FANFICTION
Variant: Perfection
Flashback
"SHIKAKU NOW" Minato shouted from atop the Toad boss Gamabunta, his hands a blur of seals.
Shikaku did not need to hear it once again to know what to do, same thing for his clan members standing at alert behind him. Shikaku would have try to edge them on with some word of encouragement had time not been against them. After all they were about to use a forbidden Just that has not been used for decades.
"Ready" Shikaku said not phrasing it as question. They all nodded their heads as their mouth suddenly hung too heavy. They quickly blazed through a couple of complex hand seals, mixing their essence, reaching deep into their yin reserve and sharing one consciousness.
The Kyuubi that had been thrashing about under the Gamabunta trying to get free suddenly stopped moving when it felt a surge of chakra to its left. Looking to the direction of the intruder, the Kyuubi actually had to shudder as a thin sheet of sweat perspires on its brow. Because there in front of the nine tails was a huge, wave of shadow that rose to ridiculous heights seemingly from out of nowhere, and still rising. Soon the shadow was towering above the Kyuubi and Gamabunta combined. Gamabunta jumped away with the grace that only an experienced toad could muster as the shadow came crashing down on the Kyuubi, restricting its movement and covering its very being, making the Kyuubi look like a humongous black mass that rose to the height of mountain. Just in time, Minato finished his long sequence of seals, summoning the Shinigami to the realm of the living.
The ominous feeling that swept through the clearing signaled the entrance of an otherworldly being. Despite their far distance, the combined force of the Nara clan could still feel the overwhelming chakra of a godly essence. They all shared collective sigh of relief as they were already rapidly losing the upper hand. Clearly, their beloved Yondaime is responsible for whatever that was.
Minato for his own part would have stayed and stared at the work of art. However, with the intent clearly made before the summoning, the Shinigami went to work. The Shinigami extend its pale translucent arm, stretching it over the short distance, using Minato's body as an intermediary. The hand burst through Minato's flak jacket, leaving his unblemished skin relatively unharmed. Minato's original thought was to seal the darker part (Yin half) of the Kyuubi into himself, but with all the yin chakra from the Nara clan covering the Kyuubi it would be impossible. Therefore, he settled for sealing the Yang half into himself. He just hoped Naruto would be able to handle so much hatred barely minutes after his birth. Contaning the dark half of the Kyuubi would not be an easy feat Even a grown up man would have trouble containing such large amount of malice.
With the first part of the deed done, the Kyuubi at half of its former size and power roared angrily, causing few of the gathered force slip up. The rest with one thought quickly popped a soldier pill each into their mouths sending their chakra to new heights. The already strong shadow compressed even more tightly, squeezing the daylights out of the Kyuubi.
Minato wordlessly hit his palm on the floor, summoning a sealing alter with a child cradled in it. As he could feel his life slipping away, he decided not to waste anymore time. "Thank you Shikaku" Minato mouthed as he proceeded to seal the yin half of the Kyuubi into Naruto. Immediately as the Shinigami's hand grabbed hold of Yuba's chakra, it started to pull it along with all the shadow covering it. Shikaku being the only one at the very front, through their connected vision saw the apparent danger and reacted on instinct. Only their shared thought saved them as they cut off their shadow instead of retracting it, as they would've been sealed along with the Kyuubi. The Shinigami proceeded to seal the Kyuubi, completely overlooking a vital detail, which was made painfully known seconds later. The kagemane is a Yin based technique that causes paralysis due to its potent nature. It being exposed to the Kyuubi's already potent Yin-yang chakra would not be enough to alter it. However, both chakra encountering the much more powerful chakra of Shinigami would definitely create space for adjustment, whether it is for good or bad remains to be seen. The Yang chakra of the Kyuubi acted as sort of co-coordinator during the first contact. However, with it now sealed in the Yondaime, the three remaining could not cohabitat; well they did blend, but in the wrong kind of way. The result of which was a kind of virus.
The Shinigami was not aware of the imminent danger until towards the end of the sealing when it started to feel the drain on its chakra, or more specifically on its arm. Apparently, to the Shinigami, it was sealing a virus that feeds off any source of energy. Its own being the closest one was also regarded as meal. In a drastic attempt to stop its looming doom, the Shinigami brought up its free arm to retrieve the huge dagger in between its jagged teeths, bringing it down on itself to sever the infected limb, another one growing in its place. The detached one was absorbed back into the seal along with the conflicting massive chakra. No one saw what transpired tonight except for the Shinigami and Minato who had anticipated this outcome. A remedy for it has been placed in the seal.
"I wish Kushina would survive the extraction" Minato thought as his life fade away
===================SIX YEARS AFTER THE SEALING=================
Naruto was having a hard life at the orphanage. Even while he was a quiet kid, he was not oblivious to all the displeasure he received from his caretakers. All the petty hatred which was usually directed at random orphans in an orphanage was solely focused on him. He would be the one that was left out during public visiting-he never found much reason in such useless gatherings-, and the one who received no gifts on birthdays (again another trivial occasion-he just couldn't bring himself to feel for them), he was always treated differently. He was the weird kid who was not allowed to play with the other kids (He couldn't imagine himself with them). He was always left alone (his body was not programmed to feel loneliness). Overall, he was not a very likeable person.
One particular night he was very unfortunate, the caretaker in charge of his care that night must have won a lottery, and had decided that was the night to remove all the thorns in her life.
On the other hand, she could have been fed up with the Kyuubi's presence among humans as she just barged into his room.
"You know I'm fed up with you," She announced as she grabbed him roughly by the collar.
"Long enough" Naruto thought expectantly
"You act as if you own the place. Considering all the people you killed" She continued, her voice gaining more confidence.
"There we go again," Naruto thought. This wasn't their first
She paused by the door to pick up his single pair of cloths. "You should have begged us for forgiveness, cried for forgiveness even. But no, you had to keep looking at us with that damned gave you used all those years ago," Naruto just kept quiet as she rambled on and like a pig at knife's end. Talking was no use. She dragged him outside the gate of the orphanage, throwing him violently into the dark street. "Good luck surviving for yourself, Demon" she said in anything but a wishing voice.
"That's a first," Naruto thought. In all his time in the Orphanage, no one ever called him demon to his face. Naruto stood up batting his shirt and short of dirts. He turned towards the orphanage to see the woman and several others who were woken up by the little commotion all staring at him, some glaring. He had been expecting it for some time now 'I wasn't even able to do anything,' Naruto thought. "How pathetic"
===================SIX YEARS LATER. PRESENT TIME==============
Naruto was sitting on the balcony of his house recalling his past life in the street. When he was thrown into the street, an old man had approached him with the offer of sanctuary, which he kindly refused; the man he later knew to be the Hokage of the village. His current apartment was gift from the man. The old Hokage had tried to force himself into Naruto's life, but Naruto made sure he passed the message across that he wasn't in need of company. Even when the whole village was against him, he just couldn't bring himself to crave their attention. He found it so discomforting he would rather be ignored. His age mates were tolerable but once again, he couldn't see himself playing with immature children.
Sensing the approach of an Anbu, he diverted his gaze from the setting sun to the spot where the Anbu would appear.
The Anbu appeared, fighting against a shiver as Naruto's impassive gaze settled on him. He never could know how Naruto always managed to sense anybody sent to spy on him, no matter the person's level of stealth. "The Hokage request your audience," He said disappearing immediately after. Damn, even his eyes strike a dominant pose. The same Hokage enrolled him into the academy, but he quickly dropped out after two weeks when he figured the teachers were one of his best fans. Besides, they taught nothing important in there. Since then, Naruto enjoyed his secluded life, learning from scrolls that were always mysteriously (probably the old man) placed on his doorstep. He was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Naruto sighed in annoyance, lately the Man had been getting on his nerves. Naruto stood up, walking a few steps before seemingly disappearing into a barrier of invisibility that created ripples on contact.
Keeping a calm stride as he appeared in the office of the Hokage, Naruto came to a stop in front of the oak wood desk.
Hiruzen was a veteran Ninja. He earned the title by surviving countless wars, both major and minor. He encountered different Shinobi from left and right. However, this enigma Shinobi in front of him was above his understanding. Naruto went against everything he knew of a Jinchuuriki. The theory was the stronger the Bijuu, the hyperactive the Host. Naruto was anything but hyperactive. Sometimes, he even suspected maybe Danzo already got to him.
The traits linking him to jinchuuriki like his whiskers all disappeared on his tenth birthday. Something terrible must have happened that night. In a bid to get some answers, He tried the Hokage approach but was met with resistance, he tried intimidation, killing intent, what hasn't he tried? Hell, he even tried the council, but alas, the resistance was still there. Naruto always spoke in an even tone "It's none of your business"
===================== FLASHBACK =====================
"Hiruzen we should teach him a lesson, he should know how to speak to his elders." Homura said while some council members nodded in agreement.
"Allow me Hiruzen" Danzo inquired. The Hokage just gestured for him to go on.
"Anbu" Danzo commanded. Everybody caught a flicker of movement in their peripherals, causing some civilian to grin knowing the Kyuubi brat would get it.
A Thud was what followed Danzo's order. The Anbu supposed to restrain Naruto was on the floor beside Naruto clutching his stomach, as he writhes in pain.
"What happened?" Someone voiced the thought of the majority in the room, as they had puzzled look on their face. Except for maybe a handful.
"Anbu" Danzo said again, a little more forceful this time. Which earned him a similar outcome, as another body joined the first on the floor. Hiruzen had no doubts, Naruto definitely moved. But how is he so fast? More puzzles that needed answers.
-XOXO-
Long story short, the several ninjas on duty that day were very unfortunate.
"What is it?" Naruto said in his signature blank tone. Hiruzen almost felt pity for him, almost. He just could not bring himself to. Naruto didn't seem like he needed anybody's pity. Pitying him would actually be an insult to him.
"About your graduation, you very well know we don't have single man cells. Correct?"
Naruto gave no answer
The Hokage sighed. Talking to Naruto was frustrating at best. Probably one of the reasons people avoids him. "You will attend the final graduation with your age mates at the academy. In addition, you will be placed on a team of three under a reliable sensei. Any question?" Hiruzen finished, not wanting to drag the conversation for too long.
"Who is the sensei?"
"That… is not something you should know right now. You will be informed after your graduation" he being a Jinchuuriki does not mean everything will be placed on a silver platter for him.
"Can I leave now?" Naruto said already turning his back on the Hokage. Another thing he retained from the Nara clan was their boredom.
Nothing really picks his interest. Well except power. The urge to be the most powerful being in existence was usually overwhelming. A trait he gained probably from the residual chakra of the Shinigami within him, along with memories of past godly beings.
Hiruzen could feel his response did not really matter. The discussion was over. "You can leave," he answered nonetheless.
Not even five minutes after Naruto left, Danzo waltz into the Hokage office without announcement. He sat comfortably in one of the chairs before turning his attention to the Hakage. "So did it work?"
"No" Hiruzen answered.
"It is a time-space Jutsu then" Danzo said not phrasing it as a question. He just directed his gaze to the walls that were covered with tiny Barrier seals, which are currently inactive. They had activated it before Naruto's arrival just to test the extent of his ripple technique. He would have been repelled if he was using the Shushin
"Just like Minato" Hiruzen supplied.
"So it seems. Do you think its anything Minato did during the sealing?"
"No he would've told me," Hiruzen reasoned. He and Danzo actually had not collaborated like this in a long time. The 'Naruto topic' brought them together. "I think its time we involve Shikaku, He may know something."
"At this rate, we might have to involve the whole council. It will not look good. They think it's a Shushin."
"I know that. And it's only Shikaku"
They shared a couple minutes of silence, mulling over the fact that Naruto can teleport. An invisible shiver rolled through both of their bodies when they remembered Minato and the Iwagakure's ordeal.
"He can teleport." Danzo said again as if testing if he wasn't in a dream. That was his last sentence before he left the Hokage's office.
-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-
Naruto got up from where he sat on the Hokage monument, watching the sunset was his everyday custom. Having spent a good deal of his time pondering the advantages being on team would do him. It was time to go home. He disappeared into another rippled.
Naruto appeared in his room, sensing an external essence that doesn't belong in the room. He did what any sane man would do, apprehend it…. with shadows. The shadow quickly lashed out with unfathomable speed, catching the unsuspecting Nin at the corner of the room. The shadow itself was an essence that moves with mechanical precision. It's like an extension of Naruto. The shadow constricted and prevented any form of movement and escape respectively. The blinds blocking the lightings of the street lamp from entering the otherwise darkroom pulled to one side, as if on its own accord, when in reality it was several tiny shadow tendrils layering the walls of the room. The brief lighting in the room allowed Naruto's eye to adjust to the Darkness, and seeing blank mask that adorned the face of the person, the shadow went on another auto-mission. "Root" Naruto thought. "Three in a week" He thought no further as the shadow wrapping around the Nin suddenly turned iron and grew inward spikes simultaneously, killing the Anbu instantly.
"Danzo-sama" An Anbu said kneeling in front of the old war hawk.
"Report" Danzo ordered with a tone befitting the leader of a secret organization.
"Another failure, his body is in the chamber"
"Cause of death?" Danzo demanded, though he could already guess the answer.
"Same as the two others. Broken ribs, gaping holes all over the body, and each nine inches around." The Anbu explained.
"The bones?" Danzo questioned
"Yes including the bones". Danzo nodded; at least they were getting somewhere. If they all had the same wound, which must mean Naruto can only use a cross between constriction and skewering. The holes were too large to be kunais, and the constriction could only be carried out using something else, the size was too large to be caused by rope. The only thing he could think of that can cause that kind of damage would be a snake; and Orochimaru is currently outside the village. "And of cause he can teleport". Danzo thought, as the bodies were always mysteriously close to his root base. He just hoped Naruto didn't know the exact location of his hideout.
"Ahh Iruka, You are right on time, I was about to call for you." Hiruzen said with his grandfatherly tone. "Have a sit"
"What is it Hokage-sama? Is something wrong?" Iruka asked sitting on the futon.
"It's nothing serious" Hiruzen dismissed his concern. "Just a student that will be taking the graduation with you this year"
"Oh! Anyone I know?"
"I'm sure you've met him before" Hiruzen lightly stressed the before.
"Just be careful with him," Hiruzen cautioned him. Iruka had a skeptical look, "I will," he said getting up to leave. He cast a last glance towards the Hokage before closing the door. Apparently, the strange person was not very trusted.
The alarm kept blaring. He could never remember why he got the damn thing in the first place; he never really did need it anyway. Naruto casually swung his hand-no, he didn't smash it, just covered it with a thin layer of shadow-and everything went silent, except for the noise of the bustling street below. He dragged himself out of bed and strolled casually into the bathroom. Minutes later, he came back out water dripping from his shoulder-length sun-kissed blonde hair. His godly translucent chakra was the ideal tool any Person could ever desire. The chakra was just perfect in every way imaginable. The chakra was like a constant upgrading mechanism; ever since the seal that was keeping the fusion of chakra in him at bay, broke. Naruto's body was constantly upgrading, it was painful for the first few weeks but he quickly learned to adapt. He was just about the same height as Kabuto. His body that had once been chubby was now the evidence of sculpted art; chiseled face, toned abs, nothing too muscular for his liking, not even an ounce of was left in his body. Too much muscle could only be a nuisance. He could only shake his head at those that thought him being a jinchuuriki was a burden. If only they knew the benefits it brought him. He took another glance at his watch, he was half a minute late already. He should really get going; afterall one must leave a good first impression.
Iruka was about to call the team placements when knock at the door interrupted him, 'That must be the ninja' thought Iruka. Iruka walks towards the door not even realizing he was holding his breath, why would the Hokage tell him to be careful. The person wasn't even a ninja yet. He did not even know what to expect. He slowly pushed the door open. Blonde locks were what filled his vision. 'A blonde?' thought a puzzled Iruka, the person being a blonde didn't even cross his mind. "How may I help you?" He asked just in case. He estimated the Blondie's age to be around fifteen.
"I'm supposed to take a graduation test here," Naruto said.
"You are almost an hour late," Iruka said trying to assume his position as a teacher. Just because the Hokage said to be careful doesn't mean he was going to take it easy with Ninja that can't uphold the duty of a Ninja.
Naruto gave no reply. No reason trying to defend himself. He saw no reason to. His blank expression didn't even waver.
"Come in" Iruka said after studying him a little more. 'He kind of look like the Yondaime'
During the brief exchange between their sensei and the person outside the door, the class had gone deathly quiet. It was as if they could sense the tension. Iruka returned into the class with a Blonde in tow. The person was walking at a steady pace, an aura of royalty hanging around him. His swift movement spoke of confidence to the observable eyes. Most of them were seeing him for the first time, except for Shikamaru who knew him from the several talks with his father.
Sasuke just shook his head while observing the ninja, what dumb Ninja would were such bright outfit. He could not even see a kunai pouch. He turned his head away with a scoff.
Naruto donned an outfit that consisted of an Anbu pant and a tight fitting shirt. The bright-case was both were green, the baggy pant was a darker shade of green with thick white stripes running down both side of his legs, while the shirt was a bright forest green color. He also had Anbu boots, which made him look like some kind of secret-ops. The outfit itself wasn't that vibrant if one were to remove the Shoulder-length blonde hair from the equation.
Naruto didn't even acknowledge the children in the class, he just followed Iruka to the testing room.
Immediately he was out of earshot, "Oh my god! He's hot" that was Ino, obviously.
"Who is he?"
"Did you see his eyes?"
"Oh my god I saw them! I have never seen any blue like it!"
"They are like the Blue stars! Do you know him Ino?" Another asked, despite the obvious.
"It's Naruto," Shikamaru said hoping they would just stop murmuring.
"Naruto? Who is Naruto?"
He should have known better. He was now regretting knowing who Naruto was. Naruto was subject of several gossips in their clan. Some things about him using shadow technique.
Few minutes later, He came back out with a Ninja headband tied around his wrist like a watch.