Plot; Naruto was able to graduate a year early with Mizuki's help. Mizuki taught him to create multiple clones, rather than the three he kept trying to make, so as to spread his chakra out more evenly and execute the jutsu properly. This was not done out of kindness but evil orders from the civilian council in hopes of killing Naruto off. Ninja mercenaries were sent to The Land Of Snow to aid in a Civil War: same place as in the movie but much deferent series of events, mainly two evil uncles fighting over control of Yukie ( who is younger than Naruto ) and the country after Yukie's father died. The struggles and hardships Naruto faced allow him to awaken Hyoton. Will be having fun with Uzumaki Chakra and Kurama's Chakra and how it interacts with Ice Release to grant it special abilities. I'll also be referencing ice abilities across anime like Esdeath from Akame Ga Kill and a horror movie called Jack Frost: The Mutant Killer Snowman.)
Naruto will be Chunin level and I'll try to hold him there for a good while. One of my main issues with FanFiction is my tendency to make everyone god-tier; something I'll try and avoid. Hyoton was always my favorite Kekkei Genkai so I'm hoping this is good.
Will be reusing characters and jutsu from past stories I've done; especially retaining to Water Style.
Story Start:
Naruto studied the caravan that was still four miles out. The snow covered branches hid him well with the aid of the thick white cloak and hood draped over his shoulders. The two Rain Chunin working as bodyguards glanced around nervously as they protected their client; the man Naruto had been sent to kill. He was a Black Market Merchant that supplied the warring faction of The Land Of Snow that Hidden Leaf opposed with weapons and contraband. The monster had brutalized and murdered a young woman a week earlier and her father had sold everything he owned to have his revenge.
Sighing bored Naruto allowed his mind to drift to the past year. The day he received his headband was one of his most happiest memories before this frozen hell. Creating an army of illusions to shock all academy sensei, the looks on his classmates' faces as he flashed the new shiny metal headband with the Leaf Village Insignia, it was all the bragging and boasting he had hopped it would be; they were all so jealous and he looked so cool. Sasuke had demanded he be allowed to try and graduate but no sensei would sponsor him. Naruto had only retained a sponsorship because of his previous year's sensei that let him take the graduation test the first time. Afterwards, things got boring fairly quickly. With no open spots on teams Naruto was forced to fend for himself, until Mizuki Sensei informed him of this mercenary mission. It was what nobles called a Sophisticated War: a small agreed upon skirmish to settle disputes and prevent all out World War. The Land Of Iron took overwatch authority and allowed hidden villages to set up base camps inside the country's territory in designated safe zones. Each hidden village was allowed to send a certain number of Genin, Chunin, and Jounin to make money for their homes; however, both sides of this Civil War had agreed upon no Jounin in hopes of preventing wide spread destruction, as well reduce the chances of outside shinobi overpowering their person Snow Ninja bodyguards, so only Genin and Chunin were invited for mercenary duties.
Naruto tasted bile in the back of his throat just thinking about it. Kazahana and his younger brother Kata, neither of which had any true claim to the throne other than their toddler niece Yukie, could not come to an agreement on who should run the country after their oldest brother die of illness. The nobles had begun picking sides and offering manpower and money for who they thought should lead, and the necessary paperwork was filed in The Land Of Iron for the go ahead of war. Naturally the samurai tried negotiating to prevent fighting, but there was no clear will so Yukie's guardianship, and control of the country that came with it, was on equal grabs for both uncles. The young girl was being kept safe in The Land Of Iron as her family tried to murder one another. The young Jinchuriki had not known any of this when he volunteered though. All Naruto understood was each village that was invited could send twenty Chunin and forty Genin and he was going; like a jackass he was off to protect some perceived princess. Lord Hokage tried to stop him but had no authority to do so. Everything was handled through the daimyos of each individual nation so the kages themselves could not be held accountable for anything that happened; just another precaution against all out Shinobi World War.
Naruto's first mission was where he learned what hell he had volunteered to fight in. The boy had been doing basic guard duty for a small time merchant and his family. They had supported the younger brother Kata and were targeted for assassination. Naruto had not been worried and entertained their youngest son with his clones; allowing the toddler to stumble around by to try and find the 'Naruto' he could actually touch. The happy time had erupted suddenly in a massive fireball when enemy shinobi from Hidden Stone had attacked in the dead of night. Using a combination wind and fire attack they incinerated the whole house the family had been staying in. Naruto had tried saving the small boy and wound up catching a secondary explosion to the face when the gas lines blew. His left side had been heavily damaged when thrown through a wall.
It had taken him a week to fully recover. Beaten and broken in the hospital the boy had wept for the dead family he failed to protect; the tears from his bandaged left eye were blood red. Eventually he got better but his left eye was worrying as it was almost lost in the attack. When he finally opened it a week later after all the scar tissue had mostly faded, it was to see a slitted purple fox-like eye instead of his normal blue. Naruto had freaked out not knowing what was happening until the Chunin Commander, Himiko Nara, explained about the Nine-Tailed-Fox and how the Fourth Hokage sealed the beast inside him. Not even letting Naruto absorb the information she had a medic run a diagnostic on the new eye to learn if there were any secrets to it. The elderly man explained the eye had Byakugan-like properties possibly because Naruto, like many others who called The Land Of Fire home, was a distant relative to the Hyuga Clan. Focusing chakra, the fox-like eye allowed its owner to see vast distances and through solid objects as well the Chakra Network; an ability Naruto did have fun with until looking through everyone's clothes became a second nature matter of survival: when everyone is trying to kill you to hell with modesty. With the eye Naruto was also able to judge how people used chakra to teach himself tree-walking and water-walking; which was more like snow-walking.
Later, while on a basic reconnaissance mission, Naruto had been paired with two older Genin; a kenjutsu user and trap specialist. The assignment was to use Naruto's new left eye to scope out an enemy supply route for a team of Chunin to demolish. Sneaking in and out without incident, Naruto had been surprised when his sword wielding teammate tried to run him through from behind. Only his growing paranoia from being in enemy territory for so long saved him as he instinctively jumped aside. After some speech about Kyuubi killing his parents, as well the Civilian Council paying them a ridiculous amount of money so the blonde did not return home alive, the bastard swordsman pressed his attack. The two Leaf Shinobi obviously planned the murder together as the trap user managed to catch Naruto in a hidden net that sprung up from underground; apparently he had set the thing prior to the Reconnaissance Mission. Bound up in rope and about to die, the Jinchuriki felt a new kind of power surge within himself as the snow around them all melted. The water quickly rushed to submerge the two traitors and froze solid instantly.
After that Naruto no longer trusted the Leaf Shinobi in camp and worked alone. At first Commander Inosa was reluctant to allow this, but thanks to his eye and new elemental kekkei genkai, Hyoton, Naruto was able to excel quickly in taijutsu and elemental ninjutsu. Unashamed he stole from his fellow Leaf Shinobi whenever he could sneak a peek in secret, paying close attention to the handful of Hyuga when they spared with each other. In this way he learned a variety of water jutsu and a broken version of Juken. The boy was forced to invent his own wind jutsu and came up with a handful of tornado styled defenses and attacks. The bodyguards of Kazahana and Kata were specially trained shinobi loyal to The Land Of Snow that could utilize the natural landscape in jutsu. Seeing them in action Naruto was able to still a handful of Snow Jutsu to add to his growing supply; obviously his jutsu were much stronger than cheap imitation Hyoton. Unfortunately his eye had no Sharingan capability and his ability to 'copy' jutsu was greatly limited too wind, water, and chakra control.
Looking at the group with the approaching target with his left eye, Naruto figured he still had an hour to kill. Reaching into his cloak he pulled out a folded up letter. This was a surprise he had never anticipated when he came to The Land Of Snow. Three weeks in and mail call had handed him the sealed envelope. Unsure he had opened the letter thinking it was from Iruka Sensei. Naruto had not known him long, just a few weeks before he graduated, but the man had seemed nice. Imagine his shock when he read the immaculate neat handwriting of his classmate Hinata Hyuga. The letter started with her wishing him well and a prayer he came home safely. It then went on to describe his old class and all the normal characters and their typical antics. The usual Sasuke Fan Club of which Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka were the equal heads off. The shy girl never praised the emo brat so Naruto held out some hope Hinata was not a member of the banshie brigade. The absolute best thing was the twenty bowls of Ichiraku Ramen sealed in a scroll that came out still piping hot. She had written to him regularly after that, once a week at least, and was the main reason he even went to camp anymore. Most of the time he lurked on the outskirts looking in for potential enemies in Leaf Headbands, but on days when the mail arrived he was the first person in the mess hall. Naruto had also written Hinata, though his handwriting was not nearly as elegant. He told her about the people he met in towns and villages, the various merchants he helped and protected from the upsurge of bandits at the country's instability, the nobles he liked, and the ones he made fun off; though never would he talk about the killings, nightmare, fears, nor the sleepless nights in which all he could do was scream to the heavens. The shy girl's letters were his only escape from this hell, even if only for a few minutes at a time, and he did not wish to discourage her.
Reluctantly Naruto folded the letter back up as he prepared for what came next. Assessing the enemy he noticed the shinobi up front was very tall and wide sporting a double chin and basic Rain Chunin attire: dark pants and long sleeved shirt under a grey pullover vest. The woman at the back wore a similar outfit but had the same type of insulated white cloak as Naruto, and long pink hair which was done up in a tight bun held in place by two senbon. Gathering a head sized ball of water from thin air, Naruto channeled a small amount a Kyuubi's Chakra into the mass. Letting it fall towards the snow he ran through a quick succession of hand signs. Bringing his fingers up in front of his face the boy spoke the name of his jutsu.
"Hyoton Release: Demonic Carnivores Snowmen."
At the base of the forest the frost began rippling as multiple balls of snow formed from the surface. Each one grew stubby little arms and hands with snow noses, eyes, and mouths. Laughing giddily they looked around their surrounds with a base intelligence. It was one of Naruto's more controversial jutsu. From what he could gather Kyuubi was a mass of violent demonic chakra given form to destroy all that it wished. Therefore, any jutsu made from the beast's chakra would possess the same frame of mind. Ever since he had gained his eye and recovered from the explosion, it became easy to channel Kyuubi's Chakra into his left arm and hand. Naruto could not fully control the chakra or jutsu created with it, but there was no one in the caravan he needed to spare.
Launching himself from the tree Naruto produced two kunai made of ice and threw them at the wide Rain Shinobi. Despite the large gut and double chin, the man moved unexpectedly quick and parried both blades with lightning fast hand swipes. The pinkette jumped to meet Naruto in mid air as she produced a katana from inside her cloak. Parrying the blade on a hastily made ice arm guard the boy shoved off to the side. As the kunoichi fell, she hurled a volley of senbon produced from chakra smoke. Naruto twirled his cloak quick as he spun in a tight spiral, channeling chakra to the fabric, and brushed the attack aside.
Landing in a crouch Naruto rolled away as a glob of tanned flesh was flung at his face. Looking at the mass in grotesque fascination the boy barely dodged when it launched itself towards his face again. Looking to the fat man Naruto received an answer to the question of what that jutsu was when the enemy pulled a mass of skin from his cheek.
"Pretty cool, huh brat." The Rain Chunin mocked. "My kekkei genkai: Flesh Release."
The woman appeared behind Naruto and made a horizontal slash at his neck. The boy ducked quick and delivered a powerful mule kick to the kunoichi's abdomen. Blown backward the pinkette bounced away in the snow, but left an explosive tag behind as she left. Naruto encased himself in ice as the fireball engulfed the area.
Allowing his ice to fall away he mocked right back. "My kekkei genkai: Ice Release."
A mass of snow rose up to defend his back from another hail of senbon as the fat man charged. With a powerful haymaker the man smashed Naruto hard into a tree just off the road. Half way into the bark the blonde's vision went dark as the man's fat folds moved to encase him in an airtight cocoon. The casing froze solid and shattered seconds later as Naruto escaped with minimal effort.
Landing at the back of the wagon Naruto was forced to backflip as a large senbon came up out of the snow. Landing a good ways away on his knee he looked back towards the wagon to see the woman standing at the ready with her katana. "You should have brought backup brat!"
"I did." Was Naruto's only warning.
The ground under the woman's feet erupted suddenly with high pitched laughing snow monsters. The pinkette screamed as icicle teeth sank into her arms, legs, side and face; one nasty little snowball biting off her nose. The larger chunin moved forward to help but reacted to late. A much larger snowman, one that toward over everyone with solid formed arms and legs, rose from the snow and bare hugged the woman tightly. With a deep throaty gurgle that past for a laugh, the construct bent down and bit off the woman's head and shoulders. Covered in gore blood spayed everywhere the independent jutsu turned and began lumbering towards the fat man. Angrily the remaining Rain Chunin destroyed the snowmen that came his way as he fought desperately to protect the wagon. His goo like flesh would contour to the vicious biting attacks of the miniature enemy allowing him to avoid injury. When the larger construct reached him the Rain Chunin pulled a ball of flesh from his side that hardened it into a tanned rock with spikes. Attaching a glob of more flesh to it from his palm, the man brought it down hard on the construct's head like a makeshift flail. His victory was short lived as Naruto slammed his hands straight down into the ground. A pillar of ice sprang up and hammered into the man's chest to drive him back through the woods. Helplessly he crashed through the brush and trees as his flesh instinctively protected his bones and internal organs.
Naruto could see the chunin was only dazed so closed in on the wagon fast. Ripping the door off the hinges he looked inside to see his target cowering on the floor. Dressed in fine silk robes the man was a pitiful sight as he sobbed on his knees. Looking up with hope while brandishing money he sobbed helplessly. "Please, spare me! I'll pay you anything!"
Not bothering to reply Naruto grabbed the man's head and froze it solid. Breaking it off at the neck he shunshined away with his kill confirmation. The overweight chunin returned to see his client's headless body. Looking around he fumed at the failure of a mission. Gathering the remains of his dead teammate he left for base camp.
…..
Sarutobi sat smoking his pipe while reading a report that did not exist. Despite the limited reach he had regarding the mercenary camp that did not stop him from assigning an ANBU to follow Naruto around and report back. The current events were disturbing to say the least. The callous way he had learned to dispatch both enemies and targets was worrisome for a Jinchuriki. With his new eye and unnatural prowesses in using the Kyuubi's Chakra through his Ice Release, it would seem the beast was beginning to influence his mind and heart. Of course this could be a basic reaction to war zone fatigue but without a proper examination there was no way to truly tell. Once again the old man pondered the merits of murdering the Civilian Council, or simply sending a private squad to murder Kazahana. Unfortunately other hidden villages would frown at this; a drawn out war paid far better than a quick battle.
A knock came from his office door as the old Kage looked at his wall clock. It would seem the two individuals he had been waiting for were finally here. "Come in."
The threshold open to a young brunette wearing a basic chunin flak jacket half open with nothing else but blue shorts. The red tattoos on her cheeks were the markings of the Inuzuka Clan. Next to her was another Shinobi that had straight white hair that fell to his shoulders, a bandanna over his head sporting his leaf headband. He wore his flak jacket over a basic blue uniform that many academy teachers favored.
"Hana, Mizuki, thank you for coming." Hiruzen stated formally as he smothered his pipe.
"No offense sir but did we have a choice?" The young woman mocked with a humorous smirk.
The old Kage did not bother responding to the jest as he picked up a basic scroll with a somber expression. "Mizuki, how is the new crop of students coming?"
The chunin was taken back for a second but quickly responded. "Sir, they are coming along nicely under Iruka's tutelage. I say they'll be some of the finest we've had in a while."
Nodding expectantly Hiruzen handed over the scroll. "This is from The Land Of Iron. With the losses across the board in every mercenary base camp, they have issued another round of invitations: ten chunin, twenty genin."
Hana took the scroll apprehensively. She had expected something along this line but hoped to be wrong. "You wish me and Mizuki to volunteer, sir?"
Nodding Hiruzen explained, "More than that Hana, I want you both to take a team of genin and watch over them in The Land Of Snow."
Now both chunin looked perplexed at the request. It was Mizuki that came to the realization first. "Lord Hokage, I don't think any of the new genin set to graduate are ready for such an assignment."
Hana looked back and forth between the two men flabbergasted realizing Mizuki was right; her baby brother was in that group. Hiruzen handed the white haired chunin a file from the side of his desk. "This will be your team. They consist of an older unit one year out of the academy. All three are under the instruction of Might Guy and are exceptional in their individual fields. Guy will be talking with them soon, seeing if they wish to volunteer, and introduce you if all goes well."
"Hana," the old man spoke a little kinder, "you will pick two students from the current graduates to team up with Naruto Uzumaki who is already in The Land Of Snow. You can choose whoever you wish except Sasuke Uchiha. We just can't risk losing the Sharingan."
The young woman took the scroll from Mizuki to read The Land Of Iron's invitation. "I heard the war would be ending soon. One of the two brothers and their supporters should run out of money eventually."
"Unfortunately, that won't happen anytime in the near future; maybe three months if current intel is accurate." Picking up his pipe Hiruzen lit it while dismissing the two. "I suggest you both go and prepare. Graduation is tomorrow and the group of Shinobi volunteers will leave in two weeks. Hana, you'll only have that time with your two chosen subordinates to prep. I'd suggest a heavy focus on chakra control and survival tactics."
After his two chunin left the old man sat pondering Mizuki. He did not know if sending him was a good idea or not. When the man helped Naruto pass Hiruzen wondered at his motivations. When Naruto volunteered for mercenary duties Hiruzen had been tempted to have the man killed. If not for Iruka's insistence of the white haired man's honest intentions Hiruzen would have already had the grave dug. From what the scarred faced chunin explained Mizuki had been talking with Naruto when the boy expressed a desire to give up on being a shinobi after once again failing to produce a working clone in class. The assistant instructor had suggested to the boy spreading out his chakra to make more clones so the jutsu would not fail. Mizuki had no idea apparently that Naruto's sponsorship for early graduation was still valid from his previous year's instructor. He also did not think Naruto would volunteer for mercenary duties. The Jinchuriki had noticed the odd preparation and Mizuki explained it all in passing. From what Iruka said the man was beside himself with worry for the boy.
Sighing tiredly Hiruzen picked up the ANBU report on Naruto. Shaking his head sadly the old man realized Mizuki's loyalties would come to the surface soon. If the chunin was a threat to Naruto then he would die like everyone else that had already tried killing the Jinchuriki.
…..
Haku dodged the large claw as it came at his face. Grabbing the assailant's wrist he flipped them over his head and slammed them hard into the ground. The man's partner came in from behind and tried to claw Haly's back, but the boy jumped up quick and delivered a powerful kick to the second assailant's masked face. The second man flew backwards and dragged the first with him by a shrunken-chain that connect their individual large clawed gauntlets.
"Son of a bitch." The second man grumbled as he stood up on wobbly legs.
Haku chuckled as he casually strolled over. "You give up, Gozu?"
The Mist Chunin popped his neck as he grumbled something inaudible that sounded like a swear word. He and his twin Meizu were known as the Demon Brothers for their relentless attack patterns and horns on their headbands. Sporting the same long brown hair, cold dark eyes, and dark cloaks, both men were identical in every way but their horns and gauntlets. Gozu wore his weapon on his right arm and had a single horn like a rhino, while Meizu wore his weapon on his left and had two horns like a bull.
"Asshole." Meizu mumbled walking up. "Did you have to hit us so damned hard. Afraid we ruin that pretty face you little punk."
Indeed, Haku did have an oddly feminine face for a young boy. Normally he wore girly style kimonos to fool people as a joke, but ever since arriving in The Land Of Snow he had not gone out once without his battle gear: green kimono shirt, wide-leg grey shorts, and his long blackish brown hair done up in a bushy bun. He got away with wearing such light clothing as he possessed Hyoton so did not get cold. The three chunin worked together quite often over the years and had naturally stuck together when arriving to be mercenaries.
Glancing towards the sun Haku realized the time. "Come on, this is the best time for us to get an assignment."
Making their way through the small housing area which held tents for shinobi, the three headed for the largest in the distance. Walking through the flap the found a bald man with sharpened teeth sitting at a table full of mission scrolls. Off to the right was a poster board of various known enemy ninja and their states. The man gave a snide lear seeing Haku that the boy simply ignored. Thanks to the Fifth Mizukage, Lady Mei Terumi, the bloodline purge was over. It stopped the day that bastard Yagura Karatachi died and his rain as Fourth Mizukage ended.
"We're seeing about assignments, Aridao." Meizu spoke before the man could start in with his usual bullshit.
"Yeah, I'm aware, baby demon." Aridao mocked as he reached into the pile of scrolls. "Got one right up this girly boy's alley; an assassination."
"Another one?" Haku sighed as he held out his hand. "Who is it this time? Some noble helping out Kata or one holding out on Kazahana?"
"Neither," the man smirked as he handed over the scroll, "seems one of the Leaf Shinobi fancies himself some kind of hero. Little bastard has made a habit out of killing the more sleazy merchants and dealers in Kazahana's employ, regardless of how little the pay. Last one he killed little brat took on two experienced chunin for a fee of two thousand ryo, and gave his half of the pay back to the man that paid it. Six confirmed kills to date and he's making the other little criminals nervous. Not good for anyone's business having this shiny knight bullshit; boy's given all us mercenaries bad names."
Opening the scroll Haku was met by two pictures of a young blonde child. The first one showed a exuberant boy just turned twelve smiling happy with a face full of hopes and dreams: short blonde hair, big blue eyes, a horrid orange jacket with a big white collar, and an air about him that just screamed annoyingly cute. The second was perhaps the most horrible rendition of what war did to those that lived it. The photo, submitted by his command to samurai authorities because of noticeable deferences, showed his one remaining blue eye empty of the light he started with. His new fox-like purple eye, surrounded by barely noticeable scar tissue, showed a paranoid madness that sought to eat away at whatever hope dared to still live within his heart. His blonde hair was longer and more wild, falling to his shoulders and covering his brow. Gone was his orange jacket to be replaced by a white cloak and hood.
"Should be fun kid," Aridao laughed while slapping his knee, "it's an old Blood Mist tradition after all: killing Hyoton Wielders."
…..
Author's Note: Short chapter, I know, but wanted to get this out. If it wasn't obvious Zabuza is not a rogue shinobi in this story. Think the Fifth Mizukage came to power during time skip but wasn't sure. In this story she assumed control after killing Yagura a few years before Naruto graduated. Neji, Tenten, and Lee won't change much as they are still running their normal timeline at the moment.