Chapter 2: Power of the Kazekage
Konohagakure
In the Hokage Tower, Tsunade was evaluating the performance of the new Team Kakashi. Hiashi's suggestion that Hinata take Sasuke's place had made the team a bit stronger-their skills complimenting each other. She smiled and looked at the four standing in front of her.
"Well, I now make you Team Kakashi officially," Tsunade said with a grin. "The bell test wasn't just to see how far you three have grown over the years, but also to see how well you'd work with a new member."
Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura gave a nod and Tsunade lifted a paper and looked at the evaluation. Naruto's plans had enabled them to get the bells and she was extremely impressed by them.
"Naruto, I think its time for you to join the Chunin Ranks," Tsunade said with a grin and Naruto's eyes widened. "That make you catch up with everyone else."
"Wait…what?"
"Everyone who graduated with you, besides Sasuke, have become Chunin, as well as Tenten and Rock Lee. Hyuga Neji however, has become a Jonin," Tsunade said and Naruto's eyes widened. The Hokage grinned. "Though now, after seeing how far you've grown, as well as seeing leadership abilities, I think you're ready. You're now a Chunin, Naruto."
Naruto blinked and then a grin appeared on his face. "Yahoo!" he cheered and then he put his hand on his chin. "Hey, what about Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro?"
"Temari and Kankuro have became Jonin in Suna…Gaara is the Godaime Kazekage," Tsunade replied and Naruto's jaw dropped.
"WHAT?"
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Sunagakure
A young man with spiky red hair, the symbol for love carved onto his forehead, as well as black outlines around his eyes was doing paperwork behind a desk. His blue eyes analyzed the information that he was given. An aid went entered the room.
"The meeting has started…Kazekage Gaara."
"I see…" Gaara said, standing up.
Gaara followed his aid out of his office, walking down the flight of stairs towards the meeting room.
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Konohagakure, Hokage Office
Naruto's jaw was still dropped in shock that Gaara had beaten him to the Kage punch, and then he grinned. Hinata and Sakura looked at him as he looked at the ceiling, his trademark grin still showing.
"Gaara…the Kazekage, wow," Naruto said with a grin. "At least I'm catching up right now."
"Its because of Gaara, the Suna/Konoha alliance is stronger than ever," Tsunade said, folding her hands underneath her chin. "Suna's taken over Konoha style teaching methods, and they've been getting more jobs from their Daimyo."
Naruto grinned at that. "Cool."
"Well, since we're done now, you three are dismissed. In a day or two, I'll start getting missions for the new Team Kakashi," Tsunade said with a smile and Naruto grinned, giving a thumbs up.
"See ya later then, Oba-chan!" Naruto said with a grin. "Oh yeah, I got to clean my apartment. The landlady probably didn't keep it up while I was away…going to take a lot of work…"
"I-I can help, N-Naruto-kun," Hinata offered and Naruto grinned.
"Thanks Hinata-chan! You're really nice!" Naruto said with a grin and Hinata blushed.
Sakura grinned. "Well since you're off to his apartment, I guess I can tag along. Its almost my shift at the hospital."
"Shift?" Naruto asked and Sakura grinned.
"I'm a Medical Ninja now, Naruto, so I have to work shifts at the hospital in between missions to keep my skills up," Sakura said with a grin.
The three walked out of the room as Tsunade smiled. The three of them really have grown…
She looked to see Jiraiya entering the room. "Kakashi-I have to speak to you."
Kakashi nodded, closing his book. "Lead the way, Jiraiya-sama."
Meanwhile, Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura were walking down the street towards Naruto's apartment and Konoha Medical. The three were talking-Naruto was telling them about his adventures over the past three years, including having to deal with his sensei's perverted tendencies.
"So we were just relaxing in the hot spring after my 14th birthday and Ero-sennin started to peek at the women's side of the hot spring and nearly got us kicked out because of it…" Naruto said with a sigh. "Only his sweet talking and a bribe kept us in…god I've never been so embarrassed…"
Sakura gave a giggle. "That's kind of what it's like to have parents Naruto-they always embarrass you."
Naruto laughed. "I see…good thing Iruka-sensei never embarrassed me…"
Hinata giggled as the three continued to walk. Sakura looked up and saw two people in the crowd. "Shikamaru, Temari-san, hey! Look whose back!"
Shikamaru and Temari looked back and Sakura grinned. "Look whose back!" she said, pointing at Naruto.
"Naruto, is that you?" Shikamaru asked and he grinned and nodded. "Whoa, I guess you're not the runt of our group anymore."
"RUNT?" Naruto snapped and Shikamaru grinned.
"You were the shortest of the nine of us, Naruto," Shikamaru told him with a grin.
Naruto grumbled at that and then he looked at the two. Time for some payback, Shikamaru… he thought with a grin. "So why are you two walking together, on a date?"
Shikamaru and Temari blushed and looked away. "Yeah, right, me going out with a lazy crybaby like him? As if," Temari said and Naruto grinned.
"We're actually getting ready to supervise the Chunin Exams," Shikamaru said and he grinned. "Going to sign up Naruto…?"
"Nope, oba-chan made me a Chunin after we passed the Bell Test."
Shikamaru blinked. "Wow, congrats. Must have been pretty impressive…"
"I'd be happy to tell ya man," Naruto said with a grin.
Shikamaru smirked and looked at Temari. "It'll have to be another time; we have to get to the Academy with the other Examiners."
Naruto nodded with a grin. "Got it, Shikamaru, have fun, and make a good new batch of Chunin this year."
"Got it…" Shikamaru said as he looked back. "Looks like the Kumogakure and Kirigakure examiners and applicants are coming…"
Naruto blinked. "Wait…Kiri and Kumo? I thought they weren't part of the Alliance."
"Tsunade-sama has reached out to both; the new Mizukage was against the Alliance at first until she agreed to a match. She beat her and she joined us. Kumo was a bit harder, given the…history between our two villages, but this Kirabi guy urged the Raikage for a 'let bygones be bygones' policy," Shikamaru said and he rubbed the back of his head. "So now we're allied with Kumo and Kiri, as well as Suna, Taki, and Kusa. Ame left the alliance to deal with its internal problems."
The Kumo Ninja were lead by a beautiful blond haired woman who was wearing her hair in a long ponytail. Her flak jacket had a white flower pattern on it and she was carrying herself with a near catlike grace, and her eyes…they were like a cat's as well. She looked over to Shikamaru and Temari.
"You're Nara Shikamaru and Subaku no Temari, correct?" she asked and they nodded, while Hinata…hid behind Naruto and Sakura.
"Yeah, we are," Shikamaru said and she handed them their papers.
"I am Nii Yugito, and I'm the Jonin Sensei of these three," the woman said as Shikamaru examined the papers and looked at the three genin behind her, two girls and a boy on her team.
"Well everything looks in order, welcome to Konoha, Yugito-san," Shikamaru said, offering his hand and she shook it. "I hope you enjoy your stay for the Chunin Exams."
"Us too, and we'll be careful not to cause any trouble," Yugito said, shaking his hand and she gave a polite nod to Naruto, Temari, Hinata, and Sakura.
With that, the four Kumo ninja walked off and Naruto glanced back at Hinata. "Hinata-chan, you okay?"
"Uh…uh…y-yes…Naruto-kun…"
"Well we still have time; you still want to help me clean up my apartment?"
"S-Sure Naruto-kun, lead the way."
Sakura grinned. "Well I'll leave you two, I have to head to the hospital."
Sakura began walking off in the direction of the hospital, leaving Naruto and Hinata alone. Naruto looked up and saw his apartment in the distance. He grinned and Hinata blushed.
I get to see inside his apartment… Hinata thought with a blush as Naruto grabbed her hand cheerfully and dragged her away.
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Sunagakure
Gaara sat with his Council of Elders for an emergency meeting. His chief advisor and captain of the ANBU, Yura, stood up to begin the meeting. All eyes were trained on the young man with black hair, a tuff of it covering his eye.
"The day Jiraiya-sama warned us about has come," Yura started. "Our scouts have reported Akatsuki sightings on the borders, they have begun to move."
A hushed silence fell around the council room. They knew that their Kazekage would be a target for Akatsuki, being the Jinchuuriki of the Shukaku, the one tailed demon tanuki.
"In preparation, I have all the entrances of the village heavily guarded. North, South, East, and West have 150 Jonin and 250 Chunin each guarding them, as well as the most dangerous and fatal traps we have devised lining the entrances, and in the unlikely even of an air attack, search lights and ballista artillery are installed upon our highest buildings," Yura continued. "I will personally lead the defense of the Eastern Gate."
The council members nodded but Gaara was still uneasy. He would be on further guard for the remainder of the year, lest Akatsuki caught him off guard and tried to extract his demon. He closed his eyes and folded his hands as the meeting continued. About an hour after it started, he dismissed the meeting and the councilors stood up. They all walked out of the room.
"You did really great back there, Yura," one of the older Councilors told the young ANBU captain.
"Thank you, it is an honor to serve Kazekage-sama…" Yura started before the he grasped in head in pain. In his brain, a seal shattered and he groaned.
"Yura-san! Are you alright?"
"Yes…fine…" Yura said, his eyes covered by his hair to show the…change in them. "Just a little tired, that's all."
"You should take better care of yourself…"
"I know, but there is work to be done," he said and he bowed at his fellow Councilor. "I have to get to the wall…the defenses have to be ready."
"Understood. See you at the next meeting, Yura-san."
Yura nodded, and he left. His movements seemed to be…guided. Like they weren't completely under his control. If one had the Byakugan or a Sharingan, they could see, however…the chakra wires that were guiding his movements. He was basically a puppet now…serving his master against his will.
From outside Suna, two travelers in black cloaks with red clouds on them were making their way to the village. The shorter one had stopped earlier and made a seal, and then kept his hand out to guide his puppet.
"You sure you have enough for taking enough clay for the battle against the Jinchuuriki?" the shorter one said in a gravelly voice. "He's very strong, after all."
"Yeah, yeah, worry about yourself, Sasori. My art will prove how much a blast it is when I blast through the Jinchuuriki's sand barriers," the taller, blond haired man said confidently, opening his hand…revealing a mouth with a slithering tongue, and he reached into his pocket. "Just make sure your puppet destroys the resistance to the opening of your home town."
"Already having it done, Deidara."
On the wall, Yura stood with the Jonin and Chunin defenders around the wall. His face was nearly blank as he watched the two Akatsuki approach. The sun had started to set and he looked at his men.
"Here they come, Yura-sama!"
"I know, it'll be over soon…" Yura said, lashing out and he slashed through the Jounin's neck. I can't stop myself… his hands twitched and he launched himself at his own men, killing several of them.
When night had fallen, the two Akatsuki members had arrived. Yura was covered in blood from head to toe, and he was panting in exhaustion. Sasori looked up at him.
"All defenses at this part of Suna been neutralized?"
"Yes…Sasori-sama," Yura said with a distinct amount of distaste in his voice.
"Good. You're clear, Deidara."
Deidara grinned and opened a pouch on his waist where he contained his weapon-clay. He then reached in, the mouth on his hand opening and he pulled up and molded it into a bird. He then tossed the clay bird onto the ground and made a seal, and in a puff of smoke the clay bird enlarged and Deidara hopped onto its back. The bird spread its wings and took off into the sky.
At that moment, Gaara was busy doing paperwork in his office and around his office stood four Suna ANBU who were ordered to guard him. He gazed out the window, looking up at the sky at the full moon. His eyes narrowed, seeing a strange looking bird flying there.
Something's off… Gaara thought as he got up.
Deidara was grinning on top of his clay bird, and he created several bombs out of the first level of his power-C1. He made four spiders out of clay and strategically dropped them around them and crawled to the ANBU. They hopped on their faces, covering their mouths and preventing them from speaking. Deidara made a seal and uttered 'Katsu' which made the spiders explode, killing the ANBU before they could react.
Deidara grinned, swooping down and landing on the balcony around Gaara's office. "This is just too easy…"
Suddenly a burst of sand slammed into him, sending him flying back to his bird and the Kazekage stood confidently before him, the sand swirling all around his body. Deidara grinned and wiped his cheek, standing up.
"They were right, you are good. What gave me away?"
"Your bird…if you wanted to be inconspicuous you should have created one that would be native to this desert," Gaara replied, crossing his arms.
Deidara grinned. "I see…yeah…" He leapt onto his clay bird and it flapped its wings, getting into the air.
A little island of sand shot out in front of Gaara, and he leapt onto it, following the Akatsuki Bomber into the sky. He shot out blasts of sand at Deidara, who looped and barrel rolled out of the way, his clay bird flapping its wings quickly to avoid the sand tentacles and blasts.
Gaara breathed out through his nose calmly, and lifted his hands up. All over Suna, the sand began rising up to his command, and even around it. The entire desert responded to his command, becoming his main weapon. Deidara looked at the virtual mountain of sand that the Kazekage had summoned, and a tiny bead of sweat trickled down his cheek.
This may be more difficult than I first thought… Deidara thought as he waited. I should have brought some more clay…yeah…curse you hindsight…
From the ground and buildings, Suna Shinobi gathered to see what was happening. They could see Gaara floating in the sky across from someone floating in the sky on a large bird.
"Whose that?!"
"Kazekage-sama is fighting someone!"
"That cloak…Akatsuki!"
"Get the defenses up!"
Baki turned to Kankuro, Gaara's older brother. "Kankuro…there is a good chance that Gaara might lose control and attack the village…"
Kankuro looked up and he remembered when Gaara had joined the ordinary Ninja Corps and told him his dream of becoming Kazekage like Naruto's of becoming Hokage. "We don't have to worry about that…no way Gaara'll attack the village."
Several artillery pieces were brought onto the rooftops. They were ballistae and catapults were aimed at the sky, their deadly missiles made even deadlier with the addition of explosive tags. They would only attack if Gaara needed it, however.
Gaara himself had finished formulating his strategy. He was going to take a page out of Naruto's book, since like his fellow Jinchuuriki, he had absolutely massive chakra reserves. It would also be his plan if the Akatsuki he was facing was stronger than he anticipated.
Deidara reached into his pack and created several more bombs, and then tossed them out towards Gaara. He uttered 'Katsu' again and the bombs formed into clay birds that had four wings like dragonflies, making them extremely fast. The new bombs streaked towards Gaara and his sand rose to block the attack. The tiny bombs exploded harmlessly on the Kazekage's sand.
The sand then formed into a giant tentacle, and zipped at Deidara who performed a mid air spin to avoid it and it. Gaara lifted his hand and the giant floating island of sand he had created, a larger tentacle shot out and formed into an arm of Shukaku. Deidara tossed several bombs that were formed into birds at the arm and they exploded, causing no damage.
This…could be trouble… Deidara thought as he climbed into the air to avoid the arm.
A second one burst out of the sand, and the giant clawed hand nearly closed on the Akatsuki bomber, who launched several dozen tiny bombs which destroyed it. The Kazekage took a deep breath through his nose, moved his hands up and down and opened his mouth. From the sand Shukaku's head formed, and it opened its mouth as Gaara held his breath.
"Fuuton: Renkudan (Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet)!" Gaara called out, exhaling and Shukaku shot a massive blast that could level a mountain right at Deidara.
"Crap!" Deidara yelled, jumping off his bird which was caught in the Renkudan blast. The bird was thrown high into the air before it was ripped to shreds and exploded. The Akatsuki Bomber reached into his pocket for some new clay as he fell, and he tossed out a new bird.
The bird grew and he landed on its back as Gaara's sand latched onto his right arm. "Subaku Sozu," Gaara said calmly, and he squeezed his hand into a tight fist and Deidara winced, his arm getting crushed.
Need to change my plan… Deidara thought as his bird flew in the opposite direction, and his crushed arm was yanked off. Tsk…I'll have to get Kakuzu to give me a new arm…yeah…
Gaara was looking up at Deidara as he flew further into the sky and reached into his pocket. What's he planning…?
The Akatsuki bomber reached into his pack, and his hand began chewing a special bomb for this. He then lifted his hand up, showing a small, strange looking clay statue, it had a mouth open, and it looked like its arms were folded.
"Meet my specialty…my masterpiece…C3," Deidara announced and he grinned, flicking his hand and the bomb dropped off his bird. He created a seal, and the bomb grew to the size of a bear and its arms opened. "There is enough chakra in this one to destroy your pathetic village, yeah!"
The bomb was moving so fast Gaara barely had anytime to react. He moved his hands and the sand he created moved over the village and Deidara closed his eyes.
"Art…is a blast! KATSU!" Deidara roared and the C3 bomb detonated, releasing a massive fireball that seemed to engulf the entire village. "Hehehe…costs a lot of chakra, but it's worth it, yeah."
However, when the smoke cleared, there was a massive shield of sand covering the entire village that had taken the attack. Gaara was breathing in and out, a little winded after blocking the technique.
"Now that's really impressive, I thought no one would be able to block or shield themselves from that technique," Deidara said and he looked to Gaara was encasing himself in the Suna no Tama (Sphere of Sand).
Deidara then launched three clay birds at Gaara, one was special. It was designed to exploded, but launch several 'termites'. He grinned, knowing that this would finally do the Kazekage Jinchuuriki in. Gaara looked out through the hole he created in the Suna no Tama to watch as the three clay birds streaked towards him.
The sand rose to defend, and the first two birds exploded when they hit it. The third though detonated on its own…and several tiny clay termites began to bury into the Suna no Tama. Gaara closed, ready to begin the final phase of the battle just as the termites finally finished digging through.
Deidara created a seal. "Alright….now…art…is a blast! KATSU!"
Gaara's eyes widened and he saw a bright flash inside his protective shield. The Suna no Tama exploded and the group of Suna Ninja looked up in shock and horror.
"Gaara-sama!"
The sand began falling around Gaara, whose eyes weakly opened. Damn it…I've got to…get the sand away before it…falls on the village…
He lifted his hand, moving it to the side and the massive floating sand island drifted away until it was back over the desert. Gaara's eyes then closed, and he blacked out and began falling. Deidara swooped, falling at the same rate as the Kazekage and the tail feathers of the bird wrapped around Gaara, securing him tightly.
"Capture…success…" Deidara grinned and the angry Suna Ninja began firing their ballistae in an attempt to shoot the Akatsuki Bomber down.
He did barrel roles and effortlessly flew back to Sasori, who was waiting at the edge of the village with Yura. Sasori looked up to see Deidara's bird hovering over him. The bomber had a confident smirk.
"Capture successful, Sasori-sempai," Deidara said.
"It seems to have cost you an arm though," Sasori commented through his gravelly voice. "Underestimated him, despite my warning?"
"You're good, Sasori-sempai," Deidara said, putting his hand onto his stump. "I'm going to have to get Kakuzu to sew me on a new one."
"Installing a mouth on that one too for your stupid art?" Sasori asked as they began to walk through the Suna gates.
"Of course. And the only art that lasts forever is stupid," Deidara commented as they went out of the village.
Sasori gave a grunt but said nothing. Both of them didn't know, however, that even while unconscious, Gaara was leaving a trail for people to find, with his armor of sand falling off and breaking into a distinctly colored sand for someone to follow.
It was at that moment Kankuro was racing towards the gate where the two Akatsuki were taking their exit. He was bearing his teeth angrily. He wouldn't dare let Gaara be captured by these bastards-he'd die first before then.
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Konohagakure, Naruto's Apartment
It had taken all day, but through the efforts of Naruto and Hinata, the apartment was cleaned up and nearly spotless. The old, rotten food left in the fridge had been thrown out and the two had gone grocery shopping together and stocked the fridge with fresh food for the coming weeks. Naruto was currently over the stove, cooking some ramen for both himself and Hinata.
"So Hinata-chan, you became a Chunin over the time I was gone?" Naruto asked as he came out, carrying two big bowls of ramen for himself and Hinata.
"Y-Yes…over a year ago…" Hinata said as the Jinchuuriki handed her a bowl. "The Exams…they took place in Kirigakure that time…the second exam took place in their version of the Forest of Death…the Lake of Sorrow…it was a frozen lake with many paths tunneled into it…the objective was to find Jonins inside with the scroll we needed to complete the test. We-Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, and I tracked down one of the Jonin, Kiba-kun and Akamaru acted as a distraction while Shino-kun and I went to take the scroll. Shino-kun's bugs swarmed him and I rushed up, and slammed my palms into the Jonin's back, making him collapse-"
"So you knocked him out!? That sounds awesome Hinata-chan!"
Hinata blushed deeply at the compliment. "…a-and we took the scroll. The objective then was to get to the center of the lake before we could be…ambushed by the other teams. Kiba-kun kept warning us whenever a team got close so we could conceal ourselves…and when they passed, we would come out of hiding and head towards the center of the lake. We reached it 10 before time would run out. Out of the…22 teams that made it to the second test, only four made it."
"Wow…what happened next?"
"S-Since there was enough teams for the finals, the last part of the Exam would be held a month from then. My opponent was a boy by the name of Chojuro-san…he was like me, but was stronger than I was and more confident. He was also an apprentice to a Seven Swordsman Ninja," Hinata said, remembering their fight. "Chojuro-san used his sword against me, the Hirameki. He could turn it into a giant hammer made of chakra…and he was incredibly powerful. H-He had one weakness, his speed. I was a bit faster than he was…and I had to outsmart him in the arena. I disabled his arms…only after I had been sent crashing into a wall. T-Then I took a page out of your…playbook. I created a K-Kage Bushin of myself…and as he destroyed it…I came charging up…slamming my palm into his chest before performing…the Hakke Sanjuni Sho…beating him by sealing the muscles in his chest and knocking him out."
"Wow…" Naruto said with a grin. "You sound like you did great, Hinata-chan!"
"I…was beaten in the next round by a Suna Ninja…but I'd managed to impress the judges and Kages enough to earn the Chunin Rank."
"You sound like you really earned it," Naruto said with a grin and he lifted up his bowl. "We'd better eat this before it gets cold…"
"R-Right, N-Naruto-kun…" Hinata said, lifting up her own bowl.
To Be Continued…
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Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait, its been a hectic few months. I hope you like this chapter, I worked really hard on it. And don't worry, the new chapter of Inferno will be done in November.