[Naruto] "Never Ever" 09/15
Title: Never Ever (09/15)
Rating: PG (OOC, AU, Language)
Archived @ Master List
Summary: What if Naruto had sided with the Sand in the Konoha invasion?
Chapter 09: Conditions for Usage
After reading that note, Naruto came to two conclusions. Either Kazekage- sama lost his mind, or Kurosaki was playing a joke on him. He settled on the first one. It was probably more likely that the snake-man from the Sound poisoned his mind. In fact, it was the snake-man that orchestrated the entire attack.
It was almost as if Kazekage-sama was just a puppet.
No. He was not that stupid. Kazekage-sama could be deluded by his ambitions, but he was no fool.
At least, that was what Naruto thought.
---
"You know," Kankurou said, "If you'd only taken the Chuunin exams last year, you would have made it with no problem. Now, it's too late."
"It's not like that." Temari responded. "It's...not."
Secretly, she had been surprised and a bit disappointed when she heard of the Konoha invasion. For one thing, she had nothing against this village. Another was that as much as she didn't want to admit it, she wanted to be a Chuunin. If only it had been a year later...
---
Naruto wracked his head for a way to summon a nine-tailed fox. The logical thing would be, naturally, to ask the Kyuubi. But the last time he asked the Kyuubi to help him learn a summoning, the Kyuubi had told him to figure it out himself. Then he had to wait for a week while his pinky twitched uncontrollably before the Kyuubi would tell him anything.
So after a few hours of thinking while running up and down the river, he finally came to the conclusion that he couldn't summon a youma without extra help. Summoning a demon was a Dark Art, and any sort of dark art in the shinobi world had to be developed or learned directly.
'Oy, baka kitsune. Wake up.'
'What do ye want, ye stupid brat?'
'I need to learn how to summon a nine-tails.'
'... Don't screw with me ye little runt.' Kyuubi growled.
'I'm not. I have to learn it in a month.'
'Whatever the hell for, gaki?'
'Chuunin selection exam. And don't call me that.'
'Where in the rulebook does it say ye need to know how to summon a demon for a CHUUNIN exam, baka?'
'Kazekage-sama wants me to learn it so I can use it then.'
'Damn, baka. This is going to take a freaking long time just for ye to learn the damn rules.'
'There are rules for summoning demons?'
'Go back to that pile of crap ye call a hotel, get a good night sleep, and I'll start teaching ye tomorrow.'
'Right.'
'That means no more training for the rest of the day.'
'WHAT?!'
---
"Why aren't you training?" Temari asked, surprised as Naruto burst in through the door. "Didn't you say you'd be back around five?"
"Kazekage-sama wants me to learn how to summon a nine-tailed demon fox." Naruto said. "Kyuubi said he'd teach me starting tomorrow, but that means I can't train for the rest of today."
The two of them nearly choked on their coconut flavored shredded ice.
"Summon a Kyuubi?" Temari asked. "Why?"
Naruto shrugged. "To help with the attack is my best guess." He said honestly. He never thought to question why the Kazekage suddenly wanted him to learn how to summon Kyuubi. It wasn't his job to question orders.
"Does Baki know?" Kankurou asked, just as Baki walked in the room.
"Do I know what?"
"Kazekage-sama wants me to learn how to summon a Kyuubi youma in time for the attack." Naruto said.
Baki was a bit surprised at the Kazekage's request. He hadn't known about it beforehand. Why did he suddenly want Naruto to learn how to summon a -
'Kazekage-sama, you are a cruel man.' Baki thought. 'You truly hate the Leaf's Sandaime Hokage with a passion, do you not? Using that kind of emotional attack...'
"Baki-sensei," Naruto was saying, "Why do you think Kazekage-sama wants me to learn that?"
"Baka." Baki said. "Think about it. It's all meant to inflict pain of the Hokage. During the attack, the two of them will be isolated from the rest of the fighting. The Sandaime Hokage would be unable to help as the Leaf Nins fight the Kyuubi you supposedly summoned, just as he was unable to help with the Kyuubi youma from thirteen years before. And being that YOU were the one who summoned it would cause even more grief because he was unable to protect you from the villagers eight years ago."
Naruto averted his gaze to the window. He had long since learned the difference between Hunter Nins and ANBU. But still, he never gave the Sandaime Hokage another thought until now.
Baki watched his student closely. Even after monitoring him all these years, his student was still an enigma to him. Naruto was by no means violent nor was he bloodthirsty by nature. He tended to get a little of both when he was on a mission, but was otherwise pretty mellow. In fact, often, he was mellow to the point that called for some worry. But he always recovered from those phases fairly quickly.
"Hey Temari, look." Naruto said suddenly. "Your opponent is going to that BBQ place again with the rest of his team."
"Nara?" Temari asked, coming over to the window and taking a look out. Suddenly, a question dawned on her. "Naruto, do you know Nara?"
Naruto was quiet for a moment. "We used to be skipping buddies." He finally said. "Me, him, the fat guy, and dog boy. I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember though." He added quickly.
It might have been her imagination, but it seemed like whenever Naruto talked about his past, he always got a nostalgic look in his eyes.
It must have been her imagination. Naruto has never once voiced any warm feeling toward the Leaf village. And he wouldn't start now, especially in the middle of such an important mission.
---
'Oy, start teaching.' Naruto said to the fox, ignoring the 'stupid annoying baka' comments that issued naturally from the fox's potty mouth.
'All right, first thing ye have to know is that when ye summon a youma of any kind, it's permanent. That is to say, they won't leave for any reason unless they die. The contract between the summoner and summoned is binding. So don't practice summoning just for the hell of it.'
'Then how were you summoned?'
The fox emitted a sound that was a cross between a snort and a laugh, for short, a snaff. 'The jackass who summoned me couldn't control me. That's another thing, don't summon things that ye can't control. That's not a demonstration of power, that's just stupid. A Kyuubi is one of the most bloodthirsty youma tribes around. Ye lose control of them and they'll go wild, just like I did thirteen years ago.'
'Hmm.' Naruto thought, 'never thought there could be rules for summoning demons.'
'Well there are, so shut up.' He said before continuing. 'Ye can't practice how to summon so just keep this in mind. To summon one, switch the first and second, third and last seals on the regular kitsune summon. Oh, and use my chakra while summoning.
'What? Why?'
'Ye want to go out in the middle of a night to pick lichen grass at the height of the full moon?'
'No.'
'Ye want to find a moonstone and carve it in shape of a fox?'
'No.'
'Ye want to collect toenails of a rabbit that's been dead for exactly 99 hours?'
'NO!'
'Good. Then do what I say and use my chakra to summon. It's like one Kyuubi calling out to another. That'd how it works.'
'Oh, I see. But what's with the lichen grass stuff?'
'Summoning a demon ain't easy, kuzo.'
'So... I can't practice summoning?'
'No.'
Naruto sighed. 'I guess its back to training for me.' He stood up and immediately sat back down again. His left leg felt like the feeling left behind after your foot goes numb. It'd probably stick around for a while too. He tried wiggling his toes. Good, at least he still had feeling there. Judging by that fact, it'd probably take him only overnight to heal up.
---
It would have been a dark desolate night had there not been a big bright full moon lighting the streets of the village. There were very few people still awake at this hour of the night. Gaara was one of them. He was always one of them. The Shukaku within him never allowed more than a few seconds of slumber.
Why was it that Naruto, whose demon's strength was ten times stronger, allowed the joy of sleep? Why could Naruto talk to his demon at will, while he was stuck with the loud and shrill voice of Shukaku? Why was Naruto so lucky? What's so special about NARUTO'S seal? Why...
Shukaku stirred.
Gaara closed his eyes, careful not to go to sleep. No. He would not be jealous. Naruto was his friend, his best friend. He was the only person who ever understood him. No, he would not be-
"You sure got me... do you not sleep?"
Gaara opened his eyes, then turned his glare upon the intruder. It was one of the shinobi from Otogakura (is that right?). The man made some comment about wanting to fight Sasuke-kun.
Gaara resisted the urge to give a sardonic laugh right there. The only person who would fight the Uchiha would be him, only him. He would be the last person Uchiha Sasuke ever fought, because he would destroy him. That Oto Nin, Kinuta Dosu. He's a fool.
He motionlessly uncorked his gourd, allowing sand to come out small bits at a time. The Sound Nin doesn't notice, and only comes closer. Stupid fool.
"He gets excited during a full moon." Gaara finally says aloud, surprising the Sound Nin. Moments later, the roof would be scarred with three slashes. In the middle of those three wounds was the body of Kinuta Dosu, the one who foolishly challenged Gaara of the Sand.
---
"You killed a Leaf jounin? Screw that, you killed the THIRD EXAMINER?"
"It was unavoidable." Baki said to his fuming student. "He overheard the conversation between Kabuto and me."
"That's why you usually don't talk about top secret war plans in the middle of the night in the middle of a place where anyone can overheard you."
Baki shot Naruto a glare that promptly put him back in his place. "How's the summoning coming along?" he asked.
"It's coming along okay." Naruto replied. "The Kyuubi says I can't practice it though, because if I do, then whatever I summon won't go away."
Baki nodded. It made sense, summoning between regular animals and youmas were bound to have differences. "What's the success percent rate?"
"... About 75, I'd say."
"Only?" Baki sighed. Guess it couldn't be a hundred percent success if Naruto couldn't even practice. "Either way, even if you do manage to summon one, you'd still need to fight with us. We have 29 days left. Make use of them."
"Yes sir."
---
Temari wiggled out of the thick blankets expecting to find an empty space beside her. She was correct. Kankurou was snoring away like a pig and there was a neatly tied bedroll in the corner.
She stuck her head out the window and took a deep breath. As much as she loved the Sand Village, she had to admit that the air was much better in Konoha. Here, you could inhale without getting your air passage clogged with sand.
She saw the village come to life. The streets were empty, then slowly filled with its residents. This place was too peaceful. It was unaccustomed to war. It had forgotten about it's violent past. Because of that, Kazekage, no, her father wanted to destroy that peace.
In one month, this village that was so peaceful and prosperous would be nothing more than a smoldering ruin. She wasn't sure how she felt about having that knowledge.
---
Naruto ran around Konoha for the fourteenth time that day. It wasn't very easy. Konoha was much bigger than Sunagakure. It was relatively easy the first ten times, but afterwards...
He glanced at his watch. It was noon on the dot. He'd stop for lunch in an hour.
Naruto's training method was very simple. He didn't use weights or anything relative to weights. He trained for stamina, though he had more than enough, and in battle, stamina would make up for whatever speed he desired. It was training unique to him, because normal people would not be able to substitute speed for stamina.
Thank the Kyuubi for yet another advantage.
He finally stopped after the twentieth lap and went back in the village. Temari wasn't here so he could devour all the ramen he wanted. And there was a little place he remembered that used to serve excellent ramen when he was still living in Konoha. He didn't know the name of the place, but he remembered where the place was.
"Ohayo." He called out as he lifted the flaps and entered the shop. It was still here after all, Ichiraku ramen.
The owner, Ichiraku, had not changed either. He and his daughter were still the cooks for the place. Ichiraku turned around and greeted Naruto after a split second pause.
"What'll it be?" The man asked.
Naruto scratched his head. "The works, Oji-san." It might have been his imagination, but he saw Ichiraku's eyes wander down to his headband, which was tied around his arm. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"No, nothing." Ichiraku responded, busying himself with the pot. "You just remind me of someone."
Naruto nodded. At least he doesn't know exactly who he was.
"So where you from?" Ichiraku asked. The stand was empty except for the two of them. It was half past two by now and for most people, lunch hour was over.
"I'm from Sunagakure." Naruto replied. "Chuunin selection exam."
"From the sand village, eh? How's life there?"
It was then that Naruto remembered how easy it was to talk to Ichiraku. When he was younger, Ichiraku was his only joy because the owner wasn't a shinobi, and therefore didn't know about him being the damned Kyuubi.
As he walked away from the ramen stand, for the first time since the mission began, Naruto felt guilty.
T . B . C
Rating: PG (OOC, AU, Language)
Archived @ Master List
Summary: What if Naruto had sided with the Sand in the Konoha invasion?
Chapter 09: Conditions for Usage
After reading that note, Naruto came to two conclusions. Either Kazekage- sama lost his mind, or Kurosaki was playing a joke on him. He settled on the first one. It was probably more likely that the snake-man from the Sound poisoned his mind. In fact, it was the snake-man that orchestrated the entire attack.
It was almost as if Kazekage-sama was just a puppet.
No. He was not that stupid. Kazekage-sama could be deluded by his ambitions, but he was no fool.
At least, that was what Naruto thought.
---
"You know," Kankurou said, "If you'd only taken the Chuunin exams last year, you would have made it with no problem. Now, it's too late."
"It's not like that." Temari responded. "It's...not."
Secretly, she had been surprised and a bit disappointed when she heard of the Konoha invasion. For one thing, she had nothing against this village. Another was that as much as she didn't want to admit it, she wanted to be a Chuunin. If only it had been a year later...
---
Naruto wracked his head for a way to summon a nine-tailed fox. The logical thing would be, naturally, to ask the Kyuubi. But the last time he asked the Kyuubi to help him learn a summoning, the Kyuubi had told him to figure it out himself. Then he had to wait for a week while his pinky twitched uncontrollably before the Kyuubi would tell him anything.
So after a few hours of thinking while running up and down the river, he finally came to the conclusion that he couldn't summon a youma without extra help. Summoning a demon was a Dark Art, and any sort of dark art in the shinobi world had to be developed or learned directly.
'Oy, baka kitsune. Wake up.'
'What do ye want, ye stupid brat?'
'I need to learn how to summon a nine-tails.'
'... Don't screw with me ye little runt.' Kyuubi growled.
'I'm not. I have to learn it in a month.'
'Whatever the hell for, gaki?'
'Chuunin selection exam. And don't call me that.'
'Where in the rulebook does it say ye need to know how to summon a demon for a CHUUNIN exam, baka?'
'Kazekage-sama wants me to learn it so I can use it then.'
'Damn, baka. This is going to take a freaking long time just for ye to learn the damn rules.'
'There are rules for summoning demons?'
'Go back to that pile of crap ye call a hotel, get a good night sleep, and I'll start teaching ye tomorrow.'
'Right.'
'That means no more training for the rest of the day.'
'WHAT?!'
---
"Why aren't you training?" Temari asked, surprised as Naruto burst in through the door. "Didn't you say you'd be back around five?"
"Kazekage-sama wants me to learn how to summon a nine-tailed demon fox." Naruto said. "Kyuubi said he'd teach me starting tomorrow, but that means I can't train for the rest of today."
The two of them nearly choked on their coconut flavored shredded ice.
"Summon a Kyuubi?" Temari asked. "Why?"
Naruto shrugged. "To help with the attack is my best guess." He said honestly. He never thought to question why the Kazekage suddenly wanted him to learn how to summon Kyuubi. It wasn't his job to question orders.
"Does Baki know?" Kankurou asked, just as Baki walked in the room.
"Do I know what?"
"Kazekage-sama wants me to learn how to summon a Kyuubi youma in time for the attack." Naruto said.
Baki was a bit surprised at the Kazekage's request. He hadn't known about it beforehand. Why did he suddenly want Naruto to learn how to summon a -
'Kazekage-sama, you are a cruel man.' Baki thought. 'You truly hate the Leaf's Sandaime Hokage with a passion, do you not? Using that kind of emotional attack...'
"Baki-sensei," Naruto was saying, "Why do you think Kazekage-sama wants me to learn that?"
"Baka." Baki said. "Think about it. It's all meant to inflict pain of the Hokage. During the attack, the two of them will be isolated from the rest of the fighting. The Sandaime Hokage would be unable to help as the Leaf Nins fight the Kyuubi you supposedly summoned, just as he was unable to help with the Kyuubi youma from thirteen years before. And being that YOU were the one who summoned it would cause even more grief because he was unable to protect you from the villagers eight years ago."
Naruto averted his gaze to the window. He had long since learned the difference between Hunter Nins and ANBU. But still, he never gave the Sandaime Hokage another thought until now.
Baki watched his student closely. Even after monitoring him all these years, his student was still an enigma to him. Naruto was by no means violent nor was he bloodthirsty by nature. He tended to get a little of both when he was on a mission, but was otherwise pretty mellow. In fact, often, he was mellow to the point that called for some worry. But he always recovered from those phases fairly quickly.
"Hey Temari, look." Naruto said suddenly. "Your opponent is going to that BBQ place again with the rest of his team."
"Nara?" Temari asked, coming over to the window and taking a look out. Suddenly, a question dawned on her. "Naruto, do you know Nara?"
Naruto was quiet for a moment. "We used to be skipping buddies." He finally said. "Me, him, the fat guy, and dog boy. I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember though." He added quickly.
It might have been her imagination, but it seemed like whenever Naruto talked about his past, he always got a nostalgic look in his eyes.
It must have been her imagination. Naruto has never once voiced any warm feeling toward the Leaf village. And he wouldn't start now, especially in the middle of such an important mission.
---
'Oy, start teaching.' Naruto said to the fox, ignoring the 'stupid annoying baka' comments that issued naturally from the fox's potty mouth.
'All right, first thing ye have to know is that when ye summon a youma of any kind, it's permanent. That is to say, they won't leave for any reason unless they die. The contract between the summoner and summoned is binding. So don't practice summoning just for the hell of it.'
'Then how were you summoned?'
The fox emitted a sound that was a cross between a snort and a laugh, for short, a snaff. 'The jackass who summoned me couldn't control me. That's another thing, don't summon things that ye can't control. That's not a demonstration of power, that's just stupid. A Kyuubi is one of the most bloodthirsty youma tribes around. Ye lose control of them and they'll go wild, just like I did thirteen years ago.'
'Hmm.' Naruto thought, 'never thought there could be rules for summoning demons.'
'Well there are, so shut up.' He said before continuing. 'Ye can't practice how to summon so just keep this in mind. To summon one, switch the first and second, third and last seals on the regular kitsune summon. Oh, and use my chakra while summoning.
'What? Why?'
'Ye want to go out in the middle of a night to pick lichen grass at the height of the full moon?'
'No.'
'Ye want to find a moonstone and carve it in shape of a fox?'
'No.'
'Ye want to collect toenails of a rabbit that's been dead for exactly 99 hours?'
'NO!'
'Good. Then do what I say and use my chakra to summon. It's like one Kyuubi calling out to another. That'd how it works.'
'Oh, I see. But what's with the lichen grass stuff?'
'Summoning a demon ain't easy, kuzo.'
'So... I can't practice summoning?'
'No.'
Naruto sighed. 'I guess its back to training for me.' He stood up and immediately sat back down again. His left leg felt like the feeling left behind after your foot goes numb. It'd probably stick around for a while too. He tried wiggling his toes. Good, at least he still had feeling there. Judging by that fact, it'd probably take him only overnight to heal up.
---
It would have been a dark desolate night had there not been a big bright full moon lighting the streets of the village. There were very few people still awake at this hour of the night. Gaara was one of them. He was always one of them. The Shukaku within him never allowed more than a few seconds of slumber.
Why was it that Naruto, whose demon's strength was ten times stronger, allowed the joy of sleep? Why could Naruto talk to his demon at will, while he was stuck with the loud and shrill voice of Shukaku? Why was Naruto so lucky? What's so special about NARUTO'S seal? Why...
Shukaku stirred.
Gaara closed his eyes, careful not to go to sleep. No. He would not be jealous. Naruto was his friend, his best friend. He was the only person who ever understood him. No, he would not be-
"You sure got me... do you not sleep?"
Gaara opened his eyes, then turned his glare upon the intruder. It was one of the shinobi from Otogakura (is that right?). The man made some comment about wanting to fight Sasuke-kun.
Gaara resisted the urge to give a sardonic laugh right there. The only person who would fight the Uchiha would be him, only him. He would be the last person Uchiha Sasuke ever fought, because he would destroy him. That Oto Nin, Kinuta Dosu. He's a fool.
He motionlessly uncorked his gourd, allowing sand to come out small bits at a time. The Sound Nin doesn't notice, and only comes closer. Stupid fool.
"He gets excited during a full moon." Gaara finally says aloud, surprising the Sound Nin. Moments later, the roof would be scarred with three slashes. In the middle of those three wounds was the body of Kinuta Dosu, the one who foolishly challenged Gaara of the Sand.
---
"You killed a Leaf jounin? Screw that, you killed the THIRD EXAMINER?"
"It was unavoidable." Baki said to his fuming student. "He overheard the conversation between Kabuto and me."
"That's why you usually don't talk about top secret war plans in the middle of the night in the middle of a place where anyone can overheard you."
Baki shot Naruto a glare that promptly put him back in his place. "How's the summoning coming along?" he asked.
"It's coming along okay." Naruto replied. "The Kyuubi says I can't practice it though, because if I do, then whatever I summon won't go away."
Baki nodded. It made sense, summoning between regular animals and youmas were bound to have differences. "What's the success percent rate?"
"... About 75, I'd say."
"Only?" Baki sighed. Guess it couldn't be a hundred percent success if Naruto couldn't even practice. "Either way, even if you do manage to summon one, you'd still need to fight with us. We have 29 days left. Make use of them."
"Yes sir."
---
Temari wiggled out of the thick blankets expecting to find an empty space beside her. She was correct. Kankurou was snoring away like a pig and there was a neatly tied bedroll in the corner.
She stuck her head out the window and took a deep breath. As much as she loved the Sand Village, she had to admit that the air was much better in Konoha. Here, you could inhale without getting your air passage clogged with sand.
She saw the village come to life. The streets were empty, then slowly filled with its residents. This place was too peaceful. It was unaccustomed to war. It had forgotten about it's violent past. Because of that, Kazekage, no, her father wanted to destroy that peace.
In one month, this village that was so peaceful and prosperous would be nothing more than a smoldering ruin. She wasn't sure how she felt about having that knowledge.
---
Naruto ran around Konoha for the fourteenth time that day. It wasn't very easy. Konoha was much bigger than Sunagakure. It was relatively easy the first ten times, but afterwards...
He glanced at his watch. It was noon on the dot. He'd stop for lunch in an hour.
Naruto's training method was very simple. He didn't use weights or anything relative to weights. He trained for stamina, though he had more than enough, and in battle, stamina would make up for whatever speed he desired. It was training unique to him, because normal people would not be able to substitute speed for stamina.
Thank the Kyuubi for yet another advantage.
He finally stopped after the twentieth lap and went back in the village. Temari wasn't here so he could devour all the ramen he wanted. And there was a little place he remembered that used to serve excellent ramen when he was still living in Konoha. He didn't know the name of the place, but he remembered where the place was.
"Ohayo." He called out as he lifted the flaps and entered the shop. It was still here after all, Ichiraku ramen.
The owner, Ichiraku, had not changed either. He and his daughter were still the cooks for the place. Ichiraku turned around and greeted Naruto after a split second pause.
"What'll it be?" The man asked.
Naruto scratched his head. "The works, Oji-san." It might have been his imagination, but he saw Ichiraku's eyes wander down to his headband, which was tied around his arm. "Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"No, nothing." Ichiraku responded, busying himself with the pot. "You just remind me of someone."
Naruto nodded. At least he doesn't know exactly who he was.
"So where you from?" Ichiraku asked. The stand was empty except for the two of them. It was half past two by now and for most people, lunch hour was over.
"I'm from Sunagakure." Naruto replied. "Chuunin selection exam."
"From the sand village, eh? How's life there?"
It was then that Naruto remembered how easy it was to talk to Ichiraku. When he was younger, Ichiraku was his only joy because the owner wasn't a shinobi, and therefore didn't know about him being the damned Kyuubi.
As he walked away from the ramen stand, for the first time since the mission began, Naruto felt guilty.
T . B . C