black low-heeled boots with an olive-green tipping.
"Take a good look, handsome, this will be the last time we meet." She said with a seductive undertone.
"At least we agree on something." Naruto said as he landed on the ground. Suddenly, the woman appeared next to him and licked his cheek.
Naruto jumped away from her. "You act like this with everyone you face, vixen?" He asked.
She chuckled at the nickname. "Those who are worth my time, at least." She answered before she licked her lips. "The chakra leaking from you tastes quite good. You're a wind user, aren't you?"
"And if I am?"
"How about you join my collection?" She asked.
"A grave-robber asking me to join her collection... Not sure how I feel about that." Naruto taunted.
The woman chuckled. "They are not part of my collection. But you will be. French or soft kiss?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "She figured out my chakra nature from licking my cheek and now she's asking for a kiss? I'm facing a human succubus. Human...this could work." He inwardly smirked before he answered. "French would be nice for my first kiss."
The woman smiled. "Oh you poor man, I can't see why a woman wouldn't indulge herself with you." She said as she walked toward him with a sway on her hips. She placed her hands on his cheeks, lightly tracing his whisker marks with her thumbs. "Don't you worry; Fuka-chan will make everything better."
She leaned closer to Naruto. "Shikei Seppun." She whispered before kissing him. As per his request, she ran her tongue alongside his. Her eyes opened wide as she felt searing pain before she pulled away and fell on her knees, coughing. "This evil chakra... What have you done to me!?"
Naruto smiled. "Me? I didn't do anything. It seems my Bijuu tenant doesn't want me to die just yet." He said, since he focused Kyuubi's chakra on the kiss to corrode her and it worked like a charm. He then used Muramasa to cut her open from her navel to the left side of her neck. Fuka limply fell on her back. "Thanks for the kiss, by the way. Your lips were nice and soft." He began walking away...
Why hadn't her soul-
"Not so fast."
He promptly turned back to her when he heard her voice. Here she was, perfectly fine as if nothing happened. He did notice the sudden pile of dust behind her.
"This trickery has made me mad." Fuka said, despite the fact that she was still smiling, before she made some handsigns. "Suiton: Ja no Kuchi!"
A large torrent of water with the head of a snake charged toward Naruto and tried to swallow him. The moment he was in the snake's mouth, Naruto used his wind training on the waterfall to cut through the snake, giving him an open path to a wall that he climb on to stay away from the water. Water emerged from the wall he was on, making him fall to the large pool of water. He stood on the water with the Undine soul.
Fuka made more handsigns. "Raiton: Jibashi!" She said as lightning crackled from her hands and started coursing through the water.
Naruto inwardly cursed. "Fuuton: Rasengan!" He said as he slammed the wind sphere in the water beneath, making it splash. The wind chakra's sheer power also protected him from the lightning Jutsu.
Fuka licked her lips. "Such a powerful Jutsu. You make me want your wind chakra even more." She then made more handsigns as petal spiralled around her "Fuuton: Hana Chiri Mai."
Naruto was suddenly hit by a tornado of petals and smashed into a hole in the wall made by the tornado.
Naruto grunted as he sat up. "That...was not pleasant in the least."
Fuka chuckled. "Don't worry. Soon, I'll make the pain go away."
A ball of wind appeared before her lips before she launched it at Naruto, who jumped to side to dodge it and the multiple ones shot afterwards.
"You can't dodge forever." Fuka said. "You will learn all the secrets of my lovely body!"
Before Naruto could retort, Fuka had appeared before him and had reused Suiton: Ja no Kuchi. This time, Naruto jumped to a higher platform to avoid the water.
He turned around when he heard Fuka's chuckles behind him. As she was about to reuse Raiton: Jibashi, she was slammed against the wall by Naruto's Fuuton: Daitoppa.
"Well, it's been fun." Naruto said. "But I have to find my teammates. Perhaps we will meet again." He blew her a kiss before jumping to another platform and walking in another cave.
Fuka licked her lips. "So, you know at least two fuuton Jutsu. I am not letting you get away."
As Naruto stepped into another open area of the cave, he was slammed into a wall by a tornado of petals.
"Damn it, vixen, when you want something, you're not letting it go!" Naruto remarked as he focused Kyuubi chakra in his throat and let out a roar, overwhelming the Wind Jutsu.
Fuka protected her eyes from the dust before she uncovered them. Her eyes widened as she managed to step back just enough dodge a swing of Muramasa.
But the katana cut a small lock of hair.
Fuka's body aged tremendously before turning into dust, shocking Naruto.
"How dare you...?" He turned around and saw Fuka, lacking any playfulness in her tone and on her face. "How dare you kill me?"
"Kill you?" Naruto asked before his eyes widened. "You collect bodies to use them as vessels..."
"You are as sharp as that accursed blade of yours." Fuka said before she grabbed the strand of hair that was shortened by Muramasa. "You'll make women weep if you cut their hair like you did. Do you know how many years it took me to grow my hair this long?"
"How odd that her hair retained the damage, even with a new body." Naruto thought. "I do believe I have found her weakness."
"A woman's hair is her life." Fuka said.
"Did she just tell me that her very soul resides in her hair?" Naruto wondered. Considering she uses multiple bodies and her hair keeps the damage done to it, it was a fair assumption.
Fuka walked toward Naruto with a purpose. "You have weakened my life force and now you'll pay the price!" Her face became demented and her hair started flowing irregularly. She practically looked like a human Medusa.
Suddenly, Naruto couldn't move. He had been paralysed and was ripe for the kissing! She really is a human-like Medusa-succubus!
Her features relaxed as she kept walking toward him. "Let us have a nice hot kiss. I will be taking your soul as payment for my hair, however."
Naruto remained calm. It seems she hadn't learned her lesson. It didn't bother him. One: it made his job easier. Two: He gets to kiss a gorgeous woman.
The real Dracula probably wouldn't let himself get tempted by the pleasure of flesh, but the Doppelganger came to terms with the fact that he had to go through the damned puberty.
Fuka held Naruto's face like she did previously. "At least enjoy it while you can. Shikei Seppun." She gave him another French kiss.
"Naruto! What the hell are you doing!?" He heard Sakura call out to him. He turned his eyes to a platform above and saw an indignant pinkette, Sai, who had his right arm in a sling, and Yamato.
Pillars of rock surrounded the newly-arrived trio and trapped them.
A woman with black hair and a man with bear-like stature appeared behind Fuka.
"You will not interfere." The woman said.
Fuka pushed Naruto away and fell to her knees, coughing due to absorbing some of Kyuubi's chakra, more than last time. That shocked her reinforcements.
Suddenly, a nearby wall was smashed. Out of it came Sora with an unbandaged right arm.
"I have a kaimyo ready for all three of you!" He claimed.
"Nicknames for the dead. He certainly is imaginative." Naruto thought.
Sora stood between Naruto and the trio. "I came to save you." He said.
"I've been handling the redhead by myself just fine." Naruto shrugged as he stood next to Sora. "But I'll definitely take the help now that there are three of them. Thanks."
"Didn't you call out to me?" Sora asked.
"I have not. But now that you're here, I certainly won't complain." Naruto said, reminding himself to remember Sora's question for later.
Fuka's allies changed positions and the trio surrounded them in a triangle position.
"Looks like we've gotta fight." Sora said as he and Naruto were back to back.
Naruto smirked. "The three of them against the two of us... How unfortunate for them."
"They will need help, all right." Sora boasted.
The five of them had to jump away as the ceiling almost came down on their heads.
"Sorry for the delay!" Everyone looked up the hole and saw Fire Temple monks, with Chiriku at the head of the group. "Help has arrived!"
"Wouldn't you say it's time to retreat?" The black-haired woman asked Fuka and the man.
"Yeah. It looks like we bought enough time." Fuka said with a smile.
The trio looked up and saw a white-haired man with a monk staff. They jumped up to him before disappearing.
Upon, returning to the Fire Temple, Yamato requested to Chiriku that Sora came to Konoha with Team Kakashi.
"Considering what happened, we have to return to Konoha, report to Hokage-sama and wait for new orders." Yamato said. "With what we went through, our team will surely be the one to continue this mission. How about it, Sora-kun? Will you lend us a hand? We will need someone to assist us until Sai recovers from his injury."
"Personally, I think seeing the outside world would be good training for you, but it's your decision, Sora." Chiriku said.
Sora was deep in thought until he made his decision.
The next day, Team Kakashi arrived back in Konoha. Yamato left to give his report to the Hokage while the team, including Sora, were waiting outside the office. When Yamato entered the office, Asuma left it.
When Sora glanced at Asuma, he saw that he was wearing the Twelve Ninja Guardians waist-sash.
Sakura turned to Sora. "Do remember to behave before Tsunade-sama."
Sora waved her off. "Whether she's the Hokage or an old hag, she doesn't scare me."
"Naruto, Sakura, bring Sora in!" Yamato called out from within the office.
Sakura dragged Sora by the arm as the team entered the office.
And Tsunade immediately punched Sora out of the office.
"Who are you calling an old hag!?" She demanded as she approached him and was about to punch him again.
"I said that as a Bodhisattva!" Sora said fearfully. Tsunade punched the wall next to him.
"Nice save." Naruto thought.
"Well, aren't you a cute little monk?" Tsunade said jovially as she dusted Sora off before dragging him back in the office, making him panic.
After giving their full report, the team split up for their break. Yamato had to write the report. Sakura took Sai to the hospital. Leaving Naruto to show Sora around the village.
Eventually, they stumbled upon Akamaru, who started growling at Sora.
"You wanna fight, you mangy mutt?" Sora said as he looked at Akamaru straight in the eyes.
"Yo, Naruto." Kiba greeted as he stepped next to Naruto. He then saw the conflict. "Who's that guy?"
"A monk from the Fire Temple." Naruto answered. "You mind asking Akamaru why he's growling at Sora like that?"
Kiba nodded and approached the growling duo. "Oi, Akamaru, what's the deal with that guy?"
Sora turned to Kiba. "You're the mutt's owner? You should keep him on a leash and train him not to growl."
Naruto sweatdropped. Sora really loved making enemies with everyone around him, didn't he?
Kiba cracked his knuckles. "Akamaru isn't a pet."
At that moment, Choji and Shikamaru walked down some nearby stairs. "Calm down, everyone, we should all try to get along-" Choji started, but was interrupted by Sora.
"Beat it, fatty."
Naruto facepalmed as Choji dropped his bag of chips.
"Did you just call me fatty?" Choji asked menacingly.
Sora chuckled. "Time for a Battle Royale!"
"You're on your own, dumbass!" Kiba said as he, Akamaru and Choji charged toward the monk, who started frantically dodging their attacks.
"Aren't you going to help him?" Shikamaru asked Naruto.
"I'll help him as much as I helped him when he called Hokage-sama an old hag." Naruto shrugged.
Shikamaru sighed. "This troublesome guy really loves trouble, doesn't he?"
"Neither of you seemed the type to join in, anyway." They turned to the voice and saw Asuma.
"There's one more who will join in." Shikamaru said as he looked toward the sunset. Lee was hopping on the rooftops and was headed in their direction.
Naruto sighed as Lee joined the fight. The monk had just arrived and already he was causing a lot of mayhem!
"This could go on forever." Shikamaru sighed.
"Not anymore it's not." Naruto said as the entire group was about to use their Jutsu. Before that could happen, they were all restrained by Naruto's Chakra Chains.
Asuma bopped each of them on their heads, to their embarrassment.
"Well, how about some barbecue, now that you're done fighting?" Asuma offered.
Everyone, minus Naruto, Sora and Shikamaru, were cheering.
Surprisingly enough, Asuma could afford paying for them all.
"How's Chiriku doing?" Asuma asked Sora. "He really toughened you up."
"Chiriku-sama is an important figure of the temple, so I had to train myself." Sora said.
"That so? You are as you are only because of yourself?" Asuma asked.
"If you know Chiriku-sama, then you must have known my father." Sora said.
Asuma became deep in thought at the question.
Flashback
A younger Asuma and Chiriku stood in front of a pile of corpses. A brown-haired man emerged from the pile and glared at the duo. Asuma charged, his trench knives in hand.
"ASUMA!" The man called out.
"KAZUMA!" Asuma yelled back as he struck Kazuma right in the face.
Flashback end
"Kazuma died for his beliefs." Asuma sighed. "No matter what happened, he died fighting for what he believed in."
Sora was deep in thought the entire time everyone ate barbecue.
The next day, Naruto, Sakura and Sora met up with Yamato at Training Ground 7.
"While Sai is recovering, Sora-kun will be a member of our team." Yamato said. "Therefore, it's back to team formations."
Naruto held back a sigh. He wanted to get back to his wind training, but something told him Yamato wasn't going to budge.
They heard a laugh above them. They looked up and saw Asuma.
"You want to teach them formation?" Asuma asked. "Naruto and Sakura already work together quite well, whereas Sora acts before he thinks."
Yamato sighed. "I don't disagree with you, but..."
Asuma landed next to Yamato. "You can't get him to learn formations so suddenly. Partner him with Naruto, who is the more patient between him and Sakura, before trying anything, at least for a while."
"You're right." Yamato relented. "Well then, how about you supervise Naruto's wind training?"
Asuma and Sora looked at Naruto in shock. "You're a wind user?" Asuma asked.
"I found out when Jiraiya taught me the Rasengan." Naruto shrugged. "I'm surprised you didn't know, being friends with Kakashi-sensei."
Asuma also shrugged. "We do talk about our students, but never in details."
So, Asuma tested Sora and Naruto's wind natures by having them throw a wind chakra-coated kunai at a tree. Sora's kunai embedded itself on the tree while making a scar mark on the tree. Naruto's kunai embedded itself on the tree while barely breaking the bark.
"Not bad. Such powerful throws without a chakra blade." Asuma praised as he retrieved the kunai.
"Ah, mine is much bigger!" Sora said proudly.
"So it is." Naruto agreed.
"Now watch me carefully." Asuma said as he coated a kunai with his wind chakra and threw it.
When his kunai stuck itself to the tree, it barely broke the bark, just like Naruto's, maybe even less.
"Wind chakra is all about precision. It requires a lot of focus to be used at its maximum capacity. You have to focus on your chakra being thin and sharp. The larger the hole, the more your thoughts are swayed into another form."
Sora slumped slightly, but went back to throwing the chakra-coated kunai. He was slowly making progress.
"It's not about how you throw the kunai, it's how you imagine the wind in your mind." Asuma informed.
"Right!" Sora said as he went straight back to training.
Asuma turned to Naruto. "You did quite well."
Naruto shrugged. "Kage Bunshin."
"Ah, of course." Asuma nodded before he looked up to the sky. "All right, it's getting dark. Let's stop here and get back to it tomorrow."
Sora turned to Asuma. "Tomorrow?" He asked eagerly before he started cheering.
"You walked right into that one." Naruto chuckled.
Asuma sighed and facepalmed. "I did."
The next day was uneventful for Naruto, as he did not join the training. When he went to check up on them during the evening, Sora was by himself. But there was something different about him. He was angrier and more aggressive than usual. In a sudden burst of anger, Sora threw a kunai that pierced right through the tree and destroyed the rock behind it.
The day after that, in the middle of the day, there was an explosion at the Hokage Tower. Naruto rushed toward it as did many shinobi.
When he arrived on the scene, Sora was on the ground with Asuma standing over him. When a swarm of shuriken were aimed at Sora, Naruto appeared next to Sora and deflected them all.
"Naruto?" Sora asked.
Naruto looked at Asuma. "What the hell is going on?"
Tsunade, Shizune and Yamato got out of the large hole in the Hokage Tower.
Sora glared at Asuma. "Your comrade, my father... You betrayed him! I will have my revenge!" He said before he disappeared in a massive gust of wind.
Naruto sighed before he turned to Tsunade. "Mind filling me in?"
"Sora was enraged because he thought we were going to kill him." Shizune said.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why would he think such a thing?"
"Because of his mysterious power." Yamato said. "A power that destroyed the Fire Temple ten years ago."
Naruto's eyes widened. "The Fire Temple?"
"Is something the matter, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.
Naruto shook his head. "I've just realized something. The night before you gave Team Kakashi its last mission, I had a dream. A dream where Kyuubi was unleashed at the Fire Temple."
Everyone's eyes widened at that.
"Then, when we were ambushed by the grave-robbers, one of them tried to absorb my chakra, but I was able to escape by forcing her to absorb a bit of Kyuubi's chakra. After that, Sora came to my rescue, saying I had 'called out' to him. All of this, along with what you told me, points to the fact that Sora may have some of Kyuubi's chakra sealed within him."
"But the Yondaime sealed the Kyuubi within you." Tsunade countered. "How could this be possible?"
Naruto shook his head, signalling his lack of answer.
Later, Tsunade ordered everyone to search the village to find Sora. But there was no result. That night, however, Naruto felt Sora use Kyuubi's chakra. And he could feel his intent to harm Tsunade, through Kyuubi's chakra. Luckily, he was closer to the Hokage Tower than Sora was.
He entered the Tower and rushed into the office. He pushed a surprised Tsunade away from the window, where an enraged Sora emerged.
"That was close." Naruto commented before he turned to Sora.
Sora tried to attack Tsunade with his demonic right arm, but Naruto caught it by focusing Kyuubi's chakra on his arms.
Sora clutched his right and let out a cry of pain before Naruto threw him out of the tower by the very window he broke.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune called out as she and a couple of Anbu entered the room.
"Protect the Hokage!" Naruto ordered before he chased after Sora.
Eventually, Sora stopped running, brought out his claw weapon and charged towards Naruto, who blocked his attacks with Muramasa.
"Why did you attack the Hokage?" Naruto demanded.
"This isn't any of your business!" Sora growled.
"As a Shinobi of Konoha, it is my business."
Suddenly, four gate-like statues appeared around the village and created a dome around the village.
"An invasion?" Naruto wondered.
"They're here." Sora said before he ran away.
Naruto immediately gave chase. When he caught up, they clashed weapons.
"I finally caught up to you." They both jumped away as they heard Asuma's voice.
"Asuma!" Sora roared.
"Why attack the Hokage when your revenge should be against me?" Asuma asked.
"I simply copied you! I will kill the king that you decided to follow!" Sora claimed.
"King?" Asuma asked. "You refer to Hokage-sama as a king. I see. It all makes sense now. The grave robbers stole Four Lightning Masters' tombs to destroy the entire village with their devastating lighting technique."
"W-What...?" Sora asked. "I-I thought you and the Hokage would be the only victim!" He said before he ran away.
"Naruto, please go after him." Asuma said. "I have something important to take care of."
Naruto gave chase without saying a word.
However, when he almost caught up to Sora, a familiar figure appeared before him.
"Hello again." Fuka greeted.
"Ah, Fuka-chan. Have you come to kiss me goodnight?" Naruto asked.
Fuka smiled as she made some handsigns. "Of course. And I'll make sure this kiss is a long one. Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
Naruto jumped to the side to dodge the multitude of fireballs.
"Suiton: Ja no Kuchi!"
Water emerged from a nearby rooftop's water supplies, turned into a snake head and aimed for Naruto.
Naruto tried to avoid it, but was washed down the roof. He clung to the edge and tried to pull himself back up, but Fuka was already before him.
"Raiton: Jibashi!" She said as she sent lightning through the water, electrocuting him and making him fall to a lower roof.
Fuka chuckled as she jumped down to his level. "Everyone's going to be burned to a crisp. Just let me kiss you and prevent you from feeling the pain of loss."
"You're definitely more aggressive than last time." Naruto grunted as he got up. "Are you still mad at me for cutting your hair?"
Fuka scowled. "Raiton: Jibashi!" She said as she electrocuted him once more, making him fall to the edge of the roof. "Time for my kiss. Everything will be fine, once you give me your body. Furido told me not to kill you." Fuka said as she placed a foot on Naruto and held a hand to the sky. "But...your chakra is just too tempting! Raiton: Hiraishin!" Lightning crackled from her higher hand to her feet, electrocuting Naruto and bringing him down the roof.
But, he clung to a lower floor and jumped back up to the roof.
"I'm done playing around." Naruto said.
"Then I'll finish this now!" Fuka said as she focused lightning on her fist and went to punch Naruto, only for him to block the fist with a wind-coated Muramasa.
"Predators like you take too long playing with their 'food'." Naruto said. "I grew bored of playing along."
He punched her in the gut with his free hand, making her double over, before slamming a Rasengan on her back, making her crash inside the empty building.
Naruto jumped inside the building and kept his gaze on Fuka.
"I let you have your fun for a while, but the moment I counterattack, you're on the ground?" Naruto asked.
Fuka got up, her clothes dirtied by dust.
"How dare you harm me in such a way!?" Fuka said as she pulled out some cloth from her sleeves and started spinning around. "Shiki Tenshin!" Suddenly, she was uninjured and her clothes were clean.
"You changed bodies." Naruto said.
"Suiton: Ja no Kuchi!" She said as a wave of water aimed for Naruto. "Doton: Doro Houshi!" The water became brown and muddy.
"Fuuton: Rasengan!" Naruto slammed the wind sphere on the floor just as the wave of water was before him. Fuka covered her eyes as it made a huge splash. Suddenly, she was stabbed through the gut.
"One less body to worry about." Naruto said as he bisected her, making the body turn to dust. As her hair floated in the air, another body took the place of the last one.
"I can't allow anyone who knows my secret to live." Fuka said. "You've destroyed three of my bodies since we've met. Your body better be good, because I'm taking it as compensation."
"Dream on, vixen, this body of mine is more important than you can imagine." Naruto said.
"I look forward to finding out what you mean when I take it for myself." Fuka said before Naruto appeared before her and held her by the neck.
Naruto slammed his foot on the floor, making the muddy water fly in the air before turning into ice needles, pointing at the duo.
"Hyoton: Sensatsu Suisho!" Naruto said as the needles charged.
At the last second, Naruto used Chronomage to stop time and left the spot, leaving Fuka as the sole victim once time started back up.
"Y-You're a Hyoton user!?" Fuka asked as her body turned to dust before switching to another. The ice needles suddenly melted. He did not want to leave tracks.
"And within your chakra lies the knowledge of Jutsu from the five basic elements." Naruto said before three mechanical tentacles appeared on his back. "I will add you to my collection, like you wanted to add me to yours." The tentacles shot lasers at Fuka.
Fuka jumped to the side to avoid the lasers, but she was electrocuted by lightning shot from Naruto's fingers. He continued to do so until her body turned to dust. This time, her hair remained floating, with two glowing yellow eyes.
"These powers... Why didn't you use them during our last encounter if you could defeat me so easily!?" Fuka demanded.
Naruto smirked. "Because your ambush was unknown and random to me. This time, however, you ambushed me somewhere you knew nobody, not even your allies, would disturb us."
Fuka's eyes widened in fear.
"Don't worry, little succubus. Your soul will be a fine addition to my arsenal. You will become part of something greater than the Elemental Countries. Soul Steal!" Fuka wailed in pain as her soul was absorbed by Naruto.
Naruto chuckled as the Legion Soul disappeared. "I suppose I have to catch up to Sora, now."
He jumped out of the building and went to the forest, where he saw Sora run to before Fuka stopped him.
Suddenly, a pillar of Kyuubi's chakra appeared in the middle of the forest.
He rushed an arrived in a destroyed part of the forest, with Asuma landing next to him. Sora was glowing with Kyuubi's chakra. The white-haired man was next to Sora.
"That's it, Sora!" The white-haired man said. "Curse them, hate them! Turn your rage into power! We will crush Konoha! We'll kill every last one of them!"
"G-Go to hell!" Sora said as he struggled for control. "I wasn't born to do this!"
"Yes you were! Everything exists to serve the true ruler of Hi no Kuni. He needs your power now, Sora!"
"It really is you..." Asuma muttered.
"How does Sora have Kyuubi's chakra within him!?" Naruto demanded.
"The Kyuubi leaked out a lot of chakra when it attacked Konoha, 15 years ago. I gathered it and sealed it within Sora, five years later."
Sora roared as the Kyuubi's chakra was getting stronger. He clutched his right arm, which had turned demonic and had ripped through the bandages and the sleeve.
Naruto rushed forward, focused Kyuubi's chakra on his arms and grabbed Sora's shoulders. "Get a grip on yourself!"
Sora's eyes opened wide. "T-The pain's going away!"
Everyone's eyes widened when the chakra Sora leaked was going into Naruto.
"No!" The white-haired man exclaimed. "With his seal completely released, the real Kyuubi is absorbing the chakra!" He pulled out his monk staff and charged toward the duo.
Asuma pulled out his trench knives and stood in his way. "I'll be your opponent, Kazuma."
"Bear with me, Sora. If it doesn't hurt you, then I can pull it all out without killing you." Naruto said. He wondered if the Power of Dominance, along with Kyuubi's chakra, was what made him able to absorb Sora's Kyuubi chakra. Whatever the case, it was a win-win situation.
"Y-Yeah." Sora said. "Maybe then, everyone in the temple will stop glaring at me, if this power is no longer within me."
"What about your revenge?" Naruto asked.
"Furido is an even greater traitor than he told me Asuma was. My father wouldn't want simple villagers to be killed."
"Naruto!" He heard Sakura call out to him, but didn't turn to look. He had to focus on Sora. He had already absorbed a tail's worth of chakra.
Team Asuma, as well as Kiba, Akamaru, Yamato and Lee also arrived on the scene.
"N-Naruto..." Sora said. "If the real Kyuubi is sealed within you, then why do you have so many friends?"
"I got lucky." Naruto admitted. "My status was never revealed to the younger generation, allowing them to see me with almost unprejudiced eyes. While most adults told their kids to stay away from me, I became friends with the kids of those who didn't trash talk me."
"When this power is gone, will I have a chance?" Sora asked.
"Definitely." Naruto said. "Not to mention the friends you've made here, through little squabbles."
The 'Battle Royale' came to Sora's mind. "That counts as making friends?"
Naruto shrugged. "Everyone is weird in their own way."
Two tails down...
"Is Naruto going to be okay?" Ino asked worriedly.
"This is like what happened back at Hoshigakure." Lee said. When the younger group of shinobi turned to him in confusion, he continued. "When we went on that mission, the star enhanced the Kyuubi's chakra. Godaime-sama was very worried for Naruto-kun, but he was perfectly fine. Neither Naruto-kun nor Sora-kun appear to be in pain, so I believe we don't need to worry."
Three tails...
"Yamato-taichou, what is happening?" Sakura asked.
"This is just a theory, but I don't think Sora's body can handle Kyuubi's chakra. All the chakra built up within him is trying to leave his body. Naruto's physical contact as he protects himself with Kyuubi's chakra must attract it. All of Sora's Kyuubi chakra is entering Naruto's body and merging with the real Kyuubi." Yamato said.
Asuma and Sai, who had appeared as Asuma's reinforcement after leaving the hospital, returned to the destroyed part of the forest after chasing and killing Kazuma.
Four!
When no more shroud was covering Sora, Naruto let go of him. Sora was panting. Even if the process was mostly painless, it was still very exhausting to lose what was once the largest part of your stamina.
"You all right?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah..." Sora panted. "I'm gonna need to rest though. I'm tired..."
"Naruto! Sora!" Sakura called out as everyone approached the duo.
"Yo." Naruto greeted.
"Everyone..." Sora said, surprised.
"What did I tell you?" Naruto smirked. "You already got friends here."
Sora looked up to the dawning sky. "Friends, huh?"
The next day, Sora left the village to travel the world, saying he wanted to meet new people.