Scorpion Sage(editing)

Chapter 3

Naruto POV

I've been sitting here for possibly the last few minutes. Staring the scroll down like it was going to disappear if I take my eyes off of it. I mean seriously, for me of all people to find a summoning contact the same time I was looking for one, is suspicious.

Just having some mixed feelings about this. I want to open the scroll again and sign it but then again this could be a trap. Someone could've planned ahead and planted the scroll. Waiting on me to come across this so I could dig it up and do some horrible things to my sexy self.

I growl in frustration while tugging the ends of my hair. This is a tough decision. However, I decide Why the hell not? this is a per opportunity. A once in a lifetime chance. I might not find another Contract for years so I should just take it.

Opening the scroll again, I bite my thumb and sign my name in blood. When I was done, my name seemed to glow a light purple before going back to normal.
{What the fuck?}

Deciding to ignore it, I try to remember the hand signs. It's been a while because I never needed to use them. If I remember correctly, then I had to use Ram, Boar,..... Ah yes, I remember now.

Quickly doing the hand signs, I bite my thumb again and slam my palm on the ground. A small amount of smoke came. When it disappeared, I only saw a baby scorpion wiggling around.
I raincloud hovered over my head in disappointment.

{Why... Did I not put enough chakra? I thought I put enough but it seems like it wasn't.} 

I decide to do it again but with a little more chakra. However, I came up with the same results, a baby scorpion. I need to find the right amount. A balance of chakra for me to use to summon the creature. However, if I remember correctly, I have to put lots of chakra in the hand signs depending on how strong the summoning is. If I'm unable to summon a big scorpion, then I must have to put lots of chakra. This is going to be a difficult task since my chakra control isn't at its peak. "Guess I'm going to be here for a while..."

~TimeSkip~

Kneeling on the ground, I pant heavily in exhaustion. My clothes are dirty and muddy with some patches ripped. My fingers dirty and bloody. For hours, I've been trying to summon a scorpion. However each time I would only summon a baby. No matter how many times, I just keep on failing! What the hell!? Why won't it work!? AM I STILL SO WEAK!?  After all, that training, am I still so weak!? My dream for peace is still so far! I need this summoning to become stronger! I want to protect my loved ones but still, I'm weak! This is pathetic! I can't summon a fucking scorpion! I am so pathetic.

Looking up, I can see that the sun is has set and the sky is now filled with stars. Sighing, I get up and look down at my hands. {I'm gonna need to clean these when I get back so they don't get infected.} Looking over at the scroll, I decide whether to leave it or keep it. {If I leave it, someone else would find it and take the scroll. They would be able to summon awesome animals, then I'm back at square one...} 

Finally deciding, I place the scroll in my pocket and start to walk in the direction I believe is the village. For some time, I was walking. A few times I would slip and fall which makes my appearance worse than it used to be. I truly thought I was lost forever in that forest before stumbling out into the open. I came across the civilian market not too far from where I was, with adults walking about and chatting. The civilian market was on the other side of the village. A different section than where the house was. To go from here to there would take about 30 minutes, so sighing I began my journey. During my walk, people ignored me. Not sparing a glance my way. The people who did look in my direction would quickly turn their heads in disappointment and slight disgust. A usual occurrence that I simply ignore those bastards. They'll one day see that I am strong and one day respects me.  

Finally, I get to the house. My feet are sore and I'm very tired, both mentally and physically. Turning the knob, I find that the door isn't locked, which is a good thing. I step inside and kick off my shoes. Before I can go up the stairs, Menma comes out of nowhere like a fucking ninja. 

"Nii-san where have you been? It's late at- WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST BEEN THROUGH HELL!" 

"Oi, language MeMe! Besides, I was out training to get my frustrations out on what happened today. Simply lost track of time." I half lied. 

I didn't want to tell him about the scroll. Not yet at least. I want to be able to summon the scorpions before letting him in on what happened. Until then, I'll just keep quiet. Menma grumbles before yanking my arm and pulling me up the stairs. "Ow! Be careful MeMe I'm fragile!" He scoffs and I swore he rolled his eyes but it could've been my imagination. I mean, why would he be cruel to his own older brother... Yeah, he would never. 

Going into the bathroom, I sit down on the toilet while Menma gets the first aid. He patches up my hands in silence. Both of us thinking of things. When Menma was done, he sat back with a frown before looking at me. "What is it MeMe?" 

"I've been thinking a lot nii-san and I decided I want to train with you."

"No, absolutely not! My training is basically torture and too difficult for you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Stop babying me! I'm not a kid anymore nii-san! I want to get stronger. I don't want to still be weak while you're ahead of me. That's just unfair! I want to stand by your side as an equal. I wish to make your dreams come true by your side!" 

"Menma..." He glares slightly with watery eyes. 

To be honest, I don't want him to get stronger. I just want him to stay a little kid who runs to the door whenever I walk in. For him to want me to tuck him in and sing him stories. It's like he's growing up too fast. I don't want my little brother to see how cruel this world is. However, what am I supposed to do? If I were to shelter him too much, he would be naive and unprepared. If the day were to come where he had to watch his comrades die or see a shinobi in action, he would become traumatized.  Add to the fact that I don't want to disappoint him, I guess I will have to bring him with me tomorrow. I was planning on going to Jiji and Danzo-Jiji so they can increase my training. 

"Fine..."

"YIPPIE!!" Menma jumps up and does a mini dance which was adorable. His face is just glowing in happiness. 

"Tomorrow we will go to Lord 3rd and Danzo for training. However I'm warning you now, training is a bitch so don't back out on me. Also, don't tell Tou-san and Kaa-chan."  

"I won't back out or tell anyone! You have my word but we must lock on it! That way we don't break our promise!" 

He holds out two of his fingers which was the first and middle. Rolling my eyes at the 'break our promise' part, I intertwine my two fingers around his. Sealing our promise to get stronger and stick together. Now I must get even stronger so I can protect him. I will accomplish my goals for Menma and to save this world and nothing will stop me.