Naruto decides to head to wave to train in using Kurama's chakra as well as prepare for the finals. Yamato hears what Naruto intends to do and decides to join him in his quest as well as train him. Jiraiya soon appears peeping in a bathhouse to which Naruto threatens to castrate if he doesn't knock it off. When Naruto realizes he's one of the Legendary Sannin he was not impressed.
Naruto was in his apartment watering his flowers once again along with his clones. He was thinking about Asura's words back in Nami no Kuni, how he would have to use Kurama's chakra in the near future and he was seriously considering it.
'I wonder if Kurama's okay with it?' Naruto thought.
"Obviously." Kurama snorted.
'Hehe, my bad. I forgot you and me can hear each other thoughts. So, are you really okay with it?' Naruto asked again just to be sure.
"Yes already! If your worried you'll abuse my power then don't because your not the type to abuse anything. Your too kindhearted." Kurama snorted.
Naruto wondered about the 'kindhearted' remark but who knows? Maybe he is. Guess it was decided then. He'll train using both Kurama's chakra and train for the finals. He'll have to tell Hiruzen though, otherwise the old man would send a search party out for him or the council would use that opportunity to label him a Missing-nin and have him killed. He wouldn't put it past them. Putting down the watering can down he felt around for his sword and remembered that the first time he got it there was a black sash tied around it. For some reason it didn't feel right on a sword so he took it off, speaking of which, "Hey, guys can one of you got and get the black sash that came with this sword for me please?"
"Got it boss!" one of the shadow clones said walking off to go and find it.
Naruto only had to wait for 2 minutes before the shadow clone came back with the black sash in its hand and handed it over to Naruto who took it without question. The blonde had a crazy idea, and that was to wear the black blindfold around his eyes. He didn't know why, but he had been thinking about it ever since he woke up this morning. Shrugging his shoulders he closed his eyes and wrapped the black sash around his eyes tightening it good enough so that it doesn't fall off. Too bad he couldn't see his own reflection to see how he looks.
"Boss you look awesome!" one of the clones complimented.
Naruto blinked at his clone's compliment, "Thanks…" he dispelled the clones and received their memories, seeing that it did look surprisingly good on him. Interesting. Anyway, since he was up early he night as well head over now to tell the old man what he was up otherwise he'll end up forgetting. Walking straight to the tower not sensing any of the villagers were awake yet so he didn't have to put up with any of their hateful glares not that he really cared anyway. The people of this village are truly sad…somewhere in his heart he believed that the Yondaime, his father died for nothing.
Arriving at the tower he knocked on the old man's door hearing the man say 'Enter' he did just that.
"Ah, Naruto-kun what can I help you with?" Hiruzen questioned.
"I'm leaving." Naruto stated bluntly.
"W-W-What?!" Hiruzen nearly fell out of his chair.
"For a whole month I'm leaving and heading over to Nami no Kuni to train." Naruto told him.
Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief, "That's what you meant…"
"What did you think I meant?" Naruto asked curiously.
Hiruzen coughed into his hand, "No nothing, anyway is that black sash around your eyes for decoration?"
Naruto shrugged, "No reason, I just felt like wrapping it around my eyes."
"I must say it looks good on you, you look like your ready to punish someone." Hiruzen complimented.
Naruto's lips twitched, "Thanks for the compliment. So will you give me permission?"
"Hmmm, Naruto I want you to be honest with me about something." Hiruzen asked.
"What is it?" Naruto wondered.
"If I told you that you had a godfather that was in charge of looking after you after both of your parents died, what would you do?" He asked him carefully.
"Beat him within an inch of his life." Naruto stated.
Hiruzen couldn't help but feel fear for Jiraiya now.
"If he has a good reason for not doing what he was supposed to then I'll let him off the hook…if I feel like it." Naruto explained.
"I-I see…and yes I give you permission to go to Nami no Kuni, but at least take someone with you." Hiruzen told him.
"That's what I was planning on doing," Naruto headed for the door, "I'm taking Yamato-sensei with me."
"Actually, there is another person I want you to take with you. He should be at the hot springs as we speak." Hiruzen informed him.
Naruto wondered why a person would be a the hot springs but made no comment as he simply left the office. Hiruzen sighed, "Jiraiya your about to meet your godson for the very first time in years."
Naruto asked Yamato to meet him at the front gate while he went to the hot springs to find the other person gramps wanted him to bring along, so here he was now on his way to the hot springs.
'Seriously though, why the hot springs?' Naruto thought. Walking more he sensed the same chakra signature as Orochimaru's only this one felt less malicious.
"Could it be another Sannin?" Naruto created a shadow clone and they both walked towards the signature. He was pretty sure he felt Ebisu's chakra signature too making him sweat-drop, "So he's a closet pervert, huh? Figures."
"Oh yeah, that's it!"
Naruto turned towards the voice sharply, 'What the hell?' he thought.
"Boss, there's a man with white hair that's in a ponytail peeping at women through some kind of scope." The clone reported.
Naruto's eyebrow twitched, "Is that so?" he walked over towards the man sensing his chakra signature then stopped, "Hey!"
The shooed him away, "Go away you! I'm in the middle of some important research."
Naruto unsheathed his sword, "Put the scope down and walk away before I attempt castration."
The man simply ignored him and kept on peeping, but soon jumped away quickly. Looking back at the boy he saw that he had a sword unsheathed then looked over at him.
"I warned you," Naruto stated, "Who are you?"
"Me? You ask who I am? I am the man that women can't help themselves but throw at! I am Jiraiya! The Gallant Toad Sage!" Jiraiya did a pose.
Silence.
Naruto simply walked away having sheathed his sword, "If you're the person the old man said has to join us on to Nami no Kuni then can you hurry up? I don't wanna waste any time."
"Now see here! I am in the middle of important research and have no time to babysit a brat!" Jiraiya declared.
"Is that so? Then stay here then." Naruto said still walking away not even looking back or trying to convince him to come along.
Jiraiya sputtered, "Hold on, kid!" he ran after the blonde haired boy who was ignoring his calls until the man managed to catch up with him, "Geez kid, what's the rush?"
"I said I don't wanna waste any time." Naruto repeated.
Jiraiya stared at his godson. From the reports he'd been hearing about from Hiruzen, Naruto was leaving to master the Kyūbi's chakra.
"So, I hear your trying to use the Kyūbi's chakra." Jiraiya started conversation.
"I am, he doesn't seem to mind either. I've asked him constantly if it was okay and he said yes." Naruto said.
"Asked him? You mean you've been talking to the Kyūbi?!" Jiraiya exclaimed.
"That's what I just said." Naruto deadpanned.
"Naruto you can't just talk to the Kyūbi! It could be trying to trick you into releasing the seal!" Jiraiya warned.
"What was that asshole?!" Kurama yelled.
"Kurama, language!" Asura scolded.
Naruto sweat-dropped, 'Have your arguments some other time please.' He thought, "If the Kyūbi wanted to manipulate me into releasing the seal then he would have done so when we first met, which was when I was a child. I have full trust in the Kyūbi and the same could be said so in reverse."
Kurama smirked, "Ha! Take that pervert!"
"Why so concerned about my well being anyway?" Naruto questioned.
Jiraiya flinched, "Well…it concerns the Kyūbi of course I'd be concerned about you."
Naruto stopped walking and turned his head over to the white haired man, "Your lying."
Jiraiya felt like he was being looked at right through his soul when he said that. What was it about his eyes that scared him so much?
"I feel genuine concern from you that's true…but your lying about something that's making you feel guilty." Naruto stated.
Jiraiya flinched again, 'Is this kid some kind of sensor?'
Naruto turned his head forward and started walking again, "It's fine, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Jiraiya snapped out of it and followed after the boy, "So kid, what's with the black thing around your eyes? You blind or something?"
"I am."
He stopped walking starring at the boy hoping he was joking when he said that but when he saw the boy was completely serious he felt like throwing up, "H-How…?"
"The matron at the orphanage dumped some liquid in my eyes when I was younger damaging my eyes permanently, she was executed after that. Hokage-sama ordered it." Naruto told him.
Jiraiya clenched both fists, "Kid, I'll meet you at the gate entrance in a little bit. I need to go and speak with someone." And like that he vanished.
Naruto was curious as to why he just took off like that but ultimately shrugged his shoulders and walked away to meet Yamato at the gate.
"Jiraiya, calm down!" Hiruzen tried to calm his student down.
"Old man, why didn't you tell me he's blind?!" Jiraiya yelled.
The old man sighed, "You said you wanted to see the boy for yourself and you have. Naruto has never cursed his blindness, not even once. He embraces it fully and refuses to have it be used as a crutch like he was told. Despite the cruel taunting and hatred of the villagers, the boy ignores it and simply goes through life like normal."
"…"
"In truth, its my fault for keeping you away from him for so long. Now that you're here, this is your chance to bond with him. Naruto might be a little hostile towards you at first when he finds out that you're his godfather but over time he might let you in. If only a little." Hiruzen told him honestly.
Jiraiya thought about it and knew his sensei was right, he was never there for the boy because of his spy network and knew that when he tells him about it that he will be hostile towards him and in truth he deserves it. But hopefully the boy will give him a second chance.
He sighed, "You've got a point as always…anyway, I'm heading out now sensei." And with that Jiraiya left through the window…again.
Hiruzen sighed and rubbed his temples, "Use the door next time."
Yamato and Naruto were at the main gate waiting on Jiraiya to show up, the wood user was surprised when Naruto came to him and told him that for the whole month he'll be focusing on controlling the Kyūbi's chakra as well as train harder than ever before. Yamato was worried about trying to control the Kyūbi's chakra but couldn't help but feel pride for the boy, having someone else beside him use Mokuton was a nice feeling for a change. But Yamato wasn't a true heir to the bloodline but Naruto was since he's technically both an Uzumaki and a Senju, so he had full faith that he'd be able to control the Kyūbi's chakra. When he heard the Jiraiya would be coming he was surprised as well as disappointed that he didn't look after Naruto like he was supposed to. He understood the man had a spy network to maintain but he still could've come to see him from time to time.
"He's here." Naruto said bringing the wood user out of his thoughts.
Yamato saw that Jiraiya was walking over to them with a grin on his face, "Yo! It's been awhile Tenzo!"
Yamato simply stared at the man. Legend or not he wouldn't show him any slack, "Jiraiya-sama." He said neutrally.
Jiraiya couldn't even blame the man for at all and he knew that Naruto probably picked up on it too.
"Yamato-sensei?" the blonde questioned.
"Nothing, let's go." Yamato said walking out of the village with Naruto and Jiraiya following.
This was gonna be a long trip.
Unknown to them they were being watched by ninja's from Kumo, Killer Bee was watching them leave knowing what they were planning to do.
"So what should we do, Bee-sensei?" Karui questioned.
"Follow Kyūbi, work with him and gain another brother, yeah!" Killer Bee rapped.
Yugito sighed, "Right…"
Yamato, Naruto, and Jiraiya were on their way to Nami no Kuni to go to the temple Naruto went to the first time he was there and found out about his clan and everything else. Jiraiya and Tenzo were having their own private conversation while the blonde walked forward not at al interested in their conversation.
'It feels like almost yesterday that we met Zabuza and Haku on our first C-rank mission that soon became A-rank. Time goes by quickly.' Naruto thought.
"Hmph, as much as I don't want to give that damn Uchiha any credit I myself have to admit that if he didn't demand to get a better mission then you wouldn't have found out about your origins or the fact that there are others suffering like you. And there's Asura too." Kurama grudgingly admitted.
Asura sighed, "Will you please call me brother, Kurama? That is what we are after all."
Kurama blushed, "Shut up!"
Naruto's lips twitched into a smile as they bickered. The two of them are brothers even though Kurama and the rest of the Bijū were created by Asura's father they were still technically siblings. He wondered though…those two he met in the forest Haruto and Kagura. He hoped those two won't become the troublesome sibling types.
After what felt like an eternity they arrived at Nami no Kuni, Yamato smiled when he saw what the people decided to name the bridge as did Jiraiya.
[The Great Naruto Bridge]
Naruto couldn't see it of course and simply walked along, it was about 3 seconds that the blonde found himself be tackled by a familiar presence making him smile, "Hey, Inari."
"Naruto-nii-chan! You came back!" Inari smiled.
"That I did," Naruto smiled, "How have you guys been? No Gato copy cats I hope?" Naruto asked.
"Nope! Everything's okay thanks to you guys! Is it just you?" Inari smiled grabbing the boy's hand.
"No, I'm here with Yamato-sensei and another man too. His names Jiraiya." Naruto introduced.
"Hey, my names Inari!" Inari smiled.
Yamato smiled, "Nice to meet you, Inari."
"Hey kid." Jiraiya greeted.
Inari practically dragged Naruto towards his house in excitement, Jiraiya and Yamato noticed that the people here smiled as they saw the blonde haired boy. Yamato couldn't help but smile back, glad that these people see Naruto for himself. Jiraiya knew deep down that his student earned this and so much more, much more. Seriously when are the dumbass villagers gonna realize that they owe this boy?
Tazuna's House
"Gramps! Mom! Look who's here!" Inari grinned.
Tazuna and Tsunami saw Naruto being dragged by Inari inside the house along with two other gentlemen.
"Naruto! How've you been, kid?" Tazuna grinned rubbing the boy's head making him pout.
"It's good to see you too, but do you have to rub my head?" Naruto said with a pout.
The old man grinned then looked at the two gentlemen behind the boy, "Oh? Who are you two?"
Yamato bowed respectfully, "Good evening, my name is Yamato, Naruto's mentor. This person next to me is Jiraiya."
"Yo!" Jiraiya greeted.
Tsunami smiled, "Its nice to meet you, my name is Tsunami and this is my father Tazuna. Can I just say that you trained Naruto well, he's well mannered and such a kind boy."
Yamato felt smug, "Thank you, Naruto has always been patient and causes no trouble at all."
Jiraiya felt a little jealous, but knew deep down he had no right to feel jealousy because he was never there for the boy.
Naruto blushed a little at the compliment and said nothing else, Inari noticed something, "Hey Naruto-nii-chan, how come your wearing that black sash around your eyes?"
Naruto thought about it then smiled, "Because it looks good on me, don't you think?"
Inari grinned, "It does!"
Tazuna knew there was something more to it, "Hey Naruto, why don't you go upstairs and get some rest. You look exhausted."
"I am a little bit, I'll take you up on that offer then." Naruto said having Inari help him up the stairs not in the mood to argue. Tazuna and the rest of the adults watched them descend up the stairs.
Tazuna sighed before looking at the two men, "Now that their upstairs, you mind telling me how the kid lost his sight?"
Yamato sighed knowing that the man asked Kakashi the same question but didn't answer, so he would have to do it this time, "You two might wanna sit down for this."
It was the next day in Nami no Kuni and Naruto was eager to get to the temple early and get started on what he came here to do. When the blonde got downstairs with the help of his clone this time he felt angry emotions coming off from two people. It wasn't Yamato or Jiraiya, but Tazuna and Tsunami.
'What happened?' he wondered, "Good morning." Naruto greeted.
Tsunami saw the blonde walk down the stairs, she shot towards the boy engulfing him in a hug taking him by surprise, "Tsunami-san?"
The woman simply tightened her hold on him a little bit then let him go, "Feel free to stay here the whole month if you'd like, okay? We don't mind at all."
Naruto was so confused but didn't comment on it as the woman grabbed his hand and led him to the table sniffing around he smelled that there was already food waiting for him on the table. Did she get up early to make this for him? Yamato and Jiraiya weren't in the house and neither was Tazuna, so they were probably outside the house. He decided not to dwell on it and simply eat the food Tsunami made for him.
When the blonde was done he, Tazuna, Yamato, and Jiraiya headed towards the temple so they could do what they came here to do. The blonde was nervous but knew he needed to do this so he steeled himself to be prepared. They all stopped and Yamato and Jiraiya saw the temple and couldn't help but stare.
"So this is the temple?" Yamato stared.
Tazuna nodded, "Yeah, the Uzumaki clan built this temple a long time ago and its stayed here ever since. The kid came here before when I brought him, since he was able to enter it proved that he's an Uzumaki."
Naruto turned to the man, "Can I bring Yamato and Jiraiya with me?"
"I think so." Tazuna said.
Naruto grabbed Yamato's hand making the man jump and walked through the pillars like last time, both men disappeared this time. The blonde came back out, "If I hold their hands then they can come through." He walked over to Jiraiya grabbing his hand walking through the pillars disappearing.
Tazuna sighed, "I don't know what your planning kid, but something tells me its personal so do your best."
"Yeah!"
Tazuna jumped and turned to who said that, "What the? Who are you?"
"Okay Naruto, there's a meditation temple not too far from here. I'll guide you." Asura told him.
'Got it.'
"So where do we go?" Yamato wondered.
Naruto started walking getting the instructions from Asura, "This way." The two men looked at each other before following after the blonde wondering how the hell did he know where to go. The blonde had no idea where he was going at all, he was just following Asura's directions like he did the last time he was here.
"Stop. There's a door in front of you, simply touch it with the hand that has the sun symbol on it and you may enter along with your two teachers." Asura told him.
Naruto lifted his marked palm placing it on the door, as soon as he did it lit up making Yamato and Jiraiya go on the defensive but not for long because the door opened on its own and the blonde walked in along with Yamato and Jiraiya. The room was white and candles lit up as soon as Naruto entered, the blonde sat in the middle lotus style, "The Kyūbi says I have to sit like this and meditate, making it easier to enter my mindscape if I do this."
Jiraiya raised a brow, "Why is the Kyūbi helping you?"
Naruto smiled, "It's because we're friends. Yamato-sensei."
Yamato nodded, "Right." He produced the "sit" kanji on his palm, "Wood Release: Foo Dog Heads!" a series of wood pillars which are engraved to look like foo dog faces and have lit wicks on top of them surrounded Naruto, "All set."
Jiraiya was impressed with Yamato's skill, "Impressive."
"Thank you." The man smiled.
Naruto's ears twitched, "You can come out now."
The men were confused when someone jumped down before them scaring the living hell out of them.
"Yeah! Nice to meet ya, I'm Killer Bee! The Hachibi Jinchuriki!" Killer Bee introduced.
"You! You're the sensei from Kumo who was in the Chunin Exams! Why are you here?!" Yamato got ready to fight.
"Wait, Yamato-sensei! This is the Hachibi's Jinchuriki, he's fine." Naruto told the wood user.
Killer Bee grinned, "Yo brother Jinchuriki! Hachibi wanted to see ya, fool, ya fool!"
Yamato sweat-dropped, "What is with the rapping…?"
"So you're the Hachibi's Jinchūriki then, huh? But why are you here?" Jiraiya questioned.
Killer Bee shook his head, "Listen fool, ya fool! Gyūki wanted to speak to Naruto! Yeah!"
"Gyūki?" Jiraiya and Yamato had question marks above their head.
"He means the Hachibi," Naruto smiled, "Is it really okay though, Killer Bee?"
"Yeah!" Killer Bee grinned.
Naruto nodded, "Okay."
Gyūki then took over, "Naruto, it's me Gyūki. Thanks for putting up with Kurama, I know it hasn't been easy."
"Screw you, Gyūki!" Kurama yelled.
Naruto chuckled, "Kurama's not so bad actually, so what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"Right, if your serious about using Kurama's chakra then you have my full support as well as Matatabi who will be talking to you in the near future. Anyway, in order to have full use of a Bijū's chakra you'll need to first conquer your inner darkness before you can face off against the Bijū. Since you and Kurama already trust each other completely there's no need for you to do that, and instead you just have to face your inner demons." Gyūki told him.
Naruto found the irony in that statement, "I got it, thank you Gyūki-san.
"Gyūki's fine and I wish you luck." Killer Bee was back in control.
Naruto took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his surroundings soon disappeared indicating that he was in his mindscape now.
Mindscape
Naruto definitely knew he was in his own mindscape because he felt like he was inside his own head, standing up slowly he didn't feel any different.
"So is it just me here?" he wondered.
"So you forgot about me then, huh? I'm hurt."
Spinning around her felt there was another presence here, much like his own but it felt much more darker.
"Are you…me?" he asked just to be sure.
The other him smirked, "Heh, yeah I'm you and your me."
"I'm not doubting that, but I am surprised." The blonde admitted.
"I don't know why, I've been with you since the very beginning. I'm your darkness and hatred. Don't deny it, you despise the villagers for everything they've done to you. Taking away your sight, ignoring your existence, and out right insulting and mocking you to your face. Do you really think your can just forgive them if they got on their hand and knees and apologize?" the dark part smirked.
Naruto thought about that very carefully, "To be honest…I had never thought about it until now. There's a part of me, which I'm assuming is you that doesn't want to forgive them at all and ignore their existence for the rest of my life like they did to me. But…there's another part of me that wants to forgive. Forgive them for everything, but at a price."
The dark half raised a brow, "Oh? And what price is that?"
"They've lost my trust completely, and if they want it back they have to earn it. Don't you think so, too?" Naruto asked.
"Why forgive them at all?! Even if you do forgive me where does that leave me?! Back into your subconscious forgotten like always?!" the other half yelled.
Naruto felt his other half's emotions, loneliness and fear. Ah, so they are the same. The blonde walked over to his dark self and grabbed his arm then grabbing his hand dragging him away.
"O-Oi! What are you doing?!"
"Moron. You just said that if you go back into my subconscious you'll disappear and be forgotten, right?" the blonde stated.
"What the hell does tha-Ow! Did you just smack me on the forehead?!"
"Yes I did. Problem?"
"Wha?"
"Anyway, now that I have your attention again you're not going back into my subconscious to be forgotten because you're staying with me. I don't know all that much about Yin and Yang but I know that darkness and light can't exist without each other and the same applies to us too, right?" Naruto said with a small smile.
"…"
"Well?"
"…And here I thought I was gonna have to force you into letting us merge."
"Guess I saved you some trouble then, huh?" Naruto smirked, "Too bad I can't see, I wouldn't mind seeing what you look like."
"I look like you, idiot."
"Yeah your definitely me alright, no doubt about that." He deadpanned.
"Heh, I'll be watching you."
"Yeah, yeah."
He felt a warm feeling wash over him and knew that his other half merged with him because he could no longer feel his hand in his hand anymore. The blonde smiled, "Feels nice, like I'm whole again." He felt his surroundings change again and felt Kurama, "Yo! There you are."
Kurama smirked, "Have a nice conversation with your other self?"
"He's more darker than me, but then again he's me and I'm him so there's not much difference." Naruto smiled.
"Hahaha, you weird ass brat!" Kurama cackled.
"…Shut up. Anyway, follow me out of the shrine and we can do this thing." The blonde smiled.
Kurama smirked and followed the blonde outside the shrine the blonde made for him, before the fox could step out completely he was wrapped in familiar chains.
"Kurama!" Naruto yelled.
"These chains…they could only come from her." Kurama said looking around.
Naruto felt two presences, "Who are you?! Release Kurama!"
He heard a male's chuckle, "Calm down, Naruto. We're only here to make sure that he doesn't harm you."
"Kurama wasn't harming me, and I asked who you two are!" Naruto said with hostility.
"Don't mouth off to your father young man!" a woman's voice scolded.
"Excuse me?" Naruto growled.
Kurama rolled his eyes, "He can't see you two, just tell him who you are already before you make him even madder."
"Kurama, do you know them?" Naruto questioned.
"Yeah…the two presences you're sensing right now are your parents. Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze." Kurama told the boy.
Naruto stilled when heard that, "Release Kurama." He said coldly.
"What?!" Kushina gasped.
"LET KURAMA GO!" Naruto hollered.
Kushina and Minato couldn't believe their son was yelling at them, Minato placed a hand on her shoulder and she let Kurama go. The giant fox went over by Naruto making them tense but relaxed when they saw the fox simply lay down behind the blonde.
'I didn't think he'd yell at them. This should be interesting.'
Naruto sensed where Minato was and walked over to him first, as soon as he reached him he punched the man right in the gut making him double over in pain.
"Naruto!" Kushina gasped.
"Stay out of this, Kushina!" Kurama yelled taking her by surprise, "This is something that needs to happen."
Naruto grabbed Minato by the collar and punched him in the face, "You wanna know what that's for?! That's for sealing a giant fox inside your son and leaving him alone to fend for himself to the wolves!"
Minato rubbed his cheek and stared at his son, "What do you mean?"
"What he means you fool, is that after you sealed me inside him the Sandaime announced his status as a Jinchūriki after I was sealed just like you asked him to. After that he was placed in an orphanage the matron doused chemical's in his eyes making him permanently blind, oh and I'm not done there. Your precious Konoha has been treating him like a demon ever since, saying bad things everytime he walks down the street and even tried to kill him a few times. Great parenting choices so far Yondaime, Kushina." Kurama explained coldly.
"What?" Kushina gasped holding both hands to her mouth.
Minato looked disgusted, "They blinded you?"
"Weren't you listening? Kurama just told you, here's what I want to know though did my great-grandmother Mito or mom face what I have to every single day or did you want my status revealed because you wanted me to suffer?" Naruto questioned.
"Of course not!" Minato protested.
"THEN WHY?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE GLARED AT EVERYDAY, TO BE CALLED "DEMON BRAT," EVERY DAMN TIME?! NO, YOU DON'T! MITO-BAA-CHAN DIDN'T HAVE HER STATUS REVEALED AND LIVED A NORMAL LIFE AND NEITHER DID MOM, BUT YOU DECIDED TO DO IT TO ME! YOU ASSHOLE!" Naruto let out the emotions he had been feeling for a very long time now, his father was right in front of him and he was letting his ass have it.
Kushina was on her knees crying now, while Kurama just laid there and watched. He knew Naruto better than anyone and knew the kid had been holding these emotions in for a very long time now and needed to get them out.
Minato looked down as his son blew up him telling him about all the hardships he had endure.
"Why don't you say something?" Naruto questioned.
"Naruto…I'm sorry."
Naruto grabbed him by his collar again and was about to hit him again but Kurama wrapped his tails around the boy, "Naruto, that's enough! You've said what you had to say, so enough."
The blonde knew Kurama was right and dropped his father letting the man fall to the ground. He walked over to the fox ignoring his mother's crying form, stopping before the fox he looked up at him, "Kurama…"
"I already know," Kurama allowed the boy to climb on his head and lay there. The fox looked at Minato and Kushina and sighed, "Wipe those pathetic looks off your faces. The decisions you made caused Naruto to suffer yes, but he is not completely alone. He has those that care for him, oh and that sorry excuse for a godfather you put in charge to look after him just now decided to appear." He felt Naruto still on his head making him smirk, 'Payback's a bitch, you damn pervert.'
The blonde sighed but still stayed on Kurama's head, "Explain yourselves…I deserve to know everything."
Minato who was comforting Kushina looked at his son in surprise, "You'll give us a chance to explain ourselves?" Kushina looked up at her son.
Naruto sat up lotus style, "I'm tired of the lies, I deserve to know everything."
Minato took a deep breath and sat down next to his wife, "Naruto, how much do you know about the Uzumaki clan?"
"Enough."
"I see, anyway after Uzushiogakure fell the survivors scattered including your mother. She was brought to Konoha to become the next Jinchuriki after Mito-sama died." Minato explained.
Naruto said nothing.
"After the Kyūbi was sealed inside me I went to the Academy and was very shy and blurted out that I was going to become a female Hokage. That's where I met your father." Kushina explained next.
Naruto nodded, "Kurama told me that he hates Madara Uchiha with a passion, is he somehow responsible for what happened to Konoha right after I was born?"
"Yes he is, he wore an orange mask though which was strange. But, he was there and he interfered with the sealing process and controlled the Kyūbi using the Sharingan making it go berserk." Minato explained.
"Kurama is a "he" not an "it" so don't call him that." Naruto told them firmly.
Kurama smirked at them.
"I-I see, I'm sorry." Minato apologized.
"It's fine, so he controlled Kurama using the Sharingan, huh? Did he manipulate Kurama into killing you two?" Naruto questioned.
"No, that was my fault actually. I was tired of being sealed and having my powers abused, once I was free of that bastard Uchiha's control I was consumed by my hatred and tried to kill you but Kushina and the Yondaime here protected you taking my claw themselves instead of you." Kurama confessed.
Naruto felt Kurama's emotions and started rubbing his head, "So even you can feel hate too, huh? Its alright, Kurama."
"Hm."
"Anyway, how exactly did you die? I know that Kurama didn't kill you by a simple stab to the claw." Naruto said having stopped rubbing the fox.
Minato shook his head, "I used the, Shiki Fūjin (Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal) that was created by the Uzumaki clan it allowed me to seal the Kyūbi's yin chakra within you while I had the yang version within me. I died soon after."
"I understand." Naruto said.
"Naruto…" Kushina said.
The blonde sighed and hopped off the fox's head then walked over to his mother first giving her a hug taking her by surprise, "I didn't mean to yell earlier, and I'm glad I get to hug you like this even though I can't see you. It's still good to hold you close like this…mom."
Kushina hugged her son closely to her with fresh tears streaming down her face. Her son had forgiven her.
Naruto sensed the look Minato was giving him and sighed, "Get over here, you're forgiven too."
Minato wasted no time in hugging his son, he hated himself for putting his son through so much pain but he was able to overcome it and even forgive him, his father.
Naruto smiled, he didn't completely hate them but he had every right to tell them off, well more so his father than mother but he loved them both.
"Naruto, the chakra we poured inside you is fading, we have to go now." Kushina smiled sadly.
"Mm, I know. I can feel it."
"I know I have no right to say this, but I'm proud of you." Minato smiled.
"Thanks." The blonde smiled, "Thank you both…for bringing me into this world."
Both parents hugged their son one last time before they disappeared completely leaving only Naruto and Kurama. The blonde started crying a little bit but they were happy tears, "How I wish I was able to see their faces but being able to hug them was enough for me…"
Kurama said nothing and simply stared, "Naruto."
Naruto turned to him and smiled, "Kurama…do you trust me?"
"You're the second human aside from my father whom I trust…do you trust me?" Kurama asked.
"Definitely!" the blonde grinned, something he hadn't done since he was a child.
Kurama grinned and stuck his fist out, "Bump fists with me, Naruto."
Naruto smiled and bumped his fist with Kurama like he asked him to and felt power surge through him, there was a white light engulfing everything.
"Naruto…my power is yours to use."
"…Thank you, Kurama."
Yamato and Jiraiya stared in awe at Naruto while Killer Bee smiled proud of his Jinchuriki brother for overcoming his darkness and bonding with the Kyūbi.
Naruto stood up slowly his form completely changed. His pupils becomes slitted, the whisker-like markings on his face become thicker to resemble the three trigram, and the chakra shroud's shape alters to resemble a full-length haori, "Kurama Mōdo (Kurama Mode)."
Yamato's eyes widened, "He did it…he really did it!"
Jiraiya grinned, "Well I'll be damned."
"Yeah!" Killer Bee smirked.
The wooden pillars around Naruto started growing into trees symbolizing harmony and how Naruto's new form was allowing them to grow.
"Amazing…" Yamato stared at the once wooden pillars that were now trees.
'So Kurama…how do I look?' Naruto asked.
"Like someone I can be proud of." Kurama grinned.
"Kurama's right, you look amazing." Asura smiled.
'Asura! Why were you so quiet earlier?'
"I wanted to see how you would overcome, and you have done well."
'Thanks.'
Naruto looked over at Jiraiya, "Your supposed to be my godfather, huh?"
Jiraiya flinched, "How did you…?"
"I'll want an explanation from you later, right now I want you and Yamato-sensei to train me. And Killer Bee too if he's not too busy." Naruto wondered.
"Yo, helping out Jinchuriki brother alright with me, fool, ya fool!" Bee rapped.
"Enough of that already!" Yamato yelled.
Naruto smiled at their antics.
This should be an interesting month.
Naruto had sweat pouring down his face as he got up slowly, "One more time."
"Take it easy, Naruto." Jiraiya told him.
Naruto had been training his ass off every single day to the point of exhaustion. He trained with Kurama's form first with the help of Killer Bee, it wasn't easy at first, no but he keep trying and eventually he managed to get the results he wanted. He then had to learn to control Bijū Mōdo (Tailed Beast Mode), which wasn't easy being big and all and the people of Nami no Kuni didn't seem to mind him in the form believing him to be channeling a guardian deity instead of a demon much to Kurama's amusement.
Yamato took over next, teaching him more Mokuton techniques by having his clones study from a scroll that belonged to the Shodaime Hokage, and so far Naruto had gotten the hang of some of the jutsu's that were in the scroll making him smile from ear to ear.
Now it was Jiraiya's turn, the man had explained himself to Naruto like he promised and the blonde forgave him, the blonde also told them that he met his father and mother. Naruto couldn't see their expressions but knew they were probably hilarious when he mentioned that he punched Minato in the gut and in the face then yelled at him. He told them he had every right to do what he did and that he didn't regret it one bit, but after they talked he forgave both of his parents and hugged them one last time before they disappeared. Jiraiya had taught him the summoning jutsu and now here he was teaching him the Rasengan, Minato's own version of the Bijū's Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Bomb). The blonde had did all three steps and was able to do the Rasengan, right now he was practicing on how to make it as big as he wants with just one hand but that wasn't easy, but then again nothing ever is. He had been taking trees down he created via Mokuton as practice dummies while using the Rasengan but he was trying to make it bigger for another purpose.
Lifting up his hand, he held his palm out and the spiraling blue ball of energy emerged from within his hand. He tried to make it bigger but it only grew to a medium sized ball so he simply threw it at one of the trees he created putting a hole in it.
He sighed, "Oh well, not like how I wanted but at least its destructive enough." And with that he fell to the ground completely exhausted on his back, too bad he couldn't see the sky because he would have loved to watch the clear blue sky and the clouds float on by. He had taken his black sash off while training, when he gets down with training he wraps it back around his eyes.
"What are you thinking about, kid?" Jiraiya questioned.
"I'm not thinking about anything, but if I was thinking about something it would probably be how I don't find being blind to be a bad thing like most people would." Naruto said honestly.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah…the down sides are that I can't tell if its morning or night because all I see is pitch black, or the fact that I need the help of my Shadow Clones to help me cook around my apartment, or help water my plants, but other than that being blind isn't as bad as everyone thinks it is." Naruto said.
Jiraiya smiled, "I see, so what are the upsides?"
"My senses and hearing are enhanced, it also helps me predict my opponents movements if they're on the ground but in the sky or on water I'm on my own and have to use Shadow Clones." The blonde explained.
"Interesting, I didn't know that. So who's your opponent in the finals?" the man wondered.
"Kurotsuchi." Naruto said.
"The Tsuchikage's granddaughter?!" Jiraiya grimaced.
"The very same," Naruto confirmed, "I took down one of her teammates in the Preliminaries without so much as getting a scratch on me, but she wasn't happy that I beat him. Its pretty obvious their here to kill me because of my father." He chuckled bitterly, "It's amazing, a foreign ninja from Iwagakure knows I'm his son but the people of Konoha who he died to protect can't get passed their hatred of me to see it for themselves. Its pathetic."
Jiraiya was inclined to agree. He wondered if the old man would be willing to reveal the boy's heritage to the public before the matches even begin. Should be an interesting reaction too.
Naruto stood up slowly, "I'm hungry. I'm going to go eat." He sensed where Yamato and Killer Bee were so he could eat leaving Jiraiya to his thoughts.
"Naruto, I know it's too late too late to say this but…your parents would be very proud of you." Jiraiya said behind the boy's back believing he couldn't hear him.
"I know, they told me." Naruto smiled not seeing the white haired man's expression from behind him.
Naruto took a deep breath about to try out a new technique he learned, "Mokuton: Daisōju (Wood Style: Great Tree Spear)!" several thick roots sprouted from the ground. The blonde sighed in relief that the jutsu worked, so he decided to use his own new jutsu he had been working on. Making the necessary hand signs he tried it out, "Mokuton: Jumoku no Han'ei (Wood Style: Tree Flourish Burial)!" roots appeared form underground that were covered in pink flowers wrapped themselves around the stone pillars squeezing them until they eventually broke in half.
The blonde stood up straight and sighed, "I feel bad that the stone pillars got hit with the technique but oh well."
"That was impressive. You're really improving." Yamato smiled.
"Yamato-sensei! Were you watching me the whole time?" Naruto wondered.
"I was but I didn't interrupt you because I wanted to let you concentrate, and I've gotta say that your improving greatly. In my opinion your ready for your match in the finals." Yamato smiled with pride.
Naruto blushed a little, "Thanks…oh, by the way my Fūinjutsu has improved too. I was working on it a little more yesterday and I found something pretty interesting, well my clones did actually."
"What did you find?" the man raised a brow.
"Masks," Naruto said, "Apparently they belong to the Uzumaki clan and I found a whole temple full of them so I decided to take them along with us. I have a feeling that leaving them here were someone would be able to somehow get in here and find these masks to use them would be a bad idea."
'Someone like Orochimaru.' Yamato thought. He told Jiraiya about how Orochimaru was going to brand both Sasuke and Naruto with the Curse Mark, but got Sasuke instead of Naruto because the snake was forced to retreat. The Toad Sage wasn't happy with the news and knew why Orochimaru was after Naruto, and it was because of his Mokuton Kekkei Genkai as well as his Uzumaki genes. While it's true he hadn't been in Naruto's life all that much when he was a child, things were different now. If the snake tried anything again then he'd act. No mercy.
"So you worked on nothing but Fūinjutsu yesterday?" Yamato questioned.
"Yep. It must be in my Uzumaki genes because it comes to me quickly and doesn't seem all that hard." Naruto said.
Yamato's lip twitched in amusement, "That I'm sure of."
Naruto was in Kurama Mōdo (Kurama Mode) again, but this time he was sitting down lotus style seeing how long he could maintain the form and so far 15 minutes have passed.
Killer Bee was watching him intently as he concentrated and nodded, "How's he doing?" Jiraiya walked up to him.
"Yo! Naruto doing good, fool, ya fool!" Bee rapped.
The man sweat-dropped, he honestly felt bad for the Hachibi because he has to deal with all this rapping from his Jinchūriki, "How long has it been?"
"15 minutes."
Jiraiya looked over at his godson with pride, "To be able to befriend the Kyūbi and be able to use its chakra is impressive. He's come a long way, and its a shame I wasn't here to see his growth."
"Yo, Naruto don't care about that no more bro! He forgives and forgets! And that's what's best, fool ya fool!" Killer Bee grinned.
Jiraiya stared at the man with his own grin, "Damn right."
Yamato appeared before them and looked over at Naruto, "Naruto's something special isn't he?"
"Gyūki said the same thing." Bee smiled.
"Gyūki? The Hachibi?" Jiraiya raised a brow.
Bee nodded, "He says that Naruto is the human that will bring them all together."
"Bring them all together? You mean the Bijū?" Yamato was taken back. Naruto was going to bring them all together? How?
'Bring the Bijū together? Is this part of the prophecy?' Jiraiya made a mental note to summon one of the toads and ask them later.
Naruto sighed and got out of his Kyūbi form, "That's it…time is 30 minutes. I need to improve on that."
Yamato and Jiraiya looked at each other, 'Has it really been 30 minutes?'
"Yo, Naruto! Come here bro!" Bee called the blonde over.
Naruto blinked and walked over to the man, "What is it, Bee-sensei."
Bee grinned and made the fist bump gesture, "Fist bump with me bro!"
Naruto's lip twitched in amusement as he remembered doing the same with Kurama, fist bumping with Killer Bee he felt like there was chakra being poured into him that felt foreign but he accepted it anyway.
'This is…'
"Gyūki's transferring some of his chakra into you," Kurama grinned, "Looks like I was right."
Naruto wondered what he was talking about but didn't comment on it and simply accepted the chakra transfer until it was over. Feeling that it was indeed over he lowered his arm, "That was…"
"Gyūki transferred half his chakra over to you, but still has some left in me, fool, ya fool!" Bee told him.
"That's right."
Naruto visibly jumped, "What in the?"
"Gyūki, what the hell are you doing in here?!" Kurama yelled.
"Calm down, Kurama. Since some of my chakra is here then that also means half of my subconscious is in here too." Gyūki said appearing next to Kurama in Naruto's mindscape.
"Tch, whatever." Kurama huffed.
Naruto sweat-dropped, 'Try to get along you two.'
"You heard Gyūki inside your head." Bee smiled.
The blonde nodded, "He said that since he transferred some of his chakra inside me that also means he placed half of his subconscious inside me too. So I can hear both him and Kurama inside my head.
"Matatabi wants to see you too." Gyūki told him.
'The Nibi?'
"Yeah."
'Then I'll be on my best behavior when I meet her then.' Naruto thought.
Kurama and Gyūki visibly shivered at the declaration, 'After seeing what her Jinchuriki can do I'd be on my best behavior too. She hasn't changed one bit.' Kurama thought. Unknown to him Gyūki was thinking the exact same thing.
Naruto bowed politely, "Thank you, Bee-sensei."
"No problem, fool, ya fool!" Bee grinned.
"Your going?" Inari looked sad that Naruto was leaving again.
"Yeah, I gotta go back. The month's over now and I have to get back, but you guys can come and watch the Finals in Konoha if you want?" Naruto smiled.
Inari's face immediately brightened, "Can we, mom?! Gramps?!"
"Of course we're going!" Tsunami smiled, "Well be definitely be there!"
Tazuna grinned, "Are we allowed to make bets?"
"Yes." Yamato said with a sigh, "I don't approve of it but you are allowed to make bets on the Genin you want to win."
"Then I'm betting on Naruto-nii-chan!" Inari grinned.
"Me too!" Tsunami smiled.
"Hell yeah, I'm in!" Tazuna smirked.
"I'm betting on my godson as well!" Jiraiya grinned.
Naruto sighed at his godfather/sensei but said nothing, 'You're the last person who should be making any bets.'
"Yo! I'll be seeing ya!" Bee rapped.
Naruto smiled, "Thank you for training me for the entire month, Bee-sensei."
"Hey yo, don't worry about it Jinchuriki bro, fool, ya fool!" Bee grinned.
"Fool, ya fool!" Inari copied.
Tsunami glared at Killer Bee, now her son will be repeating that phrase and driving her crazy.
But Naruto had to admit, the month he spent here with them was fun and peaceful almost like a second family to him. He will definitely be coming back here to visit them again.
Konohagakure
Kotetsu and Izumo were yawning as usual. They were the gatekeepers of Konoha and all they did was watch the gate and yawn, sometimes they would either play cards or take naps because they were bored to death.
They probably forgot that they are gatekeepers whose job is to watch the gate.
"Izumo…I'm bored." Kotetsu whined.
"Get over it." Izumo told him.
"You two shouldn't be looking so bored." Jiraiya appeared in their faces making them fall back in their chairs.
"J-Jiraiya-sama!" they both squeaked.
Yamato sighed, "Honestly, I'm starting to think you two are a disgrace as gatekeepers."
"You don't have to say all that, Yamato." Izumo groaned.
Naruto walked ahead of them catching their attention and making them both freeze in place, "Y-Yondaime-sama?!"
"I'm not," Naruto sighed, "Just because my hair grew you automatically think I'm him? You two must be tired." He still had his black sash wrapped around his eyes liking how it felt.
"N-Naruto?!" they both exclaimed.
The blonde sighed, "I'm going inside now." He walked off inside the village followed closely by Jiraiya while Yamato stayed behind and showed their passes. He wont lie, he was looking forward to seeing how Naruto performs in the exams.
Naruto and Jiraiya were walking through the village heading straight for the tower, but Naruto had other plans, "I'm going home."
"What about seeing the old man?" Jiraiya looked at the boy.
"You can tell him everything that happened," Naruto said unconcerned, "Killer Bee-sensei should be with his team in the hotel since he left before us and I'm tired so I'm going home, check on my plants, and take a nice long nap. Good bye." Naruto shunshin'd away having learned it over the month along with other things. He wouldn't reveal his secrets now, oh no, he'll do that when its time for the final exam to begin.
Jiraiya sighed, "That brat makes me do all the work, but at least it shows he trusts me despite me not being there for him." And with that he walked off to see the old man.
Naruto opened the door to this apartment with a sigh, "God I'm tired…" he walked inside and created a shadow clone, "Go and check to see how my plants are."
The shadow clone nodded and checked the plants just like it was told, the clone smiled, "Boss, the plants seem to be just fine. There are no problems."
"Thank god…" Naruto sighed with relief.
Gyūki turned to Kurama, "He has plants?"
"Yeah, he takes care of them every single day and makes sure they stay healthy. Since he can't buy any of them in the village he either creates them or goes into the forest and brings them here. Its his hobby." Kurama explained.
"You think he could get Bee to stop that god forsaking rap of his and give him a new hobby?" Gyūki asked hopefully.
Kurama snickered.
Naruto found amusement in Gyūki's plead about how getting Bee to stop rapping, he could try but doubt he could actually do it let alone succeed. Walking over to the bed groggily with the help of his clone he got under the covers, took off the black sash, handing it over to his clone and went to sleep. He'll be facing off against Kurotsuchi tomorrow and needed to get some sleep to be ready for tomorrow.
Should be interesting.
Hiruzen was in his office when he felt the window open, "Jiraiya…one of these days can you please use the door?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Jiraiya smirked.
The old man rolled his eyes, "Well? How did the training go?"
Jiraiya smirked, "The kid's gotten much stronger over the month, you'll be surprised when you see him participate in the Finals."
Hiruzen smiled, "I see."
"By the way, he knows I'm his godfather. The Kyūbi told him." Jiraiya told the man.
"How does the Kyūbi know that?" Hiruzen questioned.
"Kushina was the jailer before Naruto remember? Anyway, he also said that he met both his parents inside the seal." Jiraiya grimaced.
Hiruzen was surprised that Minato and Kushina had placed their chakra inside the seal but then again he shouldn't be surprised because this was Minato they were talking about, "How was it?"
"The kid went off on them, well more so Minato than Kushina. He told him all he had to endure and even punched Minato a few times to make sure he understood just how pissed off he was." Jiraiya explained.
Hiruzen grimaced, 'Well, I can't say Naruto shouldn't have done that but I can't because he's within his full right to do that.'
"After all that, he gave them both a hug and forgave them then they disappeared." The white haired man finished.
Hiruzen smiled, "I see. Is there anything else?"
Jiraiya grinned much to the old man's confusion, "You'll see during the Finals. Trust me Sensei, you'll be proud of him."
Hiruzen was still curious but made no comment and instead decided to wait until the finals.
Next Time: Chūnin Exams: Finals