Naruto Hikikaeru

Chapter 33 - 33 Meeting Again!

Sarutobi and Jiraiya landed on the ground and faced Naruto and The Construct, drawing their attention toward them.

"Looks like they noticed us." Jiraiya commented.

"Hah, at least it means they both think of us as a threat." Sarutobi replied.

"Well, we both have seen better days, but why don't we show them a thing or two then." Jiraiya suggested.

"I couldn't agree more." Sarutobi replied.

The two began walking toward Naruto and The Construct as they prepared themselves to engage them.

Naruto growled as the two shinobis approached him, while The Construct silently regarded their presence.

Jiraiya looked around as he surveyed the scene and noticed Orochimaru for the first time.

"Looks like you got more than you bargained for." Jiraiya spoke, catching Orochimaru's attention as well as Sarutobi's.

Sarutobi frowned slightly as he noticed Orochimaru's presence as well.

Orochimaru smiled lightly after hearing Jiraiya's remark. "Hoh, indeed, it would seem that way, wouldn't it? But how do you think you would fair against beings such as these?" Orochimaru questioned.

"Orochimaru, that's enough out of you!" Sarutobi snapped.

Orochimaru frowned slightly as he looked over at Sarutobi.

"The situation is currently beyond any of our abilities alone, so as much as I loathe your existence now, we must put aside our differences and work together to get through this." Sarutobi spoke.

"Ever the peace-loving fool, eh? Sarutobi-sensei!" Orochimaru grinned.

"Orochimaru! What is your answer!" Jiraiya shouted.

"Heh, well I would hate to have you think of me as one who doesn't understand a situation. I'll cooperate with you for now." Orochimaru replied as he slowly approached the two.

Soon, all three of them stood side by side as they faced off against Naruto and The Construct.

"NO ONE IS TO INTERFERE! THIS IS MY ORDER AS HOKAGE!!" Sarutobi shouted, informing the nearby ninja.

While they weren't happy with the order, the nearby jonin and Anbu members understood the reason behind it. At a level of this nature, they would only be a burden for the Hokage and the others. So all they could do was wish for the safety of the Hokage.

"Naruto.... I don't know if you can hear me in there, but I promise, I will save you!" Sarutobi said as he looked at Naruto.

Naruto only growled in response.

"Our objective is to return Naruto back to normal!" Sarutobi announced.

Jiraiya nodded in agreement, however, Orochimaru looked indifferent.

"Hmph!..." Orochimaru snorted.

Naruto then raised his arm and slammed it onto the ground shattering the landscape from the blow. The three shinobis rushed out of the way as they dodged the flying debris from the ground. The surrounding ninjas had to retreat further back as they were overwhelmed by the simple attack. The Construct took the blow head on, causing its body to become riddled with all kinds of wounds that steadily healed at a discernible pace.

Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals.

Tiger → Hare → Boar → Dog

Large earthen walls began rising out of the ground as they encircled and caged them all within. Sarutobi then held another hand seal.

Tiger

The ground below Naruto turned soft and turned into mud causing him to lose his footing in the ground.

Naruto extended his arms out as he grabbed onto solid ground to pull himself out. The other arm had shot out in an attempt to grab hold of Sarutobi. However, Jiraiya slammed his hands onto the ground right at that moment.

Summoning a Toad's stomach around himself and Naruto as well. Allowing Sarutobi to get away.

Moments later though, Naruto tore through the body of the toad, allowing him to gain his freedom while Jiraiya got out as well. He was bleeding slightly as he remembered what had happened.

Naruto had slammed his fists onto the ground creating a shock wave, then he ripped at the toad's body with his hands. The shock wave had gotten Jiraiya slightly, causing a small amount of blood to seep out of his mouth.

"This brat is quite powerful." Orochimaru mused.

"Indeed, but we must keep an eye out for that other thing over there" Jiraiya replied.

"Hehe, I never took my eye off of it." Orochimaru grinned.

Orochimaru then left Jiraiya and Sarutobi alone to deal with Naruto while he alone went to fight against The Construct.

"Orochimaru!" Jiraiya called out after him.

"Don't bother Jiraiya, as long as he doesn't get in our way, I'm more than willing to let him handle whatever that is, we must focus on Naruto however!" Sarutobi cut him off, before he could chase after Orochimaru.

Orochimaru glanced back and smirked to himself. Let's see how long those fools can keep up with the brat! Orochimaru grinned.

...

Naruto watched as the fight had begun. He gripped his fists tightly as he worried about the situation that was happening.

"Please! We have to do something!" Naruto yelled.

"I don't have to do anything, why should I?" Hateshi asked.

"I'm begging you, I'll do anything!" Naruto pleaded with Hateshi.

"Anything? That's an interesting word, many people will use it in order to get what they want, but they also don't actually mean it." Hateshi replied.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

"I mean, when people say that, they don't actually mean anything. Which implies that they would be willing to do anything of everything. Instead, they use it as an ambiguous promise in order to get what they want, and when they have to keep up their end of the promise, they try to back out." Hateshi explained.

"But-" Naruto began.

"No buts! If I told you that in order for me to help you, I required you to kill one of your friends, would you do it? Because by telling me anything, that is something I could ask." Hateshi interrupted.

Naruto looked down in thought. There didn't seem to be any way he could get Hateshi to help him. He thought about all the things he wouldn't be able to do if someone asked him to. Just because it went against everything he stood for and who he was as a person. Then Naruto thought of something, if he couldn't make an empty promise, then maybe if he took a more direct approach, he would be able to do something about his current situation.

"Then.... What is it that you want?" Naruto asked.

Hateshi was silent for a moment before he grinned widely at Naruto.

"Looks like you are learning, that's the right question you should be asking." Hateshi laughed.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"I mean, that by asking me what it is that I want, you no longer trap yourself in an unknown situation. You no longer give me the option of asking anything of you in return for helping you out." Hateshi replied.

"Then?" Naruto began.

"Well, I make no promises, but let's see, what do you think it is that I want?" Hateshi asked.

Naruto brought his hand to his chin as he began thinking about what it was that Hateshi would want.

"You should probably think quickly; the situation down there doesn't look too good right now." Hateshi casually spoke.

Naruto looked over and his eyes widened in shock at the scene he was witnessing.

...

While Sarutobi and Jiraiya were focusing on Naruto, Orochimaru had been fighting against The Construct. He had summoned The Sword of Kusanagi as he fought against The Construct. Orochimaru parried The Construct's blow as it swung toward his head. After he parried the blow he spun and swung the blade horizontally chopping The Construct's body in half.

Orochimaru frowned shortly after as he witnessed The Construct put itself back together and continue charging him with the same intensity as before. As they fought, The Construct knocked the blade out of Orochimaru's hand and thrust its hand in a stabbing motion toward Orochimaru.

Dog → Horse → Bird

Orochimaru inhaled before exhaling a large gust of wind blowing The Construct away from him before it could stab him.

Tiger → Ox → Dog → Rabbit → Snake

Orochimaru brought his hands together as he created a sudden burst of sound to subdue The Construct. However, to his surprise, The Construct was unaffected as it rushed forward and swung it's arm, piercing Orochimaru through the c.h.e.s.t.

Orochimaru coughed out blood as he gazed silently at The Construct. It's ability to regenerate is astonishing, if only I could take a piece of it for my research… Orochimaru thought. Then his face contorted as he opened his mouth. A hand slowly appeared before pulling the mouth open even more to allow Orochimaru to come out. Then he flicked his finger and The Sword of Kusanagi flew toward The Construct from behind impaling it with Orochimaru's discarded corpse.

"Hoh, this is more difficult than I imagined." Orochimaru grinned as he watched The Construct struggle to rid itself of Orochimaru's corpse and the blade that had impaled it into the body onto the ground.

Orochimaru brought his index and middle finger up in front of him.

The Construct's movements halted as invisible chains wrapped around its body. Orochimaru frowned as he could still feel The Construct struggling under the effects of the jutsu.

Jiraiya and Sarutobi were focused on Naruto while Orochimaru was dealing with The Construct. The two of them had tried multiple ways of containing Naruto and trying to stop his movements so that they could get close. However, it seemed that Naruto was just too powerful in his current state as he tore through everything.

Sarutobi bit his thumb and performed hand seals in rapid succession.

Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram

Then he slammed his palm onto the ground as he shouted.

"Come out! Monkey King Enma!"

Smoke appeared and soon a figure appeared within. Enma looked around the battlefield in order to gain some kind of understanding of what was happening. He noticed Naruto in front of him as well as Orochimaru who was busy fighting against The Construct.

"The Nine-Tails, and Orochimaru… Just what have you gotten us involved with… Sarutobi?" Enma asked.

"Enma…. We are focusing on restraining the Nine-Tails in order to reverse the transformation. Orochimaru isn't our concern right now." Sarutobi replied.

"I see… I understand, but you better watch your back Sarutobi, there's no telling what Orochimaru will do in this situation!" Enma said as he jumps next to Sarutobi and transforms into his adamantine staff form.

Sarutobi grabbed the staff and swung it around his body before rushing toward Naruto. The staff extended out as Sarutobi swung it around him toward Naruto. Naruto growled as he gazed at the staff and lifted his hand up to knock the staff away. While distracted by Sarutobi, Jiraiya had also moved as well.

Jiraiya slammed hi hands onto the ground as he yelled.

Suddenly, a large toad appeared into the sky and fell on top of Naruto, Pinning him down. Taking this opportunity, Sarutobi rushed forward and got close enough to Naruto for Enma to clone himself to create the adamantine prison around Naruto just as he lifted the toad off of him and threw it, sending it flying across the sky as it landed in another part of the forest.

Kurama who was currently in control of Naruto's body was extremely furious at the moment, his focus wasn't on the three shinobis but rather the strange entity itself. He had witnessed it before through Naruto when it appeared on that bridge. He had also felt the strange entity that had occupied Naruto during that time as well. It also hadn't escaped his notice that Naruto's mind was now somewhere else as well.

All of these things piqued his curiosity, but the fact that the strange being in front of him couldn't die was agitating him beyond belief. So, he continued to pour more and more chakra and hatred into Naruto's body, and as time passed, the closer the seal was getting to breaking. This was the one thing that was brightening the mood of the fox demon as he hated the seal containing him within Naruto. Especially the man that had sealed him, just thinking about him caused him to be overwhelmed with anger.

Soon, Naruto had formed the seventh tail and the eighth tail was slowly forming as well. This sudden eruption of power caused the clones of Enma to disperse as he was sent flying away. Sarutobi caught him and gripped his fists tightly together as the group watched as Naruto slowly got closer to the fox's true form. Orochimaru was distracted by this and was suddenly sent flying away by the Construct as it freed itself from his jutsu. He glanced up and wiped the blood from his mouth as he watched the scene in slight wonder and amus.e.m.e.nt. If only I could capture this child for myself, Orochimaru thought to himself, he really is a waste on these idiots.

The more he saw of Naruto's abilities, the more he wanted to experiment on him and to use him as a grinding stone to further push Sasuke's abilities. That way, he would have the perfect vessel.

...

Naruto watched as eight tails formed on himself and his body had almost completely transformed into Kurama's form. The only thing missing was the skin and fur at this point in time.

"Please! I don't have time, just tell me what you want in exchange for helping me this time!" Naruto shouted.

Hateshi looked at the scene before his eyes and sighed to himself.

"Naruto, I want you to think for just a moment, what do you think you can possibly do in your current state?" Hateshi replied.

"I could reverse the transformation!" Naruto said.

"How?" Hateshi asked.

Naruto closed his mouth and stared at Hateshi.

"I thought so." Hateshi turned around.

"The last time this happened to you, was during your fight with Pain when he attacked your village. What saved you that time was your first meeting with The Fourth Hokage; Namikaze Minato, better known to you as your father." Hateshi spoke.

"As things stand right now, that situation is going to occur here in this timeline."

"But after that, what are you going to do? Or were you planning on letting me handle the situation again?"

Naruto was quiet, truthfully, he hadn't really thought about it. But Hateshi was right, which frustrated him.

"Naruto, I gave you a second chance at life, maybe you should try thinking about how you'll use it wisely more."

"So, what do you think you should do? And what do you think it is that I want?" Hateshi asked.

Naruto looked down at his feet, and he noticed that the ground below him was actually a mirror image, and he saw himself reflected back at him.

He saw himself, and in himself, he saw the uncertainty and fear that had been building up within him. All the doubts about his choices and decisions, whether he was doing the right thing. Then he remembered Hateshi's words about how knowledge can hurt. He realized then and there what he meant. Before, Naruto had no idea how things would turn out, so he had no choice but to have faith in himself. This time though, he knew what was coming, and knew what kind of consequences his choices would have.

But at the same time, the more things he changed, and the more he became uncertain about things, the more he grew worried and the more he began to doubt himself. He remembered all the lessons he learned over the course of his life that had helped shaped him into who he became. Then he remembered the previous time that Hateshi had helped him, as well as Hateshi's outburst that happened earlier.

He looked up at Hateshi again and breathed out slowly.

"The seal you used, it works on The Constructs, so you could teach me and I'll use that to take care of it." Naruto said.

Hateshi nodded his head while a grin slowly surfaced across his face.

"The thing that you want most right now.... Is a body that you can use to interact with the world." Naruto slowly said.

Hateshi grinned widely. "Exactly! It seems you do pay attention to what I've been telling you!"

"So, how will you get me a body to use?" Hateshi asked.

Naruto looked down in thought, trying to come up with a way of accomplishing this task.

"I could let you use my body!" Naruto said.

Hateshi blinked in surprise upon hearing Naruto's words.

"Yeah! Just like when I let Kurama borrow my body during The Fourth Great Ninja War!" Naruto said as he nodded his head.

"I see, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that, that's what you'd come up with." Hateshi replied.

"However, I have a better suggestion." Hateshi grinned.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Orochimaru!" Hateshi replied.

"Eh?! What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

"Orochimaru is an expert when it comes to acquiring bodies, so it only stands to reason that he is the one we should go to in order for me to attain a body. But I'll take you up on your offer and inhabit your body for now until Orochimaru can satisfy my request." Hateshi explained.

"But there's no way he would help us!" Naruto retorted.

"Trust me Naruto, he wouldn't be able to resist the d.e.s.i.r.e of what I am going to propose to him." Hateshi replied.

Naruto was conflicted, he never liked Orochimaru, and he also couldn't trust the snake either. But he also knew that Hateshi wouldn't really be satisfied with just partial time to interact with the world.

"Okay, but how will we get him to help?" Naruto asked.

"You leave that to me; I'll take care of it. First, we need to deal with your problem."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "Okay, so will you teach me the seal?"

"I have no problems with that; however, it will take you some time to master it. Which isn't something we have time, so for now, I'll seal myself within you and help you out again, and while we wait for Orochimaru to create a body for me to use, I'll teach you the seal." Hateshi explained.

"Alright, what do I do then?" Naruto asked.

"Nothing, just leave it to me." Hateshi smiled.

Naruto nodded and stood quietly while he watched Hateshi start forming seals. Then he placed his palm over Naruto's heart and placed the seal over it. Light flashed and soon, Hateshi was nowhere to be seen as Naruto's vision went dark.

...

Naruto opened his eyes to see that he was once again within his mindscape where he saw Kurama behind the large caged doors that represented the seal. He then felt pain searing from his stomach as the seal there began to darken and spill out forming a pool around him as the seal began to break.

The ninth tail had formed as the fox thrashed about, destroying everything in his path.

Naruto looked up and felt all the hatred and anger that was emanating from Kurama. However, at that moment, a figure appeared in front of him.

"You!" Kurama growled as he stared at the figure that had appeared.

"Yo! I really hoped I wouldn't see you again Nine-Tails, but I guess I shouldn't be too upset, after all, it gives me a chance to meet my son again." The figure spoke.

Naruto looked up as waves of emotions washed over him once more. He had already expected this to happen, but he was still caught off guard by the sudden surge of emotions that appeared when his father finally showed up.

"Hey, Naruto." Minato spoke.

-End of Chapter 33-

Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay! Here's Chapter 33, I'm working on chapter 34 and plan on releasing it later today. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Peace!

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