By Silver Dragonfly
Chapter 12 – portentous
*clang*
*thunk*
*clang*
"Again!" Anko shouted as Sakura pulled herself to her feet. The pink haired girl nodded and then
charged. The training clearing was quickly filled with the sounds of kunai on kunai, deflected
shuriken, and physical blocks being blocked. Around and around the two female shinobi danced;
Anko ever increasing the speed and difficulty.
"Faster." The pace quickened, Sakura's breathing became heavier. "Harder. Push it to your
limits!" Anko encouraged smirking at the smoldering determination she could see in Sakura's
eyes. "Come on! You can do better. Do you want to stare at your teammates backs forever?"
Sakura let out an unintelligible noise and attacked with renewed vigor. "That's it—But you're
holding back! You have the power of a phoenix—learn to use it!"
Sakura glowed. Anko's eyes widened as she moved quickly to counter and get out of the way.
There was a blinding flash and then everything fell quite save for the sound of labored breathing.
Sakura blinked from where she stood surrounded by scorched ground.
Anko smirked. "Not bad, but you had no control over it—Sakura?"
Anko approached the now prone girl and shook her head. No control was right. That little flash
attack had drained her to exhaustion and it was only mid-morning. Anko sighed. Well they
wouldn't get anymore training done for the day that was for sure. She scooped up the
unconscious girl and headed back towards the village. All in all though, she was happy. Sakura
had already made much progress, and she would only get better. Even without the phoenix she
had potential, and had just needed some more personalized attention to bring it out. Now with
that attention in combination with the support of the phoenix—Anko had no doubts that Sakura
would be able to keep up with her two 'powerhouse' teammates.
Rest well today Sakura-chan… I'll help you learn to control that overwhelming flame inside you…
*********
"Damn it!" Naruto cursed as his body plunged downwards, his attempt to grip the canyon walls
failing. Kyuubi! I need your help now!!
"So can summon a smelly toad!? Forget it!"
You'd rather both of us be shinobi goo at the bottom of the canyon! Naruto snapped back.
"I hate toads…" Kyuubi grumbled, but then gave in.
"Stupid stubborn fox…" Naruto mumbled then began the seal. Blood to palm; boar, dog, bird,
monkey, sheep and thrust his hand palm down. "SUMMONING NO JUTSU!" Immediately chakara
formed and there was a loud whoosh as a great amount of air was displaced. Naruto blinked as
he landed on something solid—something living. His eyes opened wide… Whoa…
"Him! You had to summon HIM!"Kyuubi grumbled.
Naruto ignored Kyuubi and instead, began to move around, grinning as he took note of 2 hind
legs and no tail. He'd finally pulled off a successful summoning.
"Oi—Gaki. What the hell are you doing on my head!?"
Naruto turned to face the large eyes focused on him and blinked, "Ehehe…well I summoned you."
"You!?"
"Yes him you stupid toad!!" Kyuubi growled.
"Kyuubi shut up!" Naruto grumbled back.
The huge toad remained quite for a moment. "Gaki—You're Kyuubi's partner aren't you."
Naruto frowned and eyed the giant toad suspiciously. "Yeah—So what?"
"So it has begun. Oi, Gaki—what's your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto!" Before Naruto could say anything further his remaining energy gave way and
he fell unconscious. Gamabunta caught the falling boy with his tongue and raised the kid to
eyelevel.
"Naruto and Kyuubi eh? You get stronger kid and don't let that stupid fox boss you around. The
toad's contract has been signed, and we will come to aid the fight against Chaos. I'll be waiting
to hear from you again." With that said the toad leaped skyward and headed for Konoha,
knowing where to leave the kid.
**********
Sarutobi smirked as he watched the familiar form of Jiraiya vanish off towards the border of
Konoha. His former student had finally decided to make his report and it had been an interesting
discussion to say the least. He'd have to have a talk with Ebisu on keeping information from him,
even if Jiraiya had asked him not tell that he'd basically taken over Naruto's training from the
start. However it had been interesting to learn that Naruto had managed to pass both the second
exam as well as the preliminary matches with an additional seal interfering with his chakara
control. It would be interesting to see how he did now against the genius of the Hyuga Clan,
Hyuga Neji. It was a pity Jiraiya wouldn't be present to see his student's match, but there were
other things that the Sage-nin had needed to look into; things that were likely to involve Naruto
whether he passed the third exam or not.
He sighed. There was much for him to do yet in the coming hours before dawn. Turning away
from the window he pulled out a scroll, opened it and began to write. There was much yet that
he had to tell his successor and this scroll would likely be the only method in which he would be
able to do so. He paused in his writing for a moment to glance at the scroll the Yondaime had
written in his last hours… a scroll he had never opened as it was for the fifth, not the third. He
continued to write.
The eastern sky was beginning to turn pink as he finally set aside pen and rolled up the scroll. He
paused after rolling it and performed a series of seals effectively sealing the scroll. He nodded,
now only one of two people would be able to open it—and of those two, he knew who was likely
to become Godaime.
He rose to his feet and approached the window and its view of Konoha. Four Guardians had been
discovered, all of them bound with Genin who had or still were taking part in the current Chuunin
exam. The nine-tailed kitsune, Kyuubi, bound to Naruto; the phoenix, Hitori, bound to Sakura; the
unicorn, Kilin, bound to Hinata, and the gryphon, Takarai, bound to Lee. All four of them of the
strongest level of animal clan, and each one bound to a child that held great promise even
without the Guardians aid. Konoha had a difficult future ahead of it, but they would survive, even
if the village was destroyed, as long as the people, as long as the children lived Konoha would go
on.
He turned to look at the portraits hanging along one wall, You should see them now Yondaime—
Konoha's Hope is shining very bright.
A knock and then the opening of his office door drew his attention as Raidon, the Jounin assigned
as his guard and aid, entered.
"Hokage-sama, it is time. Raikage has entered through the west gate."
The Third nodded. Today would be the start and end of many things, but he was not sad that he
would likely not live to see the village pull through it. No, it was time to leave the guidance of the
village to the next Hokage.
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