A/N: This chapter contains only two parts: The Exit of the real Naruto and the Entrance of the fake
=-=-X-=-=
"He really won, I-I can't believe it" Ao stuttered. Mei had appointed him as the leader of the four man scout that was in the process of scavenging the battle ground. Nothing much was left except for the extremely damaged demon's breath. The place could no longer be called 'demon's breath' as it had been stripped of its mist.
"Wow! The girth, I've never seen anything like it."
The group was standing at the edge of the giant crater that sat at the middle of the wrecked battleground. The four man squad were like ants in the giant battleground, in the vast spread waste land that was made even more wasted by Naruto. No plant would flourish in this region for the coming century.
"Come, there is a body over there" Ao said, pointing to the center of the crater, his left eye Byakugan activated. Going down the crater felt like they were descending down a mountain, the long process came to a stop when they finally arrive at the depth of the crater, feeling like they were in a completely different location.
Ao hoped they would have discovered some important factors before Mei arrived with the rest of their force, someone had convinced them that Naruto might need their help in battling Yagura, he had convinced them that leaving the boy alone to fight an army of over two thousand simply because he think he can was a cowardice move.
"Hurry, the others would soon arrive. We need to make sure everything is safe"
"Hai"
They started advancing towards the center of the crater, Ao leading the way.
"It's Yagura..." Ao announced, finally recognizing the hanging body. At the mention of Yagura, each one of his fellow scout men started with their brand of weapon.
"...and he's dead?" he finished even more surprised than his comrades. So Yagura can be killed, at the hands of a boy no less.
"Hehe, I'm suddenly glad he didn't take my threat seriously" Ao laughed nervously.
"What threat is that captain?"
"Oi" Chojuru shouted while waving his hand at the far top of the crater. Mei soon walked up beside him.
"I would have thought he will return to the camp after this, at least so we could thank him for his assistance" mei remarked, "that's what any sane person would do"
"How do we get down there?" asked a ninja, coming to join the numerous ninja standing at the mouth of the crater.
"I have an idea" said Chojuru while unwrapping his bandaged sword. He jumped up and with a loud shout swung the sword downward in the manner of a club. A wide purple sloppy platform with a smooth surface started downward from under their feet, soon the mouth crashed on the floor of the crater. Chojuru stood upright while wiping away the sweat that perspired on his brow.
"Wow! Leave it to Chojuru to do the unthinkable"
"Let's go" Mei announced jumping on the plat form then sliding down with incredible speed. The group quickly arrived at the bottom of the crater and Mei walked up Ao.
"What did you find?" Mei asked.
"Nothing much, except this" Ao replied, waving round the huge crater. "and Him" he finished, pointing to the suspended body of Yagura.
"Who is that?" the soon to be Mizukage asked as she didn't possess a byakugan like Ao.
"Yagura" came the short reply.
"What!"
"H-how did he?"
The group quickly closed in on the body like lightning, the body was still fresh so a lot of poking and pinching was in order.
"I-it really is him, I can't believe it."
"How did this thing get here?" Chojuru questioned after he tried to cut through the spike with no success. "It's like a bone made out of crystal."
"I'm also curious, since only the Kaguya could manipulate bones. And they are all dead as far as I'm concern."
"Do you think Konoha could be hiding something? Thinking of it, it did seem strange that the burgeon of bones happened only after he joined us.″
"Why are there no bodies? I thought Yagura brought along his whole military." Mei didn't understand, how could a body of over two thousand army just up and varnish.
"There are, towards that direction," Ao replied pointing to the west wing, "though only a few hundreds if my eye is not mistaken. I suspect whatever did this must have turn the others to ashes." he finished waving round the huge crater.
"I see..."
"Actually, you might want to see the few that's left."
"Why's that?" Mei asked, turning to Ao.
"They seem to have died without any form of struggle, like they stayed their position and allowed him to kill them unchallenged."
"I might have to meet up with Naruto again in the near future" Mei announced.
"Why?"
"To get answers, there are just too many things that needs to be explained, things only he could provide information on."
"Huh?"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=A week earlier=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"So boss, we haven't figured out how we will make it in without him noticing" Sumaru said, "the place is huge, so maybe we'd just rummage through his things before he would suspect a thing." he reasoned
"We are not sneaking in, we aren't the thief. Come on"
Akahoshi raised his hand to knock on the door but before he could, the door swung open. He quickly jumped back expecting a hostile attack. He was further surprised to see no one at the door. The deeper part of the warehouse could not be seen much from the outside because of its giant size. Akahoshi treaded slowly towards the opened door. The warehouse had a narrow passageway just after the oak wooden door.
"Come on" Sumaru led their remaining members straight through the doors.
The building which had a defense mechanism against strangers activated right away, Though the group hadn't noticed anything strange except for the door swinging close behind them. Sumaru quickly ran back to try and pry it open but there wasn't any kind of handle.
"We are locked in"
"Worry about that later, come in here for a second" Akahoshi called from inside the warehouse. The group quickly entered the warehouse proper and they had to hold back a curse. One of the group expressed his frustration, "I said it already, we shouldn't have waited this long." the warehouse was devoid of any human activity, there wasn't even any sign of a person living there. The mention of warehouse did sound strange for a resident, a move they foolishly didn't question.
"We should just return to the Hokage instead and he had better have an explanation for deceiving us"
"He may as well have been honest, but because we took this long to act out our intention, the boy already took flight."
"Either way, the Hokage should still be aware of the boy's location. I learned that these hidden villages immediately ratify their ninjas as missing-nins once they could no longer be traced"
"Even when he's already in the bingo book, I don't think there has ever been a ninja that was inserted TWICE into the bingo book.
Akahoshi didn't reply right away, but when he did, it was clear he regretted waiting this long.'
"Lets just get out of here first" Akahoshi said finally accepting he was at fault.
"Great idea, How?" he said enthusiastically, but everybody could see the hidden derisive meaning.
A bright white light engulfed the group and the next thing that greeted them was chilly winds and a vast land covered with snow.
"Where the fuck are we?"
"If I didn't know better I would think we are in that snow country. We aren't, are we?"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X-=-==-=-=-=
Two cloak wearing figures appeared on an abandoned dock far off the coast of land of fire. Everything on the dock was left in tatters and splinters, as was the condition of the wrecked ship that was being approached by one of the figure. What he planned on doing with a broken vessel was unknown until the pieces of wood that fell off during the crash of the ship started coming together, the damaged pieces of wood mended back together while trying to regain its former structure under the outstretched palm of the cloaked person. Within a minute, a full ship replaced the splinters that it used to be, the second of the figures watched apathetically as if what just happened was an everyday occurrence. Their presence on the abandoned dock could only mean a thing as no living soul ever approached the place since the third world war, their target would also be an abandoned site, the land hidden by whirlpool.
The big ship was telepathically moved off the shore and onto the sea proper, ready for use once again. The two water walked to the ship then simply phased out and reappeared on deck. Through all the process, no exchange of words happened between them, it would be probably continue like so for the remaining of their journey to Uzushio. They simply had too much understanding of the other's psyche to bother with words. A moderate pace that would see them in Uzushio by nightfall was set for the ship even when there was no wind. It was only a day journey from the shore.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The two figures approached the island, the spinning whirlpool calming down to allow them entrance. It wasn't long when they arrived at a giant red gate a little into the island. Connected to the giant gate was a long row of an equally giant fence. The giant structures defied the description of a destroyed Uzushio that suffered under attack from two hidden village. One of the two strangers walked up to an outpost attached to just below the fence, inside it was a protruding stone on the rock wall. There was a glowering seal that rested on the exemplary brick. The man placed his palm on the seal and there was a blue glow followed closely by a loud clicking noise as the gate split in two, each half dragging the opposite direction.
The first noteworthy thing that was revealed behind the gate was a gigantic bridge that arced from one side of the stream dividing the village in two to the other. Several other similar structures lined the stream into the far distance. The two proceeded further in, the soft thud of their footstep carrying throughout the empty street. Each divided section seemed to be dedicated to a sole activity with the right side being its commercial hub, it was also littered with a few residence here and there. The residence proper took up the whole left section, with a whole lot of buildings being multi-storied, there was a side fenced off from the other residence, the separated land was mostly occupied by mansions of different proportion. The whole village was set up so one had to go through the commercial section immediately after entrance through the gate; it was especially effective in keeping away strangers from homes, an ideal home for peaceful families. Each of the deserted shops had the whirlpool insignia decorating their exterior.
The two continued their quiet trek through the village until they reached another gate on the residential wing of the village. It was the gate that led into the Uzumaki clan compound, a compound that almost account for half of the village. This was also the section that harbor the most wealthiest of Uzushio, a testimony of it being the numerous mansions occupying the place. A couple of quick and precise turns brought them to the biggest and most important building in the whole village; the Kage mansion. A red head man awaited them at the door.
"We nearly began to get worried, your arrival should have been a day earlier, I guess this was also a possibility. Come on, the others are inside." The man announced then pushed open the glass door. Behind the door were four people in similar attire to the two just arrived guests, they all stood side by side.
"Welcome boss" the four of them together with the red head chorused. For now it was still unclear who was being address among the two. As a whole, the group moved to hall, sectioned off as a meeting room for diplomatic reasons. The hooded cloaks started going off immediately everyone was properly seated, round the mahogany table, but it was the least concealed member of the group that opened the conversation.
"I'm sure no introduction is required or needed...since we are one and the same, but you can still call me Uzumaki Naito," and so began the last meeting of the extraordinary beings, as humans.
"My time was before the era of Shinobi villages, and to tell you this, it was very luxurious. It is impossible for me to forget anything that enters this head," he said tapping the right side of his head, "we were once a dynasty, before the so called hidden villages shadowed our glory. But..." he added enthusiastically, "...you can see what I've done with the place. I really detest Shinobi villages, so the village will remain as it used to be."
"About that, how did you manage in only two years? The manpower and resources that would be needed to raise a whole village from the ashes, I would have denied its destruction if I didn't know better." the only sword wielding member of the group wondered, he was among the few that was allowed inside Uzushio during its prime, this rebuilded one was only missing a few details, like just created buildings prior to its destruction, even the geography was brought to perfection.
"The manpower is not a problem, if you aren't opposed to seeing the same faces throughout the village. As for the resources, do not forget we were once whole...as we will soon become." Naito returned nicely, he was a man of average height between the age 25 and 30. He had light stubs on his elevated jaw and deep green pupils; he carried no weapon but was feared nonetheless.
"I'm Shikitora Kenji," Kenji introduced, being the second most easy going of the group, "I traveled the continents and I have an uncanny likeness to forbidden Justus" Kenji was dressed in the typical attire for Ronins, he also had two moderate length swords in golden sheath placed carefully beside him, on other occasions the two swords would be in a X-cross attached to his back.
"Uchiha Tanko" the dark hair, onyx eyed ninja introduced out of necessity. He and the two yet to be introduced subordinates would better prefer not to present themselves, that's why they gave the least possible entrance.
"Fukushima Iwado" the purple hair, jaded eye member introduced, he bore no weapon for offensive battles but his physique spoke of incredible strength.
"Izahashi Jin" the armor wearing ninja introduced, he was the sole survivor of the extinct Izahashi clan, a race of people even more estranged than the Uzumaki. Their existence has remained a myth through history, a race of adapters, geniuses, the dullest being said to be able to create and discard complexities within the span of three seconds. Jin was also the progenitor of Itachi, a prodigy among genius, the like of which have never been seen before, he eventually got overcome by darkness, then went to be first man on earth to kill off his kinds. He was only here among this group of people because his quest for power ended with the Shinigami.
One more hood went off among the two latest arrivals, it was the same unusually strong civilian sometimes seen around Naruto, and this time also he was no less different. He offered no niceties as the last hood was discarded; it belonged to the boss that was being addressed a few minutes earlier.
This was not the type of gathering where the leader starts with something like: welcome to our 27th annual ramen contest, no.
Instead, it went like this...
"How did it go?" the voice of the surprisingly young boss questioned, a voice too young to be the leader of beings centuries old.
In response, they each presented each of their hands forward, or rather, the tattoo on the back of their knuckles. It was the tattoo of a moon with flaming edges.
"Alright, you can all drop the facade"
A couple of shifts in reality replaced the room with a handful of blonde hair and an appearance that mirrored that of the boss, and the assumed personalities receding back into dormancy as both events worked in tandem.
The multitude of tattoos was something that could only be achieved after a certain level of power has been reached, a method of preservation that dates back into the ancients. Its usage now was only due to the fact that it was impossible for clones to assimilate the concerned powers, which is why the storage device was employed. Its use also brought about one major setback; it was impossible for Naruto to receive any return of information from the specially made clones. Another basis for Naito's remain inside Uzushio after their departure two years ago was to create a counter for this setback.
=-=-=-=-=-=X=-=-=-=-=
The six copies of Naruto descended down the stairs beneath the Kage residence. The passage became an added feature only after the rebuilding of Uzushio; all other things remained the same, including the mansion they were under. The stairs had been previously non-existing as what would the leader of a village need a basement for, but Naito had found it necessary to included the hidden location as all the plans of Naruto fall back on this room they were descending; without the room, there was no plan. The group continued downward for what felt like miles, something that seems plausible since it was an island, perhaps they were already under the sea bed. Their descent finally wind up in a dimly lit room, the room appeared spacious and it had intertwined roots hanging from the ceiling, the eye catching element of the room however, were the six silky white membranous pods that hung horizontally on the wall, the pods had saplings that hard-wired them to a seventh pod sitting on an elevated platform at the center of the room.
"You haven't put this past years to waste Naito, you really did a number on Uzushio" said Ken appraisingly; "first was your perfect reconstruction of the village, now this, I really loud your ability to retain information".
One of the Naruto, presumably the real one, approached the singled out pod, a longing look etched onto his visage, the time was finally here. Strangely, the longing look varnished instantly, as if it didn't belong there just yet. "There's something else I must do, someone I need to erase. He being alive will put a wrench in my plan."
"Who is that?" Naito asked even though he already had a hunch.
"Zetsu"
That single word bore no more questions. The personalities inhabiting the clones each had a kind of encounter with the manipulating parasite at a point in their lifetime, almost all existing godlike ninjas had a section of their brains dedicated to it.
"What then will be our next course of action while we wait?" one of the six Naruto said with strict air.
"Do as you wish" Naruto replied, backing out into a ripple.
The remaining five looked between themselves, what would a group of godlike ninjas do when given free reign?
"I think Uzushio still needs some modification" said the clone that assumed the personality of Kenji, "don't you all think?"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=X=-==-=-=-=
The next day Naruto appeared in a forest towards the border of Kusagakure, his appearance seemed especially vibrant. Looking around Naruto realized he was alone, that was soon to change. He started forward at a leisurely pace, his chakra pulsing outwards with a rhythmic frequency. Naruto didn't take up to fifty steps before he got the desired company, however he took ten more steps, he disbursed his chakra into the earth unnoticed by the observing ninja. Three more steps saw Naruto stopping abruptly.
"Hello Zetsu" Naruto suddenly varnished, his reappearance was to impale a tree trunk with a glinting sword. Naruto pulled out the sword then turned to a branch high in the trees. "You are fast" Naruto commended with a wide caring smile.
From the branch, the flytrap form of Zetsu emerged, "Oh my, he can sense us, it has been long since someone could do that" the white half of Zetsu said giddily.
"I thought so too, explains why you haven't been trying too hard." Naruto supported.
"If you could sense us all this while, why didn't you say so?" white Zetsu exclaimed accusingly. Naruto channeled lightning chakra into the sword in response.
"This changes things" the dark side of Zetsu vocalized, "what is your thought on Itachi's offer? Leader-sama wants to know your decision."
"You aren't really here because of that are you? No one knows you are here"
"What makes y..."
"We are leaving" black Zetsu interrupted his white counterpart, the both of them sinking back into the branch.
Naruto waited patiently, not at all alarmed the escaping Zetsu would get away. It was barely fifteen seconds when Zetsu appeared, his form looking like it would melt away.
"What did you do?" white zetsu demanded in a raspy voice after he regained his solid form. Naruto gave no reply, but what he actually did was corrode the roots below the ground with the large chakra he sent underground. The chakra had began to affect everything under the earth since the minor conversation started.
Naruto appeared in front of Zetsu once again, the lightning coated sword poised to strike. Before the weapon could reach however, the flytrap collar of Zetsu closed in on itself and Naruto instead impaled a trunk that split in two on contact. He again turned to another portion of the affected forest.
"you don't get it do you?" Naruto said, and on cue, Zetsu appeared in his line of sight, his form looking like it would once again fall off. Normal form immediately started replacing the damaged one.
"Even the trees are affected" Naruto added, with a minor flick Naruto launched the lightning coated sword straight into the sky. Getting to a point the sword got incinerated, showing there was an invisible barrier to prevent aerial escape.
"The chakra pulse you sensed was expelled at such a frequency at such a frequency so only you could detect it. The same way you did your previous victims, you remember Iwado?"
"What Iwado? Hurry and let's leave here Zetsu"
"Shut up" the concerned black Zetsu snapped, he was more concerned with where the Uzumaki got his information, even Madara did not possess that old information.
"How did you know about him?" Zetsu demanded in heavy tone, this was past the level of white Zetsu.
"You are trapped, Zetsu" Naruto reminded, as if to say the parasite had more pressing things to worry himself with.
Zetsu was not a fighter, his area of expertise was manipulation, but it was already clear that that would prove no use, he needed a way out as he couldn't afford to engage Naruto in a fight.
"what do you want?" if at least he could negotiate his way out now, erasing what seem to want to be an obstacle in the revival of mother would not be that hard.
"Information" Naruto decided to humor himself, if this was going to be his last encounter with any living being he would make the best of it.
"Why would you come to me for information?"
"The same reason you approached your past victims"
Zetsu really wanted to know when Naruto got this informed, was it not only thirteen years that he was born? He had practically put the boy under surveillance but it appears he was too late.
"What do you want to know?"
Naruto smiled, "you misunderstand me Zetsu, I'm not asking, I'm taking it" Naruto followed that statement with an instant appearance in front of the Akatsuki. Zetsu could not think up an escape route just as fast and so was sent crashing through the trees with extreme ferocity.
Naruto dropped the besieging kick then followed in the destroyed path. Getting five steps from the heaving form of Zetsu, the forest suddenly turned against Naruto as giant roots began to erupt from the ground. Naruto dodged and maneuvered round the assaulting roots for a moment then his form was gone again, varnished.
Zetsu looked round himself frantically, he was always able to sense the boy, why was it suddenly difficult now? Was it not just thirteen years ago that he was born? He had practically placed the boy under surveillance but it seems it was already too late. Well he need not to search anymore as Naruto literally flashed to his front. Any thought of redirecting the upturn roots was discarded as a fierce kick that sent him soaring through the canopy separated him from the ground.
Zetsu managed to regain his bearing only after colliding with a few branches, Naruto did not let up as he instantly appeared above the airborne Zetsu. A dropkick sent the Akatsuki crashing back down and a loud ramming noise signaled Zetsu's re-acquaintance with the ground. Naruto dropped back down then landed softly beside the still form of Zetsu.
Zetsu twitched involuntarily and Naruto misjudging the action reeled his right leg backwards with such a force that lightning immediately coated the limb, it shot back forward with a blinding speed and the effect was Zetsu dragging across the earth floor like a spinned batarang.
Naruto again followed in the destroyed path, he soon came upon the disfigured form of Zetsu with a major gap at the head where both Zetsus merged. Naruto took two steps back and immediately tiny, black, hair-like tendrils burst out from the ground. The tendrils circled round the lying form of Zetsu, their movement something akin to the whistful steams of a heated Kettle. They began to get interwoven as each tendrils reached across over Zetsu to hook with another tendril. The process continued like this with the tendrils growing in length then repeating the interweaving process.
Naruto tried to siphon information his normal kind of way but was only successful in getting bits and scraps since Zetsu possessed no definite anatomy. There was a lot of shits about mother and one project Tsu ki nome, what had him more motivated however was the subject of Hagoromo. Naruto still had no idea who the mother was but all was in due time.
Naruto discarded the insignificant swirl on his palm, it was useless now. A familiar concentric ring seeped through Naruto's deep blue eyes; a light purple discoloration could be seen if observed closely. Naruto returned his palm to Zetsu's head, this time a hand on both side of each Zetsu's head. This was the first time Naruto would be using the reaper ability granted by the Rinnegan. After feeling the connection, Naruto prepared to separate the soul from the body, Zetsu, unfortunately Naruto choosed that moment to come out of his unconscious state.
"What are you doing?" Zetsu croaked as he stares fearfully into the ringed pupils of Naruto. He struggle futilely against the binding tendrils, he was familiar enough with Nagato to know the feeling that befell him.
"You will pay for this, it is not over, mother will make you pay for this,..." Zetsu ranted helplessly to which Naruto ignored blissfully.
"Mother will ...″ Naruto choosed that moment to yank the soul out of both Zetsu. The grey form of what closely resembled Zetsu and his white counterpart hung on both palms of Naruto. The previously discarded Swirls got reactivated and both souls got rapidly sucked into the vortex.
The tiny tendrils holding down the empty case of Zetsu sunk the body into a ripple that appeared underneath it. Naruto canceled the effect he had on the surrounding then started in random direction. He could only managed two steps before he began to stagger, his eyes getting dizzy as he re-experienced the pain he felt on that night, on the night he was robbed of the little innocence he had. Since that night, Naruto thought he's seen and known enough, but what he experienced then was only a grain of sand compared to the darkness that harbored the being called Zetsu. Naruto staggered even more as informations assaulted his brain in too great divisions, it eventually got too much and Naruto slumped forward. However, Naruto never made it to the ground as the owner of a pair of eyes that had been observing the fight from the beginning moved in to pick him up. The person disappeared into whisks the moment he slung Naruto over his shoulder, leaving the forest a barren quietness.
Barely a heart beat later, the person appeared in the underground room that housed the seven pods, and five of them were already occupied. The person Laid the unconscious form of Naruto into the pod that was singled out on the platform, leaving only one last pod unoccupied. That was soon to change, the person dropped his cover to reveal it was another clone, he didn't need to be camouflaged for his last two tasks. One more clone materialized beside Naruto, the two remaining tasks would be carried out simultaneously.
=-=-=-=-=-=X=-=-=-=-=
"How did you get in here" slipped out of Danzo's mouth instead of his intended 'how are you like this?'
"Looking for a prize" Naruto said back in his original form.
'Oh no' danzo thought, 'we have been fooled' the seal never affected Naruto, he didn't seem to suffer any disadvantage from it. The Naruto in front of him was every bit his former self, did he escape the facility?
Naruto looked round the massive chamber, his prize was not among them. He settled his deep gaze on Danzo's hardened visage.
"Where is your right hand...man?" Naruto said, Danzo stiffen unnoticed when he mentioned hand, a reaction that was mildly amusing, but he wasn't here because of the man's implanted Sharingans.
Naruto briefly acknowledge the man's quest for power, considering he himself was doing the same thing right now, Naruto's own method being a lot more discreet. Back to his reason for entering the root base, "where is he?" Naruto asked again when naruto saw Danzo was at lost for words, 'does he really think he could keep them a secret for long.′
"He must really be special if you are unwilling to talk, don't bother trying to hide him from me, I know he's in here' Naruto stated matter of fact. The said ninja possessed some kind of bloodline that keeps jamming his sensory ability. Naruto knew the ninja could not leave his master's side, he came to know about the ninja by chance, if only he could pinpoint his location. Suddenly, Naruto shifted his gaze from Danzo then zeroed his attention on a mask wearing Anbu,
"Torune...was it?" Naruto asked, and the ninja in question immediately stuttered a quick yes before falling on his knees, heaving.
Danzo looked at the ninja that had the attention of Naruto, the tool had nothing special in his appearance, though it seemed Naruto had forcefully pulled the information from him; what frightening technique. Torune on the other hand wasn't a bit useless. He had specifically handpicked the ninja because of his special ability. Had he knew Naruto could not pinpoint Torune's location he would have appointed the boy as Naruto's personal spy. It was a fortune Naruto revealed that piece of information, now to get him to leave. Another interesting question would be why Naruto blatantly revealed that he could not pinpoint the boy, much less show his face here after escaping, he must surely know the repercussion of not keeping thing secret, 'except he's got a way round it′ he thought as realization dawned on him.
"I see you don't want to talk" Naruto said. "well" Naruto finished in a I-got-no-choice tone. Immediately, he varnished, reappearing behind a root Anbu. Before the ninja could make a move Naruto snapped his neck with a vicious twist. There was no terrified scream or cold shivers, they were emotionless tools, ninjas with no emotion.
Naruto varnished again, another ninja falling victim to the swift killing blow.
"Katon: Goka..." a vicious twist to the neck saw that the Jutsu reached no success.
It continued with Naruto taking them out one by one, he didn't do it in a hurry, he took his time, allowing the pressure to start building. Danzo tried to involve himself in the fight but Naruto simply went round the bandaged man.
"Rethink Danzo or it will continue like this" Naruto said not stopping the killing. His swiftness made it possible none of them could retreat.
Twenty bodies turned to thirty. Thirty turned to forthy. Forthy turned to...
"Wait" Danzo called and Naruto responded nicely by stopping his assault.
"What do you want?" Danzo finally raised his voiced
"Provide him, or..." Naruto raised his right hand towards a random ninja, a loud cracking noise followed the ninja head turning a 180 degree rotation, the dead ninja fell with a thud. Naruto almost disappeared again to continue his onslaught but the shout of stop had him delaying the inevitable. Naruto turned to the ninja and he could tell just right away, this was his target. He must possess something deadly in him to be able to create such a strong jamming effect.
"Stop the killing and lets talk″
"Talk?" Naruto inquired before he suddenly appeared behind the ninja, Naruto lifted his hands to the ninja's shoulder, a move that proved to be the most stupid of all his decisions. Naruto instantly began to feel his hands go numb and the feeling was spreading upward as more of his hand got consumed, he looked to the cause to see Torune covered with the same purple substance that was damaging his cells. Danzo, ever the omniknowest, thought it was right to come into the play.
"You should have stayed the way we made you, now you won't have the option to be either. Namikaze or Uzumaki, both lineages will end with you."
A mild laugh answered Danzo, "Namikaze and Uzumaki you say..." by now Naruto was completely covered by the poisonous micro-bugs, "...a good thing I'm neither."
Naruto made no physical movement but normal skin started to replace the purple one as the bugs started to peel off his skin like specks of dust. The process started from his forehead before gradually reaching his feet, leaving Naruto as brand as could be.
"H-How did you? Its impossible" Torune stuttered, this had never happened before, it was impossible.
"The forgotten law was, 'never explain the mechanism of your Jutsu', young people wouldn't know that.″
"Wha..."
Naruto hooked the still purple ninja by the throat then varnished without another word. Danzo would meet his end when it was his turn.
"Go after him" Danzo barked angrily, voice dripping with barely contained anger.
"Ye-yes" they stuttered scrambling to go in the direction they knew not.
Danzo stomped out of the chambers with extreme vigor, if the person was neither Uzumaki nor Namikaze, then who was he? He needed to see with his own eyes.
"Where is the Uzumaki boy?" Danzo asked seemingly into the air but his answer came none the less, "Still in his holding cell". Danzo said no more as he used a quick shushin out of the underground, could it be they didn't have the real Naruto or was there others out there looking exactly like the Yondaime? He needed to solve this on his own, he couldn't allow Hiruzen to know about this, Root would not be uncovered. If it turned out be how he perceived it, he would be one step ahead of Hiruzen.
Danzo appeared at the entrance into the facility, he wasted no time as he quickly approached the holding cell. He immediately caught Naruto sending a glance his way before he turned away as if he couldn't be bothered by Danzo's presence. He disregarded Danzo too quickly to be the same Naruto that just left his base, there wasn't any loud siren that would signify a recent breach, or did he by chance teleported out of the place? No, he looked too calm to have just been into his base. Danzo soon realized, there was another Naruto out there, one possibly stronger than the one they have in custody. If there were two of them, what has the second been doing all this while? Why is he just showing his face today? Many scenarios could play out, but there was no way this Naruto would remain ignorant to the plot. If only he could persuade Ibiki or Inoichi to do a mind search on him. Those two were the only ones that have access to him, but letting them know would mean letting Hiruzen know. He needed another way to go about it.
An anbu soon came up to Danzo
"Welcome danzo-sama, do you by chance need any...″
"Its nothing, you can return to your duty″
"Hai"
=-=-=-=-X-=-=-=-=
Deep inside a forest, its location unknown, a series of explosions succeeded one another. Cries of agony and the adrenaline pumped war cry of savages rang through the forest in a tangle of conflicting melodies. Despite all this, the trees refused to sway from any kind of backlash, the leaves as still as a pond, the image that of a serene environment, a contrast of which was the agonizing screams that continued to float round the forest.
Underground, a trio of disfigured humans ran helter-skelter, their destination still uncertain as the whole place was plunged into a deep mess queuing the appearance of a blonde boy.
In another section, "Orochimaru-sama, I already prepared for a safe escape, we should leave at once before whoever it is gets here.″
"Don't bother Kabuto, he's already here"
On cue, the door to the 'Royal' chamber blasted open and Naruto stepped in. "Nice to see you are still around, Orochimaru"
"What is the meaning of this? Naruto" the coarse voice of the sannin questioned. Originally, Orochimaru would have escaped whenever an attempt was made on his hideout, but this time, something compelled him to stay, he didn't know what but it had been there, telling him to stick around.
"You failed to meet up with the requirements and therefore can not be left alive" Naruto intoned, his voice carrying judgment. All this foreplay should be unnecessary but as he needed Orochimaru to take him Hostage it became necessary. This hideout would be his last stop in a while and the round up of the two remaining task was handed over to the second clone. This mission must see success and that is why he would be showing more than needed without really trying to win.
"Naruto, you are the only one that will not be alive after this," said Kabuto, the bluish green chakra covering his two palms.
Naruto turned to the four eyed ninja, "Is that so?" Naruto asked, his eyes turning a menacing red with three black tomoe. From the corner of his eyes, Naruto caught the mouth watering form of Orochimaru.
"I should have known Konoha had a fake" remarked Orochimaru now thanking his faith that he didn't discard the feeling. Suddenly, Orochimaru didn't want to run away, he wanted to test the capability of that eye. As if sensing his readiness, Kabuto also prepared himself.
Orochimaru started to open his mouth as if going to comment but instead, in a rapid move fired a short Kusanagi at Naruto.
In what seemed too fast to both Orochimaru and Kabuto but was actually slow to Naruto, he swayed to his left, the sword passing by him harmlessly. Naruto stood back upright and immediately had to dodge a palm strike from Kabuto. Naruto jumped away then stuck himself to the wall. Orochimaru also wasted no time as he was immediately upon Naruto with a fireball. The fireball collided but Naruto was already on the ground, the wall behind him in rubbles.
A plunging noise filled the chamber as Kabuto's chakra coated palm went straight through Naruto's heart. "I find it hard to believe that that you turned the war around with this level of power," said Kabuto as he pulled his palm out of the gaping hole.
"You would be surprised," Rang Naruto's voice throughout the room, the body in front of Kabuto disintegrating in eight Sharingan patterned petals.
"When did you?" Kabuto stuttered as he watched the petals turn into a copy of himself, each bearing a pair of Sharingan and his own mystic palm technique.
"You think I will fall victim to a simple Genjutsu?" Kabuto asked as he tried dispelling the genjutsu with a Kai. With no option Kabuto fell into a stance.
"Yes" came the chorused answer as all the clones also fell into a similar stance as Kabuto. Kabuto charged straight into the clones, his palm going to quickly dispel the clone closest to him.
Instead of dispelling the clone like he wanted to, Kabuto was suddenly on the receiving end of eight similar palm strikes. Kabuto immediately had to abandon his attacking stance as he had eight chakra palms to deflect.
Before Kabuto could realize it he'd been circled by the clones, he deflected about three palms but five of them still caught him in various spots. Luckily, Kabuto had his regenerative ability to fall back on.
The first batch of attacks was followed closely by the clones launching attacks on him, each coming in different forms.
It felt like forever before Kabuto managed to escape their midst, his clothes stained red. Kabuto much too late realized that he needed to maintain a distance. Fighting Taijutsu with them was practically battling himself, eight times over, each possessing the sharingan to boot.
Their coordination was even more frightening and everything seemed to be in their advantage. Any attempt to attack would be mirrored b the eight, and even individually each was exceptional, further more, the pains were real for that moment before he started to regenerate. Kabuto just had to wonder, was this how it would also be if he had the Sharingan. So far he had yet to land a hit on any of them, but Kabuto was quickly getting a quick and better understanding of the situation.
Four scalpels hung in between Kabuto's right finger, an explosive tagged Kunai in his left. He made a charging motion then quickly launched the explosive tagged Kunai.
A light detonation engulfed the eight copies in a burst of smokes, then recalling from memory, Kabuto let loose.
The result came in form of Kabuto gaining four deep gashes over his body. He doubled over as one was right across his stomach, he didn't suffer for long as his regeneration kicked in.
The smoke cleared to reveal the eight of them still maintained their positions.
"H-how?" Kabuto stuttered, normal or not, this was too much for a genjutsu. Was this the extent of the mirror technique granted by the sharingan? To mimic wounds.
With Orochimaru
"Intriguing, Naruto, intriguing." It take a lot to place Kabuto in a Genjutsu. The sharingan and Mokuton! And Hiraishin" Orochimaru recited while running his long tongue over his lip. An opportunity like this would not present itself twice, if he could just take over the body right now. First, to dispel the Genjutsu on Kabuto. Orochimaru shot forward, his form slithering round the room to try and approach the suspended form of Kabuto. At the last millisecond, Orochimaru was struck with something on the stomach, looking down he saw it was Naruto and a seal had begun to spread over his body, starting from where Naruto placed his hand.
An object too fast for the eye to catch flew out of Orochimaru's mouth, the object turned out to be another Orochimaru from where he stuck to the ceiling, his whole body covered with a slimy substance. The body in front of Naruto crumbled into pelts.
'Was that the Hiraishin?' no, it couldn't be, he never saw a flash but the speed was incredible still.
"What is happening to him?" Orochimaru asked referring to Kabuto. The four eyed ninja had strangely began to bleed all over since he was placed under the Genjutsu, and he was not healing, which was why Orochimaru was in a hurry to release him from the Genjutsu.
"He's fighting a loosing battle" replied Naruto from beside Kabuto. "Now that the nuisance is out of the way..." Naruto tore away his tight fitting shirt, a trio of seals lined his back in a triangular form.
From his position on the ceiling, Orochimaru could clearly view the strange seals.
"You are about to find out" Naruto replied, looking up at Orochimaru with a new pair of eyes, their depths like that of a frozen ocean.
"Where is the Sharingan?" Orochimaru seemed to have lots of questions.
Sensing Naruto was about to make a move Orochimaru quickly aligned himself with the ceiling, a burgeon of snakes erupting from his mouth. In a fit that seemed impossible to accomplished, the snakes began to cover every available surface, including the ceiling. From the mouths of the snakes grew another incredible set of weapons; Kusanagi.
Orochimaru had originally wanted to maneuver the snakes around Kabuto but surprisingly it was Naruto that shielded him with a black dome, leaving Naruto unprotected.
What should have been a surprise to Orochimaru quickly turned to urgentness as the whole room lit up in flames. It cleared quickly to reveal Orochimaru having most of his skin falling off, and the snakes nowhere in sight. Shredding of the skin usually takes a lot out of Orochimaru but the few times he's used would leave him with enough chakra to deal with Naruto. He turned to look at Kabuto but could still see Naruto beside him, unaffected whatsoever. What was even more surprising were the bones jutting out of Naruto's upper body. His appearance greatly mirrored that of Kimimaro when at full strength. Now Orochimaru could not help but be suspicious, Naruto was everything he always wanted to be, but how? The Sannin had practically spent decades searching for the secret, yet here was a boy, matured but still a boy who perfected everything already. "You are..."
Orochimaru never could finish the statement as he immediately lost his right arm, his left followed, as was his head, a bone sword to the heart rounded up the combo. All happened in the span of a second.
The several parts of Orochimaru promptly turned into Snakes that merged together to form a whole and from it rose another Orochimaru.
Orochimaru barely had a chance to completely exit his only perfected regenerative ability when Naruto was again upon him, a crushing clap sending pieces of skull in all directions. Instead of falling dead like any normal ninja would, Orochimaru once again evade death as four snakes rose from his neck then merged together to replace the head that was destroyed.
Naruto whirled around, his aiming punch getting engulfed in flames. Orochimaru could not apprehend such speed and so had the right side of his waist tore away. Several velocity carrying punch followed the first and Orochimaru was successfully littering the ground in a chunk of flesh and bones.
Being as stubborn as he was, Orochimaru again merged together, but this time he looked greatly winded. Performing the regenerative ability was more than he could handle, now movement would also be a problem.
Orochimaru braced himself Naruto was at his front, a mangekyou spinning in his eyes. Naruto placed his palm on the cross defense, Orochimaru wasn't allowed to wonder why as he immediately got blasted through the wall. Orochimaru nearly lost his hand again but managed to start regenerating as he was crashing through walls. Naruto joined Orochimaru in his mid-air flight and more pressure was added to the velocity. A repetition of this move took Orochimaru on a highly unpleasant ride throughout his hideout, their final destination being their first stop; the royal chamber.
Orochimaru rolled into the chamber like a rag doll, he struggle greatly just to get on his knees. Again Naruto was at his front, like a ghost, no prior signal or billowing wind, just there. To augment the ghost appearance Naruto flashed eerie form, only once seen by the council.
Naruto grabbed both hands of the Sannin and Orochimaru instantly began to pale even more in complexion, his form tuned complete white as he got the soul sucked out of him.
"D-damn you" he rasped weakly. To Naruto, what he was doing was unnecessary, since it was Kabuto that would...
In what seemed like the inevitable end for Orochimaru came his only and time rescuer.
Naruto felt a weak palm touch his back, but it wasn't the palm he was worried about, it was what was placed on him, he would recognize a seal he created anytime and anywhere on earth.
"H-how did you?" Naruto pretended to stutter when this was plan all along.
"Your Genjutsu was tricky but I mana..." were the last words Naruto heard as he fell unconscious.
"Are you okay Orochimaru-sama? Kabuto offered weakly, his body battered and bloodied. Seeing Naruto was truly unconscious, he allowed himself to fall to the ground, "I thought I was healing" Kabuto added, looking at all the wounds he gained in a genjutsu start a slow regeneration process.
"Damn him" Orochimaru returned equally weak, his arms hanging beside him, purple and useless. But Orochimaru still managed a smile despite the pain, he had Naruto now.
From deep within his unconscious state, Naruto smiled, the first part of this mission was over, the second part should take two years approximately to be completed. He wouldn't disappoint Boss when he wakes up.
Orochimaru looked at his numb arms then at the destroyed hideout, it would be worth it, he chanted in his mind.
=-=-=-=-=-=-x-=-=-=-=-=-
A round giant slab rolled into place to cover the entrance that entered the room containing Naruto and his copies, a seal spreading all over the room then across the slab.
Inside the room, the seven pods were already occupied, the last getting occupied by the unfortunate Anbu captured by the second clone.
Outside, the last clone started to retreat up the never-ending steps. Each step canceled out another behind him, and before long there was no more steps, no any evidence to point to the existence of an underground passageway, nothing at all, just plain rock bed. His final step dispelled him, his task having been done with.
Now there was only one Naruto left.
PART TWO
"Good, I wanted you to be here before I approach him"
"Why, what possible help could I provide? He doesn't like me either."
"The sealing had some unforeseen consequences."
"I did warn against it, I think whatever outcome it had should be solely your problem."
"Its nothing like that Jiraiya, just come see for yourself, only then would you understand."
"Hai sensei"
=-=-=-=-=-==-X-==-=-=-=-=-
"Sandaime-sama, Jiraiya-sama, I suppose you are here to see him"
"Yes, can you lead the way?"
"Follow me" the guard of the secret passageway led them into the Intel division. The three proceeded down the brightly lit corridor until they reached a door.
"I'm afraid I can not go any further, my rank does not extends beyond this door."
"Thank you Iwajo" Hiruzen dismissed the ninja.
"I still don't think this is worth abandoning my research."
"Come on" Hiruzen called ahead pretending he never heard a thing.
"What am I looking at?" Jiraiya asked as he stare at the back of a redhead through the one way mirror.
"That is Naruto" replied Inoichi who they met in the observatory room.
"Huh?"
"How is he doing?" Hiruzen asked turning to face Inoichi.
"We haven't had much problem on his part as he talks willingly...actually, he's a little too contented with this place."
"And that is a problem I suppose."
"Yes, he's okay with it but we are not, we thought it would be easy but its even harder to relate with his change in attitude. Maybe Ibiki can assess him better; I believe this would be their first encounter on a personal level.″
"Jirai..." Hiruzen made to face Jiraiya but he was already approaching Naruto.
"Naruto" Jiraiya called unsure, the person didn't look anything Naruto, even his clothes were unlike...sure there was an unmistakable resemblance in the abundance of hair, and what was it with the giant Uzumaki insignia.
"Naruto?" he almost shouted when the person turned his direction, he would recognize that face even if blindfolded.
"Yo, Jiraiya-sama"
"ehhh! Are you okay Naruto? You don't seem alright"
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked looking himself over.
"No, no, that is not what i meant, you, you just called me sama"
"Why? Are you uncomfortable with the title? Then would you prefer the title Ero-sennin" Naruto looked really considerate, showing he was really thinking it over.
"No, nononono, this can't be real, no no..." the muttering gradually waned then was replaced by snickering and minor chortles that quickly got replaced by a full blown laughter.
"You got me Naruto, I never thought you had it in you, a little more professional touch and you would pass as a comedian in the coming 100years."
Inoichi and the Hokage made their own entrance and they didn't fail to receive their greeting.
"Inoichi-san, Hokage-sama,"Naruto greeted immediately the two stepped through the door.
"Sandaime...sama, you weren't joking!" Jiraiya exclaimed, pointing accusingly at Naruto.
"No" came the flat reply.
Jiraiya quickly pulled Sandaime to one side, "what did you do to him? Naruto is never one for honoraries"
"It is the seal," hiruzen nodded sagely, "it is the seal."
=-=-==-=-=-X-=-=-=-=-=-==-
THE NEXT DAY
"You people just keeps getting weirder"
"Hello Naruto, my name is Ibiki" the examiner introduced, pulling a chair close to get himself sitted. "I will be replacing Inoichi for today"
"Why"
"Because he's preoccupied... On a mission"
"Why is he still in the village?" Naruto asked more out of curiosity.
"How did you know that?" Ibiki questioned suspiciously.
"I just do"
"Good" Ibiki said, jotting a few things down on the notebook. "Well Inoichi is preoccupied on a mission inside the village. Since this is our first meeting, why don't you introduce yourself properly."
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto, I like myself and I dislike taking unreasonable orders. Unimportant details should be: I like my chains."
"Ooookay, so you smoke" Ibiki drawled, his pen zooming across the notebook.
"You heard me wrong. What I meant was this..." from Naruto's left shoulder, shot a white, adamantine, spear headed chain that pierced the opposite wall with blinding speed. It took Ibiki a full three minutes before could return to his questioning mode as he had his eyes fixed on the white humanoid form impaled to the wall.
"What is that?" Ibiki asked, though he remained sitted.
"A spy...I suppose, he's been roaming around this facility for a while now"
"Why reveal him now? And did you have to kill him?"
"You never asked, besides, I don't like people eavesdropping on my conversations"
"Okay" Ibiki returned to his notebook, "never realised you could use that" Ibiki proded a little more, his finger pointing lazily towards the chain connecting Naruto and the strange spy.
"Yes, its the only one other thing I can use beside this..." the bright red hair that fell to Naruto's back suddenly came to life then hardened, glinting red needles flying out of it to pierce the dead Zetsu alongside the chain. "Sealing doesn't count, right?"
Ibiki made sure he noted it down in block letters that on no account should a ninja of Konoha eavesdrop on Naruto. And whoever said sealing doesn't count.
"Do you what happened at the last Chunin exams?" Ibiki redirected where the interrogation was heading as this was too much for introduction.
"You see, I don't quite remember what happened in that event so I was kinda hopping you would enlightened me"
"Strange" Ibiki thought as his eyes continue to dart between Naruto and the pierced wall, it was supposed to be indestructible, and for how long has the spy been around? "Aren't you tired of this place?" Ibiki asked going round the chunin exams topic, "I figured you have escaped if you wanted to."
"This place is not that bad, and it is definitely not boring, especially since I'm aware of everything that's happening beyond this wall."
"Escuse me?" Ibiki blurted, his pen making making a sudden halt, "You can? Who is behind the mirror?" He needed confirmation.
"Inoichi-san" Naruto replied without turning his head.
"Really?"
"He's right Ibiki" sounded the voice of Inoichi through the speaker.
"Then where is the Hokage right now?" Ibiki fired quickly
"Two steps from entering his office" Naruto replied without missing beat, "He's accompanied by Iruka"
"I think this is a good place to take a break, rest for a while and we will continue when it is noon." Ibiki pushed to his feet then turned towards the door.
"I'm not tired"
"Yes you are" Ibiki returned forcefully, unwilling to accept he was the one that was tired. Getting to the observation, he quickly gestured for Inoichi to come with him as he didn't yet know what level to place that kind of sensory ability. Both retreated to another section of the facility, leaving behind a ninja to keep watch.
Naruto turned to the pierced form of Zetsu, something akin to confusion on his face, "I guess Naruto decided to leave him be" He thought before gesturing for the person behind the mirror to come and remove the body from the room. Naruto retracted the chain, its hooked edge dragging out the full body of Zetsu. The body fell with a thud when the chain dissolved then broke apart in splinters.
=-=-==-=X=-=-=-=
It was two days later when Ibiki found himself in front of the council.
"So Ibiki, what can you tell us of his current condition" Koharu asked. The four of the Konoha elders sat in various spots in the rebuilded hokage office.
"We never got to truly understand Naruto because he may have a personality disorder" Ibiki informed
"What do you mean?" Hiruzen asked while danzo and Homura also looked genuinely curious.
"From previous reports I learned that Naruto sometimes act out of the ordinary, like in his fight with Kakashi during the genin test, or the crazed nature with which he fights.″
"I fail to see your reason" said Danzo
"I asked him a single question for almost up to ten times at different interval during our sessions and I got four varying answers for that same question"
"And pray I ask, what is this question?" Koharu joined in.
"Do you like pork?"
"How is that related to any of this? Of course I like pork" surprisingly, that was Danzo.
"I mean the question was do you like pork?"
"What were the replies you received?" Hiruzen questioned.
"One was a flat out NO, another he even went as far as describing the flavor he liked to be added," Ibiki replied, "He asked me once why I kept repeating the same question"
A brief silence followed, "could it be it was Naruto all this while and not an impostor? Where did he say the Kyuubi was? Koharu asked.
"we haven′t got around to that, and it would be better if left untouched for now, it may trigger some ugly things." Ibiki continued, "as for the personalities I think they were able to manifest because he didn't have much a personality in his time growing up."
"So no good came out of all the trouble we went through." Danzo spoke agitated, why couldn't there have been any useful thing about the seal, some were still nurturing the wound they got while trying to activate the damn seal.
"He got more tolerant of people's presence and the Konoha Populace in general," suggested Ibiki, "I think it's the reason why he still remained in the village"
They almost forgot he commented on leaving, but he was still with them. Days ago, He seemed like he could no longer breathe in the same air with the Villagers.
"Other than that, He didn't get any weaker, any less guarded? Danzo asked again.
"According to him, he can currently use three techniques which are: Kushina's chain, Jiraiya's Hari jizo and sealing which he thinks doesn't count as it solely represent being an Uzumaki. One other thing is he knows we are gathered here
"You mean..."
"Yes, he's also a sensory ninja, an extremely strong one to boot. He may be stronger or weaker, depends on whichever way you look at it. But it is still too soon to jump to conclusion, no one has yet to test the capabilities of his newly acquired powers and there's a lot we can still discover about him, that's why I would suggest he join the others with their training. If anything, the gathered jounin trainers would have a better chance understanding him, unofficially."
"I see" Hiruzen said interlocking his fingers.
"There's something else"
"What is that?"
"His belief, manners and attitude is that of someone not from this era. His will of fire is held and revolves round his Uzumaki families that are no more and I can't seem to convince him otherwise. The mentality is that of someone who has been booted through time."
"Can you enlightened me more on the 'he knows we are gathered here′... That was Danzo.
=-=-=-=-=-X-=-=-=-=-=
A week later in the forested training ground.
"Good, I feel like I already surpassed Naruto" Kiba announced while flexing his fingers.
"Don't delude yourself dog breath, you are nowhere near his level"
"As if you are any better, Ino"
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him in a while" Sakura interrupted the soon to escalate banter. "Has any of you?"
"No"
"No" the multitudes of no was accompanied by some shaking their head negative.
"It's been approximately since the destruction of the office of lord third." Supplied Shikamaru.
"Could it be the rumors are true and he has been locked up after trying to kill Hokage-sama?"
"Ino, you shouldn't spread rumours." Kurenai joined the rookies.
"Still, I'd like to know what really happened, the office was destroyed right under our nose"
"That makes two people wanting to know what really happened" a voice said from within the trees, the footsteps showed the person was approaching.
"Who's there?" Kiba questioned as he could not smell a thing.
"Mah, mah, don't get so worked up Kiba, I mean no harm" said the person entering the clearing.
"Who are you?" Neji questioned while observing the redhead with a scrutinizing gaze
"Isn't it obvious, I'm Uzumaki Naruto" The person exclaimed pointing to his bright red hair.
Kiba couldn't contain it as he erupted with a mocking laughter, "this is... expensive" he managed, then resumed his laughter.
"It's unyouthful to lie, Tomato-san" Lee said lamely
"It really doesn't matter whether you believe me or not" Naruto replied with a deadpan expression.
"Tomato-san, you will need to provide a more solid proof. Why? Because it's impossible to impersonate Naruto with facial features only. Further more..."
"Okay, okay, what proof do you need?"
"Hah!" Kiba quickly jumped at the opportunity. "What was that technique you used in the chunin exams?"
"Kiba! That has an obvious answer" someone whispered, others followed with a sigh and a shake of the head, only Kiba would ask a question that's had itss answer floating round the village for two weeks.
"What technique? I only remember getting disqualified"
Several dumbfounded expressions succeeded that statement.
"What!" Was it possible that this imposter was even more dumb than Kiba? That may explain why he had such strange clothes and the huge spirals, he must have never met Naruto in person and had approached them only for information. He was probably one of those hunter-nins that's only had access to the facial features usually provided in Bingo books.
"Even if you are Naruto, what do you want with us?"
Naruto brought out a piece of paper, "in here, contains a decree from Hokage-sama for me to join your training regime."
"See! I told you he's an imposter" Kiba exclaimed proudly
"Who are you?" this time it was Kurenai
Naruto sighed, "I really don't like repeating myself."
"Don't bother, Naruto" Jiraia said from up the trees, "we are leaving on a mission"
"Jiraiya-sama" the gathered group quickly paid their respect.
"What mission would that be?"
"To retrieve our new Hokage" Jiraiya replied, eagerly awaiting a reply, if it was the before Naruto he wouldn't bring up the suggestion, thought less present it to him. The seal might not just be a bad Idea afterall.
"Now I'm interested, I tell you, that man is old" Naruto said, referring to Hiruzen. Naruto turned to Kurenai, the piece of paper dancing between his fingers. "I guess I will hold on to this a little more longer" He said, putting the paper somewhere under his half body robe.
"See y'all later" Naruto waved at the group then follow after Jiraiya.
"What just happened?"
"It really was him"
"He's even more Handsome"
"Ino! Be serious for once"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=X=-=-=-=-=-=
Deep within fire country, in an unknown location, goes on a meeting of highly classified missing-nins, deep inside a cave, standing at the tip of each finger of a half bodied statue were the nine spectral forms of the Akatsuki, each of them with a distinct feature.
"why have you called us? Pein-sama" questioned a deep voice.
"Yes, I was really busy with my art."
"Jashin-sama would …"
"Quiet!... Did you find Zetsu?" asked the ringed eye member of the group.
An existing clone of white emerged at the center of the group, "no, I fear something already happened to the both of them"
Now the members were catching on to the real reason for the urgent meeting.
"Zetsu is missing?" Kisame asked, it was now that he thought to look at the spot beside pein. Zetsu would never desert Akatsuki.
At the mention of a missing Zetsu, Itachi locked eye with Nagato.
"I know that weirdo was a loose canon, hurry and send me after him leader-sama, I will make an art of the two of them, Yeah."
"Keep an eye out for who might have been responsible," Nagato ordered, that concluded that Zetsu had been captured, it was too soon for them to start loosing members.
Several of the form flickered then varnished, leaving only three standing members; Pein, Konan and Itachi.
"Do you think it was the Uzumaki?" Nagato asked.
"It might be, but Konoha still keeps watch on him, so it's doubtful."
"Zetsu must not fall into the hands on the enemy."
=-=-=-=-=-=X=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
READ & REVIEW