A/N: This brainchild came along thanks to reading "Uzumaki Naruto: Dawn of the Gamer By: Legend of the Kyuubi", while listening to Caravan Palace – The Lone Digger. For this brief idea, I will be using similar teams. Team 7 will be Sakura, Sasuke, and Choji, led by Kakashi. Team 8 will be Naruto, Ino, and Hinata, led by Anko. Team 10 will be Shikamaru, Kiba and Shino, led by Asuma. Although born of a Gamer fic, this will not use any such things. This is bordering on a crack fic idea though with some of the concepts and actions I am going to have them pull off.
For those waiting for me to continue my main series. I will. I have just been dealing with A LOT since then. I will explain in more detail in said stories for the followers. This will just be a place for me to post my many random ideas I have written prior and during my writing of SL and Louise... I have not yet finished Fourteen for SL. I have actually written up to 7 for Louise... and decided I did not like how it was going, and will probably have to rewrite a crap ton of it, if not all of it.
I will post something for both, soonish. Once again, my most sincerest apologies.
Oh, and if you want an idea of the outfits. Think Chang from Black Lagoon. Shenhua from the same series, but with a fur lined jacket. And a standard Kingsman suit from the titular series.
Enjoy!
Teams 7 and 10 stood there conversing while trying to avoid the eyes of all the other potential Chunin in the room with them. Except of course for Sasuke who stared everyone down in his arrogance, believing himself to be superior.
Kabuto had just prepared to approach his target by playing the supporting older Genin to his group.
Sadly his plans were foiled completely when both doors suddenly burst open smashing into their respective walls and cracking them. From each door there came a shadowed figure, owing to the suddenly bright light flooding from the corridor every one of the present Genin had walked in through.
The blond haired figure on the right wore what appeared to be the get up of a Chinese Mob Boss, long white scarf hanging on the sides of his open ankle length black coat, a pair of shades lying on his nose suddenly lit up along with cigarette. The small flame showing the Leaf Insignia on the metal plates on his black fingerless gloves and sown unto his coat over the heart. His black Oxford Dress shoes also showed the Leaf Insignia on the metal buckle clashed over the laces.
He started slowly observing everything in the room after lighting his cigarette.
The other figure, located on the left, was clearly female based on her bust. Sadly the figure was hidden partially thanks to well-fitting black three piece suit with white shirt and black tie tucked under the vest. Long black dress pants to her own pair of black Oxford Dress shoes. She also had a pair of black fingerless gloves with a Leaf Insignia engrave metal plate on the back. Unlike her partner, she did not have any metal plate over her heart or shoes. Instead, lying across the black bandages covering her face above the nose, where one's eyes reside, sat her Leaf Headband, as well as on the band wrapped around her Fedora. Both eerily lit up thanks to the large lit cigar she was currently savoring. The glow just helped make the unnerving grin look even more pronounced on between her pale white skin and black-blue hair.
She seemed to simply stare ahead, while also giving the feeling that she was looking each of them in the eye.
Not but a few seconds had passed, although some of the present Genin were beginning to gather themselves to respond or comment on the relatively grand appearance, when the third member just sauntered into the room, the light framing her from behind reflecting off of her fine ankle length, purple dress with a large split on the sides, showing off her long legs. A white fur trimmed mini-coat covering her arms and shoulders with the Leaf Insignia on each shoulder, a medium sized cat with a flame styled color scheme and a Leaf Headband as a scarf lying across her right arm, her left petting it on the head. Her blond hair flowed behind her in a single smooth wave, her right eye covered by a parted bang, the other aquamarine eye somehow managed to convey the sense of looking down on everyone before her. As if she was staring at filth, and with the manner she carried herself, and presence, no one seemed able to refute her.
Before anyone could gather their balance and react to the trios' appearance, Ibiki and the proctoring Chunin all appeared in a rather flashy smoke cloud. Shouting for everyone to shut up and sit down… pointlessly, as no one was facing the front, and everyone was already silent.
Nonetheless, everyone proceeded to their assigned seats, and prepared for the first part of the Chunin Exams. Even as they sat down and prepared, thoughts ran rampant as to the last three potential Chunin to arrive at the test. What with their appearance and posture.
None less than their fellow Konoha Rookies.
'What is Ino-pig thinking coming in like that to the exams? Does she think that she will get Sasuke-kun's heart with her flashy dress?'
'Hn.'
'Team 8 looked pretty cool. I wonder if they could tell me where they got their suits from.'
'Damn that Dobe. I wish we had thought of using a flashy entrance like them. Shika could probably plan it, and Shino has that whole 'cool' thing. Although Shika would probably think it is too troublesome.'
'Troublesome.'
'At first look, one would think it is illogical to draw attention as they did. Upon a secondary consideration though, they built an image that forces others to be cautious or warry around them, rather than curious and challenging. It puts all their opponents on an off footing. I will have to bring this line of thought to my teammates during our next meeting. I feel it is a liable action.'
'SUCH YOUTH! I WILL HAVE TO RUN AROUND KONOHA TWO HUNDRED TIMES ON MY HANDS! AND IF I FAIL THAT I WILL HAVE TO DO ONE HUNDRED PUSH-UPS WITH MY TONGUE! Tenten never lets me practice that last one, once I hit the twenties, she is rushing me off to her house. Not that I dislike her actions.'
'I am not sure what to think of them. I am tired of all the girls around me being fangirls, but I can't decide if those two were fangirls, seduction and infiltration specialist, a prissy noble with her bodyguards, or a bunch of pranksters screwing around with everyone… Or could they possibly just be so sure of themselves that their impractical outfits is their way of setting a handicap to make this somewhat of a challenge? URGH! I am wasting too much time on this, focus on the exam, worry about the weirdoes later.'
'What is failure doing covering her eyes. She is fated to be such a failure that the only positive of her existence, she hides.'
'Damn brats stole my entrance. How am I supposed to scare them all to quit and win the bet with Anko now? Guess I will have pull out all the tricks in and OUT of the book for that last question.'
Over in the lounge for the Jonin-sensei the reactions were quite a bit more vocal, but surprisingly similar.
"Those are my brats! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Anko… did you actually spend time teaching them how to make entrances?"
"Of course. It is an important skill for proper shinobi to be able to make proper entrances when outside of missions."
"Shouldn't you have instead used the time to teach them skills to survive in the exam instead?"
"Bah, my brats will wipe the floor with anyone in that room, except that creepy bloodthirsty red-head. He would provide a good fight for them."
Baki looked up at that. "Gaara has killed Genin, Chunin and even some Jonin. There is no one in this exam who could challenge him."
"I am actually pretty sure that besides my brats, Bushy Brows Jr. and that fucktard Kabuto could give Gaara a challenge. Well, if Bushy Brows allows Jr to go all out, and Snake Pedo allowed Kabuto to do the same."
"YOSH! MY STUDENTS FLAMES OF YOUTH WILL LIGHT A PATH TO VICTORY!"
"Maa Maa, don't forget that Sasuke is in the exam as well."
Quite a few of the Jonin just turned to stare at him, while Anko exploded into gratuitous laughter.
"Please, even IF he was the Rookie of the year for his class, with you as his teacher, I am certain that a third of the examinees will beat him without a problem. All of Gai's team, mine, Lazy and Bug-boy from Asuma, Creepy Red-head and Fan-girl, and Kabuto are all nearly assured victory so long as they don't gloat or do something stupid. Or in Lazy's case, if he stops being lazy for a bit. As for the others." Anko just shrugged.
"Oh? Want to make a bet that Sasuke will come out ahead."
"Oh, I have no doubt he will probably make it to the finals." Her pointed look spoke volumes as to WHY that shit-stain would make it to the finals. "He will not succeed though."
"Very well, what are we wagering?"
"In the event of a preliminary, all of my brats passing to the finals, so long as they don't face each other, and if even one weak team passes, which considering Kabuto is carrying those two arrogant fools, I am sure they will, then Sasuke will also pass. Otherwise he will pass anyway, probably facing one of his teammates."
The entire lounge froze at that. She may as well have come forth and stated that Sasuke would only pass by facing a weakling, and that they were cheating to set him up with an acceptable target.
Kakashi's eye turned cold at that. "You overstep yourself Mitarashi."
"You should have just taken Sasuke as your apprentice, that way only one Genin would suffer your inadequacies as a teacher, instead of three. Although young, Asuma's team is still properly trained by their clans, and he has drilled teamwork and strategy into them. So they have a chance. I have practically tortured my brats into becoming strong, I have done less to BREAK prisoners, yet they endured and bloomed under it. They deserve this opportunity. They earned it. Your team though? You constantly show up late to their meetings, where all they do is sit and wait. No communication or training. You do a D-Rank mission, and then leave them alone. You have trained them in nothing, expecting them to automatically understand that they need to learn teamwork during the D-ranks, and use the time prior and after the mission to train themselves in what they need. NEW FLASH! One is Fan-girl with no idea what to do. The other is a broody revenge obsessed fool who believes that everyone is below him. The last is a peaceful child who wouldn't hurt a fly if he could help it. In the four months you have had them, they have had NO improvement as compared to being alone. You are a great shinobi, a true genius. The problem Kakashi, is that most are not like you, not even Sasuke, despite your beliefs. NONE OF THEM ARE GENIUSES LIKE YOU. THEY NEED A TEACHER. Instead, they got you. My only hope is that pinky and chubby don't die pandering to your and the Uchiha's ego and arrogance."
With that Anko turned around, Ibiki was finishing up his part of the exams, and she wanted to see how her team played things out. The rest of the Jonin in the lounge didn't quite know how to respond. On one part, most if not all Konoha shinobi thought she had gone too far, even if they partially agreed with her, there was a time and place, and a lounge with foreign shinobi was not one of them. On the other hand, the smarter ones, including Kakashi, understood what she really meant by revealing this here. She was truly worried they would die, heck, despite her boasts, like any truly good Jonin-sensei, she was worried for her brats too. It only takes a single slip up for a Kage to die to an Academy Students kunai. She wanted Kakashi to pull them out.
Sadly he could not do that. He was already regretting his actions, he definitely could have done better. However, he could not pull his team out. Sasuke was a flight risk, and pulling him out of the Chunin exams would only exacerbate the situation. He started wishing the damn Hokage and council hadn't forced him to be a Jonin-sensei once again.
They all turned to watch as Ibiki's exam ended. All the teams mentioned so far having passed. While the foreign shinobi considered the words of Konoha's Snake Mistress, and the Konoha shinobi started getting angry at her, no one noted how Kakashi's eye never once went back to his little orange book.
"So once again, congratulations on passing the first exam. I will now leave you to the Proctor for the second exam."
That said, Ibiki and his chunin assistants all disappeared in a flash of smoke. Except Kankuro's puppet Chunin. Everyone started looking around, or looking directly at the lone 'chunin' who remained, until Temari bashed Kankuro over the head, forcing him to recall it, creeping a few of them out.
"Thank you for retrieving your toy, I would hate to have to kill you for ruining my entrance."
The voice reverberated from all around them, or even from inside their head, they all looked around wildly, before they all as once, seemingly on instinct, looked towards the front, where a pair of red eyes suddenly popped open, followed by a wide deranged smile underneath complimenting the rather disturbing glint shining in those floating red orbs. Raven locks flowed around and apparently behind the visible facial details. Bandage wrap by bandage wrap appeared in no discernable order, until the Jonin stood before them.
"I am Kurenai, and I will be your proctor for the second exam, in your hands there are simple directions towards your next destination." With a start, and a few gasps, except from six of the present contestants, they all looked towards their hands that suddenly held a paper with a crude pictogram that they imagined was the directions. "You have sixty minutes to prepare for the second exam and get there. If you decide to get there early, you cannot leave to prepare, you will be stuck there till we begin." With a blood curling ear-to-ear smile that no one, outside of Team Anko and their sensei, had ever seen before on Kurenai's face, and according to the Jonin watching, (Except for Anko who was shivering in excitement and anticipation for the night after the second exam.) should never again be seen. "Don't get lost or be late, I would hate to have to explain to your senseis about where you were once they realize that you are neither at the exam nor your assigned accommodations." More than a few of them shivered as the insinuations hit home. "Tuda-loo~~"
With that, the entire world seemed to waver for the Genin, before they found themselves outside of the academy, instead of the room where they had just taken the first exam and spoken to with the crazy lady. They all just stood there in shock and confusion, trying to understand what had happened. Except for three teams, two of which simply slipped out without anyone the wiser, the third was exasperated with his two idiot arrogant 'teammates' that he wanted to experiment on in the hopes that he would find a way to cure absolute and misplaced arrogance and stupidity.
"Wow, I got to say, when we helped set up Anko-sensei with Kurenai-san, I did NOT expect her influence to be so pronounced, and so quickly."
"Why? Except Naruto-kun, she has known us for all of four months, and we are already doomed, Ino-chan is like a mini blond, more sophisticated Anko. Naruto is like a kinder and male Anko."
"And you're a quiet Anko with the Byakugan."
"Yes, so is it so surprising that Kurenai-san, who has been with friends with Anko-sensei for years, would be affected?"
"Precisely BECAUSE she has been around Anko for so long without effect that I thought she would be fine. I even thought that Kurenai-san's stabling influence would multiply with a closer relationship!"
"Oh Naruto, you still need to learn more about women. It was without VISIBLE effect. Anko has burrowed deep into Kurenai over the years, slowly altering her until now. Kurenai merely withheld a small mask that she kept up to keep Anko at bay, and to try to convince herself and the rest of Konoha that she was normal, but like her Genjutsu, it only takes knowing the truth to break it easily. She may have been able to get together with Asuma, and through denial, have a seemingly happy and normal life with him, and a subpar Jonin and Genjutsu Mistress. Thanks to our efforts though, we have stripped her of the masks and illusions she had imposed on herself. Now look at her. In that short time since we forced her to accept the truth, she has invented a half-dozen Genjutsus and is quickly coming up to match the fabled Itachi in terms of Genjutsu mastery, plus, she has kept even ANKO satisfied every night. You have to accept that Kurenai was already a lost cause long before we got to her. We merely saved her from wasting time with lazy and subpar men like Asuma, possibly a long time if she kept suppressing the truth and deluding herself like she was. And if she did manage to fool herself, then she would never become as awesome a Genjutsu user as she has now or will be in the future, she would not have been in as happy and successful relationship as she is in now. Not to mention that Anko would continue hurting herself and not being as happy and cheerful as she is by not actively going after Kurenai. Plus, Kurenai gives us breaks by taking Anko every now and then. So, except for Asuma, it is a win-win-win-win situation."
"Oh, I never doubted it was a win-win situation. Just surprised how Kurenai went from the Prude Ice Queen Genjutsu Mistress, who constantly lashed out at purely sexual relationships, and homosexual relationships and keeping a calm cool face towards everything, rarely smiling or showing overt emotions. Into a Genjutsu Anko... Does that mean than Anko-sensei is in a relationship with herself?"
Both girls responded by smacking the blond male Anko on the back of the head before they walked into Ichiraku's for a quick lunch before heading to Training Grounds 44. Thanks to Naruto and Anko's experiences at the hands of Konoha's civilians, the act of having three different sealing scrolls with duplicates of their travel gear on them at all times was now a habit. From clothing and ninja gear to sustain them for a yearlong war without reinforcement or resupply, to their specialized camping sets and traps, preserved foods and spices, etc. So there was no need to 'prepare' for anything, they were prepared for randomly running across Orochimaru on a daily basis.
Kurenai waited for the teams to show up. She had a standing bet with Anko as to how many she could scare prior to them actually taking the second exam. Her face involuntarily started twitching into a deranged grin. Damn that Anko and her kids. Years she had been friends with the Snake Mistress, remaining normal and sticking to the morals that her civilian mother taught her. Years she fooled herself into thinking that their relationship was a good friendship where she merely kept Anko relatively stable, and informed on the gossip around Konoha, while Anko kept things fun and interesting, while also protecting and helping her up when things got too tough. Sure, despite her constant rebukes of Anko's relationships, and general tendencies, she noticed that over the years of failed relationships and put downs from her 'comrades' for being a kunoichi, and being friends with the Snake Whore, Anko always seemed to sit a bit closer, be a bit more touchy feely. The Ice Queen of Konoha though stood firm by her mother's teaching. A woman must marry a man, and only have physical relations with their husband.
Then that one night, right before Asuma returned from the Twelve Guardians, after a particularly bad break-up. Too much alcohol was found, and she woke up beside Anko, both in their birthday suits, and despite her claims at not having remembered anything, she not only knew what had happened. She remembered in crystal clarity. Kurenai believes that Anko also knew she was lying, possibly took it as a rejection now that she looks back, considering how she started sitting at the proper distance that 'good girls' put between people. But what was Kurenai to do? Tell Anko how the sudden space between them was too much, despite it being what Kurenai had always breached as what should be upheld. That despite not following her mother's teaching on celibacy before marriage, when she looked back on her sexual partners, only that night with Anko truly felt like she had made love with someone? She couldn't. It was wrong. It was amoral. She couldn't accept that kind of a relationship.
Then Asuma came back, her old academy crush, and he seemed to return her feelings. So she shoved the truth down, like she had down before, and went out with Asuma. He was a true gentleman, even if his smoking habit was annoying. He took things slowly, which is what she had always preached as what a relationship should be like. Held the doors open, picked up her chair for her, sent flowers and invited her to romantic dinners, treating her like a proper woman, before finally culminating into a night shared together in her home. It was all proper, as it should be.
So why is it that every single bloody time she compared him to Anko!? Anko who would cackle in public and hang on the taller woman's shoulders, ignoring personal space completely. Anko who would kick the doors open drawing attention to herself before stomping in, whose brain would never even consider pulling the chair for her partner, who only ONCE sent flowers to her, which she still kept on her table, to see every time she opened her apartment door. Anko who would more likely spend a night with her at a shinobi bar, dango shop or Yakiniku place instead of a romantic restaurant. Anko who treated her like the battle hardened shinobi she was. Anko who would bed her as soon as possible. Anko who would properly make love to her, unlike the others before, and after, like Asuma.
Even knowing all this in her heart, she still would have kept the status quo, and probably force herself to end up with Asuma. The teachings her mother had pounded into her, for her entire childhood were not easily rejected. Kami-bless those kids of her. Despite her being her unhinged sadistic psychotic self to them, they saw the kind hurting woman underneath who wanted to make sure that her charges survived the horrors that awaited them outside the walls of Konoha. They saw the woman, who despite being despised by the majority of the village, still remained loyal to it, and would give her life for it. They saw the woman who, despite truly loving her, wanting to be with her so much that it tore at her more than the cursed seal that Orochimaru left on her, would keep her mouth shut and keep her distance. She would hurt herself, happily and with a smile on her face, in the belief that the woman she loved, was happy. That Kurenai would be happier if she was with Asuma instead of her. Those kids saw the truth. They saw underneath the underneath, and they cared, loved enough, to take it on themselves to at least try to help her.
Once they found the truth she had tried to hide, they broke into her. It hurt her to have her masks torn from her. It hurt as they showed her how much time she had lost in trying to hide the truth. It hurt as they told her how much she hurt Anko, how much she hurt the woman who had captured her heart years ago without her knowledge. Even as she they shoved it all down her throat, and she acknowledged it all, Anko saw that she was in pain, and after partially explaining the situation, almost went off the handle to show her Genin team why there was a tag in all the bingo books in her entry claiming "DO NOT GET CAPTURED BY HER AT ALL COSTS.". Kurenai finally accepted everything that night, she forcefully tore at all the chains and illusions she had attached to herself.
Yuhi Kurenai was in love with Mitarashi Anko. She had been in love for a long time now, and even now, as her love chose her over her kids, it merely justified her decision in who to fall in love with. Before Anko made it three feet away from the table, Kurenai had tackled her to the ground and tore at her clothes with her teeth.
That night both were happy and satisfied since that one night long ago. This time, Kurenai leaned over Anko in the morning and kissed her gently on her lips and acknowledged it all with a simple sentence. "Good morning love."
It was the first time since Anko had been reintroduced to the village after Orochimaru's betrayal that Kurenai saw her cry. Unlike that time, they were clearly tears of joy that made her heart beat erratically. To think that the Psychotic Sadist, the Snake Whore of Konoha, would shed tears over her feelings being returned by her one-sided love. To think Kurenai had been hurting her so much and for so long. To think she had missed on so much for her hardheadedness. That day Anko did not meet her team, for the first time since its conception. She spent the day in the arms of her love.
After that, Kurenai went out of her way to find out everything she missed, and listened to everything Anko and her team said. Many things she didn't agree with, many things she did though, and she changed what needed to be changed. Although she tried to keep her public persona to what it was before, every once in a while, an Anko-like grin would slip out.
BUT DAMN IT IS HARD NOT TO! She was HAPPY, TRULY HAPPY SINCE KAMI KNEW HOW LONG!
PLUS! Scaring these kids was FUN! No wonder Ibiki and Anko swore by it so much. She was glad that the Hokage had given Anko a team instead of her like what was originally planned. If they hadn't. Hinata would not have gotten her confidence back. Ino would probably still be an Uchiha Fangirl. Kurenai would still be deluding herself and in a relationship with Asuma. Anko would still be slowly ripping strips of her heart in an attempt to help keep her closest friend, and secret love 'happy'. And Anko would be the one proctoring this exam.
Instead, none of that happened, and Kurenai could finally get it. When this damn exam ended in five days, she would spend a VERY happy pair of nights and day with her lover. She had even created a new Genjutsu to play around with.
It was very thankful, that not only was Kurenai alone, she was also hidden behind several Genjutsus. For she let out a giggle that would normally only be heard from people like Kakashi and Hiruzen while in the presence of a little orange book.
Team 8 got to Training Ground 44 with five minutes to spare, and were shocked. The Dango shop which right outside it, which was the designation on the paper, was the same as normal, and actually had a bit of business as the others who arrived earlier ate their lunch there. That was the ONLY thing that remained the same. A quick confirmation from Hinata and they once again felt awe for Konoha's Genjutsu Mistress. Kurenai had hidden the Forest of Death from view, with a set of such complicated Genjutsu, that they doubted that anyone except for the two Hyuuga and maybe the incredibly Chakra sensitive would realize it, and even Hinata would not have noticed it without having her Byakugan on the entire time. None of the foreign teams, and most of the home teams didn't seem to realize anything was going on. It seemed only Team 8, 9 and Kabuto realized that there should be a huge forest there, and as such that it was likely hidden under a Genjutsu.
The second that an hour passed, a few screams were heard throughout the village. One of them not more than 20 yards away. Many of the present teams palmed kunai or got into stances at the possible attack.
"So sad, 21 teams had passed the first exam. 4 failed to find the second exam on time." Kurenai's voice seemingly came from everywhere. A whisper in the ear, as well as coming from above as if Kami herself was observing. "For the 17 here. Congratulations! You just won an all-expense paid Five-Day trip to my lover's favorite place in Konoha. Training Ground 44!" Once again, all of them turned towards the seemingly normal training grounds before them. Long empty pastures with a few training dummies stranded around, were suddenly melted as enormous trees jutted out from below, towering over everything around them, the cries of animals wrung out from its depths, as darkness claimed everything beyond a certain distance. Finally, chain link fences burst around the mutated forest, warning signs plastered all over it, barbed wire lining the top, a lot of it showing dried blood. And directly in front of them a large chain and padlock suddenly materialized in the center, before the fence split, transforming into a locked and chained gate. Kurenai appeared as if hidden by a mist in front of the gate. "More commonly referred to as The Forest of Death."
At this point, even Kabuto was impressed, he had tried subtly breaking the Genjutsu earlier, and upon failing decided to just enjoy the show. Now, he was glad he had, that was a spectacular showing, and although pretty certain that she had layered ANOTHER Genjutsu on top of the already ridiculously layered Genjutsus she had used for the showing, he couldn't help but feel a thread of fear ring throughout his body. He enjoyed the sensation, as another part of the show, before subtly breaking it. Six times he had participated in Chunin Exams, and this was the finest showing from anyone, even the master of psychological torture and manipulation Ibiki would have been proud of Kurenai's showing. It was kinda scary how good the Ice Queen of Konoha was at her friend's previous job. Especially given how a pair of boys from one of the Grass teams suddenly fell on their rears and relieved themselves.
"Awww, the itty bitty kiddies got scared? It's okay, you can run back to the safety of your beds and cower underneath the covers." She looked around, catching and holding the eyes of everyone, "Anyone else want to head home?"
It was at that moment that Kiba took up the gauntlet, "NO WAY! I ain't a coward. Me and Akamaru will tear through this stupid forest and the exam!" "ARF!" Suddenly both froze as a pair of arms draped over the young boy's shoulders, one hand on his cheek, softly caressing it. "Oh, don't we have a big man here," her hand dropped to his neck and tightened around it, "careful not to lose your head in your rush," then her other hand dropped below his waist, this time a little whine came out, of more mouths than just Kiba's, "either of them." With that she faded away and reappeared in between a tent and manned table that hadn't been there before. The Kurenai by the gate still stood there, sharpening a kunai to a ridiculously fine edge. "Please head over here to the table with your signed waiver forms so that you can proceed towards the second exam."
"What form?"
"The piece of paper wrapped around your heads in ninja wire, with the provided pen. It pretty much just states that you understand that by continuing into the second exam, that your continued existence is effectively uncertain, and that it should not be held against us should your stupidity end it." At the few blank looks, she reiterated. "You sign this paper, and you die, your village can't do anything about it. You sign it, and you're on your own for the next five days in this forest, and your death is solely on your heads." She had said this in an entirely cold and serious face. "You don't sign this, you and your team immediately fail the second exam and head home. I will not make fun of you in this. These are the lives of you and your team in your hands. Make your decisions. Those who sign them will meet me in the tent one team at a time, those who do not, please give the paper back to the Chunin at the table, and head back to your team's accommodations. Your Jonin-sensei will meet you there." With that, both Kurenai faded away.
Team 8 stood there appreciating the delicate web of psychological attacks that Kurenai had used with her impressive Genjutsu. She had done crazy when crazy was needed (And fun.) and cold and serious when it was most potent. Already a couple of people had approached the table to turn in their papers and started heading away from the tent. Team 8 just sauntered into the tent behind the Suna team, smoke still curling from the lit cigar and cigarette.
"I figured you guys would be first, what caused you to come after Suna's team?"
"We were enjoying the effects of the show. We couldn't appreciate the Art that you created out there if we had rushed in here without a care like Gaara's team." was Naruto's cheeky response. She merely smiled at her lover's kids and passed them a Heaven scroll. The exam is pretty straight forward. Half the participants get a Heaven's Scroll, the other half gets an Earth Scroll. You need both to pass. Once you have both, you have to reach the tower at the center of the forest. Time limit is five days. Your starting point will be Gate 21. You will enter as soon as I open them, and not a second sooner. Once entered, you cannot exit, or you will fail."
All three nodded before heading out. It would be kinda pointless as an exam to them, considering how often they spent training and practically living in said forest. Still, trying to find an opponent with an Earth Scroll and breaking the record should make it amusing at least.
"Forty-eight minutes…" Iruka merely shook his head at the trio before him. "You guys managed to get a secondary scroll and make it to the target in less than an hour…" He sighed heavily at the bored looks he received (And how Hinata managed that with the top half of her face hidden behind the copious amounts of smoke coming out of her cigar, and being held mostly in place by her Fedora, plus having it covered in bandages and her Leaf Headband was a mystery to him.). "Well, congratulations on breaking the record so badly it isn't even funny. Normally one stays in the tower until they all finish or the time limit is met, but knowing you three, that would just cause you to run away and cut down on more numbers than we want, or drive everyone in the tower insane. So instead, at the end of the day, we will take you back to Konoha on our boat. So just try to not drive anyone completely insane until 8pm please."
Iruka shook his head again as they all replied in the affirmative. Since he offered it to them, he would have to offer the same to anyone else who finished today, but he felt secure that no one else could possibly pull off a ridiculous record breaking run like that.
Sixty minutes later he was eating his words as he congratulated the Suna Siblings team for breaking the previous record with their hour and fifty minute run, and that they would be joining Team Anko for the boat ride to Konoha until the exam ended.
The two teams stared at each other as they were ferried back to Konoha. Temari and Kankuro both looked nervous as they watched the two smoking Genins unnervingly staring directly at Gaara without blinking or any visibly actions beyond taking another pull of their seemingly immortal cigar and cigarette. The blond one was merely sitting down staring straight ahead on the boat while petting the ninken.
After thirty minutes without any movement from the three, she turned around in frustration. "Damnit! Are you three children!? Stop it with your staring contest! You're scaring the pansies driving the boat! And may your gods grant whomever delays me from getting home mercy, for they shall have none from me."
"But Inoooo~~~~" whined Naruto. "This guy has been the hardest opponent we have ever faced! He doesn't even look like he is concerned with our staring contest! And you know that Hinata would never allow someone to beat her in a staring contest, and I refuse to give up until the end!"
Ino started rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Naruto… Hinata hasn't given up because she is still challenging you. Gaara has blinked, you simply haven't seen it behind the sand armor he has covering him."
Naruto turned around in shock, mouth hanging over as he looked at Gaara. Pointing his finger, voice ringing out with tones of shock and betrayal. "You mean you have blinked!?" Gaara nodded slowly, as if unsure how to deal with the situation. "Gaaraaaaa~~ You can't cheat like that, I thought we were friends."
The actually caused all three of the Suna nin to jolt and stare at him in incomprehension. Although none realized that point in regards to Gaara. Kankuro was the one who asked what was on their mind, "How can you be friends. You have never met!" Kankuro flinched back at the glare from his younger sibling.
"Well no, outside of the first exam, but I consider all Jinchuriki my brothers and sisters. So at the very least we are automatically friends, no? I know I am quite socially retarded thanks to being shunned, insulted, and hurt by everyone, but I am pretty certain that siblings are like really good friends who share blood or similar situations, no? So clearly, since Gaara and I are siblings due to being Jinchuriki, then we are automatically friends!"
Both Ino and Hinata nodded seriously. Gaara actually looked SLIGHLTY shocked, thanks to the SLIGHT widening of his eyes. Kankuro looked ready to shit himself thanks to having ANOTHER monster like his little brother in the same boat. Temari was uncertain. On one hand, she had another Jinchuriki in front of her, but he did not seem insane like Gaara, AND he might be able to help her connect with and help Gaara out. Her thoughts warred within her for a second before she settled herself. "If you are a sibling and friend to Gaara, you are a friend and sibling to us as well." She raised her hand to the blond Jinchuriki, "Subaku no Temari. Gaara's older sister."
He took her hand smiling. "Uzumaki Naruto, Number Nine, as Bee-Ochan likes to call me. It is always a pleasure meeting and making new friends. I don't have too many of those as you can imagine."
Hinata was the one who scoffed at that, "Only because the majority of the village is full of ignorant, blind, bigoted, self-entitled assholes that deserve to have their heads shoved up their rectums."
Everyone turned to stare at Hinata, most were shocked. Kankuro because the blond monster seemed to suddenly be sane by comparison to his friends. Temari because she found herself agreeing with the girl's first spoken words since they had met at the beginning of the Chunin Exams. Ino because of how different Hinata was from the stuttering girl from back in the Academy. Gaara because Mother agreed with her, so she was bloodthirsty enough that she would be seen as he was back home. Naruto just looked at her in pride and thanked her, "Oh Hinata, you say the sweetest things, but don't worry, as I said, killing them doesn't teach them anything and it is too quick."
Hinata nodded in acceptance. While worry came over Temari and Kankuro, curiosity came over Gaara. "What do you do then instead of killing them?"
The grins that blossomed on all four of Team 8's faces shook the Suna Siblings to the core.
"We have four days till the second exam ends, how about you kind folk join us? I will even throw in a proper seal master to help fix the botch-job that your village did. It should allow you to sleep without any concern of possession. And trust me, sleep is WAY too good to allow the sand rat in your head to take away from you, regardless of how much power he gives you."
Gaara took his head in his hand as Shukaku started rampaging at the comment and threat. "Mother does not like that. Or you. She is telling me to kill you."
"Bah! That overgrown tranny sand rat isn't your mother Gaara. Your mother was a beautiful human woman who sacrificed her life to make sure you came to this world. That rat in your head is merely tricking you to see you partaking in what it wants. The damn fox in my head constantly tries to trick me into removing the seal and helping him burn Konoha to the ground. While it is INCREDIBLY enticing, considering how the shits in this village have treated me for the most part, I would die if I listened and die what he told me to do. So I didn't, my life may have been shit until I found smart people who saw past me being a Jinchuriki and accepted me for who I am, who verified my existence as Naruto, instead of the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. But it was a life given to me thanks to the love of my mother dying to make sure I lived. NOTHING can make me give it up."
All of those on the boat looked at Naruto with varying emotions. Ino and Hinata with a mixture of pride and love in how far strong Naruto was, and shame at how they failed to help him earlier in his life. Temari and Gaara were both shocked at what he had told them, he truly had gone through a similar life to Gaara, but thanks to his firm belief in his mother's love and sacrifice, he had gone a different route. Temari felt sad, wondering if she might have been able to make Gaara go down a similar route if she had been stronger. Gaara felt drawn to his new 'brother', who had apparently suffered like him, but had come out stronger, his existence proven. He ruthlessly crushed Moth-Shukaku's voice. He wanted to be like his new friend and brother. Kankuro felt a mixture of fear at having someone who could potentially be a second, stronger Gaara, disbelief that he had people who considered him for him, and shame that he was not strong enough to do the same with his own blood brother. The two ANBU and Chunin on the boat, who had listened in as Naruto revealed what was an S class secret to foreign, if allied shinobi, and felt both ashamed that they were part of a village who had treated a child like that, and relief that those actions had not led him to being like Gaara.
Silence reigned for quite a few minutes, before Gaara spoke up, "Can your seal master really help?" Seeing Naruto nod seriously, he nodded back slightly, "May I ask you to help me then?"
A kind smile appeared on his face, "Of course I will Gaara. As I said, we are friends, brothers. Helping each other is what we do. Come on, it will take a bit to hunt him down once we get to Konoha proper, and it will probably take a day or two to stabilize, afterwards, I am taking you on a guide of Konoha, and you can help us pull some pranks on the deserving, while meeting the few other friends I have. I am sure they will love you."
As promised, they had looked for their seal master friend to help Gaara. Only to bring them to Jiraiya of the Sannin! The greatest remaining Seal Master in the world! True to their word, Jiraiya fixed the seal in under an hour. Gaara would no longer hear Shukaku if he didn't want to, and Shukaku wouldn't be unable to escape or possess Gaara at all. He slept that day while recuperating from the seal adjustment, for the first time in his life. He almost had tears of joy in his eyes when he awoke.
The last two days before the second exam ended, was spent with Gaara getting closer to his new selection of Konoha friends and his siblings. Particularly Temari, who had apparently been wanting to get closer and help him for a long time, as she had always considered herself his big sister, and wanted to be able to protect him. Kankuro was quite a bit stiffer, but was on the path to progression.
Finally, near the end of the fifth days' time limit, a pair of ANBU approached them, and told them that the last participants to pass had arrived, so they should head back. The ANBU would be escorting them so that they arrived quickly and on time.
On the way there, Team 8 showed themselves to be as unusual as one could imagine, by pulling out a sealing scroll each, which had a copy of the outfit they wore during the first and second exam, (They were currently wearing their 'casual' clothes, which is pretty much what they usually wear in the show, except Hinata still has the bandages and headband covering her eyes and Naruto still had his shades and cigarette. Plus, he kept his jacket open, showcasing the black shirt and mesh armor underneath.) and proceeded to change into their outfits while in the midst of running. Clearly having done this before, they managed to finish without Gaara having to offer them his sand cloud to make it easier.
Now back to their Show Outfits, which were no less capable shinobi wear, they entered into the Tower, being lead into what seemed to be a big indoor arena. All other teams already present. As one, teams 7, 9, 10, Kabuto, and Sound, turned to face the late comers. Watching Team 8, in all their glory, saunter in like they owned the place, not a wrinkle in their clothes, despite having supposedly been in the Forest, seemed to irritate most present. That Suna's team was right behind them in similarly perfect condition only further exacerbated the situation. Seeing Gaara wearing a similar three piece suit and Fedora like Hinata's, only colored an incredibly dark maroon color, trading in the jacket for an ankle length coat like Naruto's, and with no tie and the first two buttons undone. It actually gave mixed messages, some of the girls (And two guys) thought he looked more attractive in the suit, most others were creeped out thanks to the shadow the Fedora created over his eyes. A few of the arrogant ones instead thought that all of them were being too arrogant and needed to be taught a lesson.
Poor arrogant fools.
After they were all sent down to hear the Hokage's and sent back up to watch the first match between Sasuke and Yoroi, Teams Anko and Suna gathered together, Teams 7 and 10 did the same with each other. Oto's, Kabuto's and Gai's team all remained separated and alone.
While watching the pathetic showing of Sasuke and Yoroi, Team 8's members nearly facepalmed at how the other Konoha rookies, and even some of the Jonin-sensei, seemed genuinely impressed with the skill shown. "How the hell did these guys make it this far? Did everyone really suck THAT bad? Aren't these supposed to showcase potential Chunin? These guys are barely potential Genin!"
"Oh hush Naruto, some of these ARE potential Chunin, that dragged their crap teams behind them."
"Whatever, I wanted to have a fun fight, but clearly the only way to get any enjoyment from these fights will be by playing around with our opponents. Oooh Oooh! Let's see who can defeat their opponent in the most embarrassing way with the least amount of physical effort. Gaara has a huge advantage, so he has to go out of his way to make it special."
Ino and Hinata readily agreed. Gaara took a second to think of what he would do before asking for a few items from the trio, before agreeing and accepting the handicap. Temari decided to join in on the fun, even if she didn't feel she was at their level, she knew she was better than most others here. Kankuro said he would try as well, so as to not be left out, even if his thoughts didn't align with any of theirs.
Following Sasuke and Yoroi's disappointing (To PROPER Jonin [Most definitely NOT including Kakashi or Orochimaru], and Teams 8 and Suna) match, the next match was between Shikamaru and Kiba. Based on how BADLY Shikamaru trounced Kiba without moving out of a five foot circle, using purely his mind and one jutsu, while looking absolutely bored and sleepy, one would think he had taken part of the challenge that Naruto had proposed.
The next fight instantly caused whispers to sprout around the arena.
Hyuuga Neji vs Hinata.
Most of the whispers came from the audience that knew she was, or rather, had been a Hyuuga. Was she truly blind? If yes, had it caused her to be kicked out of the Hyuuga? Is that why she didn't dress as they did? The few who were in the know about the Hyuuga in general, were worried about how badly Neji would beat up Hinata, and whether Hiashi would care if a the genius Branch House member killed the previous main house heir. Those who were IN the Hyuuga, or MORE in the KNOW, felt sorry, thinking that this was a public execution for Hinata. Anko, Naruto, Ino, Gaara, and Temari, all wondered what Hinata would do to try to win the contest. Kankuro thought his colleagues were insane and was wondering how strong the trio really was, to prank half the village, including ANBU and escape without issue with Foreign shinobi weighing them down, within three days. Kurenai, who didn't know about the challenge, wondered how badly Hinata would trash her cousin.
Hiashi, who was watching the matches from the Video Rooms set up for outsiders to watch the matches, was worried. He was worried about how this single match was going to change the fate of the Hyuuga in general. In a shallow attempt to do what was best for his second daughter, whom he was coming to realize he had failed almost as badly as the first, he brought her along to view the fight. Not knowing what was really going to happen or come out, but hoping that he could at least bring them together before the end.
Neji merely nodded his head at fate's decision for him to teach his cousin the truth of the world, and her place in it. Hinata was almost giddy in her challenge opponent being Neji, it would almost be too easy to fuck with the fatalistic nitwit's mind and win the competition between people that mattered.
As Neji strode down to the arena, and Hinata sauntered from the other end of the arena, the whispers quieted down to catch sight of the match.
Genma placed his hand between them, despite them being nearly fifty feet away.
"Are you both ready?"
"Fate has decreed it so." Replied Neji as he got into the Juken stance.
Hinata merely pulled out a small metal case, pulling a cigar from it, before proceeding to cut the tip and light it with just an application of different natured chakra on her fingertips. She took a long pull of the cigar before allowing the billowing smoke to once again obscure the headband and bandages over her eyes with only a slight application of wind natured chakra. She couldn't really use any futon jutsu yet, but Naruto was not known as the most unpredictable prankster king for nothing, and Hinata had loved this particular trick.
Genma took it as an affirmative before raising his arm and jumping clear back.
"You should give up cousin. You are weak. Leave before you embarrass yourself further."
Hinata merely cocked her head to the side in question.
"You are a continual disgrace to your family and history. Fate has decreed it so. So just save yourself and everyone here the time and annoyance in watching Fate carried out."
Hinata snorted. Loudly. Despite the oddity that was Team 8 since the beginning of the Chunin exams, all the rookies, and many of the Jonin who had known about the previous Hyuuga Heiress, where shocked at that. Hinata shook her head, somehow keeping the cloud of smoke still collecting under the brim of her fedora, before circling back around its edge before rising behind her. "You Main House Hyuuga are all the same. Arrogant beyond all understanding, believing that a pair of eyeballs makes the Sun shine out of your collective asses." She snorted again, although this time she wasn't the only one, a few chuckles and one outright laugh joined her. Neji merely grit his teeth. "Even if that bitch had decreed that I was supposed to be weak, or supposed to lose to you here, why do you think I would listen to her? You might enjoy being a bitch's bitch, but I chose instead to live for myself, as myself. Also, disgrace? As far as I can tell, my family has never been disgraced by me." She turned to 'look' at her team. "You guys ever felt disgraced by me?"
They all uniformly shook their heads before voicing their disagreement. Well, Naruto and Ino did, Anko was still rolling on the floor at the situation. Hinata turned back to her opponent. "Well, see there Hyuuga? My family disagrees with you. Guess not only can your eyes NOT see that your opponent is far from weak, they are also apparently incapable of forcing your master's opinion of the universe on all of us either."
"You know that is not what I meant cretin." Neji replied through his teeth grinding. "You are a disgrace to the Hyuuga. You prove it now with your words and appearance. What do you think you are doing hiding your eyes behind those rags! Even if you are fated to be weak, to think you would go so far as to hide from what you are!"
Hinata merely raised a hand to remove her Fedora, and then remove the bandages and headband as a whole, showing that rather than wrapping around her head, it was held in place like a mask through chakra application.
Gasps, widening eyes and silence filled the arena. Even Neji jolted back as if prodded with an electric baton. Hinata merely stared back at her opponent, raw red lines, where the Byakugan's veins usually showed, lead into empty eye sockets. "I fail to understand Hyuuga. I believe that anyone would hide these holes. They are rather unpleasant to view I was told. Maybe you Hyuuga like kinky shit like this, wouldn't surprise me with how mentally unbalanced the Main House family is. Nonetheless, considering how much I despise you slavers, I will continue hiding behind my very nice black silk bandages." She started put her Fedora back on, allowing the smoke from her still it cigar to start obscuring the view of her face, but stuck her headband and bandages on her right arm's bicep instead. Allowing an occasionally disturbing view of her face through the smoke.
"W-W-What did you do?"
"Me? I had a little issue with some old folk who wanted to chain and rape me. I may or may not have killed them all during the altercation, but the laws, despite me being the clear defendant, were forced to punish me. I decided that my eyes were a acceptable price for my life. Considering the alternatives were execution, or becoming a second Uchiha Itachi, I know you Hyuuga consider your eyes more important than life, hence why you chain your Branch House with a seal that kills them should anything happen to their eyes. Although why you guys added seals that allow you Main House Hyuuga to control and kill them is beyond me. Bunch of rapist slavers you are."
"STOP IT! Stop addressing me as a Main House Hyuuga." He ripped his headband of his head, showing the Caged Bird Seal to all those around. "I am not one of those pigs!" At his own words he suddenly flinched and paled a bit, realizing that this was being broadcasted, and almost certainly being watched by the Hyuuga Elders and Head.
"Oh, my bad, with how you acted just like those old farts I killed, I thought you were from the Main house like they were." She once again tilted her head 'innocently' to the side in curiousity. "If you are a slave of the so called 'pigs' of the Main House, why do you act just like them? I would think that a slave would hate them too much to imitate them exactly like you do." She theatrically gasped while raising her hand to her mouth. "Could it be that you want to be a slaver like them? Wow, here we have a slave, who understands what it is to be bent over the barrel by cruel shits, and he wants to do the same to others." She shook her head in dismay. "What a disgrace."
"I AM NOTHING LIKE THEM!"
"You are exactly like them. Like them, you believe that the Sun shines out of your ass, what with your dedication to that bitch's supposed words. Claiming others as weak, or failures. Claiming all as 'below' them. Strutting around as if your eyes and fancy taijutsu make you all immortal kings. Let me pose a question. Since Konoha's founding. How many S rank or Higher Ninja has it had recorded among their ranks?" She looked around, as if asking everyone in the room, instead of just Neji. She continued before she got a response though. "Uchiha Madara and Itachi, Senju Hashirama, Tobirama, and Tsunade, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Kakashi and Sakumo, Orichimaru, Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya, and Maito Gai are the known S ranks. There are at least another half a dozen that I know of that prefer to remain anonymous if they can help it." She paused to take a DEEP intake of her cigar, before blowing it out. "Not one has been a Hyuuga. So do tell me why you continue the mistaken assumption that you are Kami's gift to mankind? Why do you all mistakenly believe that your traditions keep you strong and on top of everyone? Your eyes are useful, without a doubt. You limit them though with your 'traditions'. How many Iryo-nins would sacrifice anything for your eyes? How many fuinjutsu users would dread your eyes. How many S ranks could the Hyuuga have had if you arrogant blind fools didn't hinder yourselves?" She paused for a second, "Think about that while you recover in the hospital Hyuuga."
Neji didn't understand the words she had spoken. Or rather, he was too shocked by everything that had happened to be able to process them properly. Hinata was no longer a Hyuuga. She had apparently killed some of their Elders and had not only her family name removed, but her eyes as well. Instead of crying and shivering as the weakling she should have been (Although if she was as she should have been, then she never would have killed the Elders.) she laughed and took advantage of her newfound freedom to do as she wanted. She should have been weak, she clearly wasn't to beat people stronger than him. She should have been sealed, yes, not exiled with her eyes ripped out. She should have been broken, well, it seemed she was, but not in the correct way. She should have been alone, she had a family. She should have been meek and lowered her head to her superiors, she stood above them and spit on them instead. None of this made sense.
Just as Neji lost consciousness, he realized a truth of the world. There MIGHT be a determined Fate for everyone, but he most certainly could not know what it was. He would have to continue going forward as if there wasn't then, he would attempt to attain his own happiness, just like Hinata-sama seemed to have done so, regardless of the cost.
For everyone else, they were in complete shock. Hinata had never even moved, not one step. Even Shikamaru before her moved a bit. Yet Neji lay there on the floor. In the span of six minutes, Hinata had single handedly caused an upset in Konoha that no one, besides Team 8 and Kurenai, could have foreseen. With just her words and showing the remains of her altercation with the Hyuuga, she had destroyed them. Within moments, all Main House Hyuuga would be ejected from the viewing rooms, shunned and glared at. Things usually reserved for the Kyuubi Jinchuriki were being dished out in full towards the scum that walked among them as they were human. Branch House members were quickly contacted by ninja of Konoha and asked to gather the others to be hosted upon building quickly being built by Tenzo, the sole Wood User in Konoha, and furnished by fellow ANBU under the Hokage. Main House members were tailed in secret, and some cases in public by other ninja, waiting for them to react negatively so they had an excuse to arrest them violently and transfer them to Ibiki.
The Kyuubi may have destroyed much of Konoha and killed hundreds, but it did not go out of its way to enslave its own family, torture and rape them, rip the eyes out of a small young girl beginning her ninja career. The Kyuubi may have been a demon, but these monsters were the scum of the earths and deserved worse.
Foolishly, some Main House members did strike out at those who gave them the boot from their establishments, or against Branch House members who followed them to the show as servants. They were quickly apprehended, although it seemed some of them were taken down a bit zealously, or apparently tripped down some stairs heading to Ibiki. The Hokage himself received a message of this shortly after Hinata had finished climbing back up to her cheering family, which apparently included Suna's genin team now, since even their Jinchuriki was clapping softly. He wanted to bang his head against a wall, he should have known that anyone associated with Anko and whom idolized Naruto would follow in their footsteps of messing with everyone and causing him headaches, even if this one had the possibility of turning out good. Or horribly bad. He could not help but be proud of his ninja though. There might have been a few bad eggs in the basket, but by and far, with moments like this, he renewed his faith that continuing his position instead of running away with his family and Naruto from this place was the best decision.
Gai looked down in sadness at his second Hyuuga student, and then looked over to the former Hyuuga who had asked him to help her get strong all those years ago in pride. He hated what had been done to her, but her flames of youth shown brighter than ever, and she had done something for him and his current student, that he could not. He would have to visit her and see if she was interested in his Turtle Summing Contract and learning another taijutsu style that could help her while fighting blind. The green spandex wearing man nearly snorted, as if HINATA would ever reject extra training or a way to get stronger to protect her precious people.
Kurenai was proud of her daughter in all but name and blood. She and Anko had decided on adopting her once they officially got married, and she couldn't be prouder of the little girl she had taken care of since after the Kumo incident.
Hiashi was also proud, but it was overpowered by his immense shame. He had failed both his daughters completely. Hinata had rejected her birth family completely, renouncing her name and ripping her own eyes out instead of continuing any kind of association with her blood family. Now, here he stood, being asked to leave the premise in shame, while his younger daughter looked at him as if he was a monster, tears leaking from her eyes. In truth, Hanabi had been looking at him like that since Hinata removed her face mask and explained what had happened. Hanabi may have recently started to seemingly look down on her 'failure' of a big sister, but until the Elders and his own words had apparently started to work on her, Hanabi had always loved and looked up to Hinata. Only Hinata treated Hanabi like Hanabi. Everyone else treated her like either a spare heir, a supplementary Branch House member, at least until she started showing prowess in the traditional family taijutsu. After that, she watched as the same people who scorned her, instead praised her, and ridiculed her elder sister. No matter what, Hinata had NEVER struck Hanabi. She had many a times SEEMED to, but always 'missed' at the last instant, and left a clear opening for Hanabi. He mentally shook his. He truly had been blind, he himself had seen Hinata do fine during her training prior to the spars together. He had known she was capable of their style, but had decided she had too weak a heart to face her foes. Even after the reports from the academy showed the she had always drawn against everyone except the Uzumaki and Uchiha, he considered her a failure, figuring that the rest were also failures, since she failed to hit Hanabi. Even after the reports of her long string of successful C and above ranked missions, written words that detailed her facing and defeating supposedly superior ninjas, he considered them lies or exagerations, since she failed to hit Hanabi.
As he looked at Hanabi's murderous eyes, as he heard the painful words she shouted at him, as she spit at him, venom and hate clear to all around, he realized the truth. She didn't FAIL to hit Hanabi, she REFUSED to hit Hanabi. Hinata did not have a weak heart, she was NOT weak. She was stronger than all of them, for choosing a path full of thorns, and walking it without a single complaint. For sacrificing everything to protect those that mattered to her. Allowing others to beat her up in lieu of 'training', berating her, tearing at her verbally and physically. Allowing her eyes to be removed, probably even receive the Caged Bird Seal if needed, to protect her little sister.
And Hanabi knew. She knew everything except that her 'family' had taken the prized sight of her beloved elder sister. Her elder sister who was stronger than any other member in the Hyuuga household, and whose eyes were apparently the best. The Hyuuga had personally destroyed their greatest ninja, casted her out and cut off anything that could have linked her to the Hyuuga. Hinata was wrong, yet not wrong. The Hyuuga had clearly birthed one S Rank ninja. She just stopped considering herself a Hyuuga a LONG time ago, and had been removed from the ranks of the Hyuuga by them.
Hiashi had constantly been praised for his eyes. As he walked out of the room and building, the sobs of his second daughter echoing in his ears, the only thing his vaunted eyes saw, was how much of a failure he was.
Back inside the arena, unknowing of the chaos going on outside, the matches had continued.
Kankuro had been matched up with Tenten, who had proceeded to smash Crow apart with a combination of thrown heavy weapons, explosive notes, and a REALLY big and spikey meteor hammer. Poor Kankuro was screaming like a little girl as Tenten chased him with it, promptly giving up. Naruto and Anko were laughing up a storm, since they both liked Tenten, and that had been hilarious. Ino and Hinata were supporting Temari, who had her head in her hands at the embarrassment that was Kankuro. Unknown to everyone, Gaara was laughing internally as well. Baki was almost as embarrassed as Temari.
After Kankuro gave some crap excuse as to his laugh, and complained about the loss of his doll, Baki leaned over to Anko, and LOUDLY requested if she would grace him and Suna, by taking Kankuro with her for a few 'training' sessions. EVERYONE could hear the quotations marks. In exchange, he would happily help any of her students. Anko immediately took him up to her offer, to Naruto's, Gaara's and Temari's happiness, and Kankuro's absolute terror. He had seen how those three acted, had seen how insane the second proctor was, and this was the woman who trained the prior three, was in an active relationship with the latter, and supposedly the cause of her insanity. He visibly gulped as he wondered if he would survive till the invasion, and what the hell Baki was doing.
On second thought, he wondered if maybe he should just go missing-nin, since he wasn't sure about the outcome of the invasion anymore with people like them around.
Following that, Misumi was to face Temari, she proceeded to spit out a single, underpowered seal less Air Bullet, right at his Adam's apple, crushing his throat, without moving from her starting position, arms crossed under her chest, with her fan safely strapped behind her back. Looking down past her nose on her dying opponent with a look of complete contempt. She stood there watching until he stopped twitching before snootily sniffing and turning her head and walking back to her family and friends. All of whom were clapping, while the rest of the arena stayed silent, or politely clapped after Genma announced her victory.
They then saw a match between Haruno Sakura and Tsuchi Kin… EVERYONE was embarrassed by Sakura's actions, although Kin hadn't been THAT much better… so her boasting was a BIT premature. Literally ANYONE else, except maybe Yoroi or Misumi would have beaten her.
Following that, it was announced that Kabuto would face Gaara, and he promptly forfeited, claiming that he would rather go on a solo S rank suicide mission mission than face Gaara in such a confined and unprepared arena. Almost everyone who didn't know that his seal was fixed, which meant everyone outside Teams 8 and Suna, along with their Sensei, agreed with the Iryo-nin's assessment of his chances. Gaara on the other hand was disappointed that he had been disqualified from the competition, until Naruto assured him, that scaring an opponent into giving up without saying anything or moving was good, but it lacked the embarrassment factor, so sadly, Hinata and Temari were still ahead. Although Kankuro was FAR behind. Gaara was not too assured by that, although he was happy that Temari was doing well. He had gotten much closer than he had expected with his sister in the three days he had spent with her after the seal had been fixed. Unlike Kankuro, Temari proved that she really had always loved him and wanted to be with him.
Gaara had already spoken with, and even threatened Baki the previous night in regards to the invasion plans, although it turned out the latter was unnecessary, turned out Baki actually DID care about ALL his students, INCLUDING Gaara, and personally felt that the invasion was wrong as well. Baki would present himself to the Hokage and explain the situation, in exchange for their help and information, they would attempt to CAPTURE Suna shinobi instead of killing them if at all possible, as well as he and his team would be considered allies of Konoha, even as Suna invades besides Oto, and should the worst come around and Suna become a casualty of war, they would become Konoha Shinobi.
Akamichi Choji was put up against Rock Lee. Rock Lee proved his Flames of Youth. Nuff said.
Despite having moved around A LOT, Naruto and gang went ahead and added him to the list out of respect for his skill, the amount of restraint he put in to not hurt Choji, and give him a chance, and his constant screams of Youth. He was ranked below Gaara, but far above Kankuro. (Current list is, from First to Last: Hinata, Temari, Shikimaru, Gaara, Tenten, Lee, Kankuro. Kin and Sasuke sucked too much to be listed. Even CONSIDERING Kankuro was being placed with his loss.)
Then came up the match between Uzumaki Naruto and Abumi Zaku.
Zaku jumped down into the arena as Naruto simply perambulated while lighting another cigarette. Unlike Hinata's apparently immortal cigars, Naruto had to constantly switch to a new cigarette.
"I am going to show you Konoha pussies what it means to fight a real ninja."
Naruto simply smirked in response. A smirk with WAAAAYYYYYY too many teeth. A smirk that should NOT be physically possible on a regular human face. A smirk that sent a shiver down the spine of every single Konoha shinobi there who had seen the Kyuubi that fateful night almost thirteen years ago.
"We shall see." Unlike the Konoha Shinobi, Zaku had never faced the Kyuubi, and he was one of those poor arrogant fools that had been pointed out before, so he didn't see anything other than a supposedly uppity and arrogant Leaf Ninja who didn't know his place in the world.
"Are both parties ready?"
"Get this shit started, I am going to teach this pussy a lesson he may not survive."
Naruto smirk merely, IMPOSSIBLY, widened in response. Genma nearly shit himself when he noticed that Naruto's usual sky blue eyes had become a dark, bloody crimson behind his shades.
He barely managed to squeak out a 'start' before fleeing the scene.
Zaku immediately raised the arm not in a sling and fired a concentrated blast of air while screaming "Zankuuha!"
A huge cloud of dust built up around the blast area, which happened to be right where Naruto had been standing. Confident in his victory, Zaku started laughing manically. "See? Stupid Leaf Ninja didn't even have time to dodge my attack."
"Why would I dodge that? I have felt stronger breezes while sitting on the Hokage Monument." Zaku turned around to face what should have been a chopped up and mangled corpse. Instead of realizing the truth, that his current opponent was FAR beyond his skill level, he simply got angry at the prick trying to show off, and started firing Zankuuhas from his right arm, over and over again, until the dust started mixing with broken pieces of the stone floor. After a minute of continuous fire, Zaku stopped firing. A light sheen of sweat on his brow, his labored breath audible to the entire arena.
The silence stretched, waiting for a view of Naruto. Eventually it did settle enough to catch a view of Naruto… sitting on a cushioned chair eerily reminiscent of the one the Hokage himself had in his office. A large snot bubble joining the lit cigarette on his face. Suddenly, they heard the soft snore that they were certain had not been there prior.
A feral roar escaped from Zaku's mouth at this point, and he removed his left arm from his splint and held both of his arms together. "Zankyokuk-!"
Everyone watched in confusion as Zaku just stood there, frozen in mid-attack, wondering what had happened. The only exceptions were Gaara, the disguised Orochimaru, Hiruzen, Hinata, Anko, and Gai, who, although not directed at them, were sensitive enough to feel the VERY slight leekage of killer intent that Naruto was releasing.
Or rather, that Kurama was releasing THROUGH Naruto.
For Zaku, all he could see was a pair of giant slit eyes staring down at him. Giant, blood red orbs, that promised his absolute destruction. Many strong ninja faced a stronger version of this the night that the Kyuubi attack Konoha. Most could not handle it and collapsed, becoming another casualty while unconscious. Dozens of young Uchiha died from chakra exhaustion when the mere dregs of his killer intent forcefully activated their Sharingan, thanks to their fear of death, their elders away or otherwise occupied, and unable to notice what had happened to them, or teach them how to shut it down in time to save their lives.
Zaku wasn't anywhere near any of the ninja back then, but he faced a MUCH weaker presence. So he didn't lose consciousness immediately. No, he stayed conscious as he felt his body fail him. First his nerves all shut down, then his lungs, then his heart failed, still his body would not collapse, completely at the mercy of the monster before him. Eventually, the darkness overtook his vision. Naruto held the killing intent there for another thirty seconds before stopping.
The moment he let go, Zaku's body immediately collapsed onto the floor. Naruto was already halfway up the stairs when the medics pronounced him dead.
The final match of the day was between Aburame Shino and Kinuta Dosu.
Shino eventually managed to Dosu of all his chakra, but it had been a relatively hard won fight, since Dosu never fell for Shino's Mushi Bushin. However, without a way to counter the large amounts of bugs at his disposal, Shino eventually won the fight through sheer force.
As the odd one out, Ino was actually given a by, since no one had volunteered to fight her. This infuriated her, since it automatically disqualified her from their own internal competition.
After listening to the Hokage's speech, and getting their matches, Naruto immediately invited all the victors to a congratulatory dinner at Yakiniku Q. Anko, Asuma, Baki, Gai , Ibiki and Kurenai all decided to join them, Asuma and Gai helping Naruto with the bill. Kiba, Kankuro, and Choji also joined them, despite having lost. Kin, due to one of her teammates being dead, the other in the hospital with severe Chakra Exhaustion, and Orochimaru having disappeared, decided to go with them as well. Partly because she was interested in getting some info from them, partly because she was actually impressed with most of the winners, and knew she would fall to most of them, partly because it was a free meal with apparently joyous company. Neither of which she had ever had prior.
On the way there, they ran into Hayate and a Cat masked ANBU who had brought Hanabi to meet with her older sister, who had thankfully put her bandages and headband back on. Everyone gave them some space as Hanabi ran into Hinata's arms crying. Something that was unheard of for Hyuuga. Naruto signaled and lead them all away to the restaurant, Hinata and Hanabi eventually joined them, Yuugao, out of her mask followed shortly afterwards, clearly showing that she had stayed behind to cover them.
It was a joyous night at Yakiniku Q, even when Lee somehow got alcohol into his system, and proceeded to beat up Kiba for 'bothering the pretty lady', everyone, including Gai, merely laughed at the situation, especially with the abrasive foreign Oto Shinobi having a slight blush on her face at her sudden knight in green spandex. As the night winded down, she was found in the company of Tenten, and an unconscious Lee, having been knocked unconscious by Hinata's precise Juken strikes. Proving to her competition that lack of sight clearly meant nothing to the incredible kunoichi, much less needing a Byakugan to 'properly' use Juken. (Although Gai and Anko could have told you that last one seeing as how they were the ones to secretly reverse engineer the Juken to work with pressure points. Afterwards, thanks to using the first principle of the Rasengan, Hinata could use to cause MASSIVE internal damage with her 'Blind Juken' to either the Chakra network or anything physical.)
As the party was winding down, parents and family members came to pick up their charges, couples started slipping out and individuals called it a night. Eventually, only Hinata, Hanabi, Naruto, Gaara, Temari, and Gai remained. Ino, Shika, Choji, Kiba, and Shino had been picked up by their parents or sister in Kiba's case. Lee had been absconded to somewhere by Tenten and surprisingly enough, Kin. Anko had disappeared with Kurenai, one moment they were there in the middle of a shot challenge, the next someone was asking where they were. Same with Yuugao and Hayate, after having been thanked profusely by Hinata and Hanabi, and being assured that they would be fine since they would be sticking with Naruto and two of the Suna siblings. Ibiki had actually properly excused himself after talking with Hinata about some matters. Asuma left after he noticed Kurenai had left, apparently he was still crushing after her, BUT, to give him his due, had not been foolish or aggressive about it. He left enough money to cover slightly over a third of the bill, despite Naruto's objections. Baki had kidnapped Kankuro to inform him of what they were doing in regards to the future and start preparing him for his new sensei.
The remaining members left the closing restaurant together, Gai and Naruto having split the remain bill evenly, and Hanabi having left a sizeable tip, curtesy of the Hyuuga coffers, since they had remained open longer due to them.
"Well then, seeing as how the ones who most stood out for our competition are here, let us go for a final vote! Mine is on Hinata-hime's match with Neji, she controlled the entire conversation and match from beginning to end, and knocked Neji out without either side ever really leaving their starting points, nor most knowing HOW she knocked him out."
"I was actually curious about that. I hadn't actually known you were truly blind, based on how easily you get around and interact with the environment… now I know that you are, at least based off the original definition. Unless it is a big secret." Hanabi and Gaara were equally curious. Gai and Naruto already knew the truth.
"Not at all, plus, there is no secrets between family, of which I consider everyone here to be a part of. It is actually a unique application to a basic technique that Suna uses often." With that, several strings of pure chakra suddenly became visible around her, causing Temari's eyes to widen greatly. "Thanks to having been a Hyuuga with a powerful Byakugan, receiving and understanding large amounts of information from a large area is normal for me. So I create thousands of micro chakra strings that would be invisible to anyone but other Hyuuga or the more sensitive of Chakra sensors, and spread them out all around me at different points, almost like a cloud that constantly surrounds me. I use them to create a three dimensional 'map' you could say, so that I can 'see' my surroundings. Honestly, with a bit of work and practice, it is almost identical to a smaller ranged Byakugan in how it lets me see 360 around me, maybe even better in certain scenarios. Of course, it doesn't let me 'see' through objects like my Byakugan could, nor can I see a person's tenketsu or colors, but it is more than adequate to live a normal life and be a proficient kunoichi. Although it doesn't use as much chakra as the Byakugan, It does sadly waste more chakra than the Byakugan in the end, since I have to have it on all day by comparison."
Gaara and Temari were both impressed significantly. Gaara could use his sand to recreate his eyes to see just fine, or his sand as a similar sensor, but what she had done was still impressive. Temari was honestly shocked. She was used to Kunoichi her age or younger being fangirls usually, and she hadn't really been proven otherwise when she first arrived and ran into the pink-haired banshee. Yet here was a true Kunoichi. She was younger than her, had gone through a harder life than her, and was stronger than her in all the ways that mattered. And this amazing person considered her a friend and family member, and had helped her younger blood brother back to her as well. She may have always had reservation about the invasion, but was going to follow her Kazekage's orders. Her 'fathers' orders. Since the first day she met the insane trio, she was going to see about convincing her Kage to keep those three safe, by the fourth day, GAARA, came to her and told her that he had convinced Baki to reject his orders with them, and to join Konoha instead, with the plan to capture or incapacitate as many Suna shinobi as possible. She was a BIT troubled by going against her father, but understood that Gaara could care less about the man who constantly made his life hell, it was because of that, that she agreed then and there, despite her slight reservations.
Today, she would face the Kazekage in a duel with the full intention of dying or killing him if it meant protecting her family, which had grown greatly since coming to Konoha.
Unknowing of the sudden resolution of their new big sister, the others had continued with a bit more small talk, before going back to the voting, where Hanabi immediately joined Naruto in voting for her only real blood family as well.
"I must apologize. It is most youthful to have competitions, but I cannot accurately cast my vote without knowing what the challenge was about."
"Oh, sorry Gai-sensei. Naruto had felt that barring a match between ourselves or Lee, that they would be too easy or boring. So he set up a competition where we would restrict ourselves as much as possible, and attempt to win with both the handicaps, as well trying to embarrass or shame our opponent as much as possible."
With that, Gai frowned a bit. "While the idea of making the match challenging and youthful by handicapping oneself. The idea to embarrass or shame the other is most unyouthful."
"We understand Gai-sensei, that is why we left the criteria INCREDIBLY open, depending on our opponent. Although being embarrassed in a fight, means that they could have easily been killed if it had been serious. So it will also hopefully act as a BIG motivator to their growth. Igniting their dormant Flames of Youth!"
With that Gai frown turned upside down into a most mischievous grin, with pride clearly shining in his eyes. "YOUTH!" Screamed Gai and his two present students. Hanabi and Temari both jumped at the sudden ear shattering, shout of youthful passion. Gaara just kept his awesome pokerface, although he might have had an amused glint in his eyes. "Then in that case, I will put forth my vote for Hinata as well. Although I feel that my dear Tenten was the winner in the case of embarrassing their opponent enough to light their flames of youth, she was much too active in the fight, so Hinata has my vote. Naruto and Temari would have been tied for victory with her, but sadly, they had bad opponents, even if you two had left them alive, I am not certain that they would be propelled by the flames of youth, but by the cursed hatred of vengeance."
Despite the use of words like 'Flames of Youth' and the like, all but Hinata and Naruto were shocked by his detailed input. Well, Gaara was still shocked people that weren't immediate family of his or Naruto talked to him or hung around him without concern.
"So that is three for Hinata, considering that only Gaara and I are left to vote, it is clear that she is the winner. Besides, taking Gai-san's words into account, it is true that Naruto and I are disqualified for having killed our opponents. Which means the only real options would have been Hinata, Tenten, Gaara, Lee, Lazy-ass and Kin. Between them, it is clear that Hinata won. I say that Tenten was second, and Gaara third, mostly because Tenten really was the runner up with how funny the match was, and Kankuro will most definitely be training harder. And Gaara technically caused his opponent to soil his pants from his presence alone, so he didn't have to put any real effort in the match." All the others present agreed with her.
"Well then, since I know that Anko will be busy with Kurenai for at least two days, we can use these two days to get the rewards for all three. First, Hinata, what do you want as the winner?"
Hinata may not be the shy weakling she showed everyone, but the fainting near Naruto was most definitely real. Anko had helped A LOT in regards to that, but she was still glad that her new ever present upper face 'mask'. "Well. Do you think… Do you think we could go out on a date?" She was sure that her blush was showing under the mask and was spreading to her neck.
Naruto froze for a second as they were walking aimlessly, but then a soft true smile appeared on his face. "Are you sure this isn't my reward?" At Hinata's frantic nod, he responded with a soft chuckle. "I will then take upon myself to give you the best day ever! DATEBAYO!" Hinata's face broke into a soft smile at his verbal tick, that seemed to have mostly faded with proper care and support, and that she was finally getting a 'romantic' date. She could technically count any training day with Naruto alone as a date, since they were getting to know each other and getting closer like a date should, but this would be the first 'official' one.
Hanabi was looking up at her sister fondly, knowing how much her sister liked the blond prankster, she was happy she was getting one of her wishes, especially after so much had been taken from her. Her thoughts started going dark, but she quickly shoved them aside. She might have been the cause of much of Hinata's situation and suffering, but she had always been assured by her older sister that it was not that case, and that instead, she was the main cause of her happiness, despite everything else around her. Most of the time, she could logically see, that Hinata did not NEED to suffer, or go through what she did, she CHOOSE to do so, because she wanted to. It was because of that knowledge, that Hanabi had never stopped loving her sister, or believing in her. Today, she had been shown that her faith was well founded. It still did not change the fact that Hinata deserved all the happiness she could get, so she planned on speaking with Naruto later to help him with the date plans.
"Well then, Gai-sensei, if you could ask Tenten what she would want for her reward we will work to accomplish it." "YOSH!" "Finally, Gaara, what do you want?"
"Sleep. It has been a long day. Afterwards, I want to all of your help to capture Kabuto in a few days when he comes over to give us a message from Orochimaru about the invasion plans."
Gai, Hanabi and Temari froze for a second at his sudden revelation and request. Although Temari recovered almost immediately, knowing that this would have happened eventually, and her choice on which side she would stay. Gai recovered a moment afterwards, being the Elite that he is, although his face was dead serious by this point. Hanabi was still frozen in shock, so the others stopped to let her mind catch up. Gaara looked towards the only two to not freeze. "You don't seem surprised."
"We aren't. It is a conversation to be held in a more private place though. Sai, if you would go get the Danzo and tell him to prep a room for us to have a private meeting?"
They didn't hear or see anything, but suddenly there was a blank faced ANBU if front of them who nodded before vanishing.
"Gai-sensei, Hanabi, if I could ask you both to keep everything that is going to happen quite, we would be much appreciated."
Gai nodded seriously, but leaned down to deactivate his weights. Hanabi was still in shock, but a soft hand on her shoulder from Hinata caused her to focus and nod. They started heading with a purpose, with Naruto leading.
Within long, they all found themselves in an underground room, full of seals. Present inside was the Shinobi no Yami, Danzo Shimura himself.
"Yo Danzo!" cheered Naruto, completely breaking the atmosphere that had been created. Hinata bowed slightly, as did Hanabi, following her sisters actions. Temari was a bit worried, but held herself together, since she didn't think these two would betray them after everything. 'Although we have only been together for five days.' Gaara was completely unperturbed. Gai was severely perturbed, but he held himself in composure, as expected of an S-class shinobi.
Danzo, against EVERYTHING that Gai expected and knew, actually visibly sighed. "Uzumaki-san." He pulled himself together. "The fact that you have brought two of the Suna siblings means that this has something to do with the invasion, having Hyuuga-san and Maito-san here means that you trust them all completely, correct?"
"Of course. You know us Danzo. We might not be students of yours or part of ROOT, but we still understand the same fundamentals and work together towards the same goals." Danzo nodded.
"Do you need or want me here? Or should I give you all some privacy."
At that Naruto snorted, "Like if you would actually leave, or not spy on us. Plus, we would have knocked Sai unconscious and gone elsewhere if that is what we wanted. Plus, like I said, we are working together, true partners despite what others may believe and what you may say." Once again, Danzo simply nodded, and waved his hand towards the seats available.
As they all seated themselves, "That reminds me, Hinata-san, although not as we had initially planned, I must say that you have accomplished one of our goals, in a very quick and effective manner. As of three hours ago, I managed to get the council to agree that the Hyuuga had gone far beyond the acceptable, and it was agreed that all the Main Hyuuga would be detained and interrogated in regards to their actions towards the Branch house, and questioning of the Branch house members would begin as well. As a former Hyuuga, furthermore, as the former Hyuuga Heiress, you will be called upon sometime in the next couple of days for questioning as well, so I recommend you postpone your date a week. Hyuuga-san, you too will be approached for the same soon. Nonetheless, thanks to public outrage from the vast majority of our Shinobi and civilian population, plus the letter from the Fire Daimyo that should be arriving soon, the Caged Bird Seal will be forced to be removed from everyone soon." Here, Danzo's voice dropped a bit, "I am certain many of the former Main house will get free due to legal issues and Hiruzen's interference, nonetheless, there power will be stripped. ROOT will make sure that the ones who are threats to Konoha will have 'accidents' while intoxicated." Hanabi may have stiffened a bit at that declaration, but everyone else took it in stride, for their own reasons.
"Thank you very much for your continual assistance in making Konoha stronger and keeping it safe Danzo-sama."
He merely waved her statement away, "It is my job, and you two have done much to help me, despite not being one of my own. As Uzumaki-san stated, you have my support so long as you continue looking towards a prosperous Konoha. Which reminds me. Some of my agents stumbled across a few hidden rooms while stalking Hiruzen's ANBU into the Hyuuga household. We found some Hyuuga eyes that were kept in stasis. They were all unsealed, which leads me to believe them to be the eyes of the Main House members you killed and possibly your own." At this there was an actual gasp from both sisters, and a widening of the eyes from Naruto and Gai. "Despite my urge to take them, I have taken both your previous words into consideration and left them alone, I have however, marked the rooms for you and Hyuuga-san, to publicly find later. I will inform you that of my own choice, as a gift, I have further damaged one of the two that showed it was removed brutally instead of with proper medical procedures." At this, they all looked at him in confusion. "I am certain that those two were yours, by damaging one further, it will leave you an excuse to always have one socket covered since you only have one eye." Suddenly one of his ROOT ANBU arrived carrying a covered jar. "As a proof of our continued profitable allegiance, allow me to provide you a different secondary eye."
As one they all looked towards the now uncovered jar and gasped, without exception. Staring back at them was an eyeball with a red iris and three tomoe's staring out. "Out of the eyes that we have remaining, this one is the one that would be most compatible with you based on the bloodwork we have on its previous owner and that you gave us." A small grin appeared on his face, which was the same as a full blown, if viscous, smile on anyone else. "How do you feel? Being the first person to have both a Byakugan and Sharingan?"
After the shocking revelations, and setting up an appointment for the proper operation, and a bit of planning on when and how to reveal the eyes in stasis, plus a promise to meet up later to speak about further plans for the Hyuuga. They moved back to the original topic, towards the invasion. They revealed that they knew that Orochimaru was probably up to something like an invasion, since they had seen how Suna's economy was suffering greatly, and that on the second day of the Second Exam, Orochimaru showed himself to Sasuke, and gave him a cursed seal. It was well known to Danzo that Orochimaru was capable of taking over other's bodies who have the cursed seal, and as such came to the conclusion that he wanted to take over Sasuke to have access to the Sharingan. Then proceeded to laugh in that creepy Danzo way, about Orochimaru never realizing that he had a couple dozen Sharingan after the Uchiha Massacre, which he offered to the best of his agents who could use them. Kakashi was not that unique now a days.
Gaara and Temari filled them in on their mission objectives and what they knew or had figured out, as well as the fact that Gaara had gotten Baki to bring himself to the Hokage tomorrow to trade info for protection and a home. Danzo told them that he always had Kabuto under guard, but it would be most useful to capture him shortly before the invasion, since his role is most definitely important, and they didn't want Orochimaru to give it to someone else with time to get it right. They hammered out more details, before finally accepting a plan.
By the end, even Gai was completely on-board, and although Danzo was a bit on edge with such a possible leak, Naruto and Hinata vouched for him, and he was the strongest Shinobi that was directly allied with or part of ROOT as of this point. All of ROOT teaming up against him MIGHT win, but only with ridiculous casualties. Naruto in full Kyuubi Cloak teaming up with Hinata, Gaara and Temari, would probably get a full draw, with both sides killing the other completely. Danzo understood that two Jinchuriki were considered weapons of war for good reason, just like S-ranked Shinobi. Among Root, Danzo was the only S-Ranked, and he knew that Maito Gai would destroy him. So having him as a devoted ally was a godsend.
They would just need to keep him away from the more… unyouthful activities.
After accepting the plan on all fronts, they agreed to meet again in a week to revise it depending on the Hokage's response to Baki's information. Hinata would be back a day or two prior for the operation of adding the Sharingan, hopefully, already having gotten her Byakugan back. If not, then ROOT would go and take it and she would continue to hide both eyes under a new wider Leaf Headband with seals that allow her to see through it like a one-way mirror, hiding BOTH of her advantages. Hinata and Naruto would be back a day prior to that to speak in secret about the future of the Hyuuga among ROOT, but no one but the three involved knew about that.
So they left, after swearing secrecy (Danzo was still iffy about not providing everyone with a silencing seal.) and headed their different ways. Gaara and Temari to sleep and talk with Baki and Kankuro. Gai to begin his morning training in preparation for helping Lee and Tenten as well as for the incoming invasion. Naruto decided to join Hinata and Hanabi towards the Hyuuga household, where all the Branch House had been moved back to after the Main House had been arrested.
Upon arrival, they were met with shock, both that a Main House member was not under arrest, even if it was Hanabi, who had always treated them properly at the request of her elder sister, and that Hinata was with her. Feelings were mixed with the previous heir, the Branch House had always loved her because of how she treated them all as equals, as well as standing up for them publicly. Finding out that she had been keeping her true strength and nature secret from everyone for so long, stung them a bit, but the fact that she did it to protect her little sister from the same cage that bound them all, went a long way to understanding. Then they find out that her situation had been worse than imagined, and she had lost her name and eyes in their defense, and despite that, had now seemingly given them freedom, even if it was not official yet, most were certain she had succeeded in her promise from long ago. So for the most part, she had nothing but respect and even worship, on the other hand, she truly was no longer a Hyuuga, and despite being Branch House members, the arrogance and pride of the Hyuuga is universal among them all, except for Hinata and Hanabi (Although no one outside of her 'true' family knows about the latter's true thoughts on that matter), and it made it jarring, for many could only look at her with nothing but pity for having lost the most important things as far as they were concerned. Despite the seal on them, being without their eyes was a fate worse than death or the caged bird seal to them. Nonetheless, the two on Guard were Shinobi, ninjas of Konoha. Regardless of clan pride or arrogance, they understood that Hinata was the stronger ninja, and she had done what many many others had dreamed of, or claimed they were going to do. Where they all failed, Hinata had succeeded. She was ninja who did not deviate from her nindo, and completed her self-impossed mission. To them, nothing else mattered.
"Hinata-sama, Hanabi-sama, Uzumaki-san, we did not know you were outside at this late of an hour, or we would have sent out search parties for you Hanabi-sama."
Hanabi waved it away in a non-Hyuuga gesture, "Don't worry about it, I was spending the time with my big sister. It has been far too long since I could be open with her in public, so I was clearly carried away." Both guards accepted that explanation, and smiled along with Hinata at her statement.
"The Main House is currently empty and guarded by the Hokage's ANBU since they have been searching for info on their illegal action. I am confident that Ko and his wife would be happy to house you all tonight however."
Although it pleased Hinata that her former bodyguard could be counted on, she would not impose on him at such an hour, nor would she willingly break her exile, simply because no one would punish her for it. "Thank you both, however, I am not allowed passage into the Hyuuga household, on pain of execution, barring a specific call from the Head of House, so I will just be going back to my apartment. Please thank Ko for helping my sister though, and send him my regards." With that she bowed to the two.
Both guards were once again shocked, but quickly bowed back, even if they didn't know she could actually 'see' them, that is not an excuse from doing the right thing. "Hinata-sama, no amount of thanks would ever be enough to cover what we feel. As fellow Shinobi of the Leaf, we speak for every registered Hyuuga, if ever you need anything, please call on us. We will do everything in our power to assist you."
"Thank you both, and thank all the others as well. At the moment, I merely ask that you protect and teach my sister when I am unable to."
"The house will die before she comes to harm."
"Also, although Hanabi will call on you all tomorrow to announce it, I wish you two to know that getting the truth out into the open was only the first step. The Main House will be under guard and interrogation for at least two more days. Tomorrow afternoon, we will have finished setting up proper rooms for the removal of that Cursed Seal." At that declaration, both guards sucked in their breaths quickly as their eyes widened. "I would have done this sooner, but I needed to find a way to remove the seal, or I would have simply given you freedom for a couple of days before the Main House was released and simply killed you all in retaliation, before they could be forced by the Fire Daimyo and Konoha to release you. Now though, once they are released, you will all be free of their control and threat. They will fall, permanently." Her voice was cold and deadly at that last word, it sent shivers down the three Hyuuga's spines.
Still, both guards threw themselves into a dogeza. "Hinata-sama, we may not have the power, but even if it means giving our lives, we will make sure you can come back here as the Hero you are, instead of as an exiled criminal. We swear this to you. You have given us our lives, on top of our freedom. Your name will forever be recorded in the annals of our history!"
Hinata had blushed a bit at their extreme reaction, but it suddenly turned to pure shock the gates behind them opened, and out came out more and more Hyuuga members, each one lining up next to the guards and falling into their own dogezas. Those who could fit in the line, or behind them started going around and creating a circle. Should anyone had come out, they would have believed to be in a genjutsu. Every single Hyuuga member seemed to have woken up and come out to bow to the trio. To add to the confusion of the 'blind' girl, Hanabi stepped away from them, turned around, and got into her own dogeza. However, when Naruto seemed to start to go with the flow, Hinata's hand struck out with the speed of a serpent and latched onto his arm, refusing to allow the man who stood by her and helped make her dream a reality bow to her. "You have just as much right to be here Naruto. Without your and Danzo's knowledge in Fuinjutsu, the removal of the seal would have remained out of reach for much longer." Naruto almost grinned at her 'subtle' way of promoting Danzo for later helping Hyuuga children into ROOT, thankfully, his embarrassment at the huge crowd of bowing people helped him conceal his urge to grin at his incredible partner.
So instead, the two stood there, surrounded by almost two hundred Hyuuga, all bowing with their heads to the ground.
Hinata and Naruto were not the only ones having quite the surprising morning.
Kiba and Akamaru had been splashed with water from his mother and sister. Due to his embarrassing failure at the preliminary to Shika, his parents decided to up his training while his sensei taught the only member of his team to pass. Maito Gai and Anko would have been impressed with what he was being put through.
Kin woke up in an unfamiliar place. Granted, the hotel that she had stayed in for a night prior to the exam was an unfamiliar place as well, but this wasn't even that. Adrenaline fought of her drowsiness in an instant and she bolted up. Or rather, she tried. Instead, she found a couple of extra legs kept her own pinned down, panicking a slight amount she looked to see who had her hostage, when she saw a pair of naked bodies… VERY well-muscled naked bodies. Upon seeing the sweet boy and girl who she had hung out with last night, the rest of the memories crashed into her. She was thankful that the two were still asleep, otherwise they would have seen her face completely red from embarrassment. She was a Kunoichi of Oto, on a mission to help with the invasion of Konoha. She was instrumental to it, as she was the only of the three Oto Genin to make it to the finals, allowing more of their Shinobi to infiltrate the village. Why the hell was she sleeping with the enemy so freaking literally, immediately after meeting them!?
As if Kami himself heard her, both Lee and Tenten rolled over, Lee slightly away, showcasing his cheese grating abs and large … snake. In embarrassment at the memories of how he kept going and going the night before, she turned towards her partner and savior, for without her taking half the attention, Kin was certain she wouldn't be able to walk right for a few days. Tenten had rolled into her, trying to seek the lost warmth from when Kin sat up. Although not as chiseled as Lee, Tenten still had a well-toned body that most proper Kunoichi, which she considered herself, would be envious of. She certainly was, considering how in Oto, they just forced her to learn Genjutsu, as that is the only thing they felt she could do…
'How hard would it be to officially switch loyalties to Konoha? After all, Oto only has Orochimaru as an S class ninja, and Suna only has the Kazekage and Gaara. By the looks of it, Gaara is close friends with Konoha, so he might not help them properly. And according to the crazy powerful blind girl.' Kin shivered at the memory of those empty eye sockets. Another reminder that Konoha was stronger than they were told by Orochimaru, if they had GENIN like her around, or Naruto, Lee, and Tenten, what would their Jonin be like? 'Konoha should have SEVERAL S-ranked shinobi BESIDES their Kage…'
As Tenten gripped her slightly harder and tugged her down, as if wanting her to come back where she belongs, Kin made her choice. She would ask them to help her with her training. Depending on how that went for a week or so, she would decide where her chances of survival where best. Orochimaru may have saved her life, and given her a place to learn and grow stronger, but based on the current company, and a bit of hindsight, clearly they didn't put too much effort into it. So they shouldn't be pissed that she betrayed the betrayers for friendly people who might help her get stronger… and were amazing in bed, unlike those pompous raping assholes… 'I don't think I will even take that long to decide the more I remember what my options are.'
That thought cleared, she finally acquiesced and fell back into Tenten arms, and firm bossom. Lee coming up from behind and spooning her.
Anko and Kurenai had yet to go to sleep… thankfully, Kurenai still had enough presence of mind while molded unto the shorter Kunoichi carrying her to their shared apartment, to throw out a few Genjutsus that would hide all the sounds that they would and certainly did create, allowing their neighbors to sleep.
"What's up Shino?"
"Sensei, do you get the feeling that we are missing out on many interesting or important situations?"
Asuma took a deep drawl on his cigarette. "Every day since Kurenai figured she was at the very least bisexual if not full on homosexual and in love with Anko for years. Every day."
"…Is that why you started training us properly and make us come out earlier each day?"
"Need something to keep my mind off it."
"Then I should thank Team 8 and Kurenai-san. You have been an excellent teacher since then, and I am going to require that more than ever, since my last match showed that I need to improve on my taijutsu and tactics more."
"Well then, let us get going. When Shika finally makes it here, he will help you with tactics."
Shikamaru was currently on top of the Hokage monument watching the clouds. He had been woken up early by his mother, despite having known that he came home late thanks to the party, since Asuma still wanted them to meet at this Kami forsaken hour. After his breakup with his 'secret' 'not-girlfriend', he had been trying to drown his sorrows by drowning them in training.
It may have been troublesome to climb all the way up here, but Naruto was right, it had the best view, and little to no traffic, so he was undisturbed. Plus, no one but Naruto knew that he came here, so no one would know to look here.
He would head down to the team meeting later.
Kakashi was sleeping in the same room that Sasuke occupied, still being unconscious from having had the Curse Seal of Heaven… well, sealed.
Unbeknownst to the worst Jonin-sensei of MANY a generation, his other student was in the room adjacent to them, recovering from the injuries sustained by Kin during the prelims.
Dosu was in a similar room, across the hallway, sleeping away his Chakra Exhaustion… too bad Orochimaru had a different plan, as he quickly kidnapped his genin, and left to get his other sacrifice. Since she was admitted into the finals, he would have left her alive, but the Kyuubi brat had killed his other possible sacrifice (He actually could sacrifice ANYONE of his ninja, but these three were the weakest.) so he would be taking her.
Luckily for Kin, who in another life, would have been sacrificed to summon the soul of the Nidaime. She had spent her night with Tenten and Lee, and as such, Orochimaru could not find her, deciding that he was wasting too much time as It was, he simply left, taking Dosu with him, planning to use someone else. Now he needed to find someone to sacrifice for the Nidaime and Yondaime. Orochimaru sighed, the difficulties of a leader.
Ibiki was still enjoying his night's success in the morning. He had managed to get a couple of the Hyuuga switched over to his department as full on traitors of the Leaf. He was now within his right to torture them until they died, and as a gift to Anko and her possibly soon-to-be adopted child, he would make sure the one with the right blood type died. As they weren't sealed, and as a corpse, he wouldn't need his eyes. He thought that it would make Kurenai happy enough that Anko would be happy enough, to stop her from stealing all the fun targets.
Baki had had a hell of a morning. Kankuro had been disbelieving of what he had been told until Gaara and Temari showed up. Kankuro had almost been mutinous against them, his loyalty to his father, the Kazekage would, under any other circumstances, be a great thing. In this case, it was winning against his loyalty to his siblings and teacher. Thankfully, after a bit of talking, Temari won him over.
Baki then prepared himself for heading to the Hokage and revealing the situation. Or at least he had, until Gaara told him NOT to. Instead, he would stay and act as he would if he had still been planning to invade Konoha. Otherwise, Kabuto, or any other of Orochimaru's spies would get suspicious. Instead, he and Temari would join Naruto later that day, and he would take them to his 'Jiji', where Gaara and Temari would explain the situation.
Baki accepted it as the best plan, and instead took Kabuto to go meet up with Maito Gai, who he was informed would be meeting up later with his team to begin their training. Anko had recommended getting Kankuro to him first, since she would be busy for a couple days, and it would increase the amount of time she could tortu—train him.
Choji was enjoying an Akimichi styled breakfast.
Kabuto was hiding his blinding headache behind his carefree smile. Talking with Orochimaru's 'spies' always made him wonder at the intelligence level of the Elemental Nations Ninja's. Seriously, how the heck did some of these fools not get caught immediately. Konoha's ANBU and Danzo's Root may be good at BEING spies, but clearly they SUCKED at catching them if Oto's spies continued being as effective as they had been.
Torune who was tasked with tailing Orochimaru's right hand man, would have chuckled at the situation… if he hadn't been an Aburame. It might be believed that ROOT was all emotionless. They weren't, oh sure, they might be MOSTLY socially inept, since they spent more time training or on missions, but Danzo didn't seal away their emotions or break them mentally (Too often, some did need to be broken). Nah, Danzo understood that emotions are important, they just needed to be controlled completely, so as to know WHEN to use them. Torune had joined ROOT slightly later than most, so he still remembered how to make decent jokes… among Aburame, and this most definitely counted.
Poor fools thought they didn't know who every single spy in Konoha was. Kabuto didn't even realize that the spy he was talking to, was playing stupid to piss him off, since he actually one of Kumo's VERY rare spies, who decided that he earned more money giving the same info to others.
It was hilarious.
And people thought Aburame and ROOT agents didn't have emotions.
Yoroi would never wake up again. Kabuto had killed him on the way to his current spy meeting. It was by getting rid of such a major headache that he could deal with his current case. He almost skipped to his meeting with the spy thanks to how free and happy he felt. He should thank the Suna girl for getting rid of the other one.
Ino woke up early, despite not wanting to. Sadly, Anko had made it impossible to oversleep, even knowing she was occupied with Kurenai, she wouldn't put it past that sadist to send a snake to wake them up.
She hadn't, but it didn't stop Ino from getting up and preparing for the day as per usual.
Plus, she was sure that Hinata and Naruto were doing something interesting. She had wanted to stay with them last night, but her dad had come to pick her up, congratulating her on her 'victory'.
She had asked him to train her further in the clan arts… and the bastard had the audacity to tell her that she could wait a bit, and that she should instead focus on perfecting her current skill set…
HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW GOOD SHE CURRENTLY WAS!?
She had gotten to the point that she could cast the clan techniques that she knew SEALLESSLY! As well as two of her Raiton jutsu! Whatever, she would go and check on her personal greenhouses of medicinal and poisonous plants. She had just finished creating a new hybrid of the famed Fire Flower. It would be a perfect and unexpected weapon for the invasion planned during the Final Chunin Exam's tournament style fights. It would also be a perfect gift to Anko-sensei for her marriage to Kurenai. She needed to start testing it to start gaining immunity to it, which she was NOT looking forward to, considering how painful the NORMAL Fire Flower poison was. The thought that she would be able to use this particular poison with her Poison Mist Jutsu though, made it MORE than worth it.
It would be the third poison she would be able to use as such, and the second 'non'-lethal. Considering just how much pain and suffering they will be going through, they just might kill themselves to avoid any more pain. Well, they would wish for it with their very being, but since this hybrid, unlike the original, also scrambled the bodies nerve signals, they would try to lift their hands, and accidently twitch their pinky toe, or the like. It would prove VERY VERY hard to kill themselves on purpose.
Although she didn't notice the malicious smile or the downright evil glint that appeared on her features, she still recognized that Anko had corrupted her horribly, and she downright loved it.
Too bad that Naruto and Hinata would be busy for the next few days with the Hyuuga seal, otherwise she would be imitating Anko-sensei further and keeping them occupied in their home for the next few days.
It was so nice to have a handsome strong man and woman who appreciated and accepted everything about her.
Neji hadn't awoken yet, the fact that Hinata destroyed everything he held as universal truth, stomped on them, and then spit on it nearly broke his mind, despite the fact that he had ALWAYS wanted to step away from that, but felt it was impossible. Then she goes and simultaneously strikes the general area of all his tenketsu with a modified Juken like effect, shutting them all down, and even hurting his Chakra pathways a bit. Nothing permanent, but he would be out for at least another two or three days.
Regardless of having gone down her path by choice, and that he was merely a stupid stubborn child who refused to listen to reason or common sense. Neji did go VERY VERY far to 'punish' his 'weak' cousin who supposedly caused his father's death. And unlike what was considered common belief.
Hinata knew how to hold a grudge long before she had met Anko.
AN: OKAY! I am going to put a stop on this here. This was originally planned as a One-shot…
Then It flew away from me. BADLY. I just ended up cramming a BUNCH of stuff in between. Since I wanted to explain HOW it got to that… and it kept getting stretched out, and out, and out.
Originally this was going to be them showing up in the First Exam exactly as they did, the Second Exam start, exactly as they did, then it would skip to them showing up joking around with the Suna team into the prelims of the Second Exam… like they did… but without everything that I wrote in-between.
The multiple perspectives was also NOT planned.
Outside of Hinata's fight, which did NOT go as planned anyway, none of the rest were supposed to be mentioned or written. Heck, I decided to have fun and used a dice generator to decide the pairs. I had honestly wanted to write Ino in a fight… as you can see, I failed to do so thanks to "FATE!" SHUT UP NEJI!
The ONLY planned fight aside from Hinata and Neji was Sasuke and Yoroi, since I 'implicated' (Not terribly subtly) that some fights were rigged for favorable outcomes. Those two were the only ones.
Anyway, clearly some fights I could care less about as you can see. I was serious about the dice generator choosing the pairs. So getting Kabuto and Gaara together was a nigh-godsend, since I am not certain I would have been able to pull of his planned method of embarrassing his opponent properly.
Kin and Sakura was also surprising, but I was not complaining and decided to run with the chance to include Kin into the story more permanently.
Shikamaru and Kiba… I am not certain that Shikamaru would honestly win said fight, and as such, decided to merely skip it and say he did. XD I like Shika and don't really like Kiba. Nothing against him… but I don't like him all that much.
Same with Shino and Dosu.
Temari's was not what I planned, since I am not sure she HAS said Jutsu… but seeing as how this is partly crack anyway, I said why the hell not. I liked how it came out.
Same with Naruto, I decided that he had full control over his Wind Nature Chakra, to levels the Nidaime was famed to control his Water Nature Chakra. Not to mention that he and Kurama are buddy buddy, while Kurama still remains relatively bloodthirsty for fools and Uchiha. He will be a bit sore that his partner's mate will have a Sharingan, but since she is NOT an arrogant Uchiha, AND the mate of his partner, it will be an acceptable situation. If anything, if (When) she gets good enough, she could help them if they face an Uchiha who captures them. So using the Kyuubi's KI to kill Zaku was fun. Always hated Zaku.
Tenten and Kankuro was another fun pairing. I decided to add her large Meteor Hammer from Shippuden, without the explosives, instead she swung it purely with her, now considerably higher to cannon, strength. Being closer to Lee does that to a woman. Kankuro is another character that I place beside Kiba. Nothing REALLY against him, but I don't quite like him. Although messing with him has been REALLY fun.
Lee and Choji, I just summarized how I thought that Lee would act, since there was really no one besides Kin and Gaara who be able to fight him. Since no one else used Genjutsu or have a nigh impenetrable sand shield. Ino, barring some luck and good planning would lose. Hinata and Naruto would have a REALLY hard time against his gates, since both like him and would REFUSE to do anything but fight him head-on instead of using Genjutsu (Hinata) or just removing the air from their surroundings to suffocate him (Naruto), although he would use his Kyuubi cloak if it got to that point, since Lee would accept nothing less.
As for some of Hinata's or Naruto's comments seeming contradictory to what is actually going on. Recall that their relationship, both with each other and Danzo is a secret, I will explain that in more detail in another release later, but that is why some things seem off.
Also, I didn't have time to really edit this thoroughly, so forgive me for any errors. I will go over it later a bit more.
