AN:
An annoyingly short chapter this time, why? Because I can't think of anything original to write for most of the time line this chapter covers... I'll try fit in some original character back story, but I half want to just skip to writing chapter 5... I mean there I get to show off my awesome idea. So awesome that it might take up 2 chapters.
I dedicate this chapter to my Aunt in law Jan Mason who passed on recently in a small symbol to immortalise my affection for her. R.I.P.
Uzumaki Naruto the Clone 連隊長
Chapter 4. Plots With A Extra Side Of Sabotage
"I'm sorry Naruto, but I can't let you pass."
"But Iru-!"
"If you can't make a basic Bunshin you're a failure as a ninja brat!" Mizuki said cutting off our blond-haired hero.
Pissed, depressed, broken.
They were just some of the feeling Naruto felt as he was sent out of the exam room, passing his chatting class mates and out the academy front door. He'd failed again, and now one to many times.
Standing under a small porch off to the side of the entrance he couldn't bring him self to trudge home to his run down flat in the red light district, so he watched as children greeted parents and went home with their families.
"Hey 'fish cake'-kun." came a soft feminine voice, the stink carefully removed via Naruko's tone.
It had infuriated Naruto when she first called him that, his name meant 'Maelstrom' not 'fish cake' and it was not like hers was any better.
"What do you want 'clapper'."
*Wack*
"Fine, what up 'clapper'-chan." He said rubbing the lump on his head.
"Cheer up."
"Why, I can't be Hokage if I'm not a ninja."
Seeing how down the blond was, Naruko smiled sadly thinking to herself "There is always your old goal."
"No. We both know I can't have a life as the world greatest ramen chef. All that hard work for make a perfect bowl, only for someone else to eat it!"
"Even for someone special."
"Your not having my ramen."
They settled into a brief comfortable science before Naruko dropped down next to him from the ceiling "I've got to go, I promised to walk Hinata-chan back."
Grunting softly in a way reminiscent of a certain black-haired emo, Naruto ignored the red-head as she walked off each feeling down at the exams results.
As the last of the student left the academy ground the teaches began to trickle out, one of them making his way over to the blond.
"You still here brat."
"Yes Mizuki-sensei."
"Look kid... I admit I'm feeling sorry for you okay." Naruto could only stare in shock at his least favourite teachers change in tune "Ever now and again there are student who can't do parts of the exams and fail, last year we had a kid who could only do Taijutsu."
Seeing that he was beginning to lose the orange clad blonds attention he hurried it along "Your stealth and infiltration is great, and theirs an exam you can take to be a specialist."
"Really! I'd be a Ninja."
"Ye-"
"Yaaaha! I'll do it!"
"Okay. Now you are to sneak into the Hokage's office with out anyone realising, then find and capture the Forbidden Scroll before taking it to the finish line. After the alarm is raised you have one hour to get to the finish point, this map will guide you."
"The Forbidden Scroll! Can I read it."
"Sure"maybe if I'm lucky you'll find something in it that kills you, but just to be sure..'
"I'm on it"
"Before you go. Several of the traps in the tower and near the safe have poisons as part of the defences, this vial contains an antidote that must be taken before hand okay."
As the blond ran of in a hurry and a smirking traitor went to pack, two pairs of eyes turned to look at each other.
Hyūga Hinata and Sarutobi Uzumaki Namikaze Naruko, ran stealthy across the rooftops of the
village tailing their mark. They shouldn't really, it was beneath them. How ever the pair were inseparable and their involvement in hunting their target, now more important than ever.
The target had first come onto their radar in their youth, no more than a pair of girls they were set upon by bullies. Normally they could chase of anyone who came at them but it seemed several groups had ganged up.
Backed into a corner, with now hope of escape the girls resigned themselves to fighting tooth and claw, dispirit the fact they were certain to lose.
As Naruko drew her wooden training sword and Hinata got into the beginners Jūken stance, the opposing group drew actual weapons ranging from makeshift clubs to a few poorly maintained Katana an Tantō, causing the girls to pale.
Before the first blow could be struck however a handful of rocks and paint balls pelted the bullies, allowing the girls to slip away as the bullies changed their target.
Over the nest few years the girls had chosen to watch their rescuer, to learn his habits and likes.
How ever out of the two of them only Hinata would admit that they were stalking the boy who she had become infatuated with. Now however it was a race to keep him safe.
The girls knew Mizuki was lying, he had always done his best to sabotage Naruto.
So they followed the crazy, lovable, energetic blond-haired teen.
Night had fallen.
Most of the village were asleep, the only signs of life being a handful of bars some faint youthful yelling from the training fields and a few muffled wails from the T&I building.
However deep within the Hokage's tower a lone candle flicked on a table the soft rustle of paper moving, showed that the work of a Hokage was never done.
*Giggle*
How ever anyone who thought the Hokage would be actually working after nine at night, didn't know him all to well.
Held in a pair of strong wrinkled hands, sat the beating heart of Konoha's seat of power.
The only thing that made it bearable.
The Complete Icha Icha Series Omnibus.
Twelve books, forty-six chapters.
Two thousand three hundred and eleven pages.
And the only reason Sarutobi Hiruzen was still sane.
Mostly sane.
As he continued to giggle away at the perverted contents of the signed first edition copy of the 'Big Orange Book', he failed to notice the other source of orange in the room, as did the silver-haired ANBU peaking over his shoulder at the pages.
With the utmost care Naruto crawled on his stomach across the office floor, his eyes carefully spying the decorative rug in the hidden library, through the crack between the floor and hidden door.
Continuing his silent count, Naruto waited his hand in the last symbol for the substitution Jutsu.
..3
..2
..1
*POP! Pheeeeeeeeew!*
As the fireworks went off outside Naruto switched with the rug in the hidden room, before knocking back the antidote he has given and quickly looking around.
In the office Hiruzen peaked out the window at the display, parents probably celebrating their child passing the academy exam. Turning his mind to his almost grandson's plight, he wondered if he could find someone to take Naruto on as an apprentice.
Loosing himself in thought as the fireworks continued, he didn't notice his ANBU guard take the book and continue reading, or the orange clad subject of his thought sneaking in then out of the room carrying an overly large scroll.
All of this how ever, was seen by a girl outside thanks to the Byakugan, as she whispered into her friend's ear.
How ever nobody noticed the small symbol flashing urgently down in the bowels of T&I ...for now.
He'd done it!
The scroll was his and he hadn't raised the alarm.
Opening the scroll he began to pour over the words inside, wondering what to read first.
Most of the scroll seemed to be research or bloodline techniques, and though Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei looked interesting at first he quickly decided it was evil, and skipping to the end of the scroll had him mentally back peddling at one simply called 'balls crusher'. Eventually however he found one he liked the look of.
Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu
Easy to use.
Solid clones.
Few hand signs.
Had a note by it saying it was partly created for Uzumaki's to help with their Bunshin problem.
Why the hell, did someone tell him this sooner?!
Quickly memorizing the hand signs he set to work, not noticing the red-haired girl on the tree branch above the scroll peering down.
20 minutes later
After they had tracked Naruto to the meeting spot Naruko had told her to go fetch the Hokage, however as she reached the village she noticed the commotion as shinobi ran back and forth searching the village.
The alarm had been raised.
43 minutes later
He'd done it!
Standing across from him was a perfect copy of himself, acting like he was the coolest thing in the world.
"Who's the best, just look at me Boss!"
"Hey! I did the Jutsu." Naruto said striking the clone as it puffed out of existence, some of the chakra returning to him.
*Ugh!*
Dropping to his knees Naruto clutched at the pain in his stomach as he coughed up blood.
"Heh, I see it's started then." came Mizuki's voice as he steeped out of the shadows "It really was a good thing he gave me that poison, even if it was meant for the old fool."
Kneeling down to look the now collapsed boy in the eyes, he smiled "And you know what's funny. If you hadn't of learned that Jutsu you could have lived a boring normal life."
"Now die demon."
His ears still ringing with Mizuki's words Naruto felt a falling sensation as his eyes closed.
AN:
The End.
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...for this chapter.
Poll on Profile:
Votes have been tallied and QA (question A) is now closed with the Kyūbi no Yōko being projected as Female and in the Innocent style (Innocent? Just what does that mean.. just wait and read.)
The poll will stay up to allow more time for QB (aka Naruto/Naruko/Harem paring)
Notes:
Naruko's name. According to , Naruko is 鳴子which mean Clapper, as in two bits of wood you hit against each other.
Deviation from cannon. Naruko has had more of an effect on the story line than has currently been explained leading to several character developing slightly different.
Next Chapter: 1 week (baring no change of internet provider delays)
Disclaimer
I do not own any part of the Naruto verse or it's franchise and recognise the ongoing effort of it hard working staff and loyal fans who ensure it continues to grow. I also would like to thank the creators and co-creators of Star Wars, for several of the ideas connected to clone armies.
A Thrans (Writer) Production.