Chapter 2
Sweat dripped from my brow to the floor. I was almost done with the last test. Iruka and Mizuki were quietly discussing something at the desk in front of me. It feels like I've been standing here for hours under their glare. Please hurry and review my scores on the other tests quickly. I want to see how Naruto did.
"Now then," Iruka spoke up. I focused my attention on him. "Your scores so far have been excellent. If you hadn't been late the last two years, you probably would have passed your first try." I chuckled, embarrassed and tilted my head to look at the ground.
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Iruka said, smiling. "Now for the last test we want you to create at least two bunshins for us." My face widened in shock.
"According to Naruto, this is the same test you had the last two years."
"That is correct," Mizuki said, slightly annoyed. "You're the last one and I have something I need to do." I sighed. Naruto has never done a successful bunshin. Focus your chakra Janus. There, got it. Form the bunshins in your mind. Form the Tiger Seal...
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" Smoke billowed around me. As the smoke cleared, it revealed two perfect clones. I smiled slightly. Iruka smiled too as he picked up a forehead protector and walked over to me.
"Congratulations, Janus. You passed." I took the forehead protector and tied it around my forehead.
"Janus, could you stay and help Iruka clean up around here, I need to go." Just when I was about to decline, he promptly vanished in a puff of smoke. I sighed, I guess checking on Naruto would have to wait.
"Come on Janus, it won't take that long, alright? I'm sure Naruto would wait for you." Iruka smiled at me. He was one of the few adults that treated Naruto and me with kindness and respect. "How 'bout this, help me and I take you and your brother out to eat, ok?"
"Ok," I replied, smiling. "Just not ramen again, I'm getting tired of it and I want some variety. I don't know how Naruto can eat so much of it." Iruka laughed as we put the remaining forehead protector in a box and swept the floor.
"I know, I can't either. At least it's not an expensive habit." I chuckled and continued sweeping the floor.
I ran around the campus again. Where was Naruto? He wasn't on his swing; he wasn't mingling in the crowd or anything. He wouldn't have gone home yet, not till he found out how I did, so where was he? Could he have failed again that badly?
"Janus-kun..." I heard a voice softly whisper behind me. I jumped and turned around, shocked.
"Hinata...don't do that." I said, waiting for my heartbeat to come back down. Hinata was one of my few, true friends who I had at school. I don't know how we became friends anymore, but I knew I there was something similar that brought us together. Besides Naruto, who it was quite obvious she had a big crush on. "You know you're the only one besides the teachers here who can do that to me."
"Sorry, sorry."
"Don't worry about it," I noticed the forehead protector around her neck. "So you passed to, congratulations."
"Thank you. You're looking for Naruto-kun, right?"
"Heh heh, was it that obvious?" Hinata nodded. I chuckled. "I guess running around like a headless chicken does kinda tell that. So, I bet you know what happened to him, don't you" I grinned mischievously causing Hinata to blush a bright crimson.
"Janus-kun..."
"Hinata, Hinata, Hinata. How many times have we gone through this, we need to work on your confidence level. It's the only way you'll get noticed more. And a pretty girl like you deserves to be the center of attention," this caused Hinata to blush deeper. I smiled. "Anyways, where did you see Naruto wander off to?"
"Well, he was sitting on his swing, looking really depressed. I wanted to go and comfort him but before I could get my legs to move, Mizuki- sensei appeared on a branch above him, talked to him for a little bit, and then they both vanished just before you came out." Hinata's face saddened. She really likes my brother, doesn't she? It so makes me want to break the promise I made her to not tell him.
"Don't worry, Hinata, I'll find him and keep him out of trouble, alright?"
"Thank you, Janus-kun."
"Well, I'm off. See you later." With that, I jumped to the nearest building and was off. Damn, Naruto, what have you gotten yourself into this time.
Where is he? He is never late for dinner. I paced back and forth through the kitchen. I looked around town for him with no luck. I had hoped Naruto be home when I came back, but no luck. But Naruto missing dinner, unheard of! Especially when it wasn't his turn to cook. I had just given up and sat down to start eating when the door quickly opened, slamming against the wall.
"How many times I have I told you not to do that, brother!"
"Sorry, sorry. Janus, come on, I have something you just got to see!" I headed to the front room, only to be surprised to see a huge scroll slung to Naruto's back.
"Where did you get that?"
"Sorry, no time to explain. Come with me and we can start learning the jutsus within! And while I'm practicing, you can read it, how 'bout that? I know you've never read a scroll this big." Actually I had, but it was only about the histories of the ninja wars.
"All right, one sec. Let me put our dinner in the fridge or something." I quickly put the food in the fridge and followed my brother out.
"..Jutsu!" Naruto yelled, louder than before. I shook my head while clutching my ear in pain. Didn't he know that if he shouts it louder it won't make it work better? I opened the scroll up some more. The jutsus contained within were amazing. All of them were jounin level or higher. I couldn't figure out why Naruto insisted on learning every jutsu in this scroll tonight. Then something caught my eye. A forbidden sealing jutsu? What the....
I looked up. Someone was coming, I quickly rolled up the scroll and slung it over my shoulder, and then I realized something. They must be after Naruto and this scroll, but I have to know about this jutsu. I grabbed a log and changed it to look exactly like the scroll. I quickly affixed a small seal to it so that the log wouldn't suddenly change back any time soon. It didn't last long, but it lasted long enough. I tossed it to my brother while I hid behind the building nearby.
I reopened the scroll to the sealing jutsu. My eyes bugged out. This jutsu takes the soul of the target and seals it into a person? And the seal was adjustable so that you could target who received the soul, and even use the chakra of the sealed soul? Amazing! But why was the seal forbidden. I heard some noise nearby, but I decided that the scroll was more important at this time. I rolled the scroll out a little farther. A warning message, ah this is what I've been looking for.
'Warning. This jutsu is highly forbidden. It summons the God of Death to forcefully take the soul out of the target's body. But, as a cost of summoning the god is your own soul. If you seal the soul in yourself, the god pulls both your souls along with it into Hell. If you seal it in someone else, it still eats your soul, but not the soul of the vessel. Only use this jutsu in the protection of Konoha. --Yondaime, 4th Hokage.'
I was shocked. It was the last jutsu on the scroll. It was the last anything on the scroll. I rolled it up and slung it over my shoulder, prepared to return it. I wasn't not supposed to read that. That was meant for Hokages alone, not me, a simple genin. I had to return it.
As I rounded the corner, I saw Naruto and Iruka-sensei walking towards me. They looked extremely happy. I noticed that Iruka wasn't wearing his forehead protector anymore, but Naruto was wearing it. I was confused till I realized that Naruto must have mastered the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Then I noticed them staring at me, well more the scroll I was caring.
"He he. Opps, guess you found me out. Naruto, sorry, the scroll you have is a fake," I walked over to my brother and tapped the end of the scroll. It turned back into a log and clattered to the ground. Naruto was looking at me confused while Iruka was staring at me astonished. "Uhh, yeah. I know, it's only a simple seal. I can't do any more much more complex than that."
"You know, Janus, messing with sealing jutsu is dangerous."
"I know, I know. Anyways, lets get this scroll back to the Hok...I mean rightful owner, alright?" So, we headed off, Naruto telling me all about his fight with Mizuki and Iruka looking at me strangely.
"Here you go, Hokage-sama, sorry for my brother here. He didn't know what he did." I handed the scroll to the Hokage. The jounin and chuunin looked at me funny. The Hokage took the scroll and looked back at me. Uh oh, if that look on his face says what I think it says... I bit my thumb, causing it to bleed. Everyone was now looking at me funny, except the Hokage. I held my thumb out as he took a scroll from his robes, opened it, and held it in front of him. I placed thumb on the proper spot for the blood oath. The Hokage then handed me the scroll and I held it for him as he bit his thumb and placed his thumb print next to mine. He nodded and smiled, rolling the oath scroll up and placing it back into his robes.
"Uzumaki brothers, you are dismissed. It's late, so get some rest. Tomorrow report for your photo appointment on time, until then." With that Naruto, Iruka, and I left to go get the dinner he promised both of us. It was good, ramen again but that's ok. I'm used to being in my brother's shadow, and after tonight, he deserved it more than I did. Upon returning to our apartment, Naruto went strait into his room and collapsed on his futon. I closed his door as I walked by to my own room.
I entered my own room and tried to fall asleep, but I couldn't. The contents of the Scroll of Seals, as I found out the scroll Naruto had taken from the Hokage was, wouldn't leave my head. So I got up, took one of my small, blank jutsu scrolls, opened it up and started writing. 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu: Hand Seal - Middle Index Cross. This jutsu is similar to traditional bunshin but creates real bodies instead of just shadows...' I smiled to myself as I finished up the first scroll.
I walked over and placed it in the section of my wall called "Clone Jutsu." I picked up another empty scroll and returned to my desk. Having a photographic memory sometimes was a curse, but sometimes was also a blessing. I may have sworn not to tell anyone about reading the complete Scroll of Seals, but the only person who ever look at my collection is me. I might have to have Hinata help me make my genjutsu shield over my wall Byakugan proof. But that is for another day. So, I pick up a new scroll, sat back down at my desk, and start writing on the next jutsu.
Sweat dripped from my brow to the floor. I was almost done with the last test. Iruka and Mizuki were quietly discussing something at the desk in front of me. It feels like I've been standing here for hours under their glare. Please hurry and review my scores on the other tests quickly. I want to see how Naruto did.
"Now then," Iruka spoke up. I focused my attention on him. "Your scores so far have been excellent. If you hadn't been late the last two years, you probably would have passed your first try." I chuckled, embarrassed and tilted my head to look at the ground.
"Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Iruka said, smiling. "Now for the last test we want you to create at least two bunshins for us." My face widened in shock.
"According to Naruto, this is the same test you had the last two years."
"That is correct," Mizuki said, slightly annoyed. "You're the last one and I have something I need to do." I sighed. Naruto has never done a successful bunshin. Focus your chakra Janus. There, got it. Form the bunshins in your mind. Form the Tiger Seal...
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" Smoke billowed around me. As the smoke cleared, it revealed two perfect clones. I smiled slightly. Iruka smiled too as he picked up a forehead protector and walked over to me.
"Congratulations, Janus. You passed." I took the forehead protector and tied it around my forehead.
"Janus, could you stay and help Iruka clean up around here, I need to go." Just when I was about to decline, he promptly vanished in a puff of smoke. I sighed, I guess checking on Naruto would have to wait.
"Come on Janus, it won't take that long, alright? I'm sure Naruto would wait for you." Iruka smiled at me. He was one of the few adults that treated Naruto and me with kindness and respect. "How 'bout this, help me and I take you and your brother out to eat, ok?"
"Ok," I replied, smiling. "Just not ramen again, I'm getting tired of it and I want some variety. I don't know how Naruto can eat so much of it." Iruka laughed as we put the remaining forehead protector in a box and swept the floor.
"I know, I can't either. At least it's not an expensive habit." I chuckled and continued sweeping the floor.
I ran around the campus again. Where was Naruto? He wasn't on his swing; he wasn't mingling in the crowd or anything. He wouldn't have gone home yet, not till he found out how I did, so where was he? Could he have failed again that badly?
"Janus-kun..." I heard a voice softly whisper behind me. I jumped and turned around, shocked.
"Hinata...don't do that." I said, waiting for my heartbeat to come back down. Hinata was one of my few, true friends who I had at school. I don't know how we became friends anymore, but I knew I there was something similar that brought us together. Besides Naruto, who it was quite obvious she had a big crush on. "You know you're the only one besides the teachers here who can do that to me."
"Sorry, sorry."
"Don't worry about it," I noticed the forehead protector around her neck. "So you passed to, congratulations."
"Thank you. You're looking for Naruto-kun, right?"
"Heh heh, was it that obvious?" Hinata nodded. I chuckled. "I guess running around like a headless chicken does kinda tell that. So, I bet you know what happened to him, don't you" I grinned mischievously causing Hinata to blush a bright crimson.
"Janus-kun..."
"Hinata, Hinata, Hinata. How many times have we gone through this, we need to work on your confidence level. It's the only way you'll get noticed more. And a pretty girl like you deserves to be the center of attention," this caused Hinata to blush deeper. I smiled. "Anyways, where did you see Naruto wander off to?"
"Well, he was sitting on his swing, looking really depressed. I wanted to go and comfort him but before I could get my legs to move, Mizuki- sensei appeared on a branch above him, talked to him for a little bit, and then they both vanished just before you came out." Hinata's face saddened. She really likes my brother, doesn't she? It so makes me want to break the promise I made her to not tell him.
"Don't worry, Hinata, I'll find him and keep him out of trouble, alright?"
"Thank you, Janus-kun."
"Well, I'm off. See you later." With that, I jumped to the nearest building and was off. Damn, Naruto, what have you gotten yourself into this time.
Where is he? He is never late for dinner. I paced back and forth through the kitchen. I looked around town for him with no luck. I had hoped Naruto be home when I came back, but no luck. But Naruto missing dinner, unheard of! Especially when it wasn't his turn to cook. I had just given up and sat down to start eating when the door quickly opened, slamming against the wall.
"How many times I have I told you not to do that, brother!"
"Sorry, sorry. Janus, come on, I have something you just got to see!" I headed to the front room, only to be surprised to see a huge scroll slung to Naruto's back.
"Where did you get that?"
"Sorry, no time to explain. Come with me and we can start learning the jutsus within! And while I'm practicing, you can read it, how 'bout that? I know you've never read a scroll this big." Actually I had, but it was only about the histories of the ninja wars.
"All right, one sec. Let me put our dinner in the fridge or something." I quickly put the food in the fridge and followed my brother out.
"..Jutsu!" Naruto yelled, louder than before. I shook my head while clutching my ear in pain. Didn't he know that if he shouts it louder it won't make it work better? I opened the scroll up some more. The jutsus contained within were amazing. All of them were jounin level or higher. I couldn't figure out why Naruto insisted on learning every jutsu in this scroll tonight. Then something caught my eye. A forbidden sealing jutsu? What the....
I looked up. Someone was coming, I quickly rolled up the scroll and slung it over my shoulder, and then I realized something. They must be after Naruto and this scroll, but I have to know about this jutsu. I grabbed a log and changed it to look exactly like the scroll. I quickly affixed a small seal to it so that the log wouldn't suddenly change back any time soon. It didn't last long, but it lasted long enough. I tossed it to my brother while I hid behind the building nearby.
I reopened the scroll to the sealing jutsu. My eyes bugged out. This jutsu takes the soul of the target and seals it into a person? And the seal was adjustable so that you could target who received the soul, and even use the chakra of the sealed soul? Amazing! But why was the seal forbidden. I heard some noise nearby, but I decided that the scroll was more important at this time. I rolled the scroll out a little farther. A warning message, ah this is what I've been looking for.
'Warning. This jutsu is highly forbidden. It summons the God of Death to forcefully take the soul out of the target's body. But, as a cost of summoning the god is your own soul. If you seal the soul in yourself, the god pulls both your souls along with it into Hell. If you seal it in someone else, it still eats your soul, but not the soul of the vessel. Only use this jutsu in the protection of Konoha. --Yondaime, 4th Hokage.'
I was shocked. It was the last jutsu on the scroll. It was the last anything on the scroll. I rolled it up and slung it over my shoulder, prepared to return it. I wasn't not supposed to read that. That was meant for Hokages alone, not me, a simple genin. I had to return it.
As I rounded the corner, I saw Naruto and Iruka-sensei walking towards me. They looked extremely happy. I noticed that Iruka wasn't wearing his forehead protector anymore, but Naruto was wearing it. I was confused till I realized that Naruto must have mastered the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Then I noticed them staring at me, well more the scroll I was caring.
"He he. Opps, guess you found me out. Naruto, sorry, the scroll you have is a fake," I walked over to my brother and tapped the end of the scroll. It turned back into a log and clattered to the ground. Naruto was looking at me confused while Iruka was staring at me astonished. "Uhh, yeah. I know, it's only a simple seal. I can't do any more much more complex than that."
"You know, Janus, messing with sealing jutsu is dangerous."
"I know, I know. Anyways, lets get this scroll back to the Hok...I mean rightful owner, alright?" So, we headed off, Naruto telling me all about his fight with Mizuki and Iruka looking at me strangely.
"Here you go, Hokage-sama, sorry for my brother here. He didn't know what he did." I handed the scroll to the Hokage. The jounin and chuunin looked at me funny. The Hokage took the scroll and looked back at me. Uh oh, if that look on his face says what I think it says... I bit my thumb, causing it to bleed. Everyone was now looking at me funny, except the Hokage. I held my thumb out as he took a scroll from his robes, opened it, and held it in front of him. I placed thumb on the proper spot for the blood oath. The Hokage then handed me the scroll and I held it for him as he bit his thumb and placed his thumb print next to mine. He nodded and smiled, rolling the oath scroll up and placing it back into his robes.
"Uzumaki brothers, you are dismissed. It's late, so get some rest. Tomorrow report for your photo appointment on time, until then." With that Naruto, Iruka, and I left to go get the dinner he promised both of us. It was good, ramen again but that's ok. I'm used to being in my brother's shadow, and after tonight, he deserved it more than I did. Upon returning to our apartment, Naruto went strait into his room and collapsed on his futon. I closed his door as I walked by to my own room.
I entered my own room and tried to fall asleep, but I couldn't. The contents of the Scroll of Seals, as I found out the scroll Naruto had taken from the Hokage was, wouldn't leave my head. So I got up, took one of my small, blank jutsu scrolls, opened it up and started writing. 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu: Hand Seal - Middle Index Cross. This jutsu is similar to traditional bunshin but creates real bodies instead of just shadows...' I smiled to myself as I finished up the first scroll.
I walked over and placed it in the section of my wall called "Clone Jutsu." I picked up another empty scroll and returned to my desk. Having a photographic memory sometimes was a curse, but sometimes was also a blessing. I may have sworn not to tell anyone about reading the complete Scroll of Seals, but the only person who ever look at my collection is me. I might have to have Hinata help me make my genjutsu shield over my wall Byakugan proof. But that is for another day. So, I pick up a new scroll, sat back down at my desk, and start writing on the next jutsu.