(Chapter 33: Headhunting)
It would be many days after Naruto's birthday and the subsequent vicious aftermath Iruka had left behind in not only making off back to Otogakure with the Scroll of Seals, albeit being injured heftily by Naruto's Fire Punch and survivng and having enough strength to make the trip back from his more resilient Curse Mark enhanced form and a handful of chakra pills. But also his having sundered Mizuki who thanks to Naruto's intervention had made it to being saved thanks to Shizune and eventually Tsunade's intervention…although while left stable the superhuman blonde was told that it would a few weeks if not a month or so before he would wake due to his injuries.
Something that the superhuman was fine with in waiting to see his former mentor be at least alive after what had happened, but that being said Naruto could not stand idly by while Iruka ran free to gloat about his victory…Hence why the moment he was told that Mizuki was stablized that he told Tsunade that he was going to venture forth and huntdown Iruka, for what he'd done to Mizuki; telling her that it would be a rather long while before he returned, with Tsunade being more than understanding in concerns to avenging a loved one.
(October 18th, 997 S.E, Fang Country, 9:45 Am)
It was a sunny morning that would've been peaceful had it not been for Naruto having taken out a group of Sound shinobi in a bloody fury with him having a trio of said shinobi telekinetically suspended in midair by Mewtwo, as he glowered at them furiously with not azure but burning pumpkin orange eyes.
"I'm only going to ask this one more time, tell me where Iruka Umino is, or neither of you will live to see the next morning." Naruto demanded out of the psionically trapped shinobi
"Fuck you we aren't…" An Oto Jonin said before Mewtwo's eyes glowed and caused him to implode into a fleshy sphere of gore and bone
"Perhaps, he was not clear when he had asked the first few times before you idiots tried to attack him futility….All for what? To drag him back to that master of yours who will discard you in a moments notice…such foolishness." Mewtwo said their voice ringing out as they turned their attention to the remaining shinobi
"Besides, he is the least of your concerns when we are right here, and we can guarantee that your suffering will remain eternal; compared to whatever punishment your master would inflict upon you. Which is why it would be all of your best interests to tell us what we want to know before I begin to get creative" Mewtwo further spoke growing tired of being denied information on their quarry as the area around them began to distort and warp as though they were in a funhouse of mirrors
"Fuck this…Alright, alright, I'll tell you. Just don't blow me up like the last two!" A blonde grey-eyed Oto Chunin said quivering and shaking after seeing the rapid-fire deaths of their comrades
"Akira, are you out of your mind? What the hell do you think you're doing?!" A Oto jonin questioned the absolutely terrified Chunin
"What I'm thinking is that I like living a helluva a lot more than getting incinerated, a hole through my fucking chest, or getting turned into a literal meatball! So if I have to spill my guts to live, then I'm gonna do it." The now-named Akira spoke rathering his chances with Naruto and Mewtwo than Orochimaru
"You little…if we get through this I'll make sure…" The Oto jonin spoke before finding their vocal cords quickly rendered inoperable as his face and throat swelled up like a balloon
"How did you do that, Mewtwo?" Naruto questioned
"It was a simple application of my psionic powers to render his vocal cords unusable. Perhaps, after your affair with this Iruka, I can mentor you on learning more about psychic-based powers." Mewtwo answered back more than happy to mentor Naruto on using his psionic powers
"That sounds nice…However, I want to get back to finding out where Iruka is at, and now." Naruto replied with a minor yawn before turning towards the Chunin in question
"Now then, where is Iruka Umino at right now?" Naruto questioned
"Look, the only thing I know is that after he got his roses; for bringing back whatever the hell is that scroll. That he said he was going to go celebrating afterwards." Akira told Naruto
"Where did he say he was gonna go exactly? And I swear to God if I figure out that you lied to me. Then I am gonna find out where you live, and slice your eyelids open so you can't blink when you see what I do to you." Naruto swore with all the rage and vile intent he could in his fury/sleep-deprived state
"Somewhere in Hot Springs country, I don't know where. All I know is that he said he was gonna celebrate it with some of the people from the village. That's all I know, I swears it!...Just don't fucking kill me." Akira said as he saw bolts of electricity arc around Naruto's fingers
"And what about the scroll he stole? Where's that?" Naruto questioned as the lightning in his hands began to turn a dark shade of marigold
"At Lord Orochimaru's house back in the village! Its on the southwest side of the village, you can't miss it!." Akira told him his heart beating in his chest so hard that it hurt as Naruto neared him and his remaining companion
"Is he telling the truth, Mewtwo?" Naruto questioned
"Yes, while he is terrified of you, there is no discernable lies in the information he has given to you...Also, he seems to have urinated himself." Mewtwo responded, having used their telepathy to root around to see it Akira's frantic and cowed state was a ruse
"Can you blame me, I am very much terrified! I'm sorry if I spoke out of line, I just reeely don't wanna die!" Akira yelped out quivering and shaking like a leaf out of pure terror while his heart hammerered furiously in his chest
"...Wellll, Akira, I have very good news for you today, you get to live…Your friend here on the otherhand, for being a jackass who kept interrupting…" Naruto said as he used Thunder Punch to casually punch Akira's superior so hard that his face exploded into smouldering chunks
"However, I'm going to make one thing clear to you. That like I just said a minute or two ago, that if I found out you said anything about what happened today. Then you won't need to be afraid of Orochimaru anymore, because he may be a cunning son of a bitch, but I'm extremely petty…And as such, I will literally come to your house slice your eyes open as promised, skin you alive, and throw you in front of a hungry bear so I can watch it eat you for shits and giggles…Are you getting what I'm putting down?" Naruto told the Oto Chunin
"C-C-Crystal." Was Akira's only reply
"Good, Mewtwo, release him and let him be on his way." Naruto said before said psychic Pokemon nodded and released their psionic hold
"Now go on and scram, and remember if you say shit…Then I hope you love being a happy meal." Naruto further spoke as without a further word said Akira ran as fast as his legs could carry him
"What will you do now?" Mewtwo asked
"Take a small break, get something to eat at the nearest town, then make a run towards where Iruka and his goons are at, kill them. Then after that go to wherever this Oto place is, find Orochimaru's house and get the Scroll of Seals back…Piece of cake." Naruto answered back with a small yawn
"Very well then. However, if you are going to do any of that, I would advise you to rest. It is not healthy for you to be awake this long." Mewtwo spoke as Naruto had to slap himself in order to stop from dozing off into blissful sleep
"You're worrying about nothing, I look perfectly fine." Naruto told the legendary Pokemon
"The bags under your eyes, and the fact that you have not slept for several straight days says otherwise. Honestly, it is a miracle that you are still functioning at this capacity. At the very least give yourself that much credit where it is due." Mewtwo remarked at Naruto's having now slept for over a week straight
"Look, I'll tell you what I told Granny and Shizune. I'll sleep when that bastard is dead and not a second sooner…Any moment I take to sleep, gives him more time to celebrate nearly killing my sensei, and getting one over on the village, and I can't have that." Naruto replied wearily
"Besides, I owe it to Mizuki-sensei to stop the guy who could've killed him. Its my fault that I didn't get there in time to save him from getting mauled by Iruka…Had I been on top of it then he wouldn't be in coma right now with a fuck-off hole in his stomach they had to sew shut…The one time I let my guard down, and shit like this happens." Naruto added despising the moment in which he didn't push himself just a bit faster to prevent the near-death of his former mentor
"And yet you were able to prevent his death, as well as make sure they were able to receive treatment for their wounds…So do not be too harsh on yourself for doing the best that you could have in that moment." Mewtwo said
"...Regardless on what I could have done, or what more I should have done. I need to get going and fast, the last thing I need is the one good lead I got to disappear." Naruto replied
"Fair enough. Is there anything else you will need of me, Naruto?" Mewtwo questioned their androgynous voice tinged with concern for their summoner
"No, you did wonderful assisting me today. You are free to leave, Mewtwo…Thank you." Naruto answered back
"Of course, and when you finish your vendetta against this Iruka. Do be sure to get rest, as my master I would rather not see you decline to heavily in health…You are by far one of the more remarkable humans I have met. It would be a shame if something were to happen; because you did not take care of yourself." Mewtwo said in having found Naruto to be one of the few humans that were exceptional in their eyes
"Thanks…but it you don't mind I gotta grab something to eat. See you later!" Naruto said before dashing off into the distance in search of food
However, while Naruto was making a food run before he continued on his path of vengeance against Irukua; Mebuki was at her home with her daughter cleaning up after having lunch with one another and Erioh who'd come to visit. That it was during this time that when Sakura went to check who it was, she opened the door and let her mom know that of all people to come by there house it was Kushina who had come by asking about Naruto.
"Kushina…Why are you pestering my daughter about your 'kid', I figured you'd be at your home with those rotten brats of yours?" Mebuki questioned the Uzumaki matriarch
"I would have been, but Naruto's gone and Minato, myself or any of the Anbu can't find hide nor hair of him in the village. And besides Tsunade and Kazushi, this was the only other place he comes too, and…" Kushina said as she began trailing off
"And what, you figured that we're gonna tell you about where your son is? The kid that mind you, you practically forgot about, and pushed off to the side for over 15 years, while those two little monsters act like their Kami's greatest gift to the world…I sincerely find it hard to believe that you give a damn." Mebuki responded heatedly towards Kushina
"Plus, how do you even know that Naruto's not somewhere else…Better yet, how do we know that this ain't some fucked up scheme of yours; to bother my brother. Especially, after he and Kazushi-sensei made it clear that he doesn't fuck with you?" Sakura questioned
'That and there's no way in hell, that I'm gonna tell her that Naruto's on a vengeance quest…Fuck that shit.' Sakura added to herself
"Because, I found this in his room after the bombing last week." Kushina said as she reached into her pocket to produce a storage scroll
The Uzumaki matriarch unsealed the scroll to reveal the mangled form of Naruto's doppleganger that had fist-sized chunks of wood missing from its form, and even his right leg at the knee and left arm at the shoulder blown off, as well as grapefruit sized hole in it's stomach; all of which was covered in the blood-red gel of its shell.
"Minato and I found THIS thing, where Naruto was supposed to be at. And there's only one person in the village that knows how to make Wood Clones, so when Kazushi wouldn't tell us why she made a body-double of our son; once we found out. Then the only other person in the village; who would know of why my son made a double of himself, and possibly knows where he is; is one of you! So someone had better explain now!" Kushina bellowed out in anger
"Do you wanna tell her, or should I?" Sakura asked her mother
"I'll take this one, kiddo. This has been a long time coming." Mebuki answered back
"...Your son had that body-double commissioned by Kazushi alright. But as to why, its pretty simple…He decided that it would be better to be here with people who actually treat him like he exists, than with his own family. That's as plain and simple as that, Kushina…Where he is, I have absolutely no clue where. But he probably got scared when he saw that explosions were popping up out of nowhere on his birthday, and decided to go somewhere he knew was safe…So as far as I'm concerned he's fine on his own; wherever that might be." Mebuki explained to the red-haired woman before her
"It…This doesn't make any sense at all, Minato and I did the best for him that we could. He shouldn't…" Kushina said as the reality that Naruto would go to such an extent began to close in around her
"That he shouldn't want to be around people who love him, that my brother shouldn't want to get picked on, beat up, and made to feel like dog-shit by the people he lived with on a daily…If treating him like he hardly exists for some dumbass prophecy is what you call doing your best, then I don't even wanna know what you're fucking worst is." Sakura spoke with a hard glare at Kushina
"Listen, you don't understand what we had to do. We did what we thought we had to, to make sure that our children were taken care of and supported. So do not lecture me on how to raise children, young girl." Kushina hissed in anger
"Someone oughtta, Kushina. Because, if someone stepped in sooner when that idiot Jiraiya was giving you his 'stellar' parenting advice. Then Naruto wouldn't have had to make an entire doppleganger to get away from you and your psycho kids…My God, do you even know what its like to have to basically play 2nd mom to a child because his own mother won't? Because, fun fact it is difficult as all hell." Mebuki shot back at the Uzumaki
"No one asked you to, Mebuki. He is MY child, and you have no right to intervene in what isn't any of your business." Kushina spat back in defense of herself
"I had to intervene, because Tsunade couldn't as much as she wanted; since someone had to be at the helm at the hospital and Medic Corps. Plus he is a wonderful kid, that I pretty much think of as my own son. So why the hell wouldn't I get involved, when clearly he isn't happy with his own family!" Mebuki retorted
"Especially, when we had to give him birthday presents, and have my clan throw him his own birthdays, because his own family pretty much treated him like a ghost on his own damn birthday. If that isn't fucked, I don't know what is." Mebuki added in further rebuking of Kushina
"We did plenty for him on his birthday with the twins." Was Kushina's only reply
"Then what was one thing you did for just him on his birthday?... Since if you are that confident that your mother of the year, then list one thing you did for just only my brother on his birthday; that didn't involve Toshiro or Mizore?" Sakura questioned as she continued to level a glare that could melt a glacier on sight
"I…No wait I did, no that was for Toshiro on his 14th birthday…But wait there's, no that was when we taught them the Rasengan…I know there's something that I did for him, I just know it." Kushina said as she wracked her brain for one singular thing
"Go figure you can't, since we've been stepping in and doing that part of your job for you…Someone had too, when all he got was jack shit." Was Sakura's scathing reply to Kushina
"The point being that we have plenty of evidence on our end, that you weren't really there for him growing up. So face the facts that you and Minato both were so shitty at being parents, that Naruto felt like he had to commission a body double so he could be happy for once." Mebuki added
"But he is still my son, Mebuki! My son!" Kushina exclaimed to the elder Haruno
"Yes, and as of a week ago, he is a grown-ass man who can handle himself just fine. So if he turns up, then great; he's all fine and dandy and he can come home where he's loved." Mebuki replied
"And what is he doesn't come back, then what?! What is your grand plan then, Mebuki?" Kushina asked in a mix of worry, anger and concern for Naruto
"Then he's off somewhere that he knows is a safe space for him. Somewhere that he can handle himself just fine. So if that's the case then I'm sure he's just peachy. Besides, he knows that if he's in any trouble, that he can contact one of our men we have stationed in just about every and anywhere in Fire Country." Mebuki answered back knowing that her son in all but blood was fine anyway she sliced it
"...So unless your going to bother us about anything else. Then I suggest you get the fuck off my property, and be with the kids you actually seem to give a shit about." Mebuki further spoke stony faced
"But…" Kushina said before Sakura stepped up with her hand on the door handle
"But nothing you redhaired skank, now fuck off like my momma told you and never come back!" Sakura responded before slamming and locking the door in Kushina's face
"...Well, that went better than what I thought it would've." Mebuki said with a tired sigh
"So what are you gonna do now, mom?" Sakura questioned
"Right now, I'm gonna go smoke some of that weed Kazushi gave me. After dealing with Kushina, I have a migraine the size of Gamabunta coming…Your welcome to smoke it with me, if you want?" Mebuki told her daughter as she headed to the kitchen to grab it along with some tequila
"I could smoke a few fat ones…After dealing with the world's most shitty mom, I could use a blunt or two." Sakura said as she followed her mother into the kitchen
'Naruto, wherever the hell your at. You better be safe, or so help me I will plant my foot so far up your keister, that you'll shit shoelaces for the next 2 weeks.' Sakura said to herself in a bit of worry for her brother's wellbeing and the chaos he was no doubt bound to cause
(2 and a half days later, River Country, Katabami Gold Mine, 4:14 Pm, October 20th, 997 S.E)
Meanwhile, a bit of time would pass before Naruto who ran at such speeds that it would've rivaled his father to any onlooker had made it to the Katabami Gold Mine; where he was able to intercept Iruka and his companions on their final day in said mining town.
'I finally found that son of a bitch, and his punk-ass friends…Time to get to work..' Naruto said to himself as he stomped over towards Iruka and his companions who had finished eating their curry
"I still can't believe you got away with stealing the Scroll of Seals out of there in one piece. That shit is next to impossible, but somehow, someway you managed to pull it off like an absolute madman!" One of the Oto Shinobi spoke as they headed back to the inn they were staying in
"It wasn't too much trouble. Besides, all I had to do was take a mean punch to the chest, and then use that to fly away in one piece." Iruka said glad that his Curse Mark came with a healing factor on top of his durability boost
"The only thing I can't say that I'm happy about is that I didn't kill those Fox Brats when I made my getaway. If the seals I planted around the village had done that, then I really would have gotten away with everything." Iruka further spoke in regards to the one thing that soured his otherwise perfect plan
"By the way how did you even manage that? Security around Konoha must've taken a nosedive, if you pulled off putting explosives on the Hokage's house too." A redheaded Oto shinobi inquired
"That part was surprisingly easy. They were so busy training those little bastards, and getting ready for the 18th anniversary of that monster running amok in the village; that it was easy to sneak in and do the deed. Hell, it was borderline embarrassing how easy it was to plant the seals there; then cover it up with some new paint." Iruka said with a malefic smile on his face
"All those years of peace after the village, and biding my time so I could get back at the village for letting the demon fox live…It was ingenious, my only regret was that I couldn't stick around to see the Hokage's face when I blew their house sky high." Iruka added with a malefic smirk across his face at having got away scot free
"Oh don't worry, Iruka-sensei. You can see his face alright, right after I put you in a body bag...Since you still gotta pay for ruining my birthmas, you dick." Naruto's voice rang out as he teleported behind his entourage
"Naruto, how did you find me here…?" Iruka said as the redhead beside him was impaled with a Shadow Claw through the chest faster than he could blink
"That isn't important. What is important is that I came here to…make sure your subscription to life is officially canceled. Because after what you did to Mizuki-sensei, you are no longer allowed to live after that…Not by a longshot, for almost killing one of the few good people I care about." Naruto said as he withdrew his still miasma-covered fist from the Oto shinobi who fell over dead as a doornail from their heart and lungs having been impaled and withered from the inside out
"So if I were you and your friends, I'd probably power up to full power right now. Because, I want you all at your strongest before I slaughter you all…That is the only kindness I will give you at this moment." Naruto told them as his hands and arms arced erratically with dark orange energy
"If you want to die so badly then fine, I'll give you your death wish. Plus, there's 6 of us here against one of you, so unlike last week you won't be so lucky to get that sucker punch off." Iruka said as all 5 of them went into their initial Curse Marked forms
Naruto remained a mixture of unphased from their power outputs and furious as he glared daggers directly at Mizuki's would-be killer at the insult of them not going all out against him, as the only thing he could think about was turning all of them into nothing but eviscerated corpses. Hence why the moment one of them lunged at Naruto with a kodachi that the superhuman blonde deftly ducked out of the way, and like a shark rising from the waters used Crunch to clamp his jaws onto the offending limb at the elbow and with a swift yank tore it clean off their left arm.
All the while the disarmed Oto shinobi screamed bloody murder, Naruto turned and fast as the crack of bullwhip lunged forward and decaptitated an adjacent Oto shinobi with a Slash attack, his clawed hand slicing through their neck and spine as though they were made of jelly. Both Iruka and a blonde Oto Chunin managed to gain distance away from Naruto who quite literally blew the back out of the one whose arm he'd bitten off with a Blaze Kick that flash incinerated him, before subsequently using Vital Throw to launch another into a far-off cliff so hard they exploded on impact.
The duo then flashed through hand-signs at breakneck speeds as Naruto had used a Mach Punch to the throat to prevent them from unleashing a water jutsu, as while they were coughing Naruto then used a subsequent Fire Punch to the sternum that fried their insides into ashes; for ethereal flames illuminated the inside of their chest and rapidly melting away insides. Before turning to the one that had tried to hit him with a katana and using the shinobi whose blazing fist was still in their chest to slam into the katana wielding shinobi with such force the ground beneath him cratered with bone-shattering force, and without another word Naruto belched forth a Sludge Bomb onto the downed shinobi before him.
Both the dying shinobi and sword wielding jonin were soon met with their fate as Naruto's Sludge Bomb at point-blank range was able to rapidly eat away at their flesh, clothing, gear and bones; until naught was left but a slurry of toxic bubbling sludge, bones, and flesh that filled the crater to near 3/4th's of it's 10 foot depth. However, as Naruto quickly clambered out of it he was met with a combination jutsu of Iruka letting loose a Fire Release: Great Blaze Ball and his Jonin companion a Lightning Release: Depth Charge that combined together to form a large house sized mass of lightning and fire.
Yet instead of mounting any form of defense or looking the slightest bit worried, Naruto instead did something that stupefied both of the remaining Oto shinobi; which was him using Headbutt to smack the attack right back at them with twice the speed and force they'd fired it off at. The two having to use their enhanced athleticism to jump out of the way of their combination jutsu or risk getting incinerated, as it crashed into a nearby set of buildings with such force that it launched them even higher into the air.
However, the jonin beside Iruka, as they began their descent, wasn't lucky as Naruto used Teleport to appear right on top of her and deliver a Mega Kick with such force that she was violently liquefied into a shower of crimson before Iruka's eyes. The treacherous Chunin barely had any time to react as Naruto landed a hard Poison Jab to his kidneys that sent him flying some hundreds of feet away with a furious Naruto in pursuit as they rapidly descended to the ground.
"Transform right now, Iruka! I want you at your fullest before I turn you into a blood splatter! Because I gonna break you so hard, that God himself will pray for your forgiveness!" Naruto roared as his fist was reared back for a Focus Punch
'Its either I transform or get flattened into whatever the hell I'm crashing into, or don't and get speared through the gut by the Hokage's kid…I guess there's only one option.' Iruka remarked to himself as he willed himself into the 2nd stage of his Curse Mark
The scale-like markings on Iruka's flesh soon spread across his form as he began to enlarge and grow in form, his clothing tearing and shredding as armor-like scales grew across his body, a thick barbed stingray like tail forming out of his tailbone, and 2 large draconic wings of bronze burst free from his back, as his ponytail turned into an assortment of horns. Iruka's now behemoth form stopped his descent in all his fearsome glory as he let out a monstrous roar; before a flap of his wings had him racing towards Naruto to meet the superhuman blonde whose fist continued to glow with cracking marigold-colored energy.
However, instead of colliding against one another as thought; Naruto used Teleport to vanish out of sight, and in the space between a blink and a tear reappeared beneath him and drove the Focus Punch right into his liver with such force the prominent indent of his fist appeared on the otherside of Iruka's back…A sharp gasp of air was forced out of his lungs as all of his innards shook as though a giant had stomped on them at full force, before Naruto grabbed him by the face and folds of scaled flesh and launch him into the ground below with a Vital Throw.
While Iruka plummeted into the ground at such speeds that a mach cone formed around him, Naruto was ready to strike him down with both hands transformed into Shadow Claws ready to tear into him with reckless abandon. Yet Iruka was able to use his wings to extend outwards and catch the winds flowing through the air and help cushion his fall into a less but even still painful crash landing, as he tumbled and spiraled across the ground; tearing up stone and hardened earth as he did so.
All the while as Naruto landed albeit roughly, he didn't miss a single beat as the moment his feet touched the ground did he break off into a mad dash towards his quarry; his fangs bared and his eyes wild and burning with rage that was amped upon by days of sleepless nights focused on this one moment…In seeing the almost feral and raging Naruto rushing towards him like a cheetah on crack, Iruka quickly using Fire Release: Hiding in Ash and Dust to obscure himself from Naruto's sight and even the odds against the superhuman in question.
Despite Naruto's charging headlong into the fiery smokescreen he remained undeterred, and if anything the searing hot blanket of ash and dust only caused him to grow faster as he used his aura-sensing abilities to find where Iruka was within the fiery smoke and dive towards him like a ferocious tiger. The treacherous behemoth surprised that his cover was so quickly blown found himself being tackled to the ground as Naruto began to furiously claw and slice into him with the phantasmal claws made of shadow and necrotic power.
Iruka tried to get shove the raging superhuman off of him with the great strength afforded to him by his Curse Mark, but it was to no avail as Naruto's relentlessness and single-minded aggression allowed him to stay atop his adversary and basically maul him like an overgrown grizzly bear. The sight that was made all the terrifying to see as burning orange eyes glowered at him with an almost bestial rage as roars and screams that didn't belong to any person, but more akin to some kind of titan filtered through Naruto's vocal cords escaped his throat.
This was why by the time he used his thick tail to smack Naruto off of him with all the might he could muster, that his chest was covered in a patchwork of slashes that oozed with burgundy-colored ichor from the aftermath of Naruto's mauling; with his chest aching as his shattered ribs were working overtime to mend themselves from Naruto's attack. However, Naruto in his almost berserk state caused the area around them to explode as he ignited the area via his using Flame Wheel to tackle into Iruka like a fiery mass of pure hatred that barreled into his gut like a blazing cannonball.
'This is insane. How the hell can this kid have this much power?' Iruka wondered to himself as his stomach was being grinded and simultaneously burned
"Die damn you, why won't you die already!" Naruto almost ferally screeched at Iruka as he pushed harder into Iruka with bone-shattering force
The treacherous Chunin tried to stop himself from being driven off the clearing as they were headed straight off a cliff, as Naruto was all the while amping more and more power on trying to punch through Iruka's scaled hide as the scent of burning flesh became more and more apparent…So in sensing their rapidly approaching location to a deep ravine, Iruka reared one of his massive fists up and slammed it into Naruto with enough force to shatter a Chunin's spine with the ease one would have breaking a candy bar in half.
Granted this was enough to momentarily stop Naruto for a brief moment, but instead he then used it as an opportunity to then break Iruka's jaw with a fierce Headbutt attack and then unleash a brutal spinning backfist of a Brick Break into his still healing chest; with a dark yet satisfying crunch of his lower ribs being smashed inwards. All of which he used Agility to increase his speed even further to deliver a Double Kick to his left leg that broke his kneecap to the point it folded inward from being shattered, as well as the shattering of his femur from the sheer concussive force behind it.
All before finishing it off with an Energy Ball at point-blank that had so much power packed into it that it sent Iruka flying with half of the scales on his massive forms' upper body being blown apart, revealing heavily bruised flesh that was starting to knit itself back together as he was sent into the ravine by said attack. However, the moment Naruto saw his adversary try to stop himself from being sent over the edge by using his tail as an anchor did he immediately stomp at the ground and use Earth Power to shatter the ground beneath him as a pillar of earthen brown and pumpkin orange power erupted from the ground below; causing a minor avalanche's worth of debris to fall on top of Iruka.
The behemoth who was in a daze from taking so many powerful attacks in such a short time; had just enough time to register that Naruto was using the debris to descend towards him; using Blaze Kicks as propulsion to kick himself towards his descending position. In response to this Iruka went through hand-signs to use Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation in the hopes that this would reduce Naruto to ashes in an instant as he pumped a great deal of chakra into the attack to do the deed.
As he did so Iruka breathed out the tidal waves' worth of flame like a mighty dragon, the conflagration melting the rocks descending around him into an almost magma like state as the inferno raced to consume Naruto in white-hot flames. The draconic behemoth internally smirking as he blanked everything in his periphery in flame as he used his flames to keep himself aloft, as he kept the stream going to make sure that Naruto would be reduced to ashes.
However, his smugness only lasted for so long as instead of seeing the charred carcass of the Hokage's eldest fall before him; he instead saw Naruto's form rushing even faster towards him; his clothes alight with flame, yet instead he seemed even more invigorated as the flames seemed the double his already great speed. Naruto let out another bestial roar as he crashed into Iruka with a brutal hook kick of a Blaze Kick to the skull that sent him careening into the nearest rock face alight with ethereal marigold flame like a fiery missile; sending a crater that spanned outwards the size of a large house the moment he made impact.
Yet Naruto was already upon him via Teleport as he grabbed him by his face with his claws sinking through flesh; before he used Dig to drive him through the rock face he was currently embedded in, all the while battering his stomach with an onslaught of Mach Punches with the doggedness of a rabid honey badger. The two caused a raucous tremor to form in the stone above as Naruto continued to drive Iruka through tons of stone and rock, as after a solid minute of punching the treacherous Chunin's stomach to the point his hand had reached spine, eventually, they would violently erupt from the ground.
The superhuman blonde then used a Thunder Punch to his collarbone to propel Iruka across their new clearing the treacherous Chunin sent flying for dozens of feet, whilst being violently electrocuted before a Psycho Cut from Naruto further sent him flying into a nearby boulder…Iruka after crashing into the boulder behind him his guts nearly spilling out from Naruto's attack saw Naruto unhinge his jaws and gather marigold and bright sapphire-colored energy into it, as though he were charging a Tailed Beast Bomb.
"Burn in hell, Umino! Hyper Beam!" Naruto shouted as he let loose the attack
'Hyper…Oh shit, Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!' Iruka said as he saw the massive orange beam headed straight for him
The treacherous Chunin forcing all the chakra he could into the inferno to the point that he was regressed into the Stage 1 of his Curse Mark, as said beam of power raced towards him like a runaway freight train…The very moment the two made contract there was a 'brief' clash for dominance, at least for the span of 2 seconds before Naruto's Hyper Beam punched straight through the inferno, and plowed straight into the once behemoth.
Iruka had tried to catch it and go back into his Stage 2 form to hold off the attack…yet this was met with the same effort as a child trying to single-handedly hold back a hurricane from annihilating their home with a garbage pail. Given that the moment Naruto's attack made contact with Iruka's flesh, that the Chunin was outright disintegrated down to the very bone in a near instant as the Hyper Beam trailed off for a nearly a full mile before expanding outwards into an explosion that could be seen from a height of several and a half kilometers in all it's terrifying majesty.
Naruto continued the Hyper Beam for another 5 seconds before stopping as he felt his throat burn from his 1st usage of the attack, the blonde going to a knee as his nose began to bleed profusely and his legs almost gave out from under him. Yet despite the feeling of his blood being on fire and his throat feeling as though he swallowed a gallon of battery acid, sulfur, and barbed wire; the moment he reached out with his Aura sensing abilities and felt not a single trace of Iruka's in sight after his Hyper Beam had him fall on his butt in contentment successfully slain his mentor's would-be killer.
"I-I did it, Mizuki-sensei. I got our get-back in one." Naruto said to himself before coughing like he chain-smoked 3 packs of cigarettes in a single sitting
'Now all I gotta do is go to wherever this Otogakure place is. Steal back the Scroll of Seals, and make it back home in one-piece.' Naruto said to himself as he saw back at the destruction he caused
(3 days later, 9:54 Pm, Otogakure, October 23rd 6:06 Am)
That being said after Naruto's slaying of Iruka, and having traveled nearly nonstop at supersonic speeds did he reach Otogakure which wasn't too hard to find or get into; given that in the aftermath of his birthday that his chakra had fully vanished. Leaving him undetectable to any sensor no matter how trained as he dashed as quickly and quietly as possible to get to Orochimaru's household via using Dig.
'Man, Dig is super-underrated for getting into stuff. Plus, with my not having any chakra anymore; I can get into anything I want undetected.' Naruto said to himself with a broad grin as he continued his tunneling underneath Otogakure
'Also, when I get home. I really need to take a nap…or a dozen. I still, can't believe I'm going without almost 12 days without sleep.' Naruto added knowing that he really needed to sleep sooner or later
Those thoughts in mind, Naruto continued his sojourn into the den of the Serpent Sannin; burrowing through rock, silt and whatever else that lay below the Village Hidden in Sound at high-speeds with the sole intent of getting back what belonged to his home…Minutes upon minutes of burrowing passed before Naruto in using his aura sensing ability where he sensed the Serpent Sannin's immense aura, and by extension their home.
The superhuman blonde having eventually burst through their basement and sprung forth onto his feet with a light but solid thud, from there Naruto closed his eyes and with a sound like the rushing of autumn winds did used his Astral Projection to phase out of his physical form and began venturing about the place to find the Scroll of Seals. Something that he was able to do surprisingly well considering that despite being a spirit in all but name; that he was able to still interact with the physical world as all that was required to do so as he ran about the place was a matter of willing himself solid; in order to interact with anything solid.
Hence why after several minutes of carefully searching about Orochimaru's home did he eventually find where the Scroll of Seals was stashed at it; within the Serpent Sannin's personal study next to other books and scrolls on genetics and anatomy…But instead of pushing his luck and peeping around the library in question, Naruto simply grabbed the scroll in question and willed himself and the Scroll of Seals incorporeal once more and floated down to the basement where his physical body lay still as a corpse.
'...Oh man, I forgot how weird it feels when I astral project and go back in my body again.' Naruto remarked to himself as the feeling of being dunked in lukewarm gelatin running over his body
"Now all I gotta do is go back the way I came, and I'm home free at last...Then I can fucking crash in my bed for once this week." Naruto said to himself as he stashed the Scroll of Seals into a Storage Seal he had attached to the inside of the satchel he brought with him
"But why rush? I'm sure you could stay and have a drink or two with me. After all, you did let yourself into my home, and I would be a poor host if I didn't offer." Came the Serpent Sannin's voice from atop the stairs
"... …Look, as much as I'd like to stay and have whatever your serving, I gotta…Are…Since when are you a lady?" Naruto began to speak before realizing that Orochimaru was a pale woman wearing a violet-colored nightgown
"I have been this way for quite some time young man. If anything I rather enjoy this form more than my original. So much power and strength than I know what to do with; to be quite honest with you." Orochimaru said as they came down the stairs
"That being said, however, how was it that you came into my house; much less my village undetected? Even with all of your unique abilities at your disposal. At least one of my watchmen should have detected your presence." Orochimaru further spoke curious as to how Naruto evaded their detection much less their guards's own
"Its a long story, but I would really like to just go and be on about my business. I already got what I came here for, and to be honest with you. I have not slept in 12 days straight, so I am extremely tired." Naruto said back with a roar-like yawn as his mind felt like it was walking through a clouded haze
"Hmmm, how about this, Naruto? You stay and indulge me for a few moments of your time, and I will let you be on your way. How does that sound?" Orochimaru told the superhuman
"Really? All I gotta do is talk to you for a bit, and then you'll just let me walk?...No offense, but I figured you would be all up and arms about me grabbing back the Scroll of Seals; your people took from my home?" Naruto questioned
"Oh no, you are more than fine to take it back. I have already had my shadow clones work to transcribe all of its contents in the days since Iruka gave it to me…As such I have no further use for it." Orochimaru answered back in having made their shadow clones made copious copies for future use
"Huh, well if all I gotta do is give you a bit of my time. Then I suppose it couldn't hurt…But that's all you want from me, right? No other funny business attached or anything, there's not gonna be some 'gotcha' moment where my guards' down and your goons have me surrounded, or anything like that?...Just me spending some time with you is all?" Naruto asked ready to Teleport at any moment
"You have my word that I will do no such thing. Besides, why would I deceive someone who is my potential equal? I may be many things, but I am not one to commit needless violence against my loved ones or my equals." Orochimaru answered back as they took a few further steps towards the superhuman
"Also, you look to be in need of a bit of respite, no? I am sure you are exhausted after nearly 2 weeks without sleep, so why not sit and relax for a little bit." Orochimaru spoke as they studied Naruto's worn features and heavily bloodshot eyes
"...Alright, I'll take you up on it. Plus, I am too tired to argue anymore without my powers going nuts." Naruto replied with another yawn that sounded less human and more like the furious roar of a beast
"Very well, follow me upstairs. I have my clones preparing mimosa's if you'd like them?" Orochimaru told the superhuman blonde
"I've never had them before, but I guess a few couldn't hurt." Naruto replied his tired mind agreeing to the Serpent Sannin's offer
'Also, why are the hell are they this good looking...It feels sooo weird looking at someone whose as old as grandma but looks as good as Hanabi.' Naruto wondered to themselves as they followed the Serpent Sannin to their kitchen
From there the two spent quite a bit conversing with each other in what felt like the worlds' most tense interview from Naruto's perspective in both sitting across from one of the most dangerous people in the world, as well as his own sleep-deprived state of mind that was still a volatile/loopy mix of emotions…Despite this he was able to hold a reasonable conversation with said Sannin who was surprisingly cordial, and if anything more than happy to talk and inquire to Naruto about any questions he had and vice versa; to which as time persisted he found himself able to relax around the Serpent Sannin to his surprise.
"It is rather nice to hear that Tsunade and Dan have been doing well since my departure from the village…Also, I am rather surprised that Kazushi became a sensei given how headstrong she was, when I last saw her." Orochimaru spoke surprised at the current set of events
"Yeah, a lot of things have changed since you've been gone…On the plus side, Granny and Grandpa still talk really highly about you. If anything, they make it sound like you were the greatest person in the world before you went rogue." Naruto replied as a smile spread across said Sannin's face at hearing this
"That is rather wonderful to hear. Even with how things had turned out when I had left the village…It is nice to know that our friendship endures after all these years." Orochimaru said feeling their heart swell in joy upon hearing this
"Yeah, as I would tell them you said hi or something like that. But that would make that alot more trouble than its worth…no offense." Naruto replied as he finished drinking his 2nd Mimosa
"You are quite alright. Also, I feel that telling them that I have become the fairer sex would raise its own littany of questions." Orochimaru spoke in more than seeing where Naruto was coming from
"Alright, and since you somehow know about my powers, and called me your equal? Do you really think that good of me?..I mean, I know I'm pretty powerful and all, but I have a pretty heckin' long way to go before I'm your equal." Naruto asked the Serpent Sannin in being perplexed by that statement
"I only see it as a fair assumption to make. Given that one of my elite guards that you may have met, by the name of Kimimaro; spoke of your combative prowess and overall power. That combined with the information I have gathered about you; given your status as one of Minato's children…Then suffice to say you have my undivided attention." Orochimaru answered back as they leaned forward with an interested and semi-predatory grin on their face
"After all, gifts such as yours should not go unnoticed." The Serpent Sannin added causing a slight yet nervous gulp from Naruto
"T-Thanks, but I'm surprised you haven't tried to go after my siblings. Since they're supposed to be the bees knees and all that." Naruto spoke as Orochimaru smiled more
"Why would I waste my time on those two idiots? They have yet to even tap into the full power of their tailed beast, and act more akin to divas on the decline than worthwhile shinobi…If anything my spies would be wasted on them; when even all of Jiraiya's paltry training wouldn't come close to making them a worthy equal." Orochimaru replied seeing it as a waste of time and effort to put spies on the twin jinchuuriki
"You have the diva part about them right…The one time I get one over on them and they have a tantrum about it that gets me a Rasengan to the shoulder. If we have to put the fate of the world in their hands, then we might as well slice our throats open." Naruto spoke still repulsed at how much stock was put into prophecies
"And this is why I am changing my village to be something greater…To depend upon a handful of people to change the world, and bring about peace is tantamount to insanity. Especially, when one places all of their eggs into one such basket, and yet Jiraiya for all his belief in prophecies and chosen few to bring about peace; never thought about what if the eggs he put into this basket went rotten." Orochimaru replied
"Which is why, I am focusing on training and improving upon those within Otogakure to become superhuman…Granted, it won't be in the same regard as you and I per say. But it will be enough, so that peace can be achieved over time by those who have evolved to become strong enough to do it." Orochimaru further spoke regarding their plans for their shinobi
"Well, between you and I…Just because I'm super tired and I really wanna screw over Pervy-Sage. Turns out that my dickhead brother and sister aren't the subject of the prophecy to bring peace to the world anymore…I am." Naruto said causing a look of surprise to cross Orochimaru's face
"Really?! Do tell." Orochimaru asked with vested interest
"Thanks to one of my gifts, giving me telepathy. I was able to basically do a bit of jailbreaking into his noggin' to see why he suddenly gave a crap about me…Turns out he wants to try and shanghai me into being apart of a new prophecy that came up, thanks to me having enough power to bring about peace or bring the world to ruin, as it stands." Naruto answered back
"How fascinating, and do you wish to do either of those things in the near future? The amount of power that you wield, and by all accounts is still untapped at the moment. It is very well within your capacity to do so." Orochimaru inquired with utmost curiosity
"Naaahhh, I'm good really. Personally, I just wanna train with my friends, see what other cool stuff I can do with my powers, and be a kickass farmer. Anything else, I don't really care about." Naruto answered back not seeing a reason to be a peacekeeper or some all-powerful destroyer when he could keep doing as he wanted
'Plus, if I did either of those things. I couldn't do what I want like I do now…That and both options are too much work, not enough payoff.' Naruto further noted to himself
"Hmm, that is quite an interesting tidbit of information to take into account. Furthermore, I also wanted to note that it is rather interesting that you are still functional, with so little sleep." Orochimaru remarked at the otherwise warn down Naruto
"Thanks, it is one part my powers to help me keep going, one part my being stubborn as a mule, another being powered by rage over what happened to my mentor, and another being mind over matter. Take all of that together, and you have my refusal to quit till I make it back home, and make Mizuki-sensei proud." Naruto answered back as to how he continued to function so well despite his lack of sleep
"And in regards to your powers; how much can you command? I know from Kimimaro's accounts that it is comparable to most A and S-ranked shinobi…However, I still want to hear from you personally on how much you are able to command." Orochimaru further questioned
"To be real with you, I don't really know anymore. It's basically like every time I think I hit a ceiling, that there's just this next level of power to reach out towards." Naruto told the Serpent Sannin
"Honestly, suppressing as much as I do to not eviscerate every person I come into contact with is harder than you think. It's kinda like trying to put an ocean into a bucket the size of a carriage if that makes any sense." Naruto added as even his weary state he found it hard at times to continually contain his full power
"...Then how do you do it, exactly? If your powers are as vast as you describe it, then such a task would be rather difficult." Orochimaru wondered
"Simple. I basically walled it off in my head and made a big handful of mental pressure valves to use it. That way, all I gotta do is open up and close off those 'pressure valves' when I want more or less power…Took me a while to get down right, but eventually, I managed to make it work so I can use the exact amount that I want in a fight." Naruto informed the Serpent Sannin on the system he used to contain and regulate his powers
"Hmm, you certainly are something fascinating, Naruto. It's quite a shame really, had things gone differently and I had not left the village. I would have loved to have you as an apprentice…Someone who can make this much use out of the gifts you have been given, to an extent that has you on par with one of my elite says; more than enough if I am to be quite frank about it." Orochimaru said to the superhuman blonde
"Thank you, that actually means a lot…Maybe in another life, we could have gotten along really well, and you could've been my godfather…or mother…Sorry, it is still really weird that you're a super pretty woman." Naruto said back still taking in the fact that Orochimaru was an attractive woman
"You are quite fine, young man. Besides, my new state of being is something for everyone to get used to. Myself included, as you can see." Orochimaru said waving him off
"I'm guessing your still getting used to wearing a bra then?" Naruto cheekily questioned
"Oh no, I do not wear them at all. They are too much of a hassle to deal with, and besides why would I cover up perfection." Orochimaru answered back with a smile as they drink the last bit of their mimosa
"Fair point." Naruto quickly said in not wanting to look at the Sannin's chest
"You're more than fine to look at them if you'd like." Orochimaru offered making Naruto spit out his drink
"I'm sorry what now?!" Naruto questioned stupefied as Orochimaru had an impish grin on their face as they leaned forward to show more of their surprisingly large cleavage
"You heard correctly, I see no reason why if you want too. We are both adults here after all, not to mention your reaction has me quite amused all things considered." Orochimaru replied as Naruto smacked his chest to regain his bearings
" No thanks, I'm good for right now...Anyways, I do wanna ask what even is your endgame, besides making superhumans and all that?" Naruto questioned wanting to change subjects quickly as possible
"That would be to continue where I would have if I had not left Konoha. Create and enhance those with the potential to better serve and protect. Something that Jiraiya took offense to, and had me ousted for when I was merely trying to make us stronger so another cataclysm; such as the 9 tails would be much easier to handle." Orochimaru answered back
"Really, that's it?! I thought the reason as going to be a lot more messed up. Man, they really exaggerated things with you." Naruto asked as Orochimaru nodded
"To be fair, Jiraiya has a habit of doing that. No doubt he spoke to Minato to muddy things, to make me the boogeyman of my former home." Orochimaru said detesting how they were slandered by the Toad Sannin
"If it means anything, I'll get him back for being an asshole to you, since you seem a lot nicer than I thought." Naruto replied with another roar-like yawn
"That is very sweet of you to do so…That being said, I think I have kept you around for long enough, given that I have to finish readying myself for the day to come. And you have a home to return to." Orochimaru said looking at the time
"Alright, well it was nice talking to you…Honestly, you weren't as bad of a person as I thought you would be." Naruto replied as he rose from his seat
"Thank you, it is nice to see that in these moments; that one can look behind the smoke and mirrors and see that not all are the monster we are made to be…" Orochimaru said back as Naruto began to leave
"...But before you go, I do have a favor to request of you at a latter time." Orochimaru spoke gaining the superhuman's attention
"Sure! What do you want?" Naruto asked
"One of these days, I will encounter the leader of Ame who calls himself the God of his people. Apparently, he has taken offense to my having the same eyes as his, and as such wishes to strike me down for it…Seeing it as blasphemous that I can wield eyes and abilities such as his, but on a far more skillful level. As such, I would like to request your help in defeating him should the day come that I encounter him." Orochimaru answered back as to his future request
"... …Oh yeah, I know who you're talking about, and honestly I'm all down for it. People like that deserve to be taken down a few dozen pegs, and I'm all here for doing anything to screw him over…So sign me up." Naruto replied
"Excellent to hear…Now then, you are free to leave, and thank you for your time…It was most, enlightening to get to know you." Orochimaru said to the blonde demigod
"Same to you too, catcha later." Naruto said before using Teleport to go to his Double Team doppleganger some 2 miles away
'Now then, time to finish preparing for my journey to White Snake Mountain. I have Senjutsu training to begin, after all.' Orochimaru said before ordering their Shadow Clones to begin meal prep for the rest of the day
(5 days later, October 28th, 997 S.E, 3:25 Am, Haruno Household, Konoha)
It would be another set of days later as an exhausted sleep-deprived Naruto finally after 2 sleepless weeks, was exhausted, bruised, sore and sporting new scars and torn bloodied clothing; that he had finally made it back home with the Haruno's.
'Hey…Sakura. I'm back, can you open up the back door so I can come in….I'm really tired.' Naruto said to Sakura over their Mind Radio
'Wait, Naruto your back?!' Sakura asked both surprised and overjoyed to see her brother again
'Yeah, and sorry I'm late coming back here. I got into a massive fight yesterday, and it wore me out more than I already am.' Naruto told his sister with a weary beast-like yawn of pure exhaustion
'What fight did you get into that has you sounding super worn down? It must've been a pretty good one too.' Sakura questioned as she rushed down the stairs as quietly as possible
'I'll explain once I'm inside.' Naruto told her
So after a few moments of waiting for Sakura to let him inside; he was 1st met with his sister bear-hugging him in relief, joy, and outright happiness that he made it home in one piece before the two swiftly went up the stairs to her bedroom…Once they were up there and Naruto was able to sit down on something comfortable for a change he then told her of whe he was so late coming back was because a day and a half ago; he had got into a vicious fight against the 4 tails jinchuuriki that pushed the sleep-deprived superhuman to his mental limits.
"Wait a minute, you fought and actually won against the 4 tails jinchuuriki; when you've gone on 2 weeks straight without sleep?" Sakura questioned as Naruto nodded
"Yep! I may be currently super-fucked with my ability to sleep at all, and so tired that its taking all of my willpower not to pass out from the lack of sleep. But I still got it done…I wouldn't be part of the family if I couldn't throw hands really well." Naruto answered back
"I guess that explains why your clothes are super messed up, and the new set of scars on you." Sakura remarked at Naruto's overall haggard appearance
"Yeah, turns out that he really had that dog in him…Pretty cool guy though, but he did make me work for it. Hell, I was actually close to having to go full power against him." Naruto responded in regards to the challenge Roshi had presented
"He was really that strong?...I know he's supposed to be powerful, since he's one of Iwa's aces in the hole, but I didn't think he could be strong enough to push you that hard." Sakura spoke awed at what she was hearing
"He sure was, Sakura, and it was awesome…It's a darn shame I wasn't at full power when we did start scrapping', then I could've given him a real show." Naruto said back
"If you could come out on top against someone like that, and your running on spite and fumes. Then there's no doubt about it, you really are something crazy." Sakura said both proud and once more impressed by the overwhelming strength Naruto could command
"Thanks, I appreciate it, Sakura." Naruto replied before letting out another roar-like yawn
"By the way, how have things been going while I've been gone?" Naruto questioned
"Let's see, on the plus side Mizuki-sensei is still holding up just fine. The village is recovering pretty well from getting exploded out of nowhere, and on top of that no one else really got hurt when it happened." Sakura informed the superhuman blonde
"Why do I feel like there's a but to all of this? Since there's no way something fucked didn't happen, while I was gone." Naruto spoke knowing full well things couldn't be that good
"Alright, and this is gonna be a big one, but thanks to all of those explosions going off in the village. One of them blew up the room your doppelganger was in, and it got blown to bits more or less. So now your folks know that the you they've been living with ain't it, and Kushina came to our place to throw a hissy fit about it." Sakura informed Naruto on the fact that the jig was up
"...Well, I can't say I didn't see this day coming sooner or later…At least I got to have a kickass birthmas party; before shit hit the fan." Naruto said in seeing that as a consolation
"Yeah, sorry we couldn't keep it going for much longer. But shit came up and there wasn't much else we could do while people were getting the village repaired." Sakura replied
"Its' alright, Sakura, you did the best you could. Also, I'm betting that they've got Anbu looking out for me?" Naruto asked once again getting a nod of yes from Sakura
"Dude, you've been gone for nearly 2 weeks now. So I'm pretty sure that even as the forgotten child of the Hokage, they were gonna send Anbu to look for your punk-ass." Sakura answered back knowing that ANBU would be after him soon enough
"Fair point, but I do have something to buy me a little more time so I don't have to talk to them." Naruto said in having one last trck to buy himself more time away from his parents
"What could you possibly have up your sleeve, to avoid Anbu and your folks looking for you?" Sakura questioned curiously
"For starters, I no longer have any chakra in me, since my powers pretty much got rid of that shit. Secondly, I can just stop using my Transformation technique to look like how I used to before I started changing from absorbing the Plates…After all, I do look like a Kure more or less." Naruto said gesturing to his pale-skinned appearance that made him look like a Kure but with blue eyes instead of piercing white ones
"Its a long shot, since your gonna have to shift between this and what you originally looked like. But you can definitely make it work, at least for a little bit." Sakura replied
"Hey, I'll take anything I can get to not have to talk to them. Besides, they aren't my family anymore, you and the Kure's are. So I owe them absolutely nothing." Naruto said back in seeing Sakura and the Kure's as part of his true family
"And we're happy to have you as apart of it, Naruto. You are and always will be my little brother y'know." Sakura told him with an honest-to-god smile on her face
"Thanks, I really appreciate it…But your brother is super tired, so he's gonna go… to sleep and actually rest in actual bed for a change." Naruto said with a loud yawn that almost shook the room itself
"Go for it, Naruto. After what you've been up too, you deserve it." Sakura replied as the exhausted and battered Naruto climbed into his bed
"Goodnight, Sakura…Its good to be home again." Naruto said back
"Good to have you home, again, you overpowered dork. I missed the hell out of ya." Sakura said as she clambered into her own bed
'...Man, this has to have been the craziest 2 weeks of my life.' Were Naruto's final thoughts before a long-overdue slumber overtook his aching body after 2 weeks without sleep
So with Naruto having successfully slain Iruka and avenged Mizuki's near murder, and managing to successfully retrieve the Scroll of Seals; he also was able to have a rather surprisingly cordial conversation with the one and only Serpent Sannin…That being said, how his talk with said Sannin will change things for the future to come after his brief hunt of the treacherous Chunnin among other such misadventures he'd had? Well, stay tuned and find out in the next installments of, Naruto: The Pokesage!
New Moves Acquired: Hammer Arm, Bulldoze, Dire Claw, Psyshock, Counter
Well, that takes care of that as I hoped you guys enjoyed this monster of a chapter and everything that happened in it, because I did not realize how much I packed into it; until I finished writing.
All that being said, I hope that everyone will continue to support the story thus far as again I am super happy to have everyone stick around to enjoy what's happened so far. And I hope that you guys will enjoy more of what's to come, and support the story given that ever favorite, follow, and review counts and I appreciate everyone of them.
That being said this Pravus666 signing off, as next up is the long-awaited talk between Naruto and his folks so stay tuned for all of that good stuff.
Part 2 Theme Song: To the Pain by Nonpoint
Random End Song: Ruthless by Nonpoint
Now then onto some of the reviews of the previous chapter.
Kourtney Uzu Yato: Trust me, if Naruto wound up catering the twins's birthday party and having to miss out on his own; he would've rather bitten and eaten his own face covered in salt and lye than to do that. Plus, with Naruto being a legal adult on top of having his headband its gonna make what comes up for next chapter that much more interesting. Plus, yeah Toshiro is a unstable jackass as we've seen if Hanabi thinks angry-ass Honey Badgers are more pleasant than him, and glad you liked the bit between them and such. Not to mention I'm surprised more people haven't used Jiraiya's ability to be uncannily good at P.R in stories, given that it would be a great plot hook to explain how he gets away with so much stuff in stories, as after all being that he's a spymaster it would make sense that stuff like that is his bread and butter, and I couldn't help but have him be invested in the twins for the use of him warding off child support and angry-ass baby mamas. Plus, as you can see Naruto got his get back for Mizuki in blood and then some, as Naruto does not fuck around in regards to the wellbeing of his loved by a long shot!
Skull Flame: Glad you liked the birthmas party bit that Naruto had with everyone since I thought it would be a great time for him in general to unwind with everyone, that and Naruto's analogies I come up with for him are just too much fun too write. Also, I'm glad a fellow man of culture can respect what I did with this version of Hanabi's choice of what to wear for her birthday present to Naruto. Furthermore, Gato's having the Splash Plate means that we're gonna see what he's actually capable of, beyond being a total sleezebag in most stories so stay tuned for that! Also, I hope you liked the whole revenge portion of Naruto getting his get-back on Mizuki's behalf for getting the pattented Kakyoin treatment.
God of Wind 200: On why Naruto didn't just up and teleport to Mizuki it was moreso that he was in straight panic mode, over something happening to a loved one. And when your in fight or flight like that stressing over someone like that, then you aren't gonna really be able to think of things rationally like you normally would. Furthermore, with the timeline changing up as much as it has, the deal Jiraiya made changed as well to where it is now the eldest of his students' children, seeing as how it with Minato being alive and married it would change the circumstances of things with that quite a bit. Plus, this way it would allow Jiraiya a backup plan in case any of Minato's children he mentored already shacked up with someone.
Darth Diablos: Yeah, as it'll definitely be interesting to see what comes out of Kurama asking Naruto for help regarding their freedom. Not to mention using Mew as the link to make that conversation is definitely a good idea that I will be saving in my pocket for the Chunin Exams.
