edited chapter 7 enjoy
Three months later, October 1st
It has been nearly seven months since Naruto left the academy. About half that time was training with kakashi.
The other half was a mission as a ninja of Konoha.
In that time, the girl he sees as a sister who also sees him as a brother has finally become a ninja.
Right now to two are sparring.
He deflected a kunai aimed for his heart before dodging out of the way one of her spiked water whips.
"WIND STYLE AIR BULLETS," he shouts, sending three shots on compressed wind chakra.
She counters the first two by sacrificing both her whips but was not prepared for the third one.
She jumped up with some quick thinking, pulling up a water wall the exploded when it made contact with the third bullet.
Using its explosive power to her advantage, she kicked back a fair way giving her some distance.
"Nice one, Kukiko."
"Thanks, Naruto"
They continued there are throwing the particular chakra type jutsu for the remainder of the day.
When the sun was touching the horizon, they called it a day.
"You're getting stronger, Kukiko."
"Same for you, so Ramen sounds good?"
"You bet!"
They made their way to Ichiraku.
On their way there, they sense an observer but paid no mind to it as it was pointless to stop him.
The person in question was Sasuke Uchiha. It was pretty apparent to the older generation he had cush of the white-haired girl.
But being a 10-year-old, he refused to acknowledge it.
"I swear if he doesn't stop that, I'll knock he lights out," she said bitterly.
"Just be glad he's still in the academy, so it isn't so bad, but he really needs to learn not to follow people around.
"At least it isn't every day since he wants to be a ninja."
"True, and we're almost to Ichiraku."
"Sweet, I can already smell the broth," she said with a grin.
Kukiko couldn't sense it, but Naruto was well aware an Anbu agent was on their tail.
He knew who it was and was always wondering why he was tailing him.
Little did he know he would soon find his answer.
Kukiko did have a slight change to her outfit. She now wore a black sleeveless vest with a few pouches.
It also helps her blend into the background when she would leave the village on a mission with Naruto.
It was a birthday gift from Naruto a month back.
Who would have thought their birthdays were a month apart, making her the older of the two.
Back to the mission, they did what Shikaku said he would and put them on scouting or escort mission
s. Nothing major, just your standard C-rank.
In that time, Naruto had gained the expertise and judgment Jiji was talking about when he became a ninja.
Of course, when he was with his sister, he went of C-ranks. When he wasn't, he went on higher B-rank missions.
He's only done two so far, and a now Classified A-rank mission when he took the life of man.
It's been months since that job and mostly over it now, but it still lingers in his heart.
The push he needed to deal with death apart from the job was when he had a mental breakdown two months ago.
Flashback start
Two month ago
Naruto was training like usual when he had a sudden flashback from his fight with the missing Iwa ninja.
He collapsed to the ground holding his head, trying to keep the memory at bay.
He succeeded...for now.
As he was making his way home, he ran into the girl he sees as a sister.
They were walking normally when the memory came back with blinding fury.
"Not again," he struggled to maintain his sanity when a threw a chakra infused kunai as the anbu agent who made himself known.
He dodged it and knew he had to step in before it was too late, but he wasn't fast enough.
Naruto started attacking a ninja the was few feet away.
He threw another Kunai, but this one was stopped by the last person he wanted to hurt.
Kukiko blocked the kunai without hesitation.
When Naruto saw the unmistakable color of blood shoot out.
All those emotions he was struggling with up till now. Were overshadowed by his drive to protect those who are precious to him.
He bolted to her side and notice she was still breathing. He let out a sigh of relief.
But that as far as he got, he was pinned to the ground by two anbu.
The last thing he saw was two more anbu carrying Kukiko away, presumably to the hospital before everything faded to black.
When Naruto finally came to, he wasn't in his home or the hospital, heck, even T&I.
He found himself in front of the cage again, with that giant red eye staring him down.
"What do you want this time, fox?" he said bitterly.
"We need to talk about what you just did."
"What gonna congratulate me for harming a friend," he said sarcastically.
"No"
"Then why am I here?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, you house me, so when something is wrong with you, it affects me too!"
"Spit it then?"
"Unless you want to hurt that girl again, you need to control your emotions, or next time you go off like that again, you will die
!"
Touching a nerve, Naruto could feel the sharp edge of his words. It's the truth.
"So what do you suppose I do then? I'm a ninja. Sooner or later, I'll have to deal with the death of a comrade or an enemy!" he said with conviction.
Naruto just stood there, barely making out the fox's features telling him he was hesitant of what words to say.
"You won't like it, but to keep this from happening again, I'm going to need to access your subconscious."
"Why?"
"By having access, I can help you conquer your inner self so you will have better control of your emotion unless you want to strike at the girl again."
"Why should I trust you?"
"YOU THINK I WANT TO DO THIS. If you die, I die too!"
"I see your point, so how are we going to do this?"
"Well, for starters, you're gonna have to step past these bars, so the connection is stronger."
Naruto was reluctant at first but complied and stepped in the fox's side of the seal.
Next thing he was floated into the air with foxes hand around him before a sphere of chakra surrounded him.
The next thing he sees is dark red vile chakra seeping out of him, merging with the foxes before encasing him in it.
Naruto suddenly shot up, finding himself in a forest.
"Nice to see you finally made it," he turns around to see the fox lying down against a forest. Nothing was separating them as He stared him down.
"What is this place?"
"This is the mindscape of your subconscious that cage you were in before is your conscious mind."
"So, what happens next?"
"Well, if it isn't Naruto in the flesh," he turns to the origin of the voice only to see him with red and black eyes.
"Who are you?" Naruto was put on edge as this new Naruto slowly walked towards him.
"I'm you, or should I say you true self," he said sadistically.
He looks at the fox for an answer, only to get a nod in response.
"So your the one who made me hurt kukiko!" he said with venom.
"So what she was getting in our way of showing how strong we really are."
"LIKE HELL I' LL LET THAT HAPPEN!" he drew his kunai, throwing it at his counterpart, who counter with his.
The two Naruto went at for what felt like hours throwing jutsu vs. Jutsu, kunai vs. kunai, etc.
The nine tails are just sitting there watching two humans fight it out.
"Naruto has gotten smarter since he trained with Kakashi, but he is not using any of that. Instead, he used brute force, which never works."
After some time, both Naruto's were exhausted after their fight.
"You have to try harder than that to beat me, and when I win, I'll make sure no one looks down on us," he said with an evil smirk.
"Damn it, nothing works against him. He just counters, there has to be a way to stop him," then a memory came to him. It was kukiko standing in his way.
This brought a tear to his eyes, knowing her harmed his sister significantly.
"Wait a minute, that might be it" this time, he didn't do anything. He just stood there, waiting for his counterpart to make a move.
"Oh, I see someone finally given up," he threw wind chakra laced kunai him.
Naruto didn't try and dodge. He decided to take the attack hoping this might work.
As the kunai got closer and closer, his counterpart started getting worried.
He didn't have time to dwell much longer, and the sound of liquid spilling out filled the forest.
When his counterpart looked him in the eyes, he saw a frown causing him to smile.
The kunai slowly was absorbed by the main Naruto as the counterpart collapsed to his knees.
The nine tail had an amused expression at this. "Gaki finally figured it out."
Naruto walked to his counterpart, putting his hand on his shoulder to see him tear up.
"I wish I could have known sooner, then we wouldn't have to go through this," he said with a smile.
His counterpart's body caught on fire, burning away before merging with him.
"Just be careful out there, will you!" those were the last words before disappearing completely.
"That's a promise," he said, placing his hand on his heart. "Kurama, I'm ready to go back."
"how'd you find out my name?"
"When his kunai hit me, all his experiences and knowledge he learns was transferred into me, including when you gave him your name!" he said with a grin.
"HA, well, we better get back, Naruto, but this doesn't mean I'm going to give you my power willingly, " he said evilly.
"Will see one day" in a flash, they were back in the sewer with the cage seal separating them.
"You better get going now, and just to make things clear. This is solely for my own survival. I could carless if you were consumed by darkness," the fox said in a huff.
"Whatever you say, Kurama," with those words, he left the seal.
When Naruto finally came to, he was in the psych ward of the hospital.
He looks around the room and sees both kakashi and the Hokage sitting in the room.
"How long have I been out?" he said, sitting up.
"A day or so," the Hokage informed.
"We need to talk Naruto!" Kakashi stated
"If it's about my out bust. You don't have to worry about that anymore," he gave them a cheerful smile.
Both were caught off guard at his enthusiasm after nearly killing his friend.
"What makes you so sure?" Hiruzen asked
"While I was out...Kurama helped me."
"Who's Kurama?" the one-eyed ninja replied.
"You know him as the nine-tailed fox."
The room went quiet for an unknown amount of time.
"What did the fox demon do to help you," Hiruzen said with a firm glare.
Naruto recounted his time in the seal and the forest where his inner self lived.
"Interesting, but I guess I can see it happen considering as he put it, if you die, he dies."
"I feel calmer since we merged, but beyond that, it hard to say, oh how's Kukiko doing?" he said with guilt.
"She is doing fine. Luckily the kunai missed her heart by a few centimeters and only grazed her right lung," kakashi informed.
Naruto knew that as he recalled his inner self change the kunai's path at the last moment.
"Can I go see her?"
"Not right now. Kukiko should be back on her feet in a week."
"Ok, then I'm gonna get some rest," he said before collapsing on his bed, intending to get as much sleep as possible.
shortly after Kukiko was discharged be begged for forgiveness
only to get a slap in the face.
She had an angry expression before bring him into a bone-crushing hug before ranting about how she sees him as a brother, and of course, she forgives him.
After that, she demanded to know what went through his head, causing him to go ballistic.
In the privacy of his home, not including the constant anbu on his ass, he told her everything.
Fortunately, she was very accepting of his tenant and wants to meet him.
He said yes, but he doesn't know when that will be causing her to glare at him for a moment, but he knew it was aimed at Kurama.
Flashback end
Since that time, the two of them have been thick as thieves.
He was both excited and dreaded what was coming up… his birthday.
One thing was for certain his year will be different for sure.
They finally made it to Ichiraku ramen and got their usual order.
With Sasuke
Sasuke was watching from a distance making sure to pick a different spot from last time.
Then something very un Uchiha like happened. His stomach growled, blowing his cover.
Knowing it was pointless, he walks up to and orders some ramen from the old man making sure to be one seat from the two.
"Ok, why are you always following me?" Kukiko declared boldly.
Causing the three males to hold their breath at her outburst.
"Think, Sasuke thinks. I notice you were new to the village, and I want to know who you are?" he said with as close to a straight face as possible.
"Why didn't you do this sooner instead of waiting so long after you knock me over," she said fiercely.
If you saw Naruto, he was going white in the face as he was slightly scared of her, especially if she riled up like now.
His shoulder still hurt the first time he pissed her off and made a mental note from that experience.
Sasuke never got the memo, and he was paying for it.
With all his remaining strength, "you're not at the academy like the other kids wanting to be a ninja. I was curious since your always with Naruto."
"Will for one Naruto like a brother to me so you can get rid of those thought right now. And yes, I'm a ninja," she pointed to her headband wrapped around her right shoulder.
"Now I'm curious, how are you two ninja so young when most kids are twelve when they leave the academy?" he had a shocked expression when she showed off her ninja headband.
"Jiji, though, it better for me to be trained personally by a jonin. This was after those ninjas from the back hills, I'm sure you know by now."
He looks to Kukiko for her answer. "I didn't like my life in my old village, so I came here. I was going to be in the academy, but my Kekki Genkai showed its self before I could enter."
"You have Kekki Genkai?"
"Yes, it's advance water manipulation, and you?"
"Never heard of that. My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I haven't unlocked my Sharingan yet" unknown to him, he has just not enough chakra to use it.
"I am a little mad I didn't get private training like you two.
"Trust me, Sasuke, I was trained by a jonin, and it was HELL compared to what the academy has you go through.
"I can confirm that, "Teuchi said, who was backed up by Kukiko.
The night was still young, and Sasuke had a lot of questions that needed to be answered.
By the time it was closing time, Naruto had eaten ten bowls Kukiko had eaten five, and Sasuke ate three.
Having most of his questions answered, he waved the two goodbyes for the night.
He didn't know it yet, but he was slightly relieved to hear Kukiko consider Naruto a brother.
But it also urked him to because of what Itachi did.
One good thing came out of this, he and Naruto seem to have more in common than most intently thought.
"Maybe I should have Naruto show me his training regiment, but if it is as bad as he says, maybe I should wait." this was a rare time he showed hesitation in his quest for power.
October 10th
Today was the day Naruto is now ten years old and the day of the Kyuubi attack.
Every year on this day, as far back as he can remember, he would have to stay with the Hokage for his own safety.
But this year was different besides that he has friends and some who are family in all but blood.
This time, he was called to the kage tower for a special mission from the Hokage himself.
He was a little saddened. It was on his birthday but not at the same time as it meant he was out of the village.
"You called me Jiji?"
"Yes, Naruto, I have a special mission for you that could alter your ninja career in ways you never thought possible."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, as I'm sure you notice the anbu agent tailing you all these months, correct."
"Yeah, wait, you don't mean?"
"Yes, after examining your progress as a ninja id like to offer you a spot among the anbu."
"Um, it's not that I don't want to, but what do the duties of the anbu entail.?" this impressed the Kage and hidden anbu.
Now Hiruzen is more confident. Naruto has what it takes to be an anbu. To ask about the finer details of his own. Imagine what he is like a few years down the road.
"For starters, you answer to no one but me, meaning hehehe genin, chunin, and jonin answer to you unless I say otherwise."
"I'm listening."
Hiruzen explained the finer details mention the answers to only the Hokage unless it's special jonin. They are often in charge of specific departments of the ninja side of a village.
"So, do you accept?"
"Am I the only one who is getting this offer?"
"Your sister shows promise, but she still has a way to go before she is considered to join."
"I suppose that could work, and I accept the position as an anbu of Konoha."
"God then," Tenzo and Cat jump down to welcome him to the Anbu.
"So, what the first thing I need to do?"
"Well, first get you a new uniform and assign you a code name," Tenzo said
"You two take him to get his equipment. I'll think up a code name for him."
"Hai, all three said in unison before shunshin out of the tower.
One second, Naruto was in the Hokage tower. The next, he was in a dark hallway.
They walked him to the outfitter. He now had his sword and uniform minus the mask as he gets that from the Hokage.
"I've never used a sword before," he said offhandedly
.
"I'll teach you how to use it," Cat informed
When Naruto got in his uniform, he quite liked it aside from his favorite orange color.
"Don't worry, you don't have to wear that all the time only when you're on duty," Tenzo added.
"So what the first thing I'll do as an anbu?"
You won't do any mission for starters as we need to incorporate your skillset into a unit first.
"Ok, then what next?"
"Time to introduce you to the family," they walked him to a large room with over a hundred Anbu present.
"So, this is the new guy and doesn't have a mask yet."
"Yes, Naruto has proven he can be in the ranks, so give him an anbu welcome."
Naruto was quickly pulled to the center of the room, seeing nothing but mask eye him down.
The only thing left of his old outfit was his headband and face mask.
Then the Hokage appears before then with a cruel smirk on his face.
Everyone but Naruto cringed at this knowing his mask would have some kind of joke to it.
"Naruto, here is your mask. You are code name kitsune!" everyone floored themselves at this, including Naruto.
"Are you serious, Jiji?" he said, holding up his mask, not needing a brain to see the irony on his choice.
"I am. Are you questioning your Hokage!" he said in a severe tone.
"Not al all Hokage-sama he said through his mask," he was barely able to hold back stutter.
"Good now, enjoy the party, after all, it's your birthday," he said before shunshined away.
He left all his Anbu to celebrate a new member on said member's birthday.
The first thing they did as a gift was the shoulder tattoo before showing him the ropes of the anbu.
two hours later
Naruto deep in thought about his new life as an anbu while admiring his sword.
"We can start your kenjutsu at noon tomorrow, Kitsune."
"Thanks, cat, so what this about squads?"
"Unlike the regular shinobi forces that are strict, four-man cells which operate on various missions anbu have up 20 members dived into four men cell depending on the mission."
"So, what squad will I be on them?"
"You'll be on my team with Tenzo and a few others, and our team name is Ro."
"That sounds cool, so when do you think I'll be ready for my first mission as an anbu?"
"Hmm, hard to say, but at least a month during that time, one of the anbu on our team will train you every day till you are at least jonin level."
"What level am I at now."
"Hmm, from what the reports said and my observation, you are high chunin level" Naruto was smiling from the praise of his skill as a ninja.
"Wait, do I have to keep my identity a secret?"
"For the most part, yes, but you can tell at least one person, and I have a feeling I know who" he didn't see it behind her mask, but he could tell she had a smirk.
"SHIT, I was supposed to meet up with Kukiko for my birthday!" he said frantically.
"Don't worry, we took care of that. Kukiko is waiting at your apartment right now. I suggest you hurry if you don't want to anger her."
"Thanks, Cat senpai. I'll see you tomorrow, at-wait. What training field are we using?"
"Meet me back here by noon. I'll tell you the rest later."
"Hai!" he said before he shunsin out of the base.
When he left, Tenzo approached Cat and asked, "so, how do you think he'll do in the anbu?"
"Only time will tell."
"I know you started to see him as a little brother, so don't even try and hide it. How do you really think he'll do in anbu."
"I just hope he isn't afraid to do the unthinkable." she with a high level of concern in her voice.
"Hmm, you are justified in your concerns, but from what I saw in the Hokage report when he attacks Kukiko, that won't be a problem, hopefully."
"I hope your right."
With Naruto
Naruto, still in anbu gear, very carefully entered his home through a secret exit through false floor tile in his room.
When he came to his living room, he saw Kukiko waiting on the couch.
That when she notices the anbu, and just before she could get a word out, Naruto removed his mask.
"Suprise!"
"Naruto, what are you doing wearing anbu gear?"
"Simple the Hokage made me one" Kukiko was a little sad at this as it meant less mission with her brother.
Seeing her concern, "the Hokage said you can join too, but you have to prove yourself."
He could see the fire in her eyes at his words, "I'll be in the Anbu for sure!"
"Good cause I'll be training again starting tomorrow, so you'll be on your own then."
"Don't worry, I'll be an anbu in no time."
"Sure you will," he said sarcastically.
Kukiko was no stranger to his sarcasm, only pouted before her eyes landed on his mask, causing her to giggle.
"What's so funny."
"Your mask, the irony is palpable!" he grunted at this.
"Anyway, I don't have to be at the training ground till noon, so let celebrate my birthday."
"Old man, I'm going to kill you for making me a laughing stock!" he grunted.
hope you like the improvements I made
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