*Shoutout*

A lot of my writing is thanks to a great friend of mine, Zagger, who helps cut through the fat of scenes and helps trim it down with his own views on them. If you need stories other than mine to read, please go check out the follower.

Hushed Dreams.
Wildflowers.
Along with his newest one, Infinite.

Infinite is his newest, pure RWBY, story. It features Neo as the main character, I cannot recommend it enough, please go and support my friend!

Also, he's a huge fan of some sonic music, so if you are there from reading my story, please comment "That's What It Takes To Be Infinite!"

Thank you!

Chapter Nineteen: Loss.

"Nothing was working, and my friend was dead, and I didn't want to look at that."

-Anthony Kiedis, Scar Tissue.

{Naruto's Apartment.}
[The Next Day, 1:24pm]

Naruto woke up as bandages shifted around on his body. He sighed from pain, there was stinging where the doctor had to cut in and remove a fragment that was stuck despite his healing factor trying to push it out. Kosuke was already up, making breakfast, which was some rice and eggs. He saw Naruto exit his room, stretching. He noted the blonde taking a double look at him, and then nervously chuckling.

"Sorry, I had to take a double take." Naruto admitted before walking over toward the table. "Guess I'm up very late, huh?"

"Yes, it's way past noon."

"Seriously, crap, I had somethings to do today." Naruto bemoaned before slowly taking a sit, wincing just a slight bit. "Then again, I guess getting shot just has me on a little bit of leave, I guess…" The younger shinobi looks over toward the only pot not filled with food. "Tea?"

"Green tea, specifically from Konoha." Kosuke stated before pouring some in a cup, and walking over toward Naruto before handing him. "I'm going to make me some as well, you'd be glad to know that Kali and Ghira's security detail has doubled since you've been asleep."

Naruto frowns whilst remembering the dead guard he found in the alley. "What about the dead guard, did his family get informed?" The young shinobi asked before gripping his head a little bit. "If I only was there sooner, I might've sensed him in the act, and stopped it."

"You can't put the evils of others onto yourself." Kosuke stated before fixing him his own cup of tea. He started to make two plates before looking over Naruto. "Ozpin, and Qrow, both are with the guards at the hospital. Lady Kali wasn't made aware of what happened."

"That's good, but still, did the man really have a family?"

"Yes." Kosuke confirmed before Naruto shook his head and took a deep drink of the tea. "You only have one way forward, you can either sulk yourself here, or you can better yourself. I'm here with you for five days, maybe we can spend that time training together?"

"We could, but I don't really know many places in Kuo Kuana." Naruto then thought for a moment and nodded his head. "If you give me about thirty minutes, I know a place near that lake named after me. It's private, nowhere near any part of the new settlement built."

"Okay, well, eat that first and we'll get to it."

{Lake Uzumaki: New Plains.]
{Two Hours Later, 3:55pm.}

Naruto was walking with Kosuke, going to a place he knew no one would really bother them. He sighed as he stretched as he popped his back a little bit. "Alright, we're here, this is kind of my spot to train in." He told him before turning on his heel.

"I can see why, it's very isolated. Are you sure about training so soon after your injury?" Kosuke inquired whilst seeing Naruto give a cocky smile. "Heh, that smile says it all, hyperactive knucklehead."

"Your dang right!" Naruto declared before pointing his fist out at Kosuke. "I need to get stronger, and the only way I know how is to throw myself into the wall like crazy." The young teen forms clones as he tosses some books towards them. "Don't mine them, they're going to study some books while we do this."

"So, you figured out the little trick behind the shadow clones, didn't ya?" The much older shinobi watches as Naruto took a moment to beam and rub the back of his head. "Smart, not a lot of people figure that on, that just assume things. Still, it's not a perfect system, isn't it?"

"Nah, not really, but it works. The longer they stay, the more chakra I have to use. Sometimes it takes nearly half of my reserves if I keep them around for an entire day. Then again, that's because I usually do so to help guards patrol for Grimm. So, that's around a hundred, or so." Naruto answered him before taking a moment to stretch so more. "Today, it's just these ten, and they're studying some books I found interesting."

"You were never known as the academic back in the village, what changed here?" Kosuke asked.

"Well, Lady Kali kind of told me that I can be as strong as I wanted, but a weak mind made someone overall weak. All the power in the world means nothing if it's wielded by someone who doesn't know how to use it. I been getting pushed to doing these things from her, and Ghira." The young shinobi revealed whilst hopping on his feet. He finishes hopping on his feet, jabbing at the air. "Not gonna lie to you, Old Man Kosuke, but I'm not in top form. I kind of got a group of clones maintaining guard over the hospital."

"Wouldn't that make it obvious that she's still there?" Kosuke questioned him.

"I layered them with a transformation jutsu. They look like regular people, some staff, and a couple of birds on powerlines." Naruto revealed whilst rubbing the back of his head nervously, and then rubbed his chin in thought. "Maybe I should beef that number up to forty just in case."

"I'm sorry, did you just say forty shadow clones with transformation jutsu layered?" Kosuke emphasized whilst looking at him disbelievingly.

"Well, yeah, duh. I mean, I'm pretty much Mr. Chakra even back in the village, and besides, just because I'm tired doesn't mean I'm anywhere near out of chakra. I still got plenty for our spar, after all you wanted to see where I'm at, right?" Naruto suggested but watched as Kosuke shook his head. "What?"

"No, that's not the point! You do understand that shadow clones whilst dividing your charka, also take additional charka over time to be maintained. On top of all of that, you're also maintain multiple very different transformations, and some of them animal. I've been around the block for a while kid, and not one single person that I know of has that great amount of chakra." The Older Shinobi elaborated whilst making Naruto cock his head to the left a little, like a bewildered fox. "Wait a second, you didn't know that?!"

"Uh…why would I, truth be told, it all kind of feels the same to me. I mean, really, I recover chakra almost as fast I use it most of the time so…" Naruto drawled as he shrugs as he tried to come up with more for his reply but couldn't.

"…So, what? You mean to tell me, you, a recently promoted Chunin are out here doing something with a technique that most Jonin could only dream of! All the while, you're just standing there, acting like it's not a big deal when it's a really big deal!" Kosuke yelled in excitement as he waved his arms rapidly. "I mean, even Kakashi Hatake, and Jiraiya couldn't pull that off on their best day and much less be ready to spar whilst injured!"

The younger shinobi raises his left hand up. "Uh…well, Kakashi sensei, and Pervy Sage are just a lot stronger than me, ya know! Sure, I might be better at one thing, but that's hardly praiseworthy, sheesh." Naruto stated with crossed arms, whilst biting the left side of his cheek, and looking away in a sort of pout.

"…"

Kosuke blinks once, twice, and then upon the thrice marker he just throws his hand up. "I'm stunned, flabbergasted really, this is someone who uses a jutsu all the time without actually knowing his limitations on it?!" The older shinobi yelled out as he balled his fists up. "It'd be like more just randomly using Water Dragon Jutsu without noticing it much."

"The whole city would notice…" The young blonde shinobi retorted offhandedly.

"That's beside the point!" Kosuke shouted whilst waving his arms hysterically at his side. He then took a deep breath, and sighed. "If you don't know your own true limitations on something, you can never really grow it. Lord Jiraiya told me that he figured that your issue wasn't necessarily the control of chakra. Technically, per his own words, The Rasengan is near pinnacle of chakra shape manipulation and control. His hypothesis is amount, and he thinks because of The Nine Tails constantly fighting against you, your body naturally will produce insane amounts of chakra to counteract."

"Why would it need to produce that much?" Naruto questioned.

"Because if not, The Nine Tails would take over you!"

"Eh, really?! Well…that does kind of explain when I do get exhausted, or drain, I start to subconsciously draw on it's power." Naruto rubbed his chin before snapping his fingers. "So, what you're saying is that I need to figure out just exactly what I can make, and work to improve on making it bigger?"

"No, gods no, we need to work on you making it efficient." Kosuke clarified before taking a moment to form the hand seals needed for the shadow clone jutsu, and soon three clones appeared next to him. "Lord Jiraiya stated that you've been doing training exercises that he sent over, well should've, and I've seen the results myself I think."

"Heh, well, yeah, I guess. Hang on, let me show you what I can do." Naruto took a deep breath before holding both of his hands outstretched from him and facing up. He concentrated, and slowly two baseball sized orbs of chakra formed, though they were pale, and somewhat flickering. "This is close, but this isn't a stage three rasengan, it's a stage two in both hands."

"Ah, yes, I've heard of the training. So, you can get both hands to stage two?" Kosuke questioned before watching as Naruto dispersed the chakra before overlapping both of hands just above and below another. He heard the roaring screech as a deep blue colored rasengan fully formed, and moved to his right hand. "Ah, I see, Lord Jiraiya will be pleased to see that you've managed to get it down to using without clones!"

"Yeah, it was tricky, but that leaf thing he has me do has been helping me out. Plus, I can still form a stage two in my off hand." Naruto stated before forming a stage two rasengan in his left hand, though the sphere was considerably bordering closer to a stage one than before. "It just hard maintaining both, because my hair flows to right, thus my chakra flows more to the right I think that's what's Pervy Sage said."

"Heh, well, I'm not quite sure to be honest. Still, I'm shocked at your skill level for such an age. I've seen prodigies, and some of them were indeed way above you, but you're not exactly an idiot like I've been hearing some people say." Kosuke saw Naruto smirk cockily, and he gave his own. "Make the seal of confrontation, and let's get this training started. Every single day, from nine in the morning, to five in afternoon. I want to train you."

Naruto nods his head excitedly before forming the seal of confrontation. "Hey, old man, don't'cha know how to use a sword?" The younger shinobi questioned whilst getting ready, taking his headband out and tying it around his forehead. "I lost my sword the other night, but I really wish to learn some more things, especially from the shinobi side of it."

"Heh, let's just see, shall we?" Kosuke drops into a boxer's stance, but so does Naruto with an ever-growing cocky smile. "Your move."

"Let's go."

{Lake Uzumaki: New Plains.}
[Two Hours Later, 6:00pm]

Naruto's achkan was torn as he breathed hard, Kosuke meanwhile was standing there with arms crossed. He had a smirk across his face as Naruto stood up and removed the ruined achkan from his body. His stomach was fully exposed, and with it, so was The Four-Trigrams Reaper Death Seal that held the Nine Tailed Fox Spirit.

He claps his hands together, molding chakra before weaving hand seals. At the final hand seal, dozens of white puffs appear around him, whilst Kosuke whistles as he turns on his heel to look at them all. Dozens upon dozens of shirtless Narutos stood in the clearing, whilst the older Genin just chuckled under his breath.

"Alright, well, I surrender." He threw his hands up lightly whilst he surrendered. "I'm no fool, it's why I made the stipulation of minimums, I heard of your battle with that now Kazekage kid, Gaara."

"Wait a minute, Gaara is Kazekage now?!" Naruto screamed in surprise whilst all the clones burst, he just crossed his arms whilst biting his cheek. "Dang it, well this is just great, I am way behind everyone now!"

"Actually, I dare say you're ahead of many of them. This world seems peaceful, for the most part, but I've heard of the creatures you've fought this morning. They sound violent, powerful somewhat in their own way. To them, at least, they're predators, but to you and me they're good training dummies." Kosuke laughed whilst crossing his arms, proudly smiling. "I'm rather miffed though, I heard that you knew elemental jutsu, but you didn't you think that would've been useful after I launched my Water Dragon at you?"

Naruto blinks once, twice, and then thrice before he slowly raises his hand up. "I have a small question." He then nervously rubs the back of his head, whilst giving a sheepish smile. "How exactly does one do elemental jutsu with one's own chakra?"

.

.

.

.

"WHAT?!"

Naruto jumps back at Kosuke's shout as he saw the man's eyes open. The small, faded, brown dots looking at him in both shock, and confusion. "What do you mean how?! You did it during the battle with the giant monster, Gamaken, and Lord Jiraiya told the entire story to us from eyewitness accounts by one of the honored toads! You can't sit there, and tell me, that you don't know how to use elemental jutsu!" Kosuke accused whilst pointing a finger at him, watching as Naruto rubs the back of his head some more whilst nervously sweating. "Wait, my god, you're serious?! At least you know your affinity, right?!"

"What's an affinity?"

Kosuke just leans back and falls to the ground. His leg twitches before shoots straight back up. He marches over to Naruto, standing there, seeing the blonde shinobi just nervously take a step back. The man just sighs before pinching his nose.

"An affinity is one's own proclivity to an elemental type. Let's say for example, my chakra affinity is water. That means all water style techniques are just going to be a little bit easier for me to learn, and use. Since of predisposed to it. Kind of like Kakashi Hatake's chakra type is lightning, and Lord Jiraiya's is fire." Kosuke explained whilst slowly massaging his noggin, and then taking a deep breath. "How do you not know this stuff, I mean, it's basic academy knowledge."

"Umm…" The younger shinobi remembers skipping class almost on a daily basis, and then blushes a little bit whilst furling with his own longer hair. "So, yeah…"

"Oh Gods, you are her reincarnated, just slap red hair on you and you're Kushina version two!" Kosuke bemoaned, mentally whilst palming his face, and just sighing before taking a moment to gather himself whilst coughing into his hand. "Don't sweat it, perhaps I was mistaken, but didn't they say you used an elemental type with your rasengan attack?"

"Well, that's because I used one of these." Naruto reached into his pocket, producing a very small green crystal. He flicked into the air with thumb, smiling before catching it. "It's known as Dust, and it's basically from what Gamaken described it as a solid piece of elemental energy in nature. It's weird, because I don't think we have anything like it on our world, do we?"

"Actually, no, that's rather interesting." Kosuke held his hand out and beckoned the younger Genin to hand it over to him. Naruto complied, tossing it over, and the older man easily caught it. He began to observe it, humming all the while. "Yes, I can feel it, any time I try to connect my own chakra to it, it's nature transforms almost automatically. That pretty much sums up the how of your technique, but the why is a mysterious thing. Mind if I hold onto this, for when I go back to Konoha?"

"Sure, knock yourself out. I thought about trying to use a Fire Dust crystal with my rasengan, but…I'm kind of scared of accidentally burning all my clothes off too. Those things are just a bit too, what was the word Cloud used, explosive." Naruto laughed before his smile slightly faded. "I miss Cloud, man, me and him need to hang out more often."

"Cloud is your friend here?" Kosuke inquired.

"Oh yeah, he's a Toad Faunus with the eyes of a toad. He's into things like heavy metal, and stuff. Heck, I love that kind of music as well. You see, unlike where we're from, they actually have a lot more expression in their emotions here. It's weird, it took time for me to get used to it, because even though I am a shinobi they still sometimes view me as a child." Naruto rubbed the back of his head, blushing lightly. "Heck, it's one of the reasons I've come to value Ghira, and Lady Kali so highly, heck it's the main reason why I even bother with formality when it comes to them."

"Don't they have a daughter?" Kosuke questioned as he crossed his arms, and then noted Naruto slightly fidgeting at that. "You forgot to mention her."

"I'm getting to that part, sheesh. Blake is their first-born daughter. She was cold to me when we first met because she thought I was a human assassin sent from the continents. You're not fully aware of the situation, but all those people here, and on this continent used to be slaves about eighty years ago. They still have some fresh pains, and places on the continents still have laws in effect that allows discrimination to run rampant." Naruto sighed before looking away. "It's kind of like how the villagers treated me, which is why I relate, but what I am scared of is that some of them want payback instead of just trying to make it better."

"Ahh, well, I can understand that to a certain degree. Heck, we're not clean ourselves on that regard. Certain clans across our world have been given the 'untouchable' status in the bad sense. All people are equal, we all live and breathe the same air, bleed red." Kosuke stated before both of them sat on the ground, legs crossed. "So, I haven't seen her, is she in a safe location?"

Naruto shifts uncomfortably before sighing. "No, not really, she's with her boyfriend across the ocean in Mistral. It's a city, and country, on the continent of Anima. She joined The White Fang to make a difference." He bit his lip a little bit before taking a deep breath and then looking toward the north. "She's been fighting the good fight, but I really don't trust the person who's got her back. His name is Adam, and man, he just gives me the wrong type of feelings ya know."

"As in he's just mean to you, or- "

"No, Kosuke, I can sense negative emotions." Naruto clarified before taking a moment to frown. "Which is why I can tell, with what HFIL is doing, it's growing in Kuo Kuana. If it's growing here, despite me being here, then it's growing across the country as well."

"It's making it hard to track them?" Kosuke asked.

"No, it's not just that, I can kind of pinpoint negative emotions from those of killer intent. It's just, well, there's so many that it creates a smoke screen of sorts." The blonde-haired shinobi took a moment lay back on the grass, and just look into the sky. "I feel useless, and it bothers me, because I can't protect those I care about if I can't even find those who want to hurt them, ya know? Plus, with Blake literally almost a world away…if something happens, I can't be there."

"You put too much on your shoulders." Kosuke pointed out before smiling. "You're a good person, and good people tend to do these things, but just remember that you sometimes need help as well." He reaches into his back pocket. "Lord Jiraiya handed me this, saying he wanted me to test you out, and see if you've improved."

Naruto saw the weird paper in the man's hand and took it. "What is it?"

"It's chakra paper, it's made from a special tree that's constantly fed chakra. Simply flow your chakra into it, and it'll reveal your elemental affinity. If you're a water type, me and you could start practicing water style jutsu. If you're an earth type, I know some stuff. However, anything else, and you're gonna have to hold out." Kosuke explained it whilst taking a piece of paper himself, flowing his chakra into it where it became wet. "For water, it'll become wet. Fire means it'll turn to ash, wind is splitting it in half, and earth will turn it to dust. Lightning, well, lightning just crumbles the paper up."

"Huh, that's cool. Okay then, well here I go!" Naruto stood up before taking a deep breath, focusing his chakra into the paper. "Okay, I can feel it going into the paper!"

The paper shifts a little bit as he flows his chakra into it. Kosuke watches from his sitting position as the paper slowly starts to split in half. Kosuke smiles as it fully splits in half, and then gets confused before watching as both hands suddenly glow a bright golden color! Naruto grabs Kosuke as he drops the paper, and practically tackles him away from the glowing paper.

Nothing happened, it simply fluttered to the ground, glowing brightly before finally just turning back into the light tannish it had been.

"Why did you tackle me?!" Kosuke yelled before Naruto nervously got off him, and just sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Well?"

"I thought it was gonna blow, I mean, explosive tags glow like that before going boom sometimes." Naruto answered before seeing the paper flutter away in the wind. "So, I guess I'm a wind type, so is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

"It's a very good thing because wind types are strong and rare. However, what is more interesting is the fact that paper glowed afterwards. It indicates a dual affinity, meaning that you are either blessed with a secondary affinity, or perhaps…you have a Kekkei Genkai." Kosuke explained before noting the beaming on Naruto's face. The blonde was pumping his arms in excitement. "What's got you so excited."

"Hah, yep, next time I see Sasuke I'm gonna rub it in his face! I got something awesome, and all I need to do is figure out what it is, and bam! I'm gonna get super strong!" Naruto celebrated before slightly flexing a little bit. "I mean, what does it mean when the paper glows?"

"You see, I've been around the block a few times when it comes to this. I've only seen that paper glow once, and that was with The First Hokage." Kosuke answered before getting up, becoming serious as he looked into the azure eyes of Naruto who looked stunned. "It means that you've got an affinity for Yang Release."

"Yang…Release?" Naruto questions whilst crossing his arms. "What the heck is that?"

"Yang Release is the manipulation of chakra into life energy, or light energy, it's both really. Technically, there are no experts in Yang Release because there is no one defined category for it." The Older Shinobi took a moment to think. "It's the opposite of Yin Release, which is basically manipulations of illusions, and darkness. They both exist outside of the normal template of elements."

"Huh, that's neat."

"Neat doesn't even begin to describe this. The few Yang experts in the world were renowned as some of the greatest shinobi in history. Likewise, some of the few Yin Experts as well. For example, Lady Tsunade is a user of Yang Release because of medical ninjutsu, but her grandfather Lord Hashirama took it to newer levels. You see, it's believed that his Wood Style Jutsu was solely Water and Earth combining. However, the other things he could do…creating living things out of it, that are capable of individual action was a prime example of Yang Release." Kosuke emphasized as he looked at Naruto, noting the boy's smiling face was growing brighter by the minute. "So, in essence you've got two very strong affinities, perhaps even something more."

"Huh, so, I have the potential to be like Hashirama?" Naruto asked.

"No, you've got the potential to be yourself. Don't ever level yourself to someone else, level yourself to your standard." Kosuke chastised that thought quickly before crossing his arms with a proud smirk. "You're going to have to wait for training, but I think Lord Jiraiya can help you with the wind part of it."

"But, what about my other part?" Naruto questioned.

"That's where this gets tricky, because technically Yang Release doesn't stay standard to one doctrine of use." Kosuke answered before nodding his head. "It might be something you have to develop on your own."

"Well, let's get started then!" Naruto shouted as he held his fist out. "No time like the present, right?! I mean, I know some medical ninjutsu, so that would be a starting point, right?!"

"Yes, that's a very good starting point. Start by healing me a little bit, you gave some bruises to this old body of mine." Kosuke stated before revealing his chest, showing a large bruise over it. "After every spar, I'll let you try to heal me."

"Right!"

{Lake Uzumaki: Near Makeshift Training Ground.}
[Three Days Later, 10:00am.]

Naruto blocks three heavy jabs with both of his arms, interchanging the block just before each punch. The younger shinobi kept on his toes, leaning back to avoid a kick thrown by Kosuke whilst leaning back onto one hand and attempting to deliver three large upward focus straight kicks. Kosuke easily blocks them, reading the boy's movement cleanly through years of experience.

Rolling forward to dodge a kick made to sweep him off his hands, Naruto flips up and stand upright as he lands on his feet with a slide. He had the biggest smirk on his face. He brushes the bridge of his nose with his thumb. Kosuke began to weave hand seals, whilst Naruto took a deep breath and leapt backward just as the waters behind Kosuke began to rise.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Kosuke proclaimed before pointing his hand toward Naruto, and sending the dragon made of water toward him.

Naruto took another deep breath whilst bringing his hands over top and under one another. A loud screech formed as Naruto focused and slowly began to form a slightly larger than normal rasengan. He smirked before leaping forward and flipping once to gather momentum.

"Giant Rasengan!" Naruto screamed.

He slammed his hand froward as he held basketball sized ball of energy tightly, and then slammed right into the encroaching water dragon. Both attacks impacted each other with a loud rush of wind, and small wave of pressure causing long grass to waft in a large circle around the makeshift training field. Naruto growls as he begins to get pushed back, but then focused hard as he slowly began to twist himself midair to suddenly diver the water dragon and send it slamming into the dirt in a large splash of mud!

Sliding on the mud intentionally as he lands, he rushes toward Kosuke who smiles. He took a moment to reach for his land pan, and then his hidden sword inside of the prosthetic leg. He rushes forward, clashing against Naruto's dulled kunai as sparks flew about.

A kendo stick on the back of both training shinobi fluttered about from the loose strap on their clothing. Naruto took a deep breath and focused as he kept the leaves attaching to his body on him as best he could. Kosuke began to easily counter each slash, whilst going hard with his large pan to throw Naruto off his defense just a little bit.

Naruto moved back, but Kosuke followed him. He grimaced as he saw Kosuke begin rapidly moving his left arm, and suddenly dozens of images of the slashing sword appear in front of him. He hated that technique, it was a Genjutsu that used Kenjutsu for the base, with no hand seals. Just really fast slashing, and slicing, movements.

"Leaf Style: Willow!"

"Crap!" Naruto yelled as he blocked a few slashes, only for some cuts to open up on his left arm, and cheek.

He moved to try and block more on that side, only for a long scratch to open up on his right arm. He flips backwards whilst throwing both of his kunai at the approaching wave of slashes. They clanged off as they met the wall of swords. Naruto reaches into his pouches, gathering two more dulled kunai before running forward, and trying to see through the rapid movements.

Running as fast he could manage, he slides on Kosuke's right flank before clashes metal could be heard as sparks flew around the area as the blonde shinobi clashed and deadlocked both of Kosuke's weapons. Blue eyes met faded brown eyes, and the old man smirked before suddenly jumping up and kicking Naruto away.

"Not bad kid, can you still keep going for another for the rest? After all we have Kenjutsu practice in the next hour after this spar." Kosuke pointed out only to watch Naruto get back with a wide smile on his face, and laughing. "Of course, you can, you're their child."

"Old Man, I owe it to you to not ever back down. Thank you for teaching me these things, but I think I kind of figured out that one attack." Naruto stated before spinning both kunai in his hands rapidly before enhancing his arms and hands with chakra as much as he could. "It's not like normal Genjutsu, you're basically creating afterimages with speed, right?! So, here I go!"

"Wait, what?" Kosuke's eyes widened as he saw Naruto suddenly start to slash the air in front of him with both kunai rapidly, his hands forming afterimages as they moved rapidly in the likeness of the vines of a willow. "Heh, truly, he's not a paper learner, not this kid…"

A rapid series of clashes followed as Naruto, and Kosuke, danced around one another. With the blonde spinning on his heels to avoid several slashes as he moved back, but still maintaining. Naruto smirks before suddenly back stepping, and turning on his left heel!

"Eat this, Leaf Style: Kunai Willow!" Naruto declared before suddenly getting whacked by the pan, much to his surprise whilst Kosuke was laughing like a loon as Naruto skids across the ground. "Ow…that hurt Old Man, seriously, ya know."

"Heh, well, you came out with the intent to fight your hardest. Your individual skills need to be tested, and then we'll go from there. I have to say, didn't expect you to learn Leaf Style: Willow so fast. It's basic D rank Jutsu, sure, but it's a little more complicated than just waving hands rapidly." Kosuke stated before sitting on the ground. He motioned his hand toward Naruto. "Go on, heal yourself with that one technique of yours that you've been practicing."

{Lake Uzumaki: Near New Settlements.}
[Six Hours Later. 4:32pm]

"Leaf Style: Willow!"

Both combatants rapidly stuck at one another, kendo sticks waving in the wind like vines on a willow tree. Naruto's along with Kosuke's kendo sticks clashing, and resounding in the area. On nearby hill, Aurum was studying them from afar whilst still drawing up designs for Naruto's new sword, nodding his head as he the way Naruto's fighting style evolved over the last four days.

He had been shadowing them, at first in secret, but that ended when Kosuke noticed him. Naruto had to disarm Kosuke because he had thought Aurum was a threat. The old man's habits of being a shinobi for years meant that anyone not announcing their presence was either spying on you, or there to do ill, and most of the time you never left it to chance with total strangers.

Luckily, he wasn't a total stranger.

On his paper, Aurum had drawn the sword. It's handle would be made similar to the kunai's handle, save just a smidgen longer to allow for a stronger grip. The blade itself was modeled after The Flying Thunder God Kunai as it was called. It's blade technically began past the handle, but the metal would be much thicker. Forming a crescent moon like cross guard with sharp points at each end. The main blade would then extent from there, to about half a meter in length.

The blade itself was thickest toward the "crescent moon guards" as he dubbed them. Whilst the tang of it was slated to be around nine millimeters thick. Tangerine was sitting next to him, watching as Naruto and Kosuke continued dueling with each other.

"Father, I believe the blade would be better narrowing as the length went. Obviously, Naruto needs something light weight, and fast." She said whilst studying his drawing, noting the sword's basic appearance being similar to that of a traditional short sword. "If it's a narrow blade, Naruto's range of motion might be fast."

"It reduces slashing, and slicing capability." Aurum argued before noting Naruto's tendency to throw his melee weapons. "However, the narrower blade would make it easier to sling if he needed to. Perhaps I should include some type of hollow point into handle for wiring that he likes to use."

"That's a goo-ooh, that's gotta hurt." Tangerine recoiled as she saw Naruto get kicked in the face, and sent back. "And, he's getting back up, gods he never stops."

"Nope, he never does, but that's why he's Naruto. I rather him keep going, the day he gives up, is the day this world is screwed." Aurum laughed before going back to design. He took a deep breath. "Okay, I just need metal, and I've been trying to get him to let me metal down the original kunai for additional properties."

"That Fourth Hokage guy, whoever he is, is supposedly his hero. So, good luck on that, father." Tangerine bemused before sighing as she rested her cheek on her knuckle. "He's kind of cute when he is out there fighting, like a knight of old, but much flashier."

"You know, it's rather weird, Naruto chose primroses to plant in his gardens. That's after Blake had chosen them for his makeshift shrine when she thought he was dead." Aurum pointed before snapping his finger. "I know what I'll design the hilt with."

"Primroses, huh, well…" She slightly blushes before seeing Naruto's achkan come open a little bit, exposing a bruised-up chest from the various strikes Kosuke had made on him. "What do primroses represent, father?"

"Renewal, and optimism. Naruto's flower is perfect for it, it represents him completely." The former White Fang weaponsmith chuckled before drawing the handle with the design of multiple different primroses on it. "You know, since you said he's a knight, maybe I should design a shield for him."

"Dad…seriously?" Tangerine broke any formality whilst blushing.

"I'll keep teasing until you go for it."

Naruto took a deep breath as he held the shortened kendo stick in one hand whilst holding a dulled kunai in the other. His dominant hand gripped the handle of the kendo stick, whilst his offhand gripped the dulled kunai. Kosuke was wielding a kendo stick, and a dull kunai, much in the same fashion as they both circled around one another.

"In combat, against an opponent who uses a sword, you must be able to catch them off guard." Kosuke instructed whilst he suddenly stepped forward, jabbing his kendo stick at Naruto, who deflected it with his own. Only for Kosuke to suddenly backstepped to avoid the kunai slash and slap him upside the head with the kendo stick once he got it back into form. "You mustn't allow yourself to be the aggressor in cases of an opponent who is superior. You will, and shall always be the defender, but play to your strength."

Naruto groans as he rubs his head, spinning the kendo stick in his hand as they moved about the small little bit of grass near the lakeside. "Jeez, old man, that friggin' hurt, ya know!" He lightly complied only for Kosuke to step forward, jabbing his kendo stick forward whilst Naruto was forced to deflect and block them. "Crap-crap-crap, you're so good at this!"

The younger shinobi took a moment to dodge back, swatting a slash from the kendo stick before clashing kunai with the older shinobi. Instead of being daunted, Kosuke merely leans back, delivering the top of his heel into Naruto's chin. The young teen flew into the air about several feet before crashing onto the ground, thumping hard against the grass and hard soil.

"Ow…" Naruto moaned before slowly getting up, he then saw Kosuke spinning the kendo stick in his hand rapidly. "Really, seriously, you're just showing off now old man!" He raged lightly but still held a small smile on his face. "I'll get you here in a minute, just watch!"

He got up, charging right over toward Kosuke, using his kunai to parry the kendo stick as Kosuke brought it down. Naruto went low, attempting to sweep kick the older shinobi, only to see him jump up. Naruto rolled backward, ending upright on his feet in time block the kendo stick with his own before both spun around on their heels to deliver a slash with their dulled kunai that sent sparks flying.

Naruto smirks before suddenly rolling across the man's back, bringing his kendo stick around in a wide arc. Kosuke merely leans back to avoid the practice sword, bringing his up in an upward slash that gets parried by Naruto's dulled kunai before feeling two light sidekicks being delivered into his side by the younger shinobi.

"Not bad, Naruto, not bad!" Kosuke commented before backing away with a backflip. "These last four days of nonstop training have really done gotten you in the spirit, hasn't it?"

"It's been awhile since I've sparred with another shinobi, ya know? I'm more than happy to do all of this, besides, I get to see where I am against someone who is a Jonin level fighter." Replied Naruto who twirled the kunai in his left hand, he finishes twirling it with a bright smile on his face. "You go back tomorrow, hopefully, and maybe they can bring over Pervy Sage or Kakashi sensei to help me with that elemental stuff!"

"Maybe so, Kakashi may be well versed in elemental jutsu, but I think Lord Jiraiya is already supposed to be your master." Kosuke points out before watching as Naruto stretches his arms, bouncing on his feet before smiling brightly. "Still rearing to go?"

"Of course, I am, but to be honest, I am super excited to get my sword from Aurum in a couple of weeks. It's not like my old wakizashi, I told him to make it a double-edged straight blade." Naruto told Kosuke before weaving some hand seals. "C'mere old man, let me heal some of your wounds."

"Tch, I'll have you know that I'm fifty-six years young." Kosuke chided him before seeing Naruto's hands glow a slight greenish color. "I see that you are learning The Phoenix Palm Jutsu very well." He commented before feeling the soothing warm chakra flow into him, and his bruises slowly start to fade. "I can still see why you're desperate for help for Lady Kali though, she is certainly one of the nicest people I've met."

"I owe them my life." Naruto said before finishing the healing, and sighing. "I healed most of them, but my chakra control started to falter toward the end. I'm nowhere near as good as Grandma, or Big Sis Shizune. Sakura's also been training under her, so, no doubt she'll be great." He rubbed the back of his head nervously before looking toward the lake. "I kind of turned down a Chunin promotion too, don't know how they feel about that-ow?!"

Kosuke smacks him upside the head. "You're wondering how'd they feel, that was bloody stupid, I thought you wanted to be Hokage one day. It's all I ever heard your friends say." The older man stated before watching as Naruto turned to him, absent of anger, but slight depression. "You're letting your dream slip away?"

"Not trying, but Old Man, if I can't get back home how could I ever be Hokage? I realize that it's impossible for me to do so if I'm stuck here, I still hold out hope, but I don't feel like a shinobi here. Everything here is almost so much simpler, well it seems that way, no one to take double looks at all the time." Naruto explained before finding a comfortable spot to sit on the ground. "If I could go home, I'd accept the Chunin position in a heartbeat.'

"I still say you're a bloody fool." Kosuke commented before sitting down across from Naruto. "You still fight as a shinobi, you still learn as a shinobi, and you still live as a shinobi. Naruto, you're still a shinobi of Konoha, even in another world."

"I know that I- "

"And as a shinobi of Konoha, you should accept your village's gratitude for your service. You still honor your friends, I can see that, but honor yourself and remember that you're still a shinobi like your parents before you." Kosuke interjected before watching Naruto's light up, and sighed. "I might've said a little much there, didn't I?"

"You knew my parents?!" Naruto asked with eyes gleaming, he leaned forwards excitedly. "C'mon Old Man, spill the beans! I wanna know if my dad was an awesome shinobi, and if my mother was really good kunoichi!"

"I can't tell him about his father, that's not my place, but his mother…" Kosuke took a moment to think before smiling. "Your father was indeed an awesome shinobi, Naruto. Your mother, though, was a true badass kunoichi. She feared nothing, not a thing, not even The Nine Tails himself!"

"Whoa, really, she was all about it huh?" Naruto imagined a blonde-haired woman with two swords charging toward the giant demon fox. He imagined her giving him what for until it was the very end. "Did she have long hair, or short hair like me?"

"Pfft, your hair is nearing the shoulders young man, it hardly qualifies as short. She had very long hair, it went down to her back, but no spikes. It was flatter than plains, and it was such a crimson that you would think you were looking at autumn leaves." Kosuke remembered her clearly, and the infectious smile she gave when going around the village despite her isolation. "Gods, she was rambunctious, and boisterous! You knew for a fact she was woman, but that girl only ever acted like one around one person her whole life."

"Oh, cool, my mom was a tomboy huh! I guess I got her personality, heck yeah, I bet she kicked so much as-I mean butt as a kid!" Naruto roared with laughter, giggling like a loon whilst imagining her again. "Well, who was it that always made her so girlish though?"

"Your father, but that's another story. Let's continue about your mom, eh?" Kosuke offered up, trying to assuage Naruto's curiosity. He just watched the teen cross his arms, but then nod his head rapidly. "Okay, well she didn't have blue eyes either, hers were a violet."

"Hey, hold up, she had red hair and violet eyes? Man, that's such a cool combination! I wish had red hair, or those eyes, man could you imagine?!" Naruto openly thought whilst picturing himself with both, whilst also seeing himself with one or the other. "I'd look like a total stud, man, if I had those back in the day maybe Sakura would've never looked at Sasuke so much!"

Both laugh as Naruto rubs the back of his head, and Kosuke merely got out a couple of saucers from a nearby pack and a bottle. He poured two saucers, handing one off to Naruto, who simply saw it at his lap.

"Hey, what's this?"

"It's sake, a young man such as yourself should have some. We drink as equals, you might be training a little under me, but to me you're a Genin as well. So, why can't we share a drink?" The older shinobi offered as he crossed his one good leg over his prosthetic one. "'So, where was I?"

"Well, I think we were on her hair and eyes, but seriously, if you knew both of them how'd they meet?!" Naruto inquired curiously whilst leaning forward, wanting to know more, needing to know more. "I always heard opposites attract, so what, did she save my father or something?"

"Actually, it was the opposite. Your father saved her, gods it was so long ago. I'm trying to remember the story behind it. However, your mother actually hated your father for the longest time as kids. She wanted to be Hokage, and he wanted to be Hokage, so guess what? Boom a line in the sand got drawn, and for the most part they were always neck and neck with each other." Kosuke remembered a young girl with red hair complaining about a blonde-haired kid her age openly as she struck a practice dummy near where he was training. "All she wanted to do was deck him, and maybe here and there she succeeded."

"Wow, so my mother was a bit of a rough one, huh? So, wait a minute, she wanted to be Hokage!" Naruto beamed with pride whilst puffing out his chest. "Ha, I guess I inherited both of their wills, huh?!"

"More than you could ever realize right now, Naruto." Kosuke thought before nodding his head. "You have indeed, but to be fair, everyone at one points wants to be Hokage! Still, now that I remember, their story of love began when she was captured!"

"By who?!"

"Kumo Jonin, you see, your mother was a very good shinobi." Bitterly Kosuke had to force himself to lie a little. "They saw her as someone that they could use. So, she began to leave red hairs onto the forest floor. No one noticed, not a soul, until your father did."

"Wait, what rank were they?" Naruto asked whilst crossing his arms. "This seems almost like a fairy tale."

"Heh, well, your father was still a Genin in rank. However, that young man didn't just hold off four Jonin, nah he defeated them. You see, Naruto, what makes the difference between a true shinobi and those that think themselves as tools is what we're willing to fight for. Tools fight for money, fame, glory, but a true shinobi and hero, they fight for things that truly matter. If you fight for people that you love, there's not a single thing on any world that can hold you back." Kosuke proclaimed whilst thumping his chest, pride filled eyes. He looks over at Naruto who was holding his sake saucer. "What is it, young man?"

"I just feel so stupid right now, because everything you've said to me makes sense." Naruto admitted before slowly raising his head with a smile. "I guess I'll take the Chunin promotion then, until I get home, then I'm taking the seat."

"Now that's the spirit!" Kosuke celebrated before watching as the younger shinobi took a rather large gulp of the sake. He saw the boy sputter, and laughed. "Good stuff, ain't it?"

"It's like fire going down my throat!" Naruto complained before wiping his mouth. "How does Grandma drink this stuff?!"

"Heh, your mother used to drink a lot when she was a teenager." Kosuke commented before sipping his and then chuckling. "Quality sake like this is meant to be sipped, not chugged."

"Huh, really, hey question old man." The young shinobi took a moment to pensively think before snapping his finger. "What was my mother's name?"

"Her name was Kushina Uzumaki." Kosuke stated before taking another sip of his sake. "Yep, you have her surname as well."

"Awesome!" Naruto pumped his fist before noting Kosuke's saddened look. "What's up old man, was my father related to you, or something?"

"Nah, your father was just a really good person. It's hard talking about him for me, perhaps another time." Kosuke said before getting up and stretching. "I'll be heading back to your apartment, plan on stopping for food along the way."

"Nice, go enjoy yourself, that's an order from your Chunin, eh?" Naruto tried it out before going flat as he sighed. "Man, when I say it, it sounds ridiculous ya know?"

"Eh, you're gonna grow into it."

{Kuo Kuana Beach: Café Oceania.}
[One Hour Later, 6:00pm.]

Cloud was enjoying the breeze of the sun as he relaxed on a bench. He had been coming to Café Oceania more often than not recently. His little go to spot, a slice of heaven away from everything going on. The recent promotion to The Belladonna's head of security had been getting to him a little bit. Between White Fang trying to exercise their control over military matters, and Ghira being Ghira and not staying put despite everything that was weighing on him.

The Referendum wasn't a public thing yet, it was a message sent out to the other leaders. Cloud knew very well that this was the perfect opportunity for any true enemy of Menagerie and Faunuskind to strike. All golden apples in the same bushel, all prize fish in a barrel, the amount of examples of this were endless to him.

Enthusiasms were running high for the most part for those in the know.

Then his thoughts trail to his friend, the hero of the city. Naruto Uzumaki, The Hero of Kuo Kuana, and overall, the shadow of The Belladonna's. Cloud wasn't stupid, he had seen the signs already, caught Naruto in lies when it came to his own health. Bloody paper towels whenever he visited, the tired look in those normally energetic eyes. No doubt he was with that other shinobi, training himself to death.

Cloud wish he had the same zeal and convictions as the younger boy did. Gods, if he had, then perhaps Tifa would be walking amongst the living.

Tifa…

He remembered her fondly as the sun was slowly approaching a falling point, where the skies were going to start turning a mix of oranges and reds. Yellows all in between, a true menagerie of color dancing in the skies against white and graying clouds. Rain perhaps falling in the night because of that lake that had gotten formed.

"I still think of you every day, Tif." Cloud remembered her pet name before slowly leaning back on the bench. He checked his scroll, noting the text messages from earlier today. "Been awhile since we've last hung out, eh, Naruto?"

He turns his head to the left, toward the pier's entrance. He saw the young teen walking toward him. Bandages dressed around his arms, whilst the violet sash wafted from his black pants, and his orange achkan's sleeves wafted a little from the same breeze.

"I see you're back to wearing sandals again!" Cloud observed as he waved at Naruto. "Man, that old guy has been doing a number on you, hasn't he?"

"It's been a rough few days, not gonna lie!" Naruto answered before rubbing the back of his head. "However, I feel like in the last five days I've gotten a lot better at some things. Not really stronger, but better, ya know." The young shinobi stated before rolling his sleeves up to reveal bandages across his arms. "Old Man Kosuke isn't bad at Taijutsu, but man, that guy's Kenjutsu is on a whole other level than Kihana's."

"Speaking of Kihana, did you hear that her sisters Aoihana and Akahana are currently looking to start a farm out near the lake? Kind of weird, but I guess she needs something to do, being retired medically and all." Replied Cloud whilst walking with Naruto over toward the café. "So, strawberry banana, like before?"

"Actually, I wanna try their orange mango, don't know why but I've really fell in love with oranges." Naruto laughed before noting Cloud's look at him. "So, what's up, you look like someone kicked your dog across the road."

"Just worried about you man, is all." The Head Guard admitted before patting Naruto's shoulder. "Thinking about after all of this HFIL business is taken care of. Me, and you, go to a concert together in the continents. I heard Fable along with Phatsnaps are doing a tour in Vacuo."

"Heh, as much as I would like too, I don't know if it's a good time man. I mean, after all of this HFIL stuff is taken care of, there's going to be Sable and Noir running around. Plus, well, I have to start helping explore Menagerie. It was me, and Ghira's idea. He's the better politician, so, yeah I guess that kind of leaves me being the sword." Naruto reasoned with Cloud only to see the toad faunus shake his head. "What?"

"You're in need of a good vacation man. I mean, c'mon, for the past few months you've been going nonstop go-go-go, and then there was winter this year. You singlehandedly made sure shipping never really stopped along the coastline for the most part. Do you have any idea how much you've earned for a break. If not for comfort, do it for your health man." Cloud argued whilst crossing his arms, and looking at Naruto. "Don't sit there, and tell me, that you're fine. I've seen the bloody paper towels whenever you stay over at the estate."

"Okay, truth time I guess, I haven't been doing so hot lately. Apparently I have something Chronic P.N.E.S. It's not a viral, or biological disease, but a condition caused by extreme stress." Naruto sighed before looking toward the ocean. He stops for a minute, and just stares out into the waves. "I put myself against the wall because I love you guys, and I guess even if it means that I'm broken at the end of it all, seeing you all happy is all that matters to me."

"That's such a dumbass statement." Cloud growled before noting the boy's azure eyes lacked some light in them. "You cannot sit here and just keep throwing yourself at the wall, eventually you have to think about yourself."

"I will when Sable, and Noir, are brought into this world." Naruto told Cloud as he turned to him. Slowly the young shinobi turns back toward the sun as it gets lower in the sky. "Kali, and Ghira, are in such a vulnerable state right now that I've got clones staking out their location at all times."

"Go figure, knew there was a particular few extra staff around the hospital, so what are we talking about? Five, ten, how many extra 'staff?'" Cloud inquired.

"More like fifty." Naruto admitted whilst rubbing the back of his head, and then smiling nervously. "Yeah, remember, my transformation jutsu? That's coming in real handy with keeping an area on lockdown. Some of them are patients, some of them just bystanders, and some of them are even frigging birds hanging out on the roof."

"What the actual hell, Naruto?!" Cloud yelled whilst some people looked over at them. He looks around and then leans in closer. "I know for a fact that is draining you like crazy, you need to cancel most of them, and conserve your energy man."

"No."

"I didn't ask, it wasn't a suggestion, Naruto. You're going to kill yourself if you keep worrying like this. HFIL isn't stupid enough to directly go after them while you're here, they know that if it comes down to a full-on brawl, you're coming out on top almost one hundred percent of the time." Cloud implored whilst seeing the young shinobi sigh. He places his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I'm just worried man, I want to see you get older, hell I wanna tease you find a girlfriend…or boyfriend."

"I'm not gay, stop that crap! Not that's there's anything wrong with it, I'm not it though, and as for the girlfriend thing…well…" Naruto nervously rubbed his arm before sighing. "I mean, I wanna have a girlfriend eventually, but I'm just…I don't know if they'd ever be able to relate to me given my condition."

"Oh, yeah, that condition." Cloud sighed before nudging his head over to the dock railing. They both walked over to it, with the older blonde looking over at the ocean in front of them. "You know, when I found Tifa, I was actually thief."

"Huh, really, you a thief?" Naruto questioned incredulously.

"Yeah, I used to do petty crimes to get by. I actually was stealing from Tifa's parents when I got caught by them. She let me go on the condition that I pay them back for the damages by doing work. So, I worked, I worked their land and stuff. Paid off my debt, but I found myself in love with her. She knew my past, knew what I didn't know any better, but she chose me still." Cloud took a moment to take a deep breath. "So, yeah, if someone loves you man…it doesn't matter what's good or wrong about you, it only matters who you are."

"Hmm…" Naruto hummed whilst thinking about what Cloud said to him. He smiles as he turns to Cloud and beams. "You're right, I get it, seriously! Heck, I just learned about my mom having the something similar, she was a tomboy."

"Wait, that old man you're training with knew your mother?" The guard leader inquired, smiling a little bit. "Did you get a picture of her, finally?"

"No but turns out she had crimson hair and violet eyes. Man, I don't look like her at all, save my face, he said it was just round as hers." Naruto dreamingly mused whilst leaning on the rail with hands on his cheeks. "I hope one day my hair color changes, because I think I'd look badass with red hair!"

"Heh, I think you'd look badass with red hair, not gonna lie. Still, it determines what kind of red. crimson red is a beautiful shade, red itself isn't too bad, but what if your hair ever turns orange?" Cloud asked whilst watching Naruto laugh a little bit, calming down. "Hey, you know what, if your hair turns orange, you'd be a girl's creamsicle."

"Okay, now, that was a little far." Naruto teased before sticking his tongue out at Cloud whilst thumping his nose. "Then there's you, you're a girl's cloud pillow, eh. Then again, you could be their chew toy!"

"Oh har-har, you bit my ankle once, and suddenly you use that against me any chance you get." Cloud replied before rolling his eyes. "Says the shinobi."

"Says the guard."

Both of them laughed before Cloud felt something roll down his eye. He saw Naruto's beaming smile and saw the kid he was once was before becoming the hero. He felt his stomach growl, no doubt, Naruto hadn't eaten either. He sighs before ruffling Naruto's hair and walking away before turning on heel.

"Promise me one thing, Naruto, after you beat them, you'll find time for yourself. Cause you deserve that, alright?" Cloud implored whilst holding out his fist to Naruto. "You know how we make promises around here, so, promise me!"

Naruto sighs before bumping his fist against Cloud's. "Yeah, I promise Clo- "

BANG!

Naruto's head snaps around to the noise and sees a rather large figure standing near the pier's entrance. A large rifle in his hands made up two axes. He was about to move when he felt a hand grab his shoulder and saw the large man in black armor merely smirk before disappearing whilst shifting the light bending cloak around him, no doubt, running as fast he could!

"Cloud, why are you stopping me, I gotta-!" Naruto snapped as he turned around only to suddenly stop as he saw Cloud slowly slump down to his knees, with his hands on Naruto's shoulders to try and keep from falling. "Cloud?!"

"H-Hey, Naruto, I…" the young man gasped as he held onto the boy before bringing him into a tight hug. He felt the blood slowly leak from his chest as the bullet's damage finally started to take effect, with aura coming up way too late to do anything. "I guess…I wasn't…paying attention too much…'

"Cloud, just hang on, I'll send some clones after him and I'll start healing you as best as I can!" Naruto screamed as he formed clones to try and send them after the large figure in the invisibility cloak. He weaved hand seals, pressing them into the hole on Cloud's chest as they glowed green. "Phoenix Palm Jutsu!"

"it's too…late for that…"

Naruto continues as he poured every bit of chakra, he had into doing this. He saw the bleeding slow down, smiling slightly, he looked over at Cloud with nod. "I'm slowing the bleeding, just hang in there, they'll be calling for an ambulance, and I can get you into surgery, alright?! Hey, Cloud, this gonna be one hell of a story!" He tried to talk to his friend, only his friend didn't respond before merely lifting his hand up to hold Naruto's arm.

"Keep…that goodness in you, my friend…"

"Stop talking like that, it's not funny, ya know! You're gonna be okay, I got you, I promised that I'd protect you guys, and I never back on my word!" Naruto yelled at him whilst continuing the jutsu despite the faltering chakra control. He focuses his hard, maintaining the jutsu longer than he usually did. "Cloud, are you still with me, I can hear sirens man, they're coming!"

"…"

"Cloud?" The young shinobi continues the jutsu despite the lack of response, he held his palm over the hole, seeing the skin regenerating ever so slowly. "Hey, I'm starting to seal it, you're not losing as much blood. I think I'm doing good, you're gonna be okay, ya know! You're gonna make it, they're getting closer!"

"…"

"Hey, I'm talking to you, hey! Can you hear them, they're almost here! You're gonna be okay, you're gonna make it, you're not dying on me!" Naruto screamed as he felt the warmth of Cloud slowly starting to leave, and just now started to realize that his chest wasn't moving. "Cloud…Cloud?! Don't do this, you're gonna be okay, I got you! I promise, we'll go to Vacuo after this, we'll go rock out man!"

"…"

"Cloud…" Naruto slowly stops the jutsu whilst feeling his hands quiver whilst still holding them on Cloud's chest. He felt tears start to well up into his eyes. "Cloud? Hey, buddy, c'mon don't do this…I…I…promise we'll both go to Vacuo. Hey, c'mon buddy, please…please…I…"

He began to break down as he saw the paleness in Cloud's body, seeing the normally light skin turn gray. No life in Cloud's golden toadlike eyes, and slowly he noted why Cloud had stopped bleeding. His knees were covered in a small pool of blood that dripped into the cracks of the pier. Naruto shook as he saw his hands were red from the crimson ichor.

"No…no…n-no-no…" He began to sob as he planted his head onto Cloud's chest, trying to listen for a heartbeat and finding none. He began to hyperventilate as brought his arms around his now deceased friend, holding close. "No…no…it's not supposed to be like this…not end like this…"

"Sir, please move away!" A medic came running over toward him before noting the lack of breathing from the faunus man he was holding onto. "Oh jeez…" he places a hand on his short-wave radio. "This emergency officer Sky, we have one possible wounded, Naruto Uzumaki. We have unknown male, deceased, need a ME."

Even as the ME came, they found it difficult to remove the body away from The Hero of Kuo Kuana, much less that of his friend. Naruto still sat there on his knees, and in shock. He didn't even respond when Kosuke came there, nor did he when Ghira came there.

He sat on his knees right there, hours after, struck cold despite the fact that Ghira and Kosuke were sitting there next to him. Waiting, and waiting, even after everyone cleared out. The time came with Naruto standing up slowly, joints popping from long being held one position.

He saw the now rising shattered moon, his eyes glowing crimson as his rage brew deep inside of him. As he stared at the pool of dried blood, and smelt copper on his skin, Naruto Uzumaki only had one thought on his mind. One single word, one single action, and one single mission.

Revenge.

And it was going to come to those Cyborgs in earnest…

Chapter End.

Question?
Should Naruto's hair stay blonde, or turn red like his mother's? Poll is still up, it's close, go vote to show me your answer!

Also, do you now have emotional damage?

Trivia/Data.

This marks the first major character death in the story.

Naruto's training with Kosuke is focusing on Kenjutsu to help improve his ability with the sword, but he also begins to expand his knowledge.

Cloud's death was supposed to have happened with The Girtablilu, but I kind of wanted to save him for an even more brutal end.

Kushina being named dropped finally, and by Kosuke of all people. I have a strong feeling that if he was a canon character he'd much appreciate the fiery redhead for keeping Minato humble.

Minato's and Kushina's love story has been told many times, but what's interesting to note is that it never really states how many Minato killed/defeated to save her. If he's willing to square up against Kurama of all things in the canon one shot manga as a YOUNG TEENAGER, then I don't think it's a matter of who, so much as a can, because Minato's squaring up no matter what for Kushina.

Naruto's training also includes fighting with leaves attached to him. This may seem weird, but it's a form of battle meditation. Keeping a calm, and focused mind helps one weave and mold chakra better in the heat of battle.

The cloak that one of the cyborgs uses is a "light bending" tech. Basically, the cloak is advance machinery that bends light around it via gravity and hard light dust. Remember trivia is meant to help give more nuance to things at large.

Naruto's rapid healing has a drawback as revealed in this chapter. If something, like a bullet, is lodged or fragmented, then those pieces still need to be removed as his body/Kurama can't just break it down like organic waste.

Jinchuuriki are known for their high healing rates, which means a heightened metabolic rate, but it's not perfect. Naruto has been affected by poisons, and illnesses before, and has actually gotten drunk during his bachelor party in canon (I think.) Now, whilst that bachelor party is more of Kurama letting him have fun, the poisons/illnesses (even it's just a cold) indicate that in base there is a limit. Obviously it becomes much more effective the more power is drawn out, to the point I think Naruto might actually be fully immune by the time four tails appears.