Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Requiem of the Living ❯ Comradery ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

A/N: Blah. I really hate school. That, and my internet has been on the fritz lately. Ah well. I didn’t write this chapter as I had been doing with the previous ones, that is, pre-writing them by hand and then typing and polishing on the computer. Either way, I put a lot of thought into it and hope you all enjoy it.

This being the first chapter with any sort of flashback whatsoever, I decided to make just plain ‘ol italic represents small flashbacks, like one liner type things. Any long flashback will have a page break or something like that. So...

“Speech”
‘Thought’
‘ ;Kyu-chan’
flashback

I hope I haven’t confused everyone terribly with this!

Disclaimer: If anyone’s selling, I’m buying!


Jiraiya seemed terribly disinterested in the entire situation taking place before him, and was staring at the wall over Naruto’s shoulder. The exact opposite of the woman beside him, who was watching Naruto with rapt, almost terrified, attention.

“You don’t mean the seal broke, do you?” Tsunade asked, eyes darting about the youths form as though to find a visible answer.

“Well, no. And yes. There was an accident and he and I came to a sort of understanding.”
“Accident...?”

A flash of light and then unbearable pain. Soft whisperings in his mind, coaxing him, soothing him. A surge of power and someone yelling his name, then... no more.

“Neither of us wanted to die, but I was cut off from his chakra. All either of us could do was to merge...there really was no other choice. It would have been more then just my death.” Naruto murmured ruefully, almost trying to convince himself more then explain to Tsunade.

“What do you mean by ‘merge’?” the Godaime asked, but it didn’t look like Naruto would answer. Instead, he examined his glove covered hands, looking at something only he could see. Surprisingly, it was Jiraiya who replied.

“Their psyches. Before it was more of the fox locked up just outside Naruto’s mind, and Kyuubi could only directly communicate with him under extremes. Now they share a consciousness. As best as I understand it, in terms of the physical sense, this is close to the result Yondaime had intended by using Fuuinjutsu Shiji Fuujin and sealing with Shisou Fuuin. Naruto gained the Kyuubi’s chakra, with the side-effects you see here. In the mental sense...Kyuubi has access to all of Naruto’s mind and thoughts.”

“But...isn’t that a bit of an unfair trade-off? So much power and all Kyuubi gets is to know what Naruto thinks. Surely there are worse things than that.” Tsunade said, looking between both somber men. This time Naruto spoke up, his voice pained.

“You’d be surprised how...persuasive he can be. Especially when he knows my weaknesses as though they were his own. We may be on the same side in some aspects now, but I’ll be the first to say he still yearns to be free from his cage, or at the very least to indulge in some of his old ‘pastimes’.”

With those words, Naruto rigidly stood up and replaced all of his coverings on his way to the window. Pushing it open he looked back and waved a quick goodbye before soundlessly jumping out.

Tsunade stared after him. “He has all the demon’s chakra?”

Jiraiya grunted and looked at her. “Damn near close to. He could beat me easily when using some of the things the fox taught and gave him. When we trained I forbade him from using any of his favorite techniques and any that Kyuubi gave him. Even then, we’re a pretty even match.”

Tsunade looked a little disturbed. “What about his mind?”

“He does what you just saw a lot. He especially hates when the demon or Sasuke are mentioned. It’s gotta be hard for him to deal with all of this. He sulks a lot, he storms away alot...I’d say he’s a bit bi-polar, but I’m no expert. Having Kyuubi inside his head is kind of a double-edged sword. On one hand, he’s been around for centuries and knows just about everything there is to know about this world. He knows of jutsu that you and I could only imagine, and for reasons that only he and Naruto know, he seems willing to teach them. On the other, he is still a malignant being and wishes for bloodshed and violence. That conflicts so harshly with Naruto’s personality that oftentimes there is a brief moment where I’m no longer talking with the Naruto we know, but someone else entirely...” Jiraiya breathed out, eyes lost in a memory.

“But...he’s okay, right?” Tsunade inquired, looking into the other Sannin’s orbs earnestly.

“He’s a helluva lot better then I’d be if I were in his situation, I’ll tell you that much.”


~*~


Naruto sat on the Hokage Monument, watching the late afternoon sun sink as time passed. The Taishokukan only slightly diminished the beauty of Konoha with it’s smoke winding through the air. Tsunade’s head hadn’t fully been added yet, and he assumed that construction was on delay until this whole ordeal was done with. Still, the area around him was vast and warm due to the touch from the sun. The only company he had up there was a small lizard basking in on a stone and watching him inquiringly.

He removed his hat and stuffed it into a pocket, allowing the breeze to tousle his yellow locks. With a sigh he laid back, head resting upon his arms. He should probably be getting re-introduced into the village; gods knew how much he wanted to see his friends again...but he couldn’t bring himself to go and find them, though he knew if he so desired he could probably do so in an instant. He was lucky, at the moment Kyuubi was preoccupied with sorting through any new information and trying to deduce what his next course of action would be. Naruto really didn’t feel like having another headache that their conversations granted him.
As much as he knew, or at least hoped, his friends and former comrades would accept him again-as long as he didn’t let them know of his curse-but he was still wary. He had left so soon after failing his mission...what if the group somehow resented him now? What if they thought about it and realized how much better off they were without the demon child? Especially Sakura...he had failed her the most. The only thing she had ever truly asked of him and he had failed. He sighed again, examining the few white clouds dotting the clear azure sky.

Just as he was about to doze off, having been awake all night after all, he felt a presence approaching him at a slow rate. It was familiar but he couldn’t quite place it. Over the past two years Naruto had begun to recognize people he had previously met by smell, for Kyuubi insisted that it was impossible for anyone to hide their true intentions and even their base scent as they could with chakra-signatures. But he didn’t have this skill when he last met with any of his friends, so all their personal smells were native to him.

The aura continued closer up towards him and Naruto smiled. He knew who this was.

An overall feeling of languid tranquility and understated power. You could almost feel the slouch in the bearer’s posture and the generally lazy outlook. The entire feeling was comparable to that which someone would feel upon just waking up in the morning.

Nara Shikamaru.

Naruto continued staring up until he heard the distant slow footsteps draw near to him and then stop just a few feet from his head. No doubt he must look a sight decked out in black and lounging without a care in the world. Not to mention the hitai-ate, for then it was shown he was a ninja of Fire and not just some random person.

There was a mumble that sounded suspiciously like ‘troublesome’ before the other boy sat beside him, leaning back on his forearms and crossing his legs Indian-style.

Naruto knew that Shikamaru was probably piecing things together in his mind quickly and figured he’d wait. Sure, Shikamaru may have been terribly lazy, but he still was curious.

After another few moments of comfortable silence, the boy spoke up.

“What are you doing up here?” he asked. Naruto had to keep himself from laughing outright. Same Shikamaru, cutting straight to the point to spare the use of any extra words.

“Well,” Naruto began, sitting up slightly to match the position of his companion. “I’d assume the same as you.”

He looked over to gauge how much the genius had changed.

He still had that dark, pineapple hair, though it was a little longer then he remembered. The same half-lidded eyes watched him bleakly, not even so much as hinting at the vast intelligence contained within. He was also much taller, probably an inch or so taller then Naruto and wore a Jounin vest over a mesh long sleeve shirt. His forehead protector was tied at his left bicep and he wore long dark pants with the typical nin-sandal.

Shikamaru stood up and looked down at him, earrings glaring from the sun. “Do I know you?” he asked rudely.

Figuring this was as good a time as any to reacquaint himself he got up too. “Man. Have you guys forgotten me already? Sheesh, you’re gone for a bit and when you come back it’s like you were never there!” It was hard, even to him, to put on the same voice he had once used so often. “C’mon Shikamaru, I know you’re smarter then this!”

The jounin’s eyes widened a fraction and he stuttered. “N-Naruto?!”

“Heh, the one and only! First you become a chuunin without me, then you become a jounin without me? Not fair! Really though. Jounin eh? What about everyone else?”

Shikamaru still seemed in shock. “What are you doing here? When did you get back? What happened to you...You should check in with Tsunade-sama, she’s been very worried about you-”

“I already answered that, just a little while ago, I’ll explain later and already did. When did you become jounin?” Naruto asked excitedly.

“Just over a year ago I guess. I think I’d rather be a genin again. These missions are so damn bothersome.”

Naruto grinned at him. “Are you kidding me? I’m still a genin and I can’t wait to be promoted to chuunin even.”

“Heh, everyone’s gonna love to hear that you’re still genin.” the Nara said with a smirk.

“Everyone...could you take me around to see them?” Naruto asked looking up at him. Shikamaru shrugged lightly, shuffling towards the stairs leading to ground level.

“Might as well, there isn’t anything better to do around here. Let’s go.”



They had both been walking down the tight streets of Konoha silently, only occasionally passing pedestrians would eye the two strangely. Naruto questioned Shikamaru about this.

“I’ve gotten used to it, I guess. They aren’t used to the ninja just strolling around like this anymore. We’re generally in our homes on our off hours, or at the Factory training or working. When they see us out in the open they’re expecting some sort of evacuation.”

“Things have gotten pretty bad, haven’t they?” Naruto asked seriously.
“You missed a lot. If you already spoke with Hokage-sama you must know about what’s been going on. These are some pretty dark times. But if you’re back, that means Jiraiya-sama is too. That’s going to be a big help around here. Aha, here we are.”

Naruto looked at the surroundings. In front of him was the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Ino’s home. Shikamaru strode forward to grasp the door handle when it was suddenly jerked from his grasp, and Ino herself was standing in the open doorway.

She had changed much more then Shikamaru. Her hair had grown out again, and was now in a high ponytail cascading down her back. The same pale-blonde whisps were gracing her lovely heart-shaped face. Mirthful light blue eyes shined from her lightly tanned skin. She was wearing a deep purple, high-necked shirt in similar style to her old one, this time sleeveless and cutting off just at her mid-drift, leaving her stomach to be seen through a thin black fishnet covering. A matching mini-skirt covered her hips, and black nylon shorts reached down her slender legs to stop above the knee. Adding her ninja gear strapped on her thigh and calf, she had on small-heeled sandals. Naruto felt his cheeks flush as he noticed she wasn’t the scrawny twelve year old girl he remembered, and was instead ‘well endowed’ as Jiraiya might have put it. On their travels they had avoided towns and cities at nearly all costs, and as such Naruto had only seen a handful of people, let alone women.

Perhaps even more surprising then Ino, was the boulder of a man who stepped out of the store behind her, eyeing the other two males curiously.
If it wasn’t for the small spirals sitting atop his button cheeks Naruto might not have known who he was.

Choji had grown massive in the time past, now standing a whole head taller then Naruto and nearly bulging at the seams with muscle. He was close to double Naruto or Shikamaru’s size in torso, and was wearing traditional clothing not unlike Jiraiya’s, in various shades of reds. Shaggy brown hair fell about his chin, kept out of his face with a bandana bearing the Konoha symbol. Across his broad chest was a breastplate, embossed with the Akimichi clan symbol. Long bracers were wrapped around his forearms and grieves covering his calves. Old fashioned zori were under his feet.

Naruto gaped open-mouthed as Choji casually draped an arm over Ino’s petite shoulders.

“Shika,” Ino said in a low drawl. “What do you have there?”

She leaned forward to inspect Naruto but Choji held her back, a grin spread across his face. “Ino, I thought you would notice it before I did.” He said in a rumbling voice. Ino looked up at him curiously.

“What do you mean?” She looked back at Naruto, eyes meeting his and holding.

“How many people have you ever known to have blue eyes and blonde hair, beside yourself?”

Realization dawned on her and she looked at him more critically. “Naruto? It’s been so long!” She threw herself in his arms, hugging him tightly. Naruto stood stock-straight, another blush under his mask. In just one day he had gotten more hugs then he had in almost his entire life.

Ino pulled back to stand beside Choji again, watching Naruto with a smile. “My, look at you! I had always thought you’d come back, still a midget with those same bright orange clothes. I must say though, you look a little like Kakashi dressed like that!” She giggled and Choji agreed with a laugh.

Naruto smiled and put a hand behind his head. ‘I knew someone would say something like that...’

“I just met up with him a few minutes ago,” Shikamaru intervened. “He wanted to see how everyone was doing.”

The woman clapped her hands together excitedly. “Oh good! We were just about to meet with Tenten and Lee for an early dinner. You’re both welcome to join us. Come on!” And she grabbed Choji’s hand before marching off ahead of them. Apparently Ino was still a control maverick.

As they set off to stroll behind them, Shikamaru leaned over. “They’ve been dating for the past two years. It’s still a mystery to me how it happened, but they’re both happy I guess.”

“Yeah,” Naruto agreed. “So Ino and Choji aren’t jounin yet? Or even chuunin?” He was referring to their lack of vests.

“Jounin don’t have to wear their vests when they’re working at the factory or on their time off. Its only during training and missions that they’re required.”

Naruto nodded in understanding and continued on his way, looking at the buildings that had occasionally fallen to disarray. After another few moments he heard Ino announce they had arrived.

“We probably got here first.” She said, and then looked at Naruto. “Teams have the same time shifts when working, and Lee tends to run a little late for things-he’s still very enthusiastic about training. Neji would have come, but he’s on a mission right now. We had invited Shikamaru also, but he said he was busy.” For his part, Shikamaru didn’t even look slightly embarrassed at being caught in the act of lying.

“I was.” He muttered.

“Doing nothing!” Ino retorted.

The group moved into a small restaurant and upon their entrance all movement in the building stopped. The few patrons at the bar looked up at them, and the employees froze in their motions. Naruto found this awkward, but the others didn’t may it any mind and continued towards a table by a window in the corner. As they walked past everyone abruptly went back to their business. Naruto had never felt more alien in an environment before.

The area itself was very quaint and homey. The lights were slightly dimmed and there were only enough tables for a small amount of people at once. The manager of the place was probably doing very well, because the chairs were of a high quality and there were white cloths and candles covering each table.

They arrived at a table which was luckily large enough for six people, and Shikamaru dragged over two more chairs as everyone sat down. Naruto was slightly uncomfortable seated next to Ino, who was leaning towards Choji and accidentally bumping her feet against his. Deciding to avoid any questions that would probably come, Naruto picked up a menu and began to thumb through it.

It had been a long time since he had eaten something he hadn’t cooked himself, and he could feel his mouth water from just looking at the items listed on the page. Before Naruto could decide on anything the front door opened and everyone quieted once more. Immediately Naruto heard the loud voice of who could only be Rock Lee. Sure enough, before he could make out what was being said, Lee entered his line of vision, followed by an exasperated Tenten.

Lee looked nearly the same as the last time Naruto had seen him. He was taller now, and a bit more well built, but still had the same exuberant face, including the caterpillar eyebrows dancing on his forehead. The bowl-cut hair rested on his head just as it always had, and a green jumpsuit was under the jounin vest.

Tenten came to a halt next to him, chestnut hair pulled into duel buns. She was wearing a fairly form-fitting Chinese style shirt in red with black cargo floods. She was more muscular and tan than Ino, but an inch or so shorter. She had numerous pouches along her legs and only through vigorous training could Naruto tell that she was hiding numerous weapons.

Both of them had their attentions focused solely on him.

“What’s the matter, Gejimayu? Is there something on my face?” Naruto jibed.

Tenten simply smiled. “Naruto, it’s very good to see you again! We’ve all taken bets on when you’d get back. I guess Neji won...” And she took a seat. Lee’s reaction wasn’t so subtle.

“Naruto! You’re still flowing with the light of youth as I last met with you! How wonderful it is to have another dear rival to compete with! Let’s share this meal in commemoration of this momentous event!” He then moved as though to embrace Naruto, but luckily Tenten intervened by tossing a fork at him with expert skill.

“Leave him alone Lee! I swear, you’re just like a little child!”

“Tenten! I can’t help the overflowing youth my presence calls forth!”

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. “You make absolutely no sense.”

They continued squabbling for another few minutes before everyone checked their menus to prepare to order when the timid young waitress moved over to them. She seemed to be almost in awe in their presence, watching them all with wide eyes. Once orders were taken she scurried off again, a fellow waitress behind the counter rushing forward to greet her, giggling in the direction of their table. Naruto was about to take this the wrong way and get insulted, but Ino spoke up.

“That happens alot. Shinobi are pretty rare to see in the public now...we’re something of everyday heros. Haha, you know, I was once approached on the street by a little boy asking for my autograph! I mean, not that I could blame him, being as glamorously beautiful as I am!”

“I was there that day,” Shikamaru said. “The poor kid was trying to ask for directions when you grabbed the map out of his hand.”

Everyone shared a laugh and the topic moved to that which Naruto had dreaded.

“How was your training Naruto?” Choji asked gruffly.

“Yeah!” Ino agreed. “I’ll bet you went to loads of exotic places!”

“And you must have learned so much with Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin! I wish Tsunade had taken me as an apprentice, but I have no talent whatsoever in the medical field.” Tenten added.

Shikamaru and Lee were silent, though both seemed to have the same question in their expressions. ‘What happened to you?’.

Figuring the best route was a form of the truth, Naruto constructed an answer quickly. It wouldn’t due to go ahead and give away everything he had done and learned just yet.

“I learned a lot from Ero-sennin - Jiraiya, that is. And I’m afraid we didn’t go to many nice places or anything like that. We were in the woods most the time. I’d say the best thing we did was pay a short visit to Suna for a week.”

Shikamaru looked up abruptly, interest caught. “Suna? How are things there?” It was painfully obvious he was trying to look nonchalant but failing miserably. In Suna the local gossip was that the ‘princess’ Temari had a thing for one Nara Shikamaru. Apparently it was likewise also.

“They’re well. Gaara’s now Kazekage-”

“Which must kill you! Having him get a title of kage first!” Ino joked. Naruto smiled.

“Life’s really improved there, from what I can tell. The younger generation love Gaara, and the older ones who had feared him now respect him at least. That’s something.”

“I don’t understand how anyone could hate someone for something they had no control over...and something they had once agreed to no less! That’s horrible.” Tenten said with conviction. Next to her Lee nodded his head vigorously. Shikamaru eyed Naruto in an almost scrutinizing manner that quickly made him nervous.

Their food arrived and Naruto dug in with ravenous hunger, savoring every bite as best he could. The table stared at him before moving to their own meals, exchanging light banter. After he finished his food, Naruto took a moment to sort out everyone’s individual scents and set them to memory for future use. Once everyone had finished he wanted to get away as soon as possible. It was almost sunset and Naruto really didn’t want anyone to question him anymore.

Luck was on his side, as everyone was in a hurry to make off home to catch some sleep or to train a little before bed. Naruto fished in a pocket at his waist, pulling out a few bills and laid them on the table; more then enough for everyone’s meals and the tip. As the group looked at him he shrugged and said it was the least he could do for inviting him for food.

The congregation moved to leave, but the two waitress were blocking their way. They both bowed deeply and chimed “Thank you for your patronage!” in unison. Naruto nodded while the others spoke polite words and they stood outside the restaurant.

Naruto was about to bid them farewell, but Lee spoke up.

“You’re being re-instated right? As a ninja.”After a nod, he continued. “Then we’ll see you again soon. You’ll be needing a tour of the Factory. And I want to fight you to see how you’ve improved! Don’t forget!”

‘I want to fight you too, Naruto.’

Swallowing a lump in his thought, Naruto nodded and raised a hand in goodbye, disappearing down an alleyway.

It was during these times, when he was lost in his memories and thoughts that he was almost thankful for the Kyuubi’s presence. In a twisted way, having him there was almost comforting. He may have been an evil presence, but he looked after Naruto as though he were his own. Before even Iruka had acknowledged him, there was always someone in the back of his mind. Not necessarily nice, but still there. Any words that the fox might have said were absent though. He was off in some other distant part of Naruto’s mind, trying to piece together some great mystery.

He let his feet take him as his thoughts wandered. He may have been spared today, but eventually everyone would have to know about his new talents and abilities, Tsunade included. The one he most dreaded telling, however, was Sakura. She had so much to worry about, with Sasuke still missing and full training under Tsunade. He didn’t need to add his woes to that list. And besides, with Sakura...no matter what it was, Naruto was always most concerned with what Sakura thought of him. The others didn’t seem like they would mind if they knew the truth, but would Sakura think him a monster?

Stopping suddenly, he looked up. The sun was orange over the horizon, casting long shadows and coloring the sky and clouds in hues of pinks and purples as twilight set over Konoha.

This park...this was the place Sakura was found when she had desperately tried to stop Sasuke from deflecting. From running like the coward he was and leaving her there, cold on a bench.

Naruto pushed down his anger and saw someone strolling towards him. He may have never had the chance to know her scent yet, but there was no doubt in his mind. The floral, springy aroma. This was Sakura.

She was still the petite girl he had used to know, as tall as Tenten but with a much more sinewy and lithe build. She carried herself with a dignified grace, head held high and chin up. Her bubblegum hair was much as he had remembered it, cropped at the shoulders and hitai-ate above her bangs. Intelligent emerald orbs shimmered in the waning light, and from here Naruto could see she still maintained her creamy skin. Her uncommon beauty was only heightened by a short red dress like the one she used to wear, a pair of tiny denim shorts peeking out underneath and a long slit up both sides, held together through black straps. A pair of knee-high black boots laced their way up her legs and she was holding a medical book in her arms.

Upon seeing him, the book fell into the dirt and she brought a hand to her chest.

“Naruto.” she murmured in a sorrowful voice before running forward and wrapping her arms around him, sobbing quietly into his shoulder. Naruto, despite his shock, managed to utter small condolences to her shaking form.

“Don’t l-leave me again.” she cried. “Please.”

“I won’t Sakura. I promise.”



Translations: (haha not many this chapter)

Gejimayu - ‘fuzzy eyebrows’. Naruto’s nickname for Lee.

Fuuinjutsu Shiji Fuujin - Demonic Soul Seal. Yondaime’s seal used on Kyuubi. Death eats souls yada yada yada.

Shisou Fuuin - Four Image Seal. Designed to allow Kyuubi’s chakra to slowly ‘leak’ into Naruto’s inner-coils...I think it is supposed to eventually kill the Kyuubi that way, but at the slow rate it was ‘leaking’ in the series, I don’t see that happening anytime soon O.o


Post Note: Mwahahaha. Well then, I have the next chapter pretty planned out, unless I decide to move that chapter to the fifth chapter and make the next one something else entirely...There were two things I wanted to accomplish with this chapter; a very vague description of Naruto’s new condition and meeting a bunch of the gang. I think it went pretty smoothly, and the final scene with Sakura was how I wanted it. Ok, well it is February break for me over here, meaning no school for a week. I am going to try my hardest to get in at least one update per both my Naruto stories...(Guardian would have a second chapter already, but my idiot computer deleted it and I was a bit reluctant to redo it so soon XD). Yeah, my family are hella boring and we haven’t been on vacation in about five or more years, so all I intend to do this week is sit on my lazy bum playing video games and cleaning my room like the OCD freak I am. Haha. Please review and leave me some comments! If anyone has any questions (especially on stupid grammar mistakes I might make, where it makes perfect sense in my head but when people read it it’s like ‘wtf?’) ask in a review and I’d be more then happy to clear things up. ; P

By the way: I hate not having Microsoft Word. I should get myself a copy of that...That’s why you might see a bunch of spelling mistakes lol.

-hanyoupup