Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Uzumaki Naruto Ninja Chronicles: The Beggining ❯ Chapter 5

“Ah… I'm glad you wasted no time,” Laharl said as he smiled towards Naruto and Kyubi. “Welcome to the Second Scroll Program. Basics of Scalpel Formation and Usage are taught here. Not to mention the functions of Demon Eyes. Ready, kid?”

 

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. His smile was a genuine one. “Ne, Laharl-nichan, what are you going to teach me?”

 

“The basics of course,” Laharl smiled at the scowl in Naruto's face. “Eh, eh, Basics are important. Without that, you can't do more complex stuff. Now… let's explain your new powers.

 

“My powers are derived from my other heritage which I didn't mention at Scroll 1… oi, you listening?” Naruto nodded. “Cool, okay,” Laharl continued. “Now, this heritage I kept secret… not even our dear Kyubi-chan knows about it… right Kyubi-chan? I never did… squeal, did I?”

 

Laharl smirked and gave a wink to Kyubi, who now looked at Laharl with rage. “Laharl… I swear, if you ever say another word about… about that… I will personally kill you. I'll follow you to the afterlife… AND GUT YOUR STUPID MOTHERFU-”

 

“Yare, yare, fine, fine…” Laharl cut her off, smiling widely. “Mum's the word.”

 

“Um… what are you and Kyubi-chan talking about…?” Naruto asked, curious. Laharl smiled, and his mouth opened and was about to speak when Kyubi punched him hard in the face.

 

“SHUT UP!” she shouted, her face red. Laharl flew away, crashing into the ground with a large BAM! leaving poor Naruto looking confused more than ever. “Just… shut up about it, okay?!” and she began to whisper more curses, and hide in the corner of the… well, room.

 

Laharl and Naruto watched the fox girl just mumble her way out, confusing and entertaining Naruto and Laharl respectively. “Hahaha, alright, now that she's gone, lets begin!” Laharl declared.

 

“ALRIGHT!” Naruto jumped up with joy.

 

(Music: Daylight Dancer by Lacuna Coil)

 

- The Uzumaki Naruto Ninja Chronicles -

 

-| Hidden Blood! Naruto, the new holder of the Demon Eyes! |-

 

The hospital was on the buzz, with very good news! Nurses screamed with joy! ANBU members were horrified. Fan girls began to flock! Almost everyone in Konoha rejoiced! Their hero, the last surviving member (that is still supposedly on their side) of the Uchiha Clan has been awakened!

 

The history in which he awakened will be written as this. The nurse was there, looking respectfully and longingly towards the boy who slid there, unconscious, while checking everything; his IV, his pulse, his temperature, doing a physical while she was at it, when suddenly, his eyes went open, and the nurse rejoiced. She had told the boy that he was fine, and the kidnappers who kidnapped him were gone, and he was safe and sound. She called in the ANBU, who immediately dispatched a messenger to go to the Hokage and inform of the awakening of Sasuke.

 

The nurse wasted no time, and told her fellow nurses that the boy was awake, and naturally, knowing women concerning their pretty boy idols, they suddenly act all girly and gossipy until the ANBU guarding Sasuke's door were suddenly attacked viciously by a pack of rabid fangirls who are bringing almost everything like flowers, chocolates, pictures of themselves, yet lacking a bit on modesty especially concerning clothes. Have you seen a flatchested girl trying a dress for the busty? Good god… Bless ANBU and their eyes… they need it against such horrific images.

 

Whilst a riot is going on in Sasuke's room, 3 rooms away, in the same floor, Naruto was in a zone, his mental state trying to swallow everything Laharl just told him.

 

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

 

“Um… you're telling me… that you're really half-demon?” Naruto asked, confused. “And combining with me, made me half demon as well?”

 

Laharl smiled, and nodded stupidly. “Yup, basically.”

 

“And… not a normal demon… but a full blooded Overlord, the leader of Netherworld?” Naruto asked again, putting some stress on the world `leader'.

 

“Well, not anymore,” Laharl shrugged. “When I was alive, I was a half-Overlord, part-human and part mystic fox. I don't know what you compose of now… probably more human, but still, half of you would be a demon.”

 

Naruto's head went down, his forehead having twitch marks. He liked Laharl more alive than combined with him. First, he had an older brother that helped him a lot. Second, when he combined with Laharl, not only did he have freaky powers, but he also has two curses as well. Third, he was now officially, a demon… well, half demon, but who the fuck cares, right? God must be laughing at him.

 

“Laharl… I don't think I can live like these…” Naruto said in a strained voice. “The people won't accept me like this!”

 

Laharl sighed. “Oi, have you forgotten?” he asked. “You're well hidden thanks to the Demon Eyes. Fox details you have are hidden, your eyes… I don't know. They might be normal or red… depends, and you still will look humanoid. Sure… you might grow some small fangs, and maybe your birthmarks in your face might be a bit more pronounced… but still, they won't think you're a demon.”

 

“About that…” Naruto suddenly had a question in mind. “What the hell is the Demon Eyes?”

 

Laharl, smirked, and nodded. Everything went black again, and when Naruto could see again, he found himself in front of a white marionette with convincing eyes. Naruto stood there, unmoving. When he tried to move, he found out that he couldn't. “Nani?” he asked.

 

Laharl appeared beside the white marionette. “Demon Eyes is the term we use for Brain-Hack Optics. It's the unique power which was derived when sticking a very powerful Overlord Demon into a normal human being.

 

“You might wonder why I have a half-overlord, part human complex. Well, its starts with Laharl, a young Overlord, who had just beaten a Seraph Angel because his first love, a trainee Angel Flonne was cast down and turned to a rose.”

 

Images suddenly burst. Naruto saw a young boy, much like Big Brother Laharl, except looked really young, and more evil looking, fighting with an Elder Angel who seemed to transport everywhere. Naruto was fascinated by the way Laharl, the boy, dashed, his face contorted in rage, slashing, and attacking the angel, who parried, dodged and countered almost every move. Finally, Laharl suddenly raised his arms, and dashed and jumped towards the angel, who just disappeared, and reappeared behind Laharl. The Demon Boy smiled, and twisted in midair, and turned a complete 180, and slashed the air. The ground split up, and the Elder Angel's eyes suddenly widened and were hit heavily, and had a huge gash across his chest. The battle was over.

 

“Laharl, the Original, as I call him, was able to beat the Seraph with one slash of his dimensional technique,” Laharl continued. “He was about to finish him off when Laharl just dropped his sword, and went towards the rose, and raised his hands in the air.”

 

Laharl the Original dropped his sword, and went towards where the rose lay, and hugged it. He raised his teary eyes up in the heavens, and raised his hand.

 

“Laharl asked God for a switch. He'd sacrifice his life for Flonne's. The deal was accepted, and Laharl died, giving his life force to the rose, who suddenly transformed to a demonic Flonne, and Laharl's soul went away,” Laharl said, pointing at the images.

 

Laharl the Original's soul was bound for a while in Heaven, then was about to shoot to hell when suddenly, for no particular reason, his soul was sent to earth, with the music of Nightwish titled Dark Chest of Wonders, which coincidentally had no connection with the story whatsoever. He was plunged towards one human boy who was playing a weird game named Disgaea, which coincidentally was the story of Laharl.

 

“That's where I first met Laharl… a voice in my head, like you. And after a few weeks in staying inside my head, he suddenly came out and started giving me a choice,” Laharl smiled. “It's really weird. He could have taken over completely, after all, he is a demon, but he gave me a choice. He told me that he'd combine with me… and we'd share memories. That's how Laharl with the Demon Eyes was born.”

 

Naruto was back again, in front of the marionette with eyes.

 

“Demon Eyes is the evolution of Laharl's enormous demon powers being suppressed so it wouldn't kill the human body. Imagine this… such enormous power, if totally unleashed, it was like filling the balloon with 5 gallons of water. The balloon will burst. With the Demon Eyes, it's like filling it blood… or mercury, or any other thicker liquid, but with very less amount,” Laharl explained. He showed two balloons, one very large, and the other one, quite small. “These are both of the same weight. One filled with water, the other with mercury. Demon Eyes is like the one filled with mercury. The power is much more condensed, yet can be used with less amount. Get it…?”

 

Naruto… contemplated at what he just heard. Everything just went too fast for him, but he could understand the gist… probably. “Um… Demon Eyes allows a human to use the enormous demon powers of Original Laharl without danger?”

 

“Ah, yes!” Laharl laughed. “Ne, you're smart! Good one!” Laharl laughed, a bit oblivious to Naruto's sweating face. It was obvious that he didn't get everything… at least he got part of it, ne?

 

“Now… let me show you when you use Demon Eyes to a person… look at the marionette please,” Laharl said, smiling. Naruto did as Laharl told him, and concentrated a bit. He stared hard in the eyes, and waited… nothing. He concentrated more. Nothing. Naruto cursed.

 

“What the fuck?!” Naruto exclaimed. “Its not working!”

 

Laharl laughed. “Of course not. You can't use the Demon Eyes cause you're inside your own mind!”

 

“Then… what the hell am I supposed to do?” Naruto demanded.

 

“Just sit back, and enjoy the ride. Coz right now, you're about to get a crash course in using the Demon Eyes to a living being…” Laharl smirked so evilly that Naruto knew something bad was going to happen.

 

That `something bad' happened a second after Naruto thought that something bad was going to happen. He was forced to stare at the marionette's eyes, when suddenly, he felt a sudden rush as he practically zoomed towards the doll's eyes. In just a second flat, he practically felt like he just suddenly dove towards the marionette's eyes, and everything went red.

 

At first, Naruto was confused. Everywhere he saw, was red. Different shades of red. The background was pure red, and there were web lines of crimson red… and then, pulsating blasts of another shade of red seem to explode in every direction. He seemed to still be moving at high speeds, and Naruto looked at his left and right, unknowing on what to do, until everything stopped.

 

Laharl appeared once again in front of Naruto. “Yo. Like the view from here?”

 

Naruto wasn't amused this time. He'd seen freaky stuff, but this is the freakiest thing he'd ever encounter so far… next to it was that magic finger that the Tsunade-obachan has. “Laharl-nisan… what… was THAT?!” Naruto shouted.

 

“Ah… just a quick peek at what happens when you look at people and use the Demon Eyes on them…” Laharl smiled. “Here is a quick overview. First, you'll feel that you'll get sucked into the person's eyes, right? And then, all becomes red? Right?”

 

“Right…”

 

“Good. Here is what I was able to break down so far. The red background represents the mental presence of living beings. I don't know why it's red… probably because of blood, which is colored red. But then again, if you use it on lobsters, which have blue blood, the background is still red…” Laharl pondered a bit, sitting cross legged on the floor, his back turned on Naruto.

 

“OI! I don't have all day!” Naruto shouted. Laharl turned back to him, and smirked.

 

“Oh yeah… forgot about you for a minute…”

 

“OI!” Naruto twitched.

 

“Yare, yare, gomen, gomen,” Laharl laughed softly. “Anyway… red means you are in their minds. Now… this is where it gets complicated. Like I said, the Demon Eyes hack into the brains of living beings, whether they are insects, humans, lobsters, whatever. It will also work on demons, angels, goddesses… ero-sennins… etcetera.”

 

Naruto smiled at the last comment. “Alright, question! What are the uses of Demon Eyes…? I mean really… just hack in the brain… so, what does that mean?”

 

“Well… lots of things really, depending on how strong you are,” Laharl replied. “The most basic functions is to read the minds of people… view memories… mix a few memories up to make up a dream which lasts about a minute in the real world… but can last forever in the dream world. Then, the worst thing you can do is just go to the brain, and stop its function… literally killing your target just by staring.”

 

“… Coooooooool!” Naruto whistled. “I LIKE THAT! When are you gonna teach me that?!”

 

“Heh… when you're powers have grown more,” Laharl smirked. “Right now, you're just a fledging… or as a fox might put it… a kit. My guess is that you would probably be able to use the Demon Eyes twice… and only to weave up dreams and illusions.”

 

“WHA? Hey! I WANT the death stare!” Naruto complained. “COME ON! Teach me that! So no one can mess with me after that!”

 

“Eh… are you deaf? I said you can't. Not because I can't teach you, but because you can't! Come back after ten years or so, when you're Demon Eyes have grown specifically.”

 

Naruto crossed his arms. “HMPH! Stupid powers…”

 

“Hey, come on. Viewing memories and making them to illusions is hard… especially when you go through his mind like a Porsche on Viagra…” Laharl replied in a low tone.

 

“Porsha…? Bayagra? What the heck are those?!” Naruto asked, confused. Laharl sighed.

 

“Never mind…” Laharl looked up. “Anyways… see those?” he pointed at the pulsing red flashes near the web of crimson lines. “Those are memories of the target. Depending on the significance, size will vary from very large, meaning important memory, to mere dots, implementing that the memory is insignificant.”

 

Naruto looked at the pulses. He looked at them again. Memories? They were supposed to be memories…? Of what? They are just… red spots! “Um… Laharl-nisan… how can I view those memories exactly? They just look like a blob of blood…”

 

Laharl laughed out loud. “Hahaha! Well, that's because those memories… are blanks!”

 

Naruto paused. “Uh… blanks?”

 

Laharl hit Naruto hard behind the head. “Well, DUH! What, you think a demonstration would have memories? Pshhh. Right. When Elephants fly. When you really delve in the mind of a person, you'll see his whole memories in each pulsing flash. It will overwhelm you; I'm telling you, using Demon Eyes will strain your mind, which is why I have to warn you of the overuse of the Demon Eyes.” Laharl's face went serious. “I can't guess specifically how many times you can use it, but here is the general rule. One, there is a limited amount of times in which you can use it. You'll know when you are at your limit when suddenly you feel indescribable pain in your head when you try to overuse it. Two, don't use the Demon Eyes on the same person twice in a row. Delving into the same mind twice will give you a false sense of déjà vu…”

 

“Déjà vu?” Naruto asked.

 

“You know… something happened before which similarly is happening now…” Laharl explained. “For example, you see Konoomaru pass by a street, and some time later, you see him pass the same street again… or maybe someone that looks like him. Déjà vu.”

 

“Uh… okay…” Naruto said, confused. “So… what's wrong with delving to the same mind twice? So what if I might get déjà vu?”

 

“It will mess up your senses, and memories. The last time I tried to do that, I was stuck in the person's head… all his memories were flashing like that… it was terrible. I almost didn't make it out… and when I did…” Laharl frowned. “I was exhausted… and he… landed in a coma. Its dangerous trying to hack into the same brain twice. You're target's mind would either put up a very fatal defense, or you might just rack your mind so hard that it would stop functioning… or worse, you'd get lost in his memories, ultimately making yourself and your target insane.”

 

“Alright… so… only use Demon Eyes within limit… and only use them on one person once…” Naruto stated, thinking. “But… if that's true… then it's useless! I mean… If I can only use it twice, then, that's it? And I can't use it to the same person twice? So… its like… after I use it to my limit, that's it?”

 

“For the day,” Laharl nodded. “It takes at least 24 hours to use them again, and by that time, you can use it to the same person, and use them to the limits again. Remember… it's your mind which gets strained, and if anything, straining your mind to the limit is a no-no. Brain cells never regenerate… you break `em, you lose `em.”

 

“Alright… it isn't so bad… I can use them over and over again as long as I give it a 24 hour gap…” Naruto nodded his head silently.

 

“Yes. But remember. At your level, I guess you could only use it twice, and remember that you can't use it on the same person on the same day,” Laharl muttered. “It's not a power you should just use at the drop of the hat. It's a power in which you have to use only when you need to. Don't throw away the chances of using them for simple reasons, because there might be a time, where you are cornered, injured, and bleeding to death and you can't defeat the opponent because you used the Demon Eyes on his weak pawns. Okay?”

 

“Alright, alright. Man… this sucks,” Naruto muttered. “I can't show it off…”

 

Laharl hit Naruto at the back of his head, making the blonde boy fall face first. “Naruto… baka.”

 

Naruto stood up at once, and raised his fist. “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT FOR?!”

 

“Naruto… this isn't about how you can show your techniques off. I'm showing you how to use my powers to allow you to survive,” Laharl said seriously, “especially in your case, Naruto. You do know that you have Overlord Blood in you… right?”

 

“Yeah, you told me!” Naruto nodded a bit, seriously.

 

“And you know Demons never age… right?” Laharl asked, slowly.

 

“… Uh, they don't?”

 

“Nope…” Laharl replied.

 

“Alright… so what does it have to do with me?” Naruto asked.

 

“… Not much…” Laharl replied, smiling a bit. “Not much at all. You'll figure it out soon. Anyway… time to teach you about your scalpels!”

 

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

 

“Good afternoon, Hokage-sama,” Sasuke said unemotionally as he saw Tsunade enter. He really didn't know that woman that much… even by reputation.

 

“Good afternoon to you too, Uchiha-san,” Tsunade said, also with the same tone. “I guess you're a bit surprised to find yourself here… aren't you?”

 

“Not really…” Sasuke replied. “After all… I was defeated…” Sasuke's teeth clenched at that. Of all people that would have beaten him… he might have taken it easier if it was Kakashi, or maybe that Chuunin Nara… but by that dobe, Naruto?

 

“It might have been better that way,” Tsunade nodded tone still emotionless. “We cannot lose powerful ninjas like you. Especially to one of our enemy nations.”

 

“…” Sasuke didn't mutter anything. He felt it was better this way. After all, he wasn't going to stay here forever. He was momentarily stalled. He's going to Orochimaru as soon as he gets his chance. And he will have one soon. After all, with his name… as much as he hated using his name, he'd be only set back momentarily.

 

“Uchiha-san… be glad that Naruto had rescued you,” Tsunade declared. “If not… you would never have gotten your chance of revenge against your older brother, Itachi.”

 

“What do you mean by that?” Sasuke asked.

 

“I will explain it to you once you're cleared for release in the hospital. I just came here to tell you one thing,” Tsunade's eyes narrowed. “I don't care for whatever reason. If you ever try to leave the village for Orochimaru again, I myself will the one to kill you. Powerful ninjas like you are essential to the village… but, if there is any inkling in you in turning coat like your brother…” Tsunade left that sentence hanging.

 

Silence followed, with Tsunade staring at Sasuke who was sitting down on his bed, looking straight at the wall. After a few minutes, Sasuke's eyes went towards Tsunade's. “I am not like my brother. I will kill him.”

 

“You are following his footsteps, Uchiha-san,” Tsunade replied in a low tone. “Whether you admit to or not. As for you killing him… you have the potential. But that potential is going to waste if go to Orochimaru.”

 

“… how would you know?” Sasuke's voice cut the air like a sharp knife. “He gave me power… he's given me something which I have dreamed about for a long time.”

 

“You think that `power' he gives you is for free?” Tsunade replied back, voice as sharp as Sasuke's. “Once you recovered, and released from the hospital, I'm telling the ANBU to bring you to my office at once. You're going to hear exactly what Orochimaru wants from you, and how that power from your Cursed Seal works. I should know… he was my teammate before.”

 

Tsunade turned around, and left without another word, while Sasuke was there, staring at her retreating back. He contemplated on the events that have happened today.

 

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

 

“Everything about your scalpels is mental,” Laharl explained. He raised his hands, and suddenly, four scalpels rose in the space between his fingers. “To call them, just think of calling them. They appear automatically once you need them.”

 

“Wow… those scalpels are really cool!” Naruto smiled, and nodded a lot.

 

“Yeah… quite useful,” Laharl nodded back. “Not only do they respond to all your thoughts, but they can also be used to form other weapons. Here, let me show you.” Laharl took out more scalpels, and placed about ten to fifteen pieces in his hand. And slowly, he closed his hand, and a red glow emanated from his palm, and suddenly, a red katana extended from his closed fist.

 

“WAAAHHH! Amazing!” Naruto's eyes went wide. “How'd you do that?”

 

“Just like I said… everything is mental,” Laharl replied. “All you have to do is provide the ample material, which are the number of scalpels, and thoughts of what weapon you want. The scalpels are special tools… do you know why they are red?”

 

“Um… nope?”

 

“They are red because they are coated with a weak power directly derived from the Demon Eyes,” Laharl replied. “In short… they are directly linked to your brain. Whatever you think, whatever you feel, whether you act upon on instincts, these little babies will act like second limbs for you.”

 

“Cooooool!” Naruto raised his fist. “YATTA! Weapons that will obey me! Does that mean I can make them fly where I want? And I can make new weapons with them! WAAAH! Hahahaha! No one can stop me!”

 

Laharl just rolled his eyes. “At your stage, there are but only just a few million people out there that can beat you.”

 

“NANI?” Naruto shouted angrily. “What do you mean there are a million people that can beat me! Name one!” Naruto crossed his arms.

 

“How about… Aaron?” Laharl's smirk became more pronounced.

 

“That bastard? I'll beat him silly you just watch!” Naruto declared.

 

Laharl smiled, and sat on the floor. “Well… if you somehow beat him… I'll take back what I said, and I'll acknowledge you for being unbeatable.”

 

“Eh… you smiling like that makes me think you got no faith in me…” Naruto mumbled.

 

“Well… as much as I have faith in your abilities… I have the logic of realism that you can't kick everyone's ass,” Laharl pointed at him. “There is always someone, out there, stronger than you. That's a fact.”

 

“Hmph… you make it sound like I can't beat everyone…”

 

“Well, duh. What? You think that somewhere out there, you're unbeatable?” Laharl asked sarcastically.

 

“Well… yeah,” Naruto bluntly replied. “I train everyday to kick everyone's ass, and prove that I am the greatest Ninja alive, and be the Hokage!”

 

“You train to survive…” Laharl replied back. “Survival is the name of the game, not glory, Naruto. Remember what I said?”

 

“Yeah, yeah… people won't remember idiots who get killed by some other more idiotic moron because he was too overconfident,” Naruto muttered.

 

“Exactly. Not all battles are won by winning the fight,” Laharl stated in a wise-like manner. “It's persevering until the end which win battles. You can't win if you die.”

 

Naruto sighed, and sat down, grumbling some words which weren't understandable. Laharl slowly looked at the boy, and closed his eyes, his own fox ears twitching, listening to the boy rant. He ranted for a few minutes, and Laharl just sat there, listening.

 

“And he expects me to be beaten… or run away like a coward… I got all this great moves… can't show them off… No one should be able to beat me… since I have Laharl-nisan's powers…”

 

After a few minutes, Naruto went silent. Laharl gave him another minute before he himself talked again with Naruto concerning the topic. “Look, Naruto, I'm not going to dictate every movement you make. You don't move that way. It's best if you find things by yourself, and learn them. I given you ample knowledge on how to use your new skills, but you still need to practice them. You still have a lot to learn. That's why try your hardest to survive every encounter you face. If there is an opponent you can't take on, then don't. You'll not be unbeatable if you die. Remember that.”

 

“… hai, Laharl-nisan,” Naruto replied in a low tone.

 

“Good. Don't push yourself hard. Train to beat your opponents, train to survive. If you can't beat someone, train harder until you can,” Laharl said, standing up.

 

“Hey… where you going, Laharl-nisan?” Naruto asked as he saw Laharl beginning to fade once again.

 

“I thought you everything to what you needed to know about your Demon Eyes and scalpels. Oh… wait… there is one last thing,” Laharl looked at Naruto. “You can also make scalpels from raw materials… actually, any materials. Bu depending on what materials, it will affect the quality of your scalpels. Use steel for strong scalpels, and glass or diamonds for very sharp ones. Experiment with the elements, and make up your own scalpels as you go. The Grade 5 scalpels you have currently inside are just as good as any normal throwing star. But once you progress your level, make more powerful scalpels along the way.”

 

“Ne… how do you make scalpels?” Naruto asked.

 

“Simple. Gather the material in your arm, focus your power, or chakra there, and just picture scalpels. Close your hands, and they'll form automatically,” Laharl replied. He gave the small boy a smile. “Hehe, Naruto… you're growing up to be a fine lad. Remember… don't overdo things? Okay? Practice everything I have told you!”

 

Naruto watched as Laharl's visage began to vanish from his eyes. It had happened on the first scroll, so it was a bit normal for him to see his brother vanishing again. Everything went black for him.

 

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

 

Laharl walked around the room, and spotted Kyubi sitting patiently, her fox ears twitching every now and then. He sighed. “Kyubi-chan, Naruto's going to be awake soon. You should go as well.”

 

Kyubi looked at Laharl with an unreadable face. Her eyes began to flicker some sort of fire behind them. Laharl had seen that look many times when he was still `alive'. “Laharl… you've been hiding lots of things from me.”

 

“So… you heard some things,” Laharl replied, nonchalant. It didn't bother him much that Kyubi had overheard them. Part of him was glad, though.

 

“I had an idea that you weren't a normal human. Fox ears, and fox tail had made you part of my clan, the Mystic Foxes, with one Tail, the lowest rank of our kind…” Kyubi said, her mind still contemplating. “You must imagine how doubtful I am, knowing you're actually in another level from me; a half demon Overlord… one of a higher plane than me, a mere mystic fox with Absolute Chakra.”

 

“I'm not really much more powerful than you, Kyubi-chan,” Laharl smiled. “I'm more human than demon. You can beat me, if we compare your power with mines. You beat me by a lot.”

 

“But you have the Demon Eyes… which can stop my brain from functioning when you want…”

 

“Hai… but when I tried, I got lost in your mind, remember? And you were also there,” Laharl countered. “Hey… don't you get… confused, or grow curious on why my Demon Eyes never worked on you?”

 

“… you got me there,” Kyubi replied. “We never really thought about it…”

 

“Yeah… think about it next time… and we'll talk next time Naruto uses the third scroll,” Laharl gave the fox a hug. “Until then, Kyubi-chan?”

 

She hugged back. “Until then, Laharl.”

 

For Kyubi, everything went black.

 

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

 

Naruto's awakening was not due to the shouts of the female populace in the hall, just outside of his room. Although it could have been… Nurses and Medic-nins were called from off duty to stop the mob from entering one room. It seems the ANBU are no match to rabid fan girls.

 

His head hurt like hell… you know when you get hit by three thousand liters of vodka, lived to tell the tale, and slept only for a few hours? Yup… that kind of headache. Naruto sighed. He wanted to shout outside in his loudest voice “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” but of course, his headache seemed to stop him from doing so. He sighed.

 

Naruto looked at his hands, and then, mentally called his scalpels out. Four came out in each hand through the spaces between his fingers, but he had to wince. They came out rather painfully… but the pain vanished as soon as it came. Naruto smiled. Taking the eight scalpels, placed it in his hand, he closed his hands and thought of a kunai.

 

He opened his palm again, and smirked with a wide smile. There was a crimson kunai in his hand. He threw it up in the air, and watched as it zoomed around the place, following his command. Laharl was right… it was like an extra limb.

 

Why don't you go out and practice it?

 

Naruto closed his eyes. “Maybe… yeah, maybe I'll practice in the practice area.”

 

Naruto quickly looked around for his dress… He found his pants, and his shirt, but his jacket was nowhere in site. Taking out his hospital gown, he put on his black shirt, and his pants as well. He looked at his table, and saw the necklace which was given to him by Tsunade, and wore it proudly around his neck. He also took his forehead protector, but instead of tying it to his head, he tied it around his upper right arm.

 

He wanted to exit through the door… but felt against it. There was a mob of females there… and possibly maybe a few medic-nins and nurses… he didn't want people to inform Tsunade that he was awake… at least not yet.

 

Like Aaron, he found himself looking at the window. He smirked. That's his cue to exit.

 

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

 

Naruto jumped from tree to tree, getting the feeling of calling his scalpels and throwing them. It was actually quite fun. Instead of reaching towards his pockets, all he had to do was flick his wrist, and call them out, and throw it at where he wanted it. Very cool for the Number One Loudmouth Ninja's standards.

 

He landed on the ground and threw a few more scalpels at a tree, each scalpel hitting the tree with fast speeds. Naruto smiled. Ninja stars and Kunais never felt this good to throw. He's sticking with the scalpels for the meantime… practice throwing them and aiming.

 

After thirty minutes, Naruto smiled as he was able to hit most of the scalpels to the middle part of the tree. Controlling the scalpels was harder than he thought, but it was easier than anything else he ever used.

 

A resounding clap was heard, and Naruto stopped breathing for a bit. His head flew around wildly, looking for the source of the sound. He saw Aaron, sitting on top of a tall branch of a tree, looking down on him.

 

“Nice… you seem to be practicing the power Laharl gave you,” Aaron stated.

 

Naruto gave him an ugly look. “What the hell do you want, you bastard?”

 

“Oh, nothing, just… watching the little blonde midget prancing around, using his new powers,” Aaron smirked. “Of course, not that it matters. I can kick your ass without trying.”

 

Naruto twitched on both the midget and the `kick your ass without trying' comment. “OI! If you're so sure about that, why don't you come on down here, and taste my knuckles, chump!”

 

“Me, go down to your level?” Aaron said with a raised eyebrow. “I think not. If you want, climb up here… unless of course, you can't use those short leg of yours to jump up here… I mean, even Akane Tendo could make it here…”

 

Naruto didn't know Akane Tendo… but he knew what Aaron was implementing. He was challenging him. He was underestimating him… and he called his legs short. His eyes narrowed with anger, and without using the a seal, he automatically placed chakra around his feet and legs, and suddenly dashed towards Aaron, climbing up the tree vertically, his fist cocked, and his mouth shouting with anger.

 

“AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH! Take this you bastard!!!!” Naruto said as he dashed up the tree.

 

“Oh, the brat has some fight…” Aaron smirked, and droped down at once from his position, and landed directly in Naruto's face, his two feet stomping the boy, and stopping him from climbing up.

 

After the face stomp, Aaron back-flipped in the air, and gracefully landed on the ground near the tree. Naruto, on the other hand, landed on his back painfully, after having being stomped on his face. He slid there, seemingly unconscious, and unmoving. Aaron looked at the boy, and shook his head.

 

“Is that all it took?” Aaron said, making `tsk' sounds repeatedly. “Just a brat, I guess…” and he turned on his back and began to walk away.

 

But it was only after 3 steps when he felt the wind wheeze through his left ear. Looking at what passed through his ear, he saw a red scalpel sticking the tree in front of him. He slowly smiled, and turned around.

 

Naruto was there, breathing deeply. On his hand, he held four scalpels, ready to launch them. “You bastard… don't turn your back on me!”

 

“Well, well, well… you got some bite to your bark… you might even make it to Budsy's level… I doubt it though,” Aaron laughed softly.

 

“SHUT UP! Don't call him that! Laharl-nisan is Laharl-nisan!” Naruto shouted. “I'm gonna show you… that I can kick your ass!”

 

“If so… bring it on!” Aaron said, his feet spreading, his arms ready for a fight. Naruto didn't need any more encouragement as he charged towards Aaron with intent to kill.

 

To Be Continued

 

Next: Aaron and Naruto face off! Naruto will then face Sasuke for the first time since their last fight! And last… Naruto, officially the student of Ero-sennin! NEXT!