Hello FanFiction! This is pain17ification continuing "Kouma Shōkan".

Please note: pain17ification doesn't own anything except for the story idea

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

[Mental Speech]

"Bijuu/Techniques"

'Higher Being Thoughts'

(Translations and Notes)

[Scene Shift]

Chapter 5: A Month to Prepare

Naruto sighed as he sat atop the head of the Yondaime Hokage of the Hokage Mountain. So much had been revealed to him throughout the first two parts of this exam and it was making his head spin.

His father – the Yondaime Hokage and Kiiroi Senko of Konoha – was the one who placed the Kyuubi inside of him. It hurt to accept that; it really did. From what he had witnessed, fathers put their family before everything.

However, his father didn't. His father put the village before family and it angered him to the core. He was an Uzumaki by his mother and he took the creed to heart. His father – while not an Uzumaki – broke that creed in his eyes and he felt betrayed. His fists clenched to stave off the building rage towards the Yondaime and Konoha.

Beside him, Dash gazed at her blonde friend sadly. He was constantly betrayed and let down by those who he should've been able to trust. She desperately wanted to help him, but she didn't know how. In her eyes, his anger was justified and couldn't be swayed.

Still, she decided to do something for him and engulfed her from in a swirl of color. This brought Naruto out of his thoughts and he looked on curiously, wondering what she was doing. When the swirling colors faded, he was left agape at what he was seeing.

Dash had transformed herself into a human with slightly pale blue skin and rainbow color hair that draped over her left shoulder and frizzed at the ends. She was dressed in a black shirt with her Cutie Mark portrayed on the front, dark blue cargo pants, and black kunoichi sandals. Around her neck was a pendant of a bright blue pegasus and her right middle finger had a ring with the Uzumaki Swirl on it.

"D-Dash…?" Naruto stammered out in total shock.

The transformed pony smirked at him and leaned on her left leg while her arms crossed underneath her impressive bust. If Naruto were the perverted type, he would've noticed that they were high C-Cup.

"Well Blondie, what do ya think?" asked Dash as her smirk turned to a grin.

"You… I thought… Why did…" he stumbled over his words as his mind tried to process everything. If he was honest with himself, Dash looked incredibly beautiful and it took a lot of his willpower to hold down the blush that tried to show.

She laughed at his inability to form a sentence before she engulfed him in a comforting embrace. While she held him close in hopes of helping him calm down, the blush Naruto tried so desperately to hold down burned furiously on his face.

"Don't worry… No matter what happens, you still have me and the others to help you. We'll stand by you to the end, Naruto-kun," she reassured him, unaware of the added suffix she placed on his name.

Slowly, Naruto's arms rose up and wrapped around her back and hugged her. "Thank you," he murmured gratefully.

The two stayed like that for some time, unaware that they were being watched by the Sandaime and his old student, Jiraiya the Gama Sennin. Jiraiya was in truth the godfather of the blonde, but he was unable to be there for Naruto due to his duties as spymaster of Konoha. That didn't mean that Jiraiya had no wish to see the Uzumaki. Jiraiya was hoping to take the kid as his apprentice of the Gama Arts, but it looked like he already had a Summon Clan that took an interest in him; in more ways than one for the one currently hugging the teen.

"So, what do you think of him, Jiraiya?" asked Hiruzen as he deactivated his crystal ball.

Jiraiya leaned against one of the office walls with his eyes closed and arms crossed. "Honestly, I think he looks so much like his father that it's scary. Speaking of which, does he know who his father is?"

The Sandaime sighed tiredly at the question. "To be honest with you…I'm not sure. Apparently he and his team had a run-in with Orochimaru in the Forest of Death. I noticed that he seemed very…different when he and his team made it to the tower. Although, I think that may be due to the fact that he assumed his team would stay and help him instead of leave him to cover their escape. Naruto also gained the ability his mother was famous for and displayed it during the preliminaries."

Jiraiya raised a brow with a smirk. "Did he now? Well, color me impressed with the kid. And apparently he's skilled with fuinjutsu if what you told me about his match with that Suna girl is anything to go by."

The Sandaime nodded and replied, "Yes, he is. In fact, he told me that he found the old Uzumaki Shrine and spent many hours a day inside reading Mito-sama's journal and the various fuinjutsu scrolls. Apparently, he found it about two years ago and is already skilled enough to be labeled an Adept in the arts."

"You're kidding!" Jiraiya exclaimed in surprise. "An Adept in only two years?! It took me almost ten years to get that far!"

"The boy's a natural in the art; even more so than his mother and nearly as good as Mito-sama; although, I wouldn't be surprised if he surpassed her in a few years."

Jiraiya shook his head with a chuckle. "Man… To think he's that fluent in the art… It's honestly scary. Who knows what kinds of seals he'll create in the future?"

"Who indeed?" Sarutobi asked with a prideful smile as he thought of the young Uzumaki.

[Next Day (Konoha Hospital)]

Naruto sat inside the reception area as he waited for Kakashi to finish checking on Sakura. Apparently, Hinata's strike to her was much more than the pinkette was used to and it was taking a while to heal.

Sasuke sat to his right and Naruto was able to finally get a glimpse at the strange marking on his neck. In the blonde's hand was a small notebook and he was drawing a copy of the mark on it as well as the obvious suppressor that surrounded it.

Dash – still in her transformed state – sat on his left with a look of boredom on her face. She hated hospitals since they held no excitement for her. Sure, they were helpful, but she preferred areas with more excitement and thrills.

After another five minutes, Naruto finished drawing the mark and Kakashi was seen heading their way. He gave them a lazy wave and took note of the girl sitting close to his blonde student. He even noticed that she subtly scooted closer to him protectively.

'Curious…' he thought before he gave them an eye smile. "Alright boys, let's get started on your training."

Both of them nodded and began to follow him while Dash walked next to Naruto, much to the suspicion of Sasuke and curiosity of Kakashi. "Who's the girl, dobe?"

Dash gave a small scowl at the title towards her friend while the blonde replied, "She's a friend who I've known for a little while now. She's curious about shinobi after I told her about what we've gone through."

"Hmph," grunted the Uchiha. "If she's so curious, then she should've asked someone with more experience like me."

"Oh sure," began Dash in an exaggerated tone. "I'd love to hear more about ditching your teammate and leaving him to fight a white snake in a deadly forest."

Sasuke scowled at her while Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly at her words. "Just how much did Naruto tell you, miss…?"

"Dash," replied the transformed pony. "My name is Dash and Naruto-kun told me all about his career so far. He told me about his acceptance as a Genin, his mission to Nami no Kuni, and the first two parts of the Chunin Exams."

Kakashi then turned to Naruto. "Does she know about your personal experiences as well, Naruto?"

The blonde nodded with a serious face. "Yes she, her friends, and their bosses know and they can be trusted. They were friends of my mother's side of my family."

Kakashi's lone eye widened in surprise while Sasuke just walked on with a disinterested face. He looked to Dash and she just grinned at him. "I see… Well, I'm glad you found some people to bond with Naruto."

"Yea… Which reminds me; they promised to help me with the month training Kakashi-sensei."

"How can they help you when they don't know of the shinobi arts, dobe?" questioned the Uchiha.

"Just because we don't know your flashy jutsu doesn't mean we can't help in other aspects," Dash defended, poking Sasuke in his chest.

"Is that so?" asked Kakashi before things could escalate. "Well then, I suppose there isn't any harm in letting them help you, Naruto. But, I want to figure something out before you go; just so I could still train you some other time."

He then pulled out two sheets of blank paper and made a clone that led Sasuke away. The clone took one of the sheets and left with the Uchiha while the original gave Naruto the other one.

"What's this?" asked the Uzumaki.

Kakashi eye-smiled and answered, "This is called Chakra Paper. It allows you to see what affinities you have in terms of Chakra Nature."

"So… How does it work?"

The Jonin gestured to the paper and replied, "Just pour some of your chakra into it. The paper will handle the rest."

The Uzumaki complied and let some of his chakra into the paper. The result left the three surprised.

"No way…" Dash whispered.

"B-But how…?" stammered the sensei.

The blonde meanwhile gained misty eyes as he looked down at the paper. The only thing he muttered was, "Haku…"

[Konoha Hot Springs (One Hour Later)]

A whiskered blonde sighed as he relaxed in the soothing waters of the hot springs. Dash told him to get some rest while she left to prepare for his arrival at Ponyville. He decided to take a dip to rest his weary limbs since he hadn't been to the springs in a few weeks and the exams took quite a bit out of him so far.

He was brought out of his relaxation by the sound of a man giggling like a little schoolgirl. He turned and frowned at the sight of a white-haired man sitting atop a large toad and peeping through the wall that separated the men's side from the women's.

"Great… A perverted Peeping Tom," muttered the Jinchuriki distastefully before he got out and dressed himself. Once he was fully clothed, he approached the man from behind and stuck a seal tag on him under the guise of patting his back. "You know, you must be pretty low to deliberately peep on women in your refined age, old man…"

The man scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, go away kid. I don't have time to be lectured by someone less than half my age."

Naruto grinned and began to walk away. "Whatever you say, old timer." He then held his hand up in a half ram seal while yelling out, "Hey ladies! You might wanna look out for perverted old men!"

The seal on the man's shoulder lit up and he suddenly felt his chakra flow become erratic while the separating wall was kicked down by a towel-clad Anko with half a dozen kunoichi behind her. Jiraiya tried to leave with a chakra enhanced leap, but his chakra didn't flow right and he just stumbled and fell at her feet.

He paled at her grin. "Well well well… Looks like my birthday came early this year! And I couldn't have asked for a better present; a perv to beat down!" She then looked to the retreating blonde and called out, "Thanks, gaki-kun!"

Naruto waved without looking back and grinned devilishly as he heard the man's cries for mercy. He laughed out loud as he was engulfed in a sudden plume of smoke and left the area.

[Ponyville]

Within the Princess' Chambers, Naruto arrived in a plume of smoke still laughing at his actions against Jiraiya. "And what happens to be so amusing, young Naruto?" Celestia asked with a kind smile.

Still snickering, he retold her and Luna about his prank and the two mares chuckled at his antics. "Quite devious, Naruto-san," Luna commented.

"Ne, Luna-hime you don't have to be so formal. We're family, right?" asked the blonde, surprising the two alicorns.

They looked to one another before smiles appeared and they nodded to him. "Yes… I suppose we are, Naruto," stated the darker alicorn.

Celestia was pleased to hear how sincere Naruto was when he asked if they were family. It reminded her so much of Mito when she asked the very same question. She also could've sworn that she saw a ghostly visage of Mito placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder with a smile full of pride.

"Well, let's start your training," declared the white alicorn before she and her sister led their summoner to the castle courtyard where the other mares waited for them. The Uzumaki smiled to them all and they returned it. Celestia watched and smiled as Naruto approached them and began to talk with them before he turned his attention to Pinkie and the two began laughing after a bit. The princess guessed that Naruto told the pink mare about his prank and wanted to see what Pinkie thought of it.

Luna smiled as well, proud that her summoner was so close to them. She was sure that Naruto would be like the second coming of Mito; friendly, caring, and a true Uzumaki to the core. She then cleared her throat and got the attention of the blonde and the mares.

"Now then, let's begin your month of training, Naruto. We plan to help you with your chakra control, your affinity training, and finally your beginning steps to learning magic."

"Magic?" queried Naruto.

It was Twilight who answered. "That's right. You see, as our summoner you slowly begin forming a connection with magical energy, or mana. It's like chakra, but it's also very different."

"What do you mean?"

"She means, darling, that it's within you like chakra but it comes out in a different manner," explained Rarity with a smile. "Mana requires a chant spoken in what many believe is the ancient tongue (1). For example, a spell to call forth the gift of flight is like so: Exaltavi, da mihi gratiam per nubila portabunt venti ut!"

To the amazement of the blonde, the white unicorn was surrounded in a bright yellow-green aura that slowly allowed her to levitate off the ground. With a rush of wind, she shot up into the air and circled the courtyard a couple of times before she landed back down and released the aura.

"That is an advanced spell," Twilight explained. "You won't learn that for a while."

Naruto couldn't help but pout at that, making the others chuckle. "So, what spell will I learn first?"

"A minor healing spell," Celestia answered. "Your clan was known for their inability to use them due to their higher than average chakra levels. The spell will rectify that."

Naruto grinned and nodded. "Alright, then let's get started!"

"Not so fast there, partner," Applejack interrupted before he could get too excited. "Firstly, we need to get your control up more."

"That's why we had the statue from the fountain moved so that you could use it to learn water walking," Luna explained. "However, there is one thing we wish to test."

"Naruto, create a clone and have it follow me please," Celestia asked, and the blonde complied.

After a couple of minutes, he stiffened slightly and called out, "You never even gave me a chance to answer!"

The white alicorn walked back to them with a smile on her face. "And how would you know that, Naruto?"

"Because you just…asked me," he said before it came to him. "I just remembered what my clone experienced."

"Correct," Luna said with a smirk. "It seems as though your clones are able to transmit their experiences to you. Now, what do you think this could mean for your training?"

"I could seriously lower the amount of time needed to train," answered the Uzumaki.

"That's right. So, make around twenty clones and have them practice water walking while another twenty will master tree walking. Have them dispel one at a time every five minutes so that the other clones could get an idea of how to perform better," Celestia stated.

Naruto nodded and created the clones while Fluttershy and Dash stepped up to him. "We'll be helping you with your affinities, Naruto-kun," explained the blue pegasus while the yellow one nodded with a smile. "So, create ten clones and we each will take five to work with."

The Uzumaki complied and was then approached by A.J. and Pinkie. "Alright partner, the princesses are sure that, while clones transfer experience, they don't pass on physical improvement. So, Pinkie and I will be helping you in that aspect."

"And how will you do that?" questioned the Jinchuriki.

Pinkie grinned, making him grow worried, before she pulled out a strange black orb from…somewhere. "Simple; we'll be working on your reaction and evasion skills! Now DODGE!"

"Dodge?!" yelled the blonde before he saw Pinkie light up the small bit of fuse sticking out of the orb and he paled. "OH SHIT!" he yelled before he jumped out of the way of the now identified bomb.

As he ran away, Pinkie was suddenly seen with a saddle full of unlit bombs and she chased after him with a giggle. A.J. sighed at her friend's idea of training and wondered what kind of crazy person would see it as useful.

Back in Konoha, a certain Tokubetsu Jonin suddenly sneezed and grinned. "I can't help but think someone is using my old training methods…" She then did a fist pump and yelled out, "Show them what for, whoever you are!"

[Two Weeks Later (Strength Training)]

Naruto stood in front of one of the many apple trees of the Apple Orchards. A.J. stood beside him with an empty basket on the ground next to her. "Okay Naruto, let's see just how hard you can kick. We ponies can't use hands unless we transform, so we rely on our hooves and heads for physical attacks."

"Yea, I was wondering about that. Dash showed me her transformation before I came back here and I was wondering if you all could do it."

"Of course we can, partner. Shoot, we use chakra so we can sure as sugar use jutsu."

The Uzumaki nodded before a thought came to him. "In that case, could you all come to Konoha to watch me in the finals? I'd feel a lot better if I had people cheering me on."

A.J. smiled and placed a hoof on his shoulder reassuringly. "Of course we will. We wouldn't miss it for anything."

"Thanks," said the Jinchuriki gratefully before he suddenly rushed the tree in front of him and lashed out with a spin kick. When his foot struck the tree, about five apples fell, but it still looked pretty full.

"Not bad, but it could definitely be better. At least your body is moving more fluidly thanks to Pinkie's methods."

Naruto shuddered at the memory. First it was bombs he dodged, then the pink mare moved to what she called "Party Cannons" that fired flame covered cannonballs, and then she covered him in honey and pissed off a full beehive before she had him try to outrun them all.

He was never more thankful for his healing factor than after getting stung all over.

But still, the results were more than expected. He was faster than ever, had incredible increases in flexibility, and his reaction timing improved substantially.

"Alright, we'll increase your leg strength by having you bench press large rocks with your legs only. We'll start with a fifty pound rock and work our way up by intervals of ten pounds."

He nodded while she left to fetch the first large rock. With a sigh, he lowered himself down and leaned back against a tree with his arms behind his back. "Man… This place is so peaceful."

His eyes closed in relaxation while a small filly peered out from behind a tree. She had a yellow coat, bushy red hair with curled ends, amber eyes, and a large pink bow on top. This was Applebloom, the younger sister of Applejack and one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, a trio of fillies in search of their Cutie Marks.

She had heard of the Ponies gaining a summoner and was curious as to what he looked like. Now that she got a good look at him, she couldn't help but wonder if she and her friends would be able to join the contract and help him out.

"What are you doing, darlin'?" asked A.J. from behind her, making her jump in surprise. A.J. then looked to where her younger sister was gazing and smiled. "Y'know, if you're so curious about him, why don't you just introduce yourself? I'm sure he'd love to meet you and your friends."

"Y-You think?" asked the filly.

"Of course. Now, go get your friends while I help Naruto with his training."

Applebloom nodded with a smile before she ran off, leaving a smiling Applejack to head over to her summoner. They got to work on his training for around a half an hour before Applebloom came back with her two friends.

The first was a pegasus filly with an orange coat, frizzed purple hair, and purple eyes. The second was a unicorn filly with a white coat, smooth pink and purple streaked hair with curled ends, and pale green eyes. They were Scootaloo, a filly hoping to be as well known as Rainbow Dash, and Sweetie Belle, the younger sister of Rarity.

"Hey there girls!" Applejack called out with a smile while Naruto paused in his leg pushups to see them.

With a smile he waved to them before he went back to his training. Applebloom looked to her sister, who nodded reassuringly, before she and her friends walked up to the blonde. "Hi, my name's Applebloom! I'm A.J.'s little sister!"

"I'm Scootaloo," introduced the young pegasus.

"And I'm Sweetie Belle," finished the unicorn filly.

"Nice to meet you three," returned the Uzumaki as he kept training. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha."

"You're really an Uzumaki?!" Scootaloo asked excitedly.

"Yep, my mother was one so that makes me one too," he answered before he shoved the rock high up into the air with his legs and pushed off of the ground with his hands. In midair, he intercepted the falling rock and lashed out with rising kick that was enhanced with chakra and burst the rock into dozens of small pebbles.

The fillies were left awestruck at the kick while A.J. nodded approvingly. 'Good… Now his kicks will definitely make heads roll.'

[Two Days Later (Magic Training)]

Seated in a cross legged position, Naruto waited eagerly for Twilight and Rarity to begin his training in mana. "So, how do we start this training?"

"First, you need to relax and meditate," instructed the stylish unicorn. "Mana can only be called upon when you're calm and collected."

"Right," he said with a nod before he laced his fingers and had his hands rest in his lap with the palms up. His eyes closed and his breathing slowly calmed as he brought himself into a meditative position.

"Good," praised the student of Celestia. "Keep at it and you'll soon feel a pull towards your mind's center. Let the pull take you there."

He didn't respond to them and focused on reaching his mindscape. Slowly, he felt a tug on his mental awareness and let the pull take him. His eyes opened to the hallway he saw the first time he arrived, except there was a third path now. While the first felt of winter and the second felt malicious, this one felt…strange. If he had to describe it, it felt ghostly yet at the same time full of life. It was definitely new to him and he headed down that path.

As he walked down the path, he noticed the walls gain archaic runes and the water change to a yellow-green that shone brightly. He soon entered a room that had a small pedestal with claw-shaped corners. Each of the claw tips was touching an orb of swirling energies that shone as various colors.

He raised a brow as he felt the orb pulse every few seconds and send the water on the ground outward in small waves. Slowly, he approached the pedestal raise a hand to it. When his palm got close, the claws opened up and unblocked the orb, allowing the Uzumaki to grasp it.

As soon as he did, he felt a rush of power enter his body. The pipes that rested on the ceilings of the hallways gained a third one. The first was a bright blue that represented his chakra. The second was a bloody crimson that represented the Kyuubi's chakra. And finally, the third pipe was a yellow-green to represent his newfound mana.

His mind then forced his consciousness back to his body and he opened his eyes to the smiling faces of Twilight and Rarity.

"Congratulations, darling," praised the white mare.

"Now, we can begin training you to harness your mana," stated the violet one. "We'll begin with the Healing Spell."

[One Week Later (Five Days to Finals)]

Naruto stood alone in the courtyard in the dead of night for personal training. He had learned much from the Ponies, but this was something that he had to learn on his own.

He was starting to wonder of Kami had a thing for irony. He was gifted with the power of the first person he saw as a friend and lost; the girl who showed him what to truly fight for. Her mentality was easily that of an Uzumaki due to her drive to put the man she saw as precious to her above all else. She even sacrificed herself for him, and it was heart wrenching to see the man seemingly take it all with apathy.

It wasn't until Naruto's words got to him that the blonde saw true regret and sorrow in the so-called Demon's eyes. This man finally let down his façade of disinterest for his comrades, but it was just in time for him to die in hopes of avenging her. Two people were lost that day; two people who didn't deserve the life they had lived or the deaths they received.

The blonde held out a hand and focused his chakra to his palm. His eyes were closed in concentration as he attempted to perform what the girl had performed many times against him and Sasuke. The air around him slowly grew colder and swirled into his right palm before it took the shape of a senbon needle made entirely of ice.

He smiled sadly at the sight of it. It was flawed; horribly so. But, it was a start to the preservation of her memory.

"I promise to keep your spirit with me when I use this power…Haku-chan," he whispered as he attempted to make another senbon.

Unknown to him, six mares watched on sadly as he trained himself ragged to learn the power of his dead friend. They all resolved to be there for him, as friends, family, and possibly something more.

(End)

1~ Many people believed that the Latin language is the first language of the world (aka, the Ancient Tongue). As a result, spells in this story will be typed in Latin and I will place translations at the end of the chapters they are seen in.

Spell Translation:
Exaltavi, da mihi gratiam per nubila portabunt venti ut – Exalted One, give me the grace of the winds so that they may carry me across the skies

And that was chapter five! I hope that you all are enjoying it so far! Please be sure to read, review, and ask any questions! I'll be sure to answer all that I can! ^_^

Next Time: The finals have begun! Stay Tuned!

pain17ification