Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Yu Yu Hakusho. But man that would be cool though?
"Talk" Character talking.
'Think' Character thinking.
"Talk" Jagan talking.
'Think' Jagan thinking.
"Talk" Tailed Beast talking.
"Think" Tailed Beast thinking.
"Dammit, let me out of here! It's been over two fucking weeks!"
"Dammit Zaku shut up, you're disturbing my quiet time!"
"Kin we need to get out of here, don't you know what they are going to do to us!?" Zaku demanded his teammate. The spiky-haired Sound Genin thrashed in his restraints, cursing and swearing up a storm.
Kin only groaned in irritation and turned back towards her book to try and drown out Zaku's bitching. Unlike her teammate she wasn't complaining about their circumstances, they were healed, given clean clothes, a roof over their heads, and fed. Sure she wasn't a fan of it being in a secret hospital, but they had not tortured them yet.
"Um, excuse me." Karin timidly raised her hand from her position in the room to try and gain Zaku's attention. "I think that they are going to offer you the same thing they're offering me. Asylum, it sounds to me like you may need it."
"Shut your mouth red!" Zaku forced himself against his restraints. "I ain't joining a soft village like this. I need to get back to Otogakure!"
"Zaku if you go back Orochimaru is just going to kill you for failing." Kin lowly drawled out as she flipped through the page of her book. "He doesn't care about you, you know. He even ordered you to use your arms, fully knowing that you would blow your arms off."
Zaku did not have a response to that. He quieted down and looked at his restrained arms and clenched his fists together. It was no secret to his team that he treasured his arms above all else, they gave him the ability to fight, to be stronger. And he would have lost them if it wasn't for Shino's merciful act of clubbing his head with the bottom of his kunai.
"About time, if I had to hear this fool bellyaching any longer I would have silenced him myself." The privacy screen that kept the fourth person separated from the rest of the group revealed an irate Kimimaro.
Both Zaku and Kin reeled back in horror. Back in Otogakure the name Kimimaro was spoken in hushed tones, he was of Orochimaru's top shinobi known for his loyalty towards the village leader, and capable to completing the toughest missions without complaint.
"Ki...Kimimaro. What are you doing here?" It didn't make any sense to Zaku, if this was some ply to keep him from talking, then he was screwed. He wouldn't stand a chance, no one would.
"I failed my mission to Orochimaru, and I saw the light of reason from Naruto-sama. He made sure that I was being well cared for. My body might be breaking down, but I will fight to my last breath in his name." Kimimaro glared at the two Sound Genin, daring them to refute him. He then turned back towards the tv and said. "Now keep it down, you're interrupting my programs. Come on townspeople, they are called the Monsters, you are supposed to kill them and bring peace to your town again."
"Uh...yea. You heard him Zaku, shut up." Kin pulled the covers over her in some sort of attempt to shield her from the Kaguya. However, unlike Zaku she forced herself to remember the name Naruto. What sort of person could make a zealot like Kimimaro change his loyalties?
(The Forest of Death – Meanwhile)
"Not bad Naruto, you're actually progressing quite well." Hayate said in praise.
For the past week since Hayate died and became Naruto's kenjutsu teacher, he had been instructing the blonde day and night, beating what he had learned in thirteen years into his head in two weeks.
"I'm doing my best Hayate-sensei, I think my body is finally getting used to how to swing a sword properly." Naruto panted out after swinging his latest kata strike. This wasn't as easy as it looked, it included exhausting, repetitive motions, and with Hayate's sort of fighting style it included a lot of running, jumping and sneaking. And Naruto himself enjoyed it, using the fruits of his labor through Zabuza's physical training, he soaked Hayate's lessons up like a sponge.
"Don't get a swelled head kid, compared to other shinobi you're still no more than a novice. If you want to protect anyone ranging from those three girls who are attracted to you, to your friends."
"All right what the hell are you talking about? The only girls that are attracted to me are Hinata and Tenten." Naruto sheathed his blade and began to rant at the latest specter following him. "And it has only been those two, I lost my one-sided attraction to Sakura, Ino and I have never seen eye to eye; hell my entire graduating class looked at me as an annoyance, both Ayame and Sakari see me as a little brother figure, and I sincerely doubt any older women find me desirable."
Palming his forehead, Hayate looked at his newest student like he was an idiot. Yes he heard everything from Ishikawa regarding him, yes he saw a drastic change in what he used to be. But despite all those changes, Naruto was still a boy bordering on thirteen, and oblivious regarding the female species. "Kid you got to listen to your sensei, always look underneath the underneath. If you can't figure it out then you're more hopeless than I thought."
"Hey now!"
"He's right Blondie, even a blind man could see it." Ishikawa said, popping next to Hayate.
"Oh who asked you?" Naruto said before sheathing Handanryoku into its scabbard. "Listen, I don't have time to worry about who might like me right now. I got a week left before the finals start, and I still don't have clue how to defeat Temari."
"She uses wind ninjutsu, if you could conjure up a couple decent fire jutsu's you could stand a chance." Hayate said.
"But I suck with fire ninjutsu. I can barely make the Fireball jutsu the size of a tennis ball, anything else is out of the question!"
Ishikawa turned towards his fellow ghost. "The kid is unfortunately right. I've seen him practice with it and it just isn't good. He however kills it with earth, water and should he get his hands on a few scrolls wind."
"He could outsmart her." Hayate said.
"Not a chance."
"I can still hear you." Naruto irritable growled at the deceased Stone Chunin. "Listen, I will beat Temari no matter what. Not only does she stand in my way of proving myself to get promoted to Chunin rank, but I really want to pay her back for what she did to Tenten."
"That still isn't the best reason to beat her you know, panda girl is a kunoichi. She can handle her own losses." Ishikawa said.
"But when she already won the fight and tried to do extra damage to her, that is going over the line." The blonde punched his right fist into his open left hand. "I won't let her think it's okay to hurt the people precious to me."
"Minus talking to ghosts, you sound just like your father." Naruto turned to see Jiraiya standing against one of the trees with his arms crossed over his chest. Honestly, where the hell did he even come from? "You know, he went out of his way to protect those he cared about. It was one of the reasons he became the Yondaime."
"Yea, yea all hail the Yellow Flash." Ishikawa rolled his eyes. Yes he may have been helping the only son of the man who's name was hated in his former village, but unlike Minato he actually took a liking to Naruto; minus him getting killed by the brat they were on good terms.
"Hey Ero-sennin, what are we going to be doing today?" Naruto asked, ignoring Hayate glaring daggers at the deceased Stone Chunin.
Jiraiya nearly tripped on his own feet when those words came out of his latest student's mouth, apparently like father, like son. Honestly, where was the respect? "Well you have been improving since we met, granted you're still not as awesome as me, but I think it's time I introduced you to some friends of mine."
Hayate's eyes widened and he went into a coughing fit. It grew so bad that Ishikawa actually patted him on the back to get him to calm down. "You're going to learn how to summon the toads. What an honor."
"I'm going to summon the toads?" Naruto dumbly asked.
Jiraiya developed a tick mark on his forehead and yelled in Naruto's general direction. "Hey! I was trying to build suspense here and you ruined it. Piss off ghost!"
Well it was actually ghosts, as in plural now, but Naruto really didn't want to tell Jiraiya that. So he just sat down on the ground. "So what exactly do I have to do to summon your toads? I mean it can't be like using ninjutsu."
"You're right about that, this is much different than creating a river of mud or spears of water." Jiraiya made his way over to his student and pulled the giant scroll off his back and set it down. "You see Naruto, not everyone can summon. It's not because it's hard to learn, or that there aren't enough summon domains, but because it requires a ridiculous amount of chakra."
"How much chakra?"
"Enough to kill a Genin if they even tired it. But you're not even remotely an average Genin thanks to the fox in you belly." The Toad Sannin unraveled the giant scroll, revealing a list of names until they came to a blank one. "All you need to do is sign your name in blood and use the hand you plan on summoning with. To summon all you need to do is these hand seals." Before Naruto could even blink Jiraiya bit his right thumb and his hands flew through the required hand seals. "Boar, dog, bird, monkey, ram! Summoning Jutsu!"
Smacking his right hand on the ground, a circle of kanji seals formed on the ground, and in a huge cloud of smoke he was sitting on top of the orange toad was introduced himself on. "And that is how you do it kid!" The Sannin boastfully laughed.
"Blondie, I cannot believe I am saying this but sign the contract. You know what mine can do, just think about the possibilities of yours." Ishikawa said, it killed him to do this, but the kid needed all the help he can get.
Yea, Ishikawa nearly killed him thanks to those stupid bees, honestly who knew that such insects could prove to be deadly? Naruto did not need to think upon his decision to sign the contract anymore. Unsheathing a kunai, the blonde cut deep into his right thumb and began signing his name next to his fathers. After dabbing his fingers with the wet blood he stamped them onto the paper.
"All right...boar, dog, bird, monkey, ram. Summoning Jutsu!" Slamming his right hand on the ground, a circle of kanji seals formed around the area. Then in a small cloud of smoke a young orange toad with purple markings around his eyes, mouth and stomach, and wore a blue sleeveless jacket.
"Yo. I'm Gamakichi, ya got any snacks?" The small toad greeted the new summoner.
"Uh, fraid not." Naruto awkwardly said, this was a little underwhelming truth be told. He was expecting something...well actually he didn't know what to expect. "Sorry, I honestly don't know what to say, this is my first time summoning anything."
"Seriously? Come one now I honestly can't be your first!" Gamakichi said.
"Fraid so, Gamakichi this is Naruto Uzumaki, my newest student." Jiraiya introduced them to each other. "Don't let his appearance fool you, he's much stronger than he looks."
"Well he needs to stop looking like a kabuki reject like yourself Jiraiya."
Ishikawa started laughing until he was doubled over holding his sides. Hayate looked on in disbelief, he heard that the toad summons were more noble than this.
Naruto was not amused. "Hey, I like this mask. It's more kickass than what you can bring!"
"Hey, I maybe small you masked reject, but unlike you I will grow!"
"Why I oughta..."
"All right children that is enough. Naruto, that was a good first try but that is not enough to summon the boss of the toads. To make sure you're going to be allowed to summon he toads freely you must not only summon Gamabunta but gain his respect. Try again." Jiraiya commanded his newest student.
"Piece of cake. Summoning Jutsu!" After going through the proper hand seals, Naruto smacked his hand on the ground, but this time nothing happened. "Oi, what the hell is going on here!?"
"You have to bite your thumb before you do the seals kid, to summon you need to do a small blood sacrifice. Try again." The Toad Sage instructed.
"Aw hell." Removing his mask and clipping it onto his belt, Naruto brought his right thumb to his mouth and bit hard enough to draw blood once again. His hands flying through the required seals, he slammed his right hand on the ground once again. "Summoning Jutsu!"
After a large cloud of smoke enveloped the entire area, Naruto found himself standing on top the head of a huge toad taller than most buildings. He had an aquamarine skin tone and yellow eyes with grey markings around them and two distinct, circular markings on his shoulders. He was also carrying two huge katanas on his back, and an orange sash around his stomach. He looked around in confusion. "Uh, where am I?"
"Hey there." Naruto greeted him. Well this was much more like it, a giant toad to smash things, he could definitely get behind this contract. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, are you Gamabunta?"
"Sorry child, my name is Gamahiro." The giant toad said. "I guess you are the newest summoner?"
"Well you're much nicer than Gamakichi, that's for sure."
"It heard that you spiky-haired bastard!" Gamakichi shouted from below.
"Gamakichi be nice, what would your father say?" Gamahiro admonished the smaller toad summon.
"We'll find out when he eventually gets here. Come on Blondie you got one more in you, pump the maximum amount of chakra you got. That's how you'll get the boss summon!" Ishikawa shouted in encouragement.
"So now you tell me." Naruto grumbled before hopping off Gamahiro and landed on the ground. Biting his thumb one more time and flying through the seals, the blonde slammed his hands to the ground, and poured nearly all his chakra into the technique. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A gigantic cloud of smoke obscured the vision of everyone in the forest, and when it cleared it revealed a giant toad that was only a little smaller than Gamahiro and had a dull, rusty red skin color, but around his eyes and on his lips and chest were brighter red markings. Over his left eye, was a scar, his tongue, had a series of stud-like piercings on both the upper and lower side. He was wearing a large blue happi vest that had the kanji for 'Ebi' on the back, and carried a massive dosu blade at his hip. In his mouth was a large kiseru pipe that was blowing more smoke than a chimney.
"Jiraiya! Why have you summoned me?" The large toad irritably demanded.
"Oh crap, the kid actually did it." The Toad Sannin was visibly sweating buckets now. "Ah...hey Gama, I'm not the one who summoned you. It was my newest apprentice."
"Impossible, it would be too soon for your latest tadpole to summon me! Even that last runt of yours had to steadily summon my kind until his was sixteen to summon me!"
"Hey, don't underestimate me you giant tadpole!" Naruto sluggishly moved from the top of Gamabunta's head to his nose. The blonde stumbled forward, pointing at the toad boss. "It only took me three tries to summon you, name one person who do that!"
"Oh no..." Jiraiya lightly palmed his face.
"You're really full of hot air for a tadpole." Gamabunta narrowed his eyes at the blonde loudmouth standing on the tip of his nose. "So you want to summon us toads, eh? How bad do you desire this boy?"
"Blondie, listen to me. To earn the respect of a boss summon you must go through a test of sort. I had to do it for the Queen Bee, you must do the same for Gamabunta." Ishikawa helpfully suggested.
Naruto was exhausted, he had never used that much chakra in such a short amount of time before. It certainly took a toll on his body, but he never backed down a challenge, especially one that could be so life changing. "Give me one challenge, one that will guarantee your respect, and I will do it, no matter how hard it may be."
"Oh kid no." Jiraiya muttered.
"This is not going to end well." Hayate said to himself.
"Dad's gonna squish him." Gamakichi remarked.
"Take it easy on him boss, he seems like a good kid." The only one that had anything positive to say was Gamahiro. That put him up a notch in Naruto's book.
If a toad could smirk, Gamabunta would resemble a Cheshire cat. But the twinkle in his eyes did not bold well for anyone. "All right tadpole, here is my challenge. For twelve hours you're going to try and hang on to me, if you fly off I will ban you from the toad contract forever. If you somehow hold on, you can summon my kind without pause or hesitation."
"You're on Gamabunta. I can handle that."
"Good, the test starts right now!" Without warning Gamabunta jumped high into the air, and bounded away from the village so he wouldn't damage the buildings or infrastructures.
Jiraiya could only helplessly watch as his latest student screamed his lungs out as he hopped away on the boss summon. "Good luck kid."
(Sasuke's Apartment – Later that Evening)
"Ugh...never again...dammit Ishi that was a stupid idea." Never in his life had Naruto ever been so exhausted, it was well past four o' clock in the morning before he got home. For twelve hours he had to use all the remaining chakra to keep himself attached to the back of the happi vest before he had to use his physical strength for the last couple of minutes. His normally spiky hair was drooping down to cover the top most of his broken Hannya mask, and he was moving at a snails pace, sluggishly making his way up the stairs to his shared apartment.
"I dunno kid, you did succeed in gaining the contract. You can use the toads now to fight, and that is nothing to scoff about." Ishikawa remarked as he floated next to the blonde.
"I hate to agree with the likes of a stone shinobi, but he is right." Hayate seconded, ignoring the heated look Ishikawa was giving him. "You're now one of the few in the village to have a summoning contract. With some work you could reach great heights like the Sannin themselves."
"Right now all I wanna do is fall asleep for a few hours before Zabuza kicks me in the ribs, and makes me lift something heavy." Naruto was honestly not looking forward to when Zabuza came knocking on his door. Fumbling to get his set of apartment keys out of his pants pocket, unlocking the door he stumbled into the apartment.
And promptly received a kick to the head for his troubles.
Flying through the apartment the blonde hit the couch with a loud bang. His temporary bed slid from its position and slammed into the wall, no doubt damaging the drywall. Disoriented, and pissed off, Naruto leapt to his feet and got into a loose taijutsu stance. "All right you bastard, you only get one hit. One!"
"Dobe?" The light flicked on, and Sasuke, looking like he lost a fight with a pack of wolves appeared before his roommate. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I live here for now, what the hell did you kick me for?" Naruto demanded.
"I thought you were an intruder!"
"I unlocked the damn door...Sasuke why does it look like you were attacked by wolves?"
The Uchiha shuddered and it honestly looked like he was going to curl into the fetal position. "It was Kakashi-sensei's dogs...Naruto why do you look like you ran a thousand miles to get home?"
"...I was doing a test no thanks to Ero-sennin." Naruto did not have the heart to tell his teammate he gained a summoning contract, not yet at least.
The two of them were silent after that, from the fox kits point of view they were on edge, their nerves were frayed, and they were dead exhausted. Ichigo yawned before moving to sleep on the couch with his sister following him.
"We need a break." Naruto eventually said.
"Agreed. If we keep training like this we're going to get burnt out." Sasuke seconded.
"Tomorrow we ditch everyone and just slack off in the village?"
"I think Shikamaru would be proud of you for saying that."
Naruto only chuckled and took his Hannya mask off. "He would only say I was a 'troublesome, copycat.' then sigh and wander off to watch the clouds."
"That sounds like him all right." Sasuke replied before yawning tiredly. "Now I don't know about you, but I need some sleep, you can stay up until dawn, but you're not dragging me there with you."
"Up yours too teme." In a perfect union both Genin trudged towards their respective sleeping areas, and promptly collapsed onto them, fully clothed and filthy to boot. It was a sight that caused both Hayate and Ishikawa to sweat-drop.
"I am still having a hard time processing all of this you know." The deceased Special Jonin said.
"Aw, being dead isn't all that bad." Ishikawa said.
"Don't you miss your family? I know you Stone shinobi lack basic emotions like compassion and mercy, but you must miss the people back home."
"All right, first off asshole I never fought in the Third Great Shinobi War. Second I'm getting a little tired of your racist remarks, my shinobi are no different from yours. We have compassion for our loved ones, and mercy is a luxury in our line of work." The deceased Kamizuru retorted, floating on his side and scratching his belly. "Like it or not we're stuck together until Blondie can get our souls to depart to where we belong."
Hayate was silent for a long while after that, all that filled the air was the sounds of loud snoring coming from their ward. "So does the kid really have the Sharingan, or is it some sort of mutation?"
"It's a little bit of both, as far and I know he does not have the ability to use genjutsu or hypnotize anyone with the Kurashingan as it is called. He has the ability to copy ninjutsu, clarity perception, and I think he can see chakra if Iwagakure's research is correct...don't give me that look everyone is trying to one-up you guys."
Hayate only sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could not fault Ishikawa, or his village for trying to get one step ahead of them, as far as he knew Konohagakure was trying to stay ahead of not only their enemies but also their supposed allies. "What I would give to be a Genin again, to be young and naive about the world."
"Amen to that. Amen to that." Apparently that was the one thing both shinobi could agree on.
The next morning Zabuza was pounding on the door irritably. "Dammit kid, wake up I don't got all day! Open up the door or I'll knock it down!"
"I think that would violate your parole if I'm not mistaking." Zabuza turned his head to see Kakashi lounging on the roof. "If you're looking for Naruto I'm afraid that both he, and Sasuke have decided to play hooky."
"Are you freaking kidding me? I promised to train the kid and he just chickens out. I got one more week before the finals, and he is not ready."
"Naruto has been burning his candle at both ends. Between training with you, Jiraiya, and weekly team training sessions with me, I think he needs a small break." It also didn't help that he was running Sasuke into the ground to make not only his body stronger, but teaching him his personal ninjutsu. "I think giving these two a much needed day off won't hurt them."
"Speak for yourself Kakashi, in my village if you didn't train everyday your skills got rusty, and that leads to a painful demise. I'm going to look for the kid, and give him hell to pay."
"You won't find him. You know before he even made Genin, Naruto caused all kinds of hell in this village. Jonin, Chunin, and even our Anbu failed to find him. The kid even wore that kill me orange that you hated so much."
Zabuza could not deny that Naruto's old orange outfit offended his senses. He always hated the color orange, it was ugly and honestly should never have been a color in the first place. But to not be found while wearing orange, that was sort of impressive...not that he would admit it of course.
Kakashi gave his former enemy an eye-smile before flipping off the edge of the room. Landing on his two feet he lightly stretched his back out. "Enjoy your day off Zabuza, try to enjoy the sights, I hear the Hokage Monument is beautiful at dawn."
"I'll pass Kakashi, the brat might want to play hooky, but I'm going to train." Turning away in a huff the former Mist shinobi left some parting words for the leader of Team Seven. "If you come across him today, tell him that there is going to be hell to pay tomorrow."
Flipping open Icha Icha Violence, the silver-haired Jonin slowly nodded. "Whatever you say Zabuza."
With the two Genin and fox kits resting on Naruto's shoulders, the blonde's spine straightened. "Ugh, it feels like someone walked over my grave."
"I told you not to eat those leftovers for breakfast. They were two weeks old dobe." Sasuke said.
"It wasn't the leftovers teme, I think that someone is out to get me."
"We're shinobi, someone is always out to get us for whatever reason. If you keep thinking any harder your already feeble mind is going to snap in two."
"Oh bit me, I have a reason to be paranoid as everyone else here!"
Sasuke honestly couldn't deny that. Besides being the Kyuubi's jinchuriki, he was also, as far as he knew the only person to meet the Shinigami himself and come back from the dead with a ghost as a companion and a giant eyeball stuck in the middle of his forehead...yea Naruto was screwed up in more ways than one. "How about we go somewhere quiet for a while, don't you have something you've been meaning to do?"
"Mmm I don't think so." Naruto remarked before Benihime swatted his masked face. "Gah! What was that for?"
'Daddy how can you be so forgetful? You still have that big book back at the apartment, you have yet to return it to where it came from.' She mentally said to him.
"Oh crap! I have that library book back at the apartment, Akira is going to kill me with those late fees!" Naruto shouted in dismay, causing a flock of birds to squawk in protest and fly away.
"The librarian?" Sasuke recalled going there every so often and seeing a nice, pink-haired lady always willing to lend a hand. "I don't think she will charge you much dobe."
"This is a library Sasuke, they make their living charging the crap out of you for late fees." Naruto frantically exclaimed.
Sasuke had to physically restrain himself from bonking his teammate on the head. Naruto may have gotten stronger, and more mature since Wave Country, but he still acted like a giant idiot at times. "Lets just go before you have a brain aneurysm." He said grabbing the blonde by the back of his shirt the Uchiha dragged him to the library to settle his accounts, or at least make it less damaging than it already was.
When they arrived Sasuke forcefully shoved Naruto through the door where he unceremoniously landed on his belly. Both Ichigo and Benihime hopped off his shoulders before he hit the ground and sat on the check out counter.
"Dammit teme, when did you become for forceful?" Naruto loudly shouted.
"Because Kakashi-sensei is a jerk!"
"Ahem," A polite, but quiet voice forced Naruto to look up. Akira Haurno looked down at him with an amused expression on her beautiful face. "Naruto, I told you to not shout in the library."
"I'm sorry Akria-san." Naruto apologized.
"We haven't seen you in months, you check out a book and that is the last we see of you." She lightly remarked.
"I'm sorry Akria-san, I've been busy with...well a lot has happened." That honestly was putting it lightly, between doing a ton of missions, surviving the Forest of Death, the Preliminary Exams, and the hell Zabuza, Jiraiya and Kakashi was putting him through it would take all day for him to tell her everything. "I'm sorry that I haven't visited you, Sakari or Korega. I promise after the exams I'll explain everything. I doubt you'll believe me though."
"If anything it will probably make a great fantasy story." Akria said before extending her hand to help him up. "I assume you're not here just for a visit."
"Unfortunately, well kind of, ah what I mean is..."
"Oh for the love of Kami." Saving his teammate from making even a bigger fool of himself, Sasuke intervened. "The dobe is worried about the late fee for his book, he is hoping that you would give him some leeway."
Akria lightly sighed and turned towards the Uchiha. "He should be worried, the late fee is one-thousand ryo a week." She lightly smirked when a horrified expression formed on the mask on Naruto's face, Sasuke was slack jawed, and even the fox kits looked horrified; huh who knew animals knew what currency was?
"I am not helping you with that dobe." Sasuke bluntly said.
"I honestly didn't expect you to teme." Naruto said, his voice dripping in defeat.
Akria placed her right hand in front of her mouth and lightly giggled. "Of course that was when Hibari was in charge. Ever since she was arrested for disturbing the peace, and failing to obey Hokage-sama's orders I have been in charge."
"So will that mean you'll wave my late fee?" Naruto honestly could float in joy from the feeling bursting in his chest.
"Oh, you will still have to pay the late fee." And like that he came crashing to the ground. "But it will not be the outrageous fee you were expecting. Return the book when you can, and be careful in the finals. We're going to root for you."
"Aw shucks you're embarrassing me."
"You're embarrassing me dobe." Grabbing the back of the blonde's collar, Sasuke began to drag his teammate out of the library. "It was good seeing you Haruno-san, have a nice day."
"Enjoy the warm weather, drink plenty of fluids." After the two Genin left, the older woman looked at the ceiling and lightly sighed. "Such good boys. Sakura is in good hands."
Looking in the area where their home resided, Akira only imagined Sakura sleeping in on this day. No more than two weeks ago Sakura showed up at her place in tears after her mother was arrested and her father abandoning her to run off with another woman. Korega and herself took the poor girl in without hesitation, and it had been...a interesting transition. Sakura didn't want to tell anyone what happened to her family, and Sakari was getting used to having an actual sister.
Akira didn't want to lie to Naruto, but she respected Sakura's wishes. She had a lot on her mind regarding the exams, so the family just supported her with love and encouragement that was long overdue. But after the exams they would work towards making her an official member of the family leaving her sister unable to lay claim to her if she ever got out of prison.
That was a big if of course.
(Hours Later)
"Dobe does your stomach have a tapeworm in it?" Sasuke plainly asked.
"No, why do you ask?" Naruto answered in confusion.
Sasuke eyed the ten plates stacked on Naruto's side of the table, as opposed to his four. For once he did not feel inferior to someone, especially based on the blonde's appetite. He was just glad that the Akimichi restaurant they decided to hit up was an all you can eat, so they weren't breaking the bank. "You're still stuffing your face." He plainly said.
"Hey, blame my training. I'm burning more calories than I am putting them in. I need to get every single bite I can get today, because Zabuza is going to kick it out of me tomorrow."
Idly handing the two fox kits two very generous pieces of meat, Sasuke could only imagine what his teammate was going to go through. Kakashi wasn't pulling any punches, but Zabuza was ten times worse. Sure he noticed the blonde's physique becoming more cut and defined, and he was obviously stronger, but he had not learned a single ninjutsu out of the man. But that was where Jiraiya came in. Sasuke would fully admit to anyone that he was jealous of the dobe getting training by one of the Sannin, but from his one training session with him, it was not a cake walk either. Naruto had not been shown to use any ninjutsu taught by Jiraiya, so what exactly was he putting himself through hell for?
Before he could think further on it, the restaurant doors opened to reveal Choji and his father, Choza. The both of them looked at the Genin and made their way over to them, grinning.
"Naruto! Sasuke! I didn't know you guys ate here!" Choji happily exclaimed.
"We were very hungry, this month of training is kicking our ass." Naruto bluntly stated, much to Sasuke's exasperation.
Choza only laughed, if he was offended by the language, he didn't show it. "Don't I know it, back when I was training for my Chunin Exams my father. He ran me into the ground every day." A haunted look came across the older Akimichi's face, honestly what was so bad that he would act like it was the end of the world. "For every time I failed, I was denied food from my bento." Ah that explained it.
"I assume you're giving Choji the same treatment?" Naruto lightly asked.
"Oh no! He has been training me day and night, but not to that extent." The pudgy Genin said, "Dad's not that mean." It sure didn't look like he was making any progress. The four visitors looked at the pudgy Genin with a dull look and saw absolutely no change, was he really training? "So what's with the foxs?"
"I found them orphaned in Wave Country. I hope we aren't causing a disturbance with them." Naruto said before petting Benihime.
"The Inuzuka Clan comes into my restaurants all the time, so long as their companions stay with their owners, and not make a mess on the floor they are okay to dine with their owners." Choza informed them.
Well that was a relief off their minds. The Akimichi were good people, that was set in their minds now. Both Naruto and Sasuke pulled out their wallets and paid for their meals, a generous tip included before standing up. "Thanks for having us, but we need to get going. It's our only day off before we got to get back to training."
"Come by anytime boys, you're always welcome." Yep Choza was good people.
After exiting the restaurant, the two Genin and animals aimlessly began to walk around the village. There was really no clear destination in mind, just a peaceful walk until Naruto decided to break it. "Have you seen Sakura lately?"
"Not for a while, haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Apparently her mother has been arrested, and her old man abandoned her not soon after." Sasuke revealed to his teammate.
"Holy shit." He must have lost some brain cells if he did not hear that. But then again he had been so busy that there wasn't any time to hear the news rolling around in the village. "So what is she doing now? I mean...does she even go home?"
"Last I saw her she was still training with Kanpo-sensei. I don't know if she is living in the hospital or bunking with Akira-san's family. I did try to see her, but to my surprise she refused to talk to me." Apparently that got Naruto's attention. "I'm surprised too."
"Perhaps she needs a little alone time. I never had a family so I don't know what she is going through."
Before Sasuke could even remark about actually losing a family, the two of them heard a ruckus and turned to see that they were standing outside the Higarashi Weapon Shop. Hinata was rooming there with Tenten and her family, so was there some sort of family spat going on in there? After the last couple of days Naruto wasn't going to take any chances and moved to go inside the shop.
Several minutes before the male members of Team Seven even strolled into the neighborhood, Tenten was dutifully manning the register wearing her usual attire. She was still recovering from her wounds, but now she could move without flinching in pain. Her father was looking over the racks of clothes and weapons, trying and failing to find any imperfections in them. Even Hinata, dressed in some of her hand me downs was helping out, she didn't need to, but the former Hyuuga insisted.
"I think that one might have a crack." Hinata said, picking up a small packet of senbon needles and holding it up for Hiroshi to see.
Taking it from her, the larger man squinted his brown eyes and saw that there was a crack, significant enough to throw off the balance should it be thrown. "Indeed it does, thank you Hinata. Those eyes of yours are a godsend."
The younger girl blushed, and it caused Hiroshi to force himself from pulling the girl into a comforting hug. Ever since she started living with them it really didn't take long to see the girl had lots of confidence issues and self-doubt. Simple compliments made the girl flush scarlet, and praise made her fidget nervously. If it wasn't for the fact that he had a family, Hiroshi would have marched up to the Hyuuga Compound and kick Hiashi's pompous ass for mistreating such a sweet girl.
Tenten cracked a light smile and spoke to her love rival, and by now dear friend. "You're doing a good job there peepers, a few more weeks and my dad will craft perfect weapons instead of junk." She said, affectionately calling Hinata by one of her many nicknames.
"Hey now." Hiroshi protested, but he could not keep the smile off his scarred, bearded face.
"I'll try to keep him on his feet then." Hinata lightly giggled.
The older man honestly couldn't help but also see the change in the two girls. Tenten had always been truthful to him when it came to her shinobi and personal life, after the incident in the hospital she came clean and told her what happened and what Naruto planned to do to keep them both safe. Hiroshi was opposed to that idea, he could not fathom the thought of a single man marrying two women, even if it was to rebuild a clan. But Tenten was at her happiest when Hinata was around so he would bite his tongue for now, they were still young, and for all he knew it wouldn't happen with her.
The door to the store opened and he turned to immediately glare at the patron. It was Neji, still bandaged up from having his ass kicked from his fight with Naruto. "Boy, you better be here because you're buying something." He growled at the Genin.
Neji said nothing and looked towards Hinata's direction, she froze like a frightened rabbit. Good, he did not want her fleeing. "Hiashi-sama has-"
"We know Neji, this is the third time this week you have come into our business repeating the same thing: 'Hiashi-sama requests your presence Hinata, you must come with me immediately.'" Tenten said, her voice dripping into a mock version of Hiashi's actual voice. "And my dad threatens you to leave and you repeat it a few days later. Get out of here Neji and don't come back."
"Tenten I have orders to-"
"Ugh, you're such a broken record! Can't you tell that Hinata does not want to come back, not after you all have done to her!"
Hiroshi would have snapped at his daughter for being so rude, but Neji deserved it. By now the entire village knew what Hiashi had done, and now the man was trying to save face, and was failing miserably. He turned to look at Hinata, and saw that she was quietly observing her friend.
Neji was trying to keep his cool, but it was really hard to do that nowadays. Naruto humiliating him in that fight broke all his composure, and beating him caused something dark to bubble inside him every time the though of the Genin. "I realize what was done to he was wrong. We are willing to correct out mistakes, but we cannot do it unless she is present to talk it over."
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Hinata spoke for the first time since Neji walked into the store. "I-I don't want to go back. I am happy here...Takashi-san, Tomoko-san, and Tenten-san have treated me with such kindness that I don't think I can repay them even if it took me the rest of my life."
Again, it took all of Hiroshi's willpower to not hug Hinata like she was a small bunny rabbit. Neji, however, looked like he was about ready to explode. "Hinata...sama, I insist you come with me. Cease such foolishness and return to your rightful family."
"Neji, she does not want to go." Tenten left the cash register and made her way over to her teammate. No thanks to Temari; and herself from the night she saved Hinata, she was walking with a slight, but temporary limp. "Please leave now before my dad gets angry."
"I will return you know, the Hyuuga Clan will not stop until Hinata is back in our fold." This time Neji failed to add any suffix to his cousins name. It showed exactly how he personally felt about her being apart of their family.
"And why is that, because of her Kekkei Genkai, or because your uncle is too much of a fool to realized how much he screwed up and is trying to save face."
"Because it is her fate to do so."
Hiroshi lightly palmed his face and repressed a long sigh. He lost track of how many times his daughter complained about Neji using fate as an excuse for something to happen. After seeing it sparsely throughout the year he honestly wondered how Tenten did not snap at him on a daily basis.
Apparently this time it snapped whatever was left of Tenten's patients. "Fate!? Neji fate does not decide anything, we are all in control of our lives."
"Just like you were in control of your own fight against that Sand kunoichi." Neji coldly said.
"That was just a bad match up! One on one I was not a good match, but shinobi are usually in teams, if I had one more person I could probably have taken her." Tenten looked at her teammate, former crush and classmate. "Look me in the eyes Neji, and tell me that you do not believe that it was because of fate that I lost."
For the first time Neji paused, ever since he lost to Naruto his view on fate had been...shaken to say the least. He was so sure, so confident that he would advance towards the finals. But he was beaten, and humiliated during his match. He turned his face, unable to face his teammate, nor was he able to say anything.
"I suggest you leave now boy. My girl has access to a number of sharp things here, and I am not going to stop her." Hiroshi took pity on Neji and gave him a window to leave before he, or worse, Tenten filled him from head to toe with every kunai in the store.
Neji did the smartest thing that day and bowed out. Tenten looked absolutely furious and ready to unleash some violence on him, Hinata looked at him in disappointment. When he got to the entrance the door opened and he came face to face with the last person he wanted to come into contact with.
"Uzumaki." Neji bit out.
"Neji." Naruto lowly greeted.
The two former opponents glared at each other until Sasuke grabbed the blonde by the back of his shirt and dragged him away. He was not going to have his teammate start a pointless fight in the one place that he liked to buy weapons from. "Fight him later dobe, we're here on business."
After Neji left, Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "You boys aren't here on business are you?"
"We were passing by when we heard a lot of shouting, no we know why." Sasuke leg go of the blonde and made his way towards Hiroshi. "Is there any chance I can get some advanced scrolls for my kusarigamajutsu? I mastered the basics already."
"I will be the judge of that." The former shinobi gruffly replied. He gave Naruto a glare before he gestured for Sasuke to follow him. "I got a small training area out back, show me what you got kid, and we will see if you are worthy enough."
Naruto honestly did not see that one coming. When both Sasuke and Hiroshi left he was left alone. With two girls that liked him. The same two who know about, but not all of his deepest secrets. And the same two girls who gave him very mixed signals regarding the harem situation. He scratched the back of his head nervously. "So...how are you two doing?"
"I'm taking it day by day, hopefully by the end of this month I can start training again." Tenten said.
Hinata cracked a small smile. "She has been restless, a month of no training is making her act out a bit."
"I'm not acting out peepers!" Tenten exclaimed.
"Right..."
Naruto lightly chuckled in response to that. The two of them were getting along, they weren't clawing each other like Sasuke's rabid fangirls, and he didn't feel the need to run away. "I'm glad the both of you are all right. With everything that is going on I just...can't help but worry."
"Naruto we're fine. Besides dad scaring everyone half to death, Hokage-sama has one shinobi looking after us in shifts. You just keep training so you can become Chunin." Tenten said before she poked him in his chest. Her eyebrows rose before she poked him again, and again, and several more times after that. "Wow, I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up. Hinata come and feel him."
Hinata's face automatically turned neon red, and Naruto swore he saw steam fly out of her ears. "Uh, I don't think she is comfortable with...hey!" He was proven wrong when the former Hyuuga went to his other side and trailed her fingers over his bicep.
While the two fox kits snickered in the background, Hayate lightly sweat-dropped. "I do not envy that kid. Those two are going to be a handful."
"I think it's more amusing, I mean look at him." Ishikawa gestured towards Naruto. "Now look at them." He gestured towards the two girls feeling him up. "He would have been lucky to even get one girl by the time he was twenty, but now look at him, two cute girls who actually like him for being him, and not because he is the son of the Yondaime, or did something like save the world. No man, they liked him way before he became...well anything. And I am going to see where this will go for him before I eventually get sent to the Pure Lands."
"Okay one, they're twelve and thirteen respectively. Calling them cute at your age is creepy." Hayate said before continuing. "Second, the CRA could be more of a problem down the road if neither of them are careful."
"I sincerely doubt the girls will allow something like that to happen." Ishikawa laughed loudly when Hiroshi came back into the store and give the blonde a death glare. "And lets not forget about panda girl's old man."
"Mmm good point."
(A few hours later)
"The sun is about to set, ugh guess it's time to go home." Naruto sighed out in exhaustion.
"I guess Shikamaru was right, when you have a day off you will want more." Sasuke dully replied.
After saying goodbye to Tenten and Hinata the two male members of Team Seven spent three hours lollygagging. After getting some lunch they spent the rest of their time under one of the massive trees in the Forest of Death. They were regular bumps on a log, watching the clouds pass by as the day began to end. Shikamaru would have been proud.
Getting to his feet, Sasuke stretched the knots out of his muscles. "You coming or not?"
"You go on ahead, I will catch up later." Naruto waved his teammate off.
"Hmn." Clicking his tongue, the Uchiha gestured for the two fox kits to follow him back home.
That left Naruto lazing on the ground with a thousand thoughts rolling through his mind. In the four or so months since he became Genin things had gone completely off the rails. He died and came back to life. Learned that he had Uchiha blood running through his veins and granted a sentient eyeball that allowed him to control black hellfire that could burn through anything, and gained a remarkably made sword. After that he found himself becoming stronger, he gained respect of his peers, killed a B-rank Missing-nin, created a new life for Haku, Zabuza, Gozu and Meizu. Learned exactly who his father was. Learned that he was actually desired by not one, but two women, and was now part of the CRA with Sasuke. And now he was only a week away from the fights of his life to become a Chunin.
"Blondie you're thinking too much, it ain't natural." Ishikawa said. He moved from his lounging position on one of the tree branches and hung upside down. "What's up kid, talk to me."
"I am just thinking about everything that lead me here is all." Naruto replied before he slid his mask back on his face. "It's odd Ishi, one fateful decision caused a giant chain reaction that lead me here. It sort of makes you think, doesn't it?"
"Pfft, don't I know it? I died because of that reason."
"I didn't mean-"
"I know you didn't mean anything by it, I'm still...I guess bitter about it. I abandoned my village to fulfill a grand goal in mind, but I died barely five months later. It's a bummer man, but I made my bed, now I got to lie in it." The deceased Kamizuru lightly sighed and looked to where his former home was. "But man do I got regrets. There are things I said to my loved ones that I wish I could take back, and things that I thought I could do when I was older, but I can't. Not now, probably not ever."
The regret in his voice caused Naruto to think back on probably the worst thing he had done since he came back. Looking at the specter of Ishikawa looking crestfallen, he came to a decision that he did not want to end up like Ishikawa full of regrets. Pulling his mask back on his face, he hopped to his feet and started to make his way out of the forest.
"Now where are you going?" Ishikawa asked.
"To give a long overdue apology Ishi."
Curiously, Ishikawa followed the blonde out of the Forest of Death and back into the village itself. For roughly an hour they traveled across the village until they arrived, of all places, the Sarutobi compound.
"What are we doing here kid?"
"I told you, giving a long overdue apology." Naruto replied before ringing the door bell.
The door was answered by one of the Sarutobi Clan members, a pretty nondescript man who might have been a distant cousin of the Sandaime. "Can I help you?"
"Hello, is the Sandaime in?"
"What did you do now?"
Naruto nearly face-faulted from that comment, did he really cause that much trouble for the old man? On second thought, he did not want to think back on all the headaches he caused the Sandaime, he would miss the Chunin Exam finals if he did. "I didn't do anything that would need his attention, I just want to talk to him about something. It won't take more than five minutes of his time, I swear!"
"Uh-huh." He dully said before opening the door. "Try not to take too long, he needs his rest. Being Hokage isn't easy you know."
Naruto honestly had no comment to make, he was ignorant of exactly what a village leader went through every day, and he probably had not been making it any easier ever since he came back from Wave Country. He followed the Sarutobi Clan member quietly so not to disturb anyone.
As far as clan homes went the compound was quite plain. Tatami mats, thick wooden walls, pictures and a few artifacts that looked like they came from the Warring States Period. Naruto did not try to talk to his guide, nor try to peek into any open rooms, he was going to be on his best behavior until he left.
The two of them arrived in what looked like the library the clan owned and saw the Sandaime lounging in one of the chairs reading an old book. "Hiruzen, Naruto Uzumaki is here to see you." The Sarutobi Clan member said.
"What has he done now?" Hiruzen calmly asked.
"He claims that he has done nothing, he only requires five minutes of your time is all."
Letting out a tired sigh, Hiruzen bookmarked his book and set it to the side. "Thank you Kohaku, Naruto please have a seat."
As Kohaku turned to leave, Naruto quietly moved to sit in a chair in front of his grandfather figure. The man looked quite odd without his Hokage robe and hat, wearing nothing more than a comfortable long-sleeved blue shirt and lounge pants. As Ishikawa hovered next to him, Naruto nervously cleared his throat. "Hey old man, how are you?"
"That cannot just be what you came here for, is it?" Hiruzen lightly asked.
"Good start off Blondie."
"Shut up Ishi..." Naruto lowly muttered. "No it isn't, listen I am sorry if I interrupted anything. I came here to say something that needs to be said, so here it is. I'm sorry." Seeing the older man raise an eyebrow, the blonde figured that he would need to be more specific. "I know I have not been the most...behaved shinobi that has ever entered your ranks. And especially after everything regarding...you know blowing up your desk to all my attention seeking pranks. I must have apologized over a million times but never really meant it, today I mean it."
Hiruzen raised calmly moved his pipe to his mouth and lit it. "Why are you telling me this after so much time has passed?"
"Because today Ishi I were talking, and he told me that he regretted a lot before he died. I don't want to die and end up that way because I was being bitter, bratty or just plain stubborn. That is all I have to say, have a good rest of your evening old man." He came to say his peace, he said it, now he was going to leave the Hokage alone, go home and deal with Zabuza tomorrow.
As Naruto got to his feet, Hiruzen raised his hand to stop him from leaving. "Naruto, what you have done is very mature. I am proud of you."
Dumbly blinking, the blonde gave him a goofy grin through his mask. Honestly it as super creepy watching a demonic mask form emotions. "I just did what I thought was right."
"And I am going to do that as well." Slowly getting to his feet, the Sandaime's old bones creaked and popped from sitting so long. "I never properly apologized for sending you to Ibiki, you proved your loyalty time and time again, and yet I doubted you." He made his way over to one of the book cases, or in this case a bookcase full of scrolls. "Tell me, how proficient are you with the Mud Dragon Bomb jutsu?"
"I can't say I mastered it without lying, but I do pretty good. Why do you ask?"
"Because that jutsu is incomplete without the second half, it's a combination jutsu I developed a long time ago." Hiruzen pulled out two scrolls and approached Naruto. "Call me a crazy old man, but I want to pass on these two techniques to you. Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb, and Ninja Art: Tile Shuriken."
"What the...are you serious?" Naruto honestly couldn't believe it, even Ishikawa, the mouthy ghost was at a loss for words. "But I suck with fire ninjutsu!"
"You just need to practice. Every day you did it until you collapsed from exhaustion. This is nothing different." Shoving the scrolls into his hands, Hiruzen gestured him to leave. "Go home Naruto, rest up and train your absolute hardest. You have one more week before the finals start, and I am expecting you to reach the top."
Gripping the scrolls tightly, Naruto nodded before giving the Hokage a cocky grin. "I will knock the socks off those judges. Believe it old man!"
(Chunin Stadium – One Week Later)
"Where is he? The dobe is going to be late." Sasuke grumbled to himself.
After their day off Naruto disappeared off the face of the planet. He had not seen hide nor hair of him, the only sign of life from his idiot roommate was a report from Kakashi two days before the finals started that he was alive, and that was it.
The Uchiha scanned the competition and found himself mentally marking who would pose a threat to him. Each one had their strengths, weaknesses, and mysteries surrounding them. Before he could start dissecting them for their strengths and weaknesses he felt a finger poking his cheek. "Wha?"
"You got that look on your face teme, keep that up and you'll be stuck with it."
"Naruto?"
"Hehe, the one and only." He blonde replied.
"How did you get in here? I didn't feel a thing."
"It's a little trick Zabuza taught me, plus I have always been sneaky haven't I?" Naruto said, giving his teammate a Cheshire grin. Honestly, that mask made it look so creepy.
"I'm just glad you didn't make an ass of yourself showing up here."
A small cloud of smoke erupted in front of the assembled Genin, revealing a man that had brown, shoulder-length hair which hung about his face and brown eyes. He wore his Hitai-ate like a bandanna, and the standard Jonin outfit. Curiously enough he had a senbon needle in his mouth.
"Ladies and gentlemen," His voice hushed the anxious crowd. "On behalf of Konohagakure, I welcome you all to the Chunin Exam finals. My name is Genma Shiranui, and I will be the referee until the finals end. Now the rules are simple, this will be a one on one match, the winner will be declared when your opponent has been rendered unconscious, unable to continue or I call the match. Is that clear? Good. Now I want Choji Akimichi and Dosu Kinuta to stay here, the rest of you head into the waiting stands."
The Genin did as Genma told them, there was no grumbling, no cursing, just quiet walking until they made it to their own private area to watch the fight.
"Who do you think will win?" Sakura asked her teammates once they all were together again.
"Dosu." Both Naruto and Sasuke quickly said.
"What...why would you think that?" She asked in surprise.
"As much as it pains me to say, Dosu has the advantage. Choji just got a bad match up." To her increasing surprise Shikamaru agreed with her teammates. The lazy Genin leaned over the edge and watched his best friend and the Sound Genin size each other up. "Just watch."
"The first match of the Chunin Exam finals, Choji Akimichi of Konohagakure versus Dosu Kinuta of Otogakure. Ready...fight!" Genma raised his right arm, sharply dropped it and leapt away.
"All right, I have been training for over a month for this. So prepare yourself, I am not going to hold back! Expansion Jutsu!" Focusing his chakra, Choji's entire torso expanded in size. "And now Human Boulder!" Tucking in his limbs, he propelled himself at high speeds towards his opponent.
Dosu simply turned tail and ran, Choji followed him until he reached the wall. Applying chakra to the soles of his feet he sprinted up the wall and flipped away just as Choji slammed into the wall with bone jarring force.
Placing his Melody Arm on the expanded torso, Dosu said to his opponent. "Did you know that the human body is made up for seventy-five percent of water? With a simple tap I could pop you like a meat balloon. But that would piss off the guy who made me a promise, so I'm just going to knock you unconscious." Flicking his Melody Arm, he sent ripples of chakra through Choji's body.
The result wasn't catastrophic, Choji simply deflated and laid in his position with swirls in his eyes. Dosu then looked up to the Genin stands, and simply nodded before moving to take his place there.
"Well folks, the winner of the first match is Dosu Kinuta!" Genma exclaimed.
There was a mixtures of cheers and jeers, Dosu did not pay any attention to them. Shikamaru slowly moved to look at Sakura. "Told you, bad match up."
"He did his best though, there is always next time." Naruto remarked.
"Heh, well fatty sure had it coming to him. It would have been much more interesting it he popped." Oboro said, he smirked over at his opponent. "Such a shame."
"I am going to make sure you regret saying that." Shikamaru promised him.
"I forfeit!"
"Wait what?" Not even a minute passed when Dosu arrived back in the private area, Naruto didn't even hear Genma call the next match. He knew Shino was supposed to be fighting Kankuro. Sticking his head out he saw the puppet-wielding Genin raise one hand in surrender. "What the shit!?" He exclaimed over the booing crowd.
"I don't trust it dobe." Sasuke lowly said to his teammate. "Listen, be careful out there. Something is up."
"Yea I know." If from what Hayate told him was true, then Sunagakure was planning something with Otogakure. "Cheer me on, I'm going to kick Temari's ass."
"In your dreams kid. You're not even going to last a minute against me." Temari tauntingly said.
"Just you wait Temari...just you wait." Naruto cracked his knuckles in his opposite hand. This was definitely going to be a fight that would be talked about for years to come, he could feel it in his bones.
Armageddon: Well folks, here is the latest chapter, and man it took longer than I thought it would. Well that's what happens when life gut-punches you, relax I am fine. Just enjoy this chapter and more for it and the others will arrive soon enough. Have a good August!
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