Konoha's Guardians : Book I : Awaken
By Silver Dragonfly
Chapter 04 - Toad, Fox, Snake
Jiraiya frowned as he studied the small scroll bearing his name minus any honorifics or
titles. That alone told him who it was from. He glanced at the Leaf Messenger-nin
standing a respective few feet away. It was highly unlikely that the Messenger had
been told anything about what the scroll contained either; then again even if he
had--the Messenger probably wouldn't tell him out of sheer spite. After all, the
Messenger had made it clear when he first handed over the scroll that he'd been
searching for the Sennin for a long time-- a month at least. Jiraiya sighed and then
cracked open the seal and unrolled the scroll his eyes quickly taking in the short
phrase within. Jiraiya's eyes opened wide in surprise for a moment. It couldn't be.
He read the short phrase over again--
Yondaime's son lives.
Had the note been from anyone other then Sarutobi-sensei, Sandaime, he would have
most likely have laughed and then beat the speaker to a pulp for daring to slander the
Fourth in any manner. He may have let his student fight his own battles when he was
the sensei, but now... well he didn't take kindly to anyone who tried to pull pranks
involving the Fourth. Jiraiya frowned. Why hadn't this information been revealed
sooner? He had a right to know didn't he? Then Jiraiya chuckled. Yeah right, both
Sandaime and Yondaime had known him too well. If the kid had needed hiding, the
last people to tell would have been those so close, that in their efforts to protect, would
have made the truth impossible to keep secret.
He silently mused on who the brat could be. There was a rather large group of talented
youngsters in that age group, or so he'd heard. Although Jiraiya had a sinking
suspicion he knew exactly just which brat carried the Yondaime's name in secret. And
if he was right— it was probably a very good thing he'd been heading in the general
direction of Konoha anyways. There had been too many subtle rumors about outside
interest in Konoha's newest group of Genin. Add to that the fact that Sandaime had
chosen now to tell him of the boy could only mean that something big was up.
Something the boy would be neck deep in, most likely.
Well it looked like Sandaime would get his way and Jiraiya would be returning to
Konoha for a little while at least. Exactly what the old geezer had in mind for his
former student, Jiraiya wasn't sure. Although, he probably wouldn't like it. He briefly
pondered if Sandaime had sent anyone out with a similar scroll for Tsunade and then
snorted. Yeah right. If the Messenger-nin thought he was hard to find, they'd have
an absolute fit over Tsunade. Jiraiya stood, tossing a few coins onto the bar, stretched,
and then nodded to the Messenger-nin and headed out. If he left now it would only
take him a week to reach Konoha. Give or take a few days.
**********
Naruto rubbed his left hand absentmindedly as he took the usual zigzag random route
towards his training grounds. They had made it through the first exam and it had been
a closer call then Naruto liked. Of course going into the exam annoyed and on the
verge of being depressed hadn't helped him any. Why the stupid thick-brows had felt
the urge to confront them… no… confront Sasuke before the exam he didn't know, but it
had put him on edge. He was probably lucky that he'd been more shocked by the
green bodysuit-clothed Genin's attack then he was actually hurt. Although it had
soothed his pride a little to see Sasuke beaten nearly as quickly. The tell tale scars and
still healing marks on the boy's hands had made him think a bit as well.
Then of course Kyuubi had gotten on his case for underestimating his opponent
almost immediately and Naruto had been forced to figure out a way to block out the
kitsune's voice. Not an easy task when the voice was already inside your head, but
that had been earlier. Kyuubi's presence was more of a constant pillar of support and
strength in the back of his mind for now. Of course he'd only taken that silent support
role after he'd chewed Naruto out for doing such a silly thing as swearing an oath
over an injury. An injury that Kyuubi's power had healed. Naruto's mind flickered
back to the first exam...
"If you choose to take it... and answer incorrectly... that person will loose the right to
ever take the Chuunin exam again." The examiner's words echoed through Naruto's
mind over and over. If he quit, he'd cause both Sakura and Sasuke to fail as well...
but if he got it wrong, he'd forever be a Genin and loose his dream. His heart
throbbed wildly as he clenched and unclenched his fists, grinding his teeth. He
couldn't loose his dream... it was all he had. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to raise
his hand, knowing that Sasuke and Sakura were watching him. Then just as he was
about to speak, a flash of pain shot up his arm originating from his left hand. Naruto's
eyes snapped open as he bolted to his feet in shock and then he smirked, his answer
clear. He slammed his hand down on the desk. The hand he'd sworn an oath with to
never run away from anything.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!! I WILL NOT RUN!!! I'LL TAKE IT! Even if I'm
a Genin forever! I'll will myself to becoming Hokage anyway, so I don't care!" Naruto
proclaimed before sitting back down and staring at the examiner, daring him to try and
tell Naruto otherwise. Inside his mind he could feel Kyuubi laughing in amusement, but
the kitsune was obviously pleased with his choice.
The examiner appeared unphased, "I'll ask you again. Your life is riding on this
decision. This is your last chance to quit."
"I don't go back on my words. That's my ninja way." Naruto responded, still refusing
to back down.
The examiner studied those in the room for a few moments, and then smirked. "I
congratulate you on passing the first test."
Naruto smirked at his own actions; he now knew that he'd never be able to run away
from a fight. His left hand, and the oath he had sworn, would always remind him and
snap him out of his fear. Twice now the oath had come into play. The first allowing
him to free Kakashi from Zabuza (even if it was with Sasuke's help). The second, in
this exam, when fear of loosing his dream had nearly made him run.
"Not that that will do you any good when you get in over your head." Kyuubi
remarked sarcastically as they entered the clearing only to be attacked by Zurui.
There was a brief scuffle, some laughter, and then Naruto sat leaning against a tree
trunk. His right leg outstretched on the branch he sat on-- his left dangling down
towards the ground. Zurui curled in his lap, enjoying a good scratch.
"I wonder what the next test will involve?" Naruto asked out loud, not really
expecting an answer but Kyuubi gave him one anyway.
"Something dangerous and hopefully challenging. Although I'd be leery of that
Kabuto character. Something didn't smell right about him."
"You're just being paranoid," Naruto responded, as he'd taken a liking to the older
silver-haired Genin. "He was a nice guy."
"That's what bothers me. He had no reason to be nice to you or any of the other
rookie Genin. Not to mention that I find it very odd that he hasn't managed to pass
the exam before this. You'd think his sensei would have told him to give up by now
and just make the best of being a Genin."
Naruto frowned, perhaps that bit did seem a little odd… but he still thought Kyuubi was
being paranoid. "Whatever."
Kyuubi mentally sighed. It appeared he'd have to keep an eye on the other boy for
him then if Naruto wouldn't take him seriously, but he'd let it go for now. "Hadn't you
better go find Kakashi and find out where to meet for the second test?"
"Oh Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed and immediately set off for the village to find the Jounin.
**********
Naruto groaned as he rolled off his back and climbed to his feet. Where had that attack
come from? The only warning he'd had was the tiny cut on his right cheek. The full
blast had come at them then and he'd instinctively pushed both Sasuke and Sakura out
of the main stream. Of course this had also resulted in him getting hit dead on. "Where
are Sakura and Sasuke, the yaro--" Naruto's eyes opened wide. It was HUGE. He'd
never seen a snake so large in his life! Kyuubi growled deep in his mind, for it was an
established fact that snakes and foxes did NOT get along.
Naruto bit back a snarl as he dodged the first attack then hissed as he was suddenly
snared from behind. DAMN! Forgot the tail... He turned once more only to see the
wide-open jaws of the snake's mouth and let out an enraged yell before being
swallowed whole.
**********
Sakura stared blankly at the ground in front of her, barely registering the sounds of
Sasuke struggling to move beside her or the voice of their attacker ahead of her. In
her mind's eye an image of blood, pain, and death remained constant. She was
paralyzed with fear. She had no skill to counter this. Then there was a yell that broke
through her paralysis and her eyes focused to realize that the scenery had changed.
Sauske sat before her with his back braced against the tree trunk breathing heavily.
One of his kunai embedded within the muscles of his right thigh. "Sasuke--"
"Shh!" Sasuke hushed as he removed the kunai, his other hand rising to cover her
mouth as he turned to scan the forest for their attacker. Sakura's eyes took in the sight
of the trembling boy; the shock of seeing him in such a state saving her from her own
fear. She had made a vow to herself to not be left behind, to help and protect her
teammates as they did for her and three times now she had already failed. Failed to
notice the first enemy disguised as Naruto. Failed to recognize the second fake as
well, and the third, failed to overcome her fear on her own, and instead depend on
Sauske to save her. In her heart, a flame brightened as she resolved once again to
not let fear take its grip, it was then she spotted the snake.
"Sau-mph--" she tried to warn him, but his hand stopped her. She quickly pried his
hand away with her own, "Sasuke--Snake!" She cried out just as it attacked. Sauske
dodged, his Sharingan eyes activating almost instantly as he screamed and hurled a
barrage of kunai at the giant snake, killing it. Sakura watched in both relief and fear
as he landed on a branch several feet away breathing heavily, his eyes wide in fear,
body still shaking. A cracking followed by a sinister chuckle drew their attention back
to the dead body of the snake as its body cracked and separated just below the head
to reveal their attacker emerging from within the snake's body.
"You guys should not relax for even a moment. Prey should always be trying to run
away... in the presence of a predator," the smooth voice of their attacker drawled out,
his long serpentine tongue stretching out to lick his lips.
***********
Naruto mentally cursed as he leapt from branch to branch. He'd never really had a
thing against snakes before, but now-- He Hated Snakes. It hadn't taken him to long to
escape the serpent's gullet; though, longer then it may have otherwise with Kyuubi
growling and snarling in his mind, making it difficult to think and come up with a
solution clearly. That Kyuubi had a fierce hatred of snakes was now obvious and
that feeling had quickly spread until Naruto felt similarly. (Not that being swallowed
whole by one of the reptiles hadn't helped formulate that feeling.) But now he had to
find Sasuke and Sakura-- there!
Naruto quickly took in the sight of the huge dead snake lodged in the branches and
then of the snake-like creature currently heading for Sasuke. He didn't hesitate but
threw a barrage of kunai. He nearly growled when the creature dodged, but let it go.
He would have time to rant and rave later. "I'm Sorry Sasuke! I forgot the codeword!"
He shouted, announcing his presence to his teammates.
updates prior to www)
www.silverdragonflydreams.com
By Silver Dragonfly
Chapter 04 - Toad, Fox, Snake
Jiraiya frowned as he studied the small scroll bearing his name minus any honorifics or
titles. That alone told him who it was from. He glanced at the Leaf Messenger-nin
standing a respective few feet away. It was highly unlikely that the Messenger had
been told anything about what the scroll contained either; then again even if he
had--the Messenger probably wouldn't tell him out of sheer spite. After all, the
Messenger had made it clear when he first handed over the scroll that he'd been
searching for the Sennin for a long time-- a month at least. Jiraiya sighed and then
cracked open the seal and unrolled the scroll his eyes quickly taking in the short
phrase within. Jiraiya's eyes opened wide in surprise for a moment. It couldn't be.
He read the short phrase over again--
Yondaime's son lives.
Had the note been from anyone other then Sarutobi-sensei, Sandaime, he would have
most likely have laughed and then beat the speaker to a pulp for daring to slander the
Fourth in any manner. He may have let his student fight his own battles when he was
the sensei, but now... well he didn't take kindly to anyone who tried to pull pranks
involving the Fourth. Jiraiya frowned. Why hadn't this information been revealed
sooner? He had a right to know didn't he? Then Jiraiya chuckled. Yeah right, both
Sandaime and Yondaime had known him too well. If the kid had needed hiding, the
last people to tell would have been those so close, that in their efforts to protect, would
have made the truth impossible to keep secret.
He silently mused on who the brat could be. There was a rather large group of talented
youngsters in that age group, or so he'd heard. Although Jiraiya had a sinking
suspicion he knew exactly just which brat carried the Yondaime's name in secret. And
if he was right— it was probably a very good thing he'd been heading in the general
direction of Konoha anyways. There had been too many subtle rumors about outside
interest in Konoha's newest group of Genin. Add to that the fact that Sandaime had
chosen now to tell him of the boy could only mean that something big was up.
Something the boy would be neck deep in, most likely.
Well it looked like Sandaime would get his way and Jiraiya would be returning to
Konoha for a little while at least. Exactly what the old geezer had in mind for his
former student, Jiraiya wasn't sure. Although, he probably wouldn't like it. He briefly
pondered if Sandaime had sent anyone out with a similar scroll for Tsunade and then
snorted. Yeah right. If the Messenger-nin thought he was hard to find, they'd have
an absolute fit over Tsunade. Jiraiya stood, tossing a few coins onto the bar, stretched,
and then nodded to the Messenger-nin and headed out. If he left now it would only
take him a week to reach Konoha. Give or take a few days.
**********
Naruto rubbed his left hand absentmindedly as he took the usual zigzag random route
towards his training grounds. They had made it through the first exam and it had been
a closer call then Naruto liked. Of course going into the exam annoyed and on the
verge of being depressed hadn't helped him any. Why the stupid thick-brows had felt
the urge to confront them… no… confront Sasuke before the exam he didn't know, but it
had put him on edge. He was probably lucky that he'd been more shocked by the
green bodysuit-clothed Genin's attack then he was actually hurt. Although it had
soothed his pride a little to see Sasuke beaten nearly as quickly. The tell tale scars and
still healing marks on the boy's hands had made him think a bit as well.
Then of course Kyuubi had gotten on his case for underestimating his opponent
almost immediately and Naruto had been forced to figure out a way to block out the
kitsune's voice. Not an easy task when the voice was already inside your head, but
that had been earlier. Kyuubi's presence was more of a constant pillar of support and
strength in the back of his mind for now. Of course he'd only taken that silent support
role after he'd chewed Naruto out for doing such a silly thing as swearing an oath
over an injury. An injury that Kyuubi's power had healed. Naruto's mind flickered
back to the first exam...
"If you choose to take it... and answer incorrectly... that person will loose the right to
ever take the Chuunin exam again." The examiner's words echoed through Naruto's
mind over and over. If he quit, he'd cause both Sakura and Sasuke to fail as well...
but if he got it wrong, he'd forever be a Genin and loose his dream. His heart
throbbed wildly as he clenched and unclenched his fists, grinding his teeth. He
couldn't loose his dream... it was all he had. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to raise
his hand, knowing that Sasuke and Sakura were watching him. Then just as he was
about to speak, a flash of pain shot up his arm originating from his left hand. Naruto's
eyes snapped open as he bolted to his feet in shock and then he smirked, his answer
clear. He slammed his hand down on the desk. The hand he'd sworn an oath with to
never run away from anything.
"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!! I WILL NOT RUN!!! I'LL TAKE IT! Even if I'm
a Genin forever! I'll will myself to becoming Hokage anyway, so I don't care!" Naruto
proclaimed before sitting back down and staring at the examiner, daring him to try and
tell Naruto otherwise. Inside his mind he could feel Kyuubi laughing in amusement, but
the kitsune was obviously pleased with his choice.
The examiner appeared unphased, "I'll ask you again. Your life is riding on this
decision. This is your last chance to quit."
"I don't go back on my words. That's my ninja way." Naruto responded, still refusing
to back down.
The examiner studied those in the room for a few moments, and then smirked. "I
congratulate you on passing the first test."
Naruto smirked at his own actions; he now knew that he'd never be able to run away
from a fight. His left hand, and the oath he had sworn, would always remind him and
snap him out of his fear. Twice now the oath had come into play. The first allowing
him to free Kakashi from Zabuza (even if it was with Sasuke's help). The second, in
this exam, when fear of loosing his dream had nearly made him run.
"Not that that will do you any good when you get in over your head." Kyuubi
remarked sarcastically as they entered the clearing only to be attacked by Zurui.
There was a brief scuffle, some laughter, and then Naruto sat leaning against a tree
trunk. His right leg outstretched on the branch he sat on-- his left dangling down
towards the ground. Zurui curled in his lap, enjoying a good scratch.
"I wonder what the next test will involve?" Naruto asked out loud, not really
expecting an answer but Kyuubi gave him one anyway.
"Something dangerous and hopefully challenging. Although I'd be leery of that
Kabuto character. Something didn't smell right about him."
"You're just being paranoid," Naruto responded, as he'd taken a liking to the older
silver-haired Genin. "He was a nice guy."
"That's what bothers me. He had no reason to be nice to you or any of the other
rookie Genin. Not to mention that I find it very odd that he hasn't managed to pass
the exam before this. You'd think his sensei would have told him to give up by now
and just make the best of being a Genin."
Naruto frowned, perhaps that bit did seem a little odd… but he still thought Kyuubi was
being paranoid. "Whatever."
Kyuubi mentally sighed. It appeared he'd have to keep an eye on the other boy for
him then if Naruto wouldn't take him seriously, but he'd let it go for now. "Hadn't you
better go find Kakashi and find out where to meet for the second test?"
"Oh Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed and immediately set off for the village to find the Jounin.
**********
Naruto groaned as he rolled off his back and climbed to his feet. Where had that attack
come from? The only warning he'd had was the tiny cut on his right cheek. The full
blast had come at them then and he'd instinctively pushed both Sasuke and Sakura out
of the main stream. Of course this had also resulted in him getting hit dead on. "Where
are Sakura and Sasuke, the yaro--" Naruto's eyes opened wide. It was HUGE. He'd
never seen a snake so large in his life! Kyuubi growled deep in his mind, for it was an
established fact that snakes and foxes did NOT get along.
Naruto bit back a snarl as he dodged the first attack then hissed as he was suddenly
snared from behind. DAMN! Forgot the tail... He turned once more only to see the
wide-open jaws of the snake's mouth and let out an enraged yell before being
swallowed whole.
**********
Sakura stared blankly at the ground in front of her, barely registering the sounds of
Sasuke struggling to move beside her or the voice of their attacker ahead of her. In
her mind's eye an image of blood, pain, and death remained constant. She was
paralyzed with fear. She had no skill to counter this. Then there was a yell that broke
through her paralysis and her eyes focused to realize that the scenery had changed.
Sauske sat before her with his back braced against the tree trunk breathing heavily.
One of his kunai embedded within the muscles of his right thigh. "Sasuke--"
"Shh!" Sasuke hushed as he removed the kunai, his other hand rising to cover her
mouth as he turned to scan the forest for their attacker. Sakura's eyes took in the sight
of the trembling boy; the shock of seeing him in such a state saving her from her own
fear. She had made a vow to herself to not be left behind, to help and protect her
teammates as they did for her and three times now she had already failed. Failed to
notice the first enemy disguised as Naruto. Failed to recognize the second fake as
well, and the third, failed to overcome her fear on her own, and instead depend on
Sauske to save her. In her heart, a flame brightened as she resolved once again to
not let fear take its grip, it was then she spotted the snake.
"Sau-mph--" she tried to warn him, but his hand stopped her. She quickly pried his
hand away with her own, "Sasuke--Snake!" She cried out just as it attacked. Sauske
dodged, his Sharingan eyes activating almost instantly as he screamed and hurled a
barrage of kunai at the giant snake, killing it. Sakura watched in both relief and fear
as he landed on a branch several feet away breathing heavily, his eyes wide in fear,
body still shaking. A cracking followed by a sinister chuckle drew their attention back
to the dead body of the snake as its body cracked and separated just below the head
to reveal their attacker emerging from within the snake's body.
"You guys should not relax for even a moment. Prey should always be trying to run
away... in the presence of a predator," the smooth voice of their attacker drawled out,
his long serpentine tongue stretching out to lick his lips.
***********
Naruto mentally cursed as he leapt from branch to branch. He'd never really had a
thing against snakes before, but now-- He Hated Snakes. It hadn't taken him to long to
escape the serpent's gullet; though, longer then it may have otherwise with Kyuubi
growling and snarling in his mind, making it difficult to think and come up with a
solution clearly. That Kyuubi had a fierce hatred of snakes was now obvious and
that feeling had quickly spread until Naruto felt similarly. (Not that being swallowed
whole by one of the reptiles hadn't helped formulate that feeling.) But now he had to
find Sasuke and Sakura-- there!
Naruto quickly took in the sight of the huge dead snake lodged in the branches and
then of the snake-like creature currently heading for Sasuke. He didn't hesitate but
threw a barrage of kunai. He nearly growled when the creature dodged, but let it go.
He would have time to rant and rave later. "I'm Sorry Sasuke! I forgot the codeword!"
He shouted, announcing his presence to his teammates.
updates prior to www)
www.silverdragonflydreams.com