The Hidden Truths of the Village Hidden in the Leaves
Summary: Starting after the trip to the Land of the Waves, Sasuke has developed a sense of overprotectivness a shinobi feels towards their partner and Naruto has to deal with new surprises every day. The secret behind the Uchiha clan massacre is revealed and Orochimaru is scared of one man. ANBU and foxes flock towards Naruto as much as danger does. A whole new take on the life of Team 7 and co.
Sabako lead them all throughout the village until they reached the other side that lead to the forest and the exclusively closed off area, often used for ANBU training. Konoha's elite liked going to train here so they can improve their stealth skills, their memory of layouts or their ability to spot traps. No one was allowed to venture into this part of the woods unless they have had years of training as a jonin. The only time anyone comes here is at this time of the year, when the chosen genin participate in the Genin Games. Most of the more dangerous traps are deactivated during the rest of the games, while the genin are testing their other skills, and then in the late afternoon, they are brought here to test their speed, evasion skills, spotting skills and ability to adapt to the situation. If anyone were to enter the forest at any other time of the year, they would die after some fifteen meters were crossed.
Parents often told their children that monsters lived in this part of the forest in hopes that their children won't venture beyond the tree line and get themselves killed. Over the years, more and more rumors were developed about this place, including stories such as there being some treasure in the woods, so kids would dare each other to go in there and get it. Of course, after the Sandaime learned of this, he placed three jonin to patrol the area every day in order to catch the kids before they got seriously, hurt, or worse.
However, there were kids who managed to get passed all of the jonin and go into the woods whenever they wanted, or rather ... there was a kid who could do so at any time. And now Sandaime, Iruka and Kakashi had to wonder how well that one boy will do.
As expected, Naruto grew excited upon seeing the area. He spent a lot of time alone as a kid, so he had often come here. He knew the layout by heart after all those lonely years of exploring the place. He had even managed to find a really cool kunai there! He hid it at home, where no one would be able to hide and it now that he remembered it, he had the desire to see it again. It was a really cool kunai, too. A special triple-prong kunai he had barely managed to keep away from adult hands when he had found it.
He had gotten into some trouble when he had found that kunai. He had been dared by some other kids to go and find some treasure in the woods and he had went. He had found that kunai there and had then encountered three shinobi who were prepared to kill him for the weapon. He had tried using his Sex no Jutsu but they had turned out to be women so it had been ineffective. Had it not been for his knowledge of these woods, they would have caught and killed him for sure. He knew where every single trap lay and how to activate, avoid it or how it functioned and what it did. Still, he had lost his footing while running away from them and fell off of a small cliff, where Iruka-sensei saved him. He lost consciousness, but he had kept the kunai hidden so that Iruka-sensei wouldn't see it and try to take it from him. It was his, he had found it! He heard later on that Kakashi-sensei had saved both him and Iruka-sensei, but it was only a rumor so he had never paid it much heed. He wondered if Kakashi-sensei knew about his special kunai.
Old man Hokage had scolded him severely, along with Iruka-sensei, but it was just their way of showing that they cared. However, they never realized that he had a special weapon those three shinobi had wanted. They had been from the Village Hidden by the Waterfall, if he remembered right. He wondered what happened to them. They didn't strike him as strong as Zabuza, so he wondered how harsh Kakashi-sensei had been on them.
''Alright, brats, this is Section 12, otherwise known as S-12 and the forbidden area. I know that most of you, if not all, have heard that you are not allowed to come in here, but today is an exception. Today, we will hold a race here, to decide the definite winners of the Genin Games. Who wins here, their team will be automatic winners-''
''That's not fair!'' Naruto yelled as soon as he heard this, because, damn, it had been hard getting all those points!
Sabako shrugged at the angry blond and his silently fuming teammates. ''Life of a shinobi is not fair. As soon as you learn that, you'll make it far in this world.''
Naruto just grit his teeth harder, since Zabuza had told him something similar. He will be damned if he let this guy think he knows everything just because he was a rank higher than him! He'll show him.
''I believe Naruto here has a point. We fought for every single one of those points. Give us one reason why we should stake all those points and a secure victory on a single game when we had done so well in all the others.'' Sasuke coldly asked, getting everyone's attention as he came to stand beside the loud blond.
Sabako smirked sardonically at them. ''You will eventually have to learn to deal with great stakes and take risks. That's also a part of being a shinobi.''
''So is common sense, something you seem to be lacking.''
That got the youngest Uchiha an angry glare, but he got an even scarier one back at him, since no one can outdo an Uchiha glare. Sabako huffed before returning to the topic at hand. There was no use trying to argue with an Uchiha, after all.
"Anyway, the thing that is different about this competition is that you will chose only one of you to represent your team. That one member of each team will then run through these woods, from a place where we leave you to here. The paths are straight but you will have yellow markings to show you the way. Just go down your designated path and get here, safe and sound. All sorts of techniques are allowed, but I need to warn you. The goal of this test is not to trigger any traps while on your way here. Traps can be loud and draw attention of enemy shinobi to your location. Not to mention that most traps set up in places like this, around a shinobi village, are deadly. But, not to worry," he said when he saw the flabbergasted looks on everyone's faces when they heard they'd be running through such a dangerous zone. "We have disabled the deadly traps for today. After the challenge is over, shinobi will come and set them up again, so this place will be just as dangerous as it was before this day. I really suggest you don't go through here the rest of the year."
Most of the genin nodded frantically, while some did in a cool (Sasuke and Neji) or a lazy (Shikamaru) manner. Naruto didn't nod at all, since he has been here already and he was just fine. He had almost never activated any of the traps here. Not accidentally, at least. He had used the traps to slow down his pursuers on the day he found his most treasured kunai.
"Now, then. Since it is practically impossible to do that, we will have a chart of how many traps you're allowed to accidentally activate for how many points you'll earn. Ten and less traps is 10 points. Fifteen traps is 7 points. Twenty traps is 5 points, twenty five traps and more is 3 points. If you finish the race in five minutes, you'll get 5 additional points. Seven minutes, 3 points. Ten minutes, 2 points. If you finish it in less than twenty minutes, 1 additional point. Everything over that won't get you any additional points. Yes, Naruto?''
The blond put down his hand and smiled up at the man. ''Ano sa, what about those who finish without setting any traps?''
Sabako let out a laugh, going as far as hitting Iruka on the back and holding his stomach as he laughed at the now angry blond. ''That's a good one, kid. A really, really good joke. Way to brighten everyone's mood. Now, are there any serious questions?''
Naruto scowled at him. ''That was a serious question.''
The chuunin instructor sighed in a long suffering manner. ''Uzumaki, something like that happened only three times, and the first to achieve that was the Yondaime Hokage-sama. The other two had some training from him. You can ask your sense, as Hatake-san was one of the ones who got through this test without setting a single trap.''
''But you are forgetting, Sabako,'' Sandaime interrupted before the third shinobi who had gotten through the test with a perfect score could be mentioned. Or was it the second? ''Yondaime never participated in the Genin Games. He became a chuunin not a month after becoming a genin. And that's not even mentioning that he was a once in a generation genius. Besides, it shouldn't be all too impossible.''
''Sandaime-sama, I am trying to stop them from hastening too much, as it could end with serious injuries. It is better that they go slow and avoid all possible traps.''
''But you said avoiding all traps was possible, ne?'' Kakashi butted in and Sabako felt a vein popping. He turned on the pervert, who was reading his precious Icha Icha Paradise and trying to tune out the yelling he knew was coming.
''That's also impossible!''
''Don't actually make me say it. I would really rather not watch my student sulking all day after that.''
''Could we just get with it already?'' Neji asked, interrupting the conversation that had been about to take place and Kakashi had to admit he was grateful. He didn't like his sensei and his kouhai being mentioned so much, and in only one day, too. It was bringing up all the repressed failures he has made over the years.
Sabako shot a glare at Kakashi before turning to the waiting genin. ''Right, tell you what, Naruto. You manage to do the exercise perfectly, never mind the time limit, I will give your team 50 points. But if you don't, I'll deduct 50 points from your team. You'll still get the normal points you would get for this test and how you did it, but you will first lose 50 points. That is, if you even represent your team. Now, then, chose your representatives. You senseis aren't allowed to help.'' With that, he turned around and walked over to Taieki, who was looking at him reproachfully.
Team 7 turned to regard each other for a moment before Sakura spoke up. ''I think maybe Sasuke-kun with his Sharingan would be the best for this test.'' Naruto, with a still angry look on his face, was about to nod and agree when Sasuke cut him to the chase.
''No. Naruto will do it.''
'WHAT?!'' Both of his teammates screamed at him but the Uchiha was not deterred.
''But what if I lose? We'll lose 50 points! We wouldn't be able to catch up to Team Gai! We'd be second, if not third, place!'' Naruto exclaimed, a worried frown on his face. He shouldn't have said anything. Now he had managed to get his team in trouble. ''Sakura-chan is right. You should race. You're faster than me.''
''But you know this place, don't you?'' The Uchiha insisted and Naruto stiffened. ''I saw how you were looking at it as we approached, Naruto. I know you know this area better than me, so it's only obvious that you will go and not me, usuratonkachi.''
''I haven't been here for a year if not longer.'' Naruto retorted and Sakura looked between her two teammates, wondering who will win at this bout. Last time, she had interrupted, but this time, it was more important to let them deal it out between themselves.
''Yet you don't deny that you know the landscape. You're doing it, Naruto, and that's final. Or are you scared, bibiri-kun?'' Sasuke smirked the same smirk he wore the first time he called Naruto by that name and it got him the same scowl.
''Don't call me a scaredy-cat, Teme!'' The blond growled out through grit teeth and Sakura repressed the urge to step back while Kurama was tutting on the inside because he could clearly see Sasuke's attempt at manipulation. Seriously, it was embarrassing to have his vessel so easily tricked.
''Prove you're not and I won't, bibiri-kun.''
''Fine, I will! I'll show both you and that pompous chuunin that I can do it!'' Sasuke smirked as Naruto got fired up, muttering about how he will show everyone just how great he was. Sakura watched this and wondered when Sasuke became so good at reading Naruto and getting him to do as the raven haired boy wanted. It was obvious Sasuke only wanted to erase the blond's worries, but to know exactly how to do it like that ...
''Alright, did you chose your representatives?'' Sabako called out and it snapped Saukra out if her thoughts. The genins all nodded and the chuunin requested that the chosen teammates step forward. From Team Gai, it was Neji. Team Kurenai was sending out Kiba. It was, surprisingly, Shikamaru who was representing Team Asuma. And, needless to say, everyone was surprised to see Naruto in this lineup. Sabako leered at the student as he asked him if he was sure he wants to participate and Naruto didn't resist the urge to roll his eyes. Not that he would at any other time, anyways.
''Yes, I'm sure, I'm sure, dattebayo!''He yelled back at the chuunin.
''Only if you're sure ... Since your score hangs entirely off of your performance-''
''Jeez, just because I used that jutsu on you doesn't mean you should be such a jerk.''
''Why you little-!''
''You shouldn't feel so bad. Stronger men have fell victim to its effectiveness.''
''You can't mean?'' Sarutobi murmured under his breath, a faint blush making it onto his face and forcing him to lower his hat to hide it. 'That Naruto!'
''That's not a real jutsu!''
''Oh? What jutsu is he talking about, Naruto-kun?'' Lee asked but Iruka was waving a hand at the blond to let it go. Naruto pouted but nodded at his former teacher before grinning apologetically at Lee.
''Sorry, Bushy Eyebrows, but I promise to show it to you later.'' Iruka sighed in relief before the other part of what Naruto said registered and he groaned. Kakashi looked from his student to his former chuunin teacher and wondered what those two had just agreed on keeping secret. A look at the Hokage showed that he obviously knew. And then he caught sigh of Konohamaru pouting at his Naruto-nii-chan's no showing of special technique that had knocked Sabako out in the second part of the Genin Games.
Lee nodded. ''I'll keep you to that promise, Naruto-kun.''
''Can we just get this over with? It's really bothersome.'' Shikamaru complained, his hands stuffed in his pockets and he yawned. Sabako sent one last glare at Naruto, who wasn't affected by it, before looking to the Hokage for the confirmation of the start. When the old man nodded, Sabako turned back to the genin.
He gestured for Joko to take the genin to their starting point and after a few minutes, he got the signal from his fellow chuunin that they were all in place. He took out a flare and fired it up into the sky. Joko saw it and gestured and yelled for the genin to start.
The four boys took off, each in their own direction, their own path, as fast as they can. They arrived at the first trap scene not a few meters from the starting line and Kiba, Shikamaru and Neji cursed in surprise as they had to stop in order not to step on the really realistic fake grass. Naruto just jumped over it, as he had known it was there. He looked around and spotted the wires he knew were a few feet away and he took into the tress, from which he jumped out of after the third branch jump he made. He carefully landed just in front of the small mine field and channeled chakra into his feet before attaching himself to the nearest tree. When he had been small, he would have to climb this tree and then use the thick branches as a bridge, but now he could walk up the tree. He was really happy that all that training in the Land of Waves had paid off!
When he passed that, he had to get out of the trees as there was a complicated web of wires there, laced with sticky substances that prevented anyone from escaping. Not to mention that a few places had explosive seals next to them! He passed the smoke trap and went straight for the fake tree, avoided it and jumped over the fake rock, both of which would have sprang open and captured him if he had just touched them. Then, he was in the illusionary zone, where shurikens and kunai are disguised as flowers and grass. He had to thread carefully through them but he made it out of that zone in record time. He just barely remembered the wire there that would have tripped him. He would have landed on a trap door, which would have opened and he would have fallen into a big hole. Normally, it was filled with bear traps and metal spikes for the enemy ninja, but he guessed that they took those out in case someone activated the trap during the Genin Games.
He ran down his path for some time before he jumped high in the air. He passed the log of wood that would have fallen on him or would have taken a swing at him if he had continued form the ground and he wondered how the others were doing. They couldn't possibly even guess what to expect from this forest, no matter what method they usually use to sense traps. He smiled to himself as he passed by the tree that had the same trap setting as what Sasuke had used in their partner match against Neji and Kiba, the shuriken and kunai giving off only the slightest gleam in the late afternoon light.
He landed on the ground again just as he heard a loud boom from his far left. He guessed that Kiba had activated a trap, some of the explosive seals, maybe? That was dangerous, as you can never know if the seals will cause a fire to spread. A second later, he heard the sound of a hundred kunai embedding themselves into the ground and he deduced that Shikamaru must have missed some signs of a trap and had accidentally activated it. He couldn't guess how Neji was doing, but he hoped Shikamaru and Kiba weren't hurt too badly from those traps.
He shook his head and continued on, dodging trap after trap in a way only someone who knew the layout could, not even stopping to think on whether he should go through the trees or the bushes, or simply walk down the main path. Everything was natural, the run through this forest, the avoidance of traps ... It was almost as if he were a kid again! And he knew someone will be waiting for him, as the Hokage used to, even if it had been to scold him, and later on, there was also Iruka-sensei! And now there was also Kakashi-sensei, Sakura-chan and Sasuke! And Konohamaru and Moegi and Udon!
With new enthusiasm, Naruto sped up, never once setting off any traps as he raced to the finish. He only had a little ways more to go, having left the rest of his opponents in the dust. They were still struggling with either the traps they set off or with avoiding awkwardly placed traps that Naruto had avoided as if they were child's play. For him, they had been. This was his playground, now his turf, as he doubted anyone, even those who patrol these woods, knows the layout of this part of the forest as well as he does. With an excited yell, Naruto allowed Kurama to give him an extra boost and they sped up. They wanted those additional points, too, after all!
Sakura was watching the finish line of Naruto's path worriedly as they hear various traps being set off in other paths. A particularly nasty sounding grinding had come from Neji's path, which had had Gai flinching and Taieki had sped off to check on the genin. He had returned a few moments later with the good news that the Hyuuga was fine, if a little dazed from the huge rock that had nearly flattened him. A shredding sound had come from Kiba's path, but his teammates had informed everyone that it was just Kiba and Akamaru using Gastuga to get through something. Shikamaru's path had the least sounds coming from it, except Naruto's, as the lazy boy was being extra cautious of his every step.
''I hope Naruto-kun is okay,'' A shy voice behind her had Sakura snapping out of her own worries and she looked over to a really anxious looking Hinata. The Hyuuga heiress was wringing her fingers worriedly and staring at Naruto's path, then would guiltily look over to Kiba's path before her eyes would stray back to the blond's finish line. ''And Kiba-kun, too, of course, um ...''
''Someone's coming!'' Ino shouted before Hinata could tangle up her words and everyone looked up at the four paths. They glanced from one to the other, then to the third and then to the last path. The only one not worrying (visibly) or looking around was Sasuke, who was confidently resting against one of the many trees, arms crossed over his chest, his senses secretly focused on the path Naruto was supposed to come from. His head snapped up as a rustling of leaves announced the appearance of an orange clad blond. Black eyes met proud and happy blue ones as Naruto ran out of the forest path, a huge, happy grin on his whiskered face as he waved to his friends. Sabako stared at the blond, mouth open enough that his jaw was brushing the floor as he saw the time. It showed five minutes and twenty eight seconds. Under normal circumstances, Naruto would have gotten 13 points, but because of his bet with the blond ...
Not long after Naruto came out Neji, also earning himself 13 points, what with his time being six minutes and five seconds and having set off only seven traps. His Byakugan had been invaluable in this exercise, even more so than in the fight against the Uchiha and the blond, who he was surprised had arrived before him. Shikamaru come out a second before seven full minutes were marked, getting himself 13 points with his nine traps activated. Kiba came out a whole minute later, having set off fifteen traps, he got 9 points. That gave Team Gai 161 points. Team Asuma now had 79 points. Team Kurenai's final score was 110 points.
But all of that was meaningless, really, because not only had Naruto gotten himself 50 points for winning the bet, but he had arrived first, anyway. It was an automatic win and Naruto seemed to have forgotten all about it, Instead, he was laughing at Sabako's still shocked face, enjoying the moment. And then Sakura jumped on him and hugged him from behind while Kakashi patted his head for a job well done. Sasuke just walked up to him and smirked, having known that sending Naruto into his own turf would be the best option. Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon ran up to Naruto and hugged him around the waist, congratulating him on his win and chatting happily with their best friend and oyabun. Sarutobu laughed at their antics, happy to see Naruto so happy, to see that the blond had friends. Shikamaru, Chouji and Kiba came up to praise their childhood friend and Naruto beamed at them. Iruka was doing his best to repress tears of happiness and Naruto was simply feeling warm all over, even if it was only going to last for a few more moment.
That's okay, he will treasure the moment forever, and that's what matters most.
Up in one of the trees, Naruto's protector form the shadows smiled behind his ANBU mask at his charge's smile, also enjoying this moment of the blond's happiness. After all, he knew he deserved it.