(A/N: So… I feel like I said this a lot before, but I will say it again. Yes I have Joseph in a lot of stories but if you follow me you'll notice that I deleted Dragon Age: There and Back Again. I am going to re-write most of my stories; to have different character names, Harry Potter, Hansel & Gretel, Witcher Chronicles, and I think that is it. Mass Effect will be re-written so Chapter 1-2 will be together. Star Wars)
And I'm sorry I haven't updated anything in a while, life has been so busy, I recently now have to pay my car insurance and other things, so I have to work even more now.
Chapter 14: Chuunin Exams
"Naru, hey time to wake up our exams." I began to smack Naruto in the face a bit until she groaned, "Five more minutes." She said rolling over and snuggling closer to her pillow.
"Fine I guess you want to get disqualified and watch Sasuke become a Chuunin." Naru quickly ran past me into her bathroom, "Mhm that's what I thought. Hey you better be out of there in half an hour or I'm leaving you here!" all I heard was the shower running and the toilet flush, "Morning Haku-kun."
"I got to say you guys can't have a simple morning can you?" asked Haku taking a sip of her tea, and placing it back down, "Shame that the tea is almost gone…"
"How do you go through all of that? Well we won't have any more until we go to the Land of Tea. That's their special brew." I said grabbing some eggs and a pan. "Plus that was dad's favorite… I'll see what I can do today. Hopefully that courier is still roaming around the village."
Naruto came into the kitchen fully dressed and a towel on top of head, "Alright I'm going to make toast and jam!" she said slamming her fist into her open palm. "We have about 10 minutes until we have to go!"
"Are you coming to watch us Haku?" I asked flipping the pan in the air, so the eggs would flip evenly.
"Of course, I have seen you both training and looking forward to seeing how you apply it into combat." She said giving both of us a confident smile.
Naruto and I walked towards the arena along with a lot of people whispering about Sasuke and I. Since Sasuke is the last living member of the Uchiha Clan and then there is me daughter of the Lion and a member of one of the oldest clans in Konoha; honestly they should be excited for the Uzumaki vs Hyuuga. That would be good well I know it's going to be good. "I want to see that Uchiha kid fight that Otstsuki girl." A laughing couple walked by us,
I gave a look to Naruto, "Hey its fine, you're going to show everyone how strong you are."
Yuu
Yuu traveled through the Forest of Death landing on top of a random tree, "I wish her drawing was a lot better than that." Yuu reached inside of her scroll pouch and pulled out a piece of parchment and studied the map, "A little bit further…" she jumped past three trees and felt something cold and sinister around her, "Who's there?"
A chuckle came out of a tree, "My. What do we have here?" a man came out with long black hair with skin so pale it seemed he hasn't seen sunlight throughout his life.
"Orochimaru…" Yuu said, "What do you want?" she asked quickly backing away a little.
"Oh, just enjoying the nice view of the forest with all of its glory." He laughed giving Yuu a look hatred, "Join the plan and I will make you the new Kazekage. This is a golden opportunity for the Village Hidden from the Sand. Out of all the villages yours is by far the weakest. So, if you want to have change I suggest you join me."
Yuu folded her arms and looked at Orochimaru with pure anger, "I want you to make me join you. You betrayed your own village so you can continue your sick research."
Orochimaru gave a thoughtful look, "Out of the Otstsuki Clan Yuu-chan is the weakest, but if I kill her then the other 4 will kill me. Should it be worth it? I do want a challenge, but my new pet will be wanting more power soon. Maybe I should kill her niece. I'd help the Lion return to his former glory."
Yuu quickly threw a kunai towards the Legendary Sannin, and he smiled at the attempt and moved his head so the kunai missed. "You're a lot bolder than your brother." He laughed and felt something cold run down his cheek and simply touched it and saw his blood. "I see. You imbued wind chakra into that kunai and it extended cutting reach. Here I thought you were an amateur."
"I'll show you what this 'amateur' can do." Yuu said doing a few hand signs,
Orochimaru just laughed at her demeanor, "Foolish girl, I don't have time to waste with you." He said sinking into the tree trunk.
Yuu was frustrated with this cowardly act, but immediately felt relieved that he left. "I probably would have died… Hmm, what is that?" Yuu looked down by the ground and jumped towards that spot. "Well this is what Ashe talked about. From the looks of it." She said as she picked up the arm and saw maggots fall out from the holes. "Yea… That is pretty rotten." Yuu looked at the maggots and gave a small smile, "That's interesting."
Joseph
"Do you think we're getting close?" Neihara asked,
"Maybe, I know we just entered the Land of Hot Water. We still have the Land of Snow left after that I will not be able to continue this mission." He said looking down and saw Neihara stop,
"So you're going to leave those girls to be tortured and killed. Why won't you help me?!"
"I will not start a war over two girls! As much as I want to I have to think of the whole village together. The Third Hokage has allowed a lot of us to be discharged from service. And if we were to have a war with the Cloud Village we would lose, we are not ready for another war." He said
"Is that the diplomatic version of you? 'Cause I don't like it, you were feared by the other Nations." She stated
"Nei… That isn't fair. I have fought in the war and so did you. You have to know that I can't keep killing again. I have kids and a wife, I've settled down; however, if Konoha is attacked I will go back to being the Lion."
"You would be a great Hokage one day." Neihara whispered clearly retiring the subject,
"Well shit you sound like old man Hiruzen." He said giving her a smile,
"Come on we have to hurry before the reach their destination." Neihara quickly dashed towards the North-East of the country.
Main Arena Konoha
"So Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuuga will be going first. Sasuke Uchiha was supposed to face Gaara, but he has been disqualified for not showing up on time. Then it wil-"
"WHAT?! That idiot is disqualified?!" Naruto asked clearly frustrated, and Ashe placed her hand on Naruto's shoulder,
"What happened to Hayate-sensei?" Ashe asked,
The ninja with a backwards bandana and a long tooth pick in his mouth gave a look of disgust to Ashe and Naruto, "It's none of your business."
"Whoa, what's your problem?" Naruto asked clearly agitated now and wanting to kick his ass,
"I don't like you brat nor do I like you." He said and gave them a painful look of pure hatred,
"Do not hate them Genma-kun. They are just kids, you don't have to worry about them." Said Asuma, "I can't believe you would still have a grudge over that it's been years now."
"Shut up Asuma! I don't care if they're kids!"
"Now, now. Let's not be hasty." Asuma said reaching into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, "Do you need to be sent to Oniwaza-chan?"
"No! I will not see that witch doctor!"
"She's a therapist for us Shinobi. Especially with PTSD. You on the other need to move on."
"Shut up!"
Kurenai came down and placed a hand on both Asuma and Genma, "Now let's not fight. Genma-kun move on it's been years. Asuma stop antagonizing him we are here for the Genin."
"Yea. Alright."
Genma gestured both Asuma and Kurenai to leave, so they can begin the Final Examination. The Third Hokage gave him a nod, "Alright the very first match will be Naruto Uzumaki against Neji Hyuuga. Ready? Fight!" he said jumping back,
Time Skip (We all know who won Naruto, Ashe, and Shikamaru. Let's be honest guys, and I told you guys I don't like Sasuke and he needed to be disqualified… so, let's move on.)
Kakashi and Sasuke showed up in time to be told that he had been disqualified and seeing him the corner was very entertaining and quite depressing to be honest. Ashe had felt bad for him, but he shouldn't have had a chance. "Hey Kakashi-sensei, can I ask a question?" Ashe asked and saw him raise an eyebrow, "What were your Chuunin Exams like?" She asked,
Kakashi sighed, "I'm assuming you're asking about me and your father if we fought and the answer is no we didn't. I was already a Chuunin when my squad became Genin. My Exams were the same as yours and yes it was here. Let's see… I was about six when I became a Chuunin. Then I became a Jonin at age 12, so I'm just a bad ass."
"Now listen here Kakashi. I don't know what you're telling these kids, but it's not good to brag especially when your rival is here and present." Guy-sensei had entered with his injured student, Sakura saw Rock Lee and touched Ashe's hand.
"Hey." Ashe said in a low voice. "Don't worry he will be better in no time."
"I hope so Ashe… I really do."
Shizune
"Lady Tsunade! Please get up or we'll be late."
"Mmm. Shizune give me another hour or three." Tsunade rolled over and immediately went back to sleep.
"I'm going shopping then. Let's go TonTon." Shizune said and walked towards the front of the Inn with TonTon right behind her, "I don't know TonTon Lady Tsunade is very frustrating and it can get very annoying. We honestly should back towards the Village."
"Oink. Oink." The little piglet was now in front of Shizune with a tick mark on her head.
"I do not complain a lot! Have you seen Lady Tsunade she complains a lot."
"Oink…"
"Fine! For a pig you sure do get angry when I talk about Lady Tsunade… I understand that she's your master, but don't forget who takes care of you. I wonder what Joseph will say when he sees you, he'll probably want to eat you…" Shizune crouched in front and hugged her knees in front of the pig and let out a sigh. TonTon was terrified about meeting Shizune's husband. "Why are you looking at me like that… You actually think I'll let him eat you? Now let's see what I can make to eat." Shizune stood up and brushed off her rear and walked into the store,
Arena Konoha
Ashe was sitting in the Spectators area with the members of Squad 10, Squad 7 and 9. Naruto had ran into the area yelling asking for her to follow her and Shikamaru, "ASHE YOU NEED TO COME WITH ME NOW!"
"Why do I need to get up? I'm tired Naru-chan." Ashe looked at Naru and saw her face complex with fright, "Alright I'm getting up…" she said as she tried to stand there were something like feathers falling from the sky, "See Naru… I told you I'm very…. Tired," Ashe said noticing her cousin already on the floor along with the citizens,
"Ashe! This is Genjutsu, snap out of it!" Sakura yelled quickly behind Ashe catching her as she slumped down,
"I think I deserve a nice nap, don't you?"
"Kami you're an idiot. Release!" Sakura yelled and instantly started to wake up the young Genin, and heard her complaining about it, "I can put you under a genjutsu if you like! It won't be pleasant!"
"Tch, fine then you're quiet stingy aren't ya?"
"Is that?" Guy-sensei began looking towards the Kage platform,
"Yea, that's Orochimaru…" Kakashi said slightly worried, before the two Jonins can go there was a group of black cloaked people already moving towards the roof top then there was another group shinobi that moved in front of the Konoha shinobi, but one was wearing a ANBU mask and the others were wearing Sound Village clothing, "Ugh, they're going to block us from helping the ANBU Black Ops."
"Kakashi, he's the Hokage for a reason. Don't be too worried. However this attack was very well timed; most of our strongest Shinobi are out on missions." Guy got into his combat stance while Kakashi drew two kunais out. Haku was on the other side of arena killing some Sand Ninja. Naruto was unconscious with the rest of the Rookie 9 except for Ashe and Sakura,
"Sakura wake the rest of them up, Ashe you go to the Village to find Anko she will probably need help with getting everyone to safety. Go!"
Ashe gave him a worried look and turned to the exit, "Understood. Sensei… Be careful."
"Of course. Now go." He said
(And then the chapter closes, and a new one will begin. I know that I didn't really put anything like good and juicy in this chapter; however next one I want to give you guys a taste Joseph and Neihara finally catch up to Carter, Ashe fights the giant snake. And one of the S-Class Konoha ninjas return from a mission. So peace)