I stored away the Rings of Might and went to check on Yoruichi since, after I am done helping her with Shunkō, I am leaving. When I thought about returning to Konoha, my stomach churned, but it was unfortunately necessary, as just leaving it for good right now would be too much trouble. Trouble I am not yet equipped to handle.
I was frustrated that after getting a taste of being treated somewhat normally and not hated almost everywhere, the first time in this life, my resentment for the village grew in magnitude. The higher-ups that let the status quo continue despite the fact that I am no longer a Jinchūriki, the bastards in the dark who spread the information in the first place, and the villagers who treated me like I was less than human, I truly hated them all. I was just a kid now and did no wrong aside from being in the wrong place at the wrong time as an easy scapegoat or tool to be used.
I took a deep breath, and as much as I want to burn the village to the ground, I can't, at least not yet. Too much is different compared to the Canon of the Original Naruto, with probably the most significant being Jiraiya serving as the Fifth Hokage now. Orochimaru may not dare come after Konoha with his Konoha Crush Plan for the village. I will take things one step at a time for now, my body is loaded with raw power after my Body Tempering.
I had high Chakra Control, Mastery over Lightning, Wind, and Fire Nature Transformation, a lethal Taijutsu Style, and a decent mastery over using a spear. Overall, my time training has been fruitful, but after I graduate in the next two months from the Academy, if I even want to, things will start to pick up regardless. I had sent out Shadow Clones to pick up information, and the Akatsuki is very real and is a similar, if not the same kind of group as in the Canon.
The Hidden Sand is at a steep decline and is undoubtedly under pressure. I couldn't enter Suna directly, but the nomads that wander the desert and the Wind Capital residents provided enough to at least speculate a clearer picture. The Land of Water is in turmoil, from what I could gather, the Hidden Mist was still fighting amongst themselves. I didn't have an interest in other lands that I wasn't willing to take a risk, especially the Land of Rice Patties, where Orochimaru had a Daimyo funding him if the Canon held true in any way.
I was lost in my thoughts as I wander to Yoruichi to see how she is handling her Lightning Nature Transformation exercise. The dark-skinned Kuniochi was trying her best to break down the stone with Lightning Nature. Arcs of electricity danced off her fingers and palm as she held the stone. She had a look of complete concentration on her task.
I smiled as I knew Yoruichi was a genius, most would assume using Lightning Nature to cut the stone would be the way. However, the point of the exercise is to break down molecular bonds, starting with the weakest and moving on to stronger bonds. The dark-skinned Kuniochi's understanding of Chakra Theory was in line with my own, plus she clearly researched how electricity worked, like me.
Yoruichi was definitely a genius, as most wouldn't consider doing that much study to improve and create Lightning Style Ninjutsu. I got comfortable and patiently watched over her. Hours ticked away, and I was starting to get hungry, but I admired and respected the dark-skinned Kuniochi's focus. I went and made some riceballs for us to eat, and I called out to her.
" Yoruichi-san, lunch break!"
She ignored me, or rather, she didn't hear me, as her focus is unrelenting. I walked up to Yoruichi and... chopped her on the head.
" Ow! What the heck, Naruto!?"
I gave her lunch and said curtly.
" Eat. An empty stomach doesn't help you."
" But I'm not-.!"
A rumble was heard from the dark-skinned Kuniochi's stomach, and she dropped all protests. She quietly devoured her rice balls before asking me.
" Naruto, how did you even come up with this concept? My grandfather, the Third Raikage, was a genius comparable to Tobirama of the Hidden Leaf when it came to Lightning Style. None of his notes even entertained breaking down molecular bonds."
" Lightning Style counters Earth Style through the impurities of the in the Earth Style of its Ninjutsu, so I just took it further."
Yoruichi just looked at me exasperated and started quietly muttering that I didn't bother to listen to. What I told her wasn't the whole truth because I knew of electrolysis from my past life. I changed the subject.
" By the way, Yoruichi-san, I have a gift for you."
She looked at me with a curious expression and asked.
" What sort of gift?"
I took out the Eight Rings of Might, and Yoruichi had a playful smirk as she said.
" How bold, proposing to me after knowing me for a few months!"
My eye twitched, and I retorted.
" If you don't want them, then I guess I'll just melt them down."
I was about to put away the Rings and seriously consider melting them down when the dark-skinned Kuniochi stopped me.
" Hey, now, I'm just kidding! But what's with the rings, seriously?"
I snorted as I explained their functions while putting them on.
" First, you can enter a Summoning Contract with them by dripping your blood on them. Second, each ring has a separate Chakra Storage Seal on them, and filled, they give you a total Chakra reserve comparable to Jinchūriki and maybe one of the weaker Tailed Beasts. Thirdly..."
I infused my Chakra into the rings, and eight spikes of Chakra appeared on the rings, they resembled the Chakra sabers from Boruto.
" They can form something I call Chakra sabers that can stab and slash through steel. Lastly, they can create a wide frontal shield of Chakra that can stop anything at or below A-Rank Ninjutsu in power if you have enough Chakra."
I formed a shield of Chakra in front of me, then after it dissipated, I explained one more function as I removed them.
" They also have a size adjustment seal linked to the Summon Contract, so once you drip your blood on them, only you can wear them. They can only have one Summon Contract at a time, and the current one, yours, won't disappear until you die."
Yoruichi's jaw dropped and she eyed the rings in astonishment. She gulped and told me.
" Naruto, do you have any idea what you have made?"
" A masterpiece for your exclusive use."
" Yeah, a masterpiece is one word for it, but another is National Treasure. Shinobi will start wars for these rings; even just the Chakra storage alone makes them invaluable. Having reserves comparable to Jinchūriki or Tailed Beasts guarantees S-Ranking for any decently skilled Shinobi. And their offensive and defensive capabilities push their value further, as a Shinobi would only need Taijutsu to be a complete menace on the battlefield with these."
" And their yours."
I pushed the rings toward her. She eyes the rings and sighs with a wry smile.
" Naruto, I can't accept these, they're too valuable, and if it gets out you made them, you will never know peace, you will always be under the threat of kidnapping or even assassination."
" Yoruichi, I made them for only you and me, and I can take care of myself. And the fact that you show me such consideration only reinforces that I made the right choice."
" Why, just why?"
Yoruichi looked at me with an expression I had never seen on her, lost and confused. I smiled and said.
" Because your one of the few people I actually give a damn about and I don't want you to die one the battlefield ever! When I was suffering from the expulsion of my toxins and dead cells, you could've easily just let me suffer my mistake, but you didn't, and that means more to me than you know!"
The dark-skinned Kuniochi just shook her head in wry amusement and said.
" Fine, I'll accept them, you knucklehead, and won't say where I got them, not even to my father."
She then looks at me with a serious expression and asks.
" Naruto, just who in the world are you? I wasn't kidding, these rings arguably surpass the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist."
I held nothing back.
" I am Naruto Uzumaki, son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. My Mother was the Last Uzumaki Princess before the Uzumaki Clan's demise. I am the former Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox."
Yoruichi's jaw dropped again, and I laughed at her dumbfounded expression.
________________________________________
Yoruichi was stunned to say the least, and she had so many questions. However, one thing that stuck out the most to her was the former Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox.
" How are you still alive!? A Jinchūriki losing their Tailed Beast means death!"
" I have no idea why I am still alive, just am."
Naruto's blunt answer made her sigh, and she realized, despite his identity, the blonde was still the same Naruto she had come to know. The dark-skinned Kuniochi then said with a hint of exasperation.
" I have so many questions."
" Then ask, I am not going anywhere today."
The blonde nonchalantly said as he found himself a rock to sit on and made himself comfortable. Seeing that Naruto was serious about not going anywhere, Yoruichi decided to be patient and ask her questions one at a time.
"Since you are here to train, does the Hidden Leaf know?"
" Nope, I left Shadow Clones to take my place, and I use my summons to replace them every couple of days."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi looked at the now possible rogue ninja and continued her questions after taking a seat herself.
" Okay, you're the son of the Fourth Hokage and now former Jinchūriki, so why leave your village to train without informing them?:
" Only the higher-ups and Clan Leaders know my identity as the son of the Fourth Hokage, but the rest of the village doesn't know, but they all know I am the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and still believe I am."
Yoruichi frowned as she heard enough stories about how her Uncle B how was treated by the village before they accepted him to understand how Naruto was likely treated. Another question appeared, in her mind, and she asked.
" Do you hate the Hidden Leaf?"
" With all my heart."
There was no falsehood, no filter, no restraint, in the hatred and resentment of Naruto's voice. It honestly sent a chill down Yoruichi's spine to see the pure resentment, in his eyes, and she would pity Konoha if it weren't karma at its finest. She sighed deeply and then asked.
" What do you intend to do? With the Hidden Leaf?"
" Kill a few people who had a hand in my suffering, either through their actions or inaction. Snatch their Jutsu, their Scroll of Sealing, and wash my hands of it as it can burn for all I care."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi was thrown off at the complete casualty and certainty in the blonde's answer. She realized he had been planning this for a while and made an offer.
" How about coming to Kumo, then we-."
" No. I am not trading one master for another. I will carve out my own place and decide how I live and die."
Naruto completely cut off Yoruichi, and she felt something unexpected, envy. She was envious because the freedom he sought appealed to her more deeply than she thought possible. As the Heiress of the Shihouin Clan and daughter of the Fourth Raikage, her life is filled with expectations and duty that make her feel like she is slugging through a swamp at times.
The dark-skinned Kuniochi took a moment to center herself by asking the blonde.
" How?"
" I have a few ideas, but the Land of Iron appeals to me the most. Being disconnected from the wars of the Shinobi World sounds like a welcome change, and I already have a few offers that would appeal to them."
Yoruichi realized just how serious Naruto was about making a place of his own and leaving the path of the Shinobi behind to find or make it. Another pang of envy hit her, this time, it was for his determination to decide his path and see it through.
" Can I-."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi stopped herself from asking if she could join him; she still had a sense of responsibility instilled in her. This didn't go unnoticed by the blonde, and he answered her unasked question.
" Yes. You will always be welcomed in my home."
Yoruichi looked up at Naruto, in surprise, and she gripped her dark leggings. She controlled herself and asked.
" Do you understand what that means, to take me in? It will make your life infinitely more complicated, my father wouldn't brand me a Rogue Ninja, but he would let me go, and neither would the Daimyo's court either."
" Yoruichi, do you think I am ignorant about what you are talking about? I may pretend to deny you being a court lady, but that's just to poke fun at you. In this world, strength is the biggest factor, and I have yet to reach my peak, but I will regardless. You are the first person I care about without hiding who I am, and that means more to me than you could ever know."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi then said something that would change her fate.
" You better keep your word, Naruto."
" Of course."
________________________________________
The following day, after a long talk that took up all of yesterday, Naruto had packed up and was ready to leave. Yoruichi was sorry to see him go but understood the need.
" Are you sure I can't convince you to stay or leave the Hidden Leaf early? You may want payback, but it's not the most important thing to you."
At her question, he answered honestly.
" Revenge may not be my main priority, but there are some things I need to do no matter what before washing my hands of Konoha."
" I know... be safe and don't forget your promise."
" Don't worry, I will not take anything lightly, and I keep my promises."
The blonde turned to leave, and before he could take another step, the dark-skinned Kuniochi called out.
" One more thing, Naruto."
" What?"
Naruto was then surprised at suddenly getting a kiss on the cheek, it had been... too long since he felt any real affection outside his summons. Tenten and Hinata did not count because in the end they could never understand his resentment toward the village or intent for revenge, while his summons and now Yoruichi did. She then disappeared with a chuckle and sly smile like she successfully pulled off a prank.
The blonde just had a wry smile as he felt lighter, than before, like a weight he didn't even know he had fallen off him. The dark-skinned Kuniochi slipped away, touching her lips as she avoided confronting him for now. She didn't plan for this originally, but she felt the idea pop in her head and acted on it.
Naruto started leaving the Lightning Rod Mountains with a pleasant mood that he had in this life until now. He hummed as he walked and processed this feeling as he was exiting the mountains and entering the nearby forest. While lost in thought, a shadow appeared and rushed him from behind.
The sound of metal clashing against metal could be heard. Yoruichi's bodyguard and friend, Soi Fon, tried to stab Naruto with her tanto, but she couldn't pierce his tough steel-like body. The blonde's good mood faded slightly as he growled.
" I am only going to say this once. Don't test my patience while I am in a good mood."
" You are trespassing."
The petite bodyguard retorted as she withdrew and examined her now chipped tanto. She frowned and wondered internally.
" What in the heck is he made of!?"
Unbeknownst, to Yoruichi, her two friends are about to try and kill each other.