(Chapter 13: Adjustments and Such)
It would be a bit later on into October as Naruto was in an incredibly good mood given that he not only had new techniques and abilities to play around with, but also the fact that he was very much enjoying the presents he gained from his birthmas party. For not even having to pretend he was lesser at the academy could bring down the overall sense of joy he felt, as for the first time in a long time…he felt a measure of optimism that he didn't think possible before he managed to 'move out' and away from his parents.
(October 19th, 996 S.E, 4:46 Pm, Uchiha Compound)
It would be nearly 5 in the evening as Naruto was with Sasuke training in the use of his shortsword/spear…something that was easier said than done given Naruto's inexperience.
"I will give you this much, Naruto. Your fairing much better than what I thought." Sasuke spoke as Naruto wielded his weapon in its spear form
"Considering how its me going up against jr swordmaster…I'll take the compliment...but MAN do you hit hard!" Naruto said back holding his spear in a defensive stance
"That being said, your defense is still lackluster...which is an understatement from what I've witnessed thus far." Sasuke said before he lanced towards Naruto with the quickness of a cobra
'Oh come on, I've barely trained with this shit for a week…Cut me some slack.' Naruto said to himself as he braced for impact
Naruto was quick to spin his spear around to quickly although narrowly deflecting a sword thrust from Sasuke's chokuto aimed at his sternum, yet this only briefly delayed the Uchiha from coming in with another slash from his Jian that was barely caught in part to Naruto angling his spear to parry and angle the thrust away from his stomach. From there Naruto was using his super-speed to aid him in deflecting and blocking the rapid-fire sword thrusts and slashes from Sasuke's blades, each strike coming one after the other with an almost mechanized yet relentless cadence to each blow.
Sasuke made sure that in this sparing session, Naruto was put through the paces; refusing to let up for even a moment as he saw his friend spin and swing his spear with impressive speed in order to defend himself from his unyielding offensive. Yet and still the combination of his superior skill with the sword, his Sharingan, and his relentlessly aggressive technique was more than enough to keep Naruto on the back-foot, as every attempt that Naruto made to counter his attacks was one that earned him a sharp stinging strike to the arms, legs or sides of his chest.
However, in spite of Sasuke holding the dominant edge over Naruto's awkward use of his spear as he spun and whirled it to defend against his friend's attacks; to the onlooker of this sparring match in question, it was something of an interesting sight to behold. Given the speed, ferocity, and display of power as they continued their mock battle; with neither despite the disparity in technique or skill refusing to give the other the inch as Naruto despite his lackluster skill refused to allow Sasuke to put him on the backfoot as he continued his defensive.
The superhuman blonde instead planted himself flat-footed and stood at close-range against Sasuke to duke it out in their clash of blades, as he did everything he could to find an opening to thrust or slash out with his spear against him…But this was much easier said than done given Sasuke's unyielding offense; also made for an equally proficient defense against Naruto whenever he tried to seize the opportunity to attack, his constant strikes against him making it an almost impenetrable wall of steel that made it so when he did go for a spear thrust his strikes glanced off the blades.
But as their sparring match grew more and more intense and Naruto put forth greater amounts of his inhuman strength to try to close the disparity in their skill gap; it also soon proved to eventually be his undoing in their bout. However, Sasuke immediately seized the opportunity in Naruto's impatience to assert a win against him, when said blonde grew too aggressive and overcommitted to what would've been a powerful spear thrust to Sasuke's face; that the Uchiha was able to dodge thanks to his great amounts of agility by sidestepping and angling off to the left.
From there a quick flourish-like swing of his chokuto to Naruto's arm was enough to use the momentum of a follow-through swing to swiftly disarm him of his spear, and quickly hold the Jian to his throat to prevent him from retrieving his now discarded weapon.
"Looks like I win again, Naruto...Hopefully next time you can better adapt, and not be dismantled so easily." Sasuke said with a smug grin as he removed his blade from Naruto's throat
"Well, no shit you beat me. You're a fucking ace when it comes to kenjutsu." Naruto replied while he went to retrieve his spear
"While that is true. You do have what it takes to be a very deadly spearman." Sasuke said back as he sheathed his own blades
"Word of advice that might help you in the future. Stick to being awkward when you fight with it." Sasuke advised the superhuman blonde
"...I'm not following on what you're getting' at, Sasuke." Naruto said confusedly
"Alright, look. Every time you tried to use your spear or shortsword to fight me as a regular person would. I was able to see it coming, and as such prevent you from getting anywhere. However, when you used it in ways that I couldn't see it coming. Such as when you used it as an oversized bat to bash my head in with, spinning it as though it were an oversized saw blade, or fighting with it in the same way you fight in close quarters…Those were the times when I had the most difficulty overpowering you...granted I was still able to outmaneuver you, but nonetheless, that is where I had my most difficulties." Sasuke replied in regards to how Naruto should better use his weapon
"Because at the end of the day, Naruto. Fighting with what you have now the regular way isn't going to work. What does however is you fighting in that awkward way you always have…I can't really explain it, but you work at your greatest when your fighting on instincts and on the fly. So do that and you find greater success at defeating me in our training sessions." Sasuke added in knowing that Naruto better operated when he wasn't fighting in the conventional sense
"Huh, never really thought about it that way. Then again doing things the traditional way was never really my forte." Naruto said in concession to Sasuke's line of reasoning
"I will agree with you on that. All you really need is someone to show you what to do, and from there you somehow manage to find a way to make it work. Even when it feels weird to happen." Sasuke said in reference to Naruto's overall fighting style
"You definitely aren't wrong. All it took was Grandpa Dan teaching me how to throw hands to begin with, Sakura, and her mom to help me on a technical skill-type shit. Then after I saw how to get things going, I ran with it and I can pretty much almost fuck anybody up at any range." Naruto replied in pride at his innate prowess with taijutsu
"I swear between you and Sakura. It is no contest as to who would be the most dominant in our class; when it comes to taijutsu." Sasuke said back in knowing said duo would be aces at that if it weren't for their plan
"Hey, I just like to make sure people can't fight at a range their comfortable at. What with almost everyone in their mom having their own unique clan-based fighting style. They either don't know how to fight close-range in the pocket, like Sakura and I love to do. How to fight someone at long-range when their sharpshooting at you with jabs, hooks and all sorts of shit from a distance, or at mid-range where you can throw some slick shit with elbows, uppercuts, and kicks to the body…The bottom line is a lot of them don't know about distance control." Naruto spoke
"That's why Sakura and I can't really be beat when it comes to the hands. Then again whereas she likes to force you into staying with her at close to mid-range; where she can really fuck you up. I just like to drag you into deep waters from the jump. Because I will make damn sure that I'm either gonna suffocate you when I get my hands on you in the pocket, or I'll just make you start lighting you up at long range so you can't use your best shit on me…Either way I'll win." Naruto half-rambled half-explained in how both he and Sakura differed in their approaches to taijutsu
"You see, Naruto. If you put that level of thought and detail into your sword and spear skills, as you do your taijutsu. Then I have no doubt that you could put your idiot brother and sister to shame. Especially, with how Mizore fancies herself a jr version of your mother." Sasuke replied
"Don't remind me about it…Plus, don't get me wrong about her either. She's definitely good with an odachi, but if she gets into a scrap with a real heavy hitter. Like a samurai from Iron Country, or those guys from Kumo who sound like a bitch and a half to fight…Then she will get her ass sliced up in a hot minute." Naruto said back in knowing that while Mizore was a skilled up-and-coming swordswoman that she still had a ways to go before she had half the skill their mother had
"...Anyways, other than what I need to work on, and my sister trying to be a bootleg version of my mom. What do you wanna do now?" Naruto questioned
"Do you want to join me for dinner tonight? My father is making curry tonight." Sasuke asked back
"Hell yeah, I would! Your dad's cooking is awesome!" Naruto replied always down for the Uchiha patriarchs' cooking
"Then come in and I'll make sure to save you a seat." Sasuke said as the two then headed towards the swordsmans' house for dinner
'Ah man, Sasuke's dad's cooking is fucking awesome...Its almost as good as eating with the Akimichi's!' Naruto said to himself ready to chow down with Sasuke and his folks
(2 days later, October 21st, 996 S.E, The Academy, 1:17 Pm)
It was the following Friday as it was another go-around of taijutsu spars, as Naruto was up against and defending rather well against his brother; whilst making sure to hold back enough so that he didn't both kill him from one misplaced punch, as well as making sure he was in the sweet-spot of being average.
"I don't get why Toshiro has to drag this out; we all know how this gonna go…What a drag?" Shikamaru wondered as they watched Naruto continued to stalemate against his brother
"I don't think so Shikamaru. This is Naruto were talking about…If you've seen him do half the stuff he can do when he actually tries. You would be talking a lot differently." Choji replied knowing that there was more to Naruto than what Shikamaru thought of
"Look I know that you're friends with him Choji, but face the facts already. Naruto's weaker than him by a significant margin…I hate to burst yours, Sakura's and everyone else's bubble, but he's just weak. It's just that simple." Shikamaru said back in knowing that from every logical standpoint that Naruto was inferior to Toshiro
"Well, I wouldn't be too sure. Since whatever Toshiro just said; pissed him off." Sasuke remarked as they saw Naruto's face redden in anger as he tanked a fierce several seconds long combination of punches to the gut
Yet at the end of the combination Naruto who had to hear Toshiro lobby insults against him and his being 'inferior' to him; which he was used to and as such didn't really phase him as he continued being on the backfoot; blocking and dodging his brothers' attacks enough to where they missed by a hairsbreadth. However, the moment he started throwing insults at Mizuki-sensei as a good-for-nothing sack of shit, Sakura being a useless cunt who wouldn't make it without someone having to save her ass 24/7, Sasuke being a piss-poor swordsman who was trying to be a bootleg Itachi, and Choji being a fatfuck whose only redeeming feature was how much he could gorge himself.
It was all these insults and more that caused Naruto's anger to rise up more and more during the spar, causing his counters to become sharper and firing off with much more snap; his punches and elbows were done with more bad intentions as they landed with more and more thudding power behind them. However, even as he attempted to keep his cool long enough to try and last long enough until the end of the bout, yet it was as he tanked another combination from his brother; it was his last comment about Sakura being completely worthless that broke the camels' back.
As such he did the only thing that made sense in his agitated state of mind... he planted his feet into the ground and ducked down out of the way from another powerful punch aimed for his chest before leaping forward to unleash a 'weakened' Sky Uppercut into Toshiro's liver so hard that it had him gasping for breath as the superhuman blondes' fist partially indented itself into his stomach…All for about 3 seconds before he was launched into a tree some 25-30 feet away hard enough to crack the bark and send him through it for another several feet crashing through the ground where he lie unable to get up; for his very body rebelled against him.
All the while the class itself stood on in shock, whilst even Iruka had to call the match in favor of Naruto as even when he gave Toshiro a 10-count to rise to his feet and continue his limbs refused to do so as any attempt to do so was like a baby gazelle trying to walk across the slick surface of a frozen lake. However, as Naruto was going over to celebrate with Sasuke, Sakura, and Choji over pulling a surprise knockdown against Toshiro; however said jinchuuriki was currently seething at the fact that somehow his inferior piece of shit brother landed a lucky shot against him.
'He thinks he can laugh it up because he got a lucky shot on me…I'll show him, I'll show everybody where he belongs.' Toshiro seethed as he began channeling his and his half of the 9-tails chakra into a potent Rasengan
So whilst Naruto was celebrating his surprise shot against Toshiro, his classmates, and sister were still flabbergasted at the fact that said blonde in question managed to get a shot in against his supposedly stronger twin brother. It wasn't long before they, Naruto, and both Chunin's were alerted to the blatant and heavy amounts of killer intent from a red-eyed Toshiro who had the all too familiar bloody-red chakra of the monster fox swirling around him, and in his left hand was an enlarged Rasengan that Naruto was all too familiar with...the sight of which made Naruto freeze in fear from seeing the attack.
Toshiro soon dashed off like a madman in a blind rage against his brother to punish him for even thinking he could get good enough to land a blow like that against him, Naruto was there bracing for the worst as the black and blue blur that was his brother closed in on him, his heart racing like mad, and his blood chill to near ice in his veins as he felt an all too familiar fear grip him as it neared closer to him…Yet the inheritor of Arceus's will never felt the shredding of his flesh from his younger brothers' Rasengan as the jinchuuriki dashed towards him, but what he did see to his further surprise was Mizuki who using Earth Release: Earth Spear to cover his arms before leaping forwards and sucker punching him in the jaw; sending him skidding away from a stunned and almost fear-shaken Naruto.
A raucous THHHOOOMMMM erupted as Toshiro's augmented Rasengan went off prematurely, yet despite this the jinchuuriki who had used his inner beasts' chakra to shield him from the brunt of it; had dashed back to try and 'punish' Naruto for getting the harsh blow against him. However, he was met with Mizuki leaping forward and intercepting him with a chopping right that thudded against his skull with a surprising amount of speed, followed by a jab-hook-jab combination to the stomach; before ending it with a powerful right hook to the jaw that knocked out some of Toshiro's wisdom teeth.
From there Mizuki showed that despite his station as a Chunin that he was more than capable of holding his own against someone trained by Jiraiya and the 4th Hokage, considering that Mizuki was able to slug and brawl with Toshiro to the point of actively punishing him for it. Since he made sure to not only force the middle child of the Uzumaki triplets into close-range, but also slam into him like a freight train with thudding hooks and uppercuts to the body, or bludgeoning him with ram-rod jabs to the jaw and temple.
Since Mizuki made sure that any attempt to get to Naruto by the increasingly frustrated jinchuuriki was met with thunderous blows to the body that thudded heavily against his ribs and stomach, or sledgehammer jabs and overhands to the face. Something that had the furious jinchuuriki further angered by the fact that his loser instructor was making a one-sided clinic out of this engagement, and confused as to how someone like Mizuki could be so much stronger than him to the point that he couldn't land a hit against him.
Yet his thoughts were interrupted when a thunderous right hook to the liver nearly dropped him to his knees, with Toshiro retaliating with a heel kick on wobbly legs that was deflected and countered with a punishing overhand left to the temple that had the jinchuuriki seeing double, as his legs nearly gave out from the feeling of his skull being struck with the force of a 5-ton hammer... All before Mizuki let him have it with a nearly full-force right hook to the jaw that sent him headfirst to the ground, and had him seeing stars and subsequent pitch-black as he skidded across the ground so hard and fast that a small trench of destruction was made in the process.
"Mizore take your brother to the hospital. Everyone else, you are dismissed for the day…I don't think it would be in good taste to continue after what had happened here. Iruka you're coming with me to explain how we went into a complete shitshow." Mizuki ordered to everyone as the female of the triplets nodded before grabbing her twin but not before sparing a glance at an impassive Naruto
'Why is it that I still can't read you. Even after this, I still can't get even so much as a bit of anger or even distress out of you.' Mizore said to herself before leaving in tow with the unconscious jinchuuriki
"You ok there, Naruto? You froze up when he tried to come after you with that Rasengan." Sakura asked seeing Naruto shiver as though he'd seen a ghost
"Y-Yeah, Yeah. I'll be fine, its just that seeing that brought up a real bad memory for me." Naruto said back with an unconscious shudder as he felt his heart still race and pump madly in his chest to near-deafening levels
"...Is there anything I can do to help you out? Just say the word, and I can get some of my cousins to stomp the shit out of that dirtbag.' Sakura offered to her 'brother'
"Nah, I should be fine. I just need a day or two, to decompress from nearly getting ran through with a Rasengan..again." Naruto replied in disgust and a fear of the spiraling mass of chakra that would've had him break into a nervous sweat if he had to see it once more
"Alright, but we're getting ice cream to cheer you up. I don't like seeing you get like that." Sakura told the superhuman blonde
'I swear if I get my hands on that piece of shit, he's gonna fucking pay for messing up Naruto like that.' Sakura swore to herself in hating to see Naruto skittish and fearful in comparison to his usually jovial self
"That honestly sounds wonderful right now," Naruto said as he followed after Sakura to the nearest ice cream parlor
(3 days later, October 24th, 10:32 Am, Senju Hospital)
It was the next Monday as Tsunade who had Toshiro put in restraints and had chakra suppressants given to him, seeing that he didn't particularly take being beaten down so swiftly and decisively by Mizuki too well that he almost had another 9-tails fueled temper tantrum.
"Minato, I don't know what's going on in that house of yours. But whatever it is, you and Kushina both need to fix it and NOW." Tsunade told the taller blonde between them, her voice dripping heavy with irritation and annoyance
"Tsunade, look, we promise you that we had things taken care of…I honestly didn't think that things were this bad." Minato said although that did nothing to sway the ire of the Senju in front of him
"Really you mean to tell me; that you haven't noticed that one of your sons has a massive temper problem? On top of being a sore loser?...I think the fact that we had to put him in restraints and on chakra suppressants speaks volumes of how absolutely fucked things are." Tsunade replied knowing for the safety of the hospital staff that said measure was for the best
"Honestly, if it weren't for Mizuki stepping in when he did. We would've had to have Naruto in a hospital room…again." Tsunade said once more although the last little bit was in a regretful whisper to herself
"I know, and believe me; I am immensely grateful to him for what he did. Although, I am still at a loss for words on how any of this could've happened. I thought Kushina and I raised them better than this." Minato said back in a mix of gratitude for Mizuki stepping in, and disappointment at Toshiro's actions
"No, you trained them but you didn't exactly raise them, to be the example for being a good person...Much less a decent one at that." Tsunade spoke as Minato frowned at the remark about his children
"What is that supposed to mean?" Minato questioned
"What I mean is that you and Kushina have trained them, and given them everything under the sun. You two gave them all the training in the world and spoiled those two rotten. Yet look where it got them, the two of them are the biggest sore losers I've ever seen! I mean for Gods' sake, who in their right mind even thinks its a good idea to use a Rasengan on someone like that!" Tsunade answered back still irate over what could've happened to her 'grandson'
"...If it weren't for the fact that he is yours and Kushina's kid. I would make sure that he's locked up so fast that his head would spin. Because this is getting out of hand." Tsunade told him as Minato could only put his head down at the truth behind those words
"I swear if I had known about his acting like this sooner, then Kushina and I would've prevented something like this from happening sooner." Minato lamented to himself over the situation
"Look, Minato. While this is partially yours and Kushina's faults for not nipping behavior like this in the bud. It's also a certain Toad's fault as well." Tsunade told the blonde Hokage
"What does Jiraiya-sensei have to do with any of this? He's done nothing but help prepare them for what's to come." Minato wondered as to what the Toad Sannin had to do with this
"Think about it for one moment. The man wants that prophecy of his to come true at all costs. Which means that he would be willing to do anyone to see it happen. Even throw up smokescreens, and everything under the sun to make sure you two don't find out about how Mizore and Toshiro are a bunch of little bastards." Tsunade said
"...I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he was paying off the academy instructors to make sure you think they're little angels." Tsunade added
"That is both a disturbing thought that he'd go behind my back like that. As well as disconcerting to say the very least." Minato replied
"Well, it isn't too far from the truth. The man you called a sensei has done a lot of shady shit behind closed doors Minato. So the possibility of him bribing people to make sure you don't know what your kids are up to…That's the most benign of what he's doing behind closed doors." Tsunade said back knowing the worst parts of her teammate all too well
"Take it from personal experience, Minato. That as someone who served on a team with the man, and even fought in a war with him. That the whole 'Gallant Toad Sage' routine is smoke and mirrors. Because if you knew what kind of man he is when you aren't looking, then you wouldn't let him in spitting distance of the kids." Tsunade further spoke on the issue of her teammate
For Tsunade knew all too well of the fact that Jiraiya had done a number of things both when their sensei was Hokage and during both wars that showed his being the 'Gallant Toad Sage' was smoke and mirrors; for a man who was more than willing to do any and everything to see his goals and dreams accomplished by any methods and means necessary.
"If that is the case; then it looks like I'm going to have to have an investigation conducted on the academy…If what your getting at is true, then I am honestly afraid of what I might find has been hidden from me." Minato said with some trepidation in voice
"Especially, since Jiraiya-sensei is despite all his foibles an extremely clever man when he wants to be." Minato added with a small pride at the cunning that lie beyond the pervert
"I will give that much about him, but not much else…However, if there's anyone you want to help you with this. Then why not go to Mizuki. He seems trustworthy enough." Tsunade suggested
"That does sound like a good idea, given that from what I had heard he was the only one to step in against Toshiro." Minato recounted of the white-haired Chunin's interception
"Considering that he's the only one there that actually seems to give a hot-shit about his job. I say that he'd be a perfect choice…He might be a bit tough on those kids from what Naruto tells me, but at the end of the day. He's still a good person, which is saying something with how much he lost after the 9-tails attack." Tsunade said
"How could I forget? He and so many others lost almost everything when it attacked. Yet he managed to come out so much more resilient for it…Its honestly a surprise to me that he stays a Chunin, given that he has what it takes to be a jonin." Minato remarked
"Well, after everythings' said and done with their graduation; it wouldn't hurt to talk to him about it." Tsunade suggested once again to the blonde Hokage
"Fair enough, and I will be sure to take that into consideration…That being said, I don't know how I'm going to make this up to Naruto?...I know I haven't been able to spend as much time as I wanted to with him but, I hope that I can do something for him." Minato hoped
"From one parent to another, Minato. My advice would be to let him have space to himself, and be with his friends. Since with everything going on, and what you two have done. You and Kushina jumping the gun to repair everything with him all at ones, is just going to make things worse." Tsunade told him
"So your advice is to just sit by and not do anything for my son? That after he was almost attacked by my own child, that I just have to stay on the sidelines?" Minato asked in confusion and even slight bits of anger at this
"That is EXACTLY what I'm telling you to do right now. Or did you forget that you and Kushina both have pretty much phased Naruto out of his own family? All thanks to Jiraiya's ramblings no less." Tsunade replied
"But the prophecy…" Minato said before Tsunade grabbed him by the shirt collar to bring him closer to her face
"The prophecy, and you pretty much screwing my godson out of nearly everything is part of the reason this even happened! At this point, you've pretty much obliterated any chance of a healthy relationship with him…So for once, listen to someone who actually knows a thing or two about raising children, and let him be with his own people! Because if you go after him with some half-assed excuse of trying to say sorry; then you're only making things a hundred times worse!" Tsunade shot back with all the anger and concern of a mother
"I say this because someone has to, Minato. Your son is at that age where he's already found people to help him when shit goes south... And at this point, he doesn't need you or Kushina in his life…That ship has already sailed, so the best you can do after what has happened, is focus on getting Toshiro's punk-ass back in line. Because right now, it looks like things are a shit-show and a half." Tsunade told the blonde Hokage
"I…I guess you are right. I'm just trying to do the best I can for both the village, my family and everything in-between." Minato said feeling himself being pulled in all directions and not enough to go around
"And I understand that. However, you have to look at the fact that your children are practically adults at this point…That means in concerns to Naruto, there's not much you can do to really be as involved in his life as you could've been." Tsunade replied
"I…I guess you are right…Kushina and I are going to have so much to talk about." Minato spoke knowing that he and his wife had much to talk about
"That reminds me, where has she been the last few weeks?" Tsunade questioned
"She has been on a diplomacy mission to the Land of Iron. If all goes well, we can eventually have an alliance with them within the next year." Minato informed the Slug Sannin on Kushina's whereabouts
"If it does go well, then maybe it wouldn't hurt to ship Toshiro off to the samurais. Maybe they can teach him a thing or two about discipline." Tsunade suggested getting a small chuckle from Minato
"Perhaps…Hopefully, things will work out better once they graduate, and see what the real world is like." Minato said back in hopes that upon becoming genin and seeing what the outside world was like that it could change things
"You had better hope so, otherwise things may just go down the crapper even more than what they already have." Tsunade said before she reached into her coat and took out a flask
"Isn't it too early to be drinking, Tsunade?" Minato asked as she uncapped said flask
"Hey, it's 3'o clock somewhere. Besides, this shit with Toshiro and Naruto has my nerves messed up. So need something." Tsunade said before taking a large gulp of liquor
"Ooooohhh, that's some damn good tequila." Tsunade added with a shake of her head before offering it to Minato
"No thank you, Tsunade…Anyways, I should be going. I still have to attend a meeting in an hour over updating our defenses. Apparently, Danzo feels as though we've grown far too lax during peacetime, and has called a meeting to discuss the matter." Minato replied
"Can't say I blame him. You know as well as I; that things are getting crazy out there." Tsunade said back
"...You certainly aren't wrong…I just hope that we're ready should things go south…Anyways, good luck with Toshiro, and let me know if he should cause any problems." Minato said as he took out a Hirashin kunai
"Don't worry about a thing, Minato. I have Kazushi on standby should he try something." Tsunade replied with a self-assured smirk
"Then if that is the case, I have truly nothing to worry about." Minato said before disappearing in the familiar flash of power
'Now all I need to do is make it through rounds in one piece, and I'm golden.' Tsunade said to herself before heading off to do a go-around of the premises
(12 hours later, 11:04 Pm, Haruno Household)
It would soon be night as a rather restless Naruto was sitting on the porch outside; his mind refusing to let him sleep at it was abuzz with almost manic energy.
"Is everything ok, Naruto? You look super-fucked." Came the voice of an approaching Sakura who saw a distressed-looking Naruto
"Yeah, I'm fine…Just couldn't sleep is all." Naruto said as he absentmindedly scratched at his right shoulder
"Let me guess, its nightmares fucking with you again?" Sakura asked
"How could you tell?" Naruto asked back
"Because, every time you have 'em, or get stressed out. You scratch at the scar Toshiro gave you awhile back." Sakura pointed out as Naruto continued to scratch at the scar as though it was maggots crawling underneath his skin
"Fair enough. But, considering that if it weren't for Granny Tsunade giving me surgery, then I'd never be a ninja with you and Sasuke." Naruto said as he continued to scratch at the notable scar on his right shoulder and chest
"And mom and dad wonder why I'm afraid to even look at a Rasengan; without freezing up...They would be too after nearly getting obliterated by one. Especially when its by your own little brother." Naruto added in a low voice that shook at the thought of getting another one to the chest once more
"Hey, we're just glad you managed to get out of the way of that shit in time. Otherwise, you'd have one less arm on you." Sakura said as a small smile started to spread across his face
"Yeah…Somehow, I'm one helluva lucky son of a bitch…On the plus side, it doesn't burn anymore every time I go to sleep." Naruto remarked as he got passed a mug by Sakura
"Thanks, by the way, Sakura. I needed this." Naruto said as he drank the mug full of lemonade
"If there's ever anything that helps you out after a nightmare; it's either instant ramen or lemonade. Unfortunately were out of instant, so here's the next best thing." Sakura told him as she held up a mug of her own
"I honestly don't know what I'd do without you, Sakura. You're a lifesaver." Naruto replied as he drank out of it
"Probably go nuts without the best big sister in the world…Someone's gotta watch out for you, other than Sasuke. Plus, my life wouldn't be the same without my brother around." Sakura said back with an ever-present pugnacious grin on her face that was more comforting than anything to Naruto
"At least with you, I know I've got the world's great smoke demon around." Naruto spoke as the pink-haired assassin's smile widened
"Of course I am, and don't you forget it!" Sakura replied as she drank her cranberry juice
"A possible demigod, a super-assassin, and Sasuke as a super-duper swordsman. Ain't that something for a genin team." Naruto mused to himself over what their genin team would be like down the lne
"Yeeeahhh. We're gonna be a bunch of menaces when we graduate." Sakura spoke
"You got that right…At least, it's a nice night out though." Naruto said as he looked up at the starry night
"It sure is..." Sakura spoke in agreement as they both took a large gulp out of their mugs
"By the way, I'm still surprised that you still haven't told your folks about what Toshiro did to you?...You'd think they'd give a shit since he almost took your arm off, if you didn't dodge in time." Sakura wondered as to why he still kept it a secret
"...The way I see it, Sakura. Even if I did, they still wouldn't give a hot shit. If they were willing to basically ghost me out of our family for a stupid prophecy, let those two basically be spoiled rotten and almost do what they want, on top of cutting me out of my inheritance. Then I really doubt they'd care about Toshiro fucking me up, because yet again he can't take a loss." Naruto replied on his reasoning
"Damn, when you put it like that, that's real fucked up." Sakura remarked at the dour explanation
"Yeah, well what the fuck can you do about it. The best thing to do after I got healed up is plead like a motherfucker to granny and grandpa not to say shit about it to 'em. Otherwise, Toshiro and even Mizore would never let me hear the end of it. Not to mention that Pervy-Sage would've done something to screw with me; for holding back the chosen heroes of the prophecy for the inconvience of getting them grounded...Eventually, you just gotta learn to just keep it moving." Naruto replied
"Since in my case, the only thing I can do is keep moving forward and never look back." Naruto said to his longtime friend
Because in his case that was the only way the inheritor of Arceus's will saw that he could continue to make things better after that event in question, as from his perspective complaining about it and telling his folks about it was something that he knew wouldn't go down so easy…Which is why as much as he loathed to admit to this day, that Jiraiya was right about him keeping his mouth shut about the incident; because at the end of it all; who was gonna care about the forgotten Hokage's child when it came to the 'saviors' of the village who kept the 9-tails from wreaking havoc.
"Well, unlike that time. Now you've got superpowers to fuck his shit up, if he tries that shit again. And if that ain't enough to take him down, then I'll go all out and bust his fucking teeth in!" Sakura declared getting a bit of chuckling from the superhuman blonde
"To be honest, if all of the powers and stuff I get from Mr. Arceus can't put him and Mizore down. Then I don't know what can." Naruto said back
"Dude, if they can get back up from you hitting them at full force. Then I will be astounded!" Sakura spoke in calling bullshit if they could get back up once Naruto actually got serious
"You and me both, Sakura. Because, I'm pretty sure that my powers and stuff should trump anything they can pull off. Since I'm pretty sure the powers of a god beats whatever the 9-tails, Pervy Sage and my folks can do for them." Naruto replied knowing for a fact that what he had had to better than all of what his siblings could do
"I honestly wanna see their faces when you get going with what you can really do...Now that would be the shit!" Sakura said her smile widening at the thought
"Oh, don't worry. I've got some nasty-ass shit cooking' for them." Naruto said back with a vicious grin of his own
"If you are gonna do all that stuff, then I better get front-row seats to it." Sakura told Naruto in wanting a firsthand experience to all that
"Don't worry, I've got you covered. There is no way I'd let you miss me kicking there asses in one go." Naruto said to the pink-haired martial artist
"...But in any case. Thanks for coming out her with me, it really means a lot." Naruto said once more as he gave his 'sister' a side hug for coming out to check on him
"No problem. I'll always be here when you need me, all you gotta do is say something, or just shout in my noggin'." Sakura told him as returned said side-hug
"I can't tell you how much that means to me." Naruto replied
"You don't have too, Naruto, I just know... Its what big sisters are for." Sakura said back as the two spent the next hour drinking and talking with one another
Meanwhile, at the hospital, a seething Toshiro lie in his bed still furious at the fact that his pissant brother had gotten off a lucky shot on him on top of being decimated by Mizuki…Something that was made worse by him being laughed at by the projection of his half of the 9-tails that took the form of a fiery bipedal kitsune with a mask covering it's face made of bleached bone and black markings that, as its crimson pits for eyes gazed upon him.
"I can't tell which is worse. The fact that you continue to throw temper tantrums still, or the fact that you were defeated by your brother and your instructor." Said Yin Kurama
"Shut up! Next time, that won't happen. All I have to do is get even stronger and then everyone will know there place beneath me." Toshiro replied still fuming over said event
"Sure you will, numbnuts. But I doubt you'll still get anywhere. Especially when both of them were holding back by a very considerable margin." Yin Kurama told his host
"What the hell are you talking about you overgrown mutt? Out with it already!" Toshiro demanded of the great beast
"For starters, that sensei of yours holds back far more strength than he lets on. That man may not have as outrageous of chakra reserves as you, your sister or even your mother. But I have no doubt that his strength is more than enough to contend against you." Yin Kurama informed him
"As for your brother. I don't know what it is that he has. But whatever it is, he has more than enough power to surpass you. If not make you look like an infant by comparison." Yin Kurama added
"Your lying! I can believe that bullcrap about Mizuki, even if I wanna vomit thinking about it…But Naruto being even my equal, that's a fat load of shit and you know it." Toshiro said back in refusal to accept the thought of such a thing
"For what reason would I have to lie to you about this? I gain next to almost nothing from it…except watching you scream and throw tantrums like the spoiled brat you are." Yin Kurama told him in mild amusement of seeing his host rage and fume
"Probably so you can get out of me, and destroy the village like you tried to do before Lord 3rd sealed your bitch-ass away." Toshiro said as the apparition remained unphased
"Spare me your bravado. I can wait decades if not centuries to gain my freedom. Unlike the rest of you loathsome monkeys, I have aeons to wait. Besides, your recklessness and refusal to accept that others can and always will be stronger than you will get you killed in the end." Yin Kurama replied dismissively yet still amused tone over Toshiro's fuming disposition of rage
"I'm not gonna die anytime soon, not until Mizore and I complete prophecy and everyone knows of my greatness!" Toshiro rebuked the 9-tails
"Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night…Regardless, the fact remains that your older brother is leagues beyond you in raw power. The gap of which continues to grow further and further…Its almost to the point of hilarity the more I think about it." Yin Kurama chortled to themselves as they saw their hosts' face redden in impotent rage
"Shut up, Shut up, SHUT UP! He will never be stronger than me, you here me! Never, I'm the one that's gonna be the hero of the village, and he's going to be at the bottom where he belongs!" Toshiro roared as he threw a flower vase at the apparition of the 9-tails
"And just as impotent and futile as that throw was. So are any attempts at beating Naruto the moment he stops restraining himself. After that happens, I gain a front-row seat to you and you're sister being humbled." Yin Kurama spoke as a smile formed within its mask at seeing Toshiro suffer a humiliating defeat by Naruto's hands
'Now that will be an incredibly fantastic day to watch unfold.' Yin Kurama said to themselves
"Are you done talking already?! Because I'm getting sick and fucking tired of hearing you run your goddamn mouth." Toshiro questioned haughtily
"I am. But it doesn't change one simple fact." Yin Kurama spoke as it floated over towards Toshiro
"That you will always be weak." Yin Kurama said in a sardonic and derisively mocking voice before disapparating in ethereal flame
'No, no, no! I refuse to be weaker than him, I REFUSE, not when I'm better than him! Not when I'm chosen to be the hero, and all his good-for-nothing ass is to be a fucking footnote in my awesomeness!' Toshiro seethed to himself, as his knuckles gripped so tightly that they began to let loose rivulets of blood
Now then with Naruto continuing to adjust to everything in the aftermath of absorbing the Dread Plate, we see that in the aftermath of a simple spar things are starting to change concerning the Uzumaki household. That being said how will things unfold, as an impending investigation into the academy begins? Find out in the all-new chapters of; Naruto: The PokeSage!
Alright, that takes care of this chapter. Since I hope you guys liked everything that unfolded in this chapter seeing as how it opens up some neat things to happen down the line in the story. Especially, with it meaning Jiraiya's gonna be in some pretty hot water in the chapters to come.
But without much else to say; I hope you guys will enjoy this story since I have more fun stuff to come down the pipeline going forward, so I hope you guys will stick around to see those things happen in Naruto's misadventures. Also, any favorites, follows, reviews or suggestions are more than welcome, as I'm happy to take suggestions on what can make the story better.
So without further adieu, this is Pravus666 signing off until next time. That being said, the next chapter has Naruto and Mizuki go out and take care of some of Orochimaru's men. So stay tuned for all of that.
Part 1: Evolution by Korn
Random End Song: Facelift by Alice in Chains
Now then onto some of the reviews from the previous chapter.
Kourtney Uzu Yato: Yeah, and trust me as we go later in the story; Jiraiya is gonna find out in full effect that it ain't gonna be easy to get Naruto to side with him in being part of this new prophecy. Since...Naruto is gonna make that process as difficult as possible when he finds out. Also, yeah they'd definitely have a ball with your Naruto, and furthermore now you DEFINITELY have me excited to see what Naruko is gonna be able to do in your She-Devil story with all that you've mentioned, and I'll definitely check out Zephyr after I post this. And yeah Hinata is gonna have a ROUGH time once the Chunin Exams hit, because...she's gonna no pain, and even moreso considering that even leading up to it Hanabi is gonna be on her ass and then some about even embarassing the Hyuga name.
Obsidian Nova Arc: Glad you liked the gifts that Naruto got from his birthday, also given that Naruto does have telepathic abilities. It's gonna be a matter of time before he eventually figures out that he's part of some b.s prophecy, and will no doubt proceed to just fuck with Jiraiya over it. Also, given the escalation of Naruto's powers; I wouldn't put it past him to be able to do something like that once he gets to the Ghost-Type Plate in the future.
Skull Flame: Oh yeah, the prophecy has definitely changed up to where Naruto is in the forefront of things. Also, Hanabi is as promised a certified badass given that as I'll get to later on in the story; Hanabi is gonna show herself as a certified menace.
God of Wind 200: As to why Legendary is a Plate; its actually something like that in the games concerning the fact that the Plates are like that in the Games. Not to mention that said Legendary-Plate type also will allow Naruto access to the moves of Legendary-Type Pokemon, as well as their abilities. Also, as to why the Elder Toad didn't suggest that; its moreso because after Arceus threatened him with extinction should they mess with Naruto...the stress of having a god of unfathomable power tell them that; basically gave them a super heart attack if that makes sense. So they will be on recovery for the time being.
UnsanMusho: Oh yeah, and its gonna take a whole lot for Jiraiya to wanna make Naruto leave the village. Given that he's incredibly stubborn when it comes to his home, and as such it won't be an easy feat to make happen.
Guest: Well, for starters if Hinata fucks up at the Chunin Exams and not only fails to make Chunin, but also embaraases the Hyuga clan in defeat then she's out of the running for Clan Heir and Hanabi takes over. Also, its a good thing that you mentioned it since with Naruto being the subject of this new prophecy; the old one is now nullified and rendered obsolete/redundant...However, Jiraiya hasn't brought this up since it would bring a whole hot mess given how much has been put into the now 'old' prophecy.
Razberry17: Yeah, well after this chapter Minato is gonna probably be against the idea of having Naruto on a team with his siblings. Given that after what Toshiro just pulled after Naruto got a 'lucky shot' against him; that even Minato would know full well that it would be a bad idea to have him on a team with them.
