The Famed Flash (Patreon)

It's been three months since their expedition to Uzushio, and Naruto currently found himself in a familiar predicament. In the next room, he could hear Jiraiya haggling with his publisher for his share of royalties, as his book was set to be adapted into a movie series.

The sealing scrolls he'd retrieved from Uzushio were now giving him trouble. Jiraiya's explanation of using Shadow Clones had been a fantastic help, but now Naruto was stuck. The translation work itself was progressing fine.

What he was stuck on was his own mixed sealing style. The Uzumaki style was hard on his arm, though it was conceptually easier to understand. His father's style, conversely, was easy on his hand but mentally challenging.

His new, developing style simply needed more time, a luxury he clearly lacked with their constant traveling. His month-long holiday in the previous town had been incredibly beneficial for him, a period of focused work.

"You'll give me my royalty, Toppu. I also need my share from the film's profit," Jiraiya's voice boomed from the other room.

"Right you are, Jiraiya-sama. I'll deposit all of it in your account," the blonde man replied with a lopsided smile.

"Come, let's go, Gaki. Our work is done here," Jiraiya called out.

Naruto nodded and walked off with Jiraiya; they were moving towns again.

"You never told me how Dad developed his fuinjutsu. I get Mother's is Uzumaki style, but my father's seems quite different," Naruto asked.

"Yeah, well, your father was still a child when the war took Uzushio, so what he had as a guide was me and scrolls left in the village by Mito-sama, who taught Tobirama-sama," Jiraiya explained.

"But his style doesn't match the Uzumaki style. Mito-sama would have used the same style," Naruto said, confusion clearly visible on his face.

"She did. But neither Tobirama-sama nor I used it," Jiraiya said as they hit the road. "Tobirama-sama developed his own style, and I followed it. It was easier."

"What are you saying? The Uzumaki style is quite easy to understand," Naruto asked with a frown.

"Maybe, because you're an Uzumaki yourself. It must be easy," Jiraiya said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Naruto hummed as they walked on. They were in no rush to get to the next village; the distance was short enough to cover by foot in mere hours. The cold air seemed to pick up as the warm summer heat began to give way to cold winter mornings.

The northern borders of the Fire Country were already a precarious area. Grass Country served as a buffer state between Earth Country and Fire Country. After the truce, breaches and ceasefire violations had been rare, but they remained a possible threat.

The Rice Country, controlled by Orochimaru, wasn't that far off either, though Jiraiya's presence acted as a deterrent. It wasn't that Naruto was incapable, but he was still nowhere near Orochimaru's level.

Naruto could handle two or three jonin on his own, his fuinjutsu, speed, and shunshin giving him that advantage. He also had an ace in the hole: his Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and the toads.

The Storm Jutsu of the Uzumaki, however, hadn't been as helpful. It required adept mastery over both wind and water, and he was still refining his control over the wind element. Work on the water element was yet to begin, and he knew he needed to start that soon; his ancestors asked that much of him at the very least.

The Kyubi had remained silent throughout these months. Naruto didn't want to forcefully draw out its power, as it risked the leakage of the hatred the fox so dearly contained. It was better if they cooperated, or, ideally, if they had no contact at all and he never drew on the fox's chakra. He already possessed a mountain of his own chakra to utilize, after all.

However, Jiraiya wanted him to engage with the Kyubi, and had even tried to help him with that. But Naruto had a convenient excuse in the form of the Hirashin.

He was no closer to decoding its signature than he had been three months ago when he first took up the task. This truly showcased his father's brilliance and Tobirama's genius mind, highlighting the sheer intellect the Second Hokage held.

Naruto was growing to respect the man as much as he respected his father. Not only had the man invented the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Hirashin, he was also a master of Fuinjutsu. The journal attested to that.

He sat down near a tree, inscribing seals on a piece of tree bark he had picked from the ground. He threw it a short distance away, and water began pouring from it for about a minute before the seal hissed and died due to a lack of chakra.

Jiraiya glanced at the bark, but ignored it as the seal died down. He was more focused on the text he was copying. They reached the outskirts of the village and took a rest before entering the village and booking an inn for two weeks.

Jiraiya was now fully focused on Naruto's training, specifically attempting to teach him the Swamp of the Underworld. Despite Naruto's personal desire to master Fuuton: Great Breakthrough, he recognized the usefulness of the Doton jutsu. He was already proficient with Doton, so adding one more technique to his repertoire seemed a logical step.

Naruto hid behind a noodle shop stall, patiently waiting for his target. He was in a village in the Fire Country, tasked with arresting a man accused of sharing information with the Land of Earth. This was another mission directly from Tsunade, and Jiraiya had mentioned it would be their last before their training trip concluded.

Two more months had passed since Jiraiya began teaching him the Swamp Jutsu. Naruto had been making rapid improvements in his fuinjutsu, wind (fuuton) manipulation, and water manipulation. Fire and lightning elements, however, didn't seem to click with him beyond minimum requirements.

His work on Hirashin was progressing well now. While he hadn't fully cracked it yet, he was getting closer, all thanks to his shadow clones. Unfortunately, they still couldn't be used for body conditioning.

Jiraiya had advised him to use kunai for long-range fuinjutsu efficiency, and Naruto had seen a sketch of a kunai by Kushina in his father's journal. He knew he'd only be able to specially order their production once they reached Konoha. For now he used standard Kunai, they were good for now at least.

Naruto recognized the man as he walked through the street, relaxed and unaware of Naruto's scrutiny. His appearance-changing and silencing seals were already applied; he wouldn't be heard, and even if he was, the man wouldn't recognize him.

The man walked past him, and Naruto began trailing him, maintaining a safe distance. It took about half an hour before the man finally entered an alleyway that led to the red-light district. Naruto pounced. In an instant, the man was paralyzed, silenced, and hoisted onto Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto climbed the wall to reach the roof, then jumped forward and out of the village. The plan was to secure the man in a stasis seal and hand him over to an Anbu agent.

"The mission went smooth?" Jiraiya asked, checking over the man.

Naruto dropped the man, then unrolled an empty scroll. With a slight of hand, an inkwell and brush appeared from his pocket. It took him no more than two minutes to draw a stasis and sealing scroll. He dragged the man onto it and flared chakra into the seal. The man vanished into the scroll, and a Kanji mark for "man" appeared on its surface.

Naruto attached the scroll to his belt with a hook, and the duo sped off toward the location where the Anbu was expected.

Naruto eyed the vest in his hand with astonishment.

"Congratulations on your field promotion, gaki," Jiraiya said with a booming laugh.

Naruto looked up from the vest with a smile. He had never envisioned himself moving up the ranks, not this easily. He knew he had to advance to get better missions; his father had written about it.

Jiraiya seemed to know what Tsunade was up to, clearly having been a participant in the decision.

His father had also received a promotion, a field promotion just like this, during the height of the Second Great Ninja War.

He had thought he would need to take another exam to get promoted.

"You're a Chunin now, Naruto," Jiraiya said, patting his head. "I knew Tsunade was eyeing you for a promotion. Your mission record throughout this trip really benefited you. The council wanted to halt your promotion, but Tsunade must have forced it through."

"I'll thank her with my next message," Naruto said, his gaze returning to the Chunin vest. "Now, how should I wear this? I already have a jacket."

"I'll get you a few black and orange t-shirts to wear under this," Jiraiya waved him off.

"Baa-chan will give me more missions now, won't she?" Naruto asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"No, I told you this was your last mission until we return to the village," Jiraiya confirmed as they walked on. "How's Hirashin training coming along?"

"Understanding the Uzumaki style has given me a better grip on the whole formula," Naruto replied, turning slightly to face him as they walked. "My new style works around it well, but the main issue is the signature."

"What about the signature?" Jiraiya asked, intrigued.

"It works as an anchor. The summoning is activated by the sealing matrix, but the anchor is something that pulls it through," Naruto explained.

"It could be blood sealed into it," Jiraiya prompted, though he knew the answer couldn't be right. "Summoning needs blood, and if this anchor summons you, then the mechanics could be the same."

"No, it can't be. Blood is a sacrifice when summoning from other realms, not from the same plane," Naruto denied, his theoretical knowledge clearly impressing Jiraiya. "Chakra is the most correct conclusion I've come to, but it's nearly impossible for a part of your chakra to remain in the seal. As soon as it's activated, it would leak off." Naruto added, rubbing his chin in thought.

Jiraiya and Naruto walked for another few hours, eventually reaching the town where they were to collect their supplies. It was as they were leaving when Naruto suddenly piped up, "Contract seals, they could work."

Jiraiya looked at him, surprised. "Contract with what? Sure, it can hold chakra, but you would make a contract with what exactly?"

"That's something I need to find out," Naruto replied.

The next town they stopped in wasn't a very famous one. Nestled deep within the Land of Fire's expanse, a small town thrived, intricately embraced by a network of winding rivers. Its lifeblood flowed with the currents, providing sustenance and defense. Buildings, crafted from local timber and stone, huddled together, a testament to the community's resilience in their water-bound haven.

The inn they chose was modest, but their stay wouldn't be long. Naruto was far more focused on his fuinjutsu, particularly on the Hirashin and its secrets, along with the tools needed to achieve it.

The contract seal was eluding him. There was no further explanation in his father's journal about Hirashin because his father hadn't developed the jutsu from scratch. Instead, he had copied it from Tobirama and then developed it into his own unique style.

Naruto didn't have Tobirama's notes, and he wasn't returning to the village for the next six months. Plus, with his newfound Chunin rank, he'd have a pile of missions waiting for him upon his return. So, his best chance to fully focus on the Hirashin was right now.

He brainstormed the elements that could be sealed from a human body to create a lasting connection to an individual. Chakra, bloodline, maybe even clan markers like the Hyugas had, but what else?

It took him two days, but he found another option. The second fuinjutsu scroll he'd retrieved from Uzushio contained a few methods for sealing a soul.

There was a Reaper Death Seal that made him shiver; that seal was truly sinister. Another was mask sealing, which fascinated him for a moment. But the idea of sealing a person's soul inside a mask, holding it for eternity, was nauseating in itself. He now understood why his ancestors were so feared.

The third seal, however, gave him an idea. It talked about sealing one's presence away, like memories and essence. While the seal looked different from the one on the Hirashin, it seemed to offer the perfect explanation.

His father was a known sensor, as was the Second Hokage. Perhaps they could sense their own chakra in the seals and then activate the sealing matrix with a slow chakra flow. No, that was wrong; it was vice versa. They activated the matrix and then summoned themselves through their essence in the seal.

Naruto copied the seal onto paper, using his own unique style. The result looked eerily similar to the original, save for the parts he'd adapted from the Uzumaki style. He ran his chakra through it, just as his father's notes had instructed, trying to find a central point, but he couldn't.

He tried sitting cross-legged, standing stiffly, even using regulating chakra hand signs. Still, no center. He was stuck again.

"Why are you flailing like a fish out of water, gaki?" Jiraiya asked from the doorway.

Naruto looked up with a pout and passed his notes on Hirashin to Jiraiya. Jiraiya sat down, examining the seal, a stray paper, and an ink brush. He then copied the seal in his own style, which was Minato's style.

"Hmmm," Jiraiya hummed thoughtfully. "It seems you've cracked the seal. I still can't understand a part of it, but your notes seem quite detailed."

"Ugh, I just can't find it, Ero-sennin! It's like I can almost touch my essence, my aura, whatever you call it. My chakra curls right around it, but it's just there." Naruto threw his hands up in frustration.

"Have you tried... meditation?" Jiraiya prompted, barely suppressing a chuckle.

"Yeah, I did!"

"You did? You actually know how to?" Jiraiya asked, a hint of doubt, and that infuriating smirk0 playing on his lips.

A tick-mark pulsed on Naruto's forehead. "What do you take me for? An idiot?!"

"It's just not in your character, gaki. You're the hyperactive one," Jiraiya replied smoothly, his smirk widening.

"What do you take me as?" Naruto asked, irritated.

"Leave that be, sit down. Do as I tell you; your father used this method, and I think it's the key to your predicament," Jiraiya said.

Naruto grumbled but followed him, sitting down and crossing his legs.

"Now, regulate your chakra through your body, saturate it with chakra," Jiraiya instructed.

Naruto nodded, closing his eyes and focusing on his chakra. He regulated it, the continuous practice making it as easy as breathing.

"Focus on where your chakra pools, and examine the pooling reserve. That's where Minato said the secret was," Jiraiya explained.

Naruto did as he was told. He wasn't sure if it had been an hour, two, or even six hours, but when he opened his eyes, the sun was setting. Jiraiya was seated beneath a tree, a writing pad in his arm. Naruto looked down at the seal he had drawn and pushed the chakra he had collected from the source into it.

The seal shone bright yellow before subsiding into a different seal, one he was quite familiar with now: his own Hirashin seal.

This was his own formula. He could have used his father's formula to a certain limit, with a lot of ifs and buts involved, but with this breakthrough, his limitations were gone.

"I did it, Ero-sennin! I re-discovered my father's teleportation jutsu! And unlike his, I don't have to follow any limitations!" Naruto yelled, practically barreling into him with unbridled excitement.

Unfortunately for Naruto, his recent growth spurt had gifted him a few extra inches. And in his enthusiasm, his knee barreled right into the jaw of his unsuspecting master.

Jiraiya hit the ground with an undignified thump, his jaw swelling by the moment. Tears streamed from his eyes, not from sentimentality, but from sheer, unadulterated pain, as he flailed like a beached carp.

"Ah, crap! Sorry, Ero-sennin!" Naruto stammered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, already wincing at the inevitable lecture... or perhaps, just the raw agony radiating from Jiraiya.

Naruto threw another kunai, a paper seal wrapped around its hilt, and tried to teleport. No luck. His chakra coiled around him before dissipating into the air.

"Ya seem to struggle with this, gaki," Jiraiya said from the sidelines, a bandage wrapped around his head.

"I activate the seal on the kunai, activating the essence, but it doesn't call to me," Naruto replied with a frown. "It couldn't be substitution, because then my father would have replaced his seals, not appeared at them."

"I couldn't tell you anyhow, I never tried to recreate this," Jiraiya admitted.

Naruto nodded, focusing his chakra to regulate around his body for the change, and then threw another kunai. This time, he felt something. Without a stray thought, he jumped at it. He felt like someone had pushed him through a narrow tube forcefully, and he flew through the air as the kunai was still airborne.

Jiraiya closed one eye and grimaced at Naruto's collision before bursting out in laughter. "You should activate it when the kunai has landed, not in mid-air! Even Kushina wasn't that big of an idiot!"

Naruto couldn't reply as he bent down to heave out his breakfast, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. Now, he had to bathe and wash his tee. He sighed. At least he knew what he needed to do; now he just had to practice to perfect his control.

Naruto knew he had to perfect the Hirashin to the point where it was as easy as regulating his chakra. He also needed to focus on "seal touch," which is the ability to inscribe a seal by mere touch. His parents were capable of this; Kushina had several seals she could apply instantly, while his father had only his Hirashin.

Now it was up to Naruto to learn the same, though he figured it would take him a year, if not two, to master it. For now, his primary focus was on mastering his father's grandest jutsu, as it could be his ultimate ace in the hole.

He also had a list of seals that his father had planned to develop but never got the chance to. So, his days were already packed with training: wind manipulation, practicing Hirashin, developing his father's planned seals, and mastering the seals from the Uzumaki fuinjutsu scrolls. Yes, his days were definitely full.

As weeks passed and days gave way to night, Naruto's shadow clones proved to be an immense boon to his training. Practice and learning that would normally take weeks were now accomplished in mere days, further boosted by his expanding chakra reserves.

He was discovering that his control over wind manipulation could be phenomenal. While his control over water manipulation wasn't far behind, it seemed it could never reach the same peak.

His wind manipulation, on the other hand, was something truly remarkable. Jiraiya had taken it upon himself to teach him to master wind to a level only seen in the Wind Country.

Naruto also had a list of jutsu to learn from his father's journal, who also had a primary affinity for wind.

"You know, even your father didn't have such a strong affinity as you, gaki," Jiraiya said, shielding his eyes as wind whipped around Naruto.

Naruto was seated cross-legged, regulating his wind chakra as he would his normal chakra.

A tiny hurricane of wind had formed around him. He was attempting to mold his chakra to understand the capabilities of using it without hand-signs.

He wasn't disappointed. His work with the Rasengan had ingrained the instinct of chakra manipulation in him, and with the right practice, he could give it a tangible form.

The next morning came with promise of more traveling, his time outside the village was for numerous months only. He was to make full advantage of that, and they were moving closer to the leaf village as the months passed.

With four more months to pass, they were moving northwest in the Fire Country, getting closer to Keishi town. From there, it was Otofuki Gai, and then on to Konoha.

Ah, the sweet prospect of returning home. It had been nearly two years since he'd tasted the ramen of Old Man Ichiraku. Tears gathered in his eyes as he remembered the savory flavor.

"Hey, are you crying?" Jiraiya asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's been years since I last tasted the ramen of Old Man Ichiraku, I miss it," Naruto said, wiping his tears away.

"You sure are a strange one, for being so bright. I reckon Kushina's manner should show somewhere," Jiraiya muttered the last part to himself.

"Huh? Did you say something?" Naruto asked, tilting his head.

"Nothing. We're a week away from Keishi. It's one of the most populous cities in the Fire Country. We'll stay there for a week and then move on," Jiraiya said as he jumped through the trees. "It's a good tourist spot; you should wind down and relax."

Keishi Town presented a lively scene of traditional Japan, a busy center situated within the Land of Fire's green scenery. Its structures, mostly two or three stories tall, displayed classic designs with curved tiled roofs and detailed wooden screens. The town's core was a broad, stone-paved main road, carefully split into three clear parts.

The first part was full of activity, a diverse array of stalls selling all sorts of goods: the pleasant smell of street food mixed with the soothing scent of medicines, while colorful toys and well-made clothes drew people in.

Artisans demonstrated their crafts openly, from intricate pottery to delicate scroll painting, adding to the bustling atmosphere. Overlooking the town was a large fort, its impressive 100-foot-high walls standing strong, built from dark, polished stone that seemed to absorb the sunlight.

It was further reinforced with four smaller, Japanese-style forts positioned at each direction, their watchtowers always manned by vigilant guards.

The second part had a distinct energy, a stark contrast to the family-friendly atmosphere of the first. Here, hotels offered rest to tired travelers, their paper lanterns glowing warmly at dusk. But nearby, the enticing allure of casinos, with their constant hum of dice and clinking coins, beckoned those seeking fortune.

Tucked away down quieter lanes were the brothels, their entrances discreet yet hinting at hushed privacy. An expansive shopping area provided a wide range of products for every need, from exotic silks imported from distant lands to finely crafted ninja tools. The air here was alive with chatter, laughter, and the occasional burst of revelry, particularly as evening descended.

The third part was dedicated to nature: a calm river valley that offered a tranquil escape from the town's urban heart. The river, wide and welcoming, was bustling with movement. Fishing boats dotted the still waters, their occupants patiently waiting for fish, often sharing stories and quiet banter. Along its banks, families picnicked under ancient trees, while others enjoyed relaxed boating trips, gracefully gliding across the surface.

The sound of water gently lapping against the shore and the distant calls of waterfowl provided a peaceful contrast to the lively core of Keishi Town, making it a place where both commerce and calm coexisted.

Naruto had never seen a town quite like Keishi. Konoha and Suna were large, but this city truly felt like the heart of the Land of Fire. They booked an inn for the month, and predictably, Jiraiya rushed off to the nearest bar or brothel, whichever caught his attention first.

For the first time in months, Naruto dropped his luggage in his room, took a shower, and changed into a fresh t-shirt. He was out of the room quickly, heading straight for the shopping district.

Thanks to his recent high-ranked mission pay, Gama-chan was fuller than ever. He needed some new clothes, as his shinobi wear was getting roughened up by constant training. He definitely needed a few new sets of attire.

The shop he entered was moderately priced. He picked up several sets of black and orange t-shirts, both half and full-sleeved, for missions.

He also bought some training clothes and a bag full of shirts and trousers for casual wear. It barely made a dent in Gama-chan's reserves, so he moved on toward the food stalls.

After enjoying a cup of average ramen, a stick of dango, and a plate of riceballs, he was back to roaming.

He entered a souvenir shop and found a polished black wooden shogi board that looked quite expensive. Shikamaru would definitely like it, he thought, and promptly bought it.

Naruto looked around but found nothing else of interest for himself. He knew girls liked clothes; his father had written as such, and he wanted to buy something for Sakura. So, he moved on to another shop and found what he needed. As much as he remembered, Sakura liked her dresses in red. He picked two dresses for her: one casual and one shinobi wear.

Naruto wasn't particularly close to Kiba or his team; the dog boy had always been more of a rival than anything else. Nor was he close to Ino. However, he had bought a few unique flavored chips for Chouji, placing them in a stasis seal so they wouldn't go bad.

For Kakashi, Naruto had managed to get his hands on the first edition of Icha Icha, signed by Jiraiya himself. The book wasn't even due to hit the market until after they'd returned to the village, making it a truly special gift for his perverted sensei.

Naruto roamed around Keishi some more, even trying his hand at a few games. However, the hosts quickly figured out he was a shinobi and barred him from competing, recognizing the unfair advantage his training gave him.

His next option was the casino. While he wasn't addicted to gambling like Baa-chan, he was curious to see how his luck would play out. Was he lucky or unlucky? Turns out, he was lucky enough to double his savings after only two games.

He pondered why this kind of luck didn't seem to apply to his actual life, which had obviously been anything but lucky until now.

It was midnight when Jiraiya finally returned to their room, smelling of booze and female perfume. Naruto was already on his bed, engrossed in the Uzumaki sealing scrolls on his lap, the ancient knowledge continuing to captivate him.

The next morning, he set out to find a blacksmith who could forge his father's trademark kunai. He had the sketch ready to place an order, but after searching for a while, he couldn't find any blacksmith specializing in kunai forging.

Swords, spears, tantos, and even kusarigama were available, but they weren't chakra-conductive. It was clear these weapons were intended for civilians and common guards.

Disappointed, he bought a few tantos, and a kusarigama to work on himself. Inscribing seals on metal was hard, but he had trained for this. If he was successful, he could easily apply the same techniques to chakra-conductive metals later.

The week was spent inscribing seals on these weapons. He found that while the seals worked on normal metal, they required a constant, taxing influx of chakra, making them unconventional for practical use.

Chakra-conductive metals, in contrast, absorbed excess chakra that leaked from their user and used it as a battery. The tanto and kusarigama he had worked on were now quite sturdy and sharper than usual, self-sharpening seals inscribed clearly on the metal.

"Ero-sennin! Check these out!" Naruto burst into their shared room, practically shoving a tanto and a kusarigama into the Sannin's unsuspecting hands.

The weapons gleamed, covered in inscribed seals, pristine and unfamiliar. "I've been combining some of Uzumaki seals with my own! These weapons have sturdiness, sharpness, and self-sharpening seals! Try 'em!"

Jiraiya blinked, then slowly, carefully, held the gleaming-but-suspicious blades away from his body. His mind, faster than a Konoha Chunin on payday, flashed back to a Tuesday morning. Kushina. A "chakra-amplified cleaning solution" seal. And Jiraiya spending three hours trying to peel himself off the ceiling of his own bathroom. Or that time Minato, bless his earnest heart, tried a "paperwork acceleration" seal that just made all the documents spontaneously combust.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, gaki!" Jiraiya stammered, holding the kusarigama at arm's length.

Naruto looked up curiously.

"Seals, huh? Your seals? Look, I love ya, kid, but my personal history with Uzumaki 'experiments' usually ends with me requiring extensive medical attention or, at best, a very awkward explanation to the ladies." He eyed a particular seal on the tanto. "Is this going to make me sprout extra limbs? Or perhaps turn my hair green? Because I'm already quite distinguished, thank you very much."

Naruto just grinned, oblivious. "Nah, nothing like that! These are for, like, fighting! Imagine, you cut something, and it just gets sharper! No more dull blades."

Jiraiya visibly paled. "Self-sharpening, you say? Last time I heard 'self-something' it was from a certain red-haired terror, and my eyebrows haven't quite grown back correctly since! What if it oversharpens? Do I accidentally shave my own head mid-battle?" He sighed dramatically.

"Calm down, Ero-sennin, they are not chakra conductive. The seals will not overpower, even if you try," Naruto replied.

"Alright, fine. But if I accidentally slice a tree in half just by hooking at it, you're explaining it to the inn-keeper. And more importantly, you owe me premium sake for a month!" He clutched the kusarigama, a gleam in his eye despite his apprehension. "Hmm, unlimited sharpness, you say? Could be useful for... research."

The next day, Naruto found quite a number of trees cut down, and a nearby bathhouse in a similar, unfortunate condition. He quickly learned the lesson that perhaps his reckless godfather was not to be trusted to try his seals responsibly, just like himself. The master and student were truly a disaster in human form.

They had to change inns, and the tanto and kusarigama were promptly sealed away in a scroll. Naruto figured he'd probably hand them over to Tsunade for a few bucks—that was another lesson he'd learned from both Jiraiya and his father: if you're good at something, don't be a fool; use it to your advantage.

Their month in Keishi passed in a blur after the "self-sharpening" incident. Naruto's fuinjutsu grew at an incredible pace, and the large town kept him engaged. His physical training was already at a bare minimum; Jiraiya wanted him to enjoy the last few days of their trip, recognizing that Naruto's growth was already exponential.

His wind manipulation was developing nicely. Jiraiya had advised him to integrate Shunshin more into his repertoire and not abandon it after mastering Hirashin. Naruto's speed was now easily at a jonin level. He had also been working on a new resistance seal, which now matched his father's lowest level.

Shima had been pleased with his calligraphy months ago and had stopped his training there. Paa had mentioned something that he thought would benefit Naruto, but felt the boy wasn't ready for it yet.

All in all, Naruto was a far better shinobi than Jiraiya had envisioned him being after the trip. The journal was a boon, and Jiraiya still thanked Minato for that. However, struggling years lay ahead. Orochimaru had been moving constantly, and the Akatsuki had become more active in recent months.

Tsunade was eager to bring the fellow blonde back, and she also desperately needed his spy networks. The news coming out of Rain Country was dire, and Jiraiya felt his days as a hermit were quickly drawing to a close. With no Hiruzen Sensei to handle Konoha while he gallivanted, he was now more focused on getting back to the village.

The rain poured down on the metal building, creating a constant din that Itachi never liked. Rain Country, aptly named, was a place of perpetual downpour, making the area seemingly uninhabitable. Yet, a village flourished, or rather, survived within it.

The old salamander, Hanzo, had been a cruel, dictatorial leader. But could he say his successor was any better? Definitely not. Pain embodied everything the old salamander was, and more.

The only thing that reassured Itachi was that Pain seemingly loved his people. He wanted them to prosper, but he stifled them with the strict curfews he imposed.

The Rain Village was a labyrinth, a maze controlled by the orange-haired man. Or that's how it seemed. Itachi wasn't called a once-in-a-generation genius for nothing; he had felt the cold chakra emitted by the rods. He knew what that meant, but he stayed silent.

He stayed silent for a lot of things, as he could. His partner liked that about him. Kisame Hoshigaki was not your average shinobi.

The "tailless tailed beast" was named as such for a reason; his blue, shark-like skin was formidable, repelling chakra burns and cuts. The monster of the Hidden Mist was a true beast in himself, and there were few who could outmatch him.

Yet, this Pain did so effortlessly. Whoever was behind that moniker was a god in himself, and he thought of himself as such too, Itachi reflected. He had heard of gods and devils, and although Pain was a formidable foe, he was far from a god.

Itachi observed the situation. Madara had been absent lately. Pain had sent him to capture Orochimaru, a slippery snake of a Sannin for a reason. Itachi himself had caught the man in a Genjutsu years back, but he knew the bastard wouldn't allow that to happen again.

Yet, Orochimaru now had Sasuke, and it even seemed he had fashioned a Sharingan for himself.

Itachi's skin itched to kidnap Sasuke and hide him away from the snake Sannin, but he couldn't let those thoughts overpower him. What the world had in store for the two brothers required his otōto to be strong, and Orochimaru would certainly ensure that strength, but for his own benefit.

Madara was skilled and probably stronger than—definitely stronger than Kisame—but he was far beyond Orochimaru. The man had learned stealth from Jiraiya, and the hermit sage was renowned for his prowess.

"Leader-sama has called us. Madara has returned. Orochimaru had escaped to a civil war in my former village, it seems," Kisame said with a cruel grin.

"Orochimaru would never be caught if he doesn't want to. Konoha was unable to do it. We'll be the same," Itachi said monotonously.

Kisame's smile flickered. "Madara-sama is not Leaf. Your precious Sandaime was too lax."

Itachi nodded, not refuting his claim. "Let's not wait then."

The chamber they entered was circular, with eight of them standing around. Zetsu rose from his location like a weed. Madara was nowhere to be seen, but Itachi felt his presence.

"Gather around, we've some news to share," Pain's voice echoed around the room.

"Our reserves are at the level where we could begin the Moon Plan. We've waited for this for years, and now the time has come," Konan said.

"I wanted more of us to be here, but quality is better than quantity," Pain added.

Sasori of the Red Sand was visibly preening, as was Deidara. Hidan was surprisingly silent, while Kakuzu listened with a bored expression.

"We are to move now. Itachi and Hoshigaki are to track the Four-Tails. He is a wandering hermit; find him in seclusion." They nodded.

"Hidan and Kakuzu, track the Two-Tails. She's protected by the Eight-Tails and the Raikage," Pain instructed.

"Now for Sasori and Deidara, you're on the move. Track the One-Tail, lure him out of the village and capture him." Sasori nodded while Deidara looked thoughtful. "I'll summon the statue and seal the One-Tails."

"Zetsu, reconnaissance," Pain ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. "Track him and report to Sasori." The plant-like creature gave a silent, eerie smile before sinking into the ground.

"Orochimaru is still at large. It's confirmed that he has a Sharingan," Pain continued, turning his attention to the remaining members.

"Only one, not a pair?" Itachi asked, his own Mangekyo remaining hidden. He already suspected the answer.

"No. We thought he planned to take over Uchiha Sasuke's body, but it seems they worked around it," Pain elaborated. "They've escaped to Kiri, in the midst of their civil war. He'll resurface, and when he does, I want you, Hoshigaki, to kill him."

A shark-like smirk spread across Kisame's face. "With pleasure, Leader-sama."

Tsunade eyed the missive on her desk, Kakashi standing silently beside the wooden furniture.

"He's returning in two months," Tsunade said, as Shizune meticulously arranged papers into two piles: one for consideration, the other for signing.

"It seems," Kakashi murmured. "I've heard he made it into the Bingo Book."

Tsunade looked up, clearly annoyed. "That's precisely why I forbade him from taking more missions. The Tea Country didn't appreciate his handiwork." She then passed him the new edition, opened to a page with no images.

(:-:)

Name: Unknown- Use aliases

Age: 14-15

Affiliation: Konohagakure

Aliases: None

Appearance: Unknown- Use disguises.

Rank: B

Prowess:-

Taijutsu- B rank,

Ninjustu- C rank,

Genjutsu- D rank,

Fuinjutsu- A rank,

Shuriken-jutsu- A rank,

Caution: The target is skilled in fuinjutsu, and stealth-specialist. Expert in shunshin, and Earth Manipulation.

(:-:)

Bounty- 8,80,000 ryo- Dead or alive.

Bounty- Tea country- 1,20,000- Dead or alive.

(:-:)

Kakashi whistled. "10 million ryo, that's some bounty. Mine is 45 million, and Asuma's is 35, and Gai has accumulated 42 million."

"Jiraiya has 53 million and mine 58," Tsunade said proudly, "but nobody ever tries, so we've let it go. I remember Minato had somewhere around 64, and Kushina had 60 million on her head."

Shizune looked at them, shaking her head at their comparing bounties like kids counted toys.

"Moving along, you are to test him and Sakura. He's been given a field promotion to the rank of Chunin, but I want him measured," Tsunade said. She'd been training the pinkette and was in no mood to lose to Jiraiya.

"Why not ask Jiraiya?" Kakashi asked with a bored look.

"He sings his praises just like he did with his father. You'll test him. You're his former sensei, Kakashi," Tsunade replied.

"Huh? Praise from Jiraiya-sama, those are hard to earn. Has he improved that much?" Kakashi mused.

"It seems we'll find out in two months. Be ready, Hatake, you'll be responsible."

Kakashi nodded, saluting her lazily before vanishing.

Tsunade was left to the paperwork, a mountain of it. How she cursed Naruto; he had sweet-talked her into this.

Disclaimer: All right reserved to Kishimoto.