Last bit written on this current chapter by Shinobi Gatana Before today... November 16th 2019
Last bit written on this current chapter by Einjeru Hatake: Feb 11, 2020
WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN SHINOBI?
-Einjeru
Um... Kind of had a bout of Depression for a bit, then the pandemic hit, then I went into the hospital for a week. Then in November of 2021 I had to move out of my apartment and have been in the hospital since...
-Shinobi
Are you messing with me Shinobi...?
-Einjeru
Um... No... but the only reason I started writing again was because I was brought this by my estranged (still good friend) wife. By this, I mean my SSD drive which had this chapter over half way done. So I don't know what this means overall, but for now I guess... I'm back.
-Shinobi
-Einjeru...
REVIEWS:
bob19h: Only one way to find out. ;)
Einjeru Hatake: You had been doing an absolutely morphenominal job so far. Thank you.
Rio Skyron: Thank you.
Possibly Annoyed: No, not RJ. RJ and Ayame most likely.
Slightly Annoyed: We chose Einjeru to focus on with the home life issues because it would help you get to know her as a character better.
Currahee506: Your wish has been granted. :D
Now:
Power Rangers: Dai Shi
Chapter 8
By Shinobi Gatana, and Einjeru Hatake
Immediately recognizing it as Hinata's voice, Naruto charged ahead with the others right behind. Coming to a skidding stop, the four of them see a ninja in a Hidden Stone headband with Hinata hoisted on his shoulder.
Seeing what looked to be four genin instead of three genin and a chunin, the ninja narrowed his eyes.
Naruto, forgetting that a chunin was there rattled off orders, deferring to his tactical mind as drilled into him and the others by Anko. "Einjeru, cut off his rear escape."
Einjeru nodded, feeling somewhat miffed that Naruto forgot what rank she was, but at the same time followed as it felt to be the right thing to do. Pondering to herself, she had to think about if one of them let up. 'We have to keep the pressure on, he isn't that stupid to jump up and draw attention… or is he?' Her eyes widened in a sort of realization, but kept quiet until her suspicions were confirmed.
Naruto called to Sakura and Sasuke, whispering Sakura's part of a genjutsu, and telling Sasuke to hit high while he went to hit low.
Everyone went into action, with Einjeru flashing to the back of the ninja, with five poofs of smoke revealing shadow clones and her full shinobi gear, including her chunin flak vest. Her, and the clones had a kunai in one hand and the other hand on a handle sticking out from her back.
Naruto and Sasuke were keeping up their end of the formation, forcing the Hidden Stone ninja to look for an exit.
Grunting and resigning himself to a fight, he pulled out a sai and prepared to disarm the younger ninja, but before getting the chance he started feeling sleepy and dropped Hinata.
Naruto and Sasuke managed to catch her before she hit the ground and Einjeru came over with a rope and tied the ninja up.
"What an annoyance. If it was the other way around the Tsuchikage would have our heads." Finishing up the rope tying, making sure that the ninja can't get out, Einjeru looked at the others.
Sakura nods. "So what do we do?"
Einjeru took charge at this point. "You guys look after Hinata. I'm taking this scum to the Hokage so we can figure out what's going on."
As soon as Einjeru stated the need to take the Iwa nin to the Hokage, said Iwa nin puffed out of existence. The 4 friends immediately went stiff, and scanned their surroundings once more, but then a light bulb went off for Naruto...
The ninja went POOF, leaving the others to gawk and look at each other. The other Einjeru clones poofed while hearing a boisterous laugh.
Naruto narrows his eyes. "That was a shadow clone. That was a HIDDEN LEAF technique! What the hell?!"
"The snake b**** of the leaf strikes again…" Einjeru heaves a sigh.
Naruto decided unilaterally that it was the beginning of a prank war. The others nod in assent, but before they could act on it, Anko appeared before them in a body flicker.
"Oh no you don't. I saw that look you just gave brat. I'm the one that pranks you schmucks. With that said, you guys acted quickly. Based on your actions, I'd say you guys are ready for the chunin exams."
As if she knew Einjeru was bristling in her vest, Anko continues with her assessment. "Unfortunately, you got caught in the crossfires Einjeru, and Naruto, good job on identifying that as a Leaf technique. Reading these elements can save your teammates lives as well as your own."
Even though a little irked, Naruto appreciated the evaluation. "Thanks sensei, but was this really necessary in determining if we were ready?"
Having a s*** eating grin on her face, Anko taps her finger three times. "Of course!"
Einjeru had never been so kunai happy in that moment, as her mouth twitched. If anyone was actually looking at her in the moment, they'd think she was deranged. At the same time… 'Damn it all! This was the same type of s*** my sensei did! I swear ANBU and T&I are too alike!' She eventually defaulted to her neutral look, and put the kunai away.
Anko looked over with a begrudged look on her face. "Don't you dare think for a moment that I hadn't heard that comment you made before I appeared brat. Where'd you hear that?"
Einjeru shrugged. "When you're put on different teams for weeks, you tend to hear things. I'll leave it at that."
Anko did remember the briefing she had gotten from Lord Third and how Einjeru had been put on different teams after the mission that left her alone essentially. Playing dumb when Sakura had been asking about the team chemistry allowed for her to try and feel out how they felt, and observing her in action, gave Anko some food to chew.
Einjeru looking at Anko, felt that she might but heads a little bit, but then saw in her eyes that pang of abandonment. She averted her look before Anko could say anything however.
Naruto decided that would be the time to jump her, but before they could do that, "Hinata" disappeared in a poof.
The Anko in front of them poofed and they all looked in the direction of boisterous laughter.
"Oh this is war...it is most definitely on. You mess with Naruto Uzumaki and you get the prank king of Konoha on your a**. Let's get her guys!"
For two hours, Anko continued to laugh as explosions and kunai were aimed for her. She felt the lightest bit of innocence she had ever felt in a long time. At the end, she was tied up and lying on the floor in the hokage's office.
Hiruzen's first thought was,,, 'Himori, or was that Momo chan who was tied up like this in the last Icha Icha release?' His next thought was, 'I wonder if I should take the rest of the day off and let Shukaku deal with whatever 'this' is.'
Naruto was grinning like a madman. Sasuke had his usual scowl. Sakura looked like she wanted to pout and Einjeru had a look that could possibly kill. All of them were scuffed up and Einjeru's chunin vest was practically charred beyond recognition.
Lord Third was stuck between maintaining his calm and strangling the four tweens in front of him. He decided on a middle option. "You three… you guys better win these chunin exams. Kick butt, take names, do what you have to. As the village leader, I'm not supposed to pick favorites, but to take on Anko and win/survive, to hell with favoritism."
He gives Naruto a somewhat grandfatherly look before dulling to his seriousness. "You've shown great leadership abilities. It's about damn time. If you want this hat, you're going to need more than powerful jutsu and a cool hat."
He looks to Sakura and Sasuke. "You two, I've heard from Haku, Anko and R.J. that you've improved at a scary rate. I approve. Now you three will let up Anko so I can explain this next part."
As Anko is let up, he instructs Einjeru to come forward. "Now as for you, I want you to learn a bit, so during the chunin exams, you'll be under Anko and proctor the second exam with her."
Before Einjeru could even get a word out, Lord Third continued. "Typically it is for jonin to proctor the chunin exams when here in Konoha, but based on your behavior as of late, I've been on the fence about keeping you a chunin." Seeing her cringe, Lord Third shakes his head. "Not a demotion."
Before anything else could be said, Naruto faced the window, his eyes slightly glazed over. Everyone else followed his gaze, as the words on the wind hit their ears.
"Boss! Gramps! Somebody! HELP ME!"
As Lord Third tried to ascertain what was going on, Lord Third calls out. "Naruto?"
Naruto's ears twitch as he recognizes the voice. "S***! Konohamaru!"
Even though they barely knew each other, Naruto had a fond connection to the boy, and surprisingly Kurama was enjoying seeing him follow Naruto around like a lost pup.
Before anyone else could respond, Naruto was out the window and called out. "I call to the spirit inside! Kurama, noble soul of the dragon!"
Appearing over Naruto, a golden dragon flows and ebbs, eventually ending up underneath him and allowing him to fall into him and fly. Upon seeing his 'employee,' he descended like the wrath of kami.
Upon landing, a crater was formed and the avatar faded to reveal a visually livid Naruto.
Walking up slowly and deliberately as he saw Konohamaru being held up by one leg by some teenage wannabe punk in warpaint, or makeup, at this point he didn't care.
The teenager and a blonde haired girl looked at him fearfully as Naruto had drawn a kunai. "Release the Hokage's grandson! NOW!" With Kurama lacing his killing intent with Naruto's, it became so potent that the older teens nearly shat themselves. The teen in black released Konohamaru whom ran and hid behind Naruto's leg.
Naruto now actually looking, noticed the headbands of Sunagakure, and stated, "Under the international articles of the Leaf, for acts against a foreign dignitary's family member, you are hereby under arrest. Do not resist, or you will be dealt with far more harshly."
He was beyond done after Anko's prank of the day. Speaking of which, she, along with Lord Third, a platoon of ANBU, the remainder of team 7, R.J. and Einjeru all showed up. From the looks of things, Lord Third looked anything but pleased.
Einjeru noticed Konohamaru shaking and went to help calm him. She always had some Pocky on hand, so she handed him a pack and had a clone walk him away.
A voice in Sakura's head rang off like a hiss saying 'Look at the tree!' Looking over, she felt a spike. "Hey, you in the tree! Get down here!" Her body went rigid as she pulled out a kunai.
Einjeru who also felt a malicious presence held her tongue due to a bit more experience, but was a touch surprised at Sakura sensing such a well hidden potential danger.
A boy with red hair and sleep-deprived, dull looking seafoam green eyes appeared before all of them, his killing intent, while highly impressive for a genin was nothing special to a Hokage, ANBU, and a 'slightly' over powered group of young ninja.
If Gaara chose to attack, it would likely be war. And while war was what they wanted in the end, it was not yet time for that to be revealed.+
"Gaa...Gaara," The Blonde girl from the sand village offered. "Please calm down. We are guest here," pleaded more so with her brother than the offended party.
She was also trying to save face and prevent certain plans from being derailed due to her brothers' actions, and the others insanity. "Our father, the Kazekage would not like it if we caused any major headaches to one our allies..."
Lord Third held his hand up to halt further movement from his underlings. He wanted to see what the blonde was getting at. He could hear in her voice, the tones of a diplomat. He could feel his blood boil, as he knew killing them would mean war, especially if the girl was speaking truthfully.
Luckily the voice of someone not quite as experienced as Lord Third, but slightly more experienced than the three across from them rang off. "If I may, Lord Third. Aren't the chunin exams coming up? That's the only plausible reason for Hidden Sand shinobi being here in the Leaf to begin with." Her charred vest and eyes said one thing, but her tone and words said another. The perfect blend of naïve and skeptical.
A few moments before:
R.J. had paid for the ramen while having had a pleasant conversation with Ayane, and had been heading back to the shop as he ran into Haku.
"R.J. Where are the others? I thought they'd be here."
"I'm pretty sure they were just hanging with each other and enjoying each other's..." R.J. trailed off as he felt a burst of what he thought was Naruto's animal spirit. "I think we should move."
"Right!"
Heading to the location, they see the others with Naruto confronting them before Lord Third held his hand up.
Currently:
The question rang off from Einjeru, who knew she wasn't stupid and had some thoughts, but otherwise didn't let them show. "It doesn't excuse the fact that the black-clad one was bullying the hokage's grandson." The edge in her tone showed a very heavy disdain for his actions before her eyes drifted to the blonde and the red head before setting in on the blonde.
"Considering you seem to be the eldest meaning you're the de-facto leader since your jonin sensei isn't here, you should have asserted more authority on your teammate. That is beyond unacceptable. Because of your inaction, you may have just landed your teammates in a heap of trouble."
The blonde looked at Einjeru in shock. "How could you even tell?"
"Behaviors, and the eldest tends to be taught about political talk and ways to protect oneself in other nations... Surprisingly, I'm younger than all of you and know this well." Einjeru tugged at her charred vest. "If it isn't obvious, I am a chunin myself. By the way you owe me a new vest Mitarashi!"
"You got involved in those pranks chunin! Replace your own vest!"
It devolved into an argument that Lord Third unleashed some Killing Intent to resolve. "That's enough you two! Is this really the way we represent ourselves?"
Both Einjeru and Anko had the nerve to look sheepish and quieted down before hearing him speak.
"Einjeru, as accurate as you were, you need to refrain from speaking out in delicate situations like this. That can lead to breakdowns. Also, Anko, you are replacing that vest. Some of the pranks you pulled were overboard."
The Black-clad boy and the blonde looked on with sweat drops behind their heads. 'This was not what we were expecting when we came to the Leaf Village...'
Fortunately the Hokage was extremely wise and warned, "I will be having you watched. The slightest step out of bounds, and I'll execute you personally, Rasa, kazekage or not, be damned."
With a flair of killing Intent so powerful, even the inner beast of Gaara trembled slightly. The entired Konoha contingent vanished in a swirl of leaves.
THREE DAYS LATER...TRAINING GROUND 44: More lovingly known by Konoha shinobi as: The Forest of Death.
Run damn it, run!" Naruto screamed to his teammates as the now revealed Orochimaru hunted the members of team seven as if they were prey, and he the hunter. The truth was not far apart from that. Daylight seemed to darken, the sky's bright blue faded into a dull gray as the seconds passed by.
The grey skinned traitor smiled something akin to a snake playing with it's food as he slowly closed in... not because they were too fast, although he was impressed by the three genin's speed. He did it to prolong their mental torture, knowing there was absolutely nothing they could do about it.
Naruto having realized this stopped, and his team did so as well.
Orochimaru who had arrived only seconds earlier stopped and allowed his curiosity to lead him as he wondered what would possibly possess them to stop their futile escape attempts.
Naruto pulled out a small white device from a seal placed on his arm via Anko. Sasuke and Sakura gasp as they realize the symbol on the device. It was the Order of the Claw. Sakura didn't have time to question it as Naruto closed his eyes and reached inwards to his other half. Placing the device on his wrist, he got into a fighting position. Remembering what he felt during the Konohamaru incident he calmly stated, "Kurama," to which Kurama stated, "Naruto." Together they finally admitted, "We are united and as one... Jungle Beast..." as Naruto stomped his foot on the ground and pound his fist into his other hand. "KONOHA UNLEASHED!" they finished with a roar as Naruto punched forward with his right hand and raised his left in a high blocking position. A giant golden dragon erupted from Naruto with enough force to send Orochimaru flying back more than a few feet from the backlash alone. Sasuke and Sakura were not entirely spared from the energy surge, but like Orochimaru stealed themselves as they saw Naruto surrounded by golden energy as he performed what Sasuke and Sakura knew to be Phai Zhau Kung Fu forms. Naruto's body was then enshrouded in blue mist before a new being remained, slightly taller, in a golden orange like suit breathing heavily. After a few seconds he stated,
"Shinobi of the Leaf, Future hokage, and all around awesome Ninja... Jungle Fury Gold Ranger...Has arrived." After a second of silence Naruto ordered, "Sasuke, Sakura, leave. I've got this. Go get RJ Sensei and report that Orochimaru of the Sanin has arrived."
Sasuke who saw Naruto transform realized the power radiating off of his teammate. He expected to be jealous then remembered... he was training in the same arts. He then calmly said to Naruto... "I think you just did." Sasuke then changed from his clans interceptor form which he used in the exams so far as to honor his fallen clan. Seeing Naruto release it's potential Sasuke then turned back to Orochimaru and said, "It's time for round two."
Sakura sighed and just shrugged and said, "Yeah. I kinda forgot all of our training in the heat of battle. Let's skin this snake. Maybe Anko sensei would like her former sensei alive so she can torture him.
Orochimaru's amused expression turned dour. He was absolutely sure he had these children completely petrified as they should be, but something... massive has changed if the Uzumaki brat's little light show was more than just that... But Sarutobi-sensei would not be smart enough to keep such a power out of my grasp with my spy network here in Konoha... Is the fox giving him all this power...
But the smooth talking snake was not able to finish has thought as a golden blur appeared before him and elbowed him in the face much to his surprise.
"If your going to stay, make yourselves useful, and remember what Anko sensei said. Don't hold up the fight. Strike fast, and hard. And most importantly... Show no mercy to snakes." Naruto reminded his teammates.
On the other side of the forest, Haku who had been assigned as a Security proctor felt what he was coming to realize as spiritual energy, being around his new friends so much. He glanced over at Mitarashi Anko and RJ who had just arrived. With a Nod from Anko, they entered together in hopes of reaching their students before it was too late.
Spirits of the Jungle: Power Rangers Konoha Fury!
It's been less than a minute since Naruto's transformation. The sky darkened slightly, clouds now covering the sun's radiance. Sasuke and Sakura who'd been training with RJ as well knew they had the power within them. They didn't have morphers to make the full on leap to ranger, but they felt courage, speed, power and an indomitable will surge up within them.
Before Orochimaru could toy with his prey, he saw the pink haired genin do something very, very stupid.
'I won't get left behind.' She glanced quickly at her teammates and followed through on her very, very stupid thought. 'I'll protect what's mine, and while it's new, team seven is MINE!' Sakura roared madly, then leaped forward and called out, "I call to the spirit inside," and a pink-ish glow began to surround her, and her speed kept increasing the closer she got to the grey skinned opponent.
Thinking the 'little girl' would be no challenge, his cavalier side stepping of the girl's attack may have saved his life as a ball of pink energy erupted from the girl's fist, obliterating the center of an obviously very old, very durable tree.
"Damn!" Sasuke murmured as he raced forward after his teammate, feeling the newly lit fire to protect his teammate ignite, his own blackish/purple aura erupted all around his body. Intrigued, Orochimaru speeds forward before the pink haired menace had a chance to regroup. Unfortunately for him when he tried to grip Sasuke, said aura repelled him slightly. Sasuke jumped up, twisting his body enough to draw his kunai and tossed them at their foe, who was now getting annoyed.
Before any bantering, or condescending wordplay could come into play, Sasuke called out to Naruto, "You're the one suited up. Show this wannabe Sanin not to mess with... Konoha's Ranger Corps!"
Naruto tilts his head for a sec, shrugs and takes off. He needed an opening and his teammates distracted gray and ugly long enough to do so. Naruto pulled out a weapon RJ had him working on recently from what appeared to be thin air. Recognizing the weapon...if not the model made Orochimaru's grin lose some of it's arrogance, having faced Maito Gai before in his escape from Konoha all those years ago. If not for experience, Gai might have destroyed him.
Naruto leaped forward swinging a PAIR of nunchaku and began going through the Katas RJ showed him. Somewhat slowly at first when he landed, but with each second every move became more crisp, precise, and much, much faster. Orochimaru was now playing a defensive game and did not like it. He did not like it at all.
Seeing a slight opening, Orochimaru did a back flip to where Sasuke was, but Naruto caught the Chucks, and flipped the ends out in a very careful motion and fired out small blast of concussive force using pure speed. Invisible to the eye, mostly, but it was enough to stall Orochimaru, letting Sasuke get to Sakura.
Having rarely faced someone who used such ferocious melee, if unrefined techniques, Orochimaru couldn't help but to be slightly caught off guard when the young Uchiha's teammate did some sort of odd transformation jutsu which seemed to empower him some. Something to look into he pondered while he let his tongue glide over his lips, in hopes of slightly putting the newly powered teen off balance. What he didn't realize was that whatever training the jinchuriki endured, his teammates seemed to have went through the same as they switched up from Traditional Uchiha Interceptor form, and a more refined form taught in the Academy respectively the moment the blonde changed forms.
Having had his fun interrupted one too many times, boy girl pedo pants bit his finger, drawing blood and did a few hand signs.
"Brace yourselves!" Naruto warned, Kurama's Phoenix Senses now teasing Naruto's own.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" (Summoning Jutsu!), whiny pants gray face called as he slammed his hand to the ground. A large plume of smoke appeared, and as the smoke quickly cleared, a smirking Orochibooboo was standing proudly atop a mountainous large snake's head.
A few miles out, two ninja are immediately drawn into action as an explosion of that magnitude should not be possible by genin... no matter how talented. Said ninja were Special Jonin Anko Mitarashi, and Chunin Haku Yuki.
Haku and Anko raced through the dense forest as fast as their legs could carry them. The blood pumping through their veins, hearts pounding harder and harder with each step. They feared for their their students/friends which only helped to push them further and faster.
Then another explosion was not only seen, but felt. A bright golden glow, and then a silhouette of a dragon descended upon the woods and upon landing sent a shock wave of power out.
Said golden dragon raced forward and butted his head into Orochimaru summoned snake, who in turn faded to dust, returning to it's home from the power of the impact. Grey boy opted to rise slowly. He'd underestimated these three... severely, and it cost him a bit of his pride, but opted to once again focus on Sasuke.
"Damn," Naruto exclaimed. He turned to his raven haired friend and called out, "Sasuke, he seems to be focusing on you an awful lot. Stay back and focus on support for now."
Much to Sasuke's annoyance, he could see his blonde teammate's point. He did didn't reply, he just flipped back and quickly did hand signs at an impressive speed and then called out, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flame Jutsu!" A large group of fireballs with small senbon hidden within left Sasuke's mouth and headed in the direction of the Psychotic Sanin who rose from his spot on the ground where he fell, looking no worse for wear. No laughter, no Banter.
But their sensei, all of them taught this team well, so Naruto's enhanced ranger speed allowed him to get behind Orochimaru and kick him forward into the barrage before he could even consider a substitution technique. He was not hit by all of the fireballs, or even half of them, but five direct hits were still more than enough to get his attention, and hopefully stop him.
After a few seconds, the three young teens finally take a careful breath, but kept alert. The three didn't see Orochimaru after the smoke of the attack dissipated, but that could mean anything.
Seconds later, Chunin Einjeru who had been at the tower waiting for teams that passed left the safety of the tower when she saw a golden light that reminded her of what she saw when Naruto saved the Sandaime's grandson recently. She was followed by Asuma Sarutobi. Within a few minutes of traveling at near Jonin speeds the group of four of the more senior ninjas arrive to see Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura setting up camp. No golden light. No Evil snake ninja. And both scrolls to boot. The near exhausted team look up at their sempai, grin, and Naruto uses his remaining Chakra to set up a security perimeter.
Normally the group would have been, and should have been questioned, but it took nearly an hour for the shocked faces of those who just arrived to close their mouths. At least 2 flies got into Asuma's mouth. Anko was the first to break out of her stupor and ask, "What the freaking heck happened?!"
RJ soon arrived, and relief was evident on his face when he saw his students already asleep peacefully, and Naruto having already posted clones all around them. One clone waved. RJ shook his head with a small smile.
After meeting up with Anko who was secretly keeping watch over her team, RJ could only look into the distance and said, "We did good didn't we? We have a truly spectacular group of students."
Anko couldn't help but to nod her head in the affirmative with a small smile.
To Be Continued...