Kakashi x Mina

Chapter 8 The Finals Approaches!!! Naruto's secret weapon

(AU: I had thought about adding Yamato to the training but he's busy with the recruitment of Team Dosu. Anyway back to the story)

We pick up right where Chapter 7 ended off with Naruto wrapping up Jiraya's chakra control training a few days sooner compared to canon due to the deeper motivation as well as Mina being in his life to help him comprehend the basics a lot better. This then leads to Jiraya undoing Orochimaru's prong seal to rebalance Naruto's chakra so he can resonate with the nine tails. During this time, the Pervy Sage gets nostalgic regarding Minato and though not as naturally gifted as his fallen father, the knucklehead's eager to learn. Though if he admits that if Kakashi's girlfriend were to find out that he was the godfather than yeah... it wouldn't be a pretty sight.

Naruto and Jiraya continue some light sparring until the two are interrupted by a certain quartet.  At first its Sakura, Shino, and a very bitter Kiba (man the exams just wasn't your arc buddy). "Don't get any ideas I only let my guard down when you gassed me", Kiba bantered. Sakura then proceeds to smack Kiba upside the head for his hubris induced stupidity. "Kiba I think it would be in your better health to put aside the ego", Shino advised. "S-shut up!!!", Kiba snarled in pain. "Anyway we wanted to see you train and get some sparring in. Team Kurenai maybe removed from the competition but that's no excuse to slouch", Sakura entailed. A part of Naruto is rather thrilled about getting some team training with Sakura alas after recent events he knows better. "Well I guess with Sasuke getting secret training because of that curse mark you've got nothing better to do", Naruto growls. Kiba snickers at the burn while Shino just adjusts his glasses. our fourth member on the other hand decides to make their move. "Team assignments aside all you ever did was hurt Naruto. He'd swoon over you all day everyday because of his crush and all you ever did was pound him for it. Any sign you gave him was either out of pity or a means to get closer to Sasuke. Sasuke's stuck in the past because of what's he lost. He's never going to change let alone like you back. The sooner you realize that, the more effective you'll be for the village", Hinata retorted. Kiba was quite entertained at the prospect while like Master Jiraya, Shino was observant. "Hey guys we can all train together you know? No reason to make a fight out of it", Naruto pleaded. Jiraya remains quiet taking comfort that Naruto is more ignorant than dense. "Shut your mouth you idiot this isn't some stupid catfight. This is a battle of principle now stay out of it. Though it'd be unfair to fight off someone still hurt from a public beating", Sakura bantered expressing more of her fiery fury. "Oh Sakura you've had this coming for a long time", Hinata replied as she readied her stance; Byakugan at the ready. The two squared up while Naruto was panicking, Shino and Jiraya though respected the young Kunoichi(s) unknowingly agreed that this was stupid and Kiba in complete dog fashion was over fantasizing the situation drooling and nose bleeding across the grass below. The two ninja clashed with Sakura using clone jutsu to throw off her opponent to set up for a Genjutsu while Hinata weakened but fierce in her beliefs and the fight itself. It's close but ultimately Hinata comes out on top because of the chakra network ability and Sakura not being able to get a Genjutsu off. Although not over Naruto, this does lead to a bitter rivalry between the two stemming even more so with what was to come. 

After the tension dies down, Hinata wanted to help in Naruto's training and talked to Mina and Kurenai regarding the inner power of being a jinjuriki. If Naruto can resonate with the tailed beast with going into the nine tails state, he could reopen the gates Neji will try to close off. Thus pushing the battle to a standstill until Neji runs out of chakra and stamina. This is ultimately what happens in canon, but this Naruto wouldn't want to just prove the folly of predestination and leave it at that. Naruto wants the prodigal Hyuga to suffer before he beats him and he expresses it with his utter contempt at the idea. "Dude trust me he was Sasuke level two years ago. I'd say Lee and Sasuke are the only ones that can match and even then its close. Unless you have some secret technique, you're screwed", Kiba bequifed. This does stew a plan in the young Jinjuriki but he'll have to talk to Pervy Sage about it later. For now they try Hinata's plan though Naruto's still a bit concerned. "You sure about this Hinata; you're still recovering you know?" Shino uses a small construct of bugs to keep Kiba's mouth shut while Hinata grabs Naruto's hand and presses it against her heart; though Naruto still flusters a bit for obvious reasons.        

Nonetheless after Jiraya undoes the prong seal, Naruto starts to indulge in Kurama's chakra rather than resonating with it as intended. Naruto fuming in his own anger and bloodlust he learns to contain himself but physical approach wasn't working since Naruto would overpower Hinata and Sakura and start a territorial bout with Kiba; and the ladder pick the worst day to leave Akamaru at the Inuzuka house. Before  Naruto could then undergo the infamous Nine tailed cloak stage, Jiraya would help tame the beast with specialized sealing tags he had made in case the beast pulled a fast one while Kushina was pregnant. He ended up keeping them as a memento and coping with their deaths. (Fun fact this is my little basis for the sealing tags that Jiraya used in the Boyhood arc in canon). After the situation calms down, they party discuss that Naruto both figuratively, and emotionally can only withstand a certain interval  of the nine tails chakra  and time of resonance without the risk of losing control; and he'll have to outmaneuver Neji within that window. "The prodigy isn't gonna make it easy so we're going to need an ace in the hole", Jiraya reflected. At that moment, Mina then shows up to check on Naruto and making sure he doesn't pick up any bad habits.  The Pervy Sannin then tells the four to keep sparring while Naruto goes with him. Mina wants to go after them but Sakura could use the extra training and Kurenai asked her to look after the young Hyuga so she didn't hurt herself; so her hands were tied. "Naruto if that dirty old pervert drags you into something stupid you'll have to deal with me !!!", Mina roared internally. 

Upon reaching the Hokage's office and Naruto's pestering, Jiraya lets him in on the secret they're going to talk to the Hokage guards. Naruto groans but since he got tricked into stealing the forbidden scrolls by that bastard Mizuki not so much a year ago he doesn't complain. Later on they stumble upon the guardsmen Genma Shiranui, Iwashi Tatami, and Raido Naniashi respectively. They greet the legendary Sannin out of respect knowing full well of his work both in and out of the village. "What do you want Jiraya-sama?", Genma asked speaking for the group. "I was concerned about the flying thunder god specifically Lord Fourth's version", Jiraya replied blatantly. "Flying Thunder God Dad's jutsu?!!!", Naruto squealed excitedly only to cover his mouth after he said it. The trio look at the Sannin in scorn; "Don't look at me I didn't tell him", Jiraya bantered. Apparently Naruto being the son of the Fourth was not only kept secret but buried in some severe red tape and the knucklehead running his mouth is a clear sign of blackmail if not treason depending on the circumstances; that is if it ever got out. "You know this is a very high ranked jutsu Jiraya especially Lord Fourth's version", Raido replied scornfully. "Relax I only intend for the original and the sealing tag for the jutsu. At that level, its a basic parlor trick besides you would be carrying his legacy", Jiraya quipped. Genma and Radio grunt in frustration while Iwashi spoke up. "Fine but if both of you agree to keep quiet and train very hard we'll teach you the basic technique. However, you're a far cry from Lord Fourth so don't think secret blood ties grant you any special treatment." Naruto fumed in frustration but Jiraya was able to keep the boy back. "In time Naruto you might not only harness the full technique but surpass the Fourth Hokage. After all it's your ninja way right?", Jiraya trolled. The guardsmen reluctantly agree and send their shadow clones to train the knucklehead while the Sannin snuck off to conduct his research.

                                                               To be continued in Chapter 9

                                                                      The Spiral of Darkness the last date?!!!