Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Spectral Ninja	By : Nescafevh Category: Naruto Crossovers > General Views: 15262 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Legacy Of Kain or any of the associated characters or make money from them, credit goes where credit is due!!!

Chapter List
- 18
- 19
- 20
When Naruto awoke later it was to Sasuke seated on the end of his futon, face edged with concern as he watched him. "That's creepy you know" he mumbled sleepily "watching someone sleep."

"Just making sure that you DO wake up" Sasuke snorted "can't have you weaseling out of a mission now, can we."
Naruto snorted this time, threw his pillow at his Skulk brother and wiggled under the blankets further "go away."
"Seriously" Sasuke said in an worried voice "what happened to you?" Naruto peaked out from under the blankets at him, seeing his worried expression and spoke "nothing I couldn't handle. Didn't sensei tell you?"
"He said you were injured gaining another glyph. How could that be true? I thought that brother found them all before he joined the sword."
Naruto rolled onto his back, wings flapping against the floor and scratching irritably at fading mark on his chest "it seems like he missed some, and two Reaver enhancements. It doesn't surprise me now I think about it. I mean not only did niisan only travel around those areas of Nosgoth he could get to, but he couldn't get everywhere. There were places only the Ancient Vampires with their wings could get to, but have probably opened up over the last couple of thousand years or so. Niisan had to use Mobuis the Time Streamers time devices to get to some of the ones he DID get, so did Chichi, so it's possible we'll encounter others during missions as we go along as a team." he frowned "We may even encounter things left by both races or devices meant for something or one else."
Sasuke frowned at him "what do you mean? Like what?"
He scratched at the mark again, looking thoughtful "I don't know, it's just a theory right now...."
"Tell me" Sasuke insisted.
"In the Balance temple I found a hidden room in the test chamber. Inside I found all sorts of symbols, all together around the Reaver. At first I thought it was more Glyphs or Reaver enhancements, but it didn't FEEL like them. And there was this one among them I swear...." he faded off with a thoughtful frown.
"What?" Sasuke asked, concerned.
"I SWEAR it was the Mangekyô Sharigan" when Sasuke opened his mouth to mention Naruto had yet to awaken his, he looked at his Skulk brother, eyes solemn "ITACHI'S Mangekyô."
Stunned Sasuke didn't speak, just blinked at him. Naruto was going on, face turned away to look at the ceiling "some of the symbols are familiar, I SWEAR I've seen them in Hidden Leaf, I just don't remember where. Others I've never seen before in my life." He looked at Sasuke again "Itachi's sharingan and another were painted onto an large blue and white fan."
Sasuke, knowing the symbol of their clan, sat up straight and sharply looked at him "MINE?! You mean you saw Itachi's and MINE! Where, how....?!"
He shrugged against the futon "the Ancient Vampires had devices that traveled forwards and backwards in time, it's possible one of them saw us, or even what we would later become, explains the fountain."
"What fountain?"
"Not now, perhaps when the mission is over we can check it on the way out of Wave.The mission comes first" he suddenly sat up and exclaimed "that reminds me." He looked at his Skulk brother "I need you for an experiment."
"What sort?" the other frowned as he watched him pull out an small cup from his jacket and the flask from beside the futon.
"If it works, we'll have an ready and instant source of Eldrith energy for you guys."
Sasuke blinked at him as Naruto measured out an certain amount of the slightly glowing water and held it out "here, drink it."
"What is it?"
Naruto just rolled his eyes "just drink it, it's safe, I already drunk enough to fill about five bottles and I'm not suffering any side affects. In fact I'm healed."
With an suspicious look at his Skulk brother, Sasuke quickly downed the contents. After a few seconds Naruto asked him how he felt. Sasuke thought about it while he took stock of himself.
"Weird, stronger, but not physically" he touched the glyph seal on his neck and shoulder "the seal feels warm, like the glyph is more powerful" he looked at his Skulk brother "what WAS that stuff?"
"Eldrith water from the fountain at the balance temple. It's artificially made soul energy created by the Ancient Vampires. Brother encountered it only a couple of times before, this stuff exists in the Spectral realm as well were usually water has the consistency of air. The Ancient Vampires must have known about us and left it there so we'd have an source of it for you guys. Baachan could probably use it to create pills-like the soldier and blood pills-so instead of having to drink it all the time to replenish your soul energy, you can just swallow a pill."
"How are you gonna get it from here to Hidden Leaf regularly?"
Naruto grinned "easily. All I have to do hire some Wave family to regularly bottle it and send it to us, an family in the village gets regular and steady income and we get an steady supply of it for not only you guys to use, but baachan can experiment with to see what she can do about it and with it."
Sasuke nodded "makes sense. What are we going to do now?"
Naruto slowly stood, swaying a bit before standing steady "we need to work out two separate plans, one for if the two reject my offer, the other if they accept it. I think the major aim is clear."
Sasuke nodded "Gato's death. He's too dangerous alive manipulating people like this. Once dead the price on the Bridge Builder will become redundant. But how do we get to him, hiding away like a coward he's not likely to stick his head out with us around to lop it off."
"I have an idea for that if the two agree to help." He outlined his idea. Sasuke chuckled "typical kitsune. Was this neesan's idea?"
Naruto grinned and nodded "I also have one for if we don't get them, but the first is the better one."
"I agree" Sasuke nodded, "but for now, you need to eat. You can tell the others while you eat." The two made their way together downstairs.
At least a few hours later, at the twilight hours between night and dawn, they received two heavily cloaked and disguised visitors.
While Kakashi and Sakura kept the Bridge Builder and his family upstairs and protected, Sasuke and Naruto meet them together downstairs.
"So, have you decided what you're going to do? Which side to be on?"
Zabuza spoke out "how can you offer us a job without authorization from your father?"
"One, you may not know this, but my genetic father was one of the most powerful men in Hidden Leaf, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, the Forth Hokage. I am also closely related to the greatest healer in the five nations, one of the three Legendary Sannin, that gives me A LOT of authority as one of the founding clans and related to another. My adopted father is one of the Fire Lords most trusted advisors and an ex-Kage from another powerful clan and land.
As for my father, I got authority directly from him."
"How, I saw no summon used or jutsu."
Naruto grinned "it's a kind of jutsu. Think of it like this, you are aware of the use of radios during some missions?"
When they nodded he went on "it is like the mix between an radio and bloodline. My brother's spirit inside me is fathers son. For people of the Vampire clan there is a secret ability called 'The Whisper' that allows all members to communicate with each other with only thoughts, their minds. No matter the distant as long as we share that genetic trait, we can Whisper each other."
"So as long as your brother's spirit is inside you, you can communicate with him even here."
"Exactly, and when brother died, death mutated that ability, allowing him to not only Whisper father's kind but anyone. Meaning I can communicate with anyone, from my Skulk brother here" he motioned at Sasuke. "To you both if I want." He said in their heads.
"So that time I saw your eyes go vacant, you were actually communicating with your father, this is real and authorized."
Naruto nodded "and I can prove it" he raised his voice slightly "you can come out now."
A slight noise had everyone look at the stairs to see a figure in red and black soundlessly descending them, body covered in ancient armor and cloth, his frame the same sort of size and muscle mass as Zabuza had.
An large twisted blade was sheathed on his back between the shoulder blades, no sign of skin visible, hands gloved with only two fingers and a thumb visible. Long white hair was visible out the back of the hood, tied together tightly so it kind of resembled an thick whip and yellow eyes glowed from deep inside the hood.
"This IS my father. He was heading out on an mission, but decided to stop by to organize the contract with you."
"HE is THE Blood Shadow?" Haku asked and Naruto grinned and nodded. Zabuza instantly moved, his sword flashing out at the hidden other on one side, leg for the other.
Without problem the figure caught both, briefly squeezing the leg threateningly to display his strength and yanking the heavy blade easily from his grip. "An interesting blade" he examined it closely "obviously once created by my ancestors. Similar to the Reaver, but not as powerful or well made" he held it back out to the other man by the blade-hilt to the man-like a peace offering.
Zabuza grinned and put the blade away, satisfied with his test and that Kain had passed it. He believed the stories about the man. "Well?! Shall we sit down and discuss the terms of the contract?"
"Indeed" Kain grinned back, voice a mix of humor and sarcasm.
By the time the three males had left before the sun had come up, plans had been made and contracts had been signed. They had decided to use Naruto's idea, not only would it draw out Gato, but they could fake both Haku and Zabuza's deaths for the ANBU and Hunters tracking them. With an entire village witnessing the Rogue-nin and his students death, their trackers couldn't deny it.
Calling Sakura and Kakashi to explain their parts, they organized everything they'd need or had to do the next day to go through with it.
Everything went according to plan, with Zabuza's supposed severe injuries and Haku's apparent death by getting between Kakashi's Chadori and his master, Gato stepped out to gloat, surrounded by thugs and minor criminals. They let Zabuza kill the man who had tried to fool him and his student and the idiot untrained thugs then he made an production of dying as he was laid beside his student.
A few day's later the three students, sensei and two Rogue's disguised with an Illusion Jutsu as simple villagers left the village.
Naruto had orginised with one of the families the Bridge Builder had recommended to have an supply of the water bottled and sent to Hidden Leaf as soon as possible, meantime he had at least seven bottles in an storage scroll in his jacket pocket, one for each of the skulk.
Without an civilian to worry about they moved faster back to the village, stopping only once when Naruto reporting the throb of another glyph.
They followed the sense to an stone wall of an large hill. Behind some brush they found the symbol required to enter.
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks, here was the proof they needed. For there, scratched intricately into the stone wall, was the Mangekyô Sharigan, ITACHI'S version.
So for some reason the Ancient Vampires had created human compatible glyphs, why they didn't know and what they could do they had no idea.
"Why is there an sharingan on the entrance?" Kakashi murmured thoughtfully "and whose?"
Sasuke told him before Naruto could stop him.
Kakashi frowned "why would there be a temple marked for Itachi only? The glyphs are not compatible for humans."
"We'll explain back at the village" Naruto said before Sasuke could answer "we may as well tell you, baachan and jijisan all at the same time what else I found in the Glyph Temple."
Kakashi, realizing they didn't want to talk about it in front of the Rogue Nin and his assistant, nodded. Instead they took note of the location, Naruto silently reporting it to his father to tell Itachi to check out next time he went to get his report.
They reached the Hidden Leaf and while the two Rogues were bundled off to T&I for questioning, the four met the Third and Tsunade [at Naruto's request] in the Hokage's office for explainations and Naruto to report about both the new Glyphs and enhancements. Then, at the Thirds request, Naruto sat down with a pen and peice of large paper to draw the symbols he saw in the side room while the Third ordered an large group of ninja to go catalog and document the artwork in the temples outer chamber.
"Done!" Naruto beamed, pleased with himself as he handed over the page to the Third. The old man took it from him while the near-teen joined his teammates.
The old man looked it over at Naruto with a frown "are these accurate?" at his nod the old man motioned to Tsunade "look at this."
The woman came over to the desk, frowning as she looked them over. "I see what you mean" she said after a few seconds, eyes roving carefully over the paper.
"What is it?" they asked.
"Hatake, come look at these. See if you recognize any." Kakashi joined them and his only visible eye widened "clan symbols! Some of these haven't been used for centuries!"
"Including Senju" Tsunade touched one. "And MINE" Kakashi said, touching another. "And MINE" the Third said, touching a third "this is serious. Whatever this room is, it may be important to the future of Hidden Leaf."
Naruto coughed in such a way it caught their attention "what is it?"
"Ummm" Naruto looked embarrassed "the room looked empty, until I went to the Spectral Realm. That's when I saw them."
"So it's only accessible from the realm of the dead" Tsunade said and the boy nodded "was there anything else there?"
"Symbols that looked like writing, but all three of us didn't understand it."
"Can you write it down? We may be able to translate it and if not it's an ancient language that SHOULD be recorded and kept."
Naruto shrugged "I can try."
The Third handed him more pages and after an hesitant start he was busy scribbing away.
Meanwhile the other three gave their report and were dismissed. Naruto suddenly looked up and called out "Wait guys!"
The group looked at him.
"Meet me at the apartments in a couple of hours, I have some things to discuss" his eyes went to Sakura "and a surprise for Sakura-chan."
The three others nodded and left, Naruto going back to the pages and symbols, scribbling furiously away but careful to make them as accurate as possible.
It took five entire pages, front AND back, before Naruto sat back finally, shaking his stiffened hand and handing them over "that all I could see, you're just lucky that Kyuubi has an photographic memory."
The two took the sheets, frowning "this is what you saw?"
"Yeah, I drew them exactly as they were placed, WITH the symbols, all four sides and ceiling."
And this gap here?" The Hokage pointed to an gap in the writing and artwork. Naruto rolled his eyes "the doorway."
"Ah" the Hokage nodded "was there any writing on the block you removed to gain entrance?"
"No, the bottom was all scratched up though, like someone had dragged it along metal spikes, but the damage was old, centuries old. It looked like someone had deliberately tried to hide the writing."
"A pity" the Hokage sighed "it would have been better to have the complete writing, even if we don't understand it."
Naruto shrugged "if the Ancient vampires really left it for us-or ME-they probably didn't just leave it there."
The Third frowned, intreged "you think there may be another copy at another temple undisturbed? Or even more of it?"
"It's possible, the ancients had a habit of spreading their legends out. I mean each of the Reaver forges had part of their history, it's possible more is in one of the other forges, or even a way to link the two so you can figure out the missing."
"You may be right" the Hokage nodded "thank you for this, Naruto, you may go now. Tsunade, find the best translator we have in Kohona and bring him to me, immediately."
"Yes Hokage" both chorused and left together.
Outside the door Tsunade pulled Naruto into a breif hug "I'm proud of you, gaki.You not only brought in two powerful ninja's for the village, you found something that could become important to either the history or future of the village. Kain-san will be pleased with you when he returns and your biological mother and father would be too, I am."
Naruto blushed, embarrassed by the pleasure he felt at this. "Go see your team" Tsunade gave him a little push.
Naruto started off, then remembered something. He pulled one of the flasks out of his jacket "here, baachan, can you make soldier pills out of this?"
"What is it?" she frowned as she took it from him carefully. He explained about the fountain and the water being an substitute soul energy and how he could use them in desperate situations during battle, careful not to mention or suggest his skulk mates. It was a good thing his godmother thought he was completely human with just some enhancements, there was less chance of them being dangerous for his brothers and mate then.
If he had too Naruto could mention his mate and the fact she was becoming just like him. She'd need the tablets with the ability to shift. Even though Hinata couldn't stay there and traverse the Spectral Realm, she could shift in emergencies and stay no longer than five minutes at the most before being pulled back to the Material Realm, sick and weak. The theory was simple, Hinata-as an living being-could both physically and mentally not handle the horrors and death of that Realm. She simply didn't belong there. So the realm of the living pulled her back.
However with Naruto having both the Kyuubi-a being of pure chakra and the soul of an man who had actually died TWICE, first as an human and second as an vampire, inside of him that he was merging with, was perfect.
Kyuubi also told him that even though he was born human, his mother had still bore her until the day of his birth, so chances were that was what made him able to not only handle the demon foxes chakra without problems but be undamaged by it. While gestating and growing inside his mother, his body had actually adapted to her, using it to grow his unusually large chakra stores and ability to manipulate it and store her with help of the seal.
Razeil thought his ability to house HIM and manipulate and use his abilities and glyphs may be because of all that plus the fact when the nine-tailed was transferred into him, it was because of the state of the village at the time. Death had been rampant, the Spectral Realm would not only have been swelling with new souls, but at the same instant Kyuubi was placed and sealed inside him, his birth parents were dying.
"I see what you are saying" Kyuubi said, smiling at her adopted skulk brother "When Minato called the Shirigami his pressence, the death around them and the fact THEY BOTH were dying pulled the land of the dead and Spectral Realm together to them and when they sealed me both their chakra caused the Spectral Realm to touch Naruto. However breif it was it allowed him to become compatible with you and then through you easily gain those abilities and glyphs."
"Exactly" Razeil said.
Growing up with Naruto then allowing her to slowly absorb his chakra and Kyuubi's tampering, crossed with the introduction of the glyph seal allowed Hinata to also gain the ability to temporarily tap into that spectral energy and go briefly to the other realm, but in the end, no matter what happened, Hinata was still a living breathing being and didn't belong.
And Naruto hoped it stayed that way.
However Hinata HAD begun to resemble him, not genetically, but with his....other more-than-human looks and also used an illusion jutsu like Naruto.
Stepping in the door of his home Naruto heard a squeal of joy and was immediately engulfed in arms and feathered wings. Unlike him, Hinata had physically only changed in four ways in looks. While other more drastic things had changed like her chakra and physical strength, the only physical changes that had occurred was her skin had gone more of an greyer shade then pale white, her hair had become thicker and fuller-more like Kunerai-san's wild mop, her fingernails were stronger and sharper like an vampires claws although not as long or noticeable and lastly the wings.
Razeil had once commented how much they had reminded him of Janos Audren's. They were jet black except the very tip which was white. Folded behind her the longest almost brushed the ground while it stretched a few feet above her head. But the most interesting part wasn't the actual wings but rather the feathers. They bore an strange iridescent quality that in the sun made them seem to shimmer and when the light hit the center the affect was breathtaking.
The center feathers of the second and third layers were an completely different colour to the rest. Bright red, blues, oranges and white were there, done in such an pattern that with the iridescence and surrounding of the black as an background it looked like flames, moving real flames.
Considering that Hinata's element was water, this was surprising. Why would her wings be 'branded' with fire? Was it her connection to the Uchiha's as an Hyuuga or her connection to Sasuke as the skulk brother? Or could it be a sign of Kyuubi's influence on her body and chakra?
Whatever it was, as Hinata had with Naruto when they were children, Naruto loved those things, obsessed with stroking them and running his fingers along the pinions whenever he had the chance, especially the flame decorated ones.
And he did so again now.
Hinata giggled at it and pulled back enough to stretch them behind her, keeping them away from him teasingly while she copied his gesture with his own, making him go boneless and purr like he always did since they were kids.
After a few minutes of this they became aware of an low animal snarl, deep and viscous behind them.
Spinning Hinata around he placed his mate firmly behind him, wings either side of her, both sheilding her and trapping her to the door. He tapped into Kyuubi's fox, crouching and growling back.
The doorway revealed an huge white wolf with yellow eyes, male, looking wild. It locked on Naruto, snarling feircely, obviously trying to establish dominance. But damned if Naruto would let him. This was HIS home, HE paid for it and the renovations, he was NOT gonna let some stupid dog who didn't know the difference between a being of his power and human dominant HIM, he crouched lower and growled deeper-like the creature of nature he was.
The wolf echoed him.
"I told you all not to let the damn thing in until he got home" came a snort from the kitchen doorway "this is your fault for not listening to me" the snort came louder "not like I don't know anything about canines."
In the doorway was Kiba, the rest of the Skulk plus Kakashi and Sakura. "Why? What's happening?" Sakura asked "why is Naruto growling back like a dog?"
Kiba sighed and rolled his eyes "even if Naruto acts cat-like and has a cat summons, you forget he contains an fox and is merging with a fox and a fox is canine. Chimamire Hantâ is canine. Naruto is the dominant canine of this household, Chi is an dominant canine. To Naruto he is competition trying to invade and claim HIS established territory. If you had of waited before you brought him in, Naruto could have established it was his territory before any trouble could start" he turned to look at them "why do you think Akamaru doesn't have a problem here? Because Naruto established his territory here to him before even entering the apartment."
"Who" Naruto growled "and WHAT is he doing here?!"
"That's MY fault" Kain stepped forward from the hallway behind them "he was a.....gift. I did not think it would cause a problem."
"Gift?!" Naruto snarled and the vampire nodded "one of the families Gato victimized were wolf-type ninja like Kiba. Gato stole an valuable artifact from them and was trying to blackmail them with it. When I gave it back to them after my mission earlier they made an pledge to me-despite my protests-to be my protectors and serve me. Their first act was to give me my own nin-kin, Chimamire Hantâ here. Apparently this clan has evolved past the Inuzuka's, they actually can take wolf form when needed. They remind me of a creature once known but now extinct by the Sarafan called Lycan's-or werewolves."
"He's not an nin-kin, chichi" Naruto growled "ask those who HAVE them. Even the intelligent ones obey their masters when needed, they are submissive to them, ask Kakashi-sensei. This is dominant, used to controlling and commanding. They either gave you an defective animal to get rid of it, or they thought you'd master it. Since you haven't it's claimed control" his growl became a snarl "YOU BETTER NOT HAVE LET IT INTO MY ROOM!!!!"
Kain said nothing.
"YOU BASTARD! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HE'D DO TO IT!!" Naruto screamed.
"I tried to warn them" Kiba said "as soon as I realised where he was Akamaru and I managed to chase him out, but the damage was done."
"Let me guess......"
"Yeap" the dogboy nodded.
"I'LL DEAL WITH YOU LATER!!!" he glared breifly at the vampire and started swearing under his breath. While he did Kain frowned and left to see for himself followed by others, leaving only Shikamaru, Kakashi and Kiba who knew exactly WHAT they would find.
Naruto flared his chakra, back raised weirdly, fingers flexing as claws got prepared for a fight, he looked all the world like an dog ready to attack "this is MY home, MINE!! And no wolf-wannabe is going to claim what's mine!!"
Before Naruto could move at the white wolf though, someone stopped him, Kain. Pushing money into his hands he motioned for the door "go, take the others, get yourself new furniture, and some clothes for now. Also find someone to clean up the mess" he turned to look at the wolf, yellow eyes flashing "I have something to do."
Naruto hesitated, but Kain glared at him and said firmly "go."
Naruto shrugged, pulled a few things from an nearby bookshelf and motioned the others to follow, the others leaving with him.
"Wow" Sasuke said "I don't think I've ever seen Kain-san so angry before."
"He didn't LOOK angry" Sakura said.
"You don't know Kain-san that well yet" Kiba said "he doesn't yell when he's mad or even LOOK angry, he goes quiet, or if he's REALLY mad he doesn't speak at all, he just LOOKS at you" he shuddered and Akamaru whinned and hid behind his master.
"So where are we going first?" Sasuke asked his Skulk brother.
"Well first I think we should all go and get something to eat. We can sit down toegther and you guys can all get to know Kakashi-sensei and Sakura and they you. Then will be Sakura's present. Then either you guys can help me shop for furniture and some casual clothes, or if you find that boring, go home and me and 'nata will do it. I know someone who I can send to clean my room for me who would be glad for the money I can send over after we've eaten, and the good thing is he's not intimidated easily, especially by canine's" he looked at Kiba and chuckled, who rolled his eyes at him and groaned "you're not gonna call HIM in, are you?"
"Yeap!" Naruto said cheekily only for the Inuzuka to sigh and roll his eyes again.
The others asked curiously who he was talking about, but Naruto just grinned and Kiba didn't speak.
They decided on an nice small sushi restaurant for lunch and sat together, chatting friendly together as they ate about various subjects until everyone was full. Then Naruto lead then to an training grounds and while they watched he set out five different scrolls on an log, evenly spaced, then nodded in satisfaction and stood back, looking at Sakura "Choose."
"What do you mean?" She frowned.
Suspecting what was happening, Kakashi spoke "Flare your chakra, all of it and fully and then look at each CAREFULLY. Whichever one feels right, or resonates with your chakra, take it from the group and give it to Naruto."
Sakura, a little unsure but willing, flared her chakra, trying to bring it all to the surface like she had been taught by Tsunade. Once satisfied she moved forward.
She walked around the log slowly a few times and when Naruto saw her frown he said firmly "concentrate. Nothing else matters but finding the right one."
Sakura nodded but didn't look up, eyes locked to the scrolls, green eyes going over one after the other carefully.
Slowly she reached out for one but then paused, uncertain, hand withdrawing. Suddenly as they watched her head snapped up towards another. She froze as if entranced, eyes locked, a small smile growing in her face of joy and excitement "I feel it, I feel HIM" her hand moved as stroking something and her three teammates recognized the same look she had had when she had first seen Naruto's wings.
Without hesitation she stroad forward and snatched up the scroll at the far end, pulling it close to her body, hugging it possessively.
Naruto laughed loudly as he picked up the others and put them away in his coat pocket "I KNEW you would be drawn to that one!"
"What is it?" the others asked.
Shikamaru spoke "you should recognize it, we each have one."
"Summons contract" Sasuke said "and by her reaction it is a bird."
"Not just any" Naruto said "an rare one."
"Rare how?"
"It used to be hunted, their feathers were highly prized and said to be used in ancient spells and curses. They are an supernatural creature like father and brother, and only one or two are left in existence today. They are highly intelligent as an summons and their personality is...well..fiery so of the bird kingdom it's a good fit for Sakura."
"If they are so rare why doesn't someone breed them?"
"It's not that easy. Because they are supernatural their form of reproduction is entirely different to any other. They reproduce only in the most suspific of settings and situations, but they are an powerful creature and hard to kill. Even then they can resurrect themselves if certain needs are met in an time period" he looked at Sakura "they are an very dedicated creature, Sakura, if I let you take him, you must never betray his trust and dedication to you and always treat him as an beloved family member and friend. If you treat him right, he'll always protect and guide you, he'll always care for, obey and trust you. Promise me."
Clutching the scroll to her possessively she answered solemnly "I promise, Naruto."
"Do you want to meet him?" She nodded desperately. Naruto showed her how to cut a finger on an kunai and sign it in blood, the scroll puffed away afterwards, as if accepting her. He then taught her the hand signs with the others helping, how much chakra to use and told her what to call.
Finally she tried it all together, flashing through the signs, slamming her hands on the gound, calling out "Bakuchiku shôkan jutsu!"
An bright flare of light and harmless flame glowed above her hands and a figure appeared in the glow, cloudy at first then becoming clearer.
When they could see finally, the most beautiful bird they had ever seen was floating in the air in front of them. It resembled an hawk, except for a few differences. The beak and legs, crest on the back of its head, second and primary feathers were yellow and some of the feathers on the back. The 'face', alula, lesser secondary covers, scapulars and feathers layered over the yellow were orange.
The back of the head, neck, front and back, primary, medium and greater secondaries were red. The tail feathers were both short and longer than the entire body. The short were red while the longer resembled peacock feathers of at least five or six and shimmered gold, so did the eyes and altogether it was the size of small dog-Akamaru to be precise.
It seemed to shimmer with fire an light, leaving them with the feeling of an pure being of light and life, powerful and strong, but fragile at the same time.
"Naruto" Sasuke asked in awe "what is this being? It feels like...."
"Like a creature of nature, like an being of light and love and purity and all things good and true in this world?"
They all nodded.
"His name-as far as human speech can manage-is Bakuchiku, or Chiku for short and his kind were once called an Phoenix. I told you everything truth about them, and from the place they originated the first was believed to be the son of a god. The others came-it is told-from the first breeding with a bird favored by those same gods, and their offspring breeding with each other and so on. When humans rebelled against their gods, they were symbols and therefore slaughtered. Chiku and one or two others survived because they became summons, the ancient vampires did so to save them."
The group could totally believe these birds came from the son of a god.
Sakura looked at the bird, tears in her eyes as she reached out for it slowly and carefully "I'm sorry, but don't worry, I'll take care of you and protect you."
The bird looked at her, head on the side as if measuring her up. It seemed satisfied with what it saw because the bird flew around each of the group, carefully checking out each-even Akamaru-before the glow lightened and faded before alighting on Sakura's left shoulder, careful of it's claws as it held on.
Sakura slowly stood, giving it a chance to get situated, and smiled joyfully at Naruto "thank you, Naruto! Thank you so much!"
Naruto nodded "I knew you two belonged together but two more things."
"What?" she asked.
"Chiku is young for his kind, only a couple of centuries old, so he's not as powerful as he could be. As you both train and you grow in chakra he will grow with you. He is an true being of nature-he shares an cycle of life-just like any other despite his age. If anything....unusual happens, don't panic, bring....ALL of it to me."
"What do you mean?" Naruto just shook his head "you'll see. Second when he reachers the peak of his chakra and strength he'll gain an battle form, mainly used to protect it's companion-you. Think of it as an mix between bird and human, with all the inherited skill of those before him, including the first of his kind."
"So he has all their skill?"
"Only in his battle-form and only when his companion is in extreme danger. Otherwise he has to learn, just like you. But Sakura...." he looked at her intensely "....that level will only be reached when he fully bonds with his companion and he'll only bond when he completely trusts, loves and believes in him or her. Never take him for granted, yell at him, use him or mistreat him. He's NOT a pet or weapon, he's an best friend and most trusted companion, one who'll watch your back as you watch his and care for you as you do the same. He'll sacrifice his life for you if he has too, just as you do for him. Think of him as another teammate in that way."
"I understand" she nodded "I don't want him to sacrifice himself for me, but I understand he will, if I have to I'll do the same, I swear. You said you'll protect the village and us with your life and that's your nindo, well this is mine, I'll never NEVER take him for granted, yell at him, use him or mistreat him. He's NOT a pet or weapon, he's an best friend and most trusted companion and I'll protect him like I do you guys."
As if to reward her for her vow, the flame bird nuzzled the side of her face with an affectionate guesture, tugging her hair playfully with his beak.
Sakura giggled happily and Naruto grinned at her. Kakashi eye-smiled "that's an definite good start, Sakura" he said in approval "all of us who care for our summons share an bond with them beyond master and summons. It makes the relationship so much better."
"Do YOU, sensai?"
He nodded "I grew up with Pakkun and the pack, they were my fathers summons before mine. There were times they were all I had when he was away on a mission, and that made the connection when I signed their contract so much stronger."
As if reacting to the sadness in his tone the bird, Chiku, flew from Sakura's shoulder to perch on Kakashi's head, getting busy preaning his hair for him while the group tried hard not to laugh.
When he started protesting, trying to duck his head away but the bird just kept on grooming him calmly, they couldn't hold it in any longer and started to crack up.
However when the birds long tails stroked the back of his neck under the jonin jacket and Kakashi all but purred, his eyes widening in shock and he clamped hands over his covered mouth, the laughter got louder at his embarrassment.
"Sensitive spot, sensei?" Sasuke asked, trying to control his laughter and just smirk superiorally at his teamleader.
"I...." the older man started, trying to look cool and in control, but it just made matters worse. Naruto however looked interested "does it have anything to do with you growing up around dogs, sensei?" he asked curiously.
Kiba calmed then asked "yeah, does it?"
"What do you mean?" the others asked the two.
"Well Kakashi sensei grew up among his summons, he said he was often alone with them while his chichi was on missions. It's possible if he was young enough when this started that he also developed some similar weaknesses or behaviors to them."
"In what way?" they questioned.
Kiba spoke himself "when the bitches carry the pups around, they do it from the back of the neck" he demonstrated on Akamaru who hung limp in his grip and whinned submissively "to the pups it means safety and the love of their mothers. Even fully grown a lot of dogs still associate it that way, so still submit. It's why a lot of vets use that area as one area when lifting dogs, it can sometimes calm them even before being put on the table. It's also part of why male dogs will grab that area when mounting a female, it hopefully keeps them calm."
Sakura spoke while Chiku flew back to her shoulder, satisfied with his work. "So when sensai was little, one of his father's summons carried him like that or even similar and now HE does the same thing?" When Naruto and Kiba nodded, Sasuke added "probably Bull then."
"Why him?"
"He's the biggest of them, so it wouldn't be that much of a problem for him to carry an child Kakashi sensei around."
They understood this, the girls giggling at the image of an large dog carting an child Kakashi around that way.
They could even image him laying limp in the dogs gentle jaws, whinning like a little puppy.
Kakashi obviously didn't like the way this was going, knowing he'd never live the image down, so cleared his throat and asked after looking around quickly "can he talk, Naruto?"
Naruto gave him an shit-eating grin and said "alright, sensei, we'll leave you alone, for now." He looked at Sakura "he's only young now so he can't talk yet, but he'll learn. The more you talk TO him, the more he'll learn. He'll also learn from those around you. Try not to swear around him, birds tend to pick up the words you DON'T want them to say, as opposed to the ones you do."
"It's starting to get late Naruto. Aren't you supposed to be getting some things for your bedroom? Spare civilian clothes and some furniture."
Naruto nodded and looked at the others "those of you who don't wanna help may as well head home. Anyone else, let's go."
In the end Kiba and Akamaru, Choji, Shikamaru, Ino and Shino left, Kakashi claiming he had an mission he 'just remembered' and leaving Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata and Sakura (still with Chiku perched on her shoulder).
So they ended up with Sakura and Hinata giving 'fashion advice' to the two boy's on casual clothes, Sakura insisting that Sasuke NEEDED casual clothes-he couldn't spend all day and every day in shinobi outfits-and dragging him away while Hinata giggled behind her hand at the boy's protests before dragging her mate to do the same thing.
When both boy's met up again to go choose the furniture, they had bags full of clothes choosen by the female FOR them, exhausted.
Sasuke had put his foot down at blue, white, red andor black clothes while Naruto insisted his casual had to have orange andor yellow and red.
The furniture hunting went much more smoothly though as they found a set that consisted of a large dresser, bedside tables and matching queen-sized bed, Sasuke rolling his eyes when both insisted trying it out before they bought it, rolling around on the mattress and play-fighting, Naruto mock growling while Hinata peeled with laughter.
The two may be pre-teens, but in a lot of ways they were also still children, children deprived of an normal youth due to outside elements, Naruto's 'vessel' status and being an orphan, and Hinata being trained to be a 'lady' nearly from birth.
The salesman looked on, unsure wether he should be mad by their antics or amused, but before he could decide the two lay on the bed together, puffed and laughing. Naruto looked at the civilian salesman from his position and grinned "we'll take them, the entire set."
The salesmans' eyes lit up and Sasuke could practically see the ryo signs in them as the eager salesman nodded "very good choice, sir, where should we deliver it?"
Naruto gave him the address and apartment number, informing him of the buildings service elevator the delivery men could use to bring it up. Also asking about getting it delivered within the next hour or so, he was willing to pay extra for the delivery men to work overtime to do it for him.
Naruto, suddenly half way through paying, cocked his head and looked thoughtful. When he came back he grinned and looked at the salesman "actually I'm gonna need some other items as well."
The salesman couldn't keep the grin from his his face as he showed Naruto the bookshelves, small entry-way tables and a few other things.
By the time the four left, Sasuke swore the overwelmed salesman had come in his pants from sheer excitement of his customer's seemlessly bottomless money bag and taste for the expensive things.
The first thing the once-blonde did once outside was poke his tongue at the idiot in the window of the furniture store four doors down, the one who had refused to serve Naruto. "Bet he'll be sorry he didn't serve me now, won't he."
"What was that all about?" Sasuke asked him "did you buy all that stuff just to show him up?"
"Of course not" Naruto grinned "chichi contacted me, he's dominated the damned thing, but not without some ....how should I put this...casualties to the apartment." He looked at his skulk brother "we'll need to stop off at the hardware store on our way there."
Sasuke nodded "so that spurge had nothing to do with showing them up?"
Naruto's grin said 'maybe, maybe not.'
"Naruto..." Sasuke started so he answered with "sort of. You remember Hinata and I bouncing on the bed?" when Sasuke nodded he went on "did the bed move at all, not the mattress, the frame?"
Sasuke thought about it before shaking his head, "it was sterdy."
"What about the one we tried in THEIR store before we were chassed out?"
"It bounced everywhere!" Sasuke's eyes widened "you're saying those guys are selling inferior quality furniture, aren't you. That they realized you were testing their quality, that's why they refused to serve you and chassed us out."
Naruto nodded "you're the second-last Uchiha, for you to be seen in their store with 'Nata and myself would give them an huge boost in popularity, but when they realized I knew what they were doing, they chassed ME out, knowing you would go too. They get to save-face since you CHOSE to leave with me, and by hoping to get me out fast enough they keep me from realizing their entire range is shit and loosing buisness by telling others, least of all people like Tsunade and the Third."
The other three nodded in understanding.
"However despite being slightly more expensive, THESE guys were high quality and obviously cared about an customer, the fact he didn't say anything while we were bouncing showed that. So he was not only worth the little extra but I promised not only further buisness but encouraging other customer's. You've heard the saying 'when one customer's happy, they tell one friend, but when they are unhappy, they tell one hundred friends.'"
Sasuke nodded and saw Naruto's evil grin "what are you going to do?"
"Kohona has a reputation for good quality products, at great prices. By selling poorly made, this buisness is screwing with it. When I'm done with them...."
Before Sasuke could speak they reached the hardware store and Naruto kept them buisy with buying paints, filler, brushes, wallpaper and glue so by the time they arrived at the apartartment complex they were just in time to meet the movers and escort them upstairs.
By the time Sakura and Sasuke got home that night, exhausted from everything they had done plus helping Naruto paint, patch holes and slashes in the wall, move furniture and glue wallpaper, they were too tied to do much, Sasuke only pulling his shoes off before falling straight into bed while Sakura told her parents she had had dinner with her team, soaking in a long bath, laughing drowzily when Chiku checked himself out in the mirror curiously before he started to fly around the room, checking other things out before alighting on the side of the bathtub to watch her for a while. When he started tugging on her hair, grooming her in his way, Sakura let him, knowing not only was it a part of bonding with her summons, but it made both of them feel better, more relaxed around each other.
After a bit of a rest Sakura sat up to wash out her long hair properly with shampoo and conditioner, scrubbed herself down then got out, drying off before dressing for bed and allowing Chiku to perch on her shoulder again.
Once in the bedroom she let her summons finally go home and was asleep even before her head hit the pillow.
Her dreams that night were of an very beautiful feminine man with red and yellow hair and gold eyes covered in an red and yellow armor and feathers sweeping her up in his arms, one hand holding an fiery gold sword and the other empty but clawed while it gently ran through her hair, lips whispering to her loving words she strained to hear but couldn't.
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Spectral Ninja