Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Clone ❯ chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

A/N

 

I enjoyed the large reader feedback I got from the previous chapter, Kudos to all who reviewed and a warm welcome to those newcomers among you who have just discovered this story.

 

I have also discovered that much of the plot development left questions that I should clear up in a long than usual author's note.

The review count was off the scale so I'm too lazy to answer each independently. The first point to be discussed is the mace. Why this weapon many ask, while many feel it may have a negative impact on the story fight scenes. Surprising to me actually I felt it would be more welcome, I chose it for a few simple reasons. Firstly it is my personal favorite weapon, unlike many of you I actually LOVE the way Naruto will possibly fight with it at times, and the second reason is a simple matter of originally. After all my time on fanfiction.net I have yet to view a Naruto fic in which Naruto wields a mace. Its always either or sword or if the author wishes to be esoteric a whip. Not to put down these stories as monotonous and repetitive. I simply wish to go my own way with this one so to speak. Finally the subject of Naruto's utilization of this weapon. Never fear is all I can say without spoiling unnecessarily. Naruto will not wield this in as beserkerish a manner as you fear.

 

Finally comes the other controversial plot development. The introduction of the merger. I'm glad many of you enjoyed it. In truth when I first wrote it I faced some anxiety trying to estimate reader response. That said I knew while writing I would have to explain it in more detail and so I will. Naruto now has more potent chakra. Taking Kage bunshin his signature technique as an example, chakra he would use to make 5 will now make something in the vicinity of 15. The chakra since it is unstable in nature may even mean that some more complicated techniques will have… unexpected boons etc. At the same time his chakra once untamed is now a veritable wild maelstrom. For a while he will be significantly weakened simply because he will be unable to use the correct chakra for the simplest of techniques. Finally is his chakra capacity. The Kyuubi was a deity, Naruto is close in terms of bodily composition but not quite there. As a result while there is a significant margin for chakra growth he will never have an un-limitless pool of the substance. At the same time because his chakra is so much more potent he will have a much increased potential for attrition tactics. Facing a Shinobi with the same amount of chakra as he his enemy will undoubtedly run out while he still has two thirds of his left. As you can see that leaves space for much potential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks also to garthjax who did a beautiful job working on the previous chapter. Though I said the extra length chapter was a one off event it turns out that this one also exceeds my usual 3500 word limit. A brief note to those of you who follow this tale on media miner. I find that having to post two editions of the same story is somewhat time consuming, as a result I am sorry to say that the story will no longer be updated on that site after this chapter. Never fear though, I shall continue to post on fanfiction.net under the penname Daemon Darklighter. Enjoy the story,

 

Darklighter.

 

 

Human speech”

“ Demon or summon speech”

“Human thoughts”

“Demon or summon thoughts”

Disclaimer: …………………………̷ 0;………………… whatever

 

 

 

Chapter 12: Aftermath, back to square one

 

 

 

 

Naruto warily eyed the person staring back at him from the changing room mirror.

 

“Bitch you never told me there would be physical changes.”

 

“Pah forgive me for assuming that a fool of your caliber would figure that out.”

 

“Seriously man I look like a different person, plus none of my old shit fits anymore.”

 

“That's why we're in this… shop moron, Jiraiya gave you enough money to buy a new wardrobe.”

 

“That's besides the point! It's the principle! I happen to love my old look and my ponytail is gone!!”

 

Naruto had indeed changed drastically. He was currently choosing a new outfit as his old clothes did not fit comfortably after his… makeover. He was three whole inches taller than before, and his whiskers had become almost tattoo like in their appearance, dark streaks running across his face giving him a feral look. Talking about feral he now looked almost like an Inuzuka in denture and clawed hands and feet. His hair though regrown was now cropped considerably it was also now so wild that even with enough of it Naruto would never wear a ponytail again.

 

Truly all that remained of the youth of old was his ear ornamentation. Naruto had also gone for a huge wardrobe change. He now wore crimson cargo pants the color of his new bandolier. He had dumped the jonin grade vest in favor of an all black long sleeved muscle shirt. It was made of a soft material equally fit for desert or snow conditions. It was also armored, tough ceramic plates inserted at elbow, neck, abs, back and pectorals.

 

After ordering a dozen more outfits in the same style, six with crimson trousers but another six with different trouser colors for different terrain Naruto exited the clothing shop, slinging his utility belt around his waist, ninja pouch at the back and kunai holster at each thigh. His black boots flattened the turf beneath his legs while wounded silence swung loosely yet comfortably and securely from side to side in its bandolier as Naruto's back muscles rippled with each step.

 

“I thought up a name for your bandolier actually”

 

“Really? And what inspired name did you come up with in the space of three days young one.”

 

Tch Naruto hissed in mock annoyance, “Don't call me young I look 16, we'll call it peace.”

 

“Very original”

 

“Hater.”

 

Come to think of it, it has been three days since I got back Naruto mused. After a day of much needed rest in the Konoha hospital ward he had been escorted by at least 8 Shinobi to the Hokage tower, it turned out that the reverberations of his technique had been felt all the way here. While Inari was busy settling into the academy and meeting a friend Konohamaru Naruto was being interrogated by Kakashi, Jiraiya and the Hokage. After at least six hours of explanation and debate he had managed to convince them that no harm had been done. Indeed by the end they had agreed that he had made a good choice as Kyuubi/his power was now firmly for Konoha and the demon even if it broke free somehow had lost the vast chakra reserves accumulated over centuries.

Passing a nearby shop window Naruto paused to readjust the new long black bandana on which his equally new Konoha forehead protector was mounted. The old one had been heated and twisted in the fires of Kyuubi's chakra and was now unusable.

 

“Are you sure you don't want to tell your teammates the truth?”

 

“In another world, they no doubt lost family in your attack and though we are much closer almost even friends now compared to before I don't think I know what they're response will be. Nahh its better Hinata thinks I've further developed my bloodline and Sasuke finds out I have a bloodline for the first time.”

 

“Hmm his jealousy has risen since he heard that, I don't hold much faith in that one.”

 

“Nahh he's just Sasuke he's a bastard but never no snake in the grass. Besides he would probably be even more jealous if he knew the truth that you pushed up my power considerably.”

 

“I pushed up your potential considerably. Now you're even weaker than before. Until you master your chakra I have nothing to teach you.”

 

“What DO you have to teach me anyway.”

 

“I know no ninjutsu and I never had need of a weapon. My teaching lies more in the realms of the philosophical.”

 

“Philosophical?”

 

“Battle philosophy. Useless without real skill to back it up but invaluable in the presence of such skill.”

 

“you talk in riddles fox, as always”

 

Naruto jumped as he reached his home gate. Clearing the fence easily he sauntered to the backyard. Jiraiya had informed him to come directly here after shopping, turns out that even if he had not memorized the rasengan Jiraiya was still willing to up his training.

 

“you sure took your time.”

 

Said frog Sannin was currently sitting on a tree stump in the clearing. As always his other trainer the resident gardener Mikio was standing silent slightly behind Jiraiya.

 

“Meh it was hard finding something that looked cool.”

 

“well at least your not becoming another Kakashi, I have… research to do so we'll make this quick I'm only showing you the basics of this training technique.”

 

“bastard pervert, you're always shunting me off to go chase tail.”

 

“boy-“

 

Naruto going full rant didn't give Jiraiya time to finish his sentence.

 

“I mean I would understand if you actually GOT something at the end of the day,” Naruto was now in full swing gesticulating wildly as he spoke.

 

“But no you don't get anything! I don't get it how can you fail at being a pervert even?? I mean isn't that lower than being a successful pervert?”

 

Naruto thought it prudent to stop when he saw the look on Jiraiya's face. Mikio however was laughing hard, almost rolling on the floor. “He got you there boss.”

 

“You as well?? You side with this chipmunk over me?”

 

“who are you callin chipmunk?”

 

“You! Punk!”

 

“Ohh yea wanna go at it? Come on! Bring it!” Naruto was rolling up his sleeves as he talked “I'll wipe the floor with an old timer like you.”

 

`Old timer!!” Jiraiya roared surging to his feet in rage “I'll show you a thing or two brat.”

 

Mikio just sighed and for the umpteenth time wondered why he was stuck with two mad men for companions.

 

10 minutes later Mikio was shaking his head as Jiraiya and Naruto both equally battered stopped scuffling. “If you two are done releasing your inner children can we continue now?”

 

Jiraiya composed himself, serious once again. “Naruto do you think you can still perform the Kage bunshin technique with your new chakra?”

 

“Yeah but I'll probably waste a huge amount of chakra.”

 

“That's ok for now just summon as many as you can.”

 

Naruto answered with a nod bringing his fingers into a familiar half seal. Focusing his new orange chakra he yelled out

 

“Kage Bunshin no jutsu!”

 

Naruto released a horrendous amount of chakra with the technique yet he came up with only 30 clones.

 

“Ehhhh that's it I guess” he chuckled nervously rubbing the back of his in embarrassment.

 

“Brat going and performing merging rituals without my consent what the hell kind of chakra wastage was that?” Jiraiya snapped eying the 30 clones spotting the clearing all of whom were copying Naruto's nervous gesture.

 

“Jeez I can't help it you know.”

 

“bah training you is a chore. Okay this training technique is one that can probably only be used by someone with huge amounts of chakra like you. To be succinct your Kage Bunshins will remember everything that you remember and vice versa. If therefore your bunshin learns a technique without you upon dispersal you will find yourself master of said technique ok?”

 

“Yea I'm following you so far.”

 

“Good send one clone off to learn tactics with Mikio and detail the others to start the tree climbing exercise, we need your chakra control on a good level as soon as possible. You however come with me for body training.”

 

“Ahh!! Why can't I give you one of my clones to batter? I would rather climb trees.”

 

“Fool a clone is insubstantial, even one of your Batsu Bunshin wouldn't be able to handle it.”

 

Naruto sighed as he foresaw an afternoon full of pain. “Ok then lets get to it.”

 

 

7 months later

 

 

Three shadows flitted across the street in the silent town. One of the shadows flashed hand signals to the other two and they all slowed, slowly approaching the biggest mansion in town.

 

The moonlight shone down on the numerous guards walking the perimeter of the building and standing in front of doorways and low windows. It did not however shine on the three shadows, or rather they did not LET it shine on them. These were ninja performing a service for a client and it showed. Stealthily but quickly one of them ran up a tree and along a branch overlooking the roof. Without leaving so much as a rustling leaf he leapt unto the roof and dispatched the sole guard there with a sole thrust of his gleaming silver katana.

 

The other two had left their partner to his grisly task instead laying low in the brush monitoring the rapidity of the patrols. The leader signaled the last member to wait for his signal then he too broke cover. He was atop his hapless victim in an instant and before the female mercenary could so much as squeal he had thrust a kunai savagely up into her throat severing her windpipe and more importantly vocal cords an instant before she yelled. Disregarding the blood on his person he unceremoniously tipped her over into a street gutter. “Henge” the figure barely whispered the technique not bothering to bring his hands into the requisite seals for the simple jutsu. He transformed himself into the spitting image of the woman he had just killed. Except this version had bloodstains over her clothing and appeared to be wounded lightly.

 

Unceremoniously he screamed at the top of his voice “HELP! HELP! ATTACK!” using a subtle chakra technique to alter the sound of his voice to a more generic female version.

Guards rushed up to him, even as they answered his deception he counted their number more than 20 less than 30, 3 of them genin, possibly a problem. Not giving the genin time to inspect him he pointed away from the mansion. “they fled down that way, ninja I think.”

 

The three clones he had prepared before hand took off, pounding footsteps clearly audible in the silent night. Brushing past him with the casual disdain many Shinobi showed those not versed in their arts the genin took off after the footsteps, their gaggle of mercenaries following suit. When he was sure they were well on their way the leader keyed his comm.

 

“They took the bait Ice take the stage.”

 

The last member, call name Ice did not bother responding to the unofficial nickname, she merely clicked her comm. Twice in confirmation and rose from her cover. Her loose yet comfortable clan robes dyed a deep purple billowed out as she sprinted forward towards the now sparsely guarded manse. The two guards on duty were already tense from the distress call before. However it did them no good as they had no time to utter the slightest of distress calls before she was upon them hands glowing with chakra. A single deceptively light tap on their hearts was all it took to overload their hearts, sending them into immediate cardiac arrest, catching the bodies before they fell and made a noise she lowered them to the ground gently but swiftly and turned back away from the front door.

 

Ice watched as leader sauntered up. She suppressed with some irritation the flicker of longing that had recently decided to rear its ugly head at the sight of him over the past few months. Smiling his irritatingly charming grin he congratulated her with sign language, never noticing how her heart skipped a beat when he leant close enough to congratulate her verbally.

 

“Feisty what I wouldn't give for a girl like you.”

 

Slapping him lightly on the cheek, her traditional response to his traditional question she turned away unwilling to let him see how much it hurt that he did not really mean what he said. She waited for him to give the signal for them to continue the operation, this he did once again keying his comm.

 

“Bastard”

 

“What dobe?”

 

“You in position?”

 

“of course, as always.”

 

“any complications?”

 

“none… as always.”

 

“good wait for my signal.”

 

“Hai, Hai dobe-bossman just hurry up I'm bored and freezing my ass off up here.”

 

“ahh we don't want that, one Ice is enough for any team.”

 

She heard his casual banter with the third member of their cell and blinked back a tear at his closing statement. He saw her simply as another friend and teammate, how could she be anything but cold to him? To show her emotions was to invite embarrassment. She was no fan girl to openly chase her desire and fail to improve herself in her chosen vocation.

 

“you alright Ice?”

 

the concern in his voice both gladdened and angered her, she was happy that he cared and yet she felt like screaming at the top of her voice

 

“don't show concern when you're the cause of my pain!”

 

Instead she graced him with her most imperial look hoping he did not in the dark notice the single tear stain on her cheek.

 

“why would I not be alright?”

 

she prepared herself for the coming slaughter as she spoke pulling her signature weapon unto her left hand. He winced at her curt tone and looked away too quickly. She wanted to gaze on his face at least a moment longer.

 

Uncomfortable in the awkward silence she adjusted her purple glove. On each digit there was a single gleaming, serrated edge extending 4 inches. Cats claws, an uncommon weapon but well suited to her particular style of fighting. What was it her sensei said?

 

“The right hand deals silent death while the left carves a bloody map.”

 

Repeating the strangely soothing mantra in her head she waited for the next phase of operations. Leader was currently inspecting the huge door in front of him. Till now the mission had been performed in a very indirect, deceptive manner. Knowing him around now he would tire of this and go for the direct approach. She was right, sighing in exasperation he unlimbered from his back his own weapon. A gleaming obsidian mace.

 

Swinging it like a bat he channeled his chakra into the mighty weapon at the same time. The door exploded inwards with concussive force knocking over two guards who had been chatting amiably about 5 meters away. The physical blow itself was not enough to cause such damage she knew, but the chakra he channeled into the mace was released in a deadly cone at the point of impact, often with explosive results as a consequence especially when used on inanimate objects.

 

She watched him from the corner of her eye as he calmly stepped forward into the foyer ignoring the wood splinters littered across the room.

 

“Knock, knock” he said smiling amiably at his opponents on the ground still frozen in shock. Her traitor heart skipped another beat as she had a full profile view of this Adonis, hand still grasping his weapon as he settled it in place, left hand streaked with the blood of his enemy and finely muscled calves visible to her all seeing eyes even through his crimson cargo pants as he strode forward, ready to deal death with a smile on his face. Ohh she loved him!

 

Adeolu Akintola was not of this continent. His employee had hired he and his mercenary force, the blood drinkers to defend a certain item. He had guarded his cargo all the way from the east coast of Africa losing men all the way until he reached this place. The final stop before he handed it off to someone else. Therefore it was no surprise that on this night, the last night he had to deal with his priceless but bloodstained cargo he was lax. He had ordered a glass of sherry for all his men, taken from the ample stocks of the manse they currently resided in. He himself had jumped into bed with a local woman who was eager to make a quick buck, and for 20 minutes, forgotten about his year long voyage and duty.

 

The ninja known to us as bastard was currently poised on the roof directly above his room. He had set exploding tags in a circle about 3 meters across. He then set more tags in concentric circles within the outer one so the force of the detonation would be coned. Suddenly the dobe's voice came crackling over the comm. Sasuke could hear the din of battle in the background as Naruto shouted over to him,

 

“Now! Go for it now!”

 

Sasuke did not reply clicking his comm. twice in response. Leaping back from his rigged explosives he channeled chakra into the tags and watched as a neat explosion obliterated a 3 meter wide circle in the roof leaving a perfect circular hole.

 

“Perfection as always”

 

Sasuke thought as he slipped into the hole, he was so smug he almost got himself impaled by a spear made out of purple chakra that came flying out of nowhere.

 

He avoided the deadly projectile by twisting his torso around in the air turning a vital hit into a mere graze, landing on all fours he looked up sharingan blazing to see who had attacked him.

 

“Adeolu Akintola”

 

“and you are from Konoha, an Uchiha by your eyes.”

 

Both warriors ignored the terrified woman behind them who had drawn up bed sheets to hide her body as she tried to ease out of the room unnoticed.

 

Sasuke eyed his opponent warily Akintola was a mercenary hailing from the coasts of Africa, the man had supreme confidence in his own prowess he seemed unaware that he was naked, his lithe muscled body reflecting the black of his skin in the moonlight. Intel had the man to be at jonin level in terms of battle prowess and because he was not a Shinobi Sasuke could not expect him to fight like one. Kakashi had ordered them before the mission to only take him if they could face him two at a time. Sasuke was never one to follow useless rules though. Rushing forward he attacked the man who appeared unarmed.

 

Akintola performed the same trick as before somehow summoning a spear made of pure purple chakra without hand seals of any type. Sasuke drew his katana and they clashed, exchanging weapon blows. Sasuke aimed a quick thrust at the man's thigh but for all his bulk he was fast dodging to the side he swung his spear around vertically slamming the butt of his chakra spear savagely into Sasuke's neck. The blow nearly killed him but to slow down was to die. Shunting aside the pain Sasuke grabbed the haft of the spear, dropping his sword he drew a kunai and rushed forward to close quarters where the reach of the spear was not an advantage.

 

Akintola watched the boy's maneuver. He was skilled but compared to the seasoned mercenary he was still green, as suddenly as he had summoned the spear Akintola dissipated it and Sasuke was left leaning on air. To his credit he only stumbled once before continuing his mad charge.

 

Sasuke aimed the kunai at his opponents throat but the man raised his left arm, once bare, a round purple shield appeared on it protecting him from the blow.

 

“How is he doing that?”

 

his enemy once again materialized a weapon into his right arm a huge battle axe, but sharingan clad Sasuke saw it this time a glint on his neck as he summoned a device. Sasuke ducked under the whistling axe and watched as it crashed into the window shattering pane and glass savagely.

 

“So boy, you noticed?”

 

“Yea that necklace on your neck, is where you summon your weapons from.”

 

“I can summon almost anything I desire with this, and it takes little of my chakra.” The man's eyes glittered darkly as he finished his sentence smiling evilly

 

“you can't win boy.”

 

Sasuke simply smirked himself, his three tomoed sharingan whirling madly.

He spoke as he settled into a stance reminiscent of Kakashi left hand clutching right at the wrist, lightning shaped chakra illumining his face in the darkness.

 

“If I break that necklace I break you, don't overestimate yourself, you're just a stepping stone on my way to ambition”

 

Akintola's eyes widened as the boy started forward in an impossibly fast charge.

 

“CHIDORI!!!!”

 

 

 

Even Naruto battling in the smoke filled hallway heard Sasuke shout out his technique.

 

“Whoever he's fighting made him go all out.”

 

“Hinata go and check on Sasuke, if he needs help give it after that both of you get the objective, I can hold out here.”

 

“But they are too man-” strangely to him her voice sounded unnecessarily strained

 

“Just DO it Kakashi gave me command, its an order.”

 

She turned away, robes billowing. He could tell she was angry from the way she moved, bypassing the staircase she opted for the ninja route, running up the side of the wall and killing two fools who got in her way.

 

Naruto meanwhile was overly occupied, summoning a Kage Bunshin with no hand seals he dispatched two more guards without breaking a sweat. Suddenly out of nowhere a foot slammed into his side sending him flying. Looking up he saw a woman who was obviously a Shinobi rushing forward. Akintola's mercenary force was composed of normal people with a few chakra wielding warriors serving as lieutenants. This particular woman was at least chunnin level in terms of martial skill. Naruto ducked to the side as she swung another lightning quick kick his way.

 

“This bitch is fast.” Bringing his hand into a half seal he summoned several batsu bunshin. They quickly swarmed the woman though she dispatched them with ease Naruto had gained the information he needed.

 

“She's a mid range taijutsu fighter that uses her chakra infused legs for speedy movement and sharp attacking.”

 

Naruto smiled to himself as he leapt backwards putting considerable distance between he and the woman.

 

“Give up, I have you figured out now.”

 

She didn't bother to reply, rushing forward to engage him directly again. Naruto sighed to himself and settled into his own taijutsu stance. He caught her first kick on his right bicep and then stepped inside her guard where she could not use her legs to deadly effect. Slamming his left hand up holding an already formed rasengan through her weak guard he hit her nose, sending the soft bone slamming up into her brain killing her immediately.

 

“chunnin in strength but less than genin in everything else…”

 

Naruto surveyed the area, those enemies still around were on the ground, though the group he had sent on a merry goose chase would soon be back. A heavily ornate curtain burnt, billowing out black acrylic smoke, one of the few enemy ninja had used fire jutsu. Suddenly he saw Hinata and Sasuke descend the stair case. A small bundle in Sasuke's arms.

 

“The objective?”

 

they both nodded in reply.

 

“Akintola?”

 

“Chidori” replied not bothering to elaborate “followed by Hinata's claw in his skull”

 

“you have his head?” Akintola was wanted in grass country, with a bounty of 300 000.

 

“yea we got it.”

 

“Mission accomplished, lets get outta here.”

 

 

 

A/N

 

Well that's done. Next chapter our favorite team takes on the chunnin exams. I was in a hurry to post this so for once I actually did the rereading myself, though from next chapter garthjax will continue as normal. I will have a penchant during this story for inserting characters like Akintola. Do not be surprised if from time to time I insert chakra users from other cultures for example I have a plan to somehow incorporate a Viking villain. That said do not worry, no major enemy will have powers that are not firmly rooted within the canon of the Naruto manga. I will only insert my personal creations from time to time to add flavor to the story from time to time, and I expect you to give me your opinions on these characters! Till next time,

 

Darklighter.