Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the "Naruto" series
Chapter Thirty-three
Naruto grimaced as he forced himself to eat, ignoring the way Karibi eyed him every few seconds. He kept his eyes shut, concentrating on the chopsticks that were in his hand; he grumbled when they slipped from his fingers.
"Naruto—"
"Ribi-chan, I'm fine! For the last time, you can stop worrying about me!"
He wasn't sure if it was because of the attack from Itachi and Kisame or if this was just how their relationship had progressed, but Karibi's concern for him was overwhelming. It was something that he wasn't accustomed to. His entire life, he had worried only about himself, and he was the only one who ever worried over his own well-being. So, having Karibi tend over him like a mother hen was almost unsettling. Even when they had begun living together, she hadn't been so attentive. And perhaps it was because they were stuck spending so much time together without the academy or missions or the chunin exam. Naruto couldn't say for sure what it was. And deep down inside, he loved it. Every second of her worrying over him and lecturing him and scolding him for pushing himself too far or staying out too late—it made his heart swell with warmth; it made him feel wanted. But he was also embarrassed; he was a genin now, and he had to learn to take care of himself and others around him.
"Short-stuff, don't be an idiot! You can barely eat like this."
"I'm not stopping until I master this jutsu!" That made the redhead scoff.
"I never said you had to stop. I just mean you need to be careful with your health, dumb-ass." That caused Naruto to narrow his eyes.
Deciding not to waste energy on bickering, the blond attempted to feed himself once more with his utensil. A groan emitted from his gut when his chopsticks slipped from his weak grasp once more. Finally, having had enough, the blond began to shovel food into his mouth with his bare hands; the jonin was appalled.
"Don't be such a savage, brat!" A sharp yelp erupted from the genin when Karibi slapped him on the back of his head. He winced at the pain as it pulsed through his scalp, his eyes darting over to the woman that was glaring at him. "If you need help, just say so!"
"I don't—"
"Shut up."
Using her chopsticks, Karibi scooped up a clump of rice and shoved it into Naruto's mouth without warning. She didn't notice the flush of his cheeks while he slowly chewed his food; his gaze was averted to his tray while his guardian continued to feed him.
"...You still haven't figured out the difference between your method and Jiraiya's?" Naruto didn't answer, knowing better than to talk with food in his mouth in Karibi's presence. He merely shook his head, the jonin sighing; had Jiraiya not harassed her about helping Naruto, she would have already given him aid to his task. "You just have to think, Naruto. You don't have to be a complete genius to learn this jutsu. You just have to understand the way your chakra works." The blond gulp down his bite, gazing up at the redhead with an innocent expression.
"...You once told me that I had to feel my chakra." Karibi blinked; she vaguely recalled that moment.
"I did."
"Well...I practice that! Every day, I focus on my chakra, and I feel it and use that feeling!" The kunoichi's gaze softened, Naruto staring up at her with a frown. "But even though I'm doing that, I still can't break the balloon!" A moment passed, and then Karibi smiled.
"I told you to feel your chakra because it's important for you to understand how it works and how you are able to use it. Everyone does everything in their own way. When it comes to chakra, yes, there is the general correct way of using it...but at the end of the day, everyone is different, and everyone's chakra moves differently." The genin listened closely, drinking every word that his guardian was saying. "The way that you're using your chakra now with the balloon? It's clearly not working. So then, you need to figure out a different way to make it pop. Which is why I asked—how was the way you used your chakra different in the way Jiraiya used his?"
§
"Ribi-chan, where are you going?" Looking over her shoulder, the redhead sighed.
"I plan to stop by a few other shops on the west end of the village. Jiraiya is supposed to be doing the same, but he's completely hung-over and useless right now." He stunk of booze and perfume.
Naruto nodded, smiling up at Karibi. She returned his glowing expression, relieved that he had found his fire of determination once again. "Good luck!" With a wave over his shoulder, the boy was off, leaving Karibi to her lone thoughts.
Her smile fell and the bright aura evaporated. She gazed after the blond, even after he disappeared around the corner. And after a few minutes, she finally forced herself to walk.
"...Shit."
A week and had passed since they had arrived at the village, and although she had decided to finally speak with Naruto about the past, the opportunity had never come. He was so focused on popping the water balloon, and she was so concentrated on finding clues on Tsunade's location, that the right time never came.
No, that's not right.
The truth was, she was scared. This was an important discussion for her and for Naruto, and she already knew what the outcome would be. The way he would see her would change. She was sure in his eyes, she would no longer be Ribi-chan. She would be a stranger. She would be like the others that had treated him like dirt—like he wasn't worth anything. And that terrified her. The growth they had made together was nothing she could have ever expected, and there was not a single doubt in her mind; that progress would vanish in an instant.
Still, he deserved to hear the full truth of his life and his family and the Kyuubi; he deserved to know what lied inside of him so that he could properly prepare for his future.
Rubbing her eyes, the jonin shook her head.
"Kakashi..." It was moments like this that she would reach out to him. And yet, he was lying unconscious back at the Leaf. He was waiting for her to return with Tsunade and to help him. She didn't have time to wallow in pity and self-loathing. Instead of wishing for his aid, she needed to give him hers. She had to focus on the goal; help Naruto and bring Tsunade back home.
"Alright." Taking a deep breath, the 22-year-old straightened out her back before she marched her way down the busy road; she didn't look back.
§
"Yes, she looks to be in her twenties and—"
"Ribi-chan!" Said woman stiffened at the shrill voice that called her name. Turning on her heels, the jonin watched as an orange and blue blur came charging towards her; Naruto's chakra was all over the place.
"Short-stuff?"
Naruto was ecstatic. His detour to the bathroom had led him straight to the answer that he was looking for. And after breakfast with Karibi, he didn't have a doubt; he knew how to pop the water balloon. However, he wanted to be sure. And so, he set off for the clearing where he had been holing himself up at, and after the first four balloons he popped, he was sure that he had figured it out.
Finally, he had cleared the first step.
"Naruto? What's going on?" The blond panted heavily, leaning over to catch his breath. Steadying himself, the genin began to laugh, grinning like a maniac while Karibi eyed him warily. "Seriously. What—"
"I did it!" Naruto interrupted Karibi. "I finally popped the water balloon!"
§
"Oi! Ero-sennin!" Karibi gazed down at the sanin with an unenthused stare, Naruto scowling down at the sleeping man beside his caretaker. "Wake up! It's time for you to see!" The slumbering man mumbled in his sleep, still trying to recover from the night before; he had come back later than Naruto had.
"Jiraiya! Get your ass up!" the kunoichi barked, nudging the man with the tip of her foot. A sigh of exasperation fell from her lips when he swatted her foot away, Naruto almost laughing. "Moron."
"I'm up. I'm up. Just—water, someone." The oldest of the three kept his eyes shut, though he motioned for someone to do as he asked; Naruto and Karibi exchanged mischievous looks.
"Water?"
A squeal sounded through the late morning as water splattered all over Jiraiya's face.
And with it, pieces of rubber from the balloon Naruto had popped.
§
It had taken the older man several minutes to gather himself and will himself out of bed. The water that had splashed on to his face and soaked through his hair had helped speed the process along. It had, initially, been an un-welcomed surprise, but when the sanin pried his eyes open and glanced around, he was unexpectedly pleased; it seemed Naruto had finally passed the first step of his Rasengan training.
"Sorry, sorry." Setting his tray of food down at the table of the hotel cafeteria, Jiraiya chuckled to himself. Karibi took a seat beside Naruto—who plopped down in the seat in front of his mentor. "I'm tired from the days and nights of gathering information." That set the redhead off.
"You're tired? I'm tired!" came Karibi's bitter response. "The only one who's actually been gathering information is me! Meanwhile, you flirt with women who would be the same age as your daughter if you had one!"
"Oi! Don't talk like that, Karibi." Jiraiya scoffed. "I'd never have a kid—"
"Guys!" Naruto could live without his mentors' constant bickering.
Karibi relented, leaning back in her seat after giving the leader of their current mission a dirty look. All the while, he carelessly munched on his brunch, sipping happily from a bowl of miso soup. The woman watched closely as the reels in his head turned, his dark eyes watching Naruto for a moment.
"So, you finally figured out the trick? I suppose it's thanks to yours truly." Naruto shook his head.
Bending over, the boy smiled fondly at the white and brown cat that ventured up to his seat. With careful hands, the genin picked up the animal, Karibi blinking as the cat sat contently in his arms. "Actually, it's thanks to this guy and Ribi-chan!" That had startled the woman even more.
"Huh?" Jiraiya was clearly as thrown off as Karibi.
"I figured it all out after I saw this cat playing with one of the water balloons," Naruto elaborated, rubbing the cat on the underside of his neck; for a split second, he missed Kushito. "He was flicking the balloon back and forth with his paws, and the water inside was splashing in all different directions, and then, bingo!" The jonin let her amethyst eyes wander to the cat in Naruto's embrace; she smiled softly.
"Ribi-chan said something that made me think." Naruto grinned up at the woman before turning his head back towards Jiraiya. "She asked me if I'd noticed the difference between when you made the balloon pop and when I tried. And at first, I didn't notice anything at all. But then, I thought longer on it, and after I saw this little guy with the balloon, I remembered." The older shinobi exchanged glances while Naruto continued with his explanation.
"When you first showed me how to break the balloon, I realized the surface of yours was bumpy from the water inside. Up until earlier, I was just stirring the water in the same direction." With a purr, the hotel cat leapt out from the blond's hold and continued on his merry way. "I tried a few times to make the water move that way with only one hand, but I can't—not yet...but Ribi-chan was right." The kunoichi gazed down at the boy beside her with sparkling eyes, Naruto shooting a glowing smile up to her. "Everyone's different. So, I did things in my own way." Hence, the use of both of his hands.
They were both impressed. It was a rather unorthodox method of passing the first step to Jiraiya's jutsu, but Naruto had never been simple nor plain; he had accomplished his goal in the way that he did everything he worked for. The 23-year-old smirked widely, matching Jiraiya's sense of pride; he had to admit, the boy was dedicated to the cause.
"Looks like it's time we move on to the next step."
§
The next step in order to use the special jutsu—pop a regular, rubber ball.
In truth, Naruto had been hoping for a bit of a break in the next step. He couldn't and wouldn't admit it, but breaking the water balloon had been rather tedious for him; having to pop a regular ball made him want to groan with exasperation. However, he was never one to give up. He had made a promise to himself to do this and do things right. And so, he swallowed his pride and buried the ache of his body in order to get to the next step.
"You have no right—trying to tell me what to do."
"This is for the best, Karibi."
"He deserves a break! And if not that, then at least a little guidance! Even from me! I may not know how to use your jutsu, but you and I have an equal understanding of chakra."
"That's not the point."
"What's the point?!" Karibi glared at her companion, the man pouring himself a second glass of sake before popping a rice cake into his awaiting mouth. His hum of satisfaction only succeeding in frustrating the guardian more, her foot tapping impatiently against the ground while she thrummed her fingertips against the tabletop.
"You don't get it. I don't expect you to. But the reality is, Naruto needs to be able to figure this jutsu out on his own." Jiraiya swallowed the last bite of his food, a somber expression washing over his features. "There are going to be times where he is alone. He's going to have to fight through battles without relying on anyone but himself. If he's going to do that, then he needs to find the strength to do so in himself, and in himself only." And that was what the sanin was trying to teach him.
This was more than just about training and mastering a single jutsu.
"...He's done plenty enough on his own."
"That's not the same, and it's not enough."
"...He won't have to fight anymore battles alone."
"You know that's not true." Karibi's face twisted into a scowl.
Jiraiya sipped on his drink, finishing it with ease and pouring himself another. He ignored the waves of guilt wafting from the woman, pouring her a glass of sake instead. A stiffness began absorbing into the silence that had settled between them, the jonin trying to find the right response while the sanin patiently waited for the conversation to come to some sort of conclusion.
"...He's had to fight all of his battles alone up until now...I should've been there fighting with him." Karibi let her eyes fall to her glass, shame oozing from them. "If I had been by his side, he wouldn't have to go through all of this alone, now." The 50-year-old let out a heavy breath, knocking yet another glass of sake back before he addressed the young woman's concerns.
"You're probably right." Karibi nearly flinched. "Had you stuck by his side and shown him the way from the beginning, maybe he'd be different. Maybe we wouldn't be here now." The Sage shook the bottle of alcohol, confirming that there was still a bit left for him to drink.
"The thing is, it doesn't matter now—the 'what if's' and the 'maybe's'. Our reality—our here and now is the only truth that matters." Gradually, the jonin found the strength to lift her eyes from her drink, Jiraiya smiling softly to her. "...You're here now, Karibi. The time you missed is the time you missed. Doesn't mean that you need to keep punishing yourself for it." For a few seconds, the strong, fearless ninja in front of him was nothing more than a vulnerable, young woman.
"Letting him figure this jutsu out on his own is important. We both know that. But just because he's doing this alone right now doesn't mean he's really on his own...When those times of battling and surviving on his own approach, he'll be able to do it. And it'll be because he gained the strength and wisdom to do so on his own." The woman scoffed, but she didn't argue. "Not only that, but it'll be because of the support that he gets from you—it'll be because he knows that, in the end, he's not truly fighting alone at all." The kunoichi blushed; this was the first time she felt so naive and pitiful in the sanin's presence.
"I'm sure it hasn't been perfect, but you've been there for him and shown him that he no longer exists in this world just to exist. That, in it of itself, is enough to make him stronger. Now, he needs to find strength in himself—even when he doesn't think he has any left." A few seconds of quiet passed between the two, the chattering around them filling the gap. Jiraiya eyed the jonin, assuming that he had said too much and would be receiving a negative reaction from his companion.
What she did surprised him.
Letting out a deep breath, Karibi reached out and grabbed her glass. With her eyes screwed tightly shut, the woman threw her head back and gulped down her sake, letting out a low hiss and slamming the bottom of her cup back down on the table when she was finished; Jiraiya smirked.
"...You mind pouring me another?"
"Finally! Let's get you to loosen up the purse strings a little! Always so tense!"
"Shut up, Ero-sennin."
"Karibi!"
§
His heavy pants were drowned out by the howl of the breeze. The crescent moon shined down on Naruto, giving him enough light to see through the darkness of the night. A thin sheet of sweat covered his entire body, and he was beginning to feel suffocated in the thick sweater that he always had zipped on. But as much as he wanted to tear the covering off, he couldn't make himself do it.
His arms felt like pillars of lead.
Wincing, the genin tried to form a fist, finding a huge amount of difficulty with even that. He let his eyes flutter shut, pulses of his chakra thrumming through his body; he barely had anything left to keep training with.
How much longer was he going to have to keep doing this? Already, a week had passed, and he was only on the second step of Jiraiya's jutsu; at the rate he was currently progressing at, he wasn't sure when he would get to the last step.
"I warned you to come back before you over did it." The sound of Karibi's voice made Naruto open his eyes.
"Ri—Ribi-chan." Forcing himself to smile, the blond met a set of exasperated eyes. "I'm fine!"
"Give me a thumbs up then, if you're fine." The genin grimaced. "That's what I thought."
"It's a lot harder than you think!"
"No, it's exactly as difficult as I imagined it would be." Crouching down beside the young boy, Karibi gently helped sit him up, her hands moving with caution and care. She maneuvered him around like he was a porcelain doll, Naruto watching with a small smile across his tired lips.
"...Thanks, Ribi-chan." His appreciation made her heart flutter.
"...Naruto, you've been working so hard and...I understand that it's because of so many different things..." He was shocked by the tremble in Karibi's voice. "In light of everything that's happened—Itachi and Kisame, the discovery of the Akatsuki's intentions—I think it's time that we...that we talked."
"Talked about what?" The 12-year-old felt a knot begin to form in his stomach; this was not something he normally expected from his guardian.
She was suddenly acting so unpredictably.
With a deep breath, the older Uzumaki took a seat on the ground, folding her legs together and meeting the boy's apprehensive look with her own. "...The Kyuubi inside of you comes with a lot of responsibility and repercussions. Because of that, you've lived in a cruel world with cruel people...and you deserve to know the full history of the Kyuubi and what it means to you and how it has shaped your life." The jonin felt as if she was floating out of her body as she spoke. It was as if she was watching the scene from the clouds, distant from her body and with little control. "I've held off on having this conversation with you for a long time. And I kept telling myself it was because you weren't ready or because I was protecting you...but me not talking about this hasn't protected you from anything. It hasn't saved you any trouble...it's just proven that I'm a coward." Naruto frowned.
"Ribi-chan—" The blond froze, Karibi's warm hand placed gently on the top of his head. Her fingers buried themselves into his blond locks, a soothing heat spreading from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
"It's about time you and I really talked about your life as a jinchuriki and your future as a jinchuriki...and in order for me to give you a true grasp of everything, we need to start from the very beginning." Karibi sighed. "We need to start with your parents."
Hello, again, all! I'm back! And I'm super happy with how quickly I was able to post another chapter :D However, please don't keep this same expectation for posting, as this may be a fluke. It also might not be! I find myself really drawn back to this story and finding relief in writing again. So, for now, I'll continue as best as I can! And I can only hope that whoever is here continues to enjoy!
So, the end of this chapter...We are about to see some repercussions to this conversation in future chapters. With everything unfolding how it does in the actual series, I felt like having Karibi in the mix does change things a little with where they are now. I know that Naruto doesn't really learn much about his actual past until much, much further in the series, however, in my mind, it really doesn't make sense to have someone like Karibi in his life keep so much information to herself for such a long period of time. It felt right having things unfold this way! Only the future will tell how things are going to progress between the two from this point on. And, just to clarify, for anyone reading this that may be confused, we have now sort of circled back to the beginning of the last chapter! I'm excited to get further into this part of the arc! With this little conversation and things to come, I think things are going to get interesting!
Again, thank you to all that are still around reading! I appreciate the support and patience! I hope whoever is here enjoys this chapter :)
Reviews:
Taffdog19943: Hi! Yes, I'm happy that I was able to update this story too! Truth be told, this story is on that I hold dear to my heart for some personal reasons, so I'm genuinely happy to be back at this again! And I'm happy to know you're still reading and enjoying LOL Thanks for waiting for another post! I hope you like this chapter and continue to enjoy what chapters I post!
WindyCitySlayer1: I'm glad to be back too :) And yes, life definitely gets wild sometimes, but I guess that's the beauty of it at times? All about hindsight LOL Thanks for taking the time to read this after such a long hiatus! And thanks for reviewing! If you continue to read, I hope you enjoy the chapters that are to come :)
anaylen: Ah! I had to translate again, so apologies if my response to you makes zero sense! But, it sincerely brings me joy that you are happy about the update! It's brightened my day that you have been kind enough to leave a review :D I hope that you like this chapter, and hopefully you like where this ends up going! Thank you for the review!