Yoruichi stretched as she woke up in Naruto's camp; it had been a week now since she decided to keep watch on the blonde while also enjoying the unexpected luxuries in his camp. Compared to the dark and dank cave that protected her from the constant lightning storms, his camp was a resort—good food, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and, most importantly, a hot bath.
The dark-skinned Kuniochi went to the kitchen tent to see what Naruto was cooking for breakfast.
" Morning."
One of the blonde's Shadow Clones called out to Yoruichi, and she just nodded in reply. She was weirded out at first at the autonomy of the Shadow Clones but got used to it as they were essentially the same person. The dark-skinned Kuniochi soon reached the kitchen tent and saw a classic (Japanese) breakfast set out for her. She saw Naruto was in the middle of grilling more fish, and she greeted him.
" Morning, Naruto-kun."
" Morning, Yoruichi-san."
The blonde replied without looking back as he flipped one of the fish to the grill on the other side. The dark-skinned Kuniochi clapped her hands together and gave a small thanks before eating.
" Thanks for the food."
She immediately went for the fish and expertly took it apart while eating it with her rice. Then, she washed it down with her miso soup. While not as good as what her mother's chefs prepare for her, it was average at best, but that appealed to her more than trying to understand complex flavors and textures.
Yoruichi called out to Naruto.
" Seconds, please."
" The rice is over there, along with the miso soup. The fish still need a few minutes."
The blonde pointed at the prepared extra food as he and the dark-skinned Kuniochi both ate a lot. Yoruichi gave herself some generous seconds as she enjoyed the novelty of self-serving herself because even her father had someone to serve them at his Clan Compound. Naruto soon fished, grilling the fish, and set them out to be eaten at their leisure.
After eating their fill, both went about tackling their individual training as they had healed up. Naruto drew lightning to strike him and absorb it, while Yoruichi drew in lightning that had already struck the ground. The dark-skinned Kuniochi's body tempering was undoubtedly safer, but its effects were slower and less effective than getting directly struck by lightning.
After absorbing her tenth residue lightning bolt, Yoruichi called it a day and returned to Naruto's camp. She tossed off her clothes and immediately dipped into the oil drum bath as one was always prepped and ready to be used during the day. The dark-skinned Kuniochi sighed in contentment as a hot bath after training was perfect.
" You know, I am not sure if we should feel insulted or flattered by how nonchalant you are with stripping down."
One of the Shadow Clones said after gathering up; Yoruichi dropped to the ground without any care. The dark-skinned Kuniochi smirked as she wasn't shy about her body as she teased the Shadow Clone.
" Oh, come now, you enjoy it regardless. In this world, you never know when your last day is going to be."
Yoruichi said as she crossed her arms under her chest to emphasize her large breasts. The Shadow Clone just rolled his eyes and dropped the dark-skinned Kuniochi's clothes to the edge of the tent, away from the bath. Whether the original or his Shadow Clones, women are the last thing on his mind since the possible end of the world is on the horizon. Strength and Power came first before anything else.
Women and relationships are just luxurious distractions that can't be afforded right now. Yoruichi only saw Naruto's indifference as a fun challenge as back in the Hidden Cloud or the Lightning Daimyo's Court, teasing and making others fools of themselves with just a casual peek of her privates was far too easy. However, the dark-skinned Kuniochi's teasing was also a means of trying to gauge the blond.
" So you bat for the other team, then?"
Yoruichi asked with a playful smile, and the Shadow Clone just quietly flipped her off; the gesture went over her head as she had never seen it before but assumed it meant something rude. This only made her grin as she was enjoying finding Naruto's buttons to push.
" Is that a yes then?"
She asked with a not-so-innocent tone, and the Shadow Clone warned her casually.
" If you keep this up, you're going to find yourself outside this camp, unable to return. It wouldn't be hard to recalibrate the barrier to bar your entry."
" Now, now, no need to be angry; I'm just curious."
The Shadow Clone gave Yoruichi a dry look and just left to fulfill its duties. The dark-skinned Kuniochi thought to herself.
" If his Shadow Clones are any indication, then Naruto is a fairly serious individual and takes a no-nonsense attitude."
She had been approaching different Shadow Clones to test different things to gather information on Naruto. Her ultimate goal is to figure out whether or not the blonde is a threat or a possible ally. Overall, the dark-skinned Kuniochi has learned that Naruto is a bit on the strange side and desperate for strength.
Yoruichi approached Naruto's private tent to see Jim sweating profusely l while grimacing in pain. She knew he was performing another step in the Poison Rebirth Manual. She then thought for the umpteenth time.
" He's insane."
This was dark-skinned Kuniochi's honest opinion, as just following one body tempering manual was a commitment. Still, three was practically suicide, and yet here before her was a blonde dumb enough to do it anyway. She watched him, half-expecting him to drop dead from the poison in his system. Minutes turned to hours as the blonde's pained expression subsided.
Naruto looked up to see Yoruichi watching him with a complicated expression, but he didn't ask why she was watching him and got up to enter the blood cauldron next. The blonde was unsteady on his feet but kept moving forward, and the dark-skinned Kuniochi sighed as she wondered what was going through his head. He entered the blood cauldron and winced as he was being boiled alive.
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I let out a shuddering sigh as I exited the boiling blood and saw my body boiled red like a lobster. I noticed Yoruichi watching me with an expression that said that I was insane, and I didn't think she was completely wrong. After all, I am balancing along a knife's edge to temper my body, and a single mistake means death, but what else is new? I am going to die one way or another; it's just a matter of when and the number of regrets I have when I do.
I have come to enjoy her company despite her attempts to fish information out of me, as unlike most people in Konoha, she doesn't hate my guts. Hinata and Tenten are alright, but I always had to hide my hate, frustration, and resentment toward the village from them as they couldn't understand. It's not a matter of will or wouldn't; they can't understand the feeling of being hated by most people for something beyond my control despite the fact the original reason is no longer relevant.
I washed off the blood from my body, then used the Medical Examination Jutsu to see if there was anything to worry about, and again, I was met with an all-clear: no blood-borne diseases, no cancerous growths, and no irreparable harm to my body. My bones and muscles are becoming denser and more compact without losing flexibility. With my Breathing Style, I am reaching Total Concentration Breathing, and my lung capacity has at least tripled.
Overall, I am making progress, but I still worry it's not enough, as what I am going up against is not to be taken lightly. Obito with his delusions, Madara with his ridiculous brand of peace, Black Zetsu with his manipulation and planning, and Kaguya with her raw power that had no equal. Let's not get started on the mess with the Boruto Generation, Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki and his minion, Kara, the sentient divine trees, and who knows what else that might appear.
I couldn't help but sigh as there really wasn't anyone I could count on, but I had a few ideas for possible allies. However, explaining all this possible future mess could put me in a straight-jacket, if not worse. While the Fox Clan has my back because I am their summoner, I worry it's not enough. A small part of me hopes I am just being paranoid, and all this training is for nothing, but I couldn't take chances on a maybe.
I shook my head to try to drive away these doubts and mutter myself.
" I need to be stronger, no matter what."
I went to get work on lunch, and I decided to recreate a familiar dish from my past life that made for good comfort food: chili. I accidentally made chili sauce when trying to make pizza sauce when blending different herbs and spices once and wrote down the recipe. I prepped the chili powder, got my onions and garlic minced, plus some green peppers for an extra bit of flavor, some black soybeans, tomato paste, and ground chicken.
I just need to cook the chicken first, then add it to the sauce. The familiar smell of chili filled me with nostalgia, and I got some rice ready. I would've preferred some yeast rolls to go with it, but rice is the main grain stable in this world, and while there is bread, it doesn't have the right flavor or texture that I am looking for. Yoruichi showed up and looked over my shoulder as she asked.
" What are you making?"
" Something I came up with, but if it's not to your taste, I will make you some rice balls instead."
" Let me have a taste first."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi dared to try and stick her finger in the chili, and I swatted her hand. I glared at her for trying to mess with my comfort food, as the chili was more for me than anything. She gave me a mischievous smile as she used the Body Flicker Jutsu to try and sample the chili with her bare hand. I swatted at her hand again, but this time, she evaded my smack and kept trying to snag a bite of the chili without asking.
I knew this was just a game to Yoruichi, but it still rubbed me the wrong way as it wasn't done yet, and she could've just asked. After minutes of playing keep away with the dark-skinned Kuniochi, she finally stopped trying to stick her finger in my chili. After the chili finished cooking, I gave her a small bowl for her to try, but I wasn't optimistic about her liking it. This world mainly used Japanese and some Chinese cuisine culture, and what I went with was American, which was a big melting pot with regional flavors.
I carved some wooden spoons since chopsticks weren't going to cut it while eating chili. I smiled as I enjoyed the first bite and felt nostalgia; the black soybeans had a different flavor, but they were still good. I saw Yoruichi getting seconds already since I was taking my time to enjoy a somewhat familiar flavor. As I got full, she asked.
" Can you do this with fish as well?"
She was referring to the chili, and I thought about it for a second before answering.
" Sure, I just need to make some adjustments to the spices to account for different flavors."
I guess she likes it pretty well if she's asking for a fish version.
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After dinner, it's time for some end-of-the-day sparring; I am not just letting Yoruichi chill at my camp out of the kindness of my heart or because I am curious about why I was so reluctant to end her despite it being the pragmatic choice, or even for her company. Unlike in the Shinobi Academy at Konoha, I don't need to hold back against her as I actually get some experience sparring against her. In all honesty, I could probably beat Sasuke, Sarada, Lee, and Neji, and that's before my body tempering and figuring out my Breathing Style.
Being able to open the Eight Inner Gates says a lot about my physical strength, as they can't be opened by talent alone but require intensive training. I could open three on my own after doing it the first time with Trial of the Mind the Fox Clan put me through. I stretched as I got ready to spar against Yoruichi. She then asked.
" How are we doing this? Taijutsu only? All out fighting? Or do you have something interesting in mind?"
The dark-skinned Kuniochi also stretched, and I replied.
" You pick. I picked last time."
" Just Taijutsu then, no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu."
" Fine with me."
I quickly agreed as I finished stretching as I wanted to try and work in the Spear Claw Taijutsu Style I picked out from the Fox Clan Archives. In essence, Spear Claw is all about transforming my hands and feet into makeshift blades to pierce my opponent's body to draw out blood or gorge out the flesh. The training has had me break my nails, dislocate my fingers and toes, and even break them on occasion, but I was making progress.
Spear Claw is measured by the material I can pierce or tear through. The first level is with heated compact sand to sharpen and wear away the excess on my hands. The next level is clay, both soft and hard. Then it's bamboo, followed by hardwood, then stone, then soft metal ore, then hard metal ore, then soft metal plates, and lastly, hard metal plates like iron, steel, and others. Overall, it's a very demanding Taijutsu Style, but it's undoubtedly deadly.
I have only reached the bamboo stage so far, but that's enough to pierce soft flesh. I entered my stance, and Yoruichi eyed me with a curious look before shrugging and then charging at me with her base speed. If I were to describe her way of fighting, one word comes to mind: aggression. The dark-skinned Kuniochi likes to hit hard and fast before her opponent has a chance to react.
She evaded my spear hand and gave me a quick upper, then elbowed my solar plexus. It hurt like hell and knocked the wind out of me, but I was still standing. Yoruichi then started to bombard me with attacks. Punches to my face, shoulders, arms, and chest with kicks to my lower torso and legs. She was definitely better at Taijutsu than me, but there was a flaw in her way of fighting; it ate through her stamina quickly.
The dark-skinned Kuniochi wasn't used to someone enduring her attacks like I could, as admittedly, I was slower than her in terms of base ability. She quickly ran out of steam, and while my body ached, it was something I was familiar with as my training put me through the wringer. I outstretched my fingers like a set of claws and swiped at her, and she leaped back to avoid being hit, and It's my turn now.
I charged at Yoruichi, and she grumbled at me.
"You're stupidly sturdy, you know that."
I wasn't one to talk when fighting, and while she kept on dodging my attacks, I still managed to nick her here and there, drawing blood. I paced my attacks, and as she got used to my current attack speed, I threw a fast punch that struck her chin. The dark-skinned Kuniochi's brain was shaking now, and I gave her some payback from earlier. I didn't use Chakra Enhanced Strength as I didn't want to break any bones, and the sparring match ended in my favor.
Yoruichi and I were littered with injuries, bruises for me and some cuts for her.
" You're ridiculous, you know that! While Father and Uncle B held back when sparring with me, they still mostly dodged my attacks or blocked them before countering, but you endure them like a rock and shrug off any damage like it's nothing! What the heck are you made of!?"
My body tempering has made my body very durable, and I haven't finished training yet, but I only endure bare-handed attacks as I wasn't tempted to see if Shuriken or Kunai bounce off me, at least not yet. I retorted at her with a bit of amusement.
" Flesh, blood, bone, and a bit of iron."
" Ha, ha, ha, very funny."
She said sarcastically while looking unamused before turning around and saying with some frustration at not winning our spar again.
" I'm taking a bath!"
I shrugged and went to my tent to nap for a bit before taking my own bath.
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" He's ridiculous!"
Yoruichi muttered to herself as she felt a pang of frustration at coming up short sparring with him. She could accept losing to her Father, her Uncle, and any Jonin, but to a kid a few years younger than her, it bothered her more than she cared to admit. She is considered a genius by her peers and could even beat Chunin easily.
However, Naruto could outlast her, whether in stamina or in durability. While she is training her Father's Clan Body Tempering Manual her Grandfather modified it to make it safer, which would allow her to use Lightning Style Chakra Mode if she wanted to at its full power. However, she had a more ambitious goal: to reinvent her Father's Clan Jutsu to something that suited her more without sacrificing anything in return.
Her Shunkō was still incomplete as it could have more speed and power than Lightning Style Chakra Mode in theory, but it also harmed her in return. In terms of defense, Shunkō could be considered inferior but only situationally as she focused the flow of Lightning Nature Chakra to a single point for a defense that could surpass Lightning Style Chakra Mode, but it was active instead of passive.
Nevertheless, Yoruichi was determined to refine her self-made Jutsu and make her mark on her Father's Clan History.
" Next time, let's see how he handles a one Jutsu limit."
The dark-skinned Kuniochi thought to herself as she dunked her head in the water.