Chapter 02

Enrollment to Become a Ninja!

"Boys, we must stop and rest. You've been carrying me for hours." Konan says between breaths. Her left eye is swollen and bloody. Her forehead has dried blood on it as well as around her mouth. Kuro falls to one knee and clutches her shoulder in pain as Xentall lays Konan down.

"Are you o.k. Kuro?" Xentall asks running over to him. Kuro releases his grasp to show fresh blood all over his hand. Kuro starts to fall back and Xentall catches him, "Kuro!" He lays him down next to Konan and runs both hands through his hair in desperation.

"Water, we need water Xen." Konan says with a tired breath. Xentall nods and jumps up a tree and starts to look for a lake or river.

"Mom, are we going to be o.k.?" Kuro asks, clutching his shoulder to keep pressure. Konan looks at him with sadness in her eyes. Kuro has no expression on his face; he's looking down with a blank face. Void of any and all emotion.

"Yes sweetie, Xen will come back with water and we'll fix your shoulder and be on our way again." Konan tries to smile without hurting herself. Xentall appears in front of them again with a canteen of water. He pours some water over Kuro's shoulder and then wraps it up as best he can with the medical supplies in their bags.

"Thank you Xen." Kuro says as he gets up slowly. Xentall helps his mother drink and then he uses the rest of the water to wash off her face.

"You need some water too sweetie." Konan says, gently placing a hand on her cheek. She stares into his eye, filled with great pride but also an immense amount of fear. She can't believe the Rinnegan was passed down from father to sons. She didn't know it to be hereditary. Xentall removes her hand and continues to clean her off.

"How close are we to the village?" Xentall asks. Kuro takes a deep breath and jumps all the way to the top of the nearest tree. He perches himself on the tip and scans the whole forest.

"We're almost there, a couple more miles and we'll be at their gates!" Kuro jumps back down and picks up his mother, wrapping her arm around his shoulders again, "Do you think they'll let us in?" Xentall picks up his mother's other arm and they jump up to a branch and slowly continue their travels.

"They might not let us live in their village but they can't let three people die at their gates. They'll at least take us in and heal us." They land on a branch and Kuro falls on his knees again, "Let's switch sides." Xentall and Kuro quickly switch sides before their mother could fall.

"That's much better." They slowly stand up and continue on their path. An hour passes by and they stop on a branch and Xentall is shaking in pain.

"Sweetie, are you o.k.?" Xentall does say anything and he tries to continue but pain shoots through his body and he falls off the branch, "Xentall!" Konan yells. Kuro jumps down and lays his mother against the tree. He runs to Xentall's side who is trying to get up.

"You're too weak to move brother. Stay still." Xentall pushes him away and slowly stands up.

"No, we have to get to the Hidden Leaf Village!" He grabs Konan's arm and Kuro follows.

"Sweetie, you must rest. Your body is exhausted and in shock." Konan says, trying to persuade Kuro to stop him. Xentall ignores her and continues to move.

"I can see the gates!" Kuro yells. They speed up and enter the clearing to the gate. Xentall can feel the pain intensifying, "Help us, please!" Kuro yells. Xentall cringes in agonizing pain as starts to lose his grip on his mother's arm, "Please open the gates!" Xentall finally collapse and is unconscious. Then Konan also loses her strength and Kuro drops to one knee due to her weight. He lays her down and sees the gate opening. He tries to drag his mom closer but falls due to exhaustion, "Please, help us." Kuro says with a short breath and then he passes out as well.

Xentall slowly opens his eyes to a very bright and white light. At first he thinks he's dead and then he sees a shadow standing over him. His vision starts to clear up and a Medical Ninja is shining a light into his eyes. The person starts to speak and Xentall cocks his head slightly, straining himself to hear.

"Can you hear me child?" The man asks. He takes the light away and Xentall looks around to see a small white room. There is a woman who has her hands over his chest. They're glowing green and Xentall can feel his chakra slowly coming back, "Child, can you hear me?" Xentall stares the man in the eyes and tries to sit up but the man stops him, "Remain still. You're chakra is very weak." Xentall looks around some more and starts to worry.

"Where are my mother and Kuro?" Xentall tries to get up and the man tries to stop him again but Xentall starts to thrash, "Where are they?"

"Sir, you have to remain still during treatment!" The man says, trying to keep him down. The woman backs away and runs towards the door.

"Someone go get Sakura!" The woman yells through the open door. Xentall starts to fight with the man.

"Where did you take my mother and brother?" He yells. His eye starts to bleed again and the man goes flying away and through the all to the other room. Xentall runs out of his room, shoving the woman aside and sending her flying down the hall, "Mother! Kuro! Where are you?" Xentall yells. He starts to run down the hall but a kunai flies past his face.

"Remain still child! Your family is safe and we can take you to them." Xentall looks behind his shoulder and sees a tall, beautiful woman with flowing pink hair. Xentall backs up slowly as she approaches, "Now calm down and I'll take you to your brother. She grabs his arm and he starts to struggle, "Stop fussing!"

"No need to be so forceful with child, Sakura."

"Sorry Lord Hokage." Xentall turns around and sees him. His eyes widen with rage.

"Naruto Uzumaki." The name rolls off Xentall's tongue like vinegar. He yanks himself free from Sakura's grasp and runs at him, "I'll kill you!" He throws his fist but Naruto catches it with a smile.

"Peace child, I'll take you to your brother." He grips his arm and leads him away, "Clean up this mess will you Sakura?" She bows and starts to order people around.

Xentall lags behind him. The man who defeated his father is walking right in front of him! He grips his fists tightly until they felt like they were going to break. He stares at the back of his head and then notices the scroll that is attached to the back of his waist.

"Is that a summoning contract for Mount Myōboku?" Naruto stops in his tracks and turns around.

"Yes, you know of this place?" He knees down to meet Xentall's eyes. The fact that he is looking at him makes Xentall sick but his curiosity is greater than his hatred.

"I've heard of it. I've also heard the sixth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf is a Toad Sage. That he has mastered Senjutsu. Naruto laughs.

"That's right, I am. You know a lot of stuff, huh?"

"My brother and I have always wanted to become sages ever since we learned of summoning contracts through libraries and other forms of information.

"Would you like to sign the contract?" He starts to take out the scroll but Xentall shakes his head.

"Kuro and I are partial to the legend of Ryūchi Cave and the Colossal Snakes." Naruto smirks and puts his scroll away, "So unless you happen to have a summoning contract from Ryūchi Cave, I'll pass." Naruto stands back up and continues to lead him to his brother's room.

"How about this, if you promise me to go breaking anymore walls or throwing more of my Medical Ninjas, I'll try to find you a summoning contract for the snakes. He opens the door and Xentall lets out a low laugh.

"Whatever." He walks into the room and shuts the door. He hears Naruto walk away and then runs to Kuro's bedside, "Kuro, are you awake?" He groans and looks at Xentall.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Xentall places a hand on his good shoulder and smiles.

"I'm fine, how is your shoulder?" Kuro sits up and lets out a big sigh.

"It's better, they sealed up the wound but the pain is still there. How's mom?"

"I don't know, I hope she's o.k." Xentall runs his hand through his thick, blue hair and lets out a sigh, "She's really tough. I'm sure she's fine." Kuro sighs, his face still blank and emotionless, "Naruto lead me to you." Kuro jolts in his bed slightly and Xentall can see his muscles tense, "He has a summoning contract."

"Was it a summoning contract from Ryūchi Cave?" He says with enthusiasm.

"No you idiot, he's a Toad Sage! It was a summoning contract from Mount Myōboku." Kuro slouches back in his bed and sighs, "He did make a stupid promise to find us one though. But I think he's just trying to be nice. He takes a sigh and sits there in silence. Kuro lays back down and rests his head on the pillow.

"Do you think they're going to kick us out once we've healed?"

"Maybe they will. Maybe they won't."

Naruto walks through a door that has two guards on each side of it. He closes it behind him and sits next to Konan who is starting to wake up.

"I am graced with the great Hokage's presence." Konan says sarcastically. She slowly sits up, her head bandaged and covering her left eye. Naruto smirks and Konan doesn't look at him, just looks down at her bandaged hands.

"No need to sound so condescending." Naruto says as he rubs the back of his neck, "So you had kids! How old are they?"

"They're both eight."

"Twins huh? That's weird they don't look alike."

"Not all twins look alike." Her voice rises in a tone of anger.

"Is something wrong Konan?" Naruto leans forward in his chair and glares at her.

"What will you do to us once we've healed? Will you kick us back out into the world? Will you kill us?" Konan looks up and meets Naruto's gaze.

"You can stay you know? You're always welcome in the Land of Fire."

"Are we? Six of your ninjas did this to my sons and me! If I even had a fraction of my strength I would have my hands around your throat!" Naruto gives her a concerned look and rubs his chin, "And if we do decide to stay, what will happen to us? Can you guarantee that we'll be welcome? The scars of what the Akatsuki did are still fresh. I can hear the work on construction out the window. Can you promise me that everyone in this village will forgive me? Can you promise that my past sins will not hurt my children?" Konan glares at him, her stare intense and Naruto can feel the burn of her stare. He then smiles and places a hand on her shoulder gently.

"I promise on behalf of our Sensei, you and your sons will come to no harm within these walls. To ensure protection, I'm willing to make you a Jōnin and to enroll your kids into The Academy. If they pass, they'll be moved your squad." Naruto can feel the muscles in Konan's shoulder ease up and she looks back down at her hands, "That is, if you want to stay?"

"Thank you Naruto. You have no idea of the fear I felt. My sons carried me all the way here, while they were injured as well. Thank you Naruto, thank you." Naruto smiles and stands up.

"I'll do anything for a sibling student." He walks out and Konan lays down in her bed, relaxed and at peace.

Naruto reenters the room where Xentall and Kuro are. He sees that the bed is empty and the window is open. He runs at the window and looks around.

"Xentall, Kuro!" He runs out the door and looks down the hall and points at the two ninjas guarding Konan's room, "You two, gather more ninjas and search the village for two little boys! They're the sons of Konan! The have the Rinnegan! Go, now!" The two ninjas nod and run out of the hospital.

Xentall and Kuro have their clothes back on. The hospital saw fit to clan and stich them back up. They're walking down a long street with shops and restaurants on each side.

"Is this their market?" Kuro asks, looking around, "Not that big is it?"

"This is probably one of many. They wouldn't have just one street dedicated for shopping and eating. Unless if they're that poor." Xentall is also looking around with a smirk, "Our dad really did a number on this village didn't he?" He puts his hands behind his head and starts to laugh.

"Will you keep it down? If people found out who are father was they'll kill us!" Kuro looks over his shoulder and sees some construction workers glaring at them."

"They can try!" He continues to laugh and then four kids run into them and bump Kuro to the ground. He screams in pain and clutches his shoulder, "Hey watch it! My brother is hurt!"

"Shut up!" One of the kids yells. They all stop and turn around. Xentall notices that they're all wearing goggles green goggles on their foreheads, "You can't tell us what to do!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Xentall yells as he helps Kuro up.

"Calm down Xen, I'm fine." He looks over to the kids with a smile, "Sorry about my brother. He's very hotheaded. So you guys are in The Academy huh?"

"That's right." The lead kid grips his goggles with pride and gives a big grin, "I'm Eiji Momoiji!" He stands over us with pride and it makes Xentall sick. He has short orange hair and green eyes.

"Think you're better than us do you?" Xentall comes face to face with Eiji and glares at him.

"I don't see a headband on your forehead. Not even Academy goggles! You're power is below mine!" Xentall clutches his fists then one kid cowers back.

"Eiji, their eyes, look at their eyes!"

"What about them, Naoko?"

"They have the Rinnegan! My father told me about the man who destroyed our village, he had the Rinnegan too!" They all back up besides Eiji who glares at Xentall with pure hatred.

"So your father was Pein! Oh you're going to get it!" He swings his fist but Xentall ducks and sweeps his feet around and makes him trip. Everyone else decides to help him and the jump on Xentall. They start to kick and punch him and Kuro tries to stop them but Eiji punches him to the ground, "We'll kill you for what your father did to our village!" They're then pushed of Xentall and a tall, thin ninja picks Xentall up.

"What are you four doing out of The Academy? Get back to school now!"

"Yes Shikamaru Sensei! Eiji says as they all bow then run away. Shikamaru helps Kuro up and they start to walk back towards the hospital, Xentall still in his arms knocked out.

"You two shouldn't have left the hospital. You're both still injured." Kuro remains silent and Xentall starts to groan, "Finally awake I see." Xentall looks up at the man and flails his arms and legs.

"Let go of me!" Shikamaru drops him and Xentall stands up straight, "I don't need your help!"

"Whatever." He sighs, as he continues to lead them back to the Hospital, "Your mother is very worried about you two." They both remain silent and then they hear their full names.

"Xentall and Kuro Yutaka, you are in so much trouble!" They lift their heads up slowly to see their mother running towards them. She then knees down and hugs them both, "You two had me so worried!" She grabs both of their ears and pulls slightly. They both scream in pain and clutch her arms, "What in the world were you thinking, going out into the Village all alone?"

"We wanted to see what it looked like before we left!" Xentall says as he takes a deep breath.

"We didn't mean to make you worried! We're sorry!" Kuro says, trying to pull away. Konan lets go and hugs them again.

"We're leaving. We're staying here and you two are going into The Academy." Xentall exchange looks of fear but also contempt. They weren't going to have to live outside in the woods anymore. No more hunting for food, no more fear of rouge ninjas jumping on them, "Come on, Lord Hokage gave us a home nearby the library. Maybe you can finally return those scrolls you stole awhile back." Xentall frowns. He doesn't want to return those scrolls. He hasn't even finished reading on how to perfect his Kenjutsu; the art of the sword. They start to walk down the road, their head still down. The image of that kid Eiji Momoiji burning into his memory. He grits his teeth at the thought of him and his friends beating him down. Xentall clutches his fists in pure rage.

"I'm going to go to The Academy and beat that punk!" Konan looks down at him with a frown.

"Already made some friends?" Kuro sighs and Konan looks over to him, "Something you have to say?"

"Some kids pushed me down and Xentall saw fit to defend me. They jumped him and then that ninja saved him, Shikamaru Sensei." Konan raises her eyebrows. She looks back over to Xentall who is still clutching his fists.

"Home many were there?" She asks Xentall in a teasing tone.

"Four." Xentall clutches his fists tighter and looks away, "If only I had healed faster I would have killed them." Konan's heart races and she gives Xentall a concerned look.

"You don't mean that do you? They were just kids after all."

"No, I would've killed them. After what happened in the forest I will kill anyone who hurts my family. I'll kill anyone who taunts my name. I'll kill anyone who mocks my father." Konan looks down at her son. She's seeing him turn into a person who cares for nothing but blood right before her eyes.

"Anything else happen when you ran off?" Xentall shakes his head and she then stops in front of a small complex. It's a U shaped building with three levels of rooms, "This is where we'll be living. They walk up to the third floor and Kona opens a room named, C3. She places all their belonging on the table and she then turns on the light, "It's smaller than our tree but it has three rooms with beds, a working bathroom and kitchen. We'll make a good home here." Xentall grabs his bag and walks into the room to the left. He slides the door shut and she sighs.

"He'll be better tomorrow. Xentall is just frustrated he got beat by them." Kuro says as he grabs his stuff and walks into the room to the right and slides the door shut. Konan sighs and grabs her belongings.

"What am I going to do with you two?" She asks herself as she walks into the room further down the hall between Xentall and Kuro's room, "Tomorrow we enroll you into The Academy." She slides the door shut and just falls into her bed, exhausted.