Shikon

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/42397077.

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: F/M
Fandoms: Naruto, InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale
Relationships: Hyuuga Hinata/Uzumaki Naruto, Higurashi Kagome/Sesshoumaru,
Namikaze Minato/Uzumaki Kushina
Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuuga Hinata, Higurashi Kagome, Sesshoumaru
(InuYasha), Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, Hatake Kakashi
Additional Tags: Crossover, InuyashaXNaruto, NaruHina - Freeform, Shikon no Tama
strikes again, Sesskag - Freeform, Spirit Minato and Kitsune Kushina,
OPNaruto, Please leave comment, I like comment, They feed my brain
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-10-15 Updated: 2023-08-02 Words: 43,018 Chapters:
21/?
 Shikon
by Makuro767

Summary

The Uzumaki Clan are ancient. Older than the Shinju Tree. Older than the Rabbit Goddess.
Older than the Sage of Six Path. They are guardian of a powerful artefact. An ancient relic
that held great power. Power that once changed the world so completely it become
unrecognizable. That relic have been lost with the fall of Uzushiogakure...but ancient relic
has a will of its own. So it seek out its latest guardian...the descendant of the last Taijiya and
the Inuhanyou Prince of an extinct race....
~
Naruto found his family...trapped in a jewel
 Chapter 1

A wish had been made. A wish on an object so powerful the world’s order shifted and
transformed. Everything that was once known changed, evolved and transformed. Only those
who had been around when the Great Shift happened remembered how the world used to be.

Great powers travelled the land. Human struggled as youkai, spirits of war and chaos, battled
as a game. Lives were lost in this game but it does not matter for all that matter was the
endless thrill of battle. Of the warmth of spilled blood and the shrill screams of the
battlefield.

But even those who lived during the time of the Great Shift barely lives. Time discriminate
no one. Soon tales of youkai and miko disappeared, became nothing more than fairytales.
Then a different sort of power appeared with the arrival of an alien goddess from the stars.

Chakra.

The world’s order shifted once more. Great battle arrived to the land once again and soon,
ancient power will awaken yet again. With the fall of the last clan that recalled ancient
history older than chakra, a precious treasure became lost. A relic of the past, the catalyst of it
all remained and seeking…seeking for the next protector, the next guardian…

The next Uzumaki…

Uzumaki Naruto was just doing his chores. He had just been punished for his latest prank. He
had to clean up the rotting fruits along the road leading to his school. He grumbled about the
unfairness of it all when he felt like his neck has been pinched.

The 10 years old looked up, “Huh?”

He looked around, somehow sensing something. Something that managed to slip under the
radar of Shinobi sensors in charge of the safety of Konohagakure. Not that the blond haired,
blue eyes, whiskered child know this. To him, instinct was telling him to go this way. Having
grown trusting his instinct, Naruto did just that. He followed the pull and suddenly he saw
something twinkling in the dark. Curious, he ran for it and saw a bauble on the forest floor.

He knelt down, poking the bauble with open curiosity, “Weird…”

He picked up the curious bauble and lifted it against the moonlight. The colors within shifted
from murky purple to brilliant pink. He gasped, “Pretty…”

Naruto didn’t know what he was holding, only that he needed to keep it safe because it’s
pretty. He never have something pretty in his possession before so like all children decided
that since he found it then it must belong to him. He didn’t know that it was the most
important relic that his ancestors of Uzushio had sworn to keep safe. A relic that must never
fall into the hands of evil.
The great power slumbering within him opened his eyes…

Chakra and Ki met, mingled and combined. Naruto frowned in his sleep as the bauble floated
from out of his fist and into his abdomen where a strange seal was etched into his skin…

Naruto opened his eyes to see a dome of kaleidoscope of colors. He frowned, he was sure he
went to bed in his own home. Not…wherever this is. He sat up and looked around, trying to
figure where he was. The ground was made of water that he somehow stood upon. He
decided to walk, not noticing that beneath the reflection of the clear water under his feet are
deep abyss filled with nightmares.

As he looked around, he heard humming. Not knowing where else he can go as there were no
landmarks to turn to, he headed to the direction of the voice. There sat a miko, as he
recognized the garb that those old women tending to the Hi no Jinja wear for every
Shougatsu festival. She turned to look at him and he found that she was rather young. A
polished yumi leaned against her right knee. She stared at him, her blue eyes wide.

Naruto fidgeted, “Uh…hi…do you know where we are?”

She stood up, picking up the yumi, and approached him. She reminded Naruto of his teacher,
Umino Iruka, as she stood over him. She continued to stare before cooing, “Aw, it’s a cute
fox kit!”

Naruto frowned, “Oi, I know I have whiskers but I’m not a fox, dattebayo! Why do people
keep mistaking me for a fox?” He grumbled.

She smiled and pinched his cheek, “You are so thin…didn’t you eat properly?” She grabbed
his wrist, “So thin…”

Naruto pulled away, “Stop messing with me, ‘ttebayo!”

She reached out, “Sorry, sorry! It’s just that…I haven’t seen anyone in so long!”

Naruto frowned, “What do you mean? Where are we?”

She looked around and smiled, “My wish,”

He looked at her in confusion, “Your wish?”

She smiled, “I wished for peace,” He blinked at her and she chuckled before saying in a grim
tone, “Should you ever found in your hand an item of great power that can grant wishes,
never make it,”

Naruto asked, “Why not? It can grand my wish, right?!”

She looked sad, “Because you must never wish for something unless you can grant it with
your own power. Then you know what you have paid for that wish to come true,”

He looked around, “So…you wished for peace and now you’re here…forever?” At her nod,
he wondered, “Then why am I here?”
She asked, “Is you name Uzumaki?”

He gawked, “How did you know?!”

She smiled, “Because the last person to visit me was an Uzumaki. He was a descendant of a
good friend. He promised to keep my prison protected at all time when he gained the power
and understanding to come inside the Shikon,”

He tilted his head, “Shikon?”

She gestured around her, “This is the Shikon no Tama. It can grant wishes…” Her blue eyes
dimmed, “But at a great cost,”

He frowned, “But I don’t know of any Shikon?”

She hummed, touching her chin before asking, “Tell me, have you ever come across a pretty
bauble?”

His eyes widened, “Oh yeah! I saw this pretty ball in the forest when I was cleaning the street
of rotten fruits! It was so pretty I decided to keep it!”

She frowned, “It called you, that’s why you found it,”

He blinked, “Call me?” He then laughed, “Don’t be silly. Balls don’t have voices, dattebayo!”

She sighed, “Before you find it, did you feel anything off? Something like you need to go this
direction or feeling like you’re being pulled there? The feeling stop when you find the
Shikon,”

Naruto squint his eyes in thought, thinking about his strange evening. He then nodded, “Oh
yeah! It felt like someone pinched my neck and I have this really strong feeling to go in this
direction. That’s when I….found…” His eyes widened, “Oh no! Am I going to be trapped
here with you forever?!!”

She stared at his panicking face and laughed. He pouted at her, “What?! It’s a valid concern,
dattebayo!”

She kept on laughing and finally calmed down after shedding a few tears from how hard she
was laughing. She grinned at him, “No…you can leave…it isn’t your fault that you are here
anyway. It isn’t you that the Shikon is reacting to…it’s him…”

She pointed just behind him and Naruto looked around only to face a giant black snout the
size of a house. He blinked and looked up to see a pair of hellish red eyes staring back at him.
Naruto screamed, “You’re huge, dattebayo!”

It was only then he noticed the golden chains coming from his belly and attached to the giant
creature before him. He poked at the chain, confused, “What?”

The beast huffed, “What a fool of a jailor I have,”

She glared at him, “Be nice. You might not be a real demon but your aura is tainted enough
my power can still affect you and it won’t be nice, I promise,”

Naruto scratched his head in confusion, “Jailor?”

She looked at him and then the giant beast before him before sighing. She sat down and pat
beside her for him to take a seat as well. Not having anything to do, Naruto sat before her.
She smiled sadly at her, “What do you know about the Kyuubi no Youko?”

He scowled, “He was defeated by the Yondaime on my birthday,”

She nodded, “But did you notice? The word used was ‘Defeated’. Whenever people ask
about this topic, it is always ‘Defeated’. Not ‘Slayed’ or ‘Killed’. Defeated,” He blinked at
her and she sighed, “A creature of great power always leaves a sliver of their power behind.
The Kyuubi is a creature of pure energy and energy do not just disappear. It can only be
contained,” She looked meaningfully at his belly where the chains came from.

Naruto looked at his own stomach and gawked before faintly asking, “I’m pregnant with the
Kyuubi?”

The Kyuubi growled, “As if!”

He paled as he recalled someone the insult hurled at him, “Then am I the Kyuubi?”

This time the Kyuubi roared, “No you’re not! Those stupid humans! As if something as
great and powerful as I will ever allow myself to be diminished into a despicable
human!”

She glared at him, “Enough!”

The Kyuubi shivered, his furs standing on end as he felt her power humming in the air.
Naruto blinked at how easily she subdued the frighteningly big Kyuubi the size of a
mountain. She sighed and looked at Naruto, “You are a container, the one who contain him.
You are not him. A glass of water can never become the water it contains,” She ruffled his
hair, “Alright?”

Naruto nodded before looking at the Kyuubi, “Why me?”

She looked at him and he grumbled before answering, “Because you’re the only choice.
What kind of leader will steal another man’s child to sacrifice when he has his own to
give?”

She winced, “Ouch! Moral dilemma,”

Naruto was silent, “The Yondaime…is my dad?”

She quickly engulfs him in a hug, “Hush…it’s alright. A leader is never his own person,” She
felt tears quickly seeping through her kimono as he slowly sobbed. She sighed, “It is never
the best choice but the only choice that hurts the most,” She added, “I don’t know what
happened to cause this but I can make several guesses. Some good, most bad,”
After a while he calmed down. She smiled at him. “Better?” At his nod, she looked to the
side and Naruto’s eyes widened at the much larger beast towering over even the Kyuubi. She
smiled, “Sesshoumaru,”

A flash of light and suddenly a tall, pale samurai stood there, “Kagome,” He looked at her
company, “This Sesshoumaru thought we smelled a fox,”

Kagome smiled, “This is…” She paused before looking at the blond, “Sorry, I didn’t catch
you name?”

He pouted, “You didn’t ask, dattebayo…” He then grinned, his tears forgotten, “I’m Uzumaki
Naruto, dattebayo!”

Sesshoumaru’s orange gaze softened, “The Hanyou’s descendant,”

Kagome chuckled, “Be nice. He’s your great grandnephew after all,”

Naruto gawked, “What?”

 Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

The Yondaime stopped hesitating then…

Should someone tell Naruto that he will find family in a ball yesterday; he will call them
crazy and then ask Hokage Jiji to get them help. But last night was wild even for Naruto. The
morning after the evening he found the Shikon, he saw that his whiskers had become similar
to Sesshoumaru only thinner. If he pushed his blond bangs back he can see the indigo
crescent moon, the Shingetsu, stamped on his temple where Sesshoumaru had licked him in
acknowledgement.

Sesshoumaru had really given the Kyuubi, Kurama, the beat down. Naruto shuddered as he
recalled the sheer brutality of that beat down. Kagome, the Miko trapped in the Shikon, had
protected him the whole time using only her yumi. Sesshoumaru was furious with the fox and
being a dog, has a superior strength and size. Not to mention his…youki…

Naruto’s mind was still reeling with all the new information he had gained. Now he’s the new
guardian for the Shikon. He shivered. Just thinking of all the things the little ball in his seal
can do frightened even him. To change the whole world with a single wish and twist into
something similar yet different…

Kagome wished for peace and she gained it…by destroying the other half of the world’s
balance. The Yin side of the world, the darkness and chaos that the Youkai represented. Her
wish completely wiped them out and erased the future that she was born into. She literally
unmade herself for a peace that was a lie. Genocide never brings true peace.

Naruto learned a frightening lesson that night…

He put on his goggle and nods to himself, “I will never make a wish that I can’t grant myself,
dattebayo!” He grinned, “I will know the price I paid for my wish myself!”

As he ran for the school, he noticed how light his body felt. He didn’t notice that he was
running at speed that would make the Raikage green with envy however, becoming nothing
more than a yellow flash on the street. He then skid to a stop and almost slammed into the
school’s fence. Rotating his arms for balance, he wondered, “Whoa! What was that?!”

He looked around and saw the skid mark his feet made. Scratching his head in confusion, he
head inside. He ignored his classmates and prepared for yet another boring day. Iruka opened
the class as usual but for once Naruto didn’t disrupt the class as he was too busy thinking
about what was revealed by Kurama last night.
The Yondaime and the previous Jinchuuriki, his mother, wanted him. They kept talking about
him that even Kurama got annoyed by it.

They have a lot of plans to make with him.

They had prepared a lot of things for his arrival.

The Yondaime was there for his birth, he fought to keep Kurama in while cheering for Naruto
to come out. Then a masked man appeared and threatened him just minutes after he was born;
him or his mother. His father couldn’t choose and that almost cost him Naruto’s life…

Kurama was forcefully summoned out of his mother, which should have killed her but only
because she’s an Uzumaki that she survived but she would have died a slow death either way
without help.

The Yondaime stopped hesitating then…

There’s no room for the Yondaime to hesitate, people are dying while he hesitate. So against
his own instinct as a father, he made a snap decision that would save as many lives as
possible. He couldn’t use his wife as the Jinchuuriki anymore, she was dying and if the
Kyuubi got out then the masked man will just take control of the Kyuubi again. He can’t
choose another man’s child. They would die. As it were he wasn’t even sure that Naruto
would survive.

He had hesitated too long…

That night, because of the masked man, Naruto’s fate as the Jinchuuriki was sealed…

Naruto frowned to himself. Kagome had wished for peace that equates to the genocide of
billions of lives around the world, changing it permanently. Yet that peace was false.

He wondered, ‘Is this world doomed for a never ending war?’

When the physical portion of class arrived, Naruto emerged from his deep thoughts.

Iruka had noticed his silence and would have called on the blond but the boy’s eyes were so
focused that his voice failed and the words died in his throat before the ever climbed out of
his mouth. He could only hope that it wasn’t the kind of face Naruto made while planning a
prank. Even as a former prankster, not even he could launch a village wide sabotage.

Naruto yawned as he stood by the side, waiting for his turn as shuriken throw. His eyes flitted
about, following the trail of the throw. Many failed to stick their projectile against the
wooden post. He wondered why they’re throwing so slowly. When his turn came, Naruto
picked one shuriken and threw it. It flew off mark but dug deep into the post. Confused, he
threw again and once again it sunk deep into the post.

Iruka blinked, “Naruto, you don’t have to throw so hard,”

Naruto opened his mouth before deciding against it. He then throw gentler and it sunk a little
less deep. Iruka blinked, “Gentler Naruto,”
Naruto grumbled, “What is going on?”

At the end of the day he kept throwing it gentler and gentler until he feel like he’s just
twitching his fingers instead of throwing.

Later when school ended, he ran to his usual training spot and experimented with the kunai
and shuriken that he collected from the forest. Most people that foraged for the deadly throw
away projectiles sold them to the blacksmith for some change but Naruto kept the good ones
for throw practice. He noticed that unless he’s only flicking his fingers, he will throw ‘too
hard’. But he swore that he threw them as usual.

He then wondered what would happen if he throws as hard as possible…

*BOOM!!*

Okay, maybe not do that…

He ran home, ignoring the hole in the line of trees that he made with a single kunai throw.
These things have gotten weird even for him. As he ran home, Naruto noticed once more just
how light his body has become. Reaching home instead, he wondered just what was going on
with his body…

That night, he tried his best with his homework before calling it quit and boiled some water
for dinner. After his typical ramen dinner, he did some stretches and then head to bed. Then
he opened his eyes deep inside the Shikon once more…

He grinned and looked around. It didn’t take long to find Kagome. He excitedly runs to her,
“Kagome!!”

Kagome turned with wide blue eyes, smiling, “Naruto!”

He ran straight into her arms, his chest warm. One would say that Naruto have grown out of
being childish but what most do not realize that for a child that never had a chance of
childhood, the child within are just hidden from the harshness of the world. Meeting
Kagome, Naruto experienced a sliver of what it meant to be emotionally cared after.

She laughed, “Did you miss me?”

He didn’t grace that with an answer, only pressing his face against her belly tighter.

“Naruto,”

Naruto looked up to see the looming figure of Sesshoumaru. He blushed and nervously
grasped at Kagome’s sleeve. She giggled at his shy figure. It seemed that Naruto had found a
hero that he can interact with. Sesshoumaru simply nod, “Come,”

Kagome grinned at him and pulled at his hand, “Come along!”

He looked at her, “What is it?”

She beamed, “We found something! Or rather…someone…”

It didn’t take long for them to reach their destination. There within a glowing orb was
Namikaze Minato, asleep. Naruto gawked at the sight. This man…is his father. The father
who had no choice but to abandon him to life. Sesshoumaru had informed him that his choice
was the choice of a king. As his son, a prince, it is his duty to climb up the ravine of life he
was thrown under.

The fact that he wasn’t coddled is a sign of faith…

His father had faith in him…because that is what it meant to be a parent…

Naruto approached the white orb containing his sleeping father before looking at the two
parental figures behind him, “This is?”

Kagome touched his shoulder, “His soul is a lock for the seal on you. He left behind a part of
him so he could be there when you’re at your lowest. I didn’t wake him up because there isn’t
much of him. I pulled him in here because even if he’s trapped in the belly of the Shinigami,
Sesshoumaru could sustain him. Hopefully he will turn into a spirit in here. This way, you
can talk to him and he can be the father he wanted to be so badly,”

Naruto couldn’t stop the tears as he threw his arms around her, “Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you!” He sobbed, his chest twisting and squeezing from the warmth that engulfed him.
She the pointed to another orb forming right next to the Minato, “Look…there’s someone
else too,”

Naruto turned and saw a beautiful red headed woman in green. The orb drew close and
became one. The Yondaime moved as though to curl around her and she curled back into his
arms, facing each other with peaceful mien on their faces. Naruto gawked, “Is that…?”

Kagome nodded, “Your mom…the previous Jinchuuriki…”

Naruto’s hand brushed his seal, “They’re both…in here…?”

She nodded, “They are there for your moment of greatest need,”

Naruto choked, “Mom…Dad…”

Whispers echoed from the orb, “Naruto…I love you…we love you…Mom and Dad love you…
be strong…be strong…we believe in you….”

Naruto sobbed and Kagome explained, “Every time you feel sad, they whispered the same
thing over and over like a prayer for you. They are always there, in your heart and in your
soul. They just can’t physically be there for you,”

Naruto sobbed, nodding as he choked from the well of emotions that’s flooding his chest. All
the tears that he held back all these years burst out like dam and he smiled in pure happiness.
He grinned, “Hey Mom! Hey Dad! I have so much to tell you, dattebayo!”
Kagome and Sesshoumaru as he chattered away to his sleeping parents. The Shikon didn’t
just react to Kurama’s wish but also the wish of his parents. Kagome sighed, looking at her
hands, “I will need to teach him to purify the Shikon,” She looked at Sesshoumaru, “And you
will need to train him on his youki,”

He nodded, “Chakra is foreign but all energy behaves in similar fashion,”

Kagome smiled before looking down, “How long have we been at this,” She looked past the
mirror like barrier under her feet, at the abomination that caused all these madness. The mass
of writhing youkai remained trapped by both her and Sesshoumaru’s power. Their combined
might had become the new Shikon. Instead of fighting for dominance, they worked together.

But millenniums have passed outside. She has grown tired of waiting…

Sesshoumaru grasped her shoulder gently, “He will find the answer…”

She looked at Naruto who reported about his numerous pranks to his parents. She could
almost see the Uzumaki and Namikaze pair move as if to reach for Naruto, but still too weak.
She grinned, “With this much exposure to our reiki and youki, it won’t be long before they
turned into either youkai or lower kami,”

Sesshoumaru called out, “Naruto!” The boy looked at him and he nodded, “They will remain
here even tomorrow. For now, there are things that I need to explain to you,” Naruto
approached him, eyes wide as he prepared to listen. Sesshoumaru nodded at that and began,
“I am sure you have come to notice the changes to your body,”

Naruto nodded, “I feel so light and something’s wrong when I throw the kunai, dattebayo!”

Sesshoumaru nodded, “Yes, my power and strength have begun to seep through to you. Your
ancestor’s blood, the powerful blood of Inu no Taisho, has begun to awaken inside you,”

Naruto looked at his hands, “My gramps?”

Sesshoumaru nodded again, “Yes. Our blood is strong. It is why the Uzumaki, diluted as they
are, have a strong vitality even after so much of it has been thinned. I will train you, Naruto,
but it won’t be easy as I will train you to wield the strength of youkai,”

Kagome piped up beside him, “And youki won’t be the only think you will wield. As
guardian of the Shikon no Tama, you will also gain my reiki. I will train you and mind you, I
may not be as hard assed as Sesshoumaru,” She gained a sideway glare from him but was
ignored, “But I will make sure that you are better as fighting using reiki than me. I just
powered through my battle and leave it all to luck. But with Sesshoumaru training you,
mixing the opposing ki won’t be impossible,”

The two looked at him, “Are you ready, Naruto?”

 Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

“What do you mean other people?! Naruto, you’re poisoned!”

Every morning, Naruto wake up with sore limbs. He did his stretches to loosen up his
muscles and head out for a run around Konoha, using as much of his speed as possible,
becoming nothing more than a yellow and orange blur around Konoha. Under Kagome’s
strict tutelage, he started eating healthier. Sesshoumaru taught him how to forage in the forest
and how to use his superior agility and strength to hunt. He also learned how to stay hidden
in the forest like a youkai.

Naruto started to grow out his nails, their enamel slowly hardening to claws so he can use
some of the moves Sesshoumaru had shown him. The basic claw attack, Sankon Tetsusou.
The blood bladed claw attack, Hijin Ketsusou. And finally, Sesshoumaru’s special poisonous
claw attack, Dokkasou. But for Dokkasou, Naruto has to consume poisonous flowers. So he
started by taking in small dosage of toxic blooms that Sesshoumaru pointed out for him.

Sesshoumaru has more than a thousand years to accumulate the poison in his attacks so
Naruto won’t expect to be capable of poison attacks anytime soon. Besides, the cramps and
the fever that quickly dissipate due to his youki and reiki cleansing his body were highly
uncomfortable. But Kurama had decided to experiment by feeding Naruto’s chakra coils his
own toxic chakra, making Naruto feel sick on some days where he upped the ‘dosage’.

Sesshoumaru call this process ‘Gu’. It was a process of elimination via cannibalism until the
strongest poison remained. But unlike the process humans used, Naruto will use his own
body as the final ‘Gu’. ‘Gu’ can either be used to harm or to heal and this made sense as
Naruto contained not just the harmful youki but also the benevolent reiki. Soon even his
sweat can be used as poison as well as antidote. In fact Kagome has started him on the study
of poison and antidote in case his friends accidentally harmed by his poison.

It never hurt to have antidotes nearby.

But as he was famous for being overly healthy, him being sick in class drew strange looks.
One noon during lunch break he was feeling dizzy from one of the stronger poison, someone
approached him. He blearily looked up at a pale eyed classmate, the Hyuuga girl who always
lingered at the edges of the class. He noticed that she also tended to follow him around but
when he told Kagome this, she just smiled and told him to let her be.

It’s not like she’s leaving ominous presents or break into his house…if anything the few
times she speak up in class, he heard her small voice whispering a cheer for him though
whenever she tried to speak out, Sasuke’s fan girls drown out her voice. The only reason he
heard her was because of his enhanced senses. The first time he heard her, he was so shocked
he got knocked out of the right at the first round. Since then, he did his best whenever he
heard her cheer for him. It seemed that at least he has a supporter…

So Naruto agreed to let her do her thing…whatever that is…around him.

Right now though, she broke the pattern by approaching him. She looked concerned as she
hovered over him, “A-a-are you a-a-a-alright, N-N-Na-ruto-k-kun?”

Naruto only meant to tell her that he’s fine but instead he coughed up blood…blood that
splattered all over her face. He paled, raising one shaky hand to wipe his bloody spittle from
her face, “Oh no! You need to take an antidote! That’s poisonous, dattebayo!” He coughed up
so more, “Shit! I took too much!”

Hinata screamed, “NARUTO-KUN??!!” Then with strength that he didn’t know she have, she
took him on her back and piggyback him straight to Iruka, screaming for medic the whole
way with tears in her eyes. He couldn’t stop her as he kept coughing up more blood which
covered her head, making it looked like she just split her head open.

He called out, “Stop! You need to take an antidote, dattebayo!”

She only cried out more; “Please don’t die Naruto-kun!!!”

Iruka took one look at them and panicked himself, “What happened?!”

Naruto coughed up more blood instead and Hinata cried, “Naruto-kun’s hurt, Iruka-sensei!”

Iruka quickly take the two to the infirmary and set Naruto on the bed, “Naruto, what
happened?”

Naruto ignored him. Instead he saw that the Hyuuga girl has started to pale and quickly dug
into his pocket, “Hurry, she need antidote, dattebayo!”

Iruka looked to her, “Hinata?!”

Naruto reached for her as she swayed on her feet. He then feed her the content of the bottle.
Iruka panicked, the content swallowed before he could check it, “Naruto, what are you
doing?!”

Naruto coughed before explaining, “Antidote for my poison, ‘ttebayo,”

Iruka paled, “POISON?!!”

Hinata blushed, realizing the position she’s in and was knocked out cold. Naruto panicked,
“Oh no, I killed her!!” He coughed more blood, “Iruka-sensei, I didn’t mean to! Believe me,
dattebayo!” He started to cry. After all, he’s still innocent and he never wanted his first kill to
be his classmate. One that’s nice to him in her weird way and even cheered for him, even if
her cheer’s quieter than others.
Iruka quickly checked her pulse and sighed in relief, “She’s only unconscious. You can stop
crying now, Naruto,”

Naruto sniffled, “Oh,”

He coughed more blood and Iruka panicked, “Antidote! Naruto, do you have more of
them?!”

Naruto shook his head, “It’s not for me, dattebayo. It’s for other people,”

Iruka frowned, “What do you mean other people?! Naruto, you’re poisoned!”

Naruto nodded, “That was the idea,”

Iruka gawked, “Naruto?!!”

Naruto grinned a bloody smile and fainted, leaving a panicking Academy teacher and an
unconscious classmate who came around to see him unconscious. Hinata started crying again,
shaking his body, “Naruto-kun, don’t die!!”

After much panicking that involved the Head of the Hyuuga Clan and the Hokage, the whole
things settled when Naruto slowly came around to pale medics who tried to detox him but
found that his blood has assimilated with enough poison to kill a troop. Hiruzen sobbed, “I
have failed you! Now your son is trying to commit suicide!”

Naruto groggily looked at the Hokage, “I’m not trying to die, dattebayo,”

Hinata, who had refused her father openly for the first time, threw herself at him, “Naruto-
kun, you’re alive!” Hiashi tried to pull her back but she almost bit his hands off, frightening
her father with her ferocity. So in the end he let her snuggle up against Naruto.

Naruto blushed, having never been physically close to a girl intimately before. Kagome
doesn’t count as he consider her his surrogate mother. Hiruzen dried his tears, “Naruto…why
are you taking poisons if you’re not trying to…”

Naruto blinked, “Unalive myself? Well…I’m trying to become a human Gu,”

Hiruzen blinked, “Gu?”

Naruto nodded, “By eating poison, I can become poison myself. I’m not trying to die,
dattebayo, so don’t worry. It’s just that I took too much this morning. I was trying to up the
dosage and miscalculate the amount I can take today,”

Hiruzen blinked, “Naruto…you’re 10. You don’t work with poison until much older,”

Naruto shrugged, “Becoming Gu takes time. In fact, I think some Gu started from the
womb,”

Hiruzen shook his head, “Where did you even learn about this?”
Naruto shrugged, not knowing how to explain and didn’t want to lie to his other grandfather.
Hiruzen sighed, “Naruto, you shouldn’t be experimenting with something as dangerous as
poison. You could have died,”

Naruto deadpanned, “I know a bunch of villagers that will cheer to that,”

Hinata growled, “Name…”

Naruto looked at her, “Huh?”

Hinata glared at him, her Byakugan active, “G-give me names. I-I’ll make their lives h-hell,”

Hiashi gawked, “Hinata?!”

Naruto blushed, “No, it’s fine. They don’t matter,” Noticing that she’s still tense, he patted
her head and whatever it was that bolstered her deflated. She blushed and whispered, “Don’t
die…”

He smiled at that. People usually asked him to kick the bucket but here’s someone who
openly told him to live. He patted her hair, “I won’t, dattebayo,”

After the Hyuuga went back, Hiruzen looked at Naruto, “Did someone tell you to do this?”

Naruto guiltily looked to the side, “If I said yes, what would you do?”

Hiruzen scowled, “A person that would teach a child something so dangerous need to be
detained, Naruto. What if they teach it to others and the die?”

Naruto shrugged, “Don’t worry. They won’t,”

Hiruzen frowned, “How can you be sure?”

Naruto looked at him, “Because they aren’t around anymore,”

Well, being trapped in the Shikon meant that they aren’t around Konoha. Hiruzen noticed that
Naruto won’t say anything more. He sighed, “Naruto, usually in cases like this I would have
to send you to T&I but I trust you, Naruto,” He peered at the boy, “Do not betray that trust,”

Naruto smiled at him, “I won’t,”

After spending a night, forcefully, Naruto return to Academy the next day. He had been
lectured on safety by Kagome the whole night and he swore he saw Kushina, his Mom,
nodding along with her. The rather disapproving look on Minato’s face didn’t bring him
confidence either as well as the equally disapproving look from Sesshoumaru.

Then Kagome snickered, “Hinata, huh?”

He blushed, “Shut up…”

That day he saw that Hinata had been given a day off as she had been poisoned by
association. Naruto worried that he won’t be able to befriend her but the next day she
appeared and blushed at him. Whatever bravery she gained that day had diminished and she
returned to just watching him. But at least Naruto have no qualm about sitting next to her.

She just blushed at him and hide a smile…

The whole class had thought he was pranking that day but luckily Hinata knew the difference
between his pranking mood and his sick look. He was genuinely sick that day. Iruka
eyeballed him daily after that, making sure that he’s healthy enough. It was clear that he will
continue to eat poison and considering their society, stopping him would be detrimental. So
instead Iruka had taken to monitoring him.

Hinata had also gifted him some poisonous flowers after he shared with her his ‘poisons’ and
gave her some antidote that her father had Inoichi check as the Head of Yamanaka runs a
flower boutique. He also sell some poison for Shinobi on the side. He was surprised by how
potent Naruto’s antidote can be and had approached the boy with a business in mind.

After some discussion, Naruto agreed to sell his recipe with some interest attached.

He will received 70% of the money from the sell as it was his ‘recipe’ in the first place.
Inoichi didn’t mind getting less as he was more interested in the antidote itself.

Who knew almost killing his classmate from over poisoning himself can bring him money?

Kurama snorted, “Usually you don’t,”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “You’re no help at all, adding your chakra over the poison was
overkill,”
 Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

“Naruto…are you sick?”

Hinata was worried. Naruto has gotten thinner as of late. He has always been thin, she know
that he has trouble getting food especially winter. Being an orphan outside the orphanage
meant that managing himself can be hard. But lately his cheeks has started to become hollow.

So today she brought him a big bento box. She has been learning how to cook as stress relief
since she somehow kept missing Naruto. Watching him have been soothing but lately Naruto
has gotten more slippery than normal. What with the self poisoning practice, she was
worried. What if his condition was because his poisoning had gone wrong?

That lunch she approached him, “N-Naruto-kun?” He looked at her and she offered a bento
box, “He-here. I m-made this for you,”

He wordlessly accepted the box and opened to find rows of her special character onigiri
inside; designed to look like him. He stared at one before looking at her, “Why does this look
like me?”

She blushed, pressing her pointers together as she fidgeted before him, “A-ano…”

His stomach roared and he grinned, “Never mind that. I’m too hungry to care…although, this
feel like eating myself…” He took a bite and his eyes popped open, “Man, Hinata! You’ll
make for a great wife one day, dattebayo!”

She blushed at his praised, “Do…do you l-like it?”

He beamed as he chewed, “Like it? I love it!”

She smiled, “I’ll make more for you, then!”

He looked at her and blushed, “Uh…okay…thanks…”

Since then she have been bringing him more and more bento. Receiving his praise to her
cooking motivated her to be a better chef. But Naruto didn’t gain weight. Instead he looked
thinner and Hinata started to look up nutrition to feed him better meal. Iruka has also started
to bring him to dinner daily as he grew more and more skeletal. It has gotten to the point
where the amount he ate should have made him fatter than an Akemichi. But he still lose a lot
of weight.
Hinata fretted, “Naruto-kun, you should eat more,” Due to how often she fed the blond, she
lost her stutter.

Naruto blushed, “I’m fine, Hinata-chan,”

She frowned even as her pale eyes watered, “But you’re so thin,” She sobbed, “I don’t want
you to die,”

Naruto sighed, “Oh alright,”

One evening Iruka pulled him aside, “Naruto…are you sick?”

Naruto blinked up at him, “No,”

Iruka looked at him all over, “Are you sure? You’re so thin,”

Naruto sighed, “I’m fine…I’m just in training,”

“Is it the poisons?”

“No”

Hiruzen visited him one evening and panicked, “Naruto!”

Naruto looked at his shirt in his hand and then as his sunken stomach before looking at
Hiruzen, “I’m fine, dattebayo!”

Of course when one looked like they have been starving in the desert Suna for whole month
with no food or water, no one would believe them. So against his wishes, he was dragged by
the Hokage himself for a physical check-up. Surprisingly even with the Hokage glaring at the
medic along with several ANBU, everything come up fine and dandy.

Naruto looked at them, “I told you I’m fine, dattebayo!”

It still didn’t stop them from fretting over him. Then after a whole year of worrying over the
boy’s continuing deteriorating condition, he suddenly bounce back healthier than before. His
pranks have also increased in its complexity, taking the patrolling ninja by storm as they’re
usually the ones caught in it.

Hiruzen just glared at the people complaining, “If you can’t even defend yourself from an
Academy student, what make you think you are doing well in your job? Increase your
training and be more vigilant!”

Naruto has also started to carry a large boomerang on his back. No one know where he get it
and he never use it. When asked about it, he answered, “Its Hiraikotsu,”

Iruka blinked, “Hiraikotsu?”

Naruto nodded, “I’m going to make it my go to weapon,”

Iruka scratched his head in confusion, “Naruto…it’s a giant boomerang. A toy,”

He nodded, “Yeah. But I know how to use it as a weapon,”

Iruka sighed, “Well, I have seen a lot of weird thing used as a weapon. Some guy even used a
wok,”

Naruto blinked, “A wok, really? Did he come from the Village Hidden In the Kitchen?”

Iruka shook his head, “No. But that’s not the point…alright,” He changed tactic once he saw
the unimpressed look Naruto was giving him, “If you can proof to me that it is not a toy, I’ll
let you carry it to school,”

Naruto grinned, “Really?! No take back!”

Iruka sighed as he reluctantly agreed, “No take back,”

That break, some nosy students looked at Naruto as he took off his giant boomerang from his
back. The ground shook when he place it down. Tenten, an older girl, whistled, “Heavy,”

Iruka placed some wooden post as Naruto asked him along the training field and looked at
the blond, “Ready?”

Naruto grinned, “Ready!”

He picked up the boomerang that he called Hiraikotsu and lowered his body, twisting is
before launching like a Fuma Shuriken. The boomerang flew across the field and sliced right
through the wooden posts like hot knife through butter. It then reach its arc and turned back
around. Iruka posed, ready to jump in should Naruto fail to stop its momentum or missed
catching it.

None of that happened.

Like he played the boomerang daily, he caught it easy as natto.

Iruka gawked before grinning, “Alright. I’ll let you bring it to school,”

Naruto whooped and since then it was hard to see him without the Hiraikotsu on his back.
The few time the less than friendly teachers tried to confiscate it, they can’t even pick it up
even with chakra augmentation. Naruto sighed, “Your natural muscles are weak, so even with
chakra you are still weak. Do some weight lifting. It might help, dattebayo,”

Needless to say his teachers weren’t happy with that comment.

What they didn’t know was that Naruto was practicing asceticism in preparation for reiki.
Every morning at 4 he will stand under his shower and recited ancient sutra that Kagome
taught him. Then every night he will lock himself in his room, blocking out all light barring a
single candle and recited ancient scripture until the candle burn out. Only then he went to
sleep.
This was the practice done to open his senses to the spiritual energy and unlock his
connection to reiki. He will then continue doing it until he can manifest his reiki into the
world. Because of the nature of his practice, his body began to starve due to throwing up
every time he finished his black room practice and his body burn calories to keep him
warm…

Luckily he has two people who refused to have him starve to death. If anything, he only ate
when Hinata bring him bento and though Iruka took him to dinner, he couldn’t eat much
besides a few bites which worry Iruka a lot. Even Hiruzen has started to take notice and the
man’s crazy busy!

When he finally managed to manifest reiki, he no longer need to practice asceticism. Funny
thing was, because reiki practiced on the spiritual aspect while youki focus on the physical
aspect, his chakra was more controlled than it had ever been. If anything he has a great grasp
on chakra due to practicing both sides of ki. It wasn’t easy but Naruto celebrated the first
time he coated a kunai in reiki. He’s now aiming to create an arrow of pure reiki like
Kagome.

As for youki, he had to dodge Hinata’s…following…because he’s not sure he won’t hurt her.
After the incident with the poison, Hinata became his closest friend. The fact that she kept
bringing him food during his ascetic training period only made him admire her attentiveness
to him more. She even bring a supply of antidote in case he accidentally poison her again.
When Kagome heard his report about Hinata, she told him, “Keep her,”

The Hyuuga clan was not happy, especially her sneering cousin Neji, but since being his
friend made her happy Naruto ignored them. But that all aside he avoided her because
training youki can be…deadly.

He looked around and then at his claws. He can’t call them nails anymore but claws. He has
been exuding fumes of poison that smelled like apple blossom to attract prey. It worked like a
hallucinogen and Naruto can kill them with little trouble. He has also been training in
cloaking himself with youki, rendering him invisible in broad daylight. He did some pranks
with this and people only notice him when he let his cloak disperse.

He had mastered Sankon Tetsusou. He still practiced Hijin Ketsusou and Dokkasou was still
in the work. Naruto has yet to become toxic enough. But he managed to make the youki whip
that Sesshoumaru was famous for. But training in using the acidic whip was a different
matter. He almost blinded himself once. Not to mention his ridiculous physical strength. Even
though he’s just 11 he can pick up a whole cart with a single hand. He can tear through a
boulder with just his claws like they’re putty. If anything, he’s very careful with Hinata when
he interact with her. He didn’t want to hurt her.

Then there’s youki manipulation. While training for reiki, he also discovered that he can use
the same method to coax his youki. They’re two sides of the same coin after all. Kagome
once told him how she combined her reiki with his ancestor Inuyasha’s youki to defeat a
strong enemy.

Sesshoumaru once showed him two methods of manipulating his youki; cloud riding and
energy burst. With the first method, he form a platform of youki under his feet that will look
like a cloud and ride it. With the second method, it was travel method over great distances
like a shooting star. Naruto still practiced on manipulating his cloud platform. So far it was a
no go.

Kagome has also been training him in the way of Taijiya, the original practice of the
Uzumaki clan before the rise of chakra. Naruto spent his night learning how to use the
numerous weapons that he’s familiar with and one he’s not; Hiraikotsu. As if were, he had
taken to carrying Hiraikotsu around on his back. It was heavy and cumbersome but listening
to how his ancestor Sango carry it like it weighed nothing only motivated him. Sure with his
youkai strength inherited from Sesshoumaru it didn’t feel like anything but he wanted to be
closer to his family.

He didn’t know how but somehow Hiraikotsu was sealed in the Shikon and now he can take
it out. Sesshoumaru told him that Tenseiga will be given to him only when he’s familiar with
the way of the sword because even if he can’t cut anyone living with it does not mean he
shouldn’t be familiar with its use. So he currently practice with using Hiraikotsu in the real
world and trained in swordsmanship in the Shikon.

Naruto threw Hiraikotsu, watched it mow down some trees as it return to his hand and moved
in a peculiar way designed by Sango to use Hiraikotsu as both a weapon of close combat and
shield. It was cumbersome but Naruto slowly grew familiar with it. He deftly caught it on its
return flight before moving to defend himself against imaginary attack. His movement swift
and doubtless as he navigate among the trees. He didn’t use chakra for any of it, simply pure
physical movement just like Sango. If he could cancel the physical augmentation of his youki
he would but that would be like asking him to slough off his muscles.

Then as the twelfth year come close as well as his final graduation year, Kagome asked him
to pick up certain ingredients. When asked, she told him, “It is for your Taijiya uniform,”

Naruto looked at his usual orange and nave jumpsuit, “What’s wrong with what I’m
wearing?”

She giggled, “It’s hard to take you seriously when you’re wearing that,”

Naruto pouted, “Aw man!”

So when he’s not busy brushing up on his theories and common knowledge, because
Sesshoumaru won’t have him flunk, Naruto was busy picking up forest ingredients. Hinata
helped him on certain things with his theories, smiling happily that she get to be helpful to
him. Then once all the ingredients have been gathered, including Sesshoumaru’s furs, Naruto
started to learn how to become a weaver. Every night he worked hard to create a full fabric
out of Sesshoumaru’s fur because there’re no actual youkai in his world to harvest from.

He dyed the white furs black using an ink that Sesshoumaru procured from…somewhere,
then crafted the strips of fabric that he thankfully get to dye navy. The bones and leathers that
Sesshoumaru helped him craft into pauldron, elbow guards, shin guards, knee guards and
waist wraps were all dyed orange. Not his bright orange. No. Sesshoumaru would blind him
personally he deign to use that color. So instead he used a dark orange dye, the borders blood
red.
A black cape with the Uzumaki symbol embroidered on the back completed his look.
 Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

“In for the ryo, in for the ingot…”

There was an explosion of day firework and the paper pushing Shinobi who tried to stave off
from becoming a zombie via the holy coffee looked up to see something incredible on the
Hokage Monument. So incredible he screamed.

Hiruzen blinked at the sight and sighed, “Naruto…”

The blonde had painted the famous Konoha monument with swirls and other things, totally
making the four Hokage look stupid. How he did it without anyone noticing, no one knows.
He climbed the roof just in time to see Iruka hogtying the boy.

Iruka bowed to him, “My deepest apology, Hokage-sama,”

Hiruzen waved him off, “Just take him to his exam,”

Naruto grinned at him as he was drug off to class. Hiruzen shook his head before glaring at
the surrounding Shinobi, “Call the ones in charge of Hokage Mountain security this
morning,”

The group gulped…

Naruto fidgeted in his seat. He was hoping that the exam would not include the one thing he’s
bad at; the Bunshin. But unfortunately, Iruka informed them that the one thing that will hold
him back would also be the one thing that could pass him. He slumped, “Aw man…
Sesshoumaru’s gonna beat me black and blue,”

When his name was called, he gulped. He tried to hype himself up and prayed that his
Bunshin would work. But when he opened his eyes, there lay a dying Bunshin that looked
like it had taken a ride in the drier for a whole week. Iruka barked, “Fail!”

Naruto deflated. He listened as Mizuki tried to reason with Iruka but failed to convince him.
In the end, he failed his final chance at becoming a Shinobi. He avoided Hinata as he left, not
wanting to see her look of disappointment. She had believed in him, he know this. She
always said so whenever they spent time together.

As he sat on the swing, the swing where he always sat whenever he felt the alienation too
strong, he couldn’t help hearing how parents congratulate their children for passing. He
flinched when he heard two housewives gossiping how he deserved failing and how being
Shinobi wasn’t for him. Unable to take it anymore, he walked away.
Not noticing Mizuki looking at him with insidious thoughts…

Later that evening found Naruto running through the woods with a giant scroll in hand. He
didn’t trust Mizuki. But at the same time he knew that it will be his words against a respected
Academy teacher and trusted Chuunin. So what did he do instead?

He springs the trap.

As he sat down a little away from the promised location, he looked at the scroll, “Sorry Jiji,”
Who knew that his joke Jutsu would work so well on the venerable Hokage? He wondered
what was so great about the Forbidden Scroll but didn’t open it. Kurama grumbled, “If this
plan of yours fall through, we’ll be locked away for life!”

Naruto sighed, “It’s not like I have a choice. Jiji can only help me so far. This is too serious
without solid evidence, dattebayo!”

Kurama huffed, “Well, since you have the scroll why not look through?”

Naruto hesitated, “I’m not planning to be an actual traitor, dattebayo,”

Kurama grinned, “You might find something good in there,”

In the end, tempted, Naruto opened the scroll and looked at the first item written. He pulled a
face, “Kage Bunshin? What the hell?! It started with the one thing I’m bad at!”

Kurama rumbled, “Wait. Kage Bunshin is not an ordinary Bunshin. I suggest trying it
out,”

Naruto sighed, “In for the ryo, in for the ingot…”

Hours later, Iruka found him, “Na…Ru…To…”

Naruto smiled at him despite panting, “Iruka-sensei! I found you!”

Iruka growled, “Idiot! I found you!” He looked over the battered blond, “Naruto, what are
you doing? And why are you all beat up?”

Naruto pat himself down, “Never mind that! I managed to learn one Jutsu. This mean I
passed, right?”

Iruka paled, “Passed?”

Naruto tilted his head, “This is that secret exam, right? Mizuki-sensei told me so,”

Catching on, Iruka mentally cursed. At that moment, he pushed Naruto away and took the
barrage of kunai himself. Naruto blinked, “Iruka-sensei!”

Mizuki landed, “Nice job finding him…Iruka,”

Iruka groaned from his injuries, “Mizuki…so that’s what this is all about,”
Mizuki looked at Naruto, “Naruto, hand me the scroll!”

Iruka shook his head as he pull out the kunai, “No matter what, don’t give the scroll even if
you die! That scroll has dangerous and forbidden technique sealed in it! Mizuki used you to
get to it!”

Naruto nodded, “I know,”

The two Chuunin blinked, Iruka coughing, “What?”

Naruto pulled out his Hiraikotsu, “I know. Mizuki smelled like deceit. My nose don’t lie. But
even if I blow the whistle, no one will believe me even if the Hokage believes me. So I spring
the trap and have him caught red handed,” He knew that Hiruzen’s watching with his magic
ball. He can feel the energy just like Kagome and Sesshoumaru taught him. He was counting
on that.

He grinned at Mizuki, “So I need a witness. Someone other than me to speak up against
him…” He looked at Iruka, “Sorry that you got caught in that, Iruka-sensei,”

Mizuki snarled, “You demon brat!” He swung his giant Shuriken and Naruto countered the
attack with Hiraikotsu as he leapt away from the line of attack. Mizuki jumped off the branch
he was perching one as Hiraikotsu flew past him, cutting down the branches. He sneered at
Naruto, “You really are a demon. Do you want to know why Konoha hates you?”

Iruka screamed, “No, Mizuki! That’s against the law!”

Mizuki snarled at him, “Shut up you stupid goody two shoes! Why are you defending this
demon that killed your family anyway? After all, he’s the demon, the Kyuubi no Kitsune!”
He laughed at Naruto who looked blank, “Surprised? The Yondaime sealed that demon
because he can’t kill it and that demon becomes you. But the Sandaime made a law to protect
you,” He spat the word ‘protect’ and scoffed, “You should have just died. Konoha would be
happier,”

Iruka growled, “Mizuki, you have gone too far!”

Suddenly Naruto snorted, “Yeah well…better be a demon than stupid, dattebayo,”

Shocked by the uncaring attitude, Mizuki barely had time to dodge the return of Hiraikotsu
but the boomerang clipped his shoulder, causing him to scream. Naruto glared at him,
“You’re really an idiot that can’t tell the difference between water and the container. If the
Kyuubi is sealed in you, would you become the Kyuubi?” He kicked the fallen man,
completely dislocating his shoulder, “You’re insulting the Yondaime and the Sandaime’s
intelligence in one breath,”

Mizuki snarled up at him, “You…damn…demon!” He picked up a kunai and lunged forward.

Naruto used the Hiraikotsu to parry and danced around the man. In the end he kicked the man
down.
Naruto rolled his eyes, “I’m not a demon…I’m Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto of Konohagakure,
dattebayo! And to me…” His eyes flashed icy blue as he wrestled the man’s arms back, “A
traitor like you is worse than a demon,” He pulled out a string of carbon wire and tied
Mizuki’s thumb together behind him.

He then turned to Iruka, his bravado drained away, “Ano…Iruka-sensei…are you alright?”

Iruka gasped in pain as he straightened his back against the cabin, “You…you knew?”

Naruto shrugged, “I…found out when I was 10…” He looked at Iruka, “How…?”

Iruka noticed that Naruto was hesitant to come closer, as if unsure of Iruka himself. The
Chuunin grinned, “Naruto…it’s just like you said. You are not the Kyuubi. You are Uzumaki
Naruto of Konohagakure,”

Naruto blinked, “You don’t think that I’m the Kyuubi?”

Iruka snorted, “I’m not stupid. If you’re the Kyuubi, with how neglectful the villagers have
been towards you, we would have been dead when you started playing with poisons,”

Naruto rubbed his neck, “Oh…that…”

Mizuki growled, “Damn you. Damn you, you Kyuubi brat!”

Naruto rolled his eyes and took out a senbon, “You know…I know a thing or two about using
this,” He turned on Mizuki and grinned, “I’m not the Kyuubi but I have my demon moments
too,” He summoned a Kage Bunshin, surprising Iruka, and ordered, “Hold him,”

His eyes gleamed eerily as he approached the injured and tied up Chuunin. That and his
fanged smile made Mizuki feel a shiver run down his spine at the atmosphere Naruto was
giving. The boy looked positively evil at that moment, what with his lantern eyes and
shadowed face.

As he placed the senbon close, Hiruzen’s wizened voice stopped him, “Naruto, leave that to
Ibiki,”

Naruto pouted, “Oh…he would have made for a nice guinea pig for this needle torture I
learned,” Sesshoumaru’s a master of the art. Naruto’s a fast learner like his old man. Combine
the two and nothing good will come out of it. Even Minato looked troubled in his sleep.

Hiruzen sighed, wondering where the boy’s learning all these things from. He looked down
on Mizuki, “Check him and then send him to Ibiki,”

The ANBU saluted, “Sir!”

Hiruzen looked at a bloody and injured Iruka, “Take Chuunin Umino to the hospital,”

Iruka stood up, “Wait, sir,” He looked at Naruto, “Naruto…close your eyes,”
The boy complied and soon felt something warm wrapped around his head. Iruka blinked at
the Shingetsu mark on his temple but proceeded. Naruto opened his eyes to a beaming Iruka,
“You are not a Shinobi of Konoha,” He then slumped forward, coughing. But he looked at
Hiruzen, “Is this…acceptable, sir?”

Hiruzen smiled, “Of course…no go treat yourself,”

After the ANBU picked the man up, Hiruzen turned to Naruto, “Naruto…with me…”

Naruto paled, “I promise I won’t tell anyone about your secret…”

Hiruzen blinked, “Secret?”

He dug his toe into the ground, “That you’re a pervert,”

Hiruzen blushed, “Shut up and follow me!”

Hiruzen can’t believe that the boy stupid Jutsu caught him unaware. He could just hear his
student Jiraiya howling at him at the call out. The boy would probably ogle instead and give
out points. He grumbled, “I’m getting too old for this damn hat,”

Once back in his office, Hiruzen stared at Naruto, “How long have you known?”

Naruto sighed, “Since 10,”

“How did you know?”

Naruto has a ready answer for that, “It’s easy to figure out. I was practicing chakra in the
shower when I noticed the marks on my stomach. It looked like those things on the tags sold
in the Shinobi store. Then the class talked about seals and I realized what it was. So I kept
thinking about it. It slowly come together. The whispers. The hate. The avoidance. I heard
some people calling me a fox once or twice but I used to think that it was because of my
whiskers. Then the date. My birthday and the date it all happened…”

He looked properly horrified as he recalled the day he found out, “It occurred to me that
people always said that the Yondaime defeated the Kyuubi. Defeated. Not slayed or killed.
That word stick out to me for some reason. It dawned on me that maybe the Kyuubi is not
dead. But if he isn’t then where is he? There’s no prison big enough to keep him. I doubted he
will stay quiet even as a prisoner. He doesn’t seem the type to stay put in a cage,”

He looked at Hiruzen, “That’s when I looked at my stomach and come to the conclusion. It
does look somewhat like a storage seal the class showed us once,”

Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his face and asked, “Is that why you tried to commit…unalive
yourself two years back?”

Naruto blinked before pulling a face, “For the last time, I’m practicing Gu, dattebayo!”
 Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

“If depression has a face, it will be your face,”

Hinata cheered when she saw him in class a few days after graduation. She then blinked at
his new appearance. Naruto had decided that now he had graduated, having celebrated the
fact with his family in the Shikon and dragging Kurama along since he’s family too, like it or
not, he felt worthy of wearing the Taijiya uniform. Minato and Kushina had even opened
their eyes to see him before falling back to slumber.

When he showed up for his registration dressed like so, his metal plate sown as clasp for his
cape so he no longer need to cover his Shingetsu mark, Hiruzen had taken aback. After all, it
has been decades since he last saw an Uzumaki traditional battle gear. He didn’t know where
Naruto found the design but instead asked him to wipe the paint on his forehead.

Spoiler. It isn’t paint…

Inuzuka Kiba frowned, “What are you doing here, Naruto? This class is for graduates!”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “Can’t you see the metal plate?”

Haruno Sakura huffed, “Yeah right. You must have stolen that,”

Hinata glared at her, “N-Naruto-kun is not a thief!”

Naruto nodded, “And if I can steal from an active ninja that would made me a better ninja,
dattebayo!” He chuckled at Sakura’s pouting face, knew that he had gotten her stumped there.
He pushed his hair back, having grown them out. The full length of his hair had been tied up
in a high ponytail like a samurai knot. This was in respect to Sesshoumaru whose
unblemished hair meant that he’s so good that not even his hair can be harmed.

Not to mention, he liked that he can see his father in his hair and eyes. He can also see his
mother in the shaped of his face and the shape of his eyes. It proved that he came from them
both!

But it could also help to hide his pointy ears…

Sakura then point her nose away, “Well, whatever. Sasuke-kun is still the best Shinobi!”

Naruto sighed and glanced at Uchiha Sasuke. He grumbled, “Sesshoumaru is way cooler,
dattebayo!” After meeting Sesshoumaru, he can see the appeal of a quiet and strong man. But
Sasuke pales in comparison. If anything, “He smell like the end of the world…so
depressing,”

Sakura growled, “Shut up, Naruto, you’re annoying!”

Hinata glared at her, “T-then go away!”

Sakura huffed, “Who wants to hang around you two losers anyway?”

Naruto glared at her, “Hinata-chan’s not a loser, dattebayo!”

Hinata glowered, “N-Naruto-kun is not a loser!”

Nara Shikamaru groaned, “Shut up, you noisy lovebirds. So troublesome,”

The two blushed and turned to him, “W-we are not l-lovebirds!”

Shikamaru turned away with a sigh, “Denials,”

At that point, Iruka entered the room and blinked at Naruto’s new appearance. The boy
looked more matured that way. He then started, “Beginning from today you are all proud
Shinobi of Konohagakure. But don’t slack off just yet! You are still just rookies, Genin. This
is only the beginning,” He smiled at his soon to be former students, “Soon you will be
assigned missions and other jobs by the village. So today we will be creating a 3 men cell
that will be led by a Jounin Instructor. You will work and train under your Jounin sensei…”

Naruto drifted off as Iruka started to call out team names. Then he heard his name being
called; “Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke. You will make up Team 7.
Your instructor with be Hatake Kakashi,”

Sakura deflated when she realized that she will be in a team with the one she and Ino had
dubbed Boomerang Boy. She then noticed Naruto’s distaste, “What?! The Banshee and the
Crow?! Why can’t I be in a team with Hinata-chan?! At least she won’t try to kill me with her
voice or drown me in depression!”

Sasuke glared at him, “I’m not depressed!”

Naruto glared back, “If depression has a face, it will be your face,”

Sakura growled, “Naruto!”

Iruka sighed, “Enough! Naruto, the team are designed in this way for balance. Sasuke is the
Rookie of the Year. Sakura is the Top Kunoichi. And unfortunately due to technicality, you’re
the Dead Last,”

Naruto groaned, “It’s because of how I graduated, isn’t it?”

Iruka winced, “Yeah…your result came in too late to change the arrangement,” He then
smiled, “Anyway, your Jounin sensei will come around noon so take a break,”
Naruto groaned, “Maybe I should have tried last year instead of this year…”

Hinata patted his shoulder, “A-at least we g-graduated together,”

He grinned at her, “Yeah. Congrats, Hinata-chan!”

Hinata blushed, “Congratulation to you too, N-Naruto-kun,”

Kurama snorted, “And you still insisted that you’re not lovebirds,”

Naruto growled at him, “Shut up furball!”

Naruto focused on Hinata, “Want to grab lunch?”

Hinata beamed, “Yes!”

Naruto took her out to Ichiraku Ramen. Teuchi grinned at him, “So you did graduate after all!
And who is this little cutie here?” He smiled at a blushing Hinata. Ayame cooed, “She’s so
adorable!”

Naruto flushed, “Her name’s Hyuuga Hinata. She’s my best friend, dattebayo!”

Ayame eyed him, “Then how come she never came here?”

Hinata quickly come to his defense, “I-I have t-tight schedule! It’s not N-Naruto-kun’s fault!”

Ayame blinked before grinning at her, “Naruto-kun huh?”

Hinata squeaked and looked down, embarrassed. Naruto just looked in confusion before
looking at Teuchi, “One big miso ramen, Jii-san!” He looked at Hinata, “Anything, Hinata-
chan? It’s on me!”

Hinata forced herself to speak up, “I-I’ll have what you h-have,”

Naruto looked to Teuchi, “Two big miso ramen, Jii-san!”

Teuchi grinned knowingly at the two, “Coming,”

When the bowl arrived, there’re identical heart shaped naruto fishcakes arranged on the
noodles. The preteen blushed and ate their noodles dutifully, Naruto sending glares at the
father-daughter duo between bites. Once filled, he take her back to the Academy and saw that
her team was waiting for her. He quickly stepped forward in front of the red eyed Jounin,
“Sorry. I thought we have more time so I invited Hinata-chan for a ramen break. Please don’t
be mad at her, dattebayo!”

Yuuhi Kurenai blinked at the sudden bow and smiled as Hinata nodded alongside him before
saying, “I eat too s-slow. It’s not N-Naruto-kun’s fault,”

Kurenai bit back her laughter and nodded, “Alright. Team 8, with me!”
Naruto looked at Hinata and waved goodbye. He then turned to look at his own team and
sighed. This will be painful until he’s allowed to fight solo. In the end he sat beside a
chattering Sakura, who send him a stink eye, and meditated. He learned meditation during his
ascetic training and ended up entering his mindscape.

He looked at Kagome, “My team sucks, dattebayo!”

Kagome rolled her eyes, “Naruto, it’s just the first day,”

He shook his head, “One is a banshee. She’ll kill me with her voice alone. While the other is
a crow. He’s going to drown me with his depression!” A row of knuckles knocked on his
head and Naruto looked at an unimpressed Sesshoumaru. He pouted, “Uchiha Sasuke is the
class prince. He’s the Rookie of the Year. Haruno Sakura is his most avid fan. She’s the
Kunoichi of the Year. While I ended up the Dead Last because of technicalities,”

Sesshoumaru huffed, “It only means that you have the benefit of being undervalued. Let them
take the spotlight for now. When your time to soar come, you will take flight and leave them
floundering,”

Kagome sighed, “Shouldn’t you be telling him to work with them?”

Kurama growled, “You cannot trust an Uchiha!”

Kagome looked at him, “What’s your beef with the family?”

Kurama grumbled, “I am trapped because of them. My brethren are captured because an

Uchiha decided that I will make for good attack hound. If it wasn’t because of him, that
stupid Senju won’t have the stupid idea of using me and my brethren as war deterrent.
It didn’t even work!” He huffed, “The foolish humans still waged wars in the end and we
are nothing more than mindless weapons to them,”

Kagome shook her head before looking at Naruto, “Remember, enemies can turn into allies
can turn into the most steadfast of friends,”

Naruto grumbled, “I don’t know if I want to be friends with depression,”

Kagome flicked his forehead, “Enough. I can sense someone trying to wake you up. Go,”

Naruto opened his eyes to Sakura cocking her fist back, preparing to hit him. She caught his
unimpressed eyes and put her fist down, “Sensei is here,”

Naruto looked at the man who has all but his right eye covered. He blinked, “I know ninja are
supposed to be covert but what’s with that look? You look like a pervert, dattebayo,”

The silver haired Jounin blinked at him, “I really don’t like being called out like that,” He
sighed, “My first impression? I don’t like any one of you. To the roof,”

Naruto ignored Sakura’s glare as they climbed the stairs to the roof. He wondered why the
man smelled familiar. The three preteens looked at the man suspiciously, or in Sasuke’s case
condescendingly. The Jounin looked at them, “Alright. Let’s start with an introduction,”
Sakura eyed him, “What do you want to know?”

He shrugged, “How about your…likes, dislikes, dreams for the future, your hobbies and
other stuff like that,”

Naruto tilted his head, “Why don’t you go first?”

Sakura nodded, “Yeah. You look suspicious,”

He blinked at her, “Oh me? My name is Hatake Kakashi. I don’t feel like sharing about my
likes and dislikes. Dreams for the future? Hmm….I have a lot of hobbies,”

Sakura frowned, “So all we know is your name?”

Naruto narrowed his eyes at him, “Those hobbies aren’t about peeping, is it? I heard women
complaining about this big guy with white hair that likes hanging out with frogs and peeping
on women at the hot spring, dattebayo,”

Kakashi stared at him, “No…I don’t peep,” He looked at Naruto, “Why don’t you go first,”

Naruto blinked, “Who, me? My name’s Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen, especially from ramen
from Ichiraku. I think liking ramen runs in the blood,” Inuyasha’s crazy about ramen, “I hate
waiting the 3 minute for ramen to cook. Think they’ll ever made one that cook instantly?” He
grinned, “And also, my dream is surpass all the previous Hokage and be acknowledged by
Konoha!” He then added, “Hobbies…pranks and poison I guess,” Who knew he can get
addicted to experimenting with poisons? He even add them to his ramen like condiments
lately.

Kakashi nodded and turned to Sasuke, “Next,”

Sasuke hummed, “Uchiha Sasuke. There’s not a lot of things that I like and a lot that I
dislike. I have an ambition, not a dream. I will resurrect the Uchiha Clan and kill a certain
man,”

Naruto stared at him, “You’re not depressed…”

Sasuke grunted, “Hn,”

“…You’re homicidal,”

Sasuke glared at him.

Kakashi ignored the quip and turned to Sakura who smiled like she’s in an interview, “My
name is Haruno Sakura and I like…”

Naruto ignored her introduction, wondering what he had done in his last incarnation to be
stuck to a banshee and a crow out to kill someone…
 Chapter 7
Chapter Summary

Alive and energetic. There.

Naruto glared at Kakashi. First he dropped this sudden exam that can make or break his
Shinobi career. Then he told them not to eat because they’ll get sick. And finally he made
them wait for him from early morning to almost noon! What the hell?!

Now he’s telling them to take two bells from him before noon or they will watch him eat?
Too bad for Kakashi, Naruto asceticism training meant he can keep going despite hunger. But
what does he mean that only two will pass? Naruto has yet to see a team with only two
Genin. Something smells fishy and he was sure Kakashi took a swim with the fishes.

He was tempted to just face the man head on but he had a feeling that Sesshoumaru would
trash him when he report the day to the Alpha. So he jumped into the forest with the rest of
his team. Instinct tells him that there’s more to the test than getting the bell. He pondered
over the matter, the two bells kept bugging him while Sasuke leapt out and challenged
Kakashi. After Sasuke became a potato in the ground, he listened to Sakura using her
banshee voice to attack Kakashi.

But still he couldn’t keep off the nagging feeling that there’s more to the test!

Meanwhile Kakashi was looking around, trying to sniff out his last student but surprisingly
he could only scent the forest. Then again, this is the brat that kept slipping past stressed out
sensor ninja to desecrate restricted areas and pranking the hell out of it. Kakashi has never
seen sensor ninja that stressed out since the Third Shinobi War ended. Coffee production had
even gone up.

Feeling challenged, he used his skill to the maximum to find the blond…

Naruto grumbled, “Just what is it?”

In the end, to Kakashi’s surprise, Naruto come up to him, “Well, this is surprising. You’re a
bit off…”

Naruto groaned, “What’s off is this entire exam! Something’s bugging me and that bug is
you, dattebayo! Everything about it is off!” He glared at Kakashi, “But since I can’t put my
finger on it, I’ll just face you!” He took off Hiraikotsu, sticking the giant boomerang into the
ground. Kakashi felt the tremor as the boomerang hit the ground and thought that he’s lucky
he didn’t have to face the weight of that thing.
Naruto flexed his claws and dashed forward. Kakashi faced him, taking note that he moved
almost like an Inuzuka but more…feral yet controlled. He also winced when Naruto’s sharp
nails, more like claws, nicked the front of his flak. He recalled that the boy experimented
with poisons on his own person and decided to not let himself be injured by the blond.

Naruto growled but his blue eyes remained focus. It was only then that Kakashi noticed just
similar the expression on the boy’s face was to Minato. He blinked away the nostalgia…

Naruto hit a tree and Kakashi’s widened as he literally obliterated the bark, leaving deep
gauges like giant claws. He gulped, “That better not hit me,”

Naruto grinned, looking absolutely feral, “Then keep dodging!”

Kakashi sweat dropped, “Are you sure you’re not related to the Inuzuka?”

Naruto swiped once more, “I’m an Uzumaki!”

He then pulled back, Kakashi’s eyes widened as he conjured ten more feral blonds. He cursed
to himself and started to dodge even more desperately. His Kage Bunshin even avoid hitting
each other, each movement smooth and instinctual. If Kakashi didn’t know better, he would
have thought that Naruto has a teacher. Well, he didn’t know better but please don’t judge
him. Naruto can keep a secret when he wanted to after all.

At some point Naruto started to emit strange sweet scent like apple blossoms. Kakashi
frowned and leapt away from the boy, his senses duller. He coughed, “Hallucinogen?” He
didn’t even see the boy use any sort of bombs or seals. He has read Naruto’s report and the
boy was horrible at Genjutsu. It then hit him, “Poison,”

Naruto pouted, “Aw man, he got out of range. I need to increase dosage for that one,”

Kakashi asked, “So you do eat poisons,”

Naruto shrugged, “Well, I need to be poisonous for some of my technique,” He threw out his
hand and toxic glow covered his claws. Suddenly a glowing green whip appeared and sliced
through a tree. The bark steamed and the surface began to bubble as the area surrounding the
wound started to rot. Kakashi paled, “Please don’t use that in this exam,”

Naruto glared at the glowing whip, “Still not strong enough,”

Kakashi sweated, “Just how strong do you need that to be?”

Naruto looked at him, “Strong enough that I could slice through a whole grove with one
whip,”

Kakashi mentally cursed whoever taught the boy this ‘Gu’ thing.

Meanwhile Sasuke finally climbed out of his hole with Sakura’s help and saw the destruction
around Naruto. He clenched his fist and rushed forward. At that moment the bell rang and
Kakashi clapped his hands, “Alright, times up!”
Naruto frowned as he found himself tied up, “Hey, what’s the big idea?!”

Kakashi crinkled his eye as he smiled at them, “Wow, you guys look really hungry…except
for Naruto for some reason,”

Naruto glowered at him and melted the rope.

Kakashi blinked at that, “Now that’s just cheating,”

Naruto raised glowing hands, “I knew something is off with the test!”

Kakashi pointed at Naruto, “It seemed that you know something is off with this test but you
didn’t share them with them. Why?”

Naruto frowned, “I know them well enough that they won’t listen to me. Sasuke will go on
ahead. He thinks everyone else is a burden. Sakura will follow him to hell if it’ll make him
notice her,”

Kakashi frowned at the rather apt description of the team’s dynamic, “It seemed Naruto is the
only one that noticed the real point of this test. The two of you, what do you think the answer
to this test is?” He looked at Sasuke and Sakura.

Sakura frowned, “What is the answer?”

Kakashi sighed, “Do I need to hand feed you everything? The answer is teamwork,”

Sakura blinked, “What teamwork? There’re only two bells! One of us still has to go back to
the Academy! This will only turn us on each other!”

Kakashi rolled his eye, “That was the point. It is to see whether you can set aside your
differences, forget your own interest and successfully work together under this designated
circumstances,” He then pointed at her, “Sakura, you only focused on Sasuke. Exactly like
how Naruto said,”

He pointed at Sasuke, “Sasuke, you just assumed that everyone else will only get in the way.
Once again Naruto hit the nail on the head,”

He then pointed at Naruto, “Naruto, you suspected the point of the test but keep to yourself.
You give up on this team before you even begin,”

He looked at them, “Shinobi duties and missions are done in a team. Of course abilities are
important to a ninja. But the most important thing is teamwork,” He pulled out a kunai,
“Individual play that disrupt the team can put everyone in danger and jeopardize the mission.
For example…” He pressed the kunai against Sasuke’s throat, taking Sakura by surprise,
“Sakura! Kill Naruto or Sasuke dies!”

Sakura paled, “Sasuke-kun!”

He pulled the kunai away, “See? If a hostage is taken, you will have to make a tough decision
or die. In this line of career, you will risk your life every mission accepted,” He then walked
toward the stone that stood alone in the training ground, “On this stone, numerous names
have been carved on it. They are Shinobi recognized as heroes by Konoha,”

Naruto stared at the stone, “Heroes?”

Kakashi looked at him, “They aren’t normal heroes though,”

Naruto looked at him at him, “What kind of heroes?”

Kakashi fell quiet for a moment before answering, “They are heroes that fell in the line of
duties,”

Sakura paled and Sasuke frowned. Naruto just stared, his expression oddly blank. Kakashi
continued, “This is a memorial. My best friend’s name is carved here,” He looked at the
preteen, “I will give the three of you one more chance. But after lunch, I will make the test
harder. Those who still wish to challenge the exam can eat lunch but don’t give any to
Naruto. If either of you give him any, you will fail immediately,” He glared, “Here, I am the
rules! Got it?”

He flickered away, leaving three hungry Genin wannabes. Naruto ignored his rumbling
stomach as he separated from them, “I’m used to working hungry anyway,”

He stayed away as they eat. Sasuke frowned as his stomach continue to rumble. He stood up
and offered his bento box, “Take some,”

Sakura flustered, “But Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-sensei said that-!”

He ignored her, “Don’t worry, I don’t sense him anywhere near here. After lunch, we will
work together,” He looked at Naruto, “Even if you are used to work hungry, you’ll be more
useful fed,”

Sakura thought about it and offered her bento box as well.

Naruto stared at her in disbelief.

At that moment, Kakashi appeared with a boom. He glared at them, cloud appearing over his
head and thunder rumbled, “You…”

Sakura trembled.

Sasuke gripped his fist.

Naruto stared,

Kakashi crinkled his eye into a crescent, “Pass!”

Sakura blinked, “P-pass?! Why?!”

He sighed, “You guys are the first to ignore my orders. Everyone else just do whatever I tell
them to do like idiots. It didn’t matter if they are close childhood friends or even siblings.
They are all idiots,” He rolled his neck, “As Shinobi, we must always look underneath the
underneath. In our society, those who break the codes and rules are called scum. But you
know what?”

He looked at them, “Those who don’t take care of their comrades, those abandoned their
team…are scummiest kind of scum,”

Naruto stared at him. It felt like there’s a lot of sides to this new sensei. One moment he’s
lackadaisical and lazy. The next he’s silly and playful, teasing them and seemingly not taking
them seriously. Yet at this moment Naruto caught a glimpse that reminded him of
Sesshoumaru.

He was in awe, “Cool,”

Kakashi broke that image with a thumb’s up, “That ends today’s training. All of you pass!
Starting tomorrow we will begin to take missions from the mission room!”

Sakura cheered and Sasuke hid his small grin under his collar.

Naruto cheered, “Hell yeah! I did it!”

That night, he went into the Shikon, excited to inform his family that he has officially
become a Shinobi of Konohagakure when he stopped. His eyes widened as he caught sight of
two people…finally awake. He gaped, “M-mum….D-dad…?”

Minato, golden hair arcing with lightning that jumped from one strands to another, looked at
him with lightning blue eyes. Kushina, red fox ears stood up and crimson tail swishing
behind her, beamed at him. Naruto bit his lip, realizing that what he had hoped for finally
came true. He didn’t make a wish, he prayed and hoped. But never wished, he knows better
than to wish.

He stepped forward. One step, two steps, three, four…finally it became countless as he ran
straight in the arms of the parents that had to leave without having a chance to truly say hello.
Tear streamed down his cheeks as he hugged them. He could smell them, no longer static and
sterile. Alive and energetic. There.

Minato smelled like the storm.

Kushina smelled like the ocean.

They smelled like home…

 Chapter 8
Chapter Summary

“You’re the man, Sensei,”

“They are just a bunch of brats. Especially the midget with the stupid makeup,”

Naruto twitched. He had wondered who the short one but when the man mentioned his dark
orange eyelid as makeup, he knew it was him. He growled deep and low, “Make fun of me
again and I swear I’ll poison you, dattebayo,”

Kakashi held him back, “Naruto, you can’t poison the client,”

Naruto grumbled, “It’s not my fault it showed up one morning,”

Even Naruto has started to think that his face has gotten colorful. The marking on his eyelids
resembled Sesshoumaru’s but wider, almost like eye shadow. His whiskers remained black
but bold. The Shingetsu remained dark blue. But his eyes are marked orange. At least he
doesn’t look like a panda. The only reason he didn’t flip out as much was because
Sesshoumaru pointed out that colorful beast in nature are warning of poison.

Naruto had truly become Gu.

Within the hour, the group gathered at the south gate. Naruto looked at the gate, his heart
pounding. The past months have been filled with tedious missions that felt more like chores
that their client rather pay money so they can be lazy than actual mission. When he
complained about the matter to his family, Sesshoumaru called him stupid.

Naruto was stumped by the sudden insult.

Kagome huffed, “Naruto, in my time, ninja is all about gathering information. And the best
way to do that is to be someone everyone will overlook. That is a janitor. No one will bat an
eye at someone who does the cleaning. Everyone will just ignore them. The same goes to
people who fix the roof or paint the fence. You need to be someone who can be just about
anyone unimportant so you can sneak into places without rousing suspicion,”

Minato nodded, “Why don’t you try to gather intel about Konoha and compile them into a
report? After all, the Hokage need to know what really goes on in the village and not just the
filtered version the Council gives him. ANBU in training usually does that by turning into
someone else and then lounge about Konoha during downtime. Hokage also go through
Genin report to try and see just how the village really function through the eyes of the
common people,”
Kushina looked at him, “Wait, what?”

Minato smiled at them, “There’s a reason why it’s called a mission and not commission,”

Since then Naruto took every mission, tedious chores, as if he’s on an intel gathering mission.
He compiled his report the same way, taking Hiruzen and even Kakashi by surprise.

Although some missions, like catching Tora, was more for the money than intel…

Naruto tuned out as Kakashi told Sakura about the Five Great Shinobi Nations. He wondered
if leaving the Academy equals leaving her brain. Suddenly his nose caught two scents along
with blood, iron and poisons. Intrigued by the poison, started to try and isolate the scent from
everything else and figure out what made it.

Suddenly Kakashi was torn to shred just as they cross the smelly puddle.

“One down,”

Sakura screamed as the two attackers headed straight for the client. Naruto froze. All his
training run out as his first true life or death battle happened right in front of him. He knew
Kakashi’s not dead, his nose told him so. But the sight had been so real, the visual so raw that
his mind didn’t have time to process the scent of pine. Sasuke jumped into action before the
chains could behead Naruto. The foreign Shinobi cursed and snapped the chain.

At the sound of the snapping chains, Naruto was grounded once more. He raised his arm just
into time to parry the clawed gauntlet of one of them. Sakura jumped in front of their client
but she can’t do anything more than just hold her kunai before her. Sasuke jumped in front of
her and just the foreign nin was about to collide with them, Kakashi appeared.

Everything happened in seconds, barely giving a time for anyone to blink.

Kakashi looked at Naruto, “Sorry I didn’t save you. I didn’t expect that you would freeze like
that,”

As the man congratulate the others, Naruto looked at his hand. The bleeding’s already
stopped. He licked off the remainder of his blood clean, used to the action from the amount of
time he had to deal with his wounds fighting with Sesshoumaru and lately, Minato. He didn’t
like what just happened. Sasuke had to rescue him. Naruto doesn’t like feeling helpless and…
weak. He glowered at his former injury. He then looked at Sasuke, opened his mouth and…

Sasuke asked, “Are you alright, scaredy cat?”

…and Naruto was about to thank him too…jerk…

Kakashi looked at him, “Naruto, the claws are poisoned. We need to reopen the wound and
release the poison from your body,”

That cheered him up, “Oh yeah! Poison!” He quickly approached the incapacitated ninja and
dug into their pouches. One of them grumbled, “What are you doing? If you’re looking for
the antidote, too bad! We don’t carry it. After all, we are immune,”
Naruto grumbled, “No, I’m looking for the poison….aha! Found it!” Then he uncorked the
bottle and down it like aspirin. Sakura screamed and Sasuke yelled, “Dobe!”

Kakashi blinked, “Oh yeah…human poison…”

The ninja blinked at the sight, “Is this brat…want to unalive himself?”

Kakashi shook his head, “No…I just realized that he’s addicted to eating poisons,”

Tazuna, their client, shook his head, “He’s going to die,”

Naruto licked his lips, “Hmm…fish…”

One of the tied up ninja snorted, “That’s made of a special grade blowfish poison from Kiri.
You’re going suffocate to death,”

Naruto nodded, “Yeah…but I think I have more poison than this fishy poison…I feel some
tightening in my chest but that’s already subsided,”

The group blinked and Sakura asked, “A-are you sure you’re alright, Naruto? That’s poison,
you know?”

Naruto looked at her, “I’m practicing Gu. I have been poisoning myself the past three years.
Granted that’s not long but I made sure I take deadlier and deadlier poisons. This also meant I
am immune to most poisons with similar properties,” He nicked his finger and let a drop of
blood out, “Right now even my blood is poisonous…” He looked at Kakashi, “You want to
use some on this chum? I can focus to make it painful but not deadly…like a box jellyfish,
you know? I had my hands on them thanks to Inoichi-san in exchange for one of the
improved antidotes. Probably the most painful poisoning I have ever experienced,”

He grinned at them, “Did you know…box jellyfish venom will give you the impending sense
of doom. The T&I loves using them to interrogate prisoners…” He cackled at the captured
Shinobi who paled. They know well about box jellyfish venoms.

Kakashi shook his head, “Never mind them. They looked like Kiri Chuunin. They aren’t
known for giving up,” He looked at Tazuna, “But their attack makes me curious about
something…who exactly they are after,”

Tazuna flinched, “What do you mean?”

Kakashi approached the man, his eye grim, “Meaning…were they after one of us…or you,”

Naruto listened as Kakashi explained the danger of misinformed mission to Tazuna. Sakura,
born civilian, just wants to go home. This mission, with the addition of Shinobi, had become
something beyond their level of skills. She tried to use Naruto as a reason to return to
Konoha, “And even if Naruto did eat poison as a hobby, we still need to check on him,”

Naruto didn’t like that.

In the end Tazuna confessed by asking, “Do you know a man named Gato?”
Kakashi blinked, “Isn’t he one of the few wealthy people? He owns the Gato Company,”

Tazuna sighed and started to explain about Gato and how the man has been taking over Nami
no Kuni, strangling the country dry by taking control of their water. For a small island
country like Nami, that’s like killing them. He then went about saying how he didn’t mind
dying but his grandson and daughter will hate Konoha forever.

Kakashi was successfully emotionally blackmailed.

How pushy…

So now they are riding a boat to Nami. Naruto questioned the wisdom of it all. Sure, Sasuke
can fight. He has better instinct for a fight than Naruto. No question about Kakashi. But what
about Sakura? She’s more book smart than battle ready. As for Naruto himself, he already
prep himself up for possible fights ahead. Kakashi already warned them that it will only get
harder from then on.

A big unfinished bridge loomed over them and Naruto slapped his hand on his mouth, almost
shouting his awe out loud. Their boat took a quieter route and soon they entered Nami.
Naruto looked excitedly around, taking note of the natural beauty when his heart sink. As
something like a Kannushi to Kagome’s Miko status, he understands the importance of
balance and harmony. This place….was full of disharmony. But he couldn’t do anything…not
yet as he followed Tazuna to his home. Yet the whole time his senses tingled and his grip of
Hiraikotsu twitched.

They’re being watched…

Naruto frowned in discomfort when his ears caught the sound of leaves rustling. Nerves
strained, he threw a shuriken and a white rabbit came out. Now, Naruto know he’s dumb.
Sesshoumaru hit his head often enough to tell him so. But he knew that forest animals like
rabbits change color due to seasons.

White is an off color for spring…

The scent of blood and iron grew stronger. The wind…is being cut…

Just like when he throw Hiraikotsu…

Naruto ignored the loud Sakura and pulled her down just as Kakashi shouted, “Down!”

A giant blade sliced through the air and into a tree. A man appeared and landed on the
handle. Kakashi narrowed his eyes, “Momochi Zabuza…”

Kakashi raised his hand to hold his Genin back, “Everyone, stay down. This man is on a
whole other level,” He raised his tilted hitai-ate, “This fight…is going to be tough…”

Zabuza looked at Kakashi, “Sharingan no Kakashi. Also known as Copycat Kakashi. Sorry,
but that old man is mine,”

Sasuke twitched.
Kakashi ordered the Genin, “Do not enter the fight. Surround and protect Tazuna,” He
opened his scarred left eye, “Zabuza…fight me,”

Zabuza stared at him, “I’m honored. To see the famous Sharingan this early in a fight,”

Naruto blinked at the sight of the eye. Something about the eye made him feel off, like a
curse. He didn’t like the eye, he didn’t like it at all. He asked, “What’s the Sharingan?”

Sasuke explained, “Sharingan is a Dojutsu that can read and counter any kind of Ninjutsu,
Genjutsu and Taijutsu. The Sharingan is one of the many Dojutsu that can do that. But that’s
not the only abilities that the Sharingan has,” He stared at Kakashi, “The Sharingan is…the
Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan…”

Zabuza huffed, “That’s not all indeed. That damn eye can even copy Ninjutsu with a single
look. When I was still part of the Seven Swordsman of Kiri, I read about you in the Bingo
Book. Hatake Kakashi, you have copied over 1000 jutsu and earned the nickname Copycat
Kakashi because of the Sharingan,”

Naruto stared at Kakashi in awe, “You’re the man, Sensei,”

Zabuza lowered his body, “Now. Enough with the talking. I’m itching for a fight and I have
to kill that old bridge builder,”

The group of Genin quickly surround Tazuna, Naruto taking off Hiraikotsu and holding it in
front of his as a shield. He focused on his breathing, calming his nerves.

Zabuza glared at them, “But it seems like I have to go through you first…Kakashi,”
 Chapter 9
Chapter Summary

“This is our ancestral tree,”

The mist thickened. Zabuza faded into the white out. Naruto turned his ring, cancelling the
seal that Kagome designed to dampened his youkai senses. He will need everything. The air
grew heavy, almost like when Sesshoumaru glared at him when he did something particularly
stupid. Zabuza whispered, “8 choices; liver, lungs, spine, clavicle vein, neck vein, brain,
kidneys and the heart,”

The team and Tazuna tensed as Zabuza asked, “Which one should I go after?”

Sasuke dug a kunai out from his holster. He pointed the kunai to his throat. Naruto grabbed
his hand as Kakashi speaks, “Sasuke, don’t worry. I’ll protect you guys even if it kills me…”
He crinkled his eyes at them, “I don’t let my comrades die,”

Zabuza appeared right in the middle, “We’ll see about that!”

Sakura gasped and Sasuke twitched, Naruto turned just as Kakashi lunged into Zabuza with a
kunai stab. Naruto turned his eyes behind Kakashi, “Sensei!” Before he could move, Kakashi
was sliced at the waist but he turned into water just like the Zabuza he stabbed. Another
Kakashi appeared, placing a kunai against the new Zabuza’s neck, “It’s over,”

Zabuza scoffed, “It’s over? Don’t look down on me. A monkey like imitation like you can’t
possibly defeat me,” He looked at Kakashi, “But that was impressive of you. To think that
you could copy my Mizu Bunshin in the thick mist. Not to mention those sappy words to
catch my attention while you stay hidden in the mist…but…”

His voice come from behind, “I’m not that simple,”

Naruto gulped, watching the first Shinobi fight in his life showed just how narrow his
experience was. Everything’s an illusion. In fast paced movements, the two battled each other
and Kakashi was thrown into the water. Zabuza stopped just before he stepped onto the
Makibishi that Kakashi thrown as he flew into the nearby river.

Kakashi emerged from the water but then Zabuza appeared behind him, “Water Prison!”

Trapped in a sphere of water, Kakashi watched in dawning horror as Zabuza summoned more
Mizu Bunshin to deal with the Genin. In a watery flash, he leapt at Naruto and kicked…
nothing. Blinking, Zabuza looked to see the blond throwing the giant white boomerang at
him, “Let Kakashi-sensei go!” He let loose the boomerang and it cut through his Mizu
Bunshin, bursting them and Zabuza cursed, “Brat!”
Naruto looked at Sasuke who pulled out a Fuma Shuriken and throw the weapon at Zabuza as
well. Zabuza parried the attack with Kubikiribocho. However, the returning boomerang
forced him to drop the Water Prison and the freed Kakashi jumped out of his range.

Zabuza looked at the blond who grabbed the boomerang with ease, “I guess someone’s not
playing ninja after all,”

Naruto bared his fangs, cracking his knuckles the same way Sesshoumaru did whenever he
prepared to beat the technique into Naruto’s body. He growled, “I don’t leave my pack
behind,” He might not like Sasuke and Sakura, he might be skeptical about Kakashi, but this
is the pack he’s dealt. Sesshoumaru would trash him if he ran off just because he feel
inadequate.

Kakashi glared at Zabuza and the two started to rapidly signed with their hands. At the end of
the sign, twin water dragons appeared and crashed against each other. Zabuza growled and
tried a different technique, suspicion filled him as Kakashi followed his movement perfectly.
In the end Kakashi finished the signs for the technique first and threw a tsunami of water at
his adversary.

Just as Kakashi was about to finish the man off, two senbon finished him first. Naruto looked
at the origin and saw a person in mask watching them, “You’re right…he’s dead,”

His team and Tazuna tensed again, worried over what this new ‘face’ would do. Kakashi
checked on Zabuza and confirmed that the man had passed away. The masked ninja bowed,
“Thank you very much. I have been hunting Momochi Zabuza for a long time,”

Kakashi eyed him, “You’re an Oinin of Kiri,”

Sakura asked, “Oinin?”

The Oinin nodded, “Correct. I am indeed an Oinin of Kiri. My duty is to hunt down Nukenin
like Momochi Zabuza,”

Naruto stared at the Oinin, then looked at Zabuza before staring at the Oinin again. He
growled, “What the hell? Who are you?!”

Kakashi walked to him and ruffled his hair, “Don’t worry. He’s not an enemy. He’s just doing
his job as Oinin,”

The Oinin appeared beside Zabuza and picked him up. Naruto growled, instinct telling him to
not trust, “I don’t trust him,”

The Oinin disappeared.

Naruto turned to Kakashi, “I really don’t trust him, dattebayo!”

Kakashi sighed, “Naruto…just leave it,” He turned to his team after covering the Sharingan,
“Now it’s time we take Tazuna home,”
Tazuna, relieved, laughed, “Super thanks, guys! Come over to my house and relax for a
while! I’m sure my sweet daughter is making a super delicious dinner right about now!”

At that point, Kakashi dropped like a puppet whose string has been cut…

Team 7 panicked, “Sensei!”

Kakashi groaned, “I’m fine. Just…strained myself,”

Naruto frowned, looked at Hiraikotsu and sighed, “I’ll carry you,” He summoned a Kage
Bunshin, “You, carry Hiraikotsu,” He then grabbed Kakashi by the waist, surprising the man,
and folded him over his neck. Kakashi blinked, feeling awkward as Naruto was short for his
age. He looked at the others, “You guys continue protecting Tazuna,”

They marched straight to Tazuna’s home, the bridge builder was impressed by Naruto’s
strength. Sasuke wondered just what Naruto ate to be so strong. Considering that Kakashi’s
not only a full grown adult, he’s also bound to be muscle heavy. Added with his heavy duty
Jounin flak and the weapons he should be carrying on his person…his dark eyes drift to
Hiraikotsu…

Maybe it wasn’t much of a mystery after all…

Kakashi opened his eyes to see Naruto and Sakura hovering over him. Surprised, the two
backpedaled away. Sakura turned on Naruto, “Baka! We almost got to see his face!”

Naruto frowned at her, “Not my fault he decided to wake up, dattebayo!”

Kakashi groaned, “Zabuza’s alive,”

His team looked at him, “Huh?”

He explained, “Oinin destroy the body on site. They don’t take it away. So that means that
Zabuza’s alive somewhere. The Oinin’s a fake,” He then added, “Not to mention the weapon
used. Senbon can pierce points that lead to a momentary death,”

Naruto huffed, “Told you I don’t trust him!”

Kakashi sighed, “Fine, you’re right. Happy?”

Naruto glared at him, “Now what?”

Kakashi rubbed his head, “Now we prepare. Besides, even if Zabuza did die, there’s no one
to say that Gato won’t just hire a different Shinobi to finish the job. We need to prepare even
it’s just a suspicion. That is a Shinobi rule,”

Sakura frowned, “But what can a little training do? We are faced against ninja that can even
give you trouble!”

Kakashi crinkled his eye at her, “Ah…who saved me when I was stuck? You guys are
growing rapidly,” He looked at Naruto, “Especially Naruto,”
Naruto blushed at the praise.

Kakashi added, “Of course this is just training until I am properly back on my feet.”

Sakura wasn’t convinced, “But Sensei, if Zabuza is still alive he could attack anytime. Do we
even have the time to train?”

Kakashi placated her, “Don’t worry. When a person is placed under a momentary death state,
it will take a while for them to return to normal. We have about as much time to recover as
him,” He crinkled his eye at them, “In the meantime I will train you three to get stronger in
chakra control,”

Naruto grinned, “This is going to be fun,”

A kid answered him, “That’s not fun at all,”

The team looked at the sudden new addition. The kid grabbed Tsunami’s pant and pointed at
them, “They’re going to die,”

Naruto twitched, “What was that?! Did you just cursed us to die?!”

The kid scoffed, “There’s no way you’re going to win against Gato,”

Naruto scowled, “What? You’re his fan or something?”

The kid turned pale before turning away. Sakura scowled at Naruto, “Now look at what
you’ve done! Why are you getting mad at a kid for?!”

Naruto blinked, scenting tears in the air. Suddenly he didn’t like entertaining Sakura and
decided to call it a night as he closed his eyes. He opened his eyes in the Shikon and sighed
as he joined his family, “My first C-rank sucks, dattebayo,”

Minato blinked, “How so?”

He explained, “Well, first we get the worst client ever, dattebayo! He’s a drunk and he kept
drinking on the way to Nami! After that we came across two Chuunin from Kiri Kakashi-
sensei called Oni Kyoudai that tried to kill us and the client! Turned out he lied about the
mission and there’s some rich crime lord that wants him dead! He blackmailed Kakashi-
sensei on continuing the mission! So we did. But then this guy Kakashi-sensei call Momochi
Zabuza showed up and almost drown Kakashi-sensei in this water sphere! Good thing I have
Hiraikotsu and I tag teamed with Sasuke-teme to free Kakashi-sensei! Then this Oinin from
Kiri showed up and killed Zabuza! But after Kakashi-sensei wake up from being tired, he
told us that Zabuza’s not dead! See? I told you the mission sucks!”

He then added, “Then this kid at Tazuna house jinxed us all saying that we will die! What’s
his deal, dattebayo?!”

Minato sighed, “C-ranks are cursed,”

Naruto gawked, “EH?!!”

Minato chuckled and Kushina explained, “C-ranks always go wrong one way or another. You
should turn back when it gets dangerous. What was Kashi-kun thinking?”

Minato sighed, “It seemed our death had really run him to the edge of sanity,”

Naruto paled, “Kakashi-sensei is crazy?”

Kagome flicked his temple. “No. I think he just has a weird coping mechanism,” At his
confused look, she explained, “From what Minato and Kushina shared, he had lost a lot of
people. People that he cared deeply about from a very young age. People that he saw die right
in front of him. I doubted anyone sane would have remained so. He must still be in
depression,” She looked at Minato, “Don’t Konoha have any mental support institution?”

Minato sighed, “That was one of my projects but I don’t know if Konoha managed to launch
it,”

Kushina grumbled, “From what I can see with Naruto’s complain about Sasuke? I doubted
it,”

Naruto nodded, “He’s not depressed. He’s homicidal, dattebayo,”

Kushina pointed, “See? How is that a sign of a healthy mind?”

Minato looked at Naruto, “Well, I guess that I will train you in chakra control tonight,” He
looked to the side and Goshinboku appeared. Naruto gawked, “That’s a big tree,”

Kagome smiled, “This is our ancestral tree,” She looked at Minato, “Carry him up,” She let
Sesshoumaru grab her as he float up. After a while, they landed on a thick branch the size of
a road and Kagome pointed at the strange scar, “Naruto, see this mark here?”

He nodded, “It’s weird,”

She pressed her hand flat against the smooth surface, “Inuyasha was sealed to the
Goshinboku for 50 years. This tree carry so many memories for both of us and now it is the
tree of your Uzumaki family,”

Kushina grabbed her hand, “You’re an Uzumaki too…even if you carry a different name,
dattebane,”

Kagome smiled at her, “Thank you, Kushina,”

Minato looked at Naruto, “Now. The first step for a more mature chakra coil is to learn tree
walking. Allow me to demonstrate…”
 Chapter 10
Chapter Summary

“Yeah…you really looked like a girl so I just played along, dattebayo!”

Kakashi stared at Naruto. He didn’t expect for the blond to grasp chakra control as swiftly as
he did. But rather he took several tries before succeeding. Well, he didn’t know that Naruto’s
training with his ki was the same as training his chakra. Naruto has more years and
experience training both side of the aspects of chakra, physical and spiritual, than most of his
peers. He even trained them in the ancient way.

Sasuke wasn’t happy that the Dead Last succeeded in something he struggled with. As he
kept falling back down, he started to feel left behind. Sakura easily applied the lesson to
practical during her first try. Naruto had a few false starts before suddenly walking like he did
it forever. Sasuke frowned at the blond currently walking up and down the tree he chose for
the training, his face focused. In the end, Sasuke approached him, “Hey…”

Naruto looked at him, “Yeah?”

The raven looked around, cheeks tinting red before asking, “How…how did you do it?”

Naruto stared at him long enough that it started to feel awkward. When he thought that the
blond won’t share, Naruto opened his mouth, “Did you feel frustrated?” Sasuke frowned but
didn’t say anything. Naruto nodded, “I’ll take that as a yes…hmm…when you feel frustrated,
the chakra’s spiritual part become agitated. You don’t feel frustrated when you walk, usually.
You just get up and walk, dattebayo!” He grinned, “Don’t think about it!”

Sasuke blinked….“Huh?”

The next day he thought over what Naruto said and breathed in deep before applying it. He
calmed himself, focused on his chakra and walked. He had a few false starts but then he start
to walk higher and higher. Suddenly he passed his final mark on the tree and he realized that
he had walked higher than he ever did the first day. With that he lost his focus.

He dropped down but didn’t forget to mark his latest progress.

Naruto whistled, “See? You got to focus only on your own progress and forget about me,
dattebayo!”

Sasuke hid a small smile…

That evening during dinner, Sakura asked something about the weird photo hanging on the
wall. Inari stormed out of the room and Tazuna sighed, “Inari had a father not related by
blood. They were real close, like real father and son. Inari was so happy back then,” Naruto
blinked as the usually uncaring old man started to sob. Tazuna grit his teeth, “But Inari
changed…since the incident with his father. The word ‘courage’ had been stolen from the
people of this island…and Inari. Ever since that day…and that incident,”

Kakashi asked, “What incident?”

Tazuna went on to explain about a man named Kaiza. Kaiza was a very respected man in
Nami. He was loved by all for his selflessness, kindness and courage. He had saved Inari
from drowning. He save Nami from flood. To everyone on the island, Kaiza was their symbol
of courage. He was their hero. Inari was Kaiza’s biggest fan.

But then…Gato came…

Tazuna looked at them with grim eyes, “And in front of everyone…in front of Inari…Kaiza
was put to death by Gato,”

Sakura gasped, Sasuke frowned with a pale face and Naruto…look curiously blank. Kakashi
frowned at the thought of a son seeing his father…murdered…his hand unconsciously grip
his book tighter. No child should go through something so despairing…

Tazuna continued, “From that day, Inari changed. He stopped believing in heroes. So did
Tsunami…and the whole of Nami…”

Naruto stood up, unable to bear the silence. In his vein, his blood roared for justice. So he
told Kakashi who tried to stop him, “I’m going to prove…to him and Nami…that in this
world heroes do exist!” His father was one. His ancestor was one. His family are all heroes in
their own right.

Heroes are those who carry the weights and burdens no one else can.

They will always meet a tragic end, one way or another. Blessed are those who died
surrounded by friends and family. Blessed are those who died in their bed surrounded by
loved ones. Heroes…died in battle, surrounded by enemies and in the middle of nowhere.

That’s why they’re remembered…

He trained all night long, focusing on his physical chakra. He couldn’t sleep, too burning
with the need to do something. He didn’t like this Gato character. He didn’t like how Kaiza
was killed. Granted he’d rather no one was killed but he knew better. Sesshoumaru knocked
in him the sense that some death are necessary. If not kindness to the person killed then
kindness to the world. If he could stop more suffering with the death of one man, then he
should take it.

Kagome looked sad and smiled, “It is good to save a life. A miko and shinshoku must always
do their best to save a life. But what is saving a life? By granting mercy to someone who
didn’t care for the lives of others, you will only give them more chance to kill more people.
Not every murderer can change their way. Not every person wanted to be saved. Even I am
not that strong,”
She looked at him, “Sesshoumaru’s path is the path of ruler. He cannot be soft hearted for the
sake of one. He must always seek the path that saved as many as possible. It is why a leader
sometimes have to be cold hearted. If you truly wish to become Hokage, Naruto, that is also a
path you must take,” She looked at Minato, “Not many rulers can take the path that Minato
walks,”

The choice the Yondaime made could be considered a miracle. He could have chosen to seal
all of Kurama into Naruto, completely jeopardizing his life and health. But instead he
compromised the might of Konoha by only sealing half and even that was a gamble. He
chose the path that will save Naruto’s life as much as the safety of Konoha. Not a good
choice but a miraculous choice nonetheless. No one said a miracle is always a good thing for
the person involved.

The next morning he saw a soft faced boy waking him up. It seemed that he had trained until
he blacked out. He blinked up at the boy, “Who-?” His nose caught a familiar scent. But as
the boy didn’t do anything to him, Naruto decided to not react. Sesshoumaru always
pressured into him the value of being undervalued at his age.

The boy, Haku he called himself, was looking for medicines. Haku was surprised by Naruto’s
medical knowledge, “This one is good for paralytic patient. Were the person you are caring
for poisoned or something?”

Haku smiled, “Or something…what are you doing out here, Naruto?”

Naruto grinned, “Training!” He looked at Haku, “You sure worked early, miss,” No doubt
Haku was trying to pass off as a girl to throw people off of his physical similarity to the Oinin
so Naruto will just play along. Haku just smiled at him, “Early morning herbs worked best,”

Naruto looked at the herbs by his knees, “Is that so? Does that apply to poisons too?”

Haku blinked, “Poisons?”

Naruto grinned, “I work with poison!”

Haku looked at him, “That metal plate…you’re a ninja?”

Naruto nodded, “Yup!” He clicked his claw on the metal plate clasping his cape over his
shoulders, “And I worked real hard for this too!”

Haku smiled at him, “Wow. You’re incredible,” He’s really working on that clueless civilian
image, “Why are you training?”

Naruto tilted his head, “Because I have something I must protect…and to prove something to
someone!”

Haku nodded, “Do you…have someone who is important to you?”

Naruto stared at him, “Someone important?” The image of smiling Hinata appeared in his
mind and he rapidly blinked the image away. He has a lot of important some ones! Not just
Hinata!
But…she might be the most important of his many some ones…

Haku smiled at him, “When a person have something important to protect, that is when they
become truly strong…at least in my opinion…”

Naruto stared at him. He thought of the people that kept trying to protect him. Hinata who
overcame her shy persona just to try and save his life even though he wasn’t in any danger of
the poison in his body. Or Iruka pushed him aside because he believed that Naruto was in
danger of Mizuki. Of Kakashi who said that he won’t let any harm come to them…even if
Zabuza said that it was to distract him from Kakashi’s real position. Every single one of them
showed remarkable strength to defend someone other than them.

Naruto smiled, “Yeah! I understand what you meant,”

Haku nodded, “If that is your belief, then you will truly become strong,” He stood up with his
basket, “Let’s meet again somewhere,”

Naruto nodded, “Sure!” He just hoped that it won’t be on the opposite end. Haku suddenly
stopped and rectified a misunderstanding, “Oh and…I’m a boy…”

Naruto grinned, “I know!”

Haku looked at him, “What?! But you just called me miss!”

Naruto chuckled, “Yeah…you really looked like a girl so I just played along, dattebayo!”

Haku glared at the cheeky blond and huffed, “Goodbye!”

“Bye!”

Sasuke looked at the passing Haku and then at Naruto who was laughing about something.
Sasuke asked Naruto, “What was that all about?”

Naruto shrugged, “He’s just looking for some herbs for a sick friend,”

Sasuke blinked, “That was a guy?”

Naruto grinned at him, “I know right?!”

They’re now standing over a body of water and Kakashi pointed at it, “Alright, since you lot
already mastered the first part of chakra control exercise, I want you to practice water
walking,” He demonstrated, “The idea was the same, except this will train you to maintain
your chakra control at a steadier pace,”

Sakura slowly stepped onto the water and smiled as she stood on it. Then she sank. She
bubbled back up to the surface with a cry, “Cold!”

Kakashi pointed, “See?”

Naruto focused on calming his mind, his meditation practice coming in handy at that point.
He walked, sank a little, walked a bit more, sank a little less and walked a bit more. Sakura
gawked, “How?”

Naruto breathed and grinned before suddenly sinking. He sputtered back on land, “Alright, I
need to practice making it as instinctual as breathing. This is going to be a bit harder,” Water
moves and he will need to be able to split his focus. He need to be able to run on water like
it’s not even a thought, just like walking up trees. It should be like breathing. You don’t think
to breath, you just breath.

Nodding to himself, he started over again…

That evening, Naruto was worn out from his training. He was dozing when he scented salt.
He blinked at Inari who suddenly shouted, “Why do you guys work so hard?! Not matter how
hard you train, you’re no match for Gato’s thugs! No matter what glorious claim you make or
how hard you work, when facing people like Gato you will only end up dead!”

Naruto frowned, “Whatever. I’m nothing like you,”

Inari scowled, “I’d hate to be like you! You don’t know anything about us and yet you’re so
nosy! What the hell do you know about me?! I’m different from you, always clowning about
and acting cheerful all the time! You don’t the first thing about suffering!”

That does it!

Naruto growled loud and feral as he glared at the boy, his white sclera flashing red. His
whiskers grew bolder and jagged, landing him a more ferocious look. The people around the
dinner table silenced, staring at him with wide eyes. His snarling mouth bared large,
elongated fangs and for a moment Kakashi fear that the Kyuubi had taken over.

Then Naruto calmed down. His jagged whiskers retained their thinner and smoother pattern,
his eyes remained white and blue, while the fangs of his mouth seemed to shrink as his snarl
disappeared. Naruto looked coldly at Inari, “You’re an insult to Kaiza. Nothing but a coward
who only knows how to cry all day and do nothing but lament about how unfair the world
is,”

Sakura snapped out of her shock and scolded him, “Naruto! You’ve gone too far!”

Naruto ignored her, “I’m not like you…because I am not soft and I am not weak! I refused to
bow down to the world and admit defeat just because other people are stronger than me!
Heroes are not born, they are made! And I refused to ignore my legacy just because the world
is unfair!”

With that he turned around and left a stupefied room. Kakashi wondered at his words; does
Naruto know about his parents?
 Chapter 11
Chapter Summary

“I was so happy!”

Naruto grumbled, “Today sure is tough. First I woke up to find everyone left,”

Kurama huffed, “No one told you to train until you black out…again,”

Naruto frowned, “Then I had to save Tsunami and Inari…heh, he sure have grown from
yesterday,”

Kurama scoffed, “Not much of a growth,”

Naruto ignored him, “Now let’s see what else is waiting for us at the bridge…”

Naruto threw Hiraikotsu at who can only be Haku in his Oinin person jutting out from a
mirror looking at Sakura. Haku leapt out of Hiraikotsu’s path and the boomerang flew back to
Naruto’s waiting hand, “Uzumaki Naruto! Here, dattebayo!”

Zabuza threw some shuriken at Naruto but surprisingly Haku intercepted it with his senbon.
Zabuza stared at his partner, “Haku, what is this?”

Haku tilt his head towards him, “Zabuza-sama, please let me fight these kids my way…”

Zabuza sighed, “You’re soft as always, Haku,”

Naruto knocked on the ice dome with Hiraikotsu. The ice cracked but the moment Haku
returned, it reformed. Naruto frowned, “Oi, Teme! Are you alright in there?!”

Sasuke frowned, “Just keep knocking!”

Naruto frowned, “Fine,”

He raised Hiraikotsu and hit the ice mirror again, going harder and harder until Haku worry
that he would break through. Meanwhile, Sasuke tried to break out using a fireball jutsu.
Haku activated his skill once more and Naruto froze as he heard Sasuke screams in pain
within. Unable to take the sound and scent, he slipped into the dome, “Sasuke!”

Sasuke groaned, his body littered with senbon needles, “What the hell are you doing inside,
you dumbass?! Dammit!! I don’t care anymore, you’re an idiot!!”

Naruto frowned, “I came here to help, dattebayo!”

Sasuke scoffed, “What help?! You would do better from the outside!”

Haku threw more senbon but Naruto moved Hiraikotsu around him. His eyes gleamed gold
as he followed the movements in the mirror. Haku was shocked to see Naruto able to follow
him. Naruto bared a fang, “Sorry, but I can’t die here. I have a promise to keep and a dream
to make true,”

Haku stopped and stared.

He then mumbled, “Becoming a true shinobi is hard for me,” He admitted, “If possible, I
don’t want to kill you and neither do I want you to kill me. But if you come at me, then I am
willing to destroy my heart with a blade and become a true Shinobi,”

He tilted his head to the bridge beyond the ice dome, “This bridge is a place we fight for our
dream. You for your dream and me for mine. Please don’t hate me. I want to protect someone
precious to me. To work for that person, to fight for that person and to help make his dream
come true,” He glared at them through the slits of his mask, “For that I can become a
Shinobi. I can kill you,”

Kurama rumbled, “Damn. The kid’s serious. Naruto, you need to put your life on line
here,”

Haku moved. Senbon started to come out faster and faster. Naruto could only raise Hiraikotsu
as shield, moving it around him and Sasuke as fast as he could. Sasuke growled and started to
move as well. At one point he covered Naruto’s blind spot and took the attack head on.
Naruto gasped, “Sasuke!” Naruto covered their bodies with Hiraikotsu as he checked on the
Uchiha, making sure they are lower that the line of attack, “Why did you-?!”

Sasuke coughed, “I don’t know…I just…moved…” He looked at Naruto, “I…promised

myself…that I won’t die until…I kill that man…” He looked at Naruto, “You…reach your
dream…don’t…die…”

Sasuke…was the second person to ask him to live…

Naruto trembled, he ignored whatever it was that Haku was saying. His blood rushed. For the
first time in his life, he was truly enraged. His sclera burned crimson and his blue iris glowed
toxic green. His golden hair glowed silver as his whiskers grew bolder and jagged. The snarl
of his mouth revealed sharper and larger canine, resembling fangs. He glared at Haku with
inhuman eyes, “I’ll…kill you!”

Kurama cursed, “Oh damn…”

He couldn’t pull it back, his chakra started to mix with Naruto’s furious youki. Naruto’s ears
shifted, forming over his head into an unmistakable fox ears as his hair tie snapped. A single
chakra tail formed behind him. The lines around his eyes darkened like kohl. His hair grow
longer and smoother but still wilder than Sesshoumaru. His youkai blood howled for justice
for the death of a pack member. He raised his mouth and roared a long hunting howl.

Haku shuddered. He instinctually realized that he has been marked for prey.
He started to move from mirror to mirror but Naruto raised two clawed fingers and…
pirouetted?...on one feet before flinging his fingers out. Toxic green whip swings out and
Haku instinct saved him before he was sliced through. The ice mirrors shattered from the
force of chakra he emitted. Naruto glared at Haku while his chakra tail covered Sasuke’s
fallen form, the ice melted to vapors as it reached it.

Naruto growled, “Where are you running…prey?”

He lowered his body and rushed towards Haku. He punched the bridge and the whole
structure shuddered under the force of his impact. Haku started heading for Zabuza, mind
fogged by primal fear of a prey before an apex predator. This was an instinctual fear that
ancient human felt when faced with a descendant of a Daiyoukai.

Haku cried out, “Zabuza-sama!”

Zabuza froze, having never heard Haku calling out in such pure terror. He suddenly felt
something in the air, the feel of a hunter. He dropped the Kirigakure no Jutsu and his eyes
found something in walking behind a fleeing Haku. It dressed like the blond brat yet
everything about the brat screamed…wrong. Something that does not belong with humanity.
Feral. Dangerous.

Deadly.

Zabuza looked at an equally pale Kakashi, “What hell did Konoha experimented with?!” He
pointed at Naruto, “That thing is not human!”

Kakashi mumbled, “It can’t be…did it…but it didn’t feel like…”

Sakura trembled, “W-w-what…what is…what is he?”

The air was suffocating and the sky rumbled. The water around Nami churned under the
bridge. Something ancient has awaken in the world and the summon realms trembled. Deep
in Mount Myoboku, Great Toad Sage Gamamaru’s eyes opened, “It can’t be…youki?”

Naruto glared at Haku, “Murderer of my pack. You shall pay…”

Zabuza growled, standing his ground, “Leave, demon, or I will have your head!”

Naruto chuckled darkly, “Demon? How apt. I recall you fancy yourself a demon, correct?”
He glowered, “You’re nothing more than an impostor!” He then sneered, “Haku…you said
something about protecting your most precious person. Then…for taking the life of my
pack member,” He glared at Zabuza, “Should I visit to you the same pain?”

Haku paled and stood in front of Zabuza, arms wide open, “No! Your…pack…he’s still alive!
I didn’t kill him!” He pleaded, “Please…not Zabuza-sama…I’ll give you my life…take my
life instead! Please…”

Naruto stared at him, his inhuman eyes cold as he lifted his nose and drew in a deep breath.
Suddenly the dangerous feel in the air dissipated and he asked, “Why? Why is he your most
precious person, when he did something so cruel as to help a man ruin a nation?”
His voice lost that animalistic growl, signifying his calmer mind.

Haku blinked, “I…because of my blood…I had people very dear to me, a long time ago…my
parents,” He started, “I was born in a small village in Kiri. I was happy. My parents were
very kind people. But as I grew up, something happened,” He looked at his hand, “My father
killed my mother and then…tried to do the same to me,”

Naruto blinked. Haku explained, “Kiri is always at war with each other and those with
Kekkei Genkai are blamed for the endless fight. Soon, the Mizukage ordered a Kekkei
Genkai Purge. My mother came from a clan with Kekkei Genkai. When my father found
out…I only came around after I killed him with my awakened Kekkei Genkai,” He smiled an
empty smile, “At that time I have to come believe…I am someone unneeded by this world,”

Haku looked at Naruto, “If you have someone precious, someone who acknowledged you
even when the whole world denies you. Won’t that person be your most precious person to
you? I hated my blood, it took from me my everything. But Zabuza-sama told me…that he
needs my blood,”

“I was so happy!”

He looked at Naruto, “That is why…I am willing to die for him. For him, I will become a
tool,”

Naruto stared at the determined boy. He tilted his head to Sasuke, “You’re right…he’s alive.
I’ll let you live for that. However,” He looked over his shoulder, “We have guest,”

Someone walked on the bridge from the opposite end, “What’s this? Getting your ass kicked,
Zabuza? Truly, a waste of money,”

The group looked at the small man in a suit with a cane. Naruto frowned as his ears shrunk
and became smaller, almost hidden under his now golden hair. The jagged whiskers
smoothened and thinned. His sclera returned to white and his acid green eyes back to sky
blue, though now it resembled like winter.

Zabuza frowned, “What are you doing here, Gato?”

Gato shrugged with a chuckle, “The plan has changed. No, actually this was the plan all
along. I was going to kill you off,” He grinned, “I never planned on paying you any money.
You damn Shinobi are so expensive. The normal ones might betray me. So I get you Nukenin
instead. Have you fight to exhaustion and then off you lot with number. Smart no?”

Zabuza scowled, “Kakashi…sorry, but this fight is over. I no longer have any reason to go
after Tazuna,”

Kakashi huffed, “Well, my mission is still on,”

Naruto picked up Sasuke and put him near a frightened Sakura, “Be careful when you pull
the senbon out. It might damage his nerves,”
His ears flicked as he heard Zabuza attack Gato, Kakashi joining him. Haku stood awkwardly
beside him while Naruto’s tail swished behind him. He listened to the fight and asked Haku,
“Do you…truly think a Shinobi is nothing but a tool?”

Haku looked at him, “Zabuza-sama told me. In the world of Shinobi there are only those who
use and those who are used. We are simply tools,”

Naruto frowned as Sasuke woke up to a strange sight; a dog eared Naruto.

He looked up, “I don’t like that. We are….people. With hearts and dreams. It is impossible to
become a tool,” He turned to Haku, “I think…I’m going to become my own kind of
Shinobi,”

Haku blinked, “Your own kind?”

Naruto grinned, his fangs flashing, “Yeah! There has to be more than just a tool. We are
people with souls!” He stood up, “I don’t know how but I will find a path where I can be a
Shinobi with a heart, dattebayo!”

Zabuza, having beheaded Gato, snorted, “What a weird kid,”

Naruto beamed, “You don’t know the half of it!”

Suddenly there were cheers behind them and Tazuna looked to see most of the people of
Nami gathered with tools wielded like weapons. Inari stood at the front with a small wok for
a helmet, a s frying pan tied to his back and a small hunter’s crossbow. Inari beamed at the
sight of Naruto, “Nii-san! We are here to help!”

Naruto looked at the fleeing boat, “I think you are a bit late,” He then grinned, “But better
late than never, dattebayo!”
 Chapter 12
Chapter Summary

“Woof!”

Hinata rubbed Naruto’s new ears, the blond patiently let her as he could smell her stress melt
away. Life has been a bit harder than before ever since he gained his new appendages. The
saving point was that it’s obviously a dog’s ear and not a fox. His tail on the other hand
looked too fluffy to belong to a dog but there’re dogs at the Inuzuka kennel that has tails like
a fox. One example was the Yuki Spitz.

He sighed, “The missions have been a lot slower lately, dattebayo,”

Hinata pull her hands away, “My team t-too,”

Naruto looked at her, “Your stutter come and go a lot since graduation. Are you okay
Hinata?”

Hinata smiled, “I’m okay,”

Naruto offered his tail, “If things get too tough, you can play with my tail, okay?” He
beamed, “It may be a chakra construct but I bet it’s softer and fluffier than Akamaru’s,
dattebayo!”

Hinata giggled while Akamaru whined over Kiba’s head. Naruto looked at the puppy, “Don’t
worry Akamaru, you’ll grow big…but you won’t ever be as fluffy as me!” He would know,
just look at Sesshoumaru! There’s a reason Kagome called him Mofumofu-sama.

Kiba grumbled, “Why are you here anyway, Naruto? Don’t you have your own team?”

Naruto pouted, “Sasuke’s been unbearable since coming back from Nami so unless it’s a
mission, it’s too awkward around them,” He’s bee griping and stressing on getting stronger
ever since meeting Haku. Naruto don’t mind the sense of competition but he kept picking a
fight with the blond, much to Kakashi’s amusement. Naruto on the other hand worried about
not killing him.

Oh the unfairness!

Meanwhile Hiruzen had been most confused when Naruto came back. Not only was the new
bridge named after him but he came home looking less human. Luckily as a Shinobi he no
longer answer to the Civilian Council who would be baying for his head on a pike just for
looking different. On the other hand the Shinobi Council were split. The Elders looked ready
to dissect him while the Clan Heads were curious as it looked like a new Kekkei Genkai.
Inuzuka Tsume even claimed him as honorary pack member, saying that he felt like family.

Considering who his ancestor was, it made sense. Kuromaru, Tsume’s partner, took one look
at Naruto and rolled over, baring his belly in submission. Naruto’s tail just wagged in
approval at the sight. It really baffled the room.

Naruto sighed, “I just wants the Elders to get off my back,”

Shino nodded, “Understandable. Why? They are unbearably close minded,”

Hinata nodded as she ate her cinnamon bun. Her own elders have been trying to stop her
from ‘playing’ with Naruto but after she honestly thought that he was poisoned, she didn’t
want to regret. So she have been rebelling against them in her own way. But sometimes their
callous words cut deep and her self-confidence took a hit, making her stutter return. But
spending time with Naruto always help her in that issue and she feared that should she be
separated from him, her outlook would be bleaker and drearier. She didn’t want to just watch
him from afar. If getting stronger was the only way she could stay around him, then she
would improve herself.

To Hinata, Naruto is like her personal sun…

Naruto dragged his legs to the meeting point of his team. He sighed, his ears drooping as he
wondered if he was Naraku in his past life or something. Kurama huffed, “If you were
Naraku, I doubted either Sesshoumaru or Kagome would let you hold the stupid
bauble,”

Naruto looked up to see his team fuming at him. Sakura growled, “Where were you?! It has
been 2 hours!” Naruto looked around and she scowled, “What are you looking for?”

He shrugged, “A certain scarecrow…”

She flushed. Naruto wasn’t wrong. Kakashi was late…as usual. She stared at him and notice
Sasuke glaring at the blond. Naruto sighed and looked as his claws. He sat down and took out
his claw polish kit. Sakura blinked, “What the-? What are you doing?”

He popped the cap off, “I need to take care of my claws. The Inuzuka has some snazzy kit,”
He painted his claws, grinning at the blood orange color that he found, “It also has medical
property to keep the claws healthy. It’s chip proof too, dattebayo!” He had managed to bring
a set into the Shikon and Kagome and Kushina had a day painting the men’s nails. Turned out
Minato had turned into a Kouryu, a dragon-fox chimera. Naruto has no idea how that works.

Youkai are weird like that.

Kakashi arrived to see Naruto promoting the nail care product that Inuzuka sold at the vet
store. As a clan who uses their nails like claws, they have some really great medi-pedi
products. Sure most of it was more for claw cares but they have some that catered to human
needs too. Unfortunately most Shinobi prefer a short, well-trimmed nail and civilian seldom
enter a Shinobi run shop so the line didn’t really take off and was only used by the Inuzuka
clan.

Hana must have been ecstatic when Naruto showed up at the vet.

But must the boy paint his nails that orange?

He waved, “Yo! Sorry, I got lost-,”

Sakura snarled, “STOP LYING WITH A STRAIGHT FACE! SHANNARO!”

Naruto looked at her in confusion, “We can’t even see his face,”

She glared at him, “You know what I mean!”

The mission today was to herd some goats back to their pen. Naruto somehow excel at that.
He ran around, barking at the stubborn goats. Sakura just looked confused at the whole thing.
Sasuke had to wrestle a billy and almost lost. Kakashi…sat on a goat and read his suspicious
book.

At the end of the mission, Naruto was sparkling with a satisfied look, “Damn that felt good!”

Sakura stared at him, “What are you, a dog?”

He looked at her, wagging his tail and twitching his ears, “Woof!”

Kakashi snorted, “Guess that answer that,”

Naruto looked at him with a whine, “But Sensei~! Don’t you think our missions are so slow
lately? I want a more…you know! A hot one! Where I can really let lose! One that follows
my Nindo! Where my heart is like-!!”

Kakashi cut him off with sigh, “Maa, maa…I pretty much know what you’re going to say…”

Naruto pouted, “At least get me one where I can find new poisons,”

Kakashi eyed him with a troubled look, “Naruto, don’t you think your poison addiction is
getting out of hand?”

He looked at Kakashi and then at his staring team. He huffed, “They tasted like candy,
dattebayo! With a bit of a kick!”

Kakashi deadpanned, “Almost dying is not a bit of a kick. The poisons you have been taking
is strong enough to kill a whole battalion with a single drop,”

Naruto pouted, “I told you. I need to make it strong enough to melt diamonds, dattebayo!”

Kakashi worried, “And why do you need to make it that strong?”

Naruto blinked, “Why not?”

Kakashi has not answer to that. Before Naruto could whine more about better missions, a
sound caused him to look up. He sighed, “Alright, that’s it for today. I’m submitting this
mission report,”

Sasuke huffed, “I’m going,”

Sakura looked at him, “Sasuke-kun, wait! Let’s train together…just the two of us?” She
batted her eyelashes at him.

“No,”

He glared at her, “If you have time to bother me, then you should go train. You’re weaker
than Naruto,”

She deflated. She mumbled as she watched him walk away, “But Naruto’s a monster…”

Naruto ignored the lot and looked around to see Kakashi’s gone. He sighed, wondering what
Hinata’s doing when he smelled someone familiar. He noticed a decidedly square rock and
continued to walk. He mumbled, “I act like I’m looking forward but…” He whipped around,
“SYKE! What kind of rock is square with two holes?! That’s too obvious, dattebayo!”

The ‘rock’ flipped over and a familiar face appeared, “That’s my rival!”

Naruto sighed, “Oi, Konohamaru and friends. What is it?”

Sarutobi Konohamaru, who decided to follow Naruto everywhere after the blond decked him
in front of Hiruzen during his registration for trying to frame him, grinned up at him, “You
didn’t show up at the park lately! You said you’d play ninja with us!”

Naruto rubbed his neck, “That’s because I was so busy lately,” What with the council
demanding his tail and the Elders breathing down his neck, he really has no time to play with
Konohamaru as part of his Shinobi training. He learned that teaching him through play
worked best with kids like Konohamaru.

Sakura, who has yet to leave, snorted, “What kind of ninja play ninja with kids?”

Naruto snorted back at her, “This kind,”

Konohamaru stared at her before whispering, “Hey, boss. Is she your…?” He raised his
pinky. Naruto caught the meaning before whacking his head, “Hell no! She’s not even cute!”
His brain went straight to a fidgeting Hinata pressing her fingers together and blushing,
looking up at him.

Kurama blinked, “So you do think that she’s cute,”

Sakura scowled, “What?!”

Konohamaru looked at her again, “Yeah…she looks more like a boy,”

Sakura roared, “I’LL FINISH YOU, SHANNARO!!”

Konohamaru yelped and ran, Naruto ducking her fist and chasing after him, “It’s not my fault
you’re not cute! Maybe if you’re less two faced!”

“DIE!!”

“And less of a banshee!”

“SHUT UP AND DIE!!”

At that moment, Konohamaru ran straight into leg of someone dressed in a onesie. Naruto
stopped as Konohamaru was grabbed, “That hurt, brat!” Sakura stopped her chasing, worried
as she looked at the newcomers. The girl carried a tessen as large as Hiraikotsu while the boy
holding Konohamaru was covered in face paint that made him look fierce.

Suddenly he looked around to see a furious Naruto who growled, “Put down that pup or
die…”

The boy blinked before saying, “No. I think I’m going to teach this brat a lesson,” He
grinned, “I hate midgets. Makes me want to kill them,”

The girl sighed, “I’m not getting involved,”

Sakura shuddered and looked as Naruto’s whiskers grew jagged, his growl grew louder and
more feral. His nail started to glow and a single toxic whip extended from his two digits.
Naruto glared, his face furious, “You either let go of Honorable Grandson or I will send your
head to the Sandaime Hokage personally,”

The boy blinked, something about the blond in front of him made him think of his insane
sibling. When it finally registered that the brat he just threatened was the grandson of the
reigning Hokage, he dropped the boy. Konohamaru skittered to Naruto and hide behind his
whipping tail. Naruto growled at him, “Go find your tutor,” He looked at Moegi and Udon,
“You two as well,”

They nodded and ran off. Naruto turned his frigid eyes at the two foreign Shinobi, taking note
of their hitai-ate, “What’s Suna Shinobi doing in Konoha?”

The girl blinked, “You didn’t know?”

Naruto raised a brow, imitating Sesshoumaru with how unimpressed he looked. He then
looked at a tree, “What are you doing up, Tanuki?”

Kurama cursed, “Dammit, that’s Shukaku! Damn crazy Tanuki. He feel even crazier
than when I last met him. He was always the one with a screw lose but something’s
wrong,”

The boy in black and face paint froze, “G-Gaara…”

The boy with a gourd appeared and glared at the boy in paint, “Kankuro…you’re an
embarrassment,” He turned his blank teal eyes on the girl, “Control him, Temari,” He then
looked at Naruto, “Who are you?”
Naruto flashed crimson eyes at him, “Kurama,”

Gaara froze before grinning madly, “Kurama? Mother wants your blood,”

That’s not creepy at all…

 Chapter 13
Chapter Summary

“It’s a written exam?!”

Naruto wondered just what it was about Sasuke and people trying to measure up to him. He
asked Kurama, “Do I seriously look weak?”

Kurama huffed, “Take advantage of being looked down on, remember?” He growled, “At
the very least keep an eye on Shukaku. That seal on him is messed up. The sand boy
couldn’t even keep a straight head. If it wasn’t because of this exam, you will seriously
have to let loose,” He grinned, “Then again, it’s in a youkai blood to revel in chaos,”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “Yeah…and messed up the harmony in Shikon? No thanks,” He
gripped his hand, “I have a duty to protect and purify the Shikon,”

They stood in the exam venue, having had to watch the boy Rock Lee picking a fight with
Sasuke. Seriously, Sasuke was so used to being the big fish in a small pond that he’s
completely taken by surprise when meeting stronger opponent among his own peers. Now
there’s a weird turtle scolding the boy in green and bowl cut.

Huh…

He looked at Sakura, “Can a turtle be a Sensei?”

She snapped, “How should I know?!”

Then a Jounin in forest green spandex like Lee appeared on the turtle’s back who then sucker
punched the boy. Sasuke looked on in dis belief as the two suddenly started crying into each
other’s shoulders like some day time drama. Naruto blinked, “I have seen some stuff but this
take the cake, dattebayo…”

Minato has his weird quirk, like naming things a bit too long and think it’s cool. Kagome said
that he suffered from something her time called chuunibyou syndrome. But at least he’s
actually cool…when he’s not doing that chuunibyou syndrome act. Kushina just laugh at
him.

The Jounin then looked at them, “Hey, hey, aren’t you Kakashi’s?”

Sasuke looked at him, “You know Kakashi?”

The man smiled, “Know him?” He chuckled before disappearing from sight and reappearing
behind them. Naruto was impressed. For a human, he’s almost as fast as Sesshoumaru at his
average. Granted his speed was nothing to either Sesshoumaru’s or Minato’s but it was
impressive nonetheless. The man grinned, “Kakashi and I…people refer to us as the Eternal
Rivals,”

Sasuke look spooked. He had gained confidence from gaining experience with Haku but
Haku was still young and definitely has less experience than someone double his age. This
Jounin can out speed Haku any time.

It was understandable for him to be faster than someone like Sasuke can follow.

The man grinned as he pointed at himself, “With 50 wins and 49 loses, I am stronger than
Kakashi,”

Lee crowed, “See? Told you Gai-sensei is incredible!”

Gai chuckled, “Sorry about Lee. It won’t happen again. I swear on this beautiful youthful
face,”

Naruto blinked while Kurama gagged inside his mind. Naruto know beautiful youthful face.
Those faces he knew belonged to Sesshoumaru and Minato. Gai…looked like a pebble when
compared to them…or maybe a squid…

Or maybe Naruto’s aesthetic has been influenced by youkai ethereal and inhuman beauty
from hanging around them too much…

Gai threw a kunai to where a pinwheel stopped Lee’s attack, “You guys should head over to
the classroom,” Naruto looked at the unwounded bandage and saw Lee’s hand. He blinked.
Having no youkai blood or a Bijuu like Kurama, it was obvious someone would accumulate
obvious injuries is they trained as much as Naruto and this Lee trained like his life depended
on it. And considering the life they have chosen, the amount of training they made do decide
their life or death during a mission. He gained Naruto’s respect…if only he will stop ignoring
Naruto.

Naruto watched as Sasuke glowered in his space and huffed, “The Uchiha clan aren’t worth
much nowadays,”

Sakura turned on him, “Naruto!”

Sasuke gritted his jaw, “I’ll beat him next time,”

Naruto looked at him, “Yeah…you just got your ass kicked,” The Uchiha said nothing but his
fist tightened. Naruto added, “You saw it too, didn’t you? Bushy brow must have trained real
hard. Harder than even you…that’s all there is to it,” There, he had delivered his pep talk.
Take it or leave it. He looked as Sasuke’s loss of confidence return and the Uchiha smirked,
“This Chuunin Exam…is going to be so much fun,”

The team moved on and came across Kakashi waiting for them at the door where the exam
was to take place. Sakura blinked, “Kakashi-sensei?”
He raised his hand, the other holding his suspicious book lazily, “Yo! So all of you are here.
Now you can properly take the exam,”

Sakura frowned, “What do you mean?”

He explained, “This test can only be taken by teams of three,”

Naruto frowned, “You said it’s an individual choice,”

He shrugged, “If I tell you everything, you would be tempted to pressure each other into
taking the exam. And if only one of three came, then you would have flunked the exam then
and there. But since all three of you decided to come by your own free will, you are my
proud Genin,” He crinkled his eye in a parody of a smile at the team, “Now go!”

Naruto grinned, “Yeah!”

They entered the classroom and was overwhelmed by the amount of examinees inside.
Sakura gripped her hand in worry, taking note of their strength. Sasuke suppressed his
excitement. Naruto looked around and grinned, waving his hand, “Hinata-chan!”

Hinata looked up and smiled, waving shyly back. He smiled but inside he mentally cursed
her elders. They must have heaped even more pressure on her if the lack of her exuberant in
her greeting was any indication. He looked at Kiba and Akamaru yipped at him in greeting.
Naruto instinctually yipped back and Kiba growled in annoyance.

Yamanaka Ino, who has been harassing Sasuke and mouthing off at Sakura, looked at him in
confusion, “Wait. Naruto? What’s up with those ears? And did you just barked back at
Akamaru?”

Naruto glanced at her, “Oh, it’s a long story,” He looked at Hinata, “Have you taken your
breakfast? It’s important to eat on days like this, even if you don’t feel like it, dattebayo,” He
would know, Kagome and Kushina nagged at him all night last night while Minato helped
him review. He won’t say anything more about the test even though he was Hokage. Things
might have changed since his time. Sesshoumaru just helped him meditate to calm his nerve
at the end of his session.

Hinata blushed, “I-I d-d-did…t-t-thank y-you,”

Naruto could feel his patient with her elders fraying thin. Kurama growled, “I don’t know
what they said but whatever it was has the opposite effect of hyping her up,” Naruto
agreed with him. He wagged his tail and handed the tip to her. She blinked and her blushed
deepened but she accepted his silent offer. Some of the girls around the room watched in
envy at Hinata’s ‘privilege’. Slowly her stress level dropped and she sighed in relief.

His tail’s the fluffiest!

Akamaru whined and he grinned as he preened in victory.

Some guy appeared and admonished the team for being loud. Naruto side eyed him as he
offered to help, “This is my Ninja Cards. They are basically cards with information burned
into them with chakra…” He started to show off. Naruto’s nose itched. He instantly didn’t
like the man and let his peers deal with the guy instead. He kept Hinata close, just in case.

Sasuke asked, “Do you have cards with info on individuals?”

The guy, Yakushi Kabuto, looked at him, “Of course. I have some on every Genin attending
the exam. It’s not perfect but I can look it up for you,”

Naruto quipped, “You must make a great spy, dattebayo! To know about the people in this
room even if it’s not perfect,” Already at his words, every Genin listening in had their guard
up.

Kabuto looked at him, his eyes gleamed with something but his smile was perfectly
awkward, “I won’t say that. I’m just good at looking things up,”

Sasuke pulled his attention back to him, “Tell me about Konohagakure Rock Lee,”

Kabuto pulled out a card and pushed some chakra in, “Rock Lee. A year older graduate than
you. 20 completed D-rank. 12 completed C-rank. Instructed by Jounin Maito Gai, Taijutsu
expert. Has remarkable skill in Taijutsu but nothing else on the others. He’s in a team with
Hyuuga Neji and Tenten. He didn’t take the exam last year so this is also his first take,”

He gestured at their surroundings, “This year, all the Genin from not just Konoha but also
Suna, Ame, Taki, Kusa and Oto are attending. They are the elites of their respective village.
Oto is still a new and small village so they’re not that remarkable but everyone else are the
most talented of their peers to be sent out to another village,”

Hinata gulped and Naruto scented her nervousness. In fact all his peers smelled nervous,
some even looked skeptical. He started to feel doubtful too but…his eyes looked at Hinata
who started to look down. Her elders already done enough damage.

Kabuto added, “This isn’t going to be easy,”

Hinata flinched.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. He grit his jaw, swallow his own doubt and grinned instead with a
roar of challenge, to them and to himself, “My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I’m not going to
lose to any of you bastards, dattebayo!”

Instantly the scent changed. Most of it was confusion as he could tell that they’re wondering
about his stupid claim or his suicidal declaration. Well, you know what they always say; fake
it till you make it!

But it was worth it when Hinata’s scent shifted to gratitude.

But Naruto wondered why Kabuto got to call out Oto like that. From the spike of anger
coming from the crowd, it was obvious that Oto representative Genin does not like the way
they were introduced. Naruto’s ears twitched and he moved just in time to cover Hinata from
the attacking Oto Genin. It ended just as sudden as it started with Kabuto’s loss of glasses.
He’ll be needing a new pair. Glasses seemed like such trouble in this line of career.
Oh, he has a spare.

Just as the air grew tense from the sudden attack, the door burst open and someone barked,
“QUIET DOWN YOU WORTHLESS MAGGOTS!”

The air shifted again and Naruto looked at the owner. A tall man in dark coat with scarred
face smirked at them, “Thanks for waiting. My name is Morino Ibiki and I will be your
proctor for the First Phase of this year’s Chuunin Exam,” He looked at the Oto Genin, “Stand
down. Unless you want to fail before it even started?”

The Oto Genin shifted and looked away. Ibiki snorted, “Good chance to tell you lot this.
There will be no fighting without permission from me or the other proctors. Even if
permission are given, you are not allowed to kill. Fools that disobey this rule…will be failed
on the spot. Do I make myself clear?” He glared at the room and several throat gulped,
intimidated.

Satisfied, he looked at his assistant, “Now, before we start, instead of your current seating
arrangement,” He showed a number, “You will pick one of these tabs and sit in the assigned
seats. We will then hand out the exam sheets,”

Naruto blinked…and then blinked some more. He’s not bad at it but...

“It’s a written exam?!”

Hinata giggled at his misfortune. She knew just how much he hated a written test. Not that
he’s bad but he suffered with something like ADHD, he can’t sit still and his mind wandered
a lot. He fretted at Kurama, “I hate written exam, dattebayo!”

Kurama snorted, “Heh, not my problem,”

“Screw you, furball,”

 Chapter 14
Chapter Summary

“Hit the mark,”

“DON’T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I DON’T BACK DOWN AND I DON’T RUN! EVEN
IF I HAVE TO STAY AN ETERNAL GENIN, I WILL TAKE IT! I’M NOT AFRAID OF
YOU! I WILL BECOME HOKAGE, DATTEBAYO!!”

Naruto internally cringed. Hard. He can’t believe he just shouted that. To be honest, their
scents were getting to him. When he smelled Sakura’s pity towards him, he sort of snapped.
But like he said to Ibiki, he don’t go back on his words.

The scent of Hinata’s pride in him soothed his ego.

He figured it out when Ibiki threatened them about being eternal Genin. Sesshoumaru would
be mad at him if he fold right there anyway. He’d rather be an eternal Genin than fold. He
wanted to be Hokage. Hokage is equal in standing to a Daiyoukai. They can’t fold just
because there’s possible risk. They’re rulers, generals, and leaders. They can’t back down
when there’s a sliver of chance for victory. No one would follow that kind of flaky leader.

So he declared his oath, loud and clear.

Like a roar to deny cowardice.

Now he paid that price with a pass, following this scantily dressed Toukubetsu Jounin calling
herself Mitarashi Anko to the next exam venue. She smirked at the gathered Genin,
“Welcome to the next stage for the Second Phase of this year’s Chuunin Exam. Training
Ground #44, also known among us elites as the Forest of Death!”

Naruto looked at the forest, sensing something in the trees like the Goshinboku, but twisted.
Angry. Anguished. Like a broken heart screaming in silent pain. Sakura whispered, “This is
creepy,”

Anko grinned at them with a blood thirsty look on her face, “You’ll soon find out why it’s
called the Forest of Death,”

Naruto frowned. He could smell it. The scent of death lingered thick in the forest. Kiba made
the mistake of mocking Anko and paid it with a sliced cheek. She licked his blood and
Naruto was glad that he ignored his more childish side. If she had licked his blood, he wasn’t
sure if Hinata have the right antidote. He haven’t the time to concoct a new one to counter his
blood’s venom.
He sneezed at the strong scent of snake coming from the Kusa Genin with the long tongue.

Anko returned to explaining things, “Now before we start, I need you lot to sign this
agreement form,” She grinned, “In this exam, there will be death. I don’t want to be
responsible for that! So you need to sign this as consent to endangering your own life by
taking this exam,” She laughed like it was some grand joke, making the gathered Genin pale.

She then explained about the test. In summary, each team will be given a scroll. Either
Heaven Scroll or Earth Scroll. Their job will be to get to the Tower in the middle of the
Forest of Death within 5 days. But there’s a catch; they need both scrolls to pass.

It’s a battle royal.

“Just watch out for man eating beast, poisonous insects, poisonous plants…” Naruto’s ears
perked up in interest. Sakura and Sasuke shared a look. It seemed that Naruto has found
something to do beside staying alive in one piece. Sakura could only hope he won’t drag
them through places with poisonous flora or fauna. On the plus side they won’t accidentally
poison themselves.

Anko also told them to not lose a teammate or have a dead teammate. Those are grounds for
expulsion. Naruto thought it made sense. A proper leader will do all they can to keep their
troops alive through any situation if it can be helped. Basically a loss to teammate can be
considered mission fail.

After everyone grabbed handed their forms and received their scrolls, they gathered before
their assigned gates. Naruto looked at the scroll in his hand. Anko barked, “Second Phase of
the Chuunin Exam….BEGIN!”

The group ran through their gate and Naruto sniffed the air, “Man…this forest is depressing,”
He grinned at Sasuke, “Stay sharp Sasuke or they might just claim you as one of them,”

Sasuke growled, “For the last time, Dobe, I’m not depressed!”

Naruto shrugged, “Yeah…keep telling yourself that,” He tapped his nose, “Your scent don’t
lie,”

An hour walking through the forest and soon Naruto flinched. He looked at his team,
“Guy’s…I need to go,”

Sakura pulled a face, “Ew,”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “What…you do it too,”

She snapped, “Shut up! You don’t talk like that to a lady!”

He huffed at her claim and went to the nearest bush. As he posed to pee, he sighed, “Don’t
you guys have a better time to attack?” He grabbed a kunai and defend himself against an
Ame Genin, “If I ended up peeing on you, you only have yourself to blame!”
Nearby he could hear his team being confronted by an impostor. But Sasuke was smart. He’s
perceptive, even though he’s annoyingly such a downer. He could hear his teammate telling
Sakura to not drop her guard. The scent of blood bloomed as the other enemy bled. Naruto’s
opponent flinched as Naruto’s claws crushed the log that had taken his place in a hasty
Kawarimi. Cursing, he retreated.

When his team reconvene, Sasuke suggested; “Let’s make a code word,” He then went on to
say the longest code word, a lyric of poem. Naruto scowled, “That’s hard to remember,
Teme,” Sakura growled at him. The group then started moving again.

Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew, breaking the trees all around them. Naruto was flung far
from his team, having been caught by the strongest gust. As if the attack was focused on him.
He grumbled, “What the hell?” He looked around, “Where’s the others? Sasuke? Sakura?!”

He suddenly froze, his nose itching as he looked up to see a giant snake watching him
hungrily. He groaned, “Why me?”

Just as he said that, the snake opened its mouth and hissed a hunting call. Naruto leapt back
and the snake chased after him. Naruto started to realize that it’s not an ordinary snake.
Snakes aren’t active hunters. They don’t chase their prey. They are ambush predators. This
one…is leading him away from his team!

Naruto growled, landing on a tree just above the snake, “I don’t who send you but you made
a big mistake accepting their order!” He knew that just chakra won’t do for this snake. He
focused and sensed something familiar; youki. It was faint, weak and almost completely one
with chakra. But it was there nonetheless. A predatory grin stretched over his lips, “Yeah…
you made a big mistake, youkai,”

The snake froze, the unmistakable scent of ancient power swelling through the forest. The
greeneries grew greener. The trees trembled with power, holy and pure as Naruto called upon
reiki. The snake hissed, panicking. Even it knew about reiki. All summon creatures have a
taint of youki within them, as those that ‘survived’ the Great Purge. They sealed themselves
into the Other Realm, the one the Shinobi dubbed the Summon Realm. But ki do not forget. It
is part of the world, a part that was consumed by the Great Tree slowly but surely.

Chakra replaced everything. They accepted the change and adapted. But deep inside, primal
instinct remained. Instinct that immediately recognized that what awaited them won’t be
death. No, for youkai, to be purified is to be erased. Both in the now and the thereafter. There
won’t be a cycle of death and rebirth for those purified.

That’s why they fear it so.

Even for those that has never been touched by the experience of a true reiki practitioner, just
a sliver of the holy energy was enough to incite in them the primal fear. That deep seated
terror of being completely incinerated. To completely disappear.

The snake turned and fled but Naruto’s a predator, a hunter burn from centuries of honed
instinct. Even though he’s not youkai born, his primal nature remained. Running from a
predator of his kind was the worst mistake a prey could make. It excites them. The thrill of
the hunt hummed in their vein like a drum, like a song. An ancient song demanded to be
danced to.

He howled.

The howl was loud, it vibrated the very atmosphere throughout Konoha itself. The howl of a
beast. The hunting hound of heaven’s gate. All creatures, forgotten instinct awakened, fled
and hide. Akamaru whimpered on Kiba’s head. Kiba whimpered in turn to his team, “Guys, I
think it’s best we hide. Akamaru just cried Alpha. There’s a apex predator on the hunt and we
don’t want to get in the way,” His team was quick to agree.

Similar reaction happened to the other teams.

The Inuzuka kennel was quiet. Tora jumped into his cage and didn’t dare escape.

The snake fled. It tried to slither as fast as possible. Something that’s impossible, something
that should no longer exist. The beast, white and majestic. It’s on the hunt.

Naruto’s claws glowed with golden reiki. He flew through the forest, the trees reviving as he
passed through. More lively than the Mokuton, it invigorates the very cells of the forest. A
golden bow formed and a starlight of an arrow appeared, nocked and ready.

Naruto licked his fangs and prayed, “Hit the mark,”

The arrow flew.

It honed in on its prey like a missile.

A burst of clashing power and then…nothing…

Purified.

Nothing remained. Not even ashes.

Naruto hummed and sniffed at that. Dismissive of the show of destruction and annihilation,
he turned around, “Now where did they go?”

He leapt through the trees, following the scent of his teammate. He found them being chased
by a strange chimera of a familiar Kusa Genin with a snake body. Throwing his kunai, he
stopped the Genin from approaching them any further. Sasuke and Sakura looked at him as
he grinned at them, “Sorry for the delay. Also, the code is too damn long. I forgot,”

Sasuke cursed, “I know you are here to save us but forget it, you should run! This guy is on a
whole other level!”

The mysterious snake man chuckled, “Looks like you successfully defeated the giant snake,
Naruto,”

Naruto stared at him, “No wonder my nose itched around you. You stank of serpents,” He
grinned, “Though I must thank you. The hunt was short but exhilarating,”
The Genin frowned, “Hunt?”

Naruto’s tail wagged behind him, “Sorry about that pet of yours. I don’t take kindly being
treated as food. See, my whole clan are predators at heart. We are the hunters, not the hunted.
My Alpha Sesshoumaru would revive me and then kill me again before hunting me down in
Yomi just to kill me again if I ever let myself be prey, dattebayo,”

He could tell what the man was thinking; what the hell is this kid saying?

Sasuke then looked at the Genin, “I will give you the scroll so…take it and leave us,”

Naruto froze.

The Genin chuckled, “I see. The only way for a prey to escape a predator is to give the
predator a different meal,”

Sasuke threw the scroll at the Genin, “Take it!” Naruto grabbed it midair and landed beside
him. Sasuke looked at him in shock, “Dobe! What the hell are you thinking?! Don’t you
understand our situation?!”

Naruto growled and threw a…gentle…punch at Sasuke, taking him by surprise. He barked, “I
think you’re the one who don’t understand the situation, Teme! What guarantee is there that
he will let us go if we give him the scroll?! Are you really the Sasuke I know?! Because the
Teme I know is not a cowardly bastard!”

Watching the drama unfolded, the Kusa Genin laughed, “You’re not wrong!” His confession
shook Sasuke from his shock at Naruto’s call out. He pushed his sleeve back to show a
strange mark on his wrist, “Because I can just kill you and take the scroll,”

Naruto scowled, “Never trust a snake,”

Kurama grinned, “Ooh. This is going to be interesting…”

 Chapter 15
Chapter Summary

“SHE CAN!”

Naruto stared at the board. The team had gathered in the Tower, barely making it. When
Hiruzen said that the exam was a replacement for war, he was shocked. But it made sense.
How else was he supposed to evaluate their skill? Not only that, this exam is something of a
battle festival for their clients. The strength of the Shinobi is the strength of the village
they’re affiliated to.

It seemed like….death will happen in the final phase of the exam.

That Kabuto guy had pulled away and yet Naruto could scent satisfaction from him. For
someone who failed the Chuunin Exam as much as he does, why would he feel satisfied?
Naruto kept his suspicion to himself. Everything about Yakushi Kabuto smelled…fake.

At least he will no longer stink up the whole room…

Now he stood waiting. Sakura and Sasuke had a spat about whether the Uchiha should
continue. Sakura worried over the mark that’s causing him pain. But Naruto’s more worried
about the effect the mark would have on Sasuke’s psyche. Unfortunately he never did learn
exorcism. His focus was mostly on controlling and developing his ki than actually using it for
spiritual surgery called exorcism. If he does it wrong, he might make it worse with his own
youki. If it was Kagome, she would just touch and the taint would disappear.

Shinobi are not equipped to deal with ancient matters like this. That Orochimaru…does he
even know what he’s playing with? His eyes drifted to one Jounin standing in the room, the
one Kabuto had been sharing a look with. Naruto doesn’t trust the boy’s team. They’re all
suspicious…

Sasuke’s name come up and his opponent was Kabuto’s teammate. Naruto frowned but kept
his tongue. He didn’t know what exactly what was going on and just jumping in might make
things worse. So to not mess with the hornet’s nest, he will simply watch first.

Naruto listened as Kakashi told Sasuke to not use his Sharingan. This sound like trouble. He
knew youki, have been lectured on its corrosive nature. He didn’t like that mark on Sasuke’s
neck even more. It seemed that after this prelim ends, he will have to train in exorcism. He
might not like Sasuke much but he’s pack and one does not abandon pack…even the
annoying ones.
Sasuke heed Kakashi’s warning and used pure physical skill. He used nothing but physical
energy, relying on a combination of Taijutsu and weaponry. Then Akado Yoroi grappled him
and for some reason his strength faltered. Naruto’s blue eyes flashed gold, heightening his
supernatural senses. He could ‘see’ something being sucked out of Sasuke. Sasuke grappled
his way out and he hesitated. Naruto could hear everyone doubting his pack member’s skill.

Annoyed by his hesitation, he called, “Oi, are you really Uchiha Sasuke?! Is that really all
you can do?!” There, another pep talk. Take it or leave it.

Sasuke took heed.

A single kick and Yoroi flew. Within moments, he pulled the man to the ground and slammed
him hard. Naruto frowned, even as Kakashi took Sasuke to the medical bay. For a moment,
he had sensed the curse flared. Then somehow Sasuke managed to take control and finished
the battle but even that took everything out of him. He barely stand back up to be declared the
winner.

He looked at Shino faced the Oto Genin whose arms Sasuke almost tore off. It didn’t take
long. Shino’s intelligence was not something to scoff at. Naruto often wondered; between
Shikamaru and Shino, who would win in a game of Shoji?

It’ll probably take days…

The Genin right arm blew off and the other probably crippled. Kiba wasn’t joking about not
wanting to face Shino. People always harped on about geniuses and prodigies but
Sesshoumaru pointed out that a Shinobi aren’t supposed to stand out. The one that faded into
the background are the ones that he should really worry about.

That’s why Sesshoumaru kept punching the value of being overlooked into Naruto whenever
the boy complained about people not taking him seriously…

Naruto grinned at Shino, “That was short,”

Shino hummed, “A clean victory is much better that one that is messy,” He was about to
explain starting with ‘why’ but Naruto quickly turn to Hinata, “Your teammate is awesome,
Hime!”

She blushed, “T-that’s Shino,”

The Aburame sighed. He knew what Naruto was doing. For some unknown reason Naruto
knew that Shino actually talked a lot but it was mostly with his kikaichu and not with people.
He always have to explain things to his colony since every time a new batch is born he had to
explain things to them that the older generation didn’t know. It was a repetitive process but he
was used to it. So used to it that he accidentally treated people with the same behavior.

The next battle started and Naruto was the only one to notice the stiffness of the boy named
Kankuro due to his supernatural senses. No matter how masterful a puppeteer was, he can’t
ever truly imitate the telling points of a living being. Not to mention to Naruto he didn’t smell
sweat or blood or even remnant of feces on the boy but from the bundle on his back. His
opponent is going to have a nasty shock…

He did have a nasty shock…

The it was the turn of two stubborn fan girls. Naruto sighed, “Good luck Sakura,”

He yawned and she glared at him, “What kind of send-off is that?!”

He shrugged, “My kind,”

He watched as Sakura faced against her childhood friend and idol. Girls are so confusing…

They started off as proper Kunoichi instead of the cat fights that they always ended up with
back in the Academy. It seemed that there’s more that they are fighting for than just Sasuke’s
attention. Proper punches and kicks are being thrown. Then Ino actually acted like a
Kunoichi and trapped Sakura. Naruto frowned and sighed, “Another pep talk, seriously. What
am I? A psychologist?”

Kakashi snorted beside him as he called out, “Oi Sakura! You have come so far despite being
so scared this whole time! If you lose to that garden brain you fail as a woman!!” He always
think Ino think too much about romance like she only has a flower garden in her head. Thus
the weird nickname. He thinks it fit her, what with her family owning a flower boutique and
all.

Sakura snapped out of the Yamanaka Clan’s jutsu. She roared, “Forfeit?! Like hell I will!”
She struggled, “Ino, if you don’t get out of my head right this instance you’ll be sorry,
shannaro!!”

After that it was a double knock out…

The next match was that blond girl from Suna named Temari and Neji’s teammate Tenten. It
was a bad match up from the start. The girl was a wind mistress and none of Tenten’s
projectile reach her.

Next was Nara Shikamaru and that Oto Genin girl. It was a no brainer. There’s a reason why
the Nara Clan was respected. Their intelligence and ability to make use of their surrounding
in a split second decision made them one of the most frightening opponent to face…
especially in a forest.

And finally;

7th match; Uzumaki Naruto VS Inuzuka Kiba.

Naruto laughed, “Let’s do this, Akamaru!”

Akamaru barked and Kiba groaned, “Stop treating me like I’m not the human, Naruto!”

They faced each other in the arena and Naruto grinned, “Let’s do this…dog versus dog,” He
lowered his body, claws flexed, “I won’t use my poisons but I can’t promise I won’t maim.
Between your claws and mine, mine are deadlier,”

Kiba growled, “Akamaru, stay put,” He flexed his claws, “You wish, Naruto! You’re not even
an Inuzuka! There’s a big difference between a long nail and a real claw!” He posed low on
the ground and the moment the proctor shouted ‘start!’ he lunged. Naruto grinned, feeling
like a pup during a play fight because this is a play fight to him.

He lunged away and swiped. Kiba evaded and came back in. Above them, Kurenai asked
Kakashi, “He moves just like an Inuzuka only…somehow, he really moves like a dog,”

Kakashi shrugged, “Don’t look at me. I didn’t teach him that,”

Naruto grinned and their claws met in the middle. Kiba winced. The Inuzuka Clan has a
technique that allowed them to move like their partner called the Quadruplet Technique. They
never taught their technique to people outside the clan and yet…

How is it that Naruto moves like a dog better than him?!

Naruto grinned and yipped like an excited pup. Kiba blushed and snapped, “I’m not playing
with you, you baka!” He turned to Akamaru, “Let’s go and teach him what being an real
Inuzuka is!”

Akamaru joined the fray…

Kiba popped a pill, “Akamaru! Show them the meaning of your name!”

The little puppy ate the pill and so does Kiba. The two then turned into perfect copies of each
other. Naruto sniffed the air and grinned, “Now this is more my style,” He let down the
Hiraikotsu, shocking the foreign spectators as the arena trembled from the weight itself.
Kakashi wondered if it’s just him or that boomerang kept getting heavier.

Naruto flattened his ears and growled, “I’m finishing this. Let’s see how strong your will is,
Kiba!” With that he howled a baying hunting howl. A familiar howl that breaks the spirit.
Kiba and Akamaru stumbled back, their berserk state returned to normal. Akamaru lose
control of his transformation and peed in terror as he whimpered beside Kiba who shook his
head, his Inuzuka instinct screaming “Alpha” and “Predator” over and over.

Hiruzen shuddered but he was grinning with excitement, “It’s like a war cry,” Then again he
recalled that ancient Uzumaki liked to howl at the start of a fight or even a spar, like they’re
challenging more than just the physical form. The battle start from the mind and the one that
break down first will lose the battle before it even begin.

Kurenai shuddered, “What was that?!”

Shikamaru grumbled, “It was him?! How troublesome,”

Those in the arena remembered the howl, the call that silenced them the first day. They had
thought it was some kind of beast deep in the Forest of Death, not….a blond brat…
Naruto stopped his howl and looked excitedly at Kiba whose baring his neck in submission.
He stumbled, “What?! Why’d you give up so early?! I thought you were going to make this
more exciting, dattebayo!”

Hinata giggled, “Oh Naruto-kun…”

It seemed he got a bit too excited…

“Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!”

The next match was…Hyuuga Hinata VS Hyuuga Neji.

Naruto frowned. Kiba had tried to tell her to forfeit but he knew Hinata…she’s not going to
quit. Naruto didn’t like Neji. He eyed the boy suspiciously. The two faced each other on the
arena already Neji was telling her, “Hinata-sama, I should tell you this. You don’t make a
good Kunoichi. Forfeit!” He added, “You’re too gentle and kind hearted. You keep wishing
for harmony and always avoid conflict. You never resist, always agreeing. You’re weak!”

He glared, “You can’t even resist your teammate’s request to join the Chuunin Exam, am I
wrong?”

Hinata frowned, “N-no…I…I wanted to c-change myself!”

Neji was not moved, “Hinata-sama, you are really…a spoiled brat of the Main House,” He
glared at her, “People cannot change themselves!”

Neji kept going on and on about his ideal and beliefs. Naruto growled as he kept on trampling
over Hinata’s determination. He never knew…how hard it was for someone with a gentle
spirit like Hinata to stand up against their toxic expectation of her for as long as she did. As
her anxiety grew, even worse as Naruto knew that Neji was someone Hinata cared for and
respected, her spirit dropped lower and lower. She was at the point of a break down…

“You know it too, didn’t you? That people can’t-,”

Naruto roared, “SHE CAN!”

She looked up at him and Naruto glowered, “Stop deciding things for her, you asshole!
Hinata, kick him to kingdom come!”

But maybe…just maybe…

He should have kept his mouth shut…

 Chapter 16
Chapter Summary

“You could say I am stuck in permanent Sage Mode,”

Naruto looked at the blood in his fist. Hinata’s blood, drying in his hand. The Prelim had
ended and though he worry about that Gaara kid, his mind was consumed by anger…at Neji
and himself. He barely heard who his opponent would be but the fact that he will get to keep
his oath to Hinata kept him calm.

Hinata tries so hard to change. Even though she was much better than from before they
became friends, the pressure at home kept pulling her down. Neji’s words were all her
thoughts laid bare, her self-doubt spoken out. A direct and insidious psychological attack on
her. Hinata had to face this each time she went home.

Naruto hated that there’s little he can do for her…

Hinata’s fight was hers and hers alone. In this matter, he’s just an outsider. But right now, as
he stared at the blood painted on his hand, he can do something for her. Even if it’s just
beating the shit out of her cousin!

Coming home, he was tired and looked at the seal that trapped Kurama beyond his reach. He
scrunched up his nose at the seal, “Stupid Hebi Teme,”

He cleaned himself up of the few days grime and closed his eyes. It didn’t take long. Like
blinking, he’s in the Shikon and Minato knew that Naruto needed to blow off steam.
Somehow, even though he already cleaned himself, within the Shikon Hinata’s blood still
painted his hand. Minato knew what he had done; a blood oath.

He nodded and took a stance, “Come,”

Kagome watched as the father-son duo sparred. Minato has been training Naruto in his
techniques and the boy has been trying to find time to figure out his greatest original move;
the Rasengan. But right now Naruto’s moves were all feral. He’s lost in the emotion that he
had locked deep inside. It was something that Sesshoumaru trained him in. Youkai are
passionate creatures. It’s in their very make up for through passions they’re born.

Violence and chaos, it all branches out from passion.

It had surprised Kagome to learn that from Sesshoumaru at the beginning of all this. Passion
can lead to prosperity or ruination. A calm and logical mind are needed to balance out
passion before one burn oneself from its flame. But keeping it all locked aren’t good.
Sesshoumaru made that mistake once. When it came out, he was as imbalanced as one could
be.

He’s better now, fortunately. Kagome didn’t know how she could have survived staying sane
with a cold block of ice. Sesshoumaru looked at her, as if sensing the route her thoughts had
taken. She smiled sweetly at him and he turned, huffing at her audacity.

Naruto finally calmed down and his tears flowed. Minato looked at his son, “Naruto…what
happened?”

So he confessed, “She just wanted to prove herself. So I cheered for her. Maybe…maybe I
should have just shut up,” He looked at his father, “Hinata…Neji hurt her so bad, her heart
stopped. She survived but they had to take her to intense care. Her father had given up on her,
giving her to Jounin Kurenai to take care. I…I just want her to come out of her shell…”

Kushina embraced him from behind, “You’re just trying to be a good friend. There’s nothing
wrong with cheering her up, dattebane,”

Naruto sobbed, “But it lead to her hurting! She could have died, dattebayo!”

Sesshoumaru moved but stopped when he felt Kagome’s hand holding his wrist. He looked at
her and she shook her head, “What he need is to express himself. I’m sure he understand that
regretting supporting his friend is not going to do any good. Either for him or Hinata,”

Naruto continued to cry until he was drained. Here, with his family within the Shikon, he felt
safe. He rubbed his face and looked at his hand, still painted in her blood, “I promised her…
I’ll bring Neji down from his high horse. But…” He looked at them, “I’m going to need
help,”

Minato smiled, “Then…let us begin!”

The next day found Naruto walking around. Last night was intense. He thought
Sesshoumaru’s a slave driver but that was nothing when compared to Minato. His father
made it hard to fail, his face smiling with faith that Naruto can do make it hard to disappoint
the man. So Naruto ended working harder than when he does with Sesshoumaru.

It’s an emotional blackmail of the highest order…

He then frowned at the strong smell toad and…horniness? Sensing a pervert ahead, he turned
the corner of the bathhouse and found a man snickering as he wrote something in his
notebook. Using Henge to look like Kagome, he screamed with her voice, “HENTAI!!”

The white haired man turned towards ‘her’ in shock and then panicked as the women on the
other side screeched in fury. Naruto quickly take himself out of there and watched in
amusement as the man ran off with what he called “Run like a Bitch no Jutsu”, leaving the
women in dust. He shook his head, “Serves you right,”

He then tilted his head, “He looks familiar though…”

He went to the toy store and bought all the balloons and rubber ball, watching Gama-chan
deflating a bit. A single tear dropped on the beat up green toad wallet.

“Gama-chan…thank you for your sacrifice, dattebayo…”

He sat in a clearing and starting filling the balloons with water. Then he started working on
the first step of Rasengan. While trying to make the balloon popped, he heard a familiar
giggling. He looked around and scoffed, “Haven’t learned your lesson, heh?”

He created a Kage Bunshin, transformed him into his ancestor Sango and send her down to
where he can hear girls giggle near a waterfall. A moment later he listened as ‘Sango’
screamed “Hentai” and pointing at the big white haired pervert. It didn’t take long for the big
guy to stumble into the clearing Naruto was using just as Naruto finally popped his water
balloon. The big guy stared at him, “Wait…what are you doing?”

Naruto blinked at him, “What do you think?”

The guy stared at him a bit more and sat down, “Hmmm…”

Naruto eyed suspiciously, “Weirdo…” He then focused back on his balloons. He managed to
pop one but he felt like something was missing. So he decided to perfect the first step. He
popped the balloon over and over before finally convinced that he was doing it right. He then
moved to the rubber balls. He focused. The ball distorted but didn’t pop.

He huffed, “What did I missed?”

Minato already showed him the whole process. The rubber ball should be shredded if he’s
doing it right. Well, at least he didn’t have to worry about the seal. Minato dealt with it easy
as natto. Naruto really need to up his study in seals. It’s like writing ofuda after all!

The big guy with the weird horned hitai-ate from some place named Abura asked, “Kid…are
you trying to make Rasengan?”

Naruto blinked before glaring with growl, “What do you know about Rasengan?”

The guy waved his hand, a bit surprised by the ferocity of that question, “Nothing! Nothing!”
He chuckled before standing up and started hopping around, “From the north to the south and
the east to the west, not even the spirit can defeat this sage, striking fear in the hearts of men
and love in the hearts of beauties all over the Hidden Continent, the white mane, gallant
ninja, the Toad Sage, Master Jiraiya of Mount Myoboku!” He grinned, “Yes, tis I that I am
talking of,”

Naruto has heard of Jiraiya, “Oh…my Kaa-chan said to look out for you…”

Jiraiya stumbled, “Wait, what?!”

Naruto rubbed his chin, “Something about you and the three Shinobi vices…”

Jiraiya grumbled, “I’m not that bad,”

Naruto glared, “You are if you didn’t even visit your godson after all these years, dattebayo!”

Jiraiya blinked, staring at Naruto and then pointed, “Wait…Naruto?!”

Naruto huffed and picked up his things, “If Kaa-chan and Tou-san are here, they’ll pick at
your bones, dattebayo! Oh well, not my problem!”

Jiraiya quickly chased after him, “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Just wait a minute!” Naruto
looked at him, “Who told you?!” Jiraiya looked suspicious as he whispered with urgency,
“Naruto, it is important that your identity remain a secret. I can’t just show up and be
chummy with you for no reason! What if Minato’s enemies find out about you?! What if my
enemies find out about you?! Whoever told you can’t be trusted!”

Naruto smirked, “You did,”

Jiraiya blinked, “Huh?”

Naruto grinned, “You just told me!”

Jiraiya blinked and blinked and blinked some more, “Brat, are you playing with me right
now?”

Naruto shrugged and looked around before pulling out a string of prayer beads. He then
placed some chakra inside the bead before flinging each bead to their surroundings. Jiraiya
blinked as barrier popped up. It was almost similar to the mysterious Uzumaki barrier
technique. He looked at Naruto, “Wha-?”

Naruto pulled him down, “I need to share with you something! Kaa-chan said to look out for
you, true, but Tou-chan also said that you can be trusted with my ancestry because of the
Toads,” He looked at Jiraiya, “How much do you know about the Summons?”

Jiraiya sat down, surprised by the boy’s strength, “Not much, to be honest,”

Naruto grinned, “I know everything that Summons won’t tell humans. Partly because if I’m
to be technical then I have the blood of a Summon too…or half a Summon,”

Jiraiya blinked, “Half a Summon? Naruto, Summons are animals. How can a human be half a
Summon?”

“Because they aren’t really animals…not in the ancient past before chakra,”

“What?”

Naruto peered into his eyes grimly, “What do you know about youkai?”

Jiraiya stared at him, “Naruto…youkai aren’t real,”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “Not now, they’re not!”

Jiraiya’s eyes widened, “Are you seriously implying what I think you are implying? Because
that is so ridiculous it….might just make sense…” His jaw dropped as Naruto revealed his ki,
“Nature chakra? But how-?”

Naruto grinned, “It’s ancient name is actually ki. Like chakra it has two sides; Reiki and
Youki,” He changed the feel of his ki, “This is reiki…it is divine spiritual energy wielded by
human in ancient time,” He shifted the energy, “And this is youki, dark physical energy of
youkai,” He looked at an entranced Jiraiya, “What humans nowadays called nature chakra is
actually ki. Ki existed long before chakra came to this world. Chakra is like an invasive
energy from the beyond and has assimilated into this world. It is far easier to wield that than
ki because human has to go through intense training to even begin to feel the existence of
reiki within them,”

Jiraiya frowned, “How intense?”

Naruto deadpanned, “Intense enough people would mistake you for having been lost in Suna
without food or water until you look like a dried up mummy….just ask,” He sighed at
Jiraiya’s confused look. He then explained, “Look, Tou-san told me about Sage Training he
and you had gone through, right?”

Jiraiya nodded.

Naruto smiled, “It’s more intense than that. Also the reason people need Summons to even
begin to train in Senjutsu is because the contract between you and the Summon will help you
detect ki easier. And the reason you transform is because it is the way your Reiki tried to
purify the youki of the Summon that you tried to balance with your chakra. When you
balanced your chakra with youki, your innate reiki won’t be able to detect the taint of youki
anymore and accept it as part of you,”

He gestured at his face, “You could say I am stuck in permanent Sage Mode,”

Jiraiya groaned, rubbing his face, “This is all too sudden…” He looked with bleary eyes at
Naruto, “What type of Summon is…your Kekkei Genkai?” He didn’t know how else to wrap
his mind around that half a Summon thing. Taking this like it’s Kekkei Genkai was easier on
his head. He may be a Toad Sage but that does not mean he’s smart at using his brain.

Naruto grinned, “My ancestor is the founder of the Uzumaki Clan. His name was Inuyasha,
hanyou son of Inu no Taisho Toga. A Tiangou,”
 Chapter 17
Chapter Summary

“I LOOK LIKE AN EVIL MONKEY!”

Jiraiya watched over Naruto as the boy practiced to form the Rasengan with one hand. He
succeeded by creating a clone to help form the orb of energy but somehow trying to stabilize
the orb with a single hand was hard. Perhaps because the boy’s chakra coil was too large,
perfect control will always be beyond him.

Jiraiya looked at the giant boomerang. Naruto has proof that youkai, true demons, not like
chakra beast that Shinobi labeled demons like the Kyuubi, once walked the land. He literally
lugged it around. Jiraiya tried to pick it up but it negated his chakra, rejecting him. Even
though he’s not a weak man, the weight of the boomerang made his muscles shake. Naruto
was impressed though that he could even lift it. Turned out it used to be lighter but Naruto
has been feeding the weapon ki.

This was because the weapon was once wielded by a Taijiya. A woman and mother of the
Uzumaki Clan of old. Someone from before the age of chakra can pick it up and throw it
around like an ordinary toy instead of a weapon of mass destruction. And due to this for
Naruto it’s much too light for him not to mention it wasn’t well maintained. He had to incite
‘growth’ for the boomerang to ‘heal’ from its ‘old age’ and because of the quality and density
of ki, it grew heavier and heavier as it engorged on Naruto’s ki.

Its named was a clue to its creation and not just for posturing either. It was literally made of
bones…youkai bones. Just the texture alone send shudders down Jiraiya’s spine. He could
even feel it throb with life!

Naruto grumbled as the Rasengan destabilized in his hand and exploded. He sighed and
chewed some nerium. It almost gave Jiraiya a heart attack when he saw the boy casually
chew on that flower known to be one of the most toxic of the floral variety. Turned out he’s
accumulating poison in his body using a technique he called Gu.

Jiraiya sighed, “Do you want to sign a Summoning Contract?”

Naruto looked at him, “Can I just see the Summoning Contract? I have an idea I want to use,”

Jiraiya eyed him, “You want to study a Summoning Contract? Any reason why?”

Naruto grinned, “Oh, you know…I want to summon something that no one in this world has
ever summoned before,” At Jiraiya’s worried look he added, “Don’t worry! It’s not Kurama,
dattebayo!”
Jiraiya grumbled, “To think he call the damn fox his family…”

Naruto shrugged, “Dogs like to hunt and eat foxes,”

Jiraiya glared at him, “That doesn’t explain anything,” He griped and grumbled but in the end
he did summon the contract. Naruto looked it over and saw Minato’s name. He smiled at the
sight, “Sorry Tou-san but I won’t be a Toad Summoner,”

The next few days Naruto was busy recreating the Summon Scroll. He call it Shikon
Summoning Scroll. It’s a bit on the nose but his family are all within the bauble and the
bauble’s trapped inside Naruto like it once was with Kagome anyway. Without a word from
Naruto and only the Summons barely recalling a legend about the Shikon, no one in the
current world will know what he meant anyway.

Sesshoumaru falls under Wisdom from his millenniums of experience.

Kagome falls under Friendship as she’s easily befriend all those that she came across.

Kushina falls under Love for the love of a mother is the purest of all.

Minato falls under Courage for it took a lot of guts to do what he did.

They are the four that the Shikon Summoning Scroll can summon. It has nothing to do with
the jewel. Naruto will never summon the jewel. It is more trouble than it’s worth. He took the
scroll within the Shikon for the final steps.

On the final week he finished the scroll and only the testing left. Jiraiya looked at him, “This
will be the first Summoning Scroll made by a human that I know of. If it works then know
that I am most honored to have worked alongside you to create it,” He looked at the giant
scroll, “I still don’t know what you’re trying to summon though,”

Naruto grinned, “Have ever told you that Inuyasha has a half-brother? Just hope I’m not
summoning the boss of Kakashi’s ninken,” He would have asked the man about the scroll but
Kakashi’s summoning is a family heirloom. He felt that it would be disrespectful to even look
at it. Not to mention Naruto’s scroll worked a little differently than known Summoning
Scroll.

He signed his name and signed, “I, Inu, Tori, Saru, Hitsuji!” He bit his thumb, “Kuchiyose no
Jutsu!” Then he poured out not chakra but ki. He poured as much as he could, trying to
summon his Alpha. There was light and suddenly Sesshoumaru stands before him, blinking
at the sun. Jiraiya gawked. He has never seen a humanoid Summon before and the feel of the
Summon frightened him.

Naruto bowed, “Sesshoumaru-sama!”

Sesshoumaru looked at him, “You did well,” He then fell silent, focusing on the world, “How
many centuries has it been?” He breathed in the air, “Too long,” His golden gaze turned on
Jiraiya, “Summon the toads. This Sesshoumaru has much to speak with them,”

Naruto looked at Jiraiya, “Hurry up!”

Jiraiya, still stupefied that the scroll actually worked, summoned Fukasaku and Shima. The
elderly sage looked at Jiraiya and was about to scold him for interrupting his lunch time when
he froze. He looked up and gawked, “Daiyoukai….”

Sesshoumaru stared at the toad, “Descendants of Ogama. Interesting…” He sat, “Speak, child
of Ogama, what has changed in this world. This Sesshoumaru shall listen,”

Knowing better than to disobey, Fukasaku prostrated as his ancient instinct demanded of him.
He started to talk about what happened after the Great Purge. Jiraiya listened as Fukasaku hid
nothing before this intimidating….man. The aura he let out was oppressive and demanding
respect, heavier than even the Daimyo. It was almost suffocating.

Naruto frowned, “Sesshoumaru-sama, stop that. You’re choking Ero-Sennin,”

Sesshoumaru looked at Jiraiya, “This one has not been in the presence of a proper human in
what seemed longer than this one had lived in this world. Apologies,” He added begrudgingly
because Naruto has that look on his face that spelled trouble for him with Kagome if the first
thing he does while outside the Shikon was causing trouble.

Jiraiya coughed and bowed, “It is no trouble, Sesshoumaru-sama,”

Sesshoumaru eyed him, “You shall restrain your…hobby…around this Sesshoumaru,”

Jiraiya paled, “Yes, sir!”

Sesshoumaru looked at Naruto, “Call upon us whenever you deem necessary,”

A flash of light and he was gone. Naruto looked at Jiraiya and Fukasaku. The elderly toad
stumbled onto his back, “I have never thought I’d come across a Daiyoukai! A Daiyoukai,
Jiraiya-boy! Where did you even come across him?!”

Jiraiya shamelessly pointed at Naruto. Fukasaku took a good look at Naruto and blinked,
“Aren’t you…uh…”

Naruto shrugged, “I know Tou-san,”

Shima, who has stayed silent this whole time, nodded, “I would say you look like him but
you have too much coloring on you,”

Jiraiya looked at Naruto, “Now I am totally sold. You’re still not going to tell me how in the
world you know all this?”

Naruto looked at him, “You need to talk to the elder of the Toads if you want to know more.
But I doubt the Toads even know much. By the age of chakra, stories about youkai already
become just that…stories. Not even the Summons really believed in them other than the
really old ones, I think,”

Fukasaku nodded, “I think I have heard the name Sesshoumaru somewhere,”

Naruto shrugged, “If you know the legend of Sou’unga, then you’ve probably heard about
him,”

Shima hopped, “He’s that Sesshoumaru?!!”

Jiraiya looked at her, “You know him?”

She shook her head, “I don’t know him but I have heard of him!” She blushed, “The dashing
Lord of the Western Lands. Most wanted bachelor of the ancient world. Heart colder than the
glacial North and hands crueler than cruel…he was my crush when I was a young lass,” She
giggled, “He’s as handsome as the ancient text described,”

Naruto mentally gagged at the sight and Kurama openly gagged in his seal.

Fukasaku grumbled, “Hard to compete with that and now that I have seen him, I don’t want
to compete with that,”

Jiraiya eyed the couple, “You guys are sidetracking me. Spill!”

Fukasaku and Shima shared a look, Fukasaku sighing, “You will need to speak to Gamamaru-
sama,”

And so ended Naruto’s testing day. The next day dawned bright and early and Jiraiya’s face
was stuck on his window, “Wake up!”

Naruto took one bleary eyed look at his harried appearance and he yawned, “We don’t talk
about it, dattebayo,” He opened his window to let the crazed Sage in and Jiraiya grumbled,
“Exactly and it’s big! How do you even live with this…this…mind boggling truth?!”

Naruto yawned, “I was a kid. I don’t know anything about the truth and any truth is the truth
to me, dattebayo…” He smacked his lips and snored on his bed, back to sleep. Jiraiya stared
at his carefree form and groaned, “I can’t even share this with anyone…if anyone knows…if
that one knows…”

One wish…that was all it took…

The world has changed so completely from a single wish…

Jiraiya shuddered at the idea that such a power existed and Naruto’s guarding it. To think that
the Uzumaki Clan was keeping such a secret all along. He doubted that anyone but highest
power in Uzu know the truth. The fact that none fall to temptation for so long was a
testament to the will power and loyalty of the Uzumaki. But it would explain why the whole
clan focused so heavily on sealing. It was in their culture as master hunters.

It would explain why the Uzumaki remained neutral in the face of the world’s turmoil. The
one time they decided to stop being such isolationist with the whole world lead to their
downfall. Jiraiya was only grateful that whichever power destroyed Uzushio did not discover
the…relic. There’s so much powerful items in this world but none can change reality like
the…relic.
Jiraiya scratched his head violently, “Argh! I’m going to sleep on this!”

Naruto sure has the right idea. He joined the blond on his bed and Naruto sleepily grumbled
at the sudden decrease in movement space, especially Jiraiya’s sleepy weight as the man
placed his leg on him. Naruto woke up only when he fell off his bed and glared at the Sage
whose supposed to be godfather. He took out his brush and ink set, “Should have gone to his
own bed…”

When Jiraiya woke up it was noon and he went to the bathroom only to scream at his new…
face paint…

“I LOOK LIKE AN EVIL MONKEY!”

He then cursed, “Dammit he used an oil based ink!”

Meanwhile Naruto was busy looking for Hinata. His clone had dispelled from where he had
hid it in Hinata’s ward that she had just been discharged. He was anxious to see her. To see
for himself that she’s fine. That it wasn’t a permanent damage.

When he finally set his eyes on her, he almost sagged in relief…no, he actually sagged in
relief…

When she had gone done, when she spewed blood because Neji hit her hard with malicious
intent. When he thought that she’s going to die because he kept cheering her on even though
Sakura told him that she’s too injured to go on…Naruto’s world had gone cold.

He was so worried.

She was the first of his pack, his most precious person.

He will never forgive himself if she died because he was too stubborn to admit that some
fights are not worth fighting. He know that he shouldn’t regret cheering her on because she
wanted to fight. That would be disrespecting her wish. But she wasn’t strong enough and no
amount of cheering can give her that miraculous boost that can change the course of the fight.
This isn’t a manga.

Real life aren’t that kind…

So he will step up for her. Where she failed to open her cousin’s grieving eyes, he will
succeed. Because that’s what an Alpha do.

He will shoulder her pain for her and rise her up…
 Chapter 18
Chapter Summary

“Besides, my seal are far more burdensome than yours,”

Naruto looked at his feet. Today’s the day. It’s not even a year but so many things happened.
Part of him wondered if he had done enough. If he had grown enough for the coming fight.
He gripped the straps of Hiraikotsu tighter. He’s worried of losing control. Besides, like the
fight with Orochimaru, he has less experience than Neji. Considering the older Genin has
been in business for a year longer…

Doubts are sinking in…

A soft voice called out, “N-N-Naru-to-k-kun?”

Naruto blinked and looked at Hinata. “Oh! Hey Hinata-chan! How are you?” He let his eyes
roamed over her casually clad form, “Are feeling better?”

She smiled shyly, “Y-y-yes,”

His heart broke at her stutter. It was the worse yet since they became friends. What happened
at her home? He sighed and Hinata looked at him, “A-a-are you o-o-kay?”

That was just like Hinata. She had always cared more for his well-being than he ever noticed
about himself. It made him feel worse. He grit his jaw and said, “I’m a terrible friend. I
should have stopped you. I know you are strong but….I looked down on Neji…” He opened
his eyes at the gentle touch on his shaking fist holding the strap of Hiraikotsu.

Hinata was blushing and her fingers warm and trembling but she bravely kept touching him,
“I-it’s f-f-fine, Na-ruto-kun. I-it w-w-was my c-c-choice,” She looked at him with trembling
eyes, “W-w-when you c-c-cheered for me, it felt like I g-g-g-grew s-s-stronger. I-it m-m-
might not be m-m-much but I f-f-felt like I was able to c-c-change,” She smiled at him, “I-i-it
was t-t-thanks to you, N-Naruto-k-kun,”

Naruto frowned, “Do you really think so? I may looked like that to you, Hinata, but…that’s
because I always acted tough since I’m always so frustrated with myself from always
failing-,”

She cut him, “That’s not true!” His self-doubt hurt her more than her anxiety that she lost her
stutter. In her mind all she could think was that Naruto’s hurting himself….again. She always
felt that need to make him stop so she continued, “Even when you always f-fail. In my eyes,
you are a proud f-failure,” He looked at her in shock, “W-when I look at you, there is an
intense f-feeling here,” She placed a small hand over her heart, “B-because you’re not p-
perfect. Because you always f-fail, you have the s-strength to get back u-up. I-I believe that is
what t-true strength is. T-that’s why t-to me, Naruto-kun, y-you are in-incredibly s-strong,”

In her world surrounded by those who strives for perfection, she always felt inadequate. If
Neji lamented being a Branch House member, she lamented being born a Hyuuga. Naruto…
broke that monotony the moment he appeared to her on that winter night.

She always took the wrong turn, made the wrong decision.

Naruto…was always there to steer her right. He was her guide, just like that night in winter
so long ago when her whole world darkened and become bleak. A time where she truly felt
worthless and hopeless. His words gave her the courage to look at the brighter side, that
pessimistic girl started becoming positive.

“I don’t have anything but I don’t cry,”

He saved her…again and again…she just…wanted to do the same for him. But Naruto didn’t
need saving, not in the physical sense. Just like now, there’re times he wavered. Times where
she looked at him and saw the weight of the world burdening his shoulder. If she could, just a
little bit, she would like to lighten that burden even if she can’t carry it for him. She wanted
to carry it with him.

Suddenly she was engulfed by warmth and smell of the forest blooms. She blinked and heard
Naruto’s grinning voice, “I was feeling all depressed but now, after hearing what you said,
it’s gone!” He pulled back, “You’re the best, Hime!” He then paused, “Hmm…Hime doesn’t
suit you…oh yeah, from now on, you’re Tennyo!”

Hinata blushed, “Na-Naruto-kun! T-that’s-!”

He beamed, “You kept saving me, Hinata-chan. That nickname suits you better than Hime.
Princess are just too distant. Pretty but cold. You’re like a heavenly messenger, always
coming down and saving me at my lowest, dattebayo,”

She really didn’t want to faint with how he’s holding her. Naruto turned around and whooped,
“I’m whooping your ass, Neji! Just wait for me like a sitting duck in open season,
dattebayo!”

Meanwhile, Kurama eyed Naruto, “You sly dog,”

Naruto acted ignorant, “What?”

Kurama rolled his eyes, “You know what you did. You just marked her with your scent,”

He blushed, “I…uh…”

It was a spur of the moment. When she encouraged him, his mind blanked out and all he
could think was “Mine” over and over. Before he knew it, he was brushing his whisker
against her cheek. She might not notice it but his pheromone had grown stronger for a
moment as he held her. He grimaced at her two teammates, closely working with animals,
would notice.
He groaned, “Damn instinct,”

He weaved through the crowds gathering around the stadium where the Finals will take
place. His nose itched with scents of foreigners that entered what he considered his domain.

It wasn’t long before he stood before the crowd in the arena lined up with the rest of the
contestants. His eyes lingered on Neji for a while, the latter scoffing in a dismissive manner
towards him. He didn’t want to hurt anyone that Hinata considered precious but the kiddy
gloves come off when her precious people have no qualm about hurting her.

He will be using the skills he accumulated from studying under his family. Sesshoumaru’s a
master of hand to hand as much as he the master of weaponries. Considering that Taijiya
fought youkai of all manners with pure human strength, they too studied all kinds of weapons
and skills. Minato taught him how to think like a Shinobi and not just a Taijiya. A Taijiya
fought the supernatural but Shinobi battles fellow humans all the time. Naruto’s handicap was
he kept thinking like a youkai due to how often he sparred with Sesshoumaru growing up.
Even Kagome was unused to fighting human and so there’s a gap there.

The two fought for absolute victory, the total annihilation of their enemies.

The proctor, a Shiranui Genma, called out, “1st match, Hyuuga Nevi versus Uzumaki Naruto!
Contestants ready?!” He looked at the two fighters facing each other, “BEGIN!”

Naruto glared at Neji. The boy smirked, “Watching you fall from your delusion will make
this all the more worthwhile,”

Naruto sneered, “I’ll show you reality,” He then smirked, “When human faced something
divine,” He dropped Hiraikotsu, the weight had increased even more since he created the
Summoning Scroll, and the impact shook the arena. Tenten’s eyes widened in the stand,
“How in the world is he even carrying that anymore?!”

He cracked his knuckles one by one, eyes flashing gold as his youkai blood boiled and the
beast within him howled for justice. The Alpha gene that runs through him growled for him
to put this impertinent pup down and show him his place; at the bottom and beneath him.
Usually Naruto would ignore his bestial youkai side but in this instance, he agreed
wholeheartedly.

He growled, “Neji, you better start praying. Because I don’t know if I can hold back. You
crossed the line with Hinata and I have been holding back a lot against the whole Hyuuga
Clan for what they did to her emotional trauma,”

Neji was dismissive of his warning, “Talent is decided at birth. Everyone has their place. It is
her fate to be born weak and submissive. She is destined to lose…and so do you,”

He added, “You kept harping about becoming the Hokage. Wake up! Those that become
Hokage are born into that destiny! You don’t become Hokage through hard work. It is
decided by destiny!”
His eyes dimmed slightly, “One must always live within their means. This is the
unchangeable flow of destiny. The only fate all shared…is death,”

Naruto glowered, “If talent is decided at birth…then Hinata is above you. Her talent is not the
strength of the body but in the strength heart. The Hyuuga kept talking about all seeing eyes
but they sure are blind to her true worth,” He scoffed, “What use is a strong body when the
heart is weak?! Between you and her, in a battle of wit you will be the one to fall first! After
all,” He grinned a feral smile, “The one that kept fighting in that despicable clan has always
been Hinata while you…you just bowed your head even though your actions against her
showed how much you struggle against your own supposed destiny…just like she said,”

Neji snapped, “SHUT UP!”

Neji rushed forward and slammed Juuken right on Naruto’s body. Two, four, eight, sixteen,
thirty two, sixty four Juuken palms strike his body. Hinata gasped from the stand as he cough
out blood. Neji pulled back, looking down at Naruto’s crumpled form, “I have closed 64
points in your body. You can no longer stand,” He sneered, “Painful, yes? Just stay there…
where you belong,”

Neji looked at the proctor, “Call it. He won’t be standing back up-,”

Naruto gargled, “Shut up!”

Neji looked behind him with wide eyes, “What?! How?!”

Naruto spat out blood, the ground sizzling from the corrosive toxic within the crimson liquid.
Neji looked at his body and was glad that none landed on him. Naruto looked at his body,
“This…this is Hinata’s pain. But this is nothing compared to the pain in her heart…whenever
her own family struck her down with their words. How she won’t bow her head, how she
won’t crumble…I respect her for that,” He glared at Neji, “Never ever call Hinata weak!”

He took a stance, “I have accepted her pain with my own body. We are even. Now…prepare
for a lesson, you dumb pup!” His tail flared and split to nine, causing those on the stands to
tense. His small dog ears grew larger and taller, becoming more fox-like as his whiskers grew
bolder. His transformation took place because he stopped suppressing his chakra with youki.
With Kurama within him, his chakra has more foxy quality to it than dog. He unlocked his
closed tenketsu points through sheer chakra flood.

He barred his fangs, “Pure chakra, nothing else,”

He lunged forward and Neji defended himself. But each blocked strikes were heavy and if it
wasn’t because he was trained by Maito Gai, Neji feared his bones would have broken. Neji
finally had enough, unable to take the heavy hits and spin, “Kaiten!”

Naruto pulled back and studied the new phenomena before him. His tails swished agitatedly
behind him. Being pure chakra, they phased in and out of his solid tail, mesmerizing those
who dared to look. He could only think of one way to bring down Neji’s defense.

He lowered his body and swished his tails around.

Hiruzen’s eyes widened even as the phenomenon took place right before him, “I can’t be…”

A large Rasengan started to form behind Naruto between his nine tails.

Naruto ran straight for Neji’s spinning form and leapt upward, the spinning ball of pure
chakra growing and growing behind him, almost glowing. He cried, “This is for Hinata!
RASENGAN!”

He flipped his body, gathering momentum before using his tails to smash the glowing ball of
chakra over Neji’s chakra dome. The two spinning energies met. The two energies exploded
like fireworks and Neji was flung back while Naruto simply flipped back right next to
Hiraikotsu. He watched as Neji’s body flopped back to the ground.

Naruto looked at him, “Why? When you are this strong, instead of helping her, do you put
her down and mentally tortured her?” He glowered, “Deciding things like her life and destiny
for her without her own input, calling her a loser…I can’t forgive you for that!”

Neji staggered to his feet, “Since you are so annoying…let me tell you…about the Caged
Birds of the Hyuuga Clan,” He took off his hitai-ate and Naruto frowned at the seal. With
Kushina teaching him seals, he can easily see what it entails despite the simple design. He
scowled, “A slave…”

Neji flinched at the directness of his observation. Neji then explained about the day he was
cursed into a slave of the Main Family. He told Naruto about Hinata’s birthday and the day he
lost his freedom. Naruto listened, his ears erect and strained right towards Neji’s voice. How
Hyuuga Hizashi took the place of the Head of the Hyuuga Clan.

Neji glared at him, “You who are free, you can never understand! The pain of having to carry
a symbol that you can never get rid of!”

Naruto snapped, “Even if I can, so what?!So stop acting like you’re the only one with a
special mark!”

Neji glared at him and lunged forward, but deep inside his ideal was slowly chipping. Naruto
faced him, his intense chakra forced open whichever tenketsu points Neji closed. This
continued for a while but Neji can feel his injuries adding to his fatigue as his chakra was
wasted against Naruto’s strange ability to open his closed tenketsu.

Neji wondered, “Why?! Why do you insisted on fighting your destiny?!”

Naruto grinned, “Because who wants to stay a loser?!” He then added, “And besides, I don’t
care if others don’t think I won’t make Hokage! I know I’ll become Hokage! It’s in my
blood!” Naruto finally found the opening in Neji defense and punched hard, causing the boy
to launched off the ground from the impact.

Neji thought he heard, “Besides, my seal are far more burdensome than yours,”
 Chapter 19
Chapter Summary

“Sensei, look who I found!”

Naruto hates Genjutsu. Even though he practiced dispersing, his chakra was too vast to detect
Genjutsu. The only reason and the only way he even noticed was because of his ki. However
Genjutsu have certain types that would not disturb his ki. Like the one that was just cast, a
neutral type that caused people to sleep.

But just because he noticed doesn’t mean he can easily get out of it!

Luckily he has allies that help woke him up. Last thing he recalled after Shikamaru’s fight
with that Temari girl was Sasuke finally arriving to fight Gaara. He was…somewhat
winning…but something happened and suddenly feathers fall from the sky. Naruto looked
around and threw Hiraikotsu to advancing armies of Suna and Oto ninja.

They were sliced through like butter. He listened as Kakashi told him, Sakura, and Shikamaru
to chase after Sasuke. Naruto made up his mind the moment he saw Pakkun, “I’m calling
back up!”

Kakashi looked at him, “Back up?”

Naruto grinned, “We are at war and that means no holding back, dattebayo!” He started
signing, “I, Inu, Tori, Saru, Hitsuji!” He slammed his hand to the ground, “Kuchiyose no
Jutsu!”

Shikamaru blinked, “He has a Summoning Contract?”

Four glowing lights appeared and formed right before him just as more enemy Shinobi
appeared. Sakura tensed but they were sliced right through. She opened her eyes to see…

Kakashi gawked, “Sensei?!”

Minato, coral draconic horns and kitsune ears on his head as well as fox tail swishing behind
him while sparkling with golden lightning from head to toe, looked at Kakashi, “Later Kashi-
kun. Kushina!”

A red head with kitsune ears and four tails, smiled at him, brandishing a katana, “Come at
me!”

The two then started cutting down enemies left and right. Familiar toxic green whip sliced
through enemies’ necks, beheading them with effortless grace. Inhuman golden eyes looked
at Naruto, “Explain,”

Naruto snapped in attention, “We are being invaded, Sesshoumaru-sama!”

Sesshoumaru gave a lazy survey of his surrounding, “This Sesshoumaru can see that. You
have decided to stop holding back?”

Naruto nodded, “Jiji…I mean Hokage-sama is trapped in that barrier!” He pointed at the
obnoxious purple barrier with trees growing inside.

Sesshoumaru looked at the final person with him, “Miko,”

She, apparently a Miko, smirked, “That barrier? It’s nothing when compared to the holy
barrier of Mount Hakurei,”

Sesshoumaru looked at Naruto, “Do you have other mission?”

Naruto nodded, “Yeah but I thought I should lend a hand here too!”

Sesshoumaru huffed, “As expected of our Great and Terrible Sire’s descendant. Go,”

Dismissed, Naruto looked at his teammates, “Let’s go!”

Kakashi would love to ask for more clarification but golden lightning flashed all around,
enemies dead before they even realized what was going on. He looked at the pale man,
utterly inhuman in appearance, staring at the barrier. He looked at the Miko beside him,
“Miko, nullify the barrier,”

She sighed, “Its Kagome. I hate it when you fall back to that General on the field persona of
yours,” But she prepared herself nonetheless. This isn’t her first war and she knew better than
to pick a fight in the middle of wartime chaos.

He grabbed her around the waist and leapt up. At the height of their ascend she created a
glowing pink bow made of pure energy, though Kakashi can’t sense any chakra, and shot at
the barrier. Though he knew that it should be impossible, the single glowing arrow shatter the
barrier.

Sesshoumaru landed on the roof, surprising the ANBU stationed there. He frowned at them,
“Fools. There’s more important thing to deal with in a war than gawking at an impossible
barrier,” He scowled at the four barrier mediums stuck with one more layer of barrier
gawking at him, “Pups that doesn’t know it’s place!” He looked at Kagome who placed a
single hand on the barrier, flaring her reiki and shattering that one as well.

Suddenly on the other side, where he could sense Naruto, a giant Tanuki appeared. Kagome
stared at the chakra beast before glancing at him, “I think Naruto will need someone just as
big on his side,”

Sesshoumaru leapt forward, “Hn,”

In the forest, Naruto cursed. He can’t transform and he won’t bring Kurama out. It took a lot
out of him to flare his youki as much as it did to get out of the Dessert Coffin. Suddenly,
Sesshoumaru landed next to him. He looked at his ancestor’s brother, “Sesshoumaru-sama!
Sorry but I think I need to bother you,”

He created some clones and grabbed the unconscious Shino and Sakura as well as the injure
Sasuke. Nodding at his quick decision, Sesshoumaru grabbed Naruto and ascended to the sky.
He asked, “What happened?”

Naruto looked at the howling Tanuki, “That’s the Ichibi Shukaku. I’m not sure, I was
knocked out by Genjutsu but I think Konoha’s under attack right now. But my mission is to
help Sasuke so that’s why I’m away from the village. However, the one we are facing is the
Jinchuuriki for Shukaku and Kurama said his seal was horrible,”

Sesshoumaru stared at the sand Tanuki and frowned as the chakra beast aimed for him. A
flick of his wrist and he lopped off an arm that almost hit him and Naruto.

The blond called out, “Please don’t kill him, Sesshoumaru-sama! I…I want to talk to him!
We are so alike! I swear I can reach him so please!”

Sesshoumaru looked at Naruto and saw compassion. He sighed, “You…truly own our Sire’s
heart,” He looked up as the host declared in maddened tone, “Thank you for keeping me
entertained so far. Now I will show you the true power of the sand demon!”

He signed, “Play Possum!”

“Ohoho yeah, I’m free baby! And look, prey!”

Accepting his proposal, Sesshoumaru raised his youki to greater height. At the battlefield,
Minato was causing mayhem as he flitted about killing Oto Shinobi and knocking out Suna’s.
He wasn’t sure exactly who the enemy here is, Naruto didn’t have time to specify but the
more vicious enemies were dealt with without mercy. He was barely distracted by
Sesshoumaru’s youki swelling from where Naruto had been headed for.

Kushina ignored the scared look the civilians and random Konoha Shinobi gave her
appearance. Her heart hurt for Naruto but she has a village of unworthy people to defend. Just
because they call her son a monster behind his back does not mean she will let them win by
proving them right. Deny, deny, and deny some more! For people like them, the best victory
is to prove them wrong!

So she rescued them.

Some veteran Suna Shinobi ran off screeching, “Bloody Habanero!”

She grinned viciously, “AND BACK FROM THE DEAD, DATTEBANE!!”

There was an explosion of youki and giant dog almost mauled the Sand Tanuki Shukaku.
Shukaku spit out air bullet, “What the hell are you?!”
Sesshoumaru jumped out of the way of the attack, Naruto on his head. Bellow, Sasuke stared
at the giant beast. He has never heard any summon like that. Pakkun whimpered beside,
“General…the General is here…”

Kagome, busy defending Hiruzen from undead Hokage attacks, looked at the sight, “Damn,
Mofumofu-sama gets to play,” He glared at her general direction and she chuckled, “You
can’t deny you’re enjoying this, Sesshoumaru,”

All around her, the ANBU struggled to keep the battle on Hiruzen’s side what with
Orochimaru overpowering them along with his Sound 4. The boy with six arms shot more
arrows at her and she simply danced out of his attack, slapping some of his arrows away,
“Why is it always spider?”

The girl had tried to trap her in a Genjutsu but Kagome has a remarkable will power. After
all, nothing they dished at her can compare to the mental trauma some of the youkai of old
put her through back in the shard hunting days. Unfortunately Kagome leave the killing to the
trained killers around her. As a Miko, she’s more versed in saving lives than taking it.

Hashirama aimed his trees at her and she broke his jutsu apart with a single arrow. It was easy
as a daughter of heaven, nature obeys her. Orochimaru stared at her with a familiar look in his
eyes and she sighed, “What is it with crazy men and wanting me?” She aimed an arrow at
him, “Sorry, but I’m in a committed relationship and he’s the jealous sort,”

Back with Naruto, he finally slammed a fist at Gaara’s head, waking the boy up, when
Sesshoumaru tricked Shukaku to defend himself only to transform to his more humanoid
form at the end, making the titanic chakra beast lost balance and throwing Gaara right into
Naruto’s fist. The beast grumbled, “But I just got here!”

Naruto landed, almost completely drained but refused to let Gaara wallow in his darkness. He
knew how that felt and he didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same for any length of time.
He stumbled his way to Gaara who couldn’t move. The red head began to panic, “My
existence won’t end here! It won’t! Stay away! No! Leave me alone!!”

Naruto looked at him, “I can’t”

Gaara mummed, staring at him with wide frightened eyes. Naruto continued, “I can’t leave
you alone…because you have been alone for so long, right? It’s painful, right? I get it. I
really do. You and I, we are alike, too much. That’s why I can’t leave you alone…”

He then glared, “But if you hurt the people I claim as mine, people who are precious to me,
people who are my pack…I won’t forgive you,” He bared his fangs, “I won’t forgive you and
I will hunt you. No matter what it takes, your throat and your life is mine to end,”

Gaara stared at him, “What? All this time, for those people you…”

Naruto’s fierce face softened, “Because I claim them as pack. My pack is my world. For as
long as I have them, I won’t be trapped in that hell called loneliness. They acknowledged me,
be it my strength or my weakness, they accepted all of me. That’s why I can’t lose them.
Losing them is to have a part of my world be destroyed,”
Sasuke appeared and looked at the sight before him. He didn’t know what to feel. His eyes
then landed on tall pale man with silver hair. He looked on, impassive and unmoved. He then
looked to the side, “Naruto,”

Naruto looked up and sighed, “Tou-san, Kaa-chan,”

Sasuke frowned at the two people. One looked like the Yondaime while the other was a red
head with hair as red as ripe tomato. Both have inhuman attachments on their body. Sasuke
thought Naruto’s an orphan. But he just called this two his mother and father.

Somehow it felt like he was being betrayed…

Back on the roof, Orochimaru fled. Kagome cursed, “Why is it that every madmen I faced
have a way to escape being killed?! First Naraku, now this Orochimaru! Just how many
heads does he have?! I swear I’m chopping them all off!”

The girl she was facing scoffed, “As if, bitch! Orochimaru-sama will kill you like bug!”

Kagome glared at her, “Shut that mouth before I seal it with soap for you! Honestly, have you
been eating nothing but shit this whole time? All I hear from you are disgusting words! I feel
like my ears are going to rot!”

Jiraiya landed beside Hiruzen, “Sensei, look who I found!”

Hiruzen’s eyes widened, “Minato?!”

Minato grinned sheepishly, “I’m not alive…if that’s what you’re thinking,”

Hiruzen gawked, “Then how?!”

Kushina appeared, “Long story. Need Naruto,”

Hiruzen blinked, “This…is going to be a headache,” He looked at Kagome. She just

obliterated the Edo Tensei with a single arrow once she has a clear shot, ending the fight and
releasing the old Hokage’s souls. Hashirama had smiled and thanked her, calling her
Heaven’s Daughter. Tobirama grumbled about needing to find a way to not be summoned.

Clearly she’s not someone to be trifled with.

Then the silver man landed on the roof with a snoring Naruto. Hiruzen gasped at how scuffed
up his favorite blond was and had feared for his wellbeing had it not been for the snoring.

Kushina and Minato cooed, “Aw, he’s so cute!”

 Chapter 20
Chapter Summary

“Not me. Something I have. Something I can’t give,”

Naruto woke up on Jiraiya’s back, wondering where he’s being taken. He groaned, “What
happened while I was out? Is everyone okay?”

Jiraiya grunted, “Well, everyone’s okay. You heal faster than anything they thought possible
and Sensei told me to take you out of the damn village because your summon had flipped
reality on its head and a certain someone wanted you under his thumb,”

Naruto sighed, pushing his head into the thick white mane of Jiraiya’s as he fell back into
Shikon Space, as he had decided to call the space he met his family in. He noticed that
Kurama’s asleep on the side, acting like a spoiled fox with his legs to the sky. He also noticed
his family having a meeting around a kotatsu that he didn’t where it came from. He joined
them, “Hi,”

Kushina fussed over him, “Naru-chan! How are you? Are you okay? How’s your body?”

Naruto rolled his shoulders and nodded, “Yeah! I’m on the mend,” He looked at them, “What
happened while I was out?”

Minato sighed, “We returned into the Shikon because it was clear that you won’t be able to
wake up with all of us draining your ki. But by the time we did, Hiruzen already decided to
send you and Jiraiya out to get the next Hokage,”

Kagome nodded, “They’re arguing about keeping us around but we aren’t exactly here. We
are not human anymore and existing outside the Shikon permanently is impossible,”

Kushina hugged Naruto, “That Danzo wanted to take you into his special program. Minato
looked ready to kill him,”

Naruto looked at him, “Why not?”

Minato’s face darkened, “Danzo believed that a Shinobi is a weapon and not a human and
even though that it what a Shinobi is, he took it further and make them nothing more than a
mindless puppet that can be used and discarded at will. Sure, the training is even better than
ANBU but…to break someone’s will to live that they will be so willing to throw their life on
the battlefield when they could have chosen a different choice that could both complete the
mission and live says a lot of the kind of psychological training that he will force you to
take,”
Kagome scowled, “As a priest, it is important to have empathy. If you train under him and
lost your emotion or your mental state became unstable, then the Shikon will be imbalanced,”

Sesshoumaru stared at Naruto, “Do not let that man get his hands on you. It is important to be
your own Alpha. I will not condone you bowing your head to someone unbefitting,”

Naruto rubbed his neck, “Okay,”

He woke up to see Jiraiya putting him down on the bed. He yawned and stretched his limbs,
“Hey Ero-Sennin,”

The man raised a brow, “You’re up?”

Naruto nodded, “I’m hungry,”

Jiraiya sighed, “Oh well…I think I saw an izakaya nearby. Let’s go there,”

As they walked down the street of a rather busy town, Naruto asked, “How long was I out?”

“Three days,”

Naruto stretched, “No wonder my body feel so off. How was everything back in Konoha?”

Jiraiya grimaced, “Everyone want answers. Answers that I can’t give, mind you!” He
grumbled as they entered the eatery, “Who knows what that one would do with that
information,”

Naruto sat across him, “You mean Danzo?”

Jiraiya picked his menu, raising a brow, “You know him?”

Naruto shrugged, “Not really. Just that Mom and Dad and everyone else told me that he’s not
good for balance. I have to keep away from him. My job require me to be a feeling and
empathetic person or a certain bauble will be unbalanced and no one needs that problem,” He
ignored the people staring at his ears and tail as he read down the menu, “Man. They don’t
have ramen,”

Jiraiya snorted, “Eat healthier, brat,”

Naruto pouted, “Oh well. I’ll take the saba teriyaki set then…and some gyoza. I like gyoza.
Oh! Can I get Oshiruko too? I have been craving them,” He waved down a waitress who
quickly stood by their table to get their order.

Jiraiya sighed, “Can’t drink so I’ll just take some matcha with a bowl of oyakodon with a
side of tempura veggies,”

Naruto raised his hand, “Matcha for me too, dattebayo!”

The waitress asked, “Is that all?”

Jiraiya waved her off, “That’s all,” Naruto raised a brow as the girl walked away with their
order and Jiraiya frowned, “What?”

Naruto asked, “You’re not gonna hit on her?”

Jiraiya sighed, “I’m a bit too preoccupied to hit on anybody right now,”

Naruto’s ears perked, “Oh? I guess you’re my Dad’s sensei for a reason after all, ‘ttebayo!”

Jiraiya reached over and flicked his ear, making them go flat under his golden locks, “Shut it,
brat! I know my priority!” He grumbled a little about not needing more Akai Chishio no
Habanero on his case. Naruto supposed his Mom managed to wail on him while she can. It
probably doesn’t help his case when Kushina’s close enough she could get live commentary
from Naruto should he misbehave. Naruto could hear his mother and Kagome laughing at
Jiraiya from inside the Shikon Space. The man grumbled a little bit more, taking out his note
and started working on something as they waited for their meal.

Anymore discussion have to wait because it will be too dangerous to talk in the open.

Naruto is actually glad that he has Jiraiya on his side. It felt less burdensome now that he can
actually share a little of his worry with someone that he knew will not take advantage of him,
perversion aside. He smiled at the waitress as she brought their meal over, his twitching ears
and fluffy tail making her blush. Jiraiya snorted at the sight after she left, “Brat. You’re as
much as a lady killer as your old man,”

Naruto pouted at him, “Shut up…also, want me to poison test your food? Drugs don’t work
on me either, ‘ttebayo,”

Jiraiya raised a brow, “It’ll take a very particular mix to bring me down too but...go ahead,”

Naruto grinned and took a bite of Jiraiya’s bowl before taking another from his tempura.
After a while, he nodded, “Clear,”

Jiraiya chuckled at his antic, “Thank you,”

Naruto took out some tiny bottles before sprinkling a little of the ‘ingredients’ on his food.
He mixed the rice up and took a bite before grinning, “Yum! Acidic!”

Jiraiya frowned, “If I didn’t that those are poisons, I would probably be tempted to ask for a
taste,” He then asked, “Is that even safe? Other people use those utensils too, you know?”

Naruto beamed, “Well. You don’t have to worry. I purify everything I use before handing it
back,”

Jiraiya nodded, “Alright. It’s good that you don’t go around accidentally killing people.
What’s the mixture anyway?”

Naruto looked at him, “Sure you want to know?”

Jiraiya thought back and decided that, “No. I don’t think I want to,”
After dinner, he brought Naruto back. He’s aware that they’re being followed and from the
few glimpses he caught, they’re two men dressed in black with red clouds patterns.

Naruto yawned, “I think you should stick around, dattebayo,”

Jiraiya nodded, “I know. I can’t afford leaving you alone when you’re still this sluggish.
Hopefully they will leave otherwise I will feel insulted,”

Naruto grinned up at him, “What? That you’re too old to be taken seriously?”

The Sage grabbed the boy and drilled his knuckle into his skull, “Brat!”

As Naruto slept on his bad, snoring away peacefully, Jiraiya stayed up. He could still sense
the two Shinobi lingering around. His frown deepened as he thought over the mess that
Naruto’s new condition brought. Sure, Minato might not be alive but he had ‘ascended’ into
something far stronger. Danzo will be salivating over whatever technique that will make
someone that powerful. Because of this, Hiruzen had pulled him aside and told him to take
Naruto out of Konoha. Added with the fact that Akatsuki had shown themselves nearby, it
has become all the more important that Naruto establish himself as untouchable.

Right now Hiruzen needed to step down. He’s buckling under the weight of his duty and the
pressure his fellow elders are putting on him, especially with their questions about Naruto.
He confessed that he cannot carry Konoha for much longer. He still regretted the Uchiha
Massacre and it had taken a toll on his mental health. Because of this, Hiruzen decided to
send both Jiraiya and Naruto out to bring his Hokage candidate home.

Jiraiya also planned to take Naruto on a trip to Uzushio. With what the boy had revealed,
perhaps there’re more secrets in Uzushio than what’s on the surface. There’s more to the
clan’s famous Fuuinjutsu than what was shared with the world. With his ancestors inside him
and with Kushina no longer bound to Konoha as their Jinchuuriki, more of the clan’s secret
can be uncovered.

This also meant that Naruto’s existence became all the more important. With the relic that can
change the world, organization like the Akatsuki and men like Danzo will be clamoring for it.
The kind of war the world will plunge into will make all other wars that had razed through
the Elemental Nations pale in comparison. The existence of the relic must never be known to
others. He knew that not even the snakes of Ryuchi Cave would want the relic to be
discovered.

How the Uzumaki managed to not be tempted after all these years, Jiraiya will never know.
But perhaps there were those that are tempted but they were hunted down and erased. Jiraiya
wondered then if the destruction of Uzushio have something to do with the relic. Perhaps
someone caught wind of it and wanted it for their own?

Naruto said that the relic is sentient.

It could have escaped before it can be found.

Jiraiya grumbled, “This is troubling…”

Naruto does not have a whole clan to defend him should the likes of Akatsuki and Danzo
tried to put their hands on him. Sure he has his Shikon Summons but it seemed that it took a
lot out of him. Chakra was one thing but ki was another. Jiraiya will need to find ways that
can help Naruto increase his ki. The only training that came to mind was his Sage training.

Naruto also needed to train his abilities as both priest and youkai at their fullest. Something
that he cannot do for as long as he’s stuck in Konoha. Sure, he said he was trained within the
space inside the relic but that would mean nothing if his body cannot reach their limit and
break through. He also needed to train his ability as a Jinchuuriki. His youkai ancestor might
be stronger than the Kyuubi but Naruto will still need to train his chakra at their fullest.

Luckily Kurama has better camaraderie with Naruto than he ever did with Kushina or Lady
Mito. That would make training using his chakra easier without him trying to sabotage the
process. Jiraiya opened his eyes from where he had closed them in meditation. He has
decided that his focus has to be on Naruto. The original plan was to train the boy as they
travelled, to at least buy time to get him stronger while leading the Akatsuki on a wild goose
chase. But Naruto needed to visit Uzushio. Jiraiya don’t know why but he’s certain that more
answer about Naruto and the secret of the Uzumaki can be found if only the boy visit his
ancestral home…

He looked to the side and noticed that one chakra signature that shouldn’t have been there
had arrived. He also took note that the two unwelcome chakra signature had left. They will
probably come at a later time. Jiraiya opened the door to see a sweaty Uchiha Sasuke
standing there with wide eyes, “Naruto! Where’s Naruto?! Itachi, he…he said that he’s
looking for Naruto!”

Jiraiya shifted and show a bleary eyed Naruto blinking at his teammate and yawned, “Sa-
Sasuke? What are you doing here, dattebayo~?”

Sasuke looked around, clearly frazzled, “Itachi! He was in Konoha! He attacked Kakashi-
sensei!” Finding nothing, he looked at Naruto, eyes confused and a slight glow of jealousy
can be seen, “He’s looking for you. Why is he looking for you?”

Naruto frowned, “I can think of two things and none of them will end with me alive at the
end,” He stretched like a fox, tail in the air and arms stretched forward on the ground. He
looked at Sasuke, “And I doubted that it was just him alone. He must be working with
someone, ‘ttebayo,”

Sasuke scowled, “Why would they want you?”

Naruto shook his head, “Not me. Something I have. Something I can’t give,” He looked at
Sasuke, “Also, Teme! Don’t tell me you leave Konoha without permit?”

Sasuke stared at him and sighed, “I did,”

“Baka,”

“Shut up,”
 Chapter 21
Chapter Summary

Naruto asked, “If you’re in their shoes…would you have done differently?”

After Sasuke was taken by Maito Gai who scolded the Uchiha for leaving without permit,
Jiraiya and Naruto continued their journey. Sasuke had wondered why Naruto’s not coming
back but Naruto told him that the Sandaime had decided that because of the confusion he
caused during the invasion, he’s to stay away from Konoha in the meantime. The Uchiha was
skeptical but has no choice but to accept his reasoning.

Naruto was still sluggish from his excessive use of ki but he’s slowly building back up his
strength. Jiraiya has been convening with the four inside the Shikon through Naruto on the
best way to train his ki and how that will work with his chakra training and his Jinchuuriki
training. So far it was slow going because they can’t exit to show physically and Naruto had
to meditate to do his mental training that he will then have to translate to live training.

Jiraiya had also asked the Toads if he could help Naruto train in Senjutsu.

Fukasaku hummed, “His ki training is the basis for Sage training. All priests and priestesses
have to train their mind to focus preternaturally to increase their spiritual strength and reiki.
The same goes for youki. We summons had not train in the way of youkai for a very long
time and Naruto has the best teacher already teaching him in the way of the beast. These two
ways that opposed each other actually find their harmony in chakra training,”

Jiraiya nodded as he watched Naruto meditate, “I see. The training for reiki is spiritual while
the training for youki is physical. That does translate to what we do with chakra. Except ki is
his very life force, even more than chakra. Like the Eight Gates,” He gasped, “Perhaps! But
then…this will be dangerous for the boy…but I think…”

Fukasaku looked at him, “What is it?”

Jiraiya looked at him, “I thought that perhaps the basis for the Eight Gates would help
Naruto’s ki training,”

Fukasaku’s eyes widened, “That would be dangerous! But I can see where you’re coming
from. To use the Gates, one’s life force had to be strong to endure the strength that opening
the gates would bestow. Do you think it is wise to let such a young boy attain such strength?
He’s already a vessel for the most potent mass of chakra. Not to mention…” He dare not say
it, “That boy is already a living relic of a time best forgotten. The burden of duty on his
shoulder is immense,”
Jiraiya nodded, “Which is exactly the reason why he will need to be untouchable. The
Kyuubi is a weapon of mass destruction, true, but he can always be sealed away or battled
with using the other Bijuu. However, Naruto’s duty is vital to our very existence. He cannot
fail or falter,”

The elder toad hummed, “Indeed…even though I was not even an egg or a dream,
Gamamaru-sama’s memory of his own ancestor’s telling is…a world none of us want
returned,”

Jiraiya nodded. Naruto didn’t need to go into detail. The power he hid within him was
something that must never see the light of day and when the time come for a successor for
this duty, they too cannot falter before temptation. Jiraiya gripped his fists. Even logically
aware, Jiraiya can feel that tendril of temptation teasing his heart. A wish. A single wish that
could right all the wrong that had ever occurred to him and to the people around him.

The Ogama Sennin’s word that a single shard of the Shikon being capable to bring back the
dead was something that Jiraiya knew anyone would try to get their hands on. Orochimaru,
Danzo, the Daimyo, hell, even the common people would all clamor for a piece. To see the
dead, the speak just one more time to their lost loved ones would be too great a temptation
for just about anyone who had lost someone. A single shard could also grant immortality and
immense strength. No. Naruto can never falter or lose.

He need to fortify not just his body but also his heart and his mind.

At the moment he’s young and has yet to truly experience loss and despair. True, as a child he
had already tasted suffering that came in the form of loneliness and isolation. But he has yet
to feel the pain of losing someone beyond reach. After all, when he lose his parents he wasn’t
even aware or had any bond beyond sharing a blood and a name. Whatever bond he built was
posthumous. However that made someone like Naruto all the more vulnerable to the pain of
losing. For someone who had nothing to gain something, they will hold onto that something
all the tighter.

The next day the due finally reached Tanzaku Gai and Jiraiya started sniffing around for
Tsunade. Naruto looked around, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air. Too bad that there’re
too many drunks in town for him to sniff out the alcoholic medic. So in the end he wander
about looking at all the gathered gamblers and the day drunkards littering the street,
wondering why people like sake so much. He had a taste once and he hated it.

Maybe it’s an acquired taste like natto?

He never liked natto, not the smell or the taste or the texture when it’s in his mouth.

He then blinked when his eyes caught a piglet with pearls around its neck. He wondered who
would be rich enough to put a string of pearls around a piglet’s neck. He had heard pearls
before swine but never thought he see a swine wearing pearls. The piglet was snorting around
when running children accidentally bumped against it. The pearl necklace snapped and the
round ocean treasures rolled all over. The piglet was clearly smarter than it’s brethren because
it started squealing in panic.
Naruto sighed and looked over his shoulder as Jiraiya who had been fished into playing a few
rounds at the dice game. It seemed that it’ll take a while longer so feeling bored he supposed
he should do some charity. Shifting Hiraikotsu on his back, he started collecting the pearls
closest to him. The piglet caught him picking the pearl and snorted angrily.

Naruto chuckled at it head bumped against his shin, “Hey now! I’m helping you pick them
up, ‘ttebayo!” He showed the pearls in his hand, “But uh…how are you going to carry them?
There’re still more rolling around and if we’re not quick, someone might sell whichever he
found for extra cash for another round at the table,”

The piglet snorted, beady eyes looking at him with a glistening look. Conscience pricked,
Naruto sighed, “Alright. I’ll help,”

So he sniffed the pearls in his hand and then landed on all four, sniffing the road. He slowly
picked the pearls up one by one while the piglet followed him. Perhaps because he’s so
obviously a Shinobi, no one bothered him. He was quick to swipe the one a kid almost pick
up and disappeared before an argument could start. He squatted next to the piglet and started
counting, “Well…we have 32 in hand. I wonder if that is all?”

“TonTon!”

Naruto looked up as the piglet squealed happily, snorting as it ran for the woman in dark gi
worn over kusari and low heeled Kunoichi sandals, followed by a busty blond woman with a
diamond mark on her temple. The dark haired woman grabbed the piglet, “What happened? I
found your pearls on the ground. Oh dear…the rest must have been sold off,”

Naruto stood up, “Actually…I have them…but only 32 pearls. I don’t know if there’s more,”

The dark haired woman looked up and blinked, “A Konoha Shinobi?”

The blond behind groaned, “Great. Let’s get out of here,”

Kurama pointed, “That’s her. Senju Tsunade,”

Naruto flashed his ki, something he had taught Jiraiya to sense and only because the man’s a
Sage. He knew that if Jiraiya does not have his guard down, he would have felt Naruto’s
‘message’. He approached the woman and bowed, “Greetings, Hokage-sama!”

Tsunade froze, “What?”

Naruto grinned, tails fluffy as he wagged them and ears twitching on his head, “Godaime
Hokage, Senju Tsunade-sama,”

Tsunade grimaced, “Hell no,”

Naruto shrugged, “I’ll just follow you around. They could always send the work to me and
I’ll give it you. Sure it’ll make it harder for everyone else but uh…it’s either you or more war
as Danzo take the hat so I’ll just stick with you, dattebayo!”

Tsunade glared at him, “Nope! No! Go home! I don’t want it!”

Naruto hummed as he handed her companion the pearls, “Here,” He grinned at her, “Well. I
am not allowed to go back to Konoha at the moment anyway. Too much confusion. I mean,
your teammate Orochimaru tried to kill Jiji and your Ero-Sennin is in town. Also now that I
already memorize your scent, I’ll just keep chasing after you!”

Tsunade stared at him, “Are you pulling my leg?”

Naruto shook his head, “Nope,”

Jiraiya appeared, “No he’s not. You’re Hokage and also, Naruto that was a grand idea. Sure,
it will stretch the mission to take our new Hokage back to Konoha to an indeterminate
amount of time but it’s not like we are in a rush. Sure, Sensei wanted to take the hat off
permanently but I think we can work long distance with him in the village. He’ll just have to
wait a while longer,”

Tsunade glared at him, “Well, sucks to be you then. I am never going back to that damned
village and I am never going to wear the accursed hat. Everyone who wanted to be Hokage
are fools!”

Naruto’s nose flared and he scented grief. He frowned, “Weird. You smell sadder than angry,”

Tsunade gawked at him, “Are you sniffing me?”

Naruto raised his hands, “Occupational hazard. Can’t help it. I can smell emotions and you’re
not angry. You are…sad, grieving, and disappointed. Why is that?”

Jiraiya sighed, “Naruto…”

Tsunade glared at him, “Well…keep your observation to yourself, brat!” She turned around
sharply and stormed off. The girl awkwardly thanked Naruto and chased after the legendary
medic, smelling of concern.

Jiraiya sighed as he rubbed his neck, “Come on. You did say that you’re just going to stalk
her,”

Naruto followed him, “What was that all about?”

Jiraiya sighed, “Tsunade has two men in her life that wanted the hat. Her younger brother
Nawaki and her fiancé Kato Dan. Nawaki died from a freak mission. There was nothing left
of him to retrieve. Dan…died under her hand back during the 2nd Shinobi War. She has
Hemophobia since and that really put a strain on her skill as a medic. Both was blessed by
her when they expressed their desire to become Hokage. Both…well…”

Naruto frowned, “So she misplaced all her grieving on the title and the village?”

Jiraiya nodded, “Unfortunately,”

Naruto huffed, “Noted,”

That evening Naruto watched as Tsunade drank herself dumb while Shizune, the younger
woman, tried to reason with her in vain. Naruto suddenly sighed, “How selfish,”

Tsunade stopped, “What?”

Naruto looked at her, “You only care about your pain. You didn’t care about her at all. Sure
you took care of her but…what about after? When you’re gone? Where will she go? If
Danzo’s in power, he won’t leave her alone. She will be marked as a deserter and hunted
down just because she’s your apprentice. Then it will be a question of who will get her first;
Konoha under Danzo, bounty hunters, or the pissed off mob that you are in debt with,”

He added, “Danzo is a paranoid war hawk. He won’t leave the other villages alone. Sure, it
won’t matter to you. Now. But once the flame of war spread, there won’t be a safe place for
either of you. Then once again it is a race between him, the enemy villages, or anyone who
would exploit her just for being your apprentice. If you really cared for her, you would think
about her future more,”

He then shrugged, “But what do I know? I’m just a dumb Genin. But sooner or later all your
running around will just bite you in the ass. I mean…what would they say? You could have
stopped it all by accepting the hat but you prefer to drown in pain. They both died to stop war
but you would spit on their grave and blame their dream,”

He eyed her, “A dream sparked by your grandfather, fueled by your granduncle, maintained
by your sensei, and inherited by every single person you ever loved…and lost. When you die,
Tsunade-san, how will you face them? In shame or in pride?”

The silent after was weighed, stifling and Shizune shifted anxiously. Jiraiya stared at Naruto
and wondered if the speech was suggested by Sesshoumaru or Minato. Perhaps both. Both
men understand the weight of leadership. It was more than just a dream of being the
strongest. It was a dream to create a safe haven. A safe haven that was tested over and over
by war. Someone has to be sacrificed to safeguard that haven.

Tsunade lost many to that duty.

She looked at Naruto, her fingers curled into a tight fists that left her knuckles white. The set
of her jaw showed the Sage that his peer was challenged by the reality that Naruto laid down
at her feet. The threat that loomed over the last person she has left of the man she loved. The
threat that still breathe within the walls of the very home she cursed.

Naruto asked, “If you’re in their shoes…would you have done differently?”

The hammer struck home and Tsunade ran off. She was forced to face her own hypocrisy by
his sharp words and sharper truth.

They all knew well that had she been in their shoes, she would have done the same…
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