AN: Hey peeps, new chapter here. So we finally start the exams in this one and we are now on the road of the Sound War. Now I'm going to tell you my plan for the upcoming arcs. I want you guys to know where the story is headed in the first half of series.
Current Arc- Chunin Exams
Next Arc- Sound War
Future Arcs- The Rider of The Black Horse, Tsunade Hunt, Sasuke Retrieval arc, Rider of the Red Horse, and the final arc will be Rider of the White Horse. I plan is to have all the horsemen together then we go right into Shippuden. There will be fillers, but this the an idea...a map of the story. I might do the movies...but I don't know. The horsemen arcs will be AU, just a heads up. Now let's get to reviews
Reviews:
BrainII: I write fanfics in different worlds with different characters so I apologize about that. Sometimes I don't even hear myself say it.
Bigxjim: Here is a new dose of the meds, hope it works.
GunBlade2020: She knows, but she won't let that stop her from being a great ninja.
OnlyOneeee: I will, when I'm done this story will have a complete next to it.
Anyway that's it for reviews.
Justu
Thoughts
Regular
Chapter 13: The Chunin Exams Begin
*Beep Beep Beep* The alarm came to a stop when Haku tapped it. The raven haired girl yawned and stretched her arms as she began to get out of her bed. It has been a couple of weeks since she has been living with Namikaze, and since then she has enjoyed every moment of it. There are days where she wishes her father was still with her, but she knows that he is happy with her life.
Haku began to put her on her kimono and tie up her hair in a bun as she was about to exit her room. She is no longer a shinobi, but she is now a nurse at Konoha's hospital. Arashi used his connection to get her in and she has greatly appreciated as has the hospital. Haku's herbal techniques have been helping many, shinobi and civilians alike.
Haku stepped out of the room and started to walk down the hallway, they were so large and filled with images that it felt like they told their own story. Haku's destination was Naruto's room, she was going to wake him up for today when he had a team meeting. When the girl is not at the hospital she tends to a maid for the family, they have asked her not to do it, but she wanted to in order to repay them for taking her in.
Haku arrived at Naruto's door and knocked on it, "Naruto-kun, wake up." Haku called the young reaper, but heard nothing. So she knocked again, but did not hear anything. Haku at this point didn't want to do this, but she opened the door and entered his room. It wasn't the first time she has been, Naruto has brought her in here to show her around and what not.
Once she was in the room she saw the teen sleeping in his bed, half his body was on it and the other half was falling off the bed. Haku smiled when she saw this and even had to stifle a chuckle as she saw the drool that was coming out of his mouth. The covers were barely covering his muscular bare chest and that made Haku blush. She was staring at the reapers abs for a good minute before shaking her head and reminding herself why she was here.
'I'm just here to wake Naruto-kun up.' Haku slowly started to walk to Naruto's bed and when she arrived she shook his head shoulder gently. Naruto didn't wake up to the shaking so Haku shook a little harder and still did not move, but what was moving was his cover. Naruto's covers that were not really covering him fell off and revealed something that Haku did not expect to see.
"Naruto wake...Oh...my..." Haku lost her words as she saw Naruto was packing underneath his covers and it was something big…very big. The ice princess's entire face turned into a tomato as she just realized what Naruto had in between his legs and it got worse for her when that said teen decided to open his eyes.
"Huh...Haku? What...AH!" Naruto screamed when he realized that he was naked and that a girl that he may or may not be attracted to was in his room.
Haku screamed as well, making Naruto scream louder and point at her while he covered his lower half with the covers. His scream made Haku's scream louder and cover her eyes, something that she really wants to do. Naruto and Haku's scream made it to the rooms of Akeno and Arashi.
Both husband and wife heard the screams, but didn't get out of bed. They knew there was no imminent danger, only two teens seeing the other naked for the first time. "Mmm...Should we get up and help them?" Akeno asked as she turned over her husband, putting her head on his chest.
"Nah, she was going to see it one day." Arashi wrapped his right arm around his wife as the couple slowly drifted back to sleep. Meanwhile back at Naruto's room the screaming had stopped and the argument had finally started.
"What are you doing in my room?!" Naruto shouted as he held the cover around his waist, preventing Haku from getting another peek at his manhood.
"Me? What are you doing naked!?"
"It helps me sleep better and it's great to get rid of stress!" Naruto argued as he held up his cover still and Haku just now turned her head away.
"Well at least put a sign up that says that I sleep nude!" Haku knew that her arguments were pointless and stupid and it was partially her fault. The girl wanted to get the image out of her head, but she couldn't. No matter what she did, she could not remove the image.
"I'm going to go!" Haku rushed out of his room, but before moving she took one last glance at the cover, more specifically she was taking a look at what the covers were hiding.
When Haku left his room Naruto collapsed on the bed and removed the covers from his waist. Not the best way to start the day with a girl that he has a crush. Yes, Naruto now knows that he likes Haku and his father was the one who helped him realize it when he got the talk.
No, the talk was not about the birds and the bees. Well it technically was, but it was more for his nephilim side. Anyway Naruto learned that he is definitely attractive to Haku. His father told him that moment that he saw how powerful she was and how she pushed him in battle is the moment that he started to fall for her. Also couple that with that fact that they were hanging out with each other a lot and that she was his type. So yeah, living together just got a whole lot harder for teens.
Naruto looked down at his hood and saw that it was hard, "Oh, boner, not now." The teen groaned, it looks like he will be taking a long and cold shower. 'Just great.' Naruto thought as he grabbed some clothes to put on and headed into the shower.
Few minutes and after one cold shower later
The blonde/raven haired reaper came down to the kitchen to see Haku making a plate breakfast, they looked at each other and both turned their heads away. Arashi and Akeno were already at the table and dressed. They saw it and kept their smirks to themselves, they knew what happened. Their yells did carry over to their room.
Haku came down to sit with her food on her plate and had a cup of juice. Naruto soon came with a much larger plate and the family ate in silence. When Haku took a sip of her juice Akeno decided to have some fun. "So Haku did you see anything interesting since you've been living with us." Haku did a spit take and covered her mouth in embarrassment and shame.
"E-E-Excuse me."
"I mean the house is so large and big, it's easy to get lost in it." Haku didn't even know how to answer that question, and instead of thinking she just said the first thing out of her mouth.
"No, nothing like that." Naruto paused in his motion as he was about to take a bite out of his food. He couldn't believe what he just heard, she had seen anything that was interesting. His little friend was very interesting, but instead of realizing that this was a play to move on from the event of this morning Naruto decided to call her out on it.
"Oh, there had to be something Haku. I mean this place is big." Haku glared at Naruto with a look that said drop it, but Nartuo was not going to do so easily.
"No, Naruto, there was not. Nothing caught my eyes."
"You gotta think harder on it, it's pretty hard to miss."
And so it began between Haku and Naruto, one trying to forget seeing a boy penis for the first time and the other trying to make the other remember so that his penis can have some respect. Akeno chuckled as the two argued back and forth and Arashi just sipped his coffee as he read this morning paper. He ignored his wife's antics and the argument between the children. His mind was elsewhere, more specifically with his conversation with Jiraiya weeks ago.
Arashi had given him a mission to find the last three horsemen, a difficult task. Arashi didn't have much to give Jiraiya except locations and a name. The name that he first should be looking for is Uzumaki.
Arashi knows for a fact that the descent of the black horse, Fury, most definitely has a daughter. Only a woman will be strong enough to bear her power. So the horsewoman will have the Uzumaki name, red hair, and great fury towards...just about everything. It's not much to go on, but Jiraiya accepted the task.
As four the other two, it will be most difficult since Arashi doesn't have a clan or surnames to go on. All he has is locations, so he gave him that. Arashi read that War spent days in what is now the land stone. As for Strife, he just told Jiraiya to go with his gut. Again not much to go on, but Strife was one to never stay in one place. He always bounced around and left no trail.
Arashi once upon a time thought that it was his sister in law, but he was wrong. Kushina did though know of a few legends of a woman whose hair was as red as her anger and wielded some kind of whip. Arashi and Akeno found that said whip during their travels, when they were searching for artifacts that belonged to four.
The Barbs of Scorn, a deadly chained whip that Fury wielded to destroy all those in her path. Arashi found it and put with the rest of the ancient artifacts, in the vault of the Namikaze. When the time's right and when he finds the horsewoman, his aunt's weapon will be wielded once again.
"Ok, I'm done. I have to get to a work at the hospital. Arashi, Akeno, have a good day. Naruto, I hope that this big place of yours will have a nice day as well." Haku said with some hostility as she put her food into the sink and soon left the house. Naruto glared at her before leaving himself, but instead of leaving the house he headed to the armory to get his scythes.
"Did you have to do that?" Arashi asked his wife as she began to clean off the table.
"What, I thought it was funny." Arashi rolled his eyes, he should be getting ready himself for the next council meeting that was about to begin and this time they were discussing something very important. Today was the start of the chunin exams and everyone that was on the council needed to be there to discuss it.
With Naruto
"Not calling my friend important. You're important to me, buddy." It sounded so weird, but Naruto just called his penis important which in hindsight is important to a guy. The teen grumbled some more before heading opening the door to the clan's armory, where he saw the various weapons including Zabuza's own sword. Naruto walked to the wall where he saw two red scythes with an eye on each of them.
Naruto recognized the scythes as his once single scythe Soul Eater. Naruto's father was able to make the call and get his scythe split into two. He didn't ask where his father got the work done nor did he tell him, but he had a feeling that he went Crowfather and the old one went to the makers. His father did tell him that all portals too and from the worlds were destroyed by his grandfather for the protection of the humans.
Naruto grabbed the two scythes and smiled at them, the moment he had gotten them he had been training himself. It was nonstop for the teen and to Arashi surprise, Naruto was very proficient with the dual wield style. It was like he was born for it.
Naruto firmly gripped the scythes and the blades folded inwards so that he could attach them to his waist. Naruto put them at his sides and nodded his head, they looked good on him.
The teen then headed out to meet his team with Nero on his head. His sensei wanted all members of his team at the meeting spot very early, no exceptions. Naruto remembers that Kurenai had something very important to tell him. So the teen didn't waste any time and began to head to the meeting spot.
With Arashi
Arashi and the other council members were in the chambers with four jonin that will select their students for this year's Chunin Exams. Those jonin were Kakashi Hatake, Kurenia Yuhi, Might Guy, and Asuma Sarutobi. Arashi had his arms folded and his eyes closed as he listened to the conversation going on.
"So, it's that time already." Inoichi spoke first, he was really speaking aloud. He really couldn't believe that the exams have already arrived.
"I know what you mean. It feels like yesterday that Choji was coming home with a headband and now he might be coming home with a chunin title."
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Shuaku states knowingly, his eyes closed as if he was asleep.
"The lazy bum is right, I heard that the competition is fierce this year." Tsume commented next and Shibi followed her up.
"Indeed, these exams will prove most challenging for our children." Everyone nodded their heads to that even the kage and his advisors.
"Our children will succeed, we must have faith." Mikoto spoke next, but internally she didn't care if her own son came back. All she wanted to be sure was that Naruto would make it back, but if he doesn't she and Arashi could always make more. Speaking of Arashi he turned his head to the side of little.
"They brought the Shukaku's jinchuriki." Arashi spoke out of the blue and everyone's eyes widened including that of the kage.
"Arashi, are you certain that it's a jinchuriki." Hiruzen asked the reaper and Arashi confirmed his question with a nod. His eyes were still closed, for he was using Raven's Vision to see through Dust's eyes.
Dust was on a tree by the gate and caught all the participants from the other villages. All of them seemed fine till the crow's eyes caught the sight of a red headed boy, chakra oozing from him and the smell of demons tainted his human scent.
"Yeah, I know the sense of one when I see it. Hiruzen, I have a request."
"What is it?" The elder kage asked arguably the most powerful member on this council as he lit his pipe.
"I want to be the official for the preliminaries if we have them."
"Why is that?"
"Because I have a gut feeling that people are going to die in that forest and if I was a betting man I would put it on the one who is oozing the KI." Hiruzen thought about it for a moment, a rogue jinchuriki is bad. But with Arashi's skill and powers he should most likely be able to keep the jinchuriki and the beast in check.
"Very well." Arashi opened his eyes and hmmmed, he didn't like this and the exams haven't even started already. Something was wrong, he could feel it. His death sense was telling him something was wrong, but he could figure out what. For now he just needed to wait and react when the time came.
"Is that all Sandiame-sama?" A civilian council member asked and Hiruzen nodded his head, the council meeting was finished, but that feeling in Arashi gut. It still didn't go away. Something was going to happen, but what is the question.
With Team 8
Team 8 was waiting at their team meeting spot which was a cafe. All members were having a cup of tea or coffee as they waited for their sensei. It didn't take long for the veteran kunoichi appeared before them via a shunshin. Kurenai took a seat down at the table and told the waitress that she wanted her usual order. She then looked at her students with a smile on her face.
"I have news for you all."
"We are learning a cool jutsu that will require all of us to use it." Naruto spoke excitedly, he knew that it wasn't true, but he couldn't help himself. He was at times an asshole.
"No, nothing like that, but maybe next time. No, this news is very important for today is the day of the chunin exams. Each of you is eligible and recommended all of you to take it. Now, you have all the options to pass if you wish, but I need an answer now. Also know that the exams are a place where you will fight other shinobi from other villages who may or may not be more powerful than you."
All members of team 8 looked at each other, but they knew that each of them had to make their own decision on the matter. Naruto was obviously the first to make it.
"I'm in. The chance to become chunin and fight stronger opponents, it's a win-win situation for me." Naruto spoke honestly, he did want to become chunin, but the other part of him. The nephilim part wanted to see what these other shinobi could do.
"It would be illogical to do this in our first year, but it is also logical to test my abilities against foreign ninja. I will participate in the exams." Shino had given his answer and now all that left was Hinata. Unlike the other two she was the weakest, but she also wanted to be strong. She wanted to matter to her father. Perhaps this exam will do that.
"I-I-I will join as well." Hinata has been improving on her stuttering, the loss of her crush in Naruto had hurt her.
Kurenai told her that Naruto was interested in Haku, and she was crushed, but wouldn't let that stop her from becoming a great ninja. Hinata did want to be a great ninja like Naruto, to stand beside him. But since she can not do that then she will do it for herself, and prove her worth to her clan.
Kurenai looked at her genin team and smiled. "Very well, then be at the academy in the next three hours for that is when the first test will begin." Everyone nodded their head to the sensei and when Kurenia got her cup of tea and shunshined away. Now leaving the team.
Team 8 quickly paid their bill by leaving cash on the table and soon began to make their way to the exam. As they were walking they discussed the possibilities of what kind of people they will face. They were not far from the academy before they heard what sounded like a fight going on.
"Let him go." Naruto paused in his walk, he knew that voice. It was Kiba, he looked to the direction of the sound and jumped into the air to head to that direction. The rest of Team 8 right behind him.
When he arrived at Kiba location he saw him glaring at some kind guy with makeup who was wearing a sand headband. Naruto also saw the rest of team 7, Sakura looking concerned because she didn't want a fight to break out and Sasuke not caring at all. But that is not all who he saw, for the most surprising was Konohamaru and his squad.
The grandsons and daughter of the kage and his advisors had become fans of Naruto and Kiba. They followed them around and wanted to be great ninjas just like them. They even call themselves the Konohamaru squad.
"Hey, Nero. Why don't send Suna a message." Nero heard her master command and flew off his head to the arm of the make up boy, but while doing so Naruto felt something familiar down there. He sensed something powerful and violent, he couldn't quite place it, but he knew that he could feel it. Naruto may not know what this feeling is, but the inside him does.
"Shukaku. I know that scent anywhere. Heh, let's see how you deal with my brother, kit." The Kyuubi spoke aloud in his cage, the fox resting on his arms as he closed his red eyes again.
'Little brother, you best be on your best behavior. This is not the place to go on your little temper tantrums.' That was the last thought of the great tallied beast as he drifted into his sleep and the world returned to Naruto.
"What are you going to do dog boy?" The make up boy mocked Kiba and that said dog boy growled at him as his fangs started to get longer. Akamaru did the same as his master, both wanting to kick this guy's ass.
*Caw*
"What the?" Kiba looked at the crow on the sand's ninja arm and widened his eyes. His shock face soon turned into a smile as he knew who that bird belonged too. Looks like the reaper has arrived.
"You should really let him now, because that crow is a sign that the reaper has arrived and once he comes he doesn't leave till he takes someone's soul." Kiba was boasting, but it was only half true. The truth in taking someone's soul might be an exaggeration in Naruto's hand, but with Arashi it would be true. But Naruto being here, that was most certainly a fact.
"You think I'm scared of some grim reaper?"
"You should be." The make-up boy's eyes widened in shock and he was caught off guard that dropped Konohamaru. Naruto was right there in between Kiba and the foreign ninja, the teen leaning on the wall with his hoodie up.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Name's Naruto, Naruto Namikaze." The sand's ninja eyes widened when he heard that name and the girl next to him was the same, but not in shock. But in surprise. She was eyeing Naruto like a piece of meat.
"Now, my turn. Who are you and why are you giving clowns a bad name." The Sand shinobi was gobsmacked, his jaw on the ground and the girl behind him was laughing at Naruto's joke.
"Also who is your friend?" Naruto turned his eyes to the tree to see a red headed boy with no eyebrows and with gourd on his back.
"G-Gaara." Both sand ninjas were shocked, but also scared when they saw the third member of their team. The feeling that naruto got earlier, he now knew where it came from. It was coming from this man, he smelt like death.
"Kankuro, knock it off." The teen named Kankuro nodded his head like an obedient dog and Gaara turned his cold eyes to Naruto.
"Your name is Naruto Namikaze?" Naruto nodded his head.
"And your name is Gaara?" Gaara nodded his head and both teens were looking each in their eyes, neither one saying a word, but unknown to the two of them their tailed beast were growling viciously at one another.
"Mother wants your blood. The moment I face you in the exams, I will kill you." Gaara had a menacing tone in his voice and Naruto smiled at his words. His heart started to pump with vigor like he was exercising, he could feel that his one was strong...very strong
"I can't wait." Naruto said excitedly as he moved his face closer to the Suna shinobi and both jinchurikis' eyed each other for a good minute, the wind blowing to create a dramatic effect.
"I shall see you again, Naruto Namikaze." Gaara and team left Naruto and team 7, but the reapers eyes did not leave the sand boy. For some reason or another Naruto could see a tail behind him, a one tail in fact. That's when he widened his eyes and realized that Gaara was like him. He was jinchuriki.
As the Suna shinobi were leaving Naruto spoke to Kiba and Sakura to make sure that they were alright, but one in back glared at the reaper with hostility.
'Naruto, damn you and damn that red head. I am a Uchiha and he didn't even acknowledge me. Well I show you, I'll tell you both that the power of the Uchiha clan is second to none.' Sasuke thought with anger as he called his team to leave for the academy.
"Kiba, Sakura, let's go." Sasuke walked past Naruto, but not without giving him a glare. Naruto didn't say anything, but he smirked at him. Sasuke was always trying to prove that he was better than Naruto and the reaper hasn't been trying since day one.
"Well I better get back to my team. Ready Nero?" The bird above his head cawed and Naruto leaped to the rooftops to meet with his team.
The Academy
Team 8 then made their way to the academy where they saw many others start to step in. They made it to the ground and went in like everyone else, they ignored the looks and just kept walking where they soon saw a group of people trying to enter the room.
*Caw* Nero cawed at Naruto and the reaper could see that the room was an illusion. "Good girl, Nero." Naruto complimented his bird and he looked back at Shino and Hinata.
The teen nudged his head forward and the teammates nodded their heads. They soon began to walk past the crowd of people, all of them none the wiser. If none of the other contestants couldn't figure out that room was genjutsu then that was on them, thin the herd.
Naruto wanted to tell them, if it would have increased the number of people that he would have to face, but with Shino and Hinata with him he would have to dial it back on the blood lust. So they decided to head right to the real room, until someone had to open their big mouth.
"The room is fake, the real one is above." Naruto stopped when he heard that, he knew that the voice belonged to the duckass and now this exam went from being hard to fucking super hard. All because one prideful dumb-ass couldn't keep his mouth shut.
Hell not even the real Pride was this cocky and arrogant. And by real Pride Naruto was talking about the true sin of pride. The avatar of the sin so to speak. A fallen angel so prideful that she thought she knew better than the rest and it cost her.
Naruto had read the family's bestiary on the creatures that they have faced, both angel and demon. Angelic beast, demons, lords of hell, even angel names, it was all in there with their images.
Naruto hasn't read all of it, but the book was far too long to read, but he did read some of the information such as the Seven Deadly Sins. He read how his ancestor Death along with his brothers and sister defeated and imprisoned the sins. Naruto could only imagine what the battle must've been like, fighting the avatar of humanity's sins. It must've been crazy.
Naruto shook his head, he had to focus on the task at hand. Sasuke just made the exams that much hader, but now I get to see what I made of the rest of these shinobi.
"That idiot," Naruto heard Shino mumble, he was talking about Sasuke.
"Yeah, I agree, but we'll figure it out later. Hopefully none of them make past this first part. Whatever it may be." Naruto and company arrived at the door while Sasuke's team went off to fight some boy with a bowl haircut. Naruto wanted to check it out, so he told his team that he would catch up.
"I'll be right back guys." Naruto told them and they all wondered where he was going. Naruto made his way to a small arena where the students would do their target practice in the academy.
When he arrived he saw that Kiba and Sakura were hanging back as Sasuke fought the bowl haired teen. That hair cut and jumpsuit reminded Naruto of someone, but he couldn't quite place it. Either Naruto leaned his arms on the railing as he made quick work of Sasuke. Again the arrogant thought that he could win and underestimated his enemy. It was actually quite funny to watch and the reaper let out a snicker.
The teen that battled Sasuke heard the snicker and looked up to see Naruto leaning on the railing. He recognized Naruto thanks to the clan crest on his clothing and got excited himself. A true challenge had appeared.
"You, my name is Lee and I wish to fight you." The teen named Lee challenged Naruto and now Naruto remembered where he knows this boy. This was Kakashi's eternal rival student, he remembers his big brother telling him about Might Guy and their ugly jumpsuits.
Naruto thought about the challenge and figured he had time to kill. He shrugged his shoulders and pulled himself over the railing, his feet touching the ground gracefully. Nero got off her master's head and went back to the railing and watched the fight with her bored expression.
"You think Naruto can win?" Sakura asked Kiba curiously, the dog boy still has not asked her out, but their relationship has gotten better. Sakura actually acknowledged Kiba as her friend and the boy could start to see that her admiration in Sasuke was starting, but slowly to fall. Why can't he take that next step and ask her out?
"Maybe, Naruto is more powerful than anyone in our class. I'm wondering what we should do if we take him on." Kiba had a point there, this exam was basically free for all. So that means every team is for themselves. No alliances and no friendship is going to stop that.
Naruto watched Lee get into his stance and the teen just smiled with anticipation. He wanted to see what this guy could do, call it appetizer before the main meal. Lee dashed at Naruto with the same speed that hit Sasuke with, but the difference is that Naruto could easily see him. The bandaged teen was moving side to side to throw Naruto off, but he saw him.
When Lee got close enough he went low and did a leg that would take Naruto down, but the teen came back and flipped. Lee quickly rose up and punched Naruto in which the reaper blocked with a X guard.
Naruto's feet skidded on the ground as he was pushed back and once again Lee disappeared thanks to a burst of speed. When Naruto's feet came to stop he raised his left forearm and blocked a kick from Lee.
Lee and the rest of Team 7 widen their eyes in surprise. Lee was moving fast, faster than they could see and yet Naruto was able to stop his attack.
"Nice kick, but you might want to take off those weights if you really want to tag me." Again Lee widened his eyes. How did Naruto know that he was wearing weights.
Sasuke was seething, one he was defeated by Lee, the second is because he finds out that he was using weight which meant that he was being taken seriously, and third is because he sees Naruto taking on the same opponent he lost against and Lee can't even touch him.
"How-How did-*Poof*" The sound of a puff of smoke came and everyone there saw the trainer of Lee and his sensei Might Guy.
"Leeeee! What are you doing here? You should be with Neji and the others. This exam is the perfect place to show your flames of Youth!" Guy exclaimed excitedly and Lee bowed his head apologetically with large tears streaming down his eyes. He went on about how Guy-sensei was right and it started to weird everyone out.
So Naruto did the best thing for him and left. He leapt up to the railing and Nero went back on his head as he made his way back to the meeting point where his team was waiting for him.
When Naruto left is when Team 7 left, their supposed leader licking his wounds from the whooping that Lee gave him. Guy saw his eternal rival's team and then looked to Naruto as he walked away.
Guy smiled because his pupil was about to face great competition in these exams. Lee himself heard crack coming from his right leg and lifted up the pant leg to see that his weight was cracked. He widened his eyes when he saw that the weight was cracked.
'When my leg made an impact with his arm the shock must have broken the weight. How strong is he?' Lee thought as he rolled back down, these exams were about to get very interesting for him and everyone in it.
With Naruto
"Sorry I'm late guys got caught up in little spar." Naruto made it back to his team to see them waiting for him.
"I hoped you didn't show them too much of your power Naruto?" Naruto shook his head at Shino and gave the bug boy his answer.
"Nah, just little warm up me."
"Are you hurting Naruto?" Again Naruto shook his head this time at Hinata. Lee's kick did leave a mark, but he did feel it. It was strong even with the weight on, he wonders how powerful it can be without. Gaara and now Lee, who else will interest Naruto in these exams.
"You guys ready to do this?" Naruto asked his team and they nodded their heads determinedly, this will be tough, but they will get through it and face whatever challenge they face together. Why? Because they are a team.
Naruto opened the doors and that is when he and his team saw all the other shinobi, shinobi that shouldn't be here, but thanks to Sasuke. But what is done is done. Naruto looked at them all and saw that they would glaring at him. He didn't care about that, he was not afraid of them, but it wasn't long before the others arrived. And by others, it was the rest of the graduation class.
"I figured you would come." Naruto and Team 8 turned around to see Team 10. Ino waved, Choji was eating his chips, and Shika was looking tired, nothing new there.
"Come on, an opportunity to show people how awesome I am. This is like heaven to me. Though I am surprised to see you here."
"Got out voted." Shikamaru said lazily and Nartuo laughed. He pounded the fist of Shika and high fived Choji. They weren't his brothers like Kiba was, but they were still his boys.
After Team 10 it was Team Guy, Lee was looking at Naruto as his team came into the room and the reaper waved his hand at him. Lee smiled at him, the bushy shroud ninja couldn't wait to fight the reaper again and this time he would be taking off his weights.
The last team to enter was Team 7 and Naruto greeted his brother from another mother. "Yo," Kiba and Naruto fist bumped and the familiar said hello to each other with a bark and caw.
"How's the cheek?" Naruto was speaking about Sasuke's cheek since he saw a red mark on it thanks to one Lee's fist.
"Still a pain in the ass."
"So...nothing new them, huh?" Kiba chuckled at the reaper's joke and looked back to see Ino and Sakura fighting over Sasuke, but Sakura was not fighting as hard as one would believe. It looks like her traces of her fan girl are starting to leave.
"Well...I wouldn't say that. There is something new."
"Ayyy. I know that look. Did you pop the question?" Kiba shook his head that deflated Naruto very quickly.
"Pooh. Stop being scared."
"Enough about me, what about you and Haku. How is that going?" Naruto shrugged his shoulders at the question, but answered honestly...too honestly.
"She saw my dick this morning." Kiba did a spit take with nothing in his mouth and screamed a loud what.
"What!?" Naruto rubbed his ear, since it was very loud and got the attention of everyone else, but before Kiba could get more information on that situation someone interrupted him and caught the attention of the entire Konoah 12.
"You're all making too much noise." Everyone turned their eyes at a tall boy wearing glasses, this boy looked older than them.
"Who the hell are you?" Kiba got right to the point and the man pushed his glasses then introduced himself.
"I'm called Kabuto. My team and I are taking the chunin exams this year much like yourself. This is my eighth time taking the exam, you could say. I'm a veteran of sort." Kabuto spoke that sentence like it was a proud statement to say.
"I wouldn't call that veteran, but a failure instead."
"Oooh, nice burn." Naruto complimented and both brothers dapped each other as they both saw the tick mark appear on the so called veteran face. Kabuto brushed their comment off as he showed them all orange cards.
"What you think of me doesn't matter, but know this. This chunin exam is a stacked one this year. I have information on those competing if you like to know." Naruto made a noise with his mouth that said he was not interested, he wanted to be surprised because it would make the fight a whole lot more fun.
"I want information on Rock Lee, Gaara of Suna, and Naruto Namikaze." That statement came from none other than Sasuke. Naruto rolled his eyes and just went to the window to lean on it.
"First up is Rock Lee. He is a taijutsu specialist under the tutelage of Might Guy and has completed 8 D-Ranks, 2 C-Rank, and 1 B Rank. The next is one Gaara of Suna, he is the son of the Kazekage and his accolades are very impressive. He has completed 0 D-Rank, 8 C-Rank, 3-B Rank, and 1-A Rank. Every mission he goes on he comes back with no cut, not even a scratch." When Kabuto showed Lee and Gaara cards everyone was more amazed at Gaara abilities, they could easily see him as a threat in the tournament.
Gaara's eyes were solely on Naruto though, he did not care that his stats were being read. All that mattered to him was the blood of Naruto for his mother. Naruto yawned into his hand, still not caring that he was up next.
"Naruto Namikaze, son of our late hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife Kushina Uzumaki. When his parents died he was adopted by his father's twin brother Arashi Namikaze, the Black Reaper of Konoha. Naruto is the heir to the Namikaze clan and not much is known about them in the village records. All that can be found on them is that they are a clan of strong warriors and are the strongest one in the village. Each child born from their clan has been labeled a prodigy of his generation." Naruto picked his ear, still not caring at all that Kabuto was taking a little more interest in him than the others, but he did have the ears of everyone else.
"Naruto is a skilled scythe meister, a traditional weapon that his clan tends to use. He has completed 3-D Rank, 2-C Rank, 1-B Rank, and 2-A Rank. He faced Zabuza of the hidden Mist in combat and came out alive, and killed the crime lord Gato successfully in a village that was under his reign." When Kabuto finished Naruto formed a thinking pose as he was going over what Kabuto said.
"Hmmmm...Nope, don't think you left anything out. Pretty accurate." Naruto was mocking Kabuto and everyone in the room, he didn't care that they knew his name or heritage. In fact Naruto just got a bullseye placed on him by everyone in the room, even those that were in the village, but he still didn't care.
Kabuto smirked at the teen and pushed his glasses up. He widened his eyes when he saw a punch coming his direction. Kabuto dodged it successfully, but was still brought to his knees, his glasses shattering.
"Here is what you need to know, Sound is going to win!" The ninja with black hair told the leaf nin while Naruto just smiled.
"Ok." The sound ninja turned towards Naruto and the teen hopped onto a desk having all eyes on him.
"Ladies and gentleman, these three shinobi have told us that they are going to win! That they are going walk over us, boys and girls who walked tirelessly to get here. To earn our headband. They just think we are weak and that they are so badass that they will get an easy win." The sound ninjas' eyes widened in shock when they realized what game Naruto was playing. Naruto turned back at them and smiled, his fox smile that told them they were screwed.
"Well, I don't know about all of you, but I'm not going to let that happen. In fact...if I was all of you I would show these three how strong you are and show them that these exams are not going to be a cake walk. Are you with me?" They were with Naruto for all the KI went straight towards the three ninja and Naruto laughed as he turned to them. The sound ninja shivered for now they had a target on their backs.
"Having fun?" Everyone's eyes turned towards the door to see a group of men wearing konoha headbands, one of them Naruto recognized. It was Ibiki Morino, he was the one that asked the question to Naruto.
"Be honest, did you enjoy the speech?" Ibiki gave Naruto a look and the teen shrugged his shoulders. He climbed down from the desk and let Ibiki take charge.
"All of you will be seated in designated seats. You will be taking a test that you will have 60 minutes to finish. If you cheat in any way you will automatically fail the chunin exams. These gentlemen here call your name to your assigned seat." Everyone waited for their name to be called and once they called they were taken their seats. Naruto ended up sitting between some random person and Hinata.
Once the seats were taken Ibiki handed out the test, when everyone had a test the clocked began as Ibiki sat at the desk in the front and the others sat at the end of the aisle. Everyone began to take the test including Naruto, but that there was something off about this.
'This is not right. There is something wrong here, but what? Ibiki is the mind games type of guy, I remember mom telling me about him. Saying that there's always something to everything that he does. Well he doesn't want us to cheat. If we cheat we fail...but if we cheat and don't get caught nothing happens. Ninjas are not supposed to be caught. That is the name of the game...cheating without getting caught.' Naruto smiled since he figured it out and it would seem like everyone else did as well.
Hinata activated her byakugan, Shino sent his bugs, Kiba used Akamaru, Shikamaru used his shadow possession on Choji, Sasuke used the sharingan, but the question remains what will Naruto do.
He could use Nero, but that would be too easy. No, he had a better idea. Naruto smirked as he continued to finish the test, he knew all of the answers, even the ones that were supposed to be trick questions. When done Naruto raised his hand and told Ibiki that he was done.
"Done." Ibiki turned his cold eyes to the teen who had a smile on his face.
"You have time to check it over if you wish."
"Nope, I'm positive that everything is right." Naruto spoke with confidence and Ibiki narrowed his eyes.
"Ok, then. Since you are so confident about your answers, if you get one wrong answer you and team are done in the chunin exams." Ibiki made the declaration and Naruto had a straight face, but his straight soon turned into a smile.
"You're on."
With the Senseis'
"Woof. Naruto has some balls on him for challenging Ibiki's like that." Asuma smoked the cigarette as Kakashi, Kurenai, and Guy all watched the events on a monitor.
"Naruto's flames of youth are bright as my student! My eternal rival I believe that your little brother has just become my students eternal rival.
"Oh, god." Kakashi whimpered when he heard that his poor brother was about to go through hell.
"Naruto has a plan, but what is it? What are you planning?" Kurenai was mostly speaking to herself as she continued to watch with close eyes.
In the Classroom
Ibiki was grading Naruto's paper while that said teen was leaning back with his feet up on his desk, he whistled a tune while he awaited his fate. "Stop with the whistling." Ibiki ordered Naruto to stop and the teen did, but reluctantly. He took his feet off the desk and closed his eyes, it wasn't long before Ibiki stood up and all turned to him.
"You got one answer wrong." Everyone's eyes widened, and Sasuke smirked in victory. One less problem to deal with when it comes to Naruto. Naruto though was not shocked.
"Was it question 12, that one was a doozy. I went back and forth on that one."
"It was question 24. The final one. If you had selected a team member to stay behind who would you pick. You...picked yourself. Why?"
"Why do you want to know? I got the answer wrong." Ibiki stared at him for a while, then gave him an answer.
"Perhaps your answer now can change the outcome of your fate." Naruto thought about it and shrugged his shoulders. The answer was simple.
"I chose myself because I'm the strongest. Now, this is not about boasting, not at all. It's about strategy. Now your mind is probably asking what the hell is strategic about that. It's strategic because the strongest member can hold off the most enemies. Me holding off the...god knows how many people that want to kill me give my teammates more than enough time to get back to wherever the village is." Many people were surprised by that answer, even Ibiki, but he didn't show it.
"That dumbest idea that I ever heard."
"Tell that to the second." Naruto clapped right back, but his face was not showing insult. It was showing wisdom and Ibiki was now surprised by that. And by the second Naruto was talking about the second Hokage of Konoha. He died by staying behind to protect his platoon, a stupid idea to some, but the kage did his job. He protected his students.
"He died, yes, but he also did his job in protecting his students. Plus before he did he selected the old man to be the next hokage. Nidaime-sama, was the strongest during that time and he was the only one that was going to be able hold off the enemy. So he sacrificed himself knowing that he would die, but him died holding the enemy off and making sure that his students get to safety."
"Hmph, you got me there. You pass." Ibiki told him and Naruto smiled, the taller jonin went back to his desks as Naruto himself leaned back with his eyes closed. He wanted to challenge himself, yes, he knew that this objective was cheating, but he wanted to see if he could outsmart Ibiki himself.
"Not bad, Naruto. Not bad at all." Kurenia was worried there for a moment, but when she heard Naruto's answer she could see that her students made the right decision when choosing him as the leader.
'Why couldn't I get Naruto.' Kakashi thought sadly, he would replace Sasuke with his little brother anytime of the day. But alas he didn't and now he has to make Sasuke a shinobi, forget great. Kakashi has to start to make him shinobi in general.
Naruto waited for everyone to finish, the teen eyes were closed as he took the moment to enjoy the last bit of peace he would have. He has a feeling that things are about to get chaotic from this moment on. When the tests were finished Ibiki stood and gave a speech about ninja being captured and how sacrifices are going to be made. Honestly Naruto half listened, it might have been a bit rude, but he couldn't shake this gut feeling. His mind was going back to the punch that sound nin threw at Kabuto.
The reaper may be going crazy, but he has a feeling that that punch was feinted. Almost like it was supposed to look real. Kabuto would have dodged that, he's been taking these exams god knows how many times and he still can't dodge an easily seen punch.
Not only fact, how did he have so much information on him...on everyone. Their missions and their styles. No one can just know that. One would have to study...spy in fact to get all that. Naruto's gut was telling him something was off with Kabuto and when his gut was telling him something it was best to listen. Naruto took a glance at Kabuto who was sitting near the front on the right side. His eyes turned orange unknown to anyone as he narrowed them at the veteran ninja.
Ibiki had taken off his bandana showing everyone his scars, some winced, others didn't care, but only Naruto had something to say. "You should get some tattoos, I know a guy." Everyone turned to the teen and Kiba put his head in his hand, Naruto must always say something smart. But to everyone's surprise Ibiki smiled, he actually showed some emotion on that cold face of his.
"I'll think about, but tell Uta to keep some designs for me." Naruto nodded his head and gave him a thumbs up, but that is when a scroll was thrown through a window shattering it and out came a woman with purple hair, wearing a brown trench coat, and wearing a fishnet shirt.
"Listen up, brats my name is...Oh Ibiki, that is more than I thought I was going to have." Ibiki sat back down in his seat and answered Anko. He had expected to do a dramatic entrance, she always needed to do one.
"You have an interesting batch this time around Anko. These exams might be fun for you." Ibiki kept it cryptic, but Naruto had a feeling that he was talking about him. His time with Ibiki was over, and now it was time for him to go with a woman that is happy to see him.
"Naru-chan! I should've known that you were the one causing trouble. You're right, Ibiki, this is going to be fun for me. Now, let's get moving on brats. The Forest of Death awaits." Anko flew out the window with many other shinobi following behind her. The first exam has come to end, but the next challenge has begun. The Forest Death awaits and once you step inside the game changes. What will Naruto and Team 8 have to deal with when they step inside the forest. Find out next time on the Grim Reaper of Konoha.
Ibiki and his staff collected the papers, but when he went to Naruto's seat and he saw that his bird was still there. Ibiki raised an eyebrow at this, wondering why Nero would still be here instead with her master. The T&I saw Nero peck the desk, still confused, but it hit him like bag bricks when he realized what she was doing. It was morse code. Ibiki knew it and began to decode the message with each peck.
"K,a,b,u,t,o. Kabuto. There is something wrong with Kabuto." Nero nodded her head to Ibiki and the man narrowed his own eyes. He turned himself to the window to the direction of where the forest of death was located.
Naruto believes that something is wrong with Kabuto, and he is not the only one as well. Ibiki suspects something as well, that the boy had taken these exams too many times to not be able to pass. It was like he was falling on purpose, but why and for whom?
"Thanks, tell Naruto the same as well." Nero soon flew out the window into the direction her master was located leaving Ibiki with his staff. "Get the Hokage and get everything that we have on Kabuto." The shinobi in the room shunshined away now leaving the T&I expert by himself.
'What do you have planned for Kabuto and who are you working for?' That was Ibiki's last thought as he too shunshined away in a cloud of smoke. His destination was the tower to speak with the Hokage because they may have a situation on their hands.
To be continued