A/N As I said in the Preface I took many ideas for this story, and the main one is the canon. That's why the end of the previous chapter, and a part of this one is taken from it. The idea is not to ease my work, as I try to adapt it using the changes the story has already set, but to try to match the events of the real story. This is also intended as a possible merging point for this story and the canon. I do not take pleasure in rewriting something already existing, it's boring and it would be easier for me to simply rewrite from memory, even risking to forget some elements.
I read once that creating is trying. There, I try another approach, but the amount of work is a bit too much, and the result is not as gratifying as it is to create a whole new story.
AvidReader : Usually I reply by PM, but since you were not logged when you posted, I'll reply here. First of all, thanks for the comment, and for the typo. It really is a typo, due to a bias in my mind. I'm French, and in french, "corps" is "body". It can be used for a military corps, but rarely. The problem is, since it's the same word in french and english, I tend to correct it instinctively to corpse, despite the fact that I know the difference... Still, thanks for pointing it, I corrected the chapters 11 and 18.
I also corrected some mistakes I found in the 19...
'Thinking'
"Talking"
"Talking in mind-scape"
'Demon Thinking'
"Demon Talking"
Chapter 21 : Prank Master
Naruto created some clones in the room right under the exam room. They all went to prepare multiple things. He then waited.
Two of the clones had been charged with the task to search the Namikaze/Uzumaki library for useful or creative things for the primary objective : prank the examiners.
Once in the attic of the orphanage, they expected to find Tomomi with the clone assigned this morning to keep her company, but hey found none of them
"They are probably gone to play outside, Tomomi-chan most likely didn't see the light since the Boss went on mission." Clone#1 said as Clone#2 nodded before they both went towards the wall to the secret room.
Once in the room, they went to work, one on the Uzumaki part, the other on the Namikaze part, exchanging information as soon as they found them, and checking for the usability.
After the time span they got for it expired, they went towards the meeting point the clones had.
On their way, they met with the clone assigned to Tomomi
"Guys, how is the Boss doing?" Clone#3 said
"Still in the First part, we have to hurry..." Clone#1 said
"Wait I need your help..." Clone#3's voice trailed, like there was something on his mind.
Clone#1 turned at #2 "You go to the meeting, you found the best things, if I don't join you, do not dispell, come back to the orphanage and pack has much as possible"
"OK, see you" Clone#2 said taking off
At some point, a kunai flew in the air and planted in the copy of a chuunin wannabe from Konoha
"What was that for?!" he asked rising up.
"You messed up 5 times." said Kotetsu, standing up. "You fail."
"No... No way..."
The two on his team, get out of here. Right Now." Ibiki said, cold.
Out of the windows, just behind one of the officers, stealthy like never before, stood Naruto, or precisely, a Naruto. One of the clones was sent to look at the way the officers took note of the cheaters. After a few seconds, he moved away and dispelled.
'So each officer is looking at 4 examinees and counting.' he thought.
"What did you do with Tomomi?" Clone#1 asked as soon as #2 was gone
"I don't know where she is, she was not at the orphanage this morning, and after spying a bit, I learned that they had expelled her." Clone#3 said preoccupied.
"Crap, and we can't tell the Boss while he's in the exam, or we will fail..." Clone#1, thinking
"That's why I needed your help, the Boss would have created a hundred of us for a task like this, but if I do that, if one is dispelled, the Boss would know..."
"OK first of all, we will need some nose. Get Hojun, I'll intercept some clones when the pranks are prepared." Clone#1 said. "Try to remember where we when with her, she will probably have gone towards somewhere she knows or have good memories..."
Clone#1 was spying on the clone meeting, where they all decided quickly who would be doing what . At the end, two were left to take care of the orphanage library. When they all scrambled to handle their tasks, Clone#1 caught the 2 clones directed towards the orphanage.
"Wait guys, how long can you still go?" Clone#1 asked to the other two.
"I should be the same as you, so around 90%" Clone#2 said
"I'm nearly full, I've only spent time reading and running a bit to come back here, I'd say 90 to 95%." Clone#4 replied
"Great, try not to get dispelled, for we have a problem to solve, and the Boss should not be disturbed by it during his exam." Clone#1 explained, before the other two clones nodded. "Tomomi-chan is nowhere to be found."
"WHAT!" the two clones exclaimed together.
"The clone in charge of her didn't find her when he arrived this morning, after investigation, she has been expelled, so she is somewhere in the village, we just have to find her. A clone is fetching Hojun, we will have to be careful with him, and we will have to split. As we are 4, we will do 2 teams of 2, for now we'll go the three of us, and when we see the other one, we will split."
Once Hinata finished her answer sheet, Naruto asked her by sign the position of a fully answered sheet. Se gave him the position of a nearby desk, by taping on her desk.
Then, suddenly, the room was filled with clouds of smoke, which dispelled quickly. Once cleared, the room was in the same state, except that most of the examinees were looking surprized.
"Number 23, you fail!" said one of the officer looking at a guy with the hand in the position to form a seal.
"What! But! That was..." he tried to reply
"43 and 27 you fail." said Ibiki with a tone that did not invite to comment.
Just as the door closed, two parts of the ceiling dropped, one on the rank of officers on the left of the room, the other on the right. As it was just a false ceiling, it was not dangerous, but there were things over it. Bags of water, paint, eggs, floor, feathers... Nothing that could harm the officers, but all were disturbed. Instantly, Ibiki's eyes turned to Naruto. The reputation he gained in the Anbu and jounins was known from the examiner, so he expected to find him smiling, in fact, he was writing, and he moved his head with genuine surprise. As he was going to step towards the nearest officer, he quickly jumped to the left, to dodge a paint bomb coming from the room.
"Trust me kids, this is not a game you want to play with me." Ibiki reached for his bandanna "I've been caught twice by surprise, it's not going to happened again." He uncovered his scarred skull, which shocked to candidates. "Continue this test, and if I catch someone trying that again, he fails, and his team with him"
Saying that, he was looking at Naruto, who winked at him.
In the street, the clones had merged and split into two teams, Clone#1 and 2 went one way, Clone#3 and 4 went with Hojun, who had henged into a dog. The Hojun team had started from the orphanage trying to find a track from around the orphanage. The second team had also started from the orphanage, but took the road towards the training field Naruto and Tomomi always went to, and tried to look for any alley or hiding around it.
For team Hojun things were not looking good. After twelve hours, the tracks were not many, and with that many people going around the orphanage, the tracks were all melted.
For the second team, things went more bright, as they met Hana and the Haimaru Brothers.
"HANA!" shouted Clone#2
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the Chuunin Exam?" she asked, curious
"We are clones, we have a big problem, but the Boss should not be disturbed while he is in the Exam." Clone#1 replied
"What's the problem?"
"We lost Tomomi-chan!" Clone#2 replied hastily.
"A child the Boss consider as a little sister has been expelled from the orphanage, but we can't find her." Clone#1 explained
"How do you know she has been expelled? She may have been adopted, if she was in the orphanage..." Hana said, not fully believing the clones.
"I heard the adults of the orphanage tell that they were happy to have expelled that demon spawn." Clone#2 replied, a bit angry
"demon spawn?" Hana said frowning
"Yeah, I think it's her, because they used to keep her in the attic, like they used to do with me. They never presented her to any family trying to adopt someone, so there is no way she would have been adopted." Clone#1 said. "So I think the similarity in the behavior is also in the nicknaming..."
"Oh." Hana said a bit sad. "I see. Do you have any sample of her scent?"
"No, but in the orphanage, there are." Clone#2 said.
"Then we go to the orphanage, the Brothers may find a track for that." She said, smiling.
"Thank you Hana-nee!" the clones said, darting towards the orphanage.
On the sheet it said that the tenth question would be given after 45 minutes, which was the time Ibiki said
"OK and now we will begin the 10th question. Now, before we get to it, I'd like to go over the added rules for this question."
On that the door opened, and Kankuro appeared. He had got out to get to the bathroom, escorted by an exam officer.
"Heh, nice timing." Ibiki said to Kankuro "was your doll playing beneficial? Just sit down. I'll now explain. These are the rules of Desperation. First for this 10th question, you must decide whether you will take it or not."
"CHOOSE?!" Temari shouted "What happens if we choose not to?!"
"If you choose not to, your points will be reduced to zero." replied Ibiki "You fail! Along with your two teammates."
"What that means?!" asked a shinobi
"Then of course we will decide to take the question!" said another one.
"And now the other rule." Ibiki replied slowly. "If you choose to take it and answer incorrectly, that person will lose the right to ever take the Chuunin Selection Exam again."
"What kind of stupid rule is that?" Kiba asked aggressively "There are guys here who have taken the exam before!"
Ibiki started to laugh mischievously.
"You guys were unlucky." he said "This year it's my rules. But I'm giving you a way out. Those that aren't confident can choose not to take it and try again next year."
After a long silence, a man raised his hand
"I'm sorry Gennai, Inoho..."
"Number 50 fail! 130, 111 also fail" said one of the officers.
"Me too", "I quit", "And me"... were heard in the room.
And then, surprising everyone, the shaking hand of Naruto rose above his head. He kept his hand high for a moment and then he slammed it on his desk.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! I WILL NOT RUN! I'll take it! Even if I'm a genin forever! I'll will myself to becoming Hokage anyway so I don't care! I AM NOT AFRAID!"
"I'll ask you again. Your life is riding on this decision, this is your last chance to quit." said Ibiki in a very cold tone.
"I follow my unbending words." replied Naruto "That's my ninja way."
Ibiki looked at the candidates, and seeing that their resolve was set, due to Naruto's speech, decided to end it.
"Good decisions. Now to everyone still remaining... I congratulate you on passing the first test."
"What did you mean?" asked Sakura "We already pass? What about the 10th question?"
"There never was such a thing." replied Ibiki smiling. "or you could say that those two choices were the 10th question."
"Then what were the first nine questions for?" asked Temari "They were pointless then!"
"They were not pointless" replied the examiner "They had already served their intended purpose. To test your individual gathering ability, that purpose. If the enemy or 3rd party notices you, there is no guarantee the info will be accurate. I want you to remember this, important information in your hands can be a powerful weapon for your comrades and for the village. So we had you gather information through cheating. This clearly separated those that did not have the right abilities. As for the 10th question, between two painful choices, is a true leap of faith. Say you guys become chuunins. Your mission is to steal a secret document. The amount of ninjas, their abilities, etc is unknown to you. And of course there could be traps set all around you. Now do you accept or not? Because you don't want to die, because you don't want your comrades hurt, can you avoid the dangerous missions? The answer is no! No mater what danger there are missions you can't avoid. The ability to be courageous and survive any hardship, this is the ability to become a Chuunin Captain."
He stopped and looked at his right, and a big rotating ball destroyed the window startling everyone. Four kunais launched from the ball and planted at the roof and the floor, pinning a giant sign to the room.
"You guys! this is no time to be celebrating!" said Anko, standing in front of the banner advertising her qualities. "I am the examiner for the second test, Mitarashi Anko! Now let's go!"
Before she started to move, Ibiki came from behind the banner.
"Bad timing..."
"78! Ibiki you left 26 teams?! The test was too easy this time!"
"This time... there are a lot of outstanding ones."
"Maybe, but why are you encouraging my otouto with this sign?" Anko said, pointing to Ibiki's chest.
He looked at his chest, it was written "Uzumaki Naruto is better than me" he opened he eyes wide and turned to the room.
"Who..."
"As much as I like the praise..." said Naruto "... can you please not do it in that visible fashion? I'm not interested by boys, and even if, you are a bit too old... No offense..."
"Get" Ibiki said, being cold again "Out. Now!"
And all the candidates scrambled, following Anko.
Ibiki intercepted Naruto before he could reach the window.
"Did you do it all?"
"Can I still be disqualified?" Naruto asked in return
"No, you are officially qualified for the next round."
"Then yes... I had clones set up the traps over your underlings, I created the smoke by creating and dispelling clones, I switched my copy with one fully answered one I took from one of your infiltrated candidates, I made it look like another guy did it, I also removed some marks on the judges sheets, and added some..." Naruto replied casually. "I think disqualified 3 or 4 teams, and saved one... As for the sign, I'll keep it a secret, as it's a trademark." he finished with a grin.
"You better not try that too much" Ibiki said, looking neutral "it will not work all the time"
"It was a fight of stealth, and I don't back down from a fight" Naruto replied with a wink, before darting for the window.
"Impressive little boy..." said Ibiki to himself.
Just as the clones that prepared the pranks dispelled, 10 minutes after the prank occurred, in the search team, the clones had to stop to process all the pranking. While Naruto was used to receiving information via clone dispelling, the clones were focused on the task at hand, searching Tomomi, and the influx came as a surprised for them. They had all regrouped, as Hojun was not trained enough to follow the track, they decided to use this as a training for him. Hana and the Haimaru Brothers was leading, and the clones with Hojun were investigating every places around the track.
As they stopped in an alley, Hana turned to look at the clones, just in time to see Hojun freeze, and quickly dart in a shadowy side alley.
The clones recovered fast, in fact it took them less than two seconds in all. Just as they gained their senses, they had to run to follow Hojun, at the same time that Hana launched. In the alley, they saw Hojun drop his henge, and stop against a wall and start yapping at the wall.
"What is he yapping at?" asked Hana
"Look, this is a piece of Tomomi-chan's dress!" Clone#3 exclaimed.
"Where?" Hana said looking at the wall.
Then she saw the clone put his hand in the wall and retrieve a piece of cloth from inside it.
"WAIT, HOW?" she said, touching the plain wall.
"What do you mean, it was in the hole." the clone said stunned
"There is NO hole!" Hana said surprized
"There is one, and I think Tomomi went inside at some point." Clone#3 said while changing in a little boy using Henge no Jutsu, and just before lovering and going for the hole.
Hana saw him disappear in the wall and checked again the wall.
"I don't know how you did that guys, but it's strange, for me, this is a wall, there is absolutely no hole."
Hojun yapped once, as to confirm what she said.
"I don't know what to say, there is a hole, I don't know how you don't see it, let alone feel it." Clone#1 said, doubting.
A few minutes later, the henged clone appeared again, quickly followed by the little Tomomi, looking worse than ever.
"Tomomi-chan!" the three other clones acclaimed, as Hojun started to jump at her
She gripped to the first clone she saw outside, not wanting to let go.
"So the quest is successful, but we better bring this little miss at your home and take care of her" Said Hana "A good bath, fresh clothes, a good meal should be a good start, don't you think?"
"Tomomi-chan, this is Inuzuka Hana. She helped us find you with the help of the Haimaru Brothers, here" Clone#3 explained to the girl in his arms, as the Haimaru Brothers barked a little as to say hello.
She looked at all of them but said nothing.
"We should be going to the apartment." said Clone#1.
"We should also investigate this place, it's really interesting inside." Clone#3 replied with a wink
"OK, you stay there and look for everything." Clone#1 said to Clone#2. "You go to the orphanage, we have to empty it as fast as possible, now that Tomomi-chan won't be going back there." he then said to Clone#4, while smiling to the girl.
They then took off towards Naruto's apartment.
In the orphanage, Clone#4 decided to create a giant scroll to store directly the whole library shelves and not the scrolls and book one by one.
'I won't be able to store everything by myself, but at least, the scroll would be ready, another clone would take care of it.'
He then took the biggest scroll in the room, unwrapped it and began to draw on it.
In the apartment, Hana took the lead.
"So, I'm going to help Tomomi to wash, you go get some clothes." She said speaking to Clone#1 "get a dress, lets say 4T or 4/6, don't worry too much, we'll do some shopping afterwards to get her a full wardrobe. Take a pari of shoes while you're at it, but make it quick. Take sandals, adjustable in size to match between 10 and 13."
Clone#1 made a salute, winked at Tomomi, henged into a woman, and went for the door.
"Make something for her to eat. Make it solid, if you have meat or fish, with a good portion of rice, it would be alright for now." She said towards Clone#3 while looking at Tomomi for approval.
Tomomi nodded slowly.
"And now, to the bath." Hana said showing the way of the bathroom to the girl.
Tomomi did not move at first, until Hojun moved to her side, looking at her, and making a move of the head to tell her to come. He then went to the bathroom, followed by Tomomi and Hana.
The hole in the wall was a small tunnel, which led to a small room. In this room, there was a sofa, a small shelf, with some novels. After inspection, the wooden floor was not the same everywhere. In a corner, it looked really different. When the clone looked at it, he found a blind handle, and two hinges. He grabbed the handle, and hatch opened. Like the room he was in, the ladder was strangely lit despite the lack of light source, but the bottom of the ladder was dark.
'I'm here to investigate, let's see what's in there.'
Once at the bottom, he found himself in a large room, once again strangely lit. The room was rectangular, with a big table in the middle, surrounded by 4 chairs on each long side, 2 on one of the short, and at the further short side, there was a big chair, more like a small throne. Behind this throne, as well as on the further long side of the room, was two big, wall-sized shelves.
Behind the throne, the shelves were separated in 2 big portions, and 2 smaller ones. On the far right, the first small section was described as "Genjutsu" at the top. Next to it on the left, was the second small one, stamped as "Taijutsu". Again on the left, was "Kenjutsu" and "Ninjutsu", the two big ones.
Then, there was the giant shelf on the left wall, with "Fuinjutsu" written on the top.
All these were stacked with scrolls, books, even some straw papers. The fuinjutsu part seemed to be even bigger than any shelves Naruto had seen at the village library, and there didn't seem to be any place left.
Seeing this, the clone needed to sit, and grabbed the nearest chair. But the chair was not the small, light chair he got home or the lightly padded there was at the library. They were heavy, made of a kind of red wood that seemed pretty rare to his ignorant eyes. The inner side of the back was a thick padding, covered in a red velvet, bearing the symbol of a whirlpool. The base was also a thick padding, covered in the same red velvet. He sat nonetheless, that's when the table appeared really to his eyes. It was made of a single piece of wood, the same red wood used for the chairs. Engraved in it was the symbol of the whirlpool that Naruto knew was the symbol of the Uzumaki clan. But it was surrounded by 6 other symbols, 3 on each sides that he clone did not recognize, at the exception of the symbol of the Namikaze that he found in his secret library.
Behind him, on the big wall, was a big two panels door, also made in the red wood. On the right side of the door, were two frames, with the face of a man in each, wearing the same white and red kimono, with the same red laced with white hair. Under the one on the left, was written "Shodai", and under the other "Nidaime".
On the last wall, facing the throne, was a big frame, with another man wearing the white and red kimono, and also a kind of red and white hair. Under it was the word "Sandaime".
After breathing a little, the clone decided to check behind the doors.
The room there was huge. It was like a private dojo, with an immense tatami in the middle. Around it twelve wooden pillars with the same seal visible on them. On the walls, were a lot of weapon racks. Some were empty of their specific weapons, like the big one in the middle of the left wall. It was a big piece of wood, with the Uzumaki symbol on it, and the space left for a katana that, seeing at the richly ornamented props, looked to be seriously precious.
After looking quickly at all the weapons, the clone decided to leave the place in peace for now, and to get back to the apartment, to share his findings. He closed all the doors, hatch, and get back through the tunnel, checking that nobody was in the alley before speeding to the flat.
On the way to the Second Exam, Naruto was approached by Karin.
"So, where's your proof?"
"I can't show it there, there are too many people. If we get some time before or during the next part, come see me, I'll show you".
"That better be true, or you'll regret it" Karin finished, before parting ways.
"Are you... sure s... she... she's from... your family, Na... Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked from his side
"Something inside me says she is..." he replied, emphasizing the first two words.
"Oh..."
They continued in silence following the group of genin led by Anko.
Back at the apartment, Hana exited the bathroom to see how things were going. She saw one clone in the kitchen, washing things in the sink, another one in the sofa, waiting, and a third coming towards her with two bags.
"I hope they will fit" Clone#1 said, giving her the bags
"We'll see." said Hana, thoughtful, before going back to the bathroom.
She went out a few seconds later.
"She'll come out when she's finished." she said to the clones. "I have a quick wandering to do, I'll be back shortly." she went to the door.
"Where are you going? You said you wanted to go shopping with Tomomi-chan" said Clone#1 surprized.
"Do not leave the room. If someone enters and see her, he is not to get out of here, for any reason." I'll go see the Hokage to tell him"
"Tell him what?"
Just as the door of the bathroom opened, Hana replied looking at the girl in the opening "The News" and she got out.