Chapter 12
It was early morning when both Naruto and Jiraiya appeared in Sarutobi's office.
"Jiraiya! Naruto!" Sarutobi gasped as the pair appeared in front of his desk.
"I know we should have called first, sensei, but this is rather important." Jiraiya said.
"Oh? What exactly?" the hokage asked.
Naruto and Jiraiya quickly explained what Naruto had told Gaara had told him yesterday.
"Are you sure about this Naruto?" he asked.
The boy nodded.
"Do you know how many are out there?"
"They've had time to plan and prepare. And considering they have an additional month before the final phase of the Exam..." Naruto said.
"And add to the fact you've already got everybody guarding your elite guests, your army is cut in half and I sure as hell don't think Danzo's gonna help you." Jiraiya said.
"It's possible he's in on it with Orochimaru. That's a best guess. I've got no proof for it." Naruto said.
"Of course not. Danzo's not so big a fool as to announce it or anything." Sarutobi sighed. "Enemies outside, enemies inside, no allies to speak of. Wonderful!"
While the older man brooded, Naruto came up with an idea.
"Jii-san! I think I have an idea on how to get some proof." Naruto said and did the seals for the Kage Bunshin.
However, something happened and where there should have been a Naruto-clone stood a young man with silvery-white hair, blue eyes and a demon left arm. He was dressed in a long, black, short-sleeved trench coat, black leather pants, a red vest covering a white shirt and black boots. He had a strange looking sword strapped to his back and a holster under his right arm.
"What the hell?" Naruto gasped. "That's supposed to be a clone."
The 'clone' didn't say anything, just stared at Naruto, and Naruto understood him.
"His name's Nero. He can help us." Naruto said.
"He can? How?" Jiraiya asked. 'And how did he get the Rinnegan?' he wondered.
"He's going to find some proof for us." Naruto said, then he looked at Nero. "Be careful."
Nero nodded and took off in a puff of black smoke.
"Naruto, do you know what you just did?" Jiraiya asked. "How did you get his body?"
"I don't know. At first I thought that the Rinnegan didn't work. I was practicing with it and went to this old abandoned cemetery..."
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Flashback, New Whirlpool
After training with Hagane and Hinata, Naruto went into a library and read about dojutsus.
'Hmm, I wonder if we have one.'
He'd read about all the different dojutsus out there, but when he got to the 'Rinnegan' he felt that maybe that was the one he had. He sent some chakra to his eyes and he felt something in them. He read the scroll and saw how they were to look. He took off his head band to see his reflection, and sure enough they matched the picture on the scroll.
'Now, it says that they could send a small portion of their soul into the body of a dead person, and they can then summon them up like a Kage Bunshin. I've got to try this out.' he thought.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Going alone at night he found an abandoned cemetery and selected what he felt was a good grave. He wasn't sure if the grave was 'good' or not, but he just thought it would work. Having chosen the grave, he activated his Rinnegan and sent a small amount of his soul in to the body. However, after nearly ten minutes of nothing, the blond boy became dejected, giving up and heading back to the village, not telling anyone about the Rinnegan. After all, why would he tell anyone, even his mother, about a technique that failed?
End flashback
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"I guess he just needed more time to get powerful enough to fully manifest himself." Naruto said.
"Alright." Sarutobi said, slightly surprised at what had just happened. "Now, does Kushina know about this or is her ANBU coming just to protect her?" he asked.
"Red Swirl (Whirlpool's answer to ROOT –Ed), will be coming with mom as her guard, but there will be platoons of Whirlpool shinobi out stationed around Konoha when they arrive." He said, which appeased the Third Hokage.
With that settled, Naruto left and went back to his hotel.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
On his way back someone came up to him, he was dressed in a long black robe, had white hair, silver eyes and a white mustache.
"Excuse me?" he said.
Naruto looked at him. "Yes, what can I do for you?" Naruto asked.
"I was wondering would you be interested in going to a costume party?" the man asked.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Costume party?" He asked.
"Yes, Namikaze-san." The man said.
Naruto looked at the man "You know me?" He asked, inwardly smacking himself. 'Idiot! Word has to have been out by now about me!' "Okay, let's say that I want to go, how would I get an outfit?"
"Follow me." he said, leading the boy to a shop that wasn't there before.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Welcome to my costume shop." he said as Naruto just stared at the two huge floors of costumes everywhere. "It's called 'Spells 'R' Us', but we also have costumes."
Naruto looked around and stopped when he came to a black bodysuit with silver trim, a full face mask with a visor, and a bunch of real looking weapons with it.
"That is our 'Snake-Eyes' costume." the man said.
"When is this party?" Naruto asked.
"Just before the Chunnin Exams finals." he replied.
"Okay, then I'd like to get some costumes for my team and family." Naruto said.
After an hour of searching and selecting, Naruto paid for the costumes and took off.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
However, on his way back to the hotel, Naruto ran into some ANBU.
'Oh here we go.' Naruto thought. "Yes, can I help you?" he asked. "I thought I said if Danzo wanted me, to come and get me himself."
"Danzo did not send us to get you, demon!" the leader said.
"Then who sent you, asshole?" He said.
Just then he heard the 'shing' of a katana released as it was under the ANBU's chin at his neck.
"I did Namikaze-sama." said the matriarch of the Takeuchi clan. "Now apologize to Namikaze-sama before you become a head shorter!" the woman said.
"I'd rather die then apologize to that demon!"
Just then the ANBU heard the click of a hand gun cocking and felt the muzzle pressed against his head. Naruto thumbed the hammer back, his finger on the trigger.
"Okay, then I apologize to you, Takeuchi-sama, for getting blood on you." Naruto said and was about to pull the trigger.
Two members of his team were about to attack Naruto, when they found a pair of kodachi's at their throats, which stopped them in their tracks.
"WHAT?" the leader gasped, as the kodachi wielding ninja pulled off their masks revealing themselves to be Takeuchi members.
Taicho just smirked and gave out an order.
"These men bore me, kill them." She said softly.
It was then that the ANBU captain spoke up. "Alright, I'm sorry Namikaze-sama!" He said.
Naruto looked at him with an annoyed gaze and shook his head.
"Sure, you apologize when your own life is on the line. You should've thought about that all those times you attacked me. All those time you got drunk and tried to kill me." Naruto said.
"All those times you tried to rape me!" one of the Takeuchi kunoichi said.
"And the time you threw acid in my face destroying the skin around my eye." Taicho said. "Kill them."
Two deep slashes and one point-blank gunshot dropped all three ANBU to the ground.
"Shed no tears for those who deserve it not." She said as she replaced her sword. She turned back towards Naruto and smiled. "Namikaze-sama, would you care to join me for tea?"
"I would be honored Takeuchi-sama." Naruto said, still carrying his purchased costumes.
To be continued