Ramen Doodles
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
Author's Note: When I have writer's block, I often write a lot of random snippets of ideas, omakes, and continuations of other author's ideas that kind of petered out. As I'm afflicted with a bit of writer's block regarding Key Through the Heart (again), I've decided I'm not going to leave you guys in the lurch. Therefore, enjoy some writing I've been doing over at The Fanfiction Forum.
No, not now...! Not again...!
Sakura felt one of Tazuna's hands on her shaking shoulder. "Hey... Are you all right?"
No, no, not all right, not all right...
Her teacher was fighting Zabuza in front of her, somewhere in the obscuring mists, Sasuke-kun was fighting Haku alone, and she didn't know where Naruto was. Why she was caring about that idiot's whereabouts, she didn't know, but that wasn't the biggest issue on her mind right now.
Anger built inside her, aggressive, primal, and not her own. Blocking it out didn't help. The pressure grew, the rage built...
Threat... Threat to parent...!
Parent? What parent? Sakura didn't understand.
Kakashi blocked another hard blow from the Missing nin, sparks flashing as sword met kunai. The chakra imbuement in the metal kept it strong, but the momentum was retained, forcing Kakashi back. Zabuza laughed mockingly.
"This is it, huh? The best you can do, Copy Nin Kakashi? Guess without your eye, you're nothing!" Zabuza laughed again.
"But what can I do? Unless you start becoming more entertaining, I'm just going to kill the old man... And the girl."
Threat-! THREAT!
Alien rage flooded her mind. Tazuna became male human, protect. Kakashi Not-Quite-Parent-to-Parent. Her teeth were bared, inhuman fury burning in her green eyes.
THREAT TO PARENT! THREAT! KILL!
"REEEEYYYYYAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH!" Screamed through the mist.
"What the-?!" Zabuza started, before a massive shape plunged down, jaws as tall as he was closing on him. His reflexes barely saved him from being bitten in two by the huge reptile, eyes wide in horror.
Kakashi got over his own surprise just in time to reach out an arm and snag the charging Sakura. Shocked at how difficult it was to hold her back, Kakashi pulled her into as gentle a restraining hold as he could manage.
"KILL! DIE! DIE!" She screamed, and the monster screamed with her, massive talons slashing for Zabuza. The Mist ninja barely escaped the blow, desperately swinging his blade at his attacker.
TWING!
The creature roared. It's skin plating was thick, but it was still juvenile. The blade cut through it's wrist, slightly injuring the nine-meter tall reptile. Kakashi observed with detached fascination as Sakura cried out, clutching the same wrist that had been struck by Zabuza on the creature.
"REEEYYYYAAARRGGHHHHH!" It bellowed, and Zabuza used the distraction to leap up, blade raised high. He didn't know what the hell this thing was, but he would find out after it was dead!
Sakura's eyes opened, green eyes virtually glowing in anger. The spines on the creature's back glowed, electricity crackling between them. The monster's eyes glowed bright green, and it opened it's mouth.
"REEEYYYYYAAAARRGGGGHHHH!" A burst of green flame left it's jaws, catching Zabuza in a hellish blast. Kakashi winced at the blackened, burnt husk that landed.
Ouch...
The creature turned, sniffing. A lone, glowing amber eye narrowed at him, and stalked over, booming footsteps lightly shaking the ground. Kakashi wondered how such a creature could have gotten so close without him noticing as he began moving away, Sakura struggling in his arms but less violently than before.
"It-It can't be..." Tazuna whispered nearby. Kakashi was in front of him in an instant, the monster pausing and bending down, staring right at him. Sakura tensed, staring right back.
"What?" Kakashi murmured, the monster sniffing at the girl in his arms. The jounin was confident he could get Sakura away from the beast (and Tazuna, he recalled) before it used that breath of it's again, but it's behavior didn't suggest it was going to attack.
"An... My people have stories... old ones, about creatures like that," Tazuna began, as Sakura's breathing and movement returned to normal.
"Sensei..." She murmured quietly. "Let me go."
Kakashi frowned, but complied. The pink-haired girl continued staring up at the beast, who made a grunting noise as it bent down. Kakashi tensed as the girl reached up a hand, scratching at the creature's chin. It's eyes closed, rumbling in a way that seemed analogous to a cat purring.
"Protectors... They protected humans, long, long ago," Tazuna murmured, mesmerized by the myth in front of him. Kakashi's lone eye narrowed as Sakura continued scratching the creature, a small smile on her face. Not the vapid one she reserved for her crush. Honesty was in it, a hint of maternal pride he'd seen on his own mother's face.
"According to legend, they sometimes bonded with humans that were near them when they were born," the bridgebuilder whispered.
"Imprinting?" Kakashi asked. Tazuna shrugged.
"Maybe... I never believed it until today... An actual Godzilla!"
Sakura paid no mind to the conversation behind her. The rage had passed, her mind now filled with Trust, parent. She didn't know how she felt these things, or why. She just knew this creature had saved her, protected her, and did so just because she was it's parent.
It was so warm... So uplifting...
Red! Rage!
Malevolent energy shook her out of her stupor, and the creature turned, growling. A red glow lit up the mists, outlining several mirrors floating in the air.
FWOOSH!
Energy lashed out, ice shattering into pieces and dissolving into steam. A glowing red figure emerged, becoming more and more familiar to Sakura by the second.
"Naruto," Kakashi murmured. The orange clad ninja was stalking towards them, but changed. Eyes glowing red, whiskers deepened and darkened. Fangs gleamed in his smile as crimson energy continued to flare out of his aura.
Enemy! Threat! Threat from memory! KILL!
"N-No!" Sakura got out, the creature's rage threatening to pull her under again. She struggled against the tide of emotion, but the monster was already in motion, charging Naruto. Naruto growled back and leaped into the air, chakra tail and ears waving behind him.
"This will not end well," Kakashi immediately decided, as demon met monster in a terrible crash.
During the Forest of Death…
Orochimaru cackled. The Uchiha heir had been everything he could have hoped for! He advanced upon him and the pink-haired kunoichi, Sasuke still aghast at his strongest attack doing nothing.
"Well well, little Sasuke," Orochimaru crooned. "You've proven yourself. Now, accept a little gift from me..."
The pink haired girl stepped in front of Sasuke, determination in her green eyes. Orochimaru had to give her credit-She was standing up to his killing intent. But she was still weak.
"Don't you dare touch him!" The girl snarled. Orochimaru chuckled.
"Prey isn't supposed to talk back," the Snake Sannin hissed. "I have what I want. Get out of my way or I'll kill you."
The girl didn't falter, eyes narrowed.
"Prey huh?" She smirked. "You don't have the slightest idea of what prey is."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Sakura, no! You can't-!"
"I can and I will!" Sakura replied flatly. She took a deep breath.
A strangely modulated roar sounded through the Forest of Death, as did the sound of a giant creature moving through the trees. Orochimaru stared. The girl looked somewhat confused, before a wide smile appeared on her face.
Sakura shook her head and looked behind Orochimaru. The Snake Sannin dared to look him, eyes going up... And up... And up...
The giant reptile loomed over him-Massive arms and claws poised to strike, muscular legs holding up a long, lean body, a huge tail waving and knocking over trees with each undulation. Surprisingly intelligent, red and orange eyes staring at him from a stocky, predatory head, giant dorsal spines rising behind it.
And on top of the head, a familiar, grinning orange clad ninja sat.
"Hey Sakura-chan! Sorry we're late!" Naruto shouted.
"That's okay Naruto!" Sakura grinned back. Orochimaru gaped, and looked back at the smiling pink-haired kunoichi. Sasuke, his prized body, was cowering behind her.
"Orochimaru, was it?" Sakura stated with an unpleasant smile. "I'd like you to meet my child... Godzilla."
"Orochimaru," Manda hissed, rising up above the Forest of Death as Godzilla roared in challenge. "This beast... You dare summon me to fight such a lowly creature?"
"Yes, I do," Orochimaru hissed back. "Destroy him, and I will provide you with 200 sacrifices!"
Orochimaru was originally going to run, but when his first summon snake had been torn to shreds by the giant monster, he'd turned to his big guns. He had never heard of this Godzilla, but Manda would surely be able to crush him!
On Godzilla's head, Naruto was grinning like a lunatic. Sakura was smiling in a predatory fashion, as Inner Sakura in the back of her mind cracked her knuckles.
Sasuke just sat behind them, wondering why the hell he was even here.
"All right Godzilla! Kick his ass!" Naruto shouted in glee.
"Yeah, take him down!" Sakura cheered her 'child' on. Godzilla roared and leaped forward, slashing down with his massive claws.
POOF!
"What the-?!" Naruto and Sakura yelled as Godzilla growled, a huge skin left in his claws. Manda rose up behind him and bit own, his fangs attempting to penetrate the giant reptile's hard skin.
"ROOOWWWWWRRRR!" Godzilla bellowed, whipping his tail around and slapping Manda away. Wasting no time, Godzilla opened his mouth and unleashed a blast of atomic flames, catching Manda in the face.
"AUUUGHHHH!" Manda screamed, caught by surprise by the swiftness of the creature's reaction.
"GAHHH!" Orochimaru cried, having caught a fair amount of the heat as well. Panting hard, he stared in disbelief at charred hands-His hands. He shook himself out of his stupor.
"KILL HIM MANDA! KILL-ACK!"
Godzilla bit down on Manda's head, one of his massive teeth nearly slicing Orochimaru in two. Manda poofed out of existence again, leaving Godzilla only with skin. However, the King of Monsters leaped aside, avoiding Manda's counter attack.
"POISON FANG JUTSU!" The Snake King bellowed, firing poisoned spines out of his mouth. Godzilla roared and unleashed another fire blast, blowing through the spines and slamming Manda in the face.
"AUGHHH! OROCHIMARU, YOU-!" The Snake King bellowed in rage, pushing himself under the flames a bit too late. He slithered at high speed and struck for Godzilla again, the giant lizard rolling away.
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke clung onto his head with chakra for dear life, Godzilla careful to keep from rolling his head directly onto the trees and crushing his parents. Unleashing another blast of atomic fire, Godzilla ducked and burrowed into the ground as fast as he could.
Manda looked up, unable to see his foe but knowing he was near. Hearing scrabbling below him, the Snake King moved to catch his foe as he emerged, fangs bared. Orochimaru clung to the top of his summon's head, gritting his teeth against the pain inflicted by even a glancing blow from Godzilla's atomic breath.
"How...? How could a creature with no chakra be defeating me?" He muttered. Not to mention controlled by such a weak, pathetic little girl.
The scrabbling stopped in Manda's ears, and the Snake King, expecting a trap, held his ground.
Below, Sakura got Godzilla to pause, and the great lizard listened through the ground. His eyes lit up.
"RYEEAAARRRRRRR!" He bellowed, firing an immense blast of atomic fire through the ground and showering Manda with debris. Sprinting through the tunnel (as always careful not to harm his passengers), Godzilla erupted out of the ground and tackled Manda, biting for the giant snake's throat.
"ARGHHHH! OROCHIMARU! SUMMON ME AGAIN AND I WILL EAT YOU!" The Snake King got out before Godzilla crushed his windpipe, the snake summon vanishing into a huge cloud of smoke. Orochimaru used this to escape himself, running as fast as he could.
"Do you see him?" Naruto shouted to Sasuke. The Uchiha shook his head, Sharingan eyes scanning below.
"No..."
"Well, let's worry about him later," Sakura announced. She ran down the side of Godzilla's armored head and near his eye, scratching some sensitive tissue in a way that made Godzilla rumble happily.
"Good work, Godzilla... Mommy's very proud," she grinned into the vast eye in front of her. Sasuke grimaced.
"Can we get off him now?"
"Would you relax, Sasuke?" Naruto stated flatly. "He's not gonna eat you..." Naruto grinned.
"Unless we tell him to, that is..."
"Shut up Naruto! Godzilla's not eating Sasuke-kun, and that's that!" Sakura declared. Godzilla, for his part, merely enjoyed his parent's scratching, and let out a triumphant roar heard across Konoha.
By Kenko:
"You're CERTAIN he... understands?"
Sakura nodded. "It took both Naruto and me about an hour to really make sure, but Godzilla does understand. He's not real HAPPY about it, mind you..."
The Hokage nodded, sagely as ever. The matter had occurred to him when reports of Orochimaru's... "battle" against the titanic reptile were first delivered to him. As odd as the idea had been, there was little doubt that this would have to be.
"Excellent. As long as your... child," and here he allowed himself a honest-to-heaven grin, "understands that he's not to interfere with the combat tournament portions of the exams, he will be allowed to watch."
And most of the older ninja sighed. Despite the often loose interpretations of various food pills, strange jutsu and the like, it had to be admitted...
Godzilla was NOT a legal weapon in this case.
And by me:
Zaku smirked at the crumpled form of the pink haired girl before him. The preliminaries had handed him the easiest match ever. And more than that, one that was sure to make Orochimaru proud.
"You're nothing without your pet, huh you little bitch?" He laughed, confident in the Hokage's declaration that Godzilla would not interfere. Where the big lizard was, he didn't know or care. As long as he couldn't come and crash the match, the bitch was toast.
"Give up?" He asked mockingly. Sakura's head stirred slightly.
"C'mon Sakura, get up!" Naruto shouted. "Don't let him beat you!"
"No surrender?" Zaku gasped. "What's that I hear? You want me to splatter your brains across the arena floor?"
"SAKURA! SAKURA!" Naruto bellowed, being restrained by Kakashi forcibly. Zaku leered. His air cannons were charged.
Slowly, he extended the hands that would kill Godzilla's mistress...
THREAT! THREAT TO PARENT! STOP! STOP!
Sakura's dazed mind felt Godzilla's rage easily enough. Through their link, she figured out he was trying to get to the tower, but he couldn't find it.
Genjutsu, she absently thought through the pain. Someone... Put a genjutsu on him...
He couldn't see the tower, or smell it. He couldn't home in through their link.
THREAT TO PARENT! STOP! STOP! KILL THREAT!
Kill threat...
The pain was massive. She'd been slammed into the walls a number of times, and once into the floor from above. She felt burning pain everywhere, maybe a few broken bones. She was amazed she wasn't screaming... Shock...
THREAT! THREAT! KILL! Godzilla raged. Sakura tried to feel regret, tried to reassure her charge... But all that came was anger that grew with his.
Kill threat...!
An itching sensation nullified the pain, the same as when Godzilla's fast healing took effect from wounds.
I'm healing...? Part of her mind wondered, before she became aware jsut enough to be swallowed up in rage.
THREAT! THREAT TO PARENT! THREAT TO ME!
I WILL KILL YOU!
Red filled her vision. Through the haze she saw the enemy, staring in disbelief. Fear was in his scent. A shark's grin emerged on her face.
DIE!
A feral roar burst from her lungs, as though infused with burning green flames. Her posture changed, leaning forward, the sensation of a tail balancing her out. Her fingers curled into claws, chakra burning in them.
With claws yearning for blood, Sakura charged.
Naruto had stopped struggling, his jaw hanging to his knees. Kakashi's single visible eye was wide open. Sasuke himself was gaping in disbelief.
"RREEEEAAWWWRRRR!"
"AAAUUUGHHH! FUCK! FUCK-! SHIT!"
Sakura had gotten back up, at first leading Naruto to cheer. But after she'd unleashed a scream that sounded frighteningly familiar, disbelief replaced his exultation.
The only person who didn't look shocked was Gaara of the Desert, who was now wearing a grin to match the one on Sakura's face.
So surprised at his downed foe's revival, Zaku had hesitated just before firing his air cannons. It was enough for the madly grinning Sakura to close the distance between them and headbutt his face, knocking him back and letting him release his air blasts at random angles, missing his target badly.
Before he could recover Sakura slashed her curled fingers across his already bloody face. Zaku cried out as four diagonal crimson lines covered his face.
"YOU BIT-AAUUGHHH!"
Sakura pounced, digging her fingers into the boy's shoulders, blood escaping as they bit his flesh.
"How...? How is she doing that?!" Cried Lee nearly, eyes wide. His Hyuuga teammate activated his bloodline, brows knit as the pink-haired kunoichi proceeded to slash at her screaming opponent wildly, that eerie grin ever visible.
"Chakra in her fingers... It looks as though it's focusing the air near them into, for lack of a better term, 'air blades'," Neji reported. Lee gaped.
"You-You can do that with chakra?!"
"If you have incredible control," Neji allowed, grimacing.
Zaku was in intense pain, but it wasn't the worst he'd felt. The shock of the pink haired girl's counterattack wore off. He reached up, intent on blasting the girl at point blank range and shattering her insides.
"YOU-!"
Sakura opened her mouth and bit down on his wrist, hard. He felt and heard the sickening crunch of bones, as well as very, very loud screaming.
It took him a second to realize that screaming was his.
"STOP! AAUUUUGGGHHH! I-I SURREND-! YEEAAAGGGHHHH! HELP! HELP MEE!"
Sakura's jaws had descended for Zaku's wind pipe, but were snatched away, strong arms holding her back.
"REEEEEAAARGGGHHHHHHHH!" She screamed in rage, throwing her head back and trying to get free. It was only then that the spectators caught a long enough look at her eyes to see that they were no longer green.
Instead, they shined with a demonic, amber light. A light that soon faded, amber melting away for green and white.
Sakura blinked, as though seeing the world for the first time. She looked at her hands, absolutely soaking in blood.
"Winner... Sakura Haruno," Hayate coughed uncomfortably.
"You... Get that thing away from me!"
Her eyes fell on Zaku, struggling to flee but unable to, bloodloss making him dizzy. The medic nin came out and put him on a stretcher, carrying him away quickly. But not quickly enough.
"You fucking bitch! You psycho!" He raved at her, vanishing into the infirmary.
Sakura looked around, still held in strong arms. She looked up, seeing the disgust, horror, and shock in the eyes of nearly everyone she knew.
Monster, they seemed to say to her. All of them, monster, monster...
"It's okay, Sakura-chan... it's okay," murmured Naruto, holding her tightly.
Her head drooped, exhaustion snatching away her lucidity and sending falling into darkness. At the edge of the Forest of Death, Godzilla stopped his raging and turned, slowly returning to his lair.
Blood... So much blood... She washed it off, scrubbed her skin raw over and over again but she was drowning in it, drowning, drowning-!
"SAKURA! WAKE UP!"
Her eyes opened, a familiar, concerned whiskered face coming into view. Sakura blinked, shook her head and slowly sat up, sleeping bag cocooning her tightly even as the ground shook.
What-?
"Oh."
The rumbling settled, but concern and protect thudded in her skull. She turned at the familiar warmth at her back, a small smile forming on her face at the reptilian gaze looking her over.
"I'm fine... It's okay..."
Gratitude, calm, she projected, just as the Hokage had taught her. Another reason he was known as the Professor; he'd read up on chakra-based empathy before, and had taught her several basic exercises on how to keep calm and manage her foster child.
Safe. Rest. Sleep, Sakura emphasized. Godzilla rumbled, still concerned, but reassured enough to settle down. The great lizard turned and descended into the lake underneath the crescent moon. As he slipped into the depths, Sakura sighed.
The link was still there, it was always there, but a lack of physical contact made it a bit easier to handle. Even with the Hokage's training...
"Good thing you woke up," Naruto had been saying, only partially heard through her musings, "he kept trying to figure out what was bothering you. I tried to tell him that he can't exactly stomp nightmares, but eh..."
A shake of the head, and his concerned expression returned. "So... Rough night?"
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Sakura asked rhetorically.
"Shouldn't you be home?" Naruto countered. Sakura blinked.
"Naruto...? Did you just-?"
The blond shinobi blinked, confused. "What?"
Sakura's slowly wakening mind pieced together her confusion into a question.
"You've been... Different, lately."
Naruto shrugged, grinned almost cutely. "You're the one not hitting me for holding you."
Sakura noted this at last, Naruto's arms around her protectively. She didn't mind.
Her thoughts wandered back and recalled, a bit guiltily that a few months ago she'd have clobbered him for being so close to her.
"IDIOT! Sasuke-kun's the only one for me!"
Sakura snorted a bit, Naruto's brows furrowing in response. "Something funny?"
She looked back at Naruto, a slight smile on her face that was just a bit more honest.
"... Just... Thinking..."
Being empathically bound to a sixty meter tall, fire breathing reptile... Experiencing blood lust... Killing... Being loved unconditionally just for being there.
A childhood crush... It was almost frightening how easy it had been for her to just... Forget about it. Forget to feel hopeless, romantic, sugary 'love' for Sasuke.
"... Remember when we came back to Konoha with Godzilla?" She asked. Naruto frowned.
"... Sakura... It was a month ago," he reminded her, concern in his tone. Sakura laughed.
"It was huh...?"
At the time, she'd been scared out of her mind. Seeing Ino for the first time, thoughtless, selfish little Ino at the ramen stand. How the blonde had launched herself onto Sasuke and... She'd felt nothing.
No provocation. No anger.
But the moment Ino taunted her for supposedly shacking up with Naruto, whom she was standing next to and always felt a bit more comfortable standing next to nowadays...
Rage. Parent distressed. Threat to parent, threat to parent, stop-threat-to-parent...
Godzilla's roar breaking over Konoha for the first time, the panic in the streets...
She shivered and looked to the Hokage monument far in the distance, the third face in thanks. If it wasn't for you Konoha might not be here...
"... Sakura..."
Sakura frowned and looked right into Naruto's eyes. He flinched a bit.
"I don't want to talk about it."
The way he'd said her name... Just like Kakashi. A note of uncertainty, not about her ability to perform but about her ability to control herself.
Sakura had to admit, the fact her lazy sensei had remained perfectly calm when she'd woken up in the infirmary, expecting crimson all over her... He had gained a bit more of her respect, through the hurt his suspicion caused.
Naruto licked his lips.
"I know... I wasn't..."
"You were," she emphasized. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Look... I know how it feels-"
"I know," she stated flatly, a bit of a growl in her voice. Naruto wasn't intimidated.
"I know you know... I know! Really! Just... Well..." Naruto sighed. Sakura sighed, thoughts back to the start of this mess.
A bridge with three bodies on it. One was alive but in fake sleep. Another had been burned into a lifeless husk by her foster child, defending her.
The last... Torn to shreds and cauterized in blind, red rage.
Godzilla's emergence had triggered something in Naruto, in whatever-it-was that was inside him. She wasn't stupid. Naruto being born on the same day as the Kyuubi attack, Godzilla's senses granting her insight...
She wasn't about to force him to confess though. Sakura knew, and really... Naruto was nothing like the monster he contained.
But he still felt guilty about Haku. It was obvious, how his eyes were exactly the same after she'd gotten Godzilla to calm down on the bridge, and Kakashi had smacked Naruto out of his rage. How he'd just stared at what was left of his opponent.
"Do you need me to do anything?"
Sakura sighed, and wrapped her arms around Naruto. She hugged him closer, and he instinctively tightened his grip on her.
"Just... Stay a while. Okay?"
Naruto nodded. Sakura closed her eyes and hummed, happy at his body's warmth. A nice big bonfire in her sleepy mind, which soon lulled her to more peaceful dreams.
Naruto sighed, looking down at Sakura's sleeping form. He looked back at the moonlit lake, knowing what was under there but... Only a vague implication it still existed.
He'd barely understood half of Old Man Hokage's explanation about the link from Godzilla to Sakura. How chakra behaved wasn't hard for him to visualize, but the language used befuddled him.
So Sakura had broken it down for him afterwards, explaining the words and meanings over and over again to him until he got it. Why she was so patient with him he'd barely understood, but he wasn't complaining.
The Hokage and Kakashi told him to not be so flamboyant around Sakura any more, to be calmer and think before he spoke. So instead of bugging her for dates he'd shifted to asking questions. Keeping her mind active helped her resist Godzilla's emotions, she'd explained. And what she'd taught him was stuff he'd missed in the Academy.
He had to resist the urge to grin at how much he'd improved through Sakura's tutelage. Better chakra control, understanding how it acted, and lots of odd little things he'd missed over the years or been hidden. He had good incentive to want to pay attention and work on sitting still, being calm.
The longer he went without yelling or jumping around, the more Sakura taught him. And the more awesome a ninja he could become.
But, more than that... Sakura needed someone who knew what she was going through. Godzilla's link to Sakura had spread throughout the village, many people regarding her with fear after the Big Guy's first, unfortunate impression on them. Having a monster in the back of your head, or inside your belly - Not everyone would understand that.
He knew that all too well.
So he stayed. He held Sakura. He talked to her, he made her laugh to the best of his abilities, he kept training with her (after he'd finished with Ero-Sennin-They did have the finals to think of, and Kakashi hadn't left Sakura with anyone to train her, bastard), and in general, tried to keep her from spending all her time with Godzilla.
She camped out here now. After her... Match, word had gotten out that Godzilla could possess her, use her to kill for him. And like all such rumors in Konoha, it had reached the ears of those who hated and just couldn't get out of the habit.
Her mother tiptoed around eggshells when Sakura was around. He'd seen it himself.
Just like me, he mused with a humorless smirk. Just like me... A sister...
He hadn't thought about his crush on her in weeks. Once he'd gotten out of the habit of chasing her romantically, he just stayed out of it.
But if it meant she was happy, and not having nightmares or making the Big Guy go postal... It was worth it.
Even if she did marry Duck Boy.
The premise: While in Wave Country, on their first mission ever, Naruto and Sakura were assigned guard duty to Tazuna after defeating Zabuza and Haku. Naruto, bored, leaves a Kage Bunshin to watch the bridge builder in his place and goes exploring. Sakura follows, angry about him slacking off and catching up to him in a cave by the shore.
In this cave, however, Naruto has found something truly awesome-A giant, green egg. How it ended up there and why, I leave up to the writer. But a strange ooze is coming off it, and when it hatches even more ooze flies over Naruto and Sakura.
The Baby Godzilla sniffs the two terrified ninja, and licks them happily. Naruto, however, thinks it's trying to eat them and grabs Sakura and runs.
But, the Baby Zilla follows them back to Tazuna's house. Initially scared, again, Sakura figures out that it's not trying to eat or hurt them. In fact, it's following them around, almost like a duck following it's mother...
While Kakashi is reluctant to let the Baby Zilla near them, Sakura can't help but feel responsible for it. It does think she's it's mother... And think Naruto is another parent or member of the brood. So she decides to keep it. Sasuke is less than happy about it, when it grows... And develops atomic fire breath. The people of Wave, however, recognize the monster as a creature of legend, called "Godzilla" (or "Gojirra"), which protected humanity far in the distant past.
So that's the premise. It'd be a Godzilla from the series, that somehow ended up in the Naruto timeline, and imprinted on Sakura as it's mother.
Of course, since it's not a summon it'll follow her everywhere. Naruto will think Godzilla is utterly wicked and will praise Sakura about it constantly (and ask to ride on his head), where Sasuke (and most people in Konoha) will be freaked out at the idea of a giant, fire breathing lizard taking up residence.
Of course, like in the series, Godzilla's appearance is only the beginning, as more giant creatures begin to emerge across the elemental nations. Perhaps they've been in hibernation since the days of HEAT and the second Godzilla, perhaps something new is stirring them, but either way none of these huge creatures obey humans. And despite the huge summons already in service to ninja, there are so many of these creatures that they can't always be there to stop them (nor will they always be able to stop them). Thus, these beasts are going to make life more interesting for the elemental nations.
Fortunately, they've got one of these beasts on their side.
Now, more snippets!
Right after the Wave Mission.
After Sakura brought home her... new pet, the Council demanded that Sakura proved she was able to control it. Thus, after being brought out to Training Area 78 (where Godzilla had taken up residence-It contained a large lake system that he dug a lair out of, and plenty of fish for him to eat), the Council and Hokage stood in the middle of the sparsely wooded plain in front of the lakes, all gaping in astonishment.
Save for the Hokage, who could only grin, gripping his pipe with his shining teeth.
"Sit! Sit Godzilla, sit!"
The gigantic reptile crouched, and Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. She made a twirling motion with her finger.
"Roll over, Godzilla! Roll over!"
The beast roared it's distinctive cry, and then moved it's head towards the tiny girl in front of it. A giant pink tongue emerge from it's mouth and licked her.
"EEUGH! No, bad Godzilla! Bad!" Sakura cried, utterly covered in saliva that stank of fish but more concerned with her charge's disobedience. Godzilla made a rumbling sound that was almost like a very, very deep whimper, and bowed it's head. Sakura sighed and shook her head, smiling.
"It's okay Godzilla..."
Hyuuga Hiashi raised a single elegant eyebrow and looked over at the Hokage.
"Hokage-sama... Are you sure that keeping the beast around is a wise decision? It can't be de-summoned, after all."
"No... But it's far better to have a giant monster on our side than be without," Sarutobi stated. He smiled. "And he has not caused any excessive damage."
"What about the time with the giant rats?" One Council member asked. Sakura turned around and scowled.
"I told you before, he was defending his territory! He considers Konoha his, and he'll defend it against any outsiders."
Sakura's agitation attracted Godzilla's attention, and the creature stared intently at the council members, as though preparing to crush them the moment his parent was in danger. Sarutobi chuckled.
"Much like a Hokage's duty, no?" Sarutobi suggested. The Council member fumed.
Hiashi considered it... The monster did seem to regard Haruno with deference. However...
"Are there at least measures in place, in case... Godzilla should go rogue?" Asked Hiashi quietly. The Hokage nodded, just a bit, as Sakura turned back to Godzilla and gave another command.
"Blast it, Godzilla! Blast!" Sakura shouted. Godzilla roared. His spines and eyes lit up, and a great blast of green fire left his mouth, the pillar shooting high into the air. Sakura turned back to the council with a grin.
"I've seen enough," Hiashi nodded. "The Hyuuga support Godzilla staying in Konoha."
A number of other council members agreed, and Sarutobi nodded. The motion had passed.
"Great, good..." A familiar, loud voice shouted from behind. All eyes turned to regard Naruto, standing with an irritated look on his face.
"So, can we now get back to playing?" He asked. Sakura scowled.
"Naruto! Show some respect!"
"Awww... But Godzilla wants to play! Look at him!" Naruto shouted, pointing at the giant creature. Godzilla almost seemed to brighten at Naruto's presence. Naruto grinned, and ran through the gathered Councilors, rushing right up to Godzilla's right foot and tapping it.
"TAG! YOU'RE IT!" Naruto shouted happily, splitting into a hundred Shadow clones and rushing off, laughing, in every direction. With surprising gentleness, Godzilla bent down, tapping each clone with his tongue until he found the real one.
"Wow, he's gotten faster, hasn't he Sakura-chan?" Naruto laughed as Godzilla licked him. "HEY! HEY! EASY, HAHAHAHA!"
Sarutobi could only shake his head and smile. He could do little else, with the Council members all in complete shock and Sakura and Naruto laughing underneath the giant Godzilla.
Set before the Chuunin Exams...
"C'mon Sasuke, hop on!"
"No," Sasuke stated flatly, having to raise his voice just a bit to reach Naruto high above him. The blonde sighed in exasperation as Godzilla sat, basking in the sun as usual.
Yes, completely innocent... Until he opens up his jaws and...
Sasuke's frown grew. Naruto sighed again.
"C'mon Sasuke! He's not going to try to eat you... Again."
Sasuke glowered. Sakura popped up next to Naruto and shook her head.
"Or urinate on you."
"Or try to fry you with his breath," Naruto added helpfully.
"No. I'll walk," Sasuke stated flatly, tugging on the straps of his backpack meaningfully. Sakura sighed.
"But by the time you get there, we'll already be done with the mission!" The pink-haired girl insisted. Godzilla's eye opened, the tone of his mother's voice waking him from his doze. The eye swept down and looked right at Sasuke, who resisted the urge to run and cower.
"Godzilla is the fastest way there," Sakura insisted. "Don't you want to finish this mission and get back in time for the Chuunin exams?"
"It's an important one," Naruto grinned. "You'll get to preen even more than you already do, Emo Duck! OW!"
Naruto winced and rubbed the top of his head as Sakura scowled.
"C'mon, is it my fault his hair looks like the back end of a-?"
"It does not! It looks cool! Distinguished even!"
"Yeah, distinguished. All that extra hair gel really brings out the muddy duck in him. OW!"
Sasuke shook his head, wondering when Naruto had learned to use words like 'preen' and 'distinguished'. It was clear Naruto and Sakura spending so much time together, while having the bonus of keeping them away from him, made them twice as annoying when he did see them.
Itachi, I don't know how, but this has got to be your fault somehow, he thought irritably, ignoring Sakura and Naruto's bickering just like Kakashi, who was sunning himself on a beach towel on top of Godzilla's back.
He still wore the mask, even when just wearing swimwear.
He looked up and raised an eyebrow at Sasuke. "Come on Sasuke. Quick, easy mission. Money to feed Godzilla with."
"Why should I care about that?" Sasuke snorted. Godzilla's eye contracted meaningfully at him, and Sasuke gulped.
"Because, he might start eating people," Sakura explained. Naruto smirked.
"Though he might make an exception for a big, juicy duck-OW! HEY!"
"Quit it with the duck crap!" Sakura seethed.
Sasuke sighed, shot a glare at Godzilla... And leaped up on top of the huge reptile. He sat down and crossed his arms over his chest, using chakra to stay stuck to the creature's crocodile-like hide.
"Fine. Let's go..."
"All right! C'mon Godzilla, get up! Get up! Go to the sea! The sea!" Sakura shouted. Godzilla rumbled, and got up, turning and beginning a slow gait to the east. Sasuke looked out at the vast forests and mountains of Konoha, and allowed himself a confident smirk.
Maybe this won't be so bad...
"All right Godzilla! Hit it!" Naruto crowed. Godzilla roared his distinctive cry and accelerated, making Sasuke fall flat on his back as Sakura and Naruto cheered.
"WOO HOO!"
"ALL RIGHT!"
"Might want to be a bit more careful, Sasuke," Kakashi advised, lying perfectly unperturbed on his beach towel. Sasuke growled.
"Shut up!"
Moonlight shone overhead, waxing half-moon that was enough to cast the spines on the creature's back into sharp contrast. Low breathing that lightly warmed the air near her. Surprisingly heat radiant skin, black against the grey rocks of the shore.
The doctors at the hospital had done every test they could think of. A few ANBU scientists involved in theoretical chakra manipulation had looked her over. The Hokage himself had poured through books, scrolls and given her access to some of the most classified books in Konoha.
Haruno Sakura could still barely understand the mechanics of the link she shared with Godzilla. Part emotion, part sensation. Empathic link based on bio-chemical induced psychokinetic synchronization, according to that odd gray-haired genin at the hospital. A bond stronger than the ones between ninken and master in the Inuzuka clan, yet not entirely based on chakra.
A massive head lightly pushed against her. The pink haired girl looked up and smiled at a single, glowing amber orb.
Scratch?
The impression appeared in her mind and Sakura sighed. She extended her hand and ran her nails over the scales covering Godzilla's chin. Like a crocodile, there were nerve endings covering the reptile's skin in this area. A good scratch helped affirm the link between parent and child.
Child...
It was so scientific and detached, just as she'd wanted when first doing research. The struggle to not have a sixty meter tall, fire breathing reptile's emotions in the back of her head.
Naruto, for some reason, didn't get as strong impressions from Godzilla as she did. The Hokage had explained it away as an unusual facet of Naruto's chakra system... But Godzilla's senses fed hers now.
Predator... Fire... Long ago...
Protector...
Whatever it was that made Naruto different, Godzilla knew what it was. He also knew that Naruto held it back, as though defending territory. Sakura had pressed Naruto for details but the blond had slipped back into cheerful obliviousness.
Deception... Fear? It didn't make sense. Why would Naruto try to deceive her...?
She shivered, and the amber orb of her charge focused down on her. Warmth, trust, parent floated over her mind and she smiled. She scratched a bit harder, a pleased rumble her reward.
"Don't expect a bed time story," she murmured. Disappointment edged into her mind.
Godzilla didn't want her to go. The thought pleased her, though it didn't show on her face. She sighed.
"All right," she said quietly. Sakura cleared her throat. "Once upon a time..."
Godzilla's awareness shifted, and Sakura turned around. A single eye observed her, the other a hidden Sharingan.
"Evening Sakura," Kakashi greeted casually, several meters away from Godzilla and his parent. Sakura shook her head. Even after a month of being bonded to him, it was a bit difficult to get over seeing Kakashi and sensing Not-Quite-Parent to Parent.
"Breathe, Sakura," Kakashi advised. Sakura scowled, a bit of irritation surfacing.
"I'm fine," she grunted. Sakura shot him a harsh look. "What are you doing here anyway? You're suppose to be late, remember? Not early!"
"Ah, yes... You see, I was just passing by," Kakashi eye-smiled. The lie was obvious in Godzilla's senses. Sakura focused a bit, scratching the lizard again to calm him.
Deception, but not threat, she emphasized to her 'child.' Godzilla snorted. Kakashi sighed.
"You've been spending a lot of time with him," Kakashi observed. Sakura frowned.
"I'm his parent... I should be out here," she stated flatly. A shrug from the masked jounin.
"True... Though you being exhausted in the mornings-"
"I'm fine," Sakura hissed. The amber eye focused on Kakashi, Sakura's irritation carrying over to Godzilla. Kakashi nodded.
"... I understand," he said quietly. He turned and slowly walked away, orange covered book back in his hand.
Concern his scent read through Godzilla's nose, and Sakura snorted.
Bit late for that...
She turned back to her charge, smiles again. "Okay... Where was I?"
The story came out, knights and monsters and gallant princesses all. Godzilla didn't understand much of the nuances behind human story concepts, but it was enough that his parent was with him. He could catch her emotions well enough through the link, and that told a story all it's own.
Going a bit more indepth with Sakura's link to Godzilla. In Naruto's case, due to the Kyuubi he can't really get a clear reading on the Big Guy's emotions like Sakura can. Likewise, Godzilla feels Sakura's emotions more acutely than he does Naruto's. Which can be a bit dangerous if Sakura gets too emotional. Godzilla's first reaction to things distressing Sakura is usually stop-threat-to-parent, which involves lots of property damage.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
*POOF!*
wriggle, wriggle
Naruto sighed. He sat back down on the rocky ground, glaring at yet another tadpole.
"Damnit," he muttered. Raising his hands to his face, he directed his venomous gaze at his palms, trying to reach the Kyuubi with his anger.
"Stupid fox... You were so happy to come out before," he groused. Jiraiya turned away from his 'research', a raised eyebrow at his student's back.
"Hmm? What do you mean, brat?"
"I mean that... Well... Back in Wave Country, I had instant access to the fox's chakra," Naruto explained, scratching his head. Jiraiya frowned.
"Well, you were in a life or death situation... Probably out of your own chakra..."
"Yeah, but that's the thing," the blonde genin stated. "It really started coming out when Godzilla showed up..."
Jiraiya frowned, rubbing his chin. He smirked.
"Naruto... That pink haired girl of yours... Do you know where she might be at this time of day?"
"Well yeah, but..."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "No."
"Hm?"
"No! N! O! NO! Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be?!"
Jiraiya smirked. "That depends on what you think I have planned..."
Naruto groaned.
"Sakura is not going to like this..."
"You're nuts. You are completely insane."
Jiraiya gave her his most charming smile, never minding the giant reptile sunning itself behind Sakura. Naruto nearby shrugged.
"Come now Sakura... You called up Godzilla's power before, right?"
Sakura's glare turned positively murderous. Naruto's wasn't much better. Jiraiya sighed.
"Look... Like it or not, that incident proved two things. One, you can tap into your 'child's' chakra, at least to a limited extent, and two... He's not always going to be able to get there in time to save you."
"I know that! I also know that it will never happen again!" Sakura snarled. "I have to keep perfect control over these shields-!"
"Yes, yes, and after seeing what you did to that Zaku kid, I can understand your reluctance," the Sannin interrupted. He sighed, honest compassion in his eyes.
"However... Using Godzilla's power has made you stronger, hasn't it?"
"I... I'm not entirely sure" Sakura replied neutrally, shooting a glare at Naruto. The blonde made a face.
"Hey! It's not my fault you're getting better at sparring... A lot better."
Sakura clenched her fists, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. The Hokage had looked her over after her... Match against Zaku. Chakra that wasn't her own had seeped into her body, and things had overall improved. Denser muscles, more agile joints, and her stamina was increased by a fair margin.
And all it took was nearly ripping a boy to shreds...
"Sakura," Jiraiya broke into her musings. "Godzilla is strong. He's bound to you, and you to him. But you can't rely on him to save the day for the rest of your life. He's not a weapon, he's your child." He shook his head.
"A parent should be able to look after herself, as well as her offspring... And using your link to Godzilla can let you do that. If you train with it."
Sakura sighed, and looked over to Naruto. The blonde shrugged.
"I haven't been able to get anywhere with my training," he admitted. "But... It's your choice, Sakura."
Curiosity was in her mind, and she turned around, a single amber eye gazing at her. The pink haired girl sighed once more, and slowly turned back to Jiraiya.
"Okay... What do I need to do?"
Calm, calm... This is just training. Not a real threat. Training, Sakura emphasized over the link. Though they had moved to another training area, Godzilla had seen fit to get up and move closer, nestling under the sun again but ever watchful.
Threat, but no threat? Godzilla puzzled. Sakura sighed, and sent over a few mental images of her sparring with Naruto.
Play... Though dangerous, not threat she tried to translate. Godzilla snuffled, but understanding was in his mood.
Along with not happy about parents endangering selves.
Sakura fought against a smile, and lost. A few meters away facing her, Naruto smiled back. Jiraiya sat on a blanket under an umbrella, fanning himself in the warm air.
"Well then... Are we ready?" He asked with a smile. Sakura raised an eyebrow at Jiraiya.
"Are you completely certain?"
"No one ever is," Jiraiya replied honestly. Sakura sighed, and shook her head. Probably the best she could hope for.
After all... My first match is against Sasuke...
She grimaced. A few months ago she would have not trained at all and let her crush win. Looking back, Sakura couldn't get over just how pathetic she was.
Sasuke was still her teammate, and she cared about him... But she wasn't going to let him win. She would be doing him an incredible disservice.
"All right..." She took a deep breath. Naruto nearby just smiled encouragingly.
Okay... Anger. Send me lots of anger...
Godzilla snorted, but did as she asked. He didn't quite understand his parent's reasoning, but if she wanted him to give her anger, give her strength, he would.
Threat, threat to parent...!
Besides... Having his male parent pull out the foul smelling power of that fox was more than enough to make him angry.
Sakura also concentrated on anger, threat... Her breathing sped up, her pulse quickened...
Jiraiya watched, intrigued, as Sakura's body began to emit a bright, neon green glow. The chakra was similar to Godzilla's, all right - He'd recognize the taste of the energy anywhere. It was like fire, producing heat that smelled of metal.
Naruto closed his blue eyes, reopening them to reveal burning red irises. Scarlet chakra began to emerge from him, taking shape over his skin in a translucent shell.
Sakura bent forward slightly, fingers curling into claws and the chakra around them shaping accordingly. Her teeth grew sharp and her eyes turned amber. The green chakra seemed to almost solidify around her, it's silhouette of a familiar, sixty meter tall reptile.
The red chakra around Naruto once more took the form of a fox, and he fell to all fours, snarling in feral menace.
"Grrrrr..."
"Reeeearrgggghhhhh!" Sakura returned in challenge, shark like grin on her face. Still, Jiraiya could see that Sakura was still in control, her eyes, while amber, not those of a predatory monster.
"Heh... Cool," Naruto grinned, baring extra sharp canines. Sakura swung her tail in a figure-8, grinning back with less menace.
"So then... Let's see what we can do," Naruto stated. Jiraiya sighed.
This wasn't exactly how he'd wanted things to go... But now that they were like this... May as well watch the show, and stand ready to intervene in case things got out of hand.
"In that case," Sakura grinned, "I'm going to kick your ass, Fox Boy!"
"Bring it on, Lizard Girl!"
The two partially possessed ninja charged, nuclear-enhanced flames meeting demonic hellfire.
The results were, naturally, predictable.
KABOOM!
After the dust settled, Jiraiya poked his head out from behind the tree he'd taken refuge behind. Not that he couldn't have taken the blast, but he wasn't in the mood to dry clean, again.
"REEEAAARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"RRRAAAAWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRR!!!"
Sakura and Naruto fought furiously, chakra auras still intact as they tore up the training ground. However, despite their fighting, they kept their fists closed and attack non-lethal. And both smiled, not in bloodlust, but in thrill.
Jiraiya chuckled, and sat down to watch. He was already getting new ideas for the next Icha Icha!
As for Godzilla... He snorted again, his mood close to exasperation with the 'play' of his parents. The connection still going strong with Sakura's anger, he settled down for a nap.
During the One Month of Training, by Kenko:
Gamabunta stared at Godzilla.
Godzilla stared at Gamabunta.
In the case of one, bubbling, surfacing genetic memories equated the titanic Boss Toad as Not-threat unless threatened. The lizard peered quizzically at the summons, head tilted much as a curious puppy might titlt it's head at something unexpected.
In the case of the other were memories of a more personal and immdiate nature. After so many, many years...
"Well, hell. Been a long time since I seen the likes of one of you, lizard. Suppose your handler is nearby?"
"Snurff."
"Do say-- she's coming along? Then you're just here because you were curious about me?"
"Snortff."
"Well, I can see that. Yo, kid-- you know this reptile?"
Naruto, completely confused at the strange reaction of the Summons to Godzilla, could only reply. "Um. You mean Godzilla, right? Yeah, I'm kinda his daddy, Sakura says."
"His daddy? You've got a bond with... Well, hell kid, with somthing like THAT what the hell do you need to summon ME for?"
"Ask the pervert sage, not me! This was all HIS idea!"
Again, anyone who wants this idea, all yours. Seriously.