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The Path to Rokudaime	By : xenus Category: Naruto > General Views: 1422 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
The
Path to Rokudaime
::::::::
Chapter 3 ::::::::
�Crucifix
Andromeda�
�Spoken
language�
�Spoken
Jutsu�, or �A memory of something said�, or a
�Second Voice�
�Thought�
�Kyuubi�
�Inner
Sakura�
�Kyuubi�s
thoughts�
(Italics
on all words are meant to signal a flashback.)
::::::::::::::
The Land of Waves ::::::::::::::
Over
the course of the next two days, Naruto trained in his underclothes,
which consisted of a pair of thin-material black shorts and a netted
shirt, as to maintain and preserve the cleanliness and strength of
his clothing.
To
say the workings of fire manipulation was hard would be a gross
understatement, and as of now, Naruto was no closer to understanding
the intricacies nor the execution of said element.
For
now, he would work on earth-based handling. It was definitely easier
than trying to control fire, which by Kyuubi�s standards, should
have been easy. The fact that it wasn�t only fueled the fox�s
annoyance with the boy.
�The
problem is, boy, that you�re attempting to force it. That
only works with the earth element. Water, requires fluidity, earth
requires force, wind requires extension, and fire requires sensation.
You have to feel the will of fire, you dolt.� (1)
Kyuubi�s
words from the other day had even made himself feel idiotic.
Although, he had remarked in a weary tone, Naruto was growing
steadily more skilled in the art of fire manipulation. Yet still a
far cry from mastery.
Still
recalling his failure at the beginning of this Wave Country mission,
how he froze at the sight of two chuunin-level nukenin (2) coming
after him, he threw himself into the movements, his lazy motions
already integrated into his style.
He
threw his fist out at the ground and watched as a sizeable
square-shaped hole was punched into the earth. Another fist lashed
out, a small, petite flame following the arc of his arm and searing
across the grass before dissipating without a feed.
As
he moved through the various katas, creating potholes and diagonal
ditches in the earth and burning them, scorching the dirt, a familiar
voice whispered to him on the wind.
�How
weak can you possibly become, whelp? Great Kami almighty! That fire
was so weak, it could barely give a human a first-degree
burn!� Kyuubi�s enigmatic voice barreled in a hollow
tone, echoing through the recesses of his mind.
Naruto
growled and threw himself in to a particular surge, a lightning-fast
punch delivered directly at the ground. A circle of deep red flame
echoed from his skin, rippled over the surface of his body,
stretching out in a fine spiral arc. The flame quickly dissipated,
leaving a trail of smoke and a heavily gasping Naruto in its wake.
From
within him, Kyuubi roared with laughter. �Finally, you obtuse
oddball! I didn�t know you had it in you! And here I thought I�d
have to�.�
Naruto
severed the connection with the bijuu�s incessant tongue, relishing
in the thought of the fox�s ill-fated temper and rampaging ire as
he sensed the great beast thrashing about in his cage, possibly
shouting all manner of vulgar words. With the savagely low voice of
the great Kyuubi now expunged from the halls of his mind, he found a
greater clarity in his thoughts, a sort of calm fire ignited within
his very soul.
�This
. . . this is the will of fire, isn�t it?� he wondered,
hoping to whoever ran the celestial heavens that he was correct, and
some jutsu gone wrong wasn�t actually burning his soul. Though he
reasoned that burning his soul would more than likely render him akin
to a vegetable.
Naruto
peered up at the overcast skies as an earthy rumble reverberated
through the clouds, signaling the coming of rain. With a
disinterested shrug he found very difficult to do due to his
rampantly increasing anxiety, he shrugged on his clothes and began
the long walk back to Tazuna�s residence, his footfalls merely
whispers as he entered the darkness of the forest.
The
forest was cold, colder than anywhere else he�d been that day. All
things considered, he reasoned a fairer reason for his predicament
was the fact that he�d been training all day and the pores he�d
inexplicably opened had begun to absorb rather than repel the
cold.naruto shrugged again and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Rain
cast a single blanket over the whole of Wave country, shrouding the
smaller town in hazy canvas. In hindsight, Naruto supposed the whole
sight was rather picturesque in passing, though the whole majestic
nature of the view was addlepated by the rain itself. With a curse,
he dipped around a rather tall oak tree and came upon the entrance
to, or lack thereof, the town. It was more like an entryway than
anything else. The forest opened up into an alternatively bleak, grey
town, devoid of lifeblood and vibrance of any kind.
Truthfully,
the whole thing was quite pernicious to the people themselves, living
with rats, dying with disease carried by rats; bubonic plagues
rampaging the tighter ends of the city. Even at one time, rumors of
yellow fever and typhus had begun to spread, though Naruto had
disputed and disregarded the evidence for the most part. People in
conditions such as these needed an outlet, and if making up plagues
was it, then so be it.
Rounding
a corner, Naruto�s pale blue eyes widened a moment as he recognized
a similar figure resting upon the roof of a house, seemingly
untouched by the rain. As he approached, the bereft jounin cast a
weary glance in his direction, the absence of his orange manga giving
him a more suspicious look. Kakashi smiled his one-eyed smile and
vanished from the roof, only to drop directly beside Naruto a moment
later with a short, �Yo�.
�I�m
surprised,� Kakashi intoned in a friendly but suspicious manner. �I
figured I�d see you running to get back, and yet here you are;
trapped like a rat in a maze, desperately seeking a way to return to
warmth and comfort.�
Naruto
glanced up at him. �You should have been a poet, sensei . . .� he
remarked lightly, suppressing a shiver. His clothes had apparently
soaked nearly all the way through. Disappointedly, Naruto sighed and
shook his head. He would have to remember that his new clothes
weren�t shinobi-grade and thus did not repel the elements as well
as a consequence.
Kakashi
chuckled lightly at the jib. �Perhaps. Although I rather enjoy
pestering you and speaking in parables.�
Naruto
shrugged again. �Did you come all the way out here for that?�
�No,�
he admitted, casting him a lightly placed smile. �I actually came
to see if you required aid to walk. You�ve been gone for a good
twelve hours. It was your turn to guard Tazuna. Need I remind you
that Sasuke is not happy with having to pick up your slack?�
Naruto
sighed and nodded. �Yeah. Sorry, but you�ll thank me later, once
Zabuza strikes again. Trust me.� he replied, waving his hand in
front of himself, the water soaked into his clothes obediently
following his movements, forming a barrier to the rain.
Kakashi
was not surprised. After seeing the child freely manipulate the earth
with a well-placed punch, the fact was no longer new or surprising
anymore. Nevertheless, he found it commendable that a child his age
could have such fine control, and to such a minute degree. �Is that
so? So is that to say, you�ve fully mastered fire, as well?�
Naruto
shook his head as the walked, entering another forest, this time a
familiar one; close to the two-story house of the bridge-builder.
�Not even close. But then again, I�m not even close to mastering
water and earth, either. He says I have about as much power
over the elements as a newborn, exact words, actually. All
that I can do is because of Kyuubi�s influence over my tenketsu. He
keeps them from being completely crushed.�
Kakashi
cast him a slightly worried look. �Crushed?� he asked simply.
�Yeah.
Whenever I manipulate an element without the use of chakra the strain
and energy come from the ambient energy that forms my tenketsu. Any
and all the elements� abilities usually constrict my tenketsu
whenever I use it. At least, when I don�t use chakra to aid me.�
Kakashi
mouthed a silent �o� as they emerged in the small clearing that
led to the front door, the house finally coming into view over a few
treetops. �So it�s not advisable for you to use it for too long,
right?�
�Pretty
much. One more thing,� Naruto stopped at the front door, turning to
Kakashi. �Don�t tell them. If Sasuke knows, he�ll demand to
know how, and if Sakura finds out about how much Sasuke wants
that information, she�ll stop at nothing to get it out of me. I
just want to be left alone tonight.�
The
copy nin nodded once and vanished in a swirl of rainwater. �Thank
Kami . . .�
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To
room was cast in a formidable shadow, cloaked in shades of brown,
giving it the appearance of a bear�s cave or lion�s den;
something to that effect. A long round rug lay out flat underneath a
semicircular desk, cleared of all paperwork, save for one initial
document of a certain Jinchuuriki.
Standing
near a small round window overlooking the entirety of the Hokage
monument, a silent, but contemplative Danzou stared intently at the
varying shades of brown and tan of the previous leaders� carved
faces. New developments had come to rise, and without substantial
evidence, cases involving the mordant Uzumaki Naruto would be ever
more difficult to bring up. It was quite fortunate, however, that he
had numerous loyalties in varying factions beneath him.
�I
do not want any more foul-ups, Yaminara. If it must be done, then so
be it. I want his every movement calculated and recorded by our
group. No one outside our jurisdiction should have any more pertinent
information on that rapscallion.�
Yaminara
stood in full uniform near the door, his wavy brown hair
overshadowing his stern violet eyes. �I understand, sir. What would
you have me do?�
Danzou
rubbed his chin with his good arm, keeping balance by leaning on a
small bookcase strategically placed beneath the window. �You say he
can willingly call forth the elements? And had willful control over
the Kitsune?�
Yaminara
nodded, his reflection caught in the window, rain surging in a
downpour outside the window. �Yes, sir. It seems that he has been
consciously speaking to the Kyuubi, as well.�
�I
want him monitored as soon as he steps foot in this village. That
fool Sarutobi should have ingrained the weapon project into his very
soul, his DNA, the very moment that hell spawn was born.
Nevertheless . . . you have your orders.�
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Were
it any other moment, he would have scoffed at the idea of having no
reason to fight. However as the ruminative Uchiha Sasuke sat at the
placid, uninterested and lethargic expression etched across Naruto�s
face, he found his unnaturally urgent need to fight quelled. Naruto,
nowadays seemed deeply contemplative and melancholy, as if he were
disappointed, and/or had no relative reason to do anything.
His
eyebrows were always so high on his forehead, Sasuke had at first
believed the boy to be in a constant state of surprise, but that idea
was quickly replaced when he caught sight of the boy�s deeply
thinned, dispassionate eyes, tinged with a bittersweet milky aura.
And while they were still the same enigmatic cerulean, they seemed
somehow faded and disconcerted. All in all, it was rather depressin
to see day after day, but Sasuke truly didn�t wish to question the
guy any further.
�And
I think we�ll have to rethink our strategy, all things considered.�
Kakashi stated, Sasuke had only gotten the gist of the conversation,
anyway, and grew rather bored with the man�s monotone drawl. At
least the former Naruto had used to be interesting.
Quietly,
he asked, �What�s with you, loser? Get a stick up your ass or
something?�
Naruto
sighed heavily and glanced at Sasuke. �No,� he breathed,
exasperated. �Unlike you, teme, I actually have
things�pertinent things to think about. Stop bothering me. I
don�t want to fight right now.�
Sasuke
scowled, but not from the message, but from the mellow, stale drawl
Naruto had spoken in. In all the years he�d known the blonde,
Naruto had never been tired. Not once. In actuality, it was
true that he could always count on Naruto to be full of energy and
pep.
�I
suggest you two head for bed soon. Tomorrow is going to be rather
draining, I can assure you of that.� Kakashi said, his head still
buried in his book. Did he ever sleep?
Naruto
heaved a silent sigh as he excused himself and headed up to bed,
leaving the room bare, save for a loudly snoring Tazuna, a giggling
Kakashi and Sakura, who was gradually nodding off. �Damn it . .
.�
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His
form blended into the cold grey shadows of the sleeping city of
Konoha, the blackness of the sky stretching to accommodate his
features. He deftly held his breath, the watchdogs of the village
quickly racing through the alleys, scanning for intruders. �I
guess the old man actually took me up on my advice to train the Anbu
and hunter nin further. I wonder if he did the same to the elite
jounin . . . ?�
A
part of him was elated, the other part, a bit apprehensive. If they
were better trained now, then how would he be able to get past them?
Setting up a fake genjutsu the old man taught him at an old antique
shop was definitely a great diversion.
There
were no Anbu where he was going. Quickly and quietly, he crept to the
top of the building and slipped into the skylight. No way was the
owner of the shop going to let him simply come in and buy something,
so . . .
Naruto
hit the ground silently, the shadows of the linoleum floor and the
drywall obscuring his vision. He glanced over his shoulder at the
entrance to the building, finding the windows empty of mannequins and
on the other side, a barren street. �Good. I was worried for a
minute.�
Moments
later, Naruto slipped out of the place, leaving behind exact monetary
change on the register�s counter. He may have technically stolen,
but Naruto knew the old man Hokage was always watching him. After a
couple of years of talking to the old man, he�d accidently found
out about the crystal ball. So, he thought out his actions carefully
while in the village walls, and didn�t like to disappoint the man
who he had come to think of as his surrogate grandfather.
Tucked
beneath his right arm were a few pairs of loose-fitting pants, a few
netted short-sleeved shirts and three high collared cloaks of various
colors, from navy blue, to black. So caught up in the rush of having
successfully escaped the notice of all the Anbu, Naruto didn�t
notice there was someone in front of him until he impacted with a
solid abdomen and promptly fell back on his back, the clothes landing
on his head and obscuring his vision.
Naruto
growled and ripped the garments from his face and glared up at his
escape determent. His cobalt eyes locked for a second with curious
obsidian eyes, which seemed to pulse with a blatant calm that sent a
shiver down Naruto� spine. He scooted back to get some distance.
With a deep-colored katana strapped to his back, in full ANBU gear,
save for the mask, two sets of ashen-black bangs brushed across both
halves of the boy�s moon-pale face.
The
excess silence grew so deafening, a ringing distinctly sounded
throughout their ears. The Anbu knelt down, and for the first time,
Naruto noticed the warmth in those dark eyes. �He�s . . . not
like the other ANBU, is he?� he wondered absently, and the boy,
who couldn�t have been more than twelve or thirteen years of age.
�Are
you . . . Uzumaki Naruto?� the boy asked, his voice soft and even.
Naruto
nodded dumbly, caught between fright and curiosity. No one had
actually called him by his name, with the exception of the old man
Hokage. �W-who are you . . . ?�
�Itachi
. . . You are the same age as my little brother . . .� he meekly
observed.
�Brother
. . . ?� Naruto echoed softly, a near whisper.
Itachi
nodded and rearranged the younger boy�s clothes in a neat, folded
pattern, then handed them back to Naruto. �My younger brother. You
might see him at school in the fall . . . he is very talented. A bit
misguided, but . . .� he trailed off when he noticed Naruto was
only half paying attention. His eyes were hidden by his soft blonde
hair.
�I
won�t be going to school this year. They won�t let me.� he
said, his voice breaking at the end.
�The
instructors?� Itachi asked.
Naruto
shook his head and scowled. �The old farts in the council. They
said I was dangerous, that I was an . . . abomnigation . . .�
�Abomination,
you mean?� Once again, Naruto nodded affirmatively. �Unbelievable.
He is the container for the Kyuubi? And yet the clan council chooses
to let him rot in the village sewers? Such blatant disregard for
decency. What a waste of talent.� he mused with a slight air of
rebellious ire.
Naruto
lifted his head, his calm yet mischievous and confident, bright
sky-blue eyes brimming with stubborn, unshed tears. �So, I�ve
decided . . . I�m gonna be a ninja on my own! I don�t need to be
recognized by the village, I will be Hokage!� his lower lip
trembled.
Itachi
allowed himself to smile a little. Whoever this child turned out to
be, it would be most beneficial for the village. �Imagine. In a
few years, he may become the strongest shinobi to grace this village.
The Yondaime�s final legacy has been born. I wonder . . . has he
been told? Does he know the possibilities of his lineage? I�d
imagine not. Perhaps Hokage-sama chose to omit such information to
the council for the child�s safety.� Itachi let out a silent
sigh. �Then I will help you, if you promise to protect those who
are important to you.�
Naruto
nodded furiously. �I will! And . . . you�ll help me?�
�Perhaps.
I have heard of some things about you that are very . . . intriguing.
I believe you�ll make a remarkable Hokage someday.�
�You
better believe it! When do we start?� he asked anxiously.
Itachi
lifted his eyes to gaze at the sky, the position of the stars
depicting the time. �I�ve been away from home too long.
Sasuke will be waiting for my return. He won�t sleep until I�ve
come home.� he let an indulgent smile creep across his otherwise
impassive face. �When you become a genin. Promise me you won�t
give up on your dream. Ever.�
Naruto
grinned cunningly and nodded. �Sure thing!�
Itachi
heaved a sigh and stood up. �Then I�ll be going.� he vanished
into the shadows.
Naruto
smiled a bit as he felt his eyelids droop. He never did see that guy
again, the one called �weasel�, but the memories of the man�s
ghostly pale face, hinted in a slight shadow, still brought him a bit
of hope. If only he knew . . .
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�Was
it so terrible . . . ? To have been reduced to living in trash bins?
To have lost all hope for life, itself? Do you still have regrets,
boy? Can you handle the responsibility of these powers I have so
graciously imparted to you?�
Naruto
shook his head and stared down at his teammates. Sakura was lying at
the base of a tree, covered almost entirely in scratches and scraped,
her chest heaving. No doubt contemplating her crush�s stamina.
Naruto found it odd how much he didn�t mind her not paying
attention to him. He supposed it may have been because she never
really had, or perhaps because he finally understood her.
�Naruto
doesn�t understand girls . . . he doesn�t understand me . . .�
With
a sigh, Naruto leaned forward and rested his chest on a branch, his
left eye closed blissfully as he focused his sight on the grass far
below him. Should he fall now, the chances of him surviving without
injury were rather slim, not that he truly cared at all about such
menial things. At the moment, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts
of that place. The antechamber hidden within the head of the fourth
Hokage.
Who
built it? What was it for? Could he trust the information he might
find were he to venture further inside? Too many questions, too
little answers. Naruto couldn�t stand the misdirection of the seal
on the wall. �It said that the fourth wind circles the seal and
reveals the path beyond. What does that mean? Do I have to blow on it
four times, or something?� he questioned, realizing his
reasoning was probably sounding pretty stupid.
�You
haven�t answered my question, child. You should be grateful to me .
. . boy . . . I have given you more power than you can possibly
imagine, and yet . . . you refuse to release me. I have promised not
to rampage your village, what more can you ask of me?�
�Never
to kill another human as long as you live. Then I might
consider it. Might.�
Kyuubi
growled a little. �That, I cannot promise. Why care for
humans, anyway? Have they not scorned you? Belittled you? Ignored
you? Hated you? Why do you not seek vengeance?�
Naruto
shrugged lazily and folded his arms beneath his chin. �Because
then where would I be? What would I be? I don�t want to have
to kill anyone. Besides, it�s not like they were all bad. A few
actually liked me. It wasn�t until I . . . became known to them
that they started to avoid me.�
�And
do you not deserve justice for that loneliness?� Kyuubi
asked.
�No
. . . it was my fault for thinking I deserved friends. It was my
fault for choosing to bear a life of curses and lonesome illusions.�
Kyuubi
narrowed his eyes in his cage. �Ah, I see . . . the countless
imaginary friends. It kept you sane, for a while. Until the Sandaime
sent you to that accursed academy. They ridiculed you, laughed at you
for your illusionary friends. How pathetic . . .�
Naruto
nodded absently, his pale blue eyes fading a bit in color. �True
. . . it was pathetic. I don�t know why I bothered. I hated Sasuke
for having everything I ever wanted. I hated myself for never being
good enough. I began to use pranks as my training, but it was never
enough, either.�
�Even
your great village leader rarely had time for you. Alas, it is quite
a shame. And yet, I find you intriguing, boy. You have endured, yet
you remain in the company of your tormentors. Why? All my knowledge
and experience disputes this choice. Why?�
Naruto
shifted on the branch as he moved to stand. �It�s because I
can see . .. I can look into their hearts and see the fear of you
they have hidden away. While the old man�s law stated they couldn�t
talk to me about it, they were certainly capable of muttering
some things amongst themselves. Indirectly, I found out a bit about
why they hated me. But I could never reciprocate the hatred. It isn�t
in me to hate, I guess . . .�
�Then
you are a fool . . .�
�Yeah
. . . maybe . . . but if I�m a fool, aren�t you an even bigger
one, for getting yourself sealed inside of me?�
Kyuubi
let out a throaty snarl, before abruptly severing their mind
connection. He was at peace yet again.
A/N:
1.
He is speaking along the terms of �Avatar: the Last Airbender.�
2.
A missing nin, or �Nukenin� is a shinobi that has abandoned their
village. They are classed, E, D, C, B, A, S; with E being the
lowest and S the highest.
- 2
- 3
- 4
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The Path to Rokudaime