Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Nothing new to say, except I need tips on how to make Naruto break the ice with Hinata.

"Blah" - human speech

"Blah" – summon/demon speech

'Blah' – human thoughts

'Blah' – summon/demon thoughts

'Blah' – summon/demon thoughts inside human head

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Chapter 4: Trials of the Leaf! A Month of Training (Part 1)!!

"Well, that concludes the Preliminary Matches," said Hayate. Then when the match winners had assembled in the remains of the arena, he continued. "To those of you who made it to the third part of the Chuunin Exam… all but one are here, so congratulations."

Sakura surveyed the winners. There was Naruto, of course, and Shikamaru, Shino, and Neji. That accounted for Konoha, and there were the two from Suna, Gaara and Temari. Then there was the lone Oto-nin, Dosu. Lastly, there was Ryunosuke Hachi from Kumo. Turning to Kakashi, she started asking him about Sasuke, but Kakashi said, "I'm not sure about the details, but don't worry about him." Thinking back to the Fuuja Houin (1), he silently hoped it would be enough. 'It's all up to him now.'

"Sakura," he said, "I need to leave, so give me details on the main matches later." With that, he used Shunshin and left her saying, "Okay."

Down below, Sandaime tilted his hat and said, "I will now begin the explanation for the main matches."

'Thank God,' thought Naruto, who had gotten tired of waiting.

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Outside, two figures met. They both wore the outfit of a Jounin, save that one had a pair of square glasses and pale yellow hair. This one was kneeling in front of his master, who he held true allegiance to.

"The preliminary matches have concluded, and now they're about to begin the main matches," said Yakushi Buki (2), the elder brother of Kabuto by seven years.

Orochimaru nodded faintly, gazing at a trio of birds. "This village… no, this country as become soft… too used to peace. The rest of the shinobi nations are busy increasing their military strength." Turning to Buki, he then asked, "Did you find out what happened to your Genin Team?"

Standing, Buki nodded. "The three of them were killed. Yoroi was burned from the inside out; I'm guessing he overused his Chakra Kyuuin Jutsu. Misumi was burnt to a crisp. And my younger brother," he grimaced, "Kabuto looked like he'd been mauled and eaten."

Orochimaru furrowed his brow. "Eaten?"

"Yeah," said Buki. "I didn't understand how Kabuto managed to get himself killed, but he was… everywhere. The only way I was able to recognize it was him was by his hair." He had seen Kabuto's remains, and it unnerved him how his little brother was killed. Granted, he didn't give a damn about Kabuto, but the plans of Orochimaru-sama come first.

Clearing his head, he changed the subject. "Do you think you'll be able to kill him?"

Catching on, Orochimaru grinned a little. "The old geezer? Yeah… but I don't think it'll be much fun to kill him now."

"Looks to me like you're hesitating," said Buki, pushing up his glasses. At Orochimaru's glare, he continued. "I mean, the Hidden Shinobi Villages are mobilizing for conflict, and Otogakure is one of them. The old man is the bullet, Uchiha Sasuke is the trigger, and you are the gun, are you not?" Buki had no love for Sandaime, for he was one of the rare few that craved violence, and being in Konoha was too maddening for his tastes.

"You're so observant… you could give your brother a run for his money," said Orochimaru.

"But why did you need those other three?" asked Buki, referring to Dosu, Zaku, and Kin.

"They were inconsequential," said Orochimaru. "Those three have outlived their usefulness, and now only serve one purpose: Fodder." Here he grinned even more. "But if you're so eager to prove your usefulness over your brother's, there's one thing I must ask you to do."

At Buki's look, he said. "Kill Uchiha Sasuke."

Buki almost faltered. "But I thought…"

"The Juuin Fuuin I gave Sasuke-kun has been sealed by Kakashi. Even though that doesn't matter, if the darkness in Sasuke-kun's heart disappears… I need you to abduct him."

Buki narrowed his eyes. "You seem in a hurry."

"It's that someone has recently caught my attention… Uzumaki Naruto."

"What, the Kyuubi brat?"

"Yeah. Sasuke-kun is an avatar of vengeance that cannot die until he kills his brother, and fulfilled his ambition. When he fought me in the Forest of Death, he engaged me without fear of death, even when he knew he couldn't win. I thought he was a more careful type of person." Gazing into the sky, he added, "According to the info of you gave me, the Kyuubi brat has probably changed his heart and goal." Licking his lips, he concluded, "Those two must be separated, if I am to dye Sasuke-kun my color."

Buki narrowed his eyes, then turned away, intent on proving his worth.

"Buki-kun… if you intend to stop me… then kill Sasuke now."

Buki was startled by this. Granted Orochimaru didn't scare him, but those eyes were unnerving.

"You are strong, but only as strong as Kakashi-kun, therefore, not strong enough to end my life."

Buki was now locked in a staring match with his master. He slightly relaxed when Orochimaru grinned and said, "Just kidding. You can go now… I trust you."

When Buki used his Shunshin to leave, Orochimaru was somewhat intrigued by his somewhat new subordinate. 'That look on his face… I know he's stronger than his brother, but I could never tell what either were thinking.'

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"Your matches will be shown in front of everyone," said Sandaime. "We wish for all of you to show off your prowess as the representative of your country. Therefore, the main matches will take place in one month."

When Naruto voiced the confusion everyone had on the time period, Sandaime continued. "The month given is the time that should be used for the necessary preparations. In other words, we're going to announce to the daimyos and shinobi leaders that the preliminaries are over. In addition, the month will also give you time to make your own preparations."

Hachi, sick of the metaphors Sandaime was giving out, asked, "What do you mean?"

"You will have time to analyze the information you gathered from the preliminaries. As I said before, the preliminaries were equal to actual combat situations, with each individual knowing nothing of their opponent."

Many thoughts went through the heads of the Genin, such as 'I didn't expect him to use sand as a weapon,' from Shikamaru, and 'And that's the way it's gonna stay… for now,' from Hachi.

"But the main matches won't be like that. There are some here who have used their full potential here, but the month given will help you improve."

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Buki had gotten into the hospital and slain the three ANBU in Sasuke's room. "It is… unfortunate that fate smiled down on both of us," said he to the unconscious Sasuke. 'He is young, but with a dark heart at his age. He would use the power given to him by Orochimaru-sama to do with what he will.' Taking a scalpel, he put it up to Sasuke's neck…

…Then flung it at Kakashi, who stood in the doorway and caught it. "Excellent, Kakashi-kun. A word of advice: Have at least ten ANBU stationed next time."

Kakashi was visibly shaken by the dead ANBU he had stationed. "Buki, you were sworn to the allegiance of the village, not to pursue your own aims." Stepping forward, he asked, "Why did you try to kill Sasuke? Depending on your answer, I might have to take you to Ibiki."

"Ibiki doesn't scare me, Kakashi," said Buki, turning to face the silver-haired Jounin. "And as for my own aims… I just prefer to think of it as… changing hands. Shinobi are tools, are we not? And what business of yours is if I choose to change hands?"

Kakashi was silent, analyzing the Jounin before him. Buki was the sensei of Kabuto, Yoroi, and Misumi, and it was a well-known fact at this point that the three were dead. But he had his suspicions with Kabuto, and since Buki was his Jounin-sensei…

"Are you connected to Orochimaru?"

"You might not be able to prove that if you capture me now, would you?"

"Just answer the damn question."

Long story short: Buki pulled out a curved kunai and held it to Sasuke's throat, while Kakashi pulled his own kunai out. One twitch from Buki was all Kakashi needed, and he rushed the other Jounin, knocking him to the ground, while watching one of the ANBU rise up and run for the door, only to discover…

"Kage Bunshin?" The ANBU found himself between two Kakashi's. But then, another ANBU on the floor threw some kunai at the window and jumped. Kakashi didn't expect that, so when the ANBU between him and his clone fell to the ground, he ran to the window.

The ANBU below him was freefalling, and he removed the mask to reveal Yakushi Buki, smirking, and raising his middle finger at the gaping Copy-nin.

"Damn," growled Kakashi as Buki disappeared into the trees, and his Kage Bunshin poofed into smoke. He went to inspect the fake Buki, only to discover that the skin on Buki peeled a little. "A Hitokugutsu (3)?" said a surprised Kakashi. He knew without inspecting the newly fallen ANBU that he would find the same thing. "He erased his odor… muted his heartbeat… impersonated one of the ANBU he killed, and kept an escape route open." Kakashi growled at his own weakness. "A guy like that working for Orochimaru… I wouldn't be able to kill either, at the state I'm in."

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Sandaime had that odd gleam in his eye, and Naruto didn't like it at all. True to form, Sandaime confirmed it with, "Before I let you all go, there is something important we must do before the main matches. Take a piece of paper from Anko as she comes by you."

"I'll walk, so take it in turns," said she.

After she passed them out, Ibiki asked if everyone got one, then to say what number they picked up. Dosu got 8, Naruto got 1, Temari got 7, Gaara got 5, Hachi got 3, Shikamaru got 9, Neji got 2, and Shino got 4. Marking down Sasuke as 6, Sandaime told them the numbers meant a tournament-style match-up, which Ibiki then showed them.

The first bracket was Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyuuga Neji, the second bracket read, Ryunosuke Hachi vs. Aburame Shino. The third bracket said Gaara vs. Uchiha Sasuke, and the final bracket was the most confusing. It had Kinuta Dosu vs. Nara Shikamaru, and the winner of that match vs. Temari.

The genin had their own thoughts at the match-ups:

'…This will require research.'

'Looks like my match come late in the game.'

'What? It's just a tournament?'

'Aw, damn. I've got an extra match, and I don't wanna have to avenge Chouji.'

'… Hmmm… the Kikaichu user. Should be a challenge.'

'Uchiha Sasuke…'

'Perfect.'

'Hyuuga Neji, right off the bat, eh? I wouldn't have it any other way!'

Sandaime then explained that even though the matches were in a tournament style, the possibility of Chuunins would depend on the rating of the judges, who would be the Kazekage, the daimyos, Sandaime himself, and the head shinobi. He said that even if some were to loose in their first round, there would still be a chance of them becoming Chuunin if their match was found satisfactory. But not everyone would become Chuunin, because winning the matches would depend on the contestants showing off their skills.

"That is all," concluded Sandaime. "We are adjourned until nest month."

'So,' thought Hachi, as everyone filed out, 'my second match could be against Uzumaki… I must inform the others…'

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Naruto went to the hospital and asked where Hyuuga Hinata's room was. But the receptionist said that visiting hours were over.

"Bull," said Naruto, clearly annoyed at the antics of this woman. He knew her as one of the people here who hated him with a vengeance. "Visiting hours are over at 11PM, and its 6PM right now."

"Visiting hours have changed," she said, whereupon Naruto sneezed rather loudly.

"Sorry," he said, wiping his nose on his sleeve, "I'm allergic to bullshit."

"Listen here, you little bas…"

"Naruto," said Kakashi walking around the corner. "Stop antagonizing the receptionist."

"Well, tell her to let me see Hinata-chan. 'Cause you and I know damn well, that if it were Kiba, she'd let him in a heartbeat," he argued, pointing a finger at the red receptionist.

'Oh, how I do,' thought Kakashi, as he thought to how disappointed his sensei would be with this village. His train of thought halted when he interrupted Naruto asking him for a favor. "Sorry, Naruto, I have something to do, and I don't have time to look after you."

Naruto knew it had something to do with Sasuke, so he pointed an accusing finger at his sensei, and said, "You're training Sasuke, aren't you!?"

'Shit, he's smarter than he lets on,' was Kakashi's thought, but his mouth said, "I found a better teacher for you. Better than me, even."

When Naruto saw who his new sensei was supposed to be, he started to freak out. "Why's the closet pervert my sensei!?" he yelled.

Ebisu, the private tutor of Konohamaru, pushed his black sunglasses up the bridge of his nose while muttering, "How rude!"

Kakashi, confused, deadpanned. "Ebisu… a closet pervert?"

When Naruto was about to tell Kakashi about his last run-in with Ebisu, where Ebisu fell for Naruto's Haremu no Jutsu, Ebisu panicked and clamped his hand over Naruto's mouth. No need for anyone else to find out about that shameful experience.

"I'll teach you anything you want later, if you keep your mouth shut," hissed Ebisu to Naruto.

"I'll hold you to that," hissed the blonde Genin. He would jump at the chance to learn a new jutsu. Blackmail was so versatile…

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"So…" said Boufuu, his back to his subordinates. He, Hachi, and Kurisu were currently on the Hokage Monument.

"The village has fallen into peaceable times…" said Kurisu.

"… But the plan will change all that," finished Hachi. "They took the wounded from the Preliminaries to the main hospital. That Oto-kunoichi would be useful to us."

"What about that Sabaku no Gaara kid?" asked Boufuu. He didn't want any potential monkey wrenches thrown into their machine of domination.

"He a Jinchuuriki, that is true," said Kurisu. "And judging from the rings around his eyes, and the sand, he's got Ichibi no Tanuki (4) in him."

Boufuu glared at the hospital through his telescopic eye. "They say that a Jinchuuriki of the Ichibi is among the strongest in existence. But I say otherwise…"

"Yeah," said Hachi, cracking his neck. "It looks like our info was right on the dot, about Uzumaki."

"About him being a Jinchuuriki?"

"Yeah," said Hachi, handing him a scroll. Hachi had snuck into the Shinobi Library, and copied down info on the Kyuu no Bijuu. The only person worth of mention in the library was the Aburame kid, but it didn't matter to Hachi. "I don't know about you, but he does resemble HER outwardly."

"Yes, he does," said Boufuu, regretfully. He didn't like talking about HER because he had a sore spot for people stronger than he was. Whether or not it was the fact that the two of them were part of the Raikage's Genin team before he became the Raikage, he still didn't like her.

Getting back on track, he reviewed the scroll. The contents on it stated that even though the Kyuubi was the strongest, there was only one other previous time that it had had a human prison. Though info was sketchy on the exact person, it had been 721 years ago, and the vessel was refuted to have had three whisker marks on each side of her face.

"I did a little asking around," said Kurisu, casting his eyes toward the village below. "Apparently, like the other Jinchuuriki of the world, he is well-hated. Therefore," he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "he could be persuaded to join us."

"But most likely," said Hachi, "it would have to be done during the upcoming battle."

Boufuu nodded. "Next time, Oto should learn not to have scouts lurking around the village," said he, opening his Jounin vest. Stapled inside were at least ten Oto Hitai-ate's, slightly bloodied, from the Oto-nin he killed. After he let one of them live in exchange for information, he let the nin go, then threw a kunai with an exploding tag tied to it at the retreating shinobi, who promptly exploded after it embedded itself in his back.

Flashback:

Boufuu was jumping through the tree outside the village. It had taken some persuasion, but he had managed to convince the guards to let him leave for a temporary time to Takigakure (5) and back, which in itself would have taken about three days walking.

Too bad the guards didn't know he wasn't going to Taki.

When he saw a grey blur a long ways away, he thought, 'Hello, what's this?' Pressing a button on his eyepatch, the telescopic lens zoomed in, and he faintly saw the grey-garbed attire of an Oto-nin.

He leapt from his spot, and like a true shinobi, stealthily made his way toward the opening in the trees where he saw the Oto-nin disappear. Once there, he saw eleven Oto-nin gathered together. Putting his left hand into the Ram Seal, he muttered "Meisaigakure no Jutsu (1A)," and vanished.

The Oto-nin were in a discussion on how the invasion of Konoha was going to go down with Suna, when one of the nin let out a gurgle, and the others turned to see a crackling, bloody hand sticking out of the nin's chest. The nin fell to the ground, and the silhouette of a humanoid figure appeared, surrounded with crackling lightening, and a glowing yellow eye, looking like a demon emerging from the darkness.

"So…" said the lead Oto-nin, "an intruder…" On one accord, the remaining ten Oto-nin leapt at the semi-transparent figure.

Boufuu then did something that the nin never saw, nor would see again. Spinning in a familiar stance, he expelled chakra from his tenketsu, in the form of lightening.

"RAI-ARASHI KAITEN (2A)!!"

The resulting dome of electricity shot out random bolts of lightening, which inevitably electrocuted all but one of the Oto-nin. That one that was left, was missing his left arm below the elbow, the result of a stray lightening bolt that hit him; it not only severed the lower arm completely off, it also cauterized the wound.

Boufuu turned visible again and stalked toward the lone Oto-nin. Grabbing him by the scarf around his neck, he brought the nin up to his face and glared through his one normal eye. "Why are you here?"

The Oto-nins response was to spit in Boufuu face, to which Boufuu drew a kunai and jabbed it into the burned flesh of his left arm. The Oto-nin screamed as Boufuu twisted right, then left, then right again, then withdrew the kunai, causing blood to pour from the wound.

"Why are you here?" he asked again, then added, "And refuse to answer again, and the next kunai I put in there is going to have an exploding tag on it." To emphasize his point, he drew said kunai.

The Oto-nin lost himself there. After soiling his pants, he told Boufuu of the alliance between Oto and Suna, and of the use of Sabaku no Gaara, the youngest son of Yondaime Kazekage.

Boufuu released the Oto-nin, who promptly took off. Waiting seven seconds, he threw the kunai with the exploding tag at the retreating nin, which embedded itself in his back, and promptly exploding, blowing the Oto-nin to bloody chunks.

Boufuu chuckled and moved onto the dead Oto-nin around him, stripping them of their headbands and putting them in his vest. "One trophy, two trophy, three trophy, four…" he hummed.

End Flashback

That memory brought a smile to Boufuu's face. He considered it a hobby of his to collect the headbands of the shinobi he killed in battle. However, he was brought out of his daydream by Kurisu's voice.

"Having the trophy fantasy again?"

Boufuu snapped his head around, and distantly knew he was going to suffer for it later. "Ignoring that, how long until Kureji gets out of the hospital?"

"Knowing him," droned Kurisu, closing his eyes, "he probably already escaped the hospital and is doing something stupid."

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Shino had been sitting in the library, studying several scrolls on the human body. It was questionable why he'd be looking at medical scrolls, with his Kikaichu that proved superior over the human body. The answer was that he was delving into what the Kumo-nin Kurisu said about his teammate. And since Shino was fighting Hachi, he thought it would be useful to delve into what the human body could do.

'Interesting,' thought Shino, looking over the scroll. 'Ryunosuke Hachi was said to be able to harness his bioelectricity to an incredible extent, and yet, this scroll dictates that that should be near impossible. The most one should be able to do is convert their chakra into electricity, and that takes precision.'

Shino got an impromptu visitor in the form of one of his bugs. His loyal informant told him of the visitor to the Shinobi Library, Ryunosuke Hachi.

Shino furrowed his brow. That was odd. Foreign shinobi were forbidden from the Shinobi Library. Hachi was clearly looking for something. Standing up, he followed his bug, and it led him to a book on a table near the back of the library. It was an old book, which said Myths & Legends of the World: The Kyuu no Bijuu. A Collection by Mikitan Biron.

"The Nine Tailed Beasts?" said Shino, confused. "Why would Hachi want be reading this?" Deciding against his better judgment, he took the book back to the table he was at, and began to read…

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Naruto was having the time of his life. No, seriously, he was PISSED. Not only did Kakashi, his sensei, the man who was supposed to be teaching him how to be a better shinobi, shove him off to someone else, currently said teacher was trying to teach him how to water-walk. In the hot springs.

At which Naruto was doing badly. He kept falling in the water, which was SCALDING. Ebisu had said that if he didn't want to turn into a lobster, then he'd better get it right.

And so went the policy of trial and error. Naruto had nearly gotten it at one point, if not for the person he spied peeping into the female part of the springs. He was able to get out a cry of "HEEEYYY!!" before he fell in the water again.

Ebisu turned around to see a giggling white-haired man with a ponytail sitting in front of the fence. "I don't know who you are…" said Ebisu, rushing the man. "… But I will not allow such shameful acts in my presence!"

The white-haired man turned around and put his right hand into the Ram Seal. There was a puff of smoke, and the man was suddenly sitting on an orange man-sized toad. Ebisu realized too late who this was, as the toad's tongue wrapped around his waist, then slammed him into the ground, knocking him out cold.

"Don't make such a ruckus," said the man. "What's going to happen if I get caught?"

Naruto, who saw the whole thing, asked in his mind, 'The closet pervert got his ass kicked? Who… is that open pervert?' "Hey!" he shouted. "Who are you?"

The old man, who looked like a kabuki dancer, had a horned hitai-ate that had the kanji (Oil), and thin red lines going down his eyes like tears. He then went into a weird dance. "Glad you asked! I am Mount Myouboku's Gama-Sennin."

"Ora ora, Ero-Sennin!! You knocked out my sensei! He was supposed to supervise my training!"

The Gama-Sennin, who shall now be referred to as Jiraiya (since it's his name), shrugged and said, "He interfered with my data gathering." At Naruto's questioning look, he continued. "I'm a writer. I write novels like this," said he, pulling a familiar orange book out of his shirt.

Naruto recognized that book right away. Kakashi was always reading that book, and Naruto had a volume stashed under his mattress. The old "Porn-under-the-Mattress" gag never got old. He had first gotten it after seeing an angry wife throw it in the garbage, with her pleading husband clutching her leg like a little kid. Going over to the garbage, he took it home and started to read.

It took the better half of the night to stop his nose from bleeding.

'Course, he wasn't planning on letting Jiraiya know that, so he decided to punish the writer. And he did, by yelling, "That's a perverted book!! And your data gathering!? You were just peeking into the female baths!!"

Whereupon the two males heard the womanly screams inside the springs, Jiraiya angrily rounded on the young teen, and cried, "Bakayarou (6)!! They found out I was peeking!!"

"Perv."

"Idiot!! I ain't a pervert! I get inspiration from peeking to write better novels!"

Naruto was tired of playing around with the old pervert. If he had done it and gotten caught, then it would have been written off as a prank. If Jiraiya had gotten caught, he would have probably been beaten to within an inch of his life. "Enough excuses! What are you gonna do about my training!?"

"Training? You mean the water-walking?"

"You know of it? Then YOU supervise me!" declared Naruto, pointing a finger at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya walked past and said, "I could care less about your training."

After Naruto tried once more, Jiraiya told him that he didn't like people that didn't know how to ask for a favor, and that he liked girls. When Naruto tried to get him with flattery of Icha Icha Paradise, Jiraiya told him to quite lying, because people under 18 weren't allowed to buy or view the book. With that, Jiraiya took off.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Shino gaped at the information he'd just absorbed. This Mikitan Biron person had detailed information on all nine Bijuu. Here was an excerpt of what he read:

Of the Kyuu no Bijuu, the strongest is the Kyuubi no Kitsune, who is also called the Kyuubi no Yoko. This mighty beast could raise tsunamis with one swipe of one of its tails, and level mountains with another. I have seen two Kyuubi in my lifetime: The first was when I was but a child, and the second when I had to witness the sealing into my adoptive sister. Luckily, the Kyuubi was able to save my sister, but she was forever marked by the Kyuubi by the whisker marks on her face (see Jinchuuriki, page 101).

Next to the excerpt was a picture of a blue-haired girl with pale skin and red eyes. She was a pretty girl, with an exotic aura, and three whisker marks on each side.

Shino stiffened. There was one person in the village that matched up with what the author said. 'So, the adults lied to us,' he thought. 'And yet, they told us to despise Uzumaki, because he is a Jinchuuriki.'

Turning to the page suggested, he read what the author said on the Jinchuuriki.

The literal translation of the word "Jinchuuriki" is "Power of Human Sacrifice". The Jinchuuriki are humans that used as vessels for beings such as demons. It is possible to seal a Bijuu into a human, but if it is to be done, it must be done at birth. The reason for doing so is because as a newborn, a human does not have their chakra coils completely formed, and they will be able to harbor the creature without major harm for the rest of their life.

Shino stopped reading. In a way, it made sense. Naruto had two chakra coils in him, and as a result, it played havoc with his chakra control. It also explained his stamina. He kept reading.

Jinchuuriki were first used as weapons o war. A nation would capture a Bijuu, then seal it into a newborn. That newborn would grow up into a weapon that the nation could use against its neighbors and enemies. It disgusts me how the village that I originated in tried to use my sister as a weapon. Jinchuuriki, while sharing characteristics with the Bijuu within them, are not the Bijuu themselves. Because of this attitude taken by most of the world, Jinchuuriki are ostracized by society and mistreated.

Shino muttered, "How right he is." He felt disgusted with the village right now. The way they abused Naruto whenever he tried to get the village to recognize him as a human, not a weapon, was something unbecoming of the most peaceful village of the Shinobi Nations. After reading the next excerpt, he wouldn't have been surprised to see the end result.

Typically, Jinchuuriki treated like this grow up to be lonely people who despise humanity. I was lucky, because even though my sister hated everyone else in the village, I still loved her, and she me. She became a Jinchuuriki to save the village, and yet those ungrateful bastards looked down upon her, and some even went so far as to rape her. I was able to stop them from doing the deed, but from that point on, she despised the village with a vengeance. I wasn't surprised when the next time it happened, she tried to kill the entire village.

That got Shino to think. The Kyuubi attacked Konoha thirteen years ago, and was said to have been defeated by Yondaime Hokage, at the cost of his life. But according to the book, the Kyuubi was too powerful to be killed by a human, and it had to be sealed in a vessel. So what the teachers at the Shinobi Academy drilled into their heads about the Kyuubi attack was false.

"But why?" he asked. "Why lie?"

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Naruto had finally tracked Jiraiya down to a small restaurant, where he heard Jiraiya get bitch-slapped by a female civilian who screamed, "HENTAI!!" Granted Naruto could've laughed at Jiraiya for his misfortune, but he needed training. Failing once again to dissuade the Gama-Sennin, he resorted to the only thing he could think of.

'Oiroke no Jutsu!!' In a puff of smoke, Naruto was replaced with a curvaceous blonde who'd turn any gay man straight. "Do you like me now?" she asked demurely.

"HELL YEAH!!" shouted Jiraiya, a stream of blood trickling down his face, while holding two signs that said "Perfect Ten".

Sweat-dropping, the blonde thought to herself, 'Are all men perverts?' Within her own thoughts, the old lecher was jumping all around, saying stuff like "You're my kind of girl!!" and "What do you call this technique?"

Answering "Oiroke no Jutsu…" Jiraiya responded by calling Naruto a genius. This led the girl to believe that Jiraiya would supervise her training. When he said he would, but on one condition, she tried to look as demure as possible.

When Jiraiya that Naruto had to remain like that around him, the indignant blonde went back to normal and shouted, "I knew it!! You are just a perverted old hermit!!"

Jiraiya drew back and said, "I am not a pervert!!" At his new charge's blank look, he grinned and yelled, "I'm a Mega-Perv!!!"

After this, Jiraiya took Naruto to a river, here he made the blonde retry the water-walking exercise. Naruto tried a couple of times, but failed. Disgruntled, he threw off his clothes and was about to try again, when Jiraiya told him to mold chakra again. Doing so, Jiraiya instantly recognized the seal on Naruto's stomach, then noticed the Gogyo Fuuin (3A) over it.

'No wonder he can't mold chakra well. The Gogyo Fuuin is interfering with the other seals, and keeping the kid's chakra in conflict with the fox's. It was probably Orochimaru who put the seal on him.' Putting chakra into his right hand, he told Naruto to hold his hands up. When the blonde did so, he thrust forward yelling "Gogyo Kaiin (4A)!!"

He was surprised when Naruto dodged it then pointed an offending finger at him. "I knew it!! I knew it!! You were trying to kill me!!"

"Hold still brat, I'm just going to hit some pressure points."

"Pressure points my ass! Last time someone got near me saying 'Gogyo', I got my chakra control screwed over, while my teammate got a love bite from a gay snake!"

'Yep, Orochimaru,' thought Jiraiya, while he said, "A… gay snake? That's a new one." He sighed. "I'm just going to remove the seal that Orochimaru put on you."

"How did you know it was Orochimaru?"

"I used to know him. He was many things, though I had a suspicion he was gay. Now hold still." With that, he completed the Gogyo Kaiin. The seal off him, Naruto tried the water-walk again, and nailed it head on. While the blonde was jumping around in victory, Jiraiya thought it best to try to teach him how to control the Kyuubi's chakra.

As the sun began to set, Jiraiya was told by Naruto about his interaction with the fox, and that he could already harness the Kyuubi's chakra to a fair extent. Jiraiya was speechless, then he nodded his head. 'He's already grown so much. You'd be proud, Arashi.' With that, he ended the training for the day.

"Ora, Ero-Sennin. If you see that teacher of mine, tell him he owes me a Doton Jutsu."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

The full moon was up in Konoha. Jiraiya overlooked the apartment his current student was sleeping in, and was approached by Ebisu. "Sorry about stealing your student," said Jiraiya.

"Not at all," said Ebisu. "But Hokage-sama was looking for you. He could not determine where you were at, though. He'll be pleased once he finds out you're in the village."

Jiraiya cast an eye at him and asked, "Did you tell Sandaime I was here?"

"No," said Ebisu. "But I told him about a goggled Kumo-nin who was peeping on the females in the hot springs."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Now he could get away with that. But as for me…" Turning his thoughts back on the Third, he added, "Since Sandaime doesn't know I'm here, let's keep it under wraps."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

The shinobi stole his way into the hospital. He searched the rooms, but the object of his desire wasn't in any thus far.

Opening a door, he found it. Her long black hair, cute face, ripe body… It was her, all right.

'No time to lose,' thought he. He lifted her slightly up, and lowered his face. Like a vampire, he extended his fangs, and bit her. She moaned slightly, in pain or pleasure, he wasn't sure.

Through his fangs he sent the essence that would change her life forever. Not even her master would be able to slay her quickly.

His task done, he leapt out the window, jumping on rooftops like a true ninja in the night.

Seconds later, the watcher who had seen the entire thing followed him.

vvvvvvvvvvvvv

Sabaku no Gaara sat atop one of the stone fish on the pagoda that was the Hokage's box for the Chuunin Exam Finals. He stared at the moon, feeling IT growing stronger, feeling IT yearn for the day IT would rain blood upon the earth, the blood of ITs enemies.

'You're time shall soon come… Mother… Suna no Shukaku (7) …'

Gaara was cast out of his thoughts by a familiar voice that said, "This was unexpected… Do you not sleep?" Glancing down, he saw the form of Kinuta Dosu.

"I was planning on killing you here and now, to get a higher probability of defeating Sasuke-kun." Revealing the Melody Device on his arm he asked, "I wonder which is faster… my sound or your sand?"

Dosu was outgunned from the start. From the moonlight, he saw a shape rise from the stone that Gaara sat upon. He heard Gaara say something about IT's blood getting excited during a full moon, but all he could focus on was the horrifying shape in front of him. "What… What are you!?" And there, Dosu's life ended, in a cloud of dust.

When the dust cleared, from where Gaara kneeled panting, a jagged line had torn itself through the shingles on the roof. The line led through the mutilated corpse of Kinuta Dosu.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"That was incredible," said Buki, watching from afar with Baki. "Was that his true form?"

Baki was about to ask him about Dosu, but Buki cut him off in the middle, saying that Dosu's usefulness had ended some time ago. "I thought he was a guinea pig to test how strong that Uchiha kid was?" asked Baki.

Unknown to the two, at least for the moment, Gekkou Hayate was listening to the two conspirators. 'Our allies from Suna… they plan to destroy us?'

After Buki handed Baki the scroll that had an outline of Oto's plan, Gekkou had heard enough. Preparing to take off, he stopped after hearing Buki say, "One more thing… I'll clean up the mess."

"No," said Baki. "I will do it. As a shinobi of Kaze no Kuni, of Sunagakure… I must lend my aid to an ally. Besides…" he glared at the proctor through the solid wall. "There's only one mouse."

Gekkou and Baki met at the roof of a building. Gekkou tried to fight Baki. He drew his katana, and pulled out his prime attack, Mikazuki no Mai. One Gekkou became three, and the three danced around the astonished Baki in some bizarre dance. The real Gekkou leapt into the air, and slashed downward a Baki's shoulder. He was able to cut Baki, but not deep enough. Worse yet, his blade was stuck in Baki's jacket shoulder, effectively cutting off any possible counterattack.

"That was Konoha Ryu: Mikazuki no Mai. To have mastered it at such a young age… You are exceptionally talented," said Baki, an evil grin on his face. Gekkou didn't like it, and he was proven right when Baki raised his arm and used the other to grasp the sword in his shoulder. "Your sword technique was excellent… But how can it compare to Blades of Wind?"

vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

"Two lives were lost this night," said Hachi, as he watched Baki leave the mutilated body of Gekkou on the roof. "Poor Kinuta Dosu… poor Hayate Gekkou… so young, so full of life…" he cast a glance at the shadows behind. "Ne, Zaku-kun?"

Abumi Zaku stepped out of the shadows. He had followed Hachi from the hospital, and was intent on discovering the plans of this Kumo-nin. Perhaps that would redeem him in the eyes of Orochimaru-sama.

"What did you do to Kin?"

"I gave her a gift," answered Hachi, turning to face the Oto-nin with both arms in slings. "She will truly appreciate it, and Kumo will appreciate her."

Zaku drew his good arm out of the sling, wielding a kunai. "I don't care for Kin, but I will present your cold, dead corpse to Orochimaru-sama."

Hachi began to chuckle, then he laughed, and spread his arms to Zaku. He laughed, while at the same time, began to glow.

The glow illuminated Zaku's face, which was terrified by the malevolence that came from this Kumo-nin. "What-what the hell are you!?"

The last thing Zaku heard was Hachi laughter, as his scream filled the night sky, followed immediately by a flash of light and a resounding low thunderclap.

"And this," said Hachi, to the fried corpse that once was Abumi Zaku, "makes the third. Now," said he, turning to the pagoda roof that Gaara was on, "let's have a little chat… Gaara-chan."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

When Naruto woke up, he felt the need to go to the hospital, to see how Hinata was doing. Whether it was that erotic dream he had about her or his own feelings, he didn't know. He just wanted to see that she was all right. Getting dressed in his orange jumpsuit that he was promising to burn later, he set out.

The sun had risen into the sky, which suggested that it was at least seven or eight in the morning. Ignoring how slightly chilled he was, he walked to the hospital. 'Hey, fox?'

"Yeah?"

'I need you to tell me who my parents were.'

That caught the Kyuubi by surprise. "What makes you think I know your parents?"

'You're the Kyuubi! You've seen all and know all!'

"That doesn't mean a damn thing. Hell, I've haven't seen plenty of stuff yet."

'Like what?'

"Like whether or not you have grandkids with the Hyuuga girl you dreamt about."

That made Naruto face-fault. 'You bastard!! What are you doing, looking at my dreams!?' All he got in response was the Kyuubi's raucous laughter. "Damn bastard," he muttered, going red.

Dreamscape: Last Night

He felt encompassed by her warmth. Surrounding him, her very touch was driving him insane.

She was on her back against a tree, and he stood in front of her. Her moans, her sighs, they drove him wild. She had the scent of lavenders, and he knew that before the night was over, she would have his scent on her.

He stiffened, groaning out her name. "Hinata-chan…"

Her legs wrapped around his waist, she sighed out his name. "Naruto-kun…"

And then all went white.

End Dreamscape

Naruto shook his head, arriving at the hospital, but opted to climb the wall to avoid that bitch of a secretary he knew was there. "I probably can't even look her in the face," he muttered, as he climbed up the wall.

After searching through the windows for about fifteen minutes, he found her room. Silently pulling the window open, he slipped in. He gazed down at this angel of beauty. She was… more than he deserved. And he knew it.

His heart wrenched when he heard her cough. 'Fox, you think you can help her?'

"Probably," said the Kyuubi in his head. "Put your hand over her chest." Kyuubi guffawed at Naruto's heart-attack. "You know what I meant."

"I was starting to think otherwise," muttered Naruto, as he hovered his hands over Hinata's chest. He couldn't help but notice that she had a nice rack for a girl her age…

He shook his head. "Last thing I want is Hinata-chan accusing me of trying to molest her," her muttered, as he concentrated on his task.

The blood red chakra left his hands and dove into her small body. After several seconds, Naruto let out a sigh of relief as he heard Hinata's breathing ease. Withdrawing the chakra, he muttered a small prayer to God for Hinata, then walked towards the window.

"Naruto-kun?"

Naruto turned around slowly, to see Hinata sitting up in the hospital bed. He moved before he thought. A second later, she was enveloped in his arms, and he was whispering that he was glad that she was okay.

Hinata had gone redder than blood by the contact with her love, but she willed herself to not faint. "Naruto-kun… I feel…"

"Yeah," said Naruto, scratching the back of his head. The two were silent for a while, until Naruto spoke. "I should go, 'cause no one knows I'm in here."

"Y-you mean that you snuck in?"

"Hai," said he, dropping his head a little. "They wouldn't let me in. I guess its because…" he trailed off, not wanting to mention the Kyuubi.

But she knew. She had seen it in the eyes of nearly every adult. "Naruto-kun…"

Naruto stood. He was getting ready to cry, which was a big deal for him. "Hinata-chan… I like you… a lot…" he began, whereupon she gazed wide-eyed at him, "… but I don't think you'd be happy with me."

She asked, "Why?"

Naruto inhaled, then exhaled, and told her the words he was sure would send her run screaming: "How can you… a proverbial goddess… like a guy like me… a demon vessel?" He closing his eyes, partially to avoid the horror he knew was on Hinata's face, partially to stop the tears from falling.

What happened next surprised him. He opened his eyes at the feel of a warm hand on his cheek. He saw Hinata, gazing at him with those lavender eyes he had fallen in love with. She had tears streaming down her cheek… but she was smiling.

Then she moved in, and the two shared their first-ever real kiss. Eyes closed, lip-lock, the works. When they separated, Hinata spoke first. "I don't care about the Kyuubi."

His mind went blank. When he came back to earth, he asked, "H-How?"

Hinata blushed and looked down. "Around the end of the Academy, I saw you training. You threw a kunai that rebounded and hit you in the arm. I watched it heal, and I made the connection later at the graduation."

"S-so you don't care about the fox?"

She shook her head. "No. Everyday the Kyuubi stays within you, you save the village for another day. And I--" she was cut off by Naruto pressing his lips to hers once more. She let out a little squeak, then fell into it. Naruto was quickly becoming addicted to her. The shape of her against him… Against her lips, he murmured, "Aishiteru (8), Hinata-chan," and she replied in response, "Aishiteru, Naruto-kun…".

The two went on for about thirty seconds before the door burst open. Kiba barged in, saying "Konnichi wa, Hinata-chan!!", followed by a nurse, Sakura, and Ino, who was carrying a bouquet.

Kiba gaped at the scene before him. Hinata was kissing Naruto, Naruto was kissing Hinata, Ino and Sakura were staring, the nurse was staring, Naruto was staring back—

With a roar, Kiba lunged at Naruto, who jumped apart from Hinata, and out the window, uttering a quick "Sayonara, Hinata-chan!"

The blushing Hinata was grabbed by Kiba who said, "Are you all right Hinata-chan!? He didn't hurt you did he!?"

"No, Kiba-kun…"

"Ora, Baka-inu (9)," came Naruto's voice. "Leave Hinata-chan alone!"

Kiba growled and ran to the window, snarling, "I'm gonna turn you into a fox-skin pelt!!" Looking down, he saw a kunai flying at him. He caught the kunai and noticed that it had a white piece of paper tied to it. Unwrapping the paper, he turned purple with rage at what he saw. Hinata, Ino, and Sakura, leaned in to see, the nurse having been gone at this point. Hinata immediately blushed, Sakura muttered, "Bakayarou,", and Ino laughed a little.

The paper had a picture of a human fist with the middle finger up.

Kiba leaned out the window and yelled out, "Real cute Naru-tard!! Is that your IQ!?"

Naruto's voice answered "Naw, that's your sperm count, Ki-bitch!!"

Ino couldn't take it. She started to laugh, and Hinata giggled a little. Kiba gaped at the comeback Naruto sent him, and Sakura said, "You owe me fifty ryou, Ino."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

(1) Fuuja Houin – Evil Sealing Method

(2) Buki – translated means "armaments", in reference to military weaponry

(3) Hitokugutsu – a type of puppet used by certain shinobi; most well-known hitokugutsu

are Kankurou's Kurasu, and Sasori's Sandaime Kazekage

(4) Ichibi no Tanuki – One-tailed Tanuki/Racoon Dog. Official designation of Shukaku

(5) Takigakure – Hidden Waterfall Village

(6) Bakayarou – along the lines of idiot and dumbass

(7) Suna no Shukaku – Official title of the One-tailed Tanuki. Originally said to have dwelt in the desert in Kaze no Kuni

(8) Aishiteru – I love you

(9) Baka-inu – Naruto's insult for Kiba; meaning idiot dog

(1A) Meisaigakure no Jutsu – Hidden Camouflage Technique. Renders user invisible to the naked eye. However, it can be seen through with the Byakugan and the Sharingan.

(2A) Rai-Arashi Kaiten – Lightening Storm Heavenly Spin. Similar to the Hakkeshou Kaiten, it doesn't require the Jyuuken, and it shoots out bolts on lightening as it spins.

(3A) Gogyo Fuuin – Five Elements Seal. Disrupts the Kyuubi chakra and keeps it separate from Naruto's.

(4A) Gogyo Kaiin – Five Elements Unseal. Releases the Gogyo Fuuin.

Next time on Wrath of the Dragon: Shino goes to see the Hokage, and Naruto learns new jutsu! And it's unofficial: Naruto and Hinata are a couple! But will their forbidden love last through the prejudice of the village? And what is with the Kumo-nin? Next time on Wrath of the Dragon: Truth & Lies! One Month of Training (Part 2)!!

Well, it took me long enough. I won't be around for a while, because my clan (yes, I have a clan, it's just my family) is coming together to mourn the passing of my Grandfather, the Clan Elder.

Until I return, review so I won't get Writer's Block. And send any comments that pertain to questions surrounding the story. Sayonara! ((Rai Shunshin no Jutsu))…