Chapter 11
4 months later...
Uzumaki Residence
"Good morning, Uzumaki."
Naruto blinked at his living room. Turning, he took a glance back into his room, specifically his window, then his alarm clock. The light from the window confirmed it was day, while his alarm clock solidified it. Turning back to his living room, he rubbed his eyes clear of any lingering sleep before blinking away the blurriness to allow the living room to come back into focus.
Unfortunately, so did the stranger in his apartment.
An unsettling amount of silence fell between the two until the younger one did what he thought was perfectly logical.
He slowly backed up into his room and closed the door behind him.
For a moment, he allowed what was behind the door to process. When it fully downloaded, he turned from the door and walked to his closet. Changing out of his pajamas and into more comfortable wear, he put the problem in his living room out of mind and exited silently through the window.
...
Naruto could practically feel the subtle gazes from the other students in the class. Their eyes were filled with both disbelief, but the curiosity kept their gaze returning to his side of the classroom.
There was nothing wrong with him, per se. He looked, smelled, and acted the same as he had since day one. At this point in the academy year, everyone knew him for either his eyes, hair, his status as dead last, or his dream (something he was quite vocal about whenever anyone wanted to challenge it).
Surprisingly, it was nothing he said or did that attracted such attention from his piers. In fact, they weren't particularly looking at him. Yes, he got the occasional glance, but mostly it was all reserved for the teenage Jonin standing directly behind him.
The 'home wrecker hater' (as Naruto dubbed her) had been here since he had first arrived—her eyes following him all the way to his seat. For a brief moment, he thought Juri-sensei would be his savior. Surely there was some rule against stalkers in class, no?
To his shock, all his sensei did was give the woman a brief glance before continuing her lecture as always.
Naruto's hand was raised in response to her careless disregard for her students' safety. She called on him, and he boldly spoke his peace while pointing at the Jonin, "Can you please call the Uchiha Police? This lady is stalking me."
The Chunin took one glance at the Jonin before incredulously stating, "She is here on Hokage-sama's orders. Please show some respect for our Shinobi and follow along as instructed, Uzumaki-san."
With that, she went back to her chalkboard, leaving Naruto with the urge to slam his head against the desk.
...
Naruto peaked around the corner, searching for any sign of his stalker. Random pedestrians walked and mingled about; smiles spread as they all went on with their daily activities. Seeing the coast clear, he stepped from around the corner and headed straight to his usual training post.
He shouldn't have been surprised to find her already here.
In hindsight, he should have known. She is a Jonin, while he wasn't even close to being a Genin. She likely had experience in tracking, while he had no idea how to even blend into a crowd. Why she was so persistent in following him after their last conversation was a question he wished he had the answer to. Nowhere to run, the blonde decided confrontation was his only option—revealing himself to the Jonin who immediately acknowledged him upon exiting the cover that was a tree.
"I've been waiting for you, Uzumaki." Her voice held courtesy, as if seeing him was more business than joy.
"...I don't know what this is called, but I'm pretty sure it's illegal." Naruto decided to say.
"I can assure you, it is not." She 'reassured'. "I have already received a permit allowing me to continue my investigation into your case. Until my investigation is concluded, I have permission to observe you at all times as long as it's within the supervision of a Jonin or ANBU operative."
Student stared at Jonin. Neither showed any sign of emotion, yet the constant twitching of the blonde's eyebrow spoke of irritation.
Soon, the blonde broke eye contact to stare at something next to her. "Is that why they are here?"
The Shimura heir did not look at where the blonde was looking. Upon speaking his peace, however, two figures materialized next to her in a murder of crows. Both ANBU, one wearing a weasel mask and the other white and bird-like, were now plain to see for those who couldn't, both at least a head taller than the Shimura heir. Despite how unsettling the blonde found the ANBU, he did not flinch under their analytical gaze. Shortly after, the bird one spoke, his baritone voice speaking while rubbing his chin. "It really is as you said, Kagero-hime. He truly is unaffected by Genjutsu."
"Yes, but even I did not expect it to apply to even the Sharingan. This Kekkai Genkai truly is unlike anything I've ever seen before." The Shimura finished, Naruto starting to feel uncomfortable from all the eyes looking down on him as if he were a specimen.
"Is there a reason there are two of you?" The blonde asked, for curiosity's sake.
It was Weasel who answered.
"Not necessarily. I'm just here to keep an eye on my friend while Bird tags along. Kagero-san is," he paused, supposedly to think of a word. "Very straightforward, so her intentions can come off as hostile."
"More like a stalker." Bird corrected with a muffled chuckle. "I can only imagine what the villagers were thinking as she tailed a poor child through Konoha."
"...When you put it that way, I guess that does look kinda suspicious. Should we start calling her Stalker?"
"It fits. 'Hime' was getting old anyway."
"I do not believe we are here for idle banter." Attention returned to the Jonin. As expected, her face had not changed despite the allegations or teasing, yet neither did she deny them. "I am here to conduct my investigation, Uzumaki Naruto. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we can end this."
"...I have nothing to say to you."
The silence that followed the blonde's immediate denial was staggering. Both Weasel and Bird had the pleasure of watching Kagero's features morph through a multitude of expressions. From anger, to disbelief, to pain, to anger, to disgust, to disbelief, and back to anger, it all played like a rapidly moving slideshow. It was as if her face was unable to decide which emotion to display, so it went through them all. It eventually landed back on her mask, but there was no hiding the fury in her eyes nor the venom in her voice as she said, "...What?"
"I don't trust you." The boy stated plainly, the heir's fists tightened to the point they threatened to break skin as her mask broke into that of frustration.
"I am a Shinobi of the Leaf. You should have no reason to distrust me." She managed to grit out, getting a rare frown in turn from the Uzumaki.
"You questioned my dream. That is enough for me to not even like you."
"You know not the responsibilities behind the title of Hokage. Therefore, you are unfit."
"I know enough that I want to be it."
"You are acting like a child."
"I am a child."
"OK, OK, children. Break it up." Bird stepped between the two glaring parties upon seeing the Shimura's subtle reach to her tanto. "There's no need for this to turn into a shouting match. We can settle this a bit more civilly."
"He is disobeying direct orders," Kagero gritted out, getting a disappointed shake of the head from the ANBU.
"He's a kid, Hime. A kid half your age and just starting the academy. Trying to force him to do anything will get you nowhere." He brought a finger to his head, tapping the side repeatedly. "You have to think smart—stoop to his level a bit. Offer something that will pique their interest. Kids are gullible, which means they are very stupid and vulnerable to persuasion."
"I can still hear you."
Ignoring the blonde's retort, Kagero visibly relaxed. Bird saw this and smiled behind his mask. Princess successfully quelled, he turned and kneeled down to eye level with the Jinchuuriki, silently admitting the boy's flat stare to be somewhat unnerving.
"Listen, kiddo. What Hime was trying to say is that she needs your help. The Hokage believes that a lot of people, including yourself, may be in danger. Hime here is the only one who can help you."
The blonde was confused, even if his face didn't show it. "Why would I be in danger? Why would anyone be in danger?"
"Well, you have a very special power, and Hime believes you know how to use it."
Naruto looked to the Jonin, her expression portraying nothing. "But she said it's an...in, vesti, meant?"
"Investigation, and it is. I must know if you are a threat to thmmmphmmmmm-" Bird silently thanked Weasel for silencing the young heirress before she killed any chance she may still have.
"How about this? You tell us what we want to know, and we'll give you something in return. That sound fair?"
"...Can I ask you to take off your mask?" The boy asked innocently enough. Naruto didn't know how, but he could feel a playful grin appear behind the mask.
"I could, but then I'd have to kill you." Weasel, and even the Shimura, stared questioningly at the tallest of their group. The bird-masked ANBU could only hold the façade for so long before he chuckled and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Just kidding! But we really can't tell you that. We'd get in big trouble for releasing something so confidential to just anyone, so please be reasonable. Isn't there anything you want? Maybe, want to learn?"
The blonde revealed his first show of emotion with widened, clearly interested eyes. "You'll teach me something? Anything at all?"
"Within reason," Bird reiterated.
The boy seemed to think on it for a moment before he pointed at the Jonin. "Can you teach me how to avoid her?"
Weasel stopped Kagero's hand before it could draw her tanto.
"I'll do you one better. How about I teach you a super cool technique. One that can fool even the Hokage." Bird held up a finger before the boy could agree or disagree. "But remember, you have to give us something in return. Deal?"
Location: ?
"I was wondering when you would arrive."
Naruto stood still before his friend's throne. His eyes were wide—wider than they'd ever been and slightly dazzled as he gazed upon the stranger sitting before him.
Green locks of hair flowed in waves like a river over her shoulders and down her back. Her pale and creamy skin seemed to shimmer in the light, and her playful green eyes shone like small stars. Long legs connected to an hourglass frame, her body covered by a familiar blue-violet open fabric. Her face was a perfectly pointed oval, while her chest bore huge mounds that could attract the eye of any man. The 'woman' sitting before him held the appearance of a Goddess in not only aura, but body as well.
"Speechless? Fufufu, that is to be expected. I have had books written about my beauty, y'know." The velvet voice of the woman spoke, her leg crossing hypnotically as she leaned on the arm of the throne.
"Wow~." Naruto awed, his eyes practically shining as he realized exactly who was sitting on the throne. "You're really, really pretty, Onee-san! Like, the prettiest girl I've ever seen!"
The compliment made the Goddess point her nose high as if expecting it. "Well, of course you'd think so! I AM a Divine, after all. It is only natural that you would look upon me with awe...
"Is this what you truly look like, Onee-san?"
"That is correct, Child. This was the form I first woke to in Fodlan... Although," her haughtiness fell as she frowned down at the new lumps of flesh weighing her down. Without much thought, she began poking the orbs, right in front of the child. "Having these lumps is as bothersome as I remembered. Honestly, must these things be so large?"
Naruto silently watched as a spectator. Any normal man would have been attracted to the sight like a moth to a flame. Naruto, however, did not yet have the knowledge or physical capabilities to be affected by the sight. That did not, however, mean he did not have questions.
"What are those, Onee-san?" The boy asked, to which the Divine answered exasperatedly before she could think about what was being asked.
"They are a wonder, Child. Meant for babe's to feed in their infancy, yet easily draw the attention of men and women alike. It is a mystery I have yet to truly understand..."
"...Can I touch them?"
"I don't see why-" Sothis nearly choked when the boy's words caught up to her. Almost instinctively, she covered her chest, her entire face beet red as she looked both embarrassed and scandalized by the boy's question. "Wh-wh-who do you think you are asking such a thing?! I am a lady! You cannot so casually ask-"
A sudden light emanated from the Divine's body, covering her completely. Naruto blinked, and in that same millisecond, his friend had returned to her previous, much smaller form.
Sothis blinked in confusion, her arms still covering her chest, which was now a shadow of their former glory. Realization hit her, and fury quickly replaced the confusion as her foot repeatedly stomped the ground.
"Oh, for the love of-now look at what you've done! You have any idea how hard it is to maintain that form? Gods, to think a laps in concentration was all it took..."
"Ah, so it was just a transformation?"
Sothis's frown, now more of a pout, leaned against a fist as she replied, "In a sense, Child. Though mine is more permanent than illusion...or it would be if I had the energy to maintain it. Stupid world and its stupid lack of Faith..."
Naruto watched his friend mutter, her face set into a pout as she drew circles into the stone armrest. It was as he was watching this that he suddenly remembered why he was excited to come here.
"That reminds me. I have something to show you. I learned two killer jutsu today. For free!"
Sothis raised a brow at the boy who was now bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement. "You learned something in my absence?"
Naruto nodded and answered, "An ANBU friend of the Home Wrecking Hater taught me. We worked all day on it."
"Home Wrecking... Ah, the woman from the Tower... And what does this and your training have to do with my form?"
Instead of answering with words, the boy answered with a hand sign. Smoke twice his size covered the boy, and Sothis found herself intrigued for a brief moment.
A moment that died even quicker than it appeared.
Before her now stood Seiros. Standing in a stance that would garner the attention of most men, with one arm around her head and the other on her hip, her daughter's beautiful face looked upon her with cold indifference. Around her, smoke clung to her most 'womanly parts' like a second layer of protection.
Ah, did she forget to mention Seiros was very naked? Naked as the day she was born? A sight no respecting parent should see, no matter the role? If the scene couldn't get any worse, her youngest, her beautiful youngest, blew a kiss at her in a way that she thought was meant to be seductive but fell flat without the emotion.
Sothis was by no means violent. She has spanked her children once or twice, but never had she picked up a sword or tome. Yet, seeing her ward, a child no less, so blatantly disrespecting her daughter's innocence turned even her to violence.
From her throne, she leaped into the air and towards the Seiros transformation, wounding her feet back. She timed her descent perfectly, her form immaculate despite never doing this before. Once in range, her legs shot out, performing the picture definition of a 'drop kick' on the transformation. The boy reverted back to normal, but not before tumbling down the long stairway leading to the throne to land on his face. Sothis met him at the bottom, and the lecture he received that night while in pain and blood running down his face was one he would never forget.
That night until morning, they went over the importance of dignity, modesty, and boundaries. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing that he showed her before he did the Hokage. If he had, Sothis might have actually killed him...and even if she didn't, Seiros definitely would.
Konoha: Training Ground 3
After Naruto's departure
The three watched the blonde Jinchuriki walk away, a soft breeze filling the silence that followed.
"...Well, seems the kid is more stubborn than I'd thought." Bird said sheepishly, a finger going up to scratch his chin.
"Not quite," Kagero reassured, getting the attention of the two ANBU. "Right after the deal, he used it again—his Kekkai Genkai."
"Ah, that skill you were telling us about earlier? The one where he suppresses his emotions?" Kagero nodded, to which Bird frowned behind his mask. "You think he used it to hide what he was truly feeling?"
"Yes and no. I can see why he'd wish to hide his emotions, yet I cannot see why he would need to do so if he only received benefits from the exchange."
"Maybe that's because he has more to hide than just a singular ability." Weasel piped in, to which Kagero shook her head.
"I have observed him for some time now, yet I have never seen him use any technique—not even the Kyuubi's. Reports say he has been unemotive since birth, hinting that he has been passively using it since he was child. If that is the case, then he has only recently learned how to weaponize it. How, I do not know. However, I am skeptical if that is the only ability he possesses. 'What' would be my next step in this investigation."
"Do you think it's the Kyuubi'?" Weasel decided to ask what likely everyone else had thought at one point or another.
"No," the Shimera denied. "I know the Kyuubi. Its chakra is wild, almost sufficating. In comparison, the boy's is...pure—divine, I'd even say. I've never met Kushina or the Fourth, but I'm positive they did not emit such a pure form of chakra. Digging further into that only has led me to question the likelihood of infidelity."
"That's a dangerous train of thought." Bird warned.
"Yet it is valid. Neither had a history of green hair in their line, yet their child was born with such? His eyes as well? What else am I meant to conclude?"
"I understand how such a conclusion can be reached, Kagero-san. However, do not be so quick to make such assumptions. I have met and spoken with Kushina-san many times, and I can assure you she is not such a woman." Weasel argued, getting a frown from the usually stoic Shimura.
"Decisions based on personal feelings are dangerous, Uchiha. You of all people should know that."
"It is not personal, Kagero-san. Just an observation. I am simply using my knowledge of what I already know to conclude an otherwise hopeless case instead of taking things at face value. I also know that mutations are not an impossibility. The First Hokage and Orochimaru of the Sannin should be proof enough."
"I do not base my investigation on 1% chances, Uchiha. Sometimes looking at what's right in front of you is the best course of action."
"And jumping to conclusions too quickly leaves a wider opening for error."
On the side, a hand came up to Bird's face as the two continued. Trying to talk sense into a Shimura was like trying to milk a bull. They were all teammates once upon a time, yet she truly hasn't changed. Was he always meant to be the mediator for this group?
"No matter the case, I shall not be deterred." Kagero huffed, finally putting an end to the argument. "He can fool your eyes, but he will not fool my senses. The quicker he reveals what he is hiding, the quicker I can end my investigation. Until then, I will not be swayed."
"Maybe jutsu aren't what he wishes to learn." Bird spoke up. "He is an academy student. He is at the bottom of his class in every subject and hasn't gotten any better. Naruto-kun is goal-driven, meaning he is likely to gravitate towards things that will help him achieve that goal. Jutsu may sound promising on the surface, but they ultimately mean nothing if they don't help him in the long term—that term currently being the Academy."
The Jonin's brow furrowed, understanding Bird's words but not why he looked to her, particularly at the end. "I have nothing he wants, nor am I willing to teach a child Jutsu."
"On the contrary, you have one thing we do not. Time."
"Time?" She asked, still not catching on. The same could not be said for Bird, who smirked mischievously behind his mask.
"Ah, you did just declare yourself to him, did you not Hime?"
"I'm a woman of my word." Kagero said in reply, a sweat drop appearing on Bird at his innuendo going right over the girl's head.
"What I meant is, you have time to train him in other aspects—Taijutsu, for one." The immediate furrow of her brow told Bird the idea was not well received.
"You wish for me to train a child? One who is potentially a threat to our home?"
"To be fair, he will always be a threat to the village, no matter his allegiance. And I'd much rather be a Jinchuuriki's friend than foe." Weasel commented, to which Bird agreed.
"You could try and force him, but I doubt you'd want to deal with the power of the Nine-Tails if you fail—and even if you succeeded, dealing with a pissed-off Hokage is arguably just as bad."
The Shimura had to regrettably agree. Despite her age and skill, she was nowhere near the skill of the man known as the 'God of Shinobi', even if he was a shell of his legend. She'd sooner take her chances with the One-Tail. "I, will think about it... Until then, I must report back to the Hokage. Until next time." Without saying another word, she vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving the two ANBU in the clearing.
"...She's either gonna make us very proud, or get us all killed." Bird joked...hopefully.
"Hard to say when she's that man's child." Bird laughed nervously at each other farewell, the two Shinobi went their separate ways.
Unfortunately, this would be the last moment they would share as a team. Three weeks from now, Bird would be found dead, and not a day later, Weasel would kill the entire Uchiha clan before fleeing Konoha as a Nuke Nin.
Two Weeks Later...
Uzumaki Residence
"Good morning, Uzumaki."
Naruto blinked at his living room. Turning, he took a glance back into his room, specifically his window, then his alarm clock. The light from the window confirmed it was day, while his alarm clock solidified it. Turning back to his living room, he rubbed his eyes clear of any lingering sleep before blinking away the blurriness to allow the living room to come back into focus.
Unfortunately, so did the stranger in his apartment.
An unsettling amount of silence fell between the two until the younger one did what he thought was perfectly logical.
He slowly backed into his room and closed the-
The door suddenly became difficult to close. Looking up, he found a hand. Looking past that hand, he found a face in the crack.
"Let us not have a repeat of yesterday."
Naruto blinked slowly at the Hater before turning to his window. An ANBU mask in the shape of a dog met his gaze. He tried pouring every ounce of pleading he could muster behind his eyes, hoping the ANBU would understand the code. He received a thumbs up for his troubles, and Naruto resolved to make sure he was the first ANBU fired when he became Hokage.
Seeing no other option, he let go of the door and followed the Hater to his Kitchen table.
Sitting in silence, the blonde thought about being anywhere else but here. He has nothing to say to this lady, and he had no intention of revealing his friend to her. She was wasting her time and, in extension, his.
"Is this going to take long? I have class to get to." He said, the silence stretching longer than he'd like.
"I've already informed your teacher that you will be absent for the day. I will do the same tomorrow, if necessary." She replied in that stoic tone of hers.
"...I have nothing to say to you."
"And that's fine. But understand that the more you avoid this, the longer my investigation lasts. If you waste my time, I will waste yours. The sooner you tell me what I wish to know, the sooner this all ends."
"...But I don't even know what you want, lady." The way her eyes narrowed told the blonde she saw through his lie.
"Talking to yourself, strange abilities, disappearing out of thin air, immune to Genjutsu, you are far from 'normal' no matter how you try to hide it." She listed the facts before sighing at the end. "However, I now understand that I am being...unreasonable. I also would not readily reveal my secrets to someone I do not trust, so how about a compromise?"
Naruto did not give any hint of what he was thinking, but inside he wished his friend wasn't asleep so she could translate what this woman was saying. His silence prompted the woman to continue.
"One month. For one month, I will teach you how to truly fight like a Shinobi. In exchange, I simply wish to know what that source of energy is. Do this, and I will consider my investigation concluded."
Naruto sat on the words.
He was a kid, but surely she didn't think he was that stupid, right? A month of training for his secrets? That wasn't even close to being fair and Naruto was all too eager to voice it.
"Repeat after me, Child." Naruto blinked, but did not question his friend at a time like this.
"One...year?" He spoke, he himself confused by what he was told.
"...3 months." Kagero renegotiated, to which Sothis told her ward to double down.
"A year."
"5 months."
"A year."
"Six. It is as high as I am willing to go."
"...Eight months, and you... also have to teach me a new jutsu. Take it or leave it." Naruto didn't understand why his friend was tolerating her, nor was he certain this was even the correct path. But he trusted her. And if she thought this was the right path, then he would follow it.
The Hater did not look happy. Her brow was furrowed, and Naruto was sure she was thinking of any possible way to smother him in his sleep. Alas, a sigh left her, and she agreed. "Fine. Eight months, and you shall immediately give me what I want. No delay. Do we have a deal?"
"Take it, Child." His friend said almost lazily, to which he nodded in confirmation.
"Good. Then meet me at Training Ground 13 every day after class. Miss even a day, then this deal is off, and I shall find other means of concluding this investigation. Do I make myself clear?" Naruto nodded, not needing his friend to tell him to do so. "Good. Then I shall take my leave. I expect you to show as much dedication to your training as you do keeping your secrets." Shortly after, she dismissed herself; through the front door, surprisingly.
Now alone, he reached in and asked the question on his mind. "Why, Onee-san? She will know about you."
"She will not." Sothis said tiredly. "She has nothing. She doesn't even know what it is that she is looking for. Feed her a believable lie, and she will accept it. It will get her to cease this nonsense, and you will be better off with the knowledge she bestows upon us."
Naruto hummed in understanding, it all making sense to his adolescent mind.
"Now, since you have a free day..."
*CRASH*
The familiar filling of time halting rocked the blonde. Suddenly, his friend materialized in front of him, a rare eagerness emanating from her.
"Summon us to Seiros. It has been some time since I've seen my daughter." The blonde suddenly shared his friend's eagerness. Typically, they made it their goal to visit the woman once or twice a week, but they had found their time limited as of late. She was always eagerly awaiting them, which made their every reunion special. Going through the necessary hand signs, the blonde slammed a hand on the ground and immediately summoned a puff of smoke before him.
They should have known something was wrong the moment they realized the smoke wasn't nearly as tall as the woman herself. In fact, it was only a quarter of what it usually was and also dissipated much quicker.
Laying before them was definitely not the Nabatean. For one, it was not a person or living being, but an inanimate object.
A double-edged, two-handed blade that had the pointed edge of a blade, but had the fuller designed like a human spine with one side sharp and the other with vertebrae-like edges. The guard of the blade resembled that of a dragon's wings while the rainguard was wide with a hole in the center.
It was a sword.
Sothis and Naruto blinked rapidly at the now-glimmering tool of murder. At once, both of their bodies tilted to the side, visible question marks appearing above their heads.
"Huh/Nani?"
A/N: So, I lied. Remember when I said that this would be the last chapter before the childhood arc officially ended? Well, it was... originally. Unfortunately, the way this chapter ended just didn't sit right with me continuing on like it wasn't a big reveal. Not only that, but there were multiple time skips during it, and it all just felt like a mess. Therefore, I made the executive decision to split this chapter in half... Sorry, I don't make the rules, I just enforce them :(
Also, if there is to be an interlude after a chapter, it will always come right after the previous chapter. From now on, I will tell you guys if it will be so, so if you wish to skip it, then you are welcome to do so.
Would like to take this moment to give a shout out to those who have continuously left their support in the form of reviews. Both criticism and complements have helped me write more, and I really appreciate that. Amir2000, thomascastillo9987, Petra Anderson, Antex-The Legendary Zoroark, Darth Kyuubi kurama, Tri1vium, Blackplant, Bob of the A, sickboy986, and the goat himself Dasgun. I know I am missing some people, but for those who I didn't get, know that you are equally appreciated!
Current Age in Scene:
Naruto: 6
Bird:15
Weasel: 13
Kagero:13