-1Ninja Kitsune

Chapter 9: Jiraiya, Meeting, and "Looney-Coon"

Hayabusa House, Time: 1000 hours.

Naruko woke to the smell of bacon sizzling. She quickly jumped out of bed, got dressed, fixed her hair, and was out the door. When she got to the kitchen, she hugged her parents, and Haku, then sat down at the table. "Dad," she said to her father, "Who was that guy you were talking to last night?"

"You remember when we told you about your actual parents?" Ryu asked, to which Naruko nodded, "Jiraiya was your father's sensei. That guy, last night, was Jiraiya."

"Hard to believe he's one of the legendary Sannin," Haku commented, "Considering where we found him last night."

"What do you mean?" Ayane inquired, "Where did you find him?"

"He as peeking on you in the hot springs," the boy reported, "Ryu almost fed him to a dragon."

"He was WHAT?" Naruko looked stymied.

The commotion caused Jiraiya to wake up and walk into the kitchen. Ayane shot a glare at the man, then walked over to him and said, "If I ever catch you there again, I'll cut off a certain piece of your anatomy and feed it to you."

"Good morning to you too, Ayane," Jiraiya replied, "And believe me, Ryu made that point crystal clear last night."

"Anyway, Naruko," Ryu continued his explanation, "Minato actually named Jiraiya as your godfather. I've asked him to help in your training, before the chunin exams."

"I'm just going to teach you a few more jutsu," Jiraiya noted, "Your family's done a great job training you. The greater fiend thing was really impressive."

"Thanks," Naruko said, "I think."

"I remember Jiraiya, Kit," Arisa told her host, "The guy's a pervert, but he can teach you a lot. Especially your father's jutsu."

"I guess he can't be that bad," Naruko thought.

"Not really bad," replied Arisa, "Just misguided. Besides, he is a sage, and you can learn a great deal from him."

"More than from Dad?"

"Two entirely different people, Naru-chan. Ryu already said he'd teach you most of his jutsu when you made chunin."

Time: 1300 hours.

Sasuke and Sakura sat in the living room with Ryu and Ayane. "Team," Ryu told them, "I've made the decision to enroll you three in the Chunin exams."

"Four," Came Haku's voice from the door, "Lord Hokage put me on this team as a genin to take the exams."

"That's great, Haku-kun," Naruko said, "We'll really kick ass now."

"Sure," Ayane noted, "A 4 man cell may seem like an unfair advantage. But, in these competitions, you'll need every chance, fair or not, that you can get."

"Ayane will act as your sensei during the exams," the Ninja Dragon explained, "Lord Hokage wants me to act as an associate proctor for the second phase of the exams."

"What can you tell us?" Sasuke inquired, "You must have some idea of how this works."

"All I can really tell you is to stay sharp, keep focused, and remember your teamwork," Ryu stated, "My focus will be to keep outside forces from interfering."

"You think another village would try to sabotage the exams?" this from Sakura.

"It's not unheard of," Ayane informed the team, "A few years ago, Kiri put hunter-nins in the exams to kill teams from other countries. And just last year, 5 teams died in an 'accidental' cave in during the exams in Iwa."

"Brutal," Naruko said, "You think Kiri or Iwa may try something?"

"I'd be more worried about Kumo," Ryu commented, "And guys, I'd watch out for team 8. If Kumo makes a move, it'll be against them."

"Why team 8?"Sasuke wondered.

"Hinata," Naruko answered, "They'll be after Hinata."

"How do you know?" inquired Sakura.

"Before Dad adopted me, I lived on the streets," Naruko explained, "I saw the Kumo nin try to kidnap Hinata, and Hiashi kill him. That's how I know." That said, Naruko stood, and walked out the door.

"Woah," Sakura said, "Who knew?"

"Guys," Ryu began, "You are Konoha's A-team in these exams. I have high hopes for you. Go into these exams, and give it all you've got."

Konoha Streets - Time: 1420 hours.

Naruko had decided to take a walk to clear her mind. The news about Jiraiya, then the Chunin exams was a lot to take in. Mostly, she worried for her friend. So clouded was her mind that she walked right into the middle of a situation.

"I said I was sorry," said a small boy, "What more do you want?"

The larger boy, in all black, with paint on his face, started to throw a punch, before Naruko caught his arm.

"Leave him alone, Clown-boy," she told the stranger, "Or you deal with me."

"Clown?"

"You wear more makeup than some girls," Naruko stated, "That means you're either a clown, or a mime."

The stranger let out a growl, but a calm, quiet voice stopped him. "Kankurou," it said, "Quit that. You disgrace us all."

Naruko looked up to see a red-haired boy carrying a large gourd on his back. "Uh-oh," Arisa chimed in, "I can sense a familiar presence. Yep, it's old 'Looney-Coon'."

"Looney-Coon?" Naruko asked the fox.

"Shukaku," Arisa explained, "the 1-tail. That raccoon is absolutely insane. Hence, 'Looney-Coon'."

"You, girl," the strange boy said, "What is your name?"

"Naruko Uzumaki," she answered.

"I'll look forward to our meeting in the exams," he told her, "I am Gaara of the Desert."

"As will I, Mr. Looney-Coon."

Gaara winced. "THAT KAMI-FORSAKEN VIXEN!" Shukaku ranted, "SHE'S THE ONLY ONE TO CALL ME THAT!"

"Vixen?" Gaara wondered.

"Arisa, the Nine-Tailed fox," Shukaku explained, "That damn vixen is sealed in that blonde. She's also the only one to call me 'Looney-Coon'."

Gaara sent a glare back to Naruko, who was walking away. "This just keeps getting more and more interesting," he thought.

-End Chapter 9-

A/N: I know this chapter was shorter than most of my other ones, but I figured this would be the right note to end on. Question to reviewers: What do you think of Arisa's nickname for Shukaku, "Looney-Coon"?