Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon
Sorry for the really long delay. If you are curious I explain the delay at the end A/N.
Konoha streets on the way to the dungeon
It's been two days since Naruto got his new sword and now he and Hanabi were heading back to the dungeon, they had decided that they would explore deeper into the dungeon today, at least all the way to floor 13.
Naruto also did as he said and read a little bit about the next few floors, once Kurama found out that Naruto was studying she also was as surprised as Hanabi had been last time.
"Are you sure he didn't catch any illness from the dungeon on Suna maybe" Kurama had asked Hanabi. To which Naruto got a little angry and said that he just wanted to keep his promise and reading about the dungeon meant that he could have higher chances to survive.
He later had to give a similar explanation to Ino who had been just as surprised when Naruto asked where he could learn more about the dungeon. She had been happy to guide him to the special library that the guild had so that he could study.
"I'm telling you Hanabi, this time those dogs are toasted, now I know how they attack so I can counter them easier." said Naruto as they headed to the dungeon.
"You know Naruto-sama hearing you speak like that about how higher your chances are now because you studied is still kinda weird." said Hanabi still not getting used to the fact that Naruto decided to start studying about the dungeon.
Naruto didn't got angry about it this time, had kinda gotten used to it so he just decided to act as if he hadn't heard that.
"But I guess, you also have that sword kurama-sama gave you" said Hanabi "We'll definitely explore more of the dungeon today!"
As they continued on their way to the dungeon Naruto and Hanabi were stopped by someone they didn't expect at all.
"I was right, it is you Naruto-san" said Kabuto as he stood in front of Naruto and Hanabi "I heard your voice and I had to check if it was you."
Hanabi looked at Kabuto carefully "Do you know this man Naruto-sama?" asked Hanabi.
Naruto looked at Kabuto and then it came to his mind "Ahh! You're that guy from the suna coliseum, Kabuto I think." said Naruto.
"Correct, I'm glad you remember me" said Kabuto with a smile.
"I met him at the suna coliseum; he helped me find the desk where I paid the entry fee to the match against monsters" explained Naruto to Hanabi before turning to Kabuto "What brings you to Konoha?"
"Actually I am from Konoha, I was only in suna for the tournament" explained Kabuto.
"I see" said Naruto; he figured it was common for people to travel to suna whenever the tournament was around.
"In any case I couldn't help overhearing something about some dogs in the dungeon" said Kabuto "I assume I wouldn't be wrong in thinking this dogs you are talking about are the hellhounds that can be found beyond the 12th floor?"
"That's right" said Naruto "But how do you know about that?"
"I apologized if I didn't mention this when we first met but I'm also an adventurer" said Kabuto apologetically.
"You are? You don't look like one" said Naruto looking at the lack of any noticeable armor or weapons on Kabuto.
"My weapons are small and not really noticeable" said Kabuto removing a small knife from a concealed pocket he had on his pants. The knife was way smaller than Naruto's beginner's knife it was almost like a scalpel.
"Can you really fight with that?" asked Hanabi surprised not having seen anyone fight with such a small weapon.
"Well this is not my main method of attack but yes if I see it necessary I can fight with just this." said Kabuto with a smile in his face.
"How far have you made into the dungeon?" asked Naruto curious of how far someone could make it with those small knives.
"I'm currently level 3, but to be honest I haven't made it that far. I got scared and didn't continue further into the dungeon after the level 2 floors" said Kabuto a little bit ashamed.
"Scared why?" asked Naruto.
"Naruto-sama if you remember correctly after the level 2 floors is the boss floor" said Hanabi figuring that was what most likely scared Kabuto.
Kabuto looked a little bit pale as he remembered that boss floor "That's correct one look at the monstrosity and I couldn't continue" said Kabuto.
"Was it that bad?" asked Naruto having not gotten there in the books he read yet he didn't really knew what to expect from a boss floor.
"I really don't want to talk about it if that's ok" said Kabuto holding one of his arms and looking down, Naruto nodded telling him he didn't needed to talk about it if didn't wanted to.
Seeing Kabuto feeling down an idea came to Naruto's head.
"I got an idea why don't you come with us to the dungeon today?" asked Naruto which surprised Hanabi.
"But why would you want me to accompany you two to the dungeon?" asked Kabuto surprised.
"Well you look a little down, and I figured that a little bit of exploring could help you cheer up" said Naruto with a big smile on his face.
"Are you ok with me accompanying you two?" asked Kabuto.
"Yeah are you sure Naruto-sama, we barely know him" said Hanabi.
"Yeah I'm sure. And Kabuto helped me back in Suna I'm sure he's a nice guy" said Naruto "And having one more set of hands in the dungeon could really come in handy."
Hearing this Kabuto smiled "If it's ok with you two, I would be happy to partner with you in the dungeon for today." said Kabuto.
"What do you say Hanabi?" asked Naruto looking at her.
"Fine I guess, but we shouldn't head very deep into the dungeon until we learn how to work together a little bit" said Hanabi sighting in defeat.
"Great! Let's get going Hanabi, Kabuto!" said Naruto pointing towards the dungeon as he walked.
"I guess studying doesn't change old habits" said Hanabi as he followed him.
When both Naruto and Hanabi were a little bit away Kabuto smiled and thought "I didn't thought it would be this easy to be honest."
Konoha dungeon 10th floor
Naruto, Kabuto and Hanabi had been exploring the dungeon for a little over two hours by now.
A little after they begun Kabuto explained that he specialized on magic more than close quarters combat. Naruto and Hanabi soon understood what he meant when Kabuto blew up a group of goblins with one lighting jutsu.
"I learned how to not use to chakra too much while using jutsus, one of the weaknesses of jutsus is that they use the chakra of the caster when used. So a person that uses them a lot tends to get tired and even collapse after a few casts." Explained Kabuto
"But you can train yourself to use less chakra when using a jutsu, it isn't an easy task to train yourself to use less chakra since we really don't understand chakra that much" continued Kabuto. "Alternatively you could just focus on getting high stats and leveling up and your chakra reserves will grow with you."
"I see. You know a lot about this Kabuto" said Naruto having been listening closely to his explanation.
"Since I've been a level 3 adventurer for some time now my stats don't get higher as easily as they did when I had just turned level 3. To make up for that I've been studying a lot" explained Kabuto.
"An orc and some goblins right ahead" said Hanabi interrupting their conversation.
"Ok leave this group to me Kabuto, I need to stretch a little bit before the next few floors" said Naruto taking out his sword and running towards the group of enemies.
Konoha dungeon 12th floor
Half an hour later they had easily made it to the 12th floor, it turned out that Naruto and Kabuto worked really well together.
Naruto normally ran forward and engaged in close combat while Kabuto stayed behind and provided support with jutsus from long range. Hanabi also helped with kunai and shuriken as well but most of the work was being handled by Naruto and Kabuto.
"This has probably been the easiest run through the first 12th floors we've had, isn't it Hanabi?" said Naruto to which Hanabi just nodded and looked away, Naruto paid it no mind and continued "I guess being level 3 really does make a huge difference."
"Being honest it's just as you say, leveling up makes a big difference" said Kabuto "Even the weakest level 3 adventurer is at least a little bit stronger than the majority of the level 2 adventurers."
"But that doesn't mean that training and getting higher stats doesn't help as well. Even the adventurer with the highest stats possible would die if he doesn't know how to wield a weapon or how to use jutsus" added Kabuto "Of course you need to kill monsters to get better stats so training and leveling up goes hand in hand."
"I can see what you mean, since I became level 2 this floors have become easier and easier, but I still almost got myself killed because of lack in information and not knowing what to do" said Naruto.
"I'm sure you'll grow stronger Naruto-san." said Kabuto and after a small pause he continued "You did kill that troll in the tournament from what I heard."
Naruto sighted "So you heard about that as well" said Naruto, since he heard from Zabuza the other day about the rumors of him cheating in the tournament he had heard people speak in quiet voices around him when he headed to the dungeon or when he came out it, seem rumors travelled fast.
No one really talked about how he almost died protecting his goddess. The thing they talk the most was of how he somehow cheated, no one could believe a level 1 defeating a monster of that rank.
"I didn't need to hear the rumors, I was there Naruto-san" said Kabuto "you may have not seen me but I was among the adventurers that volunteer to help subdue the monsters. I saw you almost die, and then that strange power that came out of you and how you defeated that thing. I don't believe the rumors one bit."
It was partially true, Kabuto had been there and he had seen the red cloak coming out of Naruto. He just hadn't volunteered to help defeat the monsters; he was partially the cause of the monsters rampaging in the first place.
"Thanks Kabuto, I had started to think people only thought bad things about me." said Naruto as they continued walking around the 12th floor with not clear direction.
When Kabuto joined them for the day they had decided not to go to the level two floors since they didn't really knew how to work together, although their synergy had grown in the last few hours and they could probably go anyways, Kabuto wasn't really prepared to go that deep into dungeon, he hadn't even planned to come to the dungeon today. Or at least that what he told them.
"Oh no, I'm sure most of the people that were there that day would think the same. You were in the brink of death" said Kabuto matter of factly "Which only makes me curious as to what that red cloak that covered you was."
"I couldn't really tell you" said Naruto honestly "I don't really remember exactly what happened."
"Naruto-sama felt unconscious after using it and he doesn't remember what happened back then" added Hanabi.
"That's pretty bad, I was really curious, with that cloak I wouldn't have to fear the floor boss" said Kabuto sounding disappointed.
"I also want to know what cause that, even if just to know" said Naruto looking at his hand "But who knows maybe it was just a skill I got and then activated and after it was done I just lost it."
"It would be a pretty sad if that was the case" said Kabuto.
From there their conversation moved to more random topics about the dungeon and other things. They continued going around the 12th floor for some time and then they decided it was time to start heading back.
But on the way back they were stopped by something they had somehow avoided the whole day, a Minotaur but not just a Minotaur. This Minotaur had a large and heavy looking axe in his hands.
"He must have taken that from someone that died in the dungeon, axes like that don't appear in the dungeon" said Kabuto "He doesn't look like he'll let us pass calmly so I guess we have to fight him."
The Minotaur had been eyeing them intensely with blood red raging eyes for a few seconds and with a roar he charged towards them.
"Kabuto, Hanabi stay behind and support with range attacks, he doesn't seem that fast I'll try to use that at my advantage" said Naruto quickly as he moved towards the charging Minotaur.
In a split second the Minotaur raised his axe up high mid charge and brought it down to where Naruto had been just a moment before, the axe dug into the ground with force and just as easily the Minotaur ripped it out of the floor and raised back up again.
"Lightning bolt jutsu!" said Kabuto as he finished preparing his spell, as he extended his hand forward a lightning bolt shot right out of it and to the side of the Minotaur getting a hurt sounding roar out of the Minotaur.
Taking the opportunity Hanabi launched several throwing weapons at the Minotaur most of them didn't cut deep enough to do significant damage but the area of the Minotaur skin that had been hit by the lighting was softer and some had dug deep enough to deal some damage.
Angry, the Minotaur swung his axe vertically trying to cut Naruto in half. Quickly Naruto ducked under the axe and then as he came up he slashed the Minotaur across its chest.
The Minotaur didn't take it quietly and quickly used one arm to punch Naruto at the side of the head sending him back towards Hanabi and Kabuto.
Kabuto caught Naruto as he flew towards them which sent both of them to the ground.
"Are you two alright!?" asked Hanabi as she moved towards them.
"That really hurt!" said Naruto as he massaged the part of his head that was hit by the Minotaur "Let's end this before he can do anything else like that"
"I agree this could get dangerous if we allow it to continue" said Kabuto standing up and doing a few hand signs in preparation for a spell "I'll attack first, follow it up and kill him Naruto-san."
"Ok let's do this!" said Naruto preparing the rasengan he had learned not long ago.
"Water bullet jutsu!" said Kabuto shooting several spheres of water from his mouth towards the Minotaur who at first tried blocking them with his axe but soon enough the pressure of the bullet sent the axe backwards leaving the Minotaur exposed.
"Here I go, Rasengan!" screamed Naruto running close to the Minotaur and impacting it with the rotating sphere in his hand sending the Minotaur towards the ceiling where it exploded only leaving his crystals behind as all the monsters did in the dungeon.
"Yeah! We did it!" said Naruto enthusiastically.
"Well done Naruto-san, that technique was impressive" said Kabuto.
"You like it?" asked Naruto with a grin "I learned it not long ago, it's called Rasengan"
"Naruto-sama maybe we should consider moving on back to the entrance before something else like this happens" said Hanabi trying to make him remember that they were still in the dungeon and another monster could appear at any second.
"I guess you're right Hanabi" said Naruto "let's get going, or else it'll get really late out there."
With that the three of them started heading back. They didn't fight anything quite as strong on their way back and soon enough they had reached the exit.
Once they were outside Kabuto stopped Naruto and Hanabi before they headed back home and said
"Today was fun Naruto-san" said Kabuto before looking down "To be honest I didn't really liked going to the dungeon anymore but you made it fun again. It might sound selfish but would mind if I accompanied you two again tomorrow?" asked Kabuto.
"Yeah sure, I don't mind" said Naruto "What about you Hanabi?"
Hanabi looked at Kabuto, something inside her told her she shouldn't trust him but Naruto seem to be fine with him and he was helping them a lot in the dungeon so she couldn't come with anything against him coming.
"I guess having more people wouldn't be that bad." said Hanabi "But we need to keep moving we've need to keep exploring deeper floors."
"Of course, I understand I'll come prepare for the deeper floors tomorrow" said Kabuto "thank you for accepting my request, in any case see you two tomorrow"
With that Kabuto said good-bye and then headed back his own way, not before agreeing in a time to meet the next morning that is.
After Kabuto headed his own way, Naruto and Hanabi decided they should also get moving and headed to the guild to exchange the crystals for the day. They had already given a part of the crystals to Kabuto earlier.
Council of gods – earlier that day
Kurama had headed early in the morning to the council of god. This was the place the different gods had a meeting concerning things in the world, in this meeting they also gave adventurers that had leveled up an alias.
No god was forced to attend the meeting except for gods with adventurers that had leveled up since the alias had to be decided as quickly as possible.
Kurama was waiting outside the room where the meeting would take place seating in a bench thinking really hard on an alias for Naruto. She couldn't really decide it herself, all the gods would vote on one but she could suggest some and normally one of the suggestions was chosen since the other gods didn't bother thinking on one, but considering it was her familia member they might come up with a terrible alias just to annoy her.
As she waited a familiar face that she didn't hated seeing approached.
"Oh, Kurama, It's been so long I had really thought you had gone to somewhere else in the world" said a woman as she approached Kurama.
"Chomei, good seeing you" said Kurama seeing one of her fellow bijuu.
Chomei was a smaller woman than Kurama, she had long green hair and she was wearing a purple top and skirt which had a green pattern swirling pattern.
"Good seeing you too Kurama" said Chomei "As I said I haven't heard from you in a long time."
"Really? even with all the things that happened at suna?" said Kurama.
"Oh that's right. Shukaku's tournament was not that long ago" said Chomei remembering the tournament "To be honest I don't follow the news around the tournament that much I don't like when adventurers fight each other."
"You've always been the peace keeper between us" said Kurama matter of factly "In any case why did you come to the council today?"
"Oh that, one of my familia members leveled up, a girl by the name of Fuu" said Chomei "She's been surprising me recently she suddenly has been getting stronger and stronger."
"But now that I have told you my reason for being here, wouldn't it just be correct for you to share yours as well?" said Chomei.
"The same as you, one of my familia members leveled up. His name is Naruto" said Kurama.
"Oh. I didn't know you found some new for your familia" said Chomei surprised "I didn't have the chance to meet your first familia member before she left your familia. So I hope I get to meet this one at least"
"I guess you never had the chance" said Kurama thinking about it a little bit "If you want to meet Naruto that would be fine, I guess"
"But of course I would love to!" said Chomei enthusiastically "I want to know the kind of people you have in your familia even if just one."
"Well actually I have two familia members now. But one if a support" corrected Kurama.
"Oh even better!" said Chomei grabbing Kurama's hands "You have really grown since I last saw you Kurama, you probably now know the joy of having a familia alongside you and seeing them grow and get stronger."
Kurama looked down in thought and then raised her head with a smile "I guess…. I do, I haven't been happier since … since… I can't even remember a time when I was this happy to be honest" said Kurama.
"See. I told you long ago that you should really try to find a familia." said Chomei "Of course back then it wasn't that easy for you to be fair, but now you have finally gotten one."
"Long ago is an understatement that was ages ago" said Kurama.
"I guess that when you're having fun you don't notice time fly by" said Chomei laughing "In any case the meeting is about to start so why don't we head in?"
"I hadn't notice that it was almost time!" said Kurama looking at how much time it had passed "I guess you were right in saying you don't notice time flying by when you're having fun."
"Let's get going then" said Chomei with a smile as she headed for the door with Kurama behind her.
Decided to end it there, tell me what you thought.
Also if you have any good aliases for Naruto leave them in a review or send me a PM and I might use it, I honestly had some but have forgotten them with how much time has passed. Also remember this is his first alias it doesn't have to be that cool.
Now for the explanation for the delay, if you don't care (or you are reading this in the future) you can move on.
Honestly, I'm still studying and balancing both writing and studying isn't that easy. I managed to do it but when my USB got corrupted and I lost all my files for this (learned my lesson, now I have backups) I felt behind and then whenever I had time to write I just keep Putting it off for other stuff (mostly envolving my studies).
I'm also a huge procrastinator (I think that's the word) when I fall behind I just then to do other stuff, always thinking I can do that later but I never actually do it.
But I really like this story and I want to give it an ending so I felt really bad about not writing so I decided to sit down and just write and this chapter was what came out of it. I hope I can get back in the grove but no promises.