The Pantheon of Nine
By: Finn Mertenz
A/N: This chapter shows how old Naruto as a series is, they legit had to use "VCR Tapes" in part 1, I had to google that shit. VCR tapes are so old and although I want to just make them DvDs I will remain true to the source material and use VCR tapes.
I can't find who's record team Gaara/Baki broke in canon, I know it was either Itachi's or Minato's, but I cannot find which one. However, the anime confirms they "break the previous record by over four hours".
During the fight Jiraiya Vs Pain, Jiraiya remarks in a flashback that Nagato was able to achieve all 6 chakra natures. From my manga research and databook reading, I've come to the conclusion he was remarking to Yin-Yang release, grouping those 2 together and referring to it as a 6th Nature.
Therefore I will be too.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.
Chapter 21: The Hermit Returns Home! A Record Broken.
7:03pm, Friday May 27th 58SSP, inside a room of the tower in the Forest of Death.
"I don't need that, just go get me some Dango." Anko retorted as she brushed aside a small jar of pain medicine that the Eagle masked Anbu offered her.
Anko was laying horizontally atop a small blue loveseat, but since she was only 5'4 she fit perfectly atop it, with her head and feet each resting atop opposite ends of the armrests.
She was panting rather heavily, no doubt still physically exhausted from using the seal placed on the left side of her neck, her intense breathing causing her large chest to rise and fall, something both masked Anbu infront of her took heavy interest in.
The room had simply red texture square tiles that paved the floor, with solid maple walls and roof, there was an oak sliding door directly behind the loveseat, most likely a closet, aswell as a oak sliding door to the right of the armrest that Anko's head rested atop.
8 ft to the left of the armrest Anko's feet rested against were a pair of 6 full-body sized, square cut windows, allowing the user of the room to get a grand view of the night sky that hovered over the blazing forest underneath it.
Infront of the loveseat, 10 ft precisely, were 2 circular bamboo tables positioned infront of the wall, with each of them holding a 24 inch fat-back TV atop it, with several large and bulky wires running from the TV to an outlet on the wall.
The metal of the TVs were teal blue and the front glass screen was screwed into place, beside each TV was a VCR player with cords running to and connecting with the TV beside it, cords much smaller than the ones running to the wall.
"Anko, surely you understand that you need actual medicine." The Eagle masked Anbu replied.
"Yea I do need medicine, so go get me some Dango and after that we can discuss the situation at hand, with a dangerous S-rank traitor wondering around the forest, and almost half of it on fire, we have a serious problem here." Anko huffed out in response.
"But we can't cancel the Exam, it's too important... what did Lord 3rd suggest?" While speaking, Anko stared up at the maple wooden ceiling.
"Lord Jiraiya is confirmed to already be inside the village, both he and Lord 3rd should be here any moment." The Bear masked Shinobi replied, causing Anko to sigh with relief.
"Sweet...Lord Jiraiya is just the type of person to deal with Orochimaru..." Anko spoke aloud, not truly believing the words she spoke as she assumed it was her responsibility to defeat her former teacher.
"Excuse me." Izumo spoke out as he slid the door behind the resting Anko open, causing the 2 Anbu to direct their attention towards him while Anko continued to stare up at the ceiling.
"What is it? Unless it's about Lord 3rd of Lord Jiraiya, go away - can't you see I'm having an important conversation." Anko barked out, finding a way to snap at people even when she was exhausted of chakra.
"A- right - my apologies." Izumo replied anxiously, know better than to anger the Kunoichi infront of him.
"It's really important though, pertaining to the Chunin Exam." Izumo protested as he raised his left hand infront of his chest, revealing 2 VCR tapes he held in hand, something both of the Anbu present noticed but Anko didn't since she was still staring up at the ceiling.
"What the fuck is it?" Anko snapped out.
"U-uh right here, I'll show you." Izumo replied as he walked into the room, strolling over to the TVs infront of the loveseat Anko laid on before quickly placing both of the tapes inside a separate VCR player, one plugged in to each TV.
This action finally interested Anko enough to sit up, grunting slightly in pain but quickly brushing it aside as she sat in the center of the love seat, crossing her arms infront of her chest and blocking her rather large breasts from view.
The screen of the TV turned to static as Izumo turned it on and began to press a number of buttons on the VCR player while turning knobs on the TV in attempt to get the precise picture and tone.
"As you know, this forest has 44 entrance gates around its perimeter, and to ensure we always have enough doors for the competing candidates, this tower also has 44 doors for each team to individually use and enter the tower through." Izumo spoke.
"Everyone knows that." Anko replied
"Well, each doorway also has a camera present, to observe and film the approaching candidates to document their time of arrival." Izumo responded.
"Of course, I already fucking know that." Anko snapped out.
"One tape is the footage from camera #22 while the other is footage from #23, all of the proctors agree you need to see this." Izumo explained as a proper picture finally appeared on the TV infront of him.
The picture was of a vibrant forest that rested across the perimeter of stone and wood that formed around the tower, the two angles present on the scene showing two separate points of view that both combined together and revealed the same picture in the center.
Birds could be heard chirping from the TV, as bright beams of light could also be seen shining in through the tree branches that lined the background of the image on scene.
"This is footage was taken at 1:37pm today, only 1 hour and 37 minutes after the 2nd Exam began..." Izumo explained as he stood up and backward away, allowing Anko and the 2 Anbu present to get a better look at the scene.
At first the scene on the TV appeared to be frozen, as if nothing was happening at all except for the sound of birds chirping, before Gaara and Naruto both leapt into view, each of them leaping from the surrounding tree line and landing beside one another, each one only 4 feet away from the other.
The moment Naruto touched the ground beside Gaara he erupted in a puff of smoke and after several moments the smoke dissipated and revealed all 3 members of team 7 standing beside the sand trio of team Baki.
The puff of smoke suggested the Naruto that had appeared beside Gaara at first was just a shadow clone, one that was quickly replaced by the real one as if he could teleport to his clone.
"3 from the Hidden Village in the Sand and 3 from the Hidden Village in the leaf's just finished the 2nd stage of the Exam, time: 1:37pm." An unknown proctor declared from an audio recording on the tape.
The tape then showed the members of team Baki and 7 lesiurely strolling forward towards their unique doors, as Naruto and Gaara walked up the steps before they both stopped precisely at the sametime, allowing each of their teammates to walk past them and open their doors.
At that moment both Naruto and Gaara turned their heads sideways, each of them glancing at the other, Naruto's arms hung down by his sides while Gaara's were crossed infront of his chest, Gaara peering at the blond bangs that covered Naruto's face while Naruto glared at the red seal on Gaara's forehead.
According to the timestamp on the camera, they stared at each other for over 52 seconds, certainly each of them were deep in thought, either pondering the situation at hand or the individual infront of them, before both of them walked in through the doors that their teammates did, walking out of view from both cameras as the screens on each TV turned to static.
"W-w-what?!" A speechless Anko declared as her pupils shrunk from the sheer shock of what she had just witnessed.
"Did you say 1:37pm?" Anko asked, as if she didn't believe what she was being told.
"Correct, the 2nd stage of the Chunin Exam began today at percisely 11:30am." Izumo replied as he turned his attention towards a still shocked Anko.
"They finished the Exam in only 97 minutes?" The Eagle masked Anbu asked in awe, as if the feat team 7 and team Baki just demostrated impressed someone of Anbu-level.
"I-is-is this even possible?" Anko stuttered out.
"This has never happened before - in the entire history of the Chunin Exams." Izumo replied.
"Even the previous lord 4th Hokage only managed to get through the forest in 6 hours and 29 minutes - these kids - their abnormal." Izumo declared, thinking back to when the blond boy he held no high opinion of knocked out Kotetsu without throwing a single punch, he knew how Naruto was different though, he just wasn't allow to say it out loud.
"There is no way any of them are Genin." Izumo spoke.
"Naruto was probably just carrying his teammates." Anko replied, thinking about all the high praise her boytoy spoke about Naruto, clearly Kakashi held him in high regard.
"Naruto sure is something, but I wouldn't discount that Uchiha, or even the pink-haired runt, it would take skill just to keep up with someone at that speed, someone who could travel 6 miles in only 97 minutes." Izumo responded.
"And that's not even considering if he actually fought anyone or took breaks." Izumo stated.
"Then theres that red haired kid from the sand." Izumo explained as he walked about towards the VCR player and rewinded it, pausing on a scene that had both Gaara and Naruto present, both of them staring at the other.
"Look at him, there isn't a spot of dirt on him." Izumo pointed out as he squinted his eyes, his statement alerting the 2 Anbu and Anko behind him to the degree of skill it would require to accomplish such a feat.
"Its over 6 miles from here, and every single entrance gate that leads into this forest..." Anko explained as she turned her head to the left and glared out the window on the far side of the room, the forest fire blazing below illuminating the view.
"There are wild beasts, poisonous bugs and steep forest trails..." Anko spoke.
"And all 6 of them just walked in as if nothing happened at all, the only ones whom even seemed remotely affected were Naruto and that red haired sand kid." Anko stated.
"They have no wounds at all, the only noticable thing was the dirt under Sakura's nails, and the drops of wa-" Anko's eyes bulged and throbbed in her skull, as the sheer shock of her revelation caused her legs to shoot up as she stormed forward towards the TV infront of her.
"A-Anko?" Izumo asked out as he took a few steps back to allowing a still stunned Anko to stumble forward infront of the TV, both of her hands grasping the opposite ends of it Horizontally, the pupil's of her eyes trembling and quaking as he bent forward, basically shoving her face against the shove of the TV scene.
She glared for several moments at the frozen body of Naruto, since the tape was paused she was allowed to study his features closely, noticing the several droplets of water that covered his purple tunic and soaked his blond hair.
T-that crater - that lake... Anko told herself, having finally regonized who created the massive lake she fought her Sensei beside, but becoming utterly speechless at the answer to who it was.
Na-Naruto... Anko thought in awe, unable to comprehend how the sweet, innocent blond student of her boytoy could display such power, power that even she couldn't release against her own Sensei.
I have my eyes set on a certain Shinobi, one far beyond any his age. The sinister voice of Orochimaru echoed out loudly inside the mind of his former student.
A child whose eyes shall turn me into a Sage. Orochimaru's voiced reminded Anko, the pupils of her eyes trembling as she stared intently at Naruto's face on scene, his soaked bangs slightly parted and pushed to the side, revealing a faint violet flicker barely visible to the eye.
He is a prodigy, one worthy of being called Shinobi. Orochimaru's voiced remarked as Anko's shocked hands squeezed the sides of the TV in an attempt to calm her shock.
"Hi dear." The voice of Kakashi broke out, garnishing the attention of everyone present in the room, especially Anko due to the weakness she had developed for Kakashi's voice and tone.
"Hi ho - I mean - what the fuck are you doing here?" Anko asked out as she released the TV from her grip and turned to face Kakashi.
He held his iconic Orange make-out tatic book in his right hand, his face up to his nose concealed and hidden behind it, as his left hand and arm was placed behind his back, as he if was hiding something there.
"What's that?" Anko asked, squinting her eyes as she grew suspicious of her boytoy's sudden arrival.
"Sweet Red Bean broth with 12 Dango sticks, dear." Kakashi replied as he pulled a brown paper back out from behind his back and held it infront of his chest, his present causing Anko to hold both of her forearms infront of her chest vertically as she squealed out like a little girl filled with glee, wanting to jump for joy but to exhausted.
"That's that medicine I asked for - all of you get out now, Izumo leave the tape." Anko barked out, as both the Eagle and Bear masked Anbu walked out the door with Izumo falling close before them.
"You know, they call it a loveseat for a reason." Anko explained as a seductive grin grew atop her face.
"I'm sure you want to show me why, don't you dear?" Kakashi asked without raising his attention away from his book as he used the sole of his left foot to close the sliding door Izumo walked out of.
"After I eat - yes." Anko replied as she stretched out both of her arms towards Kakashi, as if she wanted to wrap her arms around him or have him pick her up.
As if he was used to her mannerisms, he nonchalantly closed his Orange book before using his right hand to reach behind his back and place it inside his Shuriken satchel while walking towards his significant other.
"Sounds lovely, dear." Kakashi spoke as he preformed his iconic eye wink towards his girlfriend and finally stood close enough for Anko to wrap her arms around his shoulders, allowing Anko to quickly lean forward and nuzzle her head into her boytoy's chest.
"Carry me." Anko order as she continued to nuzzle against Kakashi.
"Sure thing, dear." Kakashi replied as he handed her the brown paper bag full of her food before sweeping her off her feet and carrying her to the blue loveseat in the center of the room, the only furniture in the room at all.
Meanwhile, several floors higher up on the tower, inside the stairway.
"Anko has already encountered him, and although 4 squads of Anbu have been dispatched into the Forest they haven't located him yet." Hiruzen explained as he walk up the dimly-lit stairway.
"I see - so it's even more grim than I feared." A man walking behind the 3rd Hokage replied, the shadows of the stairway concealing his figure and torso.
"Yes, barring the complaints of your antics and 'research', your arrival is most welcomed." Hiruzen stated as both he and the individual walking behind him quickly began approaching a sliding door infront of them.
"Jiraiya." Hiruzen remarked with a slight smile on his face, as he slid the door infront of him open, illuminating both himself and the man behind him in light, happy to see a student return to the village or atleast one that returned without trying to destroy it.
"Dare I say there isn't a man alive who doesn't appreciate the work that my research inspires." Jiraiya responded with a mischievous grin as he walked behind his Sensei in the hallway that had just entered from the stairway.
"Hm - yes." Hiruzen remarked as he raised his left hand to his face and pulled down the tip of his Hokage hat slightly, attempting to hide the blush that covered his face.
"Anyway..." Jiraiya spoke out, the previous humor that filled his tone completely disappearing as he took on a much more serious voice.
"This is curious, why would he return now? After all these years? What is there to gain?" Jiraiya asked as both he and his sensei continued to walk through the hallway together.
"I know Orochimaru better than anyone, he always has a reason, a method to his madness." Jiraiya explained.
"There is a reason he has returned, something he is after, something that will benefit him." Jiraiya concluded as he raised his right hand to his face before wrapping his fingers around his chin as he walked.
"He knows the time to strike is now, he knows that no one alive in this village could defeat him, not even me I fear." Hiruzen replied.
"Is that why you summoned me back?" Jiraiya asked.
"No - the reason I summoned you is of far more importantance." Hiruzen responded, causing his student walking behind him to tilt his head slightly to the right in confusion, still gripping his chin.
"More important than Orochimaru?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yes - do you recall those 3 orphans from the Land of Rain, the ones you trained during the 2nd Shinobi War." Hiruzen replied.
"Huuuu - of course." Jiraiya sighed out in defeat as he released his chin from his grasp before raising his head slightly and staring up at the maple wood ceiling above him as he walked.
"I'll never forget them, they were all one of a kind." Jiraiya responded as he continued to stare up at the ceiling, his mind so far away that his eyes weren't even affected by the lights overhead.
"Yahiko, Konan and of course Nagato." Jiraiya spoke, the image of Nagato's eyes searing itself into his mind as he spoke, the image of the Rinnegan.
"And that boy - Nagato - his eyes..." Hiruzen responded, allowing his sentence to trail off as if he was waiting for Jiraiya to finish it.
"Yes - the eyes of legend, the eyes of that belonged to the Sage of Six Paths..." Jiraiya replied as he downcast his gaze and stared at his Sensei that was walking infront of him.
"The Rinnegan." Jiraiya spoke, causing several brief moments of silence to fill the hallway him and his Sensei walked down.
"You say you trained the boy, how was his progress?" Hiruzen asked.
"He mastered every single jutsu I taught him, what took me years to learn only took 3 weeks." Jiraiya replied.
"Not only was he able to flawlessly preform A-rank jutsu at the age of 10 but he also demonstrated the ability to achieve all 6 changes in chakra nature, which is unheard of in a single person." Jiraiya explained.
"Even you, someone known as the God of Shinobi, can only achieve 5 manipulations in chakra nature, and that is after decades of experince and training." Jiraiya remarked.
"Nagato achieved all 6, in a matter of weeks." Jiraiya stated.
"He was well versed in dozens of jutsu, demonstrating such control that even an elite Jonin couldn't accomplish, he could preform Fire Style at one moment then Water Style the next, accomplishing a feat that should have been impossible for anyone his age." Jiraiya spoke.
"And to think - he accomplished all this at just 10 years old, something that has taken other Shinobi entire life times to fulfill." Jiraiya asserted.
"Of all the Doijutsu known in this world, the Rinnegan is claimed to be the most empyrean, as if they were the eyes of a God." Jiraiya explained.
"The legends say that the father of the all Shinobi, the Sage of Six Paths, used the Rinnegan to create the moon itself." Jiraiya remarked.
"The legends also say that the eyes are a tool of God, capable of bringing holy salvation to this world in any time of chaos..." Jiraya spoke.
"Or - a tool of destruction that will wipe out and erase everything in existence, returning this world to how it was in the beginning, returning it to nothing." Jiraiya stated.
In my dream, I saw that you'd become a great Shinobi, perverted and all. A giant, wrinkle covered toad spoke aloud inside Jiraiya's mind.
And in time, you will have a student of your own. The enormous toad asserted.
That student will become a Ninja that will bring about great change to the Shinobi world. The large toad explained before his eyes opened slightly and stared down at the young kneeling Jiraiya infront of him, as if this was a memory from decades ago.
Change of great stability and peace or of unending destruction and death. The toad stated.
"I truly believed Nagato was that child, a child destined to bring about great peace and salvation to our hate-filled world..." Jiraiya mumbled out in a depressed tone as he downcast his head, staring at the feet of his Sensei walking infront of him.
"When I heard all 3 of them had been killed during the 3rd Shinobi War, I was devastated." Jiraiya admitted.
"When I realized Nagato possessed those eyes, I felt relieved - I felt like I had came across my destiny, my foretold student." Jiraiya explained.
"Only for this Shinobi world to end him, as it has so many others..." Jiraiya sighed in depression.
"Then perhaps, destiny shines upon you again." Hiruzen remarked, causing Jiraiya to raise his gaze and direct it towards the back of his Sensei walking infront of him.
"What? Just what are you saying?" Jiraiya asked.
"The reason I summoned you here, the Rinnegan has surfaced inside a child of this village."
"Are you serious? When? How? Which child?" Jiraiya asked as he stopped walking mid-stride, to overwhelmed from the thoughts now racing through his mind.
"I would not have summoned you if I wasn't serious." Hiruzen replied as he stopped in the hallway, standing 5 feet infront of his student with his back directed towards him.
"As for when, I can not say, but ever since the death of a certain leaf Shinobi, strange circumstances have surrounded this child." Hiruzen spoke as the Image of Iruka flew through his mind.
"How - that is a good question, sadly it isn't one I can answer." Hiruzen stated.
"And as for the child..." Hiruzen remarked as he turned around, using his left hand to push up his Hokage hat slightly so he could look his student directly in the eyes.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Hiruzen asserted.
Meanwhile, higher up the tower, on the balcony extending from the 16th floor, 2 floors below the top.
The midnight sky was Illuminated by the blazing fire that roared underneath it, scorching the Forest of Death for over 6 hours now as smoke continued to bellow and rise upwards, forcing the night sky to become much darker than usual.
The clouds were black and dense, causing the moon to appear more bright and vibrant than usual asthe smell of smoke filled the air, mixed with the smell of burning bark, grass, leafs and even flesh, suggesting some candidates had fell victim to the air.
The balcony extended over 10 ft outward from the tower and resembled more of a observation deck than a balcony, both the deck and the 4ft tall railing that lined it were painted forest green.
The pathway leading from the door was narrow, only 5 ft wide and 5 ft long before opening up to a circular area that was also 5 ft in length with a green banner protruding upward from the green railing that lined it.
The background of the banner was the same color and tone as the railing it was placed inside, a hole having been screwed into the top board of the railing to allow the banner to slide in and remain stable in place.
At the center of the banner was the red swirl symbol that decorated the Headbands of Konoha, aswell as so many other things in the village, the banner gently blowing from the midnight breeze, as powerful breezes of wind were common in the Land of Fire.
I haven't changed at all - have I Sensei? Naruto asked himself as he sat atop the railing beside the rustling banner, staring off in the distance at the fire he created.
I'm still the same child that failed you. Naruto concluded to himself.
All I could do was tell them to run - like how you told me. Naruto reminded himself.
He was so close, so close to my friends, and I could barely stop him. Naruto thought, remarking to how dangerously close Shiore had come to harming his friends.
All the Jutsu I've learned, all the books I read, everything I knew, I used everything against him. Naruto told himself as the imagine of the man he knew as Shiore flashed into his mind.
And it was nothing to him...All my training, all my studying - it was completely useless. Naruto thought to himself.
If I can't even keep my friends safe, how can I call myself a Shinobi - how can I call myself your student? Naruto asked himself as the smiling face of Iruka appeared in his mind.
I need more Jutsu Sensei - I need more power - power to keep everyone safe. Naruto concluded to himself.
Zabuza, Haku, Kakashi and even the scrolls or books I've read, none of it is enough, I need more, but where? Who could teach me, who could show me such power? Naruto asked himself as he raised his gaze towards the moon hovering in the dark night sky above.
His bangs fell and departed due to his movement, revealing his violet, ripple pattern eyes that glared up at the vibrant moon, staring at it for several moments with his unblinking eyes.
Jutsu far beyond anything I've ever seen, Jutsu no one could stand against, but who could teach it to me? Naruto once again asked himself.
Lord Gramps is too busy being Hokage, and most the stuff he knows I've already read about anyway, I need something that isn't documented, something that isn't common, somethin- Naruto told himself only for his train of thought to be cut short as the sliding door leading to the deck he sat on flew open.
This sound caused Naruto to turn his head around, his movement forcing his bangs to fall infront of his eyes and conceal them from view, as he stared at the individual who just opened the door, a individual he had never seen before
"Whew - its hot in there, smart move coming out here for this breeze." The unknown Shinobi spoke in a friendly tone as he slid the door behind him close and began strolling towards Naruto.
He was a tall and well-built man in well into adulthood, Naruto guessed he was easily over 50 years old, he had fair-skin and a wart on the left side of his nose with waist-length, spiky white hair that was tied in a pony tail in the back, with two shoulder-length bangs framing his face.
There were red painted lines under his eyes which extended from each of his eyes going all the way to the bottom of his cheeks, he wore a green short shirt, long sleeved kimono with matching pants, under which mesh armour was visible at his wrists and ankles.
He also wore green plated hand guards that matched the same tone of his kimono, a black belt, red wooden sandals that Naruto found odd, and a red haori with two yellow circles on each side.
He carried a large scroll on his back horizontal, with the end of his pony tail drapping over it slightly and had a small, barely noticeable tattoo on his left palm, with a horned forehead protector that had the kanji for "oil" on it, something Naruto had never seen before.
"I just love a good midnight breeze, don't you?" The unnamed man asked with a grin as he stood directly behind Naruto, the latter's head still turned around and looking at him.
"U-uh yea, I like them to." Naruto asked as he turned back around and once again stared out at the forest fire raging in the distance.
He had been on alert all morning during the 2nd Exam, and even shortly after arriving to the temple as he grew supicious and concerned of all the individuals he didn't know, however he felt oddly secure next to the person who just joined him outside.
"How long do you think that fire is going to burn?" Naruto asked, eager to know how much damage he had caused, he didn't want to set the forest on fire but he had to protect his friends.
"Well the Exam still has 4 more days to go, and the Hokage can't just go in and order it extinguished, that would cheapen the Exam." The man replied as he leaned against the railing Naruto sat out, placing his forearms horizontally atop the railing, parrallel to one another.
"Yea, I guess that is true." Naruto admitted.
"Speaking of the Exam, I hear you already finished it, amazing." The unnamed man complimented.
"In 97 minutes, that is incredible, I'm proud of you." The man spoke, causing Naruto to turn his head to the right and stare at the man from underneath his bangs.
"Y-your proud of me?" Naruto mumbled out.
"Of course kiddo." The man replied as he glanced up at the moon infront of them before gripping the top of Naruto's head with his left hair then gently brushing it in an Iruka-like fashion.
Naruto stared up at the man in utter confusion, the man was smiling as he looked up at the moon above them while he continued to brush and rub Naruto's hair for several moments.
"I always believed in you, there wasn't a single doubt in my mind you would pass the Exam, but even I must admit, I am shocked at the sheer speed of which you finished it, you broke a record kiddo." The man remarked.
"Whats your secret kiddo?" The man asked as he turned his face to the left and stared at Naruto.
His hair, its the same way Nagato had his back then, the Rinnegan, is it behind those bangs? The man asked himself as Naruto tore his gaze away from him and glanced up towards the moon.
As Naruto tilted his head upward, it caused his bangs to fall and depart from his face, revealing the entirety of his right eye, an eye that awed the man beside him, an eye he had seen before.
"Well..." Naruto murmured out as his eyes stared up at the moon above him, his left eye concealed by his bangs while the right was revealed to the world.
"I haven't had much in my life, but what I do have, I cherish more then anything." Naruto replied, causing the man beside him to grin.
"I have friends, and people who care about me - and I care about them." Naruto spoke.
"I just want to protect those people, no matter what type of pain I may be forced to endure." Naruto stated, causing the eyes of the man beside him to bulge and quiver, overwhelmed by the words he was hearing.
Those eyes, that hair, those words - Nagato - Is that you Nagato? The man thought to himself as his pupils continued to tremble.
I-is this-reincarnation? The man asked himself, unable to believe this was simple coincidence.
A sign - this is my second chance - my destiny. The man told himself as he began to smile deeply towards the boy sitting beside me.
"I see." He replied as he continued to brush Naruto's hair with his left hair while directing his gaze towards the moon, staring at it just as Naruto was, allowing several seconds of silence to bloom.
"Well then, I guess I'll have to teach you then, Naruto." The man remarked, causing Naruto to tear his gaze away from the moon and direct it towards the old man beside him.
"Teach me? Aren't you alittle too old?" Naruto asked, causing the man beside him too fall on his knees, slamming the bridge of his nose into the railing Naruto sat on.
"Oi! Watch who your talking to kid! I taught the 4th Hokage!" The man retorted as he peeled his face off of the railing, his nose bleeding from the impact of his fall, creating 2 streaks of blood that protruded from his nose, one from each nostril, they matched the red painted lines on his face quite well.
"Oooooh! The 4th Hokage?" Naruto awed as he spun his body to the right before he began sitting indian style atop the railing, gripping his ankles with each hand.
"Yes - truly I am incredible." The man remarked as he stood up and crossed his arms against his chest, attempting to look cool but forgetting he still had blood pouring from his nose.
"But - who are you?" Naruto asked.
"Oh - right, excuse me." The man replied as he turned to the left then took 10 steps away from Naruto, before erupting into a puff of smoke.
"THANK YOU FOR ASKING!" The man yelled aloud from inside the puff of smoke, his body concealed from sight.
"Hermit, Sage, Legend, Writer - I have many titles!" The man declared from inside the puff of smoke.
"The Frog Hermit they say - but that is only a disguise kid!" The man explained as Naruto tilted his head in confusion at the scene unfolding infront of him.
"My name is known through all lands - East, West, North and South." The man spoke as he began spinning his head in a counter clock-wise fashion, spinning his long pony tail like a fan and belowing all the smoke around him away.
"Mount Myouboku's #1 Monk and Sage..." The man asserted as he continued to spin his head and the hair attached to it, revealing a small 3ft large toad that he stood on.
"MASTER - JIRAIYAAAAAAAA!" Jiraiya screamed aloud as he positioned his hand hand behind his body with his left hand infront, his left palm directed towards Naruto and his right towards the door he walked through.
"Who-Who-Who." An unseen Owl taunted, as if it was mocking the man, causing him to downcast his head in defeat and shame.
"A Sage?" Naruto asked, curious as this wasn't the first time he had heard that word during the 2nd stage of the Chunin Exams.
"Oh yea - stick with me, and you'll go far." Jiraiya replied as his expression uplifted itself and he smiled towards the blond boy infront of him.
"But what does it mean to be a Sage?" Naruto questioned.
"Hmmmmmm - a good question." Jiraiya replied as he wrapped the fingers of his right hand around his chin while he glanced up at the moon.
"Well a Sage is someone renown for their wisdom and power, someone who is connected to the world, and all the creatures that live in it." Jiraiya spoke as he continued to stare up at the moon.
"Connected? To the world?" Naruto asked.
"Yea, its rather complicated to explain, but don't worry, I'm sure you'd make a great Sage someday." Jiraiya chuckled.
"Are you gonna teach me?!" Naruto screamed as he leapt up from the railing before raising his clenched fists infront of his jawline partially concealed jawline.
"Now now Naruto, lets start slow theres some food downstairs, lets go eat." Jiraiya replied as he directed his right hand towards Naruto and waved it up and down in a vertical manner.
At the mention of food Naruto's stomach rumbled, he hadn't eaten all day since he was so focused on the morning events inside the Forest of Death and the thoughts that followed him after.
"That sounds great, do they have Ramen?" Naruto asked, his clenched fists still held infront of his jawline partially concealed jawline.
"I'm told several restraurants have donated food for the Exam, I'm sure they have some Ramen." Jiraiya replied, much to the delight of Naruto.
"Move!" Naruto screamed as he rushed pass Jiraiya before throwing the slide down open and disappearing out of view, he was in such a hurry that he forgot to ask where the food was being served.
"Huuuu - No one has respect for legends these days, it really puts a damper on my writing." Jiraiya sighed as he slowly began to trail after the blond boy who just disappeared who view, eager to reaffirm his purpose and destiny.
5 days later, 9:30am, June 1st 58SSP.
"First off, congratulations on passing the 2nd stage of the Exam." Anko declared with her right hand placed in her trench coat and her left arm hanging by her side.
A group of 21 Genin stood infront of Anko and the 16 assorted Sensei's, Proctors and even the 3rd Hokage, 8 proctors stood in a slanted horizontal fashion infront of the 7 Squadleaders for the teams present, 5 of the them belonging to the Leaf village and one each for the Sound and Sand village.
They all stood in a large room, easily 80ft by 60ft, with concrete floors and walls, large railing ran up and trailed against both sides of this room, with the southern path leading to a massive, doorless entry point, while the north was decorated with a pair of stone hands pressed together into the Ram Seal, with several large screens TV screens behind it.
The Squadleaders all stood on a slightly raised platform directly behind the 3rd Hokage, on each side of the Hokage 4 different Proctors stood, each of them there for a specific task and each of them carrying a clipboard.
There were 78 runts when I got a hold of them, now theres only 21 left, not bad Anko not bad. Anko told herself as she smirked with delight.
I said I was going to make atleast half drop, but I really wasn't expecting anymore than 3 teams to make it this far, its amazing all the 9 rookiees made it. Anko noted as she observed the dirt covered members of team 10.
"I'm hungry." Choji muttered aloud.
"There's still this many people left? How troublesome." Shikamaru sighed as he placed his dirt covered hand against the right side of his waist.
"Sasuke's team is here too." Ino spoke in a nendearing tone as she glanced to the right towards her ideal boyfriend while positioning her dirt covered hands infront of her mud-covered outfit.
"Of course." Shikamaru replied as he glanced 2 rows to his right and 3 rows forward towards Naruto before glaring at the back of the individuals head for several moments.
"Your team doesn't appear to have a single scratch, not bad Ka-Ka-Shi." Guy mocked out as he still slight to the right of his long time rival and friend.
"Your team must be pretty good." Guy concluded.
"Or perhaps the were just lucky." Guy asserted.
"But as long as my team is here, they can't go any further." Guy explained as he slightly downcast his head before shaking it side to side while a smirk formed on his face.
"Since in the next stage, personal abilites will be critical - and I doubt your students will have anything to off against mine." Guy confidently stated as he closed his eyes and aloud a bright-teeth showing smile to form on his face, his teeth radiating a brief sparkle of light.
"The truth is sweat and sour, sometimes it's even strict, Ka-Ka-Shi." Guy smirked out, his eyes still closed and his face still downcast slightly.
"Hm?" Kakashi hummed out as he slowly turned his head to the right before directng his attention towards the man that stood there.
"Did you say something?" Kakashi mumbled out.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Guy screamed out in defeat as he placed both his palms horizontally atop his head, his scream garnishing the attention and gaze of everyone present in the room, even the 3rd Hokage.
Somethings never change I suppose. Hiruzen thought to himself as he sighed loudly.
That was pretty good, worthy of being called my rival Kakashi! Guy concluded to himself as he raised his twitching clenched right fist to his chest while staring down in defeat and shame at the humiliation his rival had just forced him to endure.
Abruptly a bright aura of faded orange fire began to erupt from and surround Guy as his thoughts, rage and compliments for his rival dashed through his mind.
The attack is somewhat 'modern' as the kids would say - its a sick burn...and that pisses me off. Guy concluded to himself, his hand still twitching in mid-air.
"So that's Guy-Sensei's eternal rival, the one he's been telling us about." Tenten spoke with a vibrant smile on her face.
"The one he wouldn't shut up about, correct." Neji replied with his arms crossed infront of his chest.
Guy-Sensei completely losses to him in terms of looks, but... Tenten concluded to herself.
"There's no way he is stronger than Guy-Sensei." Tenten spoke, reaffirming Lee's each thoughts.
"Guy-Sensei is the coolest among all the teaches, He's shining!" Lee screamed as he mimicked his Sensei and held his own twitching clenched right fist infront of his chest.
"I WILL SHINE TOO SENSEI!" Lee screamed.
Oh no - he's exactly like Guy. Asuma remarked to himself.
"That a boy Lee - make me proud!" Guy responded as he dramaticly launched a thumbs up towards his student, who promptly reponsed by dropping to the ground and preforming push-ups.
"YES! GUY-SENSEI!" Lee yelled while tears of love began pouring from his eyes.
"LEE!" Guy replied.
"GUY-SENSEI!" Lee responded.
"LEE!" Guy echoed.
"GUY-SENSEI!" Lee repeated.
"Mhm." Hiruzen coughed out, quickly quieting the two as he attempted to reattain some level of control and order.
The ones that stood out before are still left, just like I thought. Neji assured himself as his gaze shot in several different directions and angles, studying the other 20 ninja that stood around him.
Even him... Neji reminded himself as he glared at the Uchiha child directly to his left, the latter completely ignoring him as if he was nothing at all.
Sasuke Uchiha. Neji told himself, hoping that he would face the individual beside him before the Exam end, he was eager to prove the superiority of the Hyuga.
"Look, all the weak rookiees from the leaf made it this face, this'll be a breeze." Zaku scoffed.
"Agreed." Dozu hummed out.
Only 7 teams out of the original 26 are here. Temari concluded to herself.
So you're unharmed, just as I suspected - Gaara. A unknown man thought to himself as he stood beside the other Sensei for the candidates who had made it this far.
He was a very tall man with dirt colored skin and two distinctive, red markings on the right side of his face the only visible part of his head as the rest was being covered by his turban-like head gear and a sheet that hung from it on the left side of his face, with his headband tied over that and the standard attire worn for all Sand Shinobi.
Hm - Akamaru is acting weird. Kurenai noted to herself as she squinted her eyes and observed the companion her student kept, the dog trembling from his place inside Kiba's jacket as his head popped out of the collar just infront of Kiba's chin.
Its not just one of them, its both of them. Kiba concluded as his eyes shot in between Gaara and Naruto.
Its the level of chakra their releasing, but the Exam is over, why are they releasing so much? Where are they even getting it, especially that runt Naruto? Kiba asked himself.
Na-Naruto passed, I'm so glad. Hinata told herself as she positioned both of her hands infront of herself before pressing each of her index fingers together as she began twirling her fingers.
So this many remain...And most of them are new. Hiruzen thought to himself.
No wonder they were recommended by their teachers, they indeed were each fully ready for this Exam. Hiruzen told himself.
"We will now have an explanation of the 3rd Exam from the 3rd Hokage, so shut up and listen." Anko barked out.
"Mhm-MMHMM" Hiruzen coughed out as he took 4 steps forward and attempted to clear his throat before he spoke.
"The 3rd Exam will begin, but before the explanation, theres one thing I want to make clear to all of you." Hiruzen stated with his unlit pipe dangling from his mouth as his hands were held behind his back.
"Its about the true purpose of these Exams." Hiruzen explained as he used his right hand to pull his Hokage hat down slightly and conceal his eyes.
True purpose? Sakura asked herself.
"To maintain good relations with the allied nations and heighten the level of ninja in our world." Hiruzen stated.
"This Exam is the epitome of a war between the allied nations." Hiruzen remarked to the shock of several candidates infront of him.
"What do you mean?" Tenten asked aloud.
"If we go back through history, the allied nations right now were once neighboring countries that have fought each other over and over again." Hiruzen replied.
"To avoid wasting military power, those countries decided to choose a place to fight - that is how these Exams first began." Hiruzen explained.
"This is much more than just an Exam to locate and determine those among you fit to be called Chunin." Hiruzen asserted.
"It's a place for you all to fight on behalf of your country's dignity and honor." Hiruzen spoke.
"Country's dignity?" Sakura asked rhetorically, much more concerned about what was in Sasuke's pants instead of her country's honor.
"In this 3rd Exam, feudal lords, famous individuals and even fellow Kage from various countries all visit, some for the entertainment and others are potential future clients scoping out reliable ninja." Hiruzen proclaimed.
"As such, feudal lords, important actors or Shinobi and even Kage will view your battles and progress." Hiruzen stated.
"B-battles?" Sakura asked.
"The 3rd stage of the Exams are a series of one-on-one matches, with the finals leaving only 1 individual to stand atop all the others." Hiruzen replied.
"Therefore, if there is a significant difference in power, the stronger country will be flooded with jobs, if a country is seen as weak they lose jobs." Hiruzen explained.
"While at the same time, countries are able to show their village has grown and possess excellecent military power to the adjacent countries, it is this concept that is used as a deterant for future wars and conflict." Hirzuen remarked, his words inspiring great interest from Naruto.
"With that in mind, this 3rd and final stage of these Exam will be a battle where you fight with your life on the line." Hiruzen stated.
"What!? Why are we expected to do that?" Kiba questioned.
"A village's power is a ninja's power, and since a ninja's true power is only born in life-or-death battle, that is what we as the judges for the next generation shall accomplish." Hiruzen responded.
"And in that life-or-death battle, ninja from their villages can preform unique jutsu and power, honoring and raising the prestige of their village." Hiruzen explained.
"You said maintain good relations, how are those good?" Tenten asked.
"A custom of saving one's life and fighting to maintain an alliance, those are the good relations we compete for in these Exams." Hiruzen replied.
"This is a life-or-death battle for your dream and the dignity of your village." Hiruzen asserted.
My dream.. Sakura thought to herself as her eyes glanced towards Sasuke.
"I don't care." Gaara replied in an emotionless tone with his arms crossed infront of his chest.
"Tell of the details of this life-or-death battle and lets begin." Gaara demanded.
"Very well - Hayate." Hiruzen responded, his voice causing a kneeling figure to appear in a blur of leaf's infront of the Hokage, for some reason using the body flicker technique instead of just walking infront of them.
"Yes lord Hokage, I, Gekko Hayate as the judge for the 3rd Exam will explain." Hayate replied as he remained knelt infront of the 3rd Hokage, his left knee placed atop the floor with his head bowed and the forearm of his right arm resting atop his right knee.
"Hm." Hiruzen hummed out as he nodded in approval, causing Hayate to stand up straight.
He had short brown hair, dark-coloured eyes and dark markings under his eyes suggesting he didn't get alot of sleep, he wore the standard Konoha shinobi outfit complete with a forehead protector that he wore as a bandanna, flak jacket and regular blue Shinobi shoes, he also carried a katana with a rectangular hand guard strapped over his back.
"Everyone, its nice to meet you." Hayate spoke with his back directed towards the 21 surviving candidates, before he soon became to wheeze and cough repeatedly for over 20 seconds.
Geez should this guy even be here? Sakura asked herself as Hayate turned around and continued to cough into his right hand, the hand he held over his mouth.
"Now then, before the 3rd Exam begins...there's something you all need to do." Hayate explained before he once again became overwhelmed by a series of chronic coughs.
"Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance to the 3rd Exams main match, usually we wouldn't do this but since there is such a larger amount of you remaining we have no choice." Hayate stated.
"According to Chunin regulations, I must decrease the number of candidates for the 3rd Exam, I don't know how you all made it here, I guess the 1st and 2nd Exams were easy, but I can't allow any weaklings to take up a time-slot in the main event." Hayate spoke.
"As previously mentioned by the lord 3rd Hokage, there are many important guests that visit the 3rd stage of the Exams, and I, as it proctors do not plan for any of them to be disappointed." Hayate asserted.
"So those who aren't feeling well-" Hayate's statement became cut-off mid-sentence as he began overwhelmed by a series of harsh and chronic coughs.
Is this guy okay? Ino asked herself.
"You seem to be the one whose not feeling well, Sensei." Hinata muttered out sheepishly.
"Excuse me - now, would anyone like to quit?" Hayate asked as he raised his clipboard from his side with his right hand and positioned it infront of his chest.
"After or if someone quits, we will begin the preliminary matches immediately." Hayate spoke.
"I-immediately?" Ino sighed out in defeat as she downcast her head in depression.
"Oh man - what a drag, we literally just got here." Shikamaru complained.
"What about a meal?" Choji asked.
"Food has been donated for all candidates present in the past 5 days, if you were to slow to arrive on time then you failed to get any." Hayate replied, causing a dark aura to surround the 3 members of team 10 as all of them downcast their heads in defeat.
"I'll quit." Kabuto spoke as he raised his left hand into the air and smiled sheepishly.
"Lets see, lets see." Hayate mumbled to himself as he reader through the page on his clipboard before flipping it and reading the next page, as if he was looking for something.
"Ah yes, I have your name and ID picture here, you may leave now Kabuto." Hayate proclaimed, causing the former candidate to turn around and begin walking out of the room, walking in between his teammates and team 7.
"I've seen him a few times." Hiruzen murmured to himself as Ibiki and Anko stood beside him.
"I believe he retired during the Main Exam last time aswell." Hiruzen noted aloud to himself as the 2 proctors that stood on either side of him.
"What is he thinking?" Hiruzen asked.
"Anko." Ibiki spoke as he glanced towards the Kunoichi, earn a brief nod in agreement from her before she raised her own clipboard infront of her and proceeded to flip several pages on it.
"Kabuto Yakushi, according to our data he has failed six times in a row." Anko spoke as she read the paragraph written on her page aloud.
"What about his personal history?" Hiruzen asked as his eyes slowly slid and directed themselves towards Anko.
"He didn't stand out in his academy years and his grades were normal." Anko read.
"It took him 3 tries just to pass his Academy Graduation Exam." Anko stated.
"Since then he has done 2 C-rank missions and 14 D-rank ones." Anko proclaimed.
"He doesn't have any outstanding accomplishments at all, barely above a runt I'd say." Anko stated as she tore her gaze from her clipboard and directed it towards the back of Kabuto, before he left the room then walked behind a corner, vanishing from sight.
"Except..." Anko murmured.
"Except what?" Hiruzen asked.
"There is something that occurred before his days in the Academy." Anko replied.
"Hmmmm?" Hiruzen hummed out in response.
"Do you remember the story of the boy that was brought back from the Kikyo Battle Pass?" Anko asked as she directed her attention towards the seasoned 3rd Hokage.
"Yes - a Jonin from the medic squad took custody of an enemy boy that was left behind on the battlefield." Hiruzen responded
"So - he is that boy - interesting." Hiruzen remarked, during all of this the unnamed Sensei of team Dosu stood behind the seasoned 3rd Hokage, smiling in a twisted and sadistic fashion towards the man infront of him.
"I assumed there are no more people who wish to retire?" Hayate asked after finishing a 10 second long coughing-fit, clearly he was affected with some type of lung disease.
"Wonderful, then let's begin the preliminary matches." Hayate proclaimed as he placed both his hands behind his back, concealing his clipboard from view.
"It will be one-on-one combat, in hopes to better imitate real combat." Hayate explained.
"Lucky for us, now that we have exactly 20 people, we can now have precisely 10 matches." Hayate concluded.
"The remaining 10 of you will then advance to the final 3rd stage of the Exam." Hayate asserted.
"There are no rules - you will fight until the other person dies, is knocked out or admits defeat." Hayate proclaimed.
"If you are afraid to die, please give up immediately." Hayate ordered.
"That only other exception is if I, the judge, deem the match to be over for specific and special circumstances, I may even be able to prevent any unnecessary deaths." Hayate explained.
"Now, please pay direct attention to the TV screens behind me, out of all 5, pay specific attention to the one in the top left top, that is the one that holds your destiny." Hayate spoke as he pointed towards the specific TV screen with his right thumb from over his shoulder.
And now, without further ado, I shall let the screen just the first match at random." Hayate asserted as the TV lining the wall turned alive with several yellow colored Kanji symbols dashing, floating and flicking in place.
Oh please don't put me against Naruto or that Sand guy - it would be such a drag. Shikamaru thought to himself.
You better hope you and I don't get matched up Naruto, or else I'll have to show you what I'm truly capable of. Kiba remarked to himself as he grinned, eager to prove that he was stronger than the deadlast blond boy that stood in the same room as him.
Beside's, if we put him in his place - hopefully Akamaru will start feeling better. Kiba told himself as he glanced down at the trembling companion in his jacket.
I already failed lord Orochimaru by not reaching these runts in the forest, if I'm matched with any of them it'll be their complete end. Dosu concluded to himself, knowing better than to fail Orochimaru more than once.
Abruptly the yellow Kanji that dotted and decorated the TV screen began to slow down, indicting that the screen was about to select the first match of the Preliminary Exam.
This is it Neji, this is the moment when the weak triumph over the strong, GUY-SENSEI! Lee told himself as he raised both his clenched fists to his jawline in excitement.
Sasuke, this is when I prove how badass I am, this is when you fall madly in love with me. Sakura assured herself as she crossed her arms against her nonexistent chest while smiling confidently.
I hope I get matched against Ms. Forehead, that's honestly my only hope of winning. Ino told herself.
This is it - this is the moment I've been waiting for. Sasuke thought to himself as he stared nonchalantly at the shifting Kanji's that constantly changed on the TV screen above.
The sooner this gets done, the sooner I can start training with Jiraya. Naruto reminded himself, he hadn't seen the 'Sage' since that first night he met him, since he said he had important duties and research to conduct in the village for several days Naruto tried not to think much of it.
Soon the TV screen frozen as 2 specific names were plastered across the screen in yellow Kanji letters, this offically marked the end of the 2nd stage for the Chunin Exams and the beginning for the 3rd.