Welcome to Gaia! ::

Author’s Notes
I know I promised this chapter wouldn’t take so long but funny thing happened, I got really into Vampire: The Masquerade again. Also I was doing research for further additions. Needed to find new names and ahem…really cool wrestling style moves that would be awesome to see ninjas use.

Naruto attached each of his swords to his belt, making sure to have the weapons his foster father wanted him to specialize in, at the ready. Tightening his headband, the blond spun on his heel, he had to hurry before Seika gave him a hard time for being late…again.

He bolted out of the house and jumped through an open window, corkscrewing through the air as he left in a hurry, it he wasn’t on time he would have to endure another lecture. Rushing down the hall, the blond jumped into a corkscrew as he leaped out of the window to make his way to the gates.

Leaping from roof to roof, he made great progress, before dropping down to the streets below, and making his way to the gates. He made use of the Karui Hatoashi no Jutsu (Light Step) to make haste to the gate, he was already late, he didn’t want to be considered the guy who is always late. The village already had one that was more than enough

Naruto was well on his way towards the gates, and skidded to a stop hopping on one foot, because he saw Rekka, he knew he would win her heart yet. He decided to try to get her to recognize the fact that Sasuke was hardly even close to having his swagger. “Hey, Rekka, this is your last chance to see a real man, because I'm off on a mission, a C Ranked Mission.” he explained with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes, she looked at the boy who acted a bit too macho for her tastes, she then sarcastically remarked, “Sure, let me know if you see one. Because the only real one I know is Sasuke-kun!”

“Hmph, whatever, you are a joke as a shinobi Naruto. I don’t need a high ranked mission to prove how strong I am.” remarked the Uchiha as he was leaning against the wall.

“Spoken like a true failure, who will rely on his Kekkei Genkai, I am the true future, and one day my face will be on that mountain. You are just so upset because you couldn’t best me a few weeks ago, because I am simply too fast for you to keep up with. In short, BE JEALOUS!!!” bolstered the orange clad boy as he quickly whipped his head to right with a smirk on his face. Naruto then smirked with a great amount of boastfulness and walked on towards the gates, he decided to try and be a bit more like Ginshin, only a touch more modest.

Rekka, found herself blushing a bit, she was starting to see the blond in a new light, the pure ego he had, it surely had to be backed up by something. Also it didn’t hurt that he actually noticed her as a girl, unlike the Uchiha heir.

At the village gates…

“I hope you didn’t forget your mini fridge baka! We’re going on a mission not a picnic!” Seika quickly began to criticize the blond she was definitely an equivalent of her cousin when he was her age. She would possibly grow out of this habit, but there was no guarantee.

“I got something for you, I hope you like it!” snapped the boy as he quickly flipped off the white haired kunoichi. Saying these two didn’t get along was inaccurate at best, in fact it was more of differing opinions that made them fight.

Quickly stepping in between the bickering duo was Saiyuki waving her hands at the two, a large bead of sweat rolling down the side of her head. “Now, now you two stop fighting. We’re a team we should act like it!” she spoke with panic to her voice, she didn’t quite get why her grandfather put Naruto and Seika on the same squad if they couldn’t get along.

“Keep it up you two, and people will think you’re dating.” Furuchi spoke as he pushed his elbows against the wall he was leaning against, forcing himself forward so he could walk past the two. He chuckled softly since he knew one rumor that was circulating involving Ginshin and Kurenai, saying enthusiastically with a grin “after all people think Ginshin and Kurenai are dating. Given all the times she slaps him or punches him in the gut.”

“I just thought that happened because Ginshin-tousan likes to refer to himself as the Sennin of Sexy, The Guru of Greatness, the Messiah of Machismo, he also claims to be the Every Night delight.” the blonde explained as scratched his head, he then realized what Furuchi said, his right eye began to twitch. He then looked at Seika and back at Furuchi and exclaimed furiously, “YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR MIND TO THINK I WOULD LIKE THIS ICE QUEEN!!!”

“Like you’re any catch Womanizer in Training!!” quickly the masked girl responded as she stepped towards the blond and looked him dead in the eye.

“You sure these kids will be able to keep me safe, those two seem to hardly be able to stop arguing.” queried the bridge builder, he didn’t quite feel safe with shinobi like that as guards.

Glancing at Tazuna, Furuchi ran a hand through his own hair, he knew the concern, and reassuringly said, “Trust me they can work cohesively when the time comes. They just don’t see eye to eye socially.”

“Alright, I'm going to trust you on this, but I hope you are right…” remarked the older man.

“Naruto, Saiyuki, you guard the flanks, Seika you bring up the rear, I will take point.” quickly ordered the Jounin, the three genin quickly moved to their positions and the group began to move onto their destination.

A few hours down the road…

As the group traveled, Furuchi kept seeing puddles, which put him on edge this was the perfect setting for an ambush. He could use his sharingan, but he knew that it hadn’t rained in this area for a good while, and for this many puddles to be in place didn’t bode well.

Raising from two puddles and ripping a bladed chain from under the road two masked shinobi bearing the Kirigakure emblem on their hitae-ate quickly moved towards Furuchi. In a swift action the chain was quickly cleaved in two by Naruto’s branch sword, as he spun it and held it upside down he quickly rushed towards the one on the left.

Saiyuki had also moved forward and swung her metallic staff colliding it with other shinobi’s stomach. She then began thrusting and lunging the blunt end of the staff forward to strike the shinobi down.

Stepping front of Tazuna, Seika reached into her kunai holster acquiring a kunai to protect the client. As she could sense another shinobi somewhere nearby, no she could sense more than one.

Naruto’s sword collided with the clawed gauntlet of the shinobi he was fighting he quickly began to start manipulating his chakra to begin using a jutsu he had just learned. He then focused chakra to his feet to move swiftly behind his opponent, as he slipped behind his opponent he thrust the sword into the ground as he dropped down into a crouch, waiting for the shinobi to turn to him. Slowly his body became enveloped in a yellow tinted raiton chakra, quickly the shinobi turned expecting a sword attack to his back. Lunging forward the blond speared the Kirigakure shinobi releasing the charge of electricity into his opponent.

“RAIJUU YARI (Thunder Beast Spear)!!” roared the blond as he stood up, quickly spinning and dropping his elbow into the shinobi for good measure.

Saiyuki, quickly began on her heels and the balls of her feet quickly lunging the pole of iron at the other shinobi quickly lunging the pole forward. She knew no matter how much the bobbed and weaved the pole of iron would connect, and that it did, as it struck once, twice three times. Striking the right hip, the left knee, and the right elbow, she ceased her assault and shouldered her staff, and said calmly, “Tetsu no Ame. (Rain of Iron)”

“Tazuna, this situation is deeper than you told us. Shinobi not bandits, so what's the true story. I may consider helping you out still, but it dependant on if I like your story.” spoke Furuchi as he looked over at the bridge builder, whom was in shock over how skilled two of the genin were.

“Alright, alright, its true, this runs a lot deeper than what I said, what actually happened was…” the bridge builder began to explain the story of how Gato, a Yakuza had come to the island village and taken control of things. And now that Tazuna had plans to build a bridge to loosen the tyrannical grip of the criminal, missing ninjas have come out of the wood work to kill him.

“I see, well since things are this bad I imagine we can help out, but you have to do what I say, when I say. This is the only way to ensure your safety, and one more thing…” Furuchi snatched the client’s liquor away and poured it out. He looked defiantly at the man as he handed the bottle back and said in the most calm yet assertive tone, “You will be sober from this point on. I have a feeling we are dealing with more than simple rogue ninja and a Yakuza boss.”

Meanwhile in Konoha…

It was fairly quiet at the Hokage Tower, was being the correct word, as suddenly bickering broke out through the building. Bickering from two, count them, two Jounin. Ginshin and Kurenai were once again at each others throats having never seen eye to eye.

“Get off my back already! I’m doing my best!” shouted the shinobi, obviously not in the mood for criticism from her, not after he had missed lunch because of order to report to the Hokage.

“Your best isn’t good enough! You expect my niece to learn Taijutsu when she comes from a clan that specializes in Genjutsu! This is unacceptable!” responded the crimson eyed Jounin.

He came to a dead stop, pivoting on his heel, his ragged coat spinning along with him, his golden brown eyes narrowed in anger, his mouth curling in irritation as he snapped back, “It is not too much to expect that she learn how to survive. You cannot always rely on others of the squad. I know this better than anyone! I learned multiple arts to increase my chances of survival!! We of Yamagakure are all strong, we have harmonized our skills. I am skilled with Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and Genjutsu. Not because I have some kind of bloodline, no. I have that thing called tenacity, the drive to become better. And I expect my students to have it, as my master had for me. Now if you excuse me the Hokage ordered me here!”

He then turned back towards the office walking swiftly, as he left Kurenai behind, her mouth wide open in shock at how she saw a different side to the man she had such low opinions of. As he walked into the office, a slender girl with black hair, which bore some blue streaks stepped in front of the doorway to keep any uninvited parties out of the office.

A fur coat with blue fabric, a deep azure shade draped her frame, the fur trim was a silvery white. Her hitae-ate tied firmly over her right eye as she stared calmly at Kurenai with her one good eye. Her hair was long, her bangs were evenly cut and combed over her forehead. She wore a Chinese style top, black and silver in color, with some embroidery of dragons. A dress with slits up the sides, and a kodachi strapped to each leg, she looked to be a force to be reckoned with.

“That headband…you are one of the survivors of Yamagkure.” remarked Kurenai, as she could practically feel the strength of this girl. It was intense, she had never seen a Kunoichi who was a fighter, in her experience, Kunoichi had always been Genjutsu specialists, or Medics. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had some kind of Dojutsu hidden behind her headband.

“Indeed…I am Kawasagi Suiren. You should not disparage Ginshin-sama so, he means the best for his students, and he is a fine example for the young. He is a tenacious one, he doesn’t give up ever.” the woman spoke with a serene voice, like that of a Tenshi, she seemed to be at peace with all around her when she spoke.

“I see. Why do you show such reverence for Ginshin anyways? He’s just the son of your leader.” responded the crimson eyed Jounin, she had little respect for the cocky shinobi, she couldn’t fathom how Suiren could show such admiration for the idiot.

“Suiren!! I didn’t know you were in the village! I heard Shirogane-sama had come! But I didn’t expect you!” chimed the now effervescent Tenrei, no longer in the foul mood that she was in at morning. Tenrei glanced about trying to make sure someone else hadn’t come to, she then said, “Don’t mind Kurenai, she’s just angry because Gin dumped her since she was trying to ‘fix’ him. She doesn’t appreciate Gin for who he is! I see Ageha isn’t here, which means I won't be killed yet for being married to Ginshin, ya know how she is, only you are allowed to be near her Oniisama because you lost your eye saving him during the fall of our village.”

“Tenrei. It’s good to see you again. No Ageha didn’t come she’s training with Kankyoujin-sama. It is just me and Shirogane-sama.” explained the serene kunoichi, as she ran a delicate finger over her headband knowing the price she paid to protect Ginshin.

Having put two and two together, Kurenai threw her hands up and walked away. She should have guessed that Ginshin had yet another woman on the side, she didn’t want to be around any longer since she found the thought to be repulsive. The very thought that Ginshin was still up to his usual behavior despite having two wives, she didn’t even understand how that worked.

As Kurenai left, the doors to the Hokage’s office opened, first to come out was an older shinobi. He was wearing a blue fur coat akin to Suiren’s only the sleeves were still attached, he wore robes of the deepest blue, as if cut from the ocean itself, and hakama white as the clouds above. His silvery hair tied back, his stern battle hardened gaze shifted to the right. He stroked his beard momentarily, as he was deep in thought, he then stepped, before staring at Tenrei.

Tenrei slightly cringed, expecting the Grumpy Dragon of Yamagakure, as he was called to speak.

“Welcome to the clan, Tenrei. I see the idiot has matured somewhat from becoming a parent. We will be borrowing him for a while. The Taifuu needs to see Ginshin.” he kindly spoke, although the tone seemed rather militaristic, he nodded respectfully as he walked passed her. He shifted his gaze to the side, and sternly said, “Suiren. We will be leaving in an hour. Be sure my idiot nephew gets there on time.”

“Hai, Shirogane-sensei.” responded the dark haired woman, she understood it was her duty to make sure Ginshin was ready to go in an hours time.

Then came Ginshin and another man, they looked to be brothers as they were in the midst of disagreeing. “Don’t screw up Koujichou! I’m warning you, I probably won't be back in time for the Chuunin exams. If you fail to teach the girls properly, I will let the rest of the village know you play with dolls!” warned Ginshin as pointed his finger at his brother poking his chest each time a sentence ended.

Koujichou was slightly taller than Ginshin, wearing a camouflage cap, which had a steel plate affixed to the front, the trigram for mountain, the symbol of Yamagakure etched into it. He wore a denim jacket a charcoal black was the color, a loose steel gray t-shirt underneath, a pair of forest camouflage cargo pants, with ten scrolls strapped to each leg, and his ninja sandals were akin to combat boots.

“I won’t screw up! And for the thousandth time, they’re puppets Captain Can’t keep it in his pants! That’s right I know all about the fact you have two wives because of your behavior!” responded the older brother as he crossed his arms defiantly, a smug smirk on his face as he leaned back.

“Umm…Ginshin-sama…we have to hurry…” meekly the blue clad kunoichi tried to interject into the dispute between brothers.

“Yeah, yeah…I know…just let me finish this discussion…” as he trailed off, he hefted his brother onto his back and promptly fell backwards planting his elder brother into a desk, executing a flawless Samoan Drop. He stood to his feet smirking as he dusted his hands off and calmly said, “Okay let’s go, I got everything stored into a scroll, I figured the time was coming”, he walked down the hall leaving with the dark haired kunoichi.

Meanwhile in Nami no Kuni

It had been an eventless trip since the failed ambush of the demon brothers, but the closer they got, the more it felt imposing and dangerous. Furuchi didn’t like the feeling going through his spine, he felt danger all around, killing intent, like that of a beast. “GET DOWN!!!” he shouted as he spun and brought the team and the client down to the ground, narrowly avoiding a large sword which flew through the air, intending to cut them in down.

“Impressive. I should expect as much from one descended from Uchiha Madara.” called out a voice which sounded savage as a beast. The gargantuan man descended from the canopy of the trees, wearing a mask of bandages across his face.

“Mamochi Zabuza, I figured you monsters of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Nananin Shuu were eliminated after your coup…and never refer to me being descended of that monster again…” spoke the Uchiha with great irritation as he stood to his feet, pushing his hair back as he stood. He slid back into his fighting stance, pulling a kunai to his hand, he waited for the chance, once he saw it he sprung forward, and created two Kage Bunshin to assist in the attack. “Naruto, get Tazuna somewhere safe. There are more people nearby, I sense two, and an larger one further away, one more savage and cruel than Zabuza.” he ordered the team as he swung for the nuke-nin attempting to create enough of a distraction to allow the team to get to safety.

“Hmph! Pathetic!!” exclaimed Zabuza as he slapped away the Kage Bunshin without blinking, he stepped the side avoiding the Uchiha’s attempted strike with the Kunai jumping to the tree and retrieving his massive sword preparing to strike from above.

“Oh, you think that was my intention to wound you with a blade?” responded the raven haired Jounin as he finished forming his hand seals, a smirk crossing his lips as he formed the tiger seal, and quickly exhaled a stream of fire from his mouth which moved towards the rogue ninja. “MOVE NARUTO!!! Things are about to become more intense!!!” roared the Jounin as he began forming hand seals once more preparing for yet another attack.

“Right! Let’s go!” exclaimed Naruto as he and the rest of the team moved forward to get the client somewhere safe, this was going to become a dangerous place in no time.

“Going somewhere? Mmmm I smell new prey Nami-nee. I want the blond.” spoke a voice belonging to a young girl, her voice was slightly lower in pitch than most. Eyes that were like to orbs of gold piercing through the mist that was down the road.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself Kaisui. He may be inexperienced, but he looks like he could have been trained to hide his strengths. That man from Iwagakure wants this one alive, so make sure you don’t kill him.” spoke the other her voice far more gentle but she was remaining hidden from view.

“I don’t CARE!!!” screamed the first girl as she rushed through the fog thrusting her yari spear forward. Her hair was green but faded to an aquamarine shade, wearing a wetsuit, a loose cargo pants.

Naruto grit his teeth as he unsheathed his jian blade and swung it forward to parry the thrust of the spear. He had to do his best given his lack of kenjutsu training he had to rely on the basics he was taught by Ginshin. He tossed the blade to his left hand and unsheathed the larger branch sword which rested across his back and swung it downward intending to hook one of the prongs onto the shaft of the spear and drive it to ground to disarm the girl.

As the prong of steel connected with the pole he shoved the sword downward to the ground pinning the weapon to the soil. He then twirled the jian blade and planted it to the ground and swung himself forward into a drop kick, turning the move into a dropsault. He landed in a crouched position as he began to focus his chakra into his right arm, and then he shouted back to the rest of the team, “Seika!! You and Saiyuki get the old man to safety! I’ll handle this!”

“You’re insane! You’re outnumbered! You’re ego is getting the better of you!” replied the white haired Kunoichi as she moved to assist him, but was quickly halted by the staff of her teammate.

“I don’t think he’s doing it for the glory lets do what he says.” responded the brown haired Kunoichi, as she and Tazuna broke off heading in an alternate direction. Seika understanding the situation followed suit.

“Brave for a little boy!” snarled the green haired girl as she thrust her hand forward grabbing the blond genin by the neck and quickly snapped forward slamming the boy downward with a side leg sweep.

Naruto collided with the ground the air knocked out of his lungs by the sudden shock of the collision. And in a moment of a basic reaction he threw an electrically charged punch to the girl’s midsection sending her falling back, as if hit by a stungun.

“Kaisui! Be careful, he’s using Crushing Stone style, just like that lunatic uses. The unorthodox styles of Yamagakure must have been taught to him.” warned the hidden girl as she continued to watch from distance.

“I can see that…damn…what the hell was that!?” griped the green haired girl as she stood to her holding her side, a numbness coursing through her left side.

“Hybrid of Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, the user creates a localized field of Raiton chakra and sends it through his arm. An average level jutsu at best.” spoke the second girl as she stepped out of the mist, she didn’t appear to be much older than he was either. Ebony hair that came down to her neck, she also wore a wetsuit as a top, it was possible the two girls worked as a team like the demon brothers did. Her arms bound in armor with a pair of gauntlets about her hands, and a pair of loose fitting cargo pants with two kunai holsters strapped about her legs. Her cold blue eyed gaze fell on the boy as if she was judging him, and then in the same heartless manner, she spoke softly saying, “stop taking him lightly Kaisui, he isn’t that strong, more than likely a freshly promoted Genin.”

Kaisui rolled to her feet and rushed to grab her spear, she didn’t care any longer, she seemed to be bound to her love of battle now. Naruto sprung from his hands to his feet and rushed forward, and with a shoulder block he prevented the girl from getting her weapon, he had to keep the fight on a relatively even playing field. As he connected he was struck in the torso three times by the dark haired girl, which sent him skidding back.

Meanwhile the rest of the team was making its way to a safe hiding place, and to keep their client safe. As the headed down the road, the came across a young woman, black hair braided into an ornate style looking akin to butterfly wings, a black fur coat draped over her form, with a white fur trim. She wore a loose tank top, and a pair of camouflage cargo pants, with a pair of tonfa holstered at her side. She looked quite young, as a gust of wind came through the plate on her forehead was exposed, the Trigram of mountain. “Go on, run and hide, its going to become dangerous in a moment. You have to keep your client alive.” she said as she walked past the group, she stopped and glanced to the side and looked at Seika and shook her head.

“I don’t trust you, everyone knows those from the Trigram Villages split into two factions. Very few of the Yamagakure shinobi are from Konoha, for all we know you could be an enemy.” spoke Seika as she pulled out a set of kunai, and stood in a defensive stance.

“I can see that, but I have no reason to…” she trailed off and her eyes widened as she felt an immense chakra nearby, and it was fast approaching, she then formed a set of hand seals and created tunnel to the ground below. She then motioned to the tunnel and said, “Get in there, its not safe! That b*****d Koujiro is coming! Stay safe until Furuchi-san can catch up with you!”

She then pulled her tonfas from the holsters and rushed into the forest, she was obviously put off by the massive chakra she was feeling, and didn’t like it. As she rushed swiftly to intercept this man known as Koujiro, it could be said this wasn’t your average mission any longer.

“Let’s go, I don’t know who this Koujiro guy is, but its obvious it isn’t good.” Saiyuki commented as she moved to the tunnel to take shelter until things settled down.

“Wait just a minute, Saiyuki! How do you know we can trust that woman!?” Seika shouted as she grabbed her teammate by the arm to stop her.

The brunette stopped and looked directly at her masked comrade and said, “She’s a sage from Yamagakure, or at least one in training, now lets go, because this is beyond our skill and we have to take the assistance we can get!”

Meanwhile Zabuza and Furuchi’s battle raged on, the blasts of fire had finally ceased pouring down. The mountainous nuke-nin burst from behind a tree as soon as the Uchiha had ceased his bombardment of flame, quickly creating hand seals for, Suiton: Suiryuudan (Water Release: Water Dragon Blast).

“Sharingan!” exclaimed the Uchiha as he activated his Dojutsu, the crimson eyes pierced through as he quickly copied the jutsu and began forming the seals to counter the attack. And in a moment of synchronicity two dragons formed entirely of water came to existence and came crashing into each other canceling each other out. A wave of water lashed back at the two shinobi as the masses of water created a large wave of water knocking both shinobi back.

The wave of water had caused Furuchi’s hair to fall over his eye causing him to resemble Uchiha Madara, he rushed through the water lunging forward as he pulled a kunai into his hand ready to strike. “The Assimilationists have all the strengths of Uchiha without their flaws. The ego, the dependence on Kekkei Genkai, in fact this is the end of the road for you Demon of the Mist!” roared the raven haired shinobi as he spun into a spinning heel kick knocking the swordsman to the ground and rolled through to strike the Kunai into his back to eliminate chances of the man using his sword again.

Zabuza was caught off guard having not expected Furuchi to come so quickly and take him down with such a fierce combo. He roared out in pain as the steel blade was planted into his back.

“Keh heheheheheheeeeee. So serious…if you really need to hurt someone…hurt me…that’s if you can…” called out a voice from behind, the voice held tinges of insanity, like a lunatic.

The dark haired Jounin turned around slowly to see a man with disheveled black hair, a shinobi flak vest which was unzipped, numerous scars across his torso as he had no shirt to conceal them. Black cargo pants with numerous knives strapped to his legs. He wore an Iwagakure hitae-ate around his forehead, with a Yamagakure Hitae-ate tied to his left arm, around the bicep, and numerous piercings on his face. The man just simply held his arms out, as if to taunt the Uchiha, as if he wanted to be attacked.

Furuchi pushed his hair back and pulled out a kunai, and quickly lunged forward and slashed diagonally across the man’s torso. He didn’t have time to deal with insane people from Iwagakure. The crimson blood splattered across the ground as he jumped back and threw the kunai lodging it at the center of the scarred shinobi’s body, before rushing forward and pulling the blade downward.

“KYAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!! I love it!!! The pain it feels great!!!” the man bellowed like a lunatic as he smirked insanely.

“What the hell are you…no one can endure that kind of damage, no one!!” Furuchi cried out as he took a step back and threw the kunai, lodging it into the man’s shoulder. He felt as if he was dealing with a monster.

“Furuchi!!! Get Naruto and your team out of here!!! He’s after Naruto!!” called out the young woman, as she dived from above and struck the scarred Shinobi across the back with her bamboo tonfa.

“Got it!” he responded as he ran down the road,