Chapter 13
Max Knight: I'll be explaining how and why Janus can open the gates he can. But if you can't wait to know how many, look back into the prologue.
I ran along the trees. I could sense Sasuke in front of me. I wasn't gaining but I wasn't falling behind either. But this is some pace we're going at. Temari...I quickly felt Sasuke stop. I hurried to catch up. I arrived to see Sasuke start to square off with somebody. I looked over, it was Temari!
"Sasuke!" They looked over at me. "Go finish your fight, I think it's time we had the semi-finals, don't you agree?"
"Janus?"
"Don't worry about me. Just follow Gaara. I'll follow you as soon as I can, alright?" I saw Sasuke smirk.
"Just be quick, ok?" I nodded and he started to take of.
"Oh no you don't..." I rushed down and stopped Temari's attack on Sasuke by landing on her fan. She glared at me as I back flipped off.
"If you want to get to Sasuke, Temari, you have to come through me. But tell me, why?!" Here eyes glared at me with anger.
"Orders, just like you not telling me you were a ninja! You think I wanted to do this? After what you've told me about your friends? No, I didn't. But these were orders from my father and I can't disobey." I saw tears start to form in the corners of her eyes.
"Run away! I'm sure if you told Hokage-sama about the plan he would have gladly taken you in as a Leaf Nin. We don't need to do this, Temari- chan." I saw her eyes light up.
"I've never failed a mission yet and not even you, Janus-kun, can stop me." She spat my name. I sighed.
"I guess nothing can be done then. I'm sorry, Temari-chan, but I won't hold back." I said, regretfully.
"Good because I won't either, Janus-kun." She brought her fan up in an attacking position.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" I shouted, creating about a dozen clones. Temari smiled as she swung her fan towards us. Instantly, we all leaped out in random different directions and hid in the forest. I'm can't make it easy on her and yet I don't think I could intentionally hurt her. I think I'll have to use the Second's technique. But I need to set up a trap because it's slow moving. I mentally ordered four clones to gather around me while the others just attacked Temari.
"Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" I heard Temari's shout echoing in the distance. I pushed more chakra into the clone to try to keep him solid.
"Janus, don't. We need to plan the trap while you still have chakra left." I looked up at my clone. I nodded.
"Ok, you get in front her and force her to jump towards you," I pointed to two of my clones. "Then aim her towards me while you are hidden in the branch beneath me to grab her legs." I gasped. "The last clone is gone, go!" We all vanished to our positions. I was insight of my first clone.
"Temari-chan, I'm sorry." The four of us in the plan started doing hand seals. Monkey, Serpent, Dog, Rabbit.
"Chakra Net no Jutsu!" The first shouted disguising the rest of our whispers. He sent a net of chakra towards Temari. She chuckled.
"To slow, Janus-kun. Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" She swung her fan creating an attack towards my clone. The net went trough the attack unfazed and headed towards Temari. She leaped away in the proper direction. He smiled and proofed away. I nearly gasped. Making clones do jutsus really take a lot out of me. And I still have three more to go. She landed on the proper branch.
"Chakra Net!" The nearby clone shouted she instantly jumped away but was close enough to get her fan caught in the net, making her let go of it and drop it. I nearly dropped my clones from the drain. I quickly opened the first two gates to force more chakra through my system. Temari cursed as she landed on then next branch, jumping as soon as the clone there started shouting. She landed on the branch in front of me. She looked at me holding the symbol and started to jump, only to be held down by the clone hidden in the branch.
"Sorry, Chakra Net!" I threw the net. It caught Temari in the center and wrapped around her. My last clone vanished and she started to fall. I leaped, attaching the needed sealing note to her to hold the net when my chakra ended. Afterwards, I caught her and landed on the ground. I closed the gates and fell in a pile next to her.
"Janus-kun..."
"I'm sorry, Temari-chan. I just couldn't hurt you..." I closed my eyes. The last thing I remember was a hand reaching out and holding mine before I fell unconscious. I hope Sasuke can handle Kankuro and Gaara alone...
"Good, you can walk on your own now." I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the light. I saw the figure above me sigh. "Janus, who taught you this habit of using up all your chakra?"
"Hey, Kurenai-sensei. Did we win?" I sat up. I was sore all over. "Is Sasuke ok? I couldn't follow him after I dealt with Temari."
"Sasuke is fine; Naruto defeated Gaara when Sasuke couldn't." I opened my eyes in shock.
"My brother defeated Gaara? So the Uzumaki's made it to the finals?" I heard laughter from around me. I looked around and saw a handful of jounin and chuunin were on various trees. I saw three of them carrying Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.
"Yeah, bro. I can't wait for our fight." I looked over at Naruto. I've never seen Naruto that drained. Gaara must have really taken it out of him.
"What happened to Temari?"
"She left." Sasuke said. I dropped my head.
"Oh. So, we're now at war with Sand." I heard silence.
"Sound too." I looked up and saw Kakashi emerge from the forest. I stood up. And walked over to my Naruto.
"Come on, brother," I took him from the chuunin who was carrying him. "Let's go home." I was about to leave when Kurenai put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let him go with Kakashi. I need to tell you, Kiba, and Hinata something in private." I looked at her questionably. I noticed that everyone else around had very solemn looks on their faces.
"Umm, ok Kurenai-sensei. Naruto, tell me about your fight with Gaara later, ok?"
"You bet, Janus." I followed Kurenai back to town.
The town was in shambles. Nearly every building was either damaged or completely destroyed. I walked through the streets in awe. I noticed ANBU everywhere. I didn't know we had that many. We entered the hospital and walked into a room on the fourth floor. Kiba was sitting in a chair next to a barely conscious Hinata.
"Hey, Kiba." Kiba and Akamaru looked up and Hinata turned her head.
"Janus-kun...you look like hell."
"You should see my brother." I chucked slightly, but no one laughed. "So, how did you two end up?"
"Some fake ANBU healed Hinata then knocked me out. I wasn't even able to watch your fight with the Sand asshole." I watched his face light up with hate.
"It's alright; my first round and my semi-final match weren't very interesting to watch. I beat Kankuro in fifteen seconds and I wasn't able to hurt Temari."
"Janus-kun? You fought Temari?"
"Yeah, I followed Sasuke thinking might need backup. I didn't know that Naruto and Sakura were following us. I restrained her with the jutsu I got from Hokage-sama. Speaking of which," I turned to Kurenai sensei. "Before I left I saw the plume of smoke come from the Kage's booth, what happened." Kurenai went over and closed the door.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." She turned back around, a sad look on her face. "Orochimaru was disguised as the Kazekage and fought Hokage-sama." The three of us gasped.
"Did Hokage-sama win?" Kiba asked, franticly.
"No, Hokage-sama didn't. He died and Orochimaru got away with his four bodyguards. They setup a [sealed fighting area] that the ANBU couldn't get into."
"I bet they destroyed his body already, right?"
"Yeah, but I did notice a wield symbol that had burnt a hole in his clothes." I widened my eyes.
"Was it a swirl surrounded by two four elephant seals?" Kurenai looked at me in shock.
"How did you know?" I fell to my knees.
"He used that jutsu... Damn Orochimaru..." I started to punch the ground as tears started to stream down my face. I heard Hinata and Kiba start to cry as well. After ten minutes I had composed myself and stood up wiping the tears off my cheeks. Kurenai had already left.
"Come on, Kiba. Let's help Hinata home; we don't want to overstay our welcome here." So we picked her up and helped her limp home.
I slowly awoke before my alarm clock. Naruto had come back an hour or so after me with bandages on. We ate dinner without a word and went to our rooms. I walked out in a black, long sleeved shirt and my only pair of black zip-off khakis. I never thought I'd wear them for this. I walked to the Hyuuga's mansion to meet Hinata and Kiba. The servants opened the gate and let me in. It was the second time I've ever been inside the mansion, the last time was when Kiba and I took her home last night. I walked into the front room and took off my shoes and sat down on a couch to wait. Kiba showed up soon after. A few minutes later, Hinata and Neji showed up Neji walked out the door to meet up with his team and Kiba and I left with Hinata.
We arrived at the Hokage Memorial a few minutes later. We stood holding a memorial for the ninjas who died the previous day. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties. Then the rain came. I was thankful because I could actually shed a couple tears without notice and I don't think I was the only one. The 3rd was always so kind to me...no, everyone in the village. The rained stopped after about a half our and people started departing. I walked out with Kiba and Hinata for a little ways before I bid them fair well and went off on my own. After a few minutes I found myself in the center of the ruined arena. I stood there and looked up at what was left over from Orochimaru and the Hokage's fight. After a few minutes I felt a presence behind me.
"Hey, Naruto." I turned around and saw my brother behind me.
"Hey, Janus." We stood there looking at each other for a couple of minutes. Then, at the same time, we both got into fighting stances. A white haired man appeared between us and took stances like a judge. I didn't have my ninja tools but neither did Naruto. The man with white hair cleared his throat.
"Ready...Fight!" We charged at each other and began fighting our canceled final match. I didn't find out until later that ever off duty ninja in the city was in the stands above us watching.
I walked downstairs for breakfast. Naruto had already left to go meet up with Kakashi and the rest of Team 7. I remembered how beat up we both got last night. We didn't use any jutsus or other special powers. It was just two brothers beating each other up to work off the pain of losing someone special. Neither of us was declared the victor, but I knew neither of us really cared at the time. I finished my breakfast and walked outside. Kiba said he was going to take a couple days camping in the woods to ease the pain, so I wasn't expecting to see him for a while and Hiashi was having the entire Hyuuga clan hold a private memorial that day on the manor grounds.
"Where to go...?" I started wandering around the town. Kurenai had told me that because of what happened, Team 8 would be taking a temporary hiatus. I guess she was expecting to get a mission due to the decrease in jounin and chuunin. Actually, most of the ninjas over genin level had left or were planning on leaving on a mission soon. Stupid war. I kicked a rock and it flew into the air. I looked up hoping I hadn't hit someone with it. I watched the old man from the previous day reach up and snatch it.
"Sorry, sir, I was kinda lost in my own little world." He chuckled.
"Well, you're defiantly more behaved than your brother, aren't you?" He said walking over towards me.
"Yeah, Naruto is a handful. So, you know my brother?"
"Yeah, I was just heading off to see him, would you like to come? I heard you specialize in fuuinjutsu, Janus." I looked at him curiously.
"Umm, yeah. I try to anyways. Did Naruto tell you?" He laughed.
"No, I've just heard about you from Kurenai-san. She's really proud of how far you've come since you became a genin...speaking of which I need to make a quick stop before we go find your brother, alright?"
"Umm, sure, mister....." He got into a pose.
"The man who..."
"I don't want to see you do an intro, I don't like them and I think they are a just a way of compensating for something." The old man shrunk slightly at that comment. "I just want to know what to call you."
"Call me Jiraiya, the Frog Sennin." I nodded and followed him. The name sounds familiar, but I can't place it. We soon arrived at the Konoha Council building. I followed Jiraiya inside.
"Council members, I present to you Uzumaki Janus." He stepped aside. I I looked around funny. Did I follow him here or did he bring me.
"Uzumaki Janus, please step forward." I did as the council chairman said. He stood up and walked over to me. "For showing tactical cunning and detailed plan implementation in the Chuunin Exam, I would like to congratulate you for passing." I opened my eyes in shock. I glanced over at Jiraiya who was currently holding a flak jacket and a pair of gloves. I turned back to the chairman.
"How did I pass? You canceled the exam! I only actually fought one battle in the exam."
"You were told after the preliminaries that you could become a chuunin even if you were only in one fight, right?" I nodded. "That is why. You and Shikamaru were both found with qualities we look for in future chuunins. Therefore, now you both are."
"Janus, you might want to take off you vest, this one is just a little more important." I looked over at Jiraiya and started to take off my vest.
"Wait, all my scrolls are gone!" Jiraiya laughed.
"They have already been fitted in you flak jacket. Just take care of it, it's customized to have just as many scroll pouches as your vest." I took off my vest and put my new flak jacket on. I the put the gloves on my hands, seeing the Leaf symbol sparkling on the backs.
"Thank you, council members. I won't disappoint you." They nodded.
"Now, for your first mission. You will accompany Jiraiya on a trip to look for someone. If Jiraiya deems it necessary to tell you more, then so be it. That is all for now." I mission, already?
"I thought that new chuunin got a month of training before their first missions? And may I inquire what rank the mission is at least?"
"You mission will primary be of Jiraiya training you and your brother, Naruto. As for the rank, we believe that it could be as high as S." My jaw dropped. An S-Ranked mission! Uh oh.
"Don't worry," Jiraiya put his hand on my shoulder. "I don't think it will be anything more than a B-Rank at most. They only ranked it as possibly an S-Rank because we're currently at war with Sand and Sound. Anyways let's go, I want to be gone by this afternoon and we still need to find Naruto." With that we left.
"So, Janus, you have any idea where Naruto might be?"
"Knowing Naruto, he's out trying to learn the Chidori. Jiraiya- sensei, I have a question for you. You know my brother so I can only assume that you were the person who trained him to use his, umm, hidden talent, right?" He glanced over at me.
"Yes, I was the one who taught him how to use the Kyubi's chakra. It seems that you knew about it. Did Naruto tell you?"
"Not really, I kinda saw the seal on his belly and knew." Jiraiya stopped.
"You may be good at fuuinjutsus but how did you know that by looking at it?" Uh oh.
"Umm, I would be breaking a blood oath with the 3rd if I told you." He eyes widened.
"Don't tell me that you know..."
"And almost preformed it during my pre-Chuunin Exam, yes." Whoever this guy was, he knew a lot. If he realizes this, then...
"Why, why did you almost perform it?" I looked at him, anger on his face.
"Umm, the Hokage was disguised as the Kyubi that had taken over my brother's body. Everyone in the village was dead and according to the fourth's note on the jutsu, it looked like an appropriate time." The anger faded slowly from Jiraiya's face.
"At least you know the ramifications of the jutsu. Never tell Naruto about it, understand?" I nodded. "Come on, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about something."
We found Naruto a few minutes later trying to force chakra into his hand. He addressed Jiraiya as 'pervert-sennin.' There is a story there and I bet I'm going to hear it. I quickly packed and after putting off Naruto's question on why I got promoted to chuunin and he didn't I was able to make out two quick notes to Kiba and Hinata. After I delivered them to their respective houses, Jiraiya, Naruto, and I made our way out of the village.
Naruto started complaining that he needed to have Kakashi teach him the Chidori until Jiraiya said he was going to be teaching him an even better jutsu and help me learn how to control the Deflection Shield. I was ecstatic. I was about to customize and possibly redeveloped the jutsu so that I could actually use it in combat, awesome! I then explained why Shikamaru and I were promoted to chuunin and nobody else. Naruto accepted the answer, thankful that Sasuke wasn't promoted too.
About midday the following day we arrived in our first town where we would search for the woman. I watched as a deadly attractive woman approached us and caused both Jiraiya and Naruto to gawk. I had to admit, she was very attractive, but to old for me. An image of Temari passed through my mind as I was unconsciously shoved by Jiraiya into our room. I felt a tinge of anger knowing that Temari's silence cost the Hokage his life. If only we had known... I started to sink into a depressive mood. I don't know how much time passed when I heard a knock on the door. I looked up to see Naruto grumble and go over and get it. I saw him open the door to reveal a tall figure in a black and red cloak. The first thing I was drawn to, however, was his eyes. Sharingan!
Max Knight: I'll be explaining how and why Janus can open the gates he can. But if you can't wait to know how many, look back into the prologue.
I ran along the trees. I could sense Sasuke in front of me. I wasn't gaining but I wasn't falling behind either. But this is some pace we're going at. Temari...I quickly felt Sasuke stop. I hurried to catch up. I arrived to see Sasuke start to square off with somebody. I looked over, it was Temari!
"Sasuke!" They looked over at me. "Go finish your fight, I think it's time we had the semi-finals, don't you agree?"
"Janus?"
"Don't worry about me. Just follow Gaara. I'll follow you as soon as I can, alright?" I saw Sasuke smirk.
"Just be quick, ok?" I nodded and he started to take of.
"Oh no you don't..." I rushed down and stopped Temari's attack on Sasuke by landing on her fan. She glared at me as I back flipped off.
"If you want to get to Sasuke, Temari, you have to come through me. But tell me, why?!" Here eyes glared at me with anger.
"Orders, just like you not telling me you were a ninja! You think I wanted to do this? After what you've told me about your friends? No, I didn't. But these were orders from my father and I can't disobey." I saw tears start to form in the corners of her eyes.
"Run away! I'm sure if you told Hokage-sama about the plan he would have gladly taken you in as a Leaf Nin. We don't need to do this, Temari- chan." I saw her eyes light up.
"I've never failed a mission yet and not even you, Janus-kun, can stop me." She spat my name. I sighed.
"I guess nothing can be done then. I'm sorry, Temari-chan, but I won't hold back." I said, regretfully.
"Good because I won't either, Janus-kun." She brought her fan up in an attacking position.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" I shouted, creating about a dozen clones. Temari smiled as she swung her fan towards us. Instantly, we all leaped out in random different directions and hid in the forest. I'm can't make it easy on her and yet I don't think I could intentionally hurt her. I think I'll have to use the Second's technique. But I need to set up a trap because it's slow moving. I mentally ordered four clones to gather around me while the others just attacked Temari.
"Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" I heard Temari's shout echoing in the distance. I pushed more chakra into the clone to try to keep him solid.
"Janus, don't. We need to plan the trap while you still have chakra left." I looked up at my clone. I nodded.
"Ok, you get in front her and force her to jump towards you," I pointed to two of my clones. "Then aim her towards me while you are hidden in the branch beneath me to grab her legs." I gasped. "The last clone is gone, go!" We all vanished to our positions. I was insight of my first clone.
"Temari-chan, I'm sorry." The four of us in the plan started doing hand seals. Monkey, Serpent, Dog, Rabbit.
"Chakra Net no Jutsu!" The first shouted disguising the rest of our whispers. He sent a net of chakra towards Temari. She chuckled.
"To slow, Janus-kun. Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" She swung her fan creating an attack towards my clone. The net went trough the attack unfazed and headed towards Temari. She leaped away in the proper direction. He smiled and proofed away. I nearly gasped. Making clones do jutsus really take a lot out of me. And I still have three more to go. She landed on the proper branch.
"Chakra Net!" The nearby clone shouted she instantly jumped away but was close enough to get her fan caught in the net, making her let go of it and drop it. I nearly dropped my clones from the drain. I quickly opened the first two gates to force more chakra through my system. Temari cursed as she landed on then next branch, jumping as soon as the clone there started shouting. She landed on the branch in front of me. She looked at me holding the symbol and started to jump, only to be held down by the clone hidden in the branch.
"Sorry, Chakra Net!" I threw the net. It caught Temari in the center and wrapped around her. My last clone vanished and she started to fall. I leaped, attaching the needed sealing note to her to hold the net when my chakra ended. Afterwards, I caught her and landed on the ground. I closed the gates and fell in a pile next to her.
"Janus-kun..."
"I'm sorry, Temari-chan. I just couldn't hurt you..." I closed my eyes. The last thing I remember was a hand reaching out and holding mine before I fell unconscious. I hope Sasuke can handle Kankuro and Gaara alone...
"Good, you can walk on your own now." I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the light. I saw the figure above me sigh. "Janus, who taught you this habit of using up all your chakra?"
"Hey, Kurenai-sensei. Did we win?" I sat up. I was sore all over. "Is Sasuke ok? I couldn't follow him after I dealt with Temari."
"Sasuke is fine; Naruto defeated Gaara when Sasuke couldn't." I opened my eyes in shock.
"My brother defeated Gaara? So the Uzumaki's made it to the finals?" I heard laughter from around me. I looked around and saw a handful of jounin and chuunin were on various trees. I saw three of them carrying Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.
"Yeah, bro. I can't wait for our fight." I looked over at Naruto. I've never seen Naruto that drained. Gaara must have really taken it out of him.
"What happened to Temari?"
"She left." Sasuke said. I dropped my head.
"Oh. So, we're now at war with Sand." I heard silence.
"Sound too." I looked up and saw Kakashi emerge from the forest. I stood up. And walked over to my Naruto.
"Come on, brother," I took him from the chuunin who was carrying him. "Let's go home." I was about to leave when Kurenai put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let him go with Kakashi. I need to tell you, Kiba, and Hinata something in private." I looked at her questionably. I noticed that everyone else around had very solemn looks on their faces.
"Umm, ok Kurenai-sensei. Naruto, tell me about your fight with Gaara later, ok?"
"You bet, Janus." I followed Kurenai back to town.
The town was in shambles. Nearly every building was either damaged or completely destroyed. I walked through the streets in awe. I noticed ANBU everywhere. I didn't know we had that many. We entered the hospital and walked into a room on the fourth floor. Kiba was sitting in a chair next to a barely conscious Hinata.
"Hey, Kiba." Kiba and Akamaru looked up and Hinata turned her head.
"Janus-kun...you look like hell."
"You should see my brother." I chucked slightly, but no one laughed. "So, how did you two end up?"
"Some fake ANBU healed Hinata then knocked me out. I wasn't even able to watch your fight with the Sand asshole." I watched his face light up with hate.
"It's alright; my first round and my semi-final match weren't very interesting to watch. I beat Kankuro in fifteen seconds and I wasn't able to hurt Temari."
"Janus-kun? You fought Temari?"
"Yeah, I followed Sasuke thinking might need backup. I didn't know that Naruto and Sakura were following us. I restrained her with the jutsu I got from Hokage-sama. Speaking of which," I turned to Kurenai sensei. "Before I left I saw the plume of smoke come from the Kage's booth, what happened." Kurenai went over and closed the door.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." She turned back around, a sad look on her face. "Orochimaru was disguised as the Kazekage and fought Hokage-sama." The three of us gasped.
"Did Hokage-sama win?" Kiba asked, franticly.
"No, Hokage-sama didn't. He died and Orochimaru got away with his four bodyguards. They setup a [sealed fighting area] that the ANBU couldn't get into."
"I bet they destroyed his body already, right?"
"Yeah, but I did notice a wield symbol that had burnt a hole in his clothes." I widened my eyes.
"Was it a swirl surrounded by two four elephant seals?" Kurenai looked at me in shock.
"How did you know?" I fell to my knees.
"He used that jutsu... Damn Orochimaru..." I started to punch the ground as tears started to stream down my face. I heard Hinata and Kiba start to cry as well. After ten minutes I had composed myself and stood up wiping the tears off my cheeks. Kurenai had already left.
"Come on, Kiba. Let's help Hinata home; we don't want to overstay our welcome here." So we picked her up and helped her limp home.
I slowly awoke before my alarm clock. Naruto had come back an hour or so after me with bandages on. We ate dinner without a word and went to our rooms. I walked out in a black, long sleeved shirt and my only pair of black zip-off khakis. I never thought I'd wear them for this. I walked to the Hyuuga's mansion to meet Hinata and Kiba. The servants opened the gate and let me in. It was the second time I've ever been inside the mansion, the last time was when Kiba and I took her home last night. I walked into the front room and took off my shoes and sat down on a couch to wait. Kiba showed up soon after. A few minutes later, Hinata and Neji showed up Neji walked out the door to meet up with his team and Kiba and I left with Hinata.
We arrived at the Hokage Memorial a few minutes later. We stood holding a memorial for the ninjas who died the previous day. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties. Then the rain came. I was thankful because I could actually shed a couple tears without notice and I don't think I was the only one. The 3rd was always so kind to me...no, everyone in the village. The rained stopped after about a half our and people started departing. I walked out with Kiba and Hinata for a little ways before I bid them fair well and went off on my own. After a few minutes I found myself in the center of the ruined arena. I stood there and looked up at what was left over from Orochimaru and the Hokage's fight. After a few minutes I felt a presence behind me.
"Hey, Naruto." I turned around and saw my brother behind me.
"Hey, Janus." We stood there looking at each other for a couple of minutes. Then, at the same time, we both got into fighting stances. A white haired man appeared between us and took stances like a judge. I didn't have my ninja tools but neither did Naruto. The man with white hair cleared his throat.
"Ready...Fight!" We charged at each other and began fighting our canceled final match. I didn't find out until later that ever off duty ninja in the city was in the stands above us watching.
I walked downstairs for breakfast. Naruto had already left to go meet up with Kakashi and the rest of Team 7. I remembered how beat up we both got last night. We didn't use any jutsus or other special powers. It was just two brothers beating each other up to work off the pain of losing someone special. Neither of us was declared the victor, but I knew neither of us really cared at the time. I finished my breakfast and walked outside. Kiba said he was going to take a couple days camping in the woods to ease the pain, so I wasn't expecting to see him for a while and Hiashi was having the entire Hyuuga clan hold a private memorial that day on the manor grounds.
"Where to go...?" I started wandering around the town. Kurenai had told me that because of what happened, Team 8 would be taking a temporary hiatus. I guess she was expecting to get a mission due to the decrease in jounin and chuunin. Actually, most of the ninjas over genin level had left or were planning on leaving on a mission soon. Stupid war. I kicked a rock and it flew into the air. I looked up hoping I hadn't hit someone with it. I watched the old man from the previous day reach up and snatch it.
"Sorry, sir, I was kinda lost in my own little world." He chuckled.
"Well, you're defiantly more behaved than your brother, aren't you?" He said walking over towards me.
"Yeah, Naruto is a handful. So, you know my brother?"
"Yeah, I was just heading off to see him, would you like to come? I heard you specialize in fuuinjutsu, Janus." I looked at him curiously.
"Umm, yeah. I try to anyways. Did Naruto tell you?" He laughed.
"No, I've just heard about you from Kurenai-san. She's really proud of how far you've come since you became a genin...speaking of which I need to make a quick stop before we go find your brother, alright?"
"Umm, sure, mister....." He got into a pose.
"The man who..."
"I don't want to see you do an intro, I don't like them and I think they are a just a way of compensating for something." The old man shrunk slightly at that comment. "I just want to know what to call you."
"Call me Jiraiya, the Frog Sennin." I nodded and followed him. The name sounds familiar, but I can't place it. We soon arrived at the Konoha Council building. I followed Jiraiya inside.
"Council members, I present to you Uzumaki Janus." He stepped aside. I I looked around funny. Did I follow him here or did he bring me.
"Uzumaki Janus, please step forward." I did as the council chairman said. He stood up and walked over to me. "For showing tactical cunning and detailed plan implementation in the Chuunin Exam, I would like to congratulate you for passing." I opened my eyes in shock. I glanced over at Jiraiya who was currently holding a flak jacket and a pair of gloves. I turned back to the chairman.
"How did I pass? You canceled the exam! I only actually fought one battle in the exam."
"You were told after the preliminaries that you could become a chuunin even if you were only in one fight, right?" I nodded. "That is why. You and Shikamaru were both found with qualities we look for in future chuunins. Therefore, now you both are."
"Janus, you might want to take off you vest, this one is just a little more important." I looked over at Jiraiya and started to take off my vest.
"Wait, all my scrolls are gone!" Jiraiya laughed.
"They have already been fitted in you flak jacket. Just take care of it, it's customized to have just as many scroll pouches as your vest." I took off my vest and put my new flak jacket on. I the put the gloves on my hands, seeing the Leaf symbol sparkling on the backs.
"Thank you, council members. I won't disappoint you." They nodded.
"Now, for your first mission. You will accompany Jiraiya on a trip to look for someone. If Jiraiya deems it necessary to tell you more, then so be it. That is all for now." I mission, already?
"I thought that new chuunin got a month of training before their first missions? And may I inquire what rank the mission is at least?"
"You mission will primary be of Jiraiya training you and your brother, Naruto. As for the rank, we believe that it could be as high as S." My jaw dropped. An S-Ranked mission! Uh oh.
"Don't worry," Jiraiya put his hand on my shoulder. "I don't think it will be anything more than a B-Rank at most. They only ranked it as possibly an S-Rank because we're currently at war with Sand and Sound. Anyways let's go, I want to be gone by this afternoon and we still need to find Naruto." With that we left.
"So, Janus, you have any idea where Naruto might be?"
"Knowing Naruto, he's out trying to learn the Chidori. Jiraiya- sensei, I have a question for you. You know my brother so I can only assume that you were the person who trained him to use his, umm, hidden talent, right?" He glanced over at me.
"Yes, I was the one who taught him how to use the Kyubi's chakra. It seems that you knew about it. Did Naruto tell you?"
"Not really, I kinda saw the seal on his belly and knew." Jiraiya stopped.
"You may be good at fuuinjutsus but how did you know that by looking at it?" Uh oh.
"Umm, I would be breaking a blood oath with the 3rd if I told you." He eyes widened.
"Don't tell me that you know..."
"And almost preformed it during my pre-Chuunin Exam, yes." Whoever this guy was, he knew a lot. If he realizes this, then...
"Why, why did you almost perform it?" I looked at him, anger on his face.
"Umm, the Hokage was disguised as the Kyubi that had taken over my brother's body. Everyone in the village was dead and according to the fourth's note on the jutsu, it looked like an appropriate time." The anger faded slowly from Jiraiya's face.
"At least you know the ramifications of the jutsu. Never tell Naruto about it, understand?" I nodded. "Come on, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about something."
We found Naruto a few minutes later trying to force chakra into his hand. He addressed Jiraiya as 'pervert-sennin.' There is a story there and I bet I'm going to hear it. I quickly packed and after putting off Naruto's question on why I got promoted to chuunin and he didn't I was able to make out two quick notes to Kiba and Hinata. After I delivered them to their respective houses, Jiraiya, Naruto, and I made our way out of the village.
Naruto started complaining that he needed to have Kakashi teach him the Chidori until Jiraiya said he was going to be teaching him an even better jutsu and help me learn how to control the Deflection Shield. I was ecstatic. I was about to customize and possibly redeveloped the jutsu so that I could actually use it in combat, awesome! I then explained why Shikamaru and I were promoted to chuunin and nobody else. Naruto accepted the answer, thankful that Sasuke wasn't promoted too.
About midday the following day we arrived in our first town where we would search for the woman. I watched as a deadly attractive woman approached us and caused both Jiraiya and Naruto to gawk. I had to admit, she was very attractive, but to old for me. An image of Temari passed through my mind as I was unconsciously shoved by Jiraiya into our room. I felt a tinge of anger knowing that Temari's silence cost the Hokage his life. If only we had known... I started to sink into a depressive mood. I don't know how much time passed when I heard a knock on the door. I looked up to see Naruto grumble and go over and get it. I saw him open the door to reveal a tall figure in a black and red cloak. The first thing I was drawn to, however, was his eyes. Sharingan!