Naruto

Temen-ni-gru

WELL! This is a bit of a surprise. Can't say that I'm too surprised about the number of reviews I got-BUT(!!)-I am mucho impressed with the alerts! Now I can see that many people want this story tocontinue and like always I shall NOT disappoint. So PREPARE yaselves!!

BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!!

Chapter 2: I Just Wanna READ IT!!

Mission Accomlpished. Objective acheived. Success in a nut-shell.

Team Kakashi had finished their mission... quickly and effectively. To Naruto, this was a MAJOR convienence. Not only did he feel proud for conquering another B-ranked mission with effetiency but now he had a primal chance to get back home and start reading the OH-so interesting book that he had stumbled upon... or... stumbled upon him as the case may have been. Now it was all just a matter of patience. Soon he would step foot inside his home, Konoha, and he would at last-

"Oh cool-we're already here", Naruto blurted out before speeding off ahead of his teammates.

"Naruto?", Sakura said as she stared at Naruto's fading form.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this, "Soooo whats with him?", he asked in his usually uncaring demeanor.

Sakura could only gander on and feel a little worried about the blonde Jinchuuriki.

-

Konoha Central Building...

A paranoid Tsunade was gandering outside of her window as her mind raced. She just couldn't seem to settle her rising suspiscion about the book. After allof the things she had heard; the legends, the myths. She never imagined that she would actually stumble upon cold hard literature of The Prince of Darkness himself.

"... Mundus...", Tsunade thought uneasily to herself.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in", she called out.

In came Shizune. The brunette approached her mentor with the book in hand and bowed respectfully.

"What have you got, Shizune?", the Godaime asked, closing her eyes.

Shizune shook her head with disappaoint, "I'm sorry Tsunade-sama. We obtained nothing. We still can't decifer the Title of the book let alone the first page. Its all in a language that doesn't seem to have any origins", she informed.

After a moment of silence, Tsunade shook her head, "No... Thats not true Shizune", she said.

"Huh? W-What do you mean?"

The blonde woman approached her desk and sat down, "I think... I think that that lanuage has originated from something", she said before leaning upon her desk and folding her hand together.

Shizune awaited was Tsunade had to say.

"Shizune. Didn't you find it curious that Naruto immediately said what he book was called when we ourselves could even make out a single syllbol?", she questioned.

The brunette Jonin nodded.

"Think about it... Mundus... was the Emperor of the Demon World... The Prince of Darkness. And according to what we know so for, he has something to do with that book", Tsunade specified.

"I-I'm not following...", Shizune admitted.

"The Book of Mundus must be written in Demonic Tongue", the hazil eyed woman said out-right.

At this, Shizune eyes widened with realization but also with doubt, "What? But... I don't understand. If thats the case, then how could Naruto have possibly-... ... ...", she stopped in mid-sentence.

"You see my point now? If we're gonna save ourselves from a whole lot of greef, then it looks like we're gonna have to allow Naruto to keep the Book until we can decifer what its all about", the Village leader said.

"Of course", Shizune concered despite a deep-seeded doubt that was creeping up inside of her.

She couldn't quite pin it, but something about the entire odeal stunk. Just before any more dwelling on the subject occured, however, the very same blonde Shinobi came barging through the door with a blank expression on his face. He approached Tsunade's desk and immediately drew his hand out.

"Book please...", Naruto politely cohersed.

Tsunade and her pupil exchanged looks to each other before looking back at Naruto.

"Where's the rest of your te-"

"There on there way now. Can I have my book please?", Naruto persisted.

Tsunade sighed but smiled at Naruto's boyish charm, however little of it he had left, "Alright kiddo. You can have it back", she said before offering the reading piece to the eager Naruto.

The blue eyed Chuunin was about to take when all of a sudden it was snatched out of his reach.

"Under the condition that you keep us up-to-date with everything that you've read. Got it?", Tsunade bargained.

"Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeah!", Naruto nodded furiously with his greedy fingers flailing.

Tsunade almost let a laugh slip out of her mouth before she handed Naruto the Book of Mundus. The blonde teen eagerly swiped the book and bolted out the door with a huge smile on his face. Though Tsunade was smiling herself, it soon vanished as she was very eager to know what literature The Emperor Mundus had left for the Human World.

-

Meanwhile at the Yamanaka Flower shop...

Sakura was in the back outside lobby of the shop covered with splotches of paint. She seemed very fixated upon her task as she stood huskily before the object of her efforts. With her arm lashing at the object, she quickly wiped a bead of sweat off her brow and continued.

Next to her, was her long-time friend Ino Yamanaka, who was accompanying her in her painting frenzy.

Actually, Ino was the one who started the painting but when Sakura arrived with a troubled demeanor, the bleach blonde Chuunin wanted to talk about it and lift her spirits with her new hobby. Ino had taken quite the liking to painting and was starting to do it as much as attending to the flower shop. She had even gotten Sakura mildly addicted to it.

"I'm telling you Ino. He's acting very strangely as of late", Sakura said as she lashed at the painting.

"How so?", the equally paint-spattered Ino questioned.

"After the mission, he was in such a rush to get back to Tsunade-shishou's office that he completely forgot about Kaka-sensei and I. When I found him soon after, he walked right passed me like he didn't know I exsisted", Sakura continued.

Ino wiped her hand upon her cheek to get some paint off only to smear some more upon her.

"Really? Hmm... Maybe he's pissed at you", she said bluntly,

Sakura almost immediately stopped painting and stared at Ino with a desperate face, "Don't say that Ino! I don't want him to be mad at me", she admitted as she cast her vision downward.

Ino had also ceased her work, "Well why else would he simply ignore you, of all people, after you called out to him. I mean in all honesty I always thought that he rushed to your side if you even mentioned his name within earshot just because it was you. But hearing this... I'm wondering just what you did to piss him off", she said.

Again, Sakura could only stare at the ground, "Well... I-I did sorta... well... I yelled at him earlier today and-"

"Ah-hah! Case in point Sakura. You know, even after all of these years, you still can't show a little self-restraint in yelling or hitting the poor guy. Maybe he's finally sick of it", Ino deduced.

Sakura was suddenly struck with anxiety, "B-But. I-Its not like I hit him or yell at him to be mean, its just that I... well-"

"That you what?", the tuquoise eyed female said with a familiar glimer in her eyes.

Now that she had seen the dreaded glimer, Sakura knew she was in trouble. If she new her BGF, and by God did she ever, than she was in for an interogation session from Hell... mostly revolving around her and her favorite blonde. If she didn't change the subject without giving any vibe that she was doing just that, than she would surely be in that damnable hot-seat.

However, it looked as though she wouldn't recieve that chance.

"If you don't do it to be mean than why DO you hit him and yell at him?", Ino pressed on placing her hands to her hips.

Sakura's inner consciousness forced her to answer instead of dropping the current subject.

"I've just... grown used to it is all. Its like one of those habits you develop when you get real close to someone", Sakura said, resisting the urge to slap her hand over her mouth.

Ino smirked, "Oooooh-really? And just how close... are we talking about here?", she said.

At this Sakura blushed furiously, "No! Not like that. I thought I already told you Ino. I love Naruto, but he's like the brother I never had", she protested.

"Mm-hm. An if you can distinctively recall I disagreed and said that you really thought of him as the loverthat you never had", the young Yamanaka teased.

"Shut UP Ino!", Sakura yelled as her blushed deepened even still, "I hit him and yell at him because thats what a big sister would do and thats that!"

"Hm-mm... alright. Whatever you say", Ino said with a haughty smile gracing her lips... a smile that always got under Sakura's skin.

Always...

"What the Hell are you SMILING ABOUT?!", the pink haired Kunoichi yelled as she could not contain her blush, "You think this is funnny?! Naruto and I are just FRIENDS!"

"If thats what you want to believe. Than by all means...", Ino concluded before she went back to laying the finishing touches on the painting.

It happened EVERY TIME!! When ever these conversations involved Naruto in some way, it always wound up with Sakura blowing her top and making it seem more and more obvious that she was denying her love for the guy. But she was NOT in love with Naruto Uzumaki! Sure her breath was slightly taken by the feel of his rippling muscles! And his matured features have given him a more dominant look. And... his eyes still possessed that certain charm and grace. And... he gave off that scent that bitches would kill for...

Without realizing it, Sakura's heartbeat quickened at those thoughts.

"Fantasizing about your future together Sakura. Hn, well ya better go find and start 'fessin' up", Ino said before standing back to gander at the finished art piece.

Remembering how this turned out last time, Sakura simply decided to drop the subject and give Ino the win... no matter HOW much she despised that. To Sakura, letting a rival win was a sign of weakness that she simply did not cope well with. But for the sake of her dignity , she left things as they were and joined Ino in the observation of the art-work. It was funny, but up until now, they had absolutely no idea what the Hell it was they were painting.

They just went with the each other's hearts and painted.

"Wow... what the Hell did we make?...", Ino questioned in slight wonder of their masterpiece.

"I-I don't know... Its beautiful but... at the same time it... (shudders)", Sakura said with a ever-so slight grimace.

"Yeah... I know what you mean...", Ino agreed.

The painting was as dark as it was enticing and easy on the eyes. The lush vegitation that represented the ground was smothered in darkness and the sky was torn by the elements. Lightening and swilring clouds adored the skys as thre triagularly angled red dot of radiant light centered the entire art piece.

(A/N: I swear that if you don't know what this is, than you are NOT DMC fans!)

"We... have GOT to give this a name", Sakura said as she was growing a tad proud of such profound work.

This, of course, didn't take Ino very long as she put her creativity to work.

"Hmmm... I've got it... We'll call it... 'The All-seeing Eye'

-

"Well whadya know... I'm finally home...", a scowling NAruto thought to himself.

If you're wondering whats with our favorite blonde than stay with me. Naruto had been dealt the worst luck after the mission. So much so that he hadn't been able to return to his apartment HOURS after his success. Pretty much everything that could've went wrong did... Murphy's Law. And to think all he wanted to do was READ the DAMN book! Anywhere from the annoying Konohamaru Corps to Teuchi offering him some free Ramen. Now you're probably wondering how and noodle-monger like NAruto would turn down free ramen.

Well... don't.

All he wanted to do was read it. And he would label himself insane by denying... (sniff)... Free Ramen to do it. Just no more interruptions... thats it! If he could just get to his apartment before he was bombarded with another wave distrations than he'd be able to read his book without any hinderance and his dwelling was within eye-shot. His chance was at HAND! Without realizing it, the blonde teen made a Mad-dash toward his apartment.

Everything that stood in his path, he treated as an evil obstical bent on prohibiting him from reading his new book. After all of the times he was interrupted he felt that he deserved at least FIFTEEN MINUTES by himself to read it and he would ignore everyone and EVERYTHING in his wake to do that... Then he found himself thinking

"My God-I really some have probrems don't I?"

Good Lord! He made it! He was at last in front of his apartment! He could finally read The Book Mundus in God-forsaken PEACE! All he had to was turn the knob of his door, walk inside, lock himself in his living-room and read! Read like the WIND!! Instead, to save on time, he barged into his apartment and slammed the door behind before plopping himself upon his couch and opened the book to page one right where he left off.

"Ahhh... Now for some good old-fashioned readin'...", the blonde said before taking off his jacket and shoes, "It was my... Assumption... that my defeat at the hands of-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

And it begins...

Naruto's face grew blank as he slowly lifted his head and closed the book. He rose from his couch and walked toward the door, opened it and saw no one. He looked to his right... the to his left... Than it hit him... and he looked down.

"Hey Konohamaru whats up?", he said disinterested-like.

"Oi Naruto-oniichan! Whats wrong with you today. You practically bum-rusted Megomi (or whatever the Hell her name is), Udon and I out of the picture when we saw you. Whats up", the fifteen year old Chuunin asked.

Naruto sighed, "Just want time to myself for right now is all", he said.

"But you said that you'd help us all train today remember. Ebisu-sensei is on a mission and hasn't been back for the duration of the week. You promised", he said a little down-heartedly.

At this Naruto rubbed his tembles. He had actually forgotten about that promise. Konohamaru was not oblivious to Naruto's obvious indecision. Out of total respect that he had gained for the Jinchuuriki over the years that they had known each other, Konohamaru nodded with complete understanding and opted to leave.

"Alright Boss. You guess holler when you're ready to train alright", he said.

At this, Naruto's creeping headache vanished and he smiled, "Can do buddy", he said.

With a wave, the lead of Konohamaru Corps left Naruto in peace and with that, the said blonde sighed with relief, went back into his apartment and centered himself before reopening the book.

"It was my... Assumption... that my defe-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"... ... ..."

Naruto rose from his seat AGAIN(!) and went to the door, opened it and saw a smiling Choji.

"Yo Naruto. I just found this intersting method of training that we could both use to become a lot stronger a lot quicker. But its no fun without a training bud. Whadya say?", he invited.

"Maybe Later", was all Naruto said before slamming the door in Choji's face.

He sat back down and opened the book, "It was my Assump-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"GIIRARKK!!"

Naruto stomped to the door and opened it, flaming with red rage, and a hate-smile embedded into his face. Ino and Sakura gasped in shock.

"Can I help you?", he said quickly with a bit of a high pitched tremble to his voice.

Both Kunoichi looked at each other before Ino cleared her throat as the signal for Sakura to start talking.

"Um... Hey Naruto. Listen about earlier today... I-"

"Sakura-its okay", Naruto said out right, "By the way both of you look incredibly hot today. And with that piece of info I bit you both farwell, good hunting, Orevua, good-bye"

With that, the door was slammed into both Ino and Sakura's blushing faces. They might've been the only ones to catch the fact that he just called both of them hot. So they didn't mind the rather rude exit.

Sit, open book, read.

"It was my... Assumption... that my defeat at the hands of Sparda's Seed would prove most irreversable. After our battle, I was once again sealed into the Demonic Realm by a Sparda; a strange and ironic fate indeed. However, I have found it... At last I have found the testament of my Demon clans origins. For two thousand years I have searched my home far and wide for the Testament of Temen-ni-gru. And now I have at last recovered what was thought to be lost.

Dante... The Son of The Legendary Dark Knight, Sparda had defeated me in battle merely by chance. A defeat that I assumed meant the end of my ambitions for the rest of Eternity. But now that I have found the means of my glorious return, I can at last seek my vengence upon him and everything he has ever loved. I, Mundus, the Emperor of the Demon World shall not rest until the last of Sparda's blood is evaporated from exsistence.

But first... the Temen-ni-gru must be revived. The magnifiect edifice that has served as the portal shall now serve me in the way it was intended. And within that success lies the fall of the Dante and his pathetic world once... and for all.

Long Live Hell"

Naruto was... simply... blown out of the water. He had never read anything so deep and forbodeing. Although it seemed to be more like a diary than anything else, he couldn't deny that it drew him in like a moth to a flame. He itched to read more had the other pages not been blank.

Just then...

The book once again began to glow. Out of shock Naruto dropped the book upon his couch and stared at it. Once it was done, he carefully picked it back up and flipped through the pages... noticing that the second one was now readible.

Second Chappy FINITO!! I have to say that I'm very much enjoying this story right now and I hope that you're all sharing that joy. Don't forget to send me your feed back and comments my friends!

Peace...