The Link: Snake and Fox: To Breathe Fire

Hi guys! Two more chapters to go and this story officially concludes! But The Link series does not end there! Watch out for The Link: Sharingan and Diapers! (Weird title, I know. XD)

 

The Link

Chapter XV: To Breathe Fire

 

The new refrigerator was definitely a sight to behold. It stood a towering nine feet tall, its entire body made of stainless silver steel that was quite blinding, as commented by one Hatake Kakashi. It also had a built in water dispenser that Jiraiya had been all too happy to play with he very nearly flooded the house if it wasnt for the combined efforts of Gai and Neji to stop him. Orochimaru did not dare go near the refrigerator because it made weird whirring sounds whenever he wanted to take some water. The Serpent made it a point to ask anyone kind enough to do the task for him. Naruto found this behavior peculiar, but then, he knew that his mentor was a technophobe.

 

Kelvin, as Kakashi called their new company, sat comfortably in the kitchen, and the ninjas could not help but gape at it every time they ate. It became the subject of many eccentric but faintly interesting conversations.

 

But it looks like a big coffin...Itd be perfect to use in Kuchiyose Edo Tensei, I expect.

 

Jiraiya sighed. Orochimaru, you worry too much.

 

Do you think itll eat spandex-wearing idiots?

 

A certain, thick-eyebrowed Jounin choked over his miso soup. Excuse me?

 

Do you think it wont rise up upon midnight and kill all of us?

 

Its just a refrigerator, Orochimaru-sensei. Surely you have one in your village?

 

Well, no...we only use those Styrofoam boxes filled with ice...

 

Youre hopeless.

 

The other object of attraction was the handy video camera Shizune had secretly sent in the package. At first Neji wanted to throw it away since it was hastily wrapped in brown shipping paper, but Naruto stopped him as he found a note that seemed to have been taped to it but got detached in the delivery process. It was written in Shizunes miniscule kanji, and it read: Im sending this to you because its a precious thing, and Tsunade-sama wants it to go to waste by dumping it in the pawnshop for money. Please take good care of it. Id rather see it in your hands than see it eaten by a slot machine.

 

Neji had personally taken custody of the camera, becoming obsessed with recording everything that transpired in their happy house. And the word everything literally meant everything.

 

This is a nice spring day, minna-san, and lets see around if we have some interesting footage to uncover.

 

The view offered a glimpse of the houses main aisle as Neji walked down it, holding the camera at face-level. Naruto comes out of the bedroom on the left side of the screen, yawning. The blonde does not seem to notice that his boxers were still several inches low of covering the right side of his behind. Neji chases him and the view on the came bounces up and down.

 

And we see Narutos...behind.

 

Naruto hears this and angrily turns around. Put that away, Neji! And then a crash is heard and the camera lies on the floor, offering a tilted view of the ceiling...until a pair of pale feet stops before it and unseen hands clumsily picks it off the ground.

 

All right, what is the camera doing on the floor? Orochimarus voice sounds.

 

The young Anbus obsession finally reached an unhealthy level (the young Anbu even succeeded on taping Kakashi while the Sharingan wielder was picking his nose as he sat on the toilet), and thus Gai decided to take matters into his own hands by tying his student securely on a chair and spent eight hours of lecturing him about youth. Nejis agonized screams could be heard from the kitchen, where the exorcism took place. Orochimaru and Jiraiya decided that the camera should be put away for everyones sakes, so the Snake Sannin swallowed it whole in one wet gulp. Thats so disgusting! commented one fox-boy named Naruto as he watched his mentor burp and pat his belly merrily.

 

 

 

January finally ebbed into February, a rather depressing month for Naruto. The constantly climbing temperature coupled with the ever-hanging threat of Valentines Day proved to be a spectacular source of stress. Kakashi and Gai, on the pretense of getting more food supplies, disappeared back to Konoha. Jiraiya followed two days afterward on the excuse that he had to take the 100th Icha Icha book to the publisher. Now, only Naruto seemed to be down in the dumps.

 

You know, youre better off here, Naruto. Neji said patiently as he sewed up a nasty hole on one of his socks. Its really boring on Valentines day even until now I cant understand whats supposed to be so special about it. I do get my share of those horrid heart-shaped pink boxes, but Im no chocolate lover, Naruto. I mean... the Hyuuga shrugged as the fox-boy gave a wail. ...I suppose I could appreciate it if I were a dentist...the cases of decayed teeth seem to be on a hike on the week after it...

 

But the chocolate! And...and the girls! Naruto said tragically, gesturing.

 

Neji merely shrugged and continued his sewing. Naruto turned onto his belly and started beating his fists onto the tatami floor, wailing about girls, Sakura and chocolate until Orochimaru finally had enough.

 

SHUT THE HELL UP OR I WILL MAKE YOU! the Serpent screamed.

 

Naruto surprisingly did as what he was told and contented himself with beating his fist on the floor. Orochimaru stomped back to the bedroom, steam gushing out of his ears and his sleek hair bristling angrily. However, Narutos grumpiness did not go to waste, because when Gai, Kakashi and Jiraiya came back (Naruto jealously glowered at the blushes on their cheeks) they had loads of chocolate and two Valentine cards that served their purpose of calming down the blonde. Gai told Neji that his fan club was disappointed and were at a loss as to where to drop off the chocolate for him. Kakashi also added that Sasuke had had trouble getting rid of the chocolates that were cruelly dumped in his house. Naruto cackled at that as he attacked his first chocolate bar.

 

The fox-boy was just preparing to tackle his Kisses when Orochimaru emerged from the bathroom clad in his trademarked clothing (you know, that one with the huge purple rope ribbon at the back?). Naruto, come on, were starting your training.

 

Really? Yay! Naruto leapt nimbly to his feet as he grabbed the bulging bag of chocolates on the floor. Lets go!

 

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow at the chocolates, but the blonde only gave him one of those famed ingratiating smiles. Orochimaru gave a resigned sigh and led the way out of the house. Kakashi cheerfully waved them good-bye but cant be bothered to look up from his Icha Icha.

 

What are you going to teach me now? Naruto asked excitedly as they walked down to the village.

 

Katon Karyuu Endan. Orochimaru replied.

 

And Chidori?

 

The Serpent shook his head. I havent mastered it yet. Its hard studying a technique when youve seen it used only once.

 

There was a brief moment of blue eyes narrowing into slits. Oh, okay...

 

Orochimaru paused in his tracks. Naruto, Im surprised with you. You already have Rasengan in your arsenal and you still want to learn Chidori? Rasengan is way better than Kakashis move.

 

You think so? Naruto asked suspiciously.

 

Positive.

 

Well... Naruto leapt up. All right then! Ill stick to Rasengan if you say so!

 

For an answer Orochimaru gave him a fond fond! smile. Tell me what you know of the Katon Karyuu Endan.

 

Naruto absent-mindedly dug for some Toblerone in his paper bag. Uhh...you need to inhale deeply before using it. And it involves a huge amount of Chakra?

 

That is correct. Katon Karyuu Endan is known as the most powerful of the Katon techniques. Katon Goukakyu and all the others only follow it in the list. It uses an incredibly large amount of Chakra, Naruto. If you decide to use this technique in combat, make sure that you will hit. Sarutobi-sensei taught it to the three of us.

 

Naruto nodded vigorously to show he understood. Orochimaru continued explaining about the hand seals and the right procedures to do the jutsu well until they reached their favorite dell. Naruto deposited his chocolate package onto the ground and started practicing the hand seals first while Orochimaru stood not far from him, hands on his hips as he inhaled and exhaled deeply for a number of times.

 

Naruto-kun, do you know how to swim?

 

Naruto paused while on the middle of tightening his head protector. Yes, why?

 

How long can you stay underwater?

 

The blonde blinked in confusion. Id say fifteen minutes at most.

 

Oh, thats good. So...ready?

 

Naruto straightened up. Ready anytime, sir!

 

Orochimaru extended his hands forward, and Naruto helped him with the seals, albeit slowly, the blonde repeating each to himself as he helped his mentor form them. Look closely, Naruto. Gather a great amount of Chakra in your chest, and afterward focus it out of your mouth in one long exhale. Do not take this lightly. Naruto nodded vigorously at Orochimarus words.

 

The Serpent stepped away a little from his student and inhaled inhaled like there was tomorrow because Naruto had had to blink his eyes and say to himself that he could never manage to inflate his own chest that big. He had a wild thought that his mentor might have choked on his own tongue or something but Orochimaru let his breath out, only, it wasnt air that came shooting out of his mouth but a great long flare of fire so big that the sky seemed red with the blaze.

 

Katon Karyuu Endan!

 

Wow! WOW! Naruto could only gape at the flames. I so want to learn that!

 

Abruptly the flames vanished as Orochimaru bent over, coughing and hammering his chest. Naruto was quickly beside him, at a loss for what to do, so the fox-boy just panicked.

 

Sensei! Anything I can do? Are you all right?!

 

W-water!

 

Naruto quickly searched for the bottle of juice he remembered cramming in his package. Here!

 

Orochimaru quickly ripped off the cap and emptied the bottle in one gulp. The Serpent shook his head. Whew! Been very long since I last used Katon very long in fact, it strained my lungs. Im okay. Just a bit...out of breath. He inhaled hungrily and looked at Naruto. Now you try.

 

Naruto stood with his feet spread apart and began forming the seals rapidly. As he did, he inhaled deeply, so deep that he thought hed never inhaled properly all of his life, and did as what he was told. He used the Kyuubis Chakra, of course he had no intention of having his eardrums ringing for two whole days after this. The red-hot ball in his chest seemed to throb eagerly, wanting for a release. Here goes!

 

Naruto expelled his Chakra through his mouth, but nothing came except for a pitiful jet of fire that would not have been enough to boil tea in a kettle.

 

 

 

Jiraiya, Gai, Kakashi and Neji watched the week unfold before their eyes with much amusement. Naruto was severely infuriated by the fact that he was unable to master Karyuu Endan in his three-day period estimate. Apparently his surprising success with Senei Jashuu got to his head. Kakashi mildly commented that Karyuu Endan was the strongest of the fire techniques and therefore would really take time in mastering, but Naruto would have none of it. The started getting up before anyone else did and prepared breakfast, afterwards proceeding outside to resume his training. All day long the household would have a nice firework display outside their door. Neji thought it was good to increase Narutos morale by trying to learn the jutsu with him, but it turned out to be a very bad business. The Hyuuga mastered the technique after just five days of watching Naruto do it, and the fox needed to toe the breaking point of his patience and pride.

 

It did not help at all because when Naruto was grumpy, Orochimaru was grumpy as well but three times as snappish. The Serpent glared at anything from Gais eyebrows to his spoon and fork enough to melt them all if it were possible. Naruto, spurred on by jealousy over Nejis learning speed, trained harder than ever, ignoring the burns around his mouth. During those days Orochimaru took to covering the lower half of his face with a scarf or a towel. Naruto even started training at dawn, dragging his sleeping mentor along with his futon if needed. At the first time Orochimaru had very nearly freaked out when he woke up in the middle of the dell and not in the bedroom, happily squashed beside his sliding window.

 

Youre not gathering enough Chakra, thats your problem. Orochimaru said crossly one day as he sat on his futon while out in the middle of the little green valley.

 

Not gathering enough Chakra?! Naruto repeated angrily, pointing a finger toward Orochimaru. Im already toeing my limits here! You have no idea how much breathing has become very hard for me! He yelled. All you ever do is order me around like Im some houseboy scurrying around for chores!

 

Orochimarus pale face twisted. Youre having breathing problems?! Well, woohoo, what a miracle! Because if youre having breathing problems, what about me, eh?! He rose and gestured toward himself bitterly. What about me? Have you ever thought about me? All you ever do is complain when Im teaching you something, and your pitifully clogged brain is forgetting how much pain I feel when you try to perform the jutsu correctly! Well wooooo! I have a happy life because breathing is like inhaling fire! Im burning inside! The Serpent shouted. For once in your life stop thinking about yourself!

 

Naruto opened his mouth to reply, but his blue eyes locked onto his mentors bandaged hands. Blood was dripping from it again. The fox hung his head in shame. What a shame indeed! I forgot how much he has to endure just for me to learn all this...Im...youre...youre right. He paused. Im sorry, Orochimaru-sensei. I...I forgot...

 

Orochimarus face softened. Forget it. Try again; failing is not a sin, Naruto. I myself took an entire year to master this. With that he folded his legs underneath him and gathered his blankets around him.

 

Naruto nodded, regaining his cheerfulness. He pivoted on his heels and shot flame from his mouth, which, his mentor happily noted, had been constantly getting bigger and more powerful than the last.

 

 

 

The last week of March dawned very hot all over the Fire Country. Kakashi and Gai returned to Konoha three days before because of a summons Tsunade sent them by fast ninja mail. Jiraiya had gone with them because he also received a letter from his publisher and had to fix a sensitive business with the firm. Orochimaru expressed his opinion that Neji was indeed one tough guy to endure not going home for six months now. The Hyuuga colored slightly and laughed. To ease themselves from boredom Neji suggested they stage a barbecue for dinner, causing the three of them to stay up until twelve before they finally heaved themselves to the now mercifully-spacious bedroom and sleeping.

 

That morning Orochimaru was curled up near his usual place by the window, one bandaged arm above his head as he slept. The door slid open and Naruto entered, jacket open to reveal his sweat-slicked white shirt underneath. The blonde was breathing heavily, but a wide smile was pasted on his whiskered face.

 

Sensei! Sensei, wake up, you have to see this! Sensei!

 

Naruto, youre up early again... Orochimaru muttered sleepily as he stirred. What is it...?

 

Ive done it, sensei! I can do it! Naruto declared excitedly as he bounced on his heels. Come and see, quick -!

 

Orochimaru sat up and started to rub his eyes while Naruto dashed back outside. The Serpent gave a mighty yawn and turned to Neji, who was still lying spread-eagled on his own futon, Narutos brown sleeping cap perched lopsidedly on his head. Orochimaru got to his feet heavily and fixed himself some coffee in the kitchen before joining Naruto outside.

 

The blonde had already finished doing the hand seals and was now holding his breath and Chakra ready. The red flame of the Kyuubis power danced around him. Orochimaru leaned on the door to watch as he sipped from his mug.

 

Katon! Karyuu Endan!

 

A huge and long flare of fire shot from Narutos mouth, so high it seemed to touch the sky itself.

 

Very good. Orochimaru murmured appreciatively. Very good, Naruto-kun.

 

Panting, Naruto gave him a thumbs-up. Lets go have breakfast! Im starving!

 

Laughing, Orochimaru beckoned his student forward, and when Naruto did, the Serpent had an arm around his shoulders and led him back into the house.