Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All rights to characters belong to the publishers and distributors. Creators as well so please do not sue.
Author Note 1: This is my Third attempt at a Naurto story so please give me lots of feedback so I can improve.
Author note 2: It's me again folks with a new story. I will be continuing "A Fox of Fire and Ice" and "A Crimson Star". Once the rewrites or new chapters are done I will post them. I hope you enjoy this story too.
Author note 3: This is a story idea I saw on a forum and have been thinking on for a while and it may become very AU. Also, I need suggestions on pairings if any.
Summery: They were born together but fate decreed they be split apart. One was loved raised as the pride of their family. The other was raised by no one but himself living in a world of pain and loneliness. Even when they stood in the same room no one noticed not even they themselves. How will they react, when they finally find each other?
Now on with the Show
Two of a Mind
Chapter Four: One Week Part one
Twice a year, if someone were to look up into the skies above the Hidden Village of Konoha, they would find several hawks performing circles in the air before flying back towards the Hokage tower. Such a sight would be quite odd, unless you had lived in Konoha all your life, or you were a Jounin, and to a lesser extent a chuunin. The truth was, that these birds seen two times a year were a signal, calling the Ninja ranks together for a very special ceremony, which concerned the genin ranked Shinobi. Hence why they were never privy to the meeting.
Standing in crisp lines before the Sandaime Hokage, the group waited for the man to begin this annual tradition. Among these people were four Jounin, who actually had a purpose for attending. Sitting before the assembled, the aged leader of the Leaf-nin took a puff from his pipe. Sitting on either side of him was a member of the village's council. Clearing his throat and drawing all attention to him the Hokage, got down to the business at hand.
"The time for the Chuunin selection exam has come again and this time Konoha shall be playing host to all of the Nations candidates. We will begin the nomination ceremony with the Jounin sensei of this years rookie genin teams." Sarutobi spoke, calling on the three ninja entrusted with the most recent crop of ninja.
Kakashi stepped forward, for once all business in his stance and walk, lacking his usually laziness. Next to him, and in the center of three people now standing before the Village leader, was a beautiful woman with dark hair and crimson eyes. The last person was smoking a cigarette, and bore a family resemblance to Sarutobi. Their names were Yuuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma.
"I now call upon you now to hear if your teams are fit for the challenge of the Chuunin Selection Exam or if ANY of your genin is judge worthy of participating." The third asked a sly smirk on his lips.
"I Sarutobi Asuma, Jounin sensei of genin cell 10, hereby nominate all three members for the chuunin exam." The smoking man replied simply, causing some shock in the ranks of ninja.
"I, Yuuhi Kurenai, jounin sensei of genin team 8, nominate Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino for the chuunin exam." The red-eyed woman followed suit, causing murmurs to roll through the crowd of ninja listening.
"I, Hatake Kakashi, jounin sensei of Genin squad 7, consisting of Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Yamanaka Naru, nominate all three of these genin for the Chuunin Exam." That seemed to be the last straw needed to cause uproar.
"Kakashi, you can't be serious, they're only children!" A chuunin baring a scar across his nose, by the name of Iruka, was able to get out before anyone else, causing the silver-haired jounin to regard him.
"They are no longer your students Iruka, and you cannot protect them from the real world anymore. I know my students are ready, and I do not appreciate you second guessing my training of them, and their development." Kakashi stated in a cold reply.
"You go too far my eternal rival. Even I waited a year to enter my youthful students into the Chuunin Exam." Gai spoke up from his place in the shinobi ranks.
"ENOUGH!" the shout from the white robed leader brought the room to silence. His gaze piercing any who might dare make a sound.
"It is the decision of the Jounin leader whether their squad will or will not compete. If they believe these genin ready, then that is the end of the matter. Let the record show that all three rookie genin teams will be entering the exam. Now then who else will be nominated?" He continued, putting the matter to rest.
"Toketsu Imari, Jounin sensei, Team five, Ayanami Ryu, Megami Asuka, and Yamanaka Meia, all nominated" A voice spoke from within the crowd. The others parted, revealing it to be a young jounin with dark blue eyes and dark brown hair held in a ponytail that fell to her left. She was dressed in the standard outfit, colored dark blue, with her jounin vest, and a dark blue trench coat over it.
"Maito Gai of team two, all of my youthful students are nominated!" Gai yelled, pumping his fist into the air, making the assembled ninja sweatdrop at his antics.
And so, on it went. . . . . .
Training Field 2
Hyuuga Neji sighed for the seventh time that day, as he watched his teammate Rock Lee continue his usual psychotic amount of taijutsu training, from his spot comfortably resting against a tree. The two month reprieve from the clone of his Sensei had been like a trip to paradise for the branch family member, and the extra training he had gotten in the Jyuken made it all the sweeter really.
A flurry of senbon needles suddenly impacted several of the log-based targets, forming pictures, vague outlines of organs, or in one case a line that was supposed to resemble dribbling blood. If two months away doing whatever it was Lee and their sensei were doing hadn't changed the fuzzy browed genin at all, then his other teammate had come back almost entirely warped from before. That fact was further emphasized as a shuriken embedded a straw dummy right between the legs's, forcing the prodigy to hold in a wince.
Tenten, the budding weapons mistress and self-proclaimed future legendary kunoichi of Konoha, had walked into the teams training field that morning, dressed in a black trench coat, under which she wore a blood-red version of her old Chinese style shirt, black shorts, and a pair of black knee-high boots with red trim, which Neji learned quickly, held a long knife almost katana length in each. The girl still seemed to have the same personality, if filled with a little bit of flirting or threatening in it, not to mention the almost tangible feeling of bloodlust coming from her.
"I heard they are letting some rookies take the exam this time." Neji spoke up breaking the silence.
"Yosh! Their flames of youth must rage with true passion if they are taking part in such an arduous task!" Lee piped up.
"Almost a pity to crush their dreams, but then again the Yamanaka Heiress is entering with her team as well." Tenten added in flicking a kunai out, stabbing a target dead center from her place on the branch above Neji.
"These exams will be entertaining." The Byakugan user nodded.
"I wouldn't underestimate Gai-sensei's eternal rival's team. Naru-kun is really strong, his springtime of youth was awe inspiring during our time together."
"It's their fate to lose to us."
"It will be fun to finally cause someone else to bleed with what Anko-sensei taught me." Tenten finished slithering down the tree to embrace Neji from behind.
'Although a taste of you Neji-kun might be just what the doctor ordered.' The bun-haired girl thought with a wicked looking smirk. After all the insane tutor of her's had taught Tenten to mix business with pleasure, and there was no quicker way into a man's heart then to make him bleed, or was it through his stomach? Honestly with so many rants from Anko she was hard pressed not to mix a few of them up.
"Would you like to spar with me, Neji-kun?" Tenten drawled out slowly, leaning against his back, and pressing herself into him. Though she couldn't see it, Tenten could feel the slight warming of the Hyuuga prodigy's face. She giggled when the unflappable Neji began to stutter with his blush, and even looked down involuntarily, mimicking the supposed weakest of the Hyuuga Main house.
Bridge
Uchiha Sasuke blinked as he was not the first person to arrive at the meeting spot for Team 7 for once; instead he found a long haired blonde, wreathed in a snow white cloak and forehead protector ,with black cloth around the metal instead of blue, leaning against one of the railings. It took only a heartbeat's moment for the Sharingan user to recognize his estranged teammate once the boy looked to him, revealing the triple slashes on each of his cheeks. Recalling the last time the two of them had been around one another, Sasuke quickly set his face in a scowl and glared at Naruto.
"Can we talk before Sakura gets here?" Naruto spoke with a sigh, speaking the words from memory. That is to say, the rehearsal Ino forced him to do in order to, in her own words 'Save your team long enough to become a Chuunin.' Seeing the dark haired boy nod simply, Naru pushed down his loud nature enough to speak.
"I'm . . . I'm sorry. . . I'm sorry for exploding like I did on the way back here and for the things I said. What you think about in the privacy of your own mind is your business not mine. I even understand your arrogance, I mean, you did awaken your Sharingan during the fight, and anyone would want to test it out immediately. In any case, I apologize for going off like I did, and you don't have to worry about it happening again. I have my mind reading under control now."
Yamanaka Naru stood on pins and needles as he watched the last of the loyal Uchiha stare him down. It annoyed him to no end that the other male was taking his sweet time to consider his words. Here he was, trying to preserve some sort of friendship with his rival, and some spirit of teamwork, and the teme dared to just stand there. Let no one say that Naru lacked patience, but still twelve years of being a hot-headed prankster, coupled with his bred-in temper, could only be held back so long.
"Nice outfit Dobe. Good to see you're finally getting stronger, even if it doesn't matter." Sasuke finally responded with a smirk. Naru breathed an overly dramatic sigh, figuring that was as much as he would get from the Uchiha in terms of an acceptance.
"Good to see two months hasn't changed you teme." He fired back with a smile, glad to be back to some semblance of normalcy.
The pair lapsed into silence, until their pink-haired teammate arrived fifteen minutes after Sasuke, who immediately fended off her latest attempt at a date with a flat 'no' like always. With that daily routine out of the way, Sakura finally noticed the blond, and immediately growled before turning away from him with her nose in the air, and her arms crossed. Naru took a deep breath, controlling his temper, and reminding himself that before everything happened in Wave, these two were the closest things he had to friends.
"I'm sorry Sakura, for everything I said on the road back from Wave country, and for snapping at everyone. You need to understand that, with my Kekkei Genkai awakened, I couldn't stop hearing either of yours thoughts, and it became so hard to listen to it day in and day out that I just lost it. We came together in Wave country, and I'd rather not loose either of you as friends, even if one of you is still a teme." Naru spoke, changing the speech up ever so slightly, and hoping that the pink-haired girl had mellowed partially within two months.
Sakura cracked open one of her eyes, and watched the blond as he stood waiting patiently for her response. A part of the girl was still astounded by the changes in the boy, while the other part just wanted to hit him over the head for everything he had said before. Taking in a deep breath, Sakura turned towards Naruto, and stalked up to him; if he was afraid of whatever she might do he never showed it, just stared right back at her with a calm almost unnerving gaze.
'Even after everything he said and heard, Naruto wants to be my friend. Maybe I have been a little harsh on him. If he's willing to apologize, then I should be willing to accept. After all, we are teammates, and he's right, we did come together in Wave Country. Not that I won't scare him a little.'
"Just don't do it again Naruto-baka." She said with a huff, and then smiled.
"Don't worry, your thoughts are safe from me." He replied with a foxy grin.
"So what is this Kekkei Genkai that you unlocked?" Sasuke asked his interest piqued just a bit. Before Naruto could reply the form of their jounin sensei appeared in a puff of smoke reading his usual perverted book.
"Yo." he greeted with a wave.
"YOU'RE LATE!" Both Naru and Sakura yelled at the silver-haired former prodigy, while Sasuke used his usual mocking glare to get his displeasure across.
"Ah, well it's good to see you three have already worked out your issues, and to see all us back together. Now then I was late for a very good reason, but if you don't want to hear it... " Kakashi spoke his eye curving upwards to show that beneath his mask he was smiling.
"I really don't want to hear about your latest venture to the bookstore Kakashi-sensei." Naru said, figuring the silver-haired Jounin just wanted to talk about his latest perverted book purchase.
"Now, now Naru-kun, I know your excited about the Chuunin exams, but still, I need to tell your teammates, or else you will be the only one to show up." The man replied, and watched realization pass over Sasuke and Sakura's faces.
"That's right. I officially nominated Team 7 to participate in the Chuunin Selection Exam." Kakashi announced, and watched an arrogant smirk spread across the face of the Uchiha, and a bit of excitement mixed with nervousness fill the pink haired Kunoichi's face. Reaching into his vest, he removed a new orange book with his right hand, and two sheet of paper with his left, holding them out to his genin.
"Then I went to the bookstore. Sasuke, Sakura I already gave Naru-kun his registration papers, but here are yours. Fill them out, and turn them in at the academy the day the exams start, and remember you have a choice about taking the exams or not." Sasuke simply nodded, taking the papers along with Sakura.
"Well, that's it really. You guys have a week until the exams start, so you might want to train or something until then." With those parting words, Kakashi vanished in a puff of smoke.
"If we're going to do this, I think we better do like he asked and train. Not in individual strengths, but as a unit. Just in case we need to rely on each other during the exam." Sakura stared at her blonde teammate, blinking at the logical plan he had just spouted while placing his hands behind his head and staring up at the clouds.
"Who are you, and what did you to Naruto?" She demanded, leveling a finger at him her eyes wide.
"It's a long and complicated story, which involves me more then once being bound and gagged by Shikamaru. You know, he move a lot faster then we ever gave him credit. I figure if we are going to be a team, you need to hear it, and I know Sasuke-teme is waiting to hear about my Kekkei Genkai. So let's sit down and talk. That is, if your both willing to work with me." Naru replied with a yawn, sitting underneath a tree.
The pair shared a look before moving under the tree in front of Naru, and making themselves comfortable. Which is to say, Sasuke leaned against the tree, and Sakura sat next to Sasuke. A pair of bright blue eyes regarded them for a moment longer, almost reconsidering what he was about to say, but then figuring that Ino WOULD find out if he chickened out, and he would never hear the end of it. Knowing his Oneesan, she would then either go and tell them herself, or drag him back here and make him do it anyway. So figuring he lost either way, he opened his mouth to begin.
"First let me introduce myself; my name is Yamanaka Naru, and despite my new 'Hip' attitude I still love ramen."
And so the day progressed.
Ninja Academy
Umino Iruka looked up from his paperwork, which consisted of grading his students latest tests and practical evaluations, as a hand snatched his pen right out of his hand. Preparing to lecture whoever had decided to skip detention in order to bug him, the scarred Chuunin was surprised to find the lightly smiling face of his fellow ramen lover, Uzumaki Naruto. No, he corrected himself, Yamanaka Naru. By now the entire village, or at least the Shinobi population, knew the truth about the blonde demon container and his discovery of family, Iruka had been happy for his former student finally having more people to care for him.
"Not as elaborate as your usual trouble making. Having an off-day Naru-kun?" Iruka teased, snatching his pen back.
"Hey Iruka-sensei. Thought I'd come by since we just finished our team meeting, and visit you." The blonde replied sheepishly, plopping down on the teacher's desk, and fidgeting a bit with his hands.
"Oh really? So if I offered to treat you to some ramen at Ichiraku's you'd turn me down politely?" Iruka asked with a smile, but frowned when Naru turned his head down.
"I was just joking Naruto. If you want, we can go share a couple of bowls and..." He began, but was cut off by the blond.
"It's not about ramen." The words lacked the usual energy or exuberance associated with the jailor of the Kyuubi. They almost sounded lost.
"What's on your mind Naruto-kun?" he asked after a minute, slipping for a second time with the boy's name.
"Iruka-sensei . . . how are you supposed to act when your around your family?" The chuunin instructor stared, gaping at the question passing from his former student's lips.
"Why would you need to know that?"
"Otousan told me yesterday that, this week, the entire Yamanaka clan was gathering for some sort of event, and I was going to be introduced to everyone, but I don't know how I am supposed to act. I don't want to make everyone hate me by not doing something I am supposed to." Naruto lowered his head after this, feeling embarrassed.
"I don't really know how to answer that Naruto, but I can say this; if you just be yourself ,then your family will love you. That's what it means to be a family after all. You wouldn't want them to like you just because you can act like someone other then yourself, so I guess my advice is to just be normal, and let them get to know you." Iruka watched the blonde nod simply to his words, but it seemed like a visible aura of sadness still clung to the young genin.
"Something else is bothering you, isn't it Naruto?" Instead of answering, the son of Inoichi and Misao picked up a pencil from the desk and began to turn it over and over with his fingers, holding the wooden writing instrument like someone would a needle as it passed from one finger to the next.
"I can't talk to Oneesan about it. I don't think she even knows about our mission to Wave Country. Otousan and Okaasan know, but I really don't know if I can trust them yet, and that bothers me, but I just can't trust easily after all this time. Kakashi-sensei hasn't, or won't, ask about it though he did help as much as he could when I asked back in Wave Country, but I can't get it out of my head." As he spoke, Naruto's voice was low, yet his fingers began to move quicker, moving the pencil faster.
"What happened on your mission that's got you this upset Naruto-kun?"
"Iruka-sensei, have you . . . Ever killed before?" The words were spoken softly, but carried a heavy burden within them.
"Naruto . . . " The scarred chuunin honestly didn't know how to answer the boy's question. Like all ninja, before he became a teacher, Iruka had in fact been on more then a few assassinations or other missions that required him to kill. It was after he had lost teammates in a particularly bloody fight with a group of Iwa ninja that he decided to try and prepare future generations for that kind of fate.
"I felt it, every second of it, as my chakra spread out overlapping theirs like a sheet, and funneling into their bodies, giving me absolute control right before everything shut down. That's how it works; my Psionic energy lashes out like a wave, seeping into the body, and then everything just stops working. No pain or screaming, just the cold embrace of death. Have you ever felt death Iruka-sensei? Because I have, and it is the coldest sensation in the world. It leaves you feeling so hollow inside, you want to do anything to escape the numb emptiness.
"That's what I did in Wave Country. I stared two people in the eyes, and with hatred in my heart, I used this Kekkei Genkai to kill them. No one seems to care that I killed them. In fact some people think I did a good thing killing them but I just can't get this feeling of wrongness but of my mind. No one will ask me how I feel about killing them, or tell me how I should feel about taking their lives and how to deal with it. They just expect me to smile and continue going on learning how to use this deadly ability and spend time with my new found family, but Haku won't get to see his family or start a new one; Gatou, for all his vileness, won't ever have a child or see his family again. Maybe the village is alright with this, maybe my family, teammates, and the Hokage accept this, but I'M NOT ALRIGHT!" Naruto finished, his right hand flashing out suddenly, and sending the pencil flying like a deadly needle. The quiet after his proclamation was broken by the loud thud of the pencil sharpened end impaling a mounted portrait of the Shodai Hokage. Piercing right through his throat, and actually penetrating the wall behind the picture.
"Ever since I've been able to think straight again, little things like that have been happening. It's not like I have actual memories from Haku & Gatou, but more like a small impression on my mind. I've caught myself identifying herbs, or wondering about some businesses since we came back yesterday. I'm still me, but I can feel the backlash from using that attack on them. The attack I use is dangerous like that, it could destroy my mind one day because of the Psychic backlash. After all, for every action there's a reaction. In order to kill like that, there must be a penalty, a price paid." Naruto looked up as he felt Iruka place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"That, Naruto-kun, is what makes you both a good ninja, and a good man. Killing has to be done sometimes, especially as a shinobi, but if you do it, do it to protect that which is precious to you. Now come on, I'll treat you to some Ramen and listen to all that's bothering you."
Naruto smiled, following the man out of the classroom.
Yamanaka Flower Shop
"Shindou!" (Impact) Naru's fist slamed into a large stationary log before him, and a second after it hit, a large dent formed in the wood, sending splinters into the air, and causing cracks along the surface. The newly discovered Yamanaka was in the backyard the morning after his little talk with Iruka, feeling better then normal, while one of his Kage Bunshin tended to the duties his Okaasan had delegated to him involving the flower shop. Spinning around, he brought a sharp kick into the lower part of the log, but without the explosive aftershock that followed his punch. All in all, Naru was impressive to watch, moving around the log, flowing around and lashing out with punches and kicks, then bending and turning his body in impossible angles to avoid imaginary blows.
'The Yuureiken, in its most basic form, is not about raw strength, but speed and agility. Moving around the opponent and striking them without ever being touched. The true power of my Yuureiken taijutsu style, however, comes from the four branches; Kesshou Tsume (Crystal Claw) which requires control and concentration, which is why Oneesan uses it, and why I may never grasp it. Fukai Kiba (Deep Fang), which can completely cripple or kill a person with a precise strike, yet looks like nothing more then a harmless poke from my fingers. Akuma Kanadzuchi (Demon Hammer), a punch that can shatter bones or bring down a wall. Even at its weakest, using barley any Psionic energy to create the ramming force, it still leaves a dent in a log. Ino has nearly made the first branch an art form, and I can easily use the other two, but still, before I can even attempt the final branch, let alone master the style, I have to learn how to fully release my attacks at any range against an enemy. Without that skill, then the fourth branch, the Gesshoku Nami (Moon Eclipse Wave)can't be learned. I won't hold Ino back just because this is tough. I've never backed down from my training and I won't now. I'll master this skill, JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE WORLD!' Leaping back he took a deep breathe a ring of violet forming in each of his eyes seeming to glow.
Violet Psionic energy became a visible aura around his body as Naru slowly slid down into the Yuureiken first stance, which is Naru's left foot extended and leading with his left hand raised and palm pointed forward right foot planted behind him baring his weight and his right hand at his side curled into a fist. This first stance was made to offer both strong defensive possibilities, and offense, allowing the fighter to judge an attacking enemy and deflect their strikes, or to quickly pivot away. In the attacking role, the fighter could launch forward to lash out with a punch before flowing into other attacks. Slowly, the Violet aura began to slither and congregate around Naru's closed fist, molding against the knuckles, and crawling up, enclosing the entire fist and lower arm.
'The aura of my soul and mind as one, only visible to the eye because of so much of it being called on and then compacted. Wow, I sound kinda smart like this, and I must look pretty cool. No! Focus! Last time I got off my train of thought doing this, I ended up in a wall.'
"Shindou!" He shouted, thrusting his fist at the log, causing the air in front of him to ripple as the Violet aura was suddenly sent screaming forward in a straight line, creating winds and air currents as it moved. Thus making stray pebbles and dust, along with the grass, sway. When it slammed into the log, all was still for a second, before a fist sized hole was plowed through the wood, and then the log splintered, breaking apart, the pieces being flung back by the sheer force applied upon impact.
Naru's hands suddenly twitched, and began flashing forward, striking the air and releasing more and more of the ranged Akuma Kanadzuchi attacks, filling the yard with fist sized craters as each impacted away from the gardens behind him. Bright blue eyes narrowed in determination, he kept stepping back, trying to squeeze just another little bit of space into each attack, the strain of the technique causing sweat to begin running down his brow and to be flung from his arms.
'I have to push myself harder and faster then anyone else. That's how its always been just so I can look myself in the eye at the mirror and prove I'm not a failure like they say. I can do this! I can master the things Bushy brows and sparkly teeth-sensei wanted me to learn. I gave my word and I never go back on my word, even if it's supposedly impossible. Damn it all, I'm starting to sound like Sasuke-teme.'
Falling back onto the ground with his arms spread wide, Naru let his eyes be drawn to the sky, and slowly began to examine the clouds drifting lazily overhead. The ring of violet in his eyes remained, and suddenly he rolled to the right just as a kunai embedded itself in the space he had just occupied second earlier. Springing up to his feet, he spun around and came face to face with the form of his Okaasan, his Kage Bunshin being held up in her left hand by the scruff of the neck.
"I wondered how there could be two chakra signatures when one of you is supposed to be helping me and Ino is supposed to be at her team meeting." Misao spoke sweetly causing Naru to begin scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Well you see- I'm busted aren't I?" he started, only to let it drop and to let his head fall forward with a resigned sigh.
"If you needed help with training you should have come to me. Just because I happen to be a florist, I still was a Jounin for many years." Those words seemed to stop the blonde short.
"Wait a second, your not mad I skipped out on helping?"
"More surprised that a genin knows Jounin level technique. More so that you use it the same way Inoichi-kun uses it." This caused Naru to blink rapidly in succession.
"Kage Bushin no jutsu" Misao called, forming a quick seal. Though, unlike her son's, this clone seemed to simply phase into existence instead of forming in a puff of smoke.
"Alright then, you two mind the shop while I teach Naru-kun for awhile." The duplicates nodded before heading inside.
"Do you mean it, Okaasan?" Naru perked up coming out of his stupor. With the two months up he didn't have any trainers except Kakashi, and the cycloptic pervert vanished before he could ask to continue their training from before.
"If you think you can keep up Naru-chan" she baited, a warm feeling spreading out inside her at being acknowledged a bit by her wayward son. Naruto immediately fell into the Yuureiken first stance, except his right hand was open this time the fingers close together.
"I'd take off your weights Naru-chan, arrogance is for the Uchiha and the Hyuuga. It doesn't suit you."
Ino & Inoichi arrived back at the flower shop at virtually the same time to find Naru without his weights, baring several bruises and small cuts, fighting all out against Misao, whose left arm was hanging limp with no indication of being broken just seemingly dead there, but still she was dominating the fight with ease.
"Wow. Okaasan's pretty good" Ino commented.
"She's out of shape if Naru got her with the Fukai Kiba, considering I've never once got a hit on her back when she was a jounin. I bet she does a little extra training just to prove she still has it." Inoichi replied.
"How long do you think her arm will be out like that?"
"When Oniisan hit Lee with a Fukai Kiba strike, his arm was down till the next day I think." Ino shrugged not noticing a certain gleam enter the other blonde's eye
"So you'll cover dinner tonight?"
"Hmm... oh yeah, sure, whatever." whistling happily about avoiding kitchen duty Inoichi started back towards the house.
'I'll have to treat Naru-kun to some ramen. I haven't been able to get one over on Ino since she was seven.'
Dream
Naruto was walking through a forest, the trees and ground colored white by the falling snow, puffy light gray clouds hovered above, releasing the gentle trickling of crystallized water. Yet the blonde didn't find himself cold, even though his breathe was easily seen before him. He could hear the snow crunch with every step taken, but it never occurred to him that he had no idea where those steps were taking him, or that this place was never one he had ever visited in his life. He just kept walking. The further he walked, the more the natural sounds of the forest seemed to change, becoming ethereal and distorted, fusing into a natural serene orchestral piece of music.
Slowly, the dense woodlands parted before him, and Naruto found himself walking in a wide open field surrounded by trees forming a near perfect circle with tall grass and flower buds poking up out of the still falling snow, completely still despite the wind. In the center of this picturesque scene was a single figure turning in a lazy spin with dark midnight black hair swirling around them like a cape and snow white skin, dressed in a ice blue Chinese style dress with a dark blue almost black sash serving as a belt. Gradually the spin came to an end, and Naruto found his eyes captured in the gaze of a pair of dark eyes that he knew all to well along with a face that haunted his memories, but this person had told him he was a boy though Naruto still thought he was a she, especially in that dress.
"Hello Naruto-kun." The person spoke with the simplest of smiles.
"Haku... but how, you died?" Naruto breathed out.
The field underneath Haku suddenly began to dissolve upwards, the colors of flower petals and greens of grass a stark contrast with the downward flowing white snow. As the ground was clear, the earth itself rippled, becoming the clear blue of water still, without motion below Haku's sandaled feet, and suddenly long tendrils of water rose, flowing around Haku's body in an elegant display, sections breaking off from each tendril and freezing into beautiful ice crystals.
"You feel guilt for killing me, don't you Naruto-kun? For killing someone so like yourself, someone you considered an innocent, and never getting the chance to apologize. Tell me Naruto-kun, does this form please you?" Haku spoke, standing atop the water.
"You told me you were a boy. You said that if we had met under different circumstance we would have been friends, but still you chose to attack me and try to follow that evil man's bidding." Naruto tried to rationalize, lowering his gaze his right hand balling into a fist.
"And you still decided to turn your Violet eyes on mine, and slowly enter every pore on my body. Violating me physically, mentally, and spiritually, before destroying my life. Humans have a saying that goes 'you always hurt the ones you love.' Maybe my body was male or female, though you will never know, my body here is clearly that of a woman. If you ask me Naruto-kun, I will forgive you." Naruto suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind, guiding him to sit by the waters edge, Haku hugging him from behind.
"Your not real, this can't be real. You're dead... you were a boy... this is all a lie." Naruto whispered, trying to make his mind believe it. Neither person noticed the ripple starting to occur in the sky.
"I'm as real as you let me be, Naruto-kun. I am bound by your will, the small piece of me you took with you the second you killed me. I can still sense so much pain in your heart, even surrounded by family your heart still bleeds black blood because you refuse to shed your tears. It won't last Naruto-kun, people like us are simply too different to ever be loved, even by our families. Your happiness is false, we both know it, and they will betray just like all the others in your life."
"Stop it... Stop please!"
"You kill without mercy or hesitation. Even now, the blood on your hands only made you eager to learn how to do it easier."
"Stop!"
"Do you know what that makes you, Naruto-kun?"
"Don't say it."
"Being so willing to kill, learning to kill so effortlessly, having power like yours makes you a-"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Naruto suddenly shouts slamming his eyes shut against the onslaught of words, an aura of violet flaring around before exploding outward, shattering this snowy world of dreams, leaving the blonde floating in endless blackness.
"You are able to kill so easily, to destroy everything around you despite a beating heart . . . Because you are a demon" The words came from everywhere, yet felt whispered into the very core of his being, and then he simply vanished.
Slowly, the darkness cleared as the sleeping mind awoke, returning things to their concrete state instead of the abstract of the dreaming, and Haku was standing behind a set of giant bars, a paper seal keeping the gates closed and locked. Smiling widely, the midnight black orbs became blood red and formed slit pupils, a loud male chuckle resounding from deep within the throat of the female. Turning and walking further into the seal, Haku's body shifted and grew, becoming monstrous in height, width, and length, fur sprouting and the body dropping to four paws. A maw extended out of the face becoming vaguely canine, and two rows of slobbering razor sharp teeth were seen gleaming. Finally, nine swishing tails sprouted from the tail bone swinging wildly.
"That form is pleasing to you little boy, but I am not a Vixen, so I lack the necessary skills or desire to tempt you further. Still, you have revealed your weakness to me my dear jailor. I may lack the means to forcibly free myself, but I can still find a use for you to entertain myself. Do stay out of trouble, for my power is still my own, and I shall need it for now to call on a true temptress. You will help clean my slate with Inari-sama and then the Kami and creator of we kitsune will free me of this hollow prison granting us both our deepest desire." The deep guttural voice of the Kyuubi no Kitsune rumbled in the dark, just before crimson chakra flowed out of the seal like a tidal wave.
"Relish these next few nights of peaceful dreams little boy, for they are the last you will spend without my supervision."
Yamanaka Compound
It was three days after his rather odd dream that Yamanaka Naru found himself walking next to his twin, as they passed through the wooden gate doors that separated their clan's lands from the rest of Konoha. He was dressed in a black oriental style button up shirt with long and abnormally wide sleeves and simple black pants with black ninja sandals. His hair loose, and kept out of his eyes by his ever present forehead protector. Next to him, Ino was dressed in a light blue silk kimono with gold floral and vine patterns twisting over the surface ,a simple pair of wooden sandals adorned her feet, and her hair was loose from its usual ponytail with her forehead protector worn around her neck. Inoichi and Misao were dressed more formally then either young ninja in darker colored Kimono's.
'Why couldn't I just wear something orange?' Naru thought with a sigh, missing his former bright clothing.
'Because, my dear Oniisan, I would have taken great pride in finding my bluntest kunai and reenacting a certain part of your genin exam if you tried it.' Ino replied mentally without pause, smiling ever so sweetly at the boy, when he visibly paled.
'You ever think that you put just a little too much emphasis on appearance?'
'Of course not! I am the number one Rookie Genin Kunoichi in the village, my sense of style that I unselfishly share with you is just an added bonus to my beautiful perfection.'
'And oh so humble too, it's hard to believe you're not an angel.' He thought in sarcasm, and trying to keep it to himself. An act he must have failed at when Ino suddenly narrowed her eyes and developed a tick.
'If I apologize now, can I avoid a thrashing the next time we spar?'
'Grrr... she's just standing there, looking so superior like the rest of us are beneath her!' Ino's angry thoughts were the only response, and they weren't even against him, leading to Naru blinking in confusion.
"Did I miss something?" He asked out loud, turning his head to gaze at the rapidly growing anger on his twin's face.
"WHAT!" Ino snapped, turning her burning eyes on Naru, causing him to gulp before she breathed a sigh and calmed.
"I'm sorry, Oniisan. I just have… some Issues with one of our cousins." She apologized.
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to your moods by now, but which one are you talking about?" swiveling his head to where Ino mentally directed, he took in the sight presented.
A sea of sun-kissed golden yellow hair, broken only by the differing possible shades, or the hair colors of those who married into his newly discovered clan. Yet his eyes were drawn beyond, to the front of the clan house, to a pair greeting every incoming family member. The first was an aged man in a white kimono, his face nearly splitting with a wide smile causing his few wrinkles to stretch. Those that greeted him did so with warmth and respect, identifying him as the families head and current leader. However, it was the far younger and female Yamanaka standing next to the man that drew Naru's eyes and was the target of Ino's venom.
She stood at 5'1 and appeared no older then the twins, with light blue nearly gray hair and beautiful emerald green eyes and lightly tanned skin only a step or two from being pale. She wore a light blue kimono with white lotus blossom patterns running up from the left side of her waist to her right shoulder and then, behind her back, a white obi also encircled her trim waist, and simple wooden sandal's like most of the other women were on her feet with white tabi socks. If it wasn't for the apathetic look or fake smile she dolled out, the young lady would be the focus of almost every young man's attention, even then it wasn't uncaring more like she was uncomfortable and unused to being around people.
'Don't you dare develop a crush on her Oniisan, she might look cute but she is the most antisocial and down right mean spirited girl I have ever met! Even forehead girl is better then her.' Ino warned mentally, and watched Naru blink clueless at her.
'Who is she Oneesan? She doesn't look typical of everyone else but she is getting respect like she were a Hokage!'
'She gets her looks from her mother, but she is Saiya-Ojiisan's grand daughter and the heir to take over the clan when he retires or passes on. She's a prodigy as well. After her parent's died, she threw herself into the arts of the ninja. She graduated the year before us, her name is Yamanaka Meia.' She explained as the pair neared the house.
As their turn came, Ino bowed in respect to Saiya, and Naru copied her movements, only to gasp for air as the elderly ninja pulled both into a bone-crushing hug. Ino giggled a bit from the hug, seeming to enjoy it while he started to turn purple from lack of oxygen. When the hug was finally released, Naru bent over his knees drawing in as much air as his lungs could hold before noticing both Ino and Saiya were smiling down at him, while Meia merely regarded him was impassiveness.
"You'll get used to Ojiisan's hugs, if they don't choke you first." Ino joked as he straightened up.
"Meia-chan, go on inside with Ino and prepare for dinner. I'd like to spend a little time with Naru-kun before we join everyone." Saiya spoke, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Hai." was the simple response from the girl as she turned, heading inside, followed by a glowering Ino smoke almost visibly flowing out of her ears at being near the girl.
"Inoichi, Misao I will see you both inside." Saiya stated with a smile leading Naru away from the crowd entering the house or just mingling outside making his way to the more quiet and tranquil gardens kept on the grounds.
"I've wanted to meet and talk to you for awhile now, truthfully, and get to know you as more then just an infamous face, and the potential progenitor of our Kekkei Genkai. I must also admit, some of your more inspiring pranks I've taken great joy in learning about. Behind that idiotic façade you have a truly crafty mind." The aged man spoke as the pair stopped on a wooden patio overlooking an ocean of flowers painting the landscape in a serene rainbow of colors.
"Um... thank you Saiya-sama" the blonde demon container stated, trying to remember all that stuff about manners Iruka had tried to teach them back in the academy.
"That sounds so forced, and don't be so formal my boy. We are family after all, why should we use ranks and titles with blood anyhow?" the man spoke with a bit of a laugh, causing Naru to smile, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Sorry Ojiisan. Just trying to make a good first impression." The words came out with a nervous laugh, the boys eyes squinted nearly shut.
"Nice try, but I was not an elite Jounin for nothing. Now then, tell me about yourself before we go inside and your ogled by every of age girl in the family."
"BUT THAT'S INCEST!" Naruto yelled.
Inside
Ino sat, her hands fidgeting and her eyes trying to stave off a twitch as she sat near the head of the main table across from Meia, waiting for Saiya and Naru to come back inside. The main dining room of the clan house was more like a large ballroom with a long table brought in then a traditional dining room. If they had to build such a room, the small clan would be separated into more then a few rooms, which would instead of making the family feel whole simply serve to divide the close knit group.
"Is he strong?" Meia asked suddenly, causing Ino to take a deep calming breath to steady her nerves.
"Do you ever care about anything else?" Ino replied with a question, smiling a very sugary sweet smile.
"I suppose, being your twin, I shouldn't expect much more then mere promise."
"Gee, is someone sore over the fact that she doesn't have the long-awaited kekkei genkai of our family? I must admit, it is a bit of a burden for Naru-kun and I to be so naturally talented, but still I suppose someone has to lead our clan since Naru-kun is going to be Hokage, and I plan to devote myself to becoming the next great Kunoichi of Konoha." Though the words were spoken with happiness, the underlying venom was not missed by Meia, who narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Why would I be sore when things are as they should be? You are the one who gave up the place I now occupy to chase after an emotionally warped and slightly manic Uchiha instead of choosing to be the heir to the clan. I suppose this new ability of yours is a consolation prize." While Meia's words were cutting, it was easy to see she was only saying them in retort. Firing back in kind without any real malice or anger in her voice.
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" the loud call fo Saiya silenced the words on Ino's tongue as she turned to face the leader of the Yamanaka a smiling Naru next to him waving enthusiastically at the crowd.
"We have come together to celebrate our family and its prosperity throughout Fire country, or be it farther, and as always we remain united, loyal to the ties of blood and marriage that have made us feared in the world since the time of our ancestors, who traveled the world as Monks, priests, and priestesses using their psychic and spiritual powers to protect the innocent and battle demons. Now I know we are meeting a little early with our monthly gathering, but since most everyone was already here to watch three of our best and brightest compete in the Chuunin Selection Exam, I thought it would be best to enjoy each others company, and introduce a child of the Yamanaka we thought lost. We were betrayed by Konoha's Yondaime Hokage, and because of it we were left to believe he had died. Yet he stands here today, the first of hopefully many future children to carry that which we have always longed for, the power of Psionics! Our clans ultimate evolved Kekkei Genkai. So now, I present to you for the first time, the son of Inoichi and Misao . . . Yamanaka Naru!" The entire room exploded into cheers and applause as Naru waved wildly, though also blushed under all the positive attention. The moment passed quickly enough, and dinner started with Saiya leading Naru to the head of table where he sat next to Ino, while Saiya took the head seat.
"Are you strong Naru-san?" Meia asked half way through dinner, causing Ino, who had been sharing a mental conversation with the other blond, to let out a sigh.
"Stronger then Sasuke-teme, that's for sure, but I still have a lot of growing to do. What about you Meia?" He responded with a smile, trying to tone down his arrogance like Kakashi had suggested.
"I am the strongest of we three Yamanaka genin, if not the strongest genin in the village." She replied with the slightest of smiles.
"You should meet her boyfriend, oh wait she doesn't have one." Ino stated after taking a drink of tea.
"Some of us prefer to train for our duties, instead of chasing after a boy." Naru began to move his head back and forth to follow the thinly veiled insult contest.
"For your information, I don't have my eyes set on Sasuke anymore. I saw a few things that made him look unattractive."
"Good. Maybe if you work hard you can catch up to Naru-san and I in strength."
"Are you calling me weak, Meia-chan?" Ino accused, her voice lowering while Naru's grip on his chopsticks tightened.
"I believe I did. After al,l you only know the first basic technique of our family." The grip tightened.
"It's not quantity, it's quality!"
"The quality of your team is excellent I agree, but outside of it you lack all but the most basic of skills even with your recent training." The entire room fell silent when Naru's chopsticks snapped and he rose slamming his hands down on the table
"Insult me if you want, I'm used to it, but don't you dare say such things about my Oniisan, or I'll show just how weak you are, and bring you down off that high horse your sitting on." He spoke coldly, glaring at the blinking green eyes of Meia before she copied his movements and put on the appearance of glaring back.
"Maybe I should teach you your place then, Naru-kun, and show everyone here, Kekkei Genkai or not, that you are not as special as they all think." She spoke lowly but was easily heard.
"Anytime anywhere Meia-chan." Saiya whistled, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
"Seems we have a bit of entertainment for tonight. Everyone hurry and finish up, while I contact the Nara and Akimichi so that Meia and Naru may settle this disagreement in battle." He announced before turning to the pair.
"You've got an hour to get ready so I suggest you both hurry, and I think I'll have a surprise waiting as well."
"Hai!" Both responded before glaring at each other and walking away, Ino trailing behind Naru.
'Children are so easy to manipulate into what you want them do.' The grey haired man thought with a smirk.
One Hour Later
'This seems a little over the top and elaborate.' Naru thought as he stood at one side of a fairly large square shaped battle zone made seemingly professionally with several grey stones.
Several sets of bleachers were set up around the area slowly being filled with people from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, all eager to view the coming fight that would demonstrate the skill level of two of the brightest stars of this generation of Yamanaka. Naru was dressed in what had become his normal Shinobi attire trying to contain his excitement and apprehension at being the center of attention from so many people. Meia stood on the opposite side from him dressed in a very form fitting outfit that was white on the shoulders, down the sides, legs, and on the chest, while the rest of the bodysuit was black, including her abdomen and arms. A kunai holster was strapped with white tape that blended into the outfits color on her right side for easy access and a shuriken pouch rested near her back almost completely hidden from view.
'Wow. She's cuter then Sakura.' Naru thought for a second.
'GET THOSE THOUGHTS OUT OF YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW AND PREPARE TO FIGHT!' Ino sent into his mind with a shout from her place sitting with Shikamaru and Chouji.
"Take off your weights. I want to fight you at your best." Meia ordered coldly before the match could start.
"Your wish is my command." He replied, unlacing his forearm bracers and dropping them, followed by his shin guards, the sound of the inlaid metal plates used to weight him down clanging as it touched the stone. Finally he unclasped his cloak and let it drift down to join the rest where the combined weights caused the stone to crack. It wasn't nearly as much as Lee wore, hence the lack of craters, but still some were impressed that a genin had been wearing so much weight.
"Hajime!" With those words Saiya moved out of the area as Naru fell into the Yuureiken first stance, his hand open with the fingers pointing towards Meia instead of using a closed fist, visible rings of ethereal violet appearing around each of his pupils. Instantly, the emerald eyed Heiress began flying through a set of hand seals, ending with the ram seal.
"Hitogokoro no Jutsu" (Human Spirit Technique) Meia called, her body gaining a light blue aura of chakra as it flowed out, and then slowly, she seemed to simply sink into the ground leaving no trace, which caused more then a few people to gasp in surprise.
'Where did she go, Up, left, right, BELOW!' pivoting sharply to the right he narrowly avoided a strong uppercut as Meia soared upward through the stone floor leaving not a hole or crack in the surface. Lashing out with his right hand he attempted to strike her in the midsection with his fingers, only for his hand to pass harmlessly through her once again glowing body, and as he withdrew his hand, her form seemed to solidify right before she slammed a hard right into his chest sending him back. Chakra flaring in his feet slowed him to a skidding halt just as a barrage of seven shurikens came flying at him from Meia.
"Henkou!" (Deflection) the blonde called out, the violet in his eyes brightening even as he narrowed them in concentration. Suddenly, the shurikens seemed to shake in the air before being pushed completely off course by an invisible force. Before Meia could launch another volley, Naru punched the air between them with his fist, which glowed with a gathered Violet aura.
"Shindou!" he yelled, and released the ranged attack, which appeared to the audience as a violet distortion screaming through the air towards the blue haired kunoichi. Meia raised her arms to form an X shaped block. As the force of the attack slammed into Meia, the crowd watched her hold her ground before the attack hurled her back, cuts opening on her arms from the pressure of the air trapped in front of the attack. Some could see bruising and swelling already coming to the surface and many others were surprised that attack didn't snap her arms.
It was surprising to some, Naru included, when Meia's form sank back into the ground before coming up once more in front of the blonde, who was forced to block an incoming knee followed by a forward thrusting right handed palm strike. Retaliating with his left, he wasn't surprised when his opponent moved her head to the side instead of blocking, her hair being tossed by the release of close-range telekinetic force. Snapping her head forward, Meia forced Naru back with the head butt, though her follow up strikes were all avoided as the lost Yamanaka seemed to know her moves before she herself did, or he knew the second she tried to execute them allowing him to effortlessly counter her strategy. Growing slightly frustrated, she charged forward lashing out with a spinning heel kick only to watch Naru catch her leg taking the brunt of the attack before slamming two fingers into it and letting go. The crowd watched stunned as the leg was simply limp, unable or unwilling to move sending Meia to her knees unable to rise back up.
"Sorry but you can't beat me now. My Fukai Kiba strike has disrupted the signals between your leg and your brain, making it impossible for you to use it until the effect wears off." Naru spoke with a smile, only to duck as Meia sent a shuriken whizzing by his head.
"I am not finished yet!" she called, actual anger in her voice as she began making seals again.
'I won't let him take away everything that I worked so hard for, just because he has a Kekkei Genkai!'
"Hitogokoro Kakuheki no Jutsu!" (Human Spirit Barrier Wall technique) Once more the blue glow of chakra surrounded Meia as she pushed her chakra out, but this time it flared even more forming a solid sphere of energy around her form.
"This is my ultimate defense. You won't be able to attack me until I run out of chakra, or my control over my leg returns, and when it does I will strike you down. This is my contribution to the Yamanaka clan and I won't let you take my place in it." She explained glaring with actual anger at the former Uzumaki.
'Kakashi-sensei, I hope the technique you taught me can break down her shield or else I'm beaten. I can't lose this fight, I have to show everyone that I am not just a Dobe.' Forming a set of hand seals, Naru leaned forward, left hand wrapped around his right wrist, and chakra started to spark around his arm growing in intensity with each second.
"Raikiri!" (Lightning Edge) he shouts as his entire hand is shrouded in visible chakra which begins to spark before seeming to explode with the sound of a thousand chirping birds. The ethereal violet rings in his eyes glowed brightly as he rammed the edge of the Raikiri into the stone ground, and darted towards Meia dragging the jutsu in front of him, ripping a deep tear into the quality flooring. Yet it seemingly didn't slow him down. Once he was nearly on top of the shield, he brought his arm forward slamming the assassination jutsu right into the front of Meia's ultimate defense battling for supremacy.
'I have trained my entire life to become the most powerful heir I could, forsaking all human attachment just to make my parents proud of me, but then why is it he's overcoming my Shield? Why is he so much stronger than me? Am I truly such a weak heiress, such a disappointment to my Otousan and Okaasan?' Naru heard loud and clear from Meia's mind as her shield crumbled, though instead of the pain of a B-ranked jutsu slamming into her, Meia instead felt a fist slam into her jaw sending her rolling back like a rag doll, and even though it hurt it was worse when she realized there had been no extra telekinetic power behind it.
"Strength doesn't come from new techniques or Kekkei Genkai, it comes from protecting the people precious to you with all your heart and putting their dreams and lives above even your own. Until you learn what it means to live and love you won't get any stronger." Naru stated as he stood there taking deep breaths.
"Winner, Yamanaka Naru!" Saiya called out, and the crowd exploded in cheers.
'What do I do, now that he's beat me he's the heir to the head of the family. I don't know what to do now.' A hand obscured her vision, and Meia found Naru offering her a hand up a smile adorning his face.
"You could try living, and I'd even be willing to help. After all we're family, and I'd like to be your friend."
"My friend, but I just tried to humiliate you and I was disrespectful to Ino-chan."
"I disrespect Oniisan all the time. Besides I don't think you really meant it, so why not be friends?"
'Yamanaka Naru . . . What an odd but intriguing boy.'
"YOU DID IT!" Ino shouted tackling Naru from the right, laughing as he easily got pinned down.
'Very intriguing.'
Please Read and Review
Ending note 1: sorry for the late update folks but I hit some snags along the way and needed to work through them. Plus I had finals so what can I say other then that. Also my usual Beta sort of went wacky on em so one of my reviewers graciously helped me out.
Ending Note 2: next chapter brings in Hinata and more of the rookie nine along with Gaara as we march ever closer to the Chuunin selection exams first test. Those who want to see Sakura & Sasuke's reactions theywill pop up in part two.
Till Next Time