Small.
It was the first thought that came to Naruto's mind as he stared down at Hinata.
The room was still, almost hauntingly so. An incessant beeping noise, drumming from the heart monitor next to the hospital bed, was the only noise piercing the otherwise silent room.
Hinata has always been rather small, relatively speaking. She had always subconsciously scrunched her shoulders together, in a vain attempt to appear as non-threatening as possible. Ducking her head low like a lowly little mouse. Knees bent at an awkward angle, slouched over like a hermit. Per she did so because she wished not to be seen.
Unnoticed. Invisible. Forgotten.
Whatever the case may be, Hinata had always been small. It shouldn't have surprised Naruto and yet...
An unsure frown framed the boy's face as his hands gripped the metal assisted railings attached to the side of the hospital bed.
Why had this happened?
To Hinata.
What had happened?
To Hinata.
How could someone do this?
To Hinata.
He already knew the answers to all those questions and yet...
A white-hot fire seemed to bloom within his chest, for there was no other way to describe it. An itch stemming from, not annoyance, but anger.
Hinata was gentle. She was kind. She was fair.
It made absolutely no sense to Naruto and it only seemed to further anger his already rapidly deteriorating state.
Naruto had never shown sympathy for others. Had rarely been able to comprehend what empathy actually was until this very moment.
He understood however, that things just... happen. Not for a reason. Not because of a higher order. Not because of faith or religion or whatever it may be.
Things just were because they are.
It was how Naruto saw the world.
And yet, Naruto couldn't make sense of exactly why this was bothering him so heavily.
He'd never had a bond growing up. Never experienced a real childhood. He was an unwanted child in a world full of confusion, anger and hate. He'd lost that sense of longing years ago and even now, struggled to accept these new and unfamiliar feelings.
A stone wall surrounded his heart and he possibly, even childishly so, believed himself to be made of stone. But that wasn't true and he knew it. He could never disregard the traits that made him human, despite desperately wishing to do so.
"This is humanity."
There was a ringing noise now.
It was inescapable.
Hungry.
Desperate.
Angry.
Unfocused eyes crossed and centered rapidly. Tunnel vision took hold. Black lines encroached rapidly.
A crescendo of blaring noises, sounds and unintelligible mutterings reached his ears.
It bubbled beneath the surface, impatiently waiting to be let loose and Naruto nearly allowed it to do so.
All it would take was...
One.
Little.
Word.
"This is humanity."
"You okay, kid?"
Naruto was inexplicably snatched back to reality by Tsume's question. He could feel the woman's clawed hand, gently laid atop his shoulder in a vain attempt at offering comfort.
How long had he been staring?
His eyes lowered to his hands and his frown grew larger. The metal railings in his hands had been warped heavily, almost as if he had tried to tear the damn things off.
"Yea..." He answered lamely, shrugging off the woman's hand, missing her frowning face.
What else could he say? Did it even matter?
"You're angry." Shikamaru spoke suddenly, resting in one of the chairs against the wall. Naruto didn't even bother offering him a sarcastic retort. "It's not going to do you any good."
Naruto ignored his words. He knew what Shika was trying to do. But he wouldn't be distracted or rather, he couldn't be. Not when his teammate was in such a diabolic state.
The hospital gown covered the most egregious of her wounds but Naruto could practically see the disgusting bruises from a mile away.
The Gentle Fist was known for its severe internal damage. It was specifically designed to target the body's Chakra Pathway System and inflict lethal damage to the organs it was targeting. And while Hinata obviously carried wounds that would coincide with the Gentle Fist, he spotted something else.
Her joints had also been specifically targeted. Dark, angry bruises were peppered along the bend of her arm and various points of her bicep.
Naruto wasn't an expert on the Hyuga's main fighting style but he had inadvertantly picked up a thing or two from sparring with Hinata and having casual conversations about it with the girl.
The Gentle Fist was, of course, their main fighting style but she had briefly hinted at another. A more barbaric form of the Gentle Fist that was seldomly used and taught in the Clan.
Hinata had said little about it but whether that was due to a lack of information or 'Clan Secrets', went unexplained. It existed and Hinata showed signs of having it been used on her.
The Gentle Fist was meant to incapacitate and dissect. To cut someone down in a surgical manner and inevitably, kill them.
Whatever had been done to Hinata had been done to prolong her suffering.
Her Tenketsu had been closed, opened, closed again before being forcibly reopened once more.
The Hyuga were perfectionists in what they did. They did not prolong fights due to hubris, regardless of belief or standing. They were efficient and deadly. Cold and ruthless. Methodical and precise.
This...
This was anything but.
She had been tortured. Beaten. Forced to endure and be made aware of how little a threat she truly was.
Her once pale skin, now a deathly shade of purple and black, was but a warning. A message. They could have killed her long ago and they knew it. Gloated about it.
Naruto's body began to shake and when that oh-so-familiar anger bled through the surface, the door was unexpectedly opened.
Naruto ignored the new comer. Doctor, nurse, medical practitioner... He didn't care who they were. They didn't matter. But apparently, his team thought otherwise due to their surprised noises.
Naruto pushed it to the back of his mind, staring down at his comatose teammate.
His eyes traveled down the bruised skin of her arm, staring down at the dried blood upon her hands. He'd been told that the blood hadn't belonged to Hinata.
There was a bit of pride in knowing that. In spite of it all, Hinata had struck against her tormentors. She'd drawn blood against those who had put her in this state.
Hinata had fought back.
It didn't matter if it ultimately amounted to nothing. Hinata had done something of her own accord. Naruto would forever be proud of her. It didn't matter if she instigated the fight or not. He didn't care about that. Hinata had struck, knowing that she'd possibly end up in this state. Therefore, he would respect whatever reasonings she had or didn't have.
He swore a vow to himself in that instant.
Naruto ignored his surroundings, blocking out the idle conversation between the individuals in the room, before gently taking ahold of Hinata's bloody hand.
His emotions sparked uncontrollably as he cradled her hand in his, placing his free hand atop her own.
She was so cold... So unlike the warmth he had unknowingly grown accustomed to.
His teeth gnashed together angrily and he had to physically restrain himself from squeezing the girl's hand tightly.
"I will protect you." He whispered quietly. "I will sacrifice everything for you. On this vow, I promise."
A brief surge of blue Chakra suddenly manifested, surrounding both Genin as Naruto made his vow, unknowingly attracting the attention of the room. The Chakra surged for several moments before inevitably dissipating, evenly spread between both Genins.
"Been a decade since I seen a Binding Vow..." The woman who entered the room stated quietly. "You ain't got a clue as to what you just did, kid."
Naruto gingerly lowered Hinata's hand before letting go. "I don't remember asking for an opinion. How about you do your job?" He snapped back, tone agitated.
Due to having his back to the room, he was unable to see both Tsume and Shikamaru's reactions to his words. How could he have known who he was talking to? He had been, thus far, ignoring everything around him. He hadn't known just who had waltzed through that very door. Had he, then perhaps his tone would have been a bit different.
"Naruto!" Tsume growled in surprise, glaring down at the boy who had yet to turn around.
The aforementioned teen scrunched his face in annoyance before finally turning around. "Wha-?!" He briefly choked on his own spit, coming face to face with a Konoha legend.
A woman so famous, that everyone across the globe knew her. A monster that terrorized whole battalions of Shinobi during the Second Shinobi War. A woman touted as the world's greatest medic who survived a battle with the infamous Hanzo the Salamander of Amegakure. The Inventor of Iryo Ninjutsu and the most physically powerful individual to walk the Elemental Nations.
The Slug Sannin Tsunade Senju.
Naruto wasn't a sensor by trade but he was far more attuned to Chakra than most Shinobi in Konoha. Which is why he was briefly speechless upon actually sensing the woman.
She had so much Chakra.
He knew that he possessed the most Chakra in the entire Village and that was barely a secret. The only individual that could come close was the Old Man and even then, his Chakra reserves towered over the Sandaime.
This was the first time in his life that Naruto was rendered in awe at someone who was nearly able to match his own reserves. Just how much did she have...?
"Yer a rude little shit, ain't 'cha?" The quite busty woman questioned in amusement, a cigarette hanging lazily between her lips. She crossed her arms beneath her generous breasts, leaning against the door of the room. "Get that from yer momma, eh?" She exhaled a gracious plume of smoke afterwards.
What was done could not be undone. To back down now was to show weakness. Naruto wasn't an idiot. He knew better than most and he listened to the rumors.
If Tsunade was in the Village then that meant... bad things.
"Probably." He faked confidence he didn't really have, leaning against Hinata's hospital bed. "Never really got around to meeting her." He paused. "Cus she's, ya know, dead."
"Womp womp." The busty woman mocked while shaking her head side to side, an uncaring air hovering about her. "Disrespect me again and I'll lacerate every part of yer body while simultaneously healin' ya." Cue another exhale of tobacco.
Were each of the Sannin just... awful people?
Why was Naruto surprised?
He'd been told before that he was similar to Orochimaru and the brief meeting, if one could even call a brief passing-by a meeting, he didn't see it. Orochimaru's Chakra was dark by nature. And while it was incredibly impressive, it was less than the Old Man's. But one could not deny the man's cold and malicious aura.
Tsunade herself...
It just felt empty. A hollow shell. There was no discernible feeling other than...
Ahh.
Anxiety.
"Gotta talent for Chakra Control and Manipulation, do ya?" She asked with a raised brow, attention now focused on the clipboard in her hands. She used her other hand to take slow, occasional drags from her half-smoked cigarette. "Average. Fair, but average." She deduced in a condescending manner, exhaling smoke slowly.
Naruto's lip switched in annoyance. "You're a bitch, you know that?"
Tsunade barely flinched, shrugging in a lazy manner. "That's what most men tell me." She flipped through a few more documents, eyes rapidly scanning the walls of text on each paper. "Ahh..." She mumbled quietly, flipping through the papers quickly before abruptly throwing the clipboard away. "Sounds like the Hyuga Clan are still bein' shitters, eh?"
Naruto just couldn't help himself.
"Wow, impressive deduction." He even went so far as to give the woman a slow clap. "You're intelligence has proven most beneficial in this endeavor. Truly, you are one of a kind."
A single, vicious and brutal chop to the throat had Naruto desperately craving for oxygen. He fell to his knees, fingers clenched around his throat in a vain attempt at trying to staunch the pain. He hadn't seen her move. Hadn't registered what she'd done for what felt like several seconds.
One moment she was across the room and when he blinked, she was standing on the other side of Hinata's bed, assessing the girl's injuries.
"Ya talk a lotta shit." She mumbled in an uncaring manner, gently moving Hinata's arm to survey the superficial damage done to her. She shifted the cigarette in her mouth towards the left corner of her mouth, eyebrows furrowing in what appeared to be concentration. "Ya even know you talk alotta shit too, which makes it even funnier. You, unfortunately, remind me of Jiraiya and I can't really accept that."
Naruto's eyes sought the ground as he wheezed painfully. No matter what he did to alleviate the pain, it stayed the same.
A horrible realization struck him not a moment later.
"Ahh, yeah..." Tsunade mumbled lackadaisically, lazily exhaling smoke through her nose. "Finally noticed what I did?" She moved the blanket covering Hinata's torso before briefly lifting the girl's gown, staring down at the horrific looking bruises littered along the girl's abdomen and chest. "Physically closed yer throat with that chop. In a couple seconds yer gonna start to hallucinate. Black stars and shapes are gonna start forming in yer eyes and then..." She clapped her hands with a lazy smile, exhaling smoke as she spoke. "Well, ya die. Duh."
One step and she was now crouched before the blond teen, cradling his chin with one of her hands.
"Unlike Jiraiya, who's far too 'noble', I revel in death." Honey brown eyes stared down at Naruto, as if he was insignificant and unworthy of her time. "Don't pick a fight ya can't finish, kid." She then proceeded to exhale smoke directly into Naruto's face, as if to further mock him.
Like the woman had said, colorful stars and shapes formed in Naruto's sight as black splotches began to creep upon him. Tears unknowingly streamed down his face and as he was but a moments away from death...
Reality lurched back with but a snap.
Vibrant, green Chakra suddenly stemmed from Tsunade's hand as she healed his destroyed esophagus. Naruto immediately swallowed oxygen down, head bowing down to the floor as his breathing became uncontrollable.
He felt the woman gently rub his head, almost in a motherly manner. With her other hand, she removed the cigarette from her mouth while flicking a few ashes away. "First time's free, kid. Don't fuckin' push me. Whatever rumors ya may or may not have heard... They're true. Don't go lookin' for trouble where there ain't none." She stood to her feet a moment later before returning to Hinata's bedside. "I'll have yer little girlfriend healed up in an hour or so."
Naruto coughed harshly, waving off Shikamaru's help and concern. His cerulean eyes slowly rose towards Tsunade as he stared at the woman's unique Haori.
"Do you... hate me too?" He asked hoarsely, massaging his throat.
Tsunade kept her back to Team Tsume, green chakra glowing from her hands as she began to mend the girl's broken body. The woman tilted her head backwards, blonde hair sprawling down her back. Another lazy plume of smoke rose into the air as Tsunade casually flicked her exhausted cigarette into the trash can.
"Can't hate something I don't care about."
"You're a fucking idiot, you know that Naruto?"
The aforementioned teen would have rolled his eyes had they not been closed. "That's the fifth time ya said that, Shika. I get it."
"I'm honestly not sure you do." Shikamaru raved once more, pacing back and forth in the Hospital lounge. "I mean, c'mon, insulting Tsunade Senju of all people?! Dude, are you suicidal?!"
Naruto sighed quietly to himself and choose to just ignore Shikamaru. He'd just been so angry. He understood what the woman was conveying. It was better he learn this lesson in Konoha rather than outside.
He was strong and talented. Stronger than even some Chunin. But there was always a bigger fish out there. Tsunade had went out of her way to prove it to him.
The rumors circulating around the woman were anything but kind. She was a menace. A harbinger of death and despair. Despite being touted as a Medic and a Healer, Tsunade was most known for bringing about Death.
And if she was back in the Village, for whatever reason, then that meant that only Death would follow.
"Gonna keep saying the same crap or what?" Naruto asked with a huff. "I was angry. You seen what they did to Hinata-chan... Can ya blame me?"
Shikamaru finally stopped digging a trench through the hospital, granting Naruto his attention. "We're Shinobi, Naruto... You have to control your emotions better or you'll never see a promotion."
"Easy for you to say... You'll get it off heritage alone. Someone like me has to work for it." Naruto grumbled back childishly.
"You are the last person that should be saying that kinda crap." The Nara drolled, rolling his eyes and making his way towards Naruto and taking the seat beside him. "Your dad was the Hokage."
"No one wants a Jinchuuriki to succeed."
"Who cares what 'they' want?" Shikamaru asked with a roll of his eyes. "Since when do you care what people think about you?"
"Public opinion actually matters, regardless of how you may or may not feel. The Villagers don't know it but they actually have alot of sway in the Village." Naruto paused for a moment, slouching in his chair. "Village population boomed after the Third Shinobi War... Ya know, Konoha actually used to have more Shinobi than Villagers."
"Commerce, trade, protection..." Shikamaru rattled lazily. "I know the history."
"You were always asleep." Naruto accused.
"I'm not an idiot."
"I beg to differ."
"Spell that word."
"Which one?"
"Differ."
"D-I-F-F-E-R." Naruto gloated with a grin.
"Did ya see how easy it was to manipulate you? You're so dumb, Naruto."
Naruto opened his mouth to offer a retort but then immediately closed it. "Ya know what? I'll give you that one. I quite literally walked into that."
Shikamaru grinned to himself before performing a unique hand seal. His shadow bubbled in an odd manner before two unique looking dog/wolf entities appeared.
"Luckily for you... You got one of the smartest Ninja on your team who inherited one of the strongest bloodlines in Konoha history." Shikamaru's smug grin was palpable.
Naruto rolled his eyes with a quiet groan but did not hesitate to pull one of the Divine Dogs towards him and offer the creature a ton of affection. "You're lucky that these guys are so cool."
The abnormally large and unique looking black wolf released a quiet howl, almost as if agreeing with Naruto.
"See!? He agrees!" Naruto placed his hands upon the wolf's head before ruffling the creature's head back and forth in affection. "Who's a good boy?! Who's a good boy?!"
While the black Divine Dog didn't necessarily showcase its enjoyment, its tail wagged back and forth rapidly.
Shikamaru merely rolled his eyes, scratching the head of the white Divine Dog. "Stop treating him like a puppy. He's ferocious and powerful."
Naruto snorted at his response. "He technically is a puppy... He was born like three days ago. Also, he doesn't have a name. Neither of 'em do. I'm tired of referring to him as the black Divine Dog."
Shikamaru smirked. "Kuro."
Naruto glared. "Lazy!"
"Karasu."
"He's not a crow!"
"Most crows are black though." Shikamaru replied knowingly.
"I refuse!"
"They're not even yours."
"They deserve names!"
Shikamaru groaned in annoyance. "I'll think of something, alright?"
Naruto nodded his head, idly scratching the black wolf atop its crown. "Have you managed to tame any of the others?"
Shikamaru waved his hand, forcibly causing his summons to disappear back into his shadow. He made another unique hand sign while channeling his Chakra.
"Gama."
A human-sized toad with unique marks around its eyes slowly sprang forth from Shikamaru's shadow.
The large toad croaked loudly as Shikamaru patted it. "Managed to tame this one this morning. Gama is more of a support type though. Hcan grab things from range with his tongue and also store stuff in his stomach for safety." He forced the summon away before forming another unique hand seal.
"Nue."
A large, owl-like creature with orange feathers and a white mask-like skull suddenly manifested from Shikamaru's shadow. Its large wings span nearly three meters in length, equipped with two sets of large talons and human-like teeth.
"Nue is pretty strong. Probably stronger than the Divine Dogs in terms of actual combat. He can fly, carry me while flying and utilize Raiton Chakra along his wingspan." He patted the giant creature upon its back, the beast easily towering over him by several feet.
"That's pretty cool." Naruto complimented with a nod. "So, did you figure that stuff out through trial and error or is it innate?"
Shikamaru forced his summon to disappear before replying. "A lot of it is actually innate. I know the ability, appearance and relative strength of the Shikigami that I can summon. Obviously, I have to defeat the summons in battle before I can actually summon them but that'll come with time... Some of the later summons are no joke."
Naruto was quiet for several moments before raising an eyebrow. "Are you able to use the ability of the animals yourself?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, like how Nue can fly and use Raiton Chakra... Can you fly and use Raiton Chakra?"
Shikamaru furrowed his eyebrows. "That sounds so absurd."
Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "They're your summons and it's something innate granted only to you... Why wouldn't you able to use their abilities?"
Shikamaru remained silent, contemplating it. "I'll... have to ask my father. Shockingly, there isn't much information about it considering the last time it manifested was before the Warring Clan Era."
"You'll figure it out." Naruto states simply. "Can you hide in your own shadow?"
"..."
"Have you tried it?" He pressed questioningly.
"I wish I wasn't so logical and straightforward with my thinking... My whole life I've been raised to believe that I can only manipulate my shadows using Jutsu. Never would I have thought to try to hide in my own shadow..."
"Sounds like it's possible." Naruto responded with a lazy grin.
Shikamaru didn't respond and slowly lowered his hand to the floor, fingers hovering above his shadow. He began to channel his Chakra as his fingers reached the floor. Rather than meeting resistance, it was almost as if his fingers began to submerge through the ground, as if there was muddy water upon the floor.
Shikamaru's eyes widened in surprise as he continued to lower his appendage into the ground. At this point, his entire hand and a bit of his wrist had been plunged into the shadows.
"Oh man... I'm going to need you around all the time if I want to master this!" The Nara stated in quiet awe.
"So you can gloat and hold it over my head? Absolutely not."
"Don't be like that, Naruto. I was your personal dummy for those stupid masks. I have a scar on my stomach from that stupid slash technique! You owe me!"
The blond sighed loudly before responding. "Fine! Also, I said I was sorry a hundred times! You're still holding that over my head?!"
"You almost cut me in half!"
"Yeah, but I didn't!"
"Troublesome... You're a piece of work, Naruto."
"Some say its my best quality."
The door to Hinata's room suddenly opened as Tsume came waltzing through, an annoyed expression already on her face.
"So... Are you gonna hit me now or later?" Naruto questioned easily, watching his Sensei close the distance.
Tsume stood over her students for a moment or two before dropping to a single knee and patting the both of them atop their heads.
"Not gonna hit ya this time, Little Shit." She bit out gruffly. "I think what ya did was fuckin' stupid but I ain't blamin' ya." She kept her hands atop the boy's heads, staring into their eyes to show how serious she was being. "I'm not gonna beat 'round the bush... There might be a war comin'. I'm not sure what's gonna happen from here on out or where our future is gonna end up but..." She paused for a few moments to gather her thoughts and allow her students to reconcile with that bombshell. "Whatever happens, happens. We ain't been a unit for more than a month but I consider you little shits a part of my pack."
Naruto's frown was deep. "Why does it sound like we're never going to see you again?"
Shikamaru remained silent but his fists were clenched tightly.
Tsume offered the two boys a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "People die in wars. I ain't been one to ever mince words. I want to have this conversation with you both in case we never see each other again... The safety of you three will always be my priority and maybe that makes me a shitty Ninja... But I'm not gonna sacrifice yer lives for the sake of a mission. An' don't worry about explainin' this to Hinata, I'll tell her as well when she's up and about. I just want you two to understand and grasp what I'm sayin'... Things are 'boutta start heatin' up and I'm gonna take extra steps to prepare you three once Hinata is back." She once again, ruffled the boy's heads before pulling them closer.
"Unfortunately, you three little shits have somehow managed to worm yer way into my heart. Now I got five fuckin' little shits to worry 'bout." The woman grunted out in playful annoyance.
Naruto and Shikamaru didn't respond, choosing to remain oddly silent.
Tsume gently pushed the boy's away and settled her hands atop their shoulders. "Lighten up, yea? It ain't all doom and gloom 'round here. We're still gonna be a unit, alright? It's just gonna get... more intense." She slowly stood to her feet before motioning with her hand. "C'mon, there's someone I want to introduce y'all to. He's gonna be helpin' us prepare y'all for skirmishes and provide the physical trainin' y'all need."
Naruto and Shikamaru said nothing, obeying their Sensei and following her without word.
"These guys can't possibly be human." Naruto uttered in quiet bewilderment.
"I... don't even know what I'm looking at." Shikamaru muttered in a disturbed manner.
Tsume cackled loudly at her students. "Yeah... Ya get used to it." She motioned for the boys to follow as she made her way further into the training grounds. "Oi! Gai! I brought 'em!" She called towards the individual named 'Gai'.
An incredibly built and muscular man, who had boulders the size of small houses perched atop his back, cranes his head up to acknowledge Tsume's words. "Aha~! Tsume-chan! What a pleasure it is to finally meet your team today!" The bowl-cut having man yelled out from his prone position beneath the boulders. He continued to effortlessly do push up after pushup, a bead of sweat dripping down his face. "One moment! 996! 997! 998! 999! ... 1000!"
The abnormally muscular man then proceeded to launch the boulders with ease from off his back before standing to his full height, show casing his monstrously impressive physique. There was just muscle layered atop muscle...
It wasn't necessarily grotesque to look at but it was clear that this guy's physical strength was off the charts. He was built like a damn gorilla!
The green spandex wearing man lightly jogged towards their position and Naruto and Shikamaru were even more surprised at how jacked this guy was. Everything about this man screamed 'I work out!'
The man laughed in an exuberant manner, offering his calloused hand for Tsume to grab, which she did with an easy smile. "How are you, Tsume-chan?! It's been awhile, hasn't?"
"Ya ain't lyin'. It's good to see ya." She smiled easily, completely relaxed despite the oddity of the situation. "Ya ain't met my team yet." She motioned for the younger boys to step closer, which they did. She pointed and named them off. "Little Shit and Lazy Shit."
"Hey!"
"Troublesome."
Gai only laughed in response. "It is nice to meet you boys! I've heard many a great things about you two from Tsume-chan!" He offered the boys his incredibly calloused hands, who each grabbed it with slight hesitance.
"Naruto Uzumaki..." He introduced in an unsure manner.
"Shikamaru Nara." He greeted slightly awkwardly.
"It's a pleasure, Shikamaru-kun. Naruto-kun." The well-built man acknowledged. "My name is Maito Gai! Jonin Sensei of Team Gai!" He paused for a moment, looking around for something else. "Is little Hinata-chan not ready for duty?"
Tsume made a face as she crossed her hands against her chest. "I'm 'fraid not, Gai. She won't be up and about for another day or so. I figured I'd get the boys ready first."
Gai nodded easily.
"Wait, you know Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Of course!" Gai answered enthusiastically. "Her brother is one of my students."
Naruto's eyes immediately narrowed. "You mean Neji Hyuga, right?"
Gai was either oblivious to the hostile tone of Naruto or he simply thought nothing of it. "Correct, Naruto-kun."
Naruto said nothing but his Chakra fluctuated in an erratic manner before he finally managed to reign it in.
"Oho~!" Gai exclaimed with an excited grin. "You have a pretty impressive grasp of Chakra! I've heard from some Jonin that you're considered a prodigy, Naruto-kun!"
Tsume interjected with a roll of her eyes. "Don't remind him. You'll inflate his ego even further."
"I don't have an ego!" Naruto defended in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, ya do." Shikamaru muttered easily.
"Dude?!"
Before anything more could be said, Naruto felt... something. His eyes shot forward and he immediately assumed a defensive stance, arms coming up to block his face as something came barreling towards him at blinding speeds.
A vicious impact struck against his raised arms, causing him to skid backwards nearly ten feet. His arms felt heavy and it took everything he had to not grunt in pain. Whatever had just struck him was incredibly powerful.
He looked up, eyes squinting upon staring at what, or rather, who had just attacked him.
"What the...?" He mumbled in confusion, staring at what appeared to be a carbon copy of the man he had just met, except for the fact that said individual was shorter and less physically imposing.
"You!" The Maito Gai mini-me yelled, pointing towards Naruto's direction with a large grin upon his face. The boys muscular physique was just as impressive as Gai's was. They could almost have been mistaken for twins if it wasn't for the fact that the top half of the green spandex he wore had seemingly been ripped off, showcasing his powerful and impressive physique.
"Me...?" Naruto questioned in confusion, not understanding why the boy had attacked him.
The rest of the individuals in the training ground remained quiet aside from Shikamaru who immediately crouched to the ground, manipulating his shadow to hold the unknown boy down.
"Huh?" The boy questioned in confusion, staring down at the black shadows that were keeping him from moving. His eyes glanced towards Shikamaru as he smiled. "Ahh, a Nara! Your control is quite impressive..." He began to strain against Shikamaru's shadows, slowly inching forward despite Shikamaru's efforts. "However, something that weak cannot possibly hope to contai-!"
The unknown attacker was abruptly interrupted as Naruto suddenly appeared before him, a unique mask glued to his face. Naruto's left foot smashed against the boy's unprotected chin, lifting him off the ground. While in mid air, Naruto began to rotate and smashed his left foot into the boy's face, sending him careening towards a tree. The unknown boy then smashed into the tree, barreling it over due to Naruto's physical prowess.
Landing without a sound, Naruto tilted his head. "What is that guy made of? It was like kicking a brick wall!"
Naruto grunted in surprise as the boy suddenly blitzed towards him. He raised his hands above his head, blocking a mighty overhead blow from the teen.
"You're pretty strong! What kinda women are you into?!" The boy questioned with a large grin, trying to push Naruto further down with his innate strength.
Naruto blinked in confusion at the answer, momentarily taken a back by the question. He was forced to abandon his struggle with the teen and jumped backwards, watching as the boy's fist smashed into the earth, cratering it with his strength.
"What... did you ask?"
The teen slowly stood back up, grin upon his face. "What kinda women are you into?"
"I didn't even get your name! Why does it matter what kinda women I like?!" Naruto questioned in annoyance, channeling Chakra around his body.
"My name is Lee!" The boy introduced easily. "Now, answer my question!" Lee lowered his stance, muscles bulging as he sized Naruto up. "What kinda woman is your type?!"
The Jinchuuriki was silent for several moments, contemplating his words.
"I mean..." His eyes slowly moved over towards Tsume for a moment before returning towards Lee. "I like taller women with big asses, I guess."
Tsume just rolled her eyes while Maito Gai laughed exuberantly.
And just like that, the tension in the training ground was broken.
"Dude?! Are you crying?!" Naruto questioned in confusion, staring at Lee who was indeed now crying.
The physically intimidating Genin covered his crying face before screaming into the heavens. "YOU ARE NOW MY BEST FRIEND!"
"I didn't agree to that."
"BROTHER!" Lee exclaimed loudly, running towards Naruto with his arms extended, as if wanting to wrap Naruto up in a bear hug.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Naruto cried in genuine fear, trying to escape the clutches of the gorilla-looking boy.
"BESTO FRIENDO!" Lee exclaimed with tears in his eyes, chasing after Naruto.
The two teens continued to run around the training grounds, both yelling out towards one another, one in fear and one in adoration.
Shikamaru slowly sat on the ground, leaving Naruto for dead without a care in the world. He closed his eyes, covering his face with both of his hands.
"What the fuck is going on...?" He grumbled helplessly.
"HELP ME, SHIKAMARU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST SITTING THERE?! GET THIS FREAK AWAY FROM ME!"
"BRUZZZZZZZZAAAAAHHH!"
AN : Lee and Naruto are gonna be best friends. It has already been decided. Finally, a bit of Crack is joining the story.
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See ya, nerds!