Chapter Nine: The Demon of the Mist,
Author's note: Okay so Apparently this whole time Aoi's name was Ao, Aoi's a different Ninja, I'll have to go back to the previous chapter and change it, Booze I hope I didn't use his name a lot here, I've got to the part where Ao lands on Naruto's head(You'll see later,) And I already had like Thirty three Aoi's to change into Ao's and couldn't get find and replace to work, fortunatly i only had to erase one letter,
Let's Begin.
Naruto had finally escaped Kaguya's teasing and made his way to the clearing Kokuo always used, it was the place he most often woke in, usually Kokuo and Chomei were waiting for him, though today it was just him and Kokuo,
The five tails sadly gazed into the nearby pond,
Naruto hid behind a tree for a few seconds, he took a breath as he tried to remember Mei's advice, 'Be sincere, and apologise with all your heart,' he thought with a nod,
He rounded the tree and walked closer toward the giant horse/dolphin that along with his aunty Miko had raised him from birth,
'Huh' he stopped in his tracks, 'Maybe I should start calling Aunty Miko my mum too?' he shook his head, "K-"
"Heavens!" Kokuo cried as she leapt around, "Ch-Chomei don't scare-"
She looked around, her gaze passing over the tiny teen far under her feet, "Down here!" he called, Kokuo lowered her gaze to him,
"Oh," She said as her expression fell, but she still laid down so he could talk to her, "Hello Naruto," the way she talked to him made his stomach twist, that the small boy had caused the giant creature to feel so sad hurt him,
Naruto sat down in front of her, "Hi Kaa-san," her lips curled slightly with the name, only to go flat again, as he sat in front of her Naruto wondered how many people had called her that, how many kids like him held onto her as the world beat them down?
As he looked over her, he decided that it was too many, He looked around the mindscape's forest, it was large, sure, but inside here Naruto couldn't feel anything, there should be a breeze going through the air and tickling his skin and blowing his hair, he wiggled his toes but he couldn't feel the grass he saw beneath his feet,
But he wasn't here to think about that,
"So I-/Liste-" both boy and beast stopped speaking hearing the other talk, "I'm sorry You firs-/What's up Kaa-cha-," then they stopped again,
Kokuo raised her hoof, "Me first then," She said and Naruto nodded, "Naruto I'm sorry for pushing you to be like Han,"
"Why are you sorry?" Naruto asked, "I'm the one who was so mean to you," he said,
"You were frustrated trying to use my power, and you've been trying to learn it for three years, of course you were bound to be prickly about it," Kokuo said as she defended him,
"But it's not your fault I'm stupid and can't do it," Naruto said,
"Hey," Kokuo's tone turned even, as she stressed, "You're not stupid, you're lucky to be alive,"
"I am stupid, I hurt you with what I said,"
"No more then others have," She smiled gently, "Besides everyone hurts each other, at some point, with stupid comments, ill thought out phases," She said lowering her muzzle to his... entire body, Naruto took the sign and jumped onto her muzzle and hugged the bridge of her nose,
"We hurt each other because we're close and we talk every day, that's normal," Kokuo stated,
"But I don't want to hurt my family, or my friends,"
She smiled at his Naivety "Sweetheart, you won't always get the choice,"
"I forgive you, do you forgive me?" She asked after a few seconds,
"You didn't do-,"
"Yes I did, now forgive me so we can get past it,"
"Okay, I forgive you too," he stated,
"Do you mean it?" She asked opening her eye and looked at him,
"Y-" he stopped as he looked into her judging eye, "no" he said honestly,
"Then mean it," She stated,
Naruto frowned and sighed,
"None of that Naruto" Kokuo said, "if you want me to forgive you then you have to forgive me as well,"
"But I'm in the wrong," Naruto whined,
"No you're a thirteen year old boy who nearly smashed his skull and lost most of his ability to think, you're allowed some leniency dear," She instructed, "I am far beyond the age of any human, I have wisdom beyond most alive, I should be more sensitive of your thoughts and feelings,"
"I shouldn't make you sad though,"
Kokuo gained 'The Smile' that all Mother type beings get when they're about to WIN, "But by not forgiving me you're making me sad,"
Naruto's eyes scrunched up as he tried to make sense of what Kokuo said, seconds passed before he spoke, "Okay Kaa-chan, I forgive you," he said with a smile,
Kokuo smiled down at the young boy she loved like a son, though her smile drooped a little as she remembered her many other children, 'If only they could've met each other,' She thought, 'They would've been great for each other,'
Now that they'd forgiven each other they were both eager to make up on time they'd lost, and thus they started to play,
Kaguya watched from afar as the two talked, 'Time to check up on myself' Kaguya thought, her eyes glowed as she felt the Ichibi take over Naruto's body,
But the one who opened his eyes was her. 'Now where is my body?' She thought, she looked below herself, there was what appeared to be wood holding her against the tree,
"Naruto?" A male voice asked, Kaguya's borrowed eyes turned to the man seeing a brown haired man she knew to be Naruto's sensei, sat by a fire with the Mizukage,
'What would My Beloved do here?' she thought, 'Oh,' she smiled, "Uh hey Sensei can I go to the bathroom?" she asked giving a big grin,
"Is that actually you Naruto?" Yamato asked getting up,
"Yiss yiss, is me" Kaguya said keeping up her goofy smile,
"Better check your eyes first," he said coming closer to inspect the eyes, but Kaguya made sure all three of her eyes were Naruto's so when Yamato lifted up Naruto's hair to see all the eyes, he saw they were Naruto's, "Alright, just for security sake tell me something only the real Naruto would know,"
'What fools, we all know something only the real Naruto would know,' "Um okay... uhhhh oh, Nobu-chan is Sasuke's sister, who is Taichi-kuns brother, who is Aunty Miki's son," she said,
"...Well that is something Naruto would know, but can you give me another?" Yamato asked,
"Okay, uh oh the girl I get Ramen from is Ayame Ichiraku,"
"Would a tailed beast remember the name of someone so unimportant?" Yamato asked, or so it seemed, Kaguya knew what he was really doing was baiting her, just in case,
"Hey they can remember names," she said with a pout, "at least I hope so," she said, "Kaa-chan you remember names right?" she stayed silent for a few seconds pretending to wait and listen to a response, as if the tailed beast in question was able to even talk to Kaguya when the Goddess didn't want her to even know she could take over Naruto's body,
"Yeah, wow those are a lot of names you remembered Kaa-chan," she said, then she looked up at Yamato, "She remembers so many names, like yours and Ino's and Anko's,"
"Uh Naruto that disproves that you could be you, and proves that a tailed beast could have control of you," Yamato said,
"... Oh, uh oops?"
Yamato shook his head, "Alright I'm pretty sure you're Naruto," he said letting Kaguya go free, "don't go too far away and come back if you see anything,"
"Okay" Kaguya smiled, she walked away until she left their line of sight, at which point she removed one of the bracers, dropping it on the floor, next in one fluid motion she sliced off Naruto's right arm, she kicked it down further from her as she moved directly behind her new body,
Her new body was a woman disguised as an Konoha Anbu, but she wasn't actually one of them,
She'd been watching Naruto for a while, keeping an eye on him for someone else,
Who exactly Kaguya didn't care, what she did want however was her new form to be ready, thus she raised her arm and grabbed the throat of the woman pinning her against the tree,
"Wha-,"
"Thou art confused," Kaguya spoke, using her real voice and her real eyes, "But thou shouldn't waist thy breath on one so far beyond herself,"
"N-Naru...to?" she groaned, she looked down at her arms trying to use her Kekkei genkai to save herself, but it didn't work,
"Thou would try to assault God? then thy intellect is rather small," Kaguya stated as she removed the leopard mask from the woman's face, "But weep not, for your true mother has need of you child,"
"What are you talking about?" the woman asked as she struggled against Naruto's grip, "Who are you?"
"Who are you?" Kaguya asked mimicking the other woman's voice, seeing the terror on the woman's face Kaguya smirked, "Very soon, We will be thou, and thou will know We are thy one true mother," the woman struggled as Kaguya moved closer,
"Puh-please don't do anything to me," the woman begged,
"Sshhh," Kaguya cooed gently as she moved a strand of hair from the woman's face, and her eyes widened, 'this... feeling' she thought, before she ran her hand through the woman's hair, and as her borrowed fingers felt the strands of hair around them suddenly Kaguya realised how warm her body was, 'Oh, oh my,' she thought licking her lips,
She ran her hand over the woman's face, just feeling the warm skin underneath her fingers, caused her to bite her lips as she felt an unfamiliar feeling in her lower body causing her to look down, 'my first errection,' she thought as she remembered the many sensations of love making and they caused her breaths to grow heavy,
Thus despite the fact Kaguya only needed to press her hand against the woman's head and inject her with her own chakra, she instead forcefully kissed her prey, spreading her chakra through a more carnal method, The woman's eyes widened, and then turned stark white,
Soon the woman started to kiss her back, they both closed their eyes to enjoy the contact after years of not even being able to feel such carnal things,
It was truly pleasurable for both of them,
For both of Kaguya, as when both opened their eyes, they matched, "We have done it," the new Kaguya stated
"We should continue," the one using Naruto's body urged, pressing her lower half into the the other Kaguya's making her intentions obvious,
"Control yourself, and show some dignity," the new Kaguya urged, "You would waste our Beloveds first time on a mere flesh puppet?"
The Kaguya in Naruto's body quickly moved back, "What," she shook her head, "Why were we so out of control, T'was as if naught but satisfying our lust crossed our thoughts,"
"More so then usual?" The other Kaguya asked, "how peculiar,"
"Perhaps this is the work of the others?" the Kaguya in Naruto's body asked, "attempting to make us blow our cover?" the older Kaguya bit her lip, "Or perhaps something else all over that dogs cleavage?" she said imagining such a lovely image,
"Return to your senses," urged the new Kaguya, "Something is wrong, you must return to the mindscape before we are discovered,"
"Indeed, this is most troubling," the older Kaguya said, she teleported over to the severed arm and quickly reattached it, then she put the bracer back on, it took a few seconds but she was able to return her eyes to Naruto's and hide her errection before she entered the camp,
"Are you alright Naruto?" Kaguya turned to see Mei, and worse, Mei bent slightly over, Kaguya was glad she didn't have to actually look at Mei's body to see everything, but not trusting her voice, tone, or speech patterns, Kaguya just nodded and faked a yawn,
"C'mon, I'll put you back to the tree," Yamato said,
Kaguya went over to where her beloved had been before as the roots closed around her, and then she shut her eyes and returned to the mindscape,
"How does he sleep so fast?" Mei asked, "I'd kill to just drop off like that,"
"There's many theories as to how, some say he just goes inside his head, others say because he's so energetic during the day he just conks out at night, some say it's the one tail urging Naruto to sleep so he can take over," Yamato explained,
"Wow, there's theories as to why he sleeps so fast?" Mei asked crossing her arms,
"There's many theories as to why he can do many things, why his chakra is always red, why he has three eyes, why there's two little bumps on his head, some people even theorise that all of the tailed beasts inside him can form into like a giant super tailed beast," Yamato said, "it's mostly just a fun way to pass the time,"
"Strange, are any proven to be true?"
"One was, that he could talk to them,"
"Has anyone ever seen his tailed beast cloak?" Mei asked, "I am very curious to know what shape it would take,"
"Err maybe?" Yamato said, "Once when he was a baby he used to have blond spikey hair and two eyes," he said, "But three days after his birth he... died?"
"What?"
"No one really knows what happened, but he just stopped, no pulse, no crying, blood flow ceased, he was declared legally dead, but his body didn't stop, his hair fell out his face started shifting, his body grew taller, his skeletal structure rearranged itself into something very non human, the bumps grew, a new eyelid formed, and his hair grew out differently, but he still didn't move, the Uchiha clan mourned for days, they had a casket made for him and everything, and then just like magic, he started crying again,"
"How does that just happen?" Mei asked,
Yamato shrugged, "No idea, then another time when he's much older Itachi's doing a speech to accept the position of Hokage, when the street explodes, he protects everyone and dashes away, apparently the cause was Naruto,"
"Naruto blew up a street?"
"Naruto with white chakra blew up a street," Yamato said, "apparently the stuff was so potent that it burned his skin off, according to Itachi he was mostly a skeleton,"
"That's horrible," Mei said casting a worried glance to the again sleeping Uzumaki, "Wh-what happens if he does that again?"
"That's why I'm here," Yamato said, "My wood style can restrict his chakra, and the tailed beasts,"
"Hold on, his chakra?"
"It's red for a reason, it's ninety percent tailed beast chakra, ten percent human chakra," Yamato said,
"That's rather... troubling,"
"Scares me to death," Yamato admitted, "No one person should ever have that much power,"
The night passed and eventually Naruto yawned, "Mmm good nap," he said,
"You're awake now?" Ao asked walking over "Should probably check you're actually Naruto," he said, "Tell me something you and only you'd know,"
"Chomei's a girl," Naruto replied,
Ao blinked, "What?" he asked,
"Chomei, the seven tails is a girl,"
Ao blinked again, "T-the giant bug... is female?" he asked,
"She's not a bug, she's an insect," Naruto said pouting,
"Bugs and insects are the same thing,"
Naruto's eyes widened, "Woah... I didn't know that,"
"And I didn't know the tailed beasts had genders," Ao stated, "Which is a bad answer to a question to check you are who you say you are,"
"It is?" Naruto asked, "But... you said to tell you something only I know,"
"And what you said was something the tailed beasts would know about rather then us,"
Naruto blinked, "Huh?" he asked,
'Naruto,' Saiken said, 'I don't think these humans understand that we know a lot of information about you, here repeat after me,' she spoke, 'Oh I get it now'
"Oh, I get it now," Naruto said,
'And stop copying me now, and tell them something about Itachi, like his favourite food, or his hobby'
"Oh," Naruto waved Ao closer, and when Ao leaned to him Naruto whispered, "Itachi and I work together every winter holiday to stealthily give people gifts, but shhhhh, nobody is supposed to know,"
Ao nodded, already convinced from the ''Chomei is a girl'' fact that this wasn't a tailed beast pretending to be the albino jinjuriki, and thus he cut the boy loose,
Naruto moaned and stretched, "Mmm~ good stretch," he said twisting his back around in a full 360 degree motion, before he rolled himself into a ball, "Ah," he said popping something... if not everything, before he stood up again,
"Ah you can do that too?" Ao asked, though he seemed very calm his hand actually tensed up,
"You knew someone else who could?" Naruto asked,
"Yagura, the Mizukage before Mei could," Ao stated, "He liked to roll around sometimes, you do that too?"
"Yeah, but I prefer to bounce it's faster," Naruto said,
"Mm," Ao said backing away, "Well feel free to wait while everyone wakes up," he said not taking his eye off Naruto,
Which is what Klara woke up to, Naruto sat on a log happily while Ao glared at him,
"Did something happen?" She asked,
Naruto turned to her "Why?" he asked rolling over and looking around, "Is anyone here?"
"I... don't think so Naruto," Klara said, noticing the glare aimed at him,
"Jeez how do you get ready so fast Klara?" Ino asked exiting their shared tent,
"I just leave when I wake up," Klara stated,
"You don't even brush your hair?" Ino asked, the seal on Klara's head glowed, 'Ao doesn't like that Naruto has one of Yagara's abilities,' Ino thought,
Klara nodded, "Oh," she said playing with a strand of her hair, "I mean my hair's not very long so it's fine to not brush it right?"
"Depends on how much you brush it dear," Mei said stretching as she exited her tent, She looked around, "mmm does this camp feel empty?" she asked,
Naruto sniffed the air while Ao stated, "The leaf team's sensei and Tazuna aren't here," he said, "they left to go catch some food," Ao stated,
"Yamato's up already?" Mei asked, "odd I swore he'd be up last considering he went to bed after me,"
"Early bird catches the worm Mizukage-Sama," Yamato stated as he entered the camp carrying a wooden bucket filled with fish, Tazuna was behind him,
"Fish?" Klara asked, "I figured we'd be on ration bars,"
"Fish is better then ration bars, and better for you," Yamato stated setting the bucket down, "Alright I'll cook, does-,"
Yamato stopped as Mei kicked the bucket up sending the fish flying then with a quick breath she flash boiled them in the air,
Ao jumped up and quickly grabbed them setting them back down in the bucket,
"Wow," Yamato said, "that's a handy technique Lady Mizukage,"
"That's why my men don't carry ration bars hun," she said with a wink,
"Do you want me to wake and have Chojuro dice them into a stew My Lady?" Ao asked, "Surely you'd prefer that over-,"
Mei pulled one of the boiled fish out of the bucket and bit the fish's head off, after a few seconds of chewing she spat out a fish skull, picked clean of the meat on it's face,
Everyone looked shocked, except for Ao who looked annoyed, "Lady Mei perhaps you shouldn't eat fish in such a manner?" he suggested,
"Eh, I'm hungry," she said as she sat down and continued to eat her fish, while the group started to eat Chojuro left his tent, and upon realising he was the last to wake he apologised profusely as the others ate,
After breakfast they packed up everything and continued walking towards wave, the walk was long, and conversations never seemed to start as Tazuna seemed shifty, or perhaps paranoid about something,
'Where is she?' Ino heard Mei think as the Kage discreetly looked around, 'There was supposed to be a Medic with us by now,'
The seal above Naruto's eye glowed, 'Naruto can you smell anyone?' she asked,
'I'll check,' he thought before going on all fours and sniffing about, "Hiff hiff," he said, 'I smell peaches,' he thought, he looked around, 'Can't see any peach trees though,'
Klara noticed someone watching from the tree line, but she couldn't even think about it because of Ino, 'Jump up, if there's no peach trees then it could be someone,'
"Okay," Naruto said flipping onto his feet and shooting off into the sky,
Mei watched him, "Does anyone know why he did that?" she asked,
Yamato gave a suspicious glance to Ino, "Could've been one of the tailed beasts?" he suggested,
'INO-CHAN I CAN'T SEEE ANY PEACH TREES!' Naruto thought really loudly,
'Naruto it's mind reading, I can hear what you think, and you only get quieter when you're out of my range,' Ino thought,
As she did Klara pulled on Yamato's arm, "Mmm? what's up Klara?" he asked,
She made a gesture for him to come closer, "Naruto can smell peaches, but he can't see any peach trees, could be someone watching," she whispered,
Yamato nodded, "Well don't worry kiddo, we all get a little homesick at times," he said ruffling her hair,
"Jeez don't tell everyone," She groaned trying to go along with the ruse,
Naruto dropped into a tree further away from the group, but he leapt out of it and landed where he was before,
"What was that about?" Mei asked,
"Uh trying to get land laid?" Naruto suggested,
"You mean a lay of the land?" Mei asked,
"Yiss," Naruto nodded, "that," he said before pointing forward, "There's a bridge close by,"
"An unfinished bridge," Tazuna said, "but don't you all worry about that," he said, I've got a way across,"
"Cool," Ino said, "Also why aren't you freaking out about Naruto's jump?"
"Huh? well can't you all jump like that?" he asked,
"Sure why not," Klara said,
Then they all kept moving, most of the group aware they were being watched,
Eventually they came to the bridge, and true to Tazuna's words it was pretty much unfinished, meaning it would be impossible for a normal person to cross it,
Problem was his solution to cross it was a small rowboat, that would've barely fit a full one man team, plus Tazuna and The Rower,
But they had Tazuna, the Rower, One full Konoha team, The Mizukage and her two bodyguards, meaning some would have to cross the bridge,
"How are we going to do this?" Ao asked,
"There's only one way to do it, three of us will have to cross the bridge," Yamato stated,
"Well it's gotta be your ninja since I can't cross it," Tazuna said getting into the boat,
"We go with The Mizukage," Ao stated, "So where she goes we go,"
"Ao go on the bridge," Mei said as she climbed into the boat, "I'm not the target here," she explained,
"What are you-," Ao asked rubbed his head,
"They know we're here," Mei stated, "or rather, they know somethings here," she said looking at Naruto, "He's giving off so much chakra I'm shocked our bridge builder friend can't feel it, and so much that nothing but his chakra can be felt," she said, "Me, Ino, Klara, Tazuna, His Rower friend and Chojuro will take the boat, becoming invisible to any chakra sensors, You, Yamato, and Naruto will cross the bridge,"
"Lady Mizukage, I understand your logic but there is no reason to split us so drastically, we can walk on water," Ao stated,
"Making the boat a target," Yamato stated as he started walking up the bridge support, "C'mon Naruto,"
"That boy is not the only target The Mizukage is-,"
"Strong enough to defend herself Ao," Mei said, "Mr Rower, If you'd be so kind,"
The Rower shrugged, "So long as we cross this safely," he said rowing them out,
Ao shook his head, but joined Naruto and Yamato on their support, finding they had stopped a quarter of the way up,
"Problem?" he asked,
"Possibly." Yamato said as fog started approaching from the other side of the bridge,
Naruto started sniffing around, "Hiff hiff" he said, then his eyes went wide and he started growling, "Someone's in there," he said, "Someone who smells like blood,"
Yamato took a knee and did the snake sign, some trees grew out of the water and stabilised the bridge so they could stand on the middle, "Well since stealth is out we might as well take them on," he said dropping onto the bridge's flooring,
Naruto dropped with his teacher and reached for his weapon, "Easy there bud," Yamato said, "The bridge can't take that kinda weight right now, and keep the stomps to a minimum,"
Naruto nodded, "Okay,"
Ao checked the fog with his Byakugan eye, confirming it was made of chakra and frowned, 'Alright this has got to be Zabuza right?' he thought dropping down to the other two, 'does he know Mei's here? or is he here for the bridge builder?' he wondered, "You two this looks like the work of Zabuza Momochi, Ex-Mizu swordsmen and master of Silent Killing, don't take him lightly,"
"Oh that's a familiar voice," echoed from the other side of the bridge, "Strange Ao I don't remember you or anyone being so powerful," a gruff man's voice stated mirthfully, "I can't sense a damn thing but one of you, I can't even sense the other two, it's like trying to find cotton balls in a blizzard,"
"So that Is you Zabuza," Ao called, "Yagura's dead and the war is over,"
"So I heard," Zabuza stated as the fog started rolling towards them, "And now Mizu's crippled, with so few bloodlines left in it with a trace of power, suppose that's why your boss in that boat over there conned a Senju and the Last Jinjuriki to come with her,"
Ao's eye narrowed, "Ooh touched a nerve did I?" Zabuza chuckled, "You gonna show that eye you plucked out of a Hyuga's socket?" he asked, "Are you really so surprised I know this stuff? I have a brain you know, it's not hard to figure out what's going on when this amount of dense chakra comes towards ya,"
"Naruto can you find him?" Yamato asked,
Naruto sniffed around, but shook his head, "He's moving, and really fast, It's hard to find him,"
"Don't go into the fog," Ao said pulling off his eye patch, "It's pure chakra I can't see through it,"
"So you do have that eye," Yamato stated,
"The spoils of war Senju-san," Ao said, "Besides with Zabuza here we have bigger problems,"
"Hmm?" Naruto crawled over to the edge of the bridge, "Uh, more problems," he said, "The water is frozen,"
"What?" Yamato asked taking his eyes off the fog,
"Gotcha," Zabuza smirked as the fog covered the two in it with Ao trying to jump back to avoid it,
But Kubikiribocho slid out and hooked his head, Ao just barely caught the blade's sides stopping his head from being cut off, "And where are you going pal?" Zabuza asked, using his sword to throw him into the fog,
Ao slid his head out of the blades holes and used the momentum of Zabuza's swing to get back onto the bridge where he hit Yamato, "Ao?" Yamato asked,
"He's faster then he used to be," Ao remarked, "Where's the Jinjuriki?"
"You mean Naruto?" Yamato asked, stressing the boys name,
"No no no," Zabuza chastised from around them, "Let's not make this too easy for me," he shouted, the fog quickly vanished as the blade appeared before them both,
'T-too close.' Yamato thought,
'Mei I'm sorry' Ao thought closing his eyes,
*Thump* *Thump* Zabuza smirked as the fog cleared giving him a perfect look at his victims,
Then his eyes narrowed,
The Albino haired boy, had tossed away his Hakama pants, and stood still as a statue holding Kubikiribocho's handle, stopping it from killing the two jonin easy,
He just stood there in a Muwashi belt, staring at Zabuza, and then the sword, "Who threw this?" he asked,
"Woah," Yamato said, "Nice catch Naruto,"
"We're not dead?" Ao asked, "Dear Christ put some pants on!" he cringed as his Byakugan eye caught Naruto's entire body upon opening,
Naruto tossed the sword backwards over his shoulder, It flew over the bridge before Zabuza jumped up and caught it, showing himself to those on the boat, he glared down at them for a second, "Haku, let them go, I'll be after them soon," he stated, his eyes saw Chojuro, and more importantly the two hilts on his back, "A new swordsmen huh?" he asked, and imedieatly his instinct was to jump down and test this boy,
But as Zabuza glared down at Chojuro, Chojuro flinched,
And Zabuza's eyes narrowed, he twisted backwards easily slicing through a large wooden pillar that had been thrown at him, "Run Mizukage," Zabuza stated, before turning back to his prey on the bridge, Naruto held another Wooden pillar and tossed it at him along with another, "My prey here seems much more interesting," he leapt forward slicing through the first and running down the second, Ao and Yamato jumped back while Naruto planted his feet,
Zabuza leapt at him and was about to cleave him in two, but Naruto thrust a palm against the flat of Zabuza's blade knocking the strike off course,
Zabuza landed with one foot on the ground and spun with the momentum, trying to take Naruto's head off in one clean slash, but several trees sprung up from the bridge in the path of Zabuza's swing as he sliced through each his blade slowed considerably, Naruto seemingly tried to catching the blade between his palms,
But Zabuza stopped the swing and slapped the hands down with his sword, "Nice try kid," he said, Then Naruto smirked as a foot landed on his head, Zabuza looked up to see Ao who quickly sprung forth kicking Zabuza in the face, as a second kick connected Zabuza tried backing away to dodge but he was stopped as trees had already sprouted behind him, he tried to use his sword to bat the attacker away but Naruto Sumo stomped though the hole in his blade and seized it with both hands, while Ao kept up the offensive,
Zabuza tanked hit after hit, knowing Ao was forced to rely on his taijutsu due not only to the frozen water below, but also because Zabuza would just throw it back at him twice as strong,
While his body was struck with blow after blow with Zabuza only having one hand to defend himself kicked his sword, and slowly a crack started forming just above where Naruto held it,
Zabuza continued trading blows with Ao, he looked to Naruto who's focus was entirely on holding his sword, and tried looking for the Senju, but the man had seemingly vanished,
Thus seeing his chance he feinted Ao, got struck with a heavy blow to the skull, tanked it, and struck him with a fierce knee to the stomach before bringing his free hand down on his sword snapping the blade in two, He grinned and swung,
Ao's eyes widened, and he leapt back, Naruto raised one of his arms and attempted to slap the broken sword away,
The flash of the blade now bereft of some weight was much quicker then before, and the geyser of red that followed the path of Zabuza's sword as his attack sliced Naruto's arm caused the young but powerful boy's eyes to widen and Zabuza to grin further, not that it could be seen underneath the bandages wrapped around his mouth, but the joy of the attack could be seen in Zabuza's eyes,
He raised his foot trying to topple Naruto with a kick but Naruto stood sturdy and absorbed the blow, then Zabuza tried to slash at the last Jinjuriki, putting his full weight into the attack through a two handed strike assisted by a roll,
Naruto vanished being replaced by the Senju who before the blade could slice through him leaned back and was replaced by a wooden pillar that upon being sliced through exploded,
"That brought us some time," Ao said, "Did you get it done?"
Yamato nodded, "Yeah, but it won't matter if we can't win here," he turned to Naruto, "You okay Naruto?"
"I'm Fine," The last Jinjuriki said with a stretch,
Zabuza pushed out of the smoke looking none of the worse for wear, he grabbed the broken part of his sword off the ground and started walking towards them, two broken blades in either hand,
"So two blades that swing faster then his old one?" Yamato asked,
"And a blade that will regenerate back to it's full from the more blood it gets," Ao said, "and he's still not even trying,"
"Yeah but, neither are we," Yamato stated,
"We need to decide if we're going to draw this out," Ao advised, "This is the Demon of the Mist, he'll butcher us if he gets the chance,"
"He won't," Naruto stated, "He's strong, but I'm stronger,"
"Don't do anything reckless Naruto," Yamato ordered, "And if we draw this out we'll have Chojuro and the Mizukage with us," he said to Ao,
"And two Genin and an old man who don't have the strength Naruto does," Ao said, "If we take a chance it could end up badly,"
Yamato sighed, "Alright, we go all out, try to mitigate the damage to the bridge, but Naruto keep those bracers on, you'll be useless if your arms blow up,"
Naruto nodded before he crouched and put his fist on the floor, "Let's Doskoi!" he cried,
Zabuza heard the young boy and seeing his stance decided to start rushing forward dragging his two broken but still massive blades behind him as he charged, Naruto tensed his legs, preparing to meet the charge head on,
Zabuza drew closer, swinging both of his blades around over his body into an X shape, Naruto pressed his other fist to the ground, "Spirit!" he cried as he shot forward shoulder first,
Zabuza grinned as he and the last Uzumaki drew closer to one another,
From behind Naruto a hail of thrown weapons was tossed at Zabuza who swung his blades knocking the attacks away as a tree appeared before him and was just as quickly sliced through, just in time to block a palm strike from a now airborne Naruto, a tree sprouted around where he'd been before told Zabuza exactly what had happened as the single heavy strike forced him back,
'I'm basically fighting three Jonin here,' he thought with glee as more kunai approached, he slapped them away realising too late some had wire around them,
But too few to stop Zabuza for very long thus he raised his blades and sliced through them just before Naruto shouldered into him and grabbed his waist with a monstrous grip, before shaking him violently from side to side rapidly as he pushed him backwards,
'Is he pushing me into an attack?' Zabuza thought, before headbutting the brat, and hooking one of his own legs around Naruto's as he again raised his blades, which was merely a feint, as his finger's on the blades took the Tora hand sign while he gathered the water in his stomach,
'Water style: Rampaging water.' he thought ready to blast through his bandages and the albino's head,
And then Naruto lifted Zabuza up as a flurry of shuriken aimed for his head flew towards him, Zabuza unleashed the attack washing away the shuriken, and then raised his blades hooking his other legs onto Naruto's other one keeping him in place, "Gotcha," He stated swinging his blades at the neck of his opponent while he charged another jutsu, 'if he grabs my hands I'll blow his head off, if he stops my head he's mincemeat,' Zabuza thought, 'Good match kid, it was a pleasure killing ya,'
And then Naruto bent his arms together, his knees back, and compressed his spine backwards, slamming Zabuza's head, and weapons into the bridge's flooring,
Zabuza released Naruto's legs who rolled into a ball and quickly rolled away from him rising to his feet, as Zabuza rolled ripping his weapons out of the floor, his eyes widened as he realised he'd been placed in between the last Jinjuriki and the two Jonin, from the far side of the bridge a tree emerged launching both the Senju and Ao toward Zabuza, they readied jutsu mid air, the Senju tossed Shuriken and Kunai, with some rapid hand signs they doubled, then tripled, and then quadrupled their numbers before Ao sent them flying at him with a wind ninjustu,
Naruto stomped forward with a two handed palm thrust aimed for Zabuza's gut, but the Demon of the Mist rose his blade mostly intact blade, he spun with it and batted away the Uzumaki's strike before kneeing him in the gut, then he slid his hand through the hole he was using to hold the handle-less makeshift blade, and with glee he spun it around his arm cutting into his skin releasing blood,
Quickly he caught the blade headbutted Naruto before he could recover, and then formed another hand sign, "Water shark bomb jutsu," he said, his blood formed into little sharks and shot off towards the hail of blown objects,
As the attacks collided the cloned weapons exploded, then Zabuza smeared his own blood onto the part of his sword with the handle, which unlike the part that had sliced his arm open seemed to absorb the blood and grow longer, nearly becoming fully reformed,
He swung the longer part at Naruto who swatted it away before being sliced with the smaller part his blood splattering on the blade which sucked it in, and became complete,
Quickly Zabuza backed away dropping the smaller piece and taking the full sword with both hands,
The three enemy ninja attempted to surround him, two of them readied a ninjutsu, Naruto just kept a palm aimed at him,
"I have to admit, I'm having fun," Zabuza said, "if this weren't a job I'd be tempted to let you three go,"
"Who says we'd let you go?" Ao asked, "After all you're a traitor to Mizu,"
"I walked away from the bloody mist, not the broken one," Zabuza stated, "Does that even count as me turning traitor?"
"You abandoned your kinsmen to a madman,"
"One you killed without me anyway," Zabuza retorted,
"Let's not pretend you aren't a savage butcher of men Zabuza," Yamato stated, "as a child you killed your own class,"
Zabuza chuckled, "No, he did though," he said gesturing to Ao, "I wasn't a member of the school when I killed them all," he shut his eyes, "I still remember the kill, how exhilarating" he said with a breath,
"You can't go anywhere," Naruto said, "Soon miss Mei and the others will be here,"
"And then I massacre the kids and the bridge builder and we keep going,"
"What if you lose?" Naruto asked,
"So what if I lose?" Zabuza asked back coyly, "I don't care about winning, I'm just trying to satisfy my urge to kill,"
"What do you even get out of all this Zabuza?" Ao asked, "Surely an old bridge builder isn't that important,"
"He's the only threat my client has, when this bridge is built the trade will come back, crippling my boss' hold on this place," Zabuza said, "Between all of us though he's fucking stupid, get this, his town's about to be wiped out by a flood and this guy saves it, and Gato has him killed,"
"Gato?" Yamato asked, "As in the shipping mogul?"
"That's the one," Zabuza stated, "trust me though he's stupid as shit, probably dumber then Sumo boy here,"
'That's pretty dumb,' The Ninetails spat,
"Shh," Naruto whispered,
"The village he wants under his thumb for example, he's basically killing it, just to have it under his thumb, like he wants the people there to work for him, but they're starving themselves to death," Zabuza said,
"So why help him?" Naruto asked,
"Cause he's got money idiot," Zabuza said,
"That's why a village would help him Zabuza, not why you'd help," Ao stated, "You only care for slaughter,"
Naruto's nose itched and a familiar smell blew by, 'Peaches,' he thought,
"Who's your friend? who's this Haku? why aren't they here?" Yamato asked,
"They have to be weaker then you if you don't trust them to fight the Mizukage," Ao stated,
"Nope," A cheery female voice spoke making the ninja on the bridge turn to see Mei with her arm around a person in hunter nin gear, "They didn't try at all, did you dear?" she asked poking their cheek,
"Zabuza-sama ordered me not to fight," they replied,
"Why don't you loose the mask dear? I know you're not one of my hunters," Mei stated,
"I'd rather not," Haku said,
"Eh fine by me," Mei said with a shrug, "I'm not exactly going to be tricked by you," then she turned to Zabuza, "Have you had fun today Zabuza?" she asked, "I certainly didn't being forced to walk over water carrying this Haku of yours who refused to walk every step of the way,"
Zabuza narrowed his eyes at Mei,
"Mmm? no comments? funny you used to be so chatty," she said rolling her eyes, "Alright as Mizukage i suppose I'll lay down the law," she stated, "You have three options Zabuza, one: I burn a hole though Haku's chest and then I join in on the fun you all seem to be having, you last what? a minute? before I melt you as well," she said, "Option two: take your sword, take Haku here and go back to wherever you call home and wait for your next mission, and finally, option three, Surrender, you both will be taken into my custody and what to do with you will be decided when I get back to Mizu,"
Zabuza glared at her, he just stood there and stared,
Yamato, Naruto, and Ao, kept their stances up, ready for any move the murderer would take,
"Option four," Haku stated, attempting to drive an icicle into Mei's neck only for it to melt on contact,
Mei turned to Haku, "Cute, but I am a Kage, and if any of us could be killed as easily as driving a sharp pointy thing into us we wouldn't be so famous or infamous,"
"So Zabuza, what's your choice? I am expecting an answer today cause I've been on my feet all day and they're killing me," Mei stated,
"..." Zabuza bent down, picked up the broken part of his sword, and put Kubikiribocho on his back, he walked over to Mei, the three he'd been fighting with moved with him just in case he tried something, but when he got to her, he stood over her, glared down at her, and said, "You win,"
He lifted a hand up, and Mei put Haku's hand in it, backing away from them, "This isn't over," he promised before his hands went up and a from his hands mist emitted, after it dissipated they were both gone,
"YOU COULD HAVE JUST WALKED AWAY! DRAMA QUEEN!" Mei shouted down the path, she took a breath and turned back to the ninja, "So how are we all? everything still where it's supposed to be?"
"Miss Mei," Naruto called as he ran over to the kage,
"Whoa!? where are your pants?" she asked raising a hand and looking away from him,
"I took them off to sumo against Zabuza, where's everyone else?" Naruto explained and asked,
"Well try to keep them on," Mei stated, "Most women don't want to see this much of a man,"
"No can do, Lee-sensei said it's traditional to sumo in the muwashi," Naruto said,
"And Lee is?" Mei asked looking at Yamato,
"He's a Genin around Naruto's age, trained by Might Guy in many different Taijutsu styles," Yamato explained,
"Probably not a creep then?" She asked,
"Miss Mei where is everyone?" Naruto asked,
"Relax," she said, pointing to the left of the bridge, "I had Chojuro and Klara take the others to a spot across the water so Zabuza wouldn't get them if the negotiations failed," Mei said, then she chopped Naruto in his face, "NOW PUT ON YOUR PANTS," she ordered,
"Ow," he cried,
"That didn't hurt," she said rolling her eyes, her palm ignited and she closed and opened her palm a few times, sending some kind of signal,
"We'll wait for them to get here and then we'll keep going, Wave isn't that far according to the old man,"
"Yes Lady Mizukage," Ao said, "But may I ask? why offer a choice to Zabuza at all? with you here he stood no chance against us,"
"Because you were all relatively unscathed," Mei stated, "The Zabuza I knew would've sliced his own arm off to even hurt his opponents, this one did not,"
"He's likely rusty my lady," Ao said, "The killing intent that started to rise was exactly what Zabuza used to be capable of,"
Mei sighed, "Then why did he walk off?" she asked, seeing Ao shut his mouth as he realised he didn't have an answer Mei shook her head, "Because, the new Zabuza has something to fight for," she said,
"The Hunter nin?" Yamato asked,
"That's my assumption yes," Mei stated, "which leads me to the part you won't like,"
"You want us to convince him to join Mizu I assume?" Yamato asked crossing his arms,
Mei nodded, "Chojuro is... not exactly at the ideal strength any swordsman of the Mist should be, he could use a tutor, and we could use more swordsmen,"
"Surely you wouldn't invite a rabid beast into our home Mei," Ao stated, "What if he massacres an entire squad?"
"We have little options Ao!" Mei stated, "I'd rather have the Demon of the Mist on our side then not, wouldn't you?"
"The Demon of the Mist is exactly the type of person we do not want," Ao shot back,
"Are we interrupting something?" Ino asked as she walked up the area by the side of the bridge,
"Nothing I want to continue talking about," Mei stated, she checked that everyone was here, "Hey, where's the old men?"
"Tazuna's saying goodbye to his friend, apparently he's going back the long way for some reason," Klara stated, "Why is Naruto chasing his pants?" she asked pointing to the last Jinjuriki trying to catch his pants that were being blown away from him,
"Because he's dumb," Ino stated before she cupped her hands around her mouth, "Oi Naruto!" she called, "jump and grab them!" she said,
"Should we help him put them on?" Klara asked, "he never has worn pants before right?"
"Yeah he'll probably rip them," Ino sighed, "Get ready to catch me," she said shortly before falling into Klara's arms, Naruto froze for a second before standing up and grabbing his pants, he put them on and then fell over,
"Urggh, I do not like being in his head," Ino said standing up, "Reminds me of before his friend helped me with my thing,"
"Huh?" Naruto said looking down at his pants, "How'd you get there?"
"Naruto! c'mon!" Klara called, making the jinjuriki run over to them, "I've always wanted to know, what's it like being a boy Ino?"
"Well I'm not sure Naruto should qualify as the base boy experience, but it's loud, everything stinks, I feel like I'm fighting just to stand up straight, and I'm hyper paranoid of one of his friends trying to kick me out," Ino said, "Also his hair is too messy, I just want to brush and tie it into something manageable,"
"Alright well we're all here," Mei said, "C'mon, we're close to Wave where we'll take a short respite, and then onward to Mizu,"
"I should probably warn you Wave isn't exactly a good place to rest, Y'see-,"
"Zabuza told us," Ao stated, "Gato's robbing people, killed some people and want's control, stealing all of your food as well,"
Tazuna stared at him, "H-How can you be so unphased?" he asked,
"We're ninja, we've seen worse," Yamato stated,
"Gato?" Mei asked, "The shipping mogul?"
"Yiss," Naruto nodded, having heard the answer before,
"Huh, good luck for us after we kill him we can take whatever we want," Mei said, "Like his boats, he probably has a lot of them," she stated,
"Wait you're really going to take on Gato?" Tazuna asked, "Just like that?"
"If Zabuza mentions who's coming your village will be free before we even see it," Ao said, "Again this is the Mizukage,"
"Enough Ao, I want us to be at Wave before sundown," She stated, 'Just in case Gato does get told and tries to run, but he won't get away from me,' she smirked,
Under the Mizukage's orders the group continued on, it was a long path, but eventually they came to wave,
Mei's lip curled up in distaste as Tazuna walked before them, "Well here we are," he said gesturing to the ruined country,
The streets were mostly barren, the few people who were around walked in a daze as they stared blankly ahead as their stomachs rumbled, the decorative plants were wilting, the stalls were falling apart and what they had was either small or rotten,
A large hotel was nearby, it looked like it had been blown up, "I take it that was the only hotel or Inn around?" Mei asked,
Tazuna scratched his head, "Yeah, sorry, never thought about how big of a group we have," he stopped, "Uhh... is she alright?" he asked,
Yamato turned, Ino was pale as she looked around, "She'll be-,"
"Not the blonde one," Tazuna said, "The purple haired one,"
Yamato turned expecting the same blank stare Klara gave everything, and his eyes went wide,
Klara's eyes were wide open as stared off into space and bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood, blood that pooled down her lips and dripped onto the floor, "Klara?" he asked, she just continued staring at nothing,
He took her shoulders, "Huh?" she asked, shaking head, "What I'm sorry?" she said almost seeming scared,
"Are you alright Klara?" Yamato asked,
Klara looked around, her eyes seemed sad before she forced her neutral stare to return, "I'm fine," she droned, before spitting blood out of her mouth, "just... bad memories, ones I'd rather not talk about,"
"Alright... we should probably get you to a doctor, just in case," Yamato said,
"About that..." Tazuna started, "We kinda don't have-,"
"Hey Tazuna!" Someone called and an old man came over limping on a crutch,
"Mmm?" Tazuna looked surprised, "Old Shoto? that you?" he asked, "Where'd you get that crutch? and why are you limping, thought your leg was fine,"
Old Shoto rubbed the back of his neck, "That Medic you sent came in to town earlier, she checked us all, probably still running down somewhere, she checked my leg and put it in a splint, I was gonna ignore her but she threatened to crack the crutch over my skull if I didn't stay off it,"
"Crack the crutch?" Mei asked,
"O-over his sk-skull?" Chojuro asked hiding behind Yamato,
"Sounds familiar," Yamato mumbled,
"Medic?" Tazuna asked, "I didn't send any medic, I don't even have the money for these guys,"
Naruto dropped to his knees as a familiar scent wafted by, hand soap, blood, and freshly cut grass, the scents brought a smile to his face, "Oh I know who it is," he said, turning to his right, "HEY OUR FREIND COULD USE SOME HELP!" and then he sat and waited, then a woman dropped from the sky,
A woman with only one arm,
Rin frowned, "Alright who needs help?" she barked angrily, then she looked down, "Oh, hey Naruto," she said,
The Old man turned and quickly started leaving as fast as he could, until Rin turned to him, "SLOW DOWN YOU'LL HURT YOURSELF!" she stated,
"Y-yes ma'am," he said going much much slower as to not further anger the medic,
"Alright who needs help?" Rin asked as she studded the group, she saw the blood and Klara's lip and walked forward, "Open your mouth,"
"I'd rather no-," but Rin forced her mouth open anyway,
"Ohh, deep," she said, before pressing a finger to her lip and healing it, "There," she said, "normally I'd shove a lollypop in but I gave all mine to some kids," she said standing up,
"I've got more patients to treat, so clear off you lot," Rin stated, "Old man I'm already staying at your house, your daughter told me where it is after I got here earlier so I'll meet you all there later probably tonight,"
And before anyone could get another word in Rin took off sprinting,
Mei stared at her retreating back, she took a deep breath, and then exhaled, "That's our medic isn't it?" She asked Yamato,
"She's who I expected Lord Itachi to send, she's the only one he trusts to heal Naruto," Yamato said,
"Why's she here though?" Naruto asked, "Shouldn't she be at home?"
Yamato turned to Naruto, "Well lets ask," he said turning to Tazuna, "Do you remember seeing Rin while you were walking around the leaf village?"
"Y-yeah, I asked her where the ninja office were cause she looked like one, and I told her a bit about wave, figured if she sensed my honesty or whatever she'd cut me a good deal, but before I could finish she just took off, I thought she had a mission,"
"Yep that's about what I assumed," Yamato said, 'That's why she hadn't appeared until now, she came straight here, but how'd she know we'd be coming?'
'Glad she told me to wait for the white haired kid before she left,' Tazuna thought, 'wonder why she specified him though?'
Ino rubbed her head, "Is there anything else she said?" she asked, "Like for example to wait for anyone by the village gates?"
'Shit, can Ninja read minds?' Tazuna thought, "U-uh, yeah, him," he said pointing at Naruto,
"That explains it," said Klara and groaned Yamato,
"She likely knew if you told Naruto your story he'd have wanted to come help," Yamato explained, 'And that Mei would have come for Naruto, just to stay on his good side,' Yamato thought,
'And that since I'm supposed to train Naruto I'd have come here anyway,' Mei thought angrily at the thought of being played by a Nurse,
'I like Rin,' Naruto thought,
"Okay, well we should probably get going right?" Ino asked trying to drown out the many thoughts around Naruto, and those of the people that started to roll in,
"Well c'mon, I'll take you to my house since I do owe you all for coming," Tazuna said, "We'll go this way, slightly faster," he said, 'I'll actually take them the long way, to the field, when they see the old crop field they'll probably go stomp out Gato asap,'
And thus Tazuna took them the long way, and while Ino tried to drown out the thoughts and Klara tried to fight back her memories, Yamato kept an eye on the purple haired girl, wondering what had caused such a reaction in her, wondering if she'd seen people starve before,
And as they walked Klara seemed to get better and better, had Ino only realised in the flurry of thoughts around her that Klara wasn't thinking at all she might have realised something was wrong,
Eventually they came to the old crop field, "Ah don't mind that," he said sadly, "It's just the old crop field," he said, "Nothing grows there much anymore," he said getsuring to a large field that had many broken and wilted crops on it, with the few good ones being thin and aniemic,
"Why?" Naruto asked,
And Tazuna turned to him, "Well my boy," he said, "Let me tell you" he said, "Y'see awhile ago we used to be able to grow our own food, or rather the farmers were, they were honest hard working folk, sure some others of us grew, but nothing like them, and one day Gato realised he had a larger farm they could work on, so he had his Samurai come in the morning while the old farmers were working on it, and they offered cash, more then any of us could offer," he said, "At first they were resilient, but Gato saw it coming, had his samurai destroy the crops," Tazuna said, "offered them the same deal after the crops were done, but again they stayed firm..." Tazuna cringed, 'I should end the story there, no reason to tell them about Kianna, poor girl, hope nothin bad happened to her,' he thought sadly, "Anyway, point is the boys were forced into a corner, and now that Gato had them, they weren't allowed to help us, they tried at first, but Gato took all the farming tools, so we can grow a little food but we ain't farmers, so we're stuck," he said,
Naruto pushed away Tazuna and crawled onto the field, "hiff, hiff hiff," he sniffed around, "Mmm?" he licked the ground causing everyone to cringe,
"Um... N-Naruto what are you doing?" Chojuro asked,
"Good dirt," Naruto said flipping onto his feet, he patted himself down, "Where's my bag?" he asked,
"Your bag?" Klara asked, "You mean that tiny sack you kept in your armour?"
"Yiss,"
"Left Pocket," Ino said watching him,
Naruto pulled out a small tied cloth sack, he opened it up, and poured the contents into his hands,
Tazuna's eyes widened as seeds dropped to the floor, and Ino and Klara's eyes widened, "Oh right," Ino said slapping her head,
"You can farm," Klara let out a breath of relief,
"He can what?" Tazuna asked,
"I forgot all about that," Yamato said, "Naruto grows his own veg to make food and sake, he can farm the land,"
"HE CAN FARM?" Mei cried,
"HE CAN MAKE SAKE!?" Tazuna asked, "But he's like thirteen,"
"I'm Sixteen," Naruto stated with a pout,
"Naruto..." Klara said approaching him, "How fast can you grow food?" she asked,
"Well... if I do that... it should take a month" he said,
Klara frowned, "Naruto I don't think these people have a month,"
"What do you mean?" he asked, "Can't they wai-,"
"NOT IF THEY'RE DEAD!" Klara screamed causing Naruto to step away from her almost afraid, Her eyes widened as she looked down at her trembling hands, "I..." she turned, "I'll go on ahead,"
And then she ran off,
Ino turned to Yamato, "Can't you grow food?" she asked,
"I should be able to," he stressed, "But, I've never figured out how," he said,
"Nothing can be done," Mei stated, "We'll just have to give them Gato's food when we're ready,"
"Yeah," Tazuna said, and though they started walking Naruto didn't,
'I can help,' he thought clenching his fist, "Hey I'm gonna start growing food anyway," he said, "Maybe If I try really hard it'll grow well," he lied, hoping they'd believe it,
"Uh, sure kid," Tazuna said feeling awkward, "Just keep going down this path when you're done," he said, "Eventually you'll come to a small house, that's where we'll be,"
"Okay bye," Naruto said waiting for them to leave, waving as they walked,
When finally they were gone Naruto took off his pants and put them under a big rock, "First I have to scoop up the dirt," he said, he found a spot to start and stomped down and then pushed the dirt away with his feet as he practiced his thrusts,
For Ino the walk to Tazuna's house was stifling, not just the tenseness, but the thoughts,
'I could just give them the food now,' Mei thought, 'If my Ninjutsu weren't so destructive I could just force Gato to give the people food, and take his shit,' she thought, 'But if I do anything he could burn it just to spite me, or I might destroy it by accident-'
'Why cant I do it?' Yamato thought as he looked at his hand, 'The first could do it, other Senju could do it, so why can't I? it it cause I-'
'Maybe if we trained the villagers... but in the states they're in they wouldn't handle it,' Ao thought,
'Everyone's so reliable,' Chojuro thought, 'Even Naruto-san knows how to farm, no not Naruto-san, more like Naruto-sama, the way he stayed back to farm anyway, I hope he's not mad at Klara-san-'
'Fine mess you've gotten yourself into Tazuna,' The old man thought with a sigh, 'first decent folk come to help and you've already drove two of them apart,' he thought, 'No, just focus on the bridge, now that these ninja are here we'll build that bridge, Gato can't threaten us anymore, we're practically free already,'
The thought's just kept swirling around, in a maelstrom of depressive thoughts, there was no reprieve from them, she hadn't fought at all today and she was already tired, when they got to the house Ino asked to stay outside,
"I wouldn't want to Impose," she said, trying to escape the swirling depression, "I'd rather sleep out under the stars is all," she said,
Yamato gave her a curious look, but conceded, "Alright, we'll sleep outside," he said, "Something tells me we need the space," but as she requested she was allowed to set up camp herself, thus she quickly ran over to the edge of her mind reading range and dropped to her knees, finally she could hear the world around her again, she just wanted to scream, now that she could finally just hear herself again,
So caught up by her break from noise Ino didn't see as Klara left the house and vanished into the forest, to get wood for fire, she'd told Yamato, who took it as, ''I need time to think'' and allowed her too,
When Rin arrived much later she'd quickly attempt to put the group to sleep with an sleeping drug she'd made from herbs she picked on the way to the village,
Only to find Ino and Klara already asleep in there tent,
Having no idea that Ino went to bed alone, and that Klara still hadn't returned from the forest,
in fact ''Klara'' had shed her disguise and left the forest, as Konan she was an unknown factor, but she couldn't let the people starve, she knew that horror all too well,
She had the strength to take what the people needed, though she also hoped a kind older woman might be able to explain to Naruto that Klara hadn't meant to scream at him,
She'd known the boy for years, and he never seemed so scared, except maybe of thunder and that horned guy,
But of his good friend Klara Valon?
It made her feel sick that she'd made him so scared,
She hated being out of control of her emotions,
But she already knew how to approach him, she'd wander by, a nice lady coming from the opposite way, asking him about the work he was doing, he'd respond that he's Naruto and they'd start up a conversation,
She'd mention that he looks sad and he'd tell her about Klara, and she'd mention seeing a girl sobbing her eyes out about a friend she'd hurt, telling him that Klara hadn't meant to hurt him and tomorrow as Klara she'd apologise deeply,
"Hey Klara," Naruto groaned weakly from on the floor,
Konan froze and turned, she'd been so lost in thought she'd already arrived to the healthy looking crop field bursting with life,
And there on the ground looking at her while also looking quite sickly was Naruto,
Her eyes filled with sorrow, "Are... you alright?" she asked,
And then her eyes went wide, "Wait..." she said, "What did you call me?"
"Your name," he said weakly, "Right Klara?" he asked,
Konan took out a kunai, a quick glance was all she needed to be sure that she wasn't in disguise,
"What's that in your face?" Naruto asked looking at her lip piercing,
"Naruto... are... did you know, all this time that I was in disguise?" she asked,
Naruto lifted up his fringe, "The two bottom ones can be tricked, but this one can't," he said pointing to his lavender eye,
"And you never told anyone that the person they thought was a little girl was actually a grown woman?" she asked,
"Why would I?" he asked, "We're friends, I'm sure you had your reason for pretending, sometimes I pretend I'm a Sage, or a Super hero," he said,
His thoughts caused her to smile, before she reigned it in, she looked around realising the food had grown in just a couple of hours, "I thought you said you could only do this in a month," she said,
"Well I can put my chakra into the ground and force stuff to grow quicker, but I'm not supposed to, it makes me like this," he said, "Also it requires a lot of focus, which is why Kaa-chan is doing it,"
"Thanks Kokuo-san," Konan said causing Naruto to smile,
"She says you're welcome," he said,
Konan sat by the boy, "So I guess I don't need to go anywhere now?" she asked, "How long are you going to be like this?" she asked,
Naruto tried to shrug, but barely just flopped on the ground, he looked up at her, "What's that thing in your lip?" he asked,
"It's a piecing," she said, "and it's very special a friend made it for me so he could always help me wherever I was,"
"It's made out of chakra," Naruto said, "Actually the tailed beasts have been wondering about it,"
"Have they?"
"They knew someone who did something similar,"
"Do you want me to tell you about him?" she asked, "I think you two would have a bit in common,"
"Really?" Naruto asked,
"Yeah," Konan said, "He was also born with great power he doesn't quite understand, but where you're strong, he's weak, he can barely move on his own at this point, though if he really focuses he can, but it hurts him, but that pain doesn't stop him," she said, "He's driven to bring peace, he's a little dour at times but, he means well,"
"Is he nice?" Naruto asked,
"Yeah, he's nice," she said,
Meanwhile outside Konoha stumbled a cloaked figure, his hair was dark red and his eyes were wrapped with bandages, his skin was sickly pale, and he stumbled almost as if he could keel over at any moment,
But he stayed on his feet and stopped as he realised a Man waited at the gates for him,
A raven haired man, blade in hand, his eyes blazing red, "I..tach..i" the red haired man groaned, pulling off the bandages around his eyes, showing they were ringed and lavender,
"You... don't look well Nagato," Itachi stated,
Nagato wheezed, as he stared ahead at the Hokage, "I... I'm here... for... a meeting," he said,
"Is that all you're here for?" Itachi asked, "Klara isn't here, her team is off to Mizu"
"I... know..." he said before he started to cough staining his hand with his own blood, he cast his hand down and after an explosion of smoke a large leach appeared, Nagato shoved his hand into it and Itachi watched as is slowly crumpled up and died,
Nagato getting less sickly as it faded away, as he pulled his hand out of the corpse, it broke away turning to dust,
Then the less weakened Nagato approached holding a letter to Itachi,
Itachi took it, and slid it into his robes, next the sword vanished, "Come it's been a long walk, I'll brew us some tea," he offered,
Nagato nodded, "That does sound nice after the walk,"
OCTOUPUS-The end-OCTOPUS
Review corner:VVV
Juno MeNu: As much as I'd like to say yes he can the wiki calls Chakra Shape Manipulation "an advanced form of Chakra control-" and Naruto himself has far to much chakra to control effectively, but he is filled with giant demons, maybe one of them could do it for him?
Primarx: S'all good bro,
(Sage-of-Pure-Rage present name)Darkness91: dude you're a cringe troll baiting pussy who on your bio says:
"I'm not here to argue with some cry baby If I like your story I will say it! if I don't I'm gonna say it! Stay out my inbox, all caught up in your feelings! upset because I think your story was a waste of time to read, not everyone has to like or say they like your trash grow up people! its 2024 and people are still so sensitive these days it so freaking annoying.
if you're on my profile looking for a way to message me because you didn't like what I said congratulations you Dumb F#ck you just achieved todays most pathetic person of the world award. please look in a nearby mirror and take a good look at the idiot you see.
Arthurs these days that ask their readers on how or what they should write in their story are the worst. just write your shit and stop asking us readers what you should do next. it got old really fast"
Kinda wish I got to this story faster so you all could've seen that he used to have a part where he was a 1000 year old dragon,
But honestly I don't have to say anything, the fact that you complain about people responding to your ''criticism'' well, (his review for me word for word is, "holy shit this is horrible") with the fact that you don't allow people to message you says everything nobody wanted to know, you're a coward who likes mocking others but pisses and cries and shits yourself when someone claps back, if that's how you are then why would you think anyone wants you to read their story? they wouldn't, they'd be glad you decided their story wasn't worth your time, because they already knew you weren't worth theirs,
Axccel's First comment: Sounds about right, have the kid with all the power be raised by the village that has their biggest value be about peace, so long as he isn't born a sociopath or psychopath things will probably go pretty well,
Axccel's second comment: Yeah bro, can't let them just bark orders at him, he knows they wouldn't take it, honestly some of them would've probably just closed their borders if they got Kid M'guffin with the power of all tails, and just ignored the other Kage,
lordfyre94: Oof, man you really got her there, lmao owned Kushina, you got hit by a giant fox so large it's tails bust up mountains and it's made of chakra so volatile it has to be sealed inside a specific clan at a specific time of their lives or else they explode or something and the fox bank shot your freaking skull off a mountain and you got trauma? just git gud you freaking joke,
What and you gave birth to a baby like moments before you fought it? okay don't have kids fivehead, don't see why that's my problem, oh and then you watched your husband get murked? shouldn't have watched then,
And the baby you had with your late husband starts warping in front of your eyes and changing erasing all of the features they had and becoming unrecognisable? like you could show a picture of before he changed and after and people wouldn't believe you that they're the same kid and it could be due to the fox you had sealed in your gut and who killed your husband, many people you likely at least knew of, and probably hates you for the years of your life you kept it restrained because you were forced to after watching the deaths of everything you lived in a similar attack on your previous home village something you likely have a lot of trauma about, lol cry about it,.
Demonboy121986: My guy what did you expect? like this isn't a story where Naruto meets Zabuza and decides to become stronger realising the threat of the ninja world, or one where he gets sent back in time to stop a great evil he failed to beat once before,
This is a story where from birth Naruto had every single tailed beast sealed inside of him due to the Shinigami, changing the entire course of his life drastically before he even had a chance to take his first steps of course he's going to be different, and its going to cause ripples throughout the Elemental Nations, causing it to change drastically,
For example, with all of the tailed beasts in one body now of course Hiruzen can't allow the destruction of the Uchiha clan, coming up with a more reasonable strategy by allowing Itachi to arrest the leaders of the Coup and becoming fifth Hokage himself,
Though I will admit some changes are still deviations from canon before Naruto had all the tailed beasts sealed inside him, but c'mon do you really want to read the exact same story as canon but Naruto has nine plus creatures sealed inside him?
Also and this is really important, The concept for this story ain't mine, it was done by a fellow regular human called pus in boots on which is where the idea of the Shinigami taking all of the tailed beasts and sealing them inside Naruto due to humans throwing away their lives in wars comes from, I was just looking for something to read at the time,
Omake: The story I probably should have written, and am not going to write,
Minato stood on top of Gamabunta holding his child in his arms and looking at the Adamantine sealing chain restrained Kyubii, "I'm sorry son," Minato said, his eyes filled with tears he could not shed as he looked down at his son, "your life w-," his breathing hitched, "won't be easy, people will doubt you, misjudge you," he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, "maybe even hate you," he held his son close hugging him, "you likely won't even know who we were, but never doubt that if there were any other choice I wouldn't hesitate to make it, your mother and I love you very much," Minato kissed his son's head, "be good."
"Minato!," Gamabunta called as the Kyubii pulled against the chains,
"Ninja art: Reaper death seal." Minato said disappearing in a yellow flash, he pressed one palm to the Kyubii, and one to his son, he shivered as an intense cold came from behind him, "Shinigami," Minato commanded, "seal the Kyubii inside my son."
The response wasn't something that Minato could interpret as words, closer to a mix between a breath and metal grinding against metal, yet Minato did understand it, "What is your offer?."
"My life," Minato responded, "in exchange for the sealing,"
The sound came again, "Life?, as if you could even stop throwing your lives away, you humans waste the gift my sister gave you every second,"
"What do you mean?," Minato asked,
"War, after this another will be declared, I may be the god of death but even I grow weary of you shallow creatures throwing your lives away so carelessly."
"what are you going to do?,"
"End it." The Shinigami stuck his arm through Minato and into the fox, "Now let's see how the loss of the Jinjuriki affects the world."
All over the elemental nations seven people screamed in pain as their various seals dissolved before they fell unconscious and a large amount of red chakra launched out of their bodies, and at the same time a massive turtle like creature turned into pure chakra and flew upwards, all the Chakra converged on the full moon where a goddess waited for her son, "What's this?," She asked as her soul was pulled from the moon and combined with the fragments of her power before she was pulled toward a single location, she was filtered through the fox before being sealed into the baby,
"What have you done?," A weakened Minato asked, "do you know what this will cause?,"
"No I do not, but I am aware it will change the fate of this world," The Shinigami said taking Minato's soul, before laying the boy safely on the ground.
Soon Hiruzen Sarutobi would arrive and take the baby to safety, unaware of how the world was shaken in twelve seconds,
-Thirteen years later-
Naruto threw off his blanket and yawned, "It's going to be another beautiful day," he said slipping out of bed,
He opened his bedroom door and stared ahead,
"Morning Naruto," Said his brother in all but blood who opened his door at the exact same time,
Naruto smiled back, "Good morning Sasuke,"
The two ran out of their rooms and sprinted down the hall, their target the bathroom,
"Don't bother you two!," Came a voice from downstairs, "Tsunade's passed out in the bath again!,"
The two's momentum didn't change at all as they rushed past the bathroom and Naruto curled into a ball rolling down the stairs while Sasuke slid down the railing,
The race continued until they entered the kitchen, "I WIN!," they both said,
"Same time again," Mikoto said as she looked over various forms making the two whine, "Now get your breakfasts before they get cold,"
"Okay Mum," Sasuke said,
"Sweet thanks Mama," Naruto said,
"And no racing," She warned,
The two sat down at the table and started eating,
"Ah there you two are," Kushina said as she walked into the room, she kissed Mikoto as she passed her, "Hey darling," she smiled, "How's your work coming?," she asked, "Are you done yet?,"
"Not now Kushina," Mikoto chided, "I need to work,"
Kushina pouted, "Aw Mikki pweaase," she batted her eyelashes, "I made breakfast today and it was hard, now I wanna snuggle," she said kissing her wife's neck,
"Get a room you two!," Groaned Tsunade as she stumbled down the stairs,
"Morning granny!," Naruto and Kushina chorused,
"So damn loud," Tsunade winced,
"That's what you get for being a drunken wreck in this house," Sasuke said,
"Good morning Tsunade," Mikoto smiled, "Don't mind the kids being loud,"
"Hey," Kushina said pouting again, "Fine no cuddles for you," she crossed her arms,
"You're the one that wanted a race car bed Kushina," Mikoto reminded her wife, "Remember?,"
"All I remember was you saying that I could either have the bed or we could keep sleeping in the same room," Kushina pouted, "Not much of a choice,"