Hello and welcome to my second story. And to all of you who are reading my other fic let me just say that I ain't giving up on it. It's just that the idea for this story keeps on distracting me so I thought that if I begin writing this one I will be able to write the other one easier so please enjoy and read and review.
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
"Demon Speaking"
'Demon Thoughts'
Demon's Requiem
Chapter 1: Arrival
-Somewhere near Konoha-
'Almost there!' A figure garbed in a black cloak (Again Organization XIII's cloak. Why do I use it all the time?!? Cause they are awesome.) Glancing back he saw that his partner who was wearing the same cloak as him and keeping pace with him, but he also saw that their pursuers were gaining on them.
Stopping in the middle of a clearing Cerino Delgada (seer-i-no, people always pronounce it seer-e-no, don't know why though. and just sound out the last name Del-ga-da. ALSO Cerino will be in almost all my fics cause I thought of him from the ground up.) held out a scroll to one Yugito Nii. "Take this it will allow you to get through the gate!" He shouted.
"What about you?!" She asked in surprise while taking the scroll from him.
"I'll be fine now just go!" He shouted as their pursuers busted through the treeline and made a bee-line for them.
"NO! I ain't going to leave you to fight them alone your exhausted." She shouted slipping into a taijutsu stance. Only to have an invisible force grab her and throw her back. But of course she landed on her feet like all cats.
"Just run!" He shouted while drawing his katana. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS FODDER!!!
"Ok. But if you die I'm gonna spit on your grave!" Yugito shouted back then turning around and ran.
-Konoha gates-
After running about another 5 miles she came upon the great gates of Konoha. The two chunning at the gates stopped her. "Halt! What is your purpose in Konoha!" The guard on the left said tensing up getting ready for a fight.
Yugito realeved that she had finally made it put her hands on her knee's and it looked like she was about to keel over which didn't go unoticed by the guards. Finally gaining her breath she held the scroll out to the guards still unable to talk. The right one took it and read it only for his eye's go wide as dinner plates which caused the other guard the read it over his shoulder only to react the same way.
"O-o-k y-y-ou can pass." The first guard said giving the signal to open the gates.
"W-wait!" Yugito panted out between breaths. "My friend gave me that scroll! He should be passing through here in a few minute so please let him pass! He's wearing the same thing as me." She finished tugging at the coat to get the point across.
"Ok…do you need some help to the tower?" The second guard asked seeing her state. Her close were caked with dirt, grime ,and dried blood. Which meant that she had been traveling for awhile.
"No but my friend might he stayed back to fight of some missing-nin who were pursueing us!" She said. Both guards looked surprised but didn't comment on that they just let her pass throught the gate. Once through she immediately jumped up on a roof and took off toward the Hokage tower at the fasted pace she could muster.
About ten minutes later the guards were discussing what had just occurred when they saw a black blur heading staight for them. So immidiatly getting into defensive stances they waited expecting the figure to stop but he didn't when he was bearing down on them he leapt up and disappeared over the walls of Konoha.
After a good two minutes of staring at the wall were the figure disappeared Guard One looks at Guard Two. "Should we go after him?"
Guard Two looks at Guard One. "And get our asses handed to us! No thanks!"
Guards One and Two look back up at the wall and in unision. "Daaaaaammmmnnnn."
-back with Cerino-
Cerino continued to dash off toward the Hokage tower jumping from roof to roof two at a time. As he passed through the Market District of Konoha he couldn't help but feel the urge to stop and have a decent meal but he quickly surpressed the urge. As he landed on the building just before a ramen stand called Ichiraku Ramen his right leg seized up and gave out from under him and with shout of "SHIT!" he plummeted into the street in front of the stand.
-Ichiraku Ramen-
Naruto Namikaze and Kushina Namikaze were at Ichiraku ramen to celebrate Naruto's graduation from the Ninja Academy by having ramen at their favorite stand. It was their favorite cause they always served them fairly there not over pricing them like most stands and stores even though they knew of Naruto's 'tenant'.
"Congradulations on your graduation Naruto! Say how bout we make the first round on us!" Teuchi Ichiraku owner of the stand said with a grin.
"Really old man! Hell yeah!" Naruto Namikaze shouted while adusting his leaf headband which was currently on his forehead only to be slapped upside the head by none other then his mother Kushina Namikaze.
"Watch your mouth Naruto!" She said but she couldn't help but smile as Ayame Teuchi's daughter and waitress of their shop brought their orders.
Naruto wore the very same outfit as his father did including the white cloak the only difference was the black cargo pants with red around the pockets and the boots other than that he was the spitting image of his father he was just a little shorter than his mother. Kushina wore a standard jounin outfit much like Kakashi's but made for a woman. They both had katana's on their backs seeing how Kushina began to teach Naruto how to fight with one at a young age.
They were about to start eating when there was a shout of "SHIT!" from above them making them both jump from their seats taking their respectful stance as there was a crash behind them accompanied by a scream from some random civilians as they gatherered around the source. Kushina deciding to chech it out began to push her through the crowd Naruto right behind her the crownd parted for them seeing as they were ninja.
When she finally got to the center she found heself to the left of a young man about the same age as Naruto picking himself up from the dirt his eyes closed as he shook himself to shake off the landing. He had snow white hair which would no doubt reflect the sunlight if their wasen't all the dirt and blood in it. His face was angular, sharp, and attractive with high cheek-bones and no baby fat, but it also looked feral like a canine of sorts. But one of the most noticable things about it was the three claw like scars running diagonaly across it beging at the right half of his forehead. One went right between his eyes and across his nose ending at the left corner of his lip(think of squalls/leons scar). The other two went over each of his eye's the lower one ended just above the right corner his lip and the other ended just beside the left corner of his lips.
The rest of his body was shrouded by a black cloak, but the cloak couldn't hide all the muscle under it confirming Kushina's belief that he was a ninja. He also had a katana on his back. The only way Kushina could describe it was that it was beautiful. It had an elegant black sheath which was designed with white orchids covered with blood spatters all over it there were also many seals etched into the wood around the flowers. The handle was just as beautiful. The cross-guard was in the shape of a wolfs tail wrapped around the blade and the hilt was a golden color while wrapped in a black cloth and at the end of the hilt was the head a head howling wolf the same golden color as the hilt with rubies for the eyes.
Pushing himself up to kneel on one knee. Then Kushina got worried his whole body was literally caked with dirt, grime, and blood both fresh and dried. The majority of his face was coated with fresh blood and his hair also had a large amount of the crimson liquid in it and as the light shone through his hair it made it shone like a shrouded fire due to the dirt. The figure looked up his face contorted into a soundless snarl Revealing white teeth, but his canines were sharper then they should of once again reminding Kushina of a dog. He then finally opening his eye's. The crowd gasped and took a few steps back Kushina and Naruto were rooted to the spot. His eye's were the same color as the blood coating his face, but if left at that it would have been ok cause one of Kushina's friends had red eye's.(guess who.) But no these eye's were red and slitted like a demons. The figure finally made it to his feet and Kushina saw that he was a good inch or so taller than her and before Kushina could say anything he had lept of onto a nearby rooftop and continued on his way to the Hokage Tower.
After recovering from the shock Naruto asked his mother. "Should we go after him?"
"No I think it would be better if we just stay here." Kushina said turning back to the stand as the crowd dispersed muttering about 'great now we have two demons on our hands' earning a glare from Kushina. Soon She, Naruto, Ayame, and Teuchi were laughing again enjoying their celebration. Although Kushina couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.
-at the Hokage tower-
Cerino arrived at the Hokage tower and deciding to take the quicker way so he ran up the side of it and jumped throught the window to the Hokage's room only to find Yugito their finishing her tale of what had happened after Cerino saved her in Kumo. Hearing him jump through the window Yugito instantly rushed over to him and slapped him over the head before hugging him. "Ow what was that for." Cerino said while rubbing his head.
"That was for going off and trying to be a hero bro." Yugito said with a huff.
"Well I'm sorry sis but they would of caught up to us before we made the gate and the last thing we needed was a fight at the very gates of the city!' Cerino said with a serious expression.
Yugito was about to make a retort but Sarutobi decided the put his two cents in. "SILENCE YOU TWO! Now Cerino would you please tell me what caused you to run half way across the elemental nations and then all the way back across it in under 1 week?"
"Alright, alright just let me sit down very quick." Cerino said flopping himself down in a nearby chair. "Well it began…
-two hours later-
Sarutobi had long ago brought out his pipe and began smoking with a troubled look on his face. "Weelll this is indeed troubling news. And are you sure you want to go along with your current plan cause I'm sure someone of your talents could be of more use else ware." He said glancing at Cerino.
"No this is the best course of action I can take. If I intend to stop Orochimaru and my brother I must catch them in the act, and I will be able to protect both of the targets. They will never expect it. But the Organization has split up but they will all be at the exams. And too bad for my brother that before we were forced to leave I was able to empty the clans libraries, vault, and the armories so he is shit out of luck" Cerino said with a shit-eating grin. "Although…you could put Yugito in ANBU so we will have eye's and ears on both fronts."
"Hmm." Sarutobi said while closing his eyes to think. "Yes this is the best course of action. Yugito you will begin your ANBU duties in one week." Sarutobi said while finishing up a scroll he was writing out. "And Cerino the genin exams where today but I will give you special leave. You may join them next week when they are divided into teams." He said while handing him the finished scroll.
"Oh I almost forgot here is some missing-nin who are in your bingo book this should get me a hefty amount of money. And sorry about their condition but I wanted to travel hehe 'light'." Cerino said with a grin on his face and a malicious glint in his eye as he placed a scroll on his desk.
"Alright Sarutobi and thanks I know the plans a long shot but its our only option." he said while exiting the room with Yugito following him.
"Cerino!" Sarutobi called glancing up from the scroll just as he was about to leave. "Is there anything we could do?"
"Just get ready for the exams, but leave my brother to me and the Organization." He said as he left.
At that moment a group of ANBU lept throw the window then saluting the Hokage and the leader said. "Lord Hokage we have just discovered what looks like a battlefield about 5 miles from the gate. Most of the bodies are headless and the others we have identified as missing-nin between chunnin and jounin level from the other elemental nations. Should we begin to look for others?"
The ANBU noticed that Sarutobi's eyes were on a scroll on his desk and his right eye twitching. 'travel light my ass.' He thought. then getting back to the problem at hand he said. "There is no need for concern. Some of our allies waylaid them in-route. Oh and captian…could you take this scroll to the Missing-Nin Department of the tower for processing." Earning odd glances from the ANBU. "And Neko." Sarutobi continued causing an ANBU in a cat mask to stand at attention. "Bring me Ibiki." Sarutobi finished leaning back in his chair while re-filling his pipe.
-1 week later-
During the week that Yugito and Cerino had to get settled in they spent it as wisely and as luxuriously as they could. They spent the first night in a hotel seeing as they were both too exhausted to look for a decent house. The day after they woke up actually feeling clean and slightly refreshed seeing as they both took shower the night before. Cerino was also able to purchase a clan house the following day much to Yugito's enjoyment. The rest of the time he had Cerino spent organizing his items throughout the house, putting together the music room, training room, the library, and the dojo. Yugito spent her time helping him and going out into town buying assorted items and the like.
Yugito started her ANBU duties yesterday. Cerino was at the moment walking towards the ninja academy adjusting his newly acquired leaf headband which was currently on his right bicep. As he walked through the town many people cast puzzled glances and the occasionally a brave yet foolish villager would chance a glare only to nearly piss their pants as his red slitted eye's would return the favor with added killer intent. 'reminds me of my own village before I made chuunin.' Cerino thought as he finally made it to the academy.
-Konoha Ninja Academy-
Kushina stood infront of the class full of genin hopefuls along with the other jounin sensie's Kakashi Hatake, Kurenia Yuuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and a few other jounin she didn't know. At the very back of the class room was Naruto sitting next to his two best friends Hinata Hyuuga and Kiba Inuzuka. Kiba and Naruto became best friends when they first met as babies when Kushina and Tsume Inuzuka had arranged a play date for them seeing as they were best friends just like their children. Naruto met Hinata when he first began the academy when she was still timid and shy. But he soon helped her out of that shell and revealed to the world the smart, beautiful and confident Hinata that hid within.(Naruto will be with Kyuubi. Hinata will be like a sister to Naruto. If you want me to add Hinata/Kiba into the mix of relations just say so in your reviews.)
Near the front was the ever brooding Sasuke Uchiha(FYI-I will probly be bashing on Sasuke and Sakura in almost all my stories so there's a warning) surrounded by his ever present fan-club with it's two ring leaders seated on either side of him Sakura Haruno, and Ino Yamanaka (I won't be bashing on Ino that much.) The class was currently quiet and staring at their teacher Umino Iruka but they would still steal glances at the jounin making them chuckle.
"Well let me just say that I am proud of each and every one of you and that I hope you will all grow up into strong ninja." Iruka said with a smile. Kushina liked Iruka the most out of all the teachers cause he actually saw Naruto as Naruto and not the Kyuubi. "Now I will assign each of you into a team and you will leave with your jounin sensei AFTER I have called all of the teams. Now team one will…" He began only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. "Now who could that be? COME IN!" He called"
The door opened and Kushina and Naruto were staring and the very same person who fell into the street a week previous. Though he had changed he looked like he had actually had a few square meals seeing as he was leaner and had gotten off all the dirt and blood and as Kushina had guessed the sunlight filtering through the window did reflect of his hair which was all pulled back so it would cascade down the back of his head and easily reached his shoulders(think Jak's hair from Jak II only white and doesn't need a headband or googles to hold it in place)and he still had the same sword straped to his back. He also had a leaf headband tied around his right bicept. The jounins noted that with eack footstep there was a dull ca-thunk which by looking down confirmed that he was wearing heavy combat boots which were of course black. A strange choice for a ninja who usually wore light shoes or ninja sandals for stealth.
"He feels familiar." A certain vixen said from from her place inside Naruto's head.
Naruto had first established contace with Kyuubi at the age of seven when a group of drunken villagesrs stumbled upon him on one of the few occasions when he was alone (I am pretty sure you can guess what happened.) Kushina had never forgiven herself for that incident and had never left him unocappaineid again until he could properly defend himself. Apparently a man by the name of Orochimaru tried to harness her power for own need but once he realised that he couldn't he placed a powerful genjutsu over her making her go into a bloodthirsty rage, and you know the rest. Since then they had grown into close friends and just resently did they get into a boyfriend girlfried relationship at his mothers blessing of course. 'What you mean you've seen him before. surely he couldn't be much older than me' Naruto asked back.
"No. But that's the strange thing I haven't seen him in all my life but his chakra seems familiar I just can't shake this feeling. All I can tell you is to keep an eye on him. Although I feel like he is an ally that dosen't mean you should let your guard down." Kyuubi finished as she tried to figure out where she had felt this chakra before.
Iruka looked just a curious as he walked toward him so he decided to greet him. "Hello. Can I help you?" Iruka asked when he stood right in front of him. His only response was for the visitor to hold out a scroll for Iruka revealing that he had black cloth gloves on his hands. A stoic expression on his face the whole time.
Iruka took the scroll and read it then he got a shocked expression on his face as he glanced back at the visitor. He cleared his throat and said. "Well this is surprising but I would like to introduce you to Cerino Delgada who will be joining you as a genin." This instently caused an uproar from most of the class. But Sakura's argument rose up above the rest and had many of them picking at their ears but they agreed.
"WHHAAAT YOUR SAYING THAT WE WORKED OUR ASSES OFF TO GET HERE AND HE!" At this she pointed an accusing finger at Cerino who just stared at her emotionlessly. "CAN JUST WALTZ IN HERE AND NOT EVEN HAVE TO TAKE THE EXAMS!!!"
"Well I'm sorry if this displeases you Sakura but if you got a complaint your going to have to take it up with the Hokage!" Iruka said holding up the scroll revealing the Hokages seal placed firmly at the bottom for everyone to see. That shut everybody up…in the ninja world no honorable ninja goes against the word of their Kage. Well almost no ninja.
"Still he should still take the exams for all we know he could be a civilian who couldn't pull off a single jutsu." Sasuke said in an arogent manner.
Iruka was about to yell at him using his pattened 'Big Head Jutsu' only to be stopped by Cerino who said. "It's ok Iruka if they want to see what I can do then so be it. What was the ninjutsu portion of the exams on since there isn't time to take the taijutsu portion of it and I doubt Sasuke here would want to be the practice dummy for my kunia." While rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Kushina couldn't help to yet again be reminded a canine of sorts by his voice. 'Or a Inuzuka.' She thought.
Sasuke was fuming at the insult and Sakura was about to yell/screech at him only to be shut up by a glare from Iruka. A few rows back Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata were all barely holding in snickers.
"Alright and I'm sorry about this but if you want to do this the ninjutsu exam was they had to make at least 3 clones, Henge into me, and then they had the to use the Shunshin." Iruka said after he had deflated.
"Keh to easy." Cerino said then without hand signs or the puff of smoke he created 10 clones who then Henged into each of the jounin and one for some reason transformed into Sasuke. Cerino then with a flick of the wrist launched a kunia at the clone of Sasuke right between his eyes who seemed to faze out only to be replaced by Cerino who caught the kunia between his index and middle finger. Putting the kunia back he snapped his fingers thus dispelling the clones…everyone was speechless. Not only did he create 10 clones which was well beyond the average standard of the academy he did all those jutsu without handsigns which required at least jounin level chakra control.
Cerino glanced around with a grin as if drinking in their incredulous expressions. "Any questions?" He said with obvious mirth.
Sasuke was furious. How did he a commoner (or so he thinks) not only surpass him in all areas. Who taught him, what kind of shortcut to power did he use. "H-how did you do that?" Sasuke stammered still caught between shock and fury.
"That is for me to know and you to bloody die trying to find out." Cerino said dismissivly.
"You will tell me how you did that!" Sasuke retorted angrily.
"No I won't, and trust me you won't be able to copy it with that pathetic excuse for a blood line." Cerino said cooly back as he glanced to Iruka. "Let me just tell you personally that I'm sorry for the mess this will make with the team match-ups but the Hokage insisted."
Iruka was about to respond when he was cut short by Sasuke. "Like you know anything about the all-mighty Sharingan!" Cerino turned his slitted gaze towards Sasuke making him flinch.
Cerino let out a bark-like laugh that sent chills up the genin hopefulls spines. "Oh trust me on this Sasuke. I know even more than you. Heh trust me." Then for a brief almost unnoticiable second Cerino's eye's flashed golden before returning to normal. The genin chalked it up to a trick of the light but the jounin knew what they saw.
Iruka saw that Sasuke was about to make a retort but decided to end this verbal spar prematurely. "WILL YOU SHUT-UP!" Iruka yelled again using his big head jutsu. "Cerino will you please take a seat as I assign the teams." Iruka said calming himself down.
"Sorry Iruka." Cerino said as he proceeded to take the only empty seat beside Kiba.
"Nice job putting Sasuke in his place." Kiba muttered to Cerino once Iruka started calling of teams.
"Yeah well someone had to put the arrogant Uchiha in his place." Cerino muttered back.
"Yeah. I'm Kiba, Kiba Inuzuka and this is Akamaru." Kiba said after pointing to the small dog on his head then offering his hand which Cerino shook then patted Akamaru on the head as a greating. "That's Naruto Namikaze and Hinata Hyuuga." Kiba contiued pointing them both out and Cerino shook both of their hands. They heard that Team 3's sensie would be Asuma Sarutobi right after that.
"Team 7 is Naruto Namikaze, Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuuga," At this the three friends began to party only to be interrupted by Iruka who continued. "And Cerino Delgada. Your jounin-sensei will be Kushina Namikaze" At that all four of them looked at Cerino who just shrugged.
"WAIT A MINUTE WHY DO THEY GET A FOURTH PERSON AND WHILE WE GET ONLY THREE!!!" Screeched a certain banshee.
"Cause there isn't enough students to make another squad so we simply made a four man cell to even things out." Iruka answered simply and continued on with. "Team 8 will be Sakura Haruno, Shino Aburame, and Sasuke Uchiha. Your jounin-sensei will be Kakashi Hatake" At that everyone was nearly deafened by the fan-girlish squell Sakura let out and for once Shino actually showed emotion as a thunder cloud appeared over him and he looked like he was about to cry.
"Team 9 is still in rotation and Team 10 will be Ino Yamanaka, Shikimaru Nara, and Chouji Akamichi. Your jounin-sensei will be Kurenia Yuuhi."
"Well let me just say to you again that it was an honor to teach each and every one of you and I hope you all grow up to be astounding ninja." He then walked out of the room after flashing Naruto and Kushina a grin.
As everyone began to split up into their respectful Teams Team 7 stood infornt of Kushina waiting for orders. "Lets take a walk shall we?" She asked and as they nodded she walked out of the room and out of the academy. Kiba and Hinata were as comfortable around Kushina as they were around Naruto but they weren't sure about Cerino they had just met him today and they were worried that would throw off their teamwork seeing as they didn't know any of his abilities.
While they were walking Team 7 noticed that both Naruto and Cerino were getting about the same amount of glares the only difference was that while Naruto just brushed it off Cerino would return each and every glare with one of his own along with letting out a small amount of killer intent thus causing the civilian in question to nearly piss their pants. 'Must be his eye's.' The rest of Team 7 thought as once again a villager turned around and ran the opposite way with a rather noticablly darker spot in their pants.
'They treat him just as bad as they do Naruto.' Hinata and Kiba thought. They had first learned about Naruto's tenant/girlfriend at the beginning of the school year when he decided to tell them. They would never forget how shocked his face was when they said that they didn't think any different of him thus strengthening their bond.
Once they made it to Training Ground 7 Kushina turned around and said. "I know it really ain't necisary but anyway tell us your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams for the future. I will go first as an example. My name is Kushina Namikaze, I like my son here ,training, and learning new things. My dislikes are arogant people who think their better than everybody else and fan-girls for they give us real konouchi a bad name" She said with a smirk toward Hinata. "My hobbies are training, reading, cooking and other leasurly activities. My dream for the future is to see all of your dreams come to pass." She said with a smile. "Your next Naruto."
"Ok. My name is Naruto Namikaze, my likes are my mom Kiba and Hinata and Akamaru here and leaning new jutsu's and moves. My dislikes are people who can't see underneath the underneath and smug pricks. My hobbies are training, and learning new styles and jutsu, my dream for the future is to become a great of a Hokage as my father Minato Namikaze the Fourth Hokage." He finished earning a glare from his mother at the prick part.
"Your turn Hinata." Kushina said turning to her.
"My name is Hinata Hyuuga, I like my little sister and my father, my dislikes are people who put down others for their mistake, my hobbies are pressing flowers and reading romance novels, my dreams for the future are to become an honorable clan head and demolish the branch house uniting the Hyuuga household then to have a family." She finished. Naruto had really done a good job at helping her come out of her shell and Hiashi seeing that Naruto's method of encouraging her and helping her was working and soon picked up on it and soon Hinata was able to go on par with Neji her cousin. Her father couldn't be happier.
"Kiba your up" Kushina said with a smirk.
"Alright! My name is Kiba Inuzuka and this is Akamaru my partner and friend. I like training with Akamaru and my mother and sister. My dislikes are Sasuke and people who hurt dogs for no reason. My hobbies are training, exercising and playing with Akamaru, my dreams for the future is to become a pack leader or in other words clan head and to raise a family." Kiba finished with a smile.
"And finally you Cerino I dare say that we now the least about you." Kushina said with a smile.
"My name is Cerino Delgada, my likes are practicing kenjutsu, learning new things and meeting new people and my family." He said began." My dislikes are people who judge a book by it's cover and people who always takes the easy was out, my hobbies are playing assorted musical instraments, reading books, inventing and forging new weapons, and meditating. My dreams for the future is to return to my old home and to live a better life." He finished.
"Ok now that we now each other a little better meet me back at this spot at 6:00 a.m. SHARP if you are late…well lets just say you won't like it." She finished with a sadistic grin. "We are going to take the REAL genin exams at that time."
"WAIT! What do you mea the REAL genin exams I thought we took those last week." Kiba said looking dumbfounded.
"That was just a test to weed out the weak from the strong. Now we are going to decide if you are ready to really become ninja." Kushina said with a smirk.
"Alright now everybody head home and get a good nights sleep trust me you'll need it. Come on Naruto." She finished gesturing for Naruto to follow her home. "Oh and Cerino!" She shouted over her shoulder. "Next time try not to terrorize the villagers!"
-later that night-
Sarutobi was just wrapping up his daily paperwork when there was a knock on the door. "Come in." He said even though he already knew who it was from their chakra signature he had expected this. And as expected in walked Kushina.
"Hey Sarutobi you mind if I ask you a few questions?" She asked never taking her eyes off him to make sure he wasn't lying.
"Questions? Well I guess I will answer them to the best of my abilities." Sarutobi answered while taking out his pipe.
"Alright to start things off I would like to know who Cerino Delgada is?" She asked narrowing her eyes and getting serious.
Sarutobi sighed before standing up and walking to the window looking out on Konoha which was now bathed in moonlight. "Cerino is one of the most gifted and talented ninja I have seen since your son and his father." He said after a minute.
"That doesn't answer my question. I mean like, where he came from, how he got here, is he a friend or foe, and why you let him into the genin teams." Kushina said with a glare. Ever since she saw him again at the academy the feeling that she got back at Ichiraku had just been growing.
Sarutobi sighed then turning to face he said in a sad voice. "I am sorry Kushina but I can't answer those questions for they aren't mine to answer. If you really want to know the answer then ask the person they concern directly."
"But WHY can't you answer them Sarutobi of all people I know you are the only one who can answer them other than Cerino." Kushina said getting slightly frustrated.
"The only thing I can tell you is that he means you, Naruto or any other citizen of Konoha any harm. In fact he has saved countless lives with the information he gave me upon arrival. Which he gathered at great personal risk and not to mention all the trouble he went through to get here I might add." Sarutobi said in a calm voice trying to assure the worried mother.
Kushina sighed then taking a few deep breaths she said. "Well since I'm obviously not going to get any more out of you I will be leaving now. Tell Konohamaru I said hi." She then took her leave.
Sarutobi was once again at his desk working on the last piece of paperwork thinking. 'Well I guess nothings change with you Cerino. You are always where all the action is.' Sarutobi smirked as he sighned the last paper. Standing up he walked out of his office and headed home to get some much needed sleep.
-Training Ground 7-5:45 A.M.-
Kushina had just arrived at the Trianing ground early in hopes to get everything in place. Naruto was back at their clan estate getting ready. It was until she walked out into the main clearing that realized she wasen't alone. Cerino was there also leaning against one of the posts with a small black book in his right hand much similar to a certain perverted masked jounin while his left tapped a tune on the post.
"Hello Kushina a little early don't you think." He said not even looking up from the book.
"Well I have to get some things set up and that's Kushina-sensei to you." She said with a smirk.
"I'll call you 'sensei' when you've taught me something but until then you are just Kushina." Cerino said closing the book after making sure he had the page memorized.
:What you reading?" Kushina asked trying to strike up conversation after a minute of silence while she was unpacking an alarm clock and two bells. Instead of responding Cerino just tossed her the book which she caught and glanced at the title. 'Ghosts: True Encounter with the World Beyond. By: Hans Holzer' "I didn't take you for the type to believe in ghosts Cerino." She said as she tossed the small book back. 'Well at least it ain't anything perverted' She thought.
"You never know. I haven't seen anything to prove they do exist or anything that says they don't. I find it ammusing. While we worry more about the next enemy they worry about finding the stranded souls of their dearly departed." Cerino replied with a half smirk and a chuckle.
Kushina thought about it for a moment before she to chuckled. "Guess I never looked at it like that but your right." She said with a smile.
Another silence elapsed between them only disturbed by the leaves rusling in the wind, the birds singing, and occasionaly Cerino turning a page of his book. "Say Cerino," Kushina said breaking the silence. "You know you never told us where you came from yesterday." She said making it sound like an inocent question. But in reality Kushina was trying to unravel some of Cerino's hidden secrets so she could detirmed who he really was. Last night she had been mulling over everything and it occurred to her that his name seemed somewhat familiar as if she had read or heard about him from somewhere but no matter how hard she tried she simply couldn't wrestle the piece of information out of her mind.
"A long way from here and I miss it dearly." Cerino said in an even voice still reading the book.
"Yeah but I mean where as in what nation." She said trying to keep any of the frustration she was feeling from leaking into her voice.
"Why does it concern you?" Cerino asked turning his slitted gaze to her.
Kushina couldn't believe it. He was DELIBERATLY avoiding the question just like Sarutobi, and if she couldn't get even that answer from him then she wasn't going to get anything else.
"It doesn't I was just curious." Kushina said with a sheepish smile trying to mask her growing frustration.
"Well I'm sorry but I'd rather not answer. No offence to you but I still don't trust everyone in this village." Cerino said calmly returning to his book.
Kushina was REALLY frustrated right now. Not only did he not answer her questions, but a strange thing was. She felt like she was talking to someone much older than the young-adult standing in front of her. The way he bobbed and weaved around her questions like a proffesional on par with Ibiki made he even more suspicious. But she couldn't force the answers out of him so she decided to leave it alone.
A few minutes of silence later Naruto, Kiba, and Hinata walked into the training field together. Once they wear all there Kushina decided to explain the exams.
"Ok now that we are all hear I will explain what you have to do." Kushina said wearing a sadistic grin the whole time. "Your objective is two get these two bells from me before 10:00 a.m.. We will be beginning at 6:10 so do take this time to ask questions." Kushina said drawing two bells out of her pocket. After a second our two staring Hinata raised her hand.
Yes Hinata? Although this ain't the academy anymore so you don't have to raise your hand." Kushina said with a fox-smile much like Naruto's.
"There's only two bells and there is thr-I mean four of us." She said catching herself near the end.
"Very perceptive of you Hinata. Yes there is two bells. That means that while two of you will be staying and two of you will be going back to the academy." Kushina said sobering up somewhat.
"But that's insane. I've never heard of a two man cell I mean yeah I've heard of four man cells every now and then but ain't two a little risky." Naruto said narrowing his eyes.
"That cause there ain't any." Kushina began. "We take the teams that passed and combine them with the other teams that passed to even it up the best we can. Now is there anymore questions cause it is about time for use to begin." Kushina said looking at the clock seeing that it read 6:08.
During this whole time Cerino had his head slumped rubbing the bridge of his nose and grinning while shaking his head. 'I can't believe it. This is the same exam my own genin sensei gave me only a little different.' He thought looking up. 'I guess even though my village and Konoha are over half the continent away from each other the concept here is the same as their!'
Kushina seeing the grin decided to say something. "Is there something you like to say Cerino?"
"Oh nothin." He said still smiling.
"Ok then it's about time to begin, and remember come at me with the intent to kill or else you won't pass." She said. After each of them nodded she raised her arm and yelled. "GO!" Throwing her arm down launching a kunia at their feet making them scatter…well almost all of them.
Cerino just stood their for a good second or two later memorizing the page in his book before closing it and walking off towards the forest in a seemingly random direction.
"You're an odd one aren't you?" Kushina said sweat dropping a little.
"Yeah. Well I never did like following the crowd." Cerino said with a lazy wave over his shoulder.
Kushina continued to watch him as he walked into the woods, but the moment she lost sight of him his chakra signature vanished as if he wasn't even there. Kushina shivered involuntarily. 'I'm going to have to watch out for him.'
-somewhere deeper in the forest-
Naruto, Hinata, and Kiba decided to meet up and talk this over. "Ok something is seriously wrong with this test I mean even though it could work there is no way you can get enough people to pass to make even teams so there has got to be another point to this test." Naruto said in his thinking pose.
"Yeah he's got a point there, and what about the sensei when their teams merge they would have to wait a whole year for another team to arrive or they could go back to active duty. But my mother said that it's a 'no backing out' gig once you've started so that out of the picture." Kiba put his two cents in.
"And how are three genin fresh out of the academy going to beat a highly trained jounin with years of experience? I know we have an advantage with Cerino with us which makes four but still. There has got to be a way for all four of to pass." Hinata said also in her thinking pose.
"There is a way." A voice behind them said making them all jump and whirl around only to see Cerino leaning against a tree. "Hinata was the closest of all. Take the third and fourth words out of the first sentence and think about think about the second one real hard. She touched on the subject but didn't realize it."
It was silent for a couple minutes as they all thought it over until Hinata gave a jolt as if shocked. "Three genin! The test ain't about getting a bell it's about working together to get them! I can't believe we didn't think of that! They all but drilled it into our heads in the academy" She said.
Kiba and Naruto stared at them for a few seconds then Naruto muttered. "Well I feel a little foolish."
"You said it!" Kiba said then glancing at Cerino he asked. "How did you know?"
"The genin exams at my old village were similar. They were designed to turn us against each other and to see if we can see as your village puts it 'underneath the underneath'." Cerino said blankly.
"Ok. 'whew' Man you really gave us a start…hey what's up with that Kiba. Some tracker you are you can't even cover our asses." Naruto said teasing Kiba.
Kiba flushed with anger and said. "It's not my fault he…how did you hide your scent?"
In answer Cerino lifted his arm up plucking a leaf from the tree he was leaning on and let it go only to drift away from them. "I circled around and came up from down wind. I guess that was your idea too. To head down wind so you could tell if Kushina was moving."
They all nodded before Kiba asked. "Wait! How did YOU!" He began pointing a finger at him. "Know that we were here?" That got mysterious looks from the other two present also.
Cerino sighed and began to rub the bridge of his nose. A habit of his it would appear. "Listen I got about two years of ninja experience on you so tracking down a group of genin fresh out of the academy. Heh no sweat." Cerino said shrugging.
"Oh…ok. WAIT A SECOND! TWO YEARS? YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A GENIN FOR TWO YEARS!" Naruto yelled frothing at the mouth by then.
But before he could continue Cerino lifted his hand to silence him. "I didn't say I was a genin for two years all I said was that I got two years ninja EXPERIENCE on you, and before you ask what ranks I achieved I will say this. 'You haven't earned my trust yet to divulge such information.' It's not that I don't trust you its just that the reason I'm here is because of someone else stabbing me and the back, and I don't intend to let that happen again."
They all gave him a strange look as he stared blankly ahead but he couldn't conceal the wrath burning in his demonic eyes so they decided to just let it be for now. "Ok so we know what the exams are now so we need a plan." Hinata said breaking the silence that had stretched for a good minute.
"She's right we need a plan!" Naruto said once again assuming his thinking pose.
"Don't worry I got one." Cerino said looking back at them with a half-smirk.
-back with Kushina-
'Now were could they be it's been a good two hours so one of them should be making a move by now.' She thought glancing at the clock then back at her surroundings.
It was then that she detected a poorly concealed chakra signature behind her. She waited a few seconds before she head light footsteps and the rustle of fabric. whirling around she came face to face with Naruto with his fist cocked back and ready to strike.
In one swift motion Kushina sweeped his legs out from under him and delivered a strong backhand to his face only for him to poof away in smoke thus shrouding her vision. 'Shadow clone.' She realized before she heard the sound of heavy boots behind her.
Turning around she saw Cerino 10 ft. away with a katana swung back ready to slice her head off. Quickly leaning back to dodge the strike she drew her own katana. Sparks flew as she blocked a slash aimed for her mid-section she then pushed him back and countered by twirling to build momentum and aimed a strike at his chest only for it to be evaded by Cerino leaning back, and retaliate with a sweep quick which she jumped over. But Cerino didn't stop spinning until he came all the way around sword bared ready to slice her in half which she unfortunately had no alternative but to block…unfortunate that when they met it sent her flying a good 15 ft. away.
'Damn he's strong!' Kushina thought wincing as her arms were shaking not anticipating such a strong blow from him.
Then she heard something directly behind her in the woods which she had been lured to. "Gatsuuga!" Turning around she came face to face with two little mini-tornadoes bearing down on her. Twisting as fast as she could she was able to evade both only getting a small tear in her left sleeve. Then out of the corner of her eye she saw a white and orange blur and a glint of steel heading straight towards her. blocking the swing from Naruto she was forced to retreat and a black blur came in intent on slicing her arm off. Then the twin cyclones came back and forced her yet again to jump back. mid-flight she felt a slight tug at her belt and the jingle of bells.
Looking down she saw that the bells that had been fastened there were gone! Looking up she saw all four of her students smiling/smirking at her Hinata holding up two bells. "Well I must hand it to you guys had me on my toes. But who gets the bells?" She asked seeing if they really understood the test although she had no doubt in her mind that they did.
"No one. It's either we all pass our we all fail." Kiba said with a determined look.
"Well then I guess I have no choice but to…" Kushina said with a sad look making them nervous. "pass you!" She finished with a smirk. "But I must ask which one of you figured it out?" At that she got a mixed reaction. While Naruto, Kiba, And Hinata pointed at Cerino he pointed at Hinata.
Seeing their looks Cerino said one word. "Whaat?"
"Cerino you're the one who figured it out." Hinata said as they all lowered there arms.
"No that was all you. I already knew the answer. A lesson learned is more valuable then a lesson given. I simply gave you a clue since you had all touched on the subject of teamwork several times." Cerino responded with a shrug.
"Um…ok I'll leave it at that, but Cerino how did you know the answer already?" Kushina asked looking curious.
"The genin exams at my home village were similar. Only instead of bells it was a marble on a wooden post that we had to get while the jounin guarded to." Cerino said once again rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Yeah and he also said that he had two years more ninja experience than us. Say…just how old are you Cerino?" Kiba asked but before Kushina could scold him for asking the question Cerino answered.
"14"(In my fic they become ninja at affore mentioned age.)
"Wait. You mean you became ninja at the age of 12? Is that even possible?" Naruto asked.
"The only reason I skipped the academy was because I already knew everything they would teach me there so I joined the graduates and was thus assigned my team." Cerino half answered half lied.
"Ok now that that is out of the way and since it is only 9 o'clock how bout we get some lunch. Any suggestions?" She asked already knowing where they were going.
"Ichiraku's!" Naruto shouted pumping a fist into the air.
-end chapter-
Well all I got to say is that I am glad that you all reading 'Lucario' have been patient and that the next chapter for that one will probly be coming soon since while I was writing this one a lot of ideas popped up so stay tuned but J-I-K I ain't making any promises. Until next time.
Goodbye
