Author's Note
So yeah I really hate repeating myself but because of a review I got, I have to say it again. This is NOT canon. This world works how I say it does.
On the issue of summons not predating the Sage of Six Paths because he gave them chakra, what a load of bullshit.
Nature energy or Sage chakra existed long before the Sage did. It was the toads that taught him how to harness nature energy. Without which he couldn't have defeated his mother.
In this story, the Phoenix exists outside of time and space. They are truly immortal after all. Thus they possess abilities that the other summons don't.That being said, they aren't invincible. They can be defeated and they can be hurt.
So why is it such a stretch that the Phoenix Summons existed before the Sage and that they can use nature energy? Don't lecture me about being ' wrong '. It's my story.
Finally, the issue of Hikaru being as strong as she is, why is it so unbelievable? She's no S rank shinobi but she's still stronger than most Jounin.
Naruto had all the raw ingredients to be a perfect shinobi, but he had a string of useless teachers so his potential was wasted.
As far as I could tell from the anime, the only thing that Naruto learnt successfully during his training trip with Jiraiya, was how to make a bigger Rasengan.
He couldn't dispel genjutsu, he had to be helped. Likewise, he couldn't do a collaboration jutsu with a toad, that only came later.
Hikaru knew all that from the beginning, seeing as she's an SI, so obviously she'd take the proper steps needed to be strong. So get off my back. She's no Kaguya 2.0. To all of you who don't whine and actually enjoy the story... THANK YOU!
On the day we were set to leave, I was already at the gate, bright and early. I wasn't the only one.
Most of the sensei were here as well. We exchanged greetings, but I didn't talk further. I don't know any of them. It's actually ironic.
I don't have any friends my own age. I blew through the Academy. It would be sad, if I actually cared. Now don't get me wrong.
I'm not cold or standoffish. I'm just a workaholic. There's so much for me to do, that mingling with my fellow shinobi rarely takes priority.
When I'm not training, I'm working on seals or speaking with Kurama. Thing is, I know what's coming our way. Wave after wave of trouble and enemies.
Each worse than the last. I need to prepare for that. Thinking up strategies to deal with each Akatsuki member for example, takes up a lot of my time.
Then there's the issue of Sasuke. I'm honestly torn about what to do with him. He has the scrutiny of three powerful shinobi that want to either control him or want his potential abilities.
They being his brother Itachi, the Advisor Danzo and the Hidden Leaf's most notorious criminal, Orochimaru. All of which will makes moves in the near future.
There's nothing I can do about any of them at this point. Itachi and Orochimaru are too strong for me to defeat, yet. Danzo has his own private army, not to mention the misplaced friendship of our current Hokage.
All this ties in to the Chunin Exams that my team are about to take. It's vital that all three of them not only reach the final and make a good showing of it, but that they are promoted.
Neji will have fully reverse engineered Kabuto's technique by the end of the year. He truly is a prodigy. To help him further, I've created a seal that will store his chakra.
I had envisioned applying the seal on him, once he mastered the Mystic Palm jutsu, but I ran into a few complications. Thankfully, that's sorted now.
When they're given a month to prepare for the finals, I intend on applying it to him then. In fact, I'll apply it to Yakumo as well. A chakra battery can only be useful after all.
With regards to Yakumo, she too has exceeded my expectations. I've decided therefore, to unlock her powers earlier than I initially anticipated.
Same as with Neji, during the month long training break. I believe that she's ready to start using her powers to their fullest extent.
She'll need to be under constant supervision though. There's no telling what could happen, if instead of her controlling her power, it controls her instead.
Then there's Naruto. I'll be starting him off with learning another element and then using his clones for collaboration ninjutsu. While he does have summons, he won't be using them for a good long while.
It will help him in the long term, so that when he finally starts collaboration with the toads, it will be like second nature to him.
I've already taught him how to dispel genjutsu. He can only do it on the basic ones though. Fortunately, he has teammates that can help him if he struggles.
Still, that's an inefficient way of doing things because his team won't always be around to help him in a fight. That's where I come in.
I've always known about the threat posed by genjutsu and so I've been proactive about taking steps to deal with it. I've designed a seal that guards against genjutsu.
Not all genjutsu, but most. All of Yakumo's genjutsu has washed over me but taken no effect.
Thing is, genjutsu is created when a ninja controls the chakra flow of a target's cerebral nervous system, thereby affecting their five senses.
When Kurama and I fully sync one day, the seal, as it currently is, will be redundant. He will be able to break me out of genjutsu. Provided that he's not caught in one as well.
That's why I intend on continuously improving the seal. The weakness of the Tailed Beasts to the Sharingan and Rinnegan is a liability that will be a problem in the future.
Something that Obito, Sasuke and indeed, Madara will use. Still, this is problems for the future. I come back to the present, when I feel my team approaching the gates.
When they reach me I smile at them. " I'm glad to see that the three of you made it on time. I hope you brought your forms with you. You will have to hand it over to the proctors of the first stage of the exams. "
They all indicate that they have. The four of us then make some small talk until it's time to leave. Once everyone is here, about an hour later, we set off.
It will take us three days to get there. The Hidden Waterfall is the only truly hidden village. As such, the exams won't be held in the village proper.
That would be too much of a security risk. Instead, just like with my old exam, it will take place at an old fort. This one is bigger than the one that Hidden Grass used however.
It has been extended to include an arena, as well as guest accommodations. It's all very basic however, except the accommodations for village leaders and the nobility.
I'm not worried about any of that however. My mind is on something else. Something that happened last minute. We, the Jounin sensei, were told that Hidden Cloud would be participating as well. I grimaced, remembering the furore at the meeting.
Neji will no doubt flip his lid when I tell him. I sigh. My team look back towards me but I shake my head. We carry on running in silence.
A few hours later, when we break for lunch, I pull my team aside. Many of the Jounin have commiserating expressions on their faces. Something that my team doesn't miss.
Once we're out of earshot, I look directly at Neji. He stiffens. " There's something I must tell you, but you won't be pleased to hear it. "
" Last night, the Jounin sensei of all the teams that are participating in the Chunin Exams, were summoned to the Hokage Tower for an emergency debrief. "
" There was a last minute change to the roster of Villages that were competing. The leadership of the Hidden Waterfall informed the Hokage that the Hidden Cloud would be participating. "
" Neji, I know how you feel about them, but you must be careful. Do not kill any of their Genin, or even attempt to. I know you'll be tempted, but please don't. "
" The best revenge you can take is to make it to the finals. Make it to the finals and then humiliate any Hidden Cloud Genin that you might face. "
" Remember, the eyes of the entire shinobi world will be on it. The Raikage himself will be there. It will be the perfect opportunity to showcase most of your skills. I want you to promise me Neji, that you'll keep control of your emotions. "
The moment I mention the Hidden Cloud, Neji's body stiffens. Tension racks his entire frame. It stays that way even when I finish speaking.
Naruto is looking back and forth between us. Yakumo is just watching Neji. After a minute, the tension starts to leave him and he sighs.
" As much as it pains me to say this, sensei, you're right. I... I'll restrain myself. It's better if I settle things during the finals. "
" What the Hidden Cloud did in our village and my father's death has long gone unanswered. I'll enjoy destroying any Cloud shinobi that will face me then. "
" What makes it sweeter, is that the Raikage will be there. I want him to see me utterly destroy my opponent and I want to watch his expression as he sees my satisfaction. "
" I want to see his anger, his impotent rage, as I crush the brightest that his village has to offer. Better yet, I'll be doing it infront of thousands of people. "
" So yes sensei, I promise. I'll keep a tight hold of my anger and wait for the opportune moment to strike. " I look at his teammates.
Naruto had a slightly conflicted expression on his face in the beginning, now it has cleared however. Neji told the two of them about his past. About the attempted kidnapping of Hinata.
More importantly, he told them how the Hidden Cloud weaseled their way out of blame and how the whole sordid affair was concluded. With the sacrifice of his father so that there would be peace.
Naruto was outraged, even more than Yakumo. He had always looked up to the Hokage, ever since we were little kids. Finding out that the Third let all this happen, shattered a lot of the faith he had in him.
When I look at Yakumo, there's a cold expression on her face. That's not surprising. Neji and Naruto aren't just her teammates. They are her first and only friends.
For someone that's never had friends, she's fiercely protective of them, despite the fact that they can certainly look after themselves. I pity any Cloud Genin that she goes up against.
With our team angst moment over, we head back towards camp. When we return, the other Jounin look towards me and I nod. The tension immediately dissapeared from camp.
After that bombshell, it was smooth sailing from there on out. We encountered no more problems, until we actually got to our destination.
The Fortress of Ono was massive. Larger than I actually thought it would be. Now I know why the entire exams are held here.
As our group entered we were welcomed by Hidden Waterfall shinobi. " Welcome, Hidden Leaf contingent. I am Yoko. I have been tasked with being your guide for the duration of your stay. "
" I ask firstly that you present the documentation of the Genin to my assistant here, then follow me. " The kunoichi that was speaking looked average, except for the scar running down the side of her left arm and the sword strapped to her back.
Her chakra pool wasn't all that big for a Jounin though, so I soon lost interest. After all the Genin gave their papers, we were given a brief tour.
As we walk through the place, we're given a lot of stares. Not surprising, considering how large a group we are. The Hidden Leaf contingent consists of twenty squads. So eighty shinobi all in all.
I look around as well. This place is very bare, not surprising considering that it's not actually a permanent settlement. Here are only about two dozen stalls. Mainly food, but curios can be found here and there.
As we turn a corner, we spot a Hidden Cloud team. I hide my surprise well, because I recognise a few of them. Karui and Omoi. They're hard to miss.
Luckily, I don't feel Killer Bee or Yugito Nii here. Their chakra would be impossible to miss, not to mention they'd be able to feel just what Naruto and I are.
I subtly relax. Here are no other familiar faces. Soon, the Genin are taken away from us and we, the Jounin, are taken to a lounge.
It's a large circular room with no windows. I can see a couple of grimaces among my fellow Jounin. As we enter, all eyes turn towards us, scrutinising.
More than a few linger on me. I hear whispers of child prodigy. I inwardly scoff at their gossiping. It's like a well known fact in the Elemental Nations. That the Hidden Leaf Village, produces child prodigies.
They are envious of us. It's only natural. Still, I can see how some of my comrades tense. Luckily, none of them tries to block the other shinobi's sight of me.
That would draw even more attention to me. It would signify either one of two things. Either I'm a green Jounin that needs to be protected, or I'm valuable enough to protect.
Both of which would paint a target on my back and by extension the village. Now don't get me wrong. I doubt that all the Jounin in the village like me.
That being said, I am one of them. That is enough. Teamwork and the Will of Fire are the credo that The Village Hidden in the Leaves operates by.
For the rest of the day, we mingle with the foreign Jounin, trying to fish for information. They do the same. When you finally get bored of the mind games however, we leave.
We head to the rooms of our students to fetch them. Turns out that each team gets to share a room with their sensei. This is until the first stage of the exams are finished.
Then the Genin leave to complete the second stage, which is always a survival challenge. The Jounin keep their accommodations until the second task is done.
Then we return to our village to train those of our Genin that made it to the finals. In any event, once we've collected our Genin, all of us head towards the joint cafeteria.
There most of the shinobi gorge themselves. When we finish, we head back to our rooms to strategise. Who knows what tomorrow will bring after all.