Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Hinata's Sensual Adventure	By : The Feelz Category: Naruto > General Views: 16948 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Naruto is a Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto with an Anime adaptation. I do not claim ownership for this series nor the illustrations used as my profile photo.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Hinata's Destined Departure & Naruto's Destined Battle!
Later, the girls convened at the restaurant as planned. And Hinata had all but given up on the possibility of meeting Naruto, before his long voyage was over.
"Oh, Yakiniku Q has reopened!" Ino beamed, both she and Tenten flanking a nonchalant Kurama as they shared a menu, smothering him.
"I made a reservation." Tenten beamed, too. "Salty beef tongue for me! Yay!"
"See the new item: 'Lady's Set'?" Ino pointed out. "It's really a good deal! Kurama-kun, what will you order?"
Sakura blushed openly. "Good deals are really tempting, aren't they?"
Shikamaru's nerdy secret admirer poked her wacky glasses. "To be frank, I love offal!"
Hinata was silent, gazing down unseeingly into her menu. Kurama was a bit worried about her.
"Has everyone decided what they want to drink?" Tenten asked gleefully.
The girls nodded.
"Okay." She scooted over a little to the left, so that she could stare directly at the counter. "Excuse me; we'd like to order, please!"
Meanwhile, across from their table, partitioned by a rectangular wooden screening...
"So, thank you for coming here today," Chōji began, towering over his seated comrades. "If they can have a Girls' Club, we'll make ourselves a Boys' Club. Let's eat and drink to our heart's content." He held out his glass of orange juice, proposing a toast.
As soon as the girls' orders were made and delivered, Tenten raised her glass of orange juice in an echo of Chōji's gesture. "Kampai!"
"Kampai!" They all tipped their glass together with excited grins.
"So, what's the occasion?" Ino asked as they resumed their seat.
Tenten grinned. "To commemorate our acquaintance with Kurama!"
"Oh, that's a good occasion," Ino grinned in agreement.
The composed deity allowed a cool, neat smile and placed cutlets of barbecue on the grill to be cooked. The girls adored him.
"Also," Tenten continued. "Day after day, we're all busy with the preparations for the war. We need to relax every now and then, and the bathhouse alone just won't cut it."
Sakura agreed. "Yeah, we should mix it up from time to time."
"That's right," Ino added. "We don't have regular missions anymore. It's just preparations, all day, every day."
"To be frank, I'm glad you guys invited me." Wacky Glasses looked to and from Kurama furtively, trying to hide her blush. "But can I ask what brings you all together?"
"Hm," Tenten thought about that for a while, looking to Ino and Sakura. "How did we form this group?"
"I guess because we all took the Chūnin exam together," Sakura noted how Hinata responded to that fact.
"Oh, yes, yes — that's it!" Ino agreed exuberantly.
"Well, we're about the same age and we've been on missions together often." Tenten carefully monitored and flipped over her salted beef on the grill.
"You sure got in my way back, then," Ino accused coldly, pushing her forehead challengingly against her rival's own.
"Same to you!" Sakura returned just as coldly, and then they both eased into a fit of laughter.
"To be honest, I still don't quite get this Allied Shinobi Forces thing," Kiba said casually, demolishing a slice of meat in his mouth.
"It's like having beef ribs, sirloin, hearts, rumen, and liver all served in a combination platter," Chōji explained, stuffing those respective foods in his mouth simultaneously. He swallowed. "With such variety, it sounds like a good deal!"
"Don't treat this like Yakiniku," Kiba asserted, still livid about Kurama being the only guy privileged to join the girls. "Suna aside, it's not like Konoha is on good terms with other villages."
Shino's eyes narrowed behind his shades. "I heard there was something between Kumo and another village."
Shikamaru eased into a more relaxed state. "Well, that's to be expected. It's not just Konoha; there's something between all the villages."
Neji leaned forward, equipped with his impressive composure, as always. "Surely every village bears a grudge against other villages."
Lee pivoted to the side to face Shikamaru, a pair of chopsticks and a plate containing special sauce in either hand. "Yet the Five Kage decided to form the Allied Shinobi Forces. That's how strong Akatsuki is."
Kiba had his elbow on the table with his chin propped up in his palm. "Well, we'll just have to give it all we've got on the battlefield. Even if the guy beside you is a stranger."
Shino surveyed a piece of beef between his chopsticks, to ascertain whether or not it was properly done. "You were never shy of strangers before, Kiba."
"Shut up!" He retorted, facing away. "It's a hassle to remember their smells."
Chōji was still stuffing himself, like a machine. "Being here with you guys reminds me of that mission..."
Sakura smiled. "In the end, that Chūnin Exam got canceled before it was over."
"Right, when Konoha was destroyed," Wacky Glasses added.
The memory skimmed through Ino's mind. "A lot has happened, but we're all still here. Our generation is doing pretty well, isn't it?"
Tenten felt the spark of the girl's excitement. "That's right — I think the only one missing is Sasuke, right?"
Suddenly, Sakura was kneeling down at the back of the room, facing the corner and permeating a wicked wave of gloom.
"Oops, I shouldn't have mentioned that," Tenten said regrettably, breaking out into an awkward sweat.
Ino shared the girl's awkwardness. "Oi, come on, don't be like that."
Shikamaru was a bit tenser now. "That time, when we tried to get Sasuke back..."
"You failed that time," Shino uttered curtly. "Why? Because you didn't bring me along."
Kiba eyes were a bit tepid. "You're still holding a grudge about that?"
"That was really a harsh fight," Chōji admitted. "But with everyone's strength, we somehow got through it."
"Yeah," Neji nodded. "That made for a good learning experience."
Tenten looked from Sakura to Hinata worrisomely. "Oh my, now we have two depressed girls."
"I'm not depressed!" They both defended in unison.
Hinata allowed her shoulders to sag, dismissing the tension. "I'm glad I went to the Chūnin Exam."
Tenten smiled. "You lost to Neji, but you still gave it your best shot."
She nodded shyly. "...It was because he cheered for me. I was able to give my best back then, because Naruto-kun cheered for me."
"Naruto, huh?" Ino gazed upward with a sigh. "He was unpredictable, even then. Who would've thought he'd become the hero who saved the village?"
"Hai!" Hinata nodded happily.
"Humph!" Kurama cocked his head to the side with a fleeting smile, relieved to see her smile again.
"This time, it's our turn to protect Naruto."
Hinata blushed, Sakura's words evoking a memory.
— "Don't beat yourself up over what has already passed. Let's both look to the future; let's work toward protecting both Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun in this upcoming war." Hinata heaved a confident and reassuring smile. "Naruto-kun will definitely save Sasuke-kun. He said he would, and that's all the reason we need to know it will definitely become a reality."
Ino grinned. "I wouldn't be surprised if we're the ones ended up being protected by him again."
"You're right," Sakura agreed. "He was so much more powerful when he challenged me, and he wasn't even using Sage Mode or anything.
Oh, look," she gestured at the food on the grills. "It's done!"
"Let's eat!" Hinata said, reaching for a perfectly cooked slice.
"Oh, you got your appetite back, at least," Tenten exclaimed.
"Hai! I need my strength." She sampled a cutlet of beef in special sauce.
"Here's your pork cheek," a sweet, middle-aged woman approached their table with a plate, presumably the owner. She was very polite.
"Yay!" Ino pushed to her feet, wiggling in excitement. "Pork cheek, pork cheek!"
Sakura frowned derisively. "You'll turn into a pig."
"What are you talking about? This is mostly collagen, y'know! Kurama-kun — do you want to try some?"
Kiba's eyebrows twitched with his irritation and he surrendered to the irrationality that his anger evoked. Pushing to his feet, he shoved the wooden screening aside. "Oi, how can he be over there and not any of us?"
"He's a special exception," Ino scowled.
"You must be kidding me!"
"Even without Akamaru being the subject of an argument here, you still manage to make a scene. You really need some modesty, Dog Boy."
Kiba cringed at that critical hit — super effective. His HP was already in the red zone. "Hinata! Wouldn't it be great, if we all sat together?"
The princess pursed her lips, avoiding eye contact. And Kiba felt a prick of recollection. That's right... he had tried to kiss her before, and she never did give him the impression that he was forgiven. He supposed that was understandable; his crime was serious, after all.
Kurama shrugged his shoulders, his eyes closed with a nonchalance that stung the guys and wooed the girls. Then his ears twitched — a mocking canine gesture that the shinobi understood.
Kiba growled, bearing his fangs. "Why you! I challenge you, Kurama! I'll wipe that cool expression right off your face!"
The deity's eyes were tepid, almost derisive. "I'll spare you the effort of trying by saying your strength doesn't even hold a candle to mine."
Ino and Tenten giggled mockingly.
"You bastard!" Kiba snapped, rearing up like an untamed horse only to be subdued by Lee and Chōji. Boy, he was a hard one to handle.
Shikamaru sighed, embarrassment tackling him. "How troublesome."
Neji frowned. "Is it even possible for contracted animals to transform into a human form?"
"I know they can maybe learn to transform into other animals, but not a human form."
"Mmm. It has nine tails, but its chakra nature and wavelength is different from what I saw in Naruto in the Chūnin Exam."
"Maybe there's some trick to it," Chōji added, once they had gotten Kiba under control.
Kiba clicked his tongue, still a bit livid. "I find it hard to believe that the Kyuubi would go through so much trouble, just to stick to Hinata."
"I agree," Lee concurred. "Isn't the Kyuubi supposed to be full of evil and malice? What hidden agenda could it possibly have to be sitting over there eating barbecue right now?"
Shikamaru scratched his head in frustration. "Whatever the case, the Fourth Ninja War and preparing for it are priority right now."
Neji nodded. "We might just be jumping to conclusions about Kurama."
"But he's so arrogant and infuriating," Kiba muttered.
Chōji grinned, pushing meat into his mouth. "Neji was like that at one point, and he warmed up to us eventually, didn't he?"
They all reflected on that for a moment, and then the tension lifted. Neji and Shino continued to eat and Shikamaru eased backwards on his cushion, propped up by his arms.
"I thought someone was missing. I guess it's Naruto." Kiba was as relaxed as Shikamaru now.
"We'd all be here, if Naruto-kun was with us," Lee grinned.
Kiba gazed into the ceiling. "I wonder what he's doing now."
"I guess he's not eating yakiniku," Chōji gloated.
Shikamaru grinned. "Well, he is at sea."
Meanwhile — oblivious to the young rookies — a raging storm was drawing near outside, feminine in its chaos. "After drinks, it's time for meat," Tsunade said boisterously, lifting each foot higher than necessary as she ambled toward the restaurant. "Meat! Meat! Meat!"
"You're going too fast, Tsunade-sama!" Shizune whined, clinging to her arm.
"Next I want some meat!" The Hokage wrenched her arm away to chide the girl with proper gesticulation. "I'm telling you, I have to get something to eat here!"
Tenten stopped grinning when she felt a powerful aura behind her, and Kurama had already reverted to his smaller form and hid inside Hinata's clothes.
"What's with the ladies-only gathering today," Tsunade grinned mischievously, amused.
"Tsunade-sama!" Everyone froze, shocked. Now they knew why Kurama probably retreated.
Tenten smiled awkwardly. "Etto... well, it's a Girls' Club."
"Girls' Club?" The woman repeated noisily, obviously a bit tipsy. "I'm in! I'm joining in!"
She plopped down beside Hinata on a cushion, wrapping her arm around the nervous princess.
Tenten cringed, jostled by the woman's prominence. "Well, Tsunade-sama… I don't think you're quite a girl..."
The Slung Queen cupped and massaged one of her impressive curves. "Is it my breasts? Are they too big?"
Shizune ignored her, already helping herself by gathering a pile of meat in a spare saucer.
Tsunade raised a hand. "For starters, some alcohol!"
"That's not a starter," Shizune corrected passively, stuffing her face now.
"So, what's going on," Tsunade whispered to Hinata, grinning. "Were you talking about the men you like?"
The princess blushed.
"We were talking about when we took the Chūnin Exam," Sakura enlightened.
"We're reminiscing, mostly," Ino added.
Tenten smiled openly. "Because times are troubled, I thought we could gather and have some fun for a change."
"I see," the woman said, drinking a glass of water Shizune handed to her. Then, she reached for a plate of meat and lettuce that Wacky Glasses shared for her. "Hinata, what we talked about earlier..."
"I'm okay now," she said politely, looking to everyone talking and laughing happily. "Thanks to my friends, I now know what I have to do."
"About that..." Tsunade said, retrieving the front page of a newspaper from her pocket and resting it on the table. Everyone stopped what they were doing and started paying attention.
Hinata gasped, her cheeks already changing to bright pink. "That's..."
"The newspaper article that Konohamaru and his friends wrote about Hinata and Naruto," Tenten contributed, her eyes just as wide as the princess's.
Tsunade was nonchalant and a bit more sober now. "I thought Naruto had feelings for Sakura — but I guess he got fed up of not being recognized."
Sakura's eyes saddened a bit.
"Hinata, I've decided on your mission."
The guys were clinging to their wooden screen, listening intently to what was going on.
Chōji was still eating.
"Did Tenten invite Tsunade-sama to her girls' gathering?" Lee wondered aloud.
"That's too bold of her," Kiba muttered.
"I guess the stress got to the Fifth," Shikamaru uttered.
"More importantly," Neji frowned. "It looks like she just found out about Naruto and Hinata from the newspaper."
"Oh man, that sounds bad," Kiba murmured.
"It was only a matter of time," Shikamaru said. "Especially since it was in the paper. In any case, it's not like they were trying to keep it a secret or anything."
Tsunade held the girl's gaze seriously. "You are to join Naruto at the location where he was sent for his so-called S-class mission."
"R-Really?" The princess tried to suppress her exuberance.
The woman nodded. "It's not unlikely that Akatsuki has already gotten Intel about your relationship with Naruto. And, given their history, I wouldn't be surprised if they schemed to capture and hold you hostage to lure him out into a trap.
Aside from that, the two of you being together may prove to be the best means of keeping Naruto preoccupied. Should he learn about the war, your involved would only contribute toward his eagerness to join and protect you and everybody else."
"But Tsunade-sama," Shizune argued. "Assuming that Akatsuki already knows about Hinata and Naruto-kun, isn't it unwise to allow her to leave the village?"
Sakura nodded. "I agree with Sempai."
"Pain single-handedly came into the village for Naruto, didn't he? And Madara single-handed confronted the Five Kage at the Summit — that's the kind of power Akatsuki possesses.
Another attack would cripple Konoha's military might for the upcoming war. We'll just have to take our chances and assume that Akatsuki is also preoccupied preparing for the war to take an interest in Hinata."
"We should at least assemble a capable group of shinobi to escort her," Shizune suggested.
Tsunade shook her head. "That's exactly the kind of precautionary measure the enemy assume we would take; she would stand out too much. Hinata will go alone. And we will confide in her scouting abilities in making sure that she isn't followed. I'm sure your little fox friend here can also lend a hand with its sensitive nose."
Kurama was passive.
Ino grinned. "Hinata, you're going to get to see Naruto sooner than later, after all."
She blushed when Tenten and Sakura grinned at her.
"Hinata, you'll be leaving in the morning. A map will be assigned to you with the island's coordinates and you'll be briefed again on your mission before you leave.
Stay by his side," she whispered sentimentally, reminiscing about Jiraiya. "Protect him, and help to summon his latent powers — this is also a part of your role as his partner."
"Ha-Hai!" She beamed.
"Okay, you guys," Tsunade was loud and casual again. "Let's do some gambling! Let's play Princess!" She revealed some pink strips of paper.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune chided.
"Who's the princess?" The woman ignored her.
"Man, that was good," Chōji sighed in contentment. "It's been a while since I've had my fill of yakiniku!"
"After party!" Tsunade shouted, cutting him off. "Let's go somewhere else!"
"What should we do?" Ino panicked in an undertone.
"I'm going home," Shikamaru whispered back. "I have to get up early."
"Me, too," Tenten concurred, careful to keep her voice low.
"I'll get back to work... yes." Wacky Glasses was disappointed she wouldn't get to see Kurama in his human form one last time. She sighed inwardly.
"I have some stuff I want to finish today, too," Shikamaru added.
Outside, everyone banded together, facing Shizune and their slightly drunk leader with a polite smile. "Excuse us, Tsunade-sama." Sakura performed a curtsy. "We'll be leaving now."
They all went their separate ways, in groups of twos and threes. Tenten hauled Lee away in a casual chokehold. Then there was only silence, expect for the chirping of grasshoppers hidden in the nearby brush.
"They sure are reliable people," Tsunade breathed a sigh of delight.
"Hai."
"Yosh!" She flung her hand into the air, like a party animal. "Let's drink 'til morning!"
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune scowled.
"... Was what I wanted to say," she corrected. "But let's get back to work."
"Hai!"
They both sauntered off.
On route to the Hyūga's estate, Hinata calmly walked behind her cousin, thoughts of her new mission swirling around in her mind. "Neji-niisan."
He pivoted his head around.
"I want to become stronger." Her voice was low and resolute.
"You are strong enough as you are," he returned, facing the fenced path once more.
Her eyes narrowed. "This war is to protect Naruto-kun; that's why I need as much power as I can get! I want to be strong!" She beamed, looking up at the stars that surely sparkled where he was, as well. "It's thanks to Naruto-kun that I managed to move forward."
"It's the same for me, Hinata-sama," Neji began, reflecting on her words. "He set me free."
The princess nodded, recalling his and Naruto's fierce battle in the final round of the Chūnin Exam. It was unfortunate that she wasn't well enough to watch it through to the end.
"As a member of the head family, you should lead the clan on the battlefield, Hinata-sama," Neji asserted suddenly, passionately. "Your power has grown exponentially over these past few weeks. You've gotten tremendously stronger. I'm sure if you display your growth to Hiashi-sama—"
"It's not a matter of head family and branch family," she explained coolly, emulating Kurama and Naruto's impressive nonchalance. "Neji-niisan, you are better suited for the job. We cannot win this fight unless we pool our strength."
Neji kept silent, allowing the princess's words to permeate throughout him. She was right. As Naruto said, they shouldn't allow pride and silly traditions to cloud their judgment. The Allied Shinobi Force surely didn't care about their lineage or their long line of customs, nor did Akatsuki. And, needless to say, that wouldn't make a difference on the battlefield.
"Welcome back," Satoshi said, standing by the porch.
"I'm home," Hinata returned.
Neji bowed and left.
"Don't worry about me," the princess reassured as she was passing the man to climb the stairs. "Thank you, Satoshi."
He bowed as she dismissed herself, sensing the radiant aura that she radiated. And, with that, he was reassured.
Clapping his hands together and closing his eyes, Naruto slipped into meditation. His other self — the embodiment of his dark side — gasped as an illustration inked in black materialized over the impostor's head: No. 1 Hokage Candidate!
"This is my autograph," our hero explained with a smug grin.
"Damn you!" His bitter counterpart sneered.
The Waterfall of Truth — this trial was the first step to controlling the Kyuubi, and this was Naruto's second time attempting to best the challenge. By assuming this test could be conquered by overpowering his darkness through sheer physical strength, he lost. But, this time, it would be different. This time, in his mind resounded Jiraiya's words.
Indeed. Being a great shinobi didn't gravitate around having incredible power alone. Wits and decisiveness also played an important part in the equation and, sometimes, various eccentric and unorthodox choices were necessary, as well. But mostly, a deep, visceral feeling told him this matter needed to be resolved in a more delicate and profound manner.
Naruto smiled warmly, reminiscing about a memory to which his dark counterpart didn't relate fondly.
"Oh, yeah," a shinobi said exuberantly by the refugee area, accompanied by another comrade. "Can you give me an autograph? Sign it to my son; he's a big fan."
"Autograph?" Naruto was a bit flustered.
"Konoha's hero — the boy that makes miracles happen: Uzumaki Naruto." The other man clapped his hands together in a gleeful plea. "Can I have an autograph, too, please?"
Naruto was still a bit out of it.
"What is it? Did I ask too much?"
The young sage grinned embarrassingly, tousling the back of his hair. "That's not it... I'm just not used to this sort of thing. I don't even know what to write."
"This is the autograph I couldn't sign at the campsite, back then." Our knight's eyes were unblinking and ardent.
"So what if you've come up with that thing?" His evil self snapped, his voice higher than the gushing waterfall behind him. "It means nothing! You're just being taken in by the newfound praises of the villagers! They've always deceived us! They made up random rules to shun us! Remember!"
And Naruto did remember. He remembered weeping in the deafening silence, standing in the dark, lonely shadows cast by the backs of everyone who towered over him, ignored him, despised him, wanted him gone. His world was a dreary shade of black and white, then.
"It was so painful. Almost unbearable," his counterpart murmured sorrowfully, clasping his chest, his blood red eyes glazed with both grief and hatred. "I'm the only one who understands you. Don't trust the people of the village!"
"Hah…" Naruto bowed his head, oceanic eyes slitted. "The people of the village are important... but, before I can trust them, there's someone else I have to trust."
The evil shadow felt a prick of surprise as his opposite raised his head with brisk enthusiasm. "I'll try to trust myself." He smiled. "To trust myself, as the one the villagers put their faith in."
There was sudden silence, and both sides of the same coin shared a cosmic moment. Then the darker side fell to his knees, weeping. His hate, his malice, his thirst for vengeance, had kept the pain and loneliness fresh in his heart. It was constantly tormenting him, keeping the fires of his rage alive. "Why? They... made us suffer so much."
"Octopops made me realize I shouldn't doubt myself; I should have my pride."
"And me?" His darker self raised his head slowly, tears streaming down his face. "Are you saying I'm just holding you back? Then what was I, all this time?"
"Thanks to you, I managed to become strong. Thanks to you, I managed to get this far."
"Then what... what should I do now?" He clumsily pushed to his feet and pelted toward the source of his agitation and his weakness.
"That's simple," Naruto uttered coolly, taking the flustered soul into a warm embrace as he crashed into him. Then, there was a moment of silence. "Just become me... because you're me, too."
Gasp!
"Thank you for all you've done for me. It's okay now."
Naruto's words resonated deep, reaching into the farthest depths of his counterpart's being — the most remote nooks and crannies, extinguishing the flames of rage and grief, driving out the corrosive darkness. Something clicked as the loneliness dwindled inside of him, and the blood red pupils of his eyes changed to an oceanic blue to match our hero's own. Finally, he began dematerializing, the fragments drifting into the air to merge with the facets of Naruto's spirit.
Surfacing from the dimension induced by the Waterfall of Truth, the village's hero pushed to his feet on the round clump of earth in the middle of the water. Yamato and company were amazed at the cool composure radiating from his back. And Killer-Bee grinned back as his fellow Jinchuuriki grinned at him.
Motoi, Killer-Bee's close friend, smiled cheerfully. "Looks like..."
"Things went well this time," Yamato concluded.
"It's too early to rejoice, dumbass phonies," Bee chided coolly, then walked out into the water toward a curious Naruto. "Now let's see if you can manage to control the Kyuubi's power." He started rapping with rhythmic movements and gesticulations. "From now on, I shall be your master — you better prepare yourself, or you'll only die faster!"
"Right on!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Follow me, Naruto!" He leaped toward the foot of the waterfall.
"Excuse me," Yamato called, a hand raised as if he were an inquisitive student at the back of a classroom. "Can I come along, too?"
"Okay."
"What about you, Motoi-san?" Yamato pivoted his head to the side to look at the man with spiky, shoulder-cropped hair and dark beady eyes.
"I'll stay here and make my regular report to Kumogakure."
"Thank you for your help," Yamato bowed and sauntered ahead.
"This is where the real challenge begins," the man whispered to himself.
Killer-Bee walked under the powerful torrent and entered through a concealed pathway, which obviously lead somewhere sacred beyond the rock face.
"So there's a cave on the other side," Naruto murmured before proceeding cautiously ahead. "Wow!" He exclaimed in awe once he was on the other side, dripping wet from his brief excursion.
Before him was an extensive underground labyrinth with its ceiling and outer walls illustrating the octopus-looking, eight-tailed Bijuu, firing off what seemed to be powerful beam from its mouth. And far head — towering from the ground — were many tall buildings and structures of elaborate shapes and designs.
"You'll fight the Kyuubi here," Killer-Bee pointed ahead, blasé in contrast to Naruto's open amazement.
"Fight the Kyuubi?"
He nodded. "That's right, you dumbass phony."
Naruto's astonishment soon morphed into determination, and he gazed ahead unswervingly, solemnly, preparing himself in mind, body and spirit with regards to what he had to do.
Yamato gingerly made his way inside, sharing Naruto's initial reaction as he looked around, marveling at the small openings in the surrounding walls that were outlets for gushing water. "This is magnificent!"
"Follow me," Killer-Bee started proceeding ahead.
The two foreign shinobi followed him, ambling along a path bordered by rows of headless statues sitting in meditation.
"It looks like an ancient ruin," Yamato commented, his eyes flitting around. "They look archeologically important. Could use some restoration, though."
"No," Bee returned. "Those stones statues were deliberately made without heads; there's a reason for that."
"You said I'll fight the Kyuubi here," Naruto said. "But how? How am I even going to meet it?"
"I hope you're not going to do anything too harsh," Yamato added.
"Don't think you can control the beast unless you do something rash, you dumbass phony," Bee retorted as they went through an open gate. "This is a sacred place where those who have been chosen as a Jinchuuriki have undergone purification rituals. There's a system that allows interactions with the Bijuu in this area. It's inside this building. Roger."
They came across one amongst the many architecturally impressive structures that towered high into the air.
"This is..." Naruto looked up, trying to see the peak.
"Only a chosen few can enter here. Selection," Bee explained coolly. "You put your head inside this statue's mouth. Good guy. If you have no darkness in your heart, the doors will open. Wide open."
They looked to the statue of a lion's head jutting out of the wall. Its eyes were wide, mouth set in full dilation. And by no means did the creature's intricate design and details look inviting, especially the stain of blood on its fangs.
"Um," Yamato scratched his temple awkwardly. "Can you explain this as simple as possible? It's kind of hard to grasp..."
"If you have no darkness in your heart," Naruto repeated calmly, cupping his chin. I see. So that's what the waterfall was about...
"But..." Bee cast them a sidelong glance. "If you have even a tiny bit of darkness in your heart, the doors won't open. Get it?" His face was suddenly enveloped in an ominous shadow as he turned to face them. "Instead, the statue bites your head off. Accept it! The statues on our way here were actually Jinchuuriki. Truth!"
Naruto cupped his neck, breaking into a cold sweat as his counterpart's words resounded in his mind.
— "In other words, I'm the true you. I am the real you."
He swallowed hard pass the hot lump that had suddenly wedged itself in his throat.
Yamato seemed to have a lump in his, too. "The risk is too great," he complained softly. "Naruto, do it with a shadow clone."
"This is a sacred place, you dumbass phony," Killer-Bee defended vehemently. "Countless generations of Kumogakure ninjas have watched over and protected it; deceit will not work!"
"But—"
Naruto's face hardened in silent conviction, teeth gritted. "Yamato-taichou, I came here to learn to control the Kyuubi's power; this is important to me, too. I can't run from it." He slowly approached the shady port for his head and anxiously tucked it inside. I trust myself!
His backside shifted from left to right as he squirmed his shoulders inside, and the awkward movement only made Yamato even more apprehensive about the possibly of his sempai's most favorite student getting beheaded. His eyes were wide, cold sweat dripping down his face.
Suddenly, Naruto cried out — a desperate and blood-curdling cry. Yamato rushed over to pull him out immediately, only to receive what was left of our valiant knight. "No... No... this can't be happening..." his eyes trembled in horror. "Naruto, you can't..."
"Just kidding!" The notorious prankster clasped his jacket and pushed out his head, relishing the man's expression of abject shock. This was sweet, sweet revenge for all those scary stories and the flashlight-technique the man used to pull on him. "There was just a switch inside."
Relaxed, Killer-Bee relished the Jōnin's shock, too.
Naruto chuckled. "I just couldn't help it."
"I did it, too," Bee added in a smooth rap. "Custom! The statues are just broke. Joke!"
Yamato turned into a dreadful beast. "Wasn't this a scared place? You dumbass phonies!"
In response to the switch being flipped, a thick stonewall slide opened behind them, illuminating the passage outside with a brilliant glow.
"What's this?" Naruto murmured in his surprise.
Killer-Bee ambled in front of the entrance. "Go inside, sit, close your eyes and concentrate. It's like the waterfall; it's a way to meet your Bijuu."
"But I've been able to meet the Kyuubi inside my mind, when I concentrate during training, for a long time."
"Every Jinchuuriki knows how to do that." He pointed into the mysterious room. "This here is a slightly different concept, okay?"
Naruto and Yamato followed him inside, looking around curiously. But there was nothing much to see; the room had absolutely nothing inside. The color-scheme was a splash of purple, ivory, and peach — pallid colors that obscured the room's dimensions, giving the illusion that the space was infinitely large.
"Listen carefully to what I have to say," Bee began in a serious tone, coming to a complete stop and facing the young Jinchuuriki. "Explanation! Naruto, what sealing technique was used to seal the Kyuubi inside you? Hope!"
"It's a Four Symbol Seal," Yamato enlightened.
"A Four Symbol Seal? That's impressive," he grinned. "It's even stronger than my Iron Armor Seal. Do you have the key?"
"Yeah."
"So, you really are going to open the seal," Yamato uttered, breaking into a sweat again. "What if Naruto doesn't manage to control it and the Kyuubi revives completely?"
"I'll seal it inside this room," Bee returned calmly. "That's also one of the functions of this place." He began rapping and rocking his body. "The Kyuubi will be sealed herein, until a new Jinchuuriki is brought within, and I'll start booin'!"
"But—"
"It won't come to that," Naruto interjected coolly. "I won't fail."
Killer-Bee smiled, impressed by his determination and bravery. "Okay. Then I'm closing the door. Now I'll teach you how to handle the Kyuubi."
Once the door was sealed, Yamato watched in silence as Naruto and Bee sat cross-legged opposed from one another. Then they bumped their fists and held the gesture, synchronizing their wavelength through the connection until their consciousness overlapped.
Suddenly, there was the sound of droplets and ripples in water. As the sound heightened, Naruto found himself in an all too familiar realm.
Naruto! Bee's voice echoed from some undetectable facet of his mind. Respect! The rules are simple. When you meet the Kyuubi in your mind, first open the seal.
Naruto opened his eyes with a cool visage, and there before him was the cage imprisoning the malevolent deity he sought to control. The creature had its head propped up on crossed arms, relaxing. "Yow, still doing the evil glare, are we?"
The beast's eyes dilated, lined with unyielding veins, and then narrowed maliciously. "Naruto, you bastard..."
Nonchalant, our golden knight began floating into the air, toward the paper seal pasted on the steel bars of the cage. "What?"
The Kyuubi's eyes followed him, blood red with its swelling rage. "Where did the real you go? I can't sense him."
"He's right here in front of you."
You've conquered your hatred,Bee explained. But don't let your guard down. Extreme force! The Kyuubi is a mass of hatred. Extreme argument!
Without hesitation, Naruto tore off the seal in one fluid motion, and then lifted his shirt to reveal the diagram on his stomach, holding the hem of the jacket between his teeth.
"What are you up to?" The Bijuu sneered.
"My mouth is full now," Naruto retorted coolly, pushing up the sleeve on his right arm to reveal the description of the seal's key on his skin. Chakra tipped his fingers. "Just watch and see."
The warrior frowned, determination a quivering glow in his eyes. Here I go, he placed his hand over the markings on his belly and rotated his palm anti-clockwise. In comparison to the seal on his stomach, the steel plates locking the cage's door began undoing itself.
The instant the final plate flipped back, the Kyuubi used its paw to bash the gates open with a nasty temperament. Then it gave a strident and powerful roar, blasting Naruto back with a mere shockwave.
When the Kyuubi is out, grab its chakra with yours and pull it all out. You can only touch chakra with chakra; that's common sense! Take the Kyuubi's chakra from it. That's victory!
Charka began emanating from Naruto's body. From head to torso was formed a transparent ghost of his image which suspended from his back.
On the outside, Bee's fist tightened against Naruto's and the Kyuubi's eyes suddenly veered to the side as tentacles broke through the wall to coil around its neck and torso, holding it in a powerful bind. The creature squirmed frantically in its rage, eager to break free and utterly destroy the source of its agonizing imprisonment.
When you touch the Kyuubi and your chakras connect, it'll pull, as well. Pull! In short, it's a game of tug of war, okay?
Chakra from the Hachibi's tentacle began pulling out the Kyuubi's own chakra but, before Naruto could possibly make a move, the beast retaliated by using one of its nine tails to slice through the tentacles, absorbing their chakra as its reward.
Tsk!Bee clicked his tongue in irritation. I'll help you in the fight, too. But it's inside your mind, so I won't have much strength. Too bad.
"It's really strong." Naruto grinned, reveling in the rush.
A word of warning: when you try to take the chakra, there's a risk that yours will be pulled by the Kyuubi, instead.
Naruto smiled. "I figured as much."
In that case, I guess I don't need to tell you what'll happen if all your chakra is pulled out of you.
"I see,"the Kyuubi's eyes were bright with enlightenment. "You intend to control my power, and you have the Hachibi as an ally. You call yourself the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. Pitiful!"
The demon fox towered upright on its hind legs, its nine tails converging over its head to form an invisible ring. Negative and positive chakra of blue and ruby emanated from its tail in small bubbles, merging to form a dark ball of condensed energy.
The very foundations of the dimension trembled under the weight of the ball's power, and a wave of wind whipped passed Naruto, forcing him to assume a better stance lest be swept away.
The risk is really huge but, if you can take the Kyuubi's chakra from it, it's yours for the rest of your life. Take away from its will all the Kyuubi's chakra that you can! That's reward!
Don't let the Kyuubi's hatred get to you. Defend yourself with the strength of your own will!
Condensing the ball of destructive energy to a fifth of its original size, the Kyuubi opened its jaws and took the ball into its mouth before clenching its teeth together. Its cheeks inflated and a blanket of steam drifted out from its slowly gaping mouth.
The instant Naruto turned to make a run for it, the beast fired off its cataclysmic trademark attack. The ground and walls of the wet, dreary corridor instantaneously turned into rubble as the beamed headed for our valiant knight. But there was nowhere to hide, no means to defend.
"Don't underestimate me!" From out of the rubble, the Hachibi's hand sprouted from a severed tentacle to absorb the beam, and then more layers of the tentacle constructed a head to reinforce the hand and nullify the blast.
The Kyuubi scowled in annoyance.
Thanks, Octopops! Naruto pivoted around and formed his trademark seal.
"I contained the explosion," Bee informed. "My powerful support ends here, Naruto."
Hah. I'm still seated, so it's just as I thought...
On the outside realm, Naruto had already begun gathering Senju Engery, the orange highlight around his eyes illustrating his transition into Sage Mode. And his head dipped a little in his battle-readiness.
Suddenly — its nine tails swirling around menacingly — the Kyuubi looked up only to find a gigantic ball of spiraling energy coming down toward it, which was roughly half its size.
Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan! "Go!" Naruto bellowed, using gravity to maximize the speed and impact of his attack.
In retaliation the Kyuubi used but three of its tails to defend itself. The Rasengan whistled in a high-pitched sound as it labored to break through the Bijuu's guard. But, with a nasty sneer, the beast whipped its tails around, effortlessly putting a swift end to the destructive orb and driving the sage back.
"So, that's not enough to take you down, huh?" Naruto's nonchalant smile was provocative as he dodged a series of lethal assaults by the creature's flexible tails, using each one as footholds to evade the other.
"Do you really believe that you can defeat me?"The Kyuubi uttered in its annoyance, scorn dripping from each word like acid.
"Would I open the seal if I didn't?" Naruto grinned, leaping into the air.
In the same beat, an inconspicuous clone uppercut the beast beneath the chin, sending it hovering a few feet into the air to meet the sole of Naruto's boot that came crashing down in a steely downward kick.
The Kyuubi plummeted to the ground with a pained grunt, sending stone and water flying outward in a great explosion. "Naruto, you bastard! How dare you!"
"Y'know... all those times when you shared your chakra with me, for Hinata's sake, I thought that maybe you had changed a little; that we could be friends."
The Bijuu clenched its teeth, images of the princess skimming through its mind, like a flipbook. Images that threatened to cool the fires of its wrath and rendered it vulnerable to Naruto's endeavor — his selfish ambition to conquer and enslave him; to sentence him to deeper, darker, and lonelier depths of hell.
No! The Kyuubi felt a spasm of fear. In retaliation, the creature allowed its rage to swell out of control, burning the vibrant images of the endearing goddess to ensure its freedom. "Friends?" The beast snickered in a derisive, malicious manner. "Don't make me laugh! All you humans are just the same — weak, greedy, selfish, manipulative. Pitiful! Once I'm done absorbing you, I'll find that woman and tear her apart slowly, limb from limb."
A few meters away, Naruto was silent, eyes veiled in shadow. Anger and adrenaline converged to brew a mixture of fire beneath his skin — one that crackled and seared hotter than the Kyuubi's very rage. Leaning forward, he eased into a sudden career, almost instantaneously appearing before the ferocious fiend.
Right. Left. Right. Left — Naruto assaulted the beast's face with a fierce and merciless succession of thunderous punches. Then he ducked as a Kage Bunshin swung and catapulted another from a few meters away. Transforming into giant, double-headed hammer, the clone bashed into the Kyuubi's torso, sending it hurtling down the corridor and slamming into the wall at the back of its cage.
Before the creature could take in a breath — after having the wind knocked out of it — Naruto was already there in the darkness, standing before the flustered demon with eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. Those piercing eyes flashed as he assaulted the Kyuubi's torso with an impetuous barrage of punches, driving the defenseless fox farther into the wall. Naruto's hands seemed to duplicate as he increased his speed and power, blood coursing like lava through his veins, fueling his strength. Then, with an impressive double-kick, the Bijuu was deeply wedged in the wall with Naruto easing into a somersault and landing on his feet.
"Killer-Bee-san," Yamato called. "What's going on in there?"
The man was a bit flustered. "...Naruto's killing Kyuubi."
"He's what?!"
Yo, Naruto, Bee's voice echoed in his mind. You're supposed to take the Kyuubi's chakra, not destroy them both!
Naruto ignored him and held his hand forward, as if it was a pistol — middle and index finger unfurled, while his thumb extended upright. Sage Art: Rasen-bullet — Gatling Gun!
He reinforced that arm by cupping his wrist with his left hand as miniature orbs forged of spiraling energy and wind-natured chakra fired from his fingertip — twenty rounds per second. "I'll tear you apart before you can get anywhere close to Hinata!"
The Kyuubi roared as the orbs wreaked havoc on its exposed torso, expanding and exploding upon impact with enough force to rival the destructive giant sphere Naruto had used before. But the Bijuu had no intention to surrender to its predestined fate.
Wrenching itself out from the indentation its body had made in the wall, the beast used its tails to shield against the blows so that it could fire off a volley of deadly laser beams from its mouth.
Naruto avoided each one with graceful sidesteps and aerial dynamics, ignoring the magnitude of the blasts behind him to notice as hundreds of human-sized, chakra-forged tailed beasts began dripping, like wax, from the Kyuubi's cascading tails.
"Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto decided to fight numbers with numbers.
The skirmish took the horde of over-powered clones outside the darkness of the cage, where they all engaged in an epic fight for dominance. Laser beams and all forms of Rasengan lit up and decorated the dreary realm, like fireworks. But, using their Frog Fu, the army of gallant sages were quickly able to overpower and absorb the crazed demons until there was but one clone left.
The frantic fiend stomped the ground where it had Naruto thrown down — creating a massive crater — but our hero had already quickly retaliated by pushing himself up off the ground into a spin, driving the heel of his foot down onto the creature's nape. The beast fell to its knees with a pained squeal, then its eyes widened as a giant Rasengan crashed down mercilessly onto its face.
Naruto absorbed its chakra, just in time to notice the Kyuubi racing toward him at breakneck speed. Suddenly, the beast came to an abrupt stop as it slammed into an invisible screen. Then, that screen detonated, sending the Demon Fox toppling onto its back.
Naruto heaved a smooth smile. "Sage Art: Cyclone Shield..."
Before the Kyuubi could retaliate in its ancient rage, the golden warrior was already in the air, forging a Rasenshuriken with the assistance of two clones and pinning the persistent beast to the ground with its overwhelming attack power and lasting effects.
Strategically taking advantage of the creature's immobility in its crippled state, Naruto quickly clung to one amongst its nine tails and began stepping backwards, pulling out the chakra. As their spiritual energy intertwined, the vigilant sage sensed a distant extension of the Bijuu's entity — and it was on the move, somewhere in the outside realm. Curiously, he allowed his mind to follow that saffron string to its source, only to detect Hinata's presence by the creature's location.
"Hi-Hinata!" He exclaimed, blood freezing in his veins and his vision swimming from the steady pound filling his head. "What does this mean? Has the Kyuubi found some way to Hinata, after all?"
Capitalizing on the Jinchuuriki's evident distraction, the sinister Bijuu exerted its manipulative hatred and malice. The thick, dark power traveled along its extracted chakra and made its way to a traumatized Uzumaki Naruto, entirely enveloping his chakra-based silhouette.
Hateful... Painful... I want to kill! A familiar voice echoed in his mind, resurfacing from the deepest depths of his troubled spirit.
The deplorable voice came with others in a sudden influx — voices of contempt and scorn from the distant past that rose in Naruto's mind like grotesque, shifting skulls of the ugliest blue and ruby.
— If only he didn't exist...
— Only him...
— That, huh? Go die!
— No one will ever acknowledge someone like you!
— Disappear...
— Disappear...
— Disappear, the voices chanted in a prolonged echo, reverberating in every corner and crevice of his mind, preventing a positive thought or retaliation.
"What... is this?" Flustered, agitated, wide-eyed, Naruto pressed a hand to his head as the voices ensued their ruthless and relentless assault. He was so distracted that he didn't realize the Kyuubi was busy pulling out his chakra, subjecting him further to his hateful counterpart.
This is bad, Killer-Bee flinched, sensing his apprentice's desperate and seemingly hopeless struggle. Don't lose, Naruto! You dumbass phony!
Driven to his knees, our floundering warrior clenched his teeth as his power gradually drained from his body, slipping through his fingers, like liquid.
The Demon Fox glanced up and took great satisfaction in the sudden, slack-jawed shock and despair written across his face. "You can't control my power,"the fiend gloated. "You're just a small fraction of my hatred."
Shut the hell up! Naruto's inner-self roared as the dreary voices sought to break and destroy him. As he fell farther from grace — similar to his darker half — one of his eyes turned from blue to blood red. And, on the outside realm, his body was suddenly enveloped in the Kyuubi's cloak, illustrating the imminent and hostile takeover.
"The Kyuubi's hatred is a lot stronger than I thought," Bee exclaimed, having pushed to his feet to a safe enough distance. "This might get really bad — a test on a scale he's never had!"
Yamato unfurled his hand, reinforced by the other. "I'll hold him down!"
— You little monster! Stay away from our kids...
— Why hasn't he been thrown into a cell?
— What is Hokage-sama thinking allowing him to roam free like this?
— You demonic brat!
— Disappear and cease to exist!
"Disappear and cease to exist!" Naruto repeated in a sneer, closing his eyes tightly, trembling in his broiling rage, seconds away from a devastating eruption that would have rendered him forever lost and consumed.
"No, you can come and stay here," a soft, exuberant, feminine voice passed through him, surrounded him, vanquishing the darkness and the voices of disdain.
Naruto could feel that he had been transported elsewhere. Every sensitive fiber and cell of his being remembered the particles that made up this unique dimension in which he was carried. This warmth... this perpetual calm... this sense of belonging and security — it was what he felt when his father had saved him.
But, when Naruto opened his eyes, the Fourth Hokage was not there. In his stead, stood a beautiful young woman with gorgeous long hair, soft blue eyes, and a welcoming smile that mysteriously tugged at his emotions.
"Naruto..." his name rose from her lips in a melody that was so right, so divine, that it was both breathtaking and heartbreaking.
The orange knight pushed to his feet, fingers curled into tight fists. "What the... why is someone here? Also, why do you know my name?"
"Oh, I see," the woman smiled, a hand pressed politely to her chest. "Then, try to guess who I am, Naruto."
He frowned, looking her over carefully — the incredibly long, sleek reddish hair, innocently playful eyes, a lovely rounded face and an almost childish V of a smile. Why did she seem so oddly familiar? It had to be a trick.
She chuckled.
Naruto broke into a sweat. "Don't tell me..."
She beamed. "Did you figure it out yet?"
"You... you're the Kyuubi's true form, aren't you?" He asserted, pointing a trembling finger in his certainty.
"Eh?" The woman held her tummy and burst into a fit of heavy laugher.
"What a savage way of laughing!" Naruto charged. "So you tired to trick me by turning into a woman, huh? Kyuubi, you—"
"You're wrong, y'know!" She pounded him atop the head, Sakura-style.
"Ouch!" Naruto cried out, clinging to his battered cranium. But then — as if the impact had enhanced his observation — he gazed at her curiously. "'Y'know?'" He repeated slowly, curiously.
The woman tousled the back of her head embarrassingly and heaved a remorseful grin. "Sorry for punching you so suddenly. I'm impatient and fast-mouthed by nature, so I've got a weird way of talking. I've tried to stop doing it but it happens when I get agitated.
How have you been? I hope you didn't develop any weird way of talking, like I did"
Naruto was awestruck. "Then..."
"Minato... he didn't say anything, did he? Oh, geez..."
Rendered emotional to a staggering degree and in a way he only experienced upon meeting his father, Naruto's fingers trembled, and he did his best to bite back a whimper as tears burned into his eyes.
"That's right, I'm your—"
He lunged forward and took her in his arms, his body continuing to shake even as he held her tight, relishing in what had eluded him even in his dreams. "I've always... I've always wanted to meet you, mom, y'know." Tears rippled down his face, and his red eye reverted to a pristine oceanic blue.
Kushina smiled warmly — a sweet and maternal smile. "'Y'know', huh? You really are my son." Her voice was soft, and she held him, too, just as passionate as he did her.
And, for a moment, there was but silence — only the love and magic that permeated from their embrace. It was truly a magnificent and incomparable feeling, but bittersweet in all its refined glory. There was a sixteen-year-old void that they wanted to fill with this same physical affection and warmth, but it was as impossible as the fact that their time, even now, was limited to her chakra capacity. It would not last, but they planned to savor every passing moment.
"The Kyuubification stopped," Yamato said as both he and Killer-Bee stared at a motionless Naruto on the ground. He was still sitting down crossed-legged, his body enveloped in half the Third-Tail's cloak and half the Fourth-Tail's cloak.
"Yamato, did you do something?"
"No, it seems like it stopped by itself." He frowned. What happened?
Naruto released Kushina with a grin, fists clenched like a happy and hyperactive child promised sweets by mom. "I have so many things I want to ask you!"
"Hn!" She smiled sweetly. "I'll answer all of them. But, before that," she veered her head to the side, her expression serious now. "We have to calm down the Kyuubi."
Back inside Naruto's mental battleground, silver chakra chains with pointed, kunai-like tips flew out from his torso, coiling around the Kyuubi's tails, legs, torso, and neck then jabbing into the ground, sealing the beast there on its back.
"This chakra... Kushina, huh?"
"Minato sealed some of my chakra within you," she explained, sitting beside Naruto in their serene world. "All so that I could help when the time came for you to take control of the Kyuubi's power."
Naruto couldn't control his grin, couldn't help but savor the melody of her voice and the symphony of her words. Her presence made him so giddy and overjoyed. Her ravishing beauty was like a breath of fresh air; she was so radiant and lovable.
"Are you listening?"
He raised his hands in glee and laced them behind his head. "I'm so happy that my mom's a hottie!"
She heaved an open smile, her radiance even more breathtaking. "Well, thank you," she giggled. "You got your hair from your dad, but you've got my face. Sorry about that, Naruto."
"Mm? Why? If my mom's a hottie, then that would mean that I'm handsome!" He rested a curved index finger below his chin. "Besides, your hair is straight and has a beautiful red color. I'm sure I'd look nice with that, too."
Kushina giggled, staring up unseeingly into the sky. "You're the second guy to compliment me on my hair."
"Really? Then, who was the first?"
She giggled again and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your father, of course."
"Oh, I see," he drove the bottom of a fist into his palm as a more intriguing question came to him.
"About what?"
He grinned excitedly, his eyes beaming. "See... See... there's something that I absolutely wanted to ask, if I met you. How did you and dad fall in love with each other?"
Her cheeks brightened cutely, and she cupped the back of her head. "Th-That's kinda embarrassing, y'know..."
"Hah! You said 'y'know' again! You're excited!"
"In this case," she asserted shyly. "It's more like being shaken up, y'know!"
"You said it again!" He laughed, pointing at her.
She grinned, and then her blush lifted as she allowed her mind to drift to the past. "Well, yeah...
It all started the first day that I came to Konoha. In the Ninja Academy, our form teacher presented me to all the students in the class. He had an attentive hand against my back, as I looked up anxiously at all the unfamiliar faces.
Out of everyone, only one person caught my attention. He had spiky, shoulder-cropped hair of a golden hue and deep, mysterious blue eyes. That was the first time that I met your father, Minato. He was so handsome that I couldn't hold his gaze for more than a few seconds.
'Well, this is our new transfer student...' the teacher said, his high-pitched voice failing to clear the blush from my cheeks, nor the nervousness that had my heart in palpitation.
'I'm Uzumaki Kushina, y'know,' I shouted impulsively, as if that sudden outburst would drive off the nervousness and the embarrassment.
I slapped my hand over my mouth with regret, but the unrefined words had already slipped out; I had already made a fool of myself and the students began laughing at me.
'Look at that hair!' Someone said mockingly.
'I can't believe it!' Another agreed.
'How did it get so red?'
'That hair is so weird.'
'Hey, hey, be quiet,' the teacher instructed. 'I said be quiet!'
I trembled as they continued to taunt me — hurt, angry, frustrated. 'I... I will become this village's first female Hokage!'
Finally, there was silence — and, I have to say, I derived great satisfaction from everyone's shocked faces. Minato, however, wasn't shocked in the least. He pushed to his feet with a gentle smile and pressed a fist to his chest. 'I also want to become a great Hokage, respected by all the villagers.'"
Naruto smiled warmly, his eyes soft as he thought about that. "A Hokage respected by all the villagers, huh?"
"Back then, I used to tease him that he looks too feminine and unreliable, so there's no way he would ever become Hokage."
"Eh? But dad looked so strong!"
"Yeah, but back then, I was still very immature and didn't understand much." She giggled and looked to Naruto, winning his utmost attention. "I had just moved there from another village and I was already saying that I'd become Hokage. Man, I was cheeky. All the boys started teasing me.
The nickname they gave me was...
'Tomato!' A boy mocked, pointing at me. His other friends were pointing and laughing, too. 'From today, you'll be known as Tomato. With a fat round face and red hair, you're just like a tomato! As if a tomato could become Hokage! I hate tomatoes!'
'Me, too! If I get any in my salad, I just leave it!'
The ringleader laced his fingers behind his head. 'If you're a hated tomato, then there's no way that the people of the village will ever acknowledge you!'
The all laughed together."
"I see," Naruto beamed. "So dad was the one who protected you from those bullies! Right?"
"No, not at all." Kushina heaved an open smile, slowly raising a trembling fist imbued with her wrath. "Tomato... when they called me that, even I could see why. It was so embarrassing that the name fit me perfectly.
'Oh, and it's even ripening!' One of the boys said, pulling a fistful of my hair. 'Time for the Tomato Festival! Time to start harvesting!'
'Who's a tomato?' I sneered, grabbing his wrist so tight that he had to release my hair. 'Just for your information, I hate tomatoes, too!'
Without warning, I lifted and spun him around — as if he weighed no more than a leaf — clobbering all the boys that surrounded me. Then, I sat on top of the ringleader and began pounding him atop the head. 'If you're gonna keep calling me a tomato and making a fool out of me, I'm gonna make you regret it, y'know!'
As always — like the disciplined and quiet student he was — Minato was sitting by his desk, watching. But, this time, he was smiling, too.
'What are you laughing at?' I shouted in the midst of my sweet revenge. Minato was so shocked that he averted his head in a sudden cringe.
Kushina was still holding that trembling fist and cool visage. "I would always beat the crap out of the boys who called me a tomato and made them look like smashed tomatoes, instead. With my long red hair flying around, while I beat guys half to death, I soon got a new nickname. That nickname was: The Red Hot-Blooded Habanero!"
Naruto swallowed, petrified by the woman's suddenly deadly aura.Kiba and Shikamaru were right when they said that moms are scary.
Kushina was calm again, her eyes a bit sad. "I was always fighting. Of course, I was the Habanero-sama of repeated victories, but...
One day, as I was jogging along a remote path — rows of cherry trees in full bloom on either side — I came across one of the boys from the academy. He was the ringleader, and he wasn't alone. I frowned as they grinned heinously at me. I understood immediately what their intends were.
'So you're the one who's always making my little brother cry?' They approached me in an amble stride, finding confidence in my clear disadvantage.
Regardless, I threw my arm forward in an accusing gesture, refusing to give them the pleasure of basking in any level of my fear. 'That's because he's always messing with me, y'know. Even though he's just a wimp.'
Ashamed, the boy veered his eyes away as his older brother's gaze sought to confirm the truth of it. Then, he was looking down at me again with an arrogant smirk. 'I'm a Genin!' He pointed at his shinny forehead protector. 'Pretty awesome, huh? I have to teach the bad people who bully my brother a lesson.'
When he cracked his knuckles menacingly in his palm, I tried to make a run for it in the canopy of the trees. Being a Genin, it was very likely that I wouldn't have stood a chance against him in a head-on fight; I was still just a fledgling at the academy, after all. So I took my chances and fled, instead — but even that alternative didn't guarantee success.
And I was right. The moment I leaped from the limb of the fourth tree, he was already there, and he threw a kunai at me. I saw just in time to dodge, but I was still shocked that a real kunai had been targeted at me.
Right then, something clicked inside me. I must have realized I wouldn't have been able to escape unless I immobilized or defeated him. So I maneuvered around on a tree trunk and tackled him in midair but, when he fell to the ground, it turns out he had used a substitution technique.
By the time I noticed, he had already sneaked up behind me and delivered a karate chop to my neck and a kick in my back. I fell to the ground, but I wasn't just about to give up.
The Genin cruelly clasped the end of my hair and pulled me up to my knees. 'Can't you even recognize a substitution technique?' He gloated, and his younger brother watched in evident delight. I wanted to punch him. 'Looks like you're just a brat. But man, this thing is red,' he pulled my hair harder. 'It looks like thread, and it's all stiff and starchy. This hair is an eyesore!'
'Serves you right!' The ringleader teased as tears trickled down my face. He must have wanted to see me cry for the longest time.
'I... I... I hate this hair, too!'
They were surprised by my words, and even more so as I struggled to break free. I kept marching forward until my hair tore, leaving pure strands between his fingers. He was obviously shocked by my feat, but mere shock wasn't enough of a compromise to appease me.
I wanted to hear him cry out in pain and desperation while his annoying little brother watched. How dare they mock me! How dare they laugh at me! I wanted to beat them up so hard that my hair would never again become the subject of ridicule.
While the elder brother was distracted by my recklessness, I turned around and gave him a few good punches and kicks. And once I got him on the ground, I stormed his face with my knuckles. 'But... even if I don't like it, it's a part of me! There's no helping it, is there?'
'It's the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero!' The younger brother cried, making a run for it. I wanted to beat the hell out of him, too, but there was always tomorrow.
As soon as I was out of breath, I pushed to my feet and stepped away from the sad excuse for a Genin.
'Outsider!' He bellowed in his frustration, chucking the strands of hair into my face. 'As if an outsider can become Hokage!'
He wiped his mouth and left.
I had somehow turned the tables and secured my victory but, deep down, I felt that I had lost. His words took something precious from me and I wanted it back. Suddenly sensing someone above me steered my thoughts away from that loss, however. It was Minato, standing in a tree, and his nonchalance was disarming, as always. I could never tell what he was thinking behind those enigmatic blue eyes, and it always frustrated and irritated me.
'So, you won't help me 'cause I'm an outsider?' I was livid, especially because my heart had disobediently gone and made me like him.
'I...'
'You think so, too, don't you?' I didn't give him a chance to answer. I was much too consumed by my sadness and my rage.
I turned on my heels and ran off with my head down, the errant wind carrying off my salty tears. I wanted to run forever; to run away from all the incongruity and the grief, but spying the lofty stones heads of the previous Hokages stopped me dead in my tracks.
'I don't want to be an outsider. I want to make this village my home.' I frowned at the truth of that. 'That's why I said it. Who would want to become Hokage, anyway?
I really hated it, this hair," Kushina looked to Naruto with a smile. "Then, a certain incident happened, and I started to like my hair."
"A certain incident?"
"Autumn was still in full swing, and the cherry blossoms looked especially beautiful as they drifted in the breeze, illuminated with a soft saffron hue by the evening's twilight.
'I'm home!' I called as I stepped into the house, but there was no answer. I strolled along the porch to the back of the house, calling again with no response. 'Is anyone here? Nobody?'
I wasn't a paranoid person but, at this point, I was already suspicious that something was out of place. I could feel a bad omen — a bad aura hanging over the mansion and I followed a trail, which could have well been a byproduct of my delusion until I was at the kitchen's door.
Despite the sunset and the splash of vibrant colors, the kitchen looked awfully dreary — and the dark silhouettes of trees drifting back and forth outside the widow didn't contribute positively to the ambience.
My blood turned to ice in my veins and I almost fainted when I saw three unfamiliar shinobi appeared from the shadows, as if they had crawled out from another dimension. And the sinister smirks on their faces told me their ambitions weren't even remotely beneficial on my part.
'Someone! Help me!' I made a run for it but was caught and held down at the end of the corridor, like quarry by a trio of savage hunters.
Before I knew it, I had been taken far outside the village. We traveled in single file, according to their plans. And my hands were bounded behind my back with rope extending to one of the shinobi's hand.
I have a special type of chakra, so I was kidnapped by Kumogakure, who were after it. I was beaten, dehydrated, and driven to despair. Still, as they were taking me away, I pulled out strands of my red hair, to leave behind as a trail. I made sure that the enemy didn't notice.
But I was an outsider, so I didn't really expect anyone to come to my rescue. Just as we were reaching the border and I was about to lose all the remainder of my hope, a golden knight, an angel, descended from the heavens.
It was a much too beautiful night to be taken prisoner, and the full moon that sat in the vast sky illuminated the forested path upon which we traveled, bestowing the wary warriors with decent visibility. But the golden knight knew better than to make his move when the elements were not in his favor — and the tides shifted rather quickly.
The moment we entered a section of the woods with thicker forestry and canopy, and the thick, silver clouds eclipsed the moon, he quickly took out the shinobi at the far back and then masked his location again. Before the other two men could ascertain what was happening, with impressive speed, grace, and maneuverability, the knight descended once more and took out another Kumo shinobi with a lethal kick to the nape.
Startled, the third man took to the trees in a hasty retreat, to gather his bearings. But his speed was ridiculous in comparison to my savior's. Like the others, his fate was also sealed, and he slammed into the trunk of a tree and plummeted to the hard ground, like a rag doll, as he was vanquished by a kunai.
I continued to walk on unsteady feet, completely oblivious as to what was taking place around me. I was so distraught that it took a while before this stranger's words could register in my mind, or that I knew someone was standing before me. I stopped.
'Are you hurt?'
Finally, the clouds slinked on and the moon was free to shower the land with its rich glow once more, illuminating the dreary path before me, as well as my golden knight, my handsome savior.
'I came to rescue you.' His voice was as soft as his smile.
Life returned to my eyes and color, to my cheeks. I beamed at him, relieved, and then suddenly the toll of my exhaustion washed over me. But he caught me just before I could fall to the ground.
'It's okay now,' he reassured sweetly, scooping me up in his arms.
'Hey, wait...' I uttered shyly, feeling a sudden rush of excitement.
But he ignored me and flew off into the sky, like a super hero. But, unlike those chivalrous heroes that saved the day and then withdrew in a blaze of glory, he took me along with him.
Time seemed to slow as I gazed up at him, captivated by his cool countenance against the soft glow of the full moon. It was the very first time that I felt butterflies in my tummy. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his face, but then I noticed strands of hair locked between his fingers.
'That's...'
'It's very beautiful hair, so I noticed immediately.'
I pouted in my embarrassment and averted my eyes. 'But, you never help me.'
'Well, that's because I know that you're strong, both in power and spirit.' He landed atop the very peak of a tree, surrounded by the mountain ranges and the valleys, the ever vigilant moon and the stars, but the mesmerizing blue of his eyes was all that I saw; all that I cared about. 'However, this is a matter between villages, and different from all your other fights. That's why...'
'That's why...?'
His eyes half-lidded softly. 'I didn't want to lose you...'
My heart fluttered wildly at his words, and I couldn't hide the blush that crept into my cheeks. I frowned a little. 'Even though I'm an outsider?'
'Why? You're living in Konoha — that makes you one of us.' He beamed.
'At that time, I saw Minato as a great ninja. I thought he was the man of my dreams. He changed me; this red hair that I hated so much brought me the person I was destined for. It became the thread of destiny. So, I started to like my hair, and I fell in love with Minato."
Naruto grinned widely. He couldn't contain himself, his excitement, and he rocked back and forth, like a baby, as his mother beamed at him.
"There are some special words that I'll give only to the men who compliment me on my hair. Naruto," her voice was quiet. "Will you receive them?"
"Hn!"
They shared a cosmic moment, eyes filled with affection. "I love you."
The words settled on Naruto's swollen heart and he felt a wave of warmth that left him overwhelmed and flustered. His eyes quivered with delight, and he couldn't keep them steady.
This love was different from the one he shared with Hinata; this was the love and affection between a mother and child — a feeling he thought he would have never received the pleasure of experiencing. And it was far more fulfilling that he ever imagined.
Kushina poked his chest gently. "When you combine the Yellow Flash of Konoha with the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero..."
Naruto giggled and pushed to his feet, clinging to his jacket. "You get Konoha's Orange Hokage, y'know!"
"That's really cool, y'know!"
They shared a brilliant grin.
"Hokage... your dream is the continuation of my and Minato's dream..."
"Yeah, I'll never let Mom and Dad's dream end!"
"Naruto..." she beamed at him, unshed tears sparkling in her eyes.
Suddenly, he was wearing his battle-face again and a nonchalance that reminded her of Minato. "But, before that," he veered his gaze to the left, noting the faint roar of an enraged Kyuubi.
Kushina followed his eyes, knowing what had to be done.
The Demon Fox could sense the return of its Jinchuuriki. The creature didn't want to admit it but things were not going in its favor. It was already difficult enough to deal with Naruto with all his newly acquired powers, and now there was Kushina's binding techniques to deal with, as well.
A low, nasty growl bubbled up in its throat as it struggled to lift its head. Just a few more centimeters and it would've been able to fire off a beam from its mouth, vaporizing the pest in an instant. But Kushina did well to restrain its neck, knowing the beast's mouth was its most dangerous aspect.
I love you,Naruto heard his mother's voice ushering him from his trance — a fitting croon for his grand awakening. "Somehow... I feel completely relaxed."
I love you, her soft voice resounded in his mind again, and he could see her face, see her warm smile and her encouraging eyes painted vividly in the forefront of his mind. "I feel completely happy."
Something erupted inside of him, then — an invigorating and overflowing force born of love and determination. Naruto roared passionately and the Kyuubi could only curse Kushina as the Orange Hokage exerted his power, his chakra pushing back the malicious one that enveloped his.
On the outside realm, Killer-Bee and Yamato celebrated as the Kyuubi's cloak lifted from Naruto's motionless body.
"My chakra's repressing the Kyuubi for now, but it won't last long," Kushina explained solemnly. "Now's your chance!"
"Right!" Naruto returned coolly.
Inside his mental dimension, where the creature lied, our valiant warrior formed his trademark seal. "Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Over fifty-odd clones spawned and stood strong behind him. "Let's go!" They all charged toward the gigantic beast.
"Little brat!" The Kyuubi bellowed sinisterly, using one hand-like paw to yank and break the binding chains in its rising fury.
Kushina smirked. "It really is very strong."
"Eat this!" All of Naruto's clones forged a Rasengan.
"Don't get cocky!"The Kyuubi poised for an attack. Standing upright on its hind legs — with one mighty sweep of its hand-like paw — the creature was able to crush more than half of Naruto's Rasengan-infantry, as they leaped into the air on the offensive.
Kushina frowned. "I've still got some power left in me, y'know!"
There was one last chain coiled around the creature's leg and she poured the remainder of her might into that chain, reinforcing its power. Then she pulled, rendering the Bijuu unbalanced and sending it toppling to the ground on its back — flustered and defenseless.
Now!Naruto murmured inwardly.
"That's... Sage Mode!" Yamato exclaimed as the motionless body made the epic transformation.
The remainder of Naruto's Rasengan-infantry inherited the Senju Engery and their destructive sphere grew a hundred times its original size. "Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball... Rasengan Combo!"
Shaken and disheveled, the Kyuubi sat on its furry behind — propped up on its hands — paralyzed in place by a mixture of fear and rage. It couldn't comprehend what Naruto had conjured to guarantee his victory. There was absolutely no time to defend, and nothing formidable with which to defend. So, instead, the creature merely gazed up at the instrument of its imminent defeat. The glowing spheres looked like twenty full moons that were close enough to be plunked — but by no means were they also as kind and majestic as the gentle female deity.
The Kyuubi knew the truth of it when they collided into him with the force of an iron wall, pushing the creature backward with tremendous force and velocity. But the most fearsome and supreme of the tailed beasts — the legendary Nine-Tailed Demon Fox — was tenacious and, somehow, it had managed to regain its footing and stopped itself once the barrage of Rasengan had exploded and dematerialized.
However, our brave golden knight and Hinata's man was tenacious, too. "Here's one more!" Zipping out from the concealing wall of water created by the Kyuubi's abrupt stop, our hero ran up to the massive beast and slammed a Rasenshuriken into its face.
What kind of power is this?The fiend exclaimed in a flurry of pain and disbelief as the sphere expanded, violently pushing him back and separating him from his chakra that a horde of Naruto's clones were pulling on.
"You did it!" Kushina cheered. "You dragged the Kyuubi's chakra out!"
All of Naruto's shadow clones dispelled then, and the transparent silhouette that was the embodiment of the Bijuu's charka slowly poured into him, merging with that of his own.
The warrior was awestruck by the sudden transformation induced by his new acquisition. From head to toe, his entire body had taken on a brilliant golden hue with orange flames waving and flickering upwards around him, like a barrier. And intricate designs in black were etched on his body.
Kurama's eyes flashed.
Traveling at full career across the open seas atop his back, Hinata felt a subtle force ripple throughout the furry deity. "Ku-Kurama-kun, what's wrong?"
"Just now... Naruto took almost all of my chakra to achieve a new form."
"Na-Naruto-kun did? A-Are you in pain? Will Kurama-kun disappear?" Her voice was dejected, panicked.
"No. This form has its own individual chakra reserves, so I won't disappear."
Hinata sighed a breath of relief, clinging tighter to the Bijuu's lush fur.
"We should hurry to the island. Knowing Naruto, he will be anxious to make his way onto the battlefield to aid his friends, after attaining this new power."
"H-Hn!"
Rendered weak and skinny by its chakra being extracted, the Kyuubi struggled to push its body up off the ground to glower at the newly born hero. But, to the fox's dismay, Naruto was busy assessing his glowing body with astonishment.
"Is this... the Kyuubi's power?"
"Naruto..."the demon's sinister quirk extended all the way down to its snout, and its veiny crimson eyes were sharp and menacing. "How dare you... how dare you anger me, Naruto!"
Despite its fatigue, an enraged and emaciated Kyuubi attempted to fire off another gigantic Tailed-Beast Ball, but its attack was almost immediately dissipated as Naruto used a new, stronger seal to imprison the weakened beast once again.
Is this the Rikudou's?
You really are something; I can't believe he still had that much in him...
"I'll remember this, Naruto."The fiend closed its eyes, disappearing in the darkness of its newly constructed cage.
I'm sorry, Kyuubi. But I won't treat you badly. So just stay there for a little while. In any case, I'm still curious about what I felt — apart of you being near Hinata.
Inside Kushina's realm, Naruto opened his eyes to find her cupping his hand with both of her own. She was smiling happily. "You did it, Naruto!"
"Yeah." His voice was but a whisper, and he squeezed her fingers, his expression pale. "Where will you go now, mom?"
"I can finally go to where Minato is..."
Naruto's eyes widened, and then slitted morosely as he tried to digest the bittersweet reality of that. He knew this moment would come but it was so hard to accept. His heart was breaking.
"There is something I must tell you before I leave, however."
He held her gaze.
"It's about when you were born, sixteen years ago, Naruto. I'll tell you what really happened."
"What really happened sixteen years ago?"
"I was the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki before you. That's where the story begins."
"You were the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki, mom?" Naruto couldn't believe it, nor was he pleased. Just how much had his family suffered overall?
"Yes. Before I tell you what happened sixteen years ago, I want to tell you more about my story. I was chosen to be the second Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. In fact, I was brought to Konoha for the sole purpose of becoming the Jinchuuriki. I was from the Whirlpool Country."
"Why?" Naruto was livid. "Why did they have to choose someone from another country as their Jinchuuriki?"
"As you said, I was from another country, another village. They may have been from two different countries, but Konoha and Uzushio shared a deep bond.
The Senju Clan from Konoha and the Uzumaki from the Whirling Tides where distant blood relatives. My people were known to live for many years, so our village also came to be called the 'Village of Longevity'. Sealing techniques were our clan's forte. We were a bit rowdy, though.
The Four Symbol Seal on your stomach was actually developed by my clan. I was also the one who taught sealing techniques to your father, Minato."
Naruto smoothed his palm over his belly.
"And, that symbol on your back... that's the symbol of Uzushio. As a sign of that friendship, the symbol is still worn today in Konoha, isn't it?"
"What happened to your village?"
Kushina bowed her head. "It's long gone. Because our sealing techniques were feared during the war, our village was targeted and quickly destroyed. Those who survived chose to hide themselves across various lands."
"But why did they choose you?" Naruto asserted.
"I was apparently born with chakra powerful enough to suppress the Kyuubi — a rare ability, even within my village."
Naruto bit his lip. That wasn't reason enough to subject his mother to the same loneliness and grief he faced.
"Have you heard of the battle between the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama-sama and Uchiha Madara?"
"Yeah," Naruto nodded.
"The woman who was the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki before me became the First Hokage's wife. Her name was Uzumaki Mito. To help Hashirama-sama, who had obtained the Kyuubi during his fight against Madara, she sealed the Kyuubi within her body and became its Jinchuuriki. After that, Konoha was always in possession of the Kyuubi.
But, when Mito-sama neared the end of her days, they brought me there, as a vessel for the Kyuubi."
Naruto couldn't stand what he was hearing. "So they treated you like an object!"
"At first, I didn't know why they had brought me there, so I was quite shocked when I found out. It was all kept secret, of course. The only ones who knew were the Third Hokage and a few high-level officials. Not even the Sannin knew.
I felt as if I was being crushed by the pressure and loneliness of being a Jinchuuriki. But, Mito-sama, my predecessor, called for me. She was a nice lady — quite motherly, and could completely relate to what I was going through. She would always listen to all that I had to say and give me advice.
She told me that, while it was true we were vessels for the Kyuubi, there was a way to live happily, even as a Jinchuuriki. And that was to fill those vessels with... love. That's what Mito-sama told me."
"So you were happy, even as a Jinchuuriki, mom?" Naruto was anxious to learn the truth of it.
Kushina smiled warmly, her cheeks pink with all the fond memories she made with Minato and all their friends. "Yup!"
Naruto's eyes widened, quivering, and tears quickly spilled over onto his face. From the bottom of his heart, he was truly happy. He knew what it was like to be shunned as the host of the notorious Kyuubi — a fate he wouldn't have wished onto his most hated enemy.
Kushina giggled. "What are you crying for, Naruto?"
He cleared his tears. "Huh?"
"What is it?"
"But the Kyuubi attacked Konoha sixteen years ago. Dad told me a masked man from Akatsuki was behind it. How did you still have the Kyuubi, then?"
Kushina averted her eyes. "I guess your father didn't tell you the whole story. I'm not surprised. When you met him, your father didn't have as much time to talk to you as I have now.
It is true, though. Sixteen years ago, that masked man manipulated the Kyuubi and attacked Konoha. But, right up until then, I still had the Kyuubi within me."
"Then how?"
"I don't know how, but that masked man knew."
"Knew what?"
"He knew the one moment when the seal that kept the Bijuu inside the Jinchuuriki weakened. He planned to steal the Kyuubi during that moment."
"The one moment when the seal is weakened?" Naruto reiterated. "When is that?"
"During childbirth."
There was a moment of silence.
"During the ten-month period, when a female Jinchuuriki becomes pregnant and gives birth, the energy from the seal is transferred onto the child in her womb, thus weakening its hold on the Bijuu."
"You mean..."
"It was October 10th, sixteen years ago:
After receiving the splendid news from my pediatrician that I was pregnant, I hurried back home to tell Minato. We were both thrilled beyond words. We were going to be parents!
Your father took exceptionally good care of me throughout that time. He took over the duty of cooking and cleaning, insisted that I took it easy, and refrained from over-exerting myself. I got so frustrated of his excessive caution that I just eventually surrendered and allowed myself to be spoilt. It was awesome!" She giggled naughtily.
"Nine months later, we were summoned by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen-sama and his wife, Biwako-sama, and informed about the Kyuubi's seal weakening during child's birth.
It had been decided that I would have the child in secrecy outside the village within a barrier. And there would be ANBU bodyguards, directly under the command of the Third Hokage.
Childbirth was just as painful as I thought. But, before I could see the fruit of my labors for more than a minute, the masked man somehow made it passed the guards and the barrier. In an instant, he killed Biwako-sama along with her friend and held you, a baby, hostage.
Minato had to abandon suppressing the Kyuubi and overseeing the seal to save you. He teleported you to safely but, by the time he returned for me, the masked man had already broken the seal and released the Kyuubi under his control.
Once Minato came back for me, the man took the Bijuu to Konoha where he unleashed its fury upon the village. The Third Hokage quickly took command of the shinobi and launched a counter-strike against the beast. But the Kyuubi was proving to be more than they could handle. Many people lost their lives in the chaos, both civilians and shinobi alike.
Meanwhile, Minato was engaged in a fierce fight with the masked man. It turns out he could also use space-time techniques, which is why he was able to bypass the powerful barrier at the cave where I was giving birth to you. Nevertheless, Minato was able to relinquish his control over the Kyuubi and overpowered him to the point where he retreated. But not before leaving an ominous threat.
Minato regrouped with the Third Hokage and the army of shinobi under his command just in time to teleport the Kyuubi away, before it could fire off one of its deadly blasts in the village. And the only location he could take the beast was the safe haven he had taken you and I. But he also teleported us outside to safety before the Kyuubi's blast could affect us.
In turn — despite my exhaustion — I used my sealing technique to immobilize the Bijuu. I told Minato that I would use my remaining chakra to pull the Kyuubi in and die along with it, but he didn't agree.
Kneeling before me with a baby Naruto in his hand, I watched as Minato frowned behind his tears. 'Kushina, there's no reason you should have to die together with the Kyuubi. Use what little chakra you have left to ensure a reunion with Naruto.'
'Eh?'
'I will seal all of your remaining chakra into Naruto.' He slowly wiped away his tears, his features illustrating his conviction now. 'I'll be part of the Eight Trigram Seal. I will take the Kyuubi with me. Since I'm not a Jinchuuriki, I'll use the only option I have left: The Shiki Fūjin!'
My face suddenly turned pale. 'But after you use that seal...'
'Also, I will only seal away half of the Kyuubi.'
The Bijuu snarled, eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
'It's physically impossible to completely seal it, away. It's not a wise strategy, either. If you take the Kyuubi and its seal with you, there wouldn't be a Jinchuuriki until it was resurrected and the balance between the Bijuu that countries have would be ruined.
The Shiki Fūjin will seal half of the Kyuubi with me for eternity. The other half... I'll seal the other half in Naruto with the Eight Trigram Seal!'
I gasped.
'I know what you're thinking. But, remember what Jiraiya-sensei said about the world's revolution and all of the catastrophes that will accompany it.
I realized two things today: first, the masked man that attacked you will surely direct the world into chaos. Second, the one who will stop him... is our child! This boy, Jiraiya-sensei's godchild, will clear the way for a future as a Jinchuuriki. I just know he will.' He smiled reassuringly as he placed our baby down on the ground, wrapped in his blanket.
'But, Minato...'
He pushed to his feet and flew through the hand seals, summoning the deity associated with the Shiki Fūjin at his back. 'We have to believe in this child! After all, he's our son!
After I've used the Shiki Fūjin, I'll seal your chakra into Naruto. I want you to be there to help him out, when he attempts to control the Kyuubi's power as a Jinchuuriki.'
'But he's our... he's our son!' I asserted, unable to accept his resolve, however rational it was. 'I'd never want him to live while carrying such a burden!' There was a moment of silence. 'Why are you using the Shiki Fūjin? Is it just so I can see him when he's grown up? It'll only be for a short time, anyway! There's no reason for you to die!
I want you to stay by Naruto's side and watch him grow up! Why then? To maintain the balance between the Bijuu? For the sake of the country? The village? There's no reason to sacrifice Naruto for that! There's no reason for you to sacrifice yourself for me!'
Minato was calm. 'Abandoning one's nation and abandoning one's village... it's the same as abandoning one's child. You should understand, since your nation was destroyed. You know how harsh life can be for someone without a nation. Besides, we're a family... of shinobi!
Even if I were to live, I can't compete with you.' He stooped down a bit in front of me, capturing my eyes with his. 'Even if it's only for a short amount of time, there are things you, as a mother, can tell him that I cannot — that's a mother's duty.
I'm not doing this just for you; I'm doing it for Naruto, too.' Kneeling, he gently took our slumbering child into his arms, his eyes soft and sincere. 'I'm willing to die for my son — that's a father's duty.'
We shared a moment's silence, our eyes locked for the longest moment, and I humbly conceded to his wise and noble decision. Minato had never disappointed me before and, despite the height of the stakes, I confided in him. He always knew what was best... my decisive husband.
Quickly sealing half of the Kyuubi's chakra, despite its growling and words of contempt, Minato placed his palm to the ground and summoned a ritual pedestal. 'Good, now for the Eight Trigram Seal.' He sauntered over to the pedestal and gently rested baby to lie down on the cushion. 'I'll seal the Kyuubi inside Naruto.'
A ritual pedestal? The Bijuu's teeth were bare, eyes sharp and unswerving. Does he plan on sealing me again? In that baby, of all things?
I tried to crawl over to the pedestal, to look at my beautiful baby boy one last time, before he had become a vessel for a creature that I loathed. But my body wasn't in any condition for even that meager level of effort. I began coughing.
'Kushina, are you okay?' Minato exclaimed, rushing over to me.
The Kyuubi's eyes flashed with sudden malice and it capitalized on the fact that the baby had been left unprotected and drove its claws forward for a fatal attack. Summoning every ounce of energy we had in a sudden spasm of adrenaline rush, both Minato and I intercepted its attack. The Bijuu's claw pierced us both in the process, Minato and then me, but we were able to stop it just before Naruto was injured.
'I told you... this was a father's duty,' Minato chided softly.
'Then all the better, since I'm the mother,' I smiled disobediently.
'You bastard!' The Kyuubi wasn't pleased.
We ignored him, and I struggled to catch my breath. 'This is the first time I've lost an argument to you. I understand now how serious you are about this.'
'Thank you, Kushina.' He grinned, and then wiped a speck of blood from his mouth to his palm as retribution before forming the seals to perform a summoning. 'Kuchiyose no Justu!'
Gerotora appeared from the smoke and almost keeled over in shock when he saw a most unenthused Kyuubi sprawled out in front of him. 'The Kyuubi? And you, Fourth, what the hell is going on?'
'Gerotora, I'm giving you the key to the seal. Take it to Jiraiya-sensei immediately and store it within him.'
'I see...' the Third said, restricted outside my barrier. 'Minato plans on making his child the Jinchuuriki to save the village!'
'I've got the key,' Gerotora said, furling the scroll back into place around its torso. 'I'll leave now.'
And he was gone.
'That's taken care of,' Minato whispered with a smile, and then noticed that the Shiki Fūjin deity was getting impatient. 'Kushina, I'm almost out of time. It's time for the Eight Trigram Seal. I want to put some of my chakra into Naruto, as well. It'll be a while before we see him, so say what you want to say.'
'Naruto...' we both gazed affectionately at our sleeping child. 'Don't be picky about your food. Eat lots so you can grow big. Take a bath every day, and stay warm. And don't stay up late at night; you'll need your sleep. Make friends. You don't need a lot of them — just a few that you can really trust! I'm not one to talk, but do your best in school and ninjutsu. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, so don't feel down, if you're not good at something. Respect your teachers and seniors at the Academy.
Oh, and don't forget the three shinobi vices. Be especially careful when lending or borrowing money. Make sure to save the money you earn from your missions. Don't drink any alcohol until you're twenty. Drinking too much is bad for your health, so do so moderately. And, as for women... I'm a woman myself, so I don't know much about this, but there are only men and women in this world, so it's okay if you become interested in a woman, but don't go after a bad one; find someone just like your mom!
Speaking of vices, watch out for Jiraiya-sensei, y'know!' I took a few shaky breaths, clinging tightly to the claw penetrating us both. 'Naruto... you will face a lot of pain and suffering in your life. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams... and believe that your dreams will come true!
There's many, many, many, many, many, many more things I want to share with you,' I couldn't help but cry, knowing the end was now. 'I wish I could stay with you longer! I love you.
I'm sorry, Minato; I spoke for too long.'
He shook his head with a smile, his nose brushing my hair. 'Don't worry. Naruto... my advice as your father... is everything your chatty mother just said.' He winked, and then closed his eyes in an echo of mine and whispered: Eight Trigrams Seal..."
Kushina cleared her eyes, failing to wipe away the sting of guilt. "I'm sorry for making you the Kyuubi's vessel," she apologized quietly. "I'm sorry for making you bear our burden. I'm sorry I couldn't live by your side. I'm sorry I couldn't shower you with love."
Naruto lowered his head, eyes half-lidded and calm. "Don't say 'sorry'. I went through some tough times because I was a Jinchuuriki, but I never blamed you or dad for any of it."
Kushina's eyes widened.
"Also... I don't really know what 'being-loved-by-your-parents' means, because you and dad were never around but, I managed." He rested both hands on his hips with an appreciative grin. "I know now that you and dad sacrificed your lives for me. I know that, before I took in the Kyuubi, I was filled with your love for me! That's why I'm happy!"
Kushina couldn't control her tears and she was certain she was crying for her and Minato both. Her heart beamed at their son's words, and she could feel a perpetual joy replacing the guilt and grief she had bottled up inside.
"I'm glad I'm your son. And it turns out that I've been following your and dad's advice all along: I have lots of great friends who support me and I've found the girl I love. Her name is Hinata, and I proposed to her a few weeks ago. We'll get married, after the war.
I wish you could meet her, mom."
Time slowed, and then Kushina lunged toward him as her body began dematerializing. Are you listening, Minato? Our love reached him! "Naruto!" She hugged him. "You've grown up so much! I'm so happy that you've found love and friends that you can lean on.
Thank you for making me a mother. Thank you for making Minato a father. Thank you for being our child! From the bottom of my heart... thank you!"
Naruto closed his eyes as tears rippled down his face, reveling in the soft echo of her voice and the warm beams of light that wafted passed him, carrying off his mother's spirit to her final resting place beside her loving husband — wait! But first, a detour...
Hinata gasped. All of a sudden, she wasn't on Kurama's back anymore. All of a sudden, she could no longer hear the lapping of the waves and smell the crisp salty air of the open seas. This realm was quiet. There were no clouds — an entire world stretching outward into infinity, painted entirely of a splash of gold and grey. But Hinata's attention was especially drawn to the lovely woman standing before her. She had long, reddish hair and wore a pretty dress and a warm smile.
Was this an illusion? Genjustu?
"Mmm..." without a word, the woman slowly circles around the anxious princess, assessing her lean figure with fierce female-scrutiny. Then, she abruptly groped her from behind with a playful giggle, massaging her breasts until the girl surrendered to a cute whimper.
Flushed scarlet, Hinata hugged her chest shyly and pursed her lips, pulling away from the woman's bizarre and inappropriate means of introduction.
The stranger grinned. "You have a stunning body, y'know. As expected from Naruto — he reeled in a real looker, and a Hyūga at that!"
Hinata's eyes widened a tad. "Na-Naruto-kun? You know him? Who are you? And where am I?"
"My name is Kushina, and I'm Naruto's mother. You must be Hinata... my soon-to-be Daughter-in-Law."
For a moment, the princess couldn't find her tongue. She had a hard time believing anything, from what she had seen to what she had heard. "Ho-How is any of this possible? Where am I?"
"We're inside a part of your subconscious mind. I'll explain..."
Hinata was evidently anxious.
"Sixteen years ago — when the Kyuubi was sealed inside Naruto — some of my chakra, fused with my consciousness, was also sealed inside of him. This was for the purpose of my aiding him, once he had decided to try to control the Bijuu.
Moments ago, Naruto succeeded in attaining the Kyuubi's power, and he's told me about you. As to how I found you... while I was in contact with the Kyuubi, I sensed an extension of its entity in a different location. It was a very thin link, but I was able to trace the thread that connected the two and made a connection with you since you both are currently in physical contact.
I don't know how it's possible for the Kyuubi to be outside the seal, in any shape or form but, I don't sense any malice emanating from its chakra."
"Hn! Kurama-kun has been protecting me since Naruto-kun left the village." Hinata beamed, her eyes glossy with fiery excitement. "Is it true? Has Naruto-kun really succeeded in controlling the Kyuubi's power?"
"That's right."
Then Kurama-kun was right about what he said before...
Kushina inched closer, rendered emotional as the girl heaved a smile of relief and struggled to wipe away her tears. "You really love him, don't you?"
She sniffled. "More than anything. I don't know what I would, if anything were to happen to Naruto-kun. I want to be by his side and protect him."
Kushina lightly cupped the girl's flushed cheek as she sought her eyes. "Continue loving him, Hinata..."
The princess's eyes quivered.
"Shower him with the love and affection that his father and I didn't get the chance to give. Filling a Jinchuuriki with love is the best way to make him or her happy. And I'm sure Naruto will make you happy in return."
"I will," she whispered behind her tears. "I promise..."
Kushina smiled, and then slowly veered her palm from the girl's cheek to chest. "It's faint, but I can feel a power lying dormant within you — a power that will help you in your endeavor to protect him."
Closing her eyes, the woman took a few deep breaths — finding her center — summoning the unique powers of her Uzumaki bloodline. Chakra converged in her arm in a cool, controlled stream, flowing into Hinata with delicate precision to coax awake her latent abilities.
The princess took a breath, as if finally resurfacing after being submerged under water for far too long. She could feel the change; feel the new chakra-nature coursing fast and cool through her veins. She felt invincible — capable of performing the unimaginable. With this boost in power, she knew with great certitude that she would be able to protect Naruto and to help pave the path to their dreams.
Kushina opened her eyes and allowed a sweet smile as Hinata looked down at her hands with astonishment, sensing her newly found element. "I've also infused the remainder of my chakra inside you. I hope it will be of some use during the war."
"Kushina-san..." tears pooled in her eyes again. "I-I don't know how to thank you."
"Thank you for loving and looking after my son, Hinata."
"Kushina-san..."
The woman pulled her into a motherly embrace. "He misses you," she whispered to her ear. "Go to him, and look after yourself in this war, Hinata... for his sake, too. He'll need you by his side to win this revolutionary movement to change the world as Jiraiya-sama said he would.
I'm glad he chose you to love and entrust his heart to. I wish I could stay to see you both get married, but you have my blessings. I love you both — now, go out there and show the world what you're made off! I'm rooting for you!"
"Hn!"
Hinata felt as the woman's touch vanished, her body disappearing into a sparkling stream of warm light. Then, suddenly, the young kunoichi was back in the outside realm, the dark blue ocean spreading out all around her. And, in the distance, a tiny spot appeared in their range of sight.
"Is that..."
"Hah," Kurama answered coolly, still pelting forward at full career. "That's the island where Naruto's located. We'll be there in a few minutes."
"Hn!" She frowned with a mixture of emotions.
"...What did she tell you?"
The question took Hinata by surprise, but she didn't dwell on the unknown. Her eyes narrowed with a warm gleam. "That we should win the war!"
Kurama heaved a wolfish grin. "I'll be at your side, through thick and thin."
Naruto smiled, the tail of his forehead protector waving in a gentle breeze. Mom... from now on, I'll stop eating only ramen and start eating vegetables, as well. Though, Hinata already makes sure of that.
I love taking bathes, so don't worry about that. I even go to hot springs pretty often. And I always sleep a lot. Actually,he chuckled. Maybe I sleep a bit too much...
Regarding friends, I've met a lot of awesome people. I wanted you to meet them, as well, especially Hinata. However, there's one guy I don't really get along with...
When it comes to studies, I'm afraid it's just as you feared. Of course, I won't let that get me down. During my Academy years, I met lots of teachers and seniors that I now greatly respect.
Jiraiya-sensei taught me all about the three shinobi vices. He was just the kind of guy you said he was but, he also taught me how to live as a shinobi. He was a great shinobi himself. Something tells me he's still alive out there somewhere, though.
I am Uzumaki Naruto — a ninja of Konoha. My dream is to inherit the title of Hokage and to surpass all the Hokages who came before me! He drove a fist to his chest. "To become an even cooler man than my dad! And to become an even stronger shinobi than my mom!"
Akatsuki's Animalistic Spy & Hinata's Arrival
Killer-Bee and Yamato stood silent, towering over a motionless Naruto. Standing on the razor's edge in anxiousness for so long had them numb in the toes. It had been a while since the Kyuubi's cloak dissipated. Had this meant that Naruto had turned the tables in his fight against the vicious beast? Or had the prolonging of his endeavor meant that something terrible had gone awry?
Suddenly, a smile stretched our hero's lips and his eyes opened in a flash. "Right on!" He raised his arms high in an exuberant cheer.
Yamato almost had a fit in his shock, while Bee merely grinned, never doubting him for a second. Yeah, right.
"What happened?" Yamato approached him, inquisitive. "Did everything go well?"
"Well, a lot happened." Naruto looked to Bee, bumping fists.
"Yo! Oh, so that's what happened? Got it!" Bee nodded with a smile, sharing his fellow Jinchuuriki's evident glee. "Your face, right now, coolness!"
"What about the Kyuubi?" Yamato pressed. "Did you manage to control it?"
"Well, you did great!" Bee bumped fists again, as if enhancing their telepathic Jinchuuriki-connection. "Especially back then when you did that, yo!"
Naruto giggled while Yamato looked from him to Bee in his frustration, impatience eating him from the inside out.
"Hey, Naruto! Don't tell me..."
He heaved a goofy grin, mirroring that of his new best buddy. "Yeah, that's right!"
Yamato was breathing deadly fire by this point. "Come on, tell me what happened already! 'This, that, there.' I don't get it! On purpose! You're doing this on purpose! That I do get!"
Sometime later...
"Don't worry, Yamato-taichou," Naruto reassured, sitting crossed-legged before both him and Bee. "The Kyuubi's chakra is now stored in a separate place within me. It's not like I'm always using it."
In a separate dimension, from the one that housed the Kyuubi, Naruto looked up at a colossal orb of pure energy. It hovered in the air above four red gates that formed a square, each wooden structure sitting at a right angle.
The composed knight looked up at the vast reservoir and, with a mere lift of his arm, the chakra extended in a slender stream into his palm, giving him complete access to the overwhelming measure of natural energy.
Killer-Bee and Yamato watched in silent astonishment as Naruto was suddenly enveloped in flames before their very eyes. Powerful chakra emanated from his body in an upward wave of pure awesomeness. There was no heat, no crackle — but they could tell he had once again ascended to a new pinnacle of power, raising the bar once more for his peers, seniors, and teachers.
"This is how I felt when I used the Kyuubi's chakra."
"Unbelievable..." Yamato muttered, watching as the wooden totem statues he had created towered high into the air, sprouting thick limbs and braches, as well as lush leaves as they basked in Naruto's energy. "It's full of life force. For my Wood Element to be so influenced by it..."
Suddenly, Naruto felt a telling prick — his complacency jostled by the alarm his newly found sensory abilities raised.
"What is it?" Yamato and Bee noted the abrupt shift in his mood, and followed his eyes as they veered to the animalistic sword strapped to a certain someone's back.
"Do you really think you can hide from me like that?" Naruto drove his fist into his palm; nonchalant and ready to test-drive his newly attained form.
Yamato broke into a sweat, looking around apprehensively, eager to have the preemptive strike. "What, can you sense someone else's chakra?"
Bee struck a few cool poses despite their predicament. "So you can feel it — another being? For me not to notice — so embarrassing."
Impossible, Kisame snarled, folded in an anatomically impossible fashion deep inside Samehada's belly. My chakra is the same as Samehada's; there's no way that he'd notice.
"It's not chakra," Naruto explained coolly. "I'm feeling something more gloomy and evil... there! That!" He pointed at the sword.
"The sword?" Yamato pivoted around to look at it.
At the same time, the weapon flew off from Bee's back and Kisame pushed his grotesque head out of the creature's mouth, tearing through the coils of cloth that wrapped it. "Seems like you can sense evil or hatred."
Naruto frowned.
"That is not something regular sensory-types can learn. I suppose it's the power of a Jinchuuriki who has managed to control the Kyuubi." Kisame was awfully calm despite the bind in which he was tangled.
"You're that shark bastard from Akatsuki," Bee dissed. "Why? I'm sure we chopped his head off!" He remembered when he, along with the Raikage, performed their notorious Double Lariat to separate the shark's head from his shoulders. "How did you escape our tag-team attack?"
"I just switched places while we were fighting in that mass of water; you chopped my clone's head off."
"A clone disappears when you kill it," Bee retorted. "There was a corpse. I'm having doubts. Plus, if someone had transformed, our seer would've noticed. Different problem."
"It was a very special clone, you see — a parasitic clone that can be remotely controlled. With that said, I suppose our chat is over." Without averting his gaze, he moved a little to the left with a grin. "Still, with the situation I am in, facing two Jinchuuriki and a Wood Element user, to be frank, I'd say it's quite harsh."
One of the spikes extending from Samehada pressed a small, circular switch on the floor, opening the only door leading out of the room.
"What?" Bee frowned behind his shades. "How do you know how to open the door to this room?"
"What a foolish question," Kisame smiled mockingly with two rows of razor sharp teeth. "I entered here as a spy, you see."
He began his hasty escape toward the exit — crawling using the spikes at either sides of Samehada's rectangular form, like a cockroach. Naruto's eyes narrowed and, almost instantaneously, he was there, delivering a fierce downward punch onto the fiend's back, shattering the earth beneath them.
Yamato gasped.
"The Body Flicker Technique?" Bee exclaimed, gesticulating with style. "From where I'm standing, just like a Yellow Flash!"
He's fast, Kisame snarled inwardly. I never expected...
He spat up a mouthful of blood — an indicator that withdrawal had suddenly become top priority. And, without looking back, he continued his escape, slipping speedily through the door.
"My foot," Naruto grunted struggling to pull it out of the hole he had made upon dropping in on Kisame. "I used too much power, so I got struck! Dammit!"
"Seems like you're not at the Fourth's level just yet," Yamato commented. "Bee-san, please go after him! I'll help Naruto!"
"Leave it to me!" He made a sporty dash toward the exit. "I'm in hot pursuit!"
In the event of a cataclysmic nuclear explosion, cockroaches are one of few insects that are likely to survive; therefore, Kisame couldn't allow himself to be captured and taken out by such a minuscule force.
He blazed down the corridor at breakneck speed toward the waterfall with Bee hot on his tail.
Meanwhile...
"What? Your true self will appear if you sit down in front of the waterfall? Is that really true?" Gai's Springtime of Youth was blazing with curiosity.
"Yeah," Motoi replied. "Naruto also defeated his own true self at this very spot."
"Why don't you give it a try, as well, Gai-san?" A fellow Konoha shinobi suggested playfully.
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" Gai retaliated in his panic. "Supporting Naruto takes priority! I came here as a sensei to protect him!"
"No need to get so upset..." the man returned quietly. "The truth is that you're just afraid of what your true self might be, right? By any chance..."
Gai giggled awkwardly, like a braying donkey, sweating bullets. "What? You-You think I'm scared? No problem!" He leaped onto the spot of earth in the water.
"I was only joking!" The man admitted with raised hands. "Although, I do get the feeling that your true form won't be human."
The Jōnin laughed aloud, while Motoi quietly withdrew into his invisible shell, merely a passive spectator without any commentary. Drama obviously wasn't one of his most favored pastimes.
"No need to take this so seriously..."
The man's voice dwindled as Gai closed his eyes and quickly slipped into a trance. When they snapped open, he saw a silhouette behind the falls, proceeding ever closer with beastly strides.
"Honestly," the voice was low and saturated with ridicule. "Should you be blabbering only about 'youth, youth' all the time? If an old-timer like you keeps pushing himself all the time, he'll end up destroying his body, you know.
I understand that you have to keep it up in front of Lee but, do you really think anyone likes that faked youth that you're forcing upon yourself?"
"Show yourself!" Gai was livid, pointing with a sneer at the obscured imposter. "Come and say what you want to my face!"
"Fine. It's time for you to know your true self..."
Just before the silhouette could walk through the cascading water and proceed to beat the so-called immature Jōnin into shape, Kisame busted through in his stead.
Gai cringed, his eyes popping. "That is the true me? A rare bug!"
"If I'm not mistaken, that's the rare beast," Kisame said to himself.
Gai took an offensive stance. "Me-who-has-forgotten-youth... I shall beat you into shape with my guts!"
"Gai-san!" His fellow shinobi called. "That's not your true self!"
"Be careful!" Motoi warned.
With fire in his eyes, Konoha's Green Beast sprang into the air and attacked an airborne Kisame with an elbow and kick combo, sending him crashing into the face of the mountain with destructive force. "Leaf Rock — Destroying Rise!"
At the same time, Bee cautiously exited the cave.
"Eh?" Gai swiveled his head to the side. "It's not my true self?"
"Take a closer look!" His comrade instructed. "There's no way that could be you!"
"The instant you open your eyes, you exit the Waterfall of Truth," Motoi informed, assuming a battle-ready posture like everyone else.
Gai turned his attention to the cockroach again. "This guy... if I'm not mistaken... he's a blowfish?"
Everyone looked at the full-ass-grown Jōnin with shock and disbelief.
Gai cupped his chin. "Or maybe it was a balloon fish."
"Well, there are a lot of funny-looking creatures around here," his comrade agreed. "Is that really a blowfish? I've heard they taste delicious!"
"Are you being stupid on purpose?" Motoi snapped, tempted to pound him a top the head.
Kisame grinned. "As always, it seems like your brains are below that of a rare beast."
Bee began rapping coolly, determined to squash the cockroach before it could flee any farther. "This guy, a spy, an Akatsuki fly. If we let him escape with our intel, we'll all be put to shame."
At the sound of its master's melodious voice, the animalistic sword undid the fusion and separated itself from Kisame, skipping atop the water's surface to reunite with its delicious chakra source and friend.
"Damn you, Samehada..." Kisame sneered, emaciated from having to shrink his body to fit inside the organic sword.
"This guy… I'm certain he's the shark man who was partnered with Itachi." The Konoha shinobi disliked the situation more by the second. "Although, he seems to be weakened."
"How did he get in here?" Motoi wondered.
Samehada crawled up against the Jinchuuriki's torso, snuggling against him, and Bee grinned, baby talking the creature. "Oh, I see. He forced you. That must've been harsh on you, huh?"
Samehada vibrated and made some throaty snarl by way of communication. Wait, did Bee really understand all this?
The Konoha shinobi frowned. "That's pretty disgusting..."
While everyone was distracted, Kisame took the opportunity to slip into the water without a sound, using his affinity with the element to swim against the current and taking a hold of Samehada's hilt without notice. The creature writhed in discomfort at the connection, biting seemingly with harmless fun on Bee's arm.
"Hey, hey, you're playin' rough!" The Jinchuuriki rapped coolly. "Bein' popular — that's pretty tough."
Motoi cringed, while the shinobi from Konoha in his dark shades veered his attention back to Kisame, who was already gone. "Shit! He went underwater — and he's a Water Element user!"
"I know," Motoi gritted his teeth, and then looked to his old childhood friend. "Bee, watch out!"
But it was already too late. Kisame had already started absorbing the Jinchuuriki's chakra by using Samehada as the medium. His once emaciated body regained its vitality — biceps, triceps, abs, pectoral muscles and the like grew and went rigid with power.
He grinned slyly.
"He's absorbing your chakra!" Motoi alerted, running over.
"Dammit!" Shades frowned. "Why are the strong ones always this stupid?"
Gai blinked obliviously — a total goof ball.
"Oh, stop it!" Bee giggled. "You're so cute, and I'm losing strength."
Kisame released Samehada's hilt, poking his head above the surface with his trademark grin. At the same time, Bee collapsed to his knees, robbed of most of his energy.
"Gai-san, support me!" Glasses exclaimed. "I'll try to get intel from him, instead! Secret Technique: Stone Needles!" He threw a pair of kunai suspended by wires, which Kisame took in his forearm, to protect his face.
The man grinned, carefree despite falling victim to the attack. A technique that paralyzes by injecting chakra into the target? However, to me, that's quite convenient.
Glasses grunted, his knees buckling beneath him. So... he's absorbing my chakra, instead. Such absorbing power... he fell flat on his face.
"Leaf Whirlwind!In the same beat, Gai pounced on the bastard with a powerful roundhouse kick to finish the job but to no avail — the man effortlessly blocked the strike, and drove Gai back to boot.
Kisame grinned, always grinning. I've regenerated enough chakra, he gloated inwardly and then slapped his palms together in an ominous seal. "Water Element: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"
Water suddenly enveloped him then morphed into a large shark, encasing the fiend in an almost impenetrable body of water. Gai was knocked mercilessly out of the way, as the water-forged titan shot into the air, like a bullet.
"Shit, he's getting away!" Motoi swore in his frustration. "He's fast! If he crosses the barrier surrounding this island, we're done for! If we don't stop him before that, even I won't be able to sense him!"
"I'll stop him!" The spotlights were all on Gai now, and he was ready to make up for his blunder by stomping the former cockroach. "Eight Inner Gates!" His knees bent a tad as he unlocked and exerted his power, the water and immediate wild life trembling by the spiritual pressure thick in the air. "Sixth Gate: Gate of View... Open!"
"Let yourself be captured by my Hachibi arms, my odd beastly friend!" Bee was also eager to contribute toward the hunt, and he tapped into his Jinchuuriki powers, transforming his right arm into that of the Eight-Tail's. "I'll throw ya away in the direction of ten!"
"Don't sacrifice the truth for the sake of a rhyme!" Motoi chided, pointing to the sky. "The direction is two o'clock!"
Ignoring the ranting man, Gai jumped into the giant hand and allowed himself to be catapulted into the air after Kisame. Afterwards, Bee fell flat on his face. Samehada approached him with what sounded like a worrisome snarl.
"Bee, are you okay?" Motoi called.
"I'm okay," he raised a wary arm, pointing to the sky in style. "Be back in a sec..."
"You've lost a ridiculous amount of chakra!" Glasses took his turn to chide. "Still, it seems like we can still stop him." He pointed to the waterfall. "Naruto and Yamato are behind this waterfall, right?"
"O-Ouch..." Naruto whimpered as Yamato slowly wrapped a length of cloth around his ankle secured with a splint. He was sitting down, no longer in his new mode. "Can't believe I twisted my ankle." I can't afford to make such pathetic mistakes if I plan to protect everyone in this war.
"Make sure to control your strength from now on," Yamato advised as he completed the delicate task. "Okay, let's go."
"Yeah," Naruto nodded.
Gai was rapidly losing velocity, and he clicked his tongue as the wind pressure continued to oppose him, quickly forming hand seals to summon his old turtle friend. "I'm counting on you!"
"Here I was, thinking it's been a while, but mid-air?!"
"I'll borrow your back!" Gai ignored him, using the creature's sturdy build as a foothold to launch himself into a high arch in hopes of completing his aerial journey.
The turtle plummeted down to earth in a violent spiral, withdrawing into its shell before colliding into what appeared to be a massive boulder before hitting the ground. The poor thing landed on its back. "That Gai — using me as a stepping stone..."
After a moment of struggling, the reptile finally turned over onto its four stubby legs and realized that what it had collided into was in fact a massive turtle and not lifeless landscape. "O-Oh, hi there..."
The creature cast him a curious gaze, munching on some greenery.
Kisame surfaced from the dark depths of the ocean and looked around with that customary grin, scouting the surrounding area. Good, seems like I've lost them.
Biting his thumb, he formed the seals to summon a large blue shark and then followed up by regurgitating the scroll he had swallowed and placing it into the fish's mouth. Then he pressed a hand to the creature's body, as if telepathically instructing the predator what to do with the intel it had received.
Gai landed atop the water in that same instant, green chakra radiating from his body with fierce intensity, stirring the salty tides around him.
"You sure are persistent!" Kisame exclaimed, molding chakra for an impending strike.
"I saw it!" Gai frowned. "That scroll you put inside that shark was intel, right? I won't let you escape!"
"Oh, can you stop me?" Kisame challenged coolly. "You see, I'm at an advantage here." He raised his arm and then threw it downward, initiating his move. "Water Element: A Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
The sea responded to the villain's command, lifting a thousand ravenous sharks far into the sky, to ride upon a fierce tidal wave with their summoner. But Gai held his ground, like a boss, standing firm before the might of the sea and the man-eating sharks that threatened to crush and devour him.
"Now I don't know which shark is which..." he obviously wasn't worried about being crushed and/or devoured. "Then, take this!"
The spirited Jōnin leaped into the air and began throwing wild punches in the face of the approaching tsunami. His hands were like that of machine; moving so fast that they were merely a blur. Then there was fire — hundreds of hurtling beams that shot out from the shockwave of his punches, subduing the giant wave and obliterating majority of the shark clones.
Where's that scroll? Gai pondered as he plummeted back down from the sky, looking down at the fleeing sharks beneath the ocean's surface. Dammit. There's too many of them. There's no helping it; I'll just have to take care of them all in one blow!
He allowed himself to fall and slip beneath the water's surface, intercepting the school of ravenous beasts before unlocking another critical gate. Seventh Gate: Gate of Wonder... Open!
Kisame grinned. "You won't even let the sharks in the water get away, eh? Fine. I'll just have to mince you into pieces, then."
Instinctively, the sharks homed in for a quick feast but the spiritual pressure gushing out from the man's body proved too much to challenge and endure. Even the very water was being driven away from him; repelled by his chakra's intensity as though he were using Pain's notorious Shinra Tensei.
"I see..." Kisame murmured, his hands pressed together as he molded a large amount of chakra for his next move. "A taijutsu that defeats the opponent by hitting them with shockwaves created by striking the air so hard it catches on fire. You truly are a rare beast; to find a shinobi capable of such levels of taijutsu is indeed rare.
For me, it's a third time, but..."
"The next taijutsu is so strong, the previous one can't even be compared to it," Gai warned, poised to unleash hell and then some. "A one-shot-certain-death-strike. Something you don't see very often."
Kisame seemed more exhilarated than apprehensive. "To think that your blue chakra would push away all the water..."
Gai was silent, ready to blow away the man's imminent attack.
Kisame laced his fingers. "Water Element: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
Daytime Tiger!
With two rows of sharp teeth on both the top and bottom of its jaws, Kisame's shark was bigger and fiercer than the last. But Gai's white tiger didn't shy away. The shape-manipulated beasts charged toward one another in a powerful tackle, wresting viciously to overpower the other for dominance.
Kisame heaved a sly grin. This Great Shark Bullet is no ordinary jutsu. The technique itself absorbs chakra, and then becomes greater and stronger. The stronger the opponent's technique, the stronger it gets.
But, despite his theory, his shark didn't seem to be getting any stronger — and the man's Tiger didn't appeared to be losing any strength or backing down. Instead, it was gradually piercing through his struggling shark.
"What's going on?" He panicked. "It should have deflected his technique already, but the Great Shark Bullet won't get any bigger! It should have absorbed all the chakra... it's not made out of chakra?" He bellowed in disbelief, wide-eyed.
"Howl, my youth!" Gai gave one final push in his intention to dominate. In response, his tiger grew five times its original size, amassing more power and velocity as a result and effortlessly devouring Kisame and his vile horde of sharks.
The sea thrashed about in resistance as the beast cleaved through the unruly waves with graceful ease. The force of the attack kept expanding rapidly, enveloping any stray sharks that tried to escape and repelling any clouds that dared hung too close.
Naruto, Bee, Yamato, Motoi, and Glasses struggled to maintain their balance as the blast threatened to swallow up the entire island.
"What the hell is that?" Motoi asked in his shock.
"That's... Gai-san's Eight Gates Release technique: Daytime Tiger!" Yamato was flustered.
"Daytime Tiger?" Naruto reiterated curiously, watching as the blast slowly crept slower toward the island. "I didn't expect such a melancholic name from Gai-sensei with all his 'vigorous youth' talk."
Yamato cringed in defense as the shockwave reached the threshold of the island. "This is no time for idle talk! Daytime Tiger's force spreads rapidly over a vast distance; we need to brace ourselves!"
In that same instant, the blast hit them with powerful wind speeds of up to 82 knots — most of which being absorbed by the surrounding forestry. Leaves and debris blew past the gang as they struggled to defy the hurricane-like force and the nearby trees and ferns shook and protested so violent that Naruto thought they would've been uprooted and swept away in the current.
Gai was standing over a motionless Kisame by the time the blast's repercussions had calmed, the scroll perfectly secured in the master's hand. "Don't move," he warned quietly as the cockroach — lying flat on his back atop the water — slightly tilted his head to look up at his formidable adversary.
"This technique... it wasn't a blast of chakra. And that blue aura..."
"Daytime Tiger isn't ninjutsu made up of chakra," Gai enlightened. "It's taijutsu — it's simply a punch. However, it's an incredibly quick punch. The punch concentrates pressure in a single point. After this compression, the pressure is suddenly released.
The aura that surrounds me is not chakra. One who has opened the Seventh Gate of Wonder releases blue sweat; it is the evaporation of one's fervor."
Kisame grinned. "No wonder, then... I thought it was a blast of chakra, although I saw it getting smaller. This is the third time I've fought you, yet you were still hiding such a technique. You don't seem to remember me, though."
There was a moment of prolonged silence. Then, despite the man's warning, Kisame's thumb twitched beneath the water. Instantaneously, Gai brought down a fierce punch in his gut with the same destructive force of a cannonball.
Blood spewed from his mouth.
"I said, 'don't move'," Gai reminded coolly.
Regrouping with the gang along with his unconscious prisoner, Gai relinquished his hold of the spy so that Yamato could restrict him using his Wood Elemental binding technique.
Afterwards, Glasses opt to extract vital information from the man's mind using a special technique. However, just before he could learn Madara's true identity in the process, Kisame regained consciousness and bit his tongue. Then he struggled despite the chakra suppression effects placed on his wooden bindings until, finally, he broke free.
Before anyone could restrain him, he used the last of his chakra and stamina to enclose himself inside an impenetrable orb-like prison, within which he summoned a trio of sharks to devour him alive. He would rather die than compromise the organization's ambitions and the secrets that would contribute to them coming to fruition.
Everyone looked on in abject shock.
Naruto frowned, a bit curious and perplexed. Kisame had perished by means of his own technique, then why could he still seem to sense a foul and evil presence? Since he was no longer in his newly attained form, could he just be imagining it? There was only one way to know for sure.
Right then, Gai casually unfurled the scroll that Kisame had tried to dispatch with his shark, only to subject everyone to a trap placed within its contents. And, in the same beat, a shark was able to snatch the scroll and fly off toward the sea in a perfectly forged bubble.
Time slowed. Just before Naruto was also swallowed up inside a watery prison — like the one Kisame had sealed himself within — he transformed into his Bijuu-mode, quickly avoided being captured and simultaneously extended an arm made of chakra to pull Bee away from danger's range.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He created one clone to aid the others in escaping their watery tombs while he headed for whatever was buzzing on his sensory-radar. "Octopops — you go after that shark, while I chase after that other thing I'm sensing!"
"I hear ya!"
They both took off.
Kurama slowed to an amble trot as they came within close proximity of the island and its invisible barrier. First, there was a fierce gust of wind that almost took the princess to the skies, and now they saw a horde of Zetsu warriors charging toward them from the island's direction.
"Ze-Zetsu?" Hinata exclaimed in her dismay. "But how?"
"That's not possible; I didn't sense anyone on our trail all this time."
"And I didn't see anyone, either," Hinata added.
"In any case, we have to destroy them; they've already compromised this location."
"H-Hn!"
Suddenly, Naruto appeared before them both, as if he had leaped through time and space to get there — and time slowed to a lazy crawl. Before his feet could touch down atop the water's surface his eyes locked with Kurama's, and, in his peripheral vision, he could see his Hyūga princess mounted atop the miniature-sized beast.
Then what he had felt in his subconscious was real, after all. But how was this all possible? And why hadn't he hurt Hinata, as he threatened he would?
"Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata called passionately as she assessed the golden figure before her. "Is that really you?"
"Hinata... what're you doing here? And how did you find this place?"
"Tsunade-sama sent me." She smiled.
"Granny Tsunade, did?"
"Hn!" She nodded exuberantly, unable to control the influx of emotions that gushed through her.
"In any case," he pivoted around to face the incoming horde, still wary of the Kyuubi. "Let's talk about that later. Right now, we have to enforce some pest control."
"I'll take care of it," Hinata offered, hopping down from Kurama's back and sauntering in front of the glowing warrior. She blushed when she passed him.
"Hinata?"
"Trust me," she reassured calmly, her expression changing into battle-readiness as the mob entered her attack range. Sailing through a complex series of hand seals, our princess bent her knees and drove her hands down to the water. "Ice Release: Zero Landscape!"
Ice Release?Naruto was in state of complete shock.
The temperature suddenly plummeted down to minus zero. And, from where Hinata stood, to the clone that lingered at the very back of the horde, the water's surface hardened into a thick sheet, encasing their legs in a hard block of ice.
In that same instant, the rest of the gang arrived on the scene, with Killer-Bee still on the search for Kisame's shark, and Gai absent, as well.
"What's going on here?" Motoi exclaimed. "What are those things?"
Yamato was uneasy. "I think these are the things that Kakashi-sempai told me about. The man behind them is called Zetsu. We aren't to take these things lightly."
"What the hell is that?" Glasses stared pass Naruto. "Isn't that the Kyuubi standing over there?"
"The Kyuubi?" Motoi was also anxious.
Yamato broke into a sweat. "Nothing's making any sense right now. What's Hyūga Hinata doing here, and where did all that ice come from?"
"Ice Release: Mobile Wolf Claw!" Hinata followed up by forging a pack of vicious wolves wrought of ice. With a feral snarl and growl, they swiftly followed their alpha and sprung into battle. The beasts separated and pounced on their pray with wild fury. With a single bite from their pointed fangs and teeth, the clones' body gradually began to freeze over, and then the wolves shattered the body using their claws.
"Ice release?" Glasses couldn't believe his eyes.
Yamato frowned in his astonishment. "I've never heard of a Hyūga using another Kekkei Genkai before. It must have been passed down from a long line of ancestry, outside of their clan."
"But to think she would awaken that power at such a young age," Glasses added.
"And to be capable of such high-level shape-manipulation," Motoi was also impressed.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called in a telling tone.
"No problem!" He grinned, wondering when he was finally going to get his chance to go wild. "My girlfriend has gotten even more badass!"
Hinata blushed scarlet at his compliment.
Naruto took off in a flash, leaving a luminous streak of gold and orange in his wake. Forging a powerful Rasengan in one hand, he zigzagged across the frozen landscape, effortlessly tearing through the immobilized pests, as if they were ragdolls made of straw. And the wolves were busy having their way, as well — mangling the frozen bastards as if they were disposable ice sculptures.
All of a sudden, the remaining clones broke free from their ice-shackles and converged — fusing together to form a grotesquely deformed titan of immense size and power. And the beast was more than ready to avenge its fallen counterparts. "I'll capture the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki right here and now!"
"This doesn't look good!" Glasses said anxiously.
And Yamato shared his sentiments, already molding charka to perform a Wood Element binding technique. But then, he noticed that Hinata was already flying through another series of hand seals.
"Ice Release: Rising Serpent — Frozen Pillar!"
She gently tapped her foot as she invoked her technique. In that same beat, a massive ice-serpent pierced through the sheet of ice from the ocean, coiling its long frame around the giant abomination and sinking its jaws into the monster's neck. Slowly, they both began freezing to form a pillar of ice.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called in a telling tone.
"I know," he returned coolly.
Standing to the side of her, he extended his arm and began constructing a Rasengan in his palm. The princess extended her arm over his own, forging a secondary layer of rotation in the sphere with a darker tone of blue to complemented his lighter one. Then Kurama approached them from behind, his nine tails converging around the orb to infuse its nucleus with his fire-natured chakra.
Now a new Rasengan was made with a delicate balance forged by The Inseparable Three — an incredible force that would bring an end to the existence of this miserable fiend.
Kurama allowed a wolfish grin.
Hinata smiled sweetly, and then looked to Naruto with a nod. "Let's end this."
"Right!" He smiled back to her.
"Triple-Layered Rasengan!"
"Quadcore Rasengan!"
Intel Quadcore Processor!
With a rising battle cry, the couple charged toward the creature and leaped into the air with their epic weapon, drilling through the thick pillar until the sphere found Zetsu's stomach in a most destructive collision. He roared.
Naruto roared, too, manipulating a chakra-based arm from his cloak to extend and push the Rasengan in their stead — propelling both it and Zetsu until they gained enough momentum to fly more than fifty meters into the air.
"You guys might want to brace yourselves," Naruto warned, looking up.
"Why?" Yamato queried, curious and a bit anxious as he, too, gazed upward.
"I infused a lot of wind-natured chakra in that Rasengan and enclosed it inside a strong shell of natural chakra. So once it comes into contact with the fire-natured chakra the Kyuubi also put in there..."
"Oh, no!" Glasses gasped as he got the picture. "Everyone, get down!"
They did.
And Naruto grinned coolly, snapping his fingers, which triggered the breaking of the chakra shell and the exposure of the wind-natured element to that of the fire. Suddenly there was a massive explosion of spirally energy in the sky — the blast and shockwave swallowing nearby clouds and throwing the sea into utter chaos but yet again. But, most importantly, Zetsu's remotely controlled clones were history.
Before everyone could regain his or her composure, Naruto turned around slowly to face the Kyuubi. He couldn't sense any evil or malice from the creature. But since, technically, he was using the Bijuu's chakra, could the fox somehow be masking its darkness from detection?
Naruto ambled toward him. "I don't know what the hell is going on here, or why you chose to help us just now. But one thing's for certain — when we were fighting before, in my mind, you threatened to hurt Hinata and I won't wait around for that perfect opportunity to come around."
The princess's eyes widened. The situation had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, and her scalp prickled with dawning apprehension. "Wait, Naruto-kun! This is a misunderstanding; Kurama-kun would never—"
"Hinata, you stay there," he interjected curtly. "I'll take care of this. I'm sure the Kyuubi has some ulterior motive; we can't allow ourselves to be deceived."
"Wait, Naruto-kun! You don't understand..."
Yamato clasped her wrist as she attempted to take off.
Gasp!"Yamato-sensei..."
"The Kyuubi's dangerous; you should remain here..."
Naruto frowned. There's no way the Kyuubi has turned over a new leaf, not after that fierce fight we had earlier. There's just no way. But how did he get out? And how did he find Hinata? Is this really even the Kyuubi?
"Hi-Hinata! What're you doing here?" Naruto's clone called, dashing over to the gang with Killer-Bee by his side.
"It's Bee-san and Naruto!" Yamato stated the obvious as they all turned around.
"There's no sign of that shark," Bee confessed once they came to a halt. "My guess is that it's swimming close to the ocean's floor. But, more importantly," he shot the Demon Fox a gaze. "Why is the Kyuubi standing over there?"
"That's what we all would like to know," Glasses pointed out in his frustration.
Yamato frowned. "Nothing's been making any sense for the longest while now."
Retrieving a book from her knapsack, Hinata shot her fiancé an earnest gaze and held the book out for him to take. "Naruto-kun! I need your help. Since the original won't listen to what I have to say, I'll have to depend on you."
"And what's this?" He took the peach-colored book from her.
"It's my dairy..."
"Your dairy!" Naruto repeated with a blush.
"Hai. Read it and you'll understand everything. But you have to hurry; Naruto-kun's about to start fighting with Kurama-kun!"
The shadow clone frowned a tad. "I have absolutely no clue what's going on, but I'll trust you, Hinata..."
"Thank you!"She smiled in relief, wiping away her tears.
Yamato blushed. He was always sensitive about these sorts of things. "Naruto... you shouldn't be reading a girl's dairy; it's private."
The warrior was busy reading the first page to hold his gaze. "Well, there can be an exception," he said casually. "Since Hinata's my girlfriend."
"WHAT?!"
Kurama looked to a dismal Hinata and then back to Naruto. "Nothing I say would make a difference, so I'll fight you."
"Yo, wait a minute, Naruto," Killer-Bee called out to him in a smooth rap. "I wouldn't suggest using that form just yet — since you haven't mastered control. Besides... fighting against the Kyuubi with its own chakra isn't a wise strategy, either."
Naruto grinned. "I'm way ahead of you, Octopops!"
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and dismissed his Bijuu-Mode. And, upon opening his eyes a few second later, he had already accumulated enough Senju Engery to enter his Sage Mode.
Kurama had his own special transformation to shock and awestruck the on-looking spectators, too. With a wolfish grin, he was suddenly surrounded by a vortex of flames, morphing into his small and nimble human form. And with a glamorous twirl, the deity summoned and spun his mighty scythe on his fingers in his battle-readiness, the thick luster of his Persian red hair waving in the ocean's breeze.
"Now... show me if you're worthy of Hime's hand in marriage."
"WHAT?!" Yamato was freaking out again.
Naruto's eyebrows pulled down above determined eyes, and then he leaned into a telling arch, flying through a series of hand seals. "Oh, I'll do more than that, pal. Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Wait, but that's Kakashi-sempai's move," Yamato muttered in his surprise.
"Was Naruto always able to use Nature-transformation techniques?" Glasses said, sharing the man's shock.
Hinata frowned, her eyes quivering in her dismay. It's true... Naruto-kun really has gotten more powerful, but that means Kurama-kun is only in that much more danger. She looked to the clone whose eyes were still glued to her dairy, his expression enigmatic. Please hurry... only you can put a stop to this fight now.
Kurama decisively countered Naruto's water dragon by unleashing a fire dragon of equal power from the tip of his scythe. The elemental beasts clashed with fierce ferocity, canceling each other out and veiling the battlefield in blanket of mist.
Naruto's eyes flitted about robotically, scanning the shrouding mist for any trace of the man's silhouette. So, like the Kyuubi, he shares an affinity with fire — and his shape-manipulation is high-grade, too. Let's see what else you can do...
Hinata, I'll try a water-based version of your technique. "Water Style: Rising Serpent — Water Pillar!"
Kurama looked down suddenly, feeling a rising turbulence beneath his feet. His instincts told him to move before his mind could even assume what was dwelling underneath. And not a moment too soon, either. A great big serpent with piercing blue eyes and long, swaying whiskers rose up from beneath the dark tides, firing circular water projectiles at the running deity.
That's right — in Sage Mode he can feel my whereabouts.
Serpents kept rising and Kurama continued depending on his keen instincts and quick reflexes to evade their ascent and dodge on-coming projectiles. But, finally, he was forced to cleave a projectile in twain. Time slowed, and he felt a spasm of panic upon realizing that the water pressure had been significantly condensed using chakra, imprisoning the blade of the scythe within the bubble.
Before he could abandon or dematerialize the weapon and retreat far enough from danger, he was captured within the jaws of another rising serpent and carry high into the air, trapped by the intense gravity of the water pressure.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
Kurama's eyes popped open as Naruto plummeted down from above the serpent with a massive sphere of destructive energy, like a meteor. The deity quickly retaliated by forging a shield of fire and pumping a vast quantity of chakra into it to enforce its defense.
The Rasengan collided with a high-pitched shrill, the tremendous force annihilating the serpent and driving Kurama down onto the water's surface where he continued to defend. The shockwave blew away the mist and stirred the ocean into chaos once again.
The instant Naruto dispelled his Rasengan, he quickly engaged the Kyuubi in hand-to-hand combat, but the sage's overwhelming strength was proving much more than the deity could handle. And the moment he switched from defending to dodging, he was taken by surprise by an invisible blow to the face by the warrior's Frog Fu!
While the Bijuu was stunned, Naruto stormed him with a barrage of impetuous blows to the gut and face — and with one final right hook, sent him flying across the waves, like a stray missile. But Kurama didn't take well to the idea of being pushed around, nor the lingering ache of Naruto's blows to his torso. While hurtling backward, he transformed into his tailed beast form and fired off a powerful laser beam from his mouth.
Naruto zipped to the side, lightening across the water to outrun the lethal beam that was hot on his tail, threatening his heels. Suddenly, Kurama ceased in order to focus on forging the Bijuus' trademark move, his tails curling in as a means of support to condense the massive orb.
"Hey, yo — it's no longer safe standing around here!" Bee rapped coolly despite the looming threat.
Yamato broke into a sweat. "Oh, no, he's right! I saw Naruto use this attack on Orochimaru once before when he summoned the fourth tail and lost control. The explosion covers a wide radius; we have to get far away from here right now!"
They all scurried off. Hinata was a bit reluctant but the shadow clone hauled her away, reassuring her both warriors would be fine. In addition, he was almost through reading the dairy and everything was becoming clear, so this duel wouldn't last for that much longer.
Naruto summoned two shadow clones side-by-side. Without a moment's delay, they began molding their chakra and running through their seals, like machines. Then they placed a curved index finger in front of their lip — one clone launching a wave of water while the other released a wave of wind, both from their mouth. The two potent elements converged to form a great and powerful vortex, a mighty barrier of pre-eminent power.
But would this obstacle be enough to ward off Kurama's devastating attack? The Tailed-Beast Bomb made impact with all its overwhelming force, then. The thunderous collision was both intense and daunting. The atmospheric pressure destabilized in the surrounding area — wind currents changed and the sea churned about in its rising fury, bringing about a level of chaos that was becoming all too familiar.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!"
With his tornado-like barricade having cut the bomb's power and velocity close to half its original glory, Naruto ran up to the nuclear warhead from the side and rammed his Rasengan into it — and, with a strenuous push, was able to change its trajectory, sending both spheres flying out at sea.
Kurama snarled in his irritation, and he didn't give Naruto the opportunity to witness as the gigantic explosion in the distance painted the sea and sky a dreary orange and yellow. The instant the explosive shockwave from the blast whipped passed them in a most unpleasant sting, the Bijuu began firing a fusillade of fire-based projectiles at him.
Naruto couldn't stay still. He had to be concentrating on incoming fireballs, dodging each one with as little movement as possible, to have enough time to evade the other. By the time he could take heed of the growing gushing sound he heard since the blast, there was a humongous tidal wave on the verge of crushing them both.
Kurama delayed his reaction time to the imminent disaster to launch another barrage of projectiles at Naruto, and then he fired a beam at the wave, opening up a massive rift through which to leap.
Naruto, on the other hand, attended to the wave first. Raising and then swinging his arms behind in a fluent motion, he manipulated the water in such a way that the wave split into two halves, allowing him to pass through the fissure that was created.
Time seemed to slow afterward. The sage was able to sidestep through a few fireballs, performed a spectacular aerial spin over another, but had to think fast and creative for the final one — capturing it in a sphere of water. He was able to suppress the blast within the orb a tad, but was knocked backwards back the shockwave.
"Dammit! That really hurt!"
Naruto didn't get much time to gather himself before a Human-Kurama was plummeting down from the air, gravity adding a few tons worth of force to his fire-based sword. Naruto clenched his fingers, accumulating a large amount of chakra around his forearms into an extremely thin sheet, reinforcing them with his spiritual energy until they were as hard as steel.
"Oh, no! He's about to lose his arms!" Yamato exclaimed from a distance.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata cried.
Shing! The impact sent Naruto sinking into a fleeting indentation atop the water's surface with water blasting upwards, like a geyser. Sparks gashed from the blade of the mighty sword, but the weapon was unable to penetrate Naruto's chakra-like gauntlet. Nevertheless, Kurama was tenacious; just how long would the rigidity of his chakra lasts?
The deity kept assaulting the sage with a fierce follow-up of slashes. But Naruto wouldn't allow himself to be driven back; he pushed, too, blocking with his arms when necessary. They exchanged a fervent array of punching and kicking combos along with evasive aerial dynamics and backflips.
Kurama switched to his scythe in the heat of their duel and the back and forth sequence of fiery onslaughts ensued. The crisp sea air gusted as they went back and forth repeatedly, hands and legs shooting out at each other, like ghostly bullets.
Suddenly, Naruto made another mistake and Kurama dealt a quick series of blows to his face and gut. Then he used both hands to charge a large fireball beneath his stomach, blasting our hero far into the air. Naruto yelped, but retaliated with a hearty battle cry.
Creating a Kage Bunshin in midair, he swung the clone around, to gather momentum, and then slingshotted the warrior forward in a roundhouse throw. "Transform!"
He suddenly took on the form of a massive double-headed hammer, threatening to crush the deity where he stood. But Kurama bolted to the side, to escape the weapon's range of impact, only to be ambushed by Naruto and a non-too-pleasing Rasengan. There was no time to maneuver.
With a roar, the sage strikes — sending both the Kyuubi and sphere hurtling into the air. Then Naruto rockets behind him in the same beat, as if he had ridden on the very wind, sandwiching the deity with another Rasengan, which sent him plummeting down to the water in an explosive crash.
Droplets rained down upon the water's surface in a soft symphony that Kurama couldn't relax to appreciate, merging once more with the perturbed sea.
Battered and bruised, torn and tattered, he pushed to his feet in an uncharacteristic display of effort, his eyes burning fiercely in his evident struggle. Naruto was standing a few meters away, and the deity pivoted around to face him, squared off against the formidable sage for the final bout of their epic duel.
There was a moment of prolonged silence, and then Kurama cast aside his haori jacket, his tail swaying about in his eagerness to begin. "Is that all you've got, Naruto?" He mocked with a grin. "At this rate, you might not be able to save even one of your friends in this upcoming war... and that includes Hinata."
"Water Style: Lions' Stampede!"
A tall and powerful wave, lead by a large pride of lions and lioness's, charged toward Kurama, imbued with the rage and wrath he had evoked in the sage. But the deity wasn't intimidated. Using his mighty blade wrought of flames; he cut through the menacing wall and lunged at the nonchalant warrior.
Naruto whisked to the side suddenly, allowing Kurama to run into his open palm within which he had constructed a spirally ball of condescend wind. But, just before his face could meet with a most horrible fate, he bent his knees and slid underneath the Jinchuuriki's arm.
When he turned around, Naruto was nowhere in sight. Flustered, he switched to his scythe from his sword and looked around on the defensive. All of a sudden, he could sense a presence behind him. But, in the middle of twirling on his heels, bringing around his blade for a finishing slash, our golden warrior countered.
Augh!Kurama's eyes popped open, and he spat up a handful of blood as his body folded around a powerful right-hook to the gut.
Naruto continued with three more echoing punches, each one lifting the deity's feet farther off the ground. Then, he grabbed him by the ankles and spun him around, like a ragdoll, hurling him a few meters away where his back slammed into a transparent wall made by a shadow clone — Sage Art: Cyclone Shield.
Meanwhile, Naruto and another clone was busy racing through a series of hand seals:
"Wind Release: Slicing Bullet — Gatling Gun!"
"Water Style: Heavy Bullet — Gatling Gun!"
Small projectiles accumulated and fired from the tip of their joint middle and index fingers in rapid succession — wind from the original and water from the clone. Kurama roared in a fit of pain as the minute elemental bullets slowly tore him apart against the transparent screen.
Dazed, aching all over, he saw a pair of blue eyes hurtling toward him — piercing blue eyes belonging to a dragon with far too real detailing. The creature crashed into him, like a rocket, a continuous wall of high-density water that left him breathless and disoriented — Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!
And, if that wasn't traumatic enough, the screen detonated without warning, blasting him face first into the water, dealing farther damage to his numb and over-exerted form. Kurama was motionless, his ears sagging, tail steady, eyes glazed, and he was barely able to sustain his human form.
Regardless, Naruto wasn't through, not until the creature had ceased to exist outside of his seal. Not until his only existence was a place where its claws where out of reach, incapable of potentially harming Hinata.
— "Friends? Don't make me laugh! All you humans are just the same — weak, greedy, selfish, manipulative. Pitiful! Once I'm done absorbing you, I'll find that woman and tear her apart slowly, limb from limb."
A muscle worked in Naruto's jaw, and his blood churned beneath his skin as he contemplated the danger this fiend posed to his fiancée. Setting his feet apart, he leaned into a slight arch and pressed his hands together with a daunting battle cry, molding a mountain of chakra to cast his finishing move. Then, he ran through his seals.
"Water Style: Grand Fissure Jutsu!"
For a moment, there was silence, and then the sea seemed to grumble and quake in defiance, as the jutsu took effect. Naruto gritted his teeth, pouring more chakra into his endeavor. And, in response, the ocean gradually, reluctantly, began to part. A rift opened up beneath Kurama, stretching almost fifteen meters long and roughly four meters in width. As for the depth of the chasm — it stemmed all the way down to the ocean's floor, a dark and dreadful place.
Hinata went pale, and a deep dread unfurled in her stomach as Kurama dangled dangerously above his intended grave, clinging desperately to the water's ledge. "No, Naruto-kun!" She cried, running over to them. "Don't do it! Kurama-kun isn't a bad person! Wait — you have to listen to me!"
Ignoring her, he looked down at the weary creature and frowned. "After all those times you helped me to protect Hinata, I wanted to believe you had changed a little; that we could actually be friends. But that fight we had in my mind earlier made me realize the harsh reality that you're still a slave to your rage. And I can't imagine you not bearing ill feelings, after I robbed you off your chakra.
One day, I'll erase all the darkness from your heart. But, right now, I have to protect Hinata — and, in light of the upcoming war, I can't afford to take any risks. I'm sorry."
"Naruto..."
The sage forged a Rasengan. But, before he could deal the final blow, he felt his body stilled when his shadow clone returned to him. For a moment, he stared unblinking, focused like a laser, as if his mind was preoccupied processing a flurry of information to operate anything else. And, indeed, that was precisely the case.
Suddenly he blinked rapidly, his once icy gaze thawed to a warm gleam of recognition and compassion. "Kurama, give me your hand. Hurry!"
With a wanly smile, the deity reached for the hand of his once heartless executioner and was swiftly rescued from the dark abyss.
"Naruto-kun! Kurama-kun!" Hinata sobbed worrisomely, folding her legs and dropping down beside them in the water.
Sprawled out on his back with a reassuring smile, Kurama looked up at her tear-streaked, beautiful face, his saffron eyes soft. "It's okay, Hime... don't cry; I was saved, thanks in part to your smart move."
"Kurama-kun..." she began rubbing her eyes, like a child.
Naruto grinned repentantly. "Sorry about beating you to a pulp, Kurama." His expression hardened. "I owe you... thanks for looking out for Hinata while I was away."
The deity's eyes closed, his breathing unsteady. "I told you before, didn't I? I can't help but protect her..."
Suddenly, there was a puff of fluffy smoke as he reverted to his chibi form.
"Ku-Kurama-kun!" Hinata exclaimed, reaching for him. She held the motionless fox against her chest, her eyes quivering with dread as she looked from his closed eyes to Naruto calm gaze.
"It's okay, Hinata," he soothed, clearly being able to sense the Bijuu's flow of chakra in his Sage Mode. "He's just resting. He exerted a lot of power in our fight."
"Hey, guys," Yamato called. "Let's head back to the island. We left Gai-san all alone there, and I think I speak for everyone when I say there's a lot to be discussed."
Sensual Reunion & the Inseparable... 4?
The Hachibi's eyes hooded in an uncharacteristic show of adore. I can see why the Kyuubi — the most stubborn and impatient of the Bijuu — would be taken by this woman. Just being in her company is so relaxing; her aura radiates a warm and soothing energy. Her personality is so innocent and cute, too.
And she has a nice pair of racks to boot,Killer-Bee heaved a lewd grinned. I have even more respect for Naruto now. Impressed!
Bee, you really ought to be more discreet when you take on that pedophile-persona. Don't be so proud about it.
I'm just being true to my hormones like nature intended, he rapped.
I would stay on the Kyuubi's good side, if I were you. And that goes for Naruto, too. Did you see the way he effortlessly danced around the Kyuubi in his mind? He's strong...
"Bijuu Fission... Heaven's Judgment," Glasses repeated, pondering it for a while.
Yamato had one finger cupping his chin, pondering it, too. "So, basically, you're the embodiment of all the goodness in the Kyuubi's heart."
"I'm surprised the Kyuubi has any goodness at all," Glasses remarked curtly.
"Darkness can't survive without light and vise versa," Naruto corrected coolly in defense, looking to a tiny Kurama lazily sprawled out atop Hinata's head. "There's goodness inside everyone..."
"Bee-san," Motoi called, having struck a fascinating idea. "Why don't you ask the Hachibi about the technique the Kyuubi used?"
"That's a great idea!" Yamato agreed, veering his curious eyes to the much-too-relaxed Jinchuuriki. "Can you do that?"
"Sure, sure," he raised his hands in compliance, then quickly fell silent and found his center, allowing a small replica of the Bijuu's head to take form on the side of his upper-arm. "Go ahead."
"Yes, the Bijuu Fissure Technique does exist," the creature verified candidly. "But, out of all the Bijuu, only the Kyuubi managed to learn it from old man Rikudo. We were all jealous, of course, especially since he had a very strong bond with the old man. We thought he was getting more favored than the rest of us.
I'm pretty sure this is the Kyuubi, though; nobody else would know about the jutsu."
Yamato frowned inwardly. He mentioned the Sage of the Six Paths just now... does that mean he truly exists and what Madara said before was the truth? "Well, the technique seems to be legit, but why did you wait until now to make an appearance?"
Everyone turned their attention to the deity.
"I have my reasons — one of which being self-preservation as it relates to the upcoming war. If Madara really is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, then we might be way over our heads challenging him, even with alliance.
Nevertheless, in times like this, we have to put our differences aside and pool our strength and resources to prolong our existence. Madara isn't a force to be underestimated."
"The Kyuubi's right," Hachibi agreed. "We have to push aside our indifferences unless this war could turn out for the worse."
Yamato frowned. "But then, why did you go berserk in Naruto's mind when he opened the seal, if you intend on helping us?"
A spell of lethargy glinted in Kurama's eyes as he lifted his chin from Hinata's head to speak. "My other half and I share different personalities; I'm the embodiment of all the light he holds while he's the original body carrying all the darkness and rage. These characteristics determine our persona.
He might have used the technique to summon me but that doesn't mean he's proud of it. He's still the same bitter and cold Kyuubi and I'm one of the last entity's he'd like to meet right now."
"Why don't you just admit that you used the technique to be closer to the girl," the Hachibi asserted teasingly.
"A girl?" Yamato murmured puzzlingly.
"Be quiet, you fool!" Kurama tackled.
"I see you still have the habit of shooting down others who threaten to embarrass you."
"Tch! And I see you're still far too talkative."
Bee grinned. "Two Bijuu fighting — now, that's something you don't see every day. Rare banter!"
"You can say that again," Naruto smiled.
"By the way, Kyuubi," the Hachibi was intent on continuing to talk to him. "I didn't know that the technique also allowed you to take a human form?"
"Oh, Konohamaru-kun was the one who taught Kurama-kun how to transform," Hinata enlightened sweetly.
"Really? Konohamaru did?" Naruto grinned. "How is he and Hanabi doing?"
"Still lots of fireworks," Hinata giggled softly, much to Kurama and the Hachibi's delight. Her aura was breathtaking.
"By the way, Naruto... just how much more stronger have you become, exactly?" Yamato asked.
"Yeah, you pulled some sweet moves while you were duking it out with the Kyuubi earlier," Bee rapped with his slick gesticulations. "Star shinobi!"
"Your chakra control and shape-manipulation has grown exponentially in such a short time. And, aside from now being able to create the Rasengan in one hand, you've learned about nature transformation.
How many elements can you use?"
Naruto tousled the back of his hair, contemplating that. "I honestly don't know. I have hundreds of clones out there doing their own thing — gathering knowledge and intel, training and developing techniques, and even learning from others throughout various villages.
Right now, I can only use wind and water. I especially wanted to learn how to use water techniques, so that I'd have a chance against Sasuke's fire attacks. Now, I just need to learn how to throw rocks around, so that I'll be able to handle his lightening attacks, too."
"I see. And that's still pretty impressive, Naruto — being able to use both water and wind natures. Plus, they're a powerful combination." He grinned. "You've come such a long way and in such a short time. Who would've though you would think to use Kakashi-sempai's training regime in such a unique and diverse way."
Naruto almost blushed. "Thanks, Yamato-taichou."
"And you, too, Hinata," Yamato was looking at her now. "I've never heard of a Hyūga having two Tekkei Genkai. That's pretty amazing, especially since you can control it so well already."
"Thank you," she said softly, then blushed when Naruto cast an impressed gaze, and even a lovely wink. Was it suggestive?
"You said Tsunade-sama sent you here?" The man continued.
"Hai," she nodded, approaching him as she reached into her knapsack to retrieve a scroll. "Here's the report."
She handed it to him.
The Jōnin carefully unfurled the scroll and read it, shocked by one piece of information in particular that he learnt. So it was true... Naruto and Hinata were having an affair. But what about Sakura — what about the confession she made to him in the Land of Iron? Was it truly just a means to an end, or had Naruto truly and permanently shunned her? Was his involvement with Hinata a show — an act of revenge?
Agh! Yamato sighed inwardly in his frustration. This was too much drama for him to handle; too much complexities for him to comprehend. I'll just follow Kakashi-sempai's example and leave it all alone; it's not my place to pry.
"What did Granny Tsunade say?" Naruto was curious and getting impatient.
"Oh. Ah... so, it turns out Hinata will now be a part of our group while Naruto completes his mission here."
Glasses couldn't help but grin openly. "So, the love-birds couldn't stand being apart for much longer, huh?"
"Eh?" Yamato wondered how he knew about them.
"Haven't you been reading the newspaper, Yamato? Naruto's a celebrity now, so the papers' are always keeping tabs on him. The last headline I read stated he and Hinata were in a relationship, and, by the looks of it, turns out it's true."
"EH?"
The couple stood up straight, like statues, flushed from head to toe as everyone stared at them, as if they were a popular tourist attraction. And Naruto couldn't help but scratch at the blush that stained his cheeks, sheepishly casting his girlfriend a gaze.
"Yo, way to go, Naruto!" Bee congratulated in a singsong tone, maneuvering his hands in a rhythmic fashion. "You've found yourself a nice shortie — Jinchuuriki love! I'm jealous!"
Naruto grinned, then they bumped fists.
"Hey," Kurama said, his wolfish eyes grim and narrowed as he greeted Naruto with a slight lift of his head. "I... need your help." His voice was unusually weak and dreary.
Naruto stared at the chibi for a long moment, his sapphire eyes weighing the deity in unflinching scrutiny. "You don't look so good, man."
"Kurama-kun," Hinata raised her hand over her head and gently smoothed her palm across his head, over his ears. "Are you okay?"
He quietly prompted them that he had recklessly exerted far too much energy in his fight against Naruto, and that he was at risk of losing himself; ceasing to exist on the outside once more.
Apparently, the only way to save him was to rest his body atop Naruto's belly. Physical contact with the seal was theoretically having physical contact with the Kyuubi's body. And since, technically, the Heaven's Judgment technique was still in effect, natural energy would automatically flow into the tiny deity, slowly rejuvenating him.
To Kurama's surprise, Naruto complied without hesitation, despite Yamato's anxiety. And Hinata was eager to initiate his road to recovery, as well.
"It's just a copy of the Kyuubi," Yamato asserted ardently. "Are you willing to risk everyone's well-being and possibly compromising the Four Trigram seal?"
"I kinda agree with Yamato," Glasses said. "You should probably let this version of the Kyuubi go, considering the potential hazards of helping it."
Killer-Bee frowned with silent exasperation behind his dark shades.
Naruto glowered at the man. "I didn't ask for your advice. Also, what if he's the Kyuubi or just a copy... he's alive, isn't he? We talk and breathe under the same sun; he can feel despair and pain. That's reason enough to help him. Besides, he saved Hinata's life on more than one occasion and I intend to return the favor.
If something were to go wrong, I'd take full responsibility and take care of it. What do you say about that, Octopops?"
The man grinned, throwing him a thumbs up. "Nice speech, Naruto; I couldn't have said it better myself. All life should be treasured and appreciated — respect nature!"
Yamato and glasses smiled in defeat.
Hinata beamed, looking from Bee to Naruto. Kurama beamed, too, and he found himself gradually confiding in the young Jinchuuriki. It was so much easier to be true to his emotions when there was no rage and excessive pride to cloud his judgment.
"Naruto," Yamato approached him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Before you go, why don't you listen to the details of your mission?"
"Yeah, why not."
Glasses cleared his throat as he unfurled a scroll, winning everyone's attention. "With regard to the state of emergency in the Five Great Nations, in preparation for the coming Fourth Ninja War, for support of the shinobi and samurai forces, I hereby order the creation of a third force: the Animal Corps.
With regard to that, due to his great skill in understanding animals, I appoint the Jinchuuriki... uh... animal lover, Uzumaki Naruto, to select personnel and organize the Animal Corps.
The first task of the Corps is to investigate the ecosystem of the island. This is a Super-S Rank secret mission. Take measures to keep this matter secret.
Hokage of Konoha, Tsunade."
"Is this fairy tale really going to work," Yamato murmured, breaking out into a sweat.
"It has to," Motoi was always worried.
Glasses rolled up the scroll quickly and stood up straight with his arms firmly at his sides. A bead of cold sweat sat at his temple in his nervousness, as if he was a new recruit in the military and a notoriously vindictive and high-ranking officer was walking by him. Everyone shared the man's anxiety, and Yamato and Motoi couldn't help put swallow as a muscle worked in the Jinchuuriki's jaw.
Naruto finally opened his eyes, and Hinata and Bee watched him curiously. "Maybe the Naruto from a few weeks ago would be gullible enough to believe all that, but not this Naruto. Nice try, though."
Everyone gasped. Shocked.
"I came here to gain mastery over the Kyuubi's chakra and to train. I also wanted to avert anymore possible attacks on the village on my behalf. But I have no intention of hiding away on this remote island while my friends fight alone in this war to protect me. And My decision isn't up for discussion or debate."
He left, gently tugging Hinata behind him.
"So that's what brother was hiding from me, huh?" Bee didn't really seem entirely interested in the truth as he harassed a motionless Gai-sensei who was suffering from the aftereffects of his forbidden jutsu.
"This is bad," Glasses panicked as the three of them huddled together to formulate some kind of resolve. "This is really, really bad."
Yamato frowned, careful to keep his voice low. "Naruto hasn't only gotten stronger; he's gotten incredibly clever, too. When he told us that he has hundreds of shadow clones scattered throughout different villages and possibly countries, I had a feeling he was well-informed about the current affairs."
The man bit down on his fingernail. "The aim of this war is to protect Naruto by keeping him out of Madara's reach. If he manages to leave, then Bee-san will go with him — and if they have their Bijuu extracted, the entire world will be at that man's mercy."
"First thing's first," Motoi began, jotting down information on a blank sheet of paper. "Kisame's Water Prison technique and Naruto's fight delayed us from reporting the information leak. So we'll just file that report now and also inform them about Naruto's knowledge of the war and his headstrong decision to be a part of it.
I'm sure they'll come up with some kind of alternative and possibly send reinforcements. But, for now, we should concentrate on keeping Naruto here."
The man neatly folded the piece of paper and summoned a messenger owl on his forearm. Once the note was properly secured in a tiny pouch strapped to the bird's leg, he allowed the creature to take flight.
"Sounds like a plan," Yamato agreed.
"We can safely assume that the enemy is now aware of this location, right?" Glasses began in a careful whisper, mindful of the Jinchuuriki's close proximity. "Then, shouldn't we move Naruto and Bee-san from here? The enemy will expect us to move, so they're likely to attack soon."
"I know," Motoi was calm. "We'll move them, but not by ship. We'll have them stay on this island."
"Eh?"
"This island isn't on any map; they won't find it that easily. That's because this island..."
Back in the forest, where Gai's turtle had landed, the reptile was busy complimenting its fellow brethren's humongous size.
"Me? I'm still just a tiny turtle," the creature returned modestly.
"I don't believe it. I've never seen or heard of any turtle bigger than you."
The island trembled.
"What? Really?" Both glasses and Yamato and supposedly he turtle's mouth hung open in their shock.
Motoi allowed a smug grin. "Yeah. This island is a moving fortress. It's an enormous turtle that Kumogakure has been keeping for ages."
Yamato and Glasses still couldn't believe it, while Gai was busy screaming out his lungs as Bee poked his chest in his inquisitively, sending surges of pain throughout the man's entire body.
"Of course, it's safe to assume the enemy is aware of that, as well," Motoi continued. "Still, this island is a lot safer than taking a ship to Kumogakure. Also, Naruto said he was going to train, right? At least that will keep him preoccupied for a while. If we attempt to relocate, he might very well decide to make his move onto the battlefield sooner than later, before my report even gets back to the village."
Yamato's eyes narrowed as he considered that. "He's right. It's best we stick to the island. I'm sure Madara wouldn't personally come here, since he's the commander for his troops. And, this might be a long shot, but if we end up having to fight the enemy, then that would also keep Naruto preoccupied long enough until your report gets us some reinforcements."
Glasses nodded.
Gai cried out in pain again, and then Yamato went over to his rescue. Finally.
Meanwhile the entire shinobi world was hard at work making final preparations for the Fourth Ninja War, our lovable NaruHina couple was quite relaxed in a small clearing of the forest, comfortably resting on a blanket.
Naruto was sprawled out on his back with his head propped up on Hinata's knapsack. He had far-too-casually taken off his undershirt, leaving just his open jacket with an unconscious chibi resting on his belly, slowly recovering.
Hinata sat innocently on her heels next to them, hiding her face behind a familiar book, peeking shyly at him every now and then as he gazed unseeingly into the canopy.
Finally. Here he was... lying inches away from her with a light that was almost blinding. It was warm and comforting, powerful and omnipresent, seeping beneath her skin to dismiss the darkness and the pain; the loneliness and the grief — all the unpleasant emotions that had taken up residence in her heart during his absence.
The princess pursed her lips sheepishly as her eyes wondered over the fascinating curves and surfaces of his bare chest. She was a bundle of nerves and heat as her body tantalized and protested in its lack of maintenance. Time hadn't made her immune to the perfection of his face, and she was certain she would never take any aspect of him for granted. Her eyes traced over his russet-colored features: the hard curve of his jaw, the softer curve of his lips, the enchanting blue of his eyes, and the spiky mass of his golden hair.
"Hinata..." Naruto's whisper caught her off guard. "I'm really sorry..."
"Eh?"
"...I shouldn't have left you behind in the village."
"Mm-mm," she shook her head slowly. "Naruto-kun did what he thought was best for me at the time..."
"Yeah. What I thought was best. As a result, you were ambushed by Zetsu and almost taken away from me. I made you hurt..."
The princess heaved a wanly smile, staring down at the slumbering chibi. "Everything happens for a reason, Naruto-kun... don't you think so? It's because you were away that I got the chance to meet Kurama-kun and that he eventually opened up to me. And it was because you were away that I pushed myself even harder in my training so that I could protect you, once we reunited again.
You read it in my dairy, didn't you? A lot of wonderful things happened."
Naruto blew out a slow breath, awed by the strength that dwelled within her. He caressed her arm for the briefest second, memorizing the velvet texture of her warm, honeyed skin. "I've missed you... more than I can put into words."
Hinata's eyes quivered as his whisper resounded in her mind, driving off the remnants of loneliness that clung to her poor heart, and she hid behind her book again, her face pink with embarrassment. "I… I've missed Naruto-kun, too... so much. It's hard to believe we are actually together again."
"Well, you better believe it!" He grinned playfully, and she couldn't help but giggle at the sound of his merry tone. "That book... is it by any chance—"
"Hn!" She nodded cutely, following his eyes to the hard-covered book. "Tales of a Gusty Ninja. I've read it over a few times already; it's a really wonderful book. Thanks for lending it to me."
"Hey, don't sweat it."
She smiled. "I was really surprised that the main character was given the name 'Naruto'. Were you an inspiration in the writing of this story?"
"It's the other way around, really."
"Eh?"
His smile was warm and his eyes, reminiscent. "After reading that book by Jiraiya-sensei, mom and dad decided to give me the name 'Naruto', after that heroic character in the story."
Hinata beamed, and a radiant smile stretched her lips. "I met her..."
"Huh?"
"I met Kushina-san, Naruto-kun..."
His eyes widened in utter disbelief and, for a moment, he couldn't find his tongue. "But... how is that possible? When exactly did you meet her?"
"Etto... I met her today, while I was on my way here. Right after leaving you, she used Kurama-kun as a gateway to connect with me."
Naruto felt tears pooling in his eyes. "And... what did she say?"
Putting the book down, the princess leaned forward so that she could cup the side of his face. "She said she's happy that you chose me to confide in, and to entrust your heart to. She said we're to win the war and change the world, as Jiraiya-sama said you would."
Naruto heaved an emotional grin. "Then she got the chance to meet you, after all."
"Hn! She wanted to watch us get married... but, instead, she could only give us her blessings. And, as a farewell gift, she helped me to unlock my affinity with the water element."
Naruto chuckled. "I'm jealous that you have a Kekkei Genkai and I don't. But, I'm happy my girlfriend's so wicked awesome!"
Hinata blushed, and even more so, when he placed his hand over hers, his eyes doing that smoldering thing that her body has never been able to resist.
Suddenly, Kurama was awake, pushing to his tiny legs on Naruto's tummy.
"Hey, buddy... how are you feeling?"
"Kurama-kun... have you recovered your chakra?" Hinata was still a bit flustered from the power of Naruto's eyes, and her inner goddess wasn't making it any better.
"I've replenished my chakra reserves," he informed softly. "All that's left is to rest some more to regain my stamina."
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard," Naruto returned.
Kurama pivoted his head to the side furtively. "Thanks for trusting me..."
"I should be the one thanking you." Naruto slowly sat upright as the deity reclined onto the blanket. "You stood by Hinata's side and protected her while I was away. I'm eternally grateful. Will you continue protecting her for me?"
The Bijuu clicked his tongue sheepishly and veered his head to the side again. "I'll do whatever I want!" He leaped into the canopy. "I'll see you later."
Naruto nodded with a grin.
"Kurama-kun, be careful."
His eyes brightened, and then he disappeared into the shadows.
"He sure has a lot of spunk, doesn't he? Reminds me of Neji." Naruto pushed to his feet with a far-too-sexy grunt, creating and dispatching a shadow clone to request training lessons by his perverted senior Jinchuuriki.
Hinata reclined onto her heels, briefly gazing up at the fascinating lines and curves of his chest through his open jacket. Her body responded, and she quickly got self-conscious as her inner goddess began stripping her clothes in preparations for what she hoped would come.
Naruto watched her; watched as she shyly swept the length of her hair over her chest and began combing her tiny fingers downwards through its thick luster, twirling locks around her index finger.
Hinata Hyūga was an angel that was in a league of her own — uniquely crafted, authentic, flawless, irresistible, irreplaceable, and every fiber of him yearned to sample her sweetness again, to drink of her sacred elixir and listen to the symphony of her cries as she writhed in ecstasy.
"Hinata." He watched in amusement as she looked up at him, her lips pursed timidly. Naruto desperately wanted to taste the fullness of those unpainted lips — both the pair up north and down south. "You know... doing that only makes it that much harder to resist having you right here, right now."
The princess stared up at him in abject shock, speechless, aroused, her cheeks scarlet. But she tentatively placed her hand in his when he offered to help her to her feet. He grinned mischievously, pulling her up against his chest and taking her lips so fast that her head spun.
Hinata could feel muscles unfurling in her tummy with delicious familiarity at the sweet taste of his kiss, and she willingly surrendered to the responses it summoned in her body, even as he pulled her closer into the hard wall of his chest.
Him holding her like this — cast in the cool shadows of the trees — made her feel shielded from the world and the weight of her responsibilities... their responsibilities.
"Naruto-kun..." she whispered breathlessly when he allowed her to take a breath, and she buried her face in his chest, smelling deep of his skin. "Never leave me again..."
"I promise..."
A telling heat surrounded them in a perfect cocoon of love, and Hinata would give anything to have this moment last forever. But she wanted more…
Reversing her head, the needy princess pressed her hand to his chest sensuously, seeking his eyes, and the warrior's muscle went taut in response, blood rushing down south to supplement his unruly sword... and she could feel its impatience, its vigor. "Naruto-kun..." her voice was a faint whisper and a hopeful plea. "I need you..."
He smiled lasciviously, sharing her sentiments. When he pumped fists with Bee earlier, the man mentally told him of a secret chamber through the waterfall where they could hide away together. "I've never been there before, but I think I know the perfect place we can go..."
Down the corridor — a few feet away from the stone door leading into the bizarre room he had undergone his epic trial — Naruto came across the statue Bee had told him about in their telepathic synchronization.
It was a naked, life-sized statue of a female deity and, apparently, this was the key into finding and getting into their sacred haven. Hinata pouted with a blush as Naruto cupped and probed the sculpture's perfectly carved breasts. She couldn't believe this was actually the means through which to reveal a hidden door.
"It looks like Octopops might be a pervert, just like Ero-Sannin."
The princess was still dissatisfied with her fiancé's lewd exploration, even if it was to an inanimate object. Killer-Bee would be held responsible for ruining her complacency, and he was going to have to explain himself.
Suddenly, there was a muffled clicking sound as Naruto's hands pressed harder against the sculpture's chest. Both nipples retracted simultaneously triggering the switch to opening a hidden door in the wall.
Naruto and Hinata sighed in astonishment.
Inside the room was tinted a soft golden hue by the matching colors and lights of the decor — feather plume walls and sandy brown tiles, brown and ebony tapestries and ornaments. The golden oak wood of the queen-sized bed had an intricate and elaborate design that could woo any girl, as well as the two bedside tables and the fancy dresser sitting against the wall next to the bed.
But the lovely furnishings and warm colors didn't distract the couple for long. The fact that they were alone and in the presence of a capable bed deteriorated their patience and added fuel to the driving lust that consumed them both.
Hot and needy, Hinata gazed up at her attractive prince with quivering eyes. All the days they were apart felt like centuries. And she loathed the idea of waiting for another minute. She wanted to be naked and gathered up in his arms, to be kissed and touched, coaxed and mounted to glory by his delicious skills and techniques.
"What'd you say we take a shower together," Naruto suggested, his voice velvety soft and promising as he took the knapsack from her hand and dropped it to the floor.
Hinata swallowed instinctively, then she did something reckless again — unconsciously pressing a finger to her lip in that fashion Naruto found both endearing and irresistible.
He caught her wrists gently in that same instant, his eyes smoldering dangerously beneath the relaxed plains of his lovely eyebrows. The princess's breath hitched in her throat, and her hormones suddenly stirred into wild activity — an uncontrollable tide that kept rising by the second, triggering sweet chemical responses.
"Na-Naruto-kun..." she whispered sheepishly in her nervousness.
But our scheming warrior didn't utter a single word. His oceanic eyes locked with the gleaming crystals that were her own, silently making her aware there was no means of escape from the intimate and sensual beast she had nudged awake inside him.
Doki. Doki. Doki — the beats of her poor heart was erratic, and even more so when he smoothed his thumb across the fullness of her bottom lip, breaking down any feeble measure of defense she might have had in play, stirring her desire to burn as hot and reckless as his own .
They were naked now, clothing having faded away as if it were made of mist, in the heated fever of passion. Hinata found herself braced against the tiled wall of the shower stall, Naruto's magnificent body pressed seductively against hers as water undulated down their hot, restless bodies.
His russet-colored skin was warm and firm to the touch. His broad shoulders and thick arms, his muscular chest and rigid abdomen... all of him was real and inviting and perfect in its masculinity — just like she remembered.
Naruto, in turn, took his time reminding himself of every inch of her sweetness. The princess bit her lip and moaned as he unleashed a chain of soft, wet kisses across her collarbones and down her tummy. Her body trembled and she clutched his head as his journey took him to regions in close proximity to her bubble. Her centre clenched with each long, lazy kiss, and when he smelt the intoxicating perfume of her arousal, he ceased his teasing and allowed her to breathe. But his sensual conquest was just beginning...
Loosely wrapped in a towel, they both returned to the bedroom, where Naruto held her from behind with a salacious gleam in his eyes and a fierce erection below his waist, which pressed hard against her bottom.
"Did you touch yourself... while I was away?" He whispered much too softly at her ear, his tone thick with seduction.
Hinata gasped, and then pursed her lips meekly, endearingly, her quicksilver eyes gleaming as she veered them to the side. Ho-how does Naruto-kun know about that?
"If you show me how you did it, I promise I won't punish you..."
Doki. Doki. Doki — her heart was drumming a wild overdrive in her chest again, pumping blood and heat throughout her body. She was torn between wanting to do what he requested and also anxious to surrender to his punishment. But, overall, she was paralyzed with embarrassment.
"It's just me, you, and our love," he reassured quietly, even as his length throbbed against her. "There's no need to be afraid. Com'on, I'll ease you into it."
He led her over to a nearby love seat and then loosened her towel so that it fell and pooled around her feet. With a blush, her eyes changed, as a woman's would when her system was brimming with desire and anticipation.
"You've only gotten more beautiful since I last saw you."
"Naruto-kun..."
With a slow deliberation that the deed did not demand, he lightly skimmed the back of his fingers down to her breasts — patiently, over those soft, creamy slopes, brushing his thumbs over nipples that hardened and ached in response.
Abruptly, he could hear her breath catch, see her eyes widen, as he cupped the side of her face and plundered that small, unpainted mouth in a deep, hot kiss. The princess tasted love, delight, and solemn promises. The combination swirled inside of her — a tastier brew than any cup of tea, she imagined absently.
Sitting her down in the couch, Naruto knelt down before his sexy goddess and opened her legs in preparations for his long-awaited feast. When Hinata released she couldn't cover her centre in her embarrassment — hiding it from his unnerving scrutiny — she covered her eyes, instead.
Naruto smiled teasingly. "Something tells me you were really looking forward to this."
"No!" She was crimson. "Don't look!"
Regardless, he stared in appeal at her freshly shaved hotpocket, admiring the lovely V of her fair hair. The pattern almost resembled a phoenix engulfed in dark blue flames. Her workmanship was quite impressive, but Naruto couldn't ignore the carving the musky perfume of her arousal evoked in him.
"You're already wet down here..."
"No! Don't say that!" Her eyes were still concealed.
Closing his eyes, Naruto laved his tongue across her swollen lips, over her button, and up the column of downy hair, relishing the heady taste of her nectar, putting the unique flavor to memory. Hinata tilted her head back and moaned heartily in response, her hands dropping to his head, holding his mouth in place as her loins buzzed with delight.
As his tongue lazily swept across her g-spot — once, twice, three times, every fiber of her being, of her femininity, stood on edge, rapture and exhilaration washing over her with extra potency. And she opened her legs as wide as she could, hoping the pleasure would exceed the boundaries of what was feasible.
"Mmmhh!" Her body trembled and arched up against his mouth as he slid one finger inside her. He circled it slowly, deliciously, impressively, stirring her juices inside. It felt so good that she couldn't help but moan, her body losing control, completely subjected to his sensual caress.
"Don't stop," she whimpered as he began to withdraw, gazing at him with desperate eyes now.
"Touch yourself for me," Naruto whispered back, so sweet and compelling that the princess couldn't resist.
And he took a few steps back as she continued pleasuring herself for him to see, unfastening and casting aside his bath towel before plopping himself down on a chair.
Fueled, propelled by the fierce winds of her desire, Hinata's fingers lingered at her centre — caressing the sensitive areas around her bubble, rubbing her plump cheeks, and dipping her two fingers into her wetness at random intervals. She moaned, she panted, she writhed and massaged her breasts, but it wasn't enough, not unless these hands were his.
Naruto's eyes were slitted and glazed as his body hardened on a heady mix of neurochemical cocktail. All of him — every fiber and cell — loved all of her, all her curves and all her edges, and all her perfect imperfections.
He watched as her body shot up when her fingers lightly skimmed over her g-spot and listened to the symphony of her cries as he, in turn, touched himself. He swallowed passed the hot lump in his throat as he indulged in his voyeuristic fetish — coiling his fingers around his rigid width, stroking the hard muscle back and forth. His chest tightened, and desire pooled in his belly as the mesmerizing goddess before him chanted his name, like a prayer.
Steamy puffs of breath escaped her lips with every sigh and pant, her sleek, silky, milky, snow white skin flushed pink in all the right places. Finally, Hinata couldn't take it anymore, not when the beautiful tool she needed was being flaunted before her very eyes. She could feel that familiar static electricity raging between them and some invisible magnetic force pulled her to him. She didn't resist.
From the love seat, she slowly crawled on all fours across the floor to him, boldly seizing the hard, hot muscle from his hand. The princess's eyes were glazed, liquid topaz that gleamed with her most heartfelt desire, even as her tiny fingers stroked and parted her swollen wet petals.
"Nhh," she panted, slipping two fingers inside herself. "Naruto-kun is already so hard..."
He watched and listened in awe. And it became harder to breathe. "Hinata... use your mouth, too; I want to feel it..."
She smiled obediently, amorously, lazily skimming her tongue up the lean length of him and daintily licking his tip, her eyes drifting close as she relished her erotic feat.
Naruto swore beneath his breath when she took him inside her mouth, and the princess cupped both his knees so that she could accommodate him farther, a cute whimper bubbling up in her throat as his crest stimulated the back of her throat.
"Hinata," he groaned. "It's incredibly good there." Naruto reclined his head, his mouth gaping small and wide as gratification gathered in his loins, his body a mass of aches and needs as she stroked, licked, and sucked him — ushering him into sweet oblivion.
The princess lets out a cute mewl as he held her head in place with a groan, ejecting his rich essence inside her mouth in an overwhelming orgasm. Hinata went silent for a moment, as if testing the thick product on her tongue before swallowing.
...
Naruto threw Hinata down on the bed, and she responded with adorable an whimper. She said nothing, only lie innocently below him, her expression subservient and needy, her lips soft and swollen from his kiss.
She moaned lightly as he fondled the perfect curves of her breasts — squishing them together and apart, watching in marvel as the soft, creamy skin folded around his fingers. He pressed a forefinger atop one ripened nipple, circling his fingertip around that aching pink peak.
And Hinata panted, staring as he sank each peak inward. "Naruto-kun... the way you do it is so lewd."
Suddenly, to her surprise, he pushed her legs back until her toes were almost touching down on the bed beside her shoulders, her back a lean arch, her centre propped up for him to see. "They've swelled so much," he commented looking down at her privates. "When did you become such a perverted girl?"
Hinata pursed her lips and averted her eyes shyly. "It's not like that," she protested softly, whimpering when he ignored her and found her g-spot with his tongue.
Then he slipped two fingers inside the steamy portal, stroking her, increasing his speed to the point where her juices began splashing out, trickling slowly down her thighs. "Hinata, it's incredible. You're so wet. Can you hear that sound?"
She could hear, and she could clearly see, but everything was too embarrassing to endure. "No, Naruto-kun, don't do that! I want you inside now..."
He sighed in a little disappointed, but disposed himself to her wish, releasing her legs and bending his knees, his eyes alight with excitement and intent.
Hinata's body braced itself in a heady mix of wild anticipation and arousal. Then he entered her, his crown fluently pushing passed the princess's double-doors, stretching her deliciously to accommodate the length and width of his hard, impatient shaft. "You're so warm inside, Hinata; it feels like I'm melting."
Naruto's hips were a machine, optimized for this sexual conquest. She squeezed the pillow beneath her head as he moved back and fro inside her — deep, hard, and delicious, his possessiveness, his power, his virility washing over her. And her body, her core, her femininity, went prostrate in subservience, overwhelmed by the fires of love, passion and desire.
Sensuality knew no bounds. Her centre clenched and her body hummed as the couple proceeded along the suspension bridge of ecstasy. Fierce gusts of wind rocked the bridge, but still they continued to cross, intent on reaching the other side: the home of fulfillment — rapture.
Now the princess was on her side, one leg bracing against Naruto's chest. "...Hinata," he whispered as he moved back, forward — a slow sensual tempo, savoring her, feeling her. And it took no time at all for her to fall over the edge, spiraling into a delicious, violent, exhausting orgasm. It was impeccable! And Naruto followed soon after, spewing his semen deep inside her.
...
Clinging to the bed-head, Hinata's breasts bounced back and forth, as Naruto tackled her from behind in a standing position, plunging hard and deep. "Na-Naruto-kun's penis is burning inside me!"
He was ravenous with need, ruthless, relentless, reckless. Climbing to the very summit of ecstasy was all that mattered. It sliced through him without remorse; daggers of desire that severed all ties to the civilized, like a hot knife cutting though butter. And he cupped her hips, holding her steady as he dominated her insides with the steely might of his rod.
"Hinata, one more time!" He groaned strenuously, feeling that familiar downpour.
"You can't!" She whimpered, swiveling her head around to look at him. "You just came inside me!"
With a breathless oath, he slammed into her, emptying another round of hot, thick protein inside — and she cried out in response.
...
Naruto entered her inner sanctum again — both her legs held wide open by his hands as she lay restlessly on her back. Her prince's body was flushed in his intensity, his eyes burning as he sought to engulf them both in flames. And the princess pressed her hand over her tummy with a whimper as his delicious assault reverberated in her abdomen, rendering her bones to water.
Suddenly, Naruto closed his eyes and veered all his senses to feeling. His length throbbed vigorously inside her as warm pleasure pooled in his loins, and then he exploded — blasting another round of his hot essence inside her. The princess screamed. And, with each delicious throb, Naruto felt a measure of otherworldly delight and fulfillment.
...
"Naruto-kun, you're cumming inside me too often," Hinata murmured adorably in between her panting. "It's too much!"
They were both lying on their back now, she on top, his hand crushing her breast while the other massaged her bubble, even as he thrusts his hips beneath her, pumping, stretching, stimulating the highly sensitive walls of her passage.
Despite her complaint, Naruto knew she was with him, flame for flame, demand for demand, but he wanted to push her further and faster, until there was nothing but blazing heat and wild winds.
"Hinata! I'm cumming again!"
Squirt!
...
Hinata's inner goddess was still basking in a remnant post-coital glow when Naruto penetrated her again, driving her from her stupor. She couldn't get her breath. The air was so heavy. And hot, so very hot she wondered that her skin didn't burst into flames.
The princess was on her back again, her legs stretching vertically against his chest and over his shoulders. Her plump cheeks were squished together in an erotic display as he rammed her over and over again, the visual adding fuel to his desire.
"Naruto-kun's milkshake is brimming over!" Hinata whimpered suddenly as they set out for yet another glorious release, her eyes glossy with shock and delight, her limbs going numb having been rendered to jell-o.
"Incredible!" Naruto groaned, breathless and exuberant. "Inside is so slippery with my semen! I can't take it!"
"Me, too, Naruto-kun! I'm going to cum again, as well!"
"Hinata! Hinata!" He felt a sudden buildup at the base of his shaft, and he increased his pace for a magnificent finish. Then his body was taut as a fierce orgasm arrested him, his legs weak as his masculine juices spewed deep inside his goddess.
Hinata orgasmed with him, and they cried out together as their bodies trembled and shook out of control, beaming with pleasure and satisfaction.
...
Naruto held her with a seductive flair against the wall of the shower stall, water spraying down upon them, waving down soft, flushed skin. "One last bout?" He suggested questioningly, his eyes hooded and hypnotic.
Breathlessly, Hinata nodded, incapable of speech. Her hair tumbled like restless night around her shoulders, wet and sleek. And her eyes filled of smoke and secret promises, constantly tugging on the chains of the beast that Naruto had suppress not too long ago.
His hands moved over her chest, over the elongated peaks of pink-tipped nipples, leaving aches and trembles in their wake. Naruto knew just how to whisper, and he knew where just to touch her, what to prove. The day was fading. The war was near, and there was much to put to memory, so much to savor.
Hinata cried out adorably as his mouth scorched her soft skin, his tongue laving up the sweet, slender column of her throat before his lips captured hers in a bruising kiss. Patient hands squeezed, massaged, and smoothed over heated skin. Then he cupped and propped her right leg up against his hip, following up by finding and slipping his muscle inside her with a finesse that made her clench in response.
"Incredible!" She moaned. "Naruto-kun's penis is hitting deep inside me. It feels so good!"
They both panted and moaned as hard, veiny muscle and hot, wet flesh conjured up a fierce storm between. Sated with heat and numbing pleasure, their bodies hummed, a symphony crooned by their drumming heart.
In a sweet and heavenly stupor, the princess instinctively followed the white cobblestones leading into the valley of ecstasy. She tightened around him as that oh so familiar orgasm came gushing through her, stealing the life from her legs and coaxing Naruto to his own grand finish. And, finally, he slammed inside her for the final time and stilled as he exploded with a groan, spewing his seed deep inside her womb.
...
Hinata allowed her muscles to sag as she surrendered, sprawled out in the imbue of her post-coital glow. A complacent smile touched her lips, mirroring the one that stretched Naruto's as he slinked toward the bed, his eyes fixed upon his adorable and willing submissive that laid motionless on her back, her bones rendered to mush in their epic journey.
"I don't think I've ever cum that much before," he said once he was lying on his side beside her, wrapped in a towel as she was.
The princess giggled softly. "That's because Naruto-kun overdid it."
"Hmm-hmm," he hummed, mirroring her expression.
"Oh. I have something special to give Naruto-kun..."
"Eh? What's that?"
She beamed. "It's a surprise!"
He watched in curiosity as she made her way off the bed and pattered over to her knapsack, quickly retrieving something from one of the many compartments before making her way back on groggy feet.
The girl exhaled heartily, completely fatigued by her brief undertaking. But she sat back on her heels and summoned him before her. "Close your eyes," she instructed on a sweet whisper.
He did what he was told, and, in a few moments, he felt as she took his hand and the cool, hard nature of steel could be felt gradually slipping up the length of his finger. His heart throbbed in vague recognition. Could it possibly be what he thought it was?
"Naruto-kun!" She said in a thrilling, singsong voice. "You can open your eyes now..."
His eyes fluttered open, wide and gleaming with the spirit of the sea when he spied the silver ring on his engagement finger. "This... this isn't by chance the—"
"Hn!" She beamed in delight at the evident emotions that flickered across his face. "It's the Coatlicue ring."
"Hinata..." he couldn't find the right words. "I don't know what to say. According to your dairy, you went through so much to get this. Thank you so much."
She closed her eyes in a blink and shook her head with a smile. "Naruto-kun went through the same effort to get my ring, too. Besides, I wanted to be true to this marriage's customs."
Naruto closed his eyes momentarily, savoring her words. "I still have to say thank you; at least I didn't get attack by Zetsu in my search."
"I should be the one thanking Naruto-kun." She was teary-eyed. "I'm happy that you want me as your wife..."
Naruto frowned, cupping the side of her face. "Don't be silly, babe. You're my soul mate; you've made me the happiest guy alive."
She smiled wholeheartedly, even as tears spilled over her lids. "I love you." Her voice was just a whisper. "I love you more than anything..."
"And I love you more," he challenged, leaning forward so that he could press his lips against hers in a brief kiss.
Hinata reciprocated by lightly skimming her lips across his hungry mouth. "And I feel like the luckiest girl alive."
He grinned. "What'd ya say we go out there and take control of this war? We'll turn Madara on his head and go back home with all our friends!"
"Hai!" She nodded briskly, like a child with a perpetual sugar rush.
"Jeez, why are you so freakin' adorable?"
Naruto held her against him in a protective embrace, giving her a hundred solemn promises that he was eager to keep, loving her with all the reverence and worship of a man madly in love.
Capturing her soft, tender lips with his own for another time, he know without a shadow of a doubt that he held the embodiment of heaven in his arms, and he was determined to guide and protect this fine miracle until the end of time.
"Naruto! Hime!" Kurama knocked impatiently on the stonewall behind which he sensed the Jinchuuriki was hidden.
Both him and Hinata having already dressed, Naruto hit the switch from the inside, opening the door for the anxious deity who stole inside, standing tall in his human form.
"We have a situation," he stated coolly.
Naruto frowned. "A situation? What's going on?"
"We've been ambushed, and the Wood Element user has been taken."
The princess gasped.
"What? Yamato-taichou was?" Naruto was shocked. "But what about my Kage Bunshin?"
Ignoring him, Kurama's attention suddenly veered away from the perplexed warrior and to the Hyūga princess that stood adjacent to him. He could sense a dramatic change in her — physiological processes that he couldn't quite comprehend. But he knew well what it mean and, despite the predicament they faced outside, the Nine-Tailed deity allowed a warm smile.
"Hime. You're pregnant."
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Hinata's Sensual Adventure