Its been awhile since I have last updated sorry about that but I should start updating alot quicker now that I have everything taking care of at school. Enjoy what you read and leave any comments or reviews you have at the end.
Enjoy.
Chapter 3. A Test.
Naruto followed the Sandaime towards the council room. The others had left to go do their jobs while Jiraiya had taken Isarabi to go get some sushi to settle their little agreement.
"Treacherous bastards" Naruto thought bitterly. Why did he have to go to the damn council room while everyone else gets to go do their own things.
"Naruto-kun no matter what they say, don't listen to them. They have no authority over you and if my plan works then they never will have authority over you." The Sandaime said as he took a few puffs of his newly packed pipe.
"Plan? What plan?" The blond asked.
The Sandaime looked back and gave him a knowing smile that held a little mischief. "All you need to know is that the council isn't as smart as they believe."
A small tick mark appeared on his head. "I see that you still love cryptic answers." Naruto noted absentmindedly as he thought of all the times the Old-man had gave him a cryptic answer to all of his questions he had when he was a child. Who are my parents? Why does the village hate me? Why am I alone? All of those were questions I wanted to know the answers to but now that I know the answers, there isn't a day that I wish that I was that naïve little boy that would do anything for a bowl of raman.
The Sandaime gave off a small chuckle as we turned another corner. "It does bring me some entertainment."
"Yeah well it annoys the hell out of everyone else." The blond mumbled.
They both walked in silence for a few minutes just taking in the peace for once. They could of Shunshined into the council room but neither of them were in a rush to get there. Just being in each others presence after so long was relaxing and it gave both a since of familiarity that they hadn't felt it years. Naruto formed some water out of the air before making it into a small monkey that sat on the Sandaime's shoulder. The Sandaime laughed lightly as he petted the monkey that reminded him of Konohamaru in some ways.
"Its amazing." Hiruzen spoke as he stroked the monkey's smooth head. "Your abilities I mean. Even if you did get them from Orochimaru, you chose to use them in a good way. A way that will one day bring peace to this world for years, maybe even forever."
Naruto shrugged slightly at the comment. "At one time it was my dream to become Hokage and get the respect of Konoha but now I'm no longer sure what I want to do. I mean my abilities give me the opportunity to become extremely strong and powerful but it doesn't compare to the idea of just having someone to return to when I get back from a mission. Someone to love. Someone to love me." The monkey on Hiruzen's shoulder evaporated into the air once more as Naruto lost focus on his creation.
Hiruzen gave a weak nod. "You're life has been hell. No one could deny that but in that hell you have become a better person, a stronger person. You will be able to make the decisions that no one else will. And hopefully, one day you will find someone to love you, and someone you can love." They were now standing outside of the council room doors. Both looking at each other with nothing but compassion. Hiruzne lightly placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder causing the boy to flinch slightly but his water didn't react. Hiruzen couldn't help but to smile lightly at the boy.
"Its time for the meeting." The Sandaime said opening the door for the blonde. Naruto nodded as he schooled his features into an emotionless mask. The room they walked into was large with little light. A big wooden 'U' shaped table took up most the room with all of the clan heads already at their seats. The symbol of their clan hung behind their heads. The Sandaime moved to the only open chair that sat at the head of the table. The kanji for Hokage on a red flag sat behind him.
Naruto moved to the middle of the room where a large spot light had been placed to emphasis who they were talking to. An ANBU appeared from the shadows with kanji covered hand cuffs. Naruto hesitated as he looked at the Hokage for approval. After a short nod Naruto held his arms out allowing the ANBU to put the cuffs on his wrists, rather tightly if you asked him. The water bender instantly felt the slight chakra drain as the cuffs tried, and failed, to suppress his chakra.
"They must think that I need chakra to control my water." Naruto thought as he looked around at the now relieved faces of the councilors.
"Its not like those puny little cuffs could withstand your strength any way." The Kyubi's voice called from the back of his head.
Naruto chuckled lightly causing the councilors to stare at him with concern. "If I really need to I will just fuse some of your chakra into the seals. It will most likely overpower them and allow me to use my chakra again if I need it."
"State your name and rank." An Old council member that sat and Hiruzen's side ordered.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. My rank is Civilian, even though I could kill all of you." He mumbled the last part under his breath even though Tsume Inuzuka and the Sandaime heard and chuckled lightly.
"Do you know why we have called you here today?" The old women on Hiruzen's other side asked.
"I was not informed." Naruto answered.
"We have called you here to ask you a few questions about your training trip." The Hyuga clan head said as he made his presence known.
"I will answer when I can. But I will withhold any information that I see fit."
"You will answer ever question with the utmost honesty." The Old women yelled as she banged her hand against the table.
Naruto glared at the old women before he answered. "I am a civilian so you can't order me to give you any information that I don't want to give. I don't even need to be here right now so be thankful that I feel generous today." Naruto answered with a small smirk causing most of the council to glare at him and the others to silently laugh.
"Well now that we have that over with I will allow you all to ask whatever questions you want." The Sandaime said as he tried to get the ball rolling. He had better things to do today like paperwork/ Icha Icha."But as he just said. He doesn't have to answer any questions that he doesn't want to, so don't try to make any demands."
The council nodded to each other in agreement although most of them weren't happy about them not getting what they wanted. But they still had their back up plan so they would submit for now.
"I would like to know about your abilities?" Shikaku Nara asked without even lifting his head from the table. "I need to know where I could use you if we end up in war. Front line, Infiltration, Village defense, etc. etc." Shikaku finished with a small wave of his hand.
"Full control of water with a high affinity for Earth jutsu which is why I have the nickname Poesiden in the Land of Water. I'm good with Kenjutsu, Sealing, and I have high regeneration rates." Naruto summarized with out letting to much of his abilities out. Shikaku seemed to accept this answer as his shoulders slumped and he seemed to have fallen back to sleep.
"What happened during your time in the Land of Water?" Hiashi Hyuga asked with a voice that screamed arrogance.
"I trained with the Toad for awhile before I left and began to train by myself." Naruto answered as he thought about all of his adventures in the wet land. "I found Catfish-chan a few months later and decided to adopt her. After that we trained together for awhile before we came back here." Naruto finished obviously leaving out a shit load of details.
"Is that all?" Hiashi asked skeptically.
"It's all your going to get." Naruto answered with an innocent smirk causing a tick to appear on the Hyuga head.
Choza Akimichi cleared his throat quickly before Hiashi attempted to kill the boy. "Who is this Catfish and Toad you speak of?" He asked the question that was on the minds of a few other members.
"The Toad is my student Jiraiya-kun and Catfish is Naruto-kun's adopted little sister Isarabi Uzumaki. She will be graduating with this years academies students." The Sandaime answered before Naruto could. "And he uses nicknames for everyone he likes or respects. For example he calls me Monkey and Kakashi No-eye." At this most of the Council sweatdropped.
"In the reports we received it said that you had many scars running along your body. But as far as I can see you do not have a single scar on your visible skin." Inoichi Yamanaka commented as he looked at the boys exposed arms.
"Your reports are correct. But I had gotten sick of being asked about how I got the scars so I created a Genjutsu similar to Tsunada's that covers my scars and can't be released unless the flow of chakra is stopped. And that is unlikely to happen because I use Kyubi's chakra to substian it." Naruto couldn't help but smirk at the collective gasp of the council.
"You can control the Kyubi's chakra?" Shikaku asked as his head shot up again. This was the kind of information he was looking for. If the boy could actively use the Kyubi's chakra then Shikaku could use him in front line battles and never have to worry about him getting tired or dieing of chakra exhaustion.
"Well to a certain extent yes." Naruto said as he stroked his chin. "I can only control so much but I can also call on it when ever I feel like it." The blond mentally counted to three before someone yelled.
"He has full control of the Kyubi, we need to kill him now before he uses the Kyubi's power to kill us all." The old man at the Sandaime's side said while glaring daggers at the boy.
"Do you really think it is a good idea to try to kill me when I have full control of the demon?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow. "I could let the Kyubi out when ever I want to but you damn fools still try to threaten to kill me." At this thought most of the council paled considerable.
"Very funny Naruto-kun." The Sandaime said quickly before one of the council members did something they would regret. "New question." He said changing the very hostile subject.
"I was wondering about the canisters on your back?" Tsume asked as she stared at the three water bota's that were strapped to the teens back. She had gotten a glimpse of the Kanji on each of them but she couldn't think of what they could mean. Unless the boy had a sword and shield sealed in two of them and then some magical curse in the other.
"These," Naruto said pointing to his back and pausing to build anticipation. "are secret." He said causing the council members and the Hokage to sweatdrop again.
"We demand that you tell use what they contain." The old women at the Hokage's side yelled.
"And I demand that you go to hell." Naruto said without missing a beat. "What these bota's contain are a clan secret. So unless the rest of the clans here are willing to show me the secrets of all of your clan jutsu, which they wont do, so I wont show you either."
"Can you at least give us a brief summary Naruto-kun?" The Sandaime asked. "I am quite curious about what they contain myself."
Naruto's head dropped in defeat, there was no way that he could deny the Sandaime's will. "Basically 'Sword' will kill you, 'Shield' will protect you, and 'Curse' will make you wish that you were in hell." Naruto summarized as best he could without revealing the secrets to his technigue.
"Thank you Naruto-kun." The Sandaime said with a small smile.
"Go to hell Monkey." Naruto said back with his bottom lip placed in a pout. Most of the council members turned to the Hokage to see what he would do to the boy for being so disrespectful but they only found him smiling like an old grandfather to the boy. "Is that all of the questions because I have to get back to Toad and Catfish?"
"There is one more thing we need to discus with you Naruto-san." Hiashi Hyuga said.
"And what would that be?" Naruto asked suspiciously. He didn't like the way that some of the council was smiling.
"We need to give you a rank." Hiashi said allowing a small smirk to form on his face.
Naruto raised one eyebrow before answering like it was obvious. "Jonin."
The old man at the Sandaime's side chuckled darkly as he sat up in his seat. "You might think you are that strong but we will need you to take a test to prove it." The old man said with a devious smirk. It was then that Naruto figured that this was the councils 'plan' as the Sandaime called it.
"And what test would you have me take?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We were thinking a tournament." Hiashi said. "Similiar to that of the Chunin exams. You will fight one of each rank starting with a Genin then, if you win of course, you will go on to Chunin then Jonin. If you get through all three of them then you will become a Jonin."
Naruto let out a small 'Hhmm' before asking. "When would this test take place?"
"We wouldn't want you to wait so we will start it in two hours." Hiashi said.
"And who would I fight?"
"Genin Neji Hyuga, Chunin Mizuki, And Jonin Mikaro Dizaki." The old man next to the Sandaime answered.
"Two Kyubi haters and a boy that Hashi controls." The Sandaime thought as he smiled to himself. He already knew that the council was planning to have Neji and Mizuki tire the boy out and then have Mikaro kill him, but Hiruzen had other plans for who the Jonin would be. Even though it really didn't matter for Naruto would beat everyone the council sent against him. The Sandaime still wanted to know just how good the boy was, so he was going to have to change the Jonin to some one he knew would test the boy.
"That is a good group of Shinobi but I believe that I have someone better to fill the Jonin's spot." The Sandaime said catching everyone's attention. "I'm going to switch Mikaro Dizaki with Kakashi Hatake."
Naruto couldn't help but stare at the old man with a 'What the fuck' expression. Why would he make him fight one of the only people he actually liked in this village. "Lets see what you have planned Old Monkey." Naruto thought to himself.
"Hokage-sama I extremely hope that you will reconsider." The old women next to him said with a pleading look. "We choose those three Shinobi because we felt that they would be the best suited to test the boy's abilities."
The Sandaime couldn't help but smile as he answered. "Test the boy or kill him?" He asked causing a few of the councilmen to pale at being caught by the Hokage. "I do agree with them about the test so we will all meet at the arena for the test in two hours. Send a message to all of our free shinobi to come and watch if they please. But civilians will not be allowed to watch."
Naruto nodded in agreement with the plan. At least this way he would get a good warm up before his Shinobi career started and he has always wanted to fight No-eye. "Will that be all Monkey-sama?" Naruto asked with some respect.
"Yes that will be all." The Sandaime said as he motioned for the ANBU to unlock the boy.
"No need." The boy said as he snapped his wrist apart causing the cuffs to fall abart into many different pieces. Naruto gave a small 'Hhmmph' as he looked at the metal pieces. "Kiri's cuffs are a lot stronger." He said as he turned and walked out of the room leaving the stunned councilors staring at the metal pieces.
"Damn." Tsume said pretty much summing up the thoughts of the other councilors. It was no secret that those cuffs could even hold Tsunade of the Sannin and she was supposed to be one of the strongest Shinobi in the world.
XxXxXxXxX
(Sushi Stand. One hour later.)
"Are you done yet brat?" Jiraiya asked as he looked at his almost empty wallet with anime tears running down his face.
"Not even close Grandpa." Isarabi said with a large smile as she ordered another plate of sushi. Both turned as a blonde boy sat down at the table next to Isarabi. He instantly reached for one of Isarabi's sushi but before he touched it she smacked his hand away with a hiss. "Go away Nii-chan." Isarabie yelled as she covered her food with her arms.
"Hehe calm down Catfish-chan I was only kidding." Naruto said as he took a bite out of the sushi he had stolen when she smacked his hand.
"H-how did you get that?" Isarabi asked with a stunned expression.
Naruto smiled as he moved his finger in a circle causing the water from Isarabi's drink to expand from the cup and pick up one of her sushi before moving it to Naruto's now empty palm. He smiled as he popped it into his mouth and chewed happily. "Thats how." He stated happily.
"That's not fare." Isarabi whined causing Naruto and Jiraiya to laugh at her expense. "Don't laugh at me." She yelled before turning away from them and crossing her arms with a 'hump'
"Shouldn't you be at the academy Isaribi-san." A white haired man with one eye covered by his Hitai-ate said as he sat down in the remaining seat at the table.
"Kakashi-kun what are you doing here?" Jiriaya asked as he took a sip of sake.
"I came to talk to Naruto-kun about the test." Kakashi said as he snatched a shushi from Isarabi who started to yell about mean old men and stupid older brothers.
"What test?" Jiraiya asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"The council is making me take a test to see what rank I should be. I fight a Hyuga Genin, some random Chunin, and No-eye here." Naruto said gesturing to the one eyed man that sweat dropped at his name.
"You do know that I have an eye under the Hitai-ate, right?" Kakashi asked as he pointed to his covered eye.
"Whatever you say No-eye." Naruto said completely ignoring the Jonin.
Jiraiya not wanting to listen to the two argue quickly changed the subject. "Do you know who the Chunin is Kakashi-kun?" He asked.
"His name is Mizuki he is a Chunin Academy instructor along with Iruka Umino." Kakashi paused when he thought he saw Iarabi's drink shake violently but as quick as it came it was gone. "He is an average Chunin who will probable never reach Jonin rank but one thing I do know is that he is a major Kyubi hater." Kakashi finished.
Jiraiya let out a small sigh as he caught on to the councils plan. "Have you figured it out yet?" He asked Naruto who was starring at the cup of water in front of him.
Jiraiya opened his mouth to ask again when the blond didn't answer but Naruto beat him to it. "They are hoping that the Hyuga will tire me out enough so the Chunin can kill me. They had mostly likely planned for the Jonin to finish me off if Mizuki failed to. That's why Monkey-jiji made No-eye the Jonin I have to fight." Naruto answered without looking away from the water.
"Will you be able to beat Mizuki?" Kakashi asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"You shouldn't worry about me No-eye." Naruto said as he finally made eye contact with the man. "Your the one that is going to need to prepare." He finished with a look of complete seriouness that sent a small chill down Kakashi's spine.
"I think I'll be fine." Kakashi said as he shook of the chill and pulled his little orange book out and began reading.
"Kakashi." Jiraiya called catching the man's attention. "If you don't take him seriously, you will get your ass handed to you?" Kakashi nodded as he turned back to his book and acted like he was reading when he was really focused on the blond in front of him.
"For Jiraiya to be so serious about the boy shows that I shouldn't underestimate him." Kakashi thought to himself. "I think its time that I break out the ANBU gear once again." Kakashi thought as he stood from the table giving a short goodbye he disappeared in a swirl of leaves. It was time that he got serious.
"What are you going to do about the test?" Jiraiya asked after a moment of silence.
Naruto briefly looked at Isarabi before he answered. "Beat them all so I can get to the highest rank possible. Which means I will need your help after I get done with No-eye." Naruto said turning his attention to the Perverted Sage.
"So that's what you've been planning?" Jiraiya asked as he caught on to the water benders plan.
"Its the only way I can make sure that no one can control me. Or her." Naruto whispered at the end so only Jiriaya could hear.
"Does Hiruzen-senei know?" Jiraiya asked.
"No." Naruto answered with out pause. "If my plan works I want to make sure that he is able to deny any involvment in it to make sure the villagers don't think he is favoring me." Naruto paused for a second before adding. "Which also means that I will need you to go all out."
"Against you?" Jiraiya asked with a smile. "Always."
"The fight starts soon." Naruto commented as he stood up. "Make sure Isarabi sits next to Wood-kun or Monkey-jiji." Naruto said as he messed his sisters hair up.
"HEY!" She yelled in protest. "Don't do that to me. I'm not a child anymore." She complained as she tried to fix her hair.
"Hehe. Only trust the people that I have meet." Naruto said as he turned serious. "I know that you are strong enough to take care of yourself but there are still a couple shinobi stronger than you. Always remember that no matter how strong you get, there is always someone stronger." Isarabi nodded at her Nii-san to show she understood before he walked out of the resturant to prepare for the fights that would start soon.
"Can I have more sushi?" Isarabi asked with puppy dog eyes wich almost caused Jiraiya to say yes.
"Maybe after the fights." Jiraiya said as he threw money on the table before standing up with Isarabi following him. "Lets go find Yamato-san before the fights begin." The toad samnin said as he grabbed on to Isarabi's shoulder before they disappeared in a swirl of wind and leaves.
XxXxXxXxXxX
(Thirty minutes later. Chunin exam arena.)
The Chunin exam arena was filled with curious shinobi of all ranks. They had only been told that some kid was being tested by the council to see what rank he deserved. Many rumors were going threw the crowd about who the kid was and where he came from. Some said he was a boy that had escaped from the Land of Water after Kiri ANBU had killed his family. Others said that he was a boy that had come form a royal family in Tsukikure and that he had come here after his family had cast him away. There was also a small rumor that it was the Kyubi boy who had disappeared a few years ago but no one believed that.
Up in the Kage box the Hokage sat with Jiraiya at his side and the council around him. Their attention was currently on the two shinobi that stood in the middle of the arena. Neji Hyuga and Mizuki stood side by side with identical scowls on their faces.
"Where is Kakashi-kun and Naruto-kun?" The Sandaime asked from his chair.
"Kakashi is in the stands with some of the other Jonoin." Jiraiya answered as he pointed to where Kakashi was talking with Asuma, Kurinea, Anko, Yamato, and Isarabi. "And Naruto is up there waiting for you to start the fights." Jiraiya said pointing to a small figure that was sitting on top of the wall directly across from them.
"Hokage-sama I think it would be good to start the fights soon." Inoichi Yamanaka suggested as he looked over the Shinobi that were present for the fight. "Anyone who is coming has shown up, with the exception of a few ANBU."
"Yes I believe you are correct." The Sandaime agreed as he stood to adress his shinobi. "Shinobi of Konoha..."
XxXxXxXxXxX
(A few minutes earlier. With the Jonin.)
Kurenai and Asuma silently gossiped about the boy who was going to be tested in only a short while. Next to them Anko and Yamato talked in hushed tones with a girl with bandages over a good ninety percent of her body.
"I heard the boy is from the Land of Water." Kurenai suggested.
"I heard he's from Iwagakure." Asuma said as he lit a ciggerate.
"Your both wrong." Anko said as she stopped talking with Yamato and Isarabi.
"And how would you know?" Kurenai asked her long time friend with an eyebrow raised.
Anko gave them a wide smile that just screamed 'I know something that you don't'. "I know because he is going to be in a team consisting of Yamato-kun and myself." Anko said with a hint of superority in her voice.
"Why would he be put in a team with you two?" Asuma asked suspiciously. It was no secret that not many Konoha Nins liked to work with the two nin. Fears of the two turning on their teams before joining Orochimaru plagued the hearts of the Shinobi and Civilians. Which further increased the question about why this new boy would be put on a team with the two village pariahs.
"He is like us." Yamato answered cryptically further supporting the two nins curiosity.
Before Asuma and Kurenai could interrogate the two about what they knew, Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leafs. All four of the Jonins had to do a double take at the man before they realized exactly what he was wearing and how he was acting. He had forgone his Jonin outfit instead he wore the customary ANBU gear, without the mask. He had a tanto strapped to the small of his back with two pouches filled with Kunai, Shiruken, and other shinobi equipment. His Icha Icha was no wear in sight which Kurenai noticed almost instantly, instead of being happy that the perv had finally found the manners to not read his porn in public she found that it actually scared her. This was a completely different Kakashi, a serious Kakashi. The only thing that hadn't changed was his hitia-ate and his no fingered gloves.
"Kakashi? You look like you are getting ready to go to war." Asuma said after getting over his shock.
"Something like that." Kakashi answered as he looked up at the wall where he could barely make out the form of a teen.
"What do you mean Kakashi?" Kurenai asked catching the Copy-cats attention.
"I'm the Jonin that has to fight the boy." Answered like it was common knowledge. "Neji Hyuga is the Genin. Mizuki is the Chunin and I'm the Jonin." As he said each name the four Jonin's eyes widended.
"Who did the boy piss off?" Asuma asked as he tried to figure out the reason that his father would put some boy against the best Genin, Chunin, and Jonin of the village.
"It wasn't the boy that pissed anyone off." Yamato said as he watched Isarabi mess with a scroll she had pulled from her pouch. "It was the Kyubi and Orochimaru." He finished as realization came to the two Jonin as they turned to the arena just as the Hokage stood to address them all.
XxXxXxXxXxX
(A few minutes earlier. With Naruto.)
Naruto watched as the arena filled with the many different Shinobi of Konoha. He couldn't help but notice how each clan and rank had separated themselves from the rest of their comrades. He wasn't sure if they were doing this on purpose or if it was just how things happened here in Konoha.
"Together but separated." Naruto mumbled to himself as he looked to his little sister that was playing with one of her scrolls with Wood-kun at her side.
"Kit?" Kyubi asked as he opened their mental link so he could talk to the boy.
"What?" Naruto asked as he leaned back against the wall.
"When are you going to get a summon?" Kyubi asked randomly. "Your going to need one soon if you are still planing to take out the Snake in the next year."
Naruto mentally slapped himself as he had indeed forgotten about getting a summon. He would need all of his strength to kill the immortal snake, energy that he would have to use on killing Manda unless he could summon his own animal to take care of Manda as he killed the pedophile.
"I'll have to go to the Land of Water after this is taken care of." Naruto thought to himself. "Now that I don't have to worry about Catfish-chan, I can finally get the contract."
"We can also check on Kiri to see how the Ginger is doing as Kage." Kyubi added with a hint of hope in his voice that made Naruto grin evily.
"The Ginger?" Naruto asked like he didn't know who the fox was talking about. After a brief pause he snapped his fingers together before a look of realization spread across his face. "Oh your refering to Chi-Tenshi (Blood Angel)." Naruto thought using the nick name Kyubi had given the Kage of Kiri. He snickered to himself as Kyubi started sputtering incoherently.
Naruto canceled the link with the Kyubi as the Hokage stood up to address the gathered Shinobi.
"Shinobi of Konoha..." The Sandaime began with a demanding and strong voice. It seemed that the tournament was about to begin.
End of Chapter 3.
So the Tournament will be next obviosily. And I'm sorry about how long it has been taking for me to update. Schools a bitch same with life.
Piece out my people.
-Shadow of a Pen