I Don't Own Naruto!
Enjoy The Chapter *^_^*
Saga#03
Thousand Sleepless Nights
Chapter #05 - The Competition Starts, A Trip Down Memory Line.
Hello guy's and gals that read the story, as you can probably guess this is one chapter that I have finished already, well I decided to rewrite it just to make it a little bit better for you all.
I will be focusing on rewriting all of the other chapters that I have posted, including the three new chapters that I have just posted not to long ago.
All so the story can grow into your heart's, as it did mine!
Also I truly deep down in the bottom of my heart appreciate all of the people that read my story, I know there is a lot of other Naruto story out there that you could read that is much better than mine, and it just warms my heart to know that you pick mine to read.
Another thing that I needed to tell you all, I'm looking for another Beta-reader for this story, so if any of you want to lend a hand and help me out, you are free to do so!
If not, that is okay as well! I love you all and I hope you like the chapter below!
Bye!
Four months have passed since Asun been under the allegiance of the great Sasori of the red sand, and in honor of his allegiance to his master he was blessed with his first official mission.
Asun was honored and would take the mission without a second thought otherwise, but his master wasn't finished speaking, to be honest he was quite disappointed in his subordinate. He should have known by now, when his master speaks his voice should be silient!
"I am sorry master! I did not mean to speak out of turn." spoke Asun apologizing for what he had done.
Luckily for the boy his master was so generous and decided to ignore that little out burst that his subordinate had made.
"Give them in!" spoke Sasori staring in the direction of the door
Without another word spoken from Sasori or his subordinate, they stared as two people entered the room with them.
Asun could see that the two people was older them him, the man more so then the woman.
He was allow curious of the two purpose being in that room, why was they even there? And why was the one in the armor making his stomach feel uneasy?
As the boy stared at the two wondering why they was there, his master spoke to him,
"Asun this is Night and Millianna! They will be your new partner's " spoke Sasori addressing the two and their purpose being there.
Asun could not help but be baffled by the idea of having partners, he thought that he was doing well on his own. He prefer it that way!
"Master I do not see why I need partners. I thought I was doing well on my own" spoke Asun feeling like he could be replace
"You have" spoke Sasori before he was interrupted by his Asun
"Then why?" spoke Asun asking for a explanation for these actions
But Sasori was getting irritated by his subordinate voice, with an angry tone of voice he said this to Asun,
"I do not have to explain my actions. Especially not to you! All you have to do is obey my orders, if you find them untrustworthy I cannot help but think something bad will happen to you!
Do I make myself clear!" spoke Sasori in a angry tone of voice, as he stared into the soul of his subordinate
Feeling an unsatisfying aura coming from his master, like he was about to attack him, Asun quickly decided to change his tune and welcomed his new team-mates with open arms.
Millianna was grateful and said to her new team-mate, "I am grateful to have an partner such as you, ..." spoke Millianna could not finish her sentence because she did not know her partner's name.
"Ah! My name is Asun" spoke Asun addressing himself
"Millianna, a pleasure I'm sure!" spoke Millianna as she shuck the hand of her new partner
Asun tried to do the same thing with Night, but all he did was stare at him like he was some kind of idiot.
Making him feel awkward, so he just allowed his arm and stared at his master.
Where he said to all of his subordinates "From now on you all are partners, team-mates if you prefer.
Loyal to me and to the Akatsuki, no one else! But if you ever wonder who to follow, you follow my orders!" spoke Sasori making sure that his subordinates know who do they serve.
They did not speak but he could see it in their eyes, loyalty! There was something else in their eyes that Sasori could pick up on, a fleeting patients.
They all wanted to know the details of the mission that they was suppose to be taking.
"The mission is a simple one, that I will not tolerate failure. Infiltrate the hidden leaf village, and gather intel on all of the ninja's that dwell behind its walls!" spoke Sasori
"I hate to pride, but how do you expect us to infiltrate the leaf village in the first place? If you don't mind me asking!" spoke Millianna just wondering if there was a particular plan he had in mind for them.
"Yes! You will infiltrate the village in plain site, by taking part in a competition." spoke Sasori
"Competition?" spoke Asun also wondering what exactly the plan is for this mission
"The Chuunin exams, I heard it will be held in the leaf village ten days from now. If you start walking now then you will be able to reach the leaf village in approximately four days.
A two day walk you will reach another subordinate of mine, he will be located in a forest waiting for you arrival.
Once then he will tell you all what to do next, follow his instruction to the letter.
You will need to once you reach the leaf village!
If you have any more questions this will be a important time saved it for yourself.
For any questions on what direction the leaf village is in, ask Asun. He know's!
Now get out of my sight!" spoke Sasori told his subordinates all they need to know to complete their mission.
The three gathered all they needed to survive on their journey from their rooms, once they was in possession of the supplies they needed, they departed from the based and headed toward the leaf village.
Just as Sasori said to them before, after the raise of the sun on the third day,
After a two day walk through these wet lands, they met up with another one of their master's subordinate that made his presence known to the three.
"Show yourself!" spoke Night the second he sense the presence of a man on his armor.
"You must be the three that master Sasori told me to aid in their mission!" spoke the man as he appeared in front of the three student's of Sasori
The still unknown man characteristic was quite odd to them. Black marking all over his body, golden rings on both of his arms, and cloths along with the color of his skin placed him in one of the Indian tribes
Going by his age and the look in his eye, he could analyze and determined that he was a Chef, to the entire tribe that is uncertain.
It did not matter who he was, as long as he give the information in which he was supposed to, then they was good. At least that how Night think!
Night asked him about the information that he supposed to give to them.
Right away the man was glad to give it to them, but under one condition!
"What condition?" spoke Asun wondering what he could be talking about
"My freedom! I had enough of the Akatsuki, and of Sasori too. If you can give me that certainty, you can have the information." spoke the man tired of the games the Akatsuki having him play.
"It not our place to give" spoke Night
"And it not my place to give any of you the information in which you seek!" spoke the man with a smile on his face.
To bad for him Night do not like being black-mailed. Even more so by those that are not his superior's.
Night approach the man with no fear in his heart, and with one motion he knocked the man to the cold wet ground below.
But not before he test the poor man's might by repeatedly thrust his fist against the man's rid-cage,
Causing him to feel the life being drained from his body, without a single drop of blood pour out of his body.
"Pathetic! What could Sasori even do with a servent such as yourself?" spoke Night prefering to end the man that lied before him.
But something went oddly wrong, Night could not explain why he backed down especially to a fow that was weaker than he!
His partner Millianna could explain just fine.
She found it most interesting indeed to face a Tohu Taura, she was down right thrilled to even stare into one of them eyes, let alone talk to one!
"I never thought in my wildest dream I would be able to see Kuheena performed so perfectly, and by a Tohu Taura no doubt!" spoke Millianna filled with joy
"So you heard of us?" spoke the man curious, wondering how much does this girl know about his culture.
To his surprise the young girl spoke to him,
"Oh! I know a lot about the Tohu Taura culture. Like I know when they are the ripe age of seven they begin reading in the rolls about ancient symbols. Once they know all there is about that symbol, they are branded with a mark. Just like the one all over your entire body.
The mark show the knowledge in which one person weld. But it not just a heated metal that engraved the mark onto your flesh, no!
It is from a strange black liquid, made from herbs that are found on the peeks of mountains far within the sky,
The lifeless corpse of the animal in which the mark symbolize, and a drop of life energy from the one that will bare the mark. Once heated to a degree the liquid is poured onto the welder body,
Engraving the mark that will be forever be apart of the person's life.
It not all bad though, the mark will allow the person to form the symbol in the air unleashing its full power. Just like you did to Night.
I think it's pronounce Koo...yee...nah. Am I mistaken?" spoke Millianna proud of the knowledge in which she hold.
With a smile on his face the man replied, "No you are not! You pronounce it perfectly, but please forgive me if I'm not a little shocked that you know so much of my culture"
"You should be, I heard that your coucher along with your person are almost gone, for good!" spoke Millianna
"At least some of the youth these days know of our existence of this world!" spoke the man happy at least his race would not die from the history rolls after all.
"Yes! But what I can't wrap my head around is how someone such as yourself came to be under Lord Sasori control. I mean going by the many markings upon your body, you know and can use many different symbols.
Why didn't you used them against Sasori!" spoke Millianna wondering how he cross paths with Sasori.
"I would love to share that with such an intelligent young lady, but only after I get what I seek! And that is freedom from Sasori as well as the Akatsuki!" spoke the man
"I am sorry, but we cannot say with an honest heart you can be freed, but we can ask Lord Sasori if he could do anything to help you." spoke Millianna honestly believing the words in which she says
"No! It would not do not. I know the man, and if he get word of my detrayal then I am sure as died!" spoke the man in an less than positive attitude
"Then why dis-obey master Sasori's wishes?" spoke Asun not quite understanding why would someone stand up to a force like Sasori in such a shady manner.
"It is a long story that I will not bore you kids with!" spoke the man
"We would love to hear your side of the story, and as a group we will gladly take in the knowledge in which is given from this tale of your's" spoke Millianna really hoping to hear the tale that this wise man hold.
Fearing the man's story would take far to long, Asun spoke to the man "Can you share your tale, as we progress to the leaf village?"
"Understood!" spoke the Man agreeing with the young boy, knowing what he would have to face if he failed.
As Sasori's subordinate's progress through the land of fire, the symbol caster told his story to Sasori's student's.
Told them how their master set his village up in flames, how he used black-mail to turn his people into slaves, turn his culture into nothing more then a mere joke for children.
Leaving him with no other choice but to join his ranks, to continue his training.
His tale was so graphic, the blood, the deaths, the corpses, and the emotion of pure sadness! Appearing in the minds of Asun and Millianna, touching their hearts just as it did to Kuyha.
It also show them how much of a monster their master truly is!
But it did not hendure Sasori's student resolve to serve their master and complete the plan.
If anything it increase their resolve to push themselves, so they could not face the man that Kuyha decribe Sasori's as!
Hearing their voices, feeling their hearts Kuyha knew that they would never turn against Sasori. If it out of fear or just plain loyalty, Millianna, Asun and Night would stand up for their master.
That is the reason why Kuyha stopped and decided he would do as his master command and aid the kids through their mission.
"Here! Wear these upon your foreheads" spoke Kuyha as he revealed a box that hold blank head-bands.
It was strange at first, but it did not take to long for the kids to realize the head-bands purpose.
Millianna placed the band upon her forehead, as Asun place it upon his upper arm. Night however refused to wear the head-band, saying that it would belittle his strength as a warrior.
After that decision team Sasori arrived at the leaf village after another grueling three day walk with no rest in between.
By the time they arrived at the village gates, the consistent's to be apart of the chuunin exams started to pour into the village, giving team Sasori the opportunity to move through the village street's with ease.
Like ghost they was unseen by anyone, and heard by no one.
But as they move through the village Asun felt a strange presence around him, like someone was staring directly at him in the shadows.
Lurking! Moving through the village without making a sound just like he was! It was very distracting but Asun tried very not to make any nor draw any attention to himself or his team-mates.
They made their way to the signing disk located on the first floor of the Hokage Tower.
Once they all signed up to be apart of the tournament, they stepped outside and stared at how crowded the leaf village have become, and they wondered what should they do next? They had six days until the Chuunin exams begin!
"Well I do not know about you guys, but I'm starving!" spoke Asun feeling the pain of an empty stomach
"I could go for something to eat myself!" spoke Millianna going her team-mate for something to settle their roaring stomachs.
Since Night did not wish to eat, they decided to leave him and head into the heart of the village, where they found a ramen noodle shop.
The intoxicating aroma of fresh cooked noodles that was coming from the restaurant, was enough to drive Millianna's heart wild.
To the point where she could no long resist the temptation any long, Millianna just ran into the shop, dragging her team-mate Asun by the hand inside with her.
Once they inside Asun just accepted that this is where they was going to eat, and just took a seat along side Millianna.
Where they ordered two large bowls of their Hot and Spices ramen!
Asun took his mask off and placed it upon the counter, so he could bask in the smells and taste of the ramen in front of him.
As the two ate their hot steaming ramen, the Chef closely examine the facial feature of the young boy.
"My I help you?" spoke Asun feeling really uncomfortable staring at the Chef
"Hmmm! I can't place my finger on it, but you look familiar" spoke the Chef trying to figure out where have he seen this boy before.
"If that so!" spoke Asun feeling like his cover have already been blow.
Asun placed his hand onto his puppet scroll and started to slowly pull it out, without drawing any attention.
Right when he was about to summon his puppet to end the life of all the people in that restaurant, the Chef spoke to him.
"Ah! I remember that face. The face of another happy customer!" spoke the Chef as Asun put his scroll back into his pocket.
The boy smiled feeling quite relieved his identity was still a secret in the eyes of the leaf village citizens!
"But of course. This must be the best ramen in the entire land of fire" spoke Asun quite pleased with the room in which he was given.
"It might be the best ramen I ever had. But could you make it a little bit spicier" spoke Millianna wishing her ramen had a little bit more kick.
"Coming right up!" spoke the Chef wanting to please every one come into his restaurant.
After he cooked up another batch of ramen, he placed it in front of Millianna and she thought it was just divine.
It warmed his heart to her such good things about his food from both of his customer.
Once the two have finished their dinner they exited the restaurant, only to see that the sky was completely pitch black.
It seemed they spent the entire day in that restaurant, they found shelter from the darkness in a near by hotel, where Asun used the last of his coin to pay for a six night stay!
As the two drift off to sleep in the nice soft hotel beds, Asun was woken-up by an outside disturbance in the middle of the night.
At first he thought it was just a dream, that the noise was just a figment of his imagination. But the noise in which he heard would not cease, until it drove Asun out of his bed and over to the window.
He looked from the glass to see what was causing that ungodly sound, only to find a shadow running away from the hotel.
At that moment the young boy had the opportunity to get some rest, but he decided to pursue the shadow. To understand why the shadow was making so much unpleasant noise.
He chase the shadow into a dark alleyway where it seem he lost trace of him.
Asun tried his best to scanned the area, he thought maybe their was some form of trace that the man left when he fled!
Sadly there wasn't, the person in question vanish without a trace, like some kind of ghost.
To make matter's worst the little incident in which the mysterious person caused, deprived Asun from getting a good night rest.
It wasn't the last time either, the shadow may leave Asun alone during the day. But once night fall it appear keeping the poor child awake with its presence.
Asun tried with the best of his ability to corner this foe and confront him. And with each night Asun get a little closer to make that into a reality.
On the sixth night right before the chuunin exams facially begin, Asun finally cornered his foe, in the same alleyway that started this little fiasco of their's.
Since it was night, shadow cover a ginormous part of the person body preventing Asun from seeing anything above the person feet.
"Come on out! There is no where to run" spoke Asun wanting to gazed at the face that caused him to stay up for so long.
The person slowly placed their foot in front of their other, slowly stepping from the cover of protection of the shadows.
Right before their face was shown to the mask boy, his team-mate wearing the armor showed up. The surprise of the unexpected partner arrive gave the person to escape.
And just like that the person in which was stalking Asun vanish into thin air.
Unaware of the true reason why Asun was standing in the alley, Night started at his team-mate and said,
"What are you staring at?" spoke Night curious to hear his team-mate explanation.
"It's nothing now!" spoke Asun a bit stunned and angry, how the foe that kept him up for six long nights in a row slipped through his fingers. Again!
But beyond the stunning rage, Asun felt relieve not to sense that person presence.
Because of that he was able to sleep in peace, knowing that the eyes that was once gazing upon him have finally closed.
But for how long? that was the first thing he thought about once he awoke the next morning.
How long until the feeling of being watch return? the thought's that was racing through Asun mind, causing his heart rate to increase, but he knew that the least of his worries.
He must start preparing for the tourniment. For the Chuunin exams that will commence in a few hours.
Once him and his team-mates was ready, they along with the rest of the competitors made their way to the main hall where the first test was supposed to be held.
They gathered around the door waiting to begin the first exam in silence.
But one was to stubborn to stand their in silience like the rest, no! He stood up in front of all, on his little pedestal saying how he was going to beat everyone. How he was going to stand on top of the world, as they only one that will become a chuunin!
The young kid's voice caught everyone's attention and made them angry, how his team-mate told him to be quiet and sit down, before he get's hurt.
The boy reminded Asun of how he use to act, before he devoted his life to his master.
Seeing how he used to act right before his eyes, was a bit strange for Asun. It made him a little annoyed, how can one person be so annoying!
As Asun stared at the boy making such a fuss, his team-mate lend over his shoulder and said to him,
"This place has been casted with somekind of genjutsu. There is no point wasting our time here" spoke Night seeing through the Jounin little trick.
"You're right!" spoke Asun realizing that their was an illusion placed upon the entire floor.
Once everybody realized that they have been under the influence of a genjutsu, they made their way to the correct room that held the first exam. Some a lot quicker then others!
As everybody was standing in the room waiting for the host of the Chuunin exams , Asun over heard a particular conversation that spark his interest in the sand ninja's.
"So you from the sand village!" spoke Asun as he process the sand-ninja's
"Hey what's it to yeah?" spoke the oldest male as he process Asun
"I was just wondering, are your a puppet master?" spoke Asun curious of the thing of the person's back.
"I do not have to answer to something like you!" spoke the sand ninja trying to get a smart mouth!
"What did you say?" spoke Asun making sure he heard the sand ninja right!
"What you did not understand mean! I said just get out my face, you mask wearing freak!" spoke the Sand ninja still trying to be smart.
And it do not please Asun on bit! But it did remind the boy how these people used to treat him.
Remembering that spark hatred into Asun's heart, causing him to punch the the sand ninja across the face, knowing him to the floor.
"What the heck is your problem!?" spoke Kankuro wondering the purpose of that punch!
"People like you always believe they stronger than everybody else, not willing to facing the true fact that they weak! Weaker then they opponent, weaker than all" spoke Asun as he walked back to his team-mates.
His little collision with the sand ninja, not only created bad blood with the sand but with all of the people in that room. The intensity of the stares that team Sasori got was enough to drive a holy person to madness!
Luckily the host entered the room before Night decided to do something about the staring!
Once the host process the desk, he stared at participles of the chuunin exams and he said to them, "Everybody take your seat's!" spoke the host Ibiki as everyone sit in their signed seat's.
"The rules for this exam is simple, so listen up! It's going to be a written exam with ten question, you must figure out on your own.
If you are caught fighting or causing a disturbance that could interfere with another one's testing, then you along with your team will be disqualified. Do I make myself clear...Good!
The test is based on the points you collected throughout the exam. You receive points by correctly answering each question. A incomplete answer, or no answer at all will cause you not only to lose points, but will affect your chances of passing the test.
Also if you are caught cheating three times, then you will lose all of the point you have collected. Longer with your team you will be asked you leave the testing room, and you will not be able to participate in the Chuunin exams any longer.
Once you finish all nine question that are on the test paper, wait until I give you the tenth question! The tenth question will decide if you pass or fail the exam.
That's ends the explanation for the rule of the test. Now If anybody have any questions about the test, now is the time to say it!" spoke Ibiki waiting for anybody to raised their hands.
Since it seemed that nobody had any questions for the host, he continued to say to them,
"With that said, you all have fourty-five minutes to complete the test. You all may begin your test!" spoke Ibiki telling everybody to being their test.
When the test begin, some of the genin's tried to answer the question that was on the test paper, while the others waited until they have a sure plan to get the answers!
Like Asun! He replaced himself with a puppet vision that he created, so he could seek through the halls, once he found the cheat-sheet he started to feed the answers to his puppet!
While Night hold the wisdom to figure out the answers to the question without relying on anybody else.
As Night was placing his answers down on the sheet of paper, he could sense that Sasuke and a couple of other people was copying his answers.
As Sasuke used his sharingan to copy down Night's answers, Millianna used her keen eyesight to copy his answers down.
"Just like Night said would happen!" thought Millianna as she copy down Sasuke answers
There was many ways the genin could steal the answers from each other, but some just could not avoid getting caught by the eyes that was on them, because of this rule they was disqualified was the exam.
Over thirty percent of people that was taking the test was disqualified for cheating, before Ibiki gave the tenth question.
The tenth question shocked everybody that was in the room, saying that they could have done nothing and still passed was disappointing!
"The test was simply to help us see you're skills of gathering intel. You will need this skill when you are on mission!" spoke Ibiki as a cool breeze blow until the testing room.
A disembody voice say to the host of the first exam "So pathetic! Look at all of the genin taht are still left.
With me not even half of them will survive" spoke the voice as a woman appeared out of thin air.
The woman opened her eyes and stared stared at the genin that remained, and she said to them, "My main is Anko, and you all better be prepared for the worst, because we about to enter your worst nightmare!"
The Story Will Continue On The Next Chapter