Hello everyone!

This is a side story to my Hunter With A Divine Third one.

Since I began HwaDT in media res, with Naruto already having months of Monster Hunting training, the most important scenes would be shown on flashbacks. That was done so people would be able to focus on the real crossover, since MH was not supposed to have such a big influence in the story at the time.

Things changed. Naruto ended up more skilled than I planned, and plans began intertwining the three worlds as future plans became more developed.

This story is mostly side stories. It won't advance the plot of HwaDT, but it will provide most of the character development moments about the Naruto and MH part from both before and even some during HwaDT, like Naruto's interactions with Artemis mentioned but not developed in chapter 1.

That said, most of this first chapter is a mix of flashbacks already shown with some scenes between them. Future chapters will be much more original though.

And on time, while in the anime Naruto calls his chakras blue and red, in the manga they are yellow and red. The silver one is because of the changes mentioned in the main story.

IIIII

Naruto paid attention to the white-haired man as he told him about his two different chakras. He did remember using a different chakra at the battle against Haku. It felt different, and filled him with power…

But he could feel something else. If he could describe them as colors, while his usual one is yellow, the one he used them was red. But—

"I don't feel like you are right, though."

"Oh?" the older man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The kid just admitted feeling a second chakra, and he supposedly already knew about the Kyubi locked in him.

"It's like I have three chakras…"

"Three?" the old hermit asked the boy, surprised.

"Yes, I can feel them… I can feel them as colors. One yellow, one red and one silver… Mine is the yellow one, and the red one is the one that made me stronger. But I only noticed the silver one now."

Jiraiya frowned. The yellow one was his own chakra, and the red one was obviously the fox. But what could be—

'Of course,' he thought, holding back a groan, 'it has to be something related to that woman.'

Jiraiya did not like her. She had a good body, make no mistake, but her personality… and while threats of violence and tuning him into horned rabbits were not enough to dissuade him usually, she would be able to follow on them in a way not even Tsunade did that one time she almost killed him.

IIIII

"Hey Ero-sennin," Naruto asked tiredly, "I've been thinking… why am I trying so hard to use the red chakra?"

Jiraiya looked from the red tadpole Naruto summoned back to the boy, as if hoping he would get the clue.

Naruto got obviously irritated.

"Not that, you idiot! You make me spend all my yellow chakra to try to use the red one because it makes me stronger. But I cannot use the red! Why don't you at least let me try with the silver one?"

The self-proclaimed super-pervert sighed. It sounded stupid the way he put it, but it did make sense. If only he had any idea what the silver one would do, since he wasn't even sure it counted as chakra.

"Naruto, I'll be honest with you… You are an idiot."

"What the? What was that for?"

Jiraiya looked at him seriously before continuing. "I told you this red chakra is something unique to you. Where else are you unique?"

Naruto blinked… then noticed his hand going instinctively to his stomach.

And he figured out.

"Oi oi oi! I don't want to use the stupid fox's chakra! I want to defeat him fairly so he got no right to complain later!"

"And will he do the same?" the sannin countered. "Will he stop using his special eyes so you cannot claim he is stronger? Or will he use it as the advantage it is supposed to be?
You are a ninja, brat. Learn to think like one!"

Naruto closed his hand hard. He didn't like the thought of stooping to his level in this, but he had a point.

"Besides, it's not like using a summon to fight for you is defeating him yourself."

The boy blinked, confused. "Eh? EH?"

"…You didn't notice that?"

"Damn it! Why am I learning this then?"

The sannin poked the top of his head. "Because it is something that can save your and your conrades' lives, idiot! You can use it to get support when there is none, at the least. It is nothing flashy like I bet you wanted, and not very useful in the exam, but it'll be useful for everything else in your career!"

"But I want to learn something useful for the exam! Leave it for later then and teach me something I can use!"

Jiraiya shrugged, as if giving up. "Alright then. You have no talent anyway."

"…what did you say?"

"Oh, you are not only talentless, you are also deaf too?" Jiraiya replied in a teasing tone.

"I am not talentless! I am doing my best, I am just running on fumes and I can't use this red chakra, and now that I know what it is I'm not even sure if I want to!"

Jiraiya's eyes widened, and his mouth opened in a smile. "That's it brat! You're doing it!"

"…uh?" Naruto asked, looking at his hands… hands with sharp, longer nails that were shortening back in front of his eyes.

Eyes wide, he started concentrating to keep the red chakra circulating, but it soon was all gone.

"Well, that happened," said Jiraiya with a sigh. "But it seems like it isn't very easy to control. Guess you can't use it then."

"Hey! My chakra is not as much as the stupid fox's, but I bet I can use it to summon a good frog if you didn't make me be so tired when I try it!"

"And what are the chances that you will summon them when you are not tired?" Jiraiya asked seriously. "And to be honest, the chakra you've been using is more than enough for the biggest ones I used in front of you yet. Your control just sucks."

That felt like a slap to the face for Naruto.

"So, you don't have enough control with the yellow chakra to summon the big ones, and you can't draw the red chakra properly… Let's see, what can we do to make you draw the red one easier…"

"What about the silver one?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "We have no idea what the silver one could do. I'd rather not risk it."

"But the red one is the fox's!"

Jiraiya sighed, then nodded. It seemed to Naruto like he knew something about it, but why wouldn't he tell him then? "Alright, you have one chance to summon with the silver chakra. Let's see what you get."

Naruto complied, quickly making the handsigns, but doing his best to drawn the silver chakra this time.

As the smoke disappeared, he was disappointed for a second for the summoned being being small despite him putting as much silver chakra as he could… Then he froze.

That was not a toad.

That was furry, with a tail, pointed ears and vertical eyes.

He would call it a cat, if it weren't for the armor. And the fact he was standing up, pointing a lance to him.

"Name's Ace, The Ace Palico. Are you my new minion?"

IIIII

"So, let's see if I get it. You are a Lynian, a kind that is split in three kind, of which yours is talking felines. You are yourself a Palico, which is like a profession for your kind where you fight beside a Hunter."

Ace nodded.

"But I'm not a hunter, I'm a ninja!" Naruto protested. While Ace seemed cool, he didn't want to change professions. How would he be Hokage without being a ninja?

Ace just dismissed his concerns though. "No reason you can't be both, nyah. You just need some training.
You summoned me, kid. That means you have lots of potential. It would be a shame to throw it away, meowster."

"I agree with him, brat. While it wouldn't be much useful in battling other ninjas, being able to hunt would be useful not only for getting food but also for tracking."

Ace looked at Jiraiya weirdly.

"…What?"

"I fail to see how these would be the only advantages of being a Meownster Hunter for a ninja."

It was time for Jiraiya to blink confused. Something he had to admit didn't happen much nowadays. "Do you mean 'Monster'? Monster Hunter?"

Ace nodded, crossing its arms. Then it closed its eyes, as if thinking hard about something. "I may not know meowch of this land, but I can tell it is not close to mine. It would take twice the effort between digging from here and anywhere I know."

"…Digging?"

"But I never thought this place would not have Meownster Hunters…" He opened his eyes, looking at Naruto. "I take it ninjas here are not just assassins that move among shadows, either?"

"Ninjas are the main military force in most countries in the Elemental Continents," Jiraiya answered. "Some, the most high-ranked and trustworthy, do get missions like assassination, but most of us just do missions that range from rescue and protection to painting a fence and capturing an escaping pet.
There are also samurais, who live in the Land of Iron, but ninjas use their chakra also for techniques, while they only reinforce their bodies and weapons and armors."

Ace nodded, and sat down on the ground, eyes closed.

"Meownsters are… natural weapons. Yes, that describes them well. They look like giant, more dangerous versions of many animals, and even some legends, nyah.
There was once a war. Most of the knowledge of the time was lost, and only ruins from both sides remain, but they were two kinds fighting for control of the world. The humans and another race, the dragons. The dragons was clearly superior, they had better abilities, were stronger and more resistant and created living weapons from nature itself, but… Humans were… determined. Where the dragons created meownsters to fight for them, humans joined forces, defeated the meownsters and turned their remains in weapons and armors. In the end, the humans won, and the only remains of dragons are on races born from mixing their kind with humans, the most common being the wyverians. My kind is said to have evolved from monsters though.

But the world is meowleable. Meownsters became part of nature, living together with normal animals. Hunters try their best to protect people from the most dangerous ones, but they respect and let live those that are no purrblem."

Jiraiya nodded. As a Sage he had a healthy respect for nature, even its most dangerous sides.

"You said something about digging?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Yes. My kind can burrow on anything and teleport to somewhere safe to heal, or to whoever we are contracted to. The actual ground is not even damaged. We can also carry others but it is tiring and time-consuming, we use it mostly in a support role and in a group to rescue defeated hunters in carts. Going too far and carrying others leaves you open and tired so the ones that work in transportation usually have points to carry people to between the Hunting Grounds and a resting place nearby."

"Cool," said Naruto, excited. "Can we visit there? Please?"

"Well… why not. It will be a bit tiring taking all of us though, so you'll have to stay there for at least a few hours.
We could even get you some training in hunting though. Even if you choose not to become a Meownster Hunter right now, it is a good idea to at least learn the basics, maybe get a weapon and train in it for a bit. You could need to spend the night though."

"Hmm… I see. Better do it tomorrow then," Jiraiya interrupted. "Warn some people that we will be gone for a bit."

Ace nodded in understanding. "I'll purrrpare everything in my end then. Call me… tomorrow at sundown. Same method you used today. I'll need to take a long nap after the travel anyway, this way I just fall asleep."

That said, it jumped in the air and began digging. Soon the earth closed behind and no sign it was ever there remained.

IIIII

"Whoah, I feel so weak…" Naruto said as he reached out of the tunnel Ace dug. It seemed short, but on the other side they were surrounded by a field.

"It is because we can't use chakra here, it seems," replied Jiraiya as he climbed up and pulled Naruto. "We are trained to use our chakra to reinforce our bodies, but we can't do that here.
This is perfect. If we can work on the basics here, you will be much better where you can use it."

"We better register him as a Hunter first though," said Ace as he jumped out and the tunnel closed. "I heard the Gathering Hall was moved to Val Habar, but I can't take us there since I never visited it before. Got us as close as I can. We will have to take a sandboat there."

Jiraiya nodded.

"I need to talk to sensei about this. Ace, I am putting responsibility for him in your hands."

"Do not worry. I would be a lousy master if I let my minions get hurt."

That said, Ace took Naruto to the port, and Jiraiya went to a bar to get something to drink and to write the message to the Sandaime Hokage.

It was only after the message was written that he remembered he could not use chakra to summon a frog, and his only exit was on a boat with Naruto.

By that point, plus searching for the port, the sandboat had already left.

IIIII

"Hey Ace, I just thought about it… How will the Ero-sennin send his message?" asked Naruto looking at the horizon.

"Nyah… summoning something? You did it for me."

"Yeah, but I used chakra. He said we can't use it here."

"Hmm… I'm not sure. But he must have his ways."

"Yeah, you are probably, right," Naruto agreed with a nod. "By the way, how long does the travel take?"

"We should arrive at morning, noon tops. Go take a nap."

Naruto nodded and went for his cabin. As much as he had been able to summon Ace, he still tried his best to summon toads until the time to leave… and still only could get tadpoles.

But, failure or not, it was still tiring.

IIIII

Jiraiya smiled as his gamble worked. So, as the sealing scroll in front of him just proved, blood-activated seals could still be used there.

That was good… and bad. Blood-activated seals were much harder to make, since they had to fuel themselves to be activated by the meagre chakra on the blood. It was trading consuming loads of chakra for less power and higher complexity.

At least his sage training could feel that place was overflowing with nature chakra, even if he couldn't mix with his own to use senjutsu he could still use it to power his seals. That would add some more complexity, but would fasten the charge.

But, as much as he was good enough to turn most of his seals into blood-activated, nature-fueled versions without blowing anything up… the one he needed right now – a one-time toad summoning – would take at least three hours to charge, and he would only be able to sustain a small toad for one minute with the small scrolls he was carrying.

But he couldn't blame anyone but himself anyway. If he was the sensei instead of the person he would be talking his ear off for forgetting he couldn't use chakra.

IIIII

Naruto was aroused from his sleep by a sound from outside the ship. Knowing there weren't many people on it, and the only ones were also male, he went outside to check what was going on.

"Ah, good morning," said a man in a red outfit and a weird hat. "It won't be long, if the Val Habar poured our drinks now, we could reach 'em afore they went flat."

"Uh… I have no idea what that means, but I guess that's good?"

"Ya want to come here and see for yerself?"

Naruto did so, going for the deck.

"Just a bit more and you can spot Val Habar in the horizon…"

"Was that why there was that sound?"

"…what sound?" the red-clad man asked. "Nevermind… I can smell the city from here! Or maybe I've got something stuck in my moustache again? Har har!"

"Uh… maybe."

"…You weren't supposed to agree, kiddo…" the red-clad man said, a bit saddened.

Then he quickly got cheerful again. "Are ya excited? A bustlin' bazaar floatin' on a sea of sand. Ain't nothing or nobody ya can't find there. Even the Gathering Hall is there nowadays!
This here's what I love about being a Caravaneer – leading a big ol' caravan of trusted companions all over the world…
Well, the 'trusted companions' part is a big of a work in progress, In fact, that's what brings me to Val Habar. I'm looking to recruit three more companions to join me on my travels."

"Just anyone?" Naruto asked, curious.

"Nah, they've got to have the skills to complete the caravan, of course… but the most important is that they have to be good people I can trust with the rest.
And whatever you're in the market for, be it good folk, good deals, or good intel, Val Habar is the place.
And the barkeeps don't water down the drinks. Well, not as much as most places, at least… Ahem, but no time for that this trip – I've got companions to hustle up! I won't settle for sorts or layabouts. A caravaneer must put his hopes and dreams in his comrades' hands, ya know?"

"You mentioned, you need to be able to trust them with your life and of the others… sounds nice."

"Why don't you join me? Aren't you going there to be a Hunter? I need one, my last one moved up in the world."

"I'm still learning… In fact, the Palico that is going to teach me, Ace, is taking me to take my license so he could teach me better."

"Ace? Could it be the same Ace that—"

The sound that woke Naruto up repeated.

"That's it! That's the sound that woke me up!"

"You have a good ear," the Caravaneer said. "It is that Remobra swarm over yonder," he pointed. "I wonder what seems to have them in a fuss?"

The answer was a gigantic beast jumping from the sands, the wind it generated throwing the Caravaneer's hat away.

Naruto only had one reaction:

"You have got to be kidding me…"

As the beast rammed the ship, the Caravaneer's hat seemed really lost to the winds.

"A Dah'ren Mohran! I was afraid of that. When you see a Remobra swarm, ya just know that elder dragon can't be far behind," the Caravaneer said. "What out now, don't fall off the ship!"

The beast rammed the sand ship again, and Naruto could see the Caravaneer's hat – right on top of one of its spikes.

"Well, no time for that now…" the Caravaneer tries being dismissive, but really seemed to like that hat. "Listen up Hunter! Unless we can stop it, that Dah'ren Mohran'll crush Val Habar like a Huskberry. I'll send a distress call! Try to buy some time..."

"Later. I need to do something first!" Naruto replied.

"What? What?"

"Your hat!"

Caravaneer's eyes widened in surprise.

"Criminy Hunter, ya got some Duranboros-sized… Well, alright them. I'd thank you kindly for it… if you make it back…"

"I will."

The Caravaneer nodded. "You can climb on that thing's back from its arm! Wait on the deck, and I'll holler when it's safe!"

Naruto grabbed the mast, waiting for the signal…

"Now!"

He run up the enormous arm, crossing the beast's body sidewise to reach that red hat.

"Good on ya, Hunter! But be careful! Looks like it's fixin' to shake ya off – that Moh'ran ain't no moron!"

"Got it! Going back!"

Not giving the giant monster time to shake itself, Naruto put the hat on his head and started running to its arm.

Feeling him, the elder dragon tried raising the arm to trap the young ninja, but he was going too fast and was able to climb to the tip of the arm before it got too steep.

Having no other way, Naruto jumped, landing up rolling on deck. His arm was definitely going to bruise later.

"Remind me to teach'ya how ta land proper later!" the caravaneer said, eyeing Naruto with his hat, still a bit incredulous that the ninja would do that.

"All right, I need ya to buy some time! Showerin' it with cannonballs should give it something to think about."

Naruto got the idea, and went to the back of the ship to get a heavy ball to put in the cannon on the side with the dragon.

"I'm counting on ya!"

The canon was hard to aim, but luckily the opponent was big enough it wasn't needed much. Meanwhile the Caravaneer… watched?

"Down!" the older man yelled, and Naruto luckily had enough time to throw himself to the ground to avoid the enormous flipper-like arm passing over the deck of the ship.

"Don't get too focused on the offense, kiddo! Most opponents give a warning of their next move. It is up to you to see them and avoid. Luckily you got someone more experienced with you this time!"

Naruto nodded. He had been told he did something like that, telegraphing or something. It was good to know knowing the tells of others could save him, specially after seeing proof firsthand, but now he guessed he needed to get rid of his own ones?

Absentmindedly, Naruto decided to put that to use and waited… putting the ball in the canon just in time for it to hit near the sand dragon' eyes.

"Great job Hunter! But we're almost at Val Habar. It's time to pull out all the stops! Mohrans got sensitive ears – it's how they monitor the surface when they're in the sand. Loud noises give 'em fits."

"I don't think I can scream that loud!"

"No, let it get as close as possible, then ring the Hunting Gong on the ship's deck. That oughta send it reeling," said the Caravaneer, pointing to a series of pulleys holding a hammer ready to strike an enormous gong.

"Thing is, I need a little more time to get the gong ready," he continued, pulling the ropes in his hands some more.

"Got it. Keep distracting it."

"No, try to keep near the gong switch, and when I give the sign get ready to give that holler a wallop!"

"Oh… ok!"

Naruto grabbed a nearby pickaxe. Not long after, the elder dragon started trying to jump over the ship.

"Now!"

Naruto did not have to be told twice. The gong rand loudly, making the monster throw itself away.

Naruto didn't have sensitive ears and it almost did the same to him…

Soon, he heard a second, far away but louder gong. Four other ships heard it and started attacking the Dah'rem Mohran, until they finally drew the beast away.

IIIII

"That was a good nap, nyah," Ace said as he left the ship, following the rest of the shaken passengers. "…what did I miss?"

"An attack of Dah'rem Mohran, ya silly cat," said the Caravaneer, approaching the duo. "So, it really was you the kid was talking about."

"Oi, you know transporting people is tiring!" said Ace, punching the older man's thigh.

Then the cat-like being turned to Naruto.

"You know, I'd never think red would work so well with orange, but you make it work. Well, it clashes a bit, but maybe with some more red first, like a coat or something?

"I think this is yours," Naruto said, giving the hat back while looking strangely at Ace, in doubt if the cat was being serious.

The Caravaneer happily accepted it, and from it pulled something. Something that glittered like gold under the sunlight, but seemed much harder… and rarer.

"What's this?" he asked, fascinated.

"That, my friend, is what I am in a quest to find out."