Naruto The Monster Who Calls Himself Messiah
- Thread starter Ashaman
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Hell, in the anime he even uses Fire at one point. As far as that goes, Kakashi can use every element except Wind.
Yeah, but that's so boring. It's much more interesting and difficult to come up with new and creative ways to use what he already has in unorthodox ways to win fights.
Honestly, if I'm going to give Naruto more abilities (or write an AU Naruto) I'm going to either
1) Branch out and give him stuff that he doesn't normally have
or
2) Give him what canon gives him (or even less) but have him develop it and utilize it to become incredibly effective
As far as number 1 goes, I can't write Naruto with a wind affinity anymore (unless I'm making everything massively AU). It's so boring and overpowered. All that anyone does with Wind affinity is gusts of wind or cutting through stuff. Whenever I give Naruto the wind element, all I do with it is have him enhance his weapons with it and then basically treat every fight like he has super sharp and deadly swords/kunai/whatever. Basically, the wind element is a great excuse for a weapon master Naruto. In canon, I really hate it.
Lightning goes nowhere because there's nothing cooler than getting hit by lightning. What else do you do with that element besides use it in its most base form?
No, when it comes to elements, I favor giving Naruto one of the other three.
With water, it's tempting not only because of that whole Uzumaki clan thing (which is just speculation) but because there are about a billion water techniques that can do a variety of different things (water dragons, water bullets, chakra sharks, water prisons, boiling water). The element is fun and offers variety, though it is kind of overused.
With fire, it's because it doesn't seem that out of the ordinary for Konoha and thus, Naruto's element isn't rare and not that big of a deal. I like that. It means that having Fire as an element is basic, but Naruto can create techniques to become extraordinary with it. Also because I've wanted to see Katon: Rasengan since 2006. I've always pictured it as unrivaled explosion that creates a massive firestorm that starts to burn clouds and stuff.
But my favorite is earth. No one ever wants to give Naruto an earth affinity because earth has never accomplished much of anything. It seems like the throwaway element to use when Kishimoto needs attacks that won't end the battle. Earth isn't as visually spectacular or as world beating as a lot of the other elements and it gets neglected because so many cool characters use Lightning. The only cool characters who use Earth seem to use off-shoots of Earth (like Magnet Release or Lava Release).
Granted, if I was ever going to write an AU Naruto fic where he's twelve again and learning his elemental affinity, I would make it Earth (or possibly Fire)
Really, when you get down to it, Affinity seems like a random role of the dice thing, so it's entirely plausible to change it. It's not like he inherited the wind element, he just kind of got it. He could have just as easily gotten the earth element.
As far as Exploding Clone goes, I hate it. I think Itachi only used it once anyways (not that Itachi developing an attack like that even makes sense with the way he fights), so I prefer to pretend like it doesn't exist. Why is it even necessary? You could just have Naruto stick a bunch of exploding tags on a shadow clone and detonate them with the same effect and I like that idea better because it seems like something you could explain away as a clever trick that Naruto comes up with during a fight instead of an overpowered exploding technique.
On the topic of fuinjutsu, I need to either have it in excess or barely have it at all. I'll explain. Having a combat specialist Naruto with a mastery of fuinjutsu that he can use in combat just seems like cheating. I'd prefer a combat specialist Naruto with very little fuinjutsu (if I was writing it: he learned some of the basics from a family scroll but isn't a prodigy with it and can't use it past the basic level). The other option is the complete and total opposite: a seal master Naruto who doesn't excel in battle at all, instead either using seal work from the sidelines in the same way a Genjutsu specialist would hang back.
As far as Jinchuuriki powers go, I'd welcome them now that we know what they are. It used to be that Kyuubi! Naruto fics were just Naruto acting feral/evil/dark and having weird demonic powers. It would be interesting to see a Naruto fic where he follows the Jinchuuriki road instead of furthering his own strength. A lot of people wouldn't find it appealing because, to make it work, Naruto would have to be weak and/or average without the Kyuubi.
Granted, you could give Naruto any number of things that you or I said, but I find all of that to be really unappealing. Those types stories are weak because they dedicate eons of time to training new abilities and the authors (even good ones) don't realize that training is boring to read about and in-depth discussion of how techniques work and theory behind them is a bunch of obtuse, nerdy bullshit that adds nothing to the story.
It's so much better when you give Naruto less, because then you don't have to fall into the annoying training-fight-training-fight-training format and can just have Naruto learn new techniques by improving upon what he knows WHILE he's fighting. Or just do it off screen (like Sasuke in Part 1).
Anyways, rant over.
Yeah, but that's so boring. It's much more interesting and difficult to come up with new and creative ways to use what he already has in unorthodox ways to win fights.
Honestly, if I'm going to give Naruto more abilities (or write an AU Naruto) I'm going to either
1) Branch out and give him stuff that he doesn't normally have
or
2) Give him what canon gives him (or even less) but have him develop it and utilize it to become incredibly effective
As far as number 1 goes, I can't write Naruto with a wind affinity anymore (unless I'm making everything massively AU). It's so boring and overpowered. All that anyone does with Wind affinity is gusts of wind or cutting through stuff. Whenever I give Naruto the wind element, all I do with it is have him enhance his weapons with it and then basically treat every fight like he has super sharp and deadly swords/kunai/whatever. Basically, the wind element is a great excuse for a weapon master Naruto. In canon, I really hate it.
Lightning goes nowhere because there's nothing cooler than getting hit by lightning. What else do you do with that element besides use it in its most base form?
No, when it comes to elements, I favor giving Naruto one of the other three.
With water, it's tempting not only because of that whole Uzumaki clan thing (which is just speculation) but because there are about a billion water techniques that can do a variety of different things (water dragons, water bullets, chakra sharks, water prisons, boiling water). The element is fun and offers variety, though it is kind of overused.
With fire, it's because it doesn't seem that out of the ordinary for Konoha and thus, Naruto's element isn't rare and not that big of a deal. I like that. It means that having Fire as an element is basic, but Naruto can create techniques to become extraordinary with it. Also because I've wanted to see Katon: Rasengan since 2006. I've always pictured it as unrivaled explosion that creates a massive firestorm that starts to burn clouds and stuff.
But my favorite is earth. No one ever wants to give Naruto an earth affinity because earth has never accomplished much of anything. It seems like the throwaway element to use when Kishimoto needs attacks that won't end the battle. Earth isn't as visually spectacular or as world beating as a lot of the other elements and it gets neglected because so many cool characters use Lightning. The only cool characters who use Earth seem to use off-shoots of Earth (like Magnet Release or Lava Release).
Granted, if I was ever going to write an AU Naruto fic where he's twelve again and learning his elemental affinity, I would make it Earth (or possibly Fire)
Really, when you get down to it, Affinity seems like a random role of the dice thing, so it's entirely plausible to change it. It's not like he inherited the wind element, he just kind of got it. He could have just as easily gotten the earth element.
As far as Exploding Clone goes, I hate it. I think Itachi only used it once anyways (not that Itachi developing an attack like that even makes sense with the way he fights), so I prefer to pretend like it doesn't exist. Why is it even necessary? You could just have Naruto stick a bunch of exploding tags on a shadow clone and detonate them with the same effect and I like that idea better because it seems like something you could explain away as a clever trick that Naruto comes up with during a fight instead of an overpowered exploding technique.
On the topic of fuinjutsu, I need to either have it in excess or barely have it at all. I'll explain. Having a combat specialist Naruto with a mastery of fuinjutsu that he can use in combat just seems like cheating. I'd prefer a combat specialist Naruto with very little fuinjutsu (if I was writing it: he learned some of the basics from a family scroll but isn't a prodigy with it and can't use it past the basic level). The other option is the complete and total opposite: a seal master Naruto who doesn't excel in battle at all, instead either using seal work from the sidelines in the same way a Genjutsu specialist would hang back.
As far as Jinchuuriki powers go, I'd welcome them now that we know what they are. It used to be that Kyuubi! Naruto fics were just Naruto acting feral/evil/dark and having weird demonic powers. It would be interesting to see a Naruto fic where he follows the Jinchuuriki road instead of furthering his own strength. A lot of people wouldn't find it appealing because, to make it work, Naruto would have to be weak and/or average without the Kyuubi.
Granted, you could give Naruto any number of things that you or I said, but I find all of that to be really unappealing. Those types stories are weak because they dedicate eons of time to training new abilities and the authors (even good ones) don't realize that training is boring to read about and in-depth discussion of how techniques work and theory behind them is a bunch of obtuse, nerdy bullshit that adds nothing to the story.
It's so much better when you give Naruto less, because then you don't have to fall into the annoying training-fight-training-fight-training format and can just have Naruto learn new techniques by improving upon what he knows WHILE he's fighting. Or just do it off screen (like Sasuke in Part 1).
Anyways, rant over.
It's only boring if the writer writes it boring. Also aside from Toad Summoning and his Super Modes (Including Jinchuuriki skills under here) all Naruto has is Kage Bushin and Rasengan how can you get any less then that?
Do note I did say a fanfic writer can rewrite Naruto's skill set completely if they wanted too. My list just expands on possibilities already offered by Canon. (Also thank you for reminding me about how Wind Chakra can be infused to weapons forgot about that...)
Do note I did say a fanfic writer can rewrite Naruto's skill set completely if they wanted too. My list just expands on possibilities already offered by Canon. (Also thank you for reminding me about how Wind Chakra can be infused to weapons forgot about that...)
Didn't we agree "Using an Element DOES NOT MEAN Elemental Recomposition"? Else Sasuke did learn Elemental Recomposition for Fire back when he was 7, in just a day, which seems... excessive.
Jiraiya's G?enÀRasengan <a href='http://youtu.be/oUXzGg_aobY?t=42s' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://youtu.be/oUXzGg_aobY?t=42s</a>
Jiraiya's G?enÀRasengan <a href='http://youtu.be/oUXzGg_aobY?t=42s' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://youtu.be/oUXzGg_aobY?t=42s</a>
Easily.
If I can avoid it, I don't even give Naruto Toad Summoning or Rasengan. Especially Rasengan. Authors are completely incapable of not giving Naruto the Rasengan, even when they already give him more than enough that he would never need to actually use it. Just because Jiraiya and Minato know it, Naruto HAS to know it.
If you want to know what someone could do with less, let's suppose that you give Naruto the Kage Bunshin and only the Kage Bunshin. He doesn't learn Toad Summoning, Rasengan, or Wind Affinity.
After being shown all of the things that Kage Bunshin are capable of (from making training easier, to forming into massive chain whips, to executing multi-man taijutsu maneuvers), you could just have Naruto learn Kage Bunshin and nothing else and still be incredibly powerful.
People always use Kage Bunshin as a training method to learn ninjutsu or read the Konoha library or some other contrived way of getting stronger. But let's say it's the Chuunin Exams and Naruto just used Uzumaki Naruto Rendan for the first time against Kiba. It was a technique that Naruto created in combat just by seeing another ability.
So let's say that you have Naruto realize how effective his taijutsu maneuver was and so he spends all of his time over the next month training his clones to execute a bunch of complicated maneuvers in combat that he invented. So Naruto is something of a taijutsu specialist now, only instead of training his body with 10,000 pound gravity seals, or learning some stupid, kewl martial arts style that makes no sense, he instead always has like 20 versions of himself surrounding him at all times that beat the crap out people using a bunch of practiced taijutsu maneuvers that would be impossible for 20 actual people to use because they aren't as synchronized (because they aren't copies of the same person).
And then, as it goes on, you could even expand upon that. He could invent complex maneuvers with even more clones or train his base speed and strength and make every clone way more devastating in combat.
That's what I mean in doing more with less. With what I said, I could find an easy way around most of the people Naruto fights in canon. Hell, when it comes down to it (in Part 1) Naruto often uses ninjutsu as a means to punch people in the face anyways.
That is an example of what I mean.
If I can avoid it, I don't even give Naruto Toad Summoning or Rasengan. Especially Rasengan. Authors are completely incapable of not giving Naruto the Rasengan, even when they already give him more than enough that he would never need to actually use it. Just because Jiraiya and Minato know it, Naruto HAS to know it.
If you want to know what someone could do with less, let's suppose that you give Naruto the Kage Bunshin and only the Kage Bunshin. He doesn't learn Toad Summoning, Rasengan, or Wind Affinity.
After being shown all of the things that Kage Bunshin are capable of (from making training easier, to forming into massive chain whips, to executing multi-man taijutsu maneuvers), you could just have Naruto learn Kage Bunshin and nothing else and still be incredibly powerful.
People always use Kage Bunshin as a training method to learn ninjutsu or read the Konoha library or some other contrived way of getting stronger. But let's say it's the Chuunin Exams and Naruto just used Uzumaki Naruto Rendan for the first time against Kiba. It was a technique that Naruto created in combat just by seeing another ability.
So let's say that you have Naruto realize how effective his taijutsu maneuver was and so he spends all of his time over the next month training his clones to execute a bunch of complicated maneuvers in combat that he invented. So Naruto is something of a taijutsu specialist now, only instead of training his body with 10,000 pound gravity seals, or learning some stupid, kewl martial arts style that makes no sense, he instead always has like 20 versions of himself surrounding him at all times that beat the crap out people using a bunch of practiced taijutsu maneuvers that would be impossible for 20 actual people to use because they aren't as synchronized (because they aren't copies of the same person).
And then, as it goes on, you could even expand upon that. He could invent complex maneuvers with even more clones or train his base speed and strength and make every clone way more devastating in combat.
That's what I mean in doing more with less. With what I said, I could find an easy way around most of the people Naruto fights in canon. Hell, when it comes down to it (in Part 1) Naruto often uses ninjutsu as a means to punch people in the face anyways.
That is an example of what I mean.
IMO, it's unrealistic for Naruto not to learn the Rasengan. It was created by the man Naruto idolises who was also his father. It's is known by Jiraiya and Kakashi, both of which have an active interest in Naruto and would probably consider that technique a part of his heritage.
Even if Naruto became a taijutsu specialist, learning the Rasengan would only be another advantage. Unless you serious mess with the above three's personalities and/or relationships then it pretty unlikely they wouldn't at least try to teach Naruto the jutsu.
Even if Naruto became a taijutsu specialist, learning the Rasengan would only be another advantage. Unless you serious mess with the above three's personalities and/or relationships then it pretty unlikely they wouldn't at least try to teach Naruto the jutsu.
When Team 10 left their room two hours later, Sasuke followed after them, silent and unseen in the shadows of walls and rooftops. They left the small inn to find the town dark, but not sleeping. The few lights on the street illuminated still open shops, selling trinkets, clothes and food.
Ino bought herself an elegant comb, while Chouji got a new scarf and some takoyaki. Shikamaru purchased nothing, while Asuma continued to examine logic puzzles without actually getting anything.
All the while, they talked about nothing that caught SasukeÆs attention.
ôWhen we get back, weÆll have to practice that formation again. You were a little slow Chouji.ö
ôI want to go check out that jewelry shop next. Ha, Kiki-chan can go suck it! She was showing off those earrings earlier, but I bet I can get something twice as nice here.ö
ôWe should get Tsukemen tonight.ö
ôWhen are we heading back to the inn?ö
However, eventually, Ino said something that caught the UchihaÆs attention as he hid above them, crouched halfway in and out an open window
ôI wonder if Naruto would like this.ö Ino wondered aloud, holding up a black t-shirt.
ôNaruto? I thought you liked that Uchiha brat,ö Asuma commented.
ôNarutoÆs been really cool recently! Did you hear what he did during the graduation test! He was sooo strong and fast!ö Ino almost squealed in delight at the memory.
ôIs that so,ö Asuma replied weakly.
ôHeÆs so much stronger and more mature than Sasuke-kun! And his dark clothes really suit him too! And the way he-ö Ino stopped midsentence to giggle.
Hearing that Naruto was better than him caused Sasuke to frown. Shifting slightly to make sure he heard properly, the Uchiha suddenly leapt out of the window and into the house as a kunai impacted the ceiling.
If he hadnÆt moved so fast, it would have stabbed into his shoulder and seriously injured him.
ôWhoÆs there!?ö Asuma shouted upward.
Peeking out the window, Sasuke found Team 10 in a triangle formation, Asuma on point, Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji behind him on a line, Ino directly behind the jounin.
ôI know youÆve been following us, now show yourself!ö Asuma demanded, his hands mere centimeters apart, ready to start a jutsu at a momentÆs notice.
Sasuke knew he shouldnÆt go down and confront them; that it was stupid to show himself when it would be much smarter to sneak out the house through a window on the opposite side from the Konoha ninjas and make his get away.
But the Uchiha didnÆt do any of that. Instead he transformed into Itachi, the first person to pop into his head, and dropped down out of the window to land in front of the shocked four man cell.
Expressionless, Sasuke stared at the group, watching the expression of shock and horror on AsumaÆs face change into one of hard determination.
ôYou guys, go. Back to Konoha as quickly as you can!ö their sensei shouted at his team.
ôWha- Who is this guy, sensei?ö Shikamaru asked.
ôUchiha Itachi, the man who single handedly massacred his clan. Now go; heÆs way too much for you guys to handle!ö
ôNo way are we leaving you sensei!ö Ino told him forcefully.
ôYeah!ö Chouji agreed.
ôThis is an order! Go!ö
ôWe should go,ö Shikamaru muttered bitterly.
ôWhat!?ö
ôIf this guy really is as strong as sensei says, then weÆll only get in the way. We should get back to Konoha as quickly as possible and get help.ö
ôExactly,ö Asuma agreed.
Reluctantly, the three genin broke formation and jump onto the roof, disappearing from sight in the direction of Konoha.
All this time, Asuma had kept his eye on Itachi, taking note of the way his coal black eyes followed Team 10 until they were out of sight, and then focused on the jounin. To his surprise, he thought he saw a flicker of something in the UchihaÆs eyes as the genin left, but Asuma couldnÆt figure out what.
ôWhat are you doing here?ö the Konoha shinobi asked instead.
Itachi remained silent, and then, ôI expected the Will of Fire to burn brighter in them than that.ö
ôWhat would you know about the Will of Fire!?ö Asuma yelled.
ôI too believed in that philosophy once, a long time ago; but it was all a lie.ö
ôNo, it isnÆt! Konoha takes care of its own; you betrayed Konoha and killed your family! You betrayed the Will of Fire!ö
ôThatÆs your interpretation of what happened. Is what your eyes see the truth, or merely the truth youÆre supposed to perceive?ö
ôWhatÆs that supposed to mean?ö
Itachi stayed silent.
Inside, Sasuke was reviewing what heÆd said, comparing it to the beliefs that Itachi had faked to any people he met , but he couldnÆt help but think that everything heÆd said was more what he believed than the lie Itachi had lived.
No matter.
ôIÆll be taking my leave now, shinobi-san. IÆm sure weÆll mee-ö Itachi cut himself off. ôPerhaps your genin have more Fire than IÆd given them credit for,ö Itachi sighed, and again Asuma noticed a strange emotion in the missing-nins expression.
The young Sarutobi didnÆt have time to ponder that though, as suddenly the meaning of ItachiÆs words registered.
The shadows around them were unnaturally stretched, connecting Itachi to a nearby alley behind him.
Suddenly Itachi began to move, and out came Shikamaru, mirroring ItachiÆs movements as the genin stepped out into the open.
ôWahoo!ö Ino shouted as she jumped onto the street from a rooftop further back. ôWe got him.ö
Appearing from the same alley as Shikamaru, Chouji was already munching on something, a big grin of success on his face.
ôNo, donÆt come out!ö Asuma tried to warn them, but it was already too late.
Itachi was already moving, ShikamaruÆs Shadow Bind almost completely useless as the Nara was yanked by the feedback of his own jutsu and slammed into the corner of the alley heÆd come out of.
Chouji was ItachiÆs next target, and by the time the UchihaÆs fist was slamming into the boyÆs belly, his eyes hadnÆt even finished widening from witnessing his best friend being thrown into a wall.
Once the Akimichi was down, Ino was next, and suddenly two shuriken were embedded in her left breast and right arm, rendering it temporarily useless.
Ino went down, but unlike her two male teammates, she remained conscious.
Only she was able to witness her sensei and Itachi clash.
Asuma had already begun to move when Shikamaru was smashed against the wall, abandoning his jutsu and instead drawing his knuckled chakra blades and infusing them with wind chakra, but couldnÆt reach Itachi in time to stop him from harming his other two students.
While Chouji was still in the air and before InoÆs knees had touched the ground, Asuma finally made contact with the missing-nin, and the Uchiha was ready to meet him.
Slashing with his right blade, Itachi met Sarutobi with a shuriken, and used it to block AsumaÆs blow without allowing the two weapons to touch. Asuma then kicked Itachi and himself apart, taking a swipe with the chakra blade in his left hand.
Even though the blade itself wouldnÆt hit him, Itachi ducked, allowing the invisible wind blade to pass harmlessly over him.
When he came up from the crouch, Asuma caught a glimpse of red eyes; most likely the sharingan allowed him to see the normally undetectable energy extending his weaponÆs reach.
ôDull brown,ö Itachi commented.
ôHuh?ö
ôYour chakra colour û its dull brown. How boring,ö Itachi said as he sped forward.
Asuma tried to defend himself and counterattack by punching forward with one hand but Itachi smacked that hand away and dodged under AsumaÆs horizontal slash with his other blade. AsumaÆs guard well and truly bypassed, Itachi almost gently placed one shuriken against the Konoha ninjaÆs neck, causing him to freeze.
ôI could kill you right now; it would be absurdly easy to end the life of you and your team,ö Itachi said, causing AsumaÆs breath to hitch and drawing just a sliver of blood. ôDo you have anything to say?ö
ôOne day, youÆll face a Konoha shinobi and he or she will kill you, avenging the people you killed û us, and out comrades the Uchiha. One day, youÆll pay for your sins.ö
Itachi faltered slightly, before becoming visibly angry. ôI never said I was going to kill you. Fortunately for you, as much as I want to, I canÆt; I gave my word, after all,ö Itachi said before withdrawing the shuriken and striking AsumaÆs neck, knocking him out in a single hit. The limp body dropped, Itachi sidestepping to allow it fall unhindered.
Glancing at all of his enemies and confirming that all of them were down and out, Sasuke released his Henge with a pop and disappeared with shunshin.
Still conscious but deathly afraid, Ino had frozen in place on the ground, powerless to help as her sensei was easily dealt with. When Itachi looked at her, she closed her eyes and played dead, only to crack them open when a pop caught her attention.
For a single instant she saw the back of the man who had so easily disabled four ninjas; he was wearing a white top, had midnight black hair, pale skin and a sword around his waistû and then before she could take in anymore details, he was gone, the only evidence of his passing two shuriken and four downed ninjas.
---------
Once he was alone again, Sasuke let out a breath he hadnÆt even known he was holding.
æWhat was that? A Konoha shinobi avenging the Uchiha clan? DonÆt give me that shit! Konoha shunned us! They betrayed Itachi! What does he know?Æ Sasuke thought as he paced back and forth in his room. He refused to give voice to his anger, lest he disturb the owners of the inn and draw unnecessary attention to himself.
After a few minutes, Sasuke refocused on his current goal, and the sliver of information heÆd received. Naruto in this place was different û he wore dark clothing and was someone Ino would consider cool. And he was strong û either that or the Sasuke of this reality was weak.
Sasuke now had a starting point in his investigation.
Ino bought herself an elegant comb, while Chouji got a new scarf and some takoyaki. Shikamaru purchased nothing, while Asuma continued to examine logic puzzles without actually getting anything.
All the while, they talked about nothing that caught SasukeÆs attention.
ôWhen we get back, weÆll have to practice that formation again. You were a little slow Chouji.ö
ôI want to go check out that jewelry shop next. Ha, Kiki-chan can go suck it! She was showing off those earrings earlier, but I bet I can get something twice as nice here.ö
ôWe should get Tsukemen tonight.ö
ôWhen are we heading back to the inn?ö
However, eventually, Ino said something that caught the UchihaÆs attention as he hid above them, crouched halfway in and out an open window
ôI wonder if Naruto would like this.ö Ino wondered aloud, holding up a black t-shirt.
ôNaruto? I thought you liked that Uchiha brat,ö Asuma commented.
ôNarutoÆs been really cool recently! Did you hear what he did during the graduation test! He was sooo strong and fast!ö Ino almost squealed in delight at the memory.
ôIs that so,ö Asuma replied weakly.
ôHeÆs so much stronger and more mature than Sasuke-kun! And his dark clothes really suit him too! And the way he-ö Ino stopped midsentence to giggle.
Hearing that Naruto was better than him caused Sasuke to frown. Shifting slightly to make sure he heard properly, the Uchiha suddenly leapt out of the window and into the house as a kunai impacted the ceiling.
If he hadnÆt moved so fast, it would have stabbed into his shoulder and seriously injured him.
ôWhoÆs there!?ö Asuma shouted upward.
Peeking out the window, Sasuke found Team 10 in a triangle formation, Asuma on point, Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji behind him on a line, Ino directly behind the jounin.
ôI know youÆve been following us, now show yourself!ö Asuma demanded, his hands mere centimeters apart, ready to start a jutsu at a momentÆs notice.
Sasuke knew he shouldnÆt go down and confront them; that it was stupid to show himself when it would be much smarter to sneak out the house through a window on the opposite side from the Konoha ninjas and make his get away.
But the Uchiha didnÆt do any of that. Instead he transformed into Itachi, the first person to pop into his head, and dropped down out of the window to land in front of the shocked four man cell.
Expressionless, Sasuke stared at the group, watching the expression of shock and horror on AsumaÆs face change into one of hard determination.
ôYou guys, go. Back to Konoha as quickly as you can!ö their sensei shouted at his team.
ôWha- Who is this guy, sensei?ö Shikamaru asked.
ôUchiha Itachi, the man who single handedly massacred his clan. Now go; heÆs way too much for you guys to handle!ö
ôNo way are we leaving you sensei!ö Ino told him forcefully.
ôYeah!ö Chouji agreed.
ôThis is an order! Go!ö
ôWe should go,ö Shikamaru muttered bitterly.
ôWhat!?ö
ôIf this guy really is as strong as sensei says, then weÆll only get in the way. We should get back to Konoha as quickly as possible and get help.ö
ôExactly,ö Asuma agreed.
Reluctantly, the three genin broke formation and jump onto the roof, disappearing from sight in the direction of Konoha.
All this time, Asuma had kept his eye on Itachi, taking note of the way his coal black eyes followed Team 10 until they were out of sight, and then focused on the jounin. To his surprise, he thought he saw a flicker of something in the UchihaÆs eyes as the genin left, but Asuma couldnÆt figure out what.
ôWhat are you doing here?ö the Konoha shinobi asked instead.
Itachi remained silent, and then, ôI expected the Will of Fire to burn brighter in them than that.ö
ôWhat would you know about the Will of Fire!?ö Asuma yelled.
ôI too believed in that philosophy once, a long time ago; but it was all a lie.ö
ôNo, it isnÆt! Konoha takes care of its own; you betrayed Konoha and killed your family! You betrayed the Will of Fire!ö
ôThatÆs your interpretation of what happened. Is what your eyes see the truth, or merely the truth youÆre supposed to perceive?ö
ôWhatÆs that supposed to mean?ö
Itachi stayed silent.
Inside, Sasuke was reviewing what heÆd said, comparing it to the beliefs that Itachi had faked to any people he met , but he couldnÆt help but think that everything heÆd said was more what he believed than the lie Itachi had lived.
No matter.
ôIÆll be taking my leave now, shinobi-san. IÆm sure weÆll mee-ö Itachi cut himself off. ôPerhaps your genin have more Fire than IÆd given them credit for,ö Itachi sighed, and again Asuma noticed a strange emotion in the missing-nins expression.
The young Sarutobi didnÆt have time to ponder that though, as suddenly the meaning of ItachiÆs words registered.
The shadows around them were unnaturally stretched, connecting Itachi to a nearby alley behind him.
Suddenly Itachi began to move, and out came Shikamaru, mirroring ItachiÆs movements as the genin stepped out into the open.
ôWahoo!ö Ino shouted as she jumped onto the street from a rooftop further back. ôWe got him.ö
Appearing from the same alley as Shikamaru, Chouji was already munching on something, a big grin of success on his face.
ôNo, donÆt come out!ö Asuma tried to warn them, but it was already too late.
Itachi was already moving, ShikamaruÆs Shadow Bind almost completely useless as the Nara was yanked by the feedback of his own jutsu and slammed into the corner of the alley heÆd come out of.
Chouji was ItachiÆs next target, and by the time the UchihaÆs fist was slamming into the boyÆs belly, his eyes hadnÆt even finished widening from witnessing his best friend being thrown into a wall.
Once the Akimichi was down, Ino was next, and suddenly two shuriken were embedded in her left breast and right arm, rendering it temporarily useless.
Ino went down, but unlike her two male teammates, she remained conscious.
Only she was able to witness her sensei and Itachi clash.
Asuma had already begun to move when Shikamaru was smashed against the wall, abandoning his jutsu and instead drawing his knuckled chakra blades and infusing them with wind chakra, but couldnÆt reach Itachi in time to stop him from harming his other two students.
While Chouji was still in the air and before InoÆs knees had touched the ground, Asuma finally made contact with the missing-nin, and the Uchiha was ready to meet him.
Slashing with his right blade, Itachi met Sarutobi with a shuriken, and used it to block AsumaÆs blow without allowing the two weapons to touch. Asuma then kicked Itachi and himself apart, taking a swipe with the chakra blade in his left hand.
Even though the blade itself wouldnÆt hit him, Itachi ducked, allowing the invisible wind blade to pass harmlessly over him.
When he came up from the crouch, Asuma caught a glimpse of red eyes; most likely the sharingan allowed him to see the normally undetectable energy extending his weaponÆs reach.
ôDull brown,ö Itachi commented.
ôHuh?ö
ôYour chakra colour û its dull brown. How boring,ö Itachi said as he sped forward.
Asuma tried to defend himself and counterattack by punching forward with one hand but Itachi smacked that hand away and dodged under AsumaÆs horizontal slash with his other blade. AsumaÆs guard well and truly bypassed, Itachi almost gently placed one shuriken against the Konoha ninjaÆs neck, causing him to freeze.
ôI could kill you right now; it would be absurdly easy to end the life of you and your team,ö Itachi said, causing AsumaÆs breath to hitch and drawing just a sliver of blood. ôDo you have anything to say?ö
ôOne day, youÆll face a Konoha shinobi and he or she will kill you, avenging the people you killed û us, and out comrades the Uchiha. One day, youÆll pay for your sins.ö
Itachi faltered slightly, before becoming visibly angry. ôI never said I was going to kill you. Fortunately for you, as much as I want to, I canÆt; I gave my word, after all,ö Itachi said before withdrawing the shuriken and striking AsumaÆs neck, knocking him out in a single hit. The limp body dropped, Itachi sidestepping to allow it fall unhindered.
Glancing at all of his enemies and confirming that all of them were down and out, Sasuke released his Henge with a pop and disappeared with shunshin.
Still conscious but deathly afraid, Ino had frozen in place on the ground, powerless to help as her sensei was easily dealt with. When Itachi looked at her, she closed her eyes and played dead, only to crack them open when a pop caught her attention.
For a single instant she saw the back of the man who had so easily disabled four ninjas; he was wearing a white top, had midnight black hair, pale skin and a sword around his waistû and then before she could take in anymore details, he was gone, the only evidence of his passing two shuriken and four downed ninjas.
---------
Once he was alone again, Sasuke let out a breath he hadnÆt even known he was holding.
æWhat was that? A Konoha shinobi avenging the Uchiha clan? DonÆt give me that shit! Konoha shunned us! They betrayed Itachi! What does he know?Æ Sasuke thought as he paced back and forth in his room. He refused to give voice to his anger, lest he disturb the owners of the inn and draw unnecessary attention to himself.
After a few minutes, Sasuke refocused on his current goal, and the sliver of information heÆd received. Naruto in this place was different û he wore dark clothing and was someone Ino would consider cool. And he was strong û either that or the Sasuke of this reality was weak.
Sasuke now had a starting point in his investigation.
The time the Kumo nin mentioned a new clan had sprung up in Konoha when before that all the signs had been pointing to Time Travel with neon pink arrows.
That was his first clue that time travel wasn't the answer, or at least not 100% correct)
Taking the change in memories, landscape and politics, suddenly the choices become either time travel (would explian all the anomalies bar the new clan in Konoha) or dimension hopping (would explain all anomilies)
And then, what do you know, all his old comrades are 4-5 years too young and theres even more clues that something is fucked up somewhere; Naruto, wearing black and stronger than him? Something is fundementally wrong with the universe.
So holy shit; turns out it was both.
Of course, there is still the hypothesis that this is still straight up time travel but someone beat him to it and is subsiquently fucking with the laws of physics like a good shinobi should.
Which is why its an on going investigetion.
That was his first clue that time travel wasn't the answer, or at least not 100% correct)
Taking the change in memories, landscape and politics, suddenly the choices become either time travel (would explian all the anomalies bar the new clan in Konoha) or dimension hopping (would explain all anomilies)
And then, what do you know, all his old comrades are 4-5 years too young and theres even more clues that something is fucked up somewhere; Naruto, wearing black and stronger than him? Something is fundementally wrong with the universe.
So holy shit; turns out it was both.
Of course, there is still the hypothesis that this is still straight up time travel but someone beat him to it and is subsiquently fucking with the laws of physics like a good shinobi should.
Which is why its an on going investigetion.