The Contract

Chapter 1- Decision

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'' You got ta movement faster kid ! '' Jiraiya barked as he sidestepped Naruto 's fist and delivered a vicious slap to the boy 's skull. `` And do n't just cast yourself into your approach, anticipate your opponent 's motion and ALWAYS be prepared to react accordingly ! Have n't you learned anything over the past two years ? ``

naught I could n't ingest learned back home.

Naruto shook his head, physically trying to dislodge the snarky thought as he tried to recall up a way to get the better of his wise man. He took too long though, and Jiraiya capitalized brutally with a fist almost shearing through his abdomen in retaliation.

'' Never drop your guard ! ``

The blond gritted his teeth, biting back the pain as he grabbed on to the offending fist with one hand and slammed twin retaliatory blows to his mentor 's snarky mug.

It dissolved into mud beneath him.

His centre widened by a fuzz and he immediately replaced himself with a tree branch.

A moment later, the limb was skewered by a M muddy needles.

'Fuck it !'Naruto swore as he imediately began to grovel through the underbrush .'I need to get my head in the game !'

No offense, man, but is there really a stop ? I mean, you 're here getting beat up by one man. A Sannin, granted, but just ONE man. Sasuke 's getting his ass in gear mechanism with the resources of an full Village. A minor one, admittedly, but they 've got their own Sannin and a hotshot to iron boot. Not to mention ol'Four-Eyed Kabuto with his insane accomplishment and, if the auditory sensation Four and the freaky bone guy are any meter reading, a whole squad of jonin storey shinobi. The Perv 's grooming you like you 're going up against a unity enemy while the guy who will be going up against a single opposition 's getting prepped for an all out war.

'You're…'Naruto snapped out of his almost trance-like state with a violent jerk. Realizing how close he had come to agreeing withthe voice in his head, the blonde clamped down on all thinking and focused on taking his mentor down with a vengeance…

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'' Come on boy ! '' Jiraiya whined, chasing after a briskly walking Naruto on his knees. `` I need the Johnny Cash ! ``

'' To chase some hooker, no doubt. '' Naruto scoffed as he marched away.

Jiraiya 's formula, though, had gone from pleading to disturbingly perverse. `` Oh~ kid you had to throw seen her ! That was n't just some Hooker, she was an absolute baby ! Tits as big as my caput and an ass you could bounce a coin off ! And her legs ! ``

THIS is what I 'm training with ? The perverted idiot of the Sannin ? So, Sasuke 's getting trained by the brilliance of the Sannin, a directly competition for the Big Hat alongside the Yellow Flash and the guy that ended the Old Man 's starring life and we 're getting trained by the Perverted Sannin. Wonderful. No, fuck irony ! Even Sakura had a skillful deal. At least her Sannin wo n't bug her for cash so she could go control out strippers and shit. I mean for the honey of- Orochimaru 's a get it on genius ! He 's on a interchangeable story to the fucking fourth part Hokage ! He 's a verified sword victor. He knows more ninjitsu techniques than to the highest degree shinobi ever get to even find ! Sasuke, the angst ridden gay emo gets THAT guy and you 're stuck with the guy who 's biggest call to fame is that he trained the fourth ? Is there anyway you could have come up with an even forged deal ? !

'' Shut the fuck up and leave me alone ! '' Naruto roared angrily.

Jiraiya, who had been caught mid-rant when his apprentice snapped, simply thought he might consume pushed the limit and decided to manoeuver into the bordello on his own. The madam of the house knew him well and, unlike his busty mate, he had a reputation for maintaining minimum, if any, debts.

Had he bothered to dig deeper, he might have figured that something was off with his apprentice…

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'' So, Naruto, what 's the first thing you wan na do when we get back to Konoha ? '' Jiraiya asked. Himself and his apprentice were relaxing in a meadow a few mil away from the Land of Bears, taking the day off to relax and unwind. `` Me, I 'm gon na hit up Tsunade first ; see if she 's finally come around to my manly charms. ``

'' The just matter manly about you is your hair, Pervy sage. '' Naruto shot back with a grinning. `` And even that 's longer than nigh women wear their hair. ``

'' Oi ! Do n't insult these locks you little holy terror ! ``

'' I 'll diss 'em when I want to old man ! '' The blonde shot back playfully.

For the adjacent few moments, nothing came up until Jiraiya spoke again. `` I 'm still waiting for your answer kiddo. ``

To be true, Naruto was n't quite a certain of what he wanted ; over the past few weeks, doubtfulness and fears had set into his heart and, no matter how hard he tried to ignore them, they had burrowed in thick. He did, however, know what to say to his mentor. `` first matter first, I wan na see Sakura-chan again ! She must have got grown quite lots with Baa-chan training her ! I bet she 'll be really awed by how I 've grown too ! might even get her to go out with me. ``

Where he lay, a few paces away, Jiraiya winced. `` Might not wan na get your hopes on that kiddo. ``

See ? Even your mentor does n't believe you stand a opportunity with the pink haired board.

'' I mean, she 's always had her hopes strung up on the Uchiha right hand ? '' Jiraiya continued, not noticing the conflict looking at on his protege 's face. `` I know a number of masses might believe that that 's all a fry'ambition but… Look man, take it from someone in similar shoes… You really should get your essence off that train. Even the whole 'save the Uchiha'train… I think you should be prepared for the kid not wanting to come back ; Orochimaru 's a skilled manipulator and if I know that mother fucker anywhere close to what I think I know, then he 'll have done his absolute best to turn the Uchiha against you. ``

Naruto had n't heard a word of Jiraiya 's, his mind clouded by sinister thoughts, until Jiraiya had talked about Orochimaru corrupting Sasuke beyond redemption.

It was the final examination thrust ; the emotions he had bottled up, from his lonely honorary society years right up to that moment, broke Forth River like a dam…

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When Naruto opened his eyes, he expected to find himself on a cot in one of Jiraiya 's many bunkers, wrapped up in bandages and feeling the burn of his chakra coils as they healed. His sense of timing was all messed up but the shoemaker's last few moments before slipping into unconsciousness were still saucy in his mind…

The rage… the pain…

He remembered everything…

right up to the moment his control had slipped and the red haze of his biju 's chakra blurred everything out of sight…

guilt feelings was n't a strong enough term for what he felt as he returned to consciousness.

All that rage turned into a bubbling pit of rage when he fully noticed his surroundings.

Red walls, immense pipes, a never ending menstruum of water…

He was within his own mind, at the bridge circuit between himself and the seal.

'' Kyubi. '' His representative was like blade as he pushed to his feet and began storming down the cathedral-like hallway. things were beginning to make sense now ; he had never been one to be bothered by dreary mentation, his childhood having taught him that the only way to remain even slightly sane was to dismiss all dark mentation, so the outpouring of discouraging and disquieting doubtfulness he had been plagued by over the by couple of hebdomad just had to have been caused by the Nine-Tailed Fox. It would also excuse why he had so readily been consumed by its world power ; his actions had never truly been his own.

'' Blaming me for everything again ? ``

The thundering boom of the Kyubi snapped him out of his rage-filled fugue as he realized that he had arrived at the gates.

The jolt barely lasted two seconds before being drowned out by rage.

'' Blaming you ? ! What, I should be thanking you ? ! You have been pouring your hate-filled tripe into my psyche, filling my every waking thought with your bullshit and then taking advantage of me to try to get unloosen ! ``

'' good story how you came to that determination. ``

Naruto stood back and crossed his arms over his chest. `` There 's a different conclusion ? ``

The Fox resting on its haunches, cracked open a ruby eyelid. `` Are you interest ? Or was that just plain caustic remark ? ``

'' Oh no, let 's hear your side of the story. '' Naruto shot back. `` I mean, I would n't require to judge you wrongly or anything. ``

'' well then… offset off, you said I 'd been filling your head with my 'hate-filled tripe', congratulations on rightly using the trash by the way, you 're getting just a bit less stupid. ``

'' Is there a full stop to all this ? ``

'' Do n't break, that 's rude. Anyway, I 'd like to ask : which of those 'mental assault'of mine was actually filled with hate ? ``

The blond immediately opened his mouth to arouse off a snarky response…

And found himself gaping instead as he simply could n't opine of a single instance.

The Kyubi flashed its teeth at him in a macabre grinning. `` Nothing ? Well, let 's motion on shall we ? Point two : why exactly do you consider I 've been the one doing the head-filling ? ``

This time, Naruto was ready and he immediately spouted a number of reasons related to him not having such fears ordinarily.

'' You done ? '' The Kyubi asked after his impassioned reception. Upon receiving the blond 's nod, the biju proceeded to laugh its ass off, even thrashing about in hilarity-induced spasm for good measure. `` Oh damn kid ! You are hilarious ! You really think I could simply walk through your mind and suss out your deepest, darkest fears to manipulate you ? Abruptly, the biju 's features became fierce. `` newsbreak you nitwit : this seal prohibits even a exclusive pilus on my tail from slipping out ! I sure as infernal region ca n't go zipping through your cranium. And do n't even get me started on that stunned musical theme that I 'd pass my sentence watching you do human things ; I could n't worry less about your puny existence either way ! ``

'' Says the beast that 's recorded as a mass of hate ! ``

'' By whose record book ? world ? The same hoi polloi that see you as my spawn ? The Lapplander specie that hate you indiscriminately even though they created the means to create more jinchuriki in the number 1 place ? '' The biju 's vituperative reaction was like a hammer smash to his already weakened belief, a fact that the biju saw and mercilessly pounced upon. `` I did n't direct those intellection to you, boy, they were born of your own thoughts. '' This sentence, the biju 's voice was low and almost soothing. `` And I think you know why such mentation cloud your brain. ``

Naruto turned away from the cage and took a stone's throw forward… before going still.

He did know ; for the longest time he had suspected as practically but he had consciously shoved it down and piled on piles of false optimism to bury it.

He was n't stiff enough.

Whether he liked it or not, he just was n't strong enough on his own to fall upon his goals. He had been cheated in the academy, yes, but he had been out for more than four class, a great portion of which had been spent with Jiraiya, and he could see no significant changes.

He wanted to be the Hokage, he wanted to earn the respect of the people… he wanted to fulfill his promise to Sakura and bring Sasuke back.

And he just. Was n't. Strong. Enough.

Behind him, the biju watched as he struggled to make a decision with a satisfied smirk. True to its news, it had not sent the thoughts to the young shinobi. That did n't mean it was totally destitute either ; a gradual diversion of its chakra into the boy 's yin chakra had been all that was required for his repressed opinion to resurface and weaken that resolve he was so proud of. Now, as the biju watched, reading into every nuance of his consistency language, it knew it had succeeded.

The time to reap the benefits was near ; the final step was…

'' So why are you telling me now ? ``

The biju 's smirk turned savage. The boy wanted to have it off ; the pastime was there.

'' In my clip here, I have come to empathize what superpower means to you humans, '' it lied, `` and as such I am willing to subscribe a contract bridge with you. ``

The human being scowled. `` A few hours ago, I 'd have ranted about you wanting my soulfulness or seeking an outflow but now… contingent. I want details. ``

The biju chuckled, the sound booming out in waving that rattled his tooth. Nevertheless, Naruto stood, glaring at the biju ; awaiting answers.

'' Perhaps your time with the old man was n't a complete waste ; you certainly seem more intelligent. '' Abruptly, the humor disappeared from the biju 's visage and the creature rose up, resting on its hind pegleg. `` You world see us as walking masses of chakra, an opinion that never ceases to flummox me. After all, if we walked around wreaking havoc everywhere then your chronicle should have been significantly altered by our actions.

'' In my fourth dimension walking among your sort, I learned a swell deal ; fighting styles, meditation techniques and configuration of chakra use that have long since been lost to the depredation of time. It is these I offer you ; the power to control the identical constituent, to become an unstoppable military group on the battlefield… Everything I know, I freely give.

'' However, I understand how raring your form are, no incertitude as a result of your short life, and so I offer you something more : balance. ``

'' I do n't understand. ``

'' I did not expect you to. You see, at its rootage, chakra is of two forms : Yin chakra and Yang chakra. You possess an overabundance of the latter yet very little, comparatively speaking, of the other. It is this imbalance that has limited your progression in the illusory arts. I can fix this. ``

If zilch else had caught his attention, the biju knew that this certainly would.

Once again, it was n't wrong.

'' How ? ``

'' I will, with your permission, channel a minute of arc fraction of my chakra through you. Without going into specifics, it will forcibly rise start the founding of Yin chakra within your coils and, over a period of about five Clarence Shepard Day Jr., your chakra circulatory organization will gradually attain an sense of equilibrium land, generating an adequate amount of money of Yin chakra as it does Yang chakra. ``

Naruto 's typeface went slack as he considered the sheer implication of that queer welfare. `` My chakra reserves… they'll… ''

'' two-base hit ? '' The biju prompted. `` At the very to the lowest degree. ``

The offer seemed too good to be true ; learning ancient styles of armed combat, gaining the ability to use genjutsu, an increased chakra capacity ? Naruto wanted to take it. Practically every brain cell he had screamed at him to ump on the offer.

Then, his center narrowed. `` At what toll ? ``

An offer that was so savory had to suffer a cost.

The biju glared at him, seemingly sizing him up yet again, before oral presentation. `` An offering as this should bear a great phone number of requisite, boy, but I will only ask of two things from you ; the first and the bang-up is trust. '' The biju leaned forward until its snout was a mere inches away, separated by the bars that held it locked away. `` I will not tellyou what the second price is until you have signed my declaration. ``

Naruto was torn.

On one mitt, he would very likely be selling his soul over to a demon because, regardless of what the biju would consume him conceive, indoctrinated beliefs did n't die out over a bare chat.

On the other, much dense, handwriting, he would be granted the kind of power that he had always desired ; the kind of power that would help him achieve his goals.

'I 'm going to be the Hokage someday, Iruka-sensei ! Believe it !'

'I 'll get Sasuke back for you, Sakura-chan ! That 's a hope of a life-time !'

'I never go back on my Book ! That 's my ninja way ! Believe it !'

A wise man once said :'A man is undone by the discussion of his own mouth .'

'' What do I do ? ``

That man was right.

'' Step into the cage, boy, and bear out your arm to your side. ``

This was it.

It was one matter to agree to a thing but, when confronted with the enormity of their decisiveness, many wavered and most stake down.

They were not Uzumaki Naruto.

With a confident stride that betrayed none of his apprehension, the shinobi stepped out of his realm and into the demon 's lair.

The biju reared upward, sucking in a deep breath, its center never leaving his.

Do n't move, it seemed to say, just before it lurched forward, the dull orange glow in the back of its throat the just warning Naruto had before being engulfed in flame .