Capítulo 31: K
Chapter 470:
Entering from the cool breezy night into the warm, savory-scented home was a pleasant
exchange for the Sand-nin. Temari noted the cozy style of furnishing ahead of the dark oak
accents and frames around the golden white walls clearly came from a stylish mind. From
the paintings to potted plants, lamps, and family pictures, everything felt inviting and full of
familial harmony. Stepping with a pep in her step, Kurenai walks around the corner, smiling
as she cleans her hands on her cooking apron.
"Hello," she started, standing next to Naruto dressed in a long-sleeved red blouse and a
white skirt under her black apron. "Welcome to my home."
Kankurō shook his head in exasperated disbelief at the sight of such a stunner with Naruto,
while Temari thanked her for inviting them. Temari hands Kurenai a specialty dessert from
Suna called Bakuraba before Kurenai tells them, "the others are setting up in the backyard if
you want to help. Dinner should be ready in twenty."
"I'll help," Temari voiced with a thankful nod from Kurenai.
The beautiful women walk to the kitchen as Naruto asks with a raised eyebrow, "others?"
Naruto leads Gaara, Kankurō, and Baki to the spacious backyard where Jiraiya and Kakashi
are conversing covertly near the unassembled tables and foldout chairs on the floor. "Ero-
sennin, Kakashi-sensei, what are you guys doing?"
"Eh, oh, you made it," Jiraiya greeted. Despite the clear blush on his old cheeks, he
answers, "don't worry about us. Be a good boy and set up the tables for us?"
"I bet Nai-chan asked you to do it,"
"Nai-chan," Jiraiya boyishly repeated. "He calls her Nai-chan!"
Naruto, Gaara, and Kankurō observe Baki slowly make his way toward the adult men. It was
suspicious how he wouldn't look them in the eye as he huddled up with them to exchange
perverse whispers. 'Good man, Baki,' Naruto heard Jiraiya praise. Though simultaneously
happy and sad to learn something new about Baki, whether perverted or not, Naruto asks
Gaara and Kankurō for help. To his surprise, Kankurō takes a few slow steps toward the
adult conversation before speeding to the group, making Naruto face-plant in his palm.
"They're curious," Gaara answered Naruto's look of confusion while picking up the fold-out
table. "Baki and Kankurō want to know how you did it."
Naruto helps Gaara extend the legs of the table and set it in place as he asks, "did what?"
"It seems to be a two-pronged obsession with them," Gaara relayed, crinkling the skin
between his brows as he summons all of his concentrate on this topic. Female attention is
not an area Gaara specializes in, however, he states in his soft, even tone, "their fixation
appears to be about the number and quality of women who want to marry you. Three
heiresses, a Jōnin-sensei, and all pleasing to the eye."
They each grab foldable chairs and set them up one at a time as Naruto admits, "you know, I
don't really know myself."
"Really," Gaara asked and Naruto nods. Tilting his red head, he can't help noting, "such a
mystery."
"I mean, I can give you the play-by-play of what happened," Naruto told his friend. "But I
can't really explain it in a way where you could do the same thing and get the same result."
"The women seem to be the determining factor," Gaara slowly reasoned as he eyed the
space between two chairs.
"Yeah, I'd say so," Naruto answered as he aligned his chair with that of Gaara's. "You know,
a psychologist friend of mine once told me women are the gatekeepers of love and affection,
while men are the gatekeepers of commitment."
"Meaning?"
"Ma-chan explained it better, but I think it means I can't make a girl fall in love with me," the
blond stated with a slant of his head, as if looking up into his memory banks. "That's their
territory. As a guy, I just do stuff that makes a commitment with me worth it for them."
Bringing out the linen for the long table, Gaara asks, "such as?"
"In your sister's case, I think it's about duty," he replied as he takes the other end of the
tablecloth. "Though, I'm really hoping we get along in everything else. Mmmn, for Kurenai,
Ino, and Hinata, well, I'd say they know I belong to them as much as they belong to me; like
balancing chakra, we just work well together."
"I see," Gaara evenly stated. Naruto isn't sure how much he understands, however, he
paused when the redhead replies, "I thought it might've been your noble lineage, immense
power, notorious status, or your likelihood of becoming Hokage one day."
Taken aback, Naruto had to wonder aloud, "I don't know about that… I mean, they loved me
before any of that, so…"
"How significant would you say the sex is in your relationship?"
"Oh, yeah, that's like super-" Naruto cuts himself off when he registers the voice, turning
abruptly to note Jiraiya, Kakashi, Baki, and Kankurō suddenly behind Gaara, leaning in
eagerly for a response. Naruto yells at them, "really!?" He shakes his head as he walks
inside for cutlery, telling Gaara as he does, "we can talk about this later."
"And that's how it's done, gentlemen," Jiraiya touted, writing in his little book as he adds,
"little by little, wear 'em done until you've got the entire story, HAHAHAHAHA!"
Naruto and Gaara enter the kitchen and greet Hinata, Ino, Karin, Haku, and Tenten. Along
with Kurenai and Temari, the nine of them make quick work of setting the table with elegant
precision and preparing three dinner options for twelve; Ramen, salad, or oyakodon. Karin
forced Naruto to sit at the head of the table with Temari and those from the Sand on his right,
the Konoha ladies on his left, and Jiraiya and most of the boys at the opposite end.
The dinner was festive, and Naruto cherished every moment. Every ten minutes when
someone did or said something funny, he'd tell himself, 'I wish Iruka-sensei was here to see
this.' It's been so long since he's been able to relax and talk with his friends, he wished one
of his favorite people was here to complete the picture-perfect moment. However, he'd rather
Iruka have the surgery than not. Lamenting the others who couldn't come, one of the first
questions he had was answered by Ino.
Chapter 471:
"Sakura wanted to come," Ino started. "But now that she's the student of the one and only
Tsunade-sama, her head's permanently buried in a thick book."
"I hope she doesn't burn herself out," Naruto commented, recalling the hellish schedule she
made for herself. "Maybe I should take her a plate-"
"Way ahead of you," Ino easily interjected. "I'm taking one on my way back. So, I'll be
leaving early."
With a nod, Naruto then asks, "how are your parents? You know, with the whole marriage
thing."
"You'll know when you meet them," Jiraiya remarked with a chuckle from across the table.
Nearly dropping his chopsticks, Naruto up ends, "I have to meet them?!"
"Of course you do," Jiraiya quickly hurled back. "Oh, Kami, I can't wait till you're stuck in a
room with that arrogant tight-ass Hiashi. Oh, that's going to be rich!"
Naruto's blond head sharply turns to Hinata, hoping with his eyes that that wasn't the case.
However, she blossomed a fresh wave of anxiety when she turned away, avoiding eye
contact.
"I hate to bring this up," Temari started, drawing Naruto's panicked attention. "But you'll have
to meet my father as well."
"And no clones either," Kankurō touted with a smirk. "Just you, a father who doesn't want to
let his precious daughter go, and possibly a knife in his hand," he added to the vivid
nightmare, making Naruto swallow with a loud dry gulp.
"Don't listen to him," Temari assured the nervous blond. "It won't be anything like that."
"It'll probably be worse," Jiraiya hummed. "At least you can block a knife. You'll never be
able to block is their expectation of you."
Naruto slumped back in his chair, letting his blond head fall back so his eyes can see the
stars above. He imagines their disapproving gazes and matching words stab him through
the chest. Hearing them, of all people, say the things he fears the most would be like an
endorsement of sorts, and that scared him. It's Kurenai's sweet voice that streams into his
ears, voicing, "hey, you already know that no matter what anyone says, it can't change what
we feel for each other."
"…You're not wrong," Naruto begins, slowly sitting up straight. Minus Kurenai, each of his
fiancés merits a stern gaze as he admits, "but it's your tou-chans. I want them to accept me."
Quietly from beside Ino, Hinata voices, "I believe in you, Naruto."
"We all do," Ino assured him. "Seriously, there's no better guy out there."
Under his breath, an astounded Kankurō voices, "it's like they're brainwashed."
"This stuff is gold," Jiraiya hums from the other end of the table.
"For another time," Karin remarked before momentarily ending that topic in favor of a
delicious meal. Hinata happily informs Naruto about her progressing relationship with her
father and Neji. Though she's upset she no longer lives with Kurenai, she's happy her home
life is improving. "Hanabi has been acting out lately, though, I know the situation must be
confusing for her."
"You know, I have experience dealing with a troubled sister," Ino began to advise. "So I can
teach you everything you shouldn't do." The manner by which she said that annoyed
Naruto. He desperately hopes she'll forgive herself someday.
While Ino and Hinata conversed about sisterhood, Naruto, Kurenai, and Karin could talk with
Temari and Gaara about the politics of Sunagakure and how the treaty is being accepted
and endorsed by the Sand people.
"It's certainly tense among my people," Temari explains. "There are some factions that feel
we gave too much, others think we didn't give enough, others that want retribution against
Orochimaru, and many many more that simply want everything to return to normal so they
can work and provide for their families."
Curious, Karin cut in to ask, "and will the treaty help Suna return to a better place?"
"As it was his student that deceived us, the Sandaime shouldered some of the blame,"
Temari commented. "As a result, he was more lenient and offered us fair terms. So, except
for one thing, we can return to better times."
"The marriage?"
Slowly, with a hint of blush, Temari sweetly nods, appearing more feminine than she typically
shows. To the surprise of the others, Gaara admits, "I support the union as well." The
Konoha girls eye him with a healthy level of caution without being scared as he softly adds,
"Naruto was the only one capable of showing me… a truth I'd been running from for a long
time. For that, I'd be happy to call him brother."
"Docile-Gaara's enough of a reason for the rest of the village to want Naruto around,"
Kankurō joked, earning a murderous eye from his older and more defensive sister. "What,"
the second-born touted back. "He's changed. He's not bathing in blood anymore. We're
good."
"Yes," Gaara genuinely agreed, looking around the table to readily assure them, "killing
everyone here would no longer bring meaning to my life." While a few faces showed varying
degrees of concern, Haku smiled and Naruto laughed, lightening the mood considerably.
During dessert, Naruto walked Ino to the door carrying a three-level bento for her. Though
she wanted to stay and talk more, the beautiful Yamanaka was worried about her pink-haired
sister. In addition to assuring him that her father wouldn't be overly protective, she
expresses, "they've already met you, so it won't be the first time. And they very much like
you, if not, love you. You really have nothing anything to worry about."
"I still want to make a good impression," Naruto returned.
"I know," she claims, moving close enough to shoulder bump him. "How about I take you
shopping? We can find something more formal for you to wear. When you dress the part,
you feel the part."
"Yeah, that sounds great," he answered, enjoying the alluring scent of her. Naruto always
loved how captivating her scent was, making him want to ignore all reason and take her
upstairs. Wanting to keep around a little longer, the blond boy asks, "uh, oh, before you go,
how's your team?"
Chapter 472:
Looking at him with a hint of suspicion, she slowly answers with a question of her own. "Do
you want to know how those two knuckleheads are doing, or are you asking me about
Asuma-sensei?" Mentioning Asuma sobered him up from the pleasure of her company.
However, as it came up, he desired to know. Nodding, she answers, "he's different. Not bad,
but obviously holding it all in, as those types often do."
"Oh," Naruto hum, thinking about his part in the pain Asuma must be going through.
"It's not your fault, Naruto," Ino quickly stated, catching Naruto's train of thought.
Naruto nods as he answers, "I know, I know, but still, I don't like that he's hurting. I thought of
him as a cool older brother. And now he probably never wants to see me again."
"I think he'll be fine… eventually," Ino offered with care. "If it makes you feel any better, I saw
him shopping with that lady around your apartment. The daughter of the foreman. She has a
son."
Standing up straighter, elongating his neck, he asks, "Tsunami-chan? Really?"
"Don't get me wrong," she assured him. "They didn't look all lovey-dovey or anything. But
seeing him around another girl is progress enough."
With a slant of his head, he nods in agreement before extending the wrapped bento
reserved for Sakura. She takes the extravagant meal and blushes at the thought of asking
him where he'll be sleeping tonight, when he, spontaneously leans in and tenderly kisses her
appealing pink lips. Nose-to-nose, the kiss was delicate, simply lips pressed against each
other, yet, there was an underlying hunger between them that extended the sweet contact.
Naruto tilts his head to dive deeper into the kiss, taking more of her lips, and she happily
meets his vigor until they run out of breath and separate. Pressing their warm foreheads
together, catching their breath, neither couldn't help but want more.
"Haven't got to do that in a while," Naruto heavily breathed before telling her, "I missed you."
"…I missed you too," she slowly tells him, pressing her forehead against his. "Soon," she
told him. After a strong warm hug, they reluctantly depart for the night.
Returning to the mingling party in the backyard, Naruto talks to Haku about Kiri, Zabuza, and
Mei when they're alone. Haku only just finished saying how impressive Mei's battle tactics
are when a few ANBU show up. They land as stealthy as possible near the tree-line,
however, in a party with Jōnin and Sages, they couldn't approach undetected. The ANBU
walk toward him, and with every one of their steps, he foresaw another night without Kurenai
in it. He hung his head, ready to chew out Ji-chan when the time they should've reached him
came and went. When he looks up, they've already walked past him. Turning in surprise,
they stopped in front of Kurenai, who was talking with Temari and Gaara. She nodded her
head before looking at Naruto.
The way her eyes locked with his, as if she were apologizing for another delay, had Naruto
rush up to them and abruptly asks, "what's up? Everything okay?"
Nodding, the raven-haired beauty smiles as she answers, "everything's fine. Hokage-sama
summoned me."
"Oh," Naruto hummed with a hint of disappointment.
The blond was making a mental note to talk with Ji-chan about his timing when Kurenai asks
with a saucy tone, "wait up for me?"
The slight smirk and focus of her crimson eyes rouse a smirk on his face as he answers, "of
course. We still have to finish what we started this morning." Her smile took on an especially
devilish look and her cheeks blushed red before turning and leaving with the ANBU. It wasn't
long before their guests left, and though Karin and Haku stayed to help him clean, they left
without Kurenai returning.
HIRUZEN'S
The night sky overhead was dark blue with hints of purple and many twinkling stars around a
silver moon. Looking up at the night sky from the long balcony on the second floor of his
personal home, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel reflective as Tsunade was checking his vitals.
The frail old man was sitting comfortably in a reclining chair with enough cushioning, it could
double as a bed. Hiruzen was so enchanted by the night sky, he would challenge anyone to
look at it and night find a profound truth about themselves. Tapping Tsunade with his
remaining hand, Hiruzen points at the sky with his chin.
When Tsunade turns toward the beautiful night, Hiruzen asks, "what do you see?"
Tsunade can't help but sigh at the old man. She turns around and continued administering
medicine as she explains, "nothing up there is going to help you now old man."
"Only near the end can one realize the true value of life," the elder slowly reflected.
"You're not dead yet, Professor," his once student reminded him. "I still have a lot of
questions. You're not going to leave without making sure I can do the job, are you?"
"I feel at ease knowing Konoha will be in your hands," he spoke with such peace. "But you're
correct. I still have some life left in me. After all, I have to attend a marriage I never thought
I'd see in my lifetime." Smirking, they talk about Naruto and the marriages of old when two
ANBU and Kurenai land on the railing of the long balcony. The ANBU leave as Kurenai
kneels before her current and future Hokage. Though Kurenai wasn't sure what their
decision would be, she could easily guess why they wanted to see her. Three girls from
Konoha want to marry Naruto and there are only two slots available.
"Thank you for coming, Kurenai-kun," Hiruzen slowly began.
"Of course, Hokage-sama," she responded before standing at ease.
"I trust your dinner party went well," the elder man happily remarked. Considering Kurenai's
very important guests from Suna, it only makes sense the Hokage would be told about their
every move. "Despite the hardships Suna put us through, it's important to me we show them
our commitment to a brighter future. Everything must go smoothly."
"Yes, it went as well as can be expected," Kurenai replied, to which Hiruzen slowly nods with
acceptance.
"We called you here to discuss a developing situation," Tsunade speaks from beside her
sensei & elder, and Kurenai easily notes the strong energy in her voice was a stark
difference from Hiruzen's soft lifeless tone. It was so haunting to realize such a great man
was soon departing, she nearly missed the 'developing situation.'
Chapter 473:
Kurenai focuses all of her attention on Hiruzen when he tells, "I've been told Yamanaka-
chan, Hyūga-chan, and yourself wish to marry Naruto." Kurenai nods before he continues. "I
first want to know, do you understand why that is unacceptable?" Kurenai's stomach twists
and sinks at the question as her leader adds, "and this isn't because of Asuma."
Unsure of what to say, Kurenai replies, "I apologize if I've disappointed you."
Fortunately, the man known as the Professor answers her by asking, "how could disappoint
me for making your own decisions? It's impossible enough ordering honorable men and
women to their possible death. The very last thing I wish to do is preside over the fair affairs
of the heart."
"…How is he?"
Without mention his name, Hiruzen knows who she means and answers, "he's smoking
more than I would like; not that I'm one to judge." Slumping her head forward sways her long
shaggy black hair when the elder conveys with more energy, "he's an adult, Kurenai-kun,
and my son, besides. He'll find his way again."
She nods before returning to his original question. "Before I answer your question, may I
ask, when you say, 'unacceptable,' do you mean in society?"
He shakes his head slowly before answering, "no. Unacceptable within the union."
"It isn't illegal-"
"Just heavily frowned upon, indecent, and dangerous," Tsunade interrupted. Crossing her
from beside Hiruzen's reclining bed-chair, she orates, "I understand that sounds a little harsh
considering this is the path you chose to walk. But not that long ago, during much of the
warring states period, it was common practice for heads of clans to take many wives. More
often than not, a wife or child would die at the hands of another jealous wife, a prospective
wife, or a new clan head."
Feeling challenged for her choices, yet remaining respectful, Kurenai first asks, "may I speak
freely?" When they allow it, she continues, "with all due respect, Tsunade-sama, that was a
very different time. Even when jealousy happens now, the results aren't as extreme as they
used to be because everyone knows we live in a society governed by law and order. Unlike
the Warring States period, citizens rich and poor are now more likely to restrain their deeper
impulses for fear of suffering the consequences."
"You have a point," Hiruzen remarks. Turning his lingering gaze from the night sky above, he
returns, "however, the reason I deem this type of marriage unacceptable is because of the
physical and emotional welfare of the children you'll be raising." Kurenai blinked at the
mention of children. "As you can imagine, the family structure has a tremendous and lifelong
impact on the mental health of a child."
Kurenai had no sensible idea when she would have children. She hasn't given herself the
time to properly feel and think it through, but the fact that Naruto will be their father is
something else she'll have to internalize. It reminded her how fresh and real being with
Naruto can feel. Even something as simple as having his children can feel like a grand affair.
Tsunade interrupted her thoughts to add, "I've come across enough studies that conclude
many of those children who grow up in a polygamous or non-traditional family structure
exhibit more aggressive & antisocial behaviors, conduct disorders, communications
difficulties, and adjustment problems. They had a poor self-assessment, higher rates of
school attrition, drug use, sexual activity, and alcoholism."
"I know many Daimyō, their harems, and the children born from them," Hiruzen trails in after
her. "It would be a shock to the court if the child actually behaved sensibly, let alone with
honor. When a small number of men control a large number of women, the remaining men
are much more willing to take greater risks and engage in more violence—possibly homicide
—to increase their wealth and status in hopes of gaining the same access to women. It
would be foolish of me, as the leader of our people, not to consider the effect a marriage like
this with a boy like Naruto will have on our village and possibly the country."
"And as the next in line, you should know I agree with him," Tsunade finished with finality, as
if there was very little Kurenai could say to change her mind.
The leaders pause to allow Kurenai a rebuttal. She knew what they were saying to be true,
as she's also read a lot about this type of marriage, however, she also knew well her stance
in all this. After all, it's not as if they're telling her anything she hasn't told herself.
Clenching her fists at her back to deal with the slight nervousness, she tells them with a
clear voice, "that is your duty as Hokage—both of you—and I respect your concerns,
however, while I agree with many, if not all, of your points, I have to ask you both… what
does any of that have to do with Naruto?"
Tsunade and Hiruzen blink in unison as they jolt up straighter. Tsunade quickly wonders if
Kurenai heard everything they said or if she's blinding herself to these facts while Hiruzen
ponders if the Jōnin-sensei doesn't care about the obvious consequences. After a moment
of silence, Kurenai slowly asks, "you understand we're talking about Naruto here, right?
Since when does he do anything normally?"
Hiruzen's face morphs to one of amusement, supported by all the memories he shares with
the young blond. "Be that as it may," he gruffly retorts. "I would like to know, beyond any
measure of doubt, why the three of you have decided to enter in wedded union with Naruto."
Finding the request simple enough to answer, Kurenai returns, "I imagine it's the same for
the others… No, I know it is."
"What's that?"
"He's the one," Kurenai reveals. "In my mind, body, and soul, I am his and he is mine."
"But he's not yours," Tsunade points out, clearly regarding sharing him.
"I know it's difficult to understand," Kurenai replies. "But Naruto's belief in family means I'm
connected to Naruto just as much as I'm connected to Hinata or Ino."
"And Temari?" Tsunade questions.
"I'll admit she's different," Kurenai states with a nod.
"In what way," Hiruzen seeks to know.
Chapter 474:
Kurenai prefaces his inquiry by first stating, "I know why Ino and Hinata love him because I
know them. I know little about Temari. Our interactions tonight were more cordial than
anything. She only ever let her guard down around Naruto, which is a good sign to me.
Temari will take some time, but I don't doubt the eventual result."
"Which is…"
"She'll love me as much as I'll love her," Kurenai matter-of-factly stated. "That's the sort of
family Naruto wants. He's our lead, and I share that desire."
Hiruzen and Tsunade turn to each other for a moment, and without words, they accept the
conviction of the Jōnin-sensei's words. Tsunade then notes, "though I still disagree with this
type of union, I can see you're not taking this lightly. I've only just met Naruto, but it's pretty
clear he's not the norm."
"No, he isn't," Hiruzen grunts with years of experience dealing with him and his shenanigans.
"Two wives would be more than enough… if this were normal circumstances."
At the comment, Kurenai quickly recalls what they said earlier, asking, "you mentioned a
developing situation?"
When Hiruzen nods, Tsunade explains, "for the past two days, we've been hosts to shinobi
from Kumogakure."
"Kumo?"
At Kurenai's curious gaze, Tsunade asks, "Naruto hadn't told you?"
Kurenai couldn't help snorting in front of her leaders as she explains with a mixture of
amusement and frustration, "there's so much going on in that boy's life, it's difficult to keep
up. And to be fair, most of it is classified. Staying up to date on your fiancé's personal life
when you don't have the clearance is next to impossible."
"I suppose so," Tsunade admitted with a considerate nod. "The short of it goes like this;
weeks before the Chūnin finals, Kumo agents infiltrated Konoha. Their mission was to make
Naruto defect."
Kurenai snorted again, "not likely." Realizing her break in decorum, she quickly clears her
throat before apologizing.
"No, you're right," Tsunade conveys. "Again, I've only just met him and even I know Naruto
doesn't have it in him to defect. Rather than report them, however, he told these kunoichi
about his Omiai with Suna."
Readily confused and concerned about Naruto casually breaking the rules, Kurenai had to
ask, "why?"
"To go to Kumo," Hiruzen softly answered. "He knew he'd likely be invited to Kumo if he did
and his goal seems to be to speak with their Jinchūriki."
"To what end?" It suddenly struck her then, and she calls out, "ah! To ally with them, right?"
Recalling how insane Naruto's desire to talk to the other Jinchūriki was, Tsunade had to ask,
"he told you?"
"Some time ago, he mentioned wanting to talk with all the Jinchūriki," Kurenai answered.
"I'm not sure how seriously I took him back then."
"Talking with their Jinchūriki would be good common ground to start negotiations with,"
Hiruzen points out with a strategic undertone in his voice. "And as it happens, Kumo is in
favor of entering two of their kunoichi into the Omiai-"
Jolting up straighter at the startling news, Kurenai gasps, "two? Why two?" Quickly moving
past her emotional response, her logical mind suddenly realizes how odd this is.
Kumogakure and their Raikage have never been so amiable with Konoha to enter this type
of union. "This… this can't be legitimate," she voices. "Knowing the Raikage… this sounds
more like a trap than anything else."
"We believe so," Hiruzen agreed.
Overlaying her future husband on the situation, Kurenai easily realizes out loud, "…But
Naruto wants to go anyway." They nod as the rest of what they're not telling Kurenai dawns
on her. "So… you're saying you'll accept the three of us marrying Naruto if we do this?"
"Not exactly," Tsunade replied. Kurenai stands straighter as her future Hokage asserts, "for
the duration of this mission, we will publicly accept the three of you as wives because there
must always be more Konoha women. But the moment Kumo's plans for Naruto fail and they
rescind their participation in the Omiai, one of you must then back out."
As a woman, Kurenai knows backing out has serious ramifications. "…If it's either Hinata or
Ino," she posits. "They'll have a harder time marrying fitting partners in the future because of
this very public rejection. Ninjas already have a hard time marrying, and suitable suitors
would then wonder why either of them was dismissed."
"It's a possibility," Tsunade acknowledges with a sigh.
"A marred reputation on a young girl's part makes it more likely," Kurenai clarifies, and the
rest of what they're thinking hits her then. "…Which is why you're indirectly asking me to be
the one to step down."
Hiruzen turns to the night sky, leaving Tsunade to step forward and gently explain, "you may
not want to hear this, but differences are what keep people apart and between yours and
Naruto… you simply don't fit."
Turning to Hiruzen as he voices toward the sky, "I know you care about him." He then turns
to her before adding, "you love him. And after the tumultuous life he's led, I want that more
than anything for him."
Sensing it, Kurenai adds, "but…"
"This is just better for everyone," the elder leader answered. "He's the son of a Kage, head
of his clan, on the precipice of great fame and wealth, and… he's nearer to their age."
'I'm too old,' is what Kurenai essentially heard. 'Eight years isn't even that big of a
difference,' her mind yelled, adding, 'if I were a man, no one would even blink at the gap!'
Though Kurenai generally accepted the differences between men and women, she couldn't
deny the sting in this particular case. Regardless, she now possessed something that will
always lend her strength when she needed it, no matter the fear, doubt, and uncertainty
leveled her way.
"I understand the natural order of the social fabric," she tells them. "In the eyes of our village,
we can all agree I'd be more suited to someone like your son, Hokage-sama. There was a
time I accepted these unwritten rules for us and society because they made sense, were
grounded in reality, and were widely accepted by all."
"But," Tsunade posited.
"But then I fell in love with a boy who fights the rules others place on him with every fiber of
his being," she eagerly claimed. It's what it means to be with Naruto; 'to believe,' she
thought. "For the things that he wants, the things that are important to him, he puts his life on
the line and never quits. He doesn't care if it's unrealistic or unpopular. He doesn't care who
he has to go through or what he has to accomplish to get it. He'll only want it that much
more. That's the man I fell in love with, so, when you say 'this is better for everyone,' ask
yourselves… do you really think Naruto cares about that?" She saw the answer in their eyes.
They knew Naruto, and they knew how he'd react. Feeling the power of Naruto's bullish
conviction empower her, she couldn't stop herself from asking them, "so why would I?"
But for the rustling tree leaves and howling wind, the long balcony they were standing on
was silent. Neither Tsunade nor Hiruzen could dispute just how dogged Naruto can be, and it
seemed apparent to them Kurenai has inherited much of the blond's fire.
Chapter 475:
"Keeping Naruto alive is less of a mission and more of a no-brainer," Kurenai continues. "So
I'll accept the mission and relay it to the team."
Quirking her blonde brow, Tsunade asks, "the team?"
"My sister-wives," Kurenai clarified. "They have a vested interest in keeping him alive as
well. As for what happens afterward… I've learned by now, when it comes to that boy, don't
expect the expected."
Peering up at the majestic night sky, Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder if this was a profound
truth about life. Tsunade just smirks as Hiruzen tells Kurenai, "we'll announce the marriage
tomorrow. Prepare yourself."
"Hai, Hokage-sama," Kurenai called, before catching the slightest tilt from the revered
blonde medic-nin, clearly asking to speak in private.
NARUTO
Looking up at the night sky from the roof of Kurenai's home, Naruto lies on his back happily
sky-gazing and counting his many blessings. He's never had dinner with so many friends,
family, and soon-to-be family, and that was replaying in his mind. Chatting with Neji when he
came to collect Hinata, shooting targets with everyone, hearing hilarious stories from Jiraiya,
even being teased by Haku and Karin as they were leaving. They stayed to help him clean
up, all the while knowing he was sleeping there, and Karin couldn't stop herself from teasing
him. More than anything, he wanted to remember every second of it to share with Iruka. The
blond wondered if the caring sensei was watching the same sky he was when someone
landed next to him.
He was surprised it was Kurenai, but happy she didn't take long. Leaping to his feet, he
smiled brightly before asking, "how'd it go? Everything okay?"
"Never mind that," she said with a bright smile of her own. She felt off to Naruto and he
couldn't help wondering if she was keeping something from him. When she says, "I have
something for you," Naruto shook the weird feeling off to ask what it was. Showing empty
palms, she wiggles her fingers with a showman's flair before magically making a doll with a
Fūinjutsu tag on the forehead appear. The moment he reads the tag, the entire aerial view of
the sparkling night sky from Naruto's perspective rotated a hundred and eighty degrees with
the worst whiplash. He's dazed for a second before suddenly looking at his body from
outside his body.
He wondered if this was a prank until Kurenai said, "got you. Shinten Kugutsu Juin no
Jutsu."
From within the doll, Naruto quickly gathered this was worse than a prank and yells, "what's
going on! Who the hell are you!" The entire time, he finds it bizarre that he can't feel
anything; no wind, no cold, no sounds, or even the warmth and strength of his body.
With no control of the doll he was in, someone forcibly turned Naruto to look upward and the
Kurenai that enters his view pops into a puff of white smoke. In her place emerged a lean
man with fair skin and short black hair. Other than his nose and mouth, the rest of his face is
covered in a mask with built-in glasses, not unlike the members of the Aburame clan.
"Let's go before she returns," the man said to mind-swapped Naruto.
It's odd not feeling any stimuli, so it was surprising to hear another voice in his head that
wasn't Kurama's. "Your consciousness is now sealed within that puppet, Uzumaki-kun," the
dour male voice said. "There's nothing you can do to escape, so just relax and we'll take you
to your new home shortly."
Through the button black eyes of the doll, he sees them leap into the air before landing on a
tree branch in the cluster of trees behind Kurenai's house. They leap from tree branch to tree
branch, Naruto yelling the entire time in vain until they land next to a body leaning slumped
against the base of a tree. Oddly, he observes his own body picking up the comatose
shinobi before he immediately drops it. Both Naruto in doll form and the one holding him
watch the mind-swapped Naruto scream and double over, gripping his stomach in
tremendous pain. Through the mental link, he can hear a third, familiar, and sinister voice
demand, 'who are you?'
"Sparrow, what's wrong?" The one holding the doll asked.
"It's… the Kyūbi," he gasped. "Its chakra feels like acid! We have to hurrrrrryyyy!"
Naruto's puppet eyes are quickly covered up as he yells within the mental link, 'yeah, get
em, Nine!' The kidnapper then gathers Naruto's body and that of his teammate's before
leaping to the treetops. Though Naruto can't see, he can still hear the mind-invader grunting
to hold back Kurama's acidic power, yelling, 'you! …will not break me… devil!'
'Devil, am I?' Kurama hums back in humor. 'Hehehe, I like the sound of-'
'I wouldn't say so, no,' Naruto casually interjected as he attempts to sense where they're
being taken, however, without the ability to feel speed or direction, the only thing he can do
is count how long they travel. The only thing he knows for certain is he hates feeling so
powerless.
'You shut it!' Kurama's angered voice hurls back at Naruto. 'You don't get a say! The hell are
you doing getting captured so easily!'
Realizing he has no clones or allies to help him, the frustration of being at their mercy has
Naruto snap back, 'this can totally be avoided if my partner wasn't so damn stubborn!'
Naruto ignores the constant groaning of the mind-swapper as Naruto tells the demon fox,
'hurry up and get him out of my body! I can't do anything here.'
'Shut up!'
'I won't let you… foul beast,' the mind-swapper declared with dogged stubbornness.
'Danzō… will have his prize…. Ugh! Even if I must sacrifice my life… to do it!'
'Humans,' Kurama croaks with distaste. 'You're all the same-'
Drawing up blanks on how to overcome this, Naruto yells, 'Kami help you, the second I get
out of this I'm going to beat the will to live out of you! You better let me go now! This won't
hold me forever!'
Chapter 476:
Naruto can't feel anything; not the shift of direction, the descent into the earth, the many
twists and turns until they reach a room, however, once there, he can hear a door open and
close, and then a rough clamoring of several items. Something is then tossed on what
sounds like a wood table before a person sits roughly on a chair. From the doll's nonexistent
ears, he hears his own voice grunt out, "quick, quick!"
A door opens once again and Naruto hears the tapping of a stick against stone and quiet
footfall before a gruff, impatient voice asks, "status."
"The Kyūbi seems to be fighting Sparrow," the other man said. "He doesn't have long."
"Hurry," the gruff voice commanded with stern authority. Only then does Naruto recall that
voice.
'That's Danzō,' Naruto yells. 'Hurry, Nine!'
'Shut up,' Kurama yelled back as he pushed as much of his chakra on Naruto as possible.
'I'm trying!'
The black hood is suddenly taken off of the puppet, allowing Naruto to see the one-eyed
despot looking back at him with his sour half-covered face. Within his view, Naruto's able to
see the room they were in was dark, made of stone, and relatively small. He didn't think
more than ten people could comfortably fit in the brick cell. There was one door and no
windows, meaning only one way in and out.
More importantly, his stolen body being securely tied to a chair with thick rope. To his
increasing dismay, the glasses-wearing shinobi was tying his wrists, elbows, ankles, knees,
and neck to the metal chair that was also in the middle of a very complicated and circular
Fūinjutsu array. They took his red and black cloak off and his body was also disarmed, his
pouch and kunai holster set on the table next to him.
Naruto demanded to know of the one-eyed war-hawk, 'what are you doing to me?' However,
he knew only the mind-swapper could hear him.
Once all the binding were wrapped tightly, the shinobi with the mask calls, "ready."
"The puppet," the one in his body yells.
Danzō takes the puppet, making Naruto watch as he's positioned in front of his own writhing
body. Beads of sweat were pouring down Naruto's face as he struggles to withstand the
poison of Kurama's chakra. 'Come on, Nine,' Naruto calls, looking at himself and realizing
the only chance to escape was fast approaching.
'It's your father's seal!' Kurama frustratingly yells back, pouring as much of his chakra
through the seal as he can. 'Don't you usually have great timing? You do something!'
"This must be timed… perfectly," the mind-swapper in Naruto's body coughs out. "They're
aiming… for the moment I transfer!"
"On three," Danzō calmly commands. "Be ready, Monkey."
"Hai," Monkey replied.
Their one-eyed leader counts, "one," and Naruto can see Monkey kneel in front of the
circular Fūinjutsu array with chakra covering his hands.
Focusing between his struggling body and the Root member named Monkey kneeling in
front of the array, Naruto repeatedly tells himself, 'be fast, be fast, be fast.'
"Two-"
Suddenly, his view completely rotated, and Naruto was inside his own body again. Even
more, the overwhelming switch of feeling nothing to feeling everything—sounds, heat,
aches, pain, his heartbeat, his chakra—was momentarily disorienting, and in that micro-
second of confusion, the shinobi named Monkey clapped his hands before moving to slam
them on the array. Naruto began his Flying Thunder God technique, however, with the
imbalance of Kurama's chakra pressuring his control, Monkey managed to touch the stone
floor just as time was slowing down. The Fūinjutsu array activated, and Naruto quickly felt no
chakra within him. It was as if all his power was erased away.
The sandy-blond-haired man, Sparrow, seated on the floor with his back against the wall,
twitched momentarily before slowly getting to his feet in tandem with Monkey.
"Good job, both of you," Danzō looked to the glowing character of 'hei' now on the floor
where the array used to be and casually voices, "Fūinjutsu: Shishi Heikō… quite impressive.
We must thank our Sand allies for the restitution of forbidden techniques they were forced to
share with us."
"Danzō you lousy piece of shit," Naruto began to yell as he pulled on every binding. Feeling
no give from any of the thick ropes, and even choking himself pushing against the rope at
his neck, he continues yelling, "when I get out of here, you better fucking run-"
Standing in front of the struggling blond with both hands on his cane, Danzō calmly tells
Naruto, "allow me to save you the trouble. You cannot escape. Nearly all of your tenketsu
have been forcibly blocked, not that there's any danger of dying. In case you're unaware, it
means you cannot expel chakra quite so easily; yours or, the beast inside of you. For all
intents and purposes, you're as weak as any boy your age. All your great strength has now
been neutered and under my express control."
"Why are you doing this," Naruto chokes out, straining his muscles against the bindings until
his sweating head turned as red as a tomato. "You have to know you'll never keep me here.
I'll get out, and when I do, I'm ripping you a new one-"
"You are unruly, Uzumaki-kun; childish," Danzō easily assessed, eying him with his beady
eye. "That character flaw has no place in my Konoha, however, I am content with your
mastery over the Nine-tail's chakra."
"They seem to have a close relationship," Sparrow divulges from behind the fierce leader.
"He calls it, Nine."
"That thing was destined to be the greatest weapon in all the nations," he orated. Danzō
leaned forward to catch Naruto's fierce eyes as he proclaims, "it's long time you learn your
place so that dream can finally be realized."
Growing more frustrated and angry, Naruto can only yell back, "he's not your weapon! And
the only one here who needs to learn their place is the sad cock-gobbler muffin standing in
front of me! D'you take a crusty load in the eye?! Is that why you can't see?!"
Chapter 477:
Danzō leaned back and took a deep breath to calm down. After a moment, he patiently tells
the fighting blond, "struggle all you like, Naruto. I'll give you the night to spend all that
energy. Then we can begin in the morning."
Danzō turns to leave when Naruto yells after him, "Wait! Tell me what you're planning! I
demand to know!"
The old war veteran stopped and turned with a slow sway of disbelief, citing, "I thought that
would've been obvious. For the good of Konoha and the world, I have every intention of
using you in whatever manner I deem necessary."
More humored than concerned, Naruto smirks as he hollers, "HA! How could you possibly
know what's good for the world? You're like a root telling the tree 'hey, I got a great idea
about which direction the branches should go,' when you have no clue! All you know is pain,
misery, and darkness, and somehow you think you can make things better? How delusional
is that? You couldn't help this world even if you tried!"
Turning and approaching the blond once again, Danzō strikes the foot of his cane hard
against the stone floor. "It would appear it's fallen to me to do what no one else seems
capable of accomplishing; utterly destroying your childish sentiment." Though his face
seemed as neutral as a blank mask, his annoyed tone suggested otherwise as he threatens,
"no doubt taking away your privilege of speech will assist in re-educating you."
"Pfffftt," Naruto harked back, glaring right back at the old War Hawk. "Good luck with that!
You're nowhere near strong enough!"
Straighten up and shaking his head, Danzō grimly remarks, "you've done so well subduing
the beast sealed within you, I had thought to keep you, if only to continue that purpose.
However, if someone with your sub-par intellect can do it, surely any of my Root can to a far
better degree." A Root member enters the room and Danzō tells the ebony-haired boy,
"torture him all night—remove an eye—but make certain he doesn't die. That should help
him become a little more cooperative."
"Hai, Danzō-sama," the boy spoke.
It was painfully obvious to the blond that Danzō couldn't be argued or pleaded with into
telling him anything about his plans. With less than three seconds before the one in charge
left the stone room, Naruto couldn't think of a single argument that might change his mind.
As Danzō, Monkey, and Sparrow were leaving and the boy was setting up a toolkit on the
nearby table, a funny & cruel thought entered his mind. Danzō himself wasn't so hard to
figure out as the old man already told Naruto what he wanted.
Quickly, Naruto asked Kurama, 'would you be able to take over my body or make my eyes
red?'
'I might be able to push enough chakra to make your eyes red… Why?' Kurama wondered
when he realized what Naruto could be planning. 'Hehe,' he chuckled, adding, 'you really are
a pain in the ass.'
Danzō was nearly out the door when Naruto yells, "wait! No!" only, not in his voice.
Thrashing around so hard the pressure was cutting into his skin and pulling against the
restraints drew in their collective attention. As Naruto appeared to be struggling to remain in
control, they simply observed as the blond Jinchūriki pretended to fight with himself as he
yells with finality, "Don't! Nine! You… c-can't trust him!"
Wailing the loose sections of his body upward, as if breaking out of water with a great force,
Naruto's entire demeanor suddenly changed. He was bleeding from the rope tied around his
neck, his whiskers were more pronounced, his once-blue eyes were now red with a slit for a
pupil. His voice was much gruffer as it touted, "fuck, this hurts."
'Suck it up,' Kurama said from behind his gold cage. 'Your eyes should be red, but I can't
hold this for long. Your chakra network feels incredibly congested, making it difficult to push
through.'
'Got it,' the Naruto within told him as the Naruto from without pretends to sound like Kurama
as he states, "wait. Forget the idiot brat. Make a deal with me and I'll help you." The four
men observe the altered more feral Naruto with heavy suspicion. "That's right, you're talking
to the Kyūbi right now."
"It sounds like him," Sparrow informs his leader.
"I was under the impression you were partners," Danzō cautiously remarked.
"That's what I wanted him to believe," Naruto replied with a touch of amusement in his gruff
voice. "You mention the word friendship and he jumps like a good little puppy."
"They did seem contentious," Sparrow noted. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say reluctant
cohabitants."
"Attempting to make two minds, one body bearable," Monkey summarized, to which Sparrow
nodded.
Taking a moment to seemingly decide on how to play this turn of events, Danzō eventually
takes a step forward and inquires, "what did you have in mind?"
"I want out of this brat's body," Naruto quickly answered, fighting back the tremendous pain
pushing up and down his entire body. "You tell me what you want, get me out of here, and I'll
make sure it gets done."
"Any arrangements we may make would, by necessity, begin with you getting me what I
need first," Danzō effortlessly stipulated. "Only then will I return the favor."
"I'm willing to accept that," Naruto growled back with a little more force than he wanted. His
face was sweating as he made a stipulation of his own. "But if you double-cross me, I'll kill
you."
"Naturally," Danzō respected. "What assurances do I have that you can manage anything I
may need from within Uzumaki's body?"
"Just get a seal like this one, that blocks his chakra," Naruto proposed. "Put it permanently
on his body. I'll handle the rest."
"That may be something we can arrange," Danzō spoke.
Desperate to end this fast, Naruto asks, "then you'll get me out of here?"
However, as the agony within Naruto doubles-making the veins in his body pop out, Danzō
takes his time to think before asking, "…how confident are you against other Tailed Beasts?"
'HAHAHhahahah,' Kurama laughed from within the seal. 'He's thinking about Kumogakure!'
Only the wet floor and breathing heavily, an exhausted Naruto weakly voices, 'r-really?'
Looking down at his heavily diminished container, Kurama deduces, 'doing this out of the
blue? Not to mention Kumo is the only place we're going to soon that has any Bijū. Yeah,
this old coot's got a plan.'
In the stone-cold room, Naruto moved all his pain into mimicking Kurama's laughter.
"Hahahaha, this is about Kumo then."
"You're certainly sharper than Uzumaki," Danzō dully complimented.
"That why you did this so unexpectedly," Naruto asked with a half-smile, the pain making his
facial muscles twitch as more sweat filled the etches of his expression. "Rushing like this
ain't good tactics."
"We had little other options," Danzō admitted. "To have access to Kumo approved by their
Kage offers us a very rare opportunity. I would've preferred one of my men join the
delegation, however, my council and request were unwisely rejected. Once again proving
the leaders of this village are far too shortsighted to know what's best for them."
Hating that the one-eyed veteran suddenly became chatty, Naruto hastened to ask, "which
do you want?"
"The Two-Tail," Danzō answered.
"Easy," Naruto quickly assured him; anything to end this unmitigated agony eating his entire
body. "The other eight combined could never defeat the greatest Tailed-Beast! Bringing back
the Two-Tails won't even be a challenge!"
'Damn right,' Kurama huffed from within Naruto. ''Bout time you realized my power.'
'Shut… up,' Naruto weakly huffed back. He was ready to pass out when Danzō suddenly
made less sense.
"Not quite," Danzō reveals before answering, "if the Two-Tail were extracted from its host
and ultimately discovered to reside in Konoha, that'll leave no doubt as to who stole the
beast. Even if we claimed otherwise, no one would believe it, which is why I don't want you
to bring it back to Konoha."
Chapter 478:
Understanding the duplicitous devil in Danzō, Naruto realizes out loud, "you want me to plant
the Two-Tails in an enemy country. Can't imagine what kind of war a thing like that would
start. Sounds like fun. Where? Iwa? Kiri?"
"You don't need to know just yet," Danzō replied. "Let us first test your control over the boy."
"Get the seal ready and he won't be a problem," Naruto struggles to finish.
With a stiff nod from the old War Hawk, Kurama stops pushing his chakra through the seal
and his blocked pathways. Beside himself for the end of the agony, Naruto pretends to
regain control then continues the charade by weakly bemoaning to the beast within for all to
hear, "wha- Hah, haah… Why… why would you do that! I thought… we- we were friends!
How could-"
Danzō orders the only boy with a mask, "bleed him. Allow no more than a liter of blood loss.
Then watch him."
The inexorable head of Root walks out of the room with his bodyguards in tow as the boy
answers with a bow, "hai, Danzō-sama."
Despite feeling the vibrating remnants of pain and absolutely no strength, Naruto yelled after
the three men for good measure, "I'm going to wipe out every square inch of this place… if
you don't leave my family alone! …It's a promise of a lifetime!"
Relieved the men are gone, Naruto is now alone with a Root member with silky black hair
and pale, nearly translucent skin. Other than his mask, he wore a short black-and-gray
jacket with red straps over a midriff gray shirt that displayed his pale abdomen. His tactical
slacks were the customary black but his black gloves exposed his index and thumb.
The boy takes out his kunai and walks into the Fūinjutsu's range. Immediately, he can sense
his tenketsu close, however, he can still move. Naruto glares into the emotionless mask as
the boy expertly moves his kunai over Naruto's forearm.
"The cephalic vein should be good enough," the boy said before quickly stabbing Naruto in
the arm, ripping a sharp grunt out of the blond and renewing a fresh batch of stabbing pain.
Without Kurama's chakra or that of his own, the pain felt much more acute. Naruto was soon
hemorrhaging through his clothes, down the chair's arm, and to the floor. "Don't worry, if your
life's in jeopardy, I've been permitted to give you a blood pill."
Despite bleeding out, Naruto struggles to loosen the thick rope until the growing fatigue was
too much to ignore. The boy stares at him the entire time and in between deep breaths,
Naruto asks, "how long… are you going to keep staring at me? …It's creepy."
"Until I am told not to," he softly answered.
"Your name," an exhausted Naruto huffed.
"I have no name," the boy responded.
"I'll call you… Sai then. You look like a Sai," Naruto heaves with unfocused eyes, suddenly
grateful for the rope around his throat, as it was doing a better job of keeping his head
upright. Half joking, he asks, "I don't suppose you want to let me go?" Sai gave a very curt
shake of his head, to which Naruto reasons, "figures. Well, then… you should know… that…
you don't have to be like them… if you don't want to. I can tell you're different."
From behind the mask, without malice, Sai asks, "how can you make such a claim when you
know nothing about me? You sound idiotic."
"I can… because I know," a drained Naruto voiced barely above a whisper. "Anyone else
they leave guarding me… wouldn't have said one word to me… You did… idiot."
Lowering his head as much as possible to glimpse the bare floor, Naruto attempts to recall
the Fūinjutsu originally there before they activated it. In his mind, he attempts to reconstruct
it with Kurama looking on in the background.
Out of boredom, Kurama lays down with his head on his front paws as he comments, 'looks
like that miserable old coot wants to start a war.'
'Yeah,' Naruto hums, tilting his exhausted head left and right. 'But I won't let that happen.'
'Pretty confident for a guy trapped and bleeding out on a chair,' Kurama jokes.
Lazily turning his head around, the blond Jinchūriki notes, 'I'm surprised you're not tempted
to take Danzō's deal.'
Kurama snorts before asserting, 'as if I could trust a lying piece of shit like that. He'd sooner
destroy me than free me if there were no other choice… calling me an It.'
The large, dark, and dank room grew completely quiet for a moment. Naruto was silent so
long, Kurama raised his enormous head in concern when his blond jailer softly asks, 'but you
like me?'
'Shuuuut uupp,' the quickly annoyed chakra beast growled. A slight huff was the only laugh
in Naruto, urging a slightly anxious Kurama to ask, 'figure anything out?'
'Still… thinking,' Naruto voiced, though he was feeling tremendously frail. He lists the
challenges aloud, hoping to spark a solution. 'The chair's metal… bolted to the stone floor.
The rope's… too thick to break… and it's too tight… to slip through.'
'Are there any weaknesses in the seal?'
Naruto answers the deep voice behind him, 'it already… collapsed… into the character…
hei.'
Feeling more anxious as Naruto falls into further frailty, Kurama stands on all fours as he
asks with more concern than he knows he had, 'what about before it collapsed? Can you
remember what it looked like?'
'I don't know… I'm trying,' Naruto heaves, wobbling in place. 'I'm really… tired here, man. I
can barely… think.'
Growing even more annoyed, the large chakra beast prowls back and forth as it glares at the
weakened Naruto and challenges him. 'Fine! Go back to sleep then! They'll be back before
you know it and do something worse to control you. Trust me, humans are annoyingly clever
at trapping anything that's far superior to them. They can't stand not being the most
dominant. And the very worst human will be back soon to do the same to you.'
'Not… all of us… are like… that,' the ailing Naruto feebly argued.
'Even you want to be the strongest in Konoha-'
'To prove that I'm not… a worthless monster!' Naruto calls out with more energy than he
feels in him to use. 'To protect… my friends and family! Which… includes you… by the way!'
Kurama isn't surprised to witness the flare of energy when it comes to what Naruto is
passionate about. Realizing he truly has a good grasp of who this boy is and how much he
cares, Kurama smiles as he prods a little more. 'Well, I'd say you've done a piss-poor job of
that, haven't you?'
Naruto hated that even now, Kurama still won't trust him. But more than anything, he hated
how his arrogant friend was right. To be captured so easily and put in a box made him feel
like the powerless little boy he used to be. He had no other recourse but to run from
dangerous situations then; a feeling it surprised him to have forgotten about, which only
angered him more.
'Yeah… fine… you're right,' Naruto was ashamed to admit. 'I may not be the best… or the
strongest… right now! But fuck! I'm no quitter! You'll see!' Naruto crouched and couldn't see
Kurama smirk with pride.
The determined blond tries to recall the Fūinjutsu array before it collapsed. He focused every
ounce of his brainpower on recalling one of the few things in this world that come naturally to
him. Sadly, it was hazy and he wasn't certain if the image he recalls was what he saw or if
his mind was filling it in. Another wave of fatigue washed over him and his entire being
wanted nothing more than to be home in bed with Kurenai, Sakura, Ino, Temari, and Hinata.
Naruto couldn't stop wondering if they were waiting for him; if they even knew he was
missing yet. He wondered what Danzō would do to her, Karin, Haku, Ino, Hinata, Temari,
Sakura, and anyone else he loves. More anger, regret, aggravation, and longing brought out
enough energy to keep trying. Keep thinking. Kurenai always told him, 'little by little, one
piece at a time.' He hadn't needed that advice since he recalled everything about Fūinjutsu
so clearly, however, it was servicing him now.
Chapter 479:
Little by little, stroke by stroke, Naruto spent pain-staking minutes recalling every square
inch of the array and its subroutines. Filling in what he couldn't, he eventually saw the chakra
suppression via tenketsu, the chakra types, spirit energy, Kyūbi energy, natural energy, and
even the petajoules limit. He saw nothing that could stop Fūinjutsu contracts like the
Hiraishin or Kuchiyose, however, with his tenketsu blocked, that wouldn't be possible.
'If my tenketsu… are closed… what else… can I do?'
'That's like asking how to throw a rock without an arm,' Kurama quipped.
Sai interrupted his sluggish train of thought when he forcibly fed him a blood pill before
lightly bandaging his wound. Feeling a small sense of relief, Naruto waited a moment to
allow more blood volume into his depleted veins.
Sluggishly, Naruto points out to Sai, "see. You… are… different."
"You lost more than a liter," Sai explained. "I'm not allowed to let you die so easily. That's all."
Using the knowledge Naru-nii thankfully bestowed upon him, Naruto confidently asks, "who'd
you lose? …Huh, Sai?"
"My name is not Sai," the masked boy returned with a little more edge in his tone.
"But you said… you didn't have a name… and I've gotta… call you something," Naruto
drunkenly reasoned. "Sai's as good… as any." Focusing his half-lidded gaze on the raven-
haired boy, Naruto continues prodding. "Are you good… at anything… you're not supposed
to be? Can you sing? …Write? …Draw?" Sai tilts his head a moment before quickly
returning his gaze to the prisoner who continued to say, "I'm good at training… at
Fūinjutsu… eating ramen… and sex, if I'm being… honest."
"It would appear you need more training," Sai threw back. "As for sex, I'm surprised you
even have a dick."
"Ouch," Naruto weakly chuckled. Shaking his head, he claps back, "at least I don't smell…
like a virgin."
'I don't like this kid,' Kurama growled in Naruto's mind. 'Does he think we can attract so many
mates without a superior pleasure horn? How dare this paper-thin personality challenge-'
'He doesn't know any better, Kurama, jeez,' Naruto mentally shot back. 'And will you stop
with the mates and talking about my junk! You have to know by now it's SUPER weird!'
'Just as you should know by now that your delicate sensibilities has never been my primary
concern,' Kurama fervently retorted.
With a mental roll of his eyes, Naruto returns his attention to the pondering boy as he
continues explaining, "whatever. My Fūinjutsu is tight… and I'm always training. I can even
train… without moving a muscle."
The boy didn't respond or shake his head in disapproval. He was stone-faced and simply
stands and watches as his blond prisoner continues to hemorrhage from his open wound.
Naruto wanted to chuckle as the statuesque boy watches over him, not unlike the many
stone toads had during his training on Mount Myōboku and at this recollection, he wondered
if Sai would turn to stone himself. The thought makes the brain-addled blond humored and
sad he couldn't show him the statues.
'I could,' he lamely thought to himself. 'With this sage arts suppression, I'd probably still turn
into one.' "Wouldn't that be funny?" he thought and carelessly said aloud as he feels fresh
blood supplied by the pill fill him with a small wave of vigor.
"What?" Sai asked.
The room wasn't spinning half as much as Naruto half-laughs, half-answers, "I said…
wouldn't it be funny… if I turned into…"
A cluster of unaffected neurons suddenly fire in Naruto's largely suffocating brain. He
thought the seal suppress sage arts, however, even if it suppresses sage techniques, it
shouldn't stop him from absorbing natural energy, nor the consequences of taking in too
much.
Feeling slightly better, more in line with his defiant self, Naruto closes his eyes and doesn't
move a muscle. Slowly, much more slowly than usual, he can begin to feel the earth's
energy around him. It told him the seal dealt less with the chakra coming in and more with
chakra coming out.
'…What are you doing?' Kurama asked when he began to feel natural energy slowly seep
into Naruto's restrained body. 'Without the nodes on your chakra pathway, you'll blow up into
a frog!'
Naruto chuckles as he mentally answers, 'if I'm lucky… just parts of me.'
From within, Naruto allowed his body, his cells, to feel and accept the potency of natural
energy around him like a cool breeze passing through him. Only rather than balance the
strength as he painstakingly learned to do, the blond sage purposely allowed an imbalance
to form. His body quickly vibrated in warning of how wrong it was feeling, but even so, he
persisted. His stomach turned upside down as he drew in more and more natural energy
until the irresponsibility forced his hands and forearms into very large frog hands.
With the natural energy coursing through his body, the ripping of the thick taut rope from the
increased pressure didn't hurt Naruto much. Sai was taken aback by Naruto's sudden large,
webbed, greenish frog hands. The pressure created by the larger hands stretched the rope
in the tough sections and snapped threads in the weaker sections. Even the steel creaked
and bent just enough for Naruto to quickly push the natural energy out of his system and
slide his now normal hands out of the slight give.
It was evident Sai was taken aback by the sight of Naruto's frog hands as no report anyone
has ever written about Naruto ever mentioned an ability to produce frog hands. The rough
rope scraped off layers of his skin as he removed himself from the wrist restraints just quick
enough to catch the series of shuriken Sai threw at him. Naruto caught the first two and used
them to deflect the remaining five before wiggling his arms out of the elbow bindings.
Without chakra to assist his movements, Naruto had to rely on the pain and adrenaline
coursing through his pumping veins.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder