章 1440: 31
Disclarimer: while I don't own Naruto I will tell you what I do own. This story, which I like better then Naruto because my Naruto isn't an idiot. I don't know about all of you but I hate it when the main character is stupid, and not naïve stupid, just stupid.
Naruto: Shifts in Life
Chapter 31: Homecoming
It took a total of five days for the group of four people and one pig to reach Konoha. They could have gone faster of course, but both Jiraiya and Tsunade wanted to go slowly. Though they were for entirely different reasons; Tsunade seemed to want to just take her time and enjoy her 'freedom' before she became tied down to a desk, while Jiraiya simply wanted to hit on Tsunade before she became tied down to her desk.
Though at least one of their reasons were similar.
This desire to hit on Tsunade, which was less flirting and more of him just blatantly asking her to strip or flash her tits often endeared white haired man to said woman's fists, much to Naruto's amusement, Shizune's chagrin and Tsunade's annoyance. Of course, none of them had expected any less from the self-proclaimed super pervert of the Elemental Nations.
During that time Naruto had also taken to spending a lot of his time with Tsunade and Shizune, talking and getting to know the two better. He ended up getting along extremely well with both of them, much to Jiraiya's annoyance. When Jiraiya expressed his annoyance at Naruto getting along with all the women, Shizune simply stated that when the blond spoke with them he did not blatantly stare at their chests. Tsunade had simply hit him hard enough to send him flying several dozen feet in the air.
Aside from that Naruto had also begun to spend more time with Kyuubi and had learned several interesting facts about the vixen.
Flashback…
As night came Naruto found himself standing outside of the entrance to Kyuubi's home. He knocked on the door and waited for a few seconds as he heard shuffling on the other side. When it opened he saw Kyuubi standing there and blinking at him for a moment.
"Hey Kyuu…" Naruto said unsurely. After their last encounter Naruto felt confused about what his relationship with this woman was and thus, was not really sure how to talk to her.
Kyuubi seemed to notice this however and smirked as she opened the door wider to let him in, "Hello Naruto-kun, come on in."
Naruto walked into the house, listening to Kyuubi shut the door behind him before she moved over to the bed and sat on it. He raised an eyebrow when she patted the spot next to her, but relented and sat down in the indicated spot, "So what do you want to talk about?"
Kyuubi gave a shrug, "I'm not really sure to be honest; I've never actually taken the time to have an intelligent conversation with anyone. And I know everything there is to know about you so talking about yourself is kind of pointless."
Naruto frowned for a moment, "Then do you mind if I ask you about yourself?"
"About myself?" Kyuubi questioned as she looked at him, "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Naruto paused for a moment before continuing, "…can I ask you about your past. You don't have to tell me everything," he added at seeing her look, "but I know very little about your history. Well, except from what I've heard from the history, but that doesn't really tell me about you."
"No I suppose it doesn't," Kyuubi's face scrunched up for a moment in a thoughtful expression that Naruto found surprisingly endearing. It relaxed a moment later, "Very well, ask your questions and I will tell you what I can…however I may not answer depending on the question."
"Fair enough," he started, only to stop as Kyuubi set her head in his lap, "W-what are you doing!"
"What?" asked Kyuubi as she looked up at him, "Do you have a problem with this?"
"Well…I-I suppose not, I just did not think you were into um…well this," Naruto gestured to the vixen. "You've always seemed to abhor physical contact of any kind."
"I don't hate it…" Kyuubi said before as she struggled to find a comfortable position, "it's just that I've never found anyone worthy of having physical contact with."
"And I am?" asked Naruto with an eyebrow raised in surprise.
"You're coming closer than anyone else has," Kyuubi replied as she finally got into a good position and snuggled deeper into the blonde's lap, eliciting a small squawk of embarrassment form Naruto.
"Awww, does Naruto-kun like that?" she teased as she moved her head, causing the blond to jump.
"Wh-What the hell are you doing Kyuubi!" Naruto shouted as he jumped out from under the red head.
Kyuubi frowned as she set herself on her elbow and looked at the blond who was now off of the bed and staring at her like she was some kind of diseased animal. "What? Did that bother you? I thought you would have liked being so close to such a beautiful woman."
She frowned as she wondered if she had done something wrong, according to those Icha Icha books Naruto had read this kind of thing was how members of the opposite sex acted around each other. And she had seen more than enough perverted men in her lifetime to know that they all loved girls who acted like this.
"It has nothing to do with me liking it," Naruto exclaimed, "I still don't really know you. You can't expect us to be that close…physically without even knowing each other."
Blinking a bit Kyuubi tilted her head in confusion, "Then how do we act around each other?"
Naruto gave her an exasperated look, "You've lived for at least two thousand years and you don't know how to act around people? I thought you would have known what to do considering you've always hid amongst humans."
Kyuubi bristled a bit when Naruto said she 'hid' but knew he was not saying she was being a coward and let it slide, "Naruto-kun, the humans I was around were nothing more than slaves. Most of the time I had their mind completely warped and they were able to do nothing more than follow my orders. The few humans who tried to talk to me when I did not want to were usually either charmed and became mindless drones, or I got rid of them when they became persistent."
Naruto felt a slight amount of disgust when he heard what Kyuubi did to people but let it slide since they were trying to…he paused. What were they trying to do? Start a friendship? Become comrades? Learn to accept each other? Or were they just trying to tolerate the other?
He shook his head and dispelled the thoughts for now since they were not relevant to the situation, "Since we're just starting out it would be best if physical contact was kept to a minimum. Once we get to know each other more and if we end up becoming more comfortable with each other then we can think about physical contact."
He tried to dispel the thought on how odd it was that he was teaching the Kyuubi No Kitsune about human relations and interaction.
Said woman frowned for a moment before relenting, "Very well, we'll do this your way."
Not like she knew any other way to interact with others, at least none that would end up with her in a favorable position. She patted the spot next to her again and watched as Naruto hesitantly sat back down.
She looked at him for a moment before speaking again, "So what would you like to know?"
Naruto scratched his chin in thought, "Well, how about we start from the beginning. Like how were you born?"
Kyuubi looked at him for a few seconds and for a moment Naruto thought she was not going to answer. However a second later she began to speak, "I suppose I could tell you that. To be honest, I have no real clue on just how I came into being. The first thing I remember when I…first woke up I guess you could say, was being in the middle of a forest surrounded by trees and all kinds of wild life. I remember finding a small pond and looking into the reflected surface to see myself looking at a small fox no larger than a kit, with nine tails swishing behind me."
"However, I knew right from the beginning that I was not just an ordinary fox, and I didn't need the fact that I had nine tails to tell me otherwise. I had knowledge in my head, knowledge of the human language, knowledge of the different creatures of the world and all the general things that most humans learn in school. Aside from that, all the other animals of the forest avoided me like the plague, they instinctively knew my power and knew I was dangerous. From the very beginning I knew what I was. I was a chakra beast, a being made of compressed chakra that had somehow gained a form of intelligence."
"I remember traveling the forests for several years after that, eventually I had grown into the size of a large horse. Around that time I was unsure what to do with my life. I knew neither where I came from nor where I was going."
Naruto frowned as he watched Kyuubi's shoulders slump for a moment and saw an odd reflective look in her eyes. Deciding that maybe a little contact was okay between them he put an arm around her shoulder, "That must have been lonely."
Kyuubi looked up at Naruto with a startled expression, but it soon gave way to a smile that looked decidedly out of place on her, as if she did not really know how to give an honest smile, "I suppose it was. But then, I was always alone. Even when I took on a human guise I was alone, the only being of my kind. It was something I got used to over time."
"What about the other Bijuu?" asked Naruto.
Kyuubi scoffed. "Please do not lump me in with those brutes Naruto-kun. I had not known about them for several hundred years, and the only reason I found out was because I met one and it tried to eat me. The other Bijuu were nothing more than mindless beasts, causing untold destruction and pointless death. They are all nothing more than extraordinarily simple minded creatures with a large amount of power. I think I remember telling you this Naruto-kun."
"What about you? You've never caused pointless death and destruction," There was a hint of irony in the blonde's voice.
"Not of my own making," Kyuubi shot back. "I have never liked doing pointless things, or things that were beneath me. Killing humans as a past time was simply beneath me, because humans in general were beneath my notice. Instead of killing them, I decided to find a use for them. Humans are such short-lived creatures, and while some are intelligent, most are notoriously weak-willed and stupid. I found enjoyment in getting them to serve me. As I already told you, I would often disguise myself as the daughter of a Daimyo or some other rich noble. I would use simple illusions and charms that I had created to seduce men and have them wait on me hand and foot. I found it much more appealing than running around blasting everything into oblivion."
"Now I believe I've talked about myself enough, if you want to find out more you'll have to impress me enough to tell you."
Flashback end…
It was actually really interesting learning more about the demon inside of him. Naruto was positive that no one else knew these things about Kyuubi and to be honest it made him secretly pleased. Although she had yet to tell him anything other than what she remembered of her birth. She had apparently been serious when she had told him he was going to have to find some way to impress her, something he, as of yet, had no clue how to do.
As Naruto and the others arrived into Konoha it was to see the interesting sight of all the shocked faces that the villagers were sporting upon seeing none other than Tsunade walking within the village walls again. As they all walked through to the Hokage tower Naruto decided to listen into the smattering of whispers that came from the local populace.
"I can't believe it. Tsunade-sama is back!"
"Now we have both Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama!"
"It is great tidings for the future to see our two strongest ninja in the village."
"Hey isn't that the Uzumaki brat?"
"What is he doing with such distinct shinobi?"
"Maybe Tsunade-sama managed to use her grandfather's Mokuton and is finally reigning the brat in."
Naruto snorted as he listened to the last few bits of conversation before they were away from the major population, 'Can you believe this shit Kyuu-chan?'
Within the mindscape Kyuubi frowned as she sat on her bed, her tails swaying in a bit of agitation. 'Of course I can, humans always hate and fear things that are beyond their comprehension. It takes a lot of effort to get a human to change their opinion about something, especially on a subject they have believed for so long like them thinking you are me in human flesh. Honestly, the stupidity of humankind is one of those things that never ceases to amaze me. This is one of the reasons I've always held contempt for humans.'
Naruto frowned, 'Well they weren't all bad.' He had heard a few people who had suggested that Naruto had taken part in returning Tsunade to the village, but they were in the extreme minority, meaning only one out of every five people or so.
At least the ninja of the village were paying him respect. He had seen many of the ninja who had passed him nodding their heads at him in a sign of respect. Obviously they had seen more of his actions during the Chunin Exams and invasion afterwards.
'That's still too low after everything you've done. You defeated Sabaku No Gaara and the Shukaku! You were the sole reason this village is still standing and not several hundred feet under sand.'
Naruto sighed, 'Can't win 'em all so soon I guess. Whatever, I prefer challenges anyways.'
Within the seal Kyuubi stopped her mouth in mid rant as Naruto's words registered in her ears. After a few moments pause she shook her head, 'I really have found a one in a million container in you haven't I Naruto-kun? You're so different from everyone else…" she paused for a moment before sighing, 'You truly deserve far more than these lowly humans could ever give you.'
Naruto blushed a bit, 'Wow, laying it on a little thick aren't you?'
Kyuubi growled, 'Shut up, I was trying to be nice!'
'Sorry, sorry, you know I was just teasing,' Naruto let out a mental chuckled that rung across the mindscape. 'These humans don't give me the respect and kindness I deserve huh? Maybe that's why I have you.'
Kyuubi felt her face getting oddly hot and cursed at the known yet at the same time unknown to her, feeling, 'Charmer…'
Naruto chuckled again and cut the mental conversation as he and the others entered a meeting room within the Hokage Tower. Much to the disgruntlement of Tsunade it was to find Homura and Koharu waiting for them.
"Welcome home Tsunade-sama," Homura greeted with a smile. "It is good to see you back."
Tsunade resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she plastered a diplomatic smile on her face, "It is good to be back…for the most part. There are still a few painful memories when I look at this place, but I guess those will pass with time."
The elders who had frowned at the start of her little speech soon turned back to smiles, "That is good to hear, though I do regret that this place still holds pain for you Tsunade-sama." Koharu said, "Now to get started we are planning on having your announcement and coronation for the position of Hokage later tomorrow, that way you will have time to re-familiarize yourself with the village since much has changed in the time you have been gone."
Naruto stopped the sigh that threatened to escape him as the elders got on with their boring speech about who knows what. He briefly wondered why he was still here. It was not like they needed him or anything. His mission was done, and really he just wanted to sleep.
"Hey baa-chan, you don't need me for this part do you?" asked Naruto, getting the attention of everyone in the room. The reactions he received from the elders were somewhat amusing. Homura's jaw had unhinged itself for all of two seconds before he glared at the blond haired boy. Koharu was similar her reaction, only it was much more pronounced as the sagging skin of her jaw quivered.
Tsunade noticing the reactions of the two elders sighed, "Go on brat, get some rest."
"Thanks Baa-chan, I'll see you and Ero-sennin later. After I get in a good sleep on my crappy mattress," Naruto took off, leaving the room behind.
As Naruto began walking out of the Hokage Tower he came upon an interesting scene.
"Konohamaru get out of there now!"
Two Chunin, by the looks of their flak jackets were pounding on the door to the Hokage's office. Standing beside them were Moegi and Udon who were looking rather worried. The two Chunin who were continuing to pound on the door and demanding Konohamaru to come out were answered by several pepper spray pellets hitting them on the head and caused their eyes to tear.
"What's the problem here?"
Moegi and Udon both turned to see Naruto, "Boss!"
Moegi ran up to Naruto as he walked over to them, "Boss! Konohamaru-kun has locked himself inside of the office! He refuses to come out!"
"Oh does, does he?" asked Naruto as he walked up to the door and the two Chunin who were still hacking and wheezing, "You two may want to stand back."
Naruto did not wait for an answer as he ran up and heel kicked the door, smashing it in and sending it flying to the far side of the wall. Several blunt kunai and smoke pellets were launched at the blond, but Naruto released a blast of wind and sent them also flying to the far wall.
Naruto strode into the room and quickly picked up Konohamaru by his scarf, bringing him out kicking and screaming.
"Hey! Let me go! Let me go! I don't wanna leave!"
"Shut up ya gaki," Naruto conked him on the head before disappearing within a Shunshin.
The pair reappeared on top of the Hokage Monument and Naruto set Konohamaru down before sitting down himself. The blond looked amused as Konohamaru pouted and looked away from him, "You know if you're gonna act like some spoiled gaki then this is gonna be a lot harder."
When Konohamaru remained silent Naruto sighed, "So what's your problem kid?"
"Nothing…" Konohamaru mumbled out.
"Don't give me that. Either you tell me what's wrong or I'll be sure to hang you on the flag post outside the Hokage's Tower in nothing but your underwear." Konohamaru paled at the thought of that, and he knew from experience that when Naruto said he would do something that it was not just some idle threat.
Sighing Konohamaru looked out over the village and tears began to leak from his eyes, "My Ojisan died Boss, he died to protect this village. But everyone's already moving on with their lives. It's like my Ojisan didn't even exist! They're just forgetting about him! Moving on, we even have a new Hokage! But I don't want to move on! I don't want to forget about my Ojisan boss! I can't!"
Naruto ran a hand through his hair at the kid's near hysterical voice; a part of him could not help but wonder if he was that stupid and naïve as a child.
'Do you want me to answer that?' Came the sly voice of the vixen in his mind.
'No thanks, I can do without having my awesome child hood image of myself destroyed.'
Naruto place a hand on the younger kids shoulders, "Listen Ko, no one has forgotten Hokage-Ojisan. You're forgetting that he ruled this place for many years. In fact he has the longest reign in the entire history of Konoha. He has done so many things for this village that it will be impossible for others to simply forget him. When someone touches as many lives as he did, people don't just forget about it when that person is no longer around; even with him gone his memory will always remain in the hearts of those who live here."
"Really?" Konohamaru sniffled a little bit.
Naruto smiled at the kid, "Of course!" His smile turned a little wistful. "And you know what…I think Ojisan was happy with the way he died." Naruto looked at the little boy who had shock on his features, "Ojisan was getting up there in his years. I never wanted to admit it to myself since I always saw him as this eternal pillar of strength. But you know, there were times when I was in his office and I caught sight of just how truly tired he looked. We normally don't see it but he was getting weary. He held the title of Hokage for somewhere upwards of fifty years and he kept this place strong through the Second and Third Shinobi War, while fighting in another one. I get the feeling he was getting tired of it and wanted to pass on the torch of Hokage to someone else."
"But how could that have anything to do with him liking the way he died!" Konohamaru shouted as he stood up. "My Ojisan was murdered!"
"He died protecting the village Ko," Naruto said in a rare and quiet voice. "He died protecting the people of this village and battling against an enemy ninja. He died like a Hokage, nobly sacrificing his life to protect this place even though he was getting on in his years. Can you think of a better way to go?"
Konohamaru looked at Naruto for several minutes before he sighed and slumped down next to the blond, "Well when put it like that…that's pretty deep boss."
Naruto grinned as he threw an arm around Konohamaru's shoulder, "Ko, you'll find that when you get to be as awesome as I am, deep shit like this just rolls off the tongue. Now, are you gonna mope and bitch like Sasuke-teme anymore?"
"I wasn't that bad was I, Boss?" Naruto laughed at Konohamaru's petrified voice.
"Ko you were so bad that if you hadn't been hiding in the Hokage's office while you decided to brood the teme's fan girls would have probably thought you were him. Now," Naruto stood up and gave Konohamaru a pat on the shoulder and sent the kid on his way.
Naruto was just about to leave when a new voice spoke up.
"You know that was quite the speech you gave the young boy, very moving if I do say so myself."
Turning around Naruto found himself staring at an old man who looked to be around Sarutobi's age. He was wearing a white robe with bandages wrapped around his left eye and right arm. He walked with a cane held in the other arm. He had several scars on his face which had a crop of messy brown hair.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the man as he analyzed him. I didn't even sense his approach until he was right on top of me. That kind of skill is above most Jonin now a days. It was the one thing he had always been good at it was stealth and detection. That this man could get so close to him and not be found until he revealed himself meant he was good.
However Naruto did not sense any hostile intent and so he gave the man a grin, "Well thanks but it was nothing really. I just happen to be totally cool and amazing at this kind of thing."
"Indeed," The man seemed amused but Naruto could not really tell. The blond watched as the bandaged man walked up to him and looked out at the village. "Tell me boy, did you mean those words back there?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "You know, if you're going to talk to me the least you could do is give me your name…"
"Ah, my apologies Uzumaki-san, my name is Danzo," The now named man looked towards him.
"Well it seems you already know my name," Naruto looked at him and decided that since he had no hostile intent he could sit back down. "Since you were up here spying on me I take it you wanted to talk."
"You are quite perceptive." Danzo looked at the boy, "It seems your academy records are greatly biased towards you."
"No no those were actually pretty accurate, I was an idiot back then." Naruto grinned, "Amazing what six months of actual training can do."
If Danzo was surprised by that information though he did not show it, "I was wondering if you would be interested in helping me to protect this beautiful village. I have a need of strong individuals who are willing to do what is necessary to get the things that need to be done, done."
Naruto stared long and hard at the man before speaking, "From the sounds of your speech it sounds like you're offering me a part in a branch of a military, your military. And if you're asking me when I'm alone like this then that means you do not have the Hokage's approval. I've read about you in some of the history books I've read." He took a moment to shudder, even if it was his clones doing it the memories were still torture. "You are Shimura Danzo, former commander of Root, a branch that was separate from the standard military and did not answer to the Hokage, though Root was 'supposed' to be disbanded a long time ago."
Danzo's one eye narrowed just a bit, "I see you're able to come up with a few sound theories when only given a few facts."
Naruto shrugged, "It's a skill. I'll tell you right now that I have no interest in joining your forces. However I won't tell the Hokage about them either, since I can tell that you are at least sincere in your desire to protect Konoha. I would however, suggest being more careful with whom you try to recruit next time."
With those parting words Naruto left within a Shunshin.
"Hmmm…Uzumaki Naruto, you are a most interesting character. I will look forward to seeing what you do in the future."
Naruto sighed as he finally got into his room. He would not admit it to anyone who asked but he was tired. The mission to find Tsunade had been like all the other missions he had been on, more trouble than it was really worth.
Not particularly caring enough to actually get undressed the blond shinobi simply flopped down on his bed where he decided to sleep for at least sixteen hours and spend time with Kyuubi in his mindscape.
(Sixteen something hours later…)
Naruto groaned as he heard a knock on his door, though it was more like a loud banging then anything. Grunting Naruto got up and made his way out of his room and over to the door. When he opened it, it was to find one Higarashi Tenten staring him down with an intense glare.
"Erm…hey Ten-chan, can I help you?"
Tenten's mouth became a thin line, "You left, you left without saying goodbye."
Naruto took a small step back as Tenten took one forward. Oh great, not again! What is it with this girl and getting angry at me? "Well I-"
Tenten did not seem interested in listening to what he had to say as she stomped into the room and began making him back up, "Not only did you leave but you left on a mission to find Tsunade-sama and you didn't even tell me!"
Uh oh. Naruto knew he was in deep shit now, "Well just to be square, I didn't even know I was going to be looking for her until like, two days into the mission."
"That's not the point!" Tenten poked him in the chest, making him take a step back. Unfortunately, his couch was right behind him so when he tried to take a step back he ended up falling backwards onto the couch. Now that it seemed to stop the bun haired girl in her tirade as she moved around the couch to glare at him upside down, which was actually kind of comical, "Give me one good reason I shouldn't turn you into a pin cushion!"
"Uh…because now you get to see your idol every day?" Naruto spoke in a questioning tone.
Tenten looked at him for several long minutes before sighing, "Honestly Naruto-kun, what am I going to do with you?"
Realizing the danger had passed for the most part Naruto sat up right on his couch, "I'm not sure what you're implying Ten-chan."
"No of course not," Tenten chuckled a bit before sitting on the couch. Before he knew what was happening the bun haired girl was right next to him with stars in her eyes. "So what's Tsunade-sama like? I bet it was so incredible being with such a powerful and strong kunoichi. Did you get see her do anything amazing? Do you think you can introduce us?"
"Uh…" Naruto leaned slightly back as Tenten continued to pound him with questions that he had no answer too, mainly because she was asking them so quickly he could barely keep up.
"Ten-chan you need to slow down!" Naruto tried to get her to stop talking, "You're talking too fast."
Tenten realized what she was doing and blushed, "Sorry Naruto-kun, I'm just so excited that Tsunade-sama is here."
She won't be excited once she learns that baa-chan is nothing but an old drunk, Naruto decided to keep that thought to himself so as not to ruin the poor girl's pre-concept notions of her hero.
"Well how about later I introduce you to her," The moment Naruto said that he instantly regretted it as Tenten got hearts in her eyes.
"You would do that for me? Really? Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" Tenten latched onto Naruto's neck and began to squeeze the blond-haired boy, who soon enough began turning blue.
"Oh thank you so much Naruto-kun, you have no idea how much this means to me, I…Naruto-kun?" Tenten looked at her blond-haired companion to see him passed out with a blue face and swirls in his eyes. "Naruto-kun!"
Tsunade sighed as she sat at her desk and rifled through some papers. There was so much for her to do. She had to deal with the estimated casualty ratings, damage reports, re-familiarizing herself with the shinobi of the village and set the village budget as well as relegate missions for the ninja. That's not even going into all the meetings she had to go to since they still needed to deal with the Suna situation.
As she was leafing through the piles of paper work her eyes landed on the recommendation sheet for the Chunin Exams. Picking it up her eyes scanned it and she felt herself smirk.
She signaled for her ANBU, making a man wearing a bear mask appear before her, "Get me Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Man I can't believe you got to see a battle with all three of the Sannin!" Tenten whined, "I swear Naruto-kun, you're so lucky."
Naruto chuckled a bit, "Believe me, there is nothing lucky about the shit I get into."
After Naruto had woken up from the death grip Tenten had placed on him the pair had gone out to get some ramen. Having paced himself this time Naruto was only on his fourteenth bowl while Tenten was finishing up her first. As they ate he had told her all about his mission to bring Tsunade back. Well, not everything. He neglected to tell her key parts, like him getting stabbed twice and some other things that he felt would destroy the girl's image of Tsunade.
"I don't know how you can say that. I mean you got to meet the Sannin, you're being trained by a Sannin and you always seem to go on so many adventures," Tenten concluded.
"Yeah, and I usually end up getting my ass kicked by people who are ridiculously stronger than me." Naruto shook his head, "It's nowhere near the adventure you think it is."
Tenten pouted at that and was about to say something when a masked ANBU appeared within a Shunshin right next to them.
"Uzumaki-san, Tsunade-sama would like to see you."
Naruto looked at the bear-masked ANBU and sighed, "Alright, tell her I'll be there shortly."
The ANBU nodded and disappeared. Naruto turned to Tenten, "Looks like I'm gonna have to cut this short, I'll see you later okay Ten-chan?"
Tenten gave soft, depressed sigh. She had been hoping to spend a little more time with Naruto, "Yeah I'll see you later."
Naruto placed a hand over hers and gave it a soft squeeze before disappearing in a Shunshin.
"You called baa-chan?"
Tsunade turned her head and gave Naruto a disgruntled look as she saw him crouched on the window sill, "Gaki, haven't you ever heard of a door?"
Naruto snorted as he stepped into the office, "Doors are for losers baa-chan." He sat down in front of Tsunade's desk and gave her a grin, "So what did you need to see me for?"
Tsunade looked at him and grinned as she tossed him a scroll, "I wanted to see you to congratulate you on your promotion gaki."
Naruto unsealed the contents of his scroll and grinned as he saw the green Chunin flak jacket, "Awesome! I knew they would have to promote me after I kicked ass in the Chunin Exams!" Naruto resealed the jacket since he did not really feel like wearing something so bulky. "So does that mean I'm going to be getting better missions than those D-rank terrors?"
Tsunade smirked, "Of course, with the village in the situation it's in we need all the help we can get. As a Chunin you'll be instructed to go on higher ranked missions with other Chunins and Jonins. You will also be called upon to lead Genin on some missions since most of their Jonin-senseis are being assigned to tougher missions."
Naruto nodded before frowning, "What about Team Seven?" He was not really sure whether he really liked being on that team or not. Kakashi was nice enough, and occasionally the other two were, but they never really had any serious team dynamics.
"You'll still go on occasional missions with them too. But because you're a Chunin you will only be with them when I assign a higher ranked mission," Naruto nodded at the woman's answer.
"Makes since, is that all you need me for?"
Tsunade nodded, "Yep that's all gaki. Come back in a day or two and I'll have a mission for you."
Naruto stood and jumped back onto the window sill, "I'll see you later baa-chan!" He jumped out just as she threw a paperweight at his head, laughing as he landed on a roof below.
"Damn gaki," Tsunade grumbled under breath.
Naruto soon found himself in the Forest of Death, having decided that since he had gotten his sixteen hour sleep it would be a good idea to start training. As he walked into his usual clearing the blonde's senses went on high alert, forcing him to jump out of the way as several snakes came at him.
"Kitsune-bi!" Naruto opened his mouth as he channeled his youki into a single point there. The swirling purple energy could be seen as a condensed ball in his mouth, right before it burst into a light blue flame and shot out, destroying the snakes before they could do anything else.
While he had been launching his attack, the blond had followed the snakes' trail to see where they had been. He created his youki whip and sent the purple string of energy up into the tree branches where the leaves were thickest. This had the inherent effect of making Anko, who had been watching him almost as soon as he entered the forest, jump out and land on the ground some distance away.
Said woman launched several kunai almost as soon as she hit the ground, began going through a set of hand seals and calling out a jutsu, "Kunai Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"
The kunai multiplied into several dozen, all of them heading towards Naruto. However, the blond was not deterred in the least as he unsealed his bo staff and began spinning it in an ever increasingly complex pattern. As he continued he charged wind chakra through the staff and unleashed a blast of wind with every movement he made. Unlike a sword, where this would have made a cutting motion due to a blade's sharp edge, the staff created gusts of wind that knocked the kunai off course.
When all of the kunai had been cleared Naruto resealed his staff and launched a kunai of his own from the gauntlet on his wrist. At the same time he made several one handed seals that caused the kunai he sent to multiply into ten. Naruto smirked when he noticed the slight widening of Anko's eyes, signifying her surprise at his ability to do a technique without saying the name. It didn't last long however, as two kunai slid into the snake mistress's hand and she began deflecting and dodging the projectiles.
While she was doing that Naruto was running in close and by the time she had finished dodging had his two hands linked together by their thumbs and thrust them out, "Fuuton: Kamikaze Seiken!"
The air shimmered as the wind in the shape of Naruto's fist hit Anko and sent her flying into a tree, where the force of her impact created a large crater.
Naruto was not surprised when Anko turned into mud. Nor was he surprised when several snakes shot out from some bushes a dozen feet away and latched onto him. A second later they sunk their fangs into him and Naruto exploded.
"You know that was pretty close."
Anko's eyes widened as she heard Naruto's voice behind and jumped away just in time to dodge his next strike. Using one hand as a springboard she flipped herself up and spun in midair, tossing a kunai at the blond who merely caught in between his fingers.
Landing back on the ground she eyed the blond a moment before favoring him with a smirk, "You know you've gotten pretty good. Six months ago had this fought like this it would have been over almost before it began."
"What can I say," Naruto grinned as he rolled the kunai in his hands between his fingers. "I had an amazing teacher; a crazy, sadistic, psychotic bitch, but an amazing one." He sent the kunai flying back at Anko, who caught it in her hand and returned it to him at an increased speed.
"You say such kind things about me gaki," Naruto grinned as he sent a kunai from his launcher to intercept Anko's.
"You know you love it."
Anko stuck her tongue out before thrusting out her hands, "Sen'eijashu!"
Several more snakes were launched out. However, Naruto had come to expect that and had unsealed his katana and ran straight at the snakes. He sliced right through them before continuing on to Anko who grinned and let two kunai fall into her hands as she met his charge head on.
She blocked the first strike with her left kunai, and then sent out her right hand in a slash that would slit Naruto's throat. However, the blond was quick enough to disengage his blade with Anko's and intercepted the attack. Using his strength Naruto pushed her back and then spun around, swinging his blade in a horizontal slash at waist height. Rather than block the slash, which she knew would send her off balance due to the blonde's increased strength, jumped back and let the blade pass through the spot she had been.
The battle paused and the two eyed each other wearily, before on some unspoken signal they charged again. Naruto came in with an overhand swing that Anko blocked with one kunai, grunting as she felt her knees buckle behind his strength, but she stayed strong as she lashed out at him with her other kunai. Naruto jumped over her attack, flipping himself around in midair and aimed a slash at Anko's head. The purplette seemed to have plans other than getting her cranium split down the center however, as she ducked under the slash and rolled forward.
She came up on her feet and spun around just in time to block the attack that came at her, but was forced to channel chakra to her feet to keep from sliding back. They clashed again, Anko's two kunai meeting Naruto's katana as they attempted to push each other back. However, Anko seemed to have planned this as she suddenly took away her blades, letting Naruto fall off balance as she lashed out with a kick, taking his legs out from under him.
Naruto hit the ground with a 'oomph', landing on his back before he was forced to roll out of the way when Anko tried to stomp a mud hole in his stomach. He pushed himself into a series of flips as he tried to gain some distance. As soon as he landed on his feet he was forced to dodge several kunai as Anko began charging him, launching them as she closed the distance.
Naruto resealed his katana as he inhaled a deep breath, "Fuuton: Daitoppa!"
He blew out a huge gust of wind, forcing Anko to stop and ground herself with chakra, lest she get blown away. When the attack ended it was for Anko to see Naruto already next to her, and it was only instincts that saved her from getting hit.
As Naruto's fist came in Anko swerved her body just ever so slightly to the side, letting it pass by as she used her left hand to swat it away. This had the benefit of knocking Naruto off balance and letting her take a shot at his throat. Thankfully Naruto was able to see the attack coming and was saved by creating a Kage Bunshin without hand seals before Kawirimi'ing with it.
"Heh, you really have gotten better gaki. That last attack would have gotten anyone below Nai-chan's level," Anko smirked when she saw a grinning Naruto come out of a bush to her right.
"As I said, I had a good teacher." Naruto walked up to her, "So any reason you attacked me, other than to greet your favorite gaki?"
"I heard you went on a mission with a certain white haired pervert to find Tsunade-sama," Naruto chuckled a bit, knowing she was looking for details.
"I did, it was pretty interesting to say the least. If you want I'll tell you more about it over some dango and sake. Just let me make some Kage Bunshin to do some training."
Anko grinned, "Alright gaki, and since we're going to have sake maybe we can see how well you can hold your liquor."
Naruto grinned as he downed another shot of sake. He looked over at his drinking partner in amusement, "Had enough Anko?"
Anko tried to glare at him, but considering she was seeing quadruplets, she was not quite sure which one to glare at. Yet even drunk she could see that infernal smirk on his face, after all it was magnified by four, "Ho- how come your not…wasted…you should be a lightweight!"
Thanks to Kyuubi and his own demonic properties Naruto was not even sure he could get drunk. Not that he was going to tell her that, she might accuse him of cheating, "This just goes to show you how incredible I am. I'm talented at anything I set my mind to and that includes drinking you under the table."
"Oh yeah!" Anko growled out before downing another shot. Naruto merely smirked as he followed suit.
Twenty minutes and kami only knows how many shots later Naruto was laughing his ass off while Anko was passed out on the table, snoring lightly while a small amount of drool escaped her mouth. Naruto stood up and picked up Anko, being mindful not to get her drool on his shirt. Walking over to the bar he got the attention of the owner who worked there, a man named Kenshin, who after having Naruto come in with Anko regularly for the past few months no longer held any animosity towards the blond.
He looked at the passed out woman in Naruto's arms and smirked, "Something I can help you with?"
Naruto grinned, "Yeah, put our night on her tab." He gestured to the snoring Anko.
Kenshin chuckled, "You know she's gonna kill you right?"
"Meh, I can deal with it," Naruto shrugged.
"Well alright, if you're sure," Kenshin said before handing him Anko's bill.
Naruto held it between his fingers and grinned as he disappeared within a Shunshin.
Omake: Payback's a bitch
"Ooooh my fucking head."
Anko woke up with a groan as she held onto her head, trying to get the damned thing to stop pounding. Blearily she opened her eyes to find that she was in her apartment.
"What the hell?" She didn't remember coming here. The last thing she remembered was…
"That damn gaki. Who the hell drinks like that their first time?" Anko muttered as she got out of bed. Ignoring the sense of vertigo she felt for a moment the purple haired woman stumbled her way out of her room and into her kitchen. She was about to search the pantries for her hangover cure when she caught sight of it lying on the table.
Frowning since she did not remember putting it there Anko picked up, looking at it before she shrugged and went over to get a glass of water to take the pills. As she finished taking the pills Anko set the glass of water down on the table, the effects of the hangover cure already working. She was just about to up and leave when she noticed the sheet of paper that had been lying under the pills.
She picked it up and felt her eyes widen as she read it. Crumpling the piece of paper she growled.
"NARUTOOOOO!"
Somewhere across Konoha, Naruto, who had been about to start his day smirked as he heard the shout ring across Konoha. "That will teach her to mess with me…corrupt my mind with a sense of perverseness and not get away with it, ha I think not." He had planned for this day ever since Anko had corrupted his mind with her perverted books.
Grinning he made his way to a training ground further away from the Forest of Death, knowing he would have to avoid that place today. "Maybe I should go train with Ten-chan and her team?"
Here we are, let me know your thoughts.
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