Blood Bond

Chapter 05

Itachi and Naruto were on the Hokage training field to assess their skills. What became apparent was that Naruto without his enormous weight package was fast. Very fast. Sharingan-required-to-follow-fast. What also became apparent was the resulting balance problem that came with prolonged weight wearing. That, and no 6 years old should walk around with 700 pounds of weight strapped to themselves.

Kyuubi told Naruto to top off at 700 pounds for now, since any more Kyuubi would not be able to compensate even with the increased healing. Itachi also instructed Naruto on the basic Kawarimi, Henge and Bunshin. Advanced kunai and shuriken throwing came as well, with the ricocheting of kunai against airborne kunai. This was Itachi's specialty with the hand weapons.

To remedy the balance problem, Sandaime came with several balance kata's, which were to be executed excruciatingly slow, both with and without weights, and with and without chakra use. Also, Itachi made the 'mistake' of performing the Katon: Karyuu Endan in front of Naruto after repeated whining from said person.

The difference between the Katon: Karyuudan and the Katon: Karyuu Endan is very simple: the Endan follows you around until it hits either you or an obstacle that can block it, or of course, it looses course when it loses sense of its target through evasion or Kawarimi. Itachi even went as far as to Mangekyou Naruto's Karyuu Endan, which actually worked, making Naruto form a very fast Suijin: Tatsumaki.

0-0-0

The Uchiha Clan was not pleased with the message of Itachi being killed on a Hokage mission. In fact, it strengthened their beliefs on getting rid of the Hokage, so the Clan as a whole began working on Sasuke, the brother of Itachi, to mold him in the new to-be-Hokage assassin.

Of course, news leaked out through internal spy channels, informing the 2 people which would react strongest on it: the Sandaime Hokage, and their would-be-dead prodigy, Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi had a hard time keeping his temper in check over the latest Clan decision. Combined with several spy reports where Orochimaru was reported to have gained an interest in stealing the Sharingan eyes for experimental use, it made for a very distracted Itachi.

Yes, it seemed the normally unusually impassive Uchiha Itachi was infected with 'prolonged Naruto exposure'...

0-0-0

The Uchiha Clan as a whole became more and more oppressive against the general populace in their irk over the fact they weren't the most recognized and important Clan in Konoha. This festered on and on for a half year, up to the point where an accidental spill of information made its way to the Hokage tower: an assassination plan on the Hokage, worked out in detail, obviously the work of multiple Uchiha members, since some parts of information were only accessible to the Uchiha Police Force.

This made the final decision.

0-0-0

"You called, ero-ji-sama?" came the stoic voice of Itachi. Sandaime sweat dropped. 'Naruto's exuberance made him more expressionate and sort of rebellious, so I'll probably won't lose that nickname after him catching me with Icha Icha Paradise... But it's such a good book...' thought the Hokage. 'Ahh I'm getting off track. Back to business.'

Itachi saw the dreamy look give way for a very serious expression on Sandaime's face. "Itachi, I've found very disturbing facts about the inner workings of your clan, and I can no longer overlook their transgressions. They have now twice committed open treason with their plots against me, my position, and their general attitude towards the population of Konoha. How many people do you think you would require to disable all those responsible for these transgressions?" Sandaime requested Itachi.

Itachi pondered for a minute or two. "I believe I only need myself to do so. With my Mangekyou Sharingan I can discern certain thoughts like mind reading, which should enable me to see who was in on it and who wasn't. It will be very taxing, but possible. It will take a nightly operation and I will need medical assistance afterwards for my Soldier Pill Overdose which will be the only way to give me enough chakra to pull it off with scanning the entire clan. I request Naruto to be my back-up, to retrieve me and bring me over to the hospital, since he is stealthy enough, and fast enough." Itachi answered.

Sandaime sighed very deeply after this explanation. 'It seems the first 'official' mission of ANBU 4 is the cleansing of the entire Uchiha Clan...'

Though Sandaime was also relieved. 'It's a good thing Naruto's only a runner on this mission, so he won't have to kill unnecessarily... Yet.'

0-0-0

Itachi had briefed Naruto on the events. Naruto was glad he didn't have to assassinate anybody. He could kill, no doubt. After all, he was a ninja, but that didn't mean he liked it. It left an empty feeling behind, as he experienced when he successfully barbequed the kidnapper. So, the mission was initiated.

Sandaime explained the special points about ANBU 4. Their codenames would be colors instead of animals. . They'd still have animal masks, but the masks would not be white, but in the color of their chosen name.

Itachi chose to be Akai, Red, with his new bunny mask (which made Naruto get a laughing fit)

Naruto chose for Aoi, Blue, with a fox mask (you'd think a red one would be better... Well, apparently not )

They'd have standard ANBU gear for now, all black, but that would change when they'd be a full team and doing missions outside the village. It was under the new moon that 2 black clothed figures went with high speed through the shadows towards the Uchiha Complex.

Aoi stayed outside on watch, hidden in the shadows, awaiting Akai's signal flare. He had to wait for 3,5 hours. The suspense was killing Aoi, next to the fact of constantly keeping his senses sky high. Eventually, the flair came, and Naruto picked up the severely exhausted Akai and made his way to the hospital onto the roof into the waiting arms of the pre-warned medical staff. Chakra exhaustion and Soldier Pill Overdose were 2 ailments that could be handled without too much hassle when treated fast enough. They didn't even need to remove any clothing, which they weren't allowed to do on ANBU personnel when not in life-threatening positions.

The next day found almost the entire Uchiha Clan killed in their sleep. Only young Uchiha Sasuke was still alive. Rumors went around about secret assassination plots from hostile villages to death through suffocation because someone left the gas open.

ANBU 4 1st mission, success.

0-0-0

Itachi was thoroughly disgusted with his Clan. They might not have supported the known Hokage assassination plan, but the other plans that came to light, which were among the same lines, made for so many victims. There were 6 different plans in preparation, all by different parts of the Clan. Itachi was bedridden for 2 months.

Naruto trained with Sandaime on balance and bodily control. This was physically as well as mentally challenging, since standing on a thin stick in the middle of a field full of rock spikes (courtesy of Sandaime) and moving antagonizing slow in difficult balance Kata's... Well preventing to fall in the spikes was a big motivator, let's keep it at that.

This continued through Naruto's 7th birthday. Constant training of balance, different jutsu Itachi picked up in the field and lots and lots of sparring. Halfway the year, Sandaime suggested all-out sparring, which made Naruto and Itachi experience the true strength of 'the professor'. All this sparring was slowly getting Sandaime in fighting shape again after so many years of sitting still.

Even with the Sharingan, Itachi couldn't form seals fast enough to follow the Hokage's speed, next to that, the Hokage's enormous chakra reserves outlasted both of his pursuers.

The potential of the Chamigan became even more apparent after Naruto tweaked the Kanashibari no Jutsu. Normally, the Hokage wouldn't be fazed by the low-level fear-instilling genjutsu, but the tweaking at half power made him freeze up for a little moment, and a full-powered one could hold him for a full 2 seconds! Without using killing intent (which would magnify the effect about 5 fold)! A lower-level ninja or civilian could spontaneously get a heart-attack from it.

0-0-0

Naruto's 8th birthday was quite the experience, since it was the day of the activation of the Blood Bond. When the clock hit midnight, Naruto's room was filled with chakra, all his reserves were forcibly pulled empty. The room was locked and while the Hokage could hear the screams and feel the ominous presence of the Shimigami (because Sandaime has a contract with the Death God) he couldn't do anything but pray. This was one of the things that went unexplained in the Kazama Clan.

"Well, well... It seems the youngest is ready for his bonding... You have quite the chakra reserves, young one, multiple even... This would make a good meal indeed. Ok, to business."

"By Blood Bond, an agreement is made, to have the contract with the Shinigami, one shall sacrifice half of his chakra reserves, which will gain you the right to use several set Shinigami jutsu without the usual penalties. So agreed, so I claim my meal."

In the torrent of chakra, Naruto's own reserve was thrashed, leaving him at low-chuunin level capacity, but his Chamigan reserves and Kyuubi's reserves stayed unaffected. A thread of chakra from the Shinigami connected to Naruto's forehead, who was knocked out immediately because of it.

"Practice the techniques you have gained in your mind well, young one... They will be a valuable asset to you..."

With those words, which only Naruto's sub-conscience picked up and stored away with the other memories that were received, the chakra disappeared from Naruto's room, together with the presence of the ominous Death God.

Naruto was immediately transferred to the Hospital for closer evaluation, after hurriedly putting on his mask and bandana, so his identity wasn't revealed and he would be treated reasonably (Sandaime knows about the treatment by the villagers, and besides that, Naruto was supposed to be dead by explosion, just not officially, which needed to be kept that way.

The results were quite disturbing.

"It seems operative Aoi has lost most of his Chakra capacities. He dropped from mid-jounin levels to high-genin, perhaps low-chuunin. I have no idea how this could have happened, but having this much of a backdrop in capacities, he probably won't be able to restore more than the level he was at before this occurred, unless he himself knows to reverse whatever he did, or when a miracle happens."

This was the explanation Sandaime got from the attending doctor. 'I hope you can explain this, Naruto...'

Naruto was blissfully unaware of this little fact, but Kyuubi, who was shaking in fear at the arrival of Shinigami, was fully aware of the possible consequences of regaining Chakra capacities and the fact Shinigami ripped them away, for a contract and certain Shinigami jutsu.

'The loss of such a capacity will hurt to regain and will be slow, but not impossible. However, chakra control should be a whole lot easier and less taxing to keep at a very high level, which are needed for the medical techniques I want him to learn.'

0-0-0

Naruto was in a space in his mind, created by Shinigami, to practice the gained techniques to an acceptable level.

'How did I end up HERE?' was Naruto's first reaction on the white endless training void.

"You are in your mind, young one, to practice the techniques you are allowed to use by Blood Bond." said Shinigami when he appeared in front of Naruto. Naruto, not expecting the booming voice, nor the ghostly appearance, jumped back in a defensive stance.

"Who're you?" Naruto defiantly said.

"I am the Shinigami. I created this little place in your mind, so you can practice my techniques. I sugge-"

"SHINIGAMI? YOU'RE the DEATH GOD? What you doing in MY MIND! You've been 'helpful' enough with sealing Kyuubi in me, don't you think? You gonna bring even MORE misery?" was Naruto's interruption, before his mind once again caught up with his mouth. "eh... Blood Bond? What's that? OoOOOOooh! New techniques! Cool! Gimme!" Naruto dropped all defense and started bouncing around like the young kid behind the shinobi-in-training he is.

Shinigami, slightly taken aback by the interruption and slightly amused by the rapid mood swings, proceeded in his lecture. "As I was saying," Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his head here "I suggest you practice them well in here, for you can practice them in here without hindrance. There are certain rules to using these techniques. You, and only those other few that have a Blood Bond with me, are allowed to use these techniques without the penalty of death, so make sure your teammate doesn't 'accidentally' uses them. He would die from using them.

Now, you know the seals and the sequences of the techniques. The Shinigami Bunshin is an excellent way of deceiving your opponents, for it created a real body, which is dying, or dead, whichever you prefer. It cannot be dispelled by anyone but you and not be distinguished by anyone not under Blood Bond.

The Shiki Fuuin you can use, however I will decide whether it was justified or not. Use this Sealing jutsu ONLY when you see no other way."

0-0-0

The thrill of mastering new jutsu overcame Naruto's disrespectful behavior and he began practicing to perfection. Outside the training void, both Kyuubi and Sandaime were getting restless, since 2 days had past now.

In the afternoon, Naruto woke up, worn out mentally on practicing the jutsu to perfection. Oblivious he was out cold for 60 hours, he hopped out of bed and looked around for his clothes. His reflection in the mirror made him have a large sweat drop.

'You'd think ANBU have cooler pajama's... At least I hope they know it was my pajama's...'

Just then, Sandaime came checking in on him. "Naruto! You're awake! What happened?" was the relieved line of questioning by the Hokage.

"Well, I got some cool jutsu from Shinigami, because I seem to have a Blood Bond with him...Though I'd like them kept secret, since only those with a Blood Bond can use them without killing themselves... But... How long was I out?"

The Hokage, still in a daze about the answer of Shinigami giving Naruto jutsu to use, didn't answer. So, the answer came from the 'third person' in the room, Kyuubi.

"You were out for 2 and a half day, and Shinigami took away most of your chakra reserves."

It took 3 seconds to sink in.

"WHAAAAT? I LOST MOST OF MY CHAKRA RESERVES?" Now, a string of the most vulgar picked up words came out of the young mouth, which brought the Hokage out of his daze and look upon Naruto with a little sorrowful smile.

"Calm down, Kittling, we can regain it, but it will be painful for you. Besides, he didn't touch my reserves, nor your Chamigan reserves. This is actually quite favorable, since now you can actually get enough chakra control to start learning medical techniques. I know, I know, you prefer big flashy techniques, but those won't do you much good if your people are lying on the ground dying from injuries. Besides, I think you can combine it with studying seals; now THOSE can pack a big punch..."

Sufficiently calmed and motivated, Naruto started to get interested in the new study load.

"A-hem. Naruto. Care to repeat what I suspect Kyuubi just told you?"

These words by the Hokage snapped Naruto out of it. "Oh, nothing much. Sandaime-jiji. Kyuubi can help me regain the stripped chakra reserves, but it will take long, and now I can boost my control, so I can start on medical techniques and seals. Kyuubi says seals can make a big bang! I can't wait!" Naruto started to get excited again, where Sandaime gained another sweat drop on the back of his head.

From that day, for 4 years, Naruto was tutored in the basics of seals and Sandaime made weekly visits to the massive medical libraries to sedate Kyuubi's working ethics and Naruto's new-found discipline.

Konoha gained a new wave of pranks left and right, yet the culprit was never found.

0-0-0

The new schedule for the young to-be-Hokage was as following:

Taijutsu tag

Balancing

Medical knowledge

Jutsu training

Sealing tutoring

Chakra control

Practical pranking

And somewhere in between was the daily dinner with Sandaime. Itachi started working with Naruto on the Jutsu training with his vast repertoire of jutsu, and he also profited from the balancing exercises in the morning. Itachi was away the rest of the day, keeping up with rumors about movements of other countries and crowd control inside Konoha, so he had a steady income.

0-0-0

Naruto, now approaching his 12th birthday, was finally up to par with his chakra control to keep up medical techniques, and he regained his lost reserves. The reserves were forcefully put in place by Kyuubi in small parts every Saturday, and the rest of the week, the body was busy converting the 'new' reserve to the natural blue of Naruto. The injection was painful, but manageable, and the doses were small enough, so that control could be kept up and even improved. Water-walking, underwater-walking, body-cover, chakra-string-forming and constant practice of medical techniques does that to you.

The improved control also unlocked the 2nd stage of the Chamigan, giving Naruto a definite edge on learning, mastering and tweaking techniques. Itachi became more and more bored over time and joined in on pranking, and found his inner child once again.

Sandaime Hokage also made the mistake of treating the two 'children' on Ramen. Itachi found it 'quite edible' and ate 4 bowls. Naruto however, found his 'new hobby', eating Ramen, starting with a staggering 15 bowls (he couldn't eat dinner afterwards) making the Hokage's wallet a lot lighter.

It was also the time for Naruto to join the academy and to once again go into the public with his original looks: orange outfit, no mask, no bandana, carrying the full scorn of the villagers once again. Naruto was no happy camper.

"Well, you'll need to be genin before you can become chuunin, jounin and Hokage in the end, so no genin, no Hokage." were the words of Sandaime. "You'd better compensate for that, old man! I expect kick-ass missions assigned to me! After all, only training gets to ya after a time... I need practical experience." was Naruto's reply.

"Naruto. Please keep in mind that nobody knows you have had specialized training. You'll need to limit yourself in the presence of others. Think of it as a new mission."

"Yeah, I know I have to limit myself. If the first 3 years was any indication, they would only fear me more if I actually know my stuff. I suppose I could act like I don't know anything, and be a bit loud..." Naruto grumbled the last bit.

'Even more loud then you already are normally? Then I'll need earplugs more effective than those I use for Maito Gai's 'Youthful Exuberance'. Oh well, I'll see how things work out.' were the Hokage's thoughts on the matter.

"Do as you see fit, Naruto. Dismissed."

With that, Naruto went out to prepare him for the worst long-term mission (according to himself) he could possibly get.

"Do you think it'll do him good, Itachi?" The Hokage asked the silhouette in the back of his office.

"Don't ponder too much about it, ero-ji-sama. Naruto will make himself fit in. He might be trained in stealth and have some heavy artillery in his fingertips, but he still has his innocence. If not, we will probably hear his voice from here."

The reply was met with the slight cringing of the Hokage. "Yes, he does have a quite 'healthy' lung capacity."

TBC

Well well, let's see how things end up, shall we? 4 years practice in sealing and medical training combined with the Chamigan and Naruto's own creativity makes for interesting pet projects.

Await nxt rls!