Chapter 8 The Light, the Dark and the Will of Fire

I'm glad to see a positive response regarding the last chapter. I was glad you guys decided to stick with me; I'll try to be an author worthy of you, the readers.

Still need help with Into the Void, I need it to free the souls but I need it for another reason too, Orochimaru will have some more Kage level help at the Chunin Exams, if you catch my meaning.

Now on with the chapter.

Despite the odd first day, Anko's special training was progressing rather well. Naruto had become proficient enough in snake style to actually use it during academy spars, much to the displeasure of certain classmates. True to her word, Kurenai had also helped him with genjutsu, but only with the basics: invisibility; images that would cause emotional duress; and most importantly, how to dispel genjutsu. She told him that there were others but that he should wait until after graduation. Those lessons were not easy, Naruto's chakra control had improved since the Mu Training and meeting the Kyubi, but his level of control was still that of an academy student.

Hinata's training had been going well too. Anko and Kurenai had managed to teach her a few water jutsu as well as how to incorporate some of her natural flexibility into her Jyuken style. Hinata's mastery of Mu techniques was slowly but surely catching up to Naruto. Hinata found that she could create tiny ethereal blades on her fingertips and that she could use the blades in lieu of chakra with Jyuken. However, she had yet to test the effectiveness of her blades out of fear of causing an ally permanent damage. It was also discovered that Hinata's ethereal senbon could close tenketsu, making Hinata the first Hyuga to be able to do so at a distance, although few in her clan appreciated it.

Naruto's independent training was having mixed results. His mu techniques were getting better; he could create full body clones from nothingness: physical attacks and projectiles passed through them and they could fight. They had drawbacks though: elemental jutsu could destroy them; they didn't last long, they could only last a minute-and-a-half; and they had a tell, they didn't cast a shadow, much like the standard bunshin. Naruto believed that he could improve this technique over time and with more knowledge of various bunshin jutsu. His elemental training was progressing at a normal pace, for an academy student at least, except for light and dark jutsu. So far Naruto could only do one jutsu for each: Taiyōken for light and Kurouzu for darkness.

Taiyōken was performed when Naruto placed his hands close to the center of his face with his fingers spread toward his eyes. This would cause a white light to fire out and blind everything watching except for Naruto. Kurouzu, had an effect similar to a black hole, Naruto created an inescapable vortex which would draw his target towards him. Other than that Naruto had hit a mental block.

It was a good day at the Konoha Ninja Academy, at least for those in Umino Iruka's class. Their sensei was happier than they had ever seen him, and a happy Iruka meant advanced instruction in the ninja arts. Today's lesson was in fuinjutsu, specifically storage seals and sealing tags. The students wondered what had put their sensei in such a good mood, or rather most of them were. Naruto and Hinata knew the cause of Iruka's good mood; the same thing had Anko positively giddy during their morning training. Last night those four and Anko's other friends celebrated her birthday; last night she became Iruka's fiancée. Setting a date and actual planning had been put off until after graduation but the two couldn't be happier.

Naruto was happy too, but for a different reason. He had learned that his fears were unfounded; Anko was not upset with him, she was too happy to be upset, but she had worked him harder than ever before that morning. Naruto didn't care, he was happy Anko would still teach him, he had grown as fond of her as he was of Iruka.

"Alright class, that's enough for this morning let's break for lunch," Iruka called out finally.

"Hinata-chan, fuinjutsu isn't a normal part of the curriculum at the academy, is it?" Naruto asked as soon as the two were outside.

"No, I don't think it is Naruto-kun, but it is a nice change of pace," Hinata answered.

"I think so too, hopefully I'll be good enough someday to do the Hiraishin no Jutsu," Naruto said, dreaming of the day he could be like his father. Then he thought of all that he still needed to do first, such as mastering his elements; and a contemplative look crossed his face.

Worrying for her crush Hinata asked, "Is something wrong Naruto-kun?"

"I'm just thinking of what to do about my light and dark jutsu," Naruto told her. He went on to explain, "I've got one jutsu each so far but there is still so much I don't know about either: what elements they work with; what I can do with them; things of that nature. I know what light and dark are but I can't think of how to use them in combat."

"Your Kurouzu uses darkness and gravity, that would be a good place to start," Hinata suggested, hoping to be helpful.

"I guess that's a good a place as any to start with, but I know there's more to darkness then that," Naruto said, grateful for his friend's help. Looking around Naruto noticed another one of his classmates, Aburame Shino, was in a foul mood; or rather Naruto assumed Shino was in a foul mood if the buzzing from his coat was anything to go by.

"Something wrong Shino?" Naruto asked.

Shino answered in his monotone voice, "I am angry. Why, because children treat insects as though they cannot feel pain."

"What exactly do you mean?" Hinata asked.

"Children should not be given magnifying glasses. Why, because they use them to burn ants," Shino said.

"Oh yeah, I've seen kids do that, it's where they focus the sunlight and…," Naruto trailed off.

"Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, wondering why he stopped.

"Thanks Shino, you've been a great help," Naruto said suddenly.

"You are welcome. Why, I don't know because you were the one lending me an ear," Shino said.

"You'll find out soon, just watch," Naruto said.

Naruto took a moment to concentrate during which his hand started to glow. After he finished he picked up a nearby rock and tossed it into the air. He extended his index finger, took aim, and shot a beam of light out of it at his target. When the rock landed there was a hole about the diameter of Naruto's finger. When this was done Naruto said, "Awesome, I think I may have just gotten rid of my mental block."

Hinata was happy for him, but she was the only one. Almost everyone else looked at Naruto as though he had just grown a second head. One student looked on in jealousy and went to confront Naruto.

"Dobe, teach me to do that." Sasuke demanded.

"Are you asking or are you telling?" Naruto asked.

"Sasuke-kun, any jutsu that Naruto-baka makes is probably worthless, why would you want to learn them?" Sakura asked in her I'm-so-smart voice.

"Shut up Sakura!" Sasuke practically roared at the pink-haired girl, an action that caused the poor girl to start crying.

"Sasuke, you need to calm down," Naruto told the irate Uchiha.

"What I need is power, nothing else-," Sasuke was cut off as Naruto struck him with an ethereal blade, the force of the blow knocking him into a training post and knocking him out.

"What's going on here!?" Iruka demanded.

"Troublesome," said Nara Shikamaru. He explained what had happened regardless of his previous comment though.

Iruka still needed to hear from Naruto and Sasuke what had happened. When Naruto got to the part where he hit Sasuke, Iruka asked, "Naruto, why did you hit Sasuke?"

"First I asked him to calm down, when that didn't work trying to knock him out seemed like the next logical step," Naruto said with all seriousness.

"Shikamaru and several other students said that Sasuke was about to say something, what was it?" Iruka asked the blonde.

"I didn't let him finish but he started out saying that he needs power, and I struck him after he said the words, 'nothing else'."

"What do you think he was going to say?" Iruka asked already well aware of the answer.

"I think he was going to say 'nothing else matters'," Naruto answered. He continued, "That's why I hit him, if that's his attitude then it's going to make things difficult when team assignments get here. I'm sorry Sensei, today started out so great."

"It's alright Naruto, it's not your fault," Iruka told his favorite student. Iruka then warned, "Naruto I want you to be careful, even though Sasuke was in the wrong others might not see it that way."

"Do you think the Council will find out?" Naruto asked.

"I hope not Naruto," Iruka said simply, even though he knew better.

It was the weekend, and for Naruto and Hinata that just meant nonstop training. Naruto had just about finished his taijutsu training with Anko for the day. Hinata and Kurenai were just wrapping up too. On the surface it was a normal day but that was about to change.

"Well gaki, I'm proud of you, if you keep this pace up I may not have anything left to teach you by New Years," Anko told Naruto.

"Thank you Sensei, but I think it's because you're a good teacher," Naruto responded. Before anything else could be said a purple-haired ANBU kunoichi wearing a porcelain cat mask appeared.

"Uzumaki Naruto, the Council has requested your presence," the woman said.

"With all the respect that's due Neko-san, everyone in this training ground knows that the Council never requests, it demands," was Naruto's response.

"Be that as it may Uzumaki-san, you still have to go," Neko said.

Anko made her way over to Neko and asked, "Couldn't this have waited until after my lesson?" She the whispered, "Seriously though Yugao-chan, what's this about?"

Neko, or rather Yugao, responded in the same hushed tone, "The civilians are pissed about what happened at the academy yesterday, apparently some kunoichi hopeful whined to her parents about how Naruto 'viciously' attacked 'her Sasuke-kun'."

"Kunoichi hopeful, I hope not," Anko responded laughing at her own joke.

"Whatever you call her, Naruto-kun and I need to go before it gets worse," Yugao whispered back, not amused. Falling back into her Neko persona she said, "Uzumaki-san, I am to escort you to the Council Chambers."

"Sure Neko-san, I want to get this over with," Naruto said, already aware of why the Council wanted.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata said, worry evident in her voice.

"Don't worry Hinata-chan, I'll be back as soon as I can," Naruto told her. With that Neko put her hand on Naruto's shoulder and with the aid of the Shunshin no jutsu, and left the training ground.

"Don't worry Hinata, Naruto will be fine," Kurenai tried to reassure the girl.

"I hope so, Kurenai-sensei," the heiress responded.

Upon arriving at the Council Chambers, Naruto turned to Neko and asked, "Neko-san could you take me back to Training Ground 7 when this is over?"

"I suppose I could Uzumaki-san," the ANBU operative answered.

Taking a deep breath Naruto approached the doors and said, "Let's get this over with."

The Council Chamber was a large, circular room that closely resembled a court room: The Shinobi Council on one side; the Civilian Council on the other; and the Hokage was always seated in between the two.

Naruto had never been before the Council before but he figured that he should give them the respect that such an "esteemed" body deserved; at least until they gave him a reason not to.

"Uzumaki Naruto responding to your summons," he said bowing deeply.

"Naruto, do you know why you are here?" Hiruzen asked the young man.

"I think so, Hokage-sama but I would like still like to hear it," Naruto responded.

"Boy, you stand before us having been accused of attacking Uchiha Sasuke without provocation," a random member said. The same council member asked, "What do you have to say about that?"

"I wasn't aware that I was being accused of a crime but I'll go with the fantasy, not guilty," Naruto responded, no longer caring if he offended the Council.

"This isn't a trial Naruto, you don't have to worry," Hiruzen said.

"Hokage-sama, surely you must agree that punishment is in order!" another random civilian yelled.

"I allowed this meeting to this because I wanted to hear Naruto's side of the story, so far all we have heard are the accusations of a young kunoichi hopefully with an unhealthy infatuation with Uchiha Sasuke repeated by adults," the Sandaime explained, letting everyone know that this would not turn into some kangaroo court.

"My Ami is a saint!" the council member from before defended.

"Troublesome, we are getting off topic," Nara Shikaku said hoping to restore order. He then asked, "Naruto do you admit to striking Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Not exactly, first I told him to calm down after he upset a classmate to the point of tears; when he refused the use of force seemed to be the next logical step," Naruto explained.

"That matches up with what I heard from Shikamaru," Shikaku said.

"If I may, who was it that Uchiha Sasuke upset," Haruno Mebuki, Sakura's blonde mother asked.

"The student was Haruno Sakura, after Sasuke demanded I show him how to perform a technique I had just created, to which I refused; she essentially said that any jutsu I create or use is not worth knowing. After which Sasuke responded by yelling at her, and, to me at least, his tone suggested that he did not value her opinion," Naruto explained.

"I see," Mebuki responded. When Sakura came home the day before she had shown signs that she had been crying but neither Mebuki nor Kizashi could get her to tell them what was wrong. When Naruto mentioned an upset classmate Mebuki was almost certain it was Sakura.

"Uzumaki-san, my son Shino said that Uchiha-san said something that seemed to upset you before you struck him, would you repeat it for us?" Aburame Shibi requested.

"When I said he needed to calm down he said, 'What I need is power, nothing else-,' and then I cut him off before he could finish. I know that I shouldn't put words in someone else's mouth but I believe that he was going to say 'nothing else matters',' Naruto responded.

"From what you said that sounds about right," Yamanaka Inoichi said to the boy.

"I would like to know Uzumaki-san, why would what Uchiha-san said, or rather about to say upset you," Hyuga Hiashi asked the young shinobi hopeful.

"Konoha ninja are taught about the Will of Fire, we all may want to be strong but to suggest that acquiring power is all that matters is like rejecting the Will of Fire entirely, at least I think so" Naruto reasoned. He went on to say, "Also, this is our final year in the academy, even without finishing his statement, Sasuke may have destroyed any chance anyone in our class has of working with him."

"Well said Naruto, now if there is nothing else you may take leave and enjoy your weekend," Hiruzen told the young jinchūriki. The Hokage felt the need to add, "Keeping in mind that your techniques are your own and you are under no obligation to teach them to others if you so choose."

That last statement was directed more at the civilian council members then at Naruto, and it effectively ended the meeting.

"Well it's been fun everyone, let's do this again never," Naruto said as he left.

"Hey, I'm back," Naruto said as Neko dropped him off at the training ground.

"Naruto-kun, how did it go?" Hinata asked.

"It was about how I 'viciously' attacked Sasuke yesterday," Naruto said. Remembering the incident and the meeting today had put Naruto in a bad mood. He felt the need to hit something but since it was a clearing and his options were limited, he punched the ground. When his fist connected numerous oval shaped projectiles of light fanned out in all directions traveling in the air and on the ground. When he noticed he yelled, "Hinata-chan take cover!"

All Hinata needed to do was put up a mu barrier, but she the shock of what had happened was still there. "Naruto-kun how did you do that?" She asked.

"I don't know, I just remembered what happened yesterday and with the meeting I was angry and I wanted to hit something," Naruto explained. A theory popped into his head, "I think I know how I did it, but I think you should take cover Hinata-chan."

After Naruto was sure Hinata was safe he focused light into his fist until a faint glow could be seen from it. He then shouted, "Rakuhouha" and got the result he was hoping for, mostly. Everything the projectiles hit had burn marks or holes in them, thankfully they were about mid-range and the equipment and the Memorial Stone were unharmed.

"Rakuhouha?" Hinata asked.

"It just feels right calling it that," Naruto said. Feeling daring and slightly flirtatious Naruto went on to say, "Don't worry Hinata-chan, I'll make an amazingly powerful light-based jutsu and name it after you. How does 'Sunlight Supremacy' sound?"

Hinata just turned red and replied, "Let's just start training," but Naruto knew she was flattered.

And done.

First let me say that Taiyōken and Kurouzu are the property of Akira Toriyama and Eiichiro Oda respectively. I did indeed give Naruto the Solar Flare.

That beam of light can be considered the Dodompa or whatever Kizaru calls it when he does it, but I don't own those either.

And finally the Rakuhouha is the Giga Attack Zero gets from defeating Cyber Peacock in Megaman X4, I don't own that either but I did try to convey a 3D version of the technique. Each bolt of light energy shoots out at a 0 degree angle, then at 22.5 degrees to 45 degrees and so on. It creates a dome so the projectiles that skim the ground go from 22.5 and so on until reaching the full 360.

I'll be giving him all of Zero's light based Giga Attacks so look forward to those, but Capcom still owns them.

Should I give him the elemental techniques Zero uses with the K Knuckle in Megaman X8?

I know I made Sasuke look bad in this chapter but he has never been a favorite of mine. I just don't like how he is never ashamed of his actions in canon.

I know the mu jutsu seem to be lacking but I promise there will be those and combinations of mu, light, and dark next chapter.

Read and Review my friends.