Chapter Ten : Wave/ANBU
A/N : Why so slow, you ask? I've got point A, and point B. The in between needed to be fleshed out, and I had a semi-block. So it's gonna jump around a lot...
Naruto leapt off the tree, and landed softly on the ground right in front of Tazuna's house, and he sent a burst of chakra to his seals, re-activating them. Naruto chuckled silently to himself when he realised that all Haku would be able to see was just but a slight blurring before he disappeared in sheer speed. His muscles had ached from the sudden overuse, but well, it was all in the name of protecting the cilent. It wouldn't do if he actually led the enemy to their base, afterall.
He chuckled as he realised that his speed had increased exponentially after the opening of what could be considered the 'last gate' of the Qi technique. If anything, that technique, instead of robbing him of the ability to conduct chakra well, being that his mental energies suddenly increased/shot through the roof, it actually made his control slightly better. That, and Qi added to his physical strength exponentially... He wouldn't be surprised if he could overpower even Tsunade of the Sannin.
(Mini A/N : Why, some may ask. I quote not directly from the book, being that it's in chinese. A brief summary would perhaps suffice. If insufficient, Google it. Zhang Wuji, the guy who had the un-mastered version of the Qi version, the 'last gate' still not unlocked, survived a drop down a cliff with only broken legs. He did land in a pile of snow, but it isn't very thick. His Qi managed to allow him to bounce off the small pile of snow and land from a tremendous drop with ONLY broken legs.
Also, in another series also by Louis Cha, a person could make paper travel quickly and directly while in sheet form. The previous statement might be a bit confusing, so I'll elaborate a bit. What the person did, was to push Qi into the book, and make it travel straight, yet falling down right in front of the person it was supposed to go to. Not that there was insufficient Qi, just showing that the Qi could make the book turn directions IN MID AIR. Qi can also make wooden swords cut through a lot of stuff. Including, but not limited to extremities. Which are limbs, by the way.)
Yuuhi Kurenai groaned, once again. Somehow the Hyuuga heir had her tight hold enforced even while asleep, and she had to wriggle like a lowly worm to get out of the girl's grasp, and even then, she had to endure some pain as her clothes rode up and went tight around her armpits. Kurenai straightened her clothes, before moving out of the room, hopefully to grab a bite or two, pausing slightly on the steps as her ears picked up a slight distortion.
Her hands moved towards her kunai holster and she slunk into the shadows of the morning.
Shino observed mutely as his Kikaichu notified him of an object approaching at rapid speed, too quick to be tagged and identified. As his bugs cross referred the information with some of his father's most experienced kikaichu, he made his way down the stairs, ready to hold off the enemy, even for a while, if Gatou's band of merry thugs were approaching. After all, it was tried and proven that a Genin was more than enough to take down at least twenty bandits, even if the person was the dobe of the class. The Rookie of the year was expected to be able to take down fifty at bare minimum, and a hundred on average. Shino had no doubt that he would be able to take down at most a hundred before he collapsed, and for that stamina freak of a team mate, he simply had no idea.
A thousand, perhaps?
Hinata groaned again as she realised that she had hugged her teacher in her sleep, if the fact that there was the distinctive scent of lilies Kurenai seemed to have hanging around her. Deciding that she should wake up and practise what Kurenai taught her yesterday, she tensed when her ears picked up a slight hiss, and she activated her Byakugan.
Naruto quirked an eyebrow, his senses picking up the heightened amount of chakra in the house, before chuckling slightly, realising that it was to be expected, with him not exactly announcing his presence.
"Uhh..." The nondescript brown haired ANBU spoke hesistantly, his blank mask inaccurately reflecting his turbulant emotions. "Taishou?"
"Yes?" The sole person with a decorated mask asked, his face never turning backwards for a moment, as their legs disappeared in blurs.
"Why did Hokage-sama allow that... Genin team to remain even though it's a dangerous situation?" The man spoke.
"Think for once, baka." A purple haired ANBU kunoichi grunted. "Who's on the team?"
"Well, there's Yuuhi Kurenai, the green jounin (Fresh, New, Rookie, Yadda Yadda.) who specialises in Genjutsu, the Hyuuga heiress, Hyuuga Hinata, the Aburame heir, Aburame Shino, and... Oh." The man muttered, blushing slightly behind his mask. "The Uzumaki."
"Hokage-sama has full faith in Naruto-san." The Ghoul Masked ANBU Captain replied. "And so does Kakashi-sempai."
"Kakashi-sempai?" The sole kunoichi gasped. "The Sharigan no Kakashi?! The man who copied over a thousands Jutsus in the war?!"
"The one and only." The captain had a decidedly amused tone. "Kakashi-sempai... Also goes by Ero no Kakashi."
The only shinobi that hadn't spoke up almost choked on his laughter. The poor blue-haired guy nearly crashed into a tree from his lapse in control.
Hyuuga Hiashi strode down the Konoha streets, back straight, arms by his back, the very picture of nobility.
"Hiashi-sama." The Branch house member bowed, and Hiashi promptly ignored the man.
Let it never be said that Hyuuga Hiashi was rude. Hyuuga Hiashi was a polite man. It was that he was in a rush, and he reasoned that if he was in a god damn rush, politness could be damned. Unfortunately for him, being the head of the Currently-Most-Noble-Clan in Konoha, with emphasis on Currently, if the glares sent by the sole surviving Uchiha meant anything, he had rules to follow. The first was : No running in peace time.
The rest could be damned. Hiashi hadn't bothered, and burnt the list after he saw the first, before glaring at the elders that actually drafted it up.
But he still had a reputation to uphold. Sighing mentally, Hiashi attempted to run and walk at the same time.
"But why the faith?" The kunoichi questioned. "He is but a mere Genin."
"Technically, he is." The captain answered. "That is, literally, he isn't."
"What rank?" The brown haired shinobi asked.
"Tokubetsu Jounin." The Captain paused briefly, hanging on a branch for much longer than necessary. "Probably high Jounin to low ANBU if he trains to his limits these few months."
"Tokubetsu in...?" The blue haired shinobi queried.
"Fuuinjutsu." The Captain replied curtly. "If he pulls his Genjutsu abilities up, he'll be a Jounin, or even, an ANBU in no time."
"On a scale of 1 to 5?" The kunoichi asked.
"His Genjutsu rates at 1." The Captain gave a faint smile, hidden under his mask. "But his ability to detect and break Genjutsu is unparalleled, even versus the Sharigan."
"For real?" The brown haired shinobi stuttered. "You must be shitting me!"
"Language, Buta." The Captain smirked. "As for his other stats, I believe his Ninjutsu stands around 4 to 5, his Taijutsu being 3.5 to 4, his Stamina is probably 6, his speed ranges from 3 to 5, being that I've never seen him with his weighs off before, his Fuuinjutsu probably around 4.5."
"His other statistics?" The brunette asked.
"I guess I could rate his Strategy at 4. His physical strength probably at 3 to 4, his stealth is at 5.. Or rather, used to be at 5. It dropped to 4 due to his massive stores of chakra, and his Kekkei Genkai is pretty much unknown. His chakra control probably rates at High Chuunin, but taking into consideration that he has THAT, it's like saying he has Tsunade's control. He probably has increased it to Low Jounin now."
"Wow." The kunoichi whistled. "He could probably give me a run for my money. How ungodly is his stamina to rate at a 6 in a scale of 1 to 5?!"
"He could probably outlast ANBU Team 8. In total. Those stamina freaks damn near broke down the first time." The Captain chuckled. "He made Jiraiya-sama AND Hokage-sama collapse from Chakra Exhausation, when he was merely winded."
"WHAT?!" The shocked blue haired shinobi, for the second time that day, nearly crashed into a tree.
Shino gave a small smile as his bugs reported that the blur had slowed down, and was identified as a certain Uzumaki Naruto.
"Who's that?" Kurenai asked, appearing by his side, emerging from the shadows.
"Naruto-kun." Hinata replied, walking down the stairs.
"Indeed." Shino nodded in affirmative.
Naruto opened the doors, and he entered not a moment too soon, as four blurs emerged where he once stood.
"ANBU Team 3." Kurenai quirked an eyebrow. "This is... early."
"Hai." The Captain spoke. "Now if you don't mind, my men are in need of supplies, and food."
"Come on in." Kurenai nodded. "They're allies, Tazuna-san!"
"Food's served!"
"If I may comment, Yuuhi-san, your... student has reduced Kage Bushins from a skill to be revered to... something cheap." The ANBU captain chuckled. "He makes it look like the normal Bushins... in terms of chakra usage, that is."
"He likes to abuse them." Kurenai sighed. "Well, it's nothing as bad as using a powerful technique to propel a boat."
Somewhere, in a unnamed village, a certain peeping white haired Sannin sneezed, inciting cries of fury, and while taking his due punishment, thought. Someone must be thinking of me. Probably something bad.
(Don't get it? Well, this in-joke came from a Naruto filler episode where Jiraiya and Naruto propelled a boat with THE FUCKING RASENGAN. I spluttered like a fish out of water.)
"Well, the food's not gonna wait for you." Naruto grumbled, twitching slightly. "It's not my fault that I've enough chakra to pull this off." He groused.
Hiashi groaned as he reached the Hyuuga Manor. His leg was numb, from the two conflicting orders sent to it, to walk, and to run. He almost trotted like a horse, but he was the god damn picture of NOBILITY, so he managed to catch himself before the Hyuuga pride would have gone to the dogs. No offense to the Inuzukas, of course. They were too valuable an ally to piss off and alienate.
The Hyuuga elders were totally another matter altogether. What would he pay to get those old cronies off his back... Perhaps he might just convince the Hokage that the elders were plotting something and perhaps the Hokage might just allow a semi-Hyuuga Massacre to occur...
That is, if the Hokage would. The old man was behaving rather like all typical old shinobi, suddenly gaining a immature respect for life in their last few years, and seemed to think that it would serve to lighten their guilt... Not.
Whoever thought that should be brought out and a blunt Kunai horribly stabbed into him. Multiple times.
And a Hakke Sanbyaku Rokujuisshiki (Eight Trigrams Three-Hundred Sixty-One Palms) with a Hakke : Kaiten up his posterior, Sennen Goroshi Style.
It would be a merry day, indeed. Hiashi cackled evilly.
Sarutobi Juzou sneezed, his mucus shooting out of his nose at dangerous speeds and generally tainting his premium Icha Icha book.
Hiashi felt oddly amused and satisfied when he heard a sudden screech, in that unmistakable Sarutobi-voice, from the direction of the tower.
"So..." The ANBU captain clasped his hands together, tummy slightly rounded from the meal. "I guess some introductions are in order, huh?"
"Anyway, I am known as Tenzou." The Captain surmarized succintly. "The purple one's known as Neko, the brownie is Buta, and blues over there is Okami."
"Buta!?" Naruto laughed, choking on his drink, as the indigant ANBU member glared at the blond genin.
"Madara-sama." Pein gave a curt bow to the cloaked figure. "We have... encountered a set back in our plans."
"It's the sudden loss in funds, isn't it?" Madara growled. "Where is the list of new members? We need someone to replace Kakuzu... urgently."
"Would it be wise to kill him, Madara-sensei?" Uchiha Itachi spoke for the first time, emerging from the walls. "He has talents Akatsuki requires."
"I would be a fool not to recognize it." Madara spat. "Perhaps a lesson would be sufficient. Itachi-kun, tell Kakuzu that Pein wants to see him in this room immediately."
"By your leave, Madara-sensei." Itachi gave a sweeping bow, his face seemingly engraved in stone, giving away no emotion.
"What about the situation in Amegakure, Pein?" Madara turned, facing the sole holder of the Rinnegan.
"Hanzou is dead." Pein reported curtly. "I have taken over."
"Excellent." Madara's voice revebrated around the room. "Step up on the shinobi training system."
Their conversation was abruptly cut off by a knock on the door, followed by a series of taps, indicating that Itachi had left Kakuzu at the door.
"Enter!" Pein boomed.
"What do you require of me, Leader-sama?" Kakuzu sweated.
He knew that gambling was bad. He knew that gambling often resulted in him getting bankrupt. If it wasn't for the fact that it had potentially been able to double their finances, he wouldn't have done it. And his finger itched, his oft-wrong gambling sense tingled, and he lost everything. He was prepared to fight Pein to the death before dying, probably broken, but by the fact that the Pein in front of him only had two bodies, perhaps he wouldn't die... yet.
The hooded Pein spoke. "For that mistake, you shall learn your lesson. Tsukyoumi."
Kakuzu's mind could only register the impossibility that the Rinnegan could also use the Mangekyou Sharigan's technique before his world exploded in pain. Beneath that haze of red and unbridled agony, he heard a sinister voice sneer. "71 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds left. May you never forget the sensation of being drowned by casino chips."
His mind barely registered that it was impossible to drown in something solid before the veritable Tsunami swamped him again, crushing him beneath the weight.
"What are you doing Zabuza-sama!" Haku shrieked, as she saw her mentor, her master, attempt to pick up a water jug.
"Is it a crime to want for a glass of water?" Zabuza levelled her a glare.
"But your hands..." Haku murmured.
Zabuza's glare faltered for a second. "I must admit, this has been most frustrating. But nevertheless, I'm an ex-ANBU. I am not a hapless little wimp uncapable of daily duties, Haku-chan."
"Indeed, Zabuza-sama. I just fear for your well-being." Haku bowed. "I apologize if I have done anything out of my..."
"I understand, Haku." Zabuza sighed. "I just couldn't take being helpless."
"I... I met the boy who hurt you in the woods, Zabuza-sama." Haku muttered. "His name is Uzumaki Naruto."
"Uzumaki, you say." Zabuza chuckled. "No wonder he has that..."
"What 'that', Zabuza-sama?" Haku queried.
"The 'that' isn't anything like a Kekkei Genkai. It's more of their bodies being able to handle ridiculous amounts of chakra without bursting." Zabuza chuckled. "You know that technique he used on me?"
"Hai?"
"He overloaded it five times over." Zabuza laughed, his scratchy laughter echoing around the room. "You remember what happened when you overload a technique with chakra?"
"Indeed, Zabuza-sama." Haku nodded. There had been once where their prey had attempted a last ditch effort, and his hand blew up grossly from the excess of chakra being concentrated.
"What did I tell you then?" Zabuza turned to the table.
"He overloaded the technique t... twice over." Haku gasped in revelation.
"And the boy overloaded that technique FIVE times over." Zabuza emphasised. "Don't take him for a green Genin."
"Hai, Zabuza-sama." Haku nodded, retreating out of the room to grind the medicine.
"AND FOR THE LAST TIME, STOP CALLING ME -SAMA!" Zabuza roared, much to the amusement of the giggling Haku.
"Yes, Zabuza-sama." Haku bursted into peals of unrestrained laughter, while Zabuza raged in the room.
Hyuuga Hiashi settled himself comfortably behind his table, taking his time to purview the paperwork that littered the table. Frowning slightly, he took out a pen and started doing some paperwork mechanically, having mastered both doing paperwork and thinking about other things a long time ago, where his father had somehow gotten 'The Heir must do as much paperwork as he can as a child to help him in the future' into his head. He perfected the art.
So... The Uzumaki a Tokubetsu Jounin, huh? His father is Namikaze Minato. And as for his mother, I don't know, so perhaps there might be other benefits from his mother's side that I'm not aware of yet. Since he's the last of the Namikaze, I could gun for the Clan Restoration Rights for him, along with the Clan Restoration Rules, and the Rule of the Shodai. Then I can suggest either Hinata or Hanabi... No, Hanabi's probably too young. So Hinata, then. Well, it seems that he might have the hots for the Yuuhi... This might just put the proverbial spanner in my plans... Nah, the CRR enables him to take more than five wives, with four as a bare minimum. So... Hiashi's mind whirred at breakneck speed. What's more, Hinata has some like for him, and the Uzumaki's a rather rare kind of boy, a way better match than what the rest of the Council perceives. At this, Hiashi couldn't help but to clench his fist. And can't the stupid idiots get into their brain that NO Hyuuga is going to be married to that UCHIHA. The day the Hyuuga Clan combines with the Uchiha Clan is the day we elect Uchiha Itachi as the Godaime.
Said Uchiha survivor sneezed. Unfortunately for him, he was in the middle of yelling out a Katon jutsu, and it screwed his handseals up. End result? Instead of fire from his mouth, the poor Uchiha launched a Great Fireball from his ass.
End of Chapter 10.
A/N : I forgot to mention that Hinata, despite what Hiashi may think, is not going to be in the harem. I have plans.