Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Atelier Uzumaki ❯ Chapter 3

Again! Shuffle!

 

Naruto growled as he followed the instructions, shuffling his Fate Cards on his hand by pinching the top and bottom parts of his cards and releasing them, making them flutter towards his other hand.

 

Too slow! Now throw the cards towards the tree and concentrate!

 

The blonde boy growled, but didn't stop as he threw the all except one card towards a random three, concentrating on keeping the deck whole before the impact.

 

Make them spread and stick to the tree now!

 

Naruto obliged, and focused on the cards exploding outwards as they hit the tree, and with a soft groan, he made them reform. Instead of returning as a deck, they stuck themselves towards the tree.

 

Much better. I need you to be faster next time though! Everyday! Do these exercises everyday, until you can do them unconsciously!

 

Kyuubi! Come on… you're going to kill me!

 

Oh I wish brat… I frigging wish I could!

 

Naruto sighed as he collapsed, looking at the card he had left on his hand, and at the deck that was struck in the tree… in his mind, he could feel himself hugging that tree, holding it with pseudo fingers. On his thought, the cards let go of the tree, and began to reform back on his hand to a deck.

 

Whatever had gotten Kyuubi fired on his ass, Naruto wanted to stop, at least for a moment. He already had a busy day this morning, his thoughts somewhat heavy towards the implication of the last Uchiha being female.

 

Kyuubi never bothered him on his thoughts, only telling him it was time to train him on the use of his Fate Cards. Naruto couldn't… he couldn't concentrate until some squirt, the Hokage's grandson, came and asked him to train him to beat the old man.

 

The blonde, thankful of a distraction, began to teach the kid the finer points of his Sexy no Jutsu, and was generally having fun until the closet pervert instructor of Konohomaru came in and basically told him, in his face, that he was no good.

 

Hah… showed him with my Harem no Jutsu.

 

After you have rested, you will begin your attack kata once more as a cool down, go home, take a shower… and synthesize more healing potions.

 

WHAT!? Oh come on you nine-tailed bastard…!

 

If you have time to complain, you have time to synthesize! Now… DO IT!

 

Naruto grumbled, as he began to whip his card around, doing the forms Kyuubi had instructed him to do. This was going to be a long night.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Uchiha Sasuke, now taking character of the broody stoic bastard… and male, most definitely male, mentally smiled as the memory of two days ago was her waking dream that morning.

 

The image of a burning apartment washed over her again. Maybe it was her affinity to fire that made her happy, or the fact that she had fully avenged her wounded female pride of taking out a perverted boy (Naruto was totally perverted… she had seen him using that piece of garbage he called Sexy no Jutsu), or the fact she was able to keep other people from finding out that she was totally female. Maybe it was all three combined even, but whatever it was, it made her really, really… really happy.

 

Then she saw him. Uzumaki Naruto. Alive, well, and sleeping in the desk of the classroom. She was taken aback, jumping back in shock, almost screaming, but stopped herself when she remembered where she was.

 

All her classmates were looking at her oddly. Even Iruka, who was surveying everyone in the classroom looked at her with mild surprise. She just forced a smile, a large tick appearing on her forehead, and sat beside the sleeping blonde, her hand twitching to dive towards her kunai, her thoughts scrambling in her brain...

 

What the hell is he doing here!? Why is he alive!? How dare he show himself around here!?

 

And the most dominant thought in the blender she had called her mind:

 

I'm going to kill you… you blonde pervert!

 

So much dark thoughts in her mind, she hadn't spotted two of her fangirls nearing… Haruno Sakura, which she didn't know until later that she'd be her teammate along with a certain blonde alchemist, and Yamanaka Ino, who other than Hyuuga Hinata, had the best body for a twelve year old.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Back at the Hokage tower, prospect jounin-senseis grouped around the Hokage's crystal ball, all looking at the children that have gathered in the classroom. Some chuckled as they watched the Yamanaka girl and the Haruno girl arguing on who would sit beside Uchiha Sasuke.

 

“Wonder how they'd react when they realize the true nature of Uchiha Sasuke?” Sarutobi Asuma muttered, chewing slightly on the filter of his cigarette, smiling. “Disappointed?”

 

“Hmph, how would you react if you found out the crush you've been lusting over was actually male?” Yuhi Kurenai teased. Asuma never replied.

 

“I'm pretty sure Asuma would check if the one he had been lusting was female over a quick peek over the hot springs…” Kakashi replied drawly, causing Asuma to cough, and Kurenai to turn red, in anger on embarrassment, no one present tried to inquire.

 

“So… that's him?” another jounin pointed, towards the sleeping blonde.

 

“Uzumaki Naruto… yes,” the Hokage replied. “Any thoughts about him?”

 

“Well… his school record's a bit… harsh,” Kurenai stated, frowning. “He's more of a physical type than a thinking one. Is he really an alchemist?”

 

“Well… he doesn't look bright, that's for sure…” Asuma replied, watching as the Haruno girl began to wake the blonde up.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

“Naruto!” Sakura shouted, slamming her palm towards the desk. “Wake up!”

 

Groggily, the blonde genin looked up, and turned red when he saw his crush looking at him with her passionate eyes… passionate in a way. He hadn't known the fire in her passion was fueled by the desire to kick Naruto out to sit beside her crush.

 

“Yes, Sakura-chan?” Naruto asked, happy. “What can I do for you?”

 

“Get out of the way so I can sit beside Sasuke!” Sakura growled.

 

“No! I will!” Ino complained.

 

“Like I'll let you, Ino-pig!”

 

“Try and beat me, Forehead girl!”

 

The argument was totally lost to Naruto. The moment Sakura stated her desire to sit beside Sasuke, his eyes turned towards his side, and realized, that yes, he was sitting beside her. The girl who had thrown him a fireball… a girl who, just until two days ago, was a boy.

 

The blonde's mind went to a state of disbelief. He looked beside him, and saw Sasuke looking at him with narrowed eyes, face unmoved and icy.

 

The young Uchiha… was definitely a boy, right? Looking at the raven-haired genin, Sasuke was definitely a boy! The hair's a bit long, but standing on the back end, giving him that boyish charms, even if the face was, as Kyuubi had said, girly, and the chest! The chest was flat! It was flat!

 

To prove his point, Naruto's hand went towards Sasuke's chest.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Back at the Hokage's office, the jounins winced as Uchiha Sasuke suddenly lunged towards the blonde, and began to pound her right fist towards the Naruto's face multiple times, her face darkening, her killing intent leaking out that almost everyone who was inexperienced with it shuddered and stepped back.

 

Naruto was only saved when Iruka had decided to hold back Sasuke before she actually killed the blonde.

 

“Wow… I don't know whether to call him brave or stupid,” Asuma whistled.

 

“I think confused would be the term,” Kurenai replied. “I mean… he doesn't know… does he?”

 

“I'd call him very brave if he did know, which I doubt,” Kakashi giggled, and opened his orange book to read. “It's gonna be fun to see them together in a team… that is, if they pass.”

 

Kurenai looked at Kakashi darkly. “Don't start playing matchmaker, Hatake.”

 

“Of course not… don't wanna take your job,” Kakashi replied easily, ignoring the young jounin's reaction. He just giggled as he read another passage.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

“Now… Team 6…” Iruka looked back towards Naruto, who looked like he had taken a gang of thieves and came out of the confrontation without any luck. Beside him was Haruno Sakura, who was happy to sit beside Sasuke (Naruto was glad not to be beside the scary girl who had beaten him to bloody pulp), and the raven-haired genin looked highly annoyed at being stopped from delivering her divine retribution.

 

“Team 7… Haruno Sakura,” Iruka called. “Uzumaki Naruto.”

 

YES! Naruto thought, raising his arms.

 

NO! Sakura thought, her head down. She was stuck with the blonde irritant!?

 

“And Uchiha Sasuke.”

 

YES! Sakura raised her arms, in victory. LOVE WINS!

 

NO! Naruto was taken aback. He was teamed up with a psycho girl!?

 

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, her lips forming a small, yet very evil smile. Oh yes… divine retribution is coming… she chuckled. Of course, as she was playing her character, it came out as a snort.

 

“And that covers all the teams,” the chuunin declared, smiling. “Now, everyone wait until your jounin-sensei will come to pick you up, and remember now that you are genin, you-”

 

“Iruka-sensei! Iruka-sensei!” Naruto shouted, cutting off the man as he was about to give a speech of the importance of their life as a ninja for Konoha.

 

Iruka growled. “What is it, Naruto?”

 

“Change my team! Put me anywhere else!” Away from the psycho girl, at least, Naruto thought in desperation.

 

“Naruto… the teams were designed in a way that it'd be balanced. Sasuke is the top of the class. You, on the other hand… were dead last.”

 

Everyone laughed, began jeering towards Naruto, calling the blonde dead last. Instead of anger, the blonde looked torn instead, ignoring everyone teasing him. He boldly looked towards his teammates, Sakura, still out of it, hearing she was with her crush, while Sasuke looked at him with a small smile.

 

“They got the dead part right, at least…” she smirked. Naruto, as slow as he was, got the hint, evident at the fact that a few moments later as he disappeared as Iruka called for a break. He claimed he had stomach troubles.

 

Uchiha Sasuke didn't buy it, and would chase after him claiming she needed some pocky.

 

Iruka, for a moment, wondered why Uchiha Sasuke just gave such a cockamamie reason to rush out.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Holy crap... holy crap… holy crap… Naruto thought as he felt a spike of killing intent aimed at him. He knew who was behind him, so he ran faster, turning towards the corner in the corridor, and jumped out an open window.

 

For a fleeting moment, the wind returned to his face, comforting, reassuring. The blonde smiled, and spread his arms as he was in the air, relishing the feel of the wind before he readied his body and landed cleanly on the ground, and began to run.

 

Just a few seconds later, Uchiha Sasuke had landed almost at the same spot where Naruto had, and slowly tried to feel the surroundings. She felt five presences, so she concentrated on the one moving away, and locked unto that.

 

Then… her hunt began.

 

Rushing past a few trees, she stealthily crept ahead, trying to lock on her moving target. It was hard… she tried to predict the course he'd take, going ahead to cut him off only for him to take a different route.

 

This pattern repeated itself over and over. The young Uchiha sighed, as she found herself getting angrier as she was forced to keep the chase. It wasn't long before she found herself with her other teammate, Haruno Sakura, who upon spotting her, waved her hand and called her in.

 

“Sasuke-kun!” the pink-haired genin called, making the raven-haired genin groan.

 

Oh for the love of… Sasuke put on her stoic, brooding face, and faced the girl. Maybe she could make this confrontation short and as painless as possible.

 

“Yes, Haruno-san?” the Uchiha asked.

 

“Um… I was wondering… since we were on the same team…” Sakura began to mumble, looking down. “I wonder if… we… uh… could go… to a… um…”

 

“Have you seen Naruto?” Sasuke asked, cutting the girl off before she could say the `D' word.

 

“Naruto?” Sakura suddenly seemed to be put off. “Why would you want to see him? I mean, all he does it bother you. I bet it's because he doesn't have parents…” she nodded, feeling somewhat proud of herself.

 

Sasuke's face only darkened, her eyes narrowing towards the pink-haired girl, her anger rising.

 

“He acts so free, doing whatever he wants… if I did that, my parents would ground me a month. He's lucky, all alone, he's got no one to tell him what to do, or what not to do, and that's why he always makes trouble.”

 

“All alone…” Sasuke whispered.

 

“Huh?”

 

“The feeling of a parent yelling at you is nowhere near the pain he feels,” the raven-haired genin spoke softly, yet sharply, making Sakura confused.

 

“Wha… what's wrong…”

 

“You're annoying,” Sasuke stated clearly and coldly, making the other girl flinch. Without another word, she left her there, continuing her search for the blonde haired pervert.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

“Nyahahaha!” Naruto chuckled, exiting the bathroom. What a genius he was! For a moment then, he was so nervous trying to escape the psycho girl, who he knew was following him, but the wind guided him towards the safe spots until the girl seemed to give up the chase.

 

He then spent the remainder of his time hidden in the only place where any girl would not enter… the boy's bathroom.

 

Of course, he also failed to remember that Uchiha Sasuke was at the top of her class for a reason… and she too came to the same conclusion, which was the reason why the first face that Naruto got to see the moment he had opened the door of the bathroom to exit was… hers.

 

“GYAH!” Naruto shouted and immediately shut the door, and dove back inside… only to be followed in by the person he was hiding from. “HEY! Get out of here! This bathroom's for guys! Gi-”

 

A shuriken lodged itself to the tile wall, very near Naruto's left cheek. The sudden intrusion of a sharp object near his person got the blonde to quiet down, if not turn to a rather unhealthy shade of blue.

 

“Listen here, you blonde pervert,” Sasuke growled, putting as much killing intent as she could in a small space. Naruto's attention was on her.

 

“I'm… I'm not…!”

 

“Ho? And I suppose taking pictures of my naked body is not a sign of perverseness?” the Uchiha asked.

 

“No! It was supposed to be… you know… a prank. Was gonna spread the photos around… YIK!” Naruto gasped as another shuriken came at him, lodging between his groin, too close for comfort. It would have hit if he hadn't dodged the last second.

 

“Spread it around…?” Sasuke's eyes narrowed. “You are just asking for a beating, aren't you?”

 

“I'm sorry!” the blonde pushed himself further back to the wall, hoping it'd swallow him up. The girl… she was too scary!

 

“People think I'm a guy,” Sasuke growled, cracking her knuckles. “I'd like to keep it that way… but it seems I have been found out. By a big mouthed moron, no less. What to do, what to do?”

 

“I'll keep quiet! I swear!” Naruto smiled, assuring, though his back was now breaking a cold sweat. He knew how girls reacted when they were angry… he had felt Sakura's punches for a good while, but because of the power of love (one-sided love), he would endure it. However, a beating from the psycho girl?

 

He'd die for sure!

 

“Make sure you do…” she smirked. “If not… I'll kill you.”

 

Naruto could only swallow.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

A few hours later, back in the classroom, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto were still waiting for their jounin sensei to come.

 

Sakura looked a bit torn, if not uncomfortable around Sasuke, but she still chose to sit beside him, and fawn over him with her eyes. He was the cutest boy she had ever laid her eyes on!

 

Uchiha Sasuke looked at the pink-haired genin, taken aback a bit when her eyes were heart-shaped. That fangirl was taking the crush thing a bit too far, wasn't she? On the other hand… Sasuke looked towards her other teammate, Naruto, who was sitting comfortably away from her.

 

She smirked, patting herself mentally. She may have gone a bit too far, but that was alright with her.

 

Naruto sweated somewhat… was it him, or could he feel her eyes on his back. He shivered… this was no good! He had escaped certain death, yes, but now, he knew, she'd always look at him… and if he as much did something to offend her…

 

“Make sure you do… if not… I'll kill you.”

 

“Damnit… the sensei's late!” Naruto declared, standing up, and began to move around impatiently.

 

Damn it, come here soon! Don't leave me alone with the psycho!!! was his current train of thought, though.

 

The blonde still felt her stare, so he did anything he could do to calm himself down… and that was planning a prank. It wasn't hard… the teacher was late, leaving him alone in a room with a crazy monster (for the first time in his life, he had ignored Sakura's presence), and the classroom had enough material for him to make it one of the greatest pranks ever!

 

However, he decided to start small. Grabbing an eraser, he lodged it on top of the sliding door, lodging it between the frame and edge of the door, so whenever it would open, the eraser would fall on top of the head of the person who'd enter.

 

“Hey… what are you doing, Naruto!?” Sakura shouted, watching the blonde do his work.

 

“He'll deserve it for being late!” Naruto grinned.

 

“Don't involve me, then!” Sakura growled, looking away. Inside though… she loved the idea.

 

Sasuke only snorted. Like a jounin would fall for that…

 

A hand appeared in the edge of the door, drawing breathe of everyone in the room. They watched with fascination, wondering if Naruto's little prank succeed… Sasuke had doubted it though, knowing how well skilled jounins are, though the other two members of Team 7 were hoping it would succeed.

 

The eraser fell on silver hair scattering white chalk particles to his hair. The rather dumbfounded look on the jounin's face got Naruto to laugh hard at his prank.

 

“Nyahahaha! You fell for it? Seriously!?” Naruto declared, holding his sides.

 

“Sorry, sensei, I tried to stop Naruto,” Sakura looked apologetic, though inside, she was celebrating.

 

Uchiha Sasuke looked put off. First, she had a pervert and an idiotic fangirl for teammates, and now, she had a very incompetent jounin who couldn't even dodge a falling eraser. Oh yeah… her ninja career is starting out all right, she thought sarcastically.

 

“Hmm…” their jounin-sensei, Kakashi, was looking at them, his eyes smiling. “My first impression of you guys… well… I don't like you.”

 

Team 7 looked taken aback for different reasons. Naruto and Sakura wondered if the prank had gone too far, and Sasuke just realized she found someone more arrogant than her character.

 

“Meet me in the roof,” Kakashi declared, before taking a step back, and closed the door, leaving the three genin to stare.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

“Alright,” Kakashi clasped his hands together, leaning back at the metal short fence on the roof, looking at his would-be students, his eyes still smiling. “Let's introduce ourselves.”

 

“Um… how?” Sakura asked.

 

“Well… the normal stuff. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams, that kind of stuff,” Kakashi explained.

 

“Why dontcha introduce yourself first then?” Naruto asked.

 

“Me, eh?” the jounin had a pondering look. “Well… I'm Hataka Kakashi. I have no reason to tell you my likes or dislikes. Dreams for the future… hmm… well… I do have a lot of hobbies…”

 

The three mentally groaned. Seems they only got his name.

 

“You first, blondie!” Kakashi pointed towards Naruto.

 

“Alright! I'm Uzumaki Naruto!” Naruto smirked, looking proud. “I like ramen! More so if Iruka-sensei pays for it, hehehe… I hate waiting three minutes for the cup ramen to be cooked… and overbearing self-righteous bastards!”

 

Kyuubi inside growled, but didn't state a reply.

 

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Was Naruto talking about her?

 

“My dream… is to be Hokage, and have the people acknowledge my existence! And… well… continue my mom's legacy as well.”

 

Sakura looked up at that. Naruto knew his mother? That was rather new… but then again, he never did talk much about his past. He always had that stupid smile plastered on his face.

 

Sasuke looked surprised as well, sharing the same reason with Sakura.

 

Kakashi though looked thoughtful. The Hokage had told him about Naruto's skills in alchemy.

 

“My hobbies are, well… pranks, I guess… but I'm also getting the hang of training, and I want to learn to synthesize more stuff!”

 

Synthesize? Making more stuff? the Uchiha though, wondering. She never really saw Naruto as a maker of anything, except pranks.

 

“Alright… you next,” Kakashi pointed towards Sasuke. She mentally sighed, and put on her front…

 

“My name's Uchiha Sasuke,” she drawled. “I have many things I dislike, and I really don't like anything. As for my dream… well… I call it an ambition. I want to rebuild my clan… and kill a certain man.”

 

I knew it… Kakashi thought.

 

She's talking about me, isn't she? Naruto shivered, moving a few more spaces away.

 

“And the girl,” the jounin stated, after Sasuke stopped speaking.

 

“My name is Haruno Sakura… what I like is… I mean, the person I like is…” she giggled, looking towards the raven-haired genin.

 

Sasuke mentally groaned. Kakashi just rolled his eyes.

 

“And I plan to marry… I mean… oh yeah…!!!” she paused, and began to gather her thoughts. “Oh… and I hate Ino-pig!”

 

I know girls at her age think more of love than living as a ninja, but this is a bit extreme… Kakashi sighed, and looked towards his would-be students brightly.

 

“Good for introductions,” the jounin nodded, sitting on the small fence. “Now… tomorrow, we're going to start our new duties.”

 

“Alright! What kind?” Naruto enthusiastically asked.

 

“First… something between the four of us,” Kakashi declared. He looked over the genin who were anxiously awaiting his next words.

 

The jounin-sensei began to smirk. They were going to love this…

 

“Survival training.”

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

“Well… don't be late tomorrow… and don't eat breakfast,” the jounin looked at the three young genin seriously, “or you'll throw up.”

 

Kakashi giggled, seeing the rather sick look on all the young faces as he left. Naruto was more affected, his face stuck in a state of shock (his mouth was wide open, and his face was white as snow). Maybe it hit him harder than the two because he was a last minute graduate. Maybe the shock of failing had hit him harder than most.

 

Sakura was born from civilian parents, though she did have blood of shinobi in her veins (great grandfather and grandmother, with two cousins, twice removed) and she was pretty smart which would boost her confidence.

 

Uchiha Sasuke though, while shaken, was very confident… and if Kakashi could say, a bit too overconfident about her skills. She probably translated his threat as a challenge, and for that girl… any challenge would be worth partaking as long as she could get what she needed.

 

Naruto never noticed the three leaving him alone in the academy rooftops, still shocked as one surprise came one after another.

 

He's mother was a great alchemist (he had a mother!)

 

He had a great mana sealed inside him… and that mana is Kyuubi.

 

He found out that the bastard he had been fighting for Sakura's heart was in fact a crazy psycho girl!

 

And now… he had to pass a test the jounin just sprang with them, and if he failed… he'd find himself in the academy again!

 

Maybe the gods hate me… Naruto thought depressingly.

 

The wind blew on his face… warm and calming. The blonde genin smiled, feeling more comforted as the breeze danced on his body. For a moment, he thought of flying to the air again, just to recall the feeling, only for the wind to die when he heard an all too familiar voice ringing on his head…

 

The wind mana is calling you…

 

Naruto blinked. Wind mana?

 

Yes, moron. When you feel the wind coming at you, seemingly trying to talk to you, or let you experience emotions that you wouldn't have been feeling, it means a mana is trying to communicate with you.

 

Oh… so… why?

 

Why what?

 

Why is it talking to me?

 

You're the only alchemist around! Of course nearby mana would want to talk to you, why wouldn't they!? A mana, most of the time, would love to team up with an alchemist because instead of trying to governthe nature of their area, which doesn't need governing anyway, they could in fact help a human with an alchemy. They'll be able to enjoy bragging rights in saying their humanpartnerhad made a great medicine, or the sharpest sword, or even turned lead to gold…

 

Oh… Naruto pondered. Is… is that your goal, too Kyuubi? Have a human to be proud of?

 

Kyuubi snorted.

 

I already had a human that I am very proud off… and now I'm stuck with an embarrassment like you.

 

I know you love me, Naruto grinned.

 

Shut it, moron.

 

The blonde made Kyuubi simmer for a bit, enjoying the small taste of victory in their last exchange, though the acknowledgement of the wind mana has started to bother him. For as long as he remembered, the wind had always been his friend, always comforting him during trying times, and would whisper escape routes… either when he was escaping people chasing him after big pranks like defacing the Hokage mountain, or escaping psycho girls with killing intent.

 

What would the wind mana want with me?

 

Maybe make a contract with you… who knows.

 

I already have a contract… with you.

 

Hmph. Sweet, but moronic. Alchemists can have an unlimited amount of manas helping them, as long as the mana who want to make a pact with them will agree. Its generally thought that alchemists can have as much as ten manas on their call, but the more mana an alchemist has made a pactwith, the harder other manas will even try.

 

Why's that?

 

We're selfish when it comes to alchemists. By we, I mean other mana. I'm the special one. We'd share as long as it proves beneficial, but really, how many mana does a human need anyway?

 

Alright… Naruto sighed. What now?

 

Do you want to have a contract with the wind mana?

 

Sure, why not? The more the merrier, eh?

 

Kyuubi paused for a moment, growling. Naruto wondered for a moment what was going on the mind of the self-proclaimed Mana of Chaos before he heard Kyuubi speak…

 

Go home. Lets practice your synthesis!

 

What? Aren't we going to look for this wind mana?

 

Go home, train on synthesis first, then I'll help you find your wind mana. I have new recipes for you to try.

 

Naruto looked sullen, but perked up immediately when he heard he was moving to new synthesis… making more healing potions was kinda boring after a while.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Well, Naruto was happy; Kyuubi had finally done it and taught him the subtle art of bomb making. Oh, sure, he had made a flash bang two days ago, but truthfully, all it took was a simple envelope, shredded aluminum, some small explosives (basically, made from store bought products), and BAM! Flash bang.

 

Real bombs, though, were a bit harder. Too much calculations when it comes to the ratios of ingredients, timing of cooking the mixture, and even how much energy Kyuubi had to provide… if anything went wrong, there would be a small explosion that would cover his blonde face with soot, or electrocute him, or the worst, freeze his face off (and then explode).

 

There were three basic bombs… a fire bomb, which according to Kyuubi, made a moderately sized and decently powered fireball, which was made from fire-powered rocks, some powder (Naruto used the only powder available, flour) which would enhance the effects of the rocks, and finally, a nicro cloth that would hold the two materials together.

 

It was the basic recipe for bomb synthesis, according to a scroll that Kyuubi had pointed out, different from the large scroll that the Hokage had given him (the one he stole). While the large scroll had the recipe, the self-proclaimed Mana of Chaos stated that if Naruto wanted to be really good at it, he had to read a scroll about it.

 

Thankfully, it was far from boring. `Scroll on Bombs' by John Urn, which was a beginner's guide to bomb making, with the foreword stating that `even three-year olds can make', and had cute pictures and simple explanation.

 

The recipes for other elemental bombs were basically the same. For Ice Bombs, Naruto had to use ice glaciers (Kyuubi just told him to use ice cubes to save time. Thankfully, the mana's energy used to synthesize kept the whole thing frigid), and for Thunder element bombs, they used thunder powered rocks (and oddly, it came out looking like a rod instead of a bomb).

 

After five tries, Kyuubi seemed to give his approval.

 

Good. Now, practice to make at least ten bombs a day, along with ten healing potions, unless you're out of the village during missions.

 

What!? Naruto mentally screamed.

 

Shut it! I do not want my alchemist to be out of practice! Think of it as training… and if you are diligent enough, I'll let you synthesize more complex things. One day, we might even move towards armored clothing and weapons!

 

Naruto calmed down, feeling slightly better. Settling his new products on the work table, he looked himself in the mirror and sighed as his dirty visage stared back at him. He was going to go and hit the showers, when Kyuubi spoke again.

 

Take the bombs with you… and follow my instructions.

 

Naruto was surprised. Are you going to teach me a new recipe?

 

No… we're going to visit the Wind Mana near the area.

 

The blonde's eyebrows went up in surprise, but didn't complain. Putting the bombs he had made in his pockets, and his jacket's inner pockets, Naruto followed Kyuubi's instructions as they began to search for the Mana of the Wind.

 

Civilians looked nervous as the blonde seemed to sneak away in the street, like a thief one of them called. Not wanting to cause trouble, the blonde just jumped towards the rooftops, and made his way towards the Mana of the Wind… or was supposed to.

 

Unfortunately, Kyuubi got lost at least two times, complaining oddly about him losing the feeling where the Mana was. Naruto suspected the fox mana was embarrassed that he was getting it wrong, and called on it after Kyuubi had told him to switch directions after the fifteenth time.

 

The great Mana of Chaos, Kyuubi the nine tailed fox… is lost.

 

Shut it brat. I'm not lost… the Wind Mana is just being difficult.

 

Likely story…

 

If you think you can do better… go ahead. I'll laugh at your failure, you big-headed moron!

 

Before he even knew it, Naruto felt Kyuubi's presence vanish. Wow… for a moment… the great Kyuubi sounded like some nine year old girl… he fumed like one too! All it needed was the sound of the door slamming and a high pitched `I hate you!' and it would complete the image.

 

Snickering, Naruto for a moment looked around him. He was now at the top of Hokage mountain, on top of the Fourth's head. He looked down, enjoying the view of the well lit village… the streets were almost empty, with only a few ninjas on duty, and a few ANBU patrolling present. The horizon was dark, but the night sky was well lit with stars and a quarter moon shining down on him.

 

He felt an odd sensation, looking at the moon, which drew his eyes on it, until the wind suddenly picked up, cold, making him shudder. Sitting down, Naruto sighed, and wondered what he was going to do next… maybe go home and finally take that shower. He could sure use a good one. With Kyuubi not talking to him, he had no chance in finding out where the Wind Mana was…

 

Oh well… maybe tomorrow…

 

The wind blew on his face, alerting him suddenly. He could hear… a voice! Female… it was calling for him!

 

Standing up, he jumped away, following the wind…

 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Author's Notes:

 

Well, thank you for the reviews people. Some had nice suggestions, but, I guess its time to tell you how the story will flow. I will not say this is a Sasuke (btw, that's not her real name) and Naruto fic… I also not saying it isn't. At this stage, our hero's far too young to even think about it. But he's getting there (reaction seen at chapter two).

 

I'd like to think Sasuke is choice A. I'll be introducing Naruto to the ladies more because of various reasons. I'm pretty sure it won't be a Naruto Sakura fic because… well, I don't like her too much.

 

I will also add another game to the mix… guess what it is next chapter (it'll be obvious, *wink wink*).

 

Oh, and sorry for those who wanted a kiss between Sasuke and Naruto… I thought what I wrote was something funnier. :P

 

Later.