Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1.
AN: See, what'd I say?
"How…how did you manage to do all this?" The training ground was, when described with a single world, obliterated. Craters marked its surface, fires still burned, parts of the forest were either burned, burning, or flooded, fissures dotted the surface of the ground, and the three posts in front of them stood in pristine condition. The Hokage took in the entirety of what was before him as the Jonin responsible for most of the mess merely shrugged his shoulders from where he sat crouched on top of one of the three undamaged posts. The elderly leader dimly noted that two empty bento boxes rested at the base of the post.
"You know how Genin can get Hokage-sama." Kakashi once again shrugged his shoulders. He was acting as if what he was seeing was acceptable. "They motivated me to show them a few things. I eventually decided to show them the results of hard work and control to motivate them a bit too much I guess." Once again, he shrugged his shoulders. "They passed the test through."
It was obvious from where light shined from the large tent erected not too far away from the Shinobi present. It was massive and shouts and laughter reached them all from it and the myriad of other smaller tents and smaller lights around it. It was impressive to see such a sight until Hiruzen's eyes settled on the decimation before him and he once again felt as if the world was gone. There would be so much paperwork for the mess that took place here today to keep him busy all week. Perhaps even two weeks.
"That doesn't excuse what's happened here Kakashi." Asuma for once wasn't smoking from where he stood next to his father. An entire contingent of ANBU and other Jonin seemed to be behind the two of them as well. None of them looked very excited to be present or seemed to have good intentions when it came to the occupants of the tents.
Those inside were the cause for the ruination of a tradition that had stood since the founding of the Academy and assignment of rookie Genin teams to the elite Jonin of Konohagakure.
"To be fair, it was a phenomenal showing of teamwork from everyone involved with the events of today." Kakashi had a very well developed danger sense, one born from years on the battlefield and even more in the black ops branch of the village in the ANBU. He had gone on missions vital to the village, faced countless challenges, overcome foe after foe deemed a threat, and had returned every time able to continue it for year after year. He understood danger in all its forms from the obvious to the hidden, from the perilous to the mortal, and what was avoidable and what had to be faced. Right now he understood he was in an unavoidable situation where the danger was an obvious thing but not anything greater than perilous. The danger was obvious after judging the Killing Intent engulfing him, an attempt to terrify him to no avail as he yawned instead. It was a perilous one, few things could be mortal to the Shinobi who had copied a thousand techniques. It was also something that had to be face if he didn't want to become trash.
The three Genin at the heart of it, more like one in truth, were now officially his comrades and he didn't abandon comrades.
"Those kids you were testing, at least one of them, caused more than a few problems for the rest of the village while you were going on your rampage." Asuma looked at Kakashi with eyes not only befitting the former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja but also the survivor of the brutal battle between the twelve that wiped out all but two. "He's gotta to pay for everything he ruined and don't think you can stop us Kakashi. You're good, one of the best Shinobi in Konoha, but we're all pretty pissed off right now."
"Over the Genin Tests getting interrupted?" Kakashi literally hand waved away the source of their anger and pointedly ignored the increase in Killing Intent directed at him. "You guys can't still be upset over something that happened more than an hour ago. If you are, you're just living in the past by this point." Kakashi's single eye roamed over the Jonin and ANBU gathered in front of him before settling on Asuma once more. "Besides, didn't you deal with it with your teams? I heard that most of them passed this year because of that. Let's not even start talking about the experience most of the kids got from fighting a bunch of shadow clones."
"That's not the point Kakashi." Hiruzen took his pipe from his lips and held out at his side. He came close to letting himself laugh at the acting skills of one of his most elite Jonin. "We both know exactly why we've all gathered here and, despite how much I wished it wasn't the case, Naruto-kun is the source of more discontent than usual." Hiruzen returned his pipe to his lips. "You have to know that I can't exactly let either you or Team 7 escape any punishments after what happened during all of Konoha's Genin Tests. All of them may have resulted in promoting the graduated Academy Students to the rank of full Genin but the spirit of the exams, the legacy the founder of Konohagakure left us to carry on year after year, was tarnished." The aged Hokage looked at Kakashi with eyes that had driven men and women to flee from the brutal battlefields he stepped foot on time and time again and found that it had no effect on the Jonin. "Those that are responsible for it must be held responsible and must be taught a lesson."
"I'm not so sure that should happen."
"What you want is irrelevant Hatake."
"Ah, but it does Hokage-sama." Kakashi remained on the pole but his form shifted. He was preparing himself to fight the Jonin and ANBU gathered in front of him. "The legacy of the Genin Tests you're all upset about may have been tarnished by the actions of a couple of Genin but the main idea, the spirit, of it remains where it always has. The idea of the team is greater than any individual remains strong no matter what happened today. Teamwork helped fix the mess my Genin caused because where an individual would fall the team stood tall. Realistically, not even the Jonin and ANBU you've got with you could have stopped all of those clones before they had attacked if that was their actual intentions. Their numbers were a bit too big, their tactics a bit too good, and the mind behind them a bit too devious. Those Genin, the same ones you're blaming me for passing the tests you set, showed just how well the Will of Fire has been passed down from one generation to the next. They could have run, they could have hid from battle, but they didn't because they had comrades they cared for. They had people to protect that made them stand and fight not alone but together as one. Genin came together and helped save the village from a threat just like Jonin came together stopped the very real threat of the Kyubi twelve years ago. We didn't have any casualties this time but the core principle is still the same. They didn't fight for themselves out there, they fought for their friends and family, they fought for Konoha, they fought for the next generation to be able to do the same." Kakashi one visible eye lazily looked into one of the Hokage's own. "Isn't that a pretty good lesson?"
"Your ability to spin anything to your favor still hasn't left you Kakashi." Asuma now desperately wished he had a cigarette judging from the way his hands rested on the pocket he kept a pack in. "You may be right but that doesn't change what happens or what's going to happen to the kid responsible for this mess in the first place."
"So I take it we all can't let things go?" Kakashi closed his own visible eye, wariness not coloring his voice or leaking into his body language. He was completely at ease despite the power of the force in front of him and the now assured path this confrontation would take. When his eye opened it held the emotionless graze that most ANBU eventually possessed during their tenure in the shadows. "I really think we should all reconsider what's about to happen and decide it's not worth the trouble it'll bring to anyone here." It was gone once he blinked. "Let's all just decide this day has been long enough already and let it go. No one's really hurt and there's no real reason to fight over it."
"My Eternal Rival is correct." One Shinobi had decided to deviate from the pack almost immediately upon their arrival to the ruined training ground and now stood with the legendary Shinobi. Maito Gai had a grin on his face and his teeth shining as he spoke in his normal exuberant manner. "This day has been both long and a joyous one despite what we all may think of it now. The Will of Fire truly burns bright and strong in all our new Shinobi. Be them big or small, they worked past their differences to face an unknown threat not alone but as a single unit." Suddenly his smile was gone and he was solemn. "Before we could only hope for such unity during times at war when comrades battled with one another on the battlefields we sent them to without pause. It was such a time where children marched into death and bloodshed without an end in sight and still refused to work together, refused to believe in the strength of the Will of Fire and paid the ultimate price for such a thing." The solemn air was gone as he smiled again and jerked his thumb towards the large tent in the distance. "But now Naruto Uzumaki has presented us a new chance to show our unity and the renewed strength of the Will of Fire we all take pride in. It is no longer an ember or a small flame but now a great blaze that reaches into the very heart of our forces and fills our minds and bodies with its message and strength. Such a thing should be seen as a worth the trade for several destroyed training grounds."
"Dad, let's quit tal-" Asuma would never actually get to finish what he was saying.
"MARCH ON YOUR CENTURION!"
"HOO!"
The sounds of steps striking the ground in unison reached them all then. It was entirely too convenient that just now they were beginning to move. It wasn't convenient at all in the end, Naruto was clearly visible as he stepped out of the large tent with his Praetorians falling into ranks behind him. The century of his Legate was next and the two marched side by side with each other. Behind them were the Blossom Guards, having swelled their numbers to a solid fifty now as they marched with Sakura at the head.
"HALT!"
"HOO!"
The army of two hundred of fifty came to a stop as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura all continued with few accompanying them in an entourage. Several centurions as the units that had flanked them as quietly as possible emerged from the woods with shields and swords at the ready. Torches were lit to reveal the positions they had taken around the arguing Shinobi as the Genin of Team 7 stopped between the two opposing sides.
"Present our banners." Naruto was completely at ease, perhaps more than even Kakashi, as he looked over the gathered elite of Konoha's Shinobi forces. One hand was laid on his sword but it was more for the pose than anything that threatened violence.
Personalized shields fitted on shafts made of fallen trees were lifted into the air and staked into the ground. Only three of his banners were represented at the moment. The swirl of the Orange Legion, the uchiwa and swirl of the century of his Legate, and the pink blooming tree that was the symbol of the Blossom Guards. All three standards were presented but behind them towered the large banner that he had been busy with for several hours.
The symbol of the bloodied First Cohort: A pack of hounds, seemingly birthed by the world itself from the elements that composed them, howling into the air and with them stood the clones of the First Cohort holding their shields and swords at the ready without fear. Terror would flee before the hearts of those of the First Cohort and they would chase it down to slay it like they did the hounds of nature.
"I must admit, I never thought to make the acquaintance of so many revered guests so soon." Naruto stepped forward, a grin on his face as he looked at the gathered Jonin and ANBU behind the Hokage. He was at ease despite the Killing Intent flooding the world around him from the infuriated Jonin that he had made enemies of. "But proper introductions are a must and so I present to you all the glory of a small part of the mighty Orange Legion I command to the last man!" The clones moved, presenting their arms with a shout as Naruto gestured behind him. "Behold the core military of the great Uzumaki Empire headed by myself and one other!"
That seemed to be Sasuke's cue to step forward, a hand clasped over his head in a fist while his helmet rested under his free arm.
"I am the Legate of the Orange Legion." His words were short and direct. "I am second in command of the Orange Legion of the great Uzumaki Empire." There was nothing left to say for him it seemed, the Uchiha stepping back into line without further words.
"The lovely Sakura-chan stands before you as well." Naruto smiled towards the pinkette, dressed in red armor that seemed more stylized than either of the sets the other two wore. It was most likely because the other two were damaged from battle despite being freshly polished. Hers carried a similar style with her red and white battle dress on underneath. It was the greatest difference between the three sets of armor as hers was modeled with the dress she wore in mind. Additional plates of steel and ribbons of leather had seemingly been added at her shoulders, down her arms, and hung down her waist like all the others.
"Cut the nonsense Uzumaki." Asuma kept his hands in his pocket next to his father. "Don't bother with wasting our time. You know why we're here and you know what we're going to do."
"My scouts did inform me of your intentions some time ago." Naruto stepped forward yet again, standing two paces ahead of his Legate and the lovely Sakura-chan and his blue eyes hardened into the coldest ice any of them had ever seen. A shiver ran down the spines of more recent Jonin and even an experienced one felt the hairs on the back of their neck rise up. The air around them had simply become danger. Danger in a way they had experienced only briefly but would forever remember. It was a danger that was twelve years in the past but no less recent for those that had felt it in the air that night. "It didn't matter if they did so or not as I would know from the deaths you and your allies behind you have wrought on my glorious Orange Legion. Your attack on my Third Cohort created many complications for the Orange Legion. Our armor, our weapons, our supplies, our men, you made a mistake of delaying them all from assisting the First in the battle against the Silver Fang and his hounds. You prevented me from obtaining the greatest glory of my glorious Uzumaki Empire to date because you allowed a reckless fear to guide you. Your actions could have even led to defeat of my great Orange Legion if not for the actions of my Legate against Silver Fang."
Rage did not flow through his words, it was threaded like a needle through every letter. It stitched his words into sentences and the more he spoke the sharper the stiches became but never did they become sloppy, never did they become a rushed thing. It was precise above all else and all knew why. Fury was a thing better controlled, better used with a purpose in mind and the purpose of the Uzumaki before them was as clear as the cloudless sky.
"You could have cost my men the battle because of actions born of paranoia and fear. You could have created such a disgrace that the Uzumaki Empire would never stand at the heights it should unless I obliterated the entire village for the crimes against my Legion. You could have tarnished the Orange Legion before I even truly began my great campaigns and made me do things I would look back on in the future and still not regret. I would unleash the full might of my Legion upon the village that had caused such destruction to it and would show no mercy. Your lands would not be conquered in the name of the Uzumaki Empire as they would not be worthy. Such actions like the ones you have taken would have earned nothing less than a denial of ever having existed as my Orange Legion destroyed the past, present, and future of these lands without regret." The shield holding the mark of the First seemed to begin to shine with an unholy light. Fury seemed to imbue itself in the object as Naruto's frozen gaze moved across the Jonin as for many they felt fear from the most unlikely of sources. A simple Genin was able to drive the cold blade of fear deep into their hearts without issue it seemed. "The actions I would take against you are tame when compared to others. The crimes against my Legion you committed are not a thing I can ever allow to go unaddressed as it is now."
The air became thick. It could almost be choked on as the fury of Naruto Uzumaki was felt by all. His rage was the air for a moment, filled their lungs with the hate he held, made many consider running from the Genin before them. His will replaced all other facts, his will to destroy, to conquer, to obliterate his foes. It was felt by all those in attendance and it was a stifling thing.
"But I am not without mercy." The coldness was gone, his smile returned as a table was set up in front of him by several of his Praetorians. "Join me here at this table and together let us speak of the ills visited upon each other and let us remedy them with all haste. We do not need to be enemies more than we need to be the strongest of allies!" Naruto's smile was bright and wide as his blue eyes seemed to shine as if the sun itself had taken residence in the deep blue pools. "The tragedies of this day shall turn into the strongest of foundations for our bond of brotherhood the same as in the long ago past with the Uzumaki Clan. I see no reason for the Uzumaki Empire not to the same."
"I figured you would do something like this Naruto-kun." Hiruzen, despite the disaster the day had nearly become, couldn't help but chuckle as he walked forward and to the table. It wasn't as simple a thing as it looked to the untrained eye. Seals dotted the surface of it, basic ones but they came together to do several things. First, it was easy to carry. Second, it possessed tremendous durability. Third…the Professor had no idea what the last seal did. He only knew that he had never seen it but once long ago in his long life and was too young to remember what precisely it was used for. "You seem to be a natural at Fuinjutsu Naruto-kun."
"As my dream is to create the grandest of empires in the Uzumaki Empire, I must hold myself to certain standards Sarutobi-jiji." The aged Hokage rose an eyebrow at the change of address but from the grin on Naruto's face he knew he would receive no answer as both sat down. Kakashi had approached the table at a more sedate pace and slipped into the chair left for him.
Behind Naruto, his Legate stepped forward and stood there with his Praetorians fanning out to present themselves on what was quickly identified as Naruto's side of the table. Sasuke's century didn't move from its location but its formation changed as the Blossom Guards were absorbed into its center. The Uzumaki wasn't the only one who stood at the table with guards through, a group of four ANBU stood behind the Hokage as his shadow and Asuma stood at his shoulder. Gai seemed to have also joined Kakashi on his side of the table, grinning at his fellow Jonin for a moment before the talks would begin.
"We come together not as foes now my friends but as those wishing to see all ills remedied and the destruction born from conflict avoided." Naruto looked at both the Hokage and the legendary Shinobi that stood across from him. "We must not allow ourselves to fall into the trappings of vengeance. It will only lead to blindness from our true enemies." His blue eyed held something not many present had ever seen from Naruto Uzumaki. A type of intelligence that was frightening. "Believe me when I say that, despite the events of today, we are not foes and instead have the same enemies. The Uzumaki Empire does not stand against Konoha but forever with my homeland. It would be foolish to do battle with a place so precious to the heart of not only myself but to the hearts of all those in the Orange Legion."
"True enemies? What is this kid talking about?" Asuma spoke partly to himself and partly to Hiruzen but the aged Hokage provided answer enough as he slowly nodded. His lit pipe allowed him to release a string of smoke into the air as he considered the new information before him before deeming it time to speak again.
"Your scouts were very extensive it seems Naruto-kun." Hiruzen resisted the urge to ruffle the hair of the Genin in front of him. He was sure the clones that made up his Orange Legion would take offense to such a thing despite the good natured intentions of the old man. "This truly does change what I originally intended to do after having so many angry Jonin charge into my office with complaints about a blonde army marching through the village. I had originally intended to simply break down this mess and punish you for causing so much chaos but this completely changes my mind."
"So we're finished here already?" Kakashi looked to want to get this all over with quickly and he received a nod from the Hokage.
"I see no reason to interrupt matters anymore." He released another breath of smoke. "Team 7 has officially passed its test and become Genin, the village is undamaged, and the village has far more teams than usual this year thanks to an unforeseen event earlier today."
"Then we're done here." Kakashi turned to the Genin he would be teaching soon, Sakura having wandered over for the most part to stand next to Sasuke behind the Uzumaki. "Report here same time tomorrow and we'll start training. All three of you will pay for destroying my Icha Icha." His voice promised suffering for their past sin before he vanished in a burst of leaves and smoke.
"I shall depart to begin my night training!" Gai flashed another smile to Naruto but something was different about it. "The Green Beast of Konoha is eager to see your flames of youth burn brightly Naruto!" He only received a smirk from the Genin before he vanished in a burst of pure speed at such a level that no one saw the green blur leave the training grounds.
"This will be interesting to see." Hiruzen breathed out another stream of smoke with a grin on his face as he turned to the Uzumaki he knew was destined for great things. With or without the massive force he now had, Naruto would be great. "Have fun tomorrow Naruto-kun. With this I believe we must all depart to our duties."
"Before you go, I need to make you a promise Sarutobi-jiji." Naruto's answer brought on the continued presence of the now curious Hokage and he grinned as he pointed towards the hat resting on his head. Blue eyes shined with the same old determination that they had carried for years on end. The determination was the same through every trial and tribulation their owner faced. It was something that was so familiar that it made the old man smile despite his attempt not to. Those eyes held what his successor would need and every time he saw it a fire he did not know was dim grew brighter and more intense. The future would be a place like no other thing in the past or present because of the determination in those eyes. "I'm still going to take that hat off your head so keep it warm for me."
"I'll try to Naruto-kun." With his piece said, Hiruzen Sarutobi vanished just like Kakashi did. A moment later the gathered Jonin did the same despite how much some wished to simply charge the Genin responsible for the mess today had turned into. They withheld themselves because the Hokage had not taken action so they were not allowed to take action no matter what they wished. The fury any aggressor would face from the elderly Hokage was enough for any of them to all fall quickly into line.
"Well…that went well…right?"
Naruto grinned as he turned to look at the lovely Sakura-chan along with his Legate and gathered Praetorians. His eyes shined with the delight he must be feeling at a job well done.
"It went perfectly Sakura-chan. Absolutely perfectly."
AN: ONE MORE TO GO!