Two chapters in 24ish hours?! How I'm tired. Now for reviews.
Just an NPC and Raxtzle: Thank you and I do use grammarly but I can't afford the premium version that does more and the autocorrect does things I don't always catch. The using no instead of now was an autocorrect thing. Also, I'm a 9th grader who's slightly above average so I'm sorry for all the errors.
Previously on The Greatest of the Five
"Now then. As I'm sure you're aware, the requirements to become genin have dropped considerably low and don't teach you what you need to know. But I'm hearing your child prodigies so we'll see how that goes. You also know you have to pass a test given to you by your jounin sensei. In my case, you must get these two bells. The person that doesn't get a bell, gets sent to the reserves to further training. Any questions?"
The two genins and one chunin shook their heads.
"In that case, BEGIN!"
Chapter 2: Genin Days
All the students disappeared into the forest.
'Ah, interesting. Naruto and Itachi have better stealth than Izumi.'
With Naruto
Naruto narrowed his eyes. A 3-man cell? Not unless someone dies or gets promoted. Naruto quickly figured out the meaning of the test. Teamwork. Naruto quickly found Itachi about 30 feet away.
"I think we both know the true meaning of this test." Said Naruto.
Itachi nodded and the two boys left to find Izumi.
"Izumi. She wants us to work together." Said Itachi.
"I see. Do you have your sharingan, Itachi?"
He nodded.
"I specialize in ninjutsu and genjutsu but I'm adequate at taijutsu." Described Itachi.
"My stealth is unrivaled and I specialize in ninjutsu and obviously anything that involves killing someone quietly. Izumi?"
She nervously shifted.
"I...uh...my genjutsu is okay…"
Naruto made her uncomfortable with his black stare.
"I see. You and Itachi will keep her distracted while I sneak up on her. Force her to activate her sharingan. That will be the key to victory. Whenever you're ready."
They nodded and attacked head on to buy time for Naruto
Meanwhile with Megumi
The only person she could sense was Izumi. The sensei of team two wasn't surprised. But she was surprised when the younger Uchihas attacked her head on with all three main ninja arts. Minutes went by as she began to sweat. Itachi's genjutsus were extremely hard to break without the sharingan. Deciding she'd had enough, she engaged Itachi in taijutsu.
'He's good, but not good enough.'
She was about to when she sensed their third teammate behind her. But it was too late. Naruto rendered her unconscious with a chop to the back of the neck. They nodded to each other and sat in silence by the training posts.
A few hours later
Megumi awoke with a groan as she covered her eyes with her arm.
'Why does the sun seem ten times brighter and how did I end up on the-'
She groaned one more time as she realized that happened to her. She was knocked out but three rookies. She didn't bother to get up.
"I'll bet a week's salary you figured out the true meaning of the test so..,you all pass. Your first mission…"
They listened closely.
"Carry me back to the Uchiha compound. Gently."
They nodded even if they were a little disappointed.
A few weeks later
Team two walked into the Hokage's office and noticed they weren't alone. Danzo was there too.
"Ah, yes. Team two. What mission would you like today. You can catch Tora, walk some dogs, carry some groceries, clean out the Inuzuka-" Said the Sandaime as he was cut off by Megumi.
"Actually Hokage-sama, I would like a C-rank mission. We've completed the required number of D-ranks and I think my team is more than ready."
"Well, if you think they're ready. Team two, your mission is to go to Kusa and make sure things are still stable. Do you accept even though this is a B-rank mission?" Said the Professor.
Megumi looked at the determined faces of her team and nodded.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Answered Megumi.
"Then you are dismissed except for Megumi-san."
The other three shrugged and walked out.
"As you are aware, you have the Uchiha prodigy, our resident jinchuriki, and a washed out chunin. But that's not why you're here. You're here because I want you to let Naruto do the talking if it comes to that." Megumi's eyes widened when Hizuren finished.
"Why?"
Hizuren was about to answer when Danzo cut him off.
"Because he's shrewd, cunning, and if I must admit, a damn good liar. Although, I would give him a book on international politics to be safe. Itachi Uchiha is becoming very adept at genjutsu. That's all well and good but don't let him neglect his other skills."
Megumi nodded reluctantly.
"I see. By your leave."
They nodded and Megumi caught up to her team.
"Special orders. Naruto will be reading a book on international politics on the way to Kusa and Itachi will work on something other than genjutsu while I bring Izumi up to speed. It's a 20-hour trip from the east gate and I want you to pack for a one-month trip. Meet me there in three hours. Dismissed."
They nodded and went their separate ways. Or at least, Megumi and Izumi did. Itachi and Naruto walked in silence until they found a dark alley where they could talk.
"I call bullshit. There's no way this is just a B-rank mission, not with the chances of Iwa getting involved." Said Naruto.
"Do you know why they're sending us?" Asked Itachi.
"That depends. Have you figured out my riddle?"
Truth be told, he still didn't figure it out. But the timing and the type of mission was a dead giveaway for someone like Itachi.
"I have now. You are the jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. Konoha wants to put their best foot forward and sending "Uchiha prodigy" as well will make a good impression."
"Or totally piss them off. As I'm sure you're aware, the sharingan can subdue and control a biju. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm on this team because they higher-ups want to make sure I'm under control."
Naruto started reading the book he was told to read.
"I see. There's nothing we can do about that. Anything I should know from that book?" Responded Itachi as Naruto shook his head.
"Not unless you're interested in this stuff."
Itachi shook his head and leaned up against the wall next to Naruto as he read the book on international politics.
3 hours later
"Is everyone ready?" The students nodded.
"Good. We need to get to Kusa as soon as possible."
Everyone nodded and took off in the direction of Kusa at a fast pace.
Ten hours later
The sun was going down fast and everyone but Megumi was getting tired. They needed to be in Kusa in under 48 hours. Megumi knew her team could make it in 20.
"Good job everyone. You were traveling at chunin level speed for ten hours. Truly impressive for people your age. We'll make camp here and I'll take the first watch."
Megumi told Naruto to get dinner from the woods and ordered the others to set up camp. One hour later, Naruto came back with a few piglets that were cooked over the fire.
"Remember, always eat what you can find, not what you bring. You'll last longer that way." Advised Megumi and all three nodded in acknowledgement. I'll wake Naruto in four hours."
Megumi watched as they crammed themselves into a 3-man tent while she made sure no one snuck up on them. She had a really bad feeling about this mission but didn't know why.
'I don't like this one bit.'
She found herself a place that overlooked the camp and the surrounding area and was on high alert the whole time. It caused time to go by so much slower for her. but she was relieved when it was Naruto's turn.
"Naruto. Your turn." She whispered.
Naruto nodded and switched places with her.
'There's no one around for miles, or at least there shouldn't be.'
Naruto scanned his surroundings and found no one but that didn't stop him from doing it again every so often. Naruto felt Itachi approaching him.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Got woken up when Izumi got too close."
Naruto deadpanned.
"You act like she tried to rape you."
Itachi's silence set off alarm bells in both their heads.
"You do not want to know. Sense anything?" Asked Itachi.
"No, not yet. I've seen a few animals here and there but-" Naruto stopped abruptly as he narrowed his eyes as both boys slowly reached for their weapons pouch.
"How many?" Whispered Naruto.
"I count five. You?"
"Same. Two jounin, three chunin. Damn. Drop and explosive tag. That should wake the others."
Itachi nodded and in three seconds a loud explosion startled everyone in a five-mile radius and brought their stalkers out of hiding. Megumi was in front of them in a split second.
"Jounin and chunin of Iwagakure. State your business in the Land of Fire!"
The man who they assumed to be the leader answered.
"You know exactly why we're here. Attack!"
Megumi took the two jounins and the kids got one chunin each.
With Naruto
"Konoha must be really desperate if they're sending children on A-rank missions. Why don't you go back to your village? I promise I won't pursue." Said Naruto's adversary.
He looked like a good shinobi. Well dressed, well armed, smart, and physically fit. On the other hand. He got arrogant and didn't take Naruto seriously.
"Nah. We both know how much Iwa hates Konoha and I highly doubt you'll keep your word so, why don't we just kill each other already?"
The Iwa chunin was faster than Naruto so Naruto was forced to dodge or block everything that was thrown at him. But he was able to get some breathing room when he kicked some sand in his opponent's eyes.
"You little shit!"
Naruto made 30 shadow clones and disappeared into the trees. While the man was dealing with his clones, he would wait for the perfect time to strike.
"Coward! Come out and fight!"
Naruto noticed the man was slowing down and saw his opening. Even with chakra, Naruto couldn't match his speed. But with chakra and gravity on his side, the man will never see him coming. The remaining ten clones pushed him towards the tree Naruto was in. He grabbed a kunai and jumped down at mach 8. Even though he only had a kunai, he split the guy clean in half down the middle. Naruto gave himself a few moments to get himself under control.
'Now is not the time to freeze.'
Meanwhile with Itachi
Itachi's opponent was a juggernaut to say the least. Huge muscles, no shirt, loud voice, most importantly, no stability. Itachi knew that and took full advantage. Several close calls activated his sharingan.
"I can see it. This is the power of the sharingan!"
Itachi made three shadow clones and had them wrap razor sharp ninja wire around two trees that were just six feet a part. Itachi acted like he was cornered and the man didn't know any better.
"Is that all you got?!"
The berserker fell for it and charged Itachi like an angry bull. Only to get chopped in fourths by razor sharp ninja wire. Itachi composed himself and went to find Naruto but Naruto found him first.
"You good?"
"Yeah. We need to check on Izumi."
With Izumi
She was losing and she knew it. Even with her sharingan, she wasn't doing all that well. Low on chakra and up against a wall, she closed her eyes and waited for death to claim her.
'I'm sorry guys. I guess I really am a bad teammate.'
Right before she was about to die, blood splattered all over her and something heavy fell on top of her. She opened her eyes to see her attacker in two pieces. One on the ground and one on her. It took her a little while, but when she finally came to, she puked in the nearest bush.
"Should we do something?" Asked Naruto.
"Not unless one of us specializes in ninja counselling."
They shrugged and made one shadow clone each to guard her. After that, they decided to check on their sensei who was having trouble with the taller one. The other one was out for the count. Her opponent had the famous rock armor.
"What are you doing here?!" Yelled Megumi.
"Well lookie here. More brats to kill."
They ignored his monologue.
"Is he immune to genjutsu?" Asked Naruto.
"Yeah. He's always in pain so there's nothing I can do and I don't have any ninjutsu that can penetrate his armor."
Naruto thought for a moment.
'Well, if you can't penetrate the armor, cook the armor.'
"How many fire jutsu do you know?" Asked Naruto.
"A lot, why?"
"Because he'll have to drop his armor unless he wants to be a human biscuit."
Megumi nodded and let Itachi attack from the front, Naruto from the side, and her from the back. The two boys put one explosive tag on him and used chakra to kick him a safe distance away.
*BOOM*
He got up heavily wounded and low on chokra.
"Impressive. But you're out of chakra. Surrender now and I promise you'll live." Said Megumi.
"I'll never surrender! Die Konoha scum!"
He didn't get very far. Without his armor, Naruto was able to slit his throat with ease.
"Is everyone okay?" Asked Megumi.
"Yeah. Izumi is probably out like a light next to a tree. I have a shadow clone guarding her." Said Itachi.
Megumi nodded.
"I'm sorry you guys had to deal with that. How are you feeling?"
Both boys shrugged. They were always different from everyone else. Loss of life, even by their own hands, didn't register to them. If a thousand people from Suna died all they would care about is making sure the same thing didn't happen to them. They always were different. And that is what will make them the best.
"This one is still alive. Unless you want to watch someone get tortured, go away." Said Megumi even though Itachi and Naruto didn't move. Megumi zapped the man with a lightning jutsu.
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty. Mind telling me what you're doing this far into Fire Country?"
He stayed silent.
"Well, don't say I didn't warn you."
Megumi used a sharingan induced genjutsu to torture him until he broke. Only took about ten minutes, but it worked.
"Our goal *pant, pant* was to destabilize *pant, pant* relations between Kusa and Konoha. *pant, pant*"
"Why?" Asked Megumi.
"So we could *pant, pant* have ease access to *pant, pant* Fire Country when the next *pant, pant* war comes around."
"Now why on earth would the Tsuchikage want to poke the sleeping dragon? Especially when he'll be fighting Suna and Konoha at the same time."
"I don't know."
Megumi wanted to bang her head into a tree.
'Can that decrepit old fool be any dumber?'
"Thank you. I'll put you out of your misery."
Megumi stabbed him in the heart.
"I know it's 3 AM but we need to get moving. I'll deal with the bodies while you guys get ready. I'm sorry but we'll be moving extremely fast. Itachi, grab Izumi and carry her until we reach the border."
After Megumi was finished, they took off towards Kusa.
Five hours later.
It was a long five hours to Kusa and they were found by a border patrol who helped them recover and make it to Kusa safely. After that, Akihiko Kayaba, the leader of Kusagakure, told them to get some rest and come back the next day. That being said, they four Konoha ninjas entered his office.
"I'm very sorry for what Iwa tried to pull. I assure you, it will be dealt with. Anyway, I know you came here for a reason so, let's hear it."
Naruto spoke first in an even and neutral tone.
"There are rumors of an anti-konoha faction within the village and for obvious reasons, we can't have that. We've come to make sure these are either just rumors or if we need to put a stop to it."
The man kept a straight face but was surprised nonetheless.
"Clever boy. Since you seem to know so much, what's the situation between Konoha, Kusa, and Iwa?"
"For the moment, Konoha and Kusa have a semi-working relationship while Iwa hates anything pro-konoha."
"Very good. These rumors you are hearing are just that, rumors and I will put them down before they become something. Is there anything else you need?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Konoha doesn't have access to as many toxins and chemicals as we would like while Kusa has that in spades. Maybe, we could make some sort of a trade? One set of kunai for one set of poisons?"
"Hm. That's too general. What exactly do you have in mind?" Asked Kayaba.
"Mostly things like hallucinogens for capture and things that cause near instant death."
"I see. Hallucinogens are hard to come by, even for us. However, if you're willing to drop them, I'll give you a small discount on the others."
"Very well, then. I agree to your terms. I will let you decide on what poisons we can have as long as we get them. Of course, we must offer something as well. We have a wide variety of jutsu if you're interested."
"I agree to your terms as well. I would like one B-rank fire and earth jutsu and $50,000."
Naruto nodded and shook his hand.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Konoha will take care of transportation."
Kayaba nodded and dismissed them.
A few hours later
Megumi did some hand signs and put a silencing seal on the room so no one can hear them.
"What the hell was that?! I don't know if I should promote you or kill you!"
"Cut the crap, sensei. We both know how much bullshit came out of my mouth however, I just got us some of the best poisons in the Elemental Nations. All we have to do is give them their money and two jutsu. And listen, it's almost midnight, I'm tired, you're tired, everyone else is tired, let's just go to bed."
Megumi sighed and looked at Itachi and Izumi. She already knew where Itachi stood on this issue. Izumi on the other hand, looked like she just wanted to go home. Megumi sighed heavily.
"Just get to bed."
The two genins were awoken by the sound of Izumi's crying.
"You really need to talk to her." Whispered Naruto.
"How?" Asked Itachi.
"Tell her the truth. That after this mission, she should retire."
"And until she does?"
"Not a clue. However, be prepared for her to latch on to you in some way, shape, or form."
Itachi rubbed his forehead.
'At least she's not a rabid fangirl.'
A few weeks later
It took two weeks to complete the trade between kusa and konoha. A long time but it worked. Team 2 was told not to report until everything was finalized. And now that it was, they had to explain to Hizuren why their village got an unauthorized boost of bioweapons.
"What am I going to do with you three?" Said Hizuren.
Team 2 didn't say anything.
"The Tsuchikage raised unholy hell about the ninjas you killed."
"What did you tell him?" Asked Megumi.
"I told him to keep his mouth shut and not to leave his trash in my backyard. If he thinks he can just walk into my country without consequences, then he's an absolute fool. Anyway, I already know how your mission went so just get me a written report by noon tomorrow. Dismissed except for Megumi. Follow me please."
Hizuren led her to the council room where the elders and shinobi council were sitting.
"You already know why we're here so I suggest we cut to the chase. Kusa is singing our praises and Iwa is growing restless again."
Shikaku Nara, the Jounin commander spoke up.
"Can't say I didn't see this coming and $50 says the next shinobi war happens within ten years. Also, what's the situation with the other villages?"
"For some odd reason, Kumo is choosing to stay neutral and with the Mist rebels coming out victorious thanks to our help, They will at least show neutrality during the war. Unfortunately, relations with Suna are deteriorating once again. Their only ally is River Country but they will most likely try to fight Iwa and Konoha at the same time." Said Danzo.
"I see. Then it is in our best interest to see if we can gain favor in Kumo before Iwa does. Next we have our two prodigies. Megumi, what do you think?" Said Hizuren.
"I think Izumi Uchiha needs to retire and the other two need to be promoted. I also think that Naruto Uzumaki can bullshit his way out of almost any situation and that Itachi Uchiha is about to become better than Kurenai Yuhi at genjutsu when his sharingan evolves. Any questions?"
They shook their heads.
"It's settled then. Itachi Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki will be made chunin and I will send ambassadors to Kumo. You're all dismissed."
Everyone but Hizuren and Megumi walked out.
"I hope you know what you're doing." Said Megumi.
"So do I Megumi, so do I."
And that's all he wrote for chapter 2. I hope there aren't as many errors in this chapter but we'll see. Remember to follow, favorite, and review so you don't miss out on future updates.