DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto
[Chunin Exam Arc] [Chunin Exam: Race Sub-arc]
Chapter 34: The Meeting
Night had fallen as Hiroshi and his team got closer to the coastline. The group set up a camp to rest for a bit since they were exhausted from the day. Hiroshi sat alone as he didn't know how to take Sumi's revelation that he was a Konoha-nin that had infiltrated the Tatsumaki. At first he didn't believe Sumi until he transformed himself back into an adult and then killed Akuma.
"Are you okay, Hiroshi-kun?" Himawari asked as she sat down next to the boy.
"Yeah," Hiroshi answered. "I just don't know to take in what happened today."
"I know what you mean," Himawari said. "Who would of thought that kid Sumi was actually an adult disguised as a child to work in the Tatsumaki as a spy for Konoha."
"That's what I can't get my head around," Hiroshi confessed. "When I fought Sumi near the bridge back when we first came to Nami no Kuni, I swear he really tried to kill me and now all this comes out so I don't even know what to think anymore."
"I don't know Hiroshi," Himawari began. "Maybe you're just overthinking things and Sumi didn't have any intentions of killing you at all back then."
"No offense, Hima-chan, but how could you know that?" Hiroshi asked. "You weren't there when we fought. He literally tried to drown me with some water ninjutsu."
"You're right, I wasn't there but now that we know he's actually an adult, it's possible he used a Genjutsu to make you and whoever might have been watching think he tried to kill you," Himawari suggested.
"I don't know Hima-chan, it all seemed very real to me," Hiroshi said.
"Does it really matter, Hiroshi?" Shiro asked, getting in on the conversation. "You weren't killed and Sumi revealed to us he is a Konoha spy. It's not like the two of you are every going to fight again."
"Are you serious?" yelled Hiroshi. "It matters to me a great deal because that son of a bitch tried to kill me knowing he was a Konoha-nin like me!"
"Hiroshi, quit yelling, you might give our position away to the other teams. Don't you remember teams are allowed to attack each other to slow each other down?" Himawari whispered.
Hiroshi stood up and walked away, "To hell with you both!"
"Hiroshi-kun, wait!" Himawari pleaded but to no avail and watched Hiroshi walk into the darkness.
"He is such a whiney brat," Shiro said.
"Oh shut up Shiro, you don't help things by being a dick," Himawari said and she walked away too.
Shiro sighed, "They're both insane."
Tsunade was nearing the end of her paperwork for the day, which she was glad, when she sensed a familiar presence in the room.
"Kawamaru, back so soon?" asked Tsunade.
She looked up from her paperwork to see Kawamaru standing before her. He had a serious look on his face and Tsunade felt a little nervous.
"Here, read this," Kawamaru said, handing Tsunade a piece of paper.
Tsunade read the note and handed it back over to Kawamaru.
"That explains why the Tatsumaki just disappeared into thin air," Tsuande said.
"Yeah, which worries me because Kami never told me anything about the group ever going to that country for anything," Kawamaru.
"I feel as if Kami was using Tatsumaki to eventually realize his own goals," Tsunade said.
"Kami did mention a time or two that he did want to kill Ookawa and take over the group himself," Kawamaru. "But what I want to know is who this ninja they could be looking for."
"That I am not sure of," Tsunade said. "I don't know any ninja from Yukigakure personally since Yuki no Kuni and Yukigakure tend to stay to themselves."
"I was afraid you wouldn't know," Kawamaru said. "Hopefully the other spy you put into play, Uchiha Sasuke, will get more information because he went with them or even better, Kami could trust me enough to tell me their plans as well."
"Please get back to me as soon as you find something out," Tsunade said.
"I will try my best Tsunade-sama," Kamamaru said as he bowed and then disappeared.
Tsunade sighed, "I have a bad feeling about this."
Himawari was walking through the woods, searching for Hiroshi, when the very boy she was looking for just ran up to her.
"Hiroshi, I just want..." but he cut her off.
"Come on, we got to get out of here," Hiroshi said and Himawari followed the boy.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Himawari asked.
"After I stormed off, I came across one of the other teams asleep so I placed them inside a rock dome so the darkness will keep them asleep longer and it could mean one less team he have to compete against," Hiroshi said.
"Hiroshi! I know we're competing, but don't you think they might suffocate in there?" asked Himawari.
"You're so kind, Hima-chan," Hiroshi teased. "Don't worry, a left a few small holes so air can get in."
The two reached the camp they had set up to rest and Shiro watched as Hiroshi and Himawari quickly pack their things.
"Care to tell me what's going on?" Shiro asked.
Niether one of them answered Shiro as they gave him the cold shoulder. Shiro, though, didn't care.
"I'm not going to apologize because I was..." Shiro was interrupted.
"Just get your shit and let's go," Hiroshi said sternly.
Shiro shook his head and grabbed his things as quick as he could. After everything was packed up, the group took off and made their way to Nami no Kuni.
Naruto stood on the hotel balcony at the streets below with his arm snaked around Sakura who too was looking at the streets below. She remembered when she was a Genin walking through the market with Tazuna who was looking to buy food. Back then it was a dirt road and everyone looked so sad and now, the road was now brick and well lit and everyone was now happy and it was all thanks to the man she loved, Naruto.
"It's amazing to see how much this place changed for the better," Sakura said.
"Yeah, although we trashed the West Dock when we came to rescue Konohamaru a month ago," Naruto said.
"We didn't trash it, the Tatsumaki did," Sakura corrected.
Naruto looked at the time and sighed, "I hope they're ok, we've already saw one team show up and meet up at their meeting place."
"I'm sure they're fine Naruto," Sakura assured. "However, I still think my team will be here first."
Naruto leaned in and kissed Sakura, "Don't be so sure."
"Admit it Naruto, you're scared you'll have to hold your end of our deal," Sakura teased.
"I'm not scared because I know you'll be holding your end of our deal," Naruto said, smiling.
"That never faultering confidence is amazing," Sakura said, going in to steal another kiss from Naruto.
"It's just who I am," Naruto stated.
"We reached the Great Naruto Bridge," Himawari said.
Hiroshi stared at the bridge, having a quick flashback to the night they arrived with Naruto and Kakashi to look for Konohamaru and his battle with Sumi. He kicked it out of his mind because now wasn't the time for reflection, they were on a mission to get to their contact and back to Konoha with the best time to move on to the third exam of the Chunin Exams.
"Hiroshi, are you sure you're okay?" Himawari asked.
She noticed he sort of checked out when they reached the bridge. She had been talking to him but he did not aknowledge that she was talking to him in the first place.
"Huh?" Hiroshi said snapping out of his demenor. "Oh, uh, yeah I'm fine."
"Do you think he was traumatized with his battle with Sumi?" asked Shiro.
If looks could kill, it would be a quick death for Shiro as he just shut his mouth and walked forward, following Hiroshi.
The group crossed the bridge in releative silence and reached the other side and entered Nami no Kuni.
"We finally made it," Hiroshi said as the eastern horizon began lighting.
"Dawn is coming," Shiro said to himself.
"Now we have to find Tazuna Square," Himawari stated.
Hiroshi looked around the village, to them it was quite big and trying to find Tazuna Square was going to be like trying to find a needle in a stack a needles. He sighed as this portion of the exam just got that much more difficult in a matter of seconds.
"We're screwed," Hiroshi said.
Shiro didn't bother to wait for Himawari and Hiroshi to begin looking so he just walked up to an older gentleman walking by.
"Excuse me sir," Shiro said.
The older man looked down and smiled, "I'll be, we sure are popular with Konoha-nin right now, what can I do for you son?"
"Could you tell me where Tazuna Square is?" Shiro asked.
"Tazuna Square?" repeated the older man. "Oh sure, it's very easy. Just follow this road straight down."
"Thank you sir," Shiro said and bowed.
"Such great manners," the older man said and walked away.
Shiro walked back up to Hiroshi and Himawari who were still trying to figure out which way to go, even going as far as saying splitting up to cover more ground.
"We go straight," Shiro said to the two and began walking down the street.
Hiroshi and Himawari watched as Shiro walked ahead of them.
"And how the hell does he know?" Hiroshi questioned.
"I don't know," Himawari said, shrugging.
Hiroshi and Himawari ran to catch up to Shiro. Once they caught up, they followed Shiro as they walked down the nice brick road. The streets were dead, a few people were out and about as night slowly returned to day. A fifteen minute walk brought them to a sign that stated they reached Tazuna Square.
"Well this must be Tazuna Square," Hiroshi said. "Now we have to find Inari Market, that's where we're supposed to meet up with our contact."
Naruto stared at the eastern Horizon as he watched the black of night begin to turn purple as dawn was approaching. Naruto looked back to the entrance of Tazuna Square trying to keep an eye out for his team. So far the only team that made it to the square was the team from Kusagakure.
After staring at the square entrance a while, Naruto noticed the purple horizon was now more red and orange, signaling the sun was getting closer. Naruto looked back at the entrance and noticed Shiro leading Hiroshi and Himawari, which was a bit surprising since Hiroshi was always gung-ho in the front.
"Ha!" Naruto yelled with excitement.
"What is it Naruto?" Sakura asked as she came out from inside the hotel room.
"My team got here before yours!" Naruto said, rubbing it in and smiling.
"Don't get to excited Naruto, it all comes down if they can pass the third exam," Sakura stated.
Naruto leaned and kissed Sakura, "We'll I'll see you in a little bit, I got to be ready at Inari Market."
Hiroshi, Shiro and Himawari walked around the square looking for a place called 'Inari Market'. Hiroshi looked ahead and saw a sign that read exactly that.
"Look!" Hiroshi shouted, pointing. "There it is!"
"Good, we found it," said Shiro. "Question is, who are we supposed to meet?"
Himawari and Hiroshi stopped dead in their tracks as a sweat drop appeared behind their heads.
"I- I don't know," Hiroshi said. "They didn't tell us that."
"Oh great, now we've ran into another problem," said Himawari.
"Well, let's just go and check it out," Hiroshi suggested. "Maybe the contact is someone we all know."
Hiroshi walked away from the group and made his way to Inari Market. Himawari and Shiro followed suite. Once they reached the market, they walked inside. Luckily for them, the market just opened up for the day.
"Oh, a customer already?" an elderly woman said as she swept the floors.
"Not exactly, we're here to meet up with someone," Hiroshi said.
"Oh ok dears, if you need any help though, don't hesitate to ask," the elderly woman said.
Hiroshi and his team walked around the market but there was no one else in the storm until Hiroshi came to a door to the back room. It opened and someone hidden with a cloak came out.
"You Kurosaki Hiroshi?" a male's voice asked.
The voice sounded very familiar.
"Yeah that's me." he answered. "You the contact?"
"Yes," the man said.
"Shiro, Himawari, come here!" Hiroshi called out.
Shiro and Himawari walked to the back of the market where Hiroshi was. They all saw the man hidden in a cloak.
"Is that the contact?" asked Shiro.
"Yes," answered Hiroshi.
"Follow," the man said.
Hiroshi, Shiro and Himawari walked into the back room and the man took off the cloak revealing it to be Naruo.
"Naruto-sensei?" Hiroshi questioned, surprised. "You're our contact?"
"Of course," Naruto replied. "It wouldn't make much sense if it wasn't someone you know since you were not told any details of the person you were meeting up."
"Well at least I was right," Hiroshi said.
Shiro sighed and Himawari rolled her eyes at Hiroshi's comment.
"However, if this was a real situation where you needed to meet up with an ally you don't really know, your job would to gather information about the person you are meeting up with so you don't fall into enemy hands," Naruto stated. "But for now, may I see the scroll you were given?"
Hiroshi took off his backpack and dug through it and pulled out the scroll he was given before the second exam started. Naruto took it from Hiroshi and opened it up and wrote something down inside of it. He rolled it back up and re-sealed it and gave it back to Hiroshi.
"That's it?" asked Hiroshi.
"Yes that is it, now you must get that scroll back to Tsunade-baachan as quick as you can," Naruto stated.
Hiroshi nodded and placed the scroll back into his backpack and put the backpack back on.
"Well see you back in Konoha, Naruto-sensei," Hiroshi said and walked out the back room.
Naruto smiled as he watched his team walk out of the back room. He had to admit when he first found out he was getting a Genin team to lead, he was a bit nervous on how he would fare but now he was happy with how well they were growing.
Hiroshi and his team left the market and headed back toward the bridge to head home. It had been a long journey and Hiroshi was glad to go back home.
"By this time tomorrow, this exam will be done for us," Hiroshi said. "Hopefully we are fast enough to make it to third exam."
Himawari and Shiro agreed as they made their way to the bridge. Before they could enter the bridge they heard a familiar voice.
"You bastard!" yelled the voice.
Hiroshi looked to find Ankoku, Aki and Shinji approaching them. Hiroshi smirked while Himawari rolled her eyes and Shiro just stayed quiet.
"I know it was you that surrounded us in that dome!" Ankoku yelled. "You made us late!"
"Why I have no idea what you're talking about Ankoku," Hiroshi said. "We never came across anyone that is competing in the second exams."
"Cut the shit, you're the only one that can use Daton!" yelled Ankoku.
"You think I am the only one, but we don't really know what that team from Sunagakure or Kusagakure can do, it could of been them since they seem more hostile than anyone else," Hiroshi stated.
"You got me there. Fine, I'll let this go but I still say it was you," Ankoku said.
Hiroshi continued to smirk as Ankoku's team walked away. Hiroshi began walking again to the bridge.
"Hiroshi, I can't believe you did that to your own comrades!" Himawari stated as she laughed.
"Well to be honest, I didn't know it was them since it was dark but finding out it was them I did that to made it that much more sweeter," Hiroshi said, smirking.
"At least it held them back enough for us to make it Nami no Kuni first," Shiro said.
"Come on, let's get a move on. I don't want them catching up to us," Hiroshi said.
"Well, would you look at that?" Sakura asked.
"What?" Naruto asked but he saw what she had seen. "Your team wasn't far behind."
"See? Don't go jumping the gun so soon, Naruto-kun." Sakura teased. "What's the matter Naruto-kun? Scared?"
"Ha! I am not scared!" Naruto shouted. "There's still one more exam to prove my team is better than yours."
Sakura laughed at Naruto's antics, "I'll see you in a little bit, I should get over to Inari Market."
The wind blew hard as the blizzard like conditions went on. A boat reached what would be the beach if it wasn't covered in snow. Six figures exited the boat. One of them revealed himself to be Totosai and the other Uchiha Sasuke.
'I guess they decided to stay in winter,' Totosai thought.
The whiteout conditions made it hard to see very far ahead of them. So finding the place they needed to find was going to be very difficult.
"So where do we go from here?" asked Sasuke.
"Well Hashi-sama, we must continue north to find the mountain we're looking for," Totosai said.
"Can we hurry this along? It's cold," said one the only female of the group.
"Patience, Go," Totosai said.
"Standing here is making me unable to feel anything!" yelled Go.
"Let's go," Sasuke ordered.
The group began walking through the snow. Unbeknownst to them, two ninja with headbands that had circle symbols representing snow, wearing googles, spotted the group.
"It's that Tatsumaki group the five great nations have been talking about," said the Yuki-nin.
"We must inform Kazahana-sama, they could be looking for Mount SÅsetsu," said the second Yuki-nin.
Next Up: Race Back Home