The contract bridge

Chapter 1- conclusion

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'' You got ta move faster kid ! '' Jiraiya barked as he sidestepped Naruto 's clenched fist and delivered a vicious smacking to the boy 's skull. `` And do n't just throw yourself into your blast, anticipate your opposition 's moves and ALWAYS be prepared to react accordingly ! Have n't you learned anything over the yesteryear two years ? ``

nothing I could n't take in learned back home.

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

'' Never drop your guard ! ``

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

It dissolved into mud beneath him.

His eyes widened by a hair and he immediately replaced himself with a tree branch.

A import later, the offshoot was skewered by a grand muddy needles.

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

No offence, man, but is there really a point ? 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 with the resource of an entire Village. A minor one, admittedly, but they 've got their own Sannin and a Einstein to flush. Not to mention ol'Four-Eyed Kabuto with his insane acquisition and, if the Sound quaternity and the freaky bone guy are any indication, a whole squad of jonin level shinobi. The Perv 's training you like you 're going up against a single foe while the guy who will be going up against a single enemy 's getting prepped for an all out war.

'You're…'Naruto snapped out of his almost trance-like state with a violent tug. Realizing how close he had come to agreeing withthe voice in his brain, the blond clamped down on all thoughts and focused on taking his wise man 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 Cash ! ``

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

Jiraiya 's expression, though, had gone from pleading to disturbingly perverse. `` Oh~ kid you had to have seen her ! That was n't just some hooker, she was an rank BABE ! boob as big as my school principal and an ass you could recoil 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 sensation of the Sannin, a directly contender for the Big Hat alongside the yellow Flash and the guy that ended the Old Man 's stellar life story and we 're getting trained by the Perverted Sannin. Wonderful. No, fuck sarcasm ! Even Sakura had a better deal. At least her Sannin wo n't bug her for cash so she could go gibe out strippers and dickhead. I mean for the love of- Orochimaru 's a fucking genius ! He 's on a standardized stage to the fucking one-quarter Hokage ! He 's a verified brand victor. He knows Sir Thomas More ninjutsu proficiency than almost shinobi ever get to even witness ! 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 one-quarter ? Is there anyway you could have come up with an even unsound 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 throw pushed the limit and decided to point into the brothel on his own. The dame of the house knew him well and, unlike his busty mate, he had a reputation for maintaining minimal, if any, debts.

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

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

'' The only thing manly about you is your whisker, Pervy Sage. '' Naruto shot back with a grin. `` And even that 's longer than well-nigh fair sex wear their hair. ``

'' Oi ! Do n't diss these locks you niggling brat ! ``

'' I 'll affront 'em when I want to old man ! '' The blond nip back playfully.

For the following few minute, aught came up until Jiraiya spoke again. `` I 'm still waiting for your response kiddo. ``

To be reliable, Naruto was n't quite an sure of what he wanted ; over the preceding few weeks, doubts and fear had set into his pith and, no matter how hard he tried to ignore them, they had burrowed in inscrutable. He did, however, know what to say to his wise man. `` First matter first, I wan na see Sakura-chan again ! She must hold 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. `` mightiness not wan na get your hopes on that kiddo. ``

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

'' I mean, she 's always had her hopes strung up on the Uchiha right ? '' Jiraiya continued, not noticing the conflicted look on his protege 's face. `` I know a bit of mass might believe that that 's all a tike'dream but… spirit man, choose it from someone in similar shoes… You really should get your heart 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 bastard anywhere close to what I think I know, then he 'll have done his absolute well to turn the Uchiha against you. ``

Naruto had n't heard a word of Jiraiya 's, his nous clouded by sorry thought process, until Jiraiya had talked about Orochimaru corrupting Sasuke beyond redemption.

It was the final exam push button ; the emotions he had bottled up, from his lonely Academy year right up to that minute, broke Forth like a dam…

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When Naruto opened his eye, he expected to incur himself on a cot in one of Jiraiya 's many trap, wrapped up in bandages and feeling the burning of his chakra roll as they healed. His sentiency of timing was all messed up but the hold out few moments before slipping into unconsciousness were still reinvigorated in his mind…

The rage… the pain…

He remembered everything…

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

guiltiness was n't a strong plenty term for what he felt as he returned to consciousness.

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

Red walls, vast organ pipe, a never ending flow of water…

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

'' Kyubi. '' His part was the likes of blade as he pushed to his fundament and began storming down the cathedral-like hall. Things were beginning to make gumption now ; he had never been one to be bothered by sorry thoughts, his puerility having taught him that the only way to remain even slightly sane was to disregard all colored thinking, so the outpouring of discouraging and disquieting questions he had been plagued by over the past couple of calendar week just had to have been caused by the Nine-Tailed Fox. It would also explain why he had so readily been consumed by its tycoon ; his natural action 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 impact 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 head, filling my every waking thought with your bullshit and then taking advantage of me to try to get detached ! ``

'' Funny how you came to that ending. ``

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

The Fox resting on its haunches, cracked open a crimson eyelid. `` Are you interested ? Or was that just kick irony ? ``

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

'' Well then… First off, you said I 'd been filling your caput with my 'hate-filled trumpery', praise on rightly using the tripe by the way, you 're getting just a bit less pudden-head. ``

'' Is there a point to all this ? ``

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

The blonde immediately opened his backtalk to enkindle off a snarky response…

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

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

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

'' You done ? '' The Kyubi asked after his fervent response. Upon receiving the blond 's nod, the biju proceeded to express joy its ass off, even thrashing about in hilarity-induced spasms for good measure. `` Oh damn kid ! You are hilarious ! You really think I could simply walk through your mind and suss out your deepest, colored fears to pull strings you ? Abruptly, the biju 's feature became furious. `` news bulletin you nitwit : this Navy SEAL prohibits even a undivided hair on my fundament from slipping out ! I sure as infernal region ca n't go zipping through your braincase. And do n't even get me started on that stunned musical theme that I 'd drop my time watching you do man things ; I could n't handle less about your puny existence either way ! ``

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

'' By whose records ? humans ? The same people that see you as my spawn ? The Lapp metal money that hate you indiscriminately even though they created the means to create to a greater extent jinchuriki in the first place ? '' The biju 's vituperative reception was like a mallet strike to his already weakened belief, a fact that the biju saw and mercilessly pounced upon. `` I did n't commit those thoughts to you, boy, they were born of your own thoughts. '' This time, the biju 's representative was low and almost soothing. `` And I think you know why such mentation cloud your head. ``

Naruto turned away from the cage and took a step forward… before going still.

He did be intimate ; for the recollective clock time he had suspected as a great deal but he had consciously shoved it down and piled on tons of fictive optimism to bury it.

He was n't secure enough.

Whether he liked it or not, he just was n't strong enough on his own to attain his destination. He had been cheated in the academy, yes, but he had been out for more than four age, a gravid dowery 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 hope to Sakura and bring Sasuke back.

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

arse him, the biju watched as he struggled to pass water a conclusion with a live up to smirk. True to its Book, it had not sent the thoughts to the unseasoned shinobi. That did n't imply it was totally unacquainted either ; a gradual diversion of its chakra into the boy 's yin chakra had been all that was required for his muffle sentiment to resurface and subvert that resolve he was so lofty of. Now, as the biju watched, reading into every nuance of his organic structure linguistic communication, it knew it had succeeded.

The clip to reap the welfare was near ; the final step was…

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

The biju 's smirk turned wildcat. The boy wanted to be intimate ; the interestingness was there.

'' In my prison term here, I have come to understand what power means to you human beings, '' it lied, `` and as such I am willing to subscribe a contract with you. ``

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

The biju chuckled, the auditory sensation 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 concluded permissive waste ; you certainly seem more level-headed. '' Abruptly, the humor disappeared from the biju 's countenance and the creature rose up, resting on its hind legs. `` You human beings see us as walking mountain of chakra, an notion that never ceases to vex me. After all, if we walked around wreaking mayhem everywhere then your history should have been significantly altered by our actions.

'' In my clock time walking among your form, I learned a great deal ; fighting elan, speculation techniques and build of chakra manipulation that have long since been lost to the ravage of metre. It is these I offer you ; the power to require the real component, to suit an unstoppable force out on the battlefield… Everything I know, I freely give.

'' However, I understand how impatient your kind are, no doubt as a solution of your short lifetime, and so I offer you something to a greater extent : balance. ``

'' I do n't understand. ``

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

If nothing 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 min fraction of my chakra through you. Without going into particular, it will forcibly jump start the creation of Yin chakra within your helix and, over a period of about five days, your chakra circulatory system will gradually achieve an equipoise state, generating an peer sum of money of Yin chakra as it does Yang chakra. ``

Naruto 's human face went slack as he considered the sheer import of that curious benefit. `` My chakra reserves… they'll… ''

'' two-bagger ? '' The biju prompted. `` At the very least. ``

The whirl seemed too ripe to be truthful ; learning ancient flair of scrap, gaining the ability to use genjutsu, an increased chakra capacity ? Naruto wanted to take it. Practically every mastermind prison cell he had screamed at him to ump on the offer.

Then, his eyes narrowed. `` At what cost ? ``

An offering that was so savory had to bear a cost.

The biju glared at him, seemingly sizing him up yet again, before speaking. `` An offering as this should bear a nifty number of requirements, boy, but I will only ask of two things from you ; the first of all and the greatest is trust. '' The biju leaned forward until its snout was a simple inches away, separated by the bars that held it locked away. `` I will not tellyou what the back cost is until you have signed my contract. ``

Naruto was torn.

On one deal, he would very in all likelihood be selling his soul over to a daemon because, regardless of what the biju would have him believe, indoctrinated beliefs did n't die out over a simple chat.

On the other, practically grueling, paw, he would be granted the variety of power that he had always desired ; the sort of power that would help him accomplish 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 promise of a lifetime !'

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

A Wise man once said :'A man is undone by the Son of his own mouth .'

'' What do I do ? ``

That man was right.

'' Step into the John Cage, boy, and agree out your arm to your incline. ``

This was it.

It was one matter to concur to a thing but, when confronted with the outrageousness of their decision, many wavered and most backed down.

They were not Uzumaki Naruto.

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

The biju reared upward, sucking in a deep breathing space, its eyes never leaving his.

Do n't motivate, it seemed to say, just before it lurched forward, the dull Orange glow in the spine of its throat the lonesome warning Naruto had before being engulfed in flame .