Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I own none of it.
Summary: A wife's plea answered, Their son would not be raised alone. Raised by the Toads Naruto is bound to become a fearsome Toad Warrior
Chapter 7 - Genin Days 2
Author's Note: Downtime Chapter
The day after they got back from Wave they had some time off from missions. But being Team 8 that didn't exactly mean they had the day off, and Anko had called a team meeting in… Her apartment?
It was a nice place, Naruto arrived second with Shino already inside waiting. It was a simple but nice apartment, filled with scrolls on everything from jutsu notes, to scrolls on anatomy, poisons, and was that a drawing of a snake on the ceiling made out of thrown dango sticks?
Yes it was.
"Heya Naruto." He blinked twice at not being called a brat. "Make yourself at home, we've got some stuff to talk about once Kiba gets here too."
"For sure, thanks sensei." He took a seat next to Shino, and helped himself to a mug of tea that had already been poured and a stick of dango from the pile that had been left out. Shino gave him a small finger wave as he continued reading a paper on the differences between snake, spider, and scorpion venom.
Naruto was sure it was interesting but for some reason he was too nervous to pick something up to read himself, instincts warning him of an ambush even though he was just in his sensei's apartment. It was just too different.
"Heya sensei." He could hear Kiba from the entryway, his anxiety relaxing somewhat having his whole team together, not to mention his oldest human friend in Kiba.
Giving Kiba a moment to settle in on the couch with his team Anko sat across from them on the floor. "So brats. We've got some stuff we gotta talk about today." She flashed a scroll at them before flicking it to Naruto, who read it quickly. A concerned look spread on his face.
"Anko sensei, what is this?" The hair on the back of his neck was standing up, and his hand clenched the scroll tightly, closed once more.
"That, Naruto." She paused, a sad smile on her face as her eyes waivered just a bit seeing her students distress. "Is special clearance for your team to learn an A-Rank secret, known only to the village jonin and clan heads." She leaned forward placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's your secret to tell, but now that you can access it and as we get ready for the chunin exams it'll just be easier if they know. So I went out of my way to get it for you." A quick look of betrayal crossed his face. "Trust me kid. You gotta own it."
Naruto's eyes softened even as his team looked at him with open curiosity. Kiba bridged the gap. "Look man, we've always known you were different. The toads raised you, and both me and Shino are pretty tuned in. We got you bro." From his position sitting next to him on the couch Kiba kinda shoved him playfully with a shoulder.
That made Naruto smile a little even as his voice caught a little as he recounted a version of the truth he was allowed to tell. "Well… You guys know how Kyuubi was defeated just about thirteen years ago, right?" They nodded. "So… That was on October thirteenth. And you guys have been asking me when my birthday was for years and well… It was October thirteenth, just about thirteen years ago." He paused as they took in what he was saying. "The Fourth sealed Kyuubi into me that day, and sent me to be raised by the Toads. He named me Naruto from one of his sensei's, my Uncle-Jiraiya's book. They called me Uzumaki in honour of the last two Jinchuriki." The boys paused as realisation settled.
"So… The Jinchuriki Bridge?" Naruto nodded to Shino.
"Yeah, I was feeling poetic about the nature of shinobi, and my own position in relation to them. That and I finally-" He made air quotes "Found" he continued "Kyuubi after killing Gato. So calling it the Jinchuriki bridge seemed fitting." He smirked. "It also kinda works as a false deterint for wave right? Who's gonna want to muscle around the place with the Jinchuriki bridge? Who knows who's staying there right?" He chuckled, lightening the mood.
They all sat a little shocked at Naruto's idea of a prank. Just for a moment before everyone burst out laughing. Anko was almost in tears at Naruto's international joke. "Oh brat, most shinobi double your age don't pull anything that good." She ruffles Naruto's hair aggressively as he scrunches up his face. Not one to miss out, Kiba side tackled Naruto onto the floor out from Anko's grasp, grasping at Naruto's sides as he tickled the poor boy.
"Come on Toad-Boy! We already basically knew, you think we'll love you any less?" Naruto playfully kicked the Inuzuka back to the couch to give him a moment to get his blush out of control as he sat back up.
Only to find Shino now crouching, inches away from his face. "I had already concluded this fact. Why? My kikaichu were aware of your second chakra, much as Kiba could smell it on you. But I never said anything. Why? Because we Aburame too share a burden that makes people uncomfortable." He held up a hand as a single kikaichu crawled up to the top of his fingers, wings buzzing open in an assumed greeting. "I depend on my colony to survive as much as they depend on me and my chakra. We are linked to our core. But the village stays away. Finds us creepy. Content to forget about us." The kikaichu flew away as Shino clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "We will not be forgotten Naruto. We will be great." He glances back at Kiba. "We will be great together."
Naruto leaned forward slightly and gave the usually withdrawn boy a gentle hug, a hug that was hesitantly returned. Shino not being used to this kind of touch. Naruto glad to bridge a gap with his friend and teammate, the occasional crawling of the boys bugs under his coat ignored, no more uncomfortable than Naruto's own burden.
A single tear fell down Anko's face. Her boys would be okay.
After talking for a while more about the ins and outs of being a Jinchurki, or at least what Naruto knew of it so far. No he hadn't talked to it, yes he figured out how to access it, no he wasn't sure if he could control it. But he mentioned that Kyuubi's chakra was accessible through primal emotion Kiba lit up. "Hey! A lot of our techniques involve managing our increased primal emotions. I could ask my Mom to give you a hand?"
Naruto looked apprehensive at he supposed he already knew Tsume and she was both a jonin and a clan head so she already knew. "That'd be great Kiba, thanks!" Kiba nodded and affirmed he'd head off to set that up as they got ready to leave Anko's. Only for the jonin to suddenly shock back to awareness.
"Oh right, the rest of the Team meeting." Anko placed herself in front of the door. "So, we've got a couple of months before the chunin exams. You guys will be entering." They all beamed at her. "Yeah yeah, keep it in your pants. The chunin exams are hard, like really hard. So we're gonna modify our schedule a bit. We're only gonna do D-Ranks every other day now. Spend your mornings doing personal training, or time with your clans whatever. Get ready to gear up folks!" She gave them all a confident smirk.
As they parted ways, Kiba heading off to see his Mom, Shino stopped Naruto once more before he departed. "If you wanted, you could join me for lunch with Hinata. She asked me to repolunate her personal garden now that I'm back from our mission."
Naruto beamed at him. "Sure thing Shino, that sounds awesome dattebayo!" He pumped his fist as he followed Shino along to the Hyuga compound.
The guards let them in without too much trouble, during the academy days they were frequent visitors. Letting themselves through to the heiress's personal garden they were surprised to find Hinata with tea already being poured, her Byuagugan faded as she assumed a mantle of warmth and dignity. "I happened to see you boys coming, so I made tea."
They all sat as they took teacups into their hands. It was, of course, exquisite. "Hinata, this is really good." Naruto all but moaned.
She just giggled at him. "It's just tea, Naruto. Almost everything will be good if done right."
Naruto nodded at her wisdom as Shino began to spread his kikaichu amongst the gardens. "So what have you been up to lately, keeping busy?"
She nodded between sips of tea. "Kakashii still doesn't offer much. A few chakra exercises and more team work. We do function together well enough though, even if I have to drag Sakura to keep up a little." She smirked. "Sasuke and I spend most of our free time sparring, we now allow ninjutsu as well. I think I'm beginning to pick up the beginnings of fire style techniques."
"That's super cool." Naruto sips more tea. "I remember when Kichi was learning fire style, it was tricky but lucky he's pretty resilient to burns being a fire toad and all." He pulled a snack out of his pouch and threw it up into the toads waiting mouth.
Hinata gave Kichi a little wave, suddenly embarrassed she hadn't said hello to the toad that resided on Naruto's head. He waved back lazily, somewhat napping at the moment.
"Your plants are doing well, you must put as much effort into your garden as you do your training." Shino cut in, on a topic he was more familiar with.
The three young shinobi passed an easy hour or so as they had some snack Hinata produced, along with a fresh steamed fish Naruto had stored away from wave in his scroll. But soon enough it was time to depart, and the three went their separate ways.
Naruto didn't make it far before Akamaru was suddenly barking at his side to get his attention. Not seeing Kiba anywhere he decided to follow the puppy, turning the next corner towards the Inuzuka compound. Only for his walk to come to a temporary pause as he came across Sasuke heading back towards where Naruto came.
The boys stopped across from each other, exchanging nods.
"Sasuke."
"Toadie."
"Off to see Hinata?" Naruto winked at the brooding youth.
"Hn." Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I suppose you're walking Kiba's dog now then."
Naruto snorted. "Actually I think Akamaru's taking me for a walk." He rubbed the back of his head. "But that's okay. How have things been?"
"Not bad. We wrangled an ostrich." Sasuke deadpanned.
Naruto nodded. "Oh yeah, that's totally normal." Suddenly he was smirking. "We fought one of the seven swordsmen and his minions while freeing an oppressed country." His delivery was super nonchalant, which of course infuriated Sasuke.
Fists clenched almost white as ire entered the boy's eyes, eager for such a chance to prove himself. "Hn"
Naruto nodded once at the boy he'd once fought Mizuki with. Knowing Hinata was in for a hell of a training session after he riled the Uchiha up this way. Oh well it was good motivation.
Akamaru barked a goodbye as they walked around the enraged Uchiha, Naruto adding a final insult as he patted Sasuke on the shoulder as he walked by.
Little did Naruto know that he had just planted another seed of doubt in Sasuke's mind. Another note of mistrust in the village system. Seeds that would one day crack down to his foundation and shake his will of fire.
But as he didn't know that, he continued on his way to Kiba's.
The Inuzuka compound was an interesting place. Seemingly a mix of multi story houses with very large fenced in yard areas, and a few dog catered shops and services. Everything from grooming, to accessories, to light armor. Of course not forgetting the famous Inuzuka vet.
Naruto had been here a few times and instinctively started heading towards Kiba's place but Akamaru barked at him and led him to a particularly well fenced in yard with a sealing array on the entrance. Waiting there was Tsume and Kiba.
"Sup pup?" and "Hey toad-boy." They uttered in unison as Naruto approached and Akamaru jumped up into Kiba's arms.
Naruto and Gamakich both waved. "Hey guys, what's going on?"
Kiba smiled as Tsume ruffled his hair. "Kiba mentioned you might need some impulse training, I thought we'd have a quick first session and introduction to the whole thing. Kiba, head off for now this is just gonna be one on one."
Kiba gave Naruto a fist bump as him and Akamaru headed off and Tsume opened the sealed gate, directing him inside. Once they were sealed into the outdoor area with a high fence, Naruto found what appeared to be a medium sized training ground with a particularly torn up surface.
"This pup, is where we bring new chakra developed dogs we find in the wild. They're important to expanding the gene pool of the Inuzuka stocks and avoid inbreeding, but they're hard to tame, many of them having taught themselves chakra based techniques we haven't encountered before. So we keep them here until they bond with someone, like my partner Kuromaru, Akamaru's father. He's able to talk and we were hoping he'd pass the ability to his children but Akamaru hasn't said anything to us yet."
Naruto nodded along, but the pressing question remained. "That's cool. SO what are we doing here exactly?"
Tsume gave a toothy grin. "Kiba said accessing your special chakra was all about intense emotion, here we cna practice and as long as we keep it low key you can start to learn to work with the battle instincts it brings with it, instead of being swept away by them. So you pull as little of the chakra as you can and we're just gonna run you through training exercises to make sure it doesn't get the best of you. Everyone will just assume I've found a potent and pissed off new project."
Narutto rubbed his head a little apprehensive at practising something so dangerous with hsi friends Mom. "Okay, yeah, I guess we can give it a try."
Naruto was exhausted by the end of his time with Tsume, holding his tenants chakra more taxing on his system then he expected. He hadn't even pulled a single tail, only colouring his eyes and giving the faintest impressions of a cloak.
But after saying goodbye to Tsume he didn't make it far before Kiba suddenly had him cornered.
"Hey Naruto." He spoke more seriously than usual. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
Naruto looked at the boy quizzically. "Sure thing Kiba, what's up?" Boy did he want dinner though.
"Nothing much." Kiba looked kinda awkward. "Just you know… Kinda worried. I don't really know how your whole thing works or whatever." He gestured at Naruto's stomach. "But I really like my best friend the way he is. I even got my Mom to help because I don't want it changing you. But it's kinda scary ya know man? And you're so good natured I worry about the fox pulling one over on you, or twisting you up or anything." He looked deflated. "I don't know what I'm saying man. I guess just, be careful. And remember that Inuzuka has your back." He gave Naruto an impromptu hug. "Especially me, okay?"
Before Naruto has a chance to respond, eyes wide at the show of affection and intimacy he wasn't accompanied to. "Sure thing, Kiba. The toads have been training me for this forever, I got it buddy."
Kiba sniffled lightly as he pulled away, conspicuously wiping the corner of his eye. "Good! I know you got it dude." He started to head off as he heard Tsume whistling for him.
Naruto could only stand stunned for a moment as he digested what had just happened. But then his stomach growled reminding him he needed to actually digest something too.
Like several somethings.
Sitting in the middle seat of Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto was enjoying his third or fourth bowl seemingly by himself.
Only then he wasn't. Danzo Shimura sat to his right somehow eating a bowl of ramen he couldn't possibly have ordered. "I understand you've begun training with the Inuzuka. While I don't disapprove, I could certainly provide superior training in this issue."
Naruto smiled at the bandaged man. "Uncle-Zo! I haven't seen you in forever. I'd love to train with you, can't I do both?" The venerable shinobi ate some noodles allowing the other person present to speak.
Because suddenly on the other side of Naruto, also eating a bowl of ramen he couldn't possibly have ordered was Jiraiya, "I don't think that's a good idea kid. You're Uncle-zo's training and the Inuzuka method would conflict."
"Uncle-Raiya!" Naruto exclaimed, having never seen both his uncles in the same place. "What, what's wrong with training with Tsume and Uncle-Zo?"
Danzo hummed. "Yes Jiraiya. You act as if I never worked with an Inuzuka before."
Jiraiya's eyes hardened. "I wouldn't call them an Inuzuka after what you did. You took away what makes them special."
Danzo chuckled. "I took away what makes them weak and replaced it with strength. They would barely have made chunin on their own, never mind an Anbu positing."
Naruto looked confused. "Wiat, what?"
The two both shook their heads, speaking in unison. "Don't worry about it, 'Ruto." "It is of no concern."
Shrugging, Naruto continued eating, making small talk with his uncles having decided not to touch the obviously sore point. They talked about his mission at length, both Shinobi taking special interest in Naruto's solo encounter with Zabuza and Haku that had been left out of the official report,
"Contacts like this will be important to your career, young Naruto." Danzo monotone as Jiraiya nodded along.
"He's right, missing-nin are a resource and contact like any other. A good network of connections can make manoeuvring the elemental nations much easier for you. My spy network is almost as renowned as my superb ninja skills." Jiraiya boasted.
Danzo nodded. "I too, have many contacts with rogue shinobi, they can prove useful."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah they seemed alright when they weren't trying to hurt us."
They didn't talk much about anything too sensitive, being at a ramen stand. But Naruto enjoyed his evening with his Uncles all the same.
Later that night, despite his busy day Naruto had trouble falling asleep, residual whisps of Kyuubi chakra keeping him artificially energised.. Tossing and turning he got up a few times trying to trick himself into sleep. A glass of milk. Talking to his plants, Shima had brought him from the sage lands. But eventually he was able to nod off.
Only to find himself awake once more, ankle deep in water. Standing in a sewer that's halls seemed to go on forever. Assuming this was a dream he shrugged and picked a direction to start walking. Seemingly he walked for quite some time as an eerie feeling came over him before the chamber opened into a seemingly infinite chamber, with bars in front of him and a simple sealing tag adorning one of the pillars.
"So my jailer has finally found his way to me." Huge slitted red eyes opened in the darkness, giant teeth punctuating its words.
Naruto was stunned for a second but nodded. "Yeah uh. I've actually been trying to find you for years."
"Foolish." The voice boomed. "You presume much to seek out a tailed beast. You presume more with your flagrant use of my chakra."
Naruto made a face. "While I couldn't exactly ask you. And my Dad designed the seal for me to be able to work with you. I kinda figured you were just sleeping or something. Did you mind?"
Kyuubi appeared to take a moment to consider Naruto's words. "In the future you will ask. If you can master my chakra as I give it to you, that will be its own reward." The fox gave a vicious smirk. "Or you will fail in your moment of need. Feel my chakra overwhelm your pathetic human brain as you watch yourself butcher those you call friends."
Naruto shook as the great fox forced its imagery on him. "We'll see, I guess." He spoke uncertainly. "Well, it was nice to meet you. Sorta I guess. My name's Naruto by the way."
"Whatever." The fox dismissed him. "Just get out."
Which prompted Naruto to wake up. Finding it to mysteriously be morning already.
AN: Hope you all enjoyed!