Jiraiya's Last Student
Don't own Naruto enough said
The first four matches for the prelims had ended, and the next four were about to begin. After the fight with Naruto and Ino, if it could be called a fight, had ended, it had put a hold for the moment on the rest of the exams.
Naruto still sat in the same spot up in the balcony, staring at the floor. The other gennin, minus his team, just stared at him, wondering what he did to Ino. The fact of the matter was that Naruto had nothing to do with that, but he was not about to tell them that. Naruto sighed; the match couldn't have gone much worse.
Hayate coughed in an attempt to grab everyone's attention. The action seemed to work, as everyone turned their heads in his direction.
"The fifth match will begin now."
Two names came up on the bored Shikamaru Nara and Sakura Haruno. They both descended the stairs to the arena. This was the type of distraction Naruto needed from his own problems. He got up off the bench and walked up to the railing to see the match.
"Are you alright now, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked softly.
"Not really, but I'll be fine I guess. It's Ino I'm more concerned about at the moment," he replied.
"Will she be alright?"
"Yeah. The fox only scared her, nothing more. I'm just wondering what she will think of me now."
Hinata, looked at Naruto, who was staring down at the match that was about to take place. She wanted to hug him and try and make him feel a little better, but that would definitely give away their current relationship that they have been trying to keep hidden.
Kurenai sighed, they were definitely keeping up the act of not being a couple pretty well. 'What a mess,' she thought.
"Let the battle between the bookworm and the lazy genius begin," Naruto mumbled just before Hayate said anything to begin the match. He only said it loud enough for his teammates to hear. Kurenai couldn't help but laugh a little at Naruto's comment. Hinata giggled but they were both silenced when they heard Shino laugh a little. All three of them just stared at him like the unspeakable had just happened.
They turned their attention to the arena when they heard Hayate begin the match.
"May the match between Shikamaru Nara and Sakura Haruno begin!" Hayate announced.
Shikamaru and Sakura stood still as they thought about which move to make.
Shikamaru yawned. "Man this is boring. Why did I have to fight a girl?"
"What you say?" Sakura yelled.
"She's noisy, too..." he muttered.
Sakura through a kunai at him, she knew of the Nara jutsu. Shikamaru just side stepped to avoid the kunai. Sakura weighed her options, she didn't have any ranged jutsu and he did. She was going to have to get close somehow.
'Well, standing here isn't going to help me,' Sakura thought.
Sakura ran at Shikamaru while creating several clones. The clones were really here only option at getting close. Shikamaru extended his shadow at one of the Sakura clones but it wasn't the right one. He was able to do that two more times before she was too close. Shikamaru barley ducked under a punch.
'She's faster than I thought she would be.'
Shikamaru ducked under one of Sakura's right hooks. She jumped back about a foot and created several clones and began to attack again. Shikamaru took out a kunai right before Sakura landed a punch on Shikamaru's face knocking the kunai out of his hand. The kunai landed several feet behind Sakura stuck in the ground.
Shikamaru jumped back and extended his shadow towards Sakura. She easily jumped out of the way of the shadow. A few seconds later, she found herself unable to move.
'What? How?' she thought. Her eyes widened in realization of what just happened. That kunai he'd dropped earlier was used to to extend his shadow.
"Well that was more of a workout than I thought it would be," Shikamaru muttered. "So Sakura, do you concede, or do I have to knock you out or something?"
Sakura sighed, she knew she had lost. "I concede. So was the kunai something you planned?"
"Yeah, although I wasn't too sure it was going to work."
"Winner of the fifth match Shikamaru Nara!"
Shikamaru released his jutsu, allowing Sakura to move on her own power again. The two ascended the stairs and rejoined their teams. They didn't bother to talk on the way up.
Sakura sighed, she was a little depressed she couldn't win her match.
"Well, Sakura, that was pretty good," Kakashi said as he put away his little orange book he had been reading.
"Thanks Kakashi-sensei!" she replied.
"Yeah, not bad," Sasuke mumbled.
Sakura blushed at the Uchiha's words. She didn't say anything in return. She figured he would rather keep it that way since Kiba hadn't heard him. Although, Kakashi had, and he eyed both of them when he heard Sasuke.
'Well, maybe Sasuke has finally gotten over some of his issues. I have to admit he was acting differently a few days before the exams,' Kakashi thought.
The electronic board came to life the two names read Tenten and Sasuke Uchiha.
"Sasuke Uchiha and Tenten please make your way to the arena floor," Hayate called out.
Tenten jumped off the railing while Sasuke walked instead. Just as Sasuke was walking by team eight, Naruto spoke up.
"Better not lose just yet teme. We still need to have a match," Naruto spoke without even turning around.
Sasuke stopped just as he passed Naruto and without even turning to look at him he spoke. "Of course, dobe, but I don't plan on losing to you when our match comes up."
Kurenai looked at both of them. They were grinning like mad men. She was honestly a little scared by it. That particular match would definitely be something to see if Naruto was as good as Jiraiya claimed he was. Naruto never really revealed what Jiraiya had taught him.
Sasuke continued to walked down to the arena after his short chat with Naruto. He now stood in front of a grinning Tenten. He couldn't help but wonder what she thinking right now.
"So what are you so happy about?"
"Well, I get to fight the famed Uchiha in a match and beat him! Why wouldn't I be happy?" she replied.
Sasuke activated his eyes. "Well show me what you got!"
"Let the sixth match begin!"
Tenten jumped back instantly and threw a few shuriken. Sasuke took out a kunai and easily blocked them. Sasuke didn't know anything about the girl in front of him, so he would just have to react to what she threw at him. But if all she did was throw stuff at him, this match wasn't going last long. Sasuke was slightly annoyed though by the cheering of her sensei and the one known as Rock Lee.
"Are those two always this noisy?" Sasuke asked.
"Afraid so. Sometimes I wish they weren't so energetic. Now are you ready to fight?"
"Sure, but I hope you can do more than throw stuff at me," he taunted.
His taunt worked as she became extremely agitated. She charged him throwing shuriken at mass as she got closer to him. Sasuke easily blocked or dodged them. Tenten pulled out two kunai and started to slash at him. Sasuke weaved in and out of her slashes and stabs with the kunai. Sasuke finally retaliated; he ducked under a slash to the face and kicked her in the gut sending her flying a few yards back.
Tenten coughed as she got back to her feet. She wasn't even able to touch him. Tenten smirked, she jumped into the air taking out a few of her scrolls. Weapons began popping out all around her and she threw a hailstorm of sharped steel at the Uchiha.
Sasuke dodged the hailstorm of weapons. He jumped away from them quickly, as he noticed the wire attached to each weapon. The weapons came to life. It seemed that Tenten was using her chakra in the thin metal wire to control the weapons.
"Now Sasuke can you dodge all of this?" Tenten asked, grinning from ear to ear.
Sasuke smirked. "Who knows?" he said as he shrugged his shoulders.
Tenten moved her hands, moving the weapons as well. The weapons all barreled down on Sasuke, but all he did was stand there. Sasuke smirked, and moved at the last possible moment as all the weapons struck at the place he had been standing. Sasuke flew through hand seals. "Katon: Dragon Fire Jutsu!" the stream of flames engulfed Tenten's weapons turning them red hot along with the wire attached to them.
The wire started to burn her hands. Tenten quickly detached the wires and jumped back. She took her eyes off Sasuke for only a second but a second was too long. Sasuke appeared behind Tenten with a kunai placed against her throat and against the back of her neck. If she moved at all she would be killed.
"Well it seems you lost," Sasuke said with a smirk on his face.
"Winner of the sixth round Sasuke Uchiha!" Hayate announced.
The match between Sasuke and Tenten was flawless on Sasuke's part. Naruto only thought it was due to his Sharingan that he was actually able to dodge everything. If he didn't have it he would have at least gotten seriously hurt.
Tenten sighed and walked back up the stairs with her head hung low, muttering, "I couldn't even touch him," in a depressed tone.
Sasuke walked a few feet behind her with a bored expression on his face. He walked back to the place on the railing next to his team to watch the next match. Sasuke's team congratulated him on his match.
Soon enough the next two names popped up on the board. It was Hinata Hyuga against her cousin, Neji Hyuga.
Naruto looked at Hinata who was trembling a little, he never inquired about her own family before but now he wishes he had.
"Do your best Hinata-chan," Naruto said loud enough for only her to hear.
Hinata stopped her trembling and nodded towards Naruto, then made her way down the stairs. She was now determined to do her best. She took up a gentle fist stance as she prepared herself for Hayate to start the match.
Up in the balcony, Naruto looked at Kurenai. She had an expression on her face that said she wasn't pleased with this fight at all. Naruto turned his attention back to the fight that was about to begin.
Hayate had begun the match. Hinata stood in her gentle fist stance in order to guard herself from Neji's attacks. Neji, on the other hand, just stood there, hands at his sides, glaring at her.
Neji started to grin all of a sudden. "You can't win. You must already realize this," Neji said in a matter-of-fact tone. "In all our past sparring sessions you were never able to beat me; I doubt you have gained the ability to challenge me in this short time. Give up now before I'm forced to harm you in this match."
Hinata's response was to activate her Byakugan. "I've worked very hard since I became a part of team eight! I will not disappoint him."
"You speak of that failure? Heh, once a failure, always a failure, just like you, my dear cousin." Venom dripped from every word as Neji spoke . Neji activated his Byakugan and finally dropped into a gentle fist stance.
Naruto was gripping the railing tight enough that he was leaving an imprint of his hands on it. He wasn't upset about the insults towards him because he had heard them before, but the insults towards Hinata were unacceptable. Kurenai put a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him. It seemed to work, if only a little.
The two Hyuga charged each other in a blur of motion. Hinata smoothly blocked Neji's strikes as they began what looked like an elaborate dance. The bursts of chakra that came from each blocked blow looked like they could really destroy things inside your body. Hinata seemed to be able to keep up with her cousin in this match of gentle fist users.
Hinata bent back a full ninety degrees in order to avoid a blow from Neji. She instantly shot back up and landed a strike right in Neji's stomach. He grunted slightly and Hinata jumped back from him.
'She's faster than she used to be, but still not fast enough!' Neji thought. "Is that it? If so you have already lost this match."
Hinata was flexing her hands like there was something wrong with them. When she had heard her cousins words she lifted her sleeve to see a few small dots on her arms. They were chakra burns from where Neji was striking her tenketsu points.
The jounin in the balcony were all surprised at Neji's level of skill when it came to the Byakugan. Very few members of the Hyuga clan were capable of seeing and hitting those points precisely and even fewer were able to hit them like that in combat.
Hinata looked up at Naruto for only a second then dropped back into a gentle fist stance. "I will not give up this time, Niisan, regardless of what you say."
Neji and Hinata began there elaborate dance once more as they continued the battle.
Suddenly they both struck each other at the same time. A few seconds passed before Hinata coughed up some blood, but Neji seemed for the most part unaffected by her attack. Hinata shook off his devastating blow and tried to counter but Neji blocked it and gave her another blow with both palms to the chest that sent her flying several feet back.
Hinata slowly got to her feet again you could see the blood coming out both sides of her mouth. She suddenly fell to her hands and knees, coughing up some blood.
"Give up already. You know you can't win," Neji stated.
Hinata got to her feet wiping the blood away from her mouth with her jacket. "I will not *cough cough* give up." Hinata took up her gentle fist stance once again.
Naruto could only watch as Neji lunged at Hinata. Hinata struck at Neji but he easily blocked the attack and gave her another devastating gentle fist strike to the chest. The strike sent Hinata back several feet.
"Pathetic! It was already destined that I would win," was all he said.
Naruto watched in horror as Hinata was hit mercilessly. His hand was gripping the railing so hard that it began to crack under the pressure.
Hinata somehow managed to get back to her feet once more. "Pathetic? Niisan, take a good look at yourself and then tell me who's pathetic." she replied weakly
Neji's expression with filled with rage he charged Hinata both palms in a position to strike. He was going to end it.
Everything looked like it was going in slow motion for Naruto as he watched Neji charge. Naruto looked at Hinata she wasn't moving at all in any way to defend herself. She had passed out standing up right after she had spoke. Naruto's eye widened. He quickly made a hand seal and disappeared from the balcony.
Naruto appeared right in front of Hinata just as Neji was about to strike. Naruto took both palm strikes to the chest. Naruto felt the pain throughout his chest, but he stood firm not even inching back from the blow.
Kakashi, Gai, and Hayate had grabbed a hold of Neji. Although they would have been too late if Naruto hadn't stepped in. Kurenai had examined Hinata and was screaming for the medics. They rushed out and quickly took Hinata into the medical ward. She was in critical condition.
The jounin released Neji and Hayate called the winner. All the while Naruto stood unmoving with blood trickling out of his mouth. Suddenly Naruto released an immense amount of killer intent, so much, that even Gaara's demon fell silent.
Naruto created a Rasengan and charged Neji only to be stopped by Jiraiya. Everyone in the entire room was wide-eyed at the jutsu Naruto had preformed.
"LET ME GO JIRAIYA!" Naruto screamed as he tried to impale Neji with his Rasengan.
"Kid, there is a time and place for all things, but this is neither the time nor the place." Jiraiya honestly would have rather let Naruto finish what he intended, but that would put him in some serious trouble.
Naruto settled down and released the Rasengan. Jiraiya promptly let go of Naruto. "Neji, if Hinata dies, I will kill you even before the finals take place." With that said, Naruto disappeared in a swirl of leaves. He would have followed after Kurenai and Hinata but he knew they wouldn't let him anywhere near the medical ward.
"Well, kid, what type of flowers should I bring?" Jiraiya said.
"For what?" Neji asked.
"For your funeral," he replied bluntly. Jiraiya didn't wait for an answer. He just walked away.
Neji grumbled and made his way back to the balcony so the next match could take place. He mumbled about how a failure can beat a genius. But at the moment Neji was looking pretty stupid talking to himself like he was. He arrived back at the spot with his team only to be met with by glares from his teammates.
Kakashi looked at the gennin. They mostly had stunned looks on there faces, including Sasuke.
"I suppose you're all wondering what that jutsu was?" Kakashi asked.
They all just turned towards Kakashi, showing their interest in knowing what it was. Kakashi looked at them for a moment before he spoke again.
"That jutsu you just saw would be the Rasengan. It was a jutsu that was created by the fourth Hokage. Jiraiya probably taught it to him while he was training Naruto."
Jiraiya appeared beside Kakashi. "Yeah, I did teach it to him. He mastered it in about a week or so, if I remember correctly."
"How could Naruto master something so complex in such a short amount of time?" Shikamaru asked.
"He just did. I don't know how he caught on so fast, but he did. Even I couldn't do it that quickly. And just because Naruto is good at playing a fool doesn't mean he actually is one. Although, I have to admit, he's done a rather convincing job of it," Jiraiya replied.
"But why did Naruto react like that?" Sakura asked.
"Let me ask you. Do you have a lot of friends and people that generally like you?" Sakura nodded. "Well for Naruto, it's the exact opposite. He has few friends and most people hate him. I mean most of the people that will even talk to Naruto are currently in this room. There are only three people not currently in this building that like Naruto."
All the gennin from Naruto's class except Shino looked down at the ground.
"Unlike most of you, Naruto doesn't take his friends for granted," Jiraiya stated.
The next and final match was finally called. It was Temari and Kiba Inuzuka. They both descended the stairs. Temari knew she was getting death glares from Gaara because he wasn't able to fight.
They met in the middle of the arena floor, waiting for Hayate to tell them to begin. As soon as Hayate said begin, Kiba began to charge.
Kiba took a swipe at Temari, only to receive a closed fan to the head that knocked him through the air. Kiba recovered and charged again. Apparently, strategy wasn't his forte. Temari opened her fan this time and swung it creating a quick but massive burst of wind that threw Kiba back.
"Well, apparently brains aren't your strong suit. I have to admit though, you have a very thick skull," she said, mocking the Inuzuka.
"Bitch!" Kiba got down on all fours "Shikyaku no Jutsu!" (Four Legs Jutsu) Kiba ran at Temari on all fours, jumping from side to side, thinking she couldn't hit him. He was proven wrong when she swung her fan again, blowing him away once again. Temari had yet to actually move from her starting position, and Kiba had been thrown back by her attacks three times now.
"Come on Akamaru!" Kiba yelled. Akamaru jumped on Kiba's back as soon as his master called for him. "Juujin Bunshin!" (Beast Human Clone) Akamaru turned into a perfect copy of his master.
"Well this is interesting. Maybe two can put up more of a fight than one," she said, mocking the Inuzuka once again.
Kiba growled at her. He and Akamaru ran at Temari "Gatsuuga!" (Dual Piercing Fang) Kiba and Akamaru began to spin incredibly fast in the direction of Temari.
"This is boring," she stated. She gripped her fan, and sent a massive wave of wind at Kiba and Akamaru, sending them off course and into the wall behind her. Kiba and Akamaru stumbled a bit before getting it together and regrouping.
"I have to say this was a boring fight, so I think I'll just end it now."
Temari opened her fan all the way revealing three purple moons on it. "Fuuton: Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" (Sickle Weasel jutsu) A tornado formed around Kiba and Akamaru. The tornado began to make shallow cuts at it carried them into the air. When the jutsu was finished, Temari watched Kiba's and Akamaru's bodies hit the ground.
The two didn't move and Hayate called the match in favor of Temari, since Kiba was out for the count.
"Winner: Temari!" Hayate announced.
The matches were finally over, the winning gennin assembled in front of the Hokage to hear what he had to say.
"Shouldn't we wait for Naruto or something?" Sasuke asked.
"No, someone will inform him of all I'm about to tell at a later time. You will all have one months time to prepare for the third round of the exams. It will be tournament style. Now, Ibiki, if you would be so kind. You will each be drawing lots to see who you will face in the first rounds."
Ibiki held out the box and let people take one piece of paper from it.
"Yo, Ibiki, I'll draw for my student," Jiraiya said as he walked over to Ibiki.
"Of course."
Jiraiya drew right after Neji Hyuga. He saw Neji's number and grinned at the fact that he would be facing Naruto in the very first match.
"Well, Neji, it looks like your first match will either kill you or put you in traction for a few months."
Everyone finished getting their numbers then told them back to Ibiki. "The first match was Neji Hyuga vs Naruto Uzumaki, second match Sasuke Uchiha vs Shino Aburame, third match Temari vs Shikamaru Nara, fourth/fifth matches will be Rock Lee vs Gaara, then the winner will fight Kankuro," Ibiki announced.
"The matches are set. This month of training and preparation could be the difference between victory and defeat. Be sure to use the time well," Hiruzen announced then dismissed everyone.
With Naruto
Naruto was sitting atop of the second exam building in the center of the forest of death. He was just staring off into the forest.
"I've been looking for you, Naruto. I thought I'd come and tell you how she's doing."
"So, how bad is it, Kurenai-sensei?"
"Well, her internal organs will be fine. The medics can fix just about all of the damage."
"Kurenai, just tell me already. Stop trying to sugarcoat it."
"It's her heart Naruto... It took three massive hits... It's amazing she's still alive. No one in the village can fix all the damage."
"If no one in the village can fix the damage, we'll just have to go outside of it, then."
"Naruto, you know that can't be done right now, considering what's going on."
"Does it look like I care?"
"Obviously not, but still... Right now were not sure if she's going to live or not. The damage is extensive. If she lives through the surgery, Hinata may or may not be well enough to attend the first match of the finals. Even then, she will have to go right back to the hospital, because the excitement will be too much for her heart."
"What's so important about the first match?"
"Well that would be your match against Neji."
A devilish grin formed on Naruto's face. "Good... I'll destroy him." Naruto's tone was dark, and it sent a chill down Kurenai's spine. Naruto's mood lightened up a little bit. "Well I'm going home. If Ino's dad comes looking for me, let him know." Naruto stood up and disappeared from the rooftop.
"Well he's taking this rather well."
"This is taking it well, Jiraiya?"
"Yeah, it's not like he's gone on a rampage or gone off to find my former teammate Tsunade, now, has he?"
"So that's who he was talking about when he wanted to go outside the village?"
"Yep, he learned a lot more than just how to fight when we trained. The toads and I taught him just about everything we could, including information on my former teammates and many others from the other four great nations. He's got a great memory for some things, a bad one for others. Anyhow, we have things to discuss with the Hokage about our current problem." With that said he and Kurenai disappeared.
Naruto arrived at Ichiraku's to find Anko and Iruka waiting for him. Naruto put on a fake smile and greeted the two of them.
"Well, if it isn't Iruka-sensei and the crazy snake lady? What are you two here for?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I was waiting for you to get back and congratulate you on passing the third part of the exams, and Anko here wanted me to treat her to some ramen," Iruka replied.
"Thanks Iruka-sensei!" Naruto sat down on the stool next to Iruka, he looked over to see Anko's arm wrapped around Iruka's arm. "I see you got yourself a hot but crazy girlfriend, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto said with a grin.
Iruka blushed slightly at Naruto's words. "Anyway, order what you want, Naruto!" Iruka said in a cheerful voice.
"Yo! Old man! Four bowls of miso ramen with beef!"
"So, Naruto, how did the prelims go?" Anko asked.
"Oh they went just fine. I kind of left before the last match, though."
"Why?" Iruka asked.
"It was boring, that's all."
Iruka and Anko accepted the answer, and soon enough, their ramen was served. They had just begun to eat, when Inoichi walked up to them. Iruka turned to see Inoichi Yamanaka standing right behind narrate.
"What can I do for you Inoichi?" Iruka asked.
"Well actually, it's Naruto I need to speak with at the moment," he replied.
Naruto sighed. "Well there goes my food." Naruto hopped off the stool and looked at Iruka. "I'll see you around Iruka-sensei!" Naruto and Inoichi walked off into the village.
"Something was wrong with Naruto," Iruka muttered.
"What do you mean, Iruka-kun? He seemed as cheerful as always," Anko said.
"You would have to have been around him for a long time to realize he was just acting. Something must have happened after the second part of the chuunin exams."
"I haven't heard anything. Then again, it just ended a little more than twenty minutes ago."
With Naruto and Inoichi
"So, I take it you're Ino's dad?" Naruto asked.
"I am," Inoichi replied.
"So how is she?"
The two were walking down one of the busiest streets in the village as they talked.
"A little shaken, but she's fine." Inoichi looked down at Naruto and saw the look on his face. "No, she doesn't hate you or anything. It's not like you had any control over what happened to you when you were a baby. But it will be a little while before she can work up the nerve to talk to you again."
"I see. Now, what else did you come here for? I know it wasn't just to talk about Ino."
"Right to the point, I see. Yes, I did come to talk to you about something else. It's about what Ino saw while she was there that has me intrigued."
"Well, could we talk about this at my place? This isn't something I want to discuss out here."
"I don't see any problems with that. Lead on."
They arrived at Naruto's apartment. Inoichi was a bit surprised by the somewhat run-down look of the place.
"Why don't you live some place else?"
"Not sure, really. Sure, it's run down, but as long as I can remember, this is the place I called home before I left with pervy sage. I just never really thought about leaving it, that's all."
They walked into the apartment. Naruto undid the strap on the sheath of his sword. He placed the sword next to the couch and sat down. Inoichi took a seat across from Naruto.
"Well, Inoichi, what did you want to ask me about?"
"Well I would like to see it for myself, instead of ask. Would that be fine with you?"
"I don't see a problem with it."
Inoichi preformed his technique and found himself inside Naruto's mind. He marveled at how different this place was than anything else he had ever seen. He looked at what seemed like an endless green field before him and one massive tree sitting in the center of it all. A path appeared in front of Inoichi that led to the tree. Inoichi followed it. He began to walk, but after a few minutes, it didn't even seem like he was getting closer at all. He began to run as fast as he could, and an hour later, he arrived at the base of the tree. It was far more massive than he could have ever imagined.
Inoichi found Naruto sitting at the base of the tree, looking off into the endless field.
"How could you make this? I've seen so many different things before, but nothing such as this. Normally, there is some type of indication of where one's memories are, like a window, doorway, or pictures and things such as that."
"Honestly, I don't really know myself. The fox told me what to do, and I did it, nothing more."
"Wait, so you talk to the fox?" Inoichi asked.
"I really don't understand why you would willingly let someone invade your mind, boy."
"Shut it, fuzzball!" Naruto shot back.
In the Hokage tower
Hiruzen was sitting as his desk. Shinobi were standing around his desk. They were all jounin and ANBU commanders. They were there for one reason; to discuss what plans should be made to prepare for Orochimaru.
Hiruzen sighed, then began to speak. "You all know why you're here. Orochimaru's appearance is of great concern, as we have no idea what his goals are other than the fact that he is targeting Sasuke Uchiha. I have summoned you all here so I can distribute the orders necessary. The ANBU will shadow all foreign ninja groups. I want to know if any of them are plotting anything, and when, if that is the case. Two ANBU units will also be assigned to shadow and protect Sasuke Uchiha while he and Kakashi Hatake are training for the final part of the exams."
Kakashi and the ANBU commanders nodded in agreement. All but one of the ANBU commanders left the room to assign orders. The other ANBU stayed because he was the one who would be commanding to two units that were to shadow Sasuke Uchiha.
"Now, the rest of you will go about your business as normal, but you will keep a watchful eye. I also want you to prepare for what is to come if something big happens. The civilians may need to be taken to the shelters, so be sure to prepare everything necessary. There is little that can be done to find Orochimaru at this point, so we can only prepare to the best of our abilities."
"Is all this really necessary?" one jounin asked.
"When it comes to my teammate, it is. He's always been a manipulative bastard. He could have the support of one of the villages taking part in the exam for all we know," Jiraiya replied.
"Indeed. You all have your orders. If anything changes, I'll send word," Hiruzen stated.
Everyone but Jiraiya, Kurenai, Kakashi, and Zabuza walked out of the room.
"So how is Naruto? He disappeared right after Hinata's match," Hiruzen asked.
"As to be expected, Inoichi wanted to talk to Naruto, so I'm guessing he's with him at the moment. Naruto is taking what happened about as well as to be expected," Jiraiya replied.
"What is Hinata's condition?" Hiruzen asked.
"We won't really know for sure until the surgery is done, which will be at least another five hours or so," Kurenai answered.
With Naruto
"I'll never understand you humans," Takeshi said with a big sigh. Takeshi was sitting up in the tree on one of the massive branches.
"Well no one asked for you to understand," Naruto stated.
"Sometimes you can be so stupid."
"Yeah, whatever, you talking fur coat."
Inoichi looked a bit wary of the fox who was sitting directly above him in the massive tree. He looked at Naruto to see he was relaxed like the fox wasn't a threat in the slightest. He was amazed the boy openly insulted the fox and the fox returned his insults in kind.
"Umm... what exactly is going on?"
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"Why are you talking with "it" and why is he allowed to roam like this? Also why do you talk so familiarly with "it"?"
Takeshi grumbled why did people always refer to him as an "it"?
"He doesn't like being called an "it", and I talk to him because I feel like it. And I allow him to roam because that's what I've decided."
"Yes, now leave before I remove you from this place. I grow tired of your presence." Takeshi was extremely annoyed with how Inoichi referred to him.
Inoichi did just that. He didn't know what the fox could do to him while he was in Naruto's mind, and he didn't want to find out. Inoichi and Naruto stood up from where they were sitting.
"So, Inoichi what do you plan on putting in your report? I know your going to write a report about this."
"Well, Naruto, I'm a bit disturbed to find out that you talk and interact with the fox, but the Hokage and Jiraiya-sama trust you, so I will do the same, until such a time where they feel and I myself feel differently.
Inoichi left Naruto's apartment to go do things that he had to, considering who was now lurking in the village. Naruto sighed. He was sitting in his apartment alone. The day had royally sucked for him, and he didn't know what to do for the rest of the day. Naruto disappeared from his apartment to think.
It was midnight now and Naruto had been sitting on the Hokage monument for almost seven hours now, just staring off into the village. He couldn't sleep. There was far too much going on in his head at the moment.
"What do you need, Kurenai-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I came to tell you that Hinata's out of surgery. Her sister is with her now. I thought you would want to go visit."
"What about her father?"
"No, he didn't go to see her," Kurenai replied. Kurenai's voice showed the hate and disdain for the man.
"I see, I might drop by later. Now please go. I'd rather be alone right now."
"But Naruto, you've..."
"I said go!" he yelled.
Kurenai nodded and reluctantly left the Hokage monument, leaving Naruto alone to his own thoughts. Once Kurenai had left Naruto stood up and disappeared from atop of the Hokage monument in a swirl of leaves.
With Hanabi
Hanabi sat at the side of the bed her sister was currently in. She was hooked up to all manner of machines and other devices to keep her vitals stable. Hanabi had come as soon as word reached her that Hinata was out of surgery.
Hinata was so pale, far paler then she normal was. She lay motionless on the bed hooked to the machines.
Hanabi sat in utter silence. The only noise in the room was coming from the machines that were hooked up to Hinata. Hanabi didn't even notice Naruto, who was standing directly behind her. Naruto had appeared behind Hanabi in silence; he didn't move, he even cut his breathing down to keep himself from being discovered.
Naruto stood behind Hanabi for a full ten minutes without making any kind of noise.
"How is she?" he asked.
Hanabi jumped out of her chair and almost screamed. "What... How... how did you get in here? There are guards posted at the door! And how long have you been standing there?" she asked. Hanabi and instantly took a gentle fist stance as she spoke.
"Oh, calm down! I'm not here to hurt anyone. Hinata is my teammate! I'd heard she was out of surgery, and I came to visit," Naruto said. "Oh and I've been standing behind you for about ten minutes.
"Then why didn't you come through the door like normal people," she asked defensively without dropping her stance.
"Well that's an interesting story. Short version is your clan and most of the village despises me and wouldn't let me in if I walked through the front door," he replied nonchalantly.
Hanabi still didn't drop her stance. "What's keeping me from calling the guards?" she asked.
"Well nothing really I guess, go ahead, if it makes you feel better. But I'll be gone before they enter the room. Keep up your guard if you want. I just came here to see Hinata, that's all. Be paranoid all you like." Naruto sat down in the chair Hanabi was in no more than a minute ago.
"What's your name?" Hanabi asked, as she dropped her gentle fist stance.
"That would be Naruto Uzumaki," he replied "What would yours be?"
"Mine's Hanabi Hyuga."
"Ah so your Hinata's little sister. She talked about you a little bit before the prelims began." Of course Naruto already knew who she.
Naruto heard someone coming down the hall. He sighed, "Well, it seems I have to go. Someone's coming. Perhaps we'll talk later?"
Hanabi nodded, and watched Naruto disappear from the room just as the door opened. Hiashi Hyuga walked in the door. Hanabi immediately bowed to her father.
"Hanabi wait outside. I'll be with you in a moment," Hiashi ordered.
Hanabi nodded and quickly left the room and waited outside the room for her father.
Hiashi sat down on the chair next to Hinata's bed. He hadn't informed anyone that he'd left to see Hinata, nor did he let anyone see him leave the estate or come here. When he was on his way in the room he thought he saw Naruto in the room. But he must have been mistaken because only Hanabi was here.
Hiashi stood up. He didn't have the luxury to stay; he had an image to uphold of course. He brushed a strand of hair that was in Hinata's face to the side and began to walk out.
"I'm sorry this happened Hinata."
With those brief words he left the room and accompanied Hanabi back to the estate.
End chapter
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Chapter two of The Demon King is done and posted. I've also posted a new story called The Animal I've Become. So please do check them out :)
This is the longest chapter I've ever written! lol