Hello everyone I'm back once again to bring you another chapter of my story; if you are enjoying it please keep on supporting me and my other works. Now just to clear the air because a lot of people are whining about it; there is a reason why Naruto is weaker than Lee and Neji. Neji comes from a clan where he's been training from the age of 4 or 5; he's had a lot more training than Naruto who only got basic training when he was 8 and began serious training when 9. As for Lee he's a taijutsu specialist and he works his ass off, all day and every day; and his speed is still a lot faster than Naruto even when he uses his weights. Naruto has to uses his chakra cloak to even be able to match Lee's base speed and Neji has both his Byakugan and his 8 Trigrams Palm Rotation to nullify Naruto's jutsu. So yes, for right now Naruto is weaker than them; but he still has a lot more room to improve. Now with that out of the way lets begin.
Legacies and Lightning: Chapter 9
Land of Fire Border (3 days after leaving Konoha): With Naruto, Anko, Kurenai and Yakumo
Naruto, Anko, Kurenai and Yakumo all stood in front of the marker for the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Fields where Kusagakure was; Naruto looked at the simple marker with twinkling eyes.
"Oh man, we are so close" Naruto said with excitement and his team looked at him.
"Alright kiddies; lets cross the border" Anko said and everyone nodded; Naruto and his entire team walked forward in a horizontal line formation and in unison crossed the border "Naruto, Yakumo, congratulations; you just entered another country".
"Hell yeah" Naruto cheered.
"Wow… another country" Yakumo said looking around; Naruto then took off his back pack and pulled out a small aluminum container and popped it open revealing it was empty "Naruto? What are you doing?".
"Collecting dirt" Naruto said as he kneeled down and began to take some of the dark soil and pit it in the container "a little souvenir of my travels". Naruto packed in the dark dirt and put the lid of the container back on; Naruto pulled out a marker and wrote the Kanji for 'Land of Fields' on it before putting it back in his back pack.
Anko and Kurenai both chuckled at this and Kurenai spoke "ok then, lets get going; we have another three days of walking until we reach Kusa" she said.
"Alrighty then" Naruto said putting his back pack on "lets get stepping".
A few hours later (At dusk); In the woods: With Naruto, Anko, Kurenai and Yakumo
Naruto and his team finished setting up their camp, starting a fire and gathered enough fire wood; now Naruto and Yakumo were about to be instructed by Anko and Kurenai.
"Ok you two; we are going to have rotating shifts for night watch" Anko said and both Naruto and Yakumo nodded "me and Naruto will take the first shift for six hours, then Kurenai and Yakumo replace us for another six hours".
"Ok then" Yakumo said before looking over to Naruto "good night Naruto" Yakumo said giving him a hug and going to the tent she was sharing with Kurenai.
"Have a good shift you two" Kurenai said with a smile before crawling into the tent with Yakumo.
Anko looked at Naruto and spoke "well Naruto; now your going to learn one of the secrets to staying awake" Anko said as she threw him a can and Naruto caught it "caffeine". Naruto read the can and spoke.
"Doki energy drink (monster)" Naruto said "two hundred and eight calories and one hundred sixty milligrams of caffeine". Anko popped open a can of her own and began to sip it; Naruto shrugged and did the same 'oh well' he thought. Naruto sipped the energy drink and smacked his lips and spoke 'huh… not bad' he thought.
3 hours later (at night): In Kusa territory
"Ok how about this?" Naruto said to Anko who sat on a log "fuck, marry, kill; Ji-Ji, Guy Sensei and Kakashi… go".
Anko thought for a moment "Fuck Lord third, kill Kakashi and marry Guy" she said.
"Seriously fuck Ji-ji… why?" Naruto asked and Anko chuckled.
"I've never done it with an old guy before" Anko said making Naruto gag "My turn, fuck marry kill: Kurenai, Yakumo and Tenten".
"Ooooh, a tough one" Naruto said as he thought for a minute "I'd say, fuck Yakumo, marry Kurenai sensei and kill Tenten… sorry Tenten".
"Really? Marry Kurenai; explain" Anko asked and Naruto blushed and poked his fingers together.
"She's just really nice and patient; I can totally see Kurenai sensei being an awesome wife" Naruto said and Anko chuckled. "Ok so hypothetical scenario; if you were to have a four man team for a zombie apocalypse who would it be and why" Naruto asked and Anko thought.
"Shit… I know a lot of good people; I'd have to say-" Anko began but was stopped when she heard a far away scream "what the fuck was that?"
"Sounded like a scream" Naruto said "we have to help; someone could be in danger".
"We can't just leave Naruto" Anko said as she got up and ran over to Kurenai and Yakumo tent "Kurenai, Yakumo; wake the fuck up".
Kurenai and Yakumo woke up and opened the tent flap "What, is it our shift now?" Kurenai said and Anko spoke.
"No dummy, me and Naruto heard a scream from the woods; we're going to go and check it out" Anko said and Kurenai and Yakumo went wide eyed.
"Ok go on ahead; me and Yakumo will stay here and protect the cam, be careful" Kurenai said and Anko nodded and looked over to Naruto.
"Lets go Naruto" Anko said and Naruto nodded as they both rushed off into the direction they heard the scream.
15 minutes later: With Naruto and Anko
Naruto and Anko were both running through the woods trying to find the source of the scream; so far they were looking around for anything out of place.
Anko looked over to Naruto and spoke "Naruto, keep one of your Fuma shuriken ready; if we run into trouble I expect you strike first" she said and Naruto nodded.
"Right" Naruto said as he grabbed one of his collapsible Fuma shuriken and opened it; suddenly they heard another scream and both Naruto and Anko looked to the direction where it came from and Naruto whispered "over there".
Naruto and Anko went off in that direction and upon reaching the location saw the origin; 3 Kusa ninja had captured a girl around Naruto's age and they were holding her down. Naruto having a bad feeling reached behind him and took his Fuma shuriken out of it's sheath.
"Stop struggling bitch" one of the Kusa ninja said to the girl he was on top of "you caused a lot of trouble you know that?"
"Get off me you damn it" the girl shouted only to receive a punch to the face.
"Shut up" another Kusa ninja said "you damn outsider; we give you food, a place to stay and this is how you repay us". "When we get back we're going to-" the ninja didn't finish his sentence when he heard 'whooshing and crackling coming through the air.
The ninja looked up from the girl and saw a Fuma shuriken about six inches away from him; the Fuma shuriken sliced the ninjas head off sending it flying and shocking the two other ninja. Both of the ninja got up and looked in the direction where it came from but failed to realize the Shuriken had static strings attached to it until it was too late.
The Fuma shuriken came back and hit another ninja in the back piercing through his chest and sticking in not coming out; the ninja stat was on top of the girl saw this and jumped back to gain some distance.
Naruto seeing his cover was blown made a hand sign "Lightning Cloak" Naruto shouted; Naruto's body began to glow red before small sparks began to come off him. Naruto jumped out from behind his cover and stood there his body now covered in his red lightning shining like a beacon in the dark.
The Kusa ninja looked at Naruto and saw his Konoha forehead protector and spoke "you're a Konoha ninja; why're you attacking me?" The ninja asked and Naruto looked at him.
"Because you hit a defenseless girl; and I can't stand that" Naruto said with a scowl.
"When I get back to my village, you'll be fucked and so will your vil-" the ninja began but Naruto wasn't listening; Naruto in a blur of speed rushed over and cocked back his fist. Naruto threw a punch hitting the ninja in the gut knocking the wind out of him, electrocuting him and sending him flying into a tree.
"Very bold of you to think that I'm going to let you live long enough to do that" Naruto said as the ninja got back up and rushed towards Naruto.
The girl on the ground was stunned at seeing this as she didn't think anyone was going to help her; suddenly another set of feet landed next to her and she flinched. The girl looked to her side and saw a purple haired woman in a provocative outfit and a trench coat next to her.
"Hey are you ok?" Anko asked and the girl nodded.
"I-I'm fine; who're you?" the girl asked; Anko looked at the girl and she had some strange features. The girl had red hair, red eyes, pale skin and a pair of thick glasses with one of the lenses cracked due to getting punched.
"I'm Anko; who are you" Anko said and the girl gulped.
"K-Karin" Karin said before she turned her attention back to the glowing red boy who was attacking the last ninja.
Naruto dodged a punch from the Kusa ninja by bending backwards; Naruto continued to bend backwards until his hands touched the ground before swinging his legs up. Naruto used both of his feet to kick the enemy ninja under the chin making his head shoot up and spit up blood from his mouth.
Naruto spring boarded off himself and landed a few feet away before rushing towards the Kusa ninja tackling him to the ground and getting of top of him; the Kusa ninja took out a kunai in a reverse grip and tried to stab Naruto.
Naruto reached out and grabbed his hand stopping him and cocked back his head; Naruto head butted the ninja in the nose breaking his nose and dazing him. Naruto followed up by launching an elbow at the ninja; Naruto hit the ninja in the throat crushing his wind pipe and making him go wide eyed as he struggled for breath.
Naruto got off of him and looked down at the ninja who struggled for a few minutes until he stopped as his face turned blue and he died; Naruto canceled his chakra cloak and signed as he looked back to Anko and the girl he just saved.
Naruto walked over to them and spoke "hey… you ok?" Naruto asked and Karin nodded.
"Y-yeah I'm fine" Karin said as Naruto extended his hand; Karin took it and Naruto helped her up "I'm Karin".
"I'm Naruto; why were these guys chasing you?" Naruto asked and flinched and then spoke.
"I-I deserted Kusa" Karin said making Naruto and Anko go wide eyed "they were using me for my ability"; Karin raised her sleeves and showed several dozen bite marks and Naruto and Anko began to feel their blood boil. "My chakra has healing properties and I was being used as a living I.V bag" Karin said "My mother died doing the exact same thing; so I decided to run away… I've been doing this for years".
Naruto clenched his fists and Anko scowled "mother fuckers" Anko said looking at the dead Kusa ninja; Anko looked to Naruto and spoke "Naruto, we got to get rid of these bodies; if Kusa finds out we helped a deserted then it could mean war".
"Shit" Naruto said as he looked at the Kusa ninja with his Fuma shuriken in his back; Naruto grabbed the shuriken and pulled it out "what about Karin here?"
Karin got worried and spoke "are you going to turn me over" Karin asked worried and Anko shook her head.
"No; just get the fuck out of here" Anko said; Anko then pointed east and spoke "head about fifty miles east and you'll hit the land of fire; they can't cross to get you". Anko reached into her pocket and took out her wallet "here have my money; I've got about twenty thousand Ryo"; Anko took out several notes and handed it to Karin.
Naruto took out his wallet as well "I got… fifteen thousand in paper" Naruto said as he handed the money to Karin; Naruto made a hand sign and his trench coat appeared "here, take my coat; it's not much but it'll keep you warm at night".
Karin took the money and put on the coat and looked at Naruto and Anko "thank you both" Karin said shaking Anko's hand; Karin turned to Naruto and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek making him blush "I don't know how I can ever repay you".
"Forget it; in fact forget you ever saw us" Naruto said and Karin nodded "go, now".
Karin nodded and spoke "you're my hero; thank you" Karin said; Karin spun around and began to run east at full speed before disappearing into the darkness.
Naruto and Anko saw Karin disappear and Anko but her thumb and began to go through hand signs 'summoning Jutsu' ; Anko slammed her hand onto the ground and a puff of smoke errupted. 3 large pythons appeared and Anko spoke.
"Ok you three; get to work and get rid of these three" Anko said and the snakes hissed; the snakes went over and began to swallow the ninja's corpses.
Naruto grimaced as the snakes swallowed the dead bodies "nasty" Naruto said and Anko shrugged.
"No bodies, no evidence, no crime" Anko said before looking at Naruto "bleach your weapons and seal them". Naruto nodded and spoke "ok Naruto, story time" Anko said "we killed some bandits saving a woman; when we killed them all the woman ran away".
Naruto getting what she said nodded "oh yeah, a woman; a woman with black hair" he said and Anko nodded.
"Good" Anko said "we take this to our grave"; the snakes now after having completely swallowed the corpses puffed into smoke leaving only some blood on the ground. "Lets go" Anko said and Naruto nodded; Naruto and Anko both went back to camp to tell Kurenai and Yakumo their fake story.
2 days later; In Kusa: With Naruto and Yakumo
Both Naruto and Yakumo were both in Kusa sitting on a bench outside the Kusa main building; Anko and Kurenai were both inside with the leader of Kusa to deliver the scroll leaving their genin outside while they talk.
As Naruto and Yakumo waited they were looking at people walk by; civilians and ninja walking by gave them dirty looks as they passed by. Naruto recognized the glared from the ones he gets back in Konoha; looks of mistrust and hatred.
Yakumo felt uneasy with the glares but Naruto responded with dirty looks of his own 'bastards' Naruto thought 'I didn't feel anything earlier; but now I'm kinda glad I killed your ninjas'.
A Kusa ninja walked by and gave him a sneer and Naruto flipped him off "Keep on walking dick head" Naruto said and the man continued to walk.
"Naruto, please; don't say those kind of thing" Yakumo said and Naruto huffed.
"Whatever" Naruto said as he began to tap his foot "I just hope Anko and Kurenai sensei get done soon; we've been here for two hours already, and that's two hours too long".
As soon as he said that Anko and Kurenai walked out with Kurenai holding another scroll; Anko and Kurenai both walked up to them and Anko spoke.
"Ok lets get the fuck out of here" Anko said with an annoyed voice "these people are a bunch of assholes".
Kurenai sighed and spoke "they are just on edge Anko" Kurenai said before looking at Naruto and Yakumo "ok you two lets go; if we're fast we could be back in Konoha in a week".
"Ok Kurenai sensei" Yakumo said as she and Naruto got up "but lets not go too fast; we might run into some bandits along the way".
Kurenai nodded and spoke "we will Yakumo; just stay on your toes" she said "lets get a move on".
Naruto and his team began to walk through Kusa towards the main gate to get back on the main road; they walked for about 30 minutes until reaching the main gate. Before they could leave a Kusa chunin stopped them.
"Hold up real quick" the Kusa chunin said and Naruto and his team stopped; Anko looked at him and spoke.
"What is it; we're in a hurry?" Anko asked and the Kusa chunin spoke.
"Just here to give you these" the Kusa chunin said as he handed them all a piece of paper; Naruto looked at it and saw it was a wanted paper with Karin's face on it.
"What's this for" Naruto asked and the Kusa chunin spoke.
"She's a deserter from out village; she left a few days ago and we haven't found her" the Kusa ninja said "we think she's hiding out in the woods somewhere but our hunter teams can't find her".
Anko spoke up next "eighty thousand Ryo for a girl, and a genin; what the fuck did she do, rob a bank?" Anko asked and the ninja spoke.
"None of your concern; just if you see her take her alive and bring her back here" The Kusa ninja said "and be careful; a team went missing a few days ago, we think she killed them".
Naruto chuckled at this "Eighty thousand is barely even a C-rank mission dude; not enough money for my taste" Naruto said as he crumpled the wanted poster and tossed it on the ground "not our deserter, not our mission, not our problem". "But I have to say, your village must suck balls to not be able to get a little girl" Naruto said chuckling and so did Anko; Naruto and Anko walked ahead out the gates with Kurenai and Yakumo following behind them leaving the Kusa ninja fuming at the insult.
As they walked Kurenai looked at Anko and Naruto with a suspicious gaze 'don't tell me…' Kurenai thought before going wide eyed 'those little liars'. Kurenai was debating in her mind whether to confront them about it but held her tongue 'what if… what if they had a good reason to keep quiet' she thought 'Naruto is almost a Boy Scout in his actions and Anko has good judgement'. 'I'll ask Anko back in Konoha; no need to rock the boat' Kurenai thought.
Naruto and his team continued walking south east as they made their way back to Konoha, having successfully completing their first C-rank mission.
3 days later; Land of Fire: With Karin
Karin made her way through another town that was bustling with life as she navigated the streets; Karin was still wearing Naruto coat he gave her and trying not to stand out. As Karin walked she saw a large building with neon lights and Karin read the sign.
'Jade Dragon: Gambling hall and Hotel' Karin read before shrugging 'screw it; I'll get a room for the night'; Karin walked over to the hotel and walked through the doors. Karin looked around and saw people gambling in all sorts of ways; dice, slots, cards; Karin was amazed by how many people were in there.
"Hey little lady" a man called out and Karin looked over and saw a blackjack table "want to play a hand; first one is on the house"?
Karin hesitated for a moment but then walked over and sat down in between a man and a woman "sure, why not" Karin said.
The dealer nodded and spoke "ok then; lets play this hand" he said "twenty one is the number you're going to try for" the dealer began to throw out cars and he threw a seven and a four at Karin.
"Oh, look at that; eleven" the lady next to Karin said "lucky; you should double down"; Karin looked to the lady beside her and spoke.
"What's that?" Karin asked and the woman chuckled.
"Double you're bet and try to win; if you do then you get double the money" the woman said and Karin nodded.
"Ok then; how much do I put down?" Karin asked the dealer.
"One thousand Ryo" the dealer said and Karin nodded.
Karin took out a 1,000 Ryo note and the dealer took it before putting the chips in front of Karin; the dealer then threw out another card and it was a king of spades.
"Look at that; black jack" the dealer said with a smile as he took out another 1,000 Ryo worth of ships and placed it in front of Karin "you're a winner".
Karin smiled lightly and spoke "oh wow; look at that" she said before looking at the woman "thanks for that". Karin looked at the older woman who sipped some Sake and smiled.
"No problem kid; gambling is my hobby, I know the ins an outs of every game" the woman said; Karin looked at the woman and was surprised by how beautiful she was. She had smooth white skin, honey colored eyes, blonde hair done into two pony tails running down her back, a diamond tattoo on her head and to Karin jealousy a large rack that would make men and women turn their heads.
"What's your name newbie" the woman said and Karin spoke.
"Karin… Uzumaki" Karin said nervously and the woman went wide eyed.
"Huh… Uzumaki; I thought that clan was wiped out during the last war?" the woman said "well the red hair is a give away; just like my mom and grandma's". Karin went wide eyed.
"You're an Uzumaki too?" Karin asked and the woman chuckled.
"Nope, just a quarter related" the woman said.
"Lady Tsunade, there you are" a black haired woman said running up to Karin and the now named Tsunade holding a pig "I was looking all over for you; the other casino we were at is having half price crap shoots".
Tsunade went wide eyed and spoke "no way, that's amazing; lets go Shizune" she said getting up and looking at Karin "by the way the names Tsunade kid; nice to meet you". Karin nodded and Tsunade looked at the girl "hey Karin… tell me" Tsunade said "you ever played craps before".
Karin shook her head and spoke "nope; this was the first time I gambled" Karin said; Tsunade wrapped her arm around Karin and she spoke.
"Kid, looks like your luck took a turn for the better" Tsunade said and Karin smiled "come on my distant clansman, lets make some money". "We can gamble, drink and share out stories; after all, us vagabonds have to stick together" Tsunade said patting Karin's shoulder.
Tsunade took her eyes off Karin and looked ahead 'after all I'm curious why an Uzumaki who's a foreign ninja, wearing a boys jacket, has numerous bite marks along her arms and is in the land of fire, is all by herself' Tsunade thought.
Karin smiled and got up collecting her chips before she began to walk with Tsunade, Shizune and their pet pig; Karin felt both of their chakra and studied it. Tsunade had a lot of inner turmoil and sadness in her chakra but still had some good deep down; meanwhile Shizune had a warm and open feel to her chakra that felt inviting.
'Maybe my luck has turned around?' Karin thought with a smile as she walked off with Tsunade and Shizune.
Ok another chapter done; I hope you all enjoyed it. If you did please like, comment and share with your friends; and until next time bye.