STOP PLAYIN YALL ALR KNOW IT'S REVIEW TIME!!
Zane214252: So Naruto was Nanami in that last part. Nice.
Ant: YAWP
reyrey5210:I just started reading this and I just binged the whole thing and I have to say this is a good story so far. even though I prefer harem fics i don't mind this being a single pairing and like the way you added weapons form jk and put in the story and made it in a way it were it makes sense. Im also glad that you made were Kushina and minato didn't neglected Naruto but made were they are still parts of the family he love well not minato as in most fics I can't see them being neglectful to any kids and i do like Naruto being with tenten as it just make sense seeing how both have a liking to weapons but whatever you do i just hope the story continues
Ant: Thank ya thank ya. My plan regarding each of the possible love interests is to try and give each of them a dedicated chapter with Naruto so I can see what you guys like and if I fw it too so fs look out for that tenten chapter cuz its gon drop trust.
Ryuujin96:Great work on this chapter and I greatly enjoyed reading it. I loved the fights in thus chapter, and I loved the chain weapon Naruto got. And while I knew Naruto would get Blackflash from your previous reviewer response, I am very surprised it's this soon, but I really liked it as a replacement for Naruto using the Kyubi's chakra. Another thing, I like about this story is there,'s a greater focus on special weapons ,and I really liked that Naruto seems to be equally skilled with weapons and in Taijutsu. look forward to reading the next chapter.
Ant: Thank ya. I try to have the fights focus more on things like Taijutsu, ShurikenJutsu etc rather than Nin & Genjutsu because I feel like watching/reading two people really duke it out rather than just spamming Jutsu is way more entertaining. I still intent for people to use Jutsu but in a way that actually enhances one of the aforementioned rather than just using a jutsu just cuz.
aadijo13:Interesting. You do know that due to not having any chakra at all makes him completely immune to all genjutsu? Genjutsu is basically creating illusions by disrupting the enemy's chakra flow so not having any chakra would make one completely immune to it. Hope you integrate that into the story
Ant: I already did twin. I think it was like the second or third chapter in which I explain that since he has no chakra that he's immune to privacy seals as they cast a genjutsu on a potential eavesdropper. He is Kurenai's natural enemy as well as every single Hyūga ever because they can't close off his Tenketsu….mainly because he doesn't have Tenketsu.
bibidibabidiboom:just realized this but isnt he gonna absolutely destroy Otsutsukis?if we get that far that is and he survives Madara or Kaguya.
Ant: I'm not gon talk to much bout this cuz that's WAYYYY into the future but Naruto, chakra or not, is still a key figure in the war/defeating Kaguya. You'll see how when we get there twin.
bibidibabidiboom: NaruHaku since it's 'her'
Ant: Maybe. It's Fs possible especially after how I set her up this chapter.
aadijo13:Lmao, the guy who said toy wth the universe power for Naruto, he really doesn't need that. In jk toji and maki bodied people who could give trouble to even the strongest in Naruto. That the weapons of Naruto jik world is all he needs. Btw instead of giving Naruto new Powers you could give him weapons from other verses like inuyasha's sword,etc. Could be interesting but swords like samehada are pretty op in Naruto verse
Ant: The only weapons Naruto will be wielding come from the Narutoverse and the JJK verse. And I don't really plan on giving Naruto any of the seven swords of the mist just because I genuinely dislike how they look.
TotallyNotActive:It baffles me how little people know about heavenly restrictions considering its mostly what the fic is about
Ant:SWEAR. Then they try and tell ME that I'm wrong despite NOT knowing what heavenly restriction is.
aadijo13:Amazing story! A question. Would you give Naruto reversed cursed technique? He could he from almost anything except decapitation, destruction of brain, cut in half or complete obliteration
Ant: Nope. I think you're a bit confused because of him using divergent fist and black flash which I'm gonna get into after these reviews so we're spinning back to this later.
z20000006:why not just have guy train him? didn't lee and guy face a similar problem? I know guy and lee still have chakra but they only use it when releasing the 8 gates naruto doesn't really need that just teach him proper taijutsu and weapon mastery combine that with his physically gifted body that will grow to be on par with the 8 gates open in the future naruto will be a beast on the battle field.
Ant: I didn't have Guy train Naruto because A, Naruto is first and foremost a weapons expert. Sure tenten is one too but she leans more towards projectiles and even then Guy doesn't really train her in that area because it's not his specialty. B, Naruto, at this point in the story (pre Chūnin exams) is physically stronger than a 1 gate-opened Guy and that's WITHOUT black flash. There isn't really a need to train Taijutsu with someone who's weaker than you (if anything GUY would benefit) C, the "Learn proper Taijutsu" thing isn't really a thing considering Naruto had unrestricted access to the Hokage library and could learn (and did learn) the Taijutsu style of every Kage/prominent Ninja.
zx20000006: I wonder how black flash works here. naruto doesn't have chakra or cursed energy so what is he using at the last moment before he connects his fist to cause the black flash? Also I vote for naruto getting a small harem with sakura, ino and hinata, they would have an interesting dynamic since sakura seems like the child hood friend trope in this fanfiction, Ino is the flirty, popular girl that seems shallow but actually has more depth to her if she allows people to see it. and Hinata seems like the sweet shy girl with the patience of a sage but secretly has a more aggressive/daring personality to her that comes out when triggered. now imagine those three personalities clashing as they compete to get naruto with the poor boy trapped in the middle the shenanigan's would be fun to read.
Ant: I'll get to how black flash works after the reviews. Also, if I write "Vote for ships except for harem because I don't enjoy writing them" then maybe not ask for a harem fic? Just a thought.
AwesomeBanana223:Damn, that was an awesome chapter. Would love to see a more in depth explanation as to how Naruto's black flash works in this universe. I know you said something regarding him using his body's natural electricity, but it'd be cool to know how exactly he brings out that power. Also loving the dynamic between Naruto, Narumi and Sakura. Keep up the good work!
Ant: Thanks Imma get to black flash in ah min.
hawkeyestratos1996: Did Naruto take Zabuza's blade?
Ant: Not only did he NOT take Zabuza's blade but Zabuza is alive and well. Remember he stopped fighting the mob and let the wave villagers kill Gato and I personally never believed tht Zabuza, AN ANBU LOOK IT UP HE WAS ANBU FOR WAVE, would die to a bunch of academy-level goons injured or not.
Alrighty the moment we've all been waiting for! How does Black Flash work?
It's simple! Imagine you're in a fight, now before you even raise your hand you THINK about punching, MOVE your arm to punch, and then finally TENSE your muscles to punch. If you've timed it right your body will be so overwhelmed by overlapping electrical signals that those signals travel all throughout the body, reacting to charges in the air which creates black and red sparks.
Congrats! You just hit black flash.
This is also why Naruto won't be getting RCT simply because black flash (in this verse) isn't cursed energy being applied to a hit at the last second it's overflowing electrical signals everybody generates. What this also means is that other characters can and will hit black flash. I'm not saying who though just know its soon.
Edit: I forgot to include that Black Flash has a little quirk. Since it's literally your brain working at lightning speed for a few minutes after you hit black flash you essentially have maxed out senses and if you hit black flash too much without properly conditioning yourself youll burn out your brain hence why you see Naruto using divergent fist more than black flash despite the later being more powerful
Final closing thoughts. This is so far my favorite chapter. I recommend playing "Going Home by ShiroSAGISU" for the intended experience. Also, if you have the time to review please do. I respond to damn near all of em and I want YOU to be a part of the writing process. I'm not gonna sit here and be like other writers and say "If you don't review then this story dies" because it won't trust but if you genuinely want to help guide this story a certain way then the best way is to review. I read all of them and I consider all of them (except you harem and incest mfs y'all all know what the deal is)
"Are you sure you can move Haku-Chan?" The blonde hovered over the older girl, making sure she didn't overexert herself.
"I'm fine Naruto-Kun now grab that Chaff Flower" Haku instructed before the blonde bent down and grabbed the flower, inspecting it.
"What's this one good for?" He asked as he studied the flower intently.
"It's a great antioxidant meaning they can help lower the chance of disease" She briefly surmised. The two had been making their way back to the clearing where Naruto had lost his jacket, grabbing medicinal herbs and other flowers Haku took a liking to as they walked. For the latter, Naruto often found himself inquiring about the effects of each herb; questions that Haku was more than happy to answer.
"I'll make sure to add some of these to my tea when winter comes! Thanks, Haku-Chan!" The blonde grinned at the raven-haired girl who blushed furiously before shaking her head.
"L-Lets keep going! We don't want anyone to steal your jacket" She avoided his eyes as she continued to walk beside him.
"You're right! Let's get a few more flowers and then I'll get us to the clearing" The blonde sagely nodded and for a split second she wondered how the boy intended to get them to the clearing with her still sore body.
"He'll probably use a Jutsu to get us there. But which one?" She wondered as Naruto kept picking herbs. Once he'd finished, he turned toward the shorter girl and did something she'd never expected.
He scooped her up and made a mad dash for the clearing.
"He's running there?! Why didn't he just use a body flicker?!" Her thoughts ran almost as fast as Naruto did as she tried to come up with possible reasons as to why he was carrying her however she missed something crucial.
Naruto couldn't perform body flicker. Or any Jutsu for that matter.
After a minute and a half of non-stop sprinting, the two arrived at the clearing and Naruto attempted to set the girl down.
Keyword being attempted.
The raven-haired ice wielder was clutching hard on the collar of the boy's compression shirt, face buried in his neck as she awaited the end of the boy's sprint.
"I've stopped Haku-Chan, it's alright" His voice was soothing as he gently set the shaking girl down on her feet and tenderly peeled her hands from his shirt.
"I-I'm used to fast speeds but that…that was too fast," She thought, her body trembling lightly. The girl gave a shaky nod as she slowly relaxed, glad to feel the sturdy ground under her feet.
"I'm gonna go look for my jacket, any plants you need me to look out for?" Naruto asked, stretching his arms and legs.
"I-If you manage to find a Ginko tree grab some of its leaves and berries" The raven-haired 'hunter' instructed and Naruto nodded before taking off far faster than the girl could perceive.
"He's gotten so much faster in the few weeks since we've fought. If he keeps growing at this rate he'll be able to beat Zabuza in a month or so" The 'hunter' marveled at the blonde's growth as she shakily sat in the meadow filled with a plethora of beautiful flowers. The calm aura of the hurricane lilies, red clovers, peonies, and a myriad of other flowers washed over Haku causing the recovering girl to lie down for a short rest, unintentionally falling asleep.
"…ku-Chan….aku-Chan…Haku-Chan," The raven-haired girl's eyes fluttered open, chocolate brown meeting sky blue.
"His face is pretty" She mused to her half-sleep self. She took notice of his shaggy hair, tied messily into a ponytail, his slightly round yet masculine face, and his soft lips. At the last thought, the hunter furiously shook her head and shot up as fast as she could.
Head slamming straight into Naruto's.
"S-Sorry!" She clutched her still-recovering head as pain panged throughout her skull. Naruto quickly knelt beside the girl and ran his fingers over the growing bump. Reaching into the basket, the blonde pulled out a few purple plants and ground them in his hand before applying them to the bump on her head. Almost immediately, the bump on her forehead began to recede as a cooling sensation washed over it.
"Did it work?"
"Agastache. You remembered what I said?"
"Every word" He finished with a smile. The raven flushed furiously as she let the blonde rub the medicinal paste over her forehead.
"Hey Naruto-Kun," She started, causing him to pause his treatment.
"Yeah?" His head tilted to the side slightly, a trait, Haku noted, that both of the twins shared.
"The way Naruto does it is cuter though" The raven-haired hunter blushed at her thought before shaking her head and reaching her hand out to stroke the blonde's head.
"Your hair's getting pretty shaggy, you should get it cut" She giggled at the furious shade of red that overtook the taller boy's face.
"Are you out of your mind?!" A trio of voices rang out. They belonged to two hidden mist ninjas and one leaf Genin all of whom stared down the tall, whiskered blonde.
"It's a good idea, a great idea even" Naruto had to fight the grin that threatened to paint his face as he stared at the bewildered expression of the gobsmacked trio.
"They tried to kill us, almost succeeded!" Sasuke put extra emphasis on the word kill as he narrowed his eyes at the formerly hostile Shinobi.
"Ninjas always try and kill each other, best to let bygones be bygones," The blonde said sagely, even giving a slight bow.
"Oniichan has a point yknow, We have the potential to assimilate two powerful Shinobi into our village. After probation and some community service, Hokage-Sama would allow them citizenship, especially with a team of powerful Shinobi vouching for them" The strawberry blonde explained.
"And what makes you think we want to join the Hidden Leaf?!" Zabuza questioned, eyes narrowed at the children.
"Don't get our hopes up brat" The words stayed in his mind as he shot a tentative glare toward Haku, whom he began to consider more and more a daughter rather than a tool.
"You've been missing-nin for a while now, pair that with the situation in the Hidden Mist and I'd be willing to bet that you two have been looking for a place to settle down and relax without having to constantly watch your six" It was Sakura who explained this time and once she saw the men gaze drop to the floor she knew she'd hit her mark.
"Y-You mean we'd have a chance at a normal life?" Haku strained to speak the word as if doing so would reveal all of it to be a dream. Naruto walked to the older girl and cupped her face, wiping away the tears that were threatening to fall before embracing her tightly.
"Absolutely" His tone was one filled with such determination that the shorter girl couldn't help but believe him.
Nor could she stop herself from bursting into tears.
Naruto's embrace tightened as he gently stroked the older girl's back, letting her tears stain his jacket, her wails dancing in his ears.
"Oniichan never fails to be kind to any and everyone. It's why I admire him" The strawberry blonde looked at her twin brother fondly as he comforted the girl clutching his jacket.
"So you mean to tell me that Team 7 defeated two Chūnin, pushed an Anbu-level Shinobi on the back foot, defeated a high Chūnin low Jōnin level Shinobi, and then offered the two aforementioned Shinobi asylum?" Minato poured over the report as the Genin of Team 7 smiled brightly.
"Yup!" Narumi exclaimed. The former Mist Shinobi/Kunoichi stood straight as boards, awaiting their fate at the hands of the Yondaime Hokage.
"These are two criminals who've high bounty on their hands, wanted for murder across the elemental nations as well as other, equally heinous crimes. I don't see why I should allow them asylum, much less status as Ninja" Minato examined as he narrowed his cold blue eyes at the two, straightening their posture even more.
"Hokage-Sama, If I may, Haku-Chan has restrained herself from killing Team 7 numerous times despite having ample opportunities to do so. Not to mention she's a capable Kunoichi with a powerful bloodline. As for Zabuza, he was merely doing what you send your own men out to do every day." Naruto vouched for the two, stepping in front of them as if to shield them from his father's harsh glares with his own body. The rest of the team nodded in agreement, save for Sasuke who merely cast his gaze outside.
"Hokage-Sama, if possible, I'd recommend the head of T pour over their brains for any ill intent, and, should it come up clear, put the two on probation for some time before field testing them and assigning them accordingly," Sakura suggested. The blonde Hokage gave the idea some thought before sighing, he was clearly outmatched.
"Alright. Kakashi, take them down to T and if they come up clear take them to the police. Fugaku will oversee his probation" The silver-haired man nodded and led the two outside and toward the T department.
"Are we finished debriefing Hokage-Sama?" The pinkette asked and the man nodded, dismissing them.
"What brings you to my humble flower shop Naruto-Chan?" The platinum blonde teased the taller boy as she watched him enter the shop.
"I have a new friend and she really likes flowers. I was hoping to get her some as a gift" The blonde explained and Ino nodded before smirking.
"Is she your girlfriend~" Her face was smug and her voice teasing as she watched the blonde flare up before vehemently denying it.
"N-No. We only met recently and she's kind of new to the village. I also owe her for screwing up during my mission" Ino noticed the boy's tone sadden during the later part of his denial and she decided she wouldn't press him further.
"If it's an apology you're looking for I have the perfect flower for you!" She flashed a grin as she disappeared into the back of the shop before reappearing with a bouquet of blue hyacinths.
"I didn't know these grew in the Leaf" Naruto commented as he studied the flowers.
"The Leaf's been dropping in humidity meaning the soil isn't too moist to grow these beauties" Ino closed her eyes as she explained and once she opened them she nearly fell backward. Naruto had leaned onto the counter and gave her his undivided attention, the boy hanging on every word.
"I've been learning a lot about flowers recently, I didn't know they were this fascinating" He breathed, as if to himself rather than to her. She responded regardless.
"Nature really is amazing. We're so wrapped up in our own stuff that we often forget that we live in a world that's just as, if not more, alive than we are" Naruto nodded his head as he smelled the flowers, he couldn't agree more.
"I'm sure these flowers have a meaning behind them, mind telling me what it is?" Ino smiled softly as she nodded her head. It was nice to see her fellow blonde so interested in her passion.
"Truth and peace. If you messed up as bad as I think you did they're a great way to make peace and essentially promise to be your honest self around her" Ino explained and the boy gave a soft smile.
"Kinda wish he'd smile like that at the thought of me" The thought was brief but nonetheless lingered long enough for her face to flush and her temperature to spike.
"Are you alright Ino?" She felt a hand rest along her forehead and a concerned blonde staring into her eyes. Her temperature spiked even higher before she reeled her head back and attempted to change the subject.
"W-Wheres forehead? Y-You two are usually attached at the hip" It wasn't just an excuse, she was genuinely curious.
"She went to the hospital to start training in medical Jutsu so I'm alone for the day" The taller blonde explained and Ino shook her head, taking note of the twinge of disappointment laced into his sentence.
"Blowing off your boyfriend to be for medical training? For shame" Sure she'd be invaluable as a combat medic but that was beside the point. She willingly left a good-looking, single, blonde who was now buying flowers for another girl. A growl cut through her thoughts.
"S-Sorry. I haven't eaten since we left Wave" Naruto scratched the side of his newly flushed cheek as he looked to the side, embarrassed.
"I've got some soup dumplings I couldn't finish; Want them?" The boy gladly nodded at the offer of food and once more, Ino disappeared into the back of the shop and emerged from it with steaming Xiao Long Bao. After a quick prayer, Naruto dug into the meal, enjoyment visible on his face.
"This is surprisingly good Ino!"
"Surprisingly? What's that supposed to mean?" One of her eyebrows rose as she crossed her arms and looked towards the eating boy.
"N-Nothing! I just didn't peg you as the cooking type"
"I'll have you know I'm the best cook out of our entire age group, no one even comes close!"
"I think I can manage in a kitchen" The comment was meant to come off as offhanded but to Ino,
It was a challenge.
"Alright, sunshine, we'll see who makes the best dish. The winner gets to ask the loser for anything!" Ino awaited the boy's response with said boy contemplating the challenge before grinning.
"You're on!"
"The rules are simple, prepare a dish that is deemed satisfactory by our guest of honor. Whoever's dish is deemed satisfactory wins the bet" Ino explained to the taller blonde who nodded in understanding.
"I've seen Kaa-San and little sister cook before, I should be fine"
He had no idea just how wrong he was.
Ino moved around the kitchen with grace and fluidity, knowing where each ingredient was alongside knowing just how much of everything she needed to bring the dish together. Naruto, however, couldn't find anything and was constantly banging his foot, hips, and arms on the counters. Not to mention he had no idea how much of the stuff he was supposed to use and in what order. When the allotted time was up, Ino managed to cook up a heaping portion of Mongolian beef, still sizzling. Naruto, however, had cooked…something.
"I have no idea what this is. But that's ok! All it has to do is taste good!" The two served their dishes to their esteemed judge, Chōji, who glanced between the two dishes.
"Ino wins"
"YOU DIDN'T EVEN TASTE MINE!"
"I refuse to eat that"
"But it's good!" He knew it would be good, he had faith in his cooking.
"If you can tell me what you made I'll eat it"
"…"
"Thought so" And with that final thought Chōji took his plate of Mongolian beef to go, not wanting the sight of Naruto's 'food' to ruin his appetite.
"HAHA! Now, what should I make you do Sunshine?" She liked the nickname she'd come up with. He was like a warm ray of sun on a breezy summer day.
"Yeah yeah just get it over with" His face wore a small smile as he listened to Ino go over possible punishments she could put him through.
"Even though I got my ass kicked, I still had loads of fun!" His smile grew wider as his thoughts finished. Coincidentally, it seemed as though Ink finished her own thinking as well.
"I know what I want from you, Sunshine!"She exclaimed to the taller blonde.
"Do tell"
"I order you…to take me on a date!"
"You're as hopeless as your father" The redhead stifled a giggle as she watched her son squirm.
"It's my first time, cut me some slack" He murmured, turning away to hide the growing blush on his face. Kushina saw it regardless with it only adding to her amusement.
"Now tell me, who's the lucky girl?" Naruto contemplated disclosing such valuable information before eventually conceding.
It was his mother after all.
"I-Ino. Ino Yamanaka" A soft smile washed over his mother's face, not one of teasing, but one of contentment.
"I'm glad he still trusts me enough to tell me these things" She dismissed the thought and refocused on her son.
"Inoichi's girl right? I didn't know the two of you were talking?" A deeper shade of red washed over her son's face.
"W-We aren't" He really didn't want to tell her.
"Then how did you end up with a date?" She raised a quizzical eyebrow at her son who seemed to be doing everything possible to avoid his gaze.
"He lost a cook-off in which the winner could request anything of the loser" He hadn't even known his sister walked in.
"Is this true? Naru-Chan?" Her son stared at the wall to his right before sighing.
"It's true" She didn't hold her giggles back this time.
"You're just like your father" She had found the wager so amusing that she'd neglected to choose her next words concisously.
"How so?" His voice dropped, the blush falling from his face as his eyes narrowed.
"Shit"
"Tou-San can't cook, it's why we make almost all the meals. I think Kaa-San meant that Namikaze men can't cook" The strawberry blonde quickly covered for her mother who quickly nodded in agreement.
"Great save Mimi!" The redhead thought with a thumbs up towards her daughter which went unnoticed by her son. The older twin made a face before exhaling and changing the subject.
"So what am I supposed to do?" He'd come for advice and gotten teased.
"Do you know what she likes?" Kushina awaited her son's answer before deciding on the type of date she'd recommend.
"She likes flowers but I think it might be deeper than that, like she has a connection to nature as a whole not just flowers" Naruto explained, and his mother nodded.
"That's simple enough. Take her to do something that'll engage that interest while also letting her teach you about it. Then take her somewhere nice to decompress and get a meal" She ruffled her son's hair as he internalized the advice, formulating a plan for the date.
"Don't forget to walk her home, Oniichan" The younger twin walked back into the room clad in a tank top and orange pajama shorts as she dried her hair.
"I didn't even see you leave" The taller blonde commented and her mother nodded from her position on the bed.
"Besides the point. Make sure to do what your super cool sister says" She flashed a thumbs-up with a grin toward her twin brother who chuckled lightly.
"And this is you speaking from experience? Did Shika walk you home?" A shade of red, deeper than her mother's hair, found its way onto the strawberry blonde's face.
"HUSH!" She rang the towel out and swung it at her twin brother who caught it easily.
"Ooohhhh~ And here I thought I'd have to arrange your marriage" Her mother joked, deepening her daughter's blush tenfold.
"You're both so mean!"
"I've got some time to kill and Sakura-Chan is still interning so I can't bother her. What should I do?" Naruto spoke to himself as he walked around the village. Whistling a tune, the boy allowed himself to be carried through the bustling streets by his gut alone, passing countless shops, people, and animals as he perused the village happily.
"Naruto?" The voice broke through the boy's thoughtless stroll as he turned toward its owners.
"Yeah?" The voice belonged to Kurenai Yūhi, the Jōnin sensei to Team 8.
"Would you like to join us?" His head turned to the team of Genin who were running through warm-up exercises.
"Sure!" He had time to kill up until the time of his date.
"Alright, warm up for a bit and I'll run you through the objective of the exercise" She instructed and Naruto nodded before walking towards his fellow Genin.
"Hey, Naruto!" Kiba was the first to spot him and held out a fist which the taller blonde bumped.
"Yo!" Kurenai slightly cringed at the word, mind flashing to the boy's silver-haired sensei.
"H-Hello, Naruto-Kun" A slight blush streaked across the girl's face as she started to twiddle her fingers, gaze fixed on the ground.
"Hello, Naruto" Shino greeted with a nod which the blonde returned.
"So how're we warming up?" The taller boy asked and Kiba responded.
"We're running through Taijutsu forms to stretch our muscles and get in the zone" Naruto nodded before stretching his arms and snapping out a number of blows, all of which left visible indents in the air due to sheer speed alone. After a while, Kurenai halted the group of Genin before explaining the exercise.
"Team 8 is a team built towards tracking, retrieval, and basic espionage. As such you'll be tasked with tracking me down and retrieving a scroll I have on my person. Missions like these require a basic understanding of recognizing and dispelling Genjutsu and as such I've layered one on the scroll and a number of them in the surrounding forest. Once you disclose aloud the contents of the scroll the exercise is over. Understand?" Team 8 plus Naruto nodded their heads, the blonde, in particular, feeling his blood start to flow faster. Kurenai smiled at the group of fresh Shinobi before vanishing into the forest.
The exercise had started.
As soon as Kurenai vanished, Kiba took to running into the forest but a hand wrapped itself around the hood of his jacket, stopping him dead.
"Wait, Kiba" The blonde had begun to think of a plan as he sharpened his senses, making sure Kurenai wasn't there to overhear them and plan a counter.
"For what? There are four of us and one of her! Let's get that intel!" Kiba exclaimed and attempted to run after the Jōnin but found that the taller boy's grip was too firm.
"We're a tracking team first and foremost, Hinata with her eyes, Shino with his bugs, and you with your smell. We could rush into the forest and try and brute force our way in but if we play to our talents we'll be able to track her down and assault her from a number of different angles" Naruto explained to his temporary team who nodded in agreement.
"I agree with Naruto, with him we have a weapon that Kurenai has no prior experience with. Once we're able to track her, we can send Naruto in to overwhelm her with his strength before securing the intel" Shino pushed up his glasses.
"That just leaves actually finding her," Kiba said and the group hummed in agreement before Naruto slammed his fist in his palm.
"I've got it! Shino, create a layer of bugs to survey the area for residual chakra from any Genjutsu she may have cast on the forest" The quiet boy complied, creating a thin layer of Kikaichū that began to survey the forest, eventually spotting small traces of residual chakra.
"They got something" Naruto nodded at the revelation before turning to the remainder of the team.
"Before we start to narrow her location I need you two to do something. Hinata, activate your Byakugan while we're moving to avoid any hidden surprises. Kiba, I want you and Akamaru sniffing for coconut, I smelled it on her when she was talking, probably a body wash or something similar" The two Genin nodded, faces filled with determination as they began to head toward Kurenai's presumed location.
"This is where they spotted the residuals" Shino informed his team.
"Residual chakra but no Kurenai" Naruto mused before he and Kiba closed their eyes, focusing on their sense of smell.
"You got something?" The Inuzuka asked his blonde temporary teammate. The boy didn't respond, instead, narrowing his eyes at a certain spot in the treeline. Motioning towards his team, Naruto silently instructed them to move toward her position. Team 8 nodded slightly and began to move towards the Jōnin.
Kurenai knew she'd been made immediately.
Not even two steps in, Kiba and Shino dropped to the ground, writhing in pain.
"SHE KNOWS!" Naruto notified the Hyūga heiress before yanking her away from a flurry of Kunai heading towards them. Thinking on the fly, Naruto dropped down to his fallen teammates before cutting their fingers with his blade, releasing them from the Genjutsu.
"My Inverted Spear of Heaven can disrupt foreign chakra that's good. She can't use her Genjutsu on any of us" A grin fell upon Naruto's face as he realized something crucial.
Kurenai's main weapon had been rendered ineffective.
Up in the trees, Kurenai kissed her teeth in annoyance.
"With no chakra and that stupid sword, he's essentially my perfect counter. I'll have to fall back and think of a way to trap him" The Jōnin quickly launched off the branch, the noise being caught by Naruto's ears.
"SHE'S MAKING A BREAK FOR IT! HINATA, YOU'RE WITH ME THOSE TWO ARE IN TOO MUCH PAIN" The lavender-haired girl nodded and the two dashed toward the Jōnin.
"HE HEARD ME?! HE'S SOME KIND OF FREAK" She increased her pace in hopes of gaining distance between the two…
But it was hopeless.
A blur slammed into her back, tackling her into a clearing and pinning her to the ground. The Jōnin reinforced her body with chakra, managing to barely pry the boy off of her body before jumping back to put distance between them. Almost immediately, Hinata rushed in and threw a strong right palm to Kurenai's shoulder. The Jōnin threw her left leg back, stepping away from the blow, before sending a clean right hook to Hinata's jaw, sending her reeling back. Keeping up the pressure, Kurenai grabbed the sides of the girl's head and slammed it into her knee. The Hyūga slapped the right round kick that was flying toward her ribs and narrowly avoided the left straight headed toward her head.
"I can see the strikes but my body can't keep up!" The Hyūga grit her teeth before pushing herself as hard as she could. Running at her sensei, Hinata level changed and slammed herself into a surprised Kurenai, driving her to the ground.
"She's never fought like this before! What's gotten into her?!" The former Hyūga heiress raised her right arm and slammed an elbow into Kurenai's head, cutting her forehead and drawing blood. Annoyed, the Jōnin peeled the girl off of her and stood but before she could regain her bearings, The Hyūga slammed into her again.
"NARUTO!"
She had completely forgotten about her temporary Genin.
The boy in question quickly attached his Chain of a Thousand Miles to his Inverted Spear of Heaven and swung the weapon at the red-eyed woman's neck, nearly decapitating her had she not dodged. Once the blade returned to Naruto he didn't catch it like Kurenai thought he would, instead, he threw an incomparably fast punch at the weapon.
"Divergent Fist" A second impact hit the blade and launched it toward Kurenai who barely managed to dodge it, receiving a deep gash on her cheek which spewed out blood.
"They're animals! I can't focus on guarding the intel and fighting at the same time. Jōnin or not, if I keep fighting these two like this, they'll kill me" Kurenai surmised before grabbing the scroll from her jacket and raising her hands in a gesture of surrender.
"You win. Now put that obnoxious blade away before I make all of you train with Guy" At the threat, Naruto immediately sealed his blade and chain before falling onto his back. Hinata soon followed as they breathed heavily, grins wide. Kurenai used what little medical jutsu she knew to heal the gash on her cheek before wrapping the thin cut that was left over.
"We did it Hinata!" He managed to breathe out.
"Yes, we did, Naruto-Kun!" Her grin faltered as she replayed the events of the exercise.
"All I really did was keep my Byakugan on then get beat up. Naruto-Kun was the one who made the plan and took her down"
"Take an hour break and then we'll continue the exercises. You're free to stay if you'd like Naruto" The blonde boy thanked her before climbing to his feet and helping Hinata to hers.
"I feel like we didn't really do much yknow?" Team 8 nodded in agreement with Kiba as they all dejectedly looked towards the ground.
"Whaddya mean? You all played vital roles in the success of the 'mission'" Naruto tilted his head as he looked at his temporary team.
"You don't have to be nice Naruto. You carried us the whole time, especially me and Shino" The Inuzuka frowned as he reflected on his performance during the exercise, his teammates mirroring his expression.
"Kiba, you helped me sniff out Kurenai which caused her to slip up. We wouldn't have been able to narrow her location if it wasn't for you Shino and finally, Hinata kept us secure from any sneak attacks while also providing backup while engaging Kurenai. There would be no metric of success without your support" His words lifted the spirits of his temporary team and they all gained smiles, even Shino.
Everyone save for Hinata.
The team dispersed to get lunch save for Hinata who stayed to further reflect on her performance during the exercise.
"Even if I gave him support it wasn't anything useful. My Jūken was useless, everything I did was useless" Tears began to well up in her eyes as she berated herself in her mind.
"Want a piece?" A hand extended in front of her face causing her to look up towards its owner.
"N-Naruto-Kun?" Her face reddened as she slid to the side, allowing the boy to sit next to her.
"I didn't see you leave so I assumed you were still here. I got churros, would you like a bite?" He stuck out the cinnamon treat and she accepted, body scorchingly hot as she bit into the treat her crush had eaten moments prior.
"Does that mean we kissed? Are we going to get married? Would my father approve of him?!" Her mind raced at the thoughts before a hand on her shoulder stopped them.
"Are you alright Hinata?" A thumb wiped away the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"I-I'm fine" She didn't like lying to him but she knew he'd try to make her feel better.
"My uselessness isn't something nice words can fix." Fresh tears welled up in her eyes and the blonde immediately wiped them away.
"I'm here for you Hinata. I know we don't talk much but I've always considered you a friend. Please let me in, let me try to help." His eyes showed his desperation to help and Hinata just couldn't refuse him.
"I felt so useless back in that exercise. I know you said I protected us from sneak attacks but she still managed to tag Shino and Kiba. And then when we fought her, it was you who forced her to concede. I did nothing to help" Her tears fell freely and Naruto embraced her, stroking her hair as she silently cried into his windbreaker.
Once her tears dried she peeled apart from the blonde, embarrassed at her display.
"S-Sorry Naruto-Kun" She lowered her head and stared at the ground but a hand from the blonde forced her to look him in the eyes.
"You're in no way weak Hinata-Chan. You kept up with me and allowed me an opening to take Kurenai down. No matter what anyone says, you are strong." She couldn't believe it. The boy she'd grown to idolize had called her strong. She engulfed the taller boy in a hug, squeezing him as tight as she could as if she feared he'd slip away the moment her grip loosened.
"Thank you" She managed to choke it out between her tears as Naruto stroked her back.
"You're always welcome Hinata-Chan"
After the break, Naruto said his goodbyes and with one last hug from Hinata, the boy headed back home.
Ready to prepare for his date.
"Ready for your date Oniichan? Mom and I prepared the stuff you asked for" The blonde looked towards his twin sister, lying out on the couch.
"Thanks. And I'm as ready as I'll ever be" He plopped down next to her and rested his head in her lap, turning towards the TV.
"Shouldn't you be showering and stuff then?"
"I have some time. Whatcha watchin'?"
"Bleach"
"Me and your dad used to watch this all the time" A third weight fell onto the couch as Kushina joined them in watching the TV.
"I didn't know bleach was 700 years old" Naruto snickered, narrowly avoiding a fist from his mother.
"Go prepare for your date lest you die before you can go on it" Her hair formed into nine sections, all waving forebodingly.
"Yes ma'am" And with that the blonde got up from his sister's lap and headed to the bathroom.
"You look so cuteee! Let me get a picture!" Kushina scrambled to find her camera and take a picture of her son. Once she did, she instructed the older twin to stand still as she snapped his picture for the family album.
"Do I have to?" The blonde questioned, pulling at the bottom of his brown jacket, face tinted red.
"Yes. Narumi, you get in here too" The younger twin complied and stood beside her brother, holding up a peace sign. The redhead took what seemed like countless pictures of the two before finally allowing her son to pick the girl up and commence his date.
"You have a visitor sweetie!" Naruto stood outside the door as he watched the brown-haired woman call her daughter down.
"I'll be down in a sec!" A voice called from upstairs.
"Now you listen here Mr. I don't want any funny business between you and my daughter on this date of yours. Bring her back home no later than ten and if you screw this up, I'll have my husband reveal all your most embarrassing secrets to the entire village!" The blonde nodded his head in acknowledgment, beads of sweat running down his face.
"Y-Yes Ma'am!" He offered her a respectful bow and the woman smiled, content with his response.
"Could you maybe not scare my date, Mom?" The platinum blonde chided her mom with a blush, the woman in question merely smiling before walking back inside and waving the two off.
"Have fun sweetie! Don't forget what I said, Naruto" Her voice lowered as a sense of foreboding dropped upon the taller blonde's shoulders. The brown-haired woman closed the door, leaving the pair of blondes on their lonesome.
"So where are we headed?" She asked her date who turned to her and smiled.
"It's nothing fancy but I think you'll like it" Ino returned the smile and began to follow the older twin.
"I didn't know he had clothes other than that bulky windbreaker" The blonde wore a brown bomber jacket with a large mushroom embroidered on the back. The jacket was, surprisingly, not oversized; nor was the pair of brown pants he wore in tandem.
"It's getting a little windy" She heard his voice cut through her thoughts and offered her response.
"It's not that bad. Don't tell me our resident weapons master is cold even with that jacket on?" She teased and Naruto laughed.
"I'm fine. Although, I'm surprised you aren't shivering with only half a hoodie" He stuck his tongue out as he teased her. She looked down at her choice of clothing, what she normally wore on missions, and then back to Naruto. The boy had taken the time out of his day to put on something nice and she'd only worn what she'd always worn.
"Is my outfit that bad?" Her voice gained an edge of sadness that the taller blonde immediately picked up on.
"You look great no matter what you wear" It had come out almost as fast as she had asked the question and it came out without an ounce of hesitation. He'd meant what he said.
"Thank you"
"You're welcome, now let's pick up the pace we're almost there"
"Alright"
"It's beautiful" She breathed out as she surveyed the clearing. It was just outside the village as if tucked away from all the usual bustle that was the Hidden Leaf.
"I know right? Found it while running laps around the village. Went too far and got lost, but I ended up finding this though so I count it as a win" Naruto explained before doing something that left Ino a blushing mess of a Kunoichi.
He started to take his clothes off.
"I-I'm not ready for that yet!" She exclaimed, covering her face with her hands, albeit, leaving a tiny space between her fingers so she could still see.
"What are you talking about? We're going swimming? You can swim right?" The taller blonde asked, stripping off his shirt. Ino gasped, unable to verbally respond to the question as she marveled at the boy's back.
"It's like he was cut from marble! I can't believe forehead was keeping him from me…I can't blame her for it though" She watched as the boy finally shed his pants and stretched his body, each muscle in his body extending before contracting and tensing almost dance-like.
"Where'd you get those scars?" She managed to breathe the question out. She always thought she'd been a dark-haired perfect-skinned kind of girl but seeing Naruto, someone with blonde hair as warm as the sun that kissed his scarred skin, she was beginning to have doubts.
"Wave" His tone ranged from sadness to anger and then happiness as he remembered the new friends he'd made during the violent A-Ranked mission.
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking of course"
"It's not a problem. What started as a C-Rank protection mission ended up as an A-Rank political reconstruction mission. I got most of these from fighting someone I now consider a friend" He explained as a soft smile washed over his face.
"I'm glad it ended on a positive note" A smile found its way onto her face as she watched each scar dance alongside the tensing of his muscles. Once the blonde had finished he turned toward his fellow blonde.
"Do you want a shirt to swim in? I know you don't have a shirt under the hoodie, just bandages" The taller blonde stuck his tan shirt out, offering it to her.
"Turn around" She commanded the boy, grabbing the shirt and stripping out of her own clothes. She quickly slid the shirt over her body and it was then that she realized just how big Naruto was compared to her. The shirt stopped at her mid-thigh and barely hung onto her shoulders. She raised the garment to her nose and inhaled.
"Cinnamon and cedar" She liked the combination.
"Alright you can look now" She spoke softer than she normally did as a blush crept up onto her face. She knew the shirt covered her up pretty well but wearing nothing but a T-shirt and panties was embarrassing regardless.
"It looks better on you than it does me!" His chuckle warmed her body and only worsened the blush already present.
"L-Let's hurry and swim!" She quickly changed the subject and stepped into the surprisingly warm water, Naruto following soon after.
"Hey, Ino!" Naruto called for her.
"Yeah?" He was in the center of the lake, floating serenely on his back.
"Dive down, I wanna show you something" He instructed as he righted himself before shoving himself underwater. Ino followed suit and almost filled her lungs with water at the sight.
This lake was truly alive.
Small schools of fish swam about as a number of crustaceans crawled across the lake floor. Popping her head up she glanced at a grinning Naruto who swung his eyes in a wide arc as if to motion to the entire clearing.
"This clearing is the Land of Fire at its best. When I'm here I feel so connected, as if to the very earth itself" Ino felt the exact same way. She turned her head and took in the clearing, listening to the birds sing before they swooped down to catch a fish or drink. Watched the lizards prowl around the shore of the lake, ready to pick off any stragglers they could. She took in the countless sights, smells, and sounds that this slice of heaven offered her.
"It's perfect, this clearing, this date…him" She blushed at the last thought as she sighed and tilted her head back. As if on cue, the blonde she'd been thinking of moments prior splashed a handful of water into her face. Her eyes snapped open, ready to question the taller boy but she halted as soon as she met his eyes.
"Was this a bad place? We still have time left before ten so we could do something else if you'd like" She shook her head and gave the boy a soft smile, gingerly grabbing the sides of his face.
"Absolutely not. This moment, right now, is perfect" Her heart fluttered when she saw her fellow blonde's spirit life before releasing his face.
"I'm glad you like it" As soon as his sentence finished he found a handful of water being thrown into his face.
"I hope you didn't think you were getting away with that, sunshine!" The platinum blonde dipped her hands into the lake, readying another handful of water.
"You're on!" The scarred blonde grinned as readied his own water.
"Alright alright, you win!" Ino smiled as she watched her date concede.
"Mwahaha! Admit I'm the queen of the lake!" She looked toward her blonde date who laughed before raising his hands.
"You're the queen of the lake. All hail Ino!" He made a praising motion that left the platinum blonde blushing.
"And don't you forget it!" With a final splash of water, the shorter girl swam ashore, Naruto quickly following.
"We should name the clearing" The suggestion caught Ino off guard as she bent down to grab her hoodie, Naruto turning the other way out of respect.
"That's not a bad idea. What should we name it?" She thought over some names as she peeled off the wet shirt.
"How about…The Lake Blessed by the Blondes!" The name was silly but she had to admit,
She liked it.
"It's perfect" The smile on her face fell as she took hold of her violet hoodie.
"Shit! It's completely soaked!" She dropped the hoodie to the ground and turned to look at Naruto. Before she could even speak, he stripped himself of his brown jacket once more and handed it to her.
"You can take this, I'll dry the shirt and hoodie inside" He didn't leave room for refusal. Ino blushed before silently thanking him and slipping on the jacket, buttoning it. It was bigger than the shirt, falling right above her knee and swathing her in a mixture of warmth, cedar, and cinnamon.
"Inside?" She questioned. She hadn't even registered what he said until just now. A grin painted the boy's face as he grabbed the wet clothes before grabbing hold of Ino's hand and guiding her away from the lake, deep into the surrounding shrubbery. When the two emerged, Ino nearly gasped.
"He's just full of surprises tonight" She mused to herself. Naruto revealed a quaint and cozy cabin that was hidden perfectly by the surrounding shrubbery and trees.
"It's from the Warring States Era. Clans used to build their own houses and cabins but once hidden villages started to become the status quo the cabins were torn down by the owners or the Shinobi of whatever land they were on. This one was so well hidden that it avoided destruction though it was cleaned out by whoever left" Ino looked at the boy in shock.
"You paid attention in history?"
"Haha" The blonde led her inside and lit the hanging lamps before disappearing into another room, emerging with plates of food.
"I hope that's not a Naruto original dish" The shorter blonde commented as she looked at the plates. The food looked good, it smelled good. But would it taste good?
"Don't worry my mom and sister made it. I don't think I'll ever be allowed in a kitchen for the rest of my life" He chuckled and Ino smiled.
"It'd still be too soon"
"Come on, there's one last thing I wanna show you" The platinum blonde had just finished her meal before the blonde grabbed hold of her hand, dragging her outside.
"Is it another pre-Konoha era artifact?" She joked and the scarred blonde laughed.
"Nope. In fact, it's something you can only see tonight" With his cryptic message Naruto led his date to a flower-rich hill a few meters behind the cabin. The two reached the peak, with Naruto laying down a blanket for the two to lie on. Taking her spot beside her date, Ino stared up into the sky, hands at her side, and asked a question.
"How did you know I liked nature so much?" Usually, people assumed she only enjoyed flowers, which she did, but she loved so much more than that.
"When I first met you in the academy, I always thought liking only flowers and nothing else was a bit odd. Not only that, but you regularly talked to Shino about different bugs during lunch break. Putting those two together gave me a hunch that you loved every aspect of nature but rarely got to show that love off" Naruto explained and the girl was amazed. He was shockingly perceptive.
"Until now" She added on, a small blush and smile gracing her lips.
"I'm glad I get to see this side of you Ino" His voice was as sincere as it always was and Ino felt herself melt.
"Keep losing bets and maybe you'll keep seeing it," She said teasingly. Meanwhile, her hand flexed open and closed before snaking towards the hand of her date.
"Then maybe I'll keep losing" She felt his strong hand clasp her own and a wide smile wash over his face.
"Is it too early to say I'd kill to see that smile?" She knew she was falling for the boy. She knew it was only a first date. She knew it started because of him losing a bet.
But she didn't care.
She let the warmth from his hand and jacket wash over every part of her body as they stared into the night sky.
"It's almost here" She heard him speak and remembered that they were here because he'd wanted to show her something. Before she could ask what he was referring to, a white, blue, & lavender light streaked across the sky.
"It's beautiful" It was the only thing she could manage to think as she watched the comet dance across the night sky.
"Make a wish" She barely heard the blonde speak, his own voice filled with amazement as he gazed upon the small solar body.
"I wish…I wish that this moment with Naruto…could last forever" She hoped with all her heart that this date would never end. Prayed that they could play in the lake for the rest of time.
Begged the celestial body to allow her to stay with the blonde in their little cabin, tucked away from the world.
The comet passed and her date turned towards her with that smile she knew she'd kill for, and asked her a question.
"What'd you wish for?" Her face reddened causing her to hide her blush in the collar of his jacket.
"If I tell you, it won't come true" The taller boy nodded and smiled even brighter.
"God I hope my wish comes true"
"Did you have a good time?" Naruto asked as he escorted the shorter blonde home.
"I did" She wanted to tell him she had an amazing time, the best time ever. But she held her tongue.
"So did I. Oh! You can keep the jacket. I think the mushroom fits your nature theme" He explained and the date she thought couldn't possibly be better, got better. The two arrived on Ino's doorstep hand in hand and stood together, enjoying the warmth spreading throughout their bodies.
"Thank you, Naruto-Kun, for giving me the best first date ever." She wished she could stay with him, retreat to their lake, and hide away forever.
But she knew they couldn't.
"It was truly my pleasure…if I'm being honest, I don't want it to end" His tone gained an edge of sorrow that caused tears to well up in Ino's eyes.
"I know…me neither" They squeezed each other's hands tightly as if to savor the warmth of one another for as long as possible before Ino let go. Before the taller blonde could speak a word, Ino caressed the sides of the boy's face and leaned in on her toes.
Planting a delicate kiss on the boy's lips.
"I-Ino I-" She cut him off.
"You've made this night truly magical Naruto-Kun, think of it as a reward for making this night one of dreams" She didn't fight the tears, letting them flow freely onto the jacket he'd given her. Naruto fought back his own tears and nodded, fearing that any words he may try and speak would come out as choked sobs. Steeling herself, Ino turned and walked inside her home.
Dejected that it wasn't the special cabin she and Naruto shared.
