Chapter three: Awakened.
"Come on Sasuke-kun! Show her who's boss!" The girls cheered their crush on as he faced off against Naru.
"Begin!"
Naru shot forward, throwing punches and blocks against Sasuke. Both reared back slamming their hands together with chakra sparking and pushing against one another, making their classmates stare in awe.
Sasuke stared into Naru's eyes, feeling himself get flustered just like anytime he stared into her eyes. He would lose his cool and become a bumbling idiot almost to the degree of Kiba. Naru smirked seeing the conflict in his head, using his own pressure she let her body drop, sending Sasuke over her and crashing into the ground. She flipped over sitting on his back holding his arms down.
"Finish!" Iruka called giving a signal making her stand dusting herself off ignoring Kiba's calls, she held her hand out to Sasuke who took it with a smile and a blush.
"You both continue to prove exactly why you're top of the class. If you keep this up, the graduation exam will be a breeze." Iruka said marking on the clipboard.
"Good job," Sasuke said, Naru gave a hum leaning against the tree closing her eyes.
This is such bull! Three years! Damnit! Kurama rumbled.
Indeed, three years have passed since the biju took over and saved his host. For three years Kyuubi was playing as a now 11 nearing 12 year old child. It seemed that the girl was content laying in his chakra ball sound asleep.
In that time Naru advanced to the top of her class, gaining a group of followers, two namely Kiba Inuzuka and Sasuke Uchiha. Separate they were somewhat bearable, but together and it took all of his willpower not to rip them to shreds.
Now with academy graduations approaching the beast was at a loss, if she indeed never woke up there was no point in pretending. He could give her a burial and be free… but that nagging feeling never let him act on that idea.
"I want you all to practice extra hard over the weekend, come Monday the exams begin and I know you all can and will pass. Dismissed!" Iruka called. Naru grabbed her bag waiting for the students to run out first.
"So Naru, you wanna get some ramen or something?" Sasuke said, walking next to her.
"Nope."
"Not hungry for ramen? We can go to a barbecue, the-"
"No. I'm not going anywhere or on any date with you."
"Yeah! Get lost Uchiha, my girl is coming with me!" Kiba said, appearing behind Naru wrapping his arms around her. She let out a growl making him release her.
"You're an idiot Inuzuka. She's not interested in you. She needs someone that doesn't constantly smell like a wet dog." He insulted the boy before they began to argue, Naru rolled her eyes and huffed.
'Change a little bit and they start acting like two bitches in heat. Maybe I shoulda kept her the same…' Kurama thought.
"Will both of you stop! I'm not anyone's girl, I'm not going on a date, so shut up!" She barked, making both boys slump in mild defeat.
Naru walked from the academy and headed to her home, locking up and blocking the windows.
Kurama huffed as he had her wash up, he looked down at the girl and nudged her body. "You're just gonna stay asleep?" He questioned. Naru let out a groan shifting around, showing a sign of life that surprised the biju.
He shifted back as she sat up and the chakra faded away as she looked around.
"What's going on?" She mumbled standing up, her legs wobbling under her weight before she began to fall backwards, Kurama slid his tail out stopping her from falling totally, he watched her look along his tail and up to him, her eyes widening in shock before she began to scream and scramble off of his tail.
"Stop screaming and calm down!" He barked, she stopped staring at him in fear.
"Wh... who.. who are you?" She asked with a quiver.
"Tsk.. my name is Kurama, you'll know me better as Kyuubi." He said, she stiffened as it connected, he gently lifted her up on his paw holding her closer to him.
"S... so... the reason I'm hated... is cause you're... I mean I was the – I mean." She looked down and tears of obvious frustration swirling inside her, he huffed at the tears not used to comforting his human host, he let one of his tails slip up and curl around her making a small smile appear.
"So, what's going on? I don't remember much."
"You remember your birthday? What happened.." He questioned, she stared at his fur and simply nodded. "You tried to give up and die that night, but I saw no need for that to happen, so I busted out and took over."
"So, I'm okay?" He nodded his head. "Can I ask why? I've heard stories and – well I mean." She stopped biting her lip.
"Honestly kid, I didn't get it either, but I think your will of wanting to stay and continue despite the shit you go through, rubbed off on me. You're a good influence I guess." He said, she smiled at him. "I've been you for a while."
"A while?" She questioned.
"That night was nearly four years ago, you're going on 12 now." She stared at him in shock and swallowed heavily. "You're about to graduate with your classmates, even though you've been ready to graduate for over a year now."
"Why didn't you – me? Graduate?"
"You need bonds, if I would have let you graduate you would have been a genin alone, so you are at the top of the class. You have followers now."
"Followers?"
"Fan-boys, kit." A blush flared on her cheeks and she bit her lip.
"So what happens now?"
"You take control of course, I'll still be here and will step in when it's necessary, after all this time we're merged as one, you will have access to my knowledge, chakra, power. But it has drawbacks, my body is much more mature than yours. It can change you in many ways." He let her down in front of her central nervous system, she looked up at the chakra and slowly grabbed the system. It slowly changed colors from red to a purple mixture.
Naru took a deep breath as memoires hit her giving a recap of the past years.
Naru opened her own eyes and sat up and on very wobbly legs she managed to get herself to the mirror and looked at her reflection barely recognizing herself. Her thin whisker marks wider and darker, with her teeth at a sharper point and her previously blue eyes now a purple mix.
"I look different….. Thank you Kurama." She said,
'You need to know, if you simply think in your mind towards me, I can hear it, so you won't be talking to yourself.'
'Like this?'
'Exactly. Now work on reviewing all the information, starting Monday the final exam begins. I'll train you to get ready.'
o0o
Naru yawned as she walked from her apartment and headed right to one place that had been in her mind since she woke up; Ichiraku ramen shop.
She smiled as she entered the shop and was greeted by an aged Teuchi and an older Ayame.
"Hello Naru-chan, the usual?" He questioned gesturing with an extra large bowl, she smiled with a quick nod sitting down.
"Are you ready for graduation?" Ayame questioned setting a glass of juice down in front of her.
"Very much, it seems like it's been a long time coming." She smiled and took in a deep breath as Teuchi placed the ramen bowl down in front of her, steam rose up and she let out a giggle of happiness.
'Calm down, kid.'
"Naru." She jolted and watched as Kiba walked in with Akamaru sticking out of the front of his jacket, he flashed her a grin.
"Hey." She shrugged and focused her attention on the bowl in front of her.
"How'd I know I'd find you here?" He asked scooting the seat closer to her.
"Cause I'm usually here.." He paused and chuckled.
"Well, how about after I buy you lunch, we spar and get ready, who knows we could be on the same team, like it's meant to be."
"No thanks." She muttered.
"Why?" He whined.
"I can buy my own ramen and I already have a sparring partner.." She shrugged. "He's all I need to get ready. So, no thanks."
"He? He who!? It's Uchiha ain't it!? Grr I'll knock that pretty boy down a peg!" He snarled and stormed out.
"No Kiba!" She stuttered.
'Let him be.' Kurama replied. 'It's just the tip of the iceberg, the two act like rabid dogs when you come into the picture and they're together.'
Naru's cheeks tinted pink as she listened. "Well Naru, who are you thinking?" Ayame asked, giving her a smile.
"Huh?" She squeaked.
"Come on, your admirers are still going strong." She said Naru turned a dark red and began to shovel the ramen in her mouth.
"Dunno." She mumbled, making Ayame laugh and tease her.
Naru stretched as she walked deep into the training ground forest. 'Are you ready for training?'
She nodded quickly and began to focus on learning from her new companion all the while being watched from a shadow in the trees.
-o0o-
Naru let out a shaky breath as she dressed for the academy, checking her image once before grabbing breakfast and walked slowly to the academy. Her stomach flipped in nerves. 'Calm down, you'll be fine.' Kurama grumbled.
'But what if they notice I'm not the same? What if I freeze and mess up, and all the work you've done is reversed and you're caught and I'm-'
'Oh kit calm down! You're giving me a headache.`` He grumbled. ' You will be fine. I told you I can step in if I need to. So get in the class and fair warning, put your bag next to you.'
'Why?'
Trust me. Just do it. He rumbled with an eye roll, Naru walked in and sat at the back seat placing her bag down next to her in the seat and sat quietly, her leg jumping quickly as she struggled not to panic. The door opened quickly and Sasuke walked in quickly followed by Kiba, she flinched and let out a gag as a wave of musky odor hit her head on.
You're smelling those boys' hormones for you. Your sense of smell is going to be higher, you'll have to learn how to ignore it.' Kurama provided, Naru swallowed heavily and adjusted, both boys looked at her bag giving a small slump of defeat and took their seats in front of her.
"Good morning Naru, you're looking perfect as always." Kiba said with a grin, she smiled with a small nod.
"Morning Naru." Sasuke said, she blinked in mild shock before giving him a smile.
'That's different.' She thought.
"Naru, why do you have to steal Sasuke-kun's attention all the time!?" Sakura snarled at the blonde as soon as she walked in.
"Why do you shriek like a banshee all the time?" She replied, fixing her with a dark glare making the few students giggle as she turned beet red.
'That was a little mean... ' Naru said, looking at Kurama.
'Would you rather her beat you up for no reason?'
'Well…. No…'
'I told you once, everything I do is to help you.'
One by one the classroom filled with the eager kids ready to take their exams and become genin. As the alarm rang they sat waiting as Iruka called them out one by one in order, one by one they came back in with a blue Konoha hitai-ate tied proudly around their heads or handing on their necks.
Naru let out a hitched breath as Iruka poked his head in with a smile.
"Uzumaki Naru." He called, she stood up and swallowed heavily.
"You'll pass Naru." Sasuke said, she smiled and her cheeks tinted pink.
"Thanks Sasuke." She said,
"Good luck!" Kiba said, she smiled giving him a nod and walked out quickly following the chunin through the halls to the large room.
"Alright, you will be required to demonstrate five of the basic ninja skills. Henge no jutsu, Kawarimi no jutsu, bunshin no jutsu, kai, and Kenzan no kuchiyose." Iruka said, writing on the clipboard. "After which you will demonstrate some basic knowledge of things you've learned. Begin when you are ready." He said, Naru let out a shaky breath before focusing her chakra.
"Henge No Jutsu!" She focused her as chakra enveloped her body and transformed, she blinked and looked down at herself or more appropriately the image of the Sandaime. 'Yes!' She cheered in her mind, Iruka smiled marking on the paper, she released the image and focused once again before disappearing leaving a tree log in her place, she smiled as they checked it off and continued through the exam.
"Alright, the final jutsu is Bunshin on jutsu." Iruka said.
'I'm taking over..' Kurama jumped in, he had Naru focus before she made a tiger sign and crossed them into a T, Iruka and the other teachers jolted at the familiarity of that sign before a pop of smoke sounded and they were greeted by five clones in front of them.
"Naru, is that Kage bunshin no jutsu?" He asked.
"Yes, my chakra is too powerful for the basic clone jutsu to sustain." She answered.
"Well then technically you do not pass." She looked over where the comment came from and was met with Iruka's teacher aid Mizuki.
"How do you figure?" Iruka questioned his friend.
"The jutsu required is bunshin no jutsu, not a varied version." He said Naru glared at the man, Kurama rumbled darkly as he could see the negative nature coming from the man.
"She's showing a more advanced level of the jutsu, I think that's better than the simple bunshin jutsu... if it's an issue we can bring it to Hokage-sama."
"No, I'm just saying if we are lax once, more will want us to be the same." He said.
"Well, Naru let's continue." He smiled, she smiled at him and continued through her exam easily.
"Congratulations Naru, you pass." Iruka said once she finished, she grinned up at the man and took the hitai-ate, tying it around her forehead. He nodded his head, she walked out quickly with a yes.
She walked in sitting at her desk with a smile touching the plaque again and again.
"Congratulations!" Sasuke and Kiba said at the same time, leaning on her desk, she leaned back and gave a smile.
"Thanks." She said,
"Congratulations Naru," she looked at Hinata who smiled shyly at her, she grinned at the girl noticing the hitai-ate around her neck.
"Congratulations to you Hinata." The girl nodded. "Do you wanna sit next to me?" She asked moving her pack,
As the last student came back with their hitai-ate proudly displayed, Iruka walked in with a smile and sighed, drawing their attention.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you. You've worked very hard, and I wish nothing but the best for you all." He said. "Tomorrow you're going to come in and you'll be divided up with your new teammates and you'll meet your future team sensei. Then we'll dismiss you for lunch and you'll begin your next step." He said. "For now, dismissed." He smiled, and they cheered, grabbing their bags.
"Would you like to get ramen with me Hinata?" Naru questioned, the girl nodded with a smile and walked out quickly.
-o0o-
"So Hinata, are you looking forward to getting on a team?" Naru questioned as they walked along the streets after dinner.
"Yeah, just nervous… Father wasn't that thrilled that I am taking this route but I don't have much of a choice."
"You always have a choice.." Naru frowned. "At least you're supposed to, well maybe we'll be together!" She perked up, Hinata smiled at her with a nod. "Do you wanna train with me? Or do you have to get back home?" She asked, pointing to the gated training grounds.
"N.. no I can stay." She nodded with a smile, Naru grinned back at her and both began to practice.
Kurama smirked as he watched Naru and Hinata bond instantly as if they had been friends for years. 'This kid is something else….' He thought before a pang of malicious intent hit him, he spread his own chakra out and caught the source flying right at Naru.
"Kid! Look out!' He barked, making her spin around in shock to receive a senbon in the neck causing her to drop and the numbing feeling to course through him as well.
"Naru!" Hinata cried looking around with her byakugan before a figure landed behind her giving a harsh chop to her neck causing her to pass out on top of Naru.
'Kurama.. What's happening?' Naru asked in her head as her body became immobile, she watched with blurry eyes as a masked figure reached down to her before it went all dark.
Naru jerked awake to find herself bound and her chakra blocked.
"Who's there!? This isn't funny!" She barked as she looked around the dark forest, she glanced back seeing Hinata bound behind her. "Hinata! Hinata! Are you okay!?" She called.
"Shut up." She whirled her head around looking up at their captor.
"What do you want?! You can't just take kids - ahh!" She yelped as he quickly backhanded her.
"Shut up you monster!" He spat, she looked up at him and gulped.
"Mizuki-sensei?" She questioned, he chuckled, pulling his mask off revealing himself. "Why are you doing this?!"
"I'm doing everyone in this village a favor, killing the beast that killed hundreds." He spat. "You're the Kyuubi and since that stupid Yondaime couldn't kill you before, I'll kill you now." He said pulling out a kunai slowly twirling it around his finger, Naru let out a shaky whimper.
"The Sandaime was a fool, he should have run you from the village, there is no place for a monster."
"You're the monster, not Naru." Hinata said, lifting her head.
"Well, I never meant to take you, but you've seen too much. I know Hiashi will be happy, his failure of a daughter is out of his life." He spat, Hinata flinched at the words.
"Leave her alone!" Naru barked wiggling in her binds trying to break free, He bent down grabbing her jaw making her whimper in pain before she bit down on his thumb spilling his blood and made him howl in pain before he delivered a kick to her stomach.
"Naru." Hinata called to her friend and watched as Mizuki stalked up to her and began to beat the child.
'Kurama help!' Naru pleaded in her head, the fox groaned in pain still feeling the effects of the poison before focusing on sending a wave of his own dark chakra out, throwing Mizuki back from her.
Naru worked on her binds, finally breaking them and quickly working on Hinata's.
"Come on." She yelped, pulling Hinata along as they raced through the trees.
"What do we do?" Hinata questioned.
"He's after me, but I guess he'd be after you now too…. Just get home, stay safe, I'll be fine."
"No, we're friends, I'm not leaving you to deal with him." Hinata protested, Naru gave a shaky smile. "We'll figure out a way, maybe if we draw enough attention the anbu or someone will see it." She said, Naru paused before giving a chuckle.
"I know exactly how to do it too." She said,
Mizuki snarled in anger as he raced through the woods, looking for both girls to stop them. If he would be caught it was life in prison at the very least. While not many in the village could stand her, the Hokage made it very clear her status of being dubbed a monster was off limits and bringing harm to her was also off limits.
He smirked as he spotted Naru crouched down on a branch looking around quickly, he landed behind her making her spin in shock scrambling from him before he grabbed her by the neck lifting her in the air. He laughed at her attempts to hit his arm to loosen the grip.
"Get away!" She yelled, red chakra shot out creating a miniature Kyuubi face that roared loudly in the night.
"Brat!" He snarled, yanking a kunai bringing it up and across her chest spilling her blood in the air.
"Hakke Kusho!" He turned to see Hinata appear using a gust of her chakra to slam the man to the ground with Naru who twitched in pain as her blood stained the grass.
Mizuki felt the vein in his head nearly twitch in anger as he watched Naru, he ripped her close to him about to plunge the kunai in her chest, she let out a scream closing her eyes before his own pained cry sounded and warm liquid splattered on her face. She opened her eyes and stared in shock to see red tendrils of solid chakra piercing the man's shoulder and stomach.
He coughed covering her face in blood.
"Naru!" Hinata ran up to her and pulled her from the man as he collapsed to the ground.
'Kurama… what happened?' She questioned, the fox frowned, noticing his chakra with her own wrapped around. 'She created the chakra to be a solid force, making it a solid weapon, like a variation of Kushina's chakra chains….' He thought with a frown before looking at the scared child staring at him.
"It's okay, just a reflex of chakra…' He partially lied and frowned as he sensed the anbu racing towards their location. "Anbu are coming, don't mention me of course, but you'll be okay."
Naru and Hinata watched as the anbu team landed around them. "What happened?" The captain growled at both girls.
"He attacked us… he was going to kill us." Hinata practically squeaked at the powerful aura the man was giving.
"Let's get you both to the hospital, the Hokage will want to speak with you both. You two get him out of here." He said. "Come." He ordered, both girls followed him to the hospital sitting on the examination table waiting.
Once the nurse patched up Naru's wounds and checked on Hinata, the Hokage walked in followed by Hinata's father, both girls spun the events to the adults before Hinata was taken home.
"Are you okay?" Hiruzen asked once he was alone with Naru.
"F..fine." She mumbled and slid from the bed.
"Naru…" He said, she looked up at him, a mix of emotions filled her stomach. She stared at the man she used to trust wholeheartedly. "I'm sorry, I never imagined Mizuki would…."
"There is a lot that can't be imagined but is done." She said and walked out quickly.
Kurama sighed as he looked as Naru laid curled up in one of his tails sleeping peacefully. He continued to replay the events in his head, the shift of her own chakra was great, it pulled from his reserves without him giving it to her and made it her own. Of course he previously witnessed this, the girl's mother had done the same with her chakra chains, but he never felt the change he had with Kushina. He looked at the girl and mentally questioned if the girl would even remain stable enough to live a long life….